A compromise has been acheived. Looks like US keeps hold of the internet with an international oversight committee. Lets see how this works.
Tags: Internet
[Listening to: Don't Kill - Hamell On Trial - Tough Love (3:27)]
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
U.S. reaches Net detente with U.N. | CNET News.com
U.S. reaches Net detente with U.N. | CNET News.com
A compromise has been acheived. Looks like US keeps hold of the internet with an international oversight committee. Lets see how this works.
Tags: Internet
A compromise has been acheived. Looks like US keeps hold of the internet with an international oversight committee. Lets see how this works.
Tags: Internet
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Street Fighter Salsa - Google Video
Street Fighter Salsa - Google Video
You gotta watch this. This is the funniest salsa dance I've ever seen. You don't have to download this to watch. It's streaming video. Enjoy!
Tags: Random
You gotta watch this. This is the funniest salsa dance I've ever seen. You don't have to download this to watch. It's streaming video. Enjoy!
Tags: Random
[Listening to: Believing Is Art - Spoon - Girls Can Tell (4:19)]
Abandon the Web!
Abandon the Web!
This looks like a fascinating website to read. Just noting it for posterity.
Tags: Science
This looks like a fascinating website to read. Just noting it for posterity.
Tags: Science
[Listening to: Somewhere in Between - Kate Bush - Aerial (5:00)]
Sitting in the chem lab typing..
It's been a long day so far. I have to cut and clean the substrates which is a major chore because it is monotonous and boring as hell. I have spent about 5 hours so far doing this, and I suspect there is another hour to this labor. Right now, after manually washing 23 substrates in acetone, I put them into an ultrasonic cleaner in a beaker containing acetone for 15 minutes. So, I have a little time to blog.
So, we got back from work last evening, and worked on our homework for 4 hours at Panera. I love the fact that I can drink unlimited amount of coffee for a buck fifty. This assignment took longer because we had to read the text to figure out how to solve these questions. I can normally just remember lectures and proceed with the homework. However, I feel that the topics/lecture is rather discontinuous, so it throws me off. It does get frustrating at times when I know that a solution is simple but I am unable to get a handle on the trick.
I've been chatting with Arielle from Florida. Remember the random IM? I think this is probably the first time that I've had a higher level of conversation so quickly with a person I hardly know. I bet I can carry off an intellectual conversation. I remember explaining the research I've done at Coe and ORNL thus far. We spent most of the time looking up swing stuff including videos. I found quite a few recordings from Norway? I'm not sure which country, but it's in Northern Europe. I'll find out and correct it if I have to. I miss swing dancing at Coe. I also look at hairy/scary moves, and think of Andi and all the fun we had picking up dance routines from swing videos.
My friends keep asking if I am keeping in touch from Andi or if I have heard from her. I get to chat with her once a week on average. I guess I want to keep in touch a little more than that. We'll see. For people who want to know, yeah, I miss her. But that's normal.
It's annoying that I haven't been able to find Sunday's episode of Grey's Anatomy on torrents. They always have it up by the next day. I don't know what happened. I also have to download shows from last night.
I really wish Jenn and I could have gone swing dancing last night. That would have been a ton of fun. Especially the free pizza! We have to go up for the social dance scene at Preservation Pub one of the remaining Mondays.
Tags: Life
So, we got back from work last evening, and worked on our homework for 4 hours at Panera. I love the fact that I can drink unlimited amount of coffee for a buck fifty. This assignment took longer because we had to read the text to figure out how to solve these questions. I can normally just remember lectures and proceed with the homework. However, I feel that the topics/lecture is rather discontinuous, so it throws me off. It does get frustrating at times when I know that a solution is simple but I am unable to get a handle on the trick.
I've been chatting with Arielle from Florida. Remember the random IM? I think this is probably the first time that I've had a higher level of conversation so quickly with a person I hardly know. I bet I can carry off an intellectual conversation. I remember explaining the research I've done at Coe and ORNL thus far. We spent most of the time looking up swing stuff including videos. I found quite a few recordings from Norway? I'm not sure which country, but it's in Northern Europe. I'll find out and correct it if I have to. I miss swing dancing at Coe. I also look at hairy/scary moves, and think of Andi and all the fun we had picking up dance routines from swing videos.
My friends keep asking if I am keeping in touch from Andi or if I have heard from her. I get to chat with her once a week on average. I guess I want to keep in touch a little more than that. We'll see. For people who want to know, yeah, I miss her. But that's normal.
It's annoying that I haven't been able to find Sunday's episode of Grey's Anatomy on torrents. They always have it up by the next day. I don't know what happened. I also have to download shows from last night.
I really wish Jenn and I could have gone swing dancing last night. That would have been a ton of fun. Especially the free pizza! We have to go up for the social dance scene at Preservation Pub one of the remaining Mondays.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: Doll - Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (1:23)]
Monday, November 14, 2005
I wonder..
I just saw that my GRE score results in a 87 percentile in both math and verbal. Is that good? Is that good enough?
I was extremely excited before I saw my percentile. Should I still be?
I guess I can give my score out, it's not that big a deal. I got 620 in verbal and 770 in math out of 800. So, total of 1390 on 1600.
So?
PS: I am imagining Jenn's and Rachel's faces if they read this post. They are going to think I'm nuts.
Tags: Life
I was extremely excited before I saw my percentile. Should I still be?
I guess I can give my score out, it's not that big a deal. I got 620 in verbal and 770 in math out of 800. So, total of 1390 on 1600.
So?
PS: I am imagining Jenn's and Rachel's faces if they read this post. They are going to think I'm nuts.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: Collide - Howie Day - Stop All The World (4:09)]
Foreign Student Enrollment Drops - New York Times
Foreign Student Enrollment Drops - New York Times
It's dropped 1%. Does that really count?
Tags: News
It's dropped 1%. Does that really count?
Tags: News
[Listening to: Walk Into The Sun - Dirty Vegas - One Tree Hill - Enhanced Soundtrack Season 2 (3:52)]
The weirdest referral to Coe ever!
Saturday began lazily with me waking up at 11.30, early enough to shower and get ready for the Indian lunch with the rest of the interns. The lunch was a lot of fun. It had been a couple of months since the last time we were there. The lunch buffet wasn't very spicy and highly americanized. However, it was still different from the food that I had been ingesting past week which was essentially ready made, quick microwave meals. One of the interns didn't like the accessories with the Indian food like the Mango Lassi or the desserts. Weird. Usually, people love that stuff. The next big thing was the geek party at Tio's. He had purchased a quarter keg. So it was a party where people just drank, played games, and painted on cardboard. I invited Cassa to the party so that she could meet more people. She is someone I met a couple of months back.
And then the weirdest referal to Coe ever. So, I'm online late in the night as usual when I get this random IM. I have no clue who it and so I ask. Mind you, I don't get random IMs ever. And then she tells me that she found my SN through my blog which she found by searching for lindy hop on Google Video Search. Then what ensues is a question and answer session about Coe, it's programs and campus life. She was interested about Coe from our swing dancing (more like swing that Andi and I did)! I think if she applied to Coe, she would be a sure in because her academic credentials are impeccable and she would fit in perfectly. I'm sure the Coe Admissions will get a kick out of seeing how she was refered to Coe. However her first choice is McGill University, which renders Coe in the dirt when it comes to school prestige. Robi got into McGill, however the visa procedures made it tiresome to be a viable option. I would love to live in Montreal though due to it's cosmopolitan nature..
Tags: Life
And then the weirdest referal to Coe ever. So, I'm online late in the night as usual when I get this random IM. I have no clue who it and so I ask. Mind you, I don't get random IMs ever. And then she tells me that she found my SN through my blog which she found by searching for lindy hop on Google Video Search. Then what ensues is a question and answer session about Coe, it's programs and campus life. She was interested about Coe from our swing dancing (more like swing that Andi and I did)! I think if she applied to Coe, she would be a sure in because her academic credentials are impeccable and she would fit in perfectly. I'm sure the Coe Admissions will get a kick out of seeing how she was refered to Coe. However her first choice is McGill University, which renders Coe in the dirt when it comes to school prestige. Robi got into McGill, however the visa procedures made it tiresome to be a viable option. I would love to live in Montreal though due to it's cosmopolitan nature..
Tags: Life
[Listening to: Half The Cost - Jessica Harp - Preface (3:41)]
Saturday, November 12, 2005
GRE is done!
It's been a great last couple of days. Everything went well apart from the tension relating to the GRE test that I took last afternoon. For a great start to Thursday, we got our second Inorganic test back which I didn't really want to see because I thought I wasn't confident about my answers. I get my paranoia was misplaced because I did got a really good score. And then, when I got to work, I found out that I didn't have to cut and anneal substrates. I was positively ebullient because the whole process is tedious. So, I spent that afternoon taking the last practice test. That meant that I had the rest of the evening free to just relax. But, was I really able to relax? No! I was still tense as hell. Oh well, good intentions. The funniest part of Thursday evening was my conversation with Goms. So, I talked to her for a couple of hours all the while one of her friends was waiting for her. So, after I get talking to her, I get a message from her friend asking if he could have her back now. That was the single comment that made me roll on the floor. Apart from that, she dropped one of her gen. ed classes and registered for Hindu Gods with me. It should be fun talking that class.
I woke up on Friday late enough to be well rested. I wasted the rest of the morning while feeling anxious about the GRE like last night. I decided to go to the test center early because Jenn said that she was able to start her test whenever she got there. It took me about 3 hours to finish the test. I was so anxious that my hands were shaking. The writing section turned out to be pretty comfortable as I finished both my essays on time and that relaxed me. I don't know what scores I'll get on the essays.. I felt like I was making too many mistakes in both verbal and the quantitative. However, once I got my scores, I realized I did fine. There were some words in verbal that I couldn't understand without its context. All my friends were excited to hear that I did so well. I guess I don't have to retake the GRE ;). All that's left now is the rest of the application process.
James and I saw Zathura after the test and the movie was kinda dumb. Its a remake of Jumanji with a twist! Its in space! We then ate with Jenn and Khush at the Veitnamese restaraunt. We decided to hang out at Panera's for a bit and I got som e of my favorite Colombian decaf for a buck fifty. It was fun just hanging out and talking. Jenn and I had to leave because we had planned to go to a blues bar and dance a bit. It was extremely out of the way but the cabin was very cool. The bar was very crowded and garners a good clientele. The music was wonderful and Jenn and I got to dance a little bit on the tiny floor space. It was awesome! There was an artist who was sitting in one of the booth drawing portraits of the crowd. He drew us and that was sort of cool. Apparently, a couple of people from our swing class thought we were married! How the hell did they get that idea? Last night's late night Taco Bell run was weird. We were in line for so long. I can't believe how alive the UT campus that late in the night.
