KO Questions

It’s always interesting to see how some difficult seemingly impossible questions are answered – I don’t mean puzzles, puns or riddles. Like the one that went like ‘How many dentists are there in city x?’ in the book Freakanomics.

Today there was one such query and a response in the mail that also brought to my mind another story of a different kind, a parable. Sharing them both starting with the parable:

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There was a wise man who had come from far into the village. Everyone in the village went to him for his advice on his/her problems in life.

A prankster kid decided to play on the wise man.

He caught and held a tiny bird in his hand and went to the wise man.

Putting out his hands, both closed, he said: ‘Sir, there’s a bird in one of my hands. Please tell me if it’s alive or dead.’

If the wise man said ‘alive’, the boy would simply crush the bird and show it to be dead. If it was said to be ‘dead’ he would simply open his hand and let the bird fly away. Either way, the wise man would be wrong.

The wise man looked at the kid for a moment and smiled. And said:

‘Well, I cannot tell you which of the two hands holds the bird. But this much, yes…’ he paused.

The kid was beset with excitement and curiosity to hear the wise man go on to fail.

And so was I when I heard this story. How is he going to handle it?

The wise man said: ‘If you let it, it’ll live. And if you don’t, it wont. The answer is not with me. Like many other things in life, it is in your own hands.’

A response and its articulation – something I wouldn’t have come up with ever!

**

Here’s the one I got today by mail from a knowledge forum fielding questions from kids:

Question for Dr. Universe: What’s the best story ever made in the world? – From Jada, 13, New Jersey

Response:

Dear Jada,

Humans have been telling stories for thousands of years. At first, they told these stories out loud, then they started to write.

There are more than a hundred million published books on our planet now and to find out which one is best, I visited my friend Matthew Jockers. He’s a professor at Washington State University who combines his love of stories with computer science to research what makes some books bestsellers.

He uses a computer algorithm which can read a book super-fast—way faster than even the fastest reader in our world (who can read 25,000 words a minute). The algorithm is called the “bestseller-ometer,” and it pays attention to both the words and big patterns of a book.

Jockers told me that bestsellers tend to be page-turners. These books have rhythm and patterns, especially when it comes to how the writer creates and resolves conflict. These stories often have characters that get into trouble and then get out of trouble again.

We might see this kind of pattern in books like “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games.” These books also have a lot of cliffhangers. Still, the answer to your question goes beyond just looking at the bestseller list. We might also think about the best book in another way. Jockers said some of the best books are those that cross cultural boundaries.

There are some books that connect us no matter what language we speak or where we come from. Jockers said one of the writers who has reached readers around the globe is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare lived more than 400 years ago, but people everywhere from Japan to Germany to France to the U.S. still watch and read his plays.

The classics

We might also think about the “best” ones as the books that have stood the test of time. In this case, books that were written long ago have a better shot at taking the title of best book.

One book that was written in Ancient Greece was an adventure story called “The Odyssey.” It’s about a man who is on a journey home. People tend to like books where a hero goes on a quest and returns home, Jockers adds.

The best book might also be the one that changes the world. It might make humans think about things in new ways.

Finally, the answer to your question might just be that it’s a matter of opinion. “The best one is the one you think is the best book,” Jockers said.

Maybe you have a favorite book that you can re-read again and again. When you flip through the pages, maybe you find something new that you never noticed before.

But perhaps the best story is one that hasn’t even been told yet. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be the one to write it.

Sincerely,

Dr. Universe

Could it be anything but this?

**

End

Source: Dr Universe

Disruptive Technology

From Usha Narayan:

What is Disruptive Technology ? 

When TV came to my house. I forgot how to read books. 

When the car came to my doorstep, I forgot how to walk. 

When I got the mobile in my hand, I forgot how to write letters. 

When computer came to my house, I forgot spellings.

When AC came to my house, I stopped going under the tree for cool breeze.

When I stayed in the city, I forgot the smell of mud. 

By dealing with banks and cards, I forgot the value of money. 

With the smell of perfume, I forgot the fragrance of fresh flowers. 

With the coming of fast food, I forgot to cook traditional cuisines.

Always running around, I forgot how to stop. 

And lastly, when I got whatsapp, I forgot how to talk.

