Seminars totally unrelated to your field of work are so great. It gives you time to sit and think about so many other things which is sort of impossible in the crazy schedule I have. Anyway, so in today's seminar, I actually went for introspection as well as retrospection which I have been holding off for a while now. And some how came up the idea of sensitivity and something I was talking with a friend. And one thing lead to another (you know how it is when you are lost in your thoughts. No? You don't have an overly-active imagination like me? Ok then take my word for it..) and finally somehow I arrived to these questions:
Is being sensitive a vice or a virtue? People at times perceives it as a weakness but that also makes you a better person. How do you find that correct balance between the two: Being sensitive enough that you don't loose touch with the humanity but still don't come out as a weak person or rather someone easy to manipulate or even someone who wouldn't be able to deal with stress? Or may be more importantly, can we change our sensitivity at our command or is it something very inherent, very basic part of the nature which can't be changed?
Oh well, just few questions going through my mind for past hour before the presentation ended and then I was back in the real world, doing real job...Just using the lunch break to write them down before they disappear in oblivion again.
January 30, 2008
Life is Good
After a very hectic day yesterday, I finally went to sleep around 1 AM last night. Woke up at 6:30 AM today morning (ok the alarm went off at 6:30, but I did get up at 7 AM..) as, starting today, I had to attend this class at 9 AM (I am sort of Course Assistant for the course so I am expected to (I didn't know that, Course assistant is different from TA and even TA don't attend classes!)). So I got up, got ready, reached office by 8:30ish. Checked the mail to see which room this class is going to be and finds out that the class starts at 11 AM! For some unknown reasons, I thought it was to start at 9 AM. I am not sure why. May be my subconscious hates me.
And you want to know the irony? While I was driving to the office (BTW, I hate driving but to reach this early to office by bus, would have meant that I had to actually wake up at 6:30..), the car ahead of me had the slogan written on it's spare tier cover: "LIFE IS GOOD". I was cursing it at that time because I had to get up at 7 AM and drive to the school: how is Life good? And now, after learning that all that was for nothing, that slogan is flashing in front of my eyes, teasing me ever so more....Grrrrrrrrr........
P.S.: For those of you wondering about the actual time I reach office: 9:30 AM. I get up by 7:30 AM (ok.. 7:45-7:50 AM..now leave me alone, I am already having a grumpy morning), normally. An hour of sleep stolen from me by my own subconscious! Ahh...the tragedy!
And you want to know the irony? While I was driving to the office (BTW, I hate driving but to reach this early to office by bus, would have meant that I had to actually wake up at 6:30..), the car ahead of me had the slogan written on it's spare tier cover: "LIFE IS GOOD". I was cursing it at that time because I had to get up at 7 AM and drive to the school: how is Life good? And now, after learning that all that was for nothing, that slogan is flashing in front of my eyes, teasing me ever so more....Grrrrrrrrr........
P.S.: For those of you wondering about the actual time I reach office: 9:30 AM. I get up by 7:30 AM (ok.. 7:45-7:50 AM..now leave me alone, I am already having a grumpy morning), normally. An hour of sleep stolen from me by my own subconscious! Ahh...the tragedy!
January 28, 2008
Truly Happy
Yet another forwarded mail though this one is from a good friend and no emotional blackmails involved. The point of this post? This little nugget:
Now I wonder if I have ever been truly happy in my life! What about you?
PS: I should have mentioned the context of the mail as well. It was a stress-management /motivational email. The main message being: 'Its not how much stress you carry but for how long you carry your burden that matters or, rather, wears you out.'
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Now I wonder if I have ever been truly happy in my life! What about you?
PS: I should have mentioned the context of the mail as well. It was a stress-management /motivational email. The main message being: 'Its not how much stress you carry but for how long you carry your burden that matters or, rather, wears you out.'
January 26, 2008
Grad Student special
As usual, I was goofing around with Ph.D. Comics Archives and found these three gems...
How to look Busy, if you're not.... (Click to Enlarge)
How to look Busy, if you're not.... (Click to Enlarge)
And I am off to bed too...zzzzzzzz.........
OMG...
...I just sent a mail to my advisor with a smiley in it! Can you believe it? What's wrong with me? I am out of my senses, I guess. Can I somehow retrieve my mail? No? Please...
Guess can't do anything about it now. Let me go and catch some sleep now. I am never ever using any smiley again. Never.
Guess can't do anything about it now. Let me go and catch some sleep now. I am never ever using any smiley again. Never.
Republic Day
A friend asked me today, 'Whats the big deal about Republic Day? Why do we celebrate it? What's the significance, anyway?' Not that I didn't know the answer but somehow I couldn't elaborate as much as I could have. Or may be I was confused why would she ask such rudimentary questions.