PS: I love going to bars. I just hate the smoke!
Tags: Life
I woke up on Friday late enough to be well rested. I wasted the rest of the morning while feeling anxious about the GRE like last night. I decided to go to the test center early because Jenn said that she was able to start her test whenever she got there. It took me about 3 hours to finish the test. I was so anxious that my hands were shaking. The writing section turned out to be pretty comfortable as I finished both my essays on time and that relaxed me. I don't know what scores I'll get on the essays.. I felt like I was making too many mistakes in both verbal and the quantitative. However, once I got my scores, I realized I did fine. There were some words in verbal that I couldn't understand without its context. All my friends were excited to hear that I did so well. I guess I don't have to retake the GRE ;). All that's left now is the rest of the application process.
James and I saw Zathura after the test and the movie was kinda dumb. Its a remake of Jumanji with a twist! Its in space! We then ate with Jenn and Khush at the Veitnamese restaraunt. We decided to hang out at Panera's for a bit and I got som e of my favorite Colombian decaf for a buck fifty. It was fun just hanging out and talking. Jenn and I had to leave because we had planned to go to a blues bar and dance a bit. It was extremely out of the way but the cabin was very cool. The bar was very crowded and garners a good clientele. The music was wonderful and Jenn and I got to dance a little bit on the tiny floor space. It was awesome! There was an artist who was sitting in one of the booth drawing portraits of the crowd. He drew us and that was sort of cool. Apparently, a couple of people from our swing class thought we were married! How the hell did they get that idea? Last night's late night Taco Bell run was weird. We were in line for so long. I can't believe how alive the UT campus that late in the night.
PS: I love going to bars. I just hate the smoke!
Tags: Life
Thursday, November 10, 2005
blogging at the Pi time of the day
Yesterday afternoon was a frustrating period of work because every time I would try to grow a sample, one of the gears used during rotation kept falling off, and then finally it blew up in my mentor's face as he was trying to fix it. I guess that caused a mini vacation because that motor wouldn't be coming in till Friday and I wouldn't be in Friday due to GRE. I spent most of yesterday learning and relearning the 333 high frequency words listed in Barron's guide to the GRE. I'd say that I know all but 10% of the words. I'd say that its good enough? Anyway, I just took my second practice test of the GRE CD and scored a 650 on verbal and 770 in quantatative. That is about 90 points higher than the first test. It seems like I get a consistent score around 1300-1400 with my verbal score vacillating. I guess I just wait and see how I do on the actual test which happens to be tomorrow afternoon. And then I am allowing my brain a hiatus for the weekend before I start on the rest of the application process.
I finally got laundry done! I also used that time to call people and talk to them. Becky said that she would have time to meet up next weekend. We'll see if that comes to fruition. I also talked to Sara who is pursuing a graduate degree in engineering at Colorado University with her fiance Marty. She talk to me about graduate school and her application process and all that good stuff. Eventually, by the time I got to bed, Komal and I had a nice talk. We did a lot of reminscing the good ol' days.
Anyway, with me relaxing the rest of the day, I have to find something to amuse or entertain myself with.
Tags: Life
I finally got laundry done! I also used that time to call people and talk to them. Becky said that she would have time to meet up next weekend. We'll see if that comes to fruition. I also talked to Sara who is pursuing a graduate degree in engineering at Colorado University with her fiance Marty. She talk to me about graduate school and her application process and all that good stuff. Eventually, by the time I got to bed, Komal and I had a nice talk. We did a lot of reminscing the good ol' days.
Anyway, with me relaxing the rest of the day, I have to find something to amuse or entertain myself with.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: Do You Love - Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies Island (4:40)]
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
justcurio.us // strangers helping strangers
justcurio.us // strangers helping strangers
This is soo cool! You answer a question and then you can ask one. And it's completely anonymous. Try it out!
Tags: Internet
This is soo cool! You answer a question and then you can ask one. And it's completely anonymous. Try it out!
Tags: Internet
Different actions about Intelligent Design in Kansas and Pennsylvania
Kan. School Board OKs Evolution Approach - Yahoo! News
Pennsylvania Voters Oust School Board - Yahoo! News
While Kansas Board seems labile about the issue of Intelligent design being taught in science classes, the voters in Penn had greater success fighting the inception of Intelligent Design into science courses. Boy, who knew the search for truth could be so political! Haha. Just kidding. Of course, its political. It's a battle of wills not the truth.
Tags: Science
Pennsylvania Voters Oust School Board - Yahoo! News
While Kansas Board seems labile about the issue of Intelligent design being taught in science classes, the voters in Penn had greater success fighting the inception of Intelligent Design into science courses. Boy, who knew the search for truth could be so political! Haha. Just kidding. Of course, its political. It's a battle of wills not the truth.
Tags: Science
[Listening to: That Particular Time - Alanis Morissette - Under Rug Swept (4:21)]
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Why is my facebook profile on yahoo search?
Swing and a take home test
When I got home last night, I noticed that the internet at home was down. I took that as a sign from The Shining Light that I should study which is exactly what I did. I was able to go through another 300 words in an hour and a half. I actually knew over half the words, with me learning perhaps 100 new words or new meanings to words I already knew. Anyway, the reason I studied early because Jenn and I were going to go to the Monday's swing class at Knoxville. After getting on the road late, and several wrong turns later, we got there about 15 minutes after the class had started. And as we joined the circle, the couple teaching said, "Sure, join the circle" sarcastically. Before we could feel bad that we joined the class late, we noticed that they were repeating the previous class and at a slower rate. So, I didn't learn anything new. I need to learn more moves in east coast swing. I also need to practice lindy a lot more. I have more moves in lindy on video clips than east coast. I got to dance with quite a few good dancers last night which was exciting! After getting back at 10.30, I attempted to finish the take home test. I called Dan near midnight to clarify something and by that point, I was three quarters brain dead. I don't think anything I did last night was absolutely right. Oh well! I really don't function after 11.30 or so. My fuel for my brain is out and I can't think enough to study or learn. I need to fix that. You'd be surprised to know that I have never done an all nighter to study. I never needed to I guess.
The net was down in the morning too. This sucks. I need to download the shows I miss!
Jenn cracked a joke in the morning as we were heading to class. She said that we should marry and keep studying throughout our lives if my wish for a rich relative leaving me a lot of money came true. Lol! I guess I wouldn't mind to keep learning and studying if I didn't have to worry about working a job for my livelihood. It's be interesting to get more than one ph.d. Or is it? I dunno. I might get sick of studying.
Tags: Life
The net was down in the morning too. This sucks. I need to download the shows I miss!
Jenn cracked a joke in the morning as we were heading to class. She said that we should marry and keep studying throughout our lives if my wish for a rich relative leaving me a lot of money came true. Lol! I guess I wouldn't mind to keep learning and studying if I didn't have to worry about working a job for my livelihood. It's be interesting to get more than one ph.d. Or is it? I dunno. I might get sick of studying.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: something corporate - 13 - you're go - Something Corporate - Leaving through the Window (4:37)]
Excerpts from "Expert Judgement on Markers to Deter Inadvertent Human Intrusion into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant"
Excerpts from "Expert Judgement on Markers to Deter Inadvertent Human Intrusion into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant"
I remember watching a show on Discovery Channel about marking the radioaactive sites with caution signs that the future generations would understand. This is the full text of the issue.
Tags: Science
I remember watching a show on Discovery Channel about marking the radioaactive sites with caution signs that the future generations would understand. This is the full text of the issue.
Tags: Science
[Listening to: Riot Girl - Good Charlotte - The Young And The Hopeless (2:17)]
Foxy. But not the Foxy you'd expect.: an open letter to God, or whomever controls female bodily functions and other miscellaneous shit
Foxy. But not the Foxy you'd expect.: an open letter to God, or whomever controls female bodily functions and other miscellaneous shit
This rant as a letter to God made me laugh. I feel it's worthy of a mention and a read.
Tags: Blog Finds
This rant as a letter to God made me laugh. I feel it's worthy of a mention and a read.
Tags: Blog Finds
[Listening to: Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas - Something To Be (4:09)]
Monday, November 07, 2005
I love these Foxtrot strips
These made me crack up into a smile in an instant.
(Via Yahoo Comics!)
Tags: Random
[Listening to: Let it Shine - Jeremy Fisher - Let it Shine (3:53)]
'Safe cigarette' claimed to cut cancer by 90% - Sunday Times - Times Online
'Safe cigarette' claimed to cut cancer by 90% - Sunday Times - Times Online
Yeah, like that's going to make a difference. Seriously, cigarettes does more harm than good yet it's not getting banned. So, tell me something. They tell us that DDT is a possible carcinogen, and that got banned right away to the detriment of underdeveloped countries as they lost millions of people to malaria. What double standards developed nations have!
Ban smoking! I know about the economy argument. I somehow value my life more. And if the US can sustain the Iraq war, it can sustain a ban on smoking and the possible economical repercussions.
Opinion
Yeah, like that's going to make a difference. Seriously, cigarettes does more harm than good yet it's not getting banned. So, tell me something. They tell us that DDT is a possible carcinogen, and that got banned right away to the detriment of underdeveloped countries as they lost millions of people to malaria. What double standards developed nations have!
Ban smoking! I know about the economy argument. I somehow value my life more. And if the US can sustain the Iraq war, it can sustain a ban on smoking and the possible economical repercussions.
Opinion
[Listening to: Eve, The Apple Of My Eye - Bell X1 - Music From The OC Mix 4 (5:33)]
Forever Young (Cover) - The Youth Group - Music From The OC: Mix 5
I heard this song on the O.C soundtrack and it made me think about my time so far. I know I am still young, but I can't believe that I'm 22 already. A single line in this song stood out to me: Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I also assume for the worst hoping to God the best happens. Something like hoping against hope that hope prevails.
Tags: Life
Let's dance in style, lets dance for a while
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?
Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
The music's for the sad men
Can you imagine when this race is won
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders we're getting in tune
The music's played by the mad men
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever? Forever young
Some are like water, some are like the heat
Some are a melody and some are the beat
Sooner or later they all will be gone
Why don't they stay young
It's so hard to get old without a cause
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
Youth's like diamonds in the sun
And diamonds are forever
So many adventures couldn't happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams swinging out of the blue
We let them come true
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever?