End

Moments In The Morning (A Vignette)

A glorious morning to make one happy to be alive.

The rose bushes swayed a little in the gentle caress of a breeze.

The butterfly deftly balanced itself over the rose: ‘OMG, the man is coming to us here with his basket.’

‘Let him,’ said the rose unruffled.

‘Let him, eh? You very well know why he is headed here.’

‘Yes, he’s going to pluck those of us in full bloom – me included.’

‘And you’re not worried? How could these humans do that? Can’t they enjoy the beauty, letting you live and look gorgeous on the stem?’

‘Listen, don’t grieve for us. In any case we have only a couple of more days to go before we begin withering away. At least…’

‘What ‘at least’?’

‘If the man takes us with him, yes, that’s end of the road for us. But we go out in glory….you know we’ll adorn his deity, god…in the crown!  What better way to…’

The conversation ceased suddenly without goodbye’s said. A teary butterfly took off swiftly, getting out of harm’s way; for, the man was already up on the bush.

…

With his basket almost full up, the man was set to go when he spotted it.

As his fingers closed around, the butterfly made a valiant attempt to distract him.

To no avail.

All the same, buzzed by the flying insect, he lost his balance for a moment and the rose fell back into the bush.

Could see it lodged deep inside the bush on a bed of thorns, a few petals shed in the fall.

Like the great Kuru, Bishma?

‘So be it,’ the man walked god-wards, the loss tinging him for a moment.

The butterfly never in its life returned to the bush.

End

Two Crows On A Forage – A (Real) Story

Charcoal drawing from Etsy

**

Two kinds of people, in a day,

‘often come your way.  

Lo and behold, I saw them both today,

‘eyeing at where the eats lay.

Away and towards, slanting their heads,

‘rolling their dark suspicious eyes.

‘who here? friends or foes?

Thoughts racing in their minds…

Cookies crumbled for easy eat

‘proved far too much to resist.

Their escape could always be swift.

‘any time they saw a threat.

So they gingerly stepped up to it.

To human presence, ever alert.

The nervous one quickly stole one treat,

‘and made away without a regret.

The other took one and then one…

‘until there remained none,

‘not dropping his guard until done.

And, no looking back… was gone!

Two kinds of people, in a day,

‘often come your way.  

For always, right or wrong, who is to say

‘but this: while the sun shines, make hay?

**

End

Now, For Some Forgotten Melodies!

Songs we missed our classes to hear on radio! Not likely to be heard in these days.

A coincidence that I noticed later – all the songs are Shankar Jaikishen’s!

Good quality clips of these songs are difficult to obtain.

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‘Tum Jo Humare Meet Na Hote Geet Ye Mere Geet Na Hote’ from Aashiq (1962) sung by Mukesh. Stars Raj Kapoor, Nanda, Padmini, Keshto Mukherjee and Leela Chitnis. Music: Shankar Jaikishen. Lyrics: Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. Director: Hrishikesh Mukerjee.

Video here.

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‘Suno Ji Suno Hamari Bhi Suno’ in Ek Dil Sau Afsane (1963) sung by Mukesh. Stars: Raj Kapoor. Waheeda Rehman, Lalita Pawar, Sulochana Chatterjee, Mridula Rani, Mehar Banu and Jagdish Raj. Music: Shankar Jakishan. Lyrics: Shailendra.

Video here.

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‘Bahar Banke Woh Muskuraye’ from Apne Huye Paraye (1964) sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Actors: Manoj Kumar, Mala Sinha, Shashikala, Lalita Pawar, Agha, Padma Kumari, Sunder, Chand Burke, Dulari, Iftekhar, Ramayan Tiwari, Savitri and Naina. Music: Shankar Jaikishan. Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri. Director: Ajit Chakraborty. Producer: Ajit Chakraborty.

Video here.

**

‘Begaani Shaadi Mein’ from Jis Desh Mein Behti Hai (1960) sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh. Actors: Padmini, Raj Kapoor, Pran, Lalita Pawar, Raj Mehra and Sulochana Chatterjee. Music: Shankar Jaikishan. Lyrics: Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. Director: Radhu Karmarkar.

Video here.

