You wouldn’t believe the effectiveness of this simple looking exercise.

Hindu squats is an exercise, like Hindu pushups that have been used by Indian wrestlers for centuries to build explosive lower body strength, power, speed and endurance.

Unlike barbell squats and weight training exercises for the legs, which often cause severe trauma and injury to knee joints and lower backs – Hindu squats actually rehabilitate the knees while strengthening the muscles of the legs. The key element to remember when doing Hindu squats is working into them slowly. Never force progress in this exercise.

People are shocked at how difficult this seeming simple looking exercise can be. I for one doubted if such simple exercise can really make any difference. I used to do 200 half squats with about 100 pounds my shoulder. I started doing Hindu squats today and by the time I did 50 squats couldn’t even stand up. My thighs muscles were so worked out I couldn’t even walk. This is one incredible exercise. The benefits of this exercise are almost immediate.

The proper way of doing a Hindu Squat
1. Begin with your hands pulled in tight to the chest.
2. Bring your hands down and lower your body.
3. Keep hands behind your back for balance.
4. Come up on toes at the bottom.
5. Keep your body upright and your arms down.
6. Swing the arms forward and push off your toes.
7. As you rise, the arms continue up to chest level.
8. When you’re upright, pull your hands in to the chest and begin again.

Gama of India, who never lost once in 5000 wrestling matches did 4,000 Hindu squats each day. Although the numbers could be grossly inflated – but the fact remains that Gama did do this exercise daily and he was unstoppable. If you saw this man’s thighs, you wouldn’t call them thighs but tree trucks made of steel.

Combat athletes, such as wrestlers, martial artists, boxers and football players, who have adopted this exercise, are experiencing similar results – and so are the “average” men and women who simply want to get into better shape fast.

I found out that when you do Hindu squats combined with deep breathing, it not only strengths the entire body, but they rehabilitate the knees and ankles and build phenomenal lung power.

So with day one behind my back, I am definitely going to add this exercise into my daily routine along with the Hindu push ups.

Believe in yourself then there is nothing you cannot accomplish.

Today marks the conclusion of the European Championships or Euro 2004. Greece against all odds claimed the biggest prize in European football. A solitary goal in the 57 minutes by Angelos Charisteas was enough to see the Greeks lift the greatest prize in European football.

Although many may dislike the way Greece played its football, they were certainly the most effective team in this championship.

Greece, the underdogs of the tournament have proven to the world that no one is to be written off. If there is a chance to win, then it’s a chance worth fighting for, no matter the odds. Given the 80-1 odds of winning the tournament. The Greeks believed that they had a chance. And this one chance has become a testament to their hard work and self belief.

I have always believed that if you believe in yourself, then there is nothing you cannot accomplish.

Those who dare to dream are those who catch their dreams.

Since the start of my holidays I have been slowing progressing in my quest to complete my own personal projects. With no looming datelines, I am taking my time to develop these projects. These projects have kept me busy and now have become a major part of my everyday life since completing my diploma.

These projects have given me a chance to express my thoughts and opinions. They have become a house where I can express my sorrows and happiness. Even if these projects never find an audience, at least I tried to do something different. I have always lived and still am living my life following my own motto, my way is the only way.

Well you might say I am ignorant and even arrogant towards others’ ideals but if you were me and have experienced the things the way I have, I beg to differ. If you never try, you just never know. Even if I make mistakes, let me be the first to tell you that these were my honest mistakes. I take pleasure in both my successes and also in my failures. I have never let failure discourage me; in fact it only fuels me to try harder.

I have a burning passion or a Dream. That dream is to create new Indian mythologies or a new kind of Indian literature. I hope these will inspire the future generations or more specifically my Indian counterparts to embrace these new mediums. I hate to see young Indians wasting their lives away and always bitching about life.

The problem lies with young Indian’s mentality or their lack of appreciation toward various mediums. Given the choice of making money or trying something new, most of them will opt to make money. That’s the reason why you see so little Indians in the creative fields.