I heard this song on the O.C soundtrack and it made me think about my time so far. I know I am still young, but I can't believe that I'm 22 already. A single line in this song stood out to me: Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I also assume for the worst hoping to God the best happens. Something like hoping against hope that hope prevails.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: Wings - Matt Nathanson - Still Waiting for Spring (2:53)]
Youths' poverty, despair fuel violent unrest in France - The Boston Globe
Youths' poverty, despair fuel violent unrest in France - The Boston Globe
I was wondering about the cause of the French riots over the last week. I just realized that they were poverty/unemployment driven concentrated primarily with the financially unsecure muslim youth. They are pulling the race card. I hope they realize that the civil unrest is not really helping their cause.
Tags: News
I was wondering about the cause of the French riots over the last week. I just realized that they were poverty/unemployment driven concentrated primarily with the financially unsecure muslim youth. They are pulling the race card. I hope they realize that the civil unrest is not really helping their cause.
Tags: News
[Listening to: Nothing Wrong - Jimmy Eat World - Futures (3:09)]
my favorite postsecrets this week
Link: PostSecret
Blog Finds
[Listening to: These Are The Days - Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething (3:21)]
Saturday, November 05, 2005
I am completely wiped and brain dead. I have been studying all day. I memorized about 400 GRE words and finished half of my take home test. After all that brain activity, my brain has decided to take a hiatus for the rest of the evening. So, I'm sitting and watching 13 going on 30. So, once Jenn gets done with a section of the test, we are going to do something.
Life
Life
[Listening to: January Friend - Goo Goo Dolls - (2:44)]
Friday, November 04, 2005
Vatican: Faithful Should Listen to Science - Yahoo! News
Vatican: Faithful Should Listen to Science - Yahoo! News
It seems as though the Catholic church is asking christians to listen to secular science. They actually differentiated it from Christian science and the likes by calling academic/research science "secular". Galileo was used as a paradigm in his speech.
Tags: Science
It seems as though the Catholic church is asking christians to listen to secular science. They actually differentiated it from Christian science and the likes by calling academic/research science "secular". Galileo was used as a paradigm in his speech.
Tags: Science
[Listening to: Have You Seen Me Lately? - Counting Crows - Recovering The Satellites (4:11)]
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Finally, more picture!
I just put up a few pictures on my picture blog Joy's Odds N Ends. Tell me what you think.
Pictures
Pictures
[Listening to: Everything - Lifehouse - Smallville OST (6:08)]
FAIR & LOVELY: India's most popular fairness cream
UNILEVER - FAIR & LOVELY
Fair and Lovely is the antithesis of the sun tan lotions. You see, we (Indians who aren't fair)have a couple million shades of brown that we wouldn't mind losing. I wish I could donate my shades to someone in dire need of a tan. I've never tried this product, however it is the single most popular cosmetic in India among the female population. I don't really know if it actually works..
Random
Fair and Lovely is the antithesis of the sun tan lotions. You see, we (Indians who aren't fair)have a couple million shades of brown that we wouldn't mind losing. I wish I could donate my shades to someone in dire need of a tan. I've never tried this product, however it is the single most popular cosmetic in India among the female population. I don't really know if it actually works..
Random
[Listening to: New One - Keane - Keane (4:26)]
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
I am studying for the GRE and sipping on a concoction created by James for my throat. It has a few shots of whisky, lemon juice and honey. It is sooo good. I am getting warm and it's soothing to my throat. I hope I don't get too tipsy because i still need to learn my words for the night.
I have another post coming after I talked to Jenn in the morning. I'll put it up sometime soon.
I have another post coming after I talked to Jenn in the morning. I'll put it up sometime soon.
[Listening to: Lost In You - Westlife - Turnaround (3:37)]
Monday, October 31, 2005
I got Sunny's package. I loved it! A book called Life of Pi, a LiveStrong wristband and lovely note. So, I got three packages in totality and I loved all of them.
I'm going to read Sunny's book and tell you guys what I think about it.
Apart from that, we had a halloween party amongst some of the interns. It wasn't too bad. If it wasn't for the annoying sore throat, I would have had some beer. Seems like alcohol is a part of Halloween.
I just watched a couple of 2nd season episodes of Veronica Mars, and looks interesting. I'm going to watch the rest of the episodes that I downloaded.
Tags: Life
I'm going to read Sunny's book and tell you guys what I think about it.
Apart from that, we had a halloween party amongst some of the interns. It wasn't too bad. If it wasn't for the annoying sore throat, I would have had some beer. Seems like alcohol is a part of Halloween.
I just watched a couple of 2nd season episodes of Veronica Mars, and looks interesting. I'm going to watch the rest of the episodes that I downloaded.
Tags: Life
[Listening to: You Oughta Know (Acapella) - U Penn Off The Beat - (4:05)]
Sunday, October 30, 2005
The Abstract Factory: The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of its subject
The Abstract Factory: The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of its subject
This blog entry features a very descriptive argument against intelligent design.
I was just wondering about gravitons. Why do physicists believe in that particle if they have never seen it? The theory says that it should exist but we haven't isolated the particle yet due to its incredibly heavy nature. Food for thought.
This blog entry features a very descriptive argument against intelligent design.
I was just wondering about gravitons. Why do physicists believe in that particle if they have never seen it? The theory says that it should exist but we haven't isolated the particle yet due to its incredibly heavy nature. Food for thought.
[Listening to: Emotional - Diana DeGarmo - Blue Skies (3:08)]
speaking of records..
I just had the longest conversation with Goms. I talked to her for 200 mins which is 3 hours and 20 mins?!? I guess I would have gone longer if I wasn't tired and it wasn't that late. I don't remember if I talked to Bhavya for longer than that or not. It was a while ago. So, according to my memory, Goms sets the present record for the phone and Kelly has the record for longest conversation period. And I just noticed that Daylight Savings Time has just begun. Apart from talking to Kelly and Goms, my day was very unremarkable. Tomorrow is bound to be more eventful. I gotta ask Jenn how the party was.
[Listening to: Stanley Climbfall - Lifehouse - Stanley Climbfall [Bonus Tracks] (3:48)]
Saturday, October 29, 2005
3 New Delhi Explosions Kill at Least 49 - Yahoo! News
3 New Delhi Explosions Kill at Least 49 - Yahoo! News
This terror attack was way too close to home. Dad tells me that mum was in that shopping center earlier in the day before the explosions. I don't remember the last time we had such a major attack anywhere apart from the border. I guess I vaguely remember something about Mumbai.
This terror attack was way too close to home. Dad tells me that mum was in that shopping center earlier in the day before the explosions. I don't remember the last time we had such a major attack anywhere apart from the border. I guess I vaguely remember something about Mumbai.
[Listening to: Nobody's Home (Live Acoustic Bonus Track) - Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin (3:38)]
Friday, October 28, 2005
Is US becoming hostile to science? - Yahoo! News
Is US becoming hostile to science? - Yahoo! News
The debate has broadened to the effect of the conflict between evolution and intelligent design to a national or perhaps an international scale. I wonder if there is such a debate in any other country. This is alientating science from the generation to come. The statistics of people who are scientifically literate are dismal. It's extremely sad actually. The US intellectual/scientific class is being overrun by the influx of brilliance from other countries. Can you imagine living in a country where the majority of people are the minority amongst the people who think scientifically and understand the world around us? If the situation is not corrected, that's exactly what will happen. And people wonder why foreign nationals or international people get better jobs. It's the skill. It's the knowledge. It's the alacrity to learn, and adapt. It's hard to do that if people aren't motivated, and lazy. Maybe I am wrong. Perhaps I am stereotyping and generalizing. If I am, correct me.
*Update* Follow this Slashdot link to look at the comments posted about this article. Comments: Slashdot | Is The U.S. Becoming Anti-Science?
The debate has broadened to the effect of the conflict between evolution and intelligent design to a national or perhaps an international scale. I wonder if there is such a debate in any other country. This is alientating science from the generation to come. The statistics of people who are scientifically literate are dismal. It's extremely sad actually. The US intellectual/scientific class is being overrun by the influx of brilliance from other countries. Can you imagine living in a country where the majority of people are the minority amongst the people who think scientifically and understand the world around us? If the situation is not corrected, that's exactly what will happen. And people wonder why foreign nationals or international people get better jobs. It's the skill. It's the knowledge. It's the alacrity to learn, and adapt. It's hard to do that if people aren't motivated, and lazy. Maybe I am wrong. Perhaps I am stereotyping and generalizing. If I am, correct me.
*Update* Follow this Slashdot link to look at the comments posted about this article. Comments: Slashdot | Is The U.S. Becoming Anti-Science?
[Listening to: Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch - Music from the O.C. Mix 1 (6:18)]
[Listening to: Right Through You - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (2:55)]
MIT Fires Professor Over Falsified Data - Yahoo! News
MIT Fires Professor Over Falsified Data - Yahoo! News
Ethics in science is critical. Scientific misconduct is not tolerated in a community which is result oriented. This is yet another case of data falsification. How do they think they will get away with it? Seemingly intelligent people forget that the results need to be reproduced by other scientists to be verified. Can you imagine the condition of the students that were working with him? Can you imagine the shame of the department and the university?
Ethics in science is critical. Scientific misconduct is not tolerated in a community which is result oriented. This is yet another case of data falsification. How do they think they will get away with it? Seemingly intelligent people forget that the results need to be reproduced by other scientists to be verified. Can you imagine the condition of the students that were working with him? Can you imagine the shame of the department and the university?
[Listening to: Of Your Way - Jessica Harp - Preface (3:53)]
long days and stupidity
After doing a few handstands at work in my cubby, I am back to doing nothing. I just asked my mentor and he says that I can relax because he doesn't have anything for me to accomplish for the rest of today. I guess I like my relaxing day today because yesterday was too long. The five hours of talks, and then the multiple hours of homework. Working in groups like that can make people snappy. I think we should all understand the homework before copying down answers. I also think you should be able to defend your previous answers with better things that "I found it on the internet". It takes a lot of patience to deal with obvious laziness and stupidity. Stupidity frustrates me especially if an intelligent person is being stupid. But then what's the measure of intelligence? Scores on tests? Speed of processing power? Thoroughness? Probably all of them, eh?
[Listening to: Plea From A Cat Named Virtue - The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site (3:51)]
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Back in the swing of things?
