Science is....

I read somewhere that "There is nothing called Eureka in science rather it is 'That's funny...'" I feel this is really the truth. I also feel that whosoever is doing science/research can be broadly classified into two categories. One is those who happen to get different, weird, funny results and try to find out the reasons to support that while the other category is,for which "That's funny" approach does not seem to work...they rather feel that whatever observations they get does not violate anything in that area ...I mean nothing different. Simply, followers. So if you have to perform some analysis, no new analysis are welcome, the old ones which others are doing and hence they are, so called, well-established should be employed always.....I guess Phil Brown should focus on these kind of categories now!! :-)

After two years!!

I came to know today evening that there is a florist in the IIT Kanpur campus!!!! Shocked I am really!!! He prepares all kind of decorations, almost anything and everything. This might help all those who are not aware of this!!

The Naseeruddin Shah Show!!

Date: 4th January, 2009
Venue: CSJM University
Monologue: Ismat Appa ke Naam

The monologue was presented by Naseer, Ratna Pathak Shah i.e. his wife and Neeba shah, their daughter. It comprised of three short stories by Ismat Chugtai. Ismat Appa was an Indian Urdu writer known for her controversial and remarkable stories. The stories presented were "chui mui" i.e. Touch me Not, "Ghunghat" and "Gharwali". The stories were presented in an amazing manner, really. I attended a Monologue for the first time. I admired the story Ghunghat and most importantly admired the way Ratna Pathak Shah presented it to the audience. I had heard Ismat Chugtai's name earlier but didnt know much about her stories. In fact hadnt read them earlier. This story Ghunghat was really humorous but at the same time had a hidden sadness in it. If you actually sit back and analyze, it had a very tragic end. I just hope it was a fiction and not inspired by any real incidence. In short, this story depicted a guy who was a Mughal and had a black complexion (kaale mia), he got married to a very pretty and specifically a white-complexioned lady (called gori-be). His ego (false, obviously) got hurt on his wedding day after overhearing some remarks about kaale-mia getting married to gori-bi and so he didnt see his wife's face his entire life and at the end died when he was just about to see her.

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.