the six pack !!!

 

The Six pack that I saw in the morning nearer home – Six Parakeets perched on tree !!

A six-pack refers to the visible, segmented appearance of the rectus abdominis muscle—the long, flat muscle that runs vertically down the front of your abdomen.

 The “packs” are created by horizontal bands of connective tissue (tendinous intersections) that divide the muscle into distinct sections, giving it a chiseled, block-like look when body fat is low enough to reveal them.  The rectus abdominis is actually a pair of parallel muscles, not six separate muscles.

கிளி அமர்ந்ததும் கொடி அசைந்ததா !

 

கிளி அமர்ந்ததும் கொடி அசைந்ததா !

இது மலர் (செடி) கொடி அல்ல - துணி உலர்த்தும் கொடி [கயிறு]

 

இந்த பச்சைகிளி அமர்ந்ததும் - கொடி கொஞ்சம், கொஞ்சமே அசைந்து ஆடியது !

அழகு கிளியோ .. .. ஐயோ இன்னமும் கல்யாணம் கூட ஆகவில்லையே ! குண்டாகி விட்டேனோ - உடல் பருமனை எடையை குறைக்க என்ன டயட் சாப்பிடலாம் என யோசிக்க ஆரம்பித்தது !! 

Do Parrots eat wood !! ??

 

The Hidden Residents of T. Nagar !! ~ what was your breakfast ??

 

A picture taken a couple of years ago in busy T Nagar (Venkat Narayana Road) – Parakeets pecking and perhaps eating tiny fragments of age-old tree !

 

Rose-ringed Parakeets   do not eat wood. What you captured is actually an interesting natural behavior.  Perhaps they were searching for insects or grubs: Dead or decaying wood often contains beetle larvae, termites and other insects. Parakeets sometimes chip away at soft wood to reach these protein-rich morsels. They occasionally gnaw bark and decaying wood to obtain trace minerals or simply to wear down their constantly growing beaks. 

Rose-ringed Parakeets are cavity nesters.  they may have been enlarging an existing hole in the tree for nesting.   Occasionally they peel bark to reach seeds hidden in crevices or to taste sap, though this is less common. 

It  is the reality of  urban wildlife surviving amidst concrete and traffic. 

Thousands of vehicles roared past that old tree every hour. Yet, within its weathered trunk, generations of parakeets had found a home.  A parakeet perched quietly on a branch is always a pleasing sight. But two parakeets busily chiselling away at the weathered trunk of an old tree, right in the heart of bustling T. Nagar, tell a far deeper story. Amidst the incessant roar of traffic, concrete buildings and urban bustle, these vibrant birds continue to find shelter, raise their young and carry on the timeless rhythms of nature. It is a gentle reminder that the city is not ours alone; even in the most crowded neighbourhoods, wildlife quietly adapts, survives and coexists with us.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
14.7.2026
 

 

 

 

Birds of a feather fight ! Stanford India Conference 2026

 

How often do you listen to debates especially political debates – often in TV channels, representatives of political parties shout, engage in verbal duels – which follows the happenings in Assemblies too.  Ideally peoples’ representatives are expected to maintain decorum, showcase their view points in a polished mature un-abrasive manner !! 

"Birds of a feather flock together" is a timeless English proverb meaning people with similar interests, traits, or values naturally group together.  The phrase draws from observing birds of the same species flying in flocks, first appearing metaphorically in ancient texts like the Book of Sirach around 180 BC. It evolved into a common idiom by the 16th century, highlighting homophily in human social behavior.

 

However life is different – I have often seen that birds fight even when food is available aplenty.  Crows chase Pigeons, Pigeons fight among themselves and fight Parrots.  Parakeets too  fight among themselves – this mainly due to territorial instincts, competition for resources, or hormonal changes during breeding seasons. 

Political debates turn into acrimony and cacophony during high-stakes election seasons or when polarization peaks over divisive issues like economic policies or leadership scandals. This often happens in  TV panels where rival parties prioritize one-upmanship over substantive discussion, leading to insults, slurs, abuses,  shouting matches, and disruptions. 

The "India vs. Bharat" debate at the Stanford India Conference 2026, held May 9-10 in San Francisco, featured a lively roundtable titled “India, That is Bharat: Growth, Governance and Identity.” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, and BJP Tamil Nadu chief K. Annamalai clashed on national identity, economic growth, federalism, and delimitation.