I had a ton of fun last night at Knoxville when Jenn and I went swing dancing. We got to dance with a lot of other people during the social dance. Jenn enjoyed dancing with others and following different leads while I got to partner up with differing follows and I feel like I'm getting back into the groove. The one thing that stood out last night was me leading a guy. I've never danced with a guy and he was trying to be goofy when he asked. It was sort of weird at first but I got over it. Jenn was laughing her butt off when she saw us dancing. I like dancing with Jenn because she has rhythm and relatively easy to lead. Plus, I know her so that makes me more comfortable to get close and try new things. Boy, I've been missing out. I hope we get to go back soon.
Onto other news, the presentation went well today. I felt like I talked too fast but my mentor said that I was fine and exceeded his expectations. He was, in short, very happy. Jenn pointed out one thing that I can work on. I remember having my hands in my pockets too much. I need to fix that when I talk to a crowd next. I was not nervous at all and I had rehearsed the presentation just once with my mentor. I guess I surprised myself too. The other talks were interesting as well.
I have homework to finish tonight. That's something I am not too excited about. I also need to study for the GRE. I need to write emails to grad professors. I need to do quite a bit. Hopefully they will get all done before the weekend is done.
Onto other news, the presentation went well today. I felt like I talked too fast but my mentor said that I was fine and exceeded his expectations. He was, in short, very happy. Jenn pointed out one thing that I can work on. I remember having my hands in my pockets too much. I need to fix that when I talk to a crowd next. I was not nervous at all and I had rehearsed the presentation just once with my mentor. I guess I surprised myself too. The other talks were interesting as well.
I have homework to finish tonight. That's something I am not too excited about. I also need to study for the GRE. I need to write emails to grad professors. I need to do quite a bit. Hopefully they will get all done before the weekend is done.
[Listening to: Sister Don't Cry - Collective Soul - Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid [Atlantic] (4:02)]
[Listening to: Different But The Same - Ben Kweller - On My Way (5:01)]
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Nanotech: Is it soup yet? | CNET News.com
Nanotech: Is it soup yet? | CNET News.com
I was looking at nanotech news on new.com.com and I found this link where it talks about the commercial nanoscience ventures. It's a lucrative technology to exploit and I hope it's still around when I finish my ph.d.
I was looking at nanotech news on new.com.com and I found this link where it talks about the commercial nanoscience ventures. It's a lucrative technology to exploit and I hope it's still around when I finish my ph.d.
[Listening to: Home - Westlife - Turnaround (4:06)]
An update made to order
The last couple of days have been different. I woke up late both the days. Monday morning, we took the oppurtunity to photograph the lake in between two tree laden hills inside the ORNL campus by stopping briefly. We didn't realize that this could be interpreted as suspicious behavior till later in the afternoon, when a couple of people from security came by to question my motions for the day since I entered through the portal. I found out that someone has reported two separate incidents that they pieced together. The second incident was me removing something from the trunk of James' car. I have no idea how both of them were put together because taking something out of the trunk is nothing weird. Anyhow, James got questioned as well. Monday turned out to be very lethargic and gloomy partially due to the overcast weather. My eyes hurt so I couldn't watch my computer screen for very long without eyes watering. So, I took several short walks around the lab to refresh myself. Later in the evening, we found out that margaritas and homework don't mix. at all. Jenn and I went to a mexican restaraunt to do homework because we wanted something different to do. She wanted to go to restaraunt to eat while I had already eaten with James at the Soup Kitchen. I ordered half a bowl of chili and a loaf of cranberry something glazed bread to accompany the chili for 5 bucks. Anyhow, going back to the mexican restaraunt, we ordered a couple of magaritas for a couple of bucks a piece. I am constantly drinking my magarita while Jenn was talking on the phone and figuring something out. So, I'm drinking and doing homework at the same time. After an hour, it hit me and I felt like I didn't really care about the homework anymore. After Jenn finished her drink, we were incessantly giggling while attempting to work out homework. So after ordering another beer, and a fried ice cream (it was massive!), we gave up and left for home. We called our professor and told him that we had worked on it for long enough and it was getting very frustrating because the nomenclature rules for Inorganic Chem compounds weren't clear enough for an affirmation of our answers. He told us that it was ok, and we could clarify our doubts in class. We are going to do that today (wednesday) at 3.30 pm.
Yesterday was nice and relaxing. I should have studied more for the GRE than what I did but instead I spent all my evening with Jenn just hanging out with her. We cooked dinner which included hamburger meat, black beans, and rice. And yeah, we have been pracitising swing dancing almost every time I hang out with her. She is a quick learner and is picking up fairly well. I still have to look at my videos to teach her more of the stuff that Andi and I learnt. She should be able to do most of the safe lifts/aerials. I also got to talk to Britta and Gomathi for a long time which was wonderful. I got all the weekly updates from Britta because we hadn't talked for about a week. We called each other and left messages drawing at the same point. I'm glad our schedules overlapped last night. And I got Gomathi's birthday bash details. I don't think I've gone more than 2 days without talking to her. I know more about Gomathi's life than any of my other friends except for Britta. I need to call Jessi, Mary, Kelly and Komal. and yeah, Sean.
Yesterday was nice and relaxing. I should have studied more for the GRE than what I did but instead I spent all my evening with Jenn just hanging out with her. We cooked dinner which included hamburger meat, black beans, and rice. And yeah, we have been pracitising swing dancing almost every time I hang out with her. She is a quick learner and is picking up fairly well. I still have to look at my videos to teach her more of the stuff that Andi and I learnt. She should be able to do most of the safe lifts/aerials. I also got to talk to Britta and Gomathi for a long time which was wonderful. I got all the weekly updates from Britta because we hadn't talked for about a week. We called each other and left messages drawing at the same point. I'm glad our schedules overlapped last night. And I got Gomathi's birthday bash details. I don't think I've gone more than 2 days without talking to her. I know more about Gomathi's life than any of my other friends except for Britta. I need to call Jessi, Mary, Kelly and Komal. and yeah, Sean.
[Listening to: Only One - Goo Goo Dolls - (3:18)]
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Boing Boing: Principal says students can't keep blogs or MySpace profiles
Boing Boing: Principal says students can't keep blogs or MySpace profiles
No free speech? The right of the masses. Even the little ones. So undemocratic.
No free speech? The right of the masses. Even the little ones. So undemocratic.
[Listening to: 93 Million Miles - 30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars (5:20)]
WSJ.com - Thinking Global
WSJ.com - Thinking Global
I finally see some official debate on the internet governance issue between the US and the rest of the world. Yet another installment about this issue.
I finally see some official debate on the internet governance issue between the US and the rest of the world. Yet another installment about this issue.
[Listening to: We Sold Out - Wakefield - Wakefield (3:02)]
Protecting the Presidential Seal. No Joke. - New York Times
Protecting the Presidential Seal. No Joke. - New York Times
Full text below.
Full text below.
Protecting the Presidential Seal. No Joke.
You might have thought that the White House had enough on its plate late last month, what with its search for a new Supreme Court nominee, the continuing war in Iraq and the C.I.A. leak investigation. But it found time to add another item to its agenda - stopping The Onion, the satirical newspaper, from using the presidential seal.
The newspaper regularly produces a parody of President Bush's weekly radio address on its Web site (www.theonion.com/content/node/40121), where it has a picture of President Bush and the official insignia.
"It has come to my attention that The Onion is using the presidential seal on its Web site," Grant M. Dixton, associate counsel to the president, wrote to The Onion on Sept. 28. (At the time, Mr. Dixton's office was also helping Mr. Bush find a Supreme Court nominee; days later his boss, Harriet E. Miers, was nominated.)
Citing the United States Code, Mr. Dixton wrote that the seal "is not to be used in connection with commercial ventures or products in any way that suggests presidential support or endorsement." Exceptions may be made, he noted, but The Onion had never applied for such an exception.
The Onion was amused. "I'm surprised the president deems it wise to spend taxpayer money for his lawyer to write letters to The Onion," Scott Dikkers, editor in chief, wrote to Mr. Dixton. He suggested the money be used instead for tax breaks for satirists.
More formally, The Onion's lawyers responded that the paper's readers - it prints about 500,000 copies weekly, and three million people read it online - are well aware that The Onion is a joke.
"It is inconceivable that anyone would think that, by using the seal, The Onion intends to 'convey... sponsorship or approval' by the president," wrote Rochelle H. Klaskin, the paper's lawyer, who went on to note that a headline in the current issue made the point: "Bush to Appoint Someone to Be in Charge of Country."
Moreover, she wrote, The Onion and its Web site are free, so the seal is not being used for commercial purposes. That said, The Onion asked that its letter be considered a formal application to use the seal.
No answer yet. But Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, said that "you can't pick and choose where you want to enforce the rules surrounding the use of official government insignia, whether it's for humor or fraud."
O.K. But just between us, Mr. Duffy, how did they find out about it?
"Despite the seriousness of the Bush White House, more than one Bush staffer reads The Onion and enjoys it thoroughly," he said. "We do have a sense of humor, believe it or not."
KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
[Listening to: Complicated - Daniel Bedingfield - Second First Impression (3:31)]
How much my blog is worth?
My blog is worth $6,209.94.
How much is your blog worth?
[Listening to: Faith And Compromise - Matt Wertz - Somedays (4:04)]
Monday, October 24, 2005
CNN.com - Where are your wireless manners? - Oct 18, 2005
CNN.com - Where are your wireless manners? - Oct 18, 2005
We have embraced the mobility that technology imparts with renewed gusto without thinking about the etiquette which should follow in using it. This article describes the lost art of being sensitive to the environment around us. Abuse of cell phones in public areas is currently the largest problem however use of laptops is increasing in civic areas like parks and cafes with the advent of free wifi. We really need to take a step back and work on watching ourselves so that we aren't a cause for annoyance to the people around us.
We have embraced the mobility that technology imparts with renewed gusto without thinking about the etiquette which should follow in using it. This article describes the lost art of being sensitive to the environment around us. Abuse of cell phones in public areas is currently the largest problem however use of laptops is increasing in civic areas like parks and cafes with the advent of free wifi. We really need to take a step back and work on watching ourselves so that we aren't a cause for annoyance to the people around us.
[Listening to: Fed Up - Gob - Foot in Mouth Disease (4:18)]
Slashdot | Congress Pays You $3 Billion to Keep Watching TV
Slashdot | Congress Pays You $3 Billion to Keep Watching TV
This just makes me mad. These budget cuts in NSF funding directly hurts me and science research in general. Additionally, we are spending 3 billion dollars of friggin' television. What the hell?
