Cingular Road Side Assistance Phone Number #Help

Dear Sumant,
Yesterday night at Neckers parking lot I discovered that my car's battery wasn't working and it was midnight. Fortunately I had access to computer and I had Cingular's road side assistance service enabled. The funny thing about the website is it doesn't mention what number to call. So if you are in a situation like that the remember the phone number is '#Help'. Its a good service they give you 4 free services which include towing, jump start or changing wheel, 24 hrs a day and it costs only $3 per month. Definitely worth it.

Best regards
Sumant Sumant

Chittyville haunted house, The Rocky Horror Show

Dear Sumant,

Today I had two new experiences. The one was going to Chittyville Haunted house in Herrin, Illinois. I been hearing those radio commercial for past one month on the radio. So Alicia, I and Gabe decided to check it out. Well though I don't enjoy horror movies. Haunted house was fun. We reached there around 19 hrs but there was a long line and we entered around 19:44. It took I guess about 7-8 minutes to finish it. As you might expect there were lots of props and neatly dressed people insided it to scare the hell out of you. I wasn't scared or pretended that I wasn't. Believe me it was fun. There were lots of rooms and a really long dark alley plus the air wall. A room with too bright lights and screaming people with props appearing from nowhere. I would rate it as good though I don't have a bench mark against which I am rating. Go with your friends you will enjoy it.

The other thing I did was to go to Rocky Horror Show. I think its almost every year they screen at student center. I was there with Alicia, Christian, Tory and Amber. Amber had been here many times and she knew what all things to do during the show. It was $3 for ticket and $3 for the prop bag which contains birthday cap, rice, frills, toilet paper, Newspaper and a birthday whistle. I quick read on wikipedia after the show told me that it was a not so popular movie when it came out, but has become a sort of cult movie now. The show begins with anybody who hasn't been to show before as marked 'V' for being virgin on their forehead by the host. I was marked too and before the show begins they are made to eat brownie placed on the crotch of the opposite sex to break their virginity all in good fun. The audience participation is encouraged. The costume of the film is readily recognized and so lots of audience came dressed as their favorite character in the movie. I would suggest one should watch the movie first as it is hard to understand the voices as there as people are cat calls and pun belted out by audience in good humor. If you haven't been there you must go its a different experience with all that audience participation.

That's for now
Best regards
Sumant Sumant

Reading and other passions

Dear Sumant,

One of thing I been trying hard is to get my parents and my sister to read the 7 habits of highly effective people. It has been an uphill struggle so far. I don't know why its so difficult for some people to read and finish a book and not coming out changed person. I have given this book and recommended it to scores of people. I first read this book in 2002 and since then I have now read it many times over from cover to cover. It has a profound influence on me. One other guy who influenced me without knowing it was Ashutosh who used to live in Jia Sarai. It was about changing our mood. He used to keep some books by Akio Morita, Kim bu chung and Norman Vincent etc and whenever he used to feel the negativity has started to taken over him he would read some of these authors. I grasped that idea and been using it to great effect. To me its surprising that anybody who doesn't get changed by reading books because when I look back than I can find tons of books which help shape me the person I am and whenever I read new book I am usually able to see the kind of new effect it has on me and that's why I am excited abot reading books. I am very fortunate that here at SIUC I have access to almost any book I see in the market for free.

Yesterday I was reading "Euler- The master of us all" and about his work. Euler published a lot of mathematics. Many of his books, paper and letters became classic. One of which included some 200 letters he wrote for German Princess. I guess thats what most people who learn mathematics have in common. The joy of seeing through a proof is something indescribable and sometimes it makes me wonder about all those people who dismiss this subject as dry, I can only think that they never had good teachers to show them the beauty or they just don't like to think. They miss one of the deep joy of knowing how things work. Its like seeing a tremendous mountain or a huge deep blue lake or ocean which illicit a response of aha.

Br,
Sumant Sumant

Hairspray, Bowling and off Crutches

Today I watched Hairspray with Akina, Went bowling with Alicia. I am off crutches after almost 6 weeks. So pretty much badminton is out of reckonning for a year. I been able to spend some time learning Gap and Group Explorer and its been interesting. I wanted to document also my 2nd Crutch experience. I am still limping and walking a moderate distance is not fun. But it does feel great to just walk. Otherwise being on crutch and when you have to put all your weight on one leg gets tiring.

New Books and New Things

Dear Sumant,

Several new things I would like to share. Last Friday I saw the craters on the moon first hand. It was Murat who arranged the time for me at the Necker's Telescope. No matter how much you know about the craters and all that stuff, seeing is all together a different experience. I have finished several books including all 8 volumes of Osamu Tezuki's Buddha. Ode to Kirihito. Through the Painted Desert by David Miller among others. I reread Alchemist and few other books.
I sprained my right leg again while playing badminton so I am still on crutches after more than 3 weeks. Which is good because of that I was able to read a lot. Lot of people have helped me in between and I am very thankful to them. Roy gave me Crepe Bandage and Volini cream, plus several times he got me grocery.
Some new experiences include trip to Health Center. Using Transit Taxi, Eating a buffet a KFC. Programming in Matlab and Scilab.

That's for now
Best Regards
Sumant