 

The discussion unpacked the constitutional phrase "India, that is Bharat," with BJP speakers embracing "Bharat" as a culturally rooted identity symbolizing Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047, while Tharoor cautioned against divisive renaming, stressing "India"'s global brand and historical continuity   

The Stanford India Conference 2026 convened innovators, policymakers, scholars, and students from India, the United States, and the global diaspora to tackle the challenges and opportunities shaping our century — from technology and sustainability to business, education, and policy. In his opening remarks at the Stanford India Conference 2026 – “India-US at the Crossroads” on May 10, Consul General Dr. K Srikar Reddy described the India-U.S. partnership as “one of the most consequential partnerships of the 21st century” at a time when the world is navigating AI disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, energy security challenges, and climate change. 

"We all love India, Indian civilization, Indian unity, the Indian idea, the Indian cricket team, whatever. But how we design that India politically is going to have far-reaching implications for how we get from here to..."  spoke Tharoor. 

There appears no  official reaction from Congress leadership to Shashi Tharoor's specific remarks.  Tharoor's unity quote—"We all love India, Indian civilization, Indian unity..."—aligns with his standard advocacy for diversity and consensus, unlikely to draw internal fire unlike his past Operation Sindoor comments.  Congress   distanced itself  from Tharoor before on national security (e.g., 2025 Pakistan strikes).  

BJP’s Tejasvi Surya delivered pointed arguments on delimitation, accountability, and growth during the Stanford India Conference 2026 roundtable.  On parliament size and voter accountability, he said : "It's a country of 140 cr people. You need a big parliament because I want to speak to my MP. I want to meet him. I want to know what he's working on and I want to hold him accountable which I'm not able to do with a 26 million electorate today.  Rejecting GSDP-based seats, he added: "Now how is how absurd is this? It's such a cyclical number. 6 months the GSDP is high. So you increase the number of seats. It's a bad monsooner. So increase the number, decrease the number of seats for next year. These are the illogical arguments put forth by the opposition." "Maintain the proportion as it exists today. 50% increase flat for every state. Constituencies will be made smaller. Democracy will become more accountable." 

These came in response to Shashi Tharoor during Q&A on delimitation, emphasizing "one person, one vote" without north-south imbalance. Surya advocated urban reforms like public transport. 

Another emerging popular leader Sri K. Annamalai's contributions in the Stanford India Conference 2026 roundtable focused on governance, identity, delimitation, and Tamil Nadu politics, with verbatim excerpts from transcripts.  On philosophical agreement with Tharoor, he stated: "On this philosophical positioning of Shashi Gi there is nothing for us to disagree at all and this in fact has been the inherent cultural civilizational strength of this country. Uh the examples that you gave historically has always demonstrated the fundamental civilizational spirit of what we call Hindu Dharma." 

About Tamil Nadu politics, he was to say :  "Tamil Nadu is a black swan event it happens and it's a good thing that happened and   just like the startups here and a rupturing of the system has to happen at some point of time the system got overloaded too much and national parties were also not very   bold to go beyond Vhindias and and take the bull by its horn."  "Congress till now in Tamil Nadu which was pairing the DMK's language for last many many years one night they changed to Vijay one night overnight they changed and even chameleon will not change the colors that fast overnight within 24 hours they change the colors."  Annamalai praised Tharoor personally ("We all respect Sasha Guruji a kind of erudite scholar, while critiquing Congress tactics, urging urban reforms like directly elected mayors.   

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
14.5.2026

Pigeons, Parrots or ............ !>?!?!?

 

What is in store tomorrow !!

 

The one you like most or the one which is naturally beautiful or is there a dark bird (dark-horse) ………..  keep waiting for few more hours

keeping cool in scorching summer !

 

Be it scorching summer or otherwise – keep cool !!

Never be harsh to others in words, acts or thoughts !!!

3 Parakeets !! ~ கல்லிலும் இறைமை !! கிளிகளில் இயற்கை. !!

கல்லிலும் நாம் காண்பது இறைமை !!  கிளிகளில்  நிறைந்திருப்பது இயற்கை. !!

