Ought to be

Just a short note; I don't know if I should post this underdeveloped thought or not. I'm going along with posting it for now.Very sarcastic, but not all rhetorical.

If you don't get what you want, if you want to express the grievances of the people you (claim to) represent, is it right to go about that by vandalising, burning and breaking other people's and the state's property? And is it right for the state to be afraid to arrest you because your followers will become even more aggressive if you get arrested? You are breaking the law. But since you're doing it for a supposedly "right" reason, are you immune to arrest? Wonderful precedent indeed.

One last question: Can you claim to be trustworthy and unbiased in saying that the marathi manoos has really suffered because of the "outsiders", when a few months ago you shielded some marathi boys of a molestation charge by saying that marathi people cannot be molestors¹? (What, by definition?)

Is politics about what the people want or what they need?

¹ I cannot find a news source for this, but I had read this, and a couple of articles quote the same.

Blog Action Day!

Usually, I dont succumb to mass media hype, but hey, this is important. Ask Sweden.

It's blog action day, and many participating blogs are going to post stuff on the environment. But I say, no publicity like Nobel publicity, eh? Still, I ought to put in my two cents worth.

Originally, I thought, lets redirect to Anne's blog, I'm too lazy. But then I saw her blog, and, well, her post is, shall we put it, under construction as yet. So, I shall have to write an original.

I'll concede... no, confess, first of all, that I'm not very environment conscious. It's customary with me to throw stuff all over the place, regardless of it's plasticity. Other than that, I am not really a big polluter. I'm a supporter of public transport, and cleaner fuel. (Electricity isnt going to do much good, though. We need to use renewable fuels, not just "other" sources of fuels. What electricity will do, is increase our dependence on nuclear (or coal) power, thus harming the environment, again.)

Coming back to throwing things anywhere, outside the dustbin even if there is one nearby, one of my friends has a great strategy: she picks up anything anyone in the group throws on the street (ignoring her warnings), and puts it in the dustbin. Even if the toffee wrapper lands in a pool of dirty water, she'll pick it up and put it in her bag even, until she gets to a proper waste disposal site (um, dustbin). Makes the guy (usually me) who threw the wrapper feel so embarrassed he wont do it again, atleast until he forgets the memory. Sort of Gandhism, and effective too. She isn't becoming a subject of ridicule for going against the tide. She's influencing us to join her.

I would speak about greenhouse gases, and global warming too. But why don't you rent "An Inconvenient Truth" instead? It's from possibly the first guy to win an Oscar and a Nobel. Beat me to it, he did. ;)

Common Science

Note: I have been studying, and been so busy, I have had no time to update the blog. I'm very sorry for this, and I'll try my best not to forget this blog (and you all readers!). Please bear with me, and try to refrain from hateful comments ;).

Note 2: I'm experimenting with fonts. Do you like Trebuchet more than Georgia?

Update: This discussion has gone far beyond the original post... be sure to check the comments.

Most of the books on science in the market (besides textbooks of different levels) fall roughly into two types: Those dealing with life care and health, and those dealing with important but esoteric issues in science and it's philosophy. But if you search some non-science bookshelf, there are thousands of books on Astrology, Vaastu and whatnot: the stuff generally dubbed pseudoscience. But those books sell: and for a reason. They are well-written, easy to understand, and apply to the lives of common citizens.

Look into an astrology book, and you'll see many references to stars and planets. A glance at a Reiki, Feng-Shui, or any such book has numerous references to "energy flow". This misleads the reader into thinking that what she is reading is science, or related to it. Why? Haven't people learnt real science in schools? Why can't they tell the "energy" of physics and the "energy" of Feng-Shui apart?

The problem, most would contend, lies in the education system. Whatever science we learn at school from dull, drab textbooks is often forgotten by everyone except a few nerds who aren't good at anything else. We need to "rev" up the texts, and make the courses a lot more interesting, practical. That certainly is true: the education system (here) does need an overhaul. But that isn't the whole problem. If I were asked now about the biology I learnt in school, I wouldn't be able to answer even a few easy questions. It's not my fault: the textbooks may have been interesting; they weren't so to me. Then, how do you make people interested in science?

The first question, of course, is why people ought to be interested in science. Because science is much more closely related to their lives than the stars, planets, or their karma: science is not just about fundamentals: it is about technology and applications. Every appliance in the house has a technology behind it, and people can learn to use it better only if they know it. Science isn't just concerned with galaxies and atoms: it is concerned with how to make the next toaster better, how to make a buildings resistant to fires, and why you should wear rubber boots when dealing with electricity. The "effects of electricity on our lives" are much greater than those of Saturn: every modern device needs a power plug.

However, there aren't many "common science" books in the libraries. Shelves are filled with astrology, but finding one book on electricity for the common man (as opposed to the schoolkid or the professional) would be a tiresome endevour.

Biology, which is the science closest to us, fortunately does have a number of books for the common person: from health to plant care. Physics is less fortunate: gravity is known, but not it's law; energy is a much-used word, but it's presice meaning and limitations are not well-known. Chemistry is even worse-off, although it has applications from cleaning to cooking.