Those who dare to dream are those who catch their dreams.

Another reason why I write these stories because I feel let down by my traditional minded Indians. I have never read or even come across a sci-fi material worth reading in Tamil. This was the reason why my Tamil suffered so much. I never got interested to read any of the Tamil written novels.

It really saddens me but India has some of the finest authors; they all seem to write stories that please the general public. The topics they favor always revolve around love, marriage, and the hardships endured by a woman. Well it’s about time someone changed all that and I plan to make a small difference.

Even though I will be enlisting for national service on August 18 this year, Rest assured, I will continue to work on these projects whenever I am given the opportunity.

The projects I am currently involved in
1) Ramayanam: The legend of Rama
2) S2: Neo Genesis
3) The Tin Machines
4) The Lord of Darkness

Ramayanam: The Legend of Rama
If you have read my previous post on Ramayanam, you will realize it’s a script that I have been working on for almost a year now. With the first draft nearing completion I am thrilled.

S2 Neo Genesis
This is my first real attempt to tell a story. Although it’s been a year since I drafted the plot. It was only till yesterday I created the main character. For months I have been trying to create a character that would satisfy my desires. I will reveal more of this book when the opportunity presents itself.

The Tin Machines
A serious animation project, I am currently in the pre production stages. Please refer to my previous post on The Tin Machines.

The Lord of Darkness
Formerly known as Shakti. This is my pet project. Almost three years have gone by since I have started work on this epic. This is my gift and also my curse. I have lost sleep and so nearly driven mad. I started writing the lord of Darkness with a single image in my mind.

As my audience I respect your opinions, but you got to understand that you must also respect my opinions. This world is neither yours nor its mine, it’s ours. I might sound so full of myself but that’s the way my heart beats. This life wasn’t given to me, I took it. And I will not listen to anyone who tells me otherwise.

Hard works indeed pays off.

The first match of Euro 2004 was between the host nation Portugal and Greece. Now both teams find themselves squaring off against each other in the final.

The Greeks were written as outsiders by the media even before the tournament started. And if you asked any person who will win the Euro 2004 I bet you never heard Greece. But in all glory the Greeks have become the true underdogs of the tournament.

Even I will humbly admit that the Greeks were not my first choice to win this tournament. My pick was not England nor Germany, or even France. I actually picked the Czech Republic to win the tournament. But as the tournament progressed, a true underdog appeared. After the underestimation by their opponents, the Greeks have performed a miracle to find themselves in the final.

Greek’s Traianos Dellas’ header in added time at the end of the first half of silver goal extra time knocked out the Czech Republic and booked them a place in history. Will the Greek’s storybook fantasy come true or will the golden boys of Portugal finally rise up to the occasion to claim that which has eluded them thus far, the prized trophy of the European championship, only time will tell.

The Portuguese have everything to play for while the Greeks have nothing to lose. And given the fact that no host nation has ever won the tournament on home soil, I hope history repeats itself. Whatever happens, this has been a tournament to remember. May the best team win.

My Pick, the Greeks.

Can we truly exercise Freedom?

As long as man has been conscious of his environment he has strived to be free. Yet everyone still lives with less freedom than it is possible. Individuals today have to sacrifice some of their freedom in order to live in a democratic society. Sacrifices such as not to violate laws and disobey moral principles.

Even if someone was to live in a so called free society, their freedom is limited by the need to earn a living, which subjects him or her to spend time in a dictatorship environment if they work for an employer, or the slavery of being tied to operating their own business.

Since humans consist of both physical and mental state the way to achieve true freedom is to find technologies and methods that fully satisfy both states of human existence.

Knowledge is the key to having such technologies and methods. With the right new knowledge Humanity can solve any problem and achieve any desired result. Eventually, robots, computers, and machines will be developed to the point where they can perform all the work that needs to be done, which will free humans from the binding chains of earning a living, and thereby allow humans true freedom to pursue happiness and fulfillment.