 

Parrots  are spiritual symbols.  They are epitome of energy, they  usually symbolize speech, repetition, desire, intelligence.  Parrots are associated with Kama (the god of love) and sometimes with romantic longing, beauty, and attraction. Because they repeat sounds, they can also symbolize: recitation, wisdom, mantra, oral tradition, or the power of spoken words !!   

 

At Kakinada, East Godavari – at Sri Bhavanarayana Swami temple, more than a decade ago, took this picture of three parrots sitting on the divinity, seeking solace in Lord.  While one perches above the head, one rests on the left hand and another on His right hand.  Together they seemingly suggest – Thought, Speech and Action.   

Perched at the top, it represents the mind: ideas, imagination, memory, and ego.

It sees first, but it can also wander first.  Close to the hand and heart-side, it can symbolize words: what we repeat, teach, gossip, pray, or sing.  The parrot on the right stands for deeds: what we actually do in the world.  

A sacred life is not just about worship carved in stone — it is about aligning:

•          What you think

•          What you say

•          What you do

When these three are in harmony, even ordinary life becomes holy. In short, these three parrots came to rest at the Temple after travelling many a miles !   

One said, “I know.”

One said, “I speak.”

One said, “I do.”

Lord remained silent observing them and by the  evening, the first had imagined many truths, the second had spoken many truths, but only the third had lived one.  

And together they understood :  “Wisdom begins in thought, shines in speech, but is proved in action.” 

Interesting …  AI aided wisdom story from Aasami sirippu sinthanaiyan

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026 

தலையைக் குனியும் தாமரையே ! Parakeet !!

 

தலையைக் குனியும் தாமரையே; தலையைக் குனியும் தாமரையே

என்னை எதிர்பார்த்து வந்த பின்பு வேர்த்து

தலையைக் குனியும் தாமரையே 

A rape story in Tamil movies - Raghuvaran visits his friend's place on a tour and one night he happens to see a woman while returning from a party. On that rainy night, he rapes her and leaves. 

Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu (transl. A stream becomes a river)   written, produced and directed by C. V. Sridhar and starring Raghuvaran,  Sumalatha and Manochitra (daughter of T. S. Balaiah) hit the screens in 1983.  Film is remembered for the great songs of Isaignani Illayaraja.   

1983-ல் வெளியான "ஒரு ஓடை நதியாகிறது" திரைப்படத்தில் இடம் பெற்ற "தலையை குனியும் தாமரையே" பாடல்.  இசை: இளையராஜா; பாடியவர்கள்: எஸ்.பி. பாலசுப்ரமணியம், எஸ். ராஜேஸ்வரி

 

A parakeet with its head tucked and not seen !

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

6.3.2026

Parrots of Triplicane ! ஆலோலங்கிளித் தோப்பிலே

 

Parakeets @ terrace    

ஆலோலங்கிளித் தோப்பிலே தங்கிடும் கிளித் தங்கமே 

இல்லாக் கதை சொல்லாதடி!!💐

Never seen so many at our place

https://youtu.be/gIrnqUgxfak?si=NeYG66wRG-OywMWs

high-arm bowling action !!

 

Watching ICC T20 WC 2026 – feel that there are only  few bowlers with High arm bowling action  -  where the bowler's arm remains nearly vertical—close to 12 o'clock position—at release, maximizing pace, bounce, and control. 

This action involves a straight arm path from shoulder to wrist, generating higher ball speed through physics like increased release radius (similar to a windmill effect). It promotes raw bounce and swing, as seen in bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Jofra Archer. The head stays aligned toward the target, with hips and shoulders rotating fully for power. 

While higher  arm position offers greater accuracy margin over slingy or round-arm styles, reducing error from shoulder misalignment, it demands strong shoulder drive and can risk injury if arm speed drills aren't balanced.  

 

Here is a Rose-ringed Parakeet in flight 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
12.2.2026

பச்சைக் கிளி முத்துச் சரம், முல்லை கொடி யாரோ

 

Did you notice them in the first photo at first sight !?

 

பச்சைக்  கிளி முத்துச்  சரம், முல்லை கொடி யாரோ

பாவை என்னும் தேரில் வரும் தேவன் மகள் நீயோ..

 

Parrots are beautiful, they are  famous for their remarkable

cognitive abilities and exceptionally long lifespans.