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End

Unforgettable Melodies

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‘Chal Mere Dil’ in Ishara (1964) sung by Mukesh. Stars: Joy Mukherjee, Vaijayanti Mala, Pran and Pratima Devi. Music: Kalyanji Anandji. Lyrics: Armaan Malik.

Video here.

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‘Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar’ in Anari (1959) sung by Mukesh. Stars: Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Nazir Hussain, Lalita Pawar, Motilal, Shubha Khote, Mukri and Helen. Music: Shankar Jaikishen. Lyrics: Shailendra.

Video here.

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‘Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi’ in Chori Chori (1956) sung by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar. Stars:  Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Gope, Pran, Bhagwan, Johnny Walker, David and Raj Mehra. Music: Shankar Jaikishen. Lyrics: Shailendra.

Video here.

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 ‘Raat ne kya kya khwaab’ in Ek Gaon Ki Kahani (1957) sung by Talat Mahmood. Stars: Mala Sinha, Talat Mahmood, Abhi Bhattacharya, I. S. Johar, Nirupa Roy, Lalita Pawar, Bipin Gupta and Dulari. Music:  Salil Chaudhary. Lyrics: Shailendra.

Video here.

**

End

Unforgettable Melodies

‘Hai Apna Dil To Awara Na Jane Kis Pe Aye Ga‘ in Solva Saal (1958), sung by Hemant Kumar. Music: SD Burman. Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri. Starring : Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Jagdev, Sunder, Bipin Gupta and Tun Tun. Producer: Chandrakant C Desai. Director: Raj Khosla.

Watch it here if it doesn’t show up.

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‘Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re Panchi‘ in Maya (1961) sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Stars: Mala Sinha, Dev Anand, Lalita Pawar and Amjad Khan. Director: D.D Kashyap. Music: Salil Choudhury. Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Watch it here if the clip doesn’t show up.

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Finally of more recent vintage:

‘Aane Wala Pal Jane Wala Hai’ in Golmaal (1978) sung by Kishore Kumar. Stars: Bindya Goswami, Amol Palekar, Utpal Dutt, Deven Varma, Shubha Khote, David, Deena Pathak, Manju Singh, Om Prakash and Keshto Mukherjee. Music: R.D. Burman. Lyrics: Gulzar. Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

If the clip doesn’t show up watch it here.

**

More music here: [Keshavlal, The Amazing Street Singer From Gujarat] [Thank God, We’re All So Different!] [Unforgettable Melodies] [Sure To Get You On Your Feet…] [Unforgettable Melodies] [Will You Watch A Girl Dance – No Bump, Grind, Pout, Skin] [Unforgettable Melodies] [Unforgettable Melodies (more)] [Dare You Try Getting Them Out Of Your Head – Unforgettable Melodies] [Unforgettable Melodies] [Some Amazing Ghazals!] [The Magic Of Music] [The Magic Of Music] [The Magic Of Music] [Forgettable Music??]

End

Who Is The Killer? (Concluding)

(fm Brightside.com)

Monk.. …..I think the killer is #3, because

1. She has the easiest access to the ladies bathroom
2. She has plenty of clothes on, which would hide wounds the victim inflicted in self-defense
3. She has a worried look on her face
4. The killer would likely have immediately gotten a knife after getting out of the bathroom to reduce evidence (perhaps from the guy behind her)
5. Women get more personnel when murdering someone, because they get more emotional about that than men do. So then a woman may stab the victim, but a man would instead smother them with a pillow so they wouldn’t have to see their face.

*

Donn.. ….I think it the one wearing red shirt. If you look closely enough the torn piece of his shirt is under victim. Other indicators are the victim was with the other girl. The open purse is the probably the victims. The waiter looks suspicious because he is bringing her the drink and she is gone. The girl hasn’t ordered yet Because she is waiting on her. The guy with red shirt is eating with both hands watching to see if their is any suspicions while covering up the fact he doesn’t have a knife. He is pretending to use one. Look closely to left hand. Their is nothing. He left his in the restroom.

*

Dave ….., BA applied mathematics

It appears that the murder weapon was left by the body, and it appears to be a knife.

#2 and #3 have their knives.

#1 is definitely a suspect, as we can’t see whether he still has his knife. Nor can we see whether he has blood on his clothes.