This just makes me mad. These budget cuts in NSF funding directly hurts me and science research in general. Additionally, we are spending 3 billion dollars of friggin' television. What the hell?
[Listening to: Woke up in a Car - Wakefield - Wakefield (4:15)]
Sunday, October 23, 2005
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Taiwan to ignore flu drug patent
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Taiwan to ignore flu drug patent
If the Taiwenese government requested the drug from Roche and they wouldn't help. I would have broken patent rules too if my people were dying and commercialism got in the way. I believe in the good of the many when it comes to life or death. So, go figure, I'm mildly socialist.
If the Taiwenese government requested the drug from Roche and they wouldn't help. I would have broken patent rules too if my people were dying and commercialism got in the way. I believe in the good of the many when it comes to life or death. So, go figure, I'm mildly socialist.
[Listening to: 02 Weak And Powerless - A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step (3:15)]
Saturday, October 22, 2005
The 50 Dumbest Things President Bush Said in His First Term
50. "I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here." —at the President's Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002
49. "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease." —Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14, 2001
48. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.'' —Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001
47. "We both use Colgate toothpaste." —after a reporter asked what he had in common with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Camp David, Md., Feb. 23, 2001
46. "Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a — you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004 (Watch video)
45. "I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2003
44. "I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president." —as quoted in Bob Woodward's Bush at War
43. "I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport." —Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 2001
42. "The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself." —Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 29, 2003
41. "I saw a poll that said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than here in America. It's pretty darn strong. I mean, the people see a better future." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2004
40. "Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties." —discussing the Iraq war with Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, as quoted by Robertson
39. "I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." —presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004 (Watch video)
38. "Haven't we already given money to rich people? Why are we going to do it again?" —to economic advisers discussing a second round of tax cuts, as quoted by former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil, Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2002
37. "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." —Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002
36. "After standing on the stage, after the debates, I made it very plain, we will not have an all-volunteer army. And yet, this week — we will have an all-volunteer army!" —Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct. 16, 2004 (Watch video)
35. "Do you have blacks, too?" —to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001
34. "This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating." —as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002
33. "I got to know Ken Lay when he was head of the — what they call the Governor's Business Council in Texas. He was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994. And she had named him the head of the Governor's Business Council. And I decided to leave him in place, just for the sake of continuity. And that's when I first got to know Ken and worked with Ken." —attempting to distance himself from his biggest political patron, Enron Chairman Ken Lay, whom he nicknamed "Kenny Boy," Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2002
32. "It is white." —after being asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like, July 19, 2001
31. "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah." —at a White House menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001
30. "For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it." —Philadelphia, Penn., May 14, 2001
29. "I don't know why you're talking about Sweden. They're the neutral one. They don't have an army." —during a Dec. 2002 Oval Office meeting with Rep. Tom Lantos, as reported by the New York Times
28. "You forgot Poland." —to Sen. John Kerry during the first presidential debate, after Kerry failed to mention Poland's contributions to the Iraq war coalition, Miami, Fla., Sept. 30, 2004
27. "I'm the master of low expectations." —aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003
26. "I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things." —aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003
25. "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right." —Rome, Italy, July 22, 2001
24. "We need to counter the shockwave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates." —Washington, D.C. Oct. 4, 2001
23. "People say, how can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil? You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002
22. "I wish you'd have given me this written question ahead of time so I could plan for it…I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with answer, but it hadn't yet….I don't want to sound like I have made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't — you just put me under the spot here, and maybe I'm not as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one." —President George W. Bush, after being asked to name the biggest mistake he had made, Washington, D.C., April 3, 2004
21. "The really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway." —explaining why high taxes on the rich are a failed strategy, Annandale, Va., Aug. 9, 2004
20. "My plan reduces the national debt, and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that we're going to run out of debt to retire." —radio address, Feb. 24, 2001
19. "You know, when I was one time campaigning in Chicago, a reporter said, 'Would you ever have a deficit?' I said, 'I can't imagine it, but there would be one if we had a war, or a national emergency, or a recession.' Never did I dream we'd get the trifecta." —Houston, Texas, June 14, 2002 (There is no evidence Bush ever made any such statement, despite recounting the trifecta line repeatedly in 2002. A search by the Washington Post revealed that the three caveats were brought up before the 2000 campaign — by Al Gore.)
18. "See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction." —Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003
17. "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." —State of the Union Address, Jan. 28, 2003, making a claim that administration officials knew at the time to be false
16. "In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard." —repeating the phrases "hard work," "working hard," "hard choices," and other "hard"-based verbiage 22 times in his first debate with Sen. John Kerry
15. "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001
14. "I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." —Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002
13. "But all in all, it's been a fabulous year for Laura and me." —summing up his first year in office, three months after the 9/11 attacks, Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2001
12. "I try to go for longer runs, but it's tough around here at the White House on the outdoor track. It's sad that I can't run longer. It's one of the saddest things about the presidency." —interview with "Runners World," Aug. 2002
11. "Can we win? I don't think you can win it." —after being asked whether the war on terror was winnable, "Today" show interview, Aug. 30, 2004
10. "I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." —Washington, D.C. June 18, 2002
9. "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job." —to a group of Amish he met with privately, July 9, 2004
8. "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." —speaking underneath a "Mission Accomplished" banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, May 1, 2003
7. “We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories … And we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them." —Washington, D.C., May 30, 2003
6. "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!" —President George W. Bush, joking about his administration's failure to find WMDs in Iraq as he narrated a comic slideshow during the Radio & TV Correspondents' Association dinner, Washington, D.C., March 24, 2004
5. "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." —Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000
4. "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 (Watch video)
3. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 (Watch video)
2. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Watch video)
1. "My answer is bring them on." —on Iraqi insurgents attacking U.S. forces, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2003
Link
49. "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease." —Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14, 2001
48. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.'' —Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001
47. "We both use Colgate toothpaste." —after a reporter asked what he had in common with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Camp David, Md., Feb. 23, 2001
46. "Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a — you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004 (Watch video)
45. "I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2003
44. "I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president." —as quoted in Bob Woodward's Bush at War
43. "I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport." —Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 2001
42. "The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself." —Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 29, 2003
41. "I saw a poll that said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than here in America. It's pretty darn strong. I mean, the people see a better future." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2004
40. "Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties." —discussing the Iraq war with Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, as quoted by Robertson
39. "I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." —presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004 (Watch video)
38. "Haven't we already given money to rich people? Why are we going to do it again?" —to economic advisers discussing a second round of tax cuts, as quoted by former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil, Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2002
37. "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." —Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002
36. "After standing on the stage, after the debates, I made it very plain, we will not have an all-volunteer army. And yet, this week — we will have an all-volunteer army!" —Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct. 16, 2004 (Watch video)
35. "Do you have blacks, too?" —to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001
34. "This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating." —as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002
33. "I got to know Ken Lay when he was head of the — what they call the Governor's Business Council in Texas. He was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994. And she had named him the head of the Governor's Business Council. And I decided to leave him in place, just for the sake of continuity. And that's when I first got to know Ken and worked with Ken." —attempting to distance himself from his biggest political patron, Enron Chairman Ken Lay, whom he nicknamed "Kenny Boy," Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2002
32. "It is white." —after being asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like, July 19, 2001
31. "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah." —at a White House menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001
30. "For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it." —Philadelphia, Penn., May 14, 2001
29. "I don't know why you're talking about Sweden. They're the neutral one. They don't have an army." —during a Dec. 2002 Oval Office meeting with Rep. Tom Lantos, as reported by the New York Times
28. "You forgot Poland." —to Sen. John Kerry during the first presidential debate, after Kerry failed to mention Poland's contributions to the Iraq war coalition, Miami, Fla., Sept. 30, 2004
27. "I'm the master of low expectations." —aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003
26. "I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things." —aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003
25. "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right." —Rome, Italy, July 22, 2001
24. "We need to counter the shockwave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates." —Washington, D.C. Oct. 4, 2001
23. "People say, how can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil? You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002
22. "I wish you'd have given me this written question ahead of time so I could plan for it…I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with answer, but it hadn't yet….I don't want to sound like I have made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't — you just put me under the spot here, and maybe I'm not as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one." —President George W. Bush, after being asked to name the biggest mistake he had made, Washington, D.C., April 3, 2004
21. "The really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway." —explaining why high taxes on the rich are a failed strategy, Annandale, Va., Aug. 9, 2004
20. "My plan reduces the national debt, and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that we're going to run out of debt to retire." —radio address, Feb. 24, 2001
19. "You know, when I was one time campaigning in Chicago, a reporter said, 'Would you ever have a deficit?' I said, 'I can't imagine it, but there would be one if we had a war, or a national emergency, or a recession.' Never did I dream we'd get the trifecta." —Houston, Texas, June 14, 2002 (There is no evidence Bush ever made any such statement, despite recounting the trifecta line repeatedly in 2002. A search by the Washington Post revealed that the three caveats were brought up before the 2000 campaign — by Al Gore.)
18. "See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction." —Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003
17. "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." —State of the Union Address, Jan. 28, 2003, making a claim that administration officials knew at the time to be false
16. "In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard." —repeating the phrases "hard work," "working hard," "hard choices," and other "hard"-based verbiage 22 times in his first debate with Sen. John Kerry
15. "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001
14. "I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." —Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002
13. "But all in all, it's been a fabulous year for Laura and me." —summing up his first year in office, three months after the 9/11 attacks, Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2001
12. "I try to go for longer runs, but it's tough around here at the White House on the outdoor track. It's sad that I can't run longer. It's one of the saddest things about the presidency." —interview with "Runners World," Aug. 2002
11. "Can we win? I don't think you can win it." —after being asked whether the war on terror was winnable, "Today" show interview, Aug. 30, 2004
10. "I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." —Washington, D.C. June 18, 2002
9. "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job." —to a group of Amish he met with privately, July 9, 2004
8. "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." —speaking underneath a "Mission Accomplished" banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, May 1, 2003
7. “We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories … And we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them." —Washington, D.C., May 30, 2003
6. "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!" —President George W. Bush, joking about his administration's failure to find WMDs in Iraq as he narrated a comic slideshow during the Radio & TV Correspondents' Association dinner, Washington, D.C., March 24, 2004
5. "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." —Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000
4. "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 (Watch video)
3. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 (Watch video)
2. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Watch video)
1. "My answer is bring them on." —on Iraqi insurgents attacking U.S. forces, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2003
Link
[Listening to: Fallen - 30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars (4:59)]
New Scientist SPACE - Breaking News - Out-of-this-world sex could jeopardise missions
New Scientist SPACE - Breaking News - Out-of-this-world sex could jeopardise missions
So, sex that is out of this world is bad. Who knew? Well, I guess it's pure speculation upto now and people react differently under duress and isolation. We however don't have to worry about this right now because the closest human mission to Mars is beyond 2020. I know for a fact that I don't have to worry about this. But this article oddly piqued my interest.