 

Pic taken 2 years ago !  (Jan 2024)

 

 

 

தலைமறைவு - absconding

 

English translation would be ‘Head hiding!” - abscondence (noun) would mean : 

: fugitive concealment : secret retirement : hiding. An absconder is a person - a person who secretly runs away, esp to avoid arrest or prosecution

Every New Year ushers in Newer hopes !!

 

Do you feel like living in a darkhole !? Year 2025 is drawing to a close ! – how was your experience – some may have harrowing experience, difficulty and some bitter occurrences – but not everything is lost, We live another day ! – every morning ushers in bright Sunlight and fresh hopes

 

Even when life puts you inside such a small black cavity inside the tree, look outside, the World is bright and shining and there is lot of hope. Every New Year psychologically ushers in fresher hopes and we aspire for newer better things.

 

For birds - daily they need to find their food as also protect themselves from predators. No New Year Resolutions ! - live life !! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

 

Angry Birds !! ~ பச்சை கிளிகள் - அழகானவை, அன்பானவை !!

 

பச்சை  கிளிகள் - அழகானவை, அமைதியானவை, அன்பானவை !! .. .. .. இதுதான் நாம் அனைவரும் நினைப்பது !  இல்லாரை எள்ளி நகையாடுவதும் செல்வரைச் சிறப்புச் செய்வதும் உலக இயல்பு !!!  கோபம் (Anger) என்பது மனிதர்களுக்கும் இன்ன பிற உயிரினங்களுக்கும் தோன்றும் கடுமையான உணர்ச்சி.

Anger is “an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage.” Anger is one letter short of Danger –  : Whether as a fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage, Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. Anger can make you feel as though you’re at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. Anger can be suppressed, and then converted or redirected. This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. 

கோபம் (Anger)   சிறிய எரிச்சல் அளவில் இருந்து கடுமையான வெறி கொண்டதாக இருக்கலாம். சங்க இலக்கியத்தில் கதம், சீற்றம், சினம், வெகுளி முதலிய சொற்கள் கோபத்தை உணர்த்தும் சொற்களாகப் பயின்று வந்துள்ளன.  கோபம் என்பது ஒரு ஆக்கிரமிப்பு உணர்ச்சி. இது ஒருவருக்கு மன ரீதியாகவும், உடல் ரீதியாகவும், நடத்தையிலும் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடியது. கோபத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்துவது முக்கியம் 

அழகான பச்சை கிளிக்கு கூட சிவப்பு மூக்கின் மேல் கோவம் வரும் என்பதே உண்மை இயல்பு நிலை.  

பொன் மானே.. கோபம்.. ஏனோ

காதல் பால் குடம் கள்ளாய்ப் போனது

ரோஜா ஏனடி முள்ளாய்ப் போனது

 

பூக்கள் மோதினால் காயம் நேருமா

தென்றல் கிள்ளினால் ரோஜா தாங்குமா

 

திரைப்படம்: ஒரு கைதியின் டைரி (1984)

இசை:  இசைஞானி  இளையராஜா

பாடியவர்கள்: உன்னி மேனன் & உமா ரமணன்

 

Humans of all age enjoy playing games ! be it physically, on computer and most on Phones.  In  one of the most popular games - players use catapults to fire infuriated birds at pigs hiding inside buildings made of planks. It is a smash hit literally – ‘Angry Birds’ – (how many levels have you cleared !)

 

ஒன்று ஒரு காலில் மற்றொன்று இரண்டு காலில் !!

~   கோப தாக்குதலும் அஞ்சி ஓடுதலும்.

 

- You are given a slingshot to fire your angry birds at pigs who are placed within different variations of structures (such as wood, ice and stone) which progressively get harder and retrieve the eggs that those pesky pigs stole!.... as you advance, you get chance to use varied birds with special abilities.  A blue bird when clicked will split into 3 – there are birds which will explode – some which can drop explosive eggs … there are smaller and larger pigs – the challenge is to destroy all pigs with the available birds – if you use less, you get bonus points … some pigs wear helmets as armor, making them even more resistant to damage, while pigs with crowns can take the most damage. 

The popular ‘Angry Birds’  is a strategy game developed by Finnish computer game developer Rovio Mobile. Inspired primarily by a sketch of stylized wingless birds, the game was first released for Apple's iOS in December 2009.