I am not talking about the fundamentals of science, or even the philosophy. For the curious, there are some books in why science works. For the very curious, there is a myriad of books on science: from DNA to Cosmology, from Quantum consciousness to Evolution. These are interesting in their own because they deal with real mysteries, stuff that can fascinate everyone who has wondered about our origins or asked "why?" But these give the impression that science is an esoteric endevour. Why do so many people choose to believe in ghosts, karma and "chi"? Because there is a lack of scientific temper, and awareness of real science. This is what I think books on "common science" can provide.

Celebrities, TRPs and attention hogs

Note: Long post, but it needed to be said. Your opinions welcome. :)

Yesterday, a TADA (Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act) court finished it's sentencing of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. It gave 12 death sentences and 20 life terms. On it's last day, it sentenced bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to 6 years in prison for possessing firearms illegally. The court must be praised for being impartial and not letting Dutt off lightly just because he's a popular celebrity and a "good, honest person" according to his co-stars.
But the media aren't giving the issue the snubbing it deserves. Rather, news channels hold long debates over whether he should be sentenced, hold opinion polls (over SMS: they have a deal with the SMS companies so that the money goes to them), asking his co-stars their reactions, and even stating what he'll get to eat in jail (and that he'll be in the same barrack as ganster Abu Salem, not with his friend (who's also in jail, you see) Yusuf Nulwalla).

Sanjay Dutt is hogging space which should have been filled with debates about the death penalty, terrorism, and how the accused in the '93 riots should be tried too. But the media just wants TRPs (Television Rating Points), and ironically the same channels and papers Prez Kalam asked to aid in "nation building" during the Ramnath Goenka memorial debate. Who cares about what effects this trial has had on the other accused and the muslim community in general; people want to hear about Dutt, so we give them Dutt. One wonders when this rationale will die out. Even Kalam's advice is blatantly ignored.

One more thing irritated me tremendously recently was the coverage given to terror suspect Mohd. Haneef's return from Australia. I guess the people have already decided Haneef is innocent, because he's an Indian. I wonder what the case would've been if he was a Pakistani? Australia now says his chat records show his foreknowledge of the British terror plot. I saw an interview the other day where he said he had no knowledge of it: did he lie? Either way, I'm not so sure he's innocent. But his return was celebrated all right (garlands and all. They greet a terror suspect (ok, no longer so) with garlands. What next? Sigh.)

And news channels were so obsessed with him that night that they even broke into his home, trying to interview the clearly distressed Haneef. (Actually, only one channel did, and it bragged about having the only TV camera inside the house. So much for CNN IBN. Would NDTV have done the same?)

Lastly, I'm SICK of page 3 and celebrity news. A whole section of the paper is on these people who I guess deserved the print because, generally, they're actors, socialites (what the @#$! is that?), or porn stars (you know who I'm talking about)... and specifically because they got their divorce, went vacationing somewhere, or released a crappy movie or album. I wonder why Ingmar Bergman's death didn't get the same coverage as Britney's divorce? The real people who entertain and inform us are never covered. Bombay Times is covered with posers and attention hogs.

You can say I should just ignore it. Sure. But my ignoring it won't change it. The real damage is because media actually affects people's thinking about stuff. If it covered Bergman's death, more people would want to see his films. If they papers gave one page coverage to the riot accused and why they should be treated as harshly as the blast accused, people will discuss it. When I heard Kalam's advice, I thought it was a pretty obvious thing to say but difficult to carry out. But the last week has changed my opinion. The media can engage in "nation-building", as he said, but they lack the will to do so. Are they even aware of it?

Do comment. A little discussion never fails to enlighten.

School, results and cut-offs

Warning: Another long post. Ok, I'll edit it some.

I don't remember my days from school very fondly. Aside from physics and algebra, I didn't like what was taught, so I didn't score in exams. I didn't have many friends, and was also bullied and teased. I had a crush which didn't work out. In short, I was a dork. School isn't exactly heaven for dorks. I enjoyed college a LOT more. No, this post is not about me... but if you find my views biased, untrue or even silly, I hope you'll accept this paragraph as an excuse.

Anyway, onto the topic...

Cut-outs

The school has ended, time for college
My skills will finally be acknowledged!
For I have those high marks,
Money, to feed the sharks
With all this, who cares for knowledge?

I scored a meagre 75% in the tenth standard. For the uninitiated, India has two "big exams" before college: 10th, and 12th. After 10th, you select a stream, out of Commerce, Arts (Humanities), Science, or various Diploma courses. You study that for two years, then finally give the 12th exams and associated entrance exams to engineering, medical, etc.

I say "meagre" for 75% because if you score below 80%, you don't get admission in even average colleges. I spent my 11th and 12th in a small newly opened junior college. I got better marks in 12th (82%), because I liked science. And with most students opting for engineering, my way to a good degree college was clear. ("Good" is relative... but lets not get into that now. Maybe I'll write a post later on the "state of physics" in degree colleges.)

