Destination Infinity's Blog

Marina Beach, Chennai gets a Makeover! (2025)

The Marina Beach in Chennai is the world’s third largest beach, and perhaps the most populous beach. Recently, they had installed many wooden decorations, and utility items like wooden chairs, wooden recliners, wooden watch towers, etc. which we saw today during our visit.

The above embedded video from our new Youtube Channel (Surya Agnitha) shows a glimpse of the new installations in under a minute. The video also features our 3d replica figures that have fun with the new installations – thanks to AI video generations.

We publish many short videos as well in that channel, that uses AI generated content. Do subscribe and follow it to get notifications about the latest videos we’ll be publishing there. We share only a few videos on this blog.

There is a reason why we selected the name Surya Agnitha. We thought which names we would have chosen for ourselves, had we been given an option as an adult.

During my 11th Std, we actually discussed this and I selected Surya because I liked the character of Rajnikanth in Thalapathi which is also named Surya.

And my wife was initially given the name Agnitha, but her parents changed it later because it seemed to have a slight negative connotation. She likes that name even today, and associates it with Dr. Abdul Kalam.

So Rajesh & Ramya = Surya & Agnitha from now on

Destination Infinity

TOURIST FAMILY (TAMIL) – MOVIE REVIEW

Recently, I happened to watch a wonderful Tamil movie called Tourist Family @ Rohini Cinema Complex, Chennai. It is the story of Tamil immigrants from Sri Lanka, coming to Tamil Nadu, India, and trying to adapt to their new life here. And in that course, influencing everyone’s lives whom they come into contact.

This is a well-made movie by a 24-year-old debutante director Abishan Jeevinth. Humor, Suspense, and Drama have been expertly mixed to hide the message that the movie wants to communicate, to people who are receptive. For everyone else, there is still the feel-good entertainment and a lot of humor.

Even if you are old enough not to believe in the inherent goodness within all of us, this movie will change your mind — at least for some time after the climax!

Sasikumar, known for taking up such offbeat scripts, is the best person to play the protogonist convincingly. No wonder, he aced it. Simran, acting in a character role has brought all her experience to make us believe that the portrayal is casual and realistic. The two children, I guess both new, are the real finds of this movie. The younger one, especially, entertains like no other! MS Baskar stands out as usual. The other characters have also been selected and executed carefully and believably.

When the music director said in an interview that there were six songs in the movie – I was wondering – was there even one? That’s how integral music is to this movie and it amplifies the emotions so well that we forget that there were any songs in the first place.

The young director has made a near-perfect movie, and says in an interview that he found many mistakes after reviewing the footage in the editing room, and that he was still ‘learning’. Hmm…

This is the first movie after Kakka Muttai that made me go out of my way to recommend to everyone, everywhere. I never thought such a message can be so convincingly told on screen, and still make people enjoy.

I wish we could encourage more such movie makers to take up and execute such offbeat scripts. Maybe that’s why I am inspired to write a movie review on my blog after such a long time. Do watch the movie in the Cinamas – you’ll come out with a heart filled with love that will last – at least for a few hours

Destination Infinity

Revisiting Michael Crichton & Sidney Sheldon

I recently read (listened to) two books written by authors Michael Crichton & Sidney Sheldon. These two were two of my favorite authors during my 12th Std holidays, and I had read a few books written by each, then.

Sphere by Michael Crichton

This is a psychological thriller. A team is sent into the middle of an ocean to investigate what looks like a huge UFO spacecraft. What they find in it, and how the peril starts to hound them once they enter it and discover a reflective ‘sphere’ inside the ship, forms the story.

I remember reading the Jurassic Park series, Congo, The Andromeda Strain, and a few more SciFi thrillers by Michael Crichton – before all those years. I loved them. But I wasn’t sure how much I would like this genre now.

Once I started with the book, I had no more apprehensions. This SciFi based Psychological Thriller gripped me, just like his earlier books. I just have one issue – why didn’t I read this earlier?

Angel of the Dark by Sidney Sheldon

For some reason, maybe because they were not made into movies that I watched, I don’t remember the titles of the books I read back then by Sidney Sheldon., But I do remember that I loved the books.