Usually after such incidents, I think about the ways I could have answered the question in much better way than I did. And those answers keep going on in my mind. So let me get them out in open.
So we know that on 15th August, 1947, India became independent. But India didn't have a constitution or an Indian infrastructure to govern the country. Hence from 1948 to 1950, an interim triumvirate was formed. It consisted of three members: C. Rajagopalachari as Governor-General, Nehru as Prime Minister and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Deputy Prime Minister/Home Minister. The head of the country during this period was still the Crown of England (King George VI).
On 26th January, 1950, the Constitution of India came into existence, hence abolishing the Crown as our supreme-commander. Rajendra Prasad was elected the first president of India. The freedom, rights, privileges and responsibilities of an Indian Citizen were defined. We became a republic. And hence the celebration.
In very simple terms, the period after the Independence to the 26th January, 1950 can be assumed as a pregnancy period. On 26th January, the Republic of India was born. So fellow Indians, wish you all a very Happy Republic Day.
Usually after such incidents, I think about the ways I could have answered the question in much better way than I did. And those answers keep going on in my mind. So let me get them out in open.
So we know that on 15th August, 1947, India became independent. But India didn't have a constitution or an Indian infrastructure to govern the country. Hence from 1948 to 1950, an interim triumvirate was formed. It consisted of three members: C. Rajagopalachari as Governor-General, Nehru as Prime Minister and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Deputy Prime Minister/Home Minister. The head of the country during this period was still the Crown of England (King George VI).
On 26th January, 1950, the Constitution of India came into existence, hence abolishing the Crown as our supreme-commander. Rajendra Prasad was elected the first president of India. The freedom, rights, privileges and responsibilities of an Indian Citizen were defined. We became a republic. And hence the celebration.
In very simple terms, the period after the Independence to the 26th January, 1950 can be assumed as a pregnancy period. On 26th January, the Republic of India was born. So fellow Indians, wish you all a very Happy Republic Day.
January 25, 2008
Blackmail
I usually hate forwarded mails. Specifically, I hate the ones that emotionally blackmail you. You know, the ones with the message that if you think the person who sent you this stupid message is your friend/well-wisher or whatever, you should send this message back to him or her. It become worse when you get such a message from an acquaintance and he writes on top: "I EXPECT THIS BACK". I mean, come on. I hardly know him. And to make it even more worse, the mail is about differences between a simple friend and a real friend. And I am supposed to send it back to all my REAL FRIENDS! How? What? Why should I send that back to him?
Anyway, one nugget in that mail was super-cool. I wish I could make a bumper sticker out of it...
Nice? True? :)
Anyway, one nugget in that mail was super-cool. I wish I could make a bumper sticker out of it...
A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it!
Nice? True? :)
I wonder...
Why do people in the Embassy has to be rude, as a rule, no matter which Embassy you are talking about? Is it a required qualification for them to get a job in the Embassy or the working environment in the Embassies are so bad that they turn that way?
January 23, 2008
Mobile...
...or cell-phone as they call it in US. My question is why do people have to pace up and down the street/room/hall while talking on one? Why do they have to be mobile to talk on the mobile? Is it some fine print that I didn't read when I bought mine?
January 22, 2008
Guilt
Why do we hurt people closest to us? Why do we snap at them when we are having a bad day? They are the one's who actually comfort us in the most stressful time and still, instead of thanking them for that, we scream at them. It's so unfair and still it happens every time I am stressed. And then comes the guilt. It actually adds to the already high stress level. And still we don't learn from past mistakes and do it again next time.
Or may be its just me. And if its just me, does that mean I am a jerk? May be I am. Either way, all I want to know is: Is there a way for me to stop hurting people around me when I am stressed out? Is there a way to isolate people I care about from my bad-self?
Or may be its just me. And if its just me, does that mean I am a jerk? May be I am. Either way, all I want to know is: Is there a way for me to stop hurting people around me when I am stressed out? Is there a way to isolate people I care about from my bad-self?
Doom's Day
In case you are thinking that I am gonna talk about current Economic crisis of the world then I am sorry to disappoint you but I am no Economist. I don't understand ABC of economics so it will be wrong for me to venture in that direction. I am exploring another impending Doom's Day that I can actually explain.
I am talking about peak oil here. Ok let me start from beginning. While idling in a departmental seminar today, a word caught my attention: Population Explosion. What's its connection with oil peak, you ask. Well here is what I am talking about:
(Figure is from this site, which is coincidentally a very good site if you are interested to read further. This is just a cliff note version of what they have said in details.)
I am talking about peak oil here. Ok let me start from beginning. While idling in a departmental seminar today, a word caught my attention: Population Explosion. What's its connection with oil peak, you ask. Well here is what I am talking about:
(Figure is from this site, which is coincidentally a very good site if you are interested to read further. This is just a cliff note version of what they have said in details.)
