Richard P. Feynman

Being a great admirer of Feynman, I think it is injustice not to have any of his quotes in my blog...Here are two of his poems that I/many like:

I wonder why, I wonder why.
I wonder why I wonder.
I wonder why I wonder why
I wonder why I wonder!

I stand at the seashore, alone, and start to think...
There are the rushing waves
mountains of molecules
each stupidly minding its own business
trillions apart
yet forming white surf in unison.

Ages on ages
before any eyes could see
year after year
thunderously pounding the shore as now.
For whom, for what?
On a dead planet
with no life to entertain.

Never at rest
tortured by energy
wasted prodigiously by the sun
poured into space.
A mite makes the sea roar.

Deep in the sea
all molecules repeat
the pattern of one another
till complex new ones are formed.
They make others like themselves
and a new dance starts.

Growing in size and complexity
living things
masses of atoms
DNA, protein
dancing a pattern ever more intricate.

Out of the cradle
onto dry land
here it is
standing:
atoms with conciousness;
matter with curiosity.

Stands at the sea,
wonders at wondering: I
a universe of atoms
an atom in the universe.
-- Richard P. Feynman (1955)

கனா காணும் காலங்கள்
- ஆம், நிச்சயமாக நம் பள்ளி நாட்கள் தாம்!

மிகுந்த சுவையுடன் அசை போடும் நினைவுகள்.

குடும்பம் என்ற வட்டத்திற்கு அப்பாற்பட்டுக் கிடைத்த முதல் அன்பு: நண்பர்கள்.
அவர்களுடன் விளைந்த சிறு மோதல்கள், அதனைத் தொடர்ந்த அன்புப் பரிமாற்றங்கள், அரும்புக் காதல்கள் என்று பல நினைவில் நீங்கா எண்ணங்கள்; இலட்சியங்களை சாதிக்கும் குணங்கள்,நம்மை அறியாமலேயே விதையிடப்பட்ட பருவம்: பள்ளிப் பருவம்.

இத்தகைய அருமையான பள்ளிப் பருவத்தை மையமாகக் கொண்ட "கனா காணும் காலங்கள்" என்னும் விஜய் டிவி நிகழ்ச்சி நான் விரும்பிப் பார்க்கும் ஒன்று.

அத்தியாயம் 267-ல், நண்பர்களுக்கிடையே நிகழும் மோதல்களினால் ஏற்படும் வலியை அற்புதமாக ஒரு கவிதையின் மூலம் சொல்லி இருந்தார்கள்; இதோ உங்களுக்காக்:

நண்பா!

நீ பறவை, நான் மரம்.
என் கிளையை காயப்படுத்திவிட்டு உயர எழும் உன் கால்கள்;
உயர உயர நீ பறப்பாய், காயப்பட்ட நானோ கண்ணீருடன்;
எல்லைகளைத் தொட்டுக் களைத்து நீ திரும்பி வருவாய் இளைப்பாற
என் கிளைகள் எப்போதும் காத்திருக்கும்.

பள்ளி பருவத்தில் நமக்கு நம்மீது இருந்த நம்பிக்கையை நினைவூட்டுவதாக அமைந்தது மற்றொன்று:

நான் மலையில் கல்லுடைப்பதாக எண்ணி
அணைவரும் என்னை அலட்சியமாக பார்த்தார்கள்
அவர்களுக்குத் தெரியவில்லை நான் மலையை
உடைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் என்று.

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A Horribe Choice

Whoever said PhD is tough is 200% correct.
When I took up graduate studies I had the opinion that this student didn't enjoy science. But now I realise that a PhD is not only about learning to do science but also understanding and managing people...working to meet their expectations and imaginations!
My first recommendation to anyone who sees this blog: DO NOT OPT for PHD. Instead, take up a masters course by research, and if you still survived, then opt for PhD (at your own risk again).
For those who have already gained admission, please do not choose a project which involves two PIs. You are likely to suffer as much as I do...or even more. The ideas, experiences, expectations of X and Y being different, you are more likely to get trained in managing these people rather than doing any work. Particularly when X discusses things and Y simply works things it is lot lot lot lot lot more difficult.

The other suggestion I would like to give someone who has got an admit, choose a group that is established, dynamic and lively. Do not choose to be supervised by professors who are in the senior-most cadre (administrative jobs)...and even if you choose to, make sure he/she has a big group working. Do not get stuck as a single person driving your project.

The Awful Unresponsiveness of Death

This phrase 'awful unresponsiveness of death' has been haunting me ever since I read it in 'The English Teacher' by R. K. Narayan. What a painful feeling it must be...a feeling of emptiness. Nothing more can be more sorrowful than an unexpected, untimely demise of a dear one. But life has to go on....painfully though.

Are your words holding you back?

well...seems like I am blog-freak today!
An article that appeared in Lifestyle MSN: Are your words holding you back? again caught my attention. No man is unworthy...he is what he believes is! Read it to find more!

The New Marriage Rules

Today seems to be blog day! :-D

This article, The New Marriage Rules, captures the changes in the outlook towards marriage in today's world. Adjusting, compromising with each others attitude seem to be needed for a happier life! (I cannot comment on this more, without experiencing it ;-)

Reciprocity
An important problem among friends, though not always explicitly stated is ' Reciprocity'. Recently I read another article wherein person A had raised this problem to a counsellor: I have been there for my friend in all her so-and-so things, but for my so-and-so things, she doesn't reciprocate at all. This hurts me. For which the counsellor suggested that the friend is probably having her own problems that she doesn't really share with you..blah blah blah....What really caught me was this statement:

It's better if we're "there for people" simply because we choose to be.