So I decided to read a random book by him – Angel of the Dark. I’ve always liked crime thrillers, but this was definitely impressive and kept me hooked.

This is a crime thriller told in the perspective of a police officer who fails to move forward in a murder case, and the case is closed due to his small oversight. But he is unable to forgive himself and, after a few years, moves on to Interpol.

The case comes back to haunt him when similar murders were being committed across the world in the same pattern, presumably by the same killer. What does it take to bring that serial killer to stop? That’s the crux of the story.

I guess I am going to get on a spree of rediscovering my favorite authors from childhood!

Destination Infinity

4th Chennai Flower Show (Semmozhi Poonga)

The above embedded video contains a few photos from the 4th Chennai Flower Show held at Semmozhi Poonga, near Gemini Floyover. This flower exhibition will be held from 2nd January 2025 to 11th January 2025. The ticket cost is Rs. 200 per adult, and Rs. 100 per child. Photo Camera and Video Camera tickets extra, if you choose to take them.

This flower show is a great option for people who have not visited the flower show in semmozhi poonga last year. This year, they have almost repeated the same exhibits, except a couple of new ones.

That said, even at this slightly higher ticket cost, if you love flowers and greenery, the flower show is still worth a visit for the numerous flowers and plants on display. Earlier, our only option was to go to Ooty or Bangalore – but now Chennai at least has an annual flower show.

Destination Infinity

Happy New Year 2025 :)

Hello readers,

Wishing you all a very happy new year 2025 I have made a chess-themed new year greetings video because there have been many victories for Indian chess players on a global stage, recently.

Personally, work has kept me from updating this blog more frequently. Hopefully, I’ll get more time to write in 2025.

Since I need to lie down and rest frequently in between work, I am listening to a lot of audiobooks. Figure this – I have read three Chetan Bhagat novels – the mystery aspect was quite good

We watched Pushpa 2 (Entertaining), Lucky Baskar (Very Good). After the experience with Indian 2, we are not going to first day first shows nowadays. We are waiting for reviews, and then selecting which movies to go.

I am also listening to non-fiction books, mostly biographies. If you can recommend any good biographies, do let me know in the comments. It will help me while choosing new books

Destination Infinity

Mind Without Fear by Rajat Gupta (Book Review)

Mind Without Fear is a memoir written by an Indian-American Consultant turned philanthropist, Rajat Gupta. I listened to his memoir on Audible.

Frankly, I never knew about him and his case and conviction about him. So his elaborate justification and convincing didn’t appeal to me.

But what impressed me the most is the second part of the book – his childhood, upbringing, education and work compressed into a relatively short portion of the audiobook. I wished this section was longer, but whatever was there was better than most memoirs.

Imagine this – the son of a middle class freedom fighter and journalist, who loses his parents before he even completed his IIT college degree, not just gets into the Management Program at Harvard, but also lands the job as a McKinsky Consultant.

Wait, we are not done yet – he goes on to become the first non-white CEO of that firm, finishes three terms, and is retired – all before he was even 55! He then sits on the board of many large MNCs and NGOs, and is the primary person responsible for setting up ISB Business School in Hyderabad. Now, that’s something I call an achievement!

I loved this portion of the book. I think he could have written even more about his work as a consultant instead of trying to bash everyone involved in convicting him for insider trading. I sort of liked the chapters about his life in prison, but this too could have been shorter.

Anyways, this book is a good read.

Destination Infinity

Andhagan FDFS Review: Brutal. Thrilling. And GOOD.

This time, we got a chance to watch the first day first show of Tamil movie Andhagan with the movie’s stars – Prashanth, Simran, and Priyaa Anand at Koyambedu Rohini Complex today.

The FDFS Andhagan Movie Review in one line: Brutal. Thrilling. And Good.

It seems this movie is a remake of the superhit Hindi movie Andhadhun. I have not watched the original, but this Tamil remake is good too.

There are certain events that happen in this movie that are not realistic, but, if you consider the movie as an entertainment, all that doesn’t matter. What mattered to me was, whether the movie was able to hold my attention till the end, and it did.

We have already seen Simran in a negative role in Parthen Rasithen, again along with Prashanth. But in this movie, she takes the negative role to a different level. I wouldn’t be surprised if she resurfaces back as a big villain in the near future

The movie’s cast has done a very good role. The direction and editing is crisp – not many frames are wasted with unnecessary scenes. The final song was good.