The blue curve here is world's population over the years (starting from year 0 to present) while red curve is world oil-production. Why do they correspond so much with each other, you ask?
Usually when confronted with end of the world oil question, people's response is generally, 'So what, I will walk to work. Big deal.' The thing they don't realize that its not the only way the petroleum product affects our life. As you can read from the above figure that as oil production increased, the world population increased exponentially in response. You think that the increase in transportation is the cause for that? No. The oil came as a source of energy to us and hence facilitated the so called Industrial Revolution in 1700s (and hence resulted in colonization of Asian-African by European countries). Industrial Revolution, as you can guess, has changed our life in a big way. But I digress again (sorry but it relates to so many things that I can't help but digress). We were talking about the World population and its relation with the oil production.
An increase in population would mean an increased demand on basic amenities as food. How did you think the world's agriculture coped with that increase in demand? Yep, you got it: Fertilizers. In other words "Petrochemical Industry" (Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum origin). So now you getting the picture? We can support the world's current population because we have these Petrochemical industries. Now think what will happen if the world's Petroleum depletes?
As any Economist, at this point, will happily point to you that market will take care of itself. If there is demand, the technology/science will develop automatically to level up that demand. Thats their so-called market forces theory (or something like that, sorry again but I am not an Economist.). The trouble is that none of these Economist understand the limitation of science and technology. And even if we do develop an energy source (say by some miracle) big enough to replace the oil and some other technology to develop fertilizers, and mind you thats a big if, the amount of time required to replace/alter the current industry systems to that new source would be significant. Otherwise a panic will ensue (though some would argue that panic is already in place and hence all the middle-east problems and west's interest in them) and it will be again a catastrophic event.
Why am I talking about all this? Well just letting you know where this world stands..at the brink of a catastrophe. How today's world leader will handle this, will make tomorrow's history...and needless to say, there are no precedents for this one. At times, History doesn't repeat...at times it's brand new.
PS: Just FYI: The oil was discovered in 1900s and Industrial Revolution started in 1700s. The initial stages of industrial revolution took coal as its energy source till they found a much cleaner source namely, oil. We still have coal to last us for a hundred year or so but then we have to switch all our machinery to coal system. I will personally prefer bullock carts. :)
Usually when confronted with end of the world oil question, people's response is generally, 'So what, I will walk to work. Big deal.' The thing they don't realize that its not the only way the petroleum product affects our life. As you can read from the above figure that as oil production increased, the world population increased exponentially in response. You think that the increase in transportation is the cause for that? No. The oil came as a source of energy to us and hence facilitated the so called Industrial Revolution in 1700s (and hence resulted in colonization of Asian-African by European countries). Industrial Revolution, as you can guess, has changed our life in a big way. But I digress again (sorry but it relates to so many things that I can't help but digress). We were talking about the World population and its relation with the oil production.
An increase in population would mean an increased demand on basic amenities as food. How did you think the world's agriculture coped with that increase in demand? Yep, you got it: Fertilizers. In other words "Petrochemical Industry" (Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum origin). So now you getting the picture? We can support the world's current population because we have these Petrochemical industries. Now think what will happen if the world's Petroleum depletes?
As any Economist, at this point, will happily point to you that market will take care of itself. If there is demand, the technology/science will develop automatically to level up that demand. Thats their so-called market forces theory (or something like that, sorry again but I am not an Economist.). The trouble is that none of these Economist understand the limitation of science and technology. And even if we do develop an energy source (say by some miracle) big enough to replace the oil and some other technology to develop fertilizers, and mind you thats a big if, the amount of time required to replace/alter the current industry systems to that new source would be significant. Otherwise a panic will ensue (though some would argue that panic is already in place and hence all the middle-east problems and west's interest in them) and it will be again a catastrophic event.
Why am I talking about all this? Well just letting you know where this world stands..at the brink of a catastrophe. How today's world leader will handle this, will make tomorrow's history...and needless to say, there are no precedents for this one. At times, History doesn't repeat...at times it's brand new.
PS: Just FYI: The oil was discovered in 1900s and Industrial Revolution started in 1700s. The initial stages of industrial revolution took coal as its energy source till they found a much cleaner source namely, oil. We still have coal to last us for a hundred year or so but then we have to switch all our machinery to coal system. I will personally prefer bullock carts. :)
January 20, 2008
It hurts...
Infected bruise...on knuckle..right hand...can't type....must stop..send SOS...MayDay...MayDay...someone help...someone..anyone...can't take any longer...
P.S.: Sorry for the interruption. We are facing technical difficulties at the moment. The broadcast will resume soon. Thanks for your patience.
P.S.: Sorry for the interruption. We are facing technical difficulties at the moment. The broadcast will resume soon. Thanks for your patience.