The other suspect is #4. His right hand appears to be holding a fork, as most activities with a knife require both hands, one to steady the food while the other cuts or spreads. His left hand is grasping something which could be food, but doesn’t look like a knife. He appears not to have a knife. Also, his shirt is the colour of the blood.

It might have been suicide. She doesn’t have a number, but maybe the numbers are there to mislead us. The question doesn’t mention the numbers.

Therefore it could also be the server. He doesn’t have a knife.

The door is ajar. Maybe the killer has already fled.

Wait, I’ve got it! #4 is probably eating meat. That makes him an indirect killer of an animal. But, in a sense, aren’t they all then the killer?

Back to #3: The server looks surprised to see her. Maybe she has taken the victim’s seat. Maybe that’s the victim’s purse on the table. And… her knife! Maybe the garment she’s wearing was an outer garment taken from the victim. Maybe #3 isn’t even a woman.

Nope. I need more information.

*

Neil ……..Could be #1 as you can’t see his table to establish whether he has a knife.

#2 and #3 clearly have knives on the table. Although it would be quite easy to grab a knife from another table.

#4 appears to be using chopsticks? He’s also in the line of sight of #2 which would be careless of he killer.

Most plausable options are the waiter as he could walk around the restaurant unnoticed. He could easily get into the ladies toilet without the patrons noticing.

however. It Is my belief that the killer or victim was sat in the chair on the vacant table, top left of the picture. The chair is slightly pulled out, which suggests its recently been vacated. (Every other chair is nearly pushed in) Also – note the ajar door top right of the image – someone has just left.

I believe the attacker was known to the victim. Stabbing like this is a passionate crime. (Probably a cheating husband involved) and lack of defensive wounds suggests the attacker could get close to the victim.

TL:DR – the killer left the restaurant through the open door and isn’t on site. (Who stays behind to finish their pasta salad after killing someone?!)

source: I watch tv.

*

Finally Adam ………

So it was!

As much as solving the puzzle, it was fun to follow the loud thinking!

End

Who Is The Killer? (2)

(fm Brightside.com)

Continued from here.

Here’re some more responses selected for their own way of looking at it – it’s amazing, often hilarious, to see how human mind reasons out:

(sic)

Fran… I’m gona say the red guy, his shirts messy, he has a fork and no knife, the chef guy looks towards him with a confused look as to say where is your partner as he brings a drink and it looks like a second plate of dinner

Avne… A lady is thi kill because their are 2 knife on the each table but on the women table their is only one knife one kinfe is in the washroom

Shon. I think the lady is the killer as that washroom can be use ladies only a male cannot enter their

Dani……. Those rule Don’t apply to murderer

Kai…. dani…….,, it would be pretty obvious if a man entered the woman washroom

Jasm… the waiter. he murdered and now he is in a rush to get orders to catch up.

*

Now comes the most elaborate solution!!! Note his background – he’s not a movie script-writer!

Chas. …. Mathematician, Physicist, CS engineer, Inventor

‘* as I see it there are 2 possible solutions:the most likely scenario is the murder is no longer in the restaurant. the riddle never specifically states that the people with numbers are the only suspects. it is likely meant to distract and confuse.

notice the table at the top left corner of the room. one chair is slightly pulled out as if someone got up and left. this is either the victims seat, or it was where the murderer was sitting before leaving. im in favor if the latter for the following reasons:

• the door is left cracked open. this, alongside the chair, suggests someone got up and rushed out.

• excluding the unset tables, the top left table is the only one without a drink. notice how the waiter is holding a cup, looking confused, just standing in the middle of the room unsure what to do (likely because the person who ordered the drink is no longer there)

• nobody with even half a brain is going to stick around a crime scene where the just murdered somebody. seriously who brutally butcher’s a woman with a knife through the heart a public bathroom of a public place, then sits back sown to resume their meal? unlikely.

• now let’s consider #4. I believe he is most likely a red herring. the “obvious” killer, the only one without a knife that we can see. however if you look closely he has no fork either; he is eating with chopsticks. if he did have a knife the table, I believe the unlisted killer took it off his table as he passed by to enter the ladies room (which just happens to be right next to the bathroom, and therefore easily accessible)

• next we have #3. the woman does look nervous, and is a woman and therefore would have access. to me that’s just a little too obvious. one more thing to throw you off the scent. it is more likely she is scared because she went to the bathroom while waiting for her food, and saw the body and didn’t know what to do. as a Muslim she would have a higher tendency to refrain from reporting what she saw for several reasons ( she is the first suspect that would be considered by police, and also may fear being unfairly accused due to racial stigmas regarding Islamic immigrants. she may also be in the US illegally, and is too scared to reveal the crime.)