Overall, I liked this movie. If you like violent horror-thriller movies (incidentally, I don’t!) don’t miss this movie. Even otherwise, Andhagan might make that genre appeal to you, like how it did to me.

Destination Infinity

PS: This movie’s trailer is not good, watch the older Hindi (Andhadhun) trailer if you want to catch a glimpse of what to expect.

Why Snatch Away the Silver Medal? #VineshPhogat #Wrestling #Olympics

In one of the stupidest rules set by United World Wrestling, Vinesh Phogat has lost even the silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which she deserved and won.

I can understand if she was not allowed to fight in the final match as she was overweight by 100 grams. But how on earth can they snatch away the Silver Medal for which she fought so hard and won? She defeated such stalwarts en-route, and now we face this situation.

How can the UWW draft a rule that snatches away a medal, after it was won having been in the right weight until then? This is just unacceptable.

I also feel that India has been soft on this case. If this was cricket, people would have been falling over each other to influence the ICC. But, I feel, people in certain administrative positions are soft on demanding the Silver that Vinesh, and India deserves.

For the first time, I am losing my respect for an Olympic Medal.

I respect people who fight giants for a rightful cause. Vinesh is already a STAR. She doesn’t need that silver decoration which will not be visible in her shine anyway.

That Silver Medal doesn’t deserve Vinesh.

Destination Infinity

Optimizing Nutrition for the Fragile Health of Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Photo Credit: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1616843778704-4eb1bff0b49b

Optimizing nutrition is crucial for nurturing low-birth-weight infants. Each nutrient-packed feeding, whether fortified breast milk or balanced formula, supports their health and growth. Beyond medical routines, their journey reflects resilience and progress.

In this article, we explore the evolving science and compassionate practices that shape infant nutrition. It goes beyond sustenance to highlight how each nourishing moment contributes to their development.

Nutritional Needs of Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Nutritional needs for low-birth-weight infants demand precise attention to support their fragile health and development. They benefit from fortified breast milk or specialized formulas rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals vital for growth.

WebMD states the nutritional needs of low-birth-weight infants are connected to the National Academy of Medicine’s recommendations for protein intake. These guidelines emphasize higher protein requirements, averaging about 1.2 grams per kilogram daily, which are crucial for supporting growth and development in infancy.

Monitoring caloric intake is crucial to ensure proper weight gain without taxing immature digestive systems. Micronutrients like iron and calcium are essential for bone strength and cognitive development. Regular adjustments to feeding plans are necessary as these infants grow and their nutritional needs change.

Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding

Breast milk offers customized nutrients that aid immune function, digestion, and overall development, fostering bonding between mother and baby. Its antibodies provide crucial protection against infections, especially beneficial for vulnerable infants.

Formula attempts to replicate breast milk but lacks some immune components and varies in digestibility. It serves as a dependable alternative when breastfeeding isn’t feasible. Deciding between the two requires careful consideration of the infant’s health and the mother’s circumstances.

Infant formulas may include cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or soy protein. Cow-based milk formulas have raised concerns for their link to necrotizing enterocolitis in infants, a serious intestinal condition. Such severe health issues have urged parents to opt for legal proceedings. According to TorHoerman Law, parents are filing lawsuits against baby formula manufacturers, alleging that the formulas may contain ingredients linked to NEC.

The NEC lawsuit update suggests inadequate warnings and safety measures from formula manufacturers, prompting scrutiny of product regulation and infant health safeguards. These cases highlight ongoing safety debates, regulatory standards, and manufacturer responsibilities. Healthcare providers stress cautious formula use, especially in vulnerable groups, to reduce its related risks in newborns.

Specialized Feeding Techniques

Paced feeding regulates milk flow to match sucking ability, preventing overfeeding and aiding digestion.

MedlinePlus states specialized feeding techniques are crucial for infants who struggle to consume adequate breast milk for optimal growth. Monitoring feedings and diaper changes—8 to 10 feedings and 6 to 8 wet diapers daily—ensures adequate nutrition.

Techniques like finger feeding or using specialized devices ensure effective milk delivery for infants unable to breastfeed directly. Proper positioning during feeding is critical for comfort and reducing aspiration risk.