So, sex that is out of this world is bad. Who knew? Well, I guess it's pure speculation upto now and people react differently under duress and isolation. We however don't have to worry about this right now because the closest human mission to Mars is beyond 2020. I know for a fact that I don't have to worry about this. But this article oddly piqued my interest.
[Listening to: Who's To Say - Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium (4:51)]
Friday, October 21, 2005
'I Will Eat Your Dollars' - Los Angeles Times
'I Will Eat Your Dollars' - Los Angeles Times
Even if they get one reply out out of the thousands of emails they send out, it's worth it. Ahhh, the good ol' scammers who will rot in hell for their sins. Mwwuuaaahhhhaaa!
Even if they get one reply out out of the thousands of emails they send out, it's worth it. Ahhh, the good ol' scammers who will rot in hell for their sins. Mwwuuaaahhhhaaa!
[Listening to: Movies Of Myself - Rufus Wainwright - Want One (4:30)]
The VoIP Backlash
The VoIP Backlash
I don't like the fact that phone companies are blocking VoIP calls because there are losing revenue. They have to move with the flow. Traditional telephone companies are expensive and getting outdated with the advent of the internet telephony. Suck it fellas! I like my cheap calls, and I want them to remain cheap. I do feel bad for the companies because they have obviously invested a lot into their technology but tech waits for no one. Too bad!
I don't like the fact that phone companies are blocking VoIP calls because there are losing revenue. They have to move with the flow. Traditional telephone companies are expensive and getting outdated with the advent of the internet telephony. Suck it fellas! I like my cheap calls, and I want them to remain cheap. I do feel bad for the companies because they have obviously invested a lot into their technology but tech waits for no one. Too bad!
[Listening to: Sleep - Imogen Heap - I Megaphone (3:46)]
Flickr: luminea's photos tagged with strobelab
Flickr: luminea's photos tagged with strobelab
This is a flickr photoset of Amy who studying in MIT. She's got pictures of a rose frozen with liquid nitrogen and then shattered by a bullet. It's pretty darn cool. She also has milk drop pictures. Check them out!
This is a flickr photoset of Amy who studying in MIT. She's got pictures of a rose frozen with liquid nitrogen and then shattered by a bullet. It's pretty darn cool. She also has milk drop pictures. Check them out!
Here come the nanocars | CNET News.com
Here come the nanocars | CNET News.com
I love these fun little innovations in nano technology. They built transports on the molecular level which move like vehicles. Its tires are made of bucky balls(C60) and the nanocar moves with electric field manipulation. Kudos to the scientists at Rice University!
I love these fun little innovations in nano technology. They built transports on the molecular level which move like vehicles. Its tires are made of bucky balls(C60) and the nanocar moves with electric field manipulation. Kudos to the scientists at Rice University!
[Listening to: Finish Line - Yellowcard - The Underdog EP (3:46)]
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Harriet Miers's Blog!!!
Harriet Miers's Blog!!!
I wonder if this is real? There are too many exclamation marks. That makes me suspicious. For those who don't know who Harriet Miers is, she is the nominee for the US Supreme Court who has been in the news lately.
I wonder if this is real? There are too many exclamation marks. That makes me suspicious. For those who don't know who Harriet Miers is, she is the nominee for the US Supreme Court who has been in the news lately.
For the love of Indian Food
Indiatimes: Best Indian Dishes
I am going to blatantly copy my favorite meals from this website so that you don't get popups when you visit the actual site.
Tandoori Chicken
The Punjabification of the globe can be traced to this singular dish. Originally from Punjab, the dish is now part of the world's menu. Think velvety, succulent chicken pieces marinated in curd with subtle spices and a few drops of red/orange colour!
Elish (Hilsa) paturi
This is a classic from Bengal which some say originated in what is now Bangladesh. Hilsa is baked wrapped in banana leaf. Traditionally the fish packets were cooked alongwith with rice in a chula. The slow-cooking added to the flavour. The flavour and taste cannot be written of...but just has to be experienced!
Momo
Believe it or not, momos are actually a dish from Sikkim. Truly a pan-Indian favourite, with vegetarian or non-vegetarian dish and a unique red chutney, momos can be prepared steamed, boiled or fried with your choice of stuffing! Be imaginative.
Khichadi
Another pan-Indian favourite though different parts of the country have their own versions. In Madhya Pradesh for example, khichadi made with sabudana is the hot favourite, while in the eastern part of the country, lentils are the choice.
Malai kofta
This is a classic dish of Moghul origin. Panneer, kyoya, raisins, cashews-stuffed in a boiled potato-malai kofta is a sheer delight. The kofta is added to a spicy, creamy sauce.
Hyderabadi biryani
The Hyderabadi cuisine is the amalgamation of Muslim techniques and meats with the vibrant spices and ingredients of local Hindus. Hyderabadi cuisine is the ultimate in fine dining. Its tastes range from sour and the sweet, the hot and the salty and studded with dry fruits and nuts.
What better dish than the Hyderabadi biryani to represent this cuisine?
I am going to blatantly copy my favorite meals from this website so that you don't get popups when you visit the actual site.
Tandoori Chicken
The Punjabification of the globe can be traced to this singular dish. Originally from Punjab, the dish is now part of the world's menu. Think velvety, succulent chicken pieces marinated in curd with subtle spices and a few drops of red/orange colour!
Elish (Hilsa) paturi
This is a classic from Bengal which some say originated in what is now Bangladesh. Hilsa is baked wrapped in banana leaf. Traditionally the fish packets were cooked alongwith with rice in a chula. The slow-cooking added to the flavour. The flavour and taste cannot be written of...but just has to be experienced!
Momo
Believe it or not, momos are actually a dish from Sikkim. Truly a pan-Indian favourite, with vegetarian or non-vegetarian dish and a unique red chutney, momos can be prepared steamed, boiled or fried with your choice of stuffing! Be imaginative.
Khichadi
Another pan-Indian favourite though different parts of the country have their own versions. In Madhya Pradesh for example, khichadi made with sabudana is the hot favourite, while in the eastern part of the country, lentils are the choice.
Malai kofta
This is a classic dish of Moghul origin. Panneer, kyoya, raisins, cashews-stuffed in a boiled potato-malai kofta is a sheer delight. The kofta is added to a spicy, creamy sauce.
Hyderabadi biryani
The Hyderabadi cuisine is the amalgamation of Muslim techniques and meats with the vibrant spices and ingredients of local Hindus. Hyderabadi cuisine is the ultimate in fine dining. Its tastes range from sour and the sweet, the hot and the salty and studded with dry fruits and nuts.
What better dish than the Hyderabadi biryani to represent this cuisine?
[Listening to: Sword And Shield - Sister Hazel - Chasing Daylight (5:05)]
In need for a altruist pharma company?
I talked to Jenn yesterday about AIDS and the quest for a cure/vaccine. I was wondering if there was any truly altruistic pharmacetical company in the world who would be willing to invest billions of dollars into this project. The reason was that if they develop the cure, I don't think they are going to get much returns in terms of profit as this would be free medication where it's needed the most. In a capitalist world economy like we have now, it makes no business sense to work on it if the governments don't offer compensation for the R&D. It's hard for me to imagine that we aren't closer to a cure if it wasn't a money issue. Drug companies keep making innovations in fields that have huge scope for profits but not for those which would give near zero return. I might research a little more into this to see how much of progress has been made in this front.
[Listening to: End of the World - Blessid Union of Souls - Home (3:42)]
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
A fresh dip in swing
I'm extremely excited. I went to the first swing dance thing at Knoxville. Jenn came along with me to the basic lindy class. I wanted to try the advanced but she didn't know the swing style at all, so we decided just to do the beginner class. she is a quick learner and has internal rhythm which was more than I could say for the rest of the people I danced with. However it was just wonderful to get out there and do it. I'm trying to see if Jenn would want to do it at least once a week so that I can meet new people and swing dance at the same time. Before we left, I got to dance with one girl who knew how to move and it was great! She spun like a pro, and I love dancing with girls who know how to move. I realized I was rusty in lindy and needed to look at my swing vids to refresh my memory. I might do that the next time.
This was one of the best nights I've had.
This was one of the best nights I've had.
[Listening to: Drift on - Butterfly Boucher - Flutterby (3:05)]
A Prairie Girl: Flyin' High
A Prairie Girl: Flyin' High
Why would this flag be flying in Germany?
Why would this flag be flying in Germany?
[Listening to: This Is Not An Exit - Saves The Day - Stay What You Are (3:58)]
Scientific American Mind: Smarter on Drugs
Scientific American Mind: Smarter on Drugs
Via The Need to Know
This article brings forth several arguments. I am going to quote certain excerpts and write a little commentary.
I am wondering if athletes aren't allowed to take performance enhancing drugs, why are students allowed to take cognitive enhancements prior to taking a major examination. To me, it seems like cheating the system. The tests however imperfect seek to test on the actual and not enhanced abilities of the students. I don't think students are always going to take the enhancement drugs through college and may face a bitter shock when encountering courses which are beyond their normal abilities.
He further argues that these drugs should be used.
I think people have different skills and interests, and they tend to learn those things far quicker than stuff they are not interested in. If we all using the same drugs, what would distinguish us?
I know that I like the fact that I can forget the bad memories and move on instead of being bogged down by them. I think we remember enough if the event was really powerful/traumatic. I do think that we are stronger through the trials of life.
So, do we want a world with uber brilliant people? Who would do the occupation that don't require lightning quick thinking? Why would anyone who is genius want to work in occupations which require brawn rather than brain? If everyone was brilliant, would people work hard any more?
I guess in the end, I am more worried about abuse than anything. If ours was a perfect society, then this would be a great oppurtunity to progress at the speed of light. Well, I think we will wait and see how our world adapts itself to the influx of exceptional and smarter people.
Via The Need to Know
This article brings forth several arguments. I am going to quote certain excerpts and write a little commentary.
Drugs designed for psychotherapy can also be used to enhance certain regular mental functions. Just as Ritalin can improve the academic performance of hyperactive children, it can do the same for normal children. It is commonly thought to boost SAT scores by more than 100 points, for both the hyperactive and the normal user. Many healthy young people now use it that way for that purpose, and quite frankly, there is no stopping this abuse.