• finally let’s consider number 1. he looks sketchy af; we can’t see whether he has a knife still or if there are any blood stains on him. however he is sitting right by the exit, carefully watching it. #1 is an unknown, but i don’t think he’s the killer. possibly an accomplice though.

I believe the murder went down like this:

T= 0:00 > 0:03

■ the murder walks in. sits down at the top left table. the victim is already present. the killer possibly waited outside until the woman went to the bathroom, at which point #1 informs the murder it’s time; but the whole accomplice theory is just another possible addition.

note: it is by no means required the killer have any accomplice, and #1 could be completely uninvolved.—

T= 0:03 > 0:05

■ the waiter comes by and the killer either orders a drink (if the victim was already heading for the bathroom at the time) or asks for some time to look at the menu before ordering anything at all (waiting for his moment to strike). after doing either scenario, he/she either just walks directly to the bathroom, asks to be excused, or waits until the waiter leaves and heads to the kitchen to opens the man’s/woman’s ticket. then proceeds to fill their drink.

T=0:04 > 0:07

■ while the waiter is in the kitchen the killer makes it to the ladies room. it’s possible he grabbed 4s knife as he passed by (only if 4 had a knife to begin with, if not then ignore this- he is using chopsticks after all)

the woman likely knew the killer, as the crime was enough of a surprise to the victim that she didn’t call for help. Only the scared woman #3 seems to have noticed. it was a quick, quiet, and unsuspected kill. probably a revenge murder on a cheating wife or something along those lines. He stabs her, and then exits the bathroom immediately (or he waits for his possible accomplice #1 to text him that the coast is clear (both the waiter being absent and the exit [which he’s clearly watching closely] is clear and accessible)

T=0:06 > 0:08

■ after ensuring the coast is clear, the murder casually but swiftly leaves the bathroom and heads for the exit, after reaching it he doesn’t even bother to close the door. he bolts as far as possible from the scene.

T= 0:08> 0:10

■ the waiter returns from the kitchen with the killers drink. however they are no longer on site, and so he stands there holding the beverage cup with a look of confusion on his face, in the middle of the room (the best point from which to survey the diner for the now missing man/woman)

If the killer has to be one of the numbered suspects present in the diner, than it is most likely #1 by general process of elimination. however I feel that this is too simple to be true, and much prefer my own personal theory 🙂

***

Would you grudge giving him an applause?

It’s interesting to see how many have got it for (rather, against) #3! Bl##dy misogynists:-) Or, she’s truly evil?

(To be concluded )

End

Who Is The Killer?

(fm Brightside.com)

Well, that’s the puzzle.

Enjoy reading these responses elicited, solution can wait! Of course don’t overlook the possibility of it figuring right there somewhere in them.

(sic)

*

Why R…. It’s 3 – Murder in a Ladies’ WC. The person No.3 is also a lady who will have easy access to a Ladies’ WC

Muhammad A….But sir… the murderer left his knife near the dead body…. 
The lady have the knife on her table.

Prabhu R…..Muhammad A…., murder will bring her own knife not borrow it from hotel

Wayne C…….Prabhu R….., not a hotel to borrow the knife from…it’s a restaurant…

*

Adarsh S….WHO: #3 b-coz there is only one ladies and 3 zents and murder place is ladies toilet.  WHY: Bcoz she has no mony to pay

Erick M…….3-because she is looking suspicious

Sandeep K….3 because she is not eating anything and she is looking afraid

Shireen R……….2 is d(the) ans cos’ she was sitting with him

Tobenna N…….the waiter

Santosh T….3 her plate is shaking and bag is wide open

Sameena S……1 is the answer b’coz he is not having anything in the table

Malayandi P ….Answer is no 2. because there is two plates and a glass is there in front of that men

Mohan G….Suside

John S……1 no knife or food.

*

More responses, analysis and solution to follow:-)

End