thescian
Posts by this author
November 30, 2007
Nature talks of the paradox where military generals have helped science more than politicians.Next year will be the 50th anniversary of Pakistan's first fully fledged military coup. In 1958, it fell to General Mohammad Ayub Khan to "save the nation" from what he called "discredited politicians",…
November 29, 2007
Hence rotten thing! Or I shall shake thy bones out of thy garments.
November 29, 2007
Starting shortly at The Royal Society. I am going to see if I can plug into the webcast.
November 28, 2007
Why do Indian women drape their sari on the left shoulder normally? Is it just because of the preponderance of right handedness (so draping over left shoulder is just a bit more convenient) or is there some other reason?
November 27, 2007
An eligible beebs reporter tries out scientific algorithmic superior proven and utterly amazing match-making advertised in some websites.
"The website then uses what statisticians call a regression equation to determine what sort of person I would be best matched with, according to my character…
November 27, 2007
A summary in WSJ about the state of affairs for OLPC.[via reddit] The discussion is not very much about what really makes an OLPC. It is more about how Intel, Microsoft and other companies are actively subverting it and how governments in many countries are weighing their options - not all in favor…
November 26, 2007
Only in Singara Chennai. During my seven years of madras monkey business I traveled by hanging onto a window rail with my left hand small finger like a gibbon. Never once did I have the privilege of seeing a wheel coming off, or even a screw popping out. Although, once the axle connecting the back…
November 26, 2007
The Big Sleep at NY TimesUntil the 20th century, few people needed money. Apart from salt and iron, everything could be paid for in kind. Economic activity was more a means of making the time pass than of making money, which might explain why one of the few winter industries in the Alps was clock-…
November 25, 2007
The past week has been one long workout. Over the course of the week, I've wrestled with instruments of great power: two electric saws (one light weight, one heavy duty), sander, drill, and a few others for whom I haven't yet worked out what their purpose is. Along the way I have learnt plastering…
November 21, 2007
I was listening to The Salmon of Doubt, the posthumously published book with material collected from the computer used by Douglas Adams. Douglas Adams: what a brilliant, witty and fabulously engaging man!
His sharp and hilarious analysis of the phrase "it turns out" is a great Adamsian moment:"..…
November 19, 2007
Day before yesterday we locked ourselves out of our home. We left the key in the keyhole on the inside and closed the door on our way out. When we came back, our spare key refused to go help because the keyhole was being occupied. Damn keys! Can't they all get along! After some minutes of me…
November 14, 2007
I made an error - corrected hastily before anyone could notice - in the last post that Ramya (wife, proof reader, grammar nazi) noticed, and then proceeded to give me a grave and admonishing look.
So, here's the rule for when to use "it's" and when to use "its": Use "it's" when you can use "it is…
November 14, 2007
If there's a comet that should contain its enthusiasm, it's this. Such a large ego in so little a package, like a baby wearing adult's shirt and gaily roaming around the house! From the linked page: Formerly, the Sun was the largest object in the Solar System. Now, comet 17P/Holmes holds that…
November 13, 2007
RustyNeurons fired (previous post comment) a timely reminder. Ah. Prompted by my empty purse, I had deliberately forgotten ;-).
Here's the update: I have read all the stories and have written out detailed comments for three stories (one placed at first, two at second). I have also planned to write…
November 11, 2007
Ladies and gentlemen, on this depressing monday morning of overcast skies and sullen dew drops, I present to your ungodly eyes a technology offering found at the beebs. A n Islamic car. The Malaysian carmaker Proton has announced plans to develop an "Islamic car", designed for Muslim motorists.…
November 9, 2007
A moving and passionate presentation. Watch and learn.
[link via Abi]
A few lines I noted down to think about:ACCESS TO CULTURE, NEUTRAL PLATFORM TO SHARE BOTH FREE AND NON-FREE CONTENT
WE MUST LEGALIZE WHAT IT IS TO BE YOUNG, LET THE KIDS PLAY
THIS AGE OF PROHIBITIONS IS CORROSIVE TO KIDS, IT IS…
November 9, 2007
Well, forget about it. You haven't got it, whether you tried exercising it or not.Police in India wrongfully arrested and detained a Bangalore man for 50 days after internet service provider Airtel mis-identified him as the person who posted images on Orkut that insulted a revered historical…
November 7, 2007
Register reports of a pilot program to monitor kids using RFID in Doncaster. The boss of the firm that did the pilot sez"The system saves valuable lesson time, often wasted in registration and monitoring, while ensuring parents of their children's security. And there's the additional benefit of…
November 5, 2007
I found out today that it's the kitchen through the process of looking and then looking closer. Here's a nominal list of places to verify this truth:
1. Behind the refridgerator
2. Under the kitchen cabinets, near the wall-end
3. Behind the sink tap
4. On the wall right behind the sink tap
5. Wall…
November 2, 2007
The Firefly
by Ogden Nash
The firefly's flame Is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier
Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a
person's posteerier.
November 1, 2007
One small click of a mouse, a giant list of good books. Do recommend a book that comes to your mind now.
October 30, 2007
Yesterday on the radio I heard the phrase 'statistically significant' twice (one on a discussion about crime and other about cancer). We all think we know what it is: If all the birds overhead poo on you simultaneously, you know, it cannot be a random event. It is surely a statistically signifcant…
October 29, 2007
A one line poem by W S Merwin.
ElegyWho would I show it to
The intensity of sorrow made more poignant by economy of expression.
October 27, 2007
An appeal from Jimmy Wales, founder of wikipedia.
It'll be a shame if you let that charitable thought pass. Donate now.
October 25, 2007
Let's talk politics. Shall we.
I just watched a video of a passionate young man willing to sponsor a democratic candidate. The video is on youtube, he has started a blog, and the news is out on the internet. No corporation can censure him for standing up to what he believes. It's unfortunate, and…
October 24, 2007
I have been reading Primo Levi, that man who was sent to to vey core of inhumanity and returned more humane than anyone, that man who I am proud to look up for inspiration. There are only a few who can move us the way Levi does with his prose, his courage and his life. A few links to share.
A…
October 24, 2007
Particle physics explained in 60 second bursts of words at Symmetry Magazine published by Fermi Lab and SLAC.
I find this picture simple and utterly fascinating. It's an artistic rendering of the tracks of an electron and it's anti-particle as they dance in an electromagnetic field. Positron,…