Caregivers, guided by healthcare providers, customize these methods to meet each infant’s unique needs, promoting healthy weight gain and overall development. These approaches are essential for supporting the fragile health of these infants during their early stages of life.

Nutritional Challenges and Solutions

They often face issues like immature digestive systems and increased nutrient requirements. Balancing calorie intake and meeting needs for protein, vitamins, and minerals is crucial for growth.

ADAM states nutritional challenges are critical for achieving proper weight gain, varying with size and gestational age. Premature infants may need a weight gain of 5 grams daily, while more mature infants may require 20-30 grams, aligning with fetal growth rates.

To combat weight gain, use fortified breast milk or specialized formulas that are easily digested and absorbed. Regular monitoring and adjustment of feeding plans are crucial to meet their evolving nutritional needs as they develop.

Importance of Human Milk Fortification

Fortifying human milk is vital for nourishing low birth weight infants, supplementing it with extra nutrients like protein and vitamins. This practice supports their growth, reduces the risk of deficiencies, and boosts immune function. Fortified milk is customized to meet each infant’s specific needs, improving weight gain and overall health.

Healthcare providers meticulously adjust fortification levels based on the infant’s progress, ensuring they receive optimal nutrition for their delicate development. This tailored approach guarantees that even the most vulnerable infants receive essential nutrients crucial for their health.

Monitoring and Assessing Growth

Healthcare providers track weight gain, length, and head circumference to ensure healthy development. Regular measurements help identify trends and adjust feeding plans to meet changing nutritional needs. Growth charts designed for premature infants guide assessments, comparing their progress against expected milestones.

Healthcare teams also monitor developmental milestones to assess overall health. Early detection of growth issues allows timely intervention, ensuring infants receive adequate nutrition for optimal growth and resilience. This systematic approach ensures that nutritional strategies effectively support the fragile health of these infants in their early stages of life.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are the nutritional challenges specific to low-birth-weight infants?

LBW infants encounter unique nutritional challenges like early growth issues, infection vulnerability, developmental delays, and heightened mortality risks in infancy and childhood. They commonly lack essential micronutrients crucial for proper growth and development. Supplementing these nutrients can help alleviate complications linked to LBW and very low birth weight, promoting improved health outcomes.

What are the considerations and benefits of formula feeding for low-birth-weight infants?

Formula feeding offers consistent nutrition for LBW infants when breastfeeding is impractical. Specialized formulas support growth, ensuring easy digestion and nutrient absorption. Caregivers can adjust feedings accurately, providing flexibility while meeting the infant’s health requirements.

How can caregivers monitor and ensure adequate nutrition for LBW infants at home?

Monitoring  LBW infants’ nutrition by recording feeding times, quantities, and intake observations. Adhering to healthcare provider guidelines for formula preparation and storage is crucial. Regular weight checks and developmental assessments help evaluate growth and overall health.

Nourishing Tiny Lives

Optimizing nutrition is crucial for the delicate health and development of infants with low birth weight. Tailored approaches like fortified breast milk, formula feeding, and specialized feeding techniques are essential for meeting their unique nutritional needs.

Monitoring growth, adjusting feeding plans, and ensuring proper fortification are vital practices that promote optimal outcomes. Caregivers, supported by healthcare providers, play a pivotal role in implementing these strategies effectively.

Harkara Tamil Movie Review

After watching a disaster of a movie called Indian-2 in the theater, we decided to console ourselves by watching the original superhit ‘Indian’ movie that was released in ’95. Strangely, my wife was watching it for the first time and she loved it.

So, the following week, I thought of picking another movie with a similar historical theme, and I stumbled upon ‘Harkara’ – the story of two postmans, one contemporary, and another who lived 150 years ago.

Fortunately, except for certain gory scenes near the climax, the movie turned out to be a good entertainer. You’ll get a feel of the movie by just looking at its trailer –

This movie has excellent cast, realistic and believable actions/storyline, good music, and overall – good direction. While the contemporary scenes are humorous, the past is serious. Actually, they blend well together as a combination.

I think I liked the movie – do watch if you get the time.

Destination Infinity

PS: Do play with AI image generation – it’s fun