Science Olympiad

This year, I participated in a competition called Science Olympiad. It is a yearly competition with many build, and theory events. This year I took up 2 build events called Mystery Architecture and  Energy Box and I took up 1 theory event called Road Scholar. In build events, you have to build, in theory events, you are asked questions from your knowledge. In Mystery Architecture, there are instructors who give you items such as :
a plastic cup
straws
toothpicks
tape
golf ball

This year, my partner and I who took part in this were given the following materials and also were told to bring a ruler and a pair of scissors. The challenge was to hold the golf ball for at least 5 seconds and to build a freestanding tower using the materials given in 20 minutes.

The next event is called Energy Box. You are supposed to build an energy box. There are judges who will put hot water in a 120 mL beaker. After 20 minutes, they will open your energy box to see who's box contains the highest temperature and the lightest weight.

The last event that I participated is called Road Scholar. In Road Scholar, you are given maps to identify the different states, countries, highways (interstates),cities, and streets. Also, you will be asked the distances between two cities. They will ask you questions like :

1. Which states does highway 80 cross?
2. How far is San Jose from Santa Cruz?
3. Which country is north of India?


This year, I won 3rd place in Mystery Architecture.

Tech Challenge

This year, I participated in a competition called Tech Challenge. This event is an international competition and occurs every year. This year's challenge was about a person stranded on a bridge after an earthquake. The only parts of the bridge that was remaining was a plank and pieces of broken wire. We had met in the library to discuss about a suspension bridge, the engineering process, how to work together, different types of bridges, and what an NXT Robot is. In April, we had the competition. We made a forklift to pick up the person in less than 3 mins. Unfortunately, we did not win anything. We learned from our mistakes.

shrinivas's joshi's singing concert

In Milpitas, CA in Jain Temple, Shrinivas Joshi had a singing concert on Saturday. He sang very nicely, but he sang very different from his father Bhimsen Joshi. Bhimsen Joshi sings with his chest voice. When you use your chest voice in singing, the sound seems to sound lower and louder, however, Shrinivas Joshi sings with his head voice, which makes him sing higher and sharper. My favorite songs sung by Bhimsen Joshi are :
Ramache Bhajan Techi Majhe Dyan
Arambhi Vandhin Ayodhechya Raja
Paavlo Pandhari Vaikuntabhuvan 
Je Ka Ranjale Ganjale Tyasi
Vital Geethi Dhava
Savale Sundar Roop Manohar
Jata Pandharisi Sukh Vaat Jee

I always listen to Bhimsen Joshi's songs on my dad's iphone and in our car.

Here is some information that I know about Bhimsen Joshi:

Bhimsen Joshi was born in Gadag ,Karnataka on February 4th 1922. In a few years after his birth, his mother died, therefore he needed a stepmother. His father was a school teacher. As he grew up to 8 or 9 years old, he started developing a love for music.Then later at age 11, he left his house to search for a music teacher for three years. He went to Delhi, Kolkata, Gwalior, Lucknow and Rampur. Finally, his dad was able to track him and bring him home.In 1936, he found a good singing teacher. Then in later years, he started performing on stage. Thanks to him, we have a good singer.