A theater built 2500 years ago needed no mics
We find modern theaters awe-inspiring.
The tall ceilings, the rows of seats in a perfect semi-circle and the rise of the curtain signaling the beginning of the performance.
The theater of Epidaurus is located about 60 kms away from Athens.
It was built next to one of the biggest healing centers in Greece and in those times, theater was seen as a form of therapy, in addition to musical performances. And the funds to construct it came from treating patients.
The actors spoke in normal tones and were audible to an audience of 14 thousand people.
Even a coin dropped at the center of the stage could be heard in the most distant rows.
The seats were made of stone of course. Not the plush push back cushions we sink into and hope that a basketball player will not occupy the seat right in front.
The science of sound did not exist. Nor did recordings and the effects that today's wizards rely on.
Even the knowledge of how far sound travels or bounces off surfaces was unknown. And yet, there are videos made on YouTube by today's visitors which show how clearly the person speaking on stage was audible even in the top rows.
It is a marvel of engineering because there may have hardly any tests done to determine the acoustics. How Policlitus, the architect imagined the entire project will never be known.
The massive stone seats themselves were hard to put together and were mined from the limestone quarry nearby.
We've improved on the special effects, the stage design and the grandeur of the performances since then.
But to have created this in ancient times and to conceive of the scale that audiences would be awed by is a truly historical work of art.
The twist to an airline luggage mix up?
Most of us vent our frustration on the system.
Or on social media and earn sympathy because we've all faced it at some point or the other. Invariably in situations where the only clothes you have are the ones you are wearing.
Here's a tip.
When shopping for new luggage, pick out the most garish piece! Don't go for the understated ones that complement the rest of your wardrobe. On the baggage conveyor belt, it should stand out like a beacon.
That ensures no one else picks the wrong suitcase off the airline luggage conveyor belt. Which is what happened to Nandan Kumar who realised when he reached home that he had picked up someone else's suitcase. Except for the key-based locks, it was similar to his own.
Calls to the airline - Indigo, did not help.
Being in IT, he took matters into his own hands (be careful if you're doing this because you could be bending some rules) and was able to inspect the check-in records.
He assumed that the other person would have complained as well and he found the customer contact details from one of the company's responses.
He made contact and exchanged the suitcase with the other passenger. The airline was out of the loop altogether!
Now, this is a perfect example of solving your own problems - but most people don't think of hacking into airline developer consoles. And they wouldn't have the foggiest idea of how to do it either.
This tale ended well for everyone.
Except for a slightly sheepish airline customer service department which had nothing to do with the happy ending!
There's a robot roaming the neighborhoods of Shanghai
t looks like a walking spider.
And as it goes by, it makes the latest health announcements from authorities.
Turning one of the world's most populous cities into a ghost town must take a lot of effort.
It sounds high-pitched and since the announcements are in Chinese, well, all those listening must have got the gist of what's being said.
But in these days of multiple access, right from mobile phones to broadcast televisions to social media, it seems like overkill.
People are closeted in homes all day, waiting and searching for news.
So, why have a robot stroll around like a street vendor from decades ago?
The discipline is impressive.
There isn't a single person out on the roads, or even a whisper of traffic.
The footage is from inside a residential enclave, so people are following the rules.
This is in addition to drones that patrol the skies.
This may have looked good as movie entertainment - but living through it is another matter altogether.
And one wonders if the announcements could have had some measure of comfort, instead of having this strange creature wandering around.
Whatever the objective, this is really one of the weirdest communication devices to emerge from the pandemic.
Decades ago, grandma's tales hinted at some mythical monsters hiding in the woodwork.
And that was enough for children to clutch their blankets tightly and never venture out of bed.
But to have a version walk the streets is taking it to another level.
Does it work better? We'll probably have to ask the people of Shanghai.