Number 23

I recently saw a movie THE NUMBER 23. It is a psycho thriller and it shows how people can get obsessed about a number and make their lives hell.

The examples quoted in the movie were interesting. How certain dates which are historically important add up to 23; how the earth is inclined at 23.5 degrees; how the tropic of cancer and capricorn are at 23 degrees North and South respectively; how there are 46 chromosomes in the human body – 23 from each parent; how there are 23 axioms in mathematics; how the digits of 23 when used in a division like 2/3 leads to 0.666; 666 being devils number.

It’s just a number as the female lead in the movie kept saying. But it sure made everyone else in that movie insane. After watching the movie, I did some math of my own and came up with the following.

1. My initials P and G are 16th and 7th letters of the English alphabet. 16+7=23.

2. My pet name has 5 letters. My first name has 8 letters. My last name has 10 letters. All add up to 23.

3. If I remove the dots from my blog link it has 23 letters. (pacificlotusblogspotcom). Count them to confirm. :-D

4. My year of birth is 1982 and birth month is March (3rd month). 1+9+8+2+3 = 23

5. I was born on a 23rd.

I am also getting obsessed! :-)

Hmm...still thinking!

The other day, I saw a video having an American standup comedian. This guy started off like this; THE MAN I FIND STRANGEST ON THIS PLANET IS OUR PRESIDENT BUSH! I MEAN, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, WHO’S EYES ARE AS IF HE IS ALWAYS DIRECTLY LOOKING INTO THE SUN… Later he said this; IMAGINE OUR PRESIDENT GETTING INTO A MONICA LEWINSKY KINDA SCANDAL. HE’LL BE PUT ON THE STAND AND INTERROGATED; HE’LL SAY “AHEM! WHAT WAS THAT THOSE GUYS TOLD ME TO SAY HERE?”

The entire video lasted for about 4 minutes, and every second was hilarious and of course insulting to Mr. Bush. I was left wondering at the fearlessness this guy showed, in deriding the world’s most powerful man. What would happen if someone tried that on the PM or some other powerful politician of India? Would there be no protests by the parties? Would it be business as usual?? I doubt it.

There are plenty of issues that need to be looked at. But our NETAs would spring into action only when they are mocked at. We are a nation of more than a billion, but still we talk at great lengths when we win a gold medal at the Olympics. Why is this happening? The citizens are paying their taxes alright, but how much of this is used for bettering the pathetic infrastructure we have; let alone having a budget allocated to create potential Olympic winners. Talk about this and you will get no answers; tease a minister and the police will be at your a**.

Every day when I travel I am continued to be amazed. Amazed at the commuting problems that never seem to end; Trains are never on time. They are getting more crowded. Roads are pathetic. Just some days back my friend told me about a motorcyclist falling down badly, after riding over a pothole thinking it’s not too deep. I see the Pune railway station and the first word that comes to my mind and mouth is YUCK. I don’t know the actual figure but supposedly 36 crore rupees were allocated to Pune railway authorities to make the station a WORLD CLASS one. The money is still resting in the bank accounts (which one; I am not sure).

We need to change. Is someone listening?

Why so serious?

They think he isn’t good enough. They still have him as a friend. As we all know, we wouldn’t befriend anyone we dislike. But if you can keep belittling him and gain sadistic pleasure out of that, then he is good company. Don’t we all like to be pleased? We do. It goes on. They shower advices on him, asking to better himself. He keeps smiling, inwardly thinking it’s not possible. They know his predicament, and enjoy it thoroughly. The advices still keep coming. Amidst all this, they never let go of a chance to take his case. He smiles, sometimes frowns, shows disgust etc. But every reaction of his brings more pleasure to them. Wow, isn’t he good company?

Suddenly, he thinks of changing. He listens to them. He starts to act on their ADVICES. Over a period of time, they see a difference in him. He is getting better. It’s taking time, but times are changing. Now what happens to them? Do they start to like him? I don’t know. But, he is no longer a complete object of ridicule. There are fewer laughs. Now they think he is becoming like them. So all this while they were thinking that they were good. He still considers them as friend. He likes them. But now is he good company? He is no longer giving the pleasure. One day the advices stop. There is no more laughter. Life becomes serious.

Now would you like him? Is he responsible for the seriousness that has crept in?
I don’t blame anyone for this. Everyone needs a good laugh, but should that be at the expense of others? But again, can there be fun without having a scapegoat? I am looking for answers!