The Mumbai Terror Attack!!!

Who was Sandeep Unnikrishnan? He was an Indian. Neither Maharastrian, North Indian nor South Indian. The 31 year old only-son of a retired ISRO officer. Unfortunately people will always remember who Raj Thackrey is but we will very soon forget who Sandeep Unnikrishnan was!! Heros are to be remembered only on a special day (26/11) but Raj Thackery will be a celebrity always, on news channels, in newspapers and in people's mind too!! Shame on us!!

Another Nature Retraction

Retraction

Nature 452, 120 (6 March 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature06819

Genetic tracing reveals a stereotyped sensory map in the olfactory cortex

Zhihua Zou, Lisa F. Horowitz, Jean-Pierre Montmayeur, Scott Snapper & Linda B. Buck

Nature 414, 173–179 (2001)

This Article described patterns of labelling observed in olfactory cortex when a transneuronal tracer was co-expressed with single odorant receptor genes in the mouse olfactory epithelium. During efforts to replicate and extend this work, we have been unable to reproduce the reported findings. Moreover, we have found inconsistencies between some of the figures and data published in the paper and the original data. We have therefore lost confidence in the reported conclusions. We regret any adverse consequences that may have resulted from the paper's publication.

Great Egypt!

!!Egypt!! It really fascinates me!! I just love to read anything about it and watch anything based upon it!!

In the latest National Geographic magazine the main article features "Black Pharaohs" (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/hubs/latest-features.html). Pharaoh, according to Wikipedia is Egyptian word for king, but for a descriptive definition kindly check the Wikipedia!!

I really admire Egyptians, their idea about immortality, their ways of saying a final goodbye to their Kings and Queens, it really amazes me!!

This bottle of perfume e.g. was found in one of the cemeteries as a gift to one of its King and this amazingly carved pendent (above) designed for a goddess are clearly evident of their values and rich and different culture!!




The first king of Egypt mentioned by name in the Bible is Shishaq, the title pharaoh is prefixed to his name in the Great Dakhla stela—as in Pharaoh Shoshenq—which dates to Year 5 of his reign.
Although over the world wide net there are several ways Pharaohs have been defined.

"http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/masterindex.htm" This is a good website that talks about the history of Egypt and much more!!

Shiksha Sopan Annual Program

Day & Date : 13th Jan,08 a Beautiful and sunny Sunday.
Event : Shiksha Sopan Annual function by small kids
Place : The GPN Mahavidyalaya, Barasirohi, Kanpur.

Shiksha Sopan was started in 2001 by a bunch of IITK students in order to impart education to the children in the nearby villages, Barasirohi village being one of them. I have joined this group recently and I try to go to one of these centers once a week (although not a very significant amount of time). The kids who generally come to this center includes those who are a regular school-goer and those who are not! There are children of various age groups. I think it ranges from 4-15yrs. I am especially inclined towards the smaller age group, reason being, their innocence, their questions which come without any hesitation, their freedom to show their liking for others, for example one day a small girl simply came over and told me that she likes me a lot. She is very sweet too! I am not being biased but she 'radiates' innocence, really!!

So that Sunday they were all prepared and decked up for the annual function. There were many group dance, drama, fashion show and the occasion was graced by Prof. S Khandekar and his PhD supervisor from Germany. The dramas were very nicely presented on common social issues. It was really great to see small children giving such big messages to the society on social issues.

Great experience for me and a lovely bright Sunday.