I am wondering if athletes aren't allowed to take performance enhancing drugs, why are students allowed to take cognitive enhancements prior to taking a major examination. To me, it seems like cheating the system. The tests however imperfect seek to test on the actual and not enhanced abilities of the students. I don't think students are always going to take the enhancement drugs through college and may face a bitter shock when encountering courses which are beyond their normal abilities.
He further argues that these drugs should be used.
Among the normal population are men and women with incredible memories, fast learners of language and music, and those with enhanced capabilities of all kinds. Something in their brains allows them to encode new information at lightning speed. We accept the fact that they must have some chemical system that is superior to ours or some neural circuitry that is more efficient. So why should we be upset if the same thing can be achieved with a pill? In some way, we were cheated by Mother Nature if we didn't get the superior neural system, so for us to cheat her back through our own inventiveness seems like a smart thing to do. In my opinion, it is exactly what we should do.
I think people have different skills and interests, and they tend to learn those things far quicker than stuff they are not interested in. If we all using the same drugs, what would distinguish us?
My guess is that, on average, adults will choose not to use memory enhancers or the theoretically more obscure IQ or cognitive enhancers. Why? Because when memory is in the normal range, we adapt to its level and set our personal psychological life in that context. Increasing our memory capacity might send a ripple effect across the landscape of our daily lives. After all, we spend a good part of each evening trying to forget many of the day's memories. Over a lifetime we have built up our personal narrative based on the efficiency of our memory and our capacity to forget. Any significant or even slight change in these capacities will have to be integrated into the backbone of that narrative, changing the mental life of a person.
I know that I like the fact that I can forget the bad memories and move on instead of being bogged down by them. I think we remember enough if the event was really powerful/traumatic. I do think that we are stronger through the trials of life.
Enhancing memory is one issue. Making people smarter--more able to contemplate complex ideas with greater ease and facility--somehow seems more problematic. Do we want a nation full of Harvard graduates? On the surface it seems insane. But the basic science suggests that superintelligence is not far-fetched.
So, do we want a world with uber brilliant people? Who would do the occupation that don't require lightning quick thinking? Why would anyone who is genius want to work in occupations which require brawn rather than brain? If everyone was brilliant, would people work hard any more?
I guess in the end, I am more worried about abuse than anything. If ours was a perfect society, then this would be a great oppurtunity to progress at the speed of light. Well, I think we will wait and see how our world adapts itself to the influx of exceptional and smarter people.
[Listening to: Fearless - Matthew Good Band - Last of the Ghetto Astronauts (5:15)]
Scientists develop cancer nanobomb
Scientists develop cancer nanobomb
Cancer nano bombs appears to be a promising technology to fight cancer. Think of tiny bombs exploding in the malignant cells destroying the cells and subsequently blocking the biological pathways to make more cancerous cells.
This makes me wish I would have been doing some research in carbon nanotubes but I know that would have required Organic Chemistry which I haven't taken in college.
Read the article for the whole scoop.
Cancer nano bombs appears to be a promising technology to fight cancer. Think of tiny bombs exploding in the malignant cells destroying the cells and subsequently blocking the biological pathways to make more cancerous cells.
He believes the nanobomb holds great promise as a therapeutic agent for killing cancer cells, with particular emphasis on breast cancer cells, because its shockwave kills the cancerous cells as well as the biological pathways that carry instructions to generate additional cancerous cells and the small veins that nourish the diseased cells. Also, it can be spread over a wide area to create structural damage to the cancer cells that are close by.
This makes me wish I would have been doing some research in carbon nanotubes but I know that would have required Organic Chemistry which I haven't taken in college.
Read the article for the whole scoop.
[Listening to: Generator - Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose (3:49)]
Hot Abercrombie Chick Posts: intelligent design Michael Behe
Hot Abercrombie Chick Posts: intelligent design Michael Behe
The more I look into Intelligent Design, it seems like it has distanced itself from the religious version of ID. I just read Amanda's blog post on her thoughts on Intelligent Design and it was hard to figure out if she was pro ID or not.. But read her article because she did some research before writing her post. See what you make of it.
The more I look into Intelligent Design, it seems like it has distanced itself from the religious version of ID. I just read Amanda's blog post on her thoughts on Intelligent Design and it was hard to figure out if she was pro ID or not.. But read her article because she did some research before writing her post. See what you make of it.
[Listening to: If You Leave - Nada Surf - Music from the O.C.: Mix 2 (4:51)]
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
I am currently listening to a swing jazz cd that Andi sent for my birthday. It's a wonderful CD! Thanks Andi! I know a few of the famous remakes but there are a lot of new fun songs in there too.
You should check her blog (Andi's Blog) out because she is in Germany and posting regular updates with pictures.
I gotta talk to her on the phone sometime.
[Listening to: Traffic Jam - Bugle Call Rag - Five By Design - Club Swing (3:14)]
Technology - BitTorrent: The Great Disrupter - FORTUNE - Page
Technology - BitTorrent: The Great Disrupter - FORTUNE - Page
BitTorrent is a great downloading tool. Whenever I miss a show, I just use BT to download it the next day and it is usually done in a few hours. I found this Fortune article about the creator of BitTorrent. It's a fascinating read.
BitTorrent is a great downloading tool. Whenever I miss a show, I just use BT to download it the next day and it is usually done in a few hours. I found this Fortune article about the creator of BitTorrent. It's a fascinating read.
[Listening to: Traffic Jam - Bugle Call Rag - Five By Design - Club Swing (3:14)]
'Intelligent Design' Advocate Testifies - Yahoo! News
'Intelligent Design' Advocate Testifies - Yahoo! News
I don't understand why people automatically connect Intelligent Design with God. What if it was just a extraordinary alien civilization? If people believe in God and Intelligent Design, why do they not believe in existence of life beyond the Blue Planet? Why is intelligent life in the Last Frontier such a hard concept to acknowledge?
I don't understand why people automatically connect Intelligent Design with God. What if it was just a extraordinary alien civilization? If people believe in God and Intelligent Design, why do they not believe in existence of life beyond the Blue Planet? Why is intelligent life in the Last Frontier such a hard concept to acknowledge?
[Listening to: Dancing Alone - Ashlee Simpson - I Am Me (3:55)]
Monday, October 17, 2005
American stereotypical male? *updated with stats link*
I had a mild argument with Rachel's boyfriend about his views on blacks. He thinks that he isn't rascist yet he makes statements like 80% of crime in the US is by African Americans. I was dumbfounded to hear such an outrageous statistic that he clearly fabricated. And then he mentioned that the US is successful because the Christian God was great. I couldn't believe that these statements were coming out of the mouth of an educated college student. No wonder is he so hated at college. If I was black, I would be terribly offended. I have met my first cultural imperialist. Here is what cultural imperialism means in Wikipedia:
He was also extremely enthnocentric. Also from Wikipedia:
How do you think I should have approached his arguments? Ridicule, patience, mockery?
*updated*
I found statistics about race and crime.
Cultural imperialism is the practice of promoting the culture or language of one nation in another. It is usually the case that the former is a large, economically or militarily powerful nation and the latter is a smaller, less affluent one. Cultural imperialism can take the form of an active, formal policy or a general attitude.
He was also extremely enthnocentric. Also from Wikipedia:
Ethnocentrism (Greek ethnos ("nation" + -centrism) or ethnocentricity is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. Many claim that ethnocentrism occurs in every society; ironically, ethnocentrism may be something that all cultures have in common.
How do you think I should have approached his arguments? Ridicule, patience, mockery?
*updated*
I found statistics about race and crime.
Homicide trends in the U.S.: Trends by race
[Listening to: Smelly Cat Medley - Phoebe Buffay and the Hairballs (feat. The Pretenders) - Friends Again (2:26)]
I've had a lot of time today while working in the morning to think about the life in general. Andi in Germany, Gomati, Britta, my friends here, GRE and grad school, family in india, missed oppurtunities, avoidable mistakes.
I also was thinking about Kristin. After talking to Jenn, I decided to give up my pride and just talk to her. I was really frustrated with her because she hadn't been able to make time to keep in touch. After I talked to her for the 5 minutes a few days after getting to Oak Ridge, we haven't spoken or emailed. I get worried about my friendships when I realize that I don't care enough to keep in touch and resign to let the friendship dissipate. I've done it before. Bhavya, Avinash, Jeshica, Becky, Amanda. I absolutely don't want to add Kristin to that list. I will reply to the birthday wish she sent and try to resurrect whatever is left of our friendship.
Bhavya is something I've been unable to figure out. I don't know why our friendship would have dissipated. We were best friends for 4 years. Incredibly good intimate friends. How does something like that phase out? I guess when one of them start dating someone else, it could. Maybe that's what happened. Maybe she felt like she had to withdraw. I didn't want her to. I told her not to. I am wondering if we ever loved each other. I don't even know if I knew what love meant when Bhavya and I became emotionally intimate. I guess it's a chapter now.
The two friendships I talked about above have a common thread. I don't know how to rectify the situation to bring our friendships back to original glory.
About friends here, I don't know if most of their love lives are going to survive. One of the girls has a very serious boyfriend who is going to propose to her. One of the girls has a boyfriend who is more like a best friend than anything else. One relationship has already bit the dust here and the person has already move on. We also had our hook up of the semester.
I'm glad Gomati decided on Coe. She is the one person that I've talked to more than anyone else by a long shot. Even Britta, which I didn't think was possible. I talk to her every day online or call each other every so often. She also keeps in informed about a lot of the gossip at school. She has had her share of rumors but she takes them well without getting depressed. Some of the boys there are really dumb and I wish I could knock some sense into her heads. I want her to be careful at school because reputations get easily tainted and are very hard to clean. And I am happy that I get to travel back with her to Coe because I've never had a companion for that long journey from home to school.
I also was thinking about Kristin. After talking to Jenn, I decided to give up my pride and just talk to her. I was really frustrated with her because she hadn't been able to make time to keep in touch. After I talked to her for the 5 minutes a few days after getting to Oak Ridge, we haven't spoken or emailed. I get worried about my friendships when I realize that I don't care enough to keep in touch and resign to let the friendship dissipate. I've done it before. Bhavya, Avinash, Jeshica, Becky, Amanda. I absolutely don't want to add Kristin to that list. I will reply to the birthday wish she sent and try to resurrect whatever is left of our friendship.