This unlimited production capability and technological advancement will enable Humanity to have infinite provision for all tangible needs and wants for existence, and thereby allow each individual to live in an environment that suits whatever physical needs and desires that individual has.

Through genetic engineering, chemical manipulation, and/or some other method, Humanity will achieve the ability to provide for all mental needs and desires. Humans will discover how to access and unleash the full capabilities and power of the brain, and thereby reach levels of intelligence and thought that takes the essence of being to an unimaginably complete state of existence.

Humanity will be able to achieve control of the brain so one can elect to have any feeling or emotion desired such as a perpetual state of happiness, or one could elect to avoid any feeling or emotion and experience pure thought. Each individual will have the capability to completely control their thoughts, and thereby be the god of their own universe.

True freedom is the ability for each person to live as they desire. This is the ultimate human dream, and therefore should be Humanity’s consummate goal.

But even if we were to attain true freedom, one has to take into account of protecting these freedoms from others. No one would be tolerant if they are not able to express themselves the way they want to be expressed. So in the end, if we cannot change our outlook on freedom then we must eventually change ourselves to accept a new kind of freedom. One that is tolerant of other people’s freedom.

But in some way if man was able to attain the true freedom the way he as envisioned it, what more can man achieve? This brings upon the very question on our existence. Why do we bother existing when we have the ability do anything? Think about it.

One of my favorite songs.

It’s been 10 years since the “Kiss from a Rose” was sung by Seal. But this song has never left my mind.

Seal has one of the greatest voices I have ever heard and everything he sings is pretty much a hit. He one of those rare artist who has an endless depth of musical knowledge. His messages of peace and brotherhood, for all their sincerity, sometimes cross the line between inspiring and overwrought but nonetheless Seal’s vocals are untouchable.

“Kiss From A Rose” is a simply stupendous love song, its supple melody, rich orchestral backing and steady build providing the backdrop for one of Seal’s most remarkable vocal performances. It’s dramatic, evocative, masterful and wholly deserving of its Grammy. This was the song that made me a fan of Seal.

In which the author spends an hour in darkness.

I was about to blog when my monitor suddenly went blank. And before I knew it, I was sitting in my room in total darkness. This is the second time this year I am experiencing a power failure.

The weather hasn’t been cooperating lately and the heat was really getting to most people. Singapore by nature is hottest during mid year, and gets especially warm during the night. So when the fans and air conditioning went down, everyone started to whine and complaint. This shows how much we have come to depend on electricity for our daily needs.

Yet the most remarkable thing was that my dad was able to sleep through this whole ordeal without even realizing that there was no electricity in his room to power the fan.

Goodbye Germans.

Most of my friends know that I am a huge German national team supporter. I have been supporting them since Italia 90 or since I was seven. I still carry a sticker of the national team and the Deutschland soccer logo in my wallet since the Euro 96 championships. That’s over 8 years now.

After seeing my beloved Germans losing to the Czech Republic and crashing out of the Tournament last Wednesday, I was sourly disappointed in the way the Germans approached the Euro 2004 championships. Even in pre tournament matches the Germans were criticized for the lack of creativity up front.

This is the second time in succession the Germans fail to clear the group stages in the European Championships. Although the German media has bashed Rudi Voeller for his team underperformance, I really feel a sense commiseration towards Rudi Voeller.

This is a man who took home the World Cup in Italia 90, and took it upon himself to steer his dark horse national team, a team who many doubted would even make pass the group stages, to the World Cup final in 2002.

Although Rudi Voeller has now resigned from the German national Team as their coach, I wonder if Ottmar Hitzfeld, the clear favorite to replace Rudi Voeller, will be able to produce the glory days of German Football.

And as for my Euro 2004 predications go, I really want to see the Czech Republic win the tournament.

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.

I sat down and played Castlevania: Lament of Innocence on my brother’s Playstation 2. Although the game has been out for quite some time now, I never got the chance to quietly sit down and play this game to my heart’s content. So being presented with this rare opportunity, I had to make the most of it.