Damn true ain't it? Why care for a return...but enjoy what you do! :-)

ARRANGED MARRIAGE!
Being born and brought up in India, one doesn't find the idea of 'Arranged Marriage' so different. But for many people out of the Indian sub-continent, arranged marriage is something very interesting and sometimes funny! How could you marry someone whom you do not know? is a common question I have encountered while talking to people. Recently, my supervisor brought to our attention (in lieu of my labmate's wedding) an article in MSN. Anjali Mansukhani married a guy working in the US, arranged by the parents. She discusses the pros of arranged marriage in the article and finally punches in the essence of Indian culture:

Had I found my own mate, I'm sure my parents would have come around, but I'd have to live knowing that they wouldn't be truly emotionally invested in the success of the marriage.

Every individual aspires for social integration or social recognition. Indian tradition and culture, I believe, is designed to facilitate achieving it, paving way for a happier life! Not to undervalue the western system, Anjali highlights the pros of the American culture too. A good combination of the Indian and western culture for a happier life!
(Indian-born love-married couples: No offense intended...and perhaps this might not be the true in all cases!)

A pep blog!

As I prepare for my mock presentation tomorrow, I cannot help thinking of the comfort, moral support, reassurance, confidence that I had while preparing for competitive exams at home. The physical presence of my parents, sisters have had a very positive influence on all my performances, knowingly or unknowingly. Sitting here all alone, across the seas, I miss the warmth of my home. But this experience teaches me to be self-motivated. As I grow up in my profession, I believe, self-motivation, sustainment, perseverance are qualities that would be necessary to keep me in the front. Reassured by the thought of the warmth at home, getting back to work! :-)

The Best Education

I recently came across an article (click on article for the article) by Prof. Michael Raghunath, NUS in a local newspaper in the 'science talk' column. It is a very good article wherein he describes what research-based education is. I was really taken back by his writing skills. I think, not all can write what they think (and not all can think so clearly!)! I would say, thinking clearly and writing the SAME is an art, an art that is at par with other forms of expression such as painting, singing etc. It has its own rules! The article is a must read for anyone who wants to know about research-based training and for an example of excellent writing!

Friendship...

Human happiness may always be related to associations. At different ages, different associations give happiness. Friendship, a predominant association atleast until one gets married, shapes one's character and self-esteem. There are many theories and studies from how friendship blosoms and influences on the shaping of one's character to how to maintain friendships (quite a number of good websites came up when I googled!). On some reflection coupled with some google searches (and coupled with my natural inclination towards psychology), I realised three important factors/phenomena/act that create/sustain friendships. One is the reciprocity between friends. I tell something very personal to my friend, and I expect my friend to be open with me on his personal feeling. This is very much essential in the initial stages of friendship and sometimes this is expected even after several years of friendship. But there are friends who understand that experience and exposure varies as we grow and venture into defining our own lives. Then a mature relation is established and each other acknowledge each other for their transformation. This is especially true in case of high-school friends. Each friend enters different schools for their degree and comes out with different experiences and perceptions towards life. The second factor that I realised is important in creating and sustaining friendship is a common interest. People who have common interests easily bond. This is because humans tend to like to be acknowledged for their thoughts and interests. Also, common interests form a platform over which friends talk over several subjects ultimately leading to intimacy. Third, I felt demostration of the feeling of friendship is important and gives a significant boost to the strength and length of friendship between two friends. When I acknowledge and introduce someone as my friend (friend, not as in the corporate world), the social recognition and identity that is created gives a significant boost to the self-esteem and confidence for both the friends. This is again due to our social-living nature. Apart from this, altruism is often a mark of true friendship. So friends who read this blog, please reciprocate, acknowledge and demonstrate your friendship by (giving comments to this blog!) keeping in constant touch with friends (especially who are away from homeland) and lending an empathetic ear. You may never know how this act of kindness brings a change in them, but it definitely is needed.

Only when you are deprived of something do you realise its need. I think, this is Experience-based learning...or simply Experience?!

Oh here is another e-work...How real I am!
Great! I am 60% real...thats pretty much a good score I guess!! :-D

You Are 60% Real

You're pretty real with people, but you can't help hiding a good part of yourself. You're not truly happy with who you are at times... and believe it or not, it shows. Try not to hide parts of your life from the people who matter to you. Your friends and family are probably a lot more accepting than you realize!

How Real Are You?

Below post is another result of a quiz from a website...telling u ur match to the character in the Harry Potter series...oh me...Albus Percival Dumbledore!! :-)

You scored as Dumbledore, Dumbledore 75% Harry 67% Seamus Finnigan 67% Snape 58% Percy Weasley 54% Ron 50% Draco 50% Remus Lupin 50% Fred/George 46% Oliver Wood 46% Siruis Black 42% Voldemort 42% Lucuis Malfoy 38% Hagrid 33% created with QuizFarm.com

The sorting hat!

I came across the website which sorts you into one of the four houses at Hogwarts based on some nice questions. I aint know what defines the character of each houses, but the result was that I belong to Hufflpuff!

The scores:

Hufflepuff - 12

Gryffindor - 11

Ravenclaw - 11

Slytherin - 6

Well, well, i think I am equally a hufflepuff, gryfinndor and a ravenclaw ;-)

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Who will lead me into that still more hidden and dimmer region where
Thought weds Fact, where the mental operation of the mathematician and the
physical action of the molecules are seen in their true relation? Does not the
way pass through the very den of the metaphysician, steered with the remains of
former explorers?

James Clerk Maxwell, 1870

'Far better it is, to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the great twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat'

I copied this from Dr. Ranjit's orkut profile

I seemed to like this..because it is the truth!! :-)