Bhavya is something I've been unable to figure out. I don't know why our friendship would have dissipated. We were best friends for 4 years. Incredibly good intimate friends. How does something like that phase out? I guess when one of them start dating someone else, it could. Maybe that's what happened. Maybe she felt like she had to withdraw. I didn't want her to. I told her not to. I am wondering if we ever loved each other. I don't even know if I knew what love meant when Bhavya and I became emotionally intimate. I guess it's a chapter now.
The two friendships I talked about above have a common thread. I don't know how to rectify the situation to bring our friendships back to original glory.
About friends here, I don't know if most of their love lives are going to survive. One of the girls has a very serious boyfriend who is going to propose to her. One of the girls has a boyfriend who is more like a best friend than anything else. One relationship has already bit the dust here and the person has already move on. We also had our hook up of the semester.
I'm glad Gomati decided on Coe. She is the one person that I've talked to more than anyone else by a long shot. Even Britta, which I didn't think was possible. I talk to her every day online or call each other every so often. She also keeps in informed about a lot of the gossip at school. She has had her share of rumors but she takes them well without getting depressed. Some of the boys there are really dumb and I wish I could knock some sense into her heads. I want her to be careful at school because reputations get easily tainted and are very hard to clean. And I am happy that I get to travel back with her to Coe because I've never had a companion for that long journey from home to school.
[Listening to: In My Head - Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day (4:07)]
Saturday, October 15, 2005
a random metaphor usage
The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye: the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.
The metaphor does truly capture the mind of a close minded bigot. The best part is that it uses a scientific metaphor!
[Listening to: What Are You Afraid Of - West Indian Girl - One Tree Hill - Enhanced Soundtrack Season 2 (5:07)]
Boing Boing: Disappearing rights mug
Boing Boing: Disappearing rights mug
I am very curious about the technology involved in making the disappearing ink with heat. I bet not everyone will like this product.
I am very curious about the technology involved in making the disappearing ink with heat. I bet not everyone will like this product.
[Listening to: I Have A Dream - Westlife - Unbreakable (The Greatest Hits Vol.1) [ECD] [UK] (4:15)]
Friday, October 14, 2005
Nigeria, Microsoft Fight Internet Fraud - Yahoo! News
Nigeria, Microsoft Fight Internet Fraud - Yahoo! News
finally some official effort from Nigeria to fight spam and cyber crime, most famous of them being the 419 scam. This is the email that promises a 33% share if you help in bank transfers. So many people fell this, it's quite funny now.
finally some official effort from Nigeria to fight spam and cyber crime, most famous of them being the 419 scam. This is the email that promises a 33% share if you help in bank transfers. So many people fell this, it's quite funny now.
[Listening to: Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet - One Tree Hill - Enhanced Soundtrack Season 1 (3:50)]
I can't wait till I can sleep in during the weekend. Unfortunately, the past few weekends, I've never gone to bed before 3 or 4 am. I would normally hang out with Jenn or Rach till 2 or 3 am and then Britta would call after that and I would talk to her for a while. And then go to sleep and wake up at noon or 1 am or 2 am. Even thought it's not a particularly healthy practice, I'd still do that because I like being around them. And my room mate uses this time to have some privacy while being around our new quasi-permanent third room mate.
I just talked to dad and wished him a Shubho Bijoya because it's the last day of the Durga Pujo. It's my culture's biggest festival and I guess is an analogy when compared to Christmas. I should get pictures from my parents to show what the celebration looks like.
I just talked to dad and wished him a Shubho Bijoya because it's the last day of the Durga Pujo. It's my culture's biggest festival and I guess is an analogy when compared to Christmas. I should get pictures from my parents to show what the celebration looks like.
[Listening to: If I Run - Semisonic - Great Divide (4:16)]
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time of immiment hardship ahead
I was talking to one of my friends here and she was telling me about the time she put into studying and getting good grades. That got me thinking about the amount of work I put into classes. I've never really had to put much effort to get good grades in my classes barring a few classes. Every single math course so far except for Real Anaysis was within my grasp of understanding after just listening to the lecture and doing minimal practice. I can say the same for a lot of the physics classes. I'd say the toughest physics class that required the most attention was Quantum Mechanics because a lot of the math was new and we were barely grazing the surface. I've gotten A-'s or A's in all of the courses in my major fields of study and I am a senior! That's saying that I have done pretty well for 3 years even with tough faculty because the faculty had exceptional teaching skills. I have known for a long time that I learn the best from lectures rather than text books. I just can't grasp concepts while reading especially if they are brand new and advanced. I had that problem in chemistry with one of the chem faculty. However, I realize that I have to face this problem real soon when I hit graduate school because I will have to teach myself most of everything I need to know.
One more thing I've noticed is that I have never depended on anyone but the professor to teach me things that I didn't understand because usually if I didn't get it, no one else did either or had incomplete understanding. I guess that sounds like bragging but I don't mean to be a braggart. I was thinking about how I have been used by other people to tutor/teach concepts taught in class. Sometimes I wish I had someone like me for me, a fall back option in a peer.
One more thing I've noticed is that I have never depended on anyone but the professor to teach me things that I didn't understand because usually if I didn't get it, no one else did either or had incomplete understanding. I guess that sounds like bragging but I don't mean to be a braggart. I was thinking about how I have been used by other people to tutor/teach concepts taught in class. Sometimes I wish I had someone like me for me, a fall back option in a peer.
[Listening to: Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner - Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree (3:20)]
taking a break
I just got done with a blitzkrieg of starting online graduate applications. I started making a list of schools that I want to apply to. They include Brown, RPI, Vanderbilt, NC State, Arizona State, Northwestern, UPenn, Boston U, Stanford and Caltech. I still have to start applications in Georgia tech, Cornell, Columbia, Duke and Purdue. I have to narrow my choices down to realistic ones soon. I know a lot of my choices are top schools and extremely exclusive. My grades are good enough, got a lot of research experience, highly active college life, and a research paper that is going to be published very soon. This brings it down to my GRE now. Nothing like added pressure. I bet my ORNL work experience is the biggest boon in my application/resume.
I got to give my eyes some rest. They hurt and water. Darn!
I still have to get my visas for the winter travel.
The pink's for the breast cancer wristband I got today. One more to go. Just the One poverty white band.
I got to give my eyes some rest. They hurt and water. Darn!
I still have to get my visas for the winter travel.
The pink's for the breast cancer wristband I got today. One more to go. Just the One poverty white band.
[Listening to: Zig Zaggity Woop Woop Pt. 2 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Save My Soul (4:44)]
Where do I stand?
| You are a Social Liberal (63% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (30% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
[Listening to: Rubber Mallet - Alien Ant Farm - TruANT (3:09)]
CNN.com - Special Reports - Back to School
CNN.com - Special Reports - Back to School
Look at what's hot and what's not. It's a fashion blog run by student journalists in a medley of colleges/university.
Look at what's hot and what's not. It's a fashion blog run by student journalists in a medley of colleges/university.
[Listening to: I'm Sorry - Jude Kastle - Junkie for Fire (3:21)]
Jarhead
Jarhead
I found this cool little project listed on BoingBoing. I should email this idea to my friends for halloween projects.
I found this cool little project listed on BoingBoing. I should email this idea to my friends for halloween projects.
[Listening to: Love Lifted Me - Collective Soul - Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid [Atlantic] (3:49)]
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Random history happenings on Oct 12
Here are a couple of random things that happened on my birthday (Oct 12). (Via Wikipedia)
cheers!
- 1492 - Christopher Columbus's expedition makes landfall in the Caribbean. The explorer believes he has reached East Asia
- 1810 - First Oktoberfest: The Bavarian royalty invites the citizens of Munich to join the celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen
cheers!
[Listening to: Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk - Rufus Wainwright - Poses (4:42)]
symmetry - October 2005 - gallery: jan-henrik andersen
symmetry - October 2005 - gallery: jan-henrik andersen
I never knew what quarks looked like. This site has all of the graphical representations up. Check it out. (via /.)
I never knew what quarks looked like. This site has all of the graphical representations up. Check it out. (via /.)
[Listening to: Water - Breaking Benjamin - Saturate (4:12)]
Yeah, I had to work on my birthday!
I got a few calls last night, a few emails today, a couple of ecards and few packages and cards in the mail that haven't arrived yet. I dressed a little better than usual to go to work and actually shaved. hehe. So I was clean and spiffed up. Today was an excellent day at work with everything going well. I got wonderful AFM scans for the most part and my mentor was happy with the images. We also narrowed down the parameters required for good thin film growth. We are going to eat out at Ruby Tuesday's for my birthday dinner soon.
I talked to Andi before she left for Germany. I felt sad saying good bye. I don't know when I'll be seeing her next. I might visit during spring break if things work out, so it's still up in the air. I am going to miss her so much. I just share a deep intimate relationship with her and makes me feel good. I sure hope we get to talk on the phone or something a little.
Today's seminar on near Zero Energy Houses was interesting. I doubt that it would get mainstream any time soon but at least there are alternatives. $0.72/day for energy costs is amazing though. Huge savings!
I talked to Andi before she left for Germany. I felt sad saying good bye. I don't know when I'll be seeing her next. I might visit during spring break if things work out, so it's still up in the air. I am going to miss her so much. I just share a deep intimate relationship with her and makes me feel good. I sure hope we get to talk on the phone or something a little.
Today's seminar on near Zero Energy Houses was interesting. I doubt that it would get mainstream any time soon but at least there are alternatives. $0.72/day for energy costs is amazing though. Huge savings!
[Listening to: Punk Rock Princess (Radio Edit) - Something Corporate - Songs For Silent Movies [JP] (3:44)]
My big two-two
God, I'm getting old but I don't feel any older. I think eating out is in order today. I just have to pick the restaraunt. And I finish with a jingle, "Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me!"
Cheers!
Cheers!
[Listening to: All At Sea - Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething (4:32)]
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Sam's Archive - How to destroy the Earth
Sam's Archive - How to destroy the Earth
For those who want to destroy the whole Blue Planet (aka the third rock from the sun). It's mildy funny to read this.
(Via LiveScience)
For those who want to destroy the whole Blue Planet (aka the third rock from the sun). It's mildy funny to read this.
(Via LiveScience)
[Listening to: Living Life - Ben Kweller - On My Way (4:02)]
The Odds of Dying
The Odds of Dying
The authors talk about the manner in which they calculate odds and why the numbers are so dynamic. It's a fun statistical article.
The authors talk about the manner in which they calculate odds and why the numbers are so dynamic. It's a fun statistical article.
[Listening to: Magnolia Mountain - Ryan Adams - Cold Roses (5:52)]
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