January 19, 2008
January 18, 2008
The city
Black overcoats, black goggles, high heels, stylish walks, crazy traffic, jerk drivers and network of one ways. I guess that will aptly describe most of the cities in the western world.
I happened to spend the whole day in the city today and I kept wondering about those black goggles. Its not that bright at the moment (its winter, after all). Moreover, its so hard to get the sunlight in the city with those huge skyscrapers around. So why do these city dwellers insist on wearing those shades? As for me, I feel very uncomfortable talking to someone wearing the shades. It seems they are trying to hide their true intentions. Expressions in eyes make it so much easier to read anyone. May be that's why they wear them.
And why do they insist on wearing black as a rule? Its as if you are walking in a black and white world. Its so depressing. Can any city dweller, please explain these phenomena to me? I am at complete loss here...
I happened to spend the whole day in the city today and I kept wondering about those black goggles. Its not that bright at the moment (its winter, after all). Moreover, its so hard to get the sunlight in the city with those huge skyscrapers around. So why do these city dwellers insist on wearing those shades? As for me, I feel very uncomfortable talking to someone wearing the shades. It seems they are trying to hide their true intentions. Expressions in eyes make it so much easier to read anyone. May be that's why they wear them.
And why do they insist on wearing black as a rule? Its as if you are walking in a black and white world. Its so depressing. Can any city dweller, please explain these phenomena to me? I am at complete loss here...
January 17, 2008
Ph.D. in Correspondence
Believe it or not, few days back I came across a similar situation. I was talking to a faculty (I am CA (class assistant..help him design the course work etc.) for his class) when he tells me that he will be soon teaching the class under discussion in India. He is actually going to my old company (did I mention, I used to work and earn well before, for some unknown reasons, I decided to pursue Ph.D.?). So I was obviously curious. When he realized that I used to work for that company, he mentioned the name of his contact person.
Now I know this contact person but not as a colleague in that company albeit as my classmate during my master. I had no idea that he had joined this company (can't say my company any longer though the urge is compelling). Anyways, as we were discussing him, the Professor mentioned that he was interested in earning a Ph.D. degree and had asked him that if its possible for him to do so part-time by correspondence?
Ok, I think I try pretty hard to abstain from famous 'Stanford Arrogance' but please this is Stanford. And you are talking about a Ph.D., for crying out loud. It's not about cramming few lessons and passing an exam. It's about maturing up as a scientist...to be able to approach and solve a problem in a scientific way independently. Its not a test about how much you know (or rather memorize...sorry but I know this guy personally and hence know the way he used to get good grades back then) but how you approach something where you don't know anything, where there are no precedents. Ph.D. affects your personality, the way you observe things and approach the problem. There is a reason why its called "Doctor of Philosophy" and not a Master in Science or Art or a specific field. How can this be taught over correspondence, that too part-time?
Now I know this contact person but not as a colleague in that company albeit as my classmate during my master. I had no idea that he had joined this company (can't say my company any longer though the urge is compelling). Anyways, as we were discussing him, the Professor mentioned that he was interested in earning a Ph.D. degree and had asked him that if its possible for him to do so part-time by correspondence?
Ok, I think I try pretty hard to abstain from famous 'Stanford Arrogance' but please this is Stanford. And you are talking about a Ph.D., for crying out loud. It's not about cramming few lessons and passing an exam. It's about maturing up as a scientist...to be able to approach and solve a problem in a scientific way independently. Its not a test about how much you know (or rather memorize...sorry but I know this guy personally and hence know the way he used to get good grades back then) but how you approach something where you don't know anything, where there are no precedents. Ph.D. affects your personality, the way you observe things and approach the problem. There is a reason why its called "Doctor of Philosophy" and not a Master in Science or Art or a specific field. How can this be taught over correspondence, that too part-time?
You are being warned...
Serendipity...
....happens in my life too!
I got a pleasant surprise today in the class when the professor started talking about the same problem I have been dealing for past week. I actually read the same algorithms last night that he explained today in the class. For once I knew what he was talking about! Coincidence, serendipity or luck...call it whatever you want. It just made my day a bit brighter.
I got a pleasant surprise today in the class when the professor started talking about the same problem I have been dealing for past week. I actually read the same algorithms last night that he explained today in the class. For once I knew what he was talking about! Coincidence, serendipity or luck...call it whatever you want. It just made my day a bit brighter.
January 16, 2008
Picture time...
...as you have already predicted I have nothing to write about today, no funny emails, no technical problems, no classes...nothing. So enjoy this photo published first time on the web at your favorite (if I may indulge myself) Blog, just for you. Its an exclusive shot of Hoover tower (landmark of Stanford) framed inside the famous Stanford arch, taken by yours truly...
January 15, 2008
My favorite quote of all time...
To say "I love you" one must first be able to say the "I." -- Ayn Rand
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)