Castlevania has always been one of my favourite game franchises. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is the first 3D Castlevania game on the Playstation 2. It is an impressive translation given that Castlevania has its origins deeply rooted in 2D side scroller genre.

Although the game has its outstanding merits, the dialogue is a bit on the quirky side. Nevertheless the game is extremely satisfying. For those of you who are good enough to finish this game, you will find an interesting twist towards the end. I am not going to spoil the experience for you. But it’s worth the effort.

Well for those of you who are clueless about Castlevania, it is a game based on a vampire none other than the infamous, Dracula. Throughout the series, a single family has been tracking and killing Dracula every time he is resurrected. That family is the Belmonts.

But the recent Gameboy Advance versions have seen heroes not related to the Belmont Family. But if you are not a serious fan of the series, these changes are more cosmetic than anything. After all it’s all about whipping the holy shit out of Dracula and his demonic minions.

The true hallmark of this game is neither the story nor even its hauntingly beautiful orchestra score but in its awesome level design and boss battles.

To conclude, if you own a Playstation 2 and love killing demons, you simply can’t go wrong with Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.

One of anime’s truly magnificent experiences.

Released in 1995, this animated film directed by Mamoru Oshii was credited being the inspiration for the Wachowski brothers’ Matrix trilogy.

But it wasn’t until Thursday that I got my hands on it. For all you lost souls who are wondering what is Ghost in the Shell about, I decided to write a review on this anime to enlighten you. Although it is about nine years late, I hope it will inspire you the reader to at least watch this animated film.

Ghost in the Shell, the ghost refers to individual identity and shell refers to bodies both artificial and organic. In the year 2029, an expansive computer network unites the world. In Japan, a covert police division investigates cyber crime in this futuristic world of city-states and mega-corporations.

Major Motoko Kusanagi, a member of Section Nine, searches for a deposed foreign despot seeking political asylum, leading to a person known as the Puppet Master, a hacker who is capable of penetrating even the strongest of the world’s Internet firewalls.

But as Motoko and her partner, Bateau, approach the hacker, the paramilitary security division of the Foreign Service interferes, executing a secret agenda. Meanwhile, Motoko must consider why the Puppet Master seeks her out specifically for his plans. In essence, it is the question of the nature of self.

The movie uses the film noir visuals that are common in anime, and it shares that peculiar tendency of all adult animation to give us women who are (a) strong protagonists at the center of the story, and (b) nevertheless almost continuously nude.

Kenji Kawai’s music contributes wonderfully to the atmosphere of the film, occasionally moving into the foreground as well. A rich blend of orchestral and choral timbres, the vast majority of his composition is understated and calming, making the occasional dissonance even more striking. His expressed doubt of the music’s worthiness is to be ignored; the score is fantastic.

Perhaps the beautiful unity of Ghost in the Shell is best conveyed through example. At the film’s midpoint, haunting music accompanies Motoko as she traverses the city. But an innocent interlude quickly evolves into thematic commentary as Oshii presents the viewer with a series of images; each passively provokes thought and gives the film’s abstract concepts a more concrete foundation. Mokoto first notices several women casually moving through the city who share her facial composition, inviting the viewer to contemplate other similarities.

The human tendency to link body and personality is strongly disrupted by this walk; among millions, Motoko sees time after time faces like her own. These confounding images are followed by scenes of warehouses, store windows, mannequins without faces, bodies without personality. In a mellow scene with no dialogue, director Oshii forcefully presents the dilemma of ghost and shell to the viewer. Once limited to Motoko’s internal conflict, this theme, this independence of spirit and body, expands to infuse itself in every element of this spectacular film.

I for one usually prefer stories that move at a deliberate pace, I found Ghost in the Shell really enjoyable. Director Mamoru Oshii presents many fascinating concepts to consider and the experience is amplified because of his focused direction of the plot. Ghost in the Shell is of one of anime’s truly magnificent experiences.