Interesting !

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.11.2025

'சோளம் வெதைக்கையிலே ! - Sorghum eating Parrot

SA ராஜ்கண்ணு அளிக்கும்,   என ஸ்ரீதேவி ஓடியாட, சப்பாணி, மயில், பரட்டை, குருவம்மா என பெயர்கள் ஓட இசைஞானி இளையராஜா தன் குரலில் 'சோளம் வெதைக்கையிலே .. ..' என உச்சஸ்தாயியில் மிரள வைக்க ரசிகர்கள்  ஆரவாரித்த படம்   '16 வயதினிலே'!! 

உங்கள் வீட்டு தோட்டத்தில் அல்லது வயலில் என்ன பயிரிட்டுளீர்கள் ?  - நெல், கடலை, மணிலா பயிறு, சிறு தானியங்கள்,  சோளம் !!   ?   பயிர்கள் நன்கு வளர என்ன உரமிட வேண்டும் ? வளர்ந்த பயிர்களை எப்படி பாதுகாக்க வேண்டும் என அறிய 'வயலும் வாழ்வும்' பார்த்தது உண்டா ? This is no post on  agriculture or food  but about the parrot that attacked சோளம் food  grains on my  terrace !  

சோளம் புல்வகையைச் சேர்ந்த பல இனங்களை உள்ளடக்கிய தாவரப் பேரினம் (genus) ஆகும். இவற்றுட் சில தானியங்களுக்காகவும் வேறு சில கால்நடைத் தீவனங்களுக்காகவும் பயிரிடப்படுகின்றன. இப்பயிர் உலகம் முழுதும் மிதமான வெப்பம் கொண்ட பகுதிகளில் பயிராகின்றன. இந்தியாவில் அரிசி மற்றும் கோதுமைக்கு அடுத்தபடியாக சோளம் முக்கியமான இடத்தைப் பிடித்துள்ளது.  

‘Sorghum’  an Old World cereal grain that belongs to the grass family Poaceae. It’s also native to warm regions of the world and is a major source of grains and stockfeed. Like millet, sorghum is also drought resistant. It’s a popular crop to grow in the drier regions in the world. Sorghum originated in Sudan introduced and cultivated globally now.    Sorghum plants grow tall like corn.  It is the world's fifth-most important cereal crop after rice, wheat, maize, and barley.

In England, a century ago  in November 1918, "John Smith"  a British officer who was gassed in the trenches during the First World War, having lost his memory, and apparently with no means of identification,  is confined to an asylum as an unidentified inmate. A couple visits him, only to see that he is not their missing son, which disappoints him as much as them. On the day the war ends, the gatekeepers abandon their posts to join the celebration in the nearby Midlands town of Melbridge, and Smith wanders out of the asylum. 

Random Harvest is a 1942 American romantic drama film based on  James Hilton novel of the same title, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Claudine West, George Froeschel, and Arthur Wimperis adapted the novel for the screen, and received an Academy Award nomination. The novel keeps the true identity of Paula/Margaret a secret until the very end, something that would have been impossible in a film, where characters’ faces must be seen.   The film played for a record 11 weeks at Radio City Music Hall in New York, a record that lasted until at least the 1960s.

Here is a not so popular Cinema song on Parrot .. ..  "பச்சைக்கிளி பாடுது"

பச்சைக்கிளி பாடுது! பக்கம் வந்தே ஆடுது!

இங்கே பாரு! உன் துன்பம் பறந்தோடுது.

கள்ளம் அறியாதது! ரொம்ப சாது!

வேறெங்கும் ஓடாது! உன் சொல்லைத் தள்ளாது.

அதிகம் கேட்டு இருக்க வாய்ப்பில்லை !!   அமரதீபம் என்ற  1956 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்பட பாடல் இது.  டி. பிரகாஷ் ராவ் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் சிவாஜி கணேசன், தங்கவேலு, பத்மினி, சாவித்திரி மற்றும் பலரும் நடித்திருந்தனர்.  அமரதீபம் ராண்டம் ஹார்வெஸ்ட் கதையை தழுவி எடுக்கப்பட்டதாம். 

The romantic drama movie Amara Deepam directed  by T Prakash Rao produced by Venus Pictures hit the screens on 29^th June 1956.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
26.11.2025