That one has to opt for sub-standard colleges even if one gets 75% should be an alarm in itself. This year, the cut-offs after 12th are even higher: see this news article. (Cut-offs are the lowest marks for which one can get admission in a college, and this year it's 87% for the top science colleges.) For the reserved categories, the cut-offs are lower by some 10-15% in cases. That means, if you are from the lower classes, you can get admission into a good college even with lower marks. But you'll be bunking most of the lectures. No worry: you'll score enough to get into a good engineering college, whereas others in your class might have to struggle hard.

The high cut-offs are one thing; what worries me is how so many students get 90% or more. How do they study? Do they understand the subject? Are better students being left behind because they're unable to write the "prescribed answers", or "focus on the presentation"?

I don't have the answers. Maybe the high cut-offs dont matter. As someone recently said, "Some years ago, the 100 best students were getting into top colleges, this year too the 100 best students will get into it, no matter what the cutoffs". I disagree. I don't think the exam system gives us the best students. The high scorers are the ones who know everything in the text, but nothing outside. That's why parents marched in protest of out-of-the-syllabus questions in the paper this year, causing the board to award 30(!) grace marks to every student in maths. The plan backfired on the parents: now toppers can't get admission to the top colleges, because everyone has good marks in maths! Can't students handle a tough paper? Why so much pressure on them, their parents, and the authorities?

(So many students have high marks, I'm prompted to a physics joke: Cutoff, or saturation?)

The "system"

Are the 10th exams even important? Students spend their valuable time for the last 2-3 years of school learning the same material twice, in schools and coaching classes. They study "model answers", memorise maths (!!), and are motivated to nothing else: just score high, son! Other methods of evaluating students have regularly been brought down: Internal assesment? "No, how will she score high then? Just exams, please, where she can write the model answers well and get into a good college." For parents, there is no other purpose for a school than to launch their son/daughter into a good college. As a result, students have this attitude too: I want nothing but marks. No knowledge, no loving the subject, just marks will do.

All this fails: students have no interest in, and no knowledge of other subjects than the ones they've taken up after school. No matter how much they scored in them. I know I'm generalising: I know quite a few people who liked History, scored high, and continue to love it. But they are not in the majority. The majority just study for the exams, and will resort to anythign to get marks: from copying, to memorising geometry proofs, to getting "expected" questions from their coaching classes. And of course, everyone studies the same things twice, from two different teachers. Everyone can shell out 15000 for a coaching class because they'll get better marks. If they were any intelligent, they'd realise that would do nothing but push the average up. ;)

And the teachers?

I was coming to that... if they're already learning the same stuff at schools, why do they need coaching classes? Because school teachers are no good, apparently. They won't tell you what to expect in the exams, they wont tell you how to score well. They won't hold 5 prelims. Are they less qualified? Are they not interested in the students? Why? They themselves teach at coaching classes. They're just paid more there.

There are no projects at school, no real creative work. The teachers are reluctant to go outside the syllabus and teach something interesting. There are two reasons for that: They themselves know little of the subject outside the syllabus, and if they don't focus on the exams, the parents will kill them (metaphorically, of course). The syllabus (atleast the state board one) is itself the least interesting creature you'll find here, and the textbooks only worsen it. If one should wonder why English doesn't have real literature, stuff about poetry, and practical speaking leasons, or why Science isn't developed in a more creative and hand-on way, one wouldn't need to go beyond the low quality of the schoolteachers for the answer. Why no sex-ed? Why no extra stuff that is the norm in foreign countries? Well, who'd teach it?

Ok, I've finished complaining. As a postscript, I'd only like to say that the 10th exams don't mean anything. Even the 12th exams don't. Only the CET for engineering and medical does. And entrances are fortunately better designed. So I'd just like to see parents trying to mould their children into creative, intelligent beings, rather than RAM.

I realise I've written only one limerick. So here's one more:

"Can I take part in the school skit?"
"You're in 10th, my dear nit-wit,
The exams are in 6 mon
And you should study, son
So forget creativity and get on with it!"

Slightly Random Thoughts

Note: I don't feel up to writing limericks today... I'm too uninspired. I'm at the nadir of limerick-ness. Sorry, readers, I'll write some soon. Tomorrow, maybe. :)

I know I have been ignoring this blog, dunno why. Anne and Absconding haven't posted in a while too... The blogs appear to be stasis, and it's hard to gain lost momentum. But let me make an effort.

Movies and Stories

I have tried to post intermittently on my favourite movies... and there have been three posts so far: Before Sunrise/Before Sunset, The Godfather and Anand. Two are still to come, and there will be a final post on other good movies. Hope you like my recommendations. I'm also going to review a film sometime in the future: just a test review, some film which I haven't heard a good or bad word about.

I posted a story a few back on the blog... and I got good feedback. I am working on a few more ideas, and an unfinished story. I may not be able to write serious poems, but I hope I can write stories well, and creatively. I'm not going to stop writing poems; atleast don't plan to. Besides, I don't get much time, storywriting or poem-writing is a time-consuming process. I also have to make up for my poor knowledge of fiction if I want to write some.

Atheism

Recently I saw a very interesting article on Anne's blog about agnostism and the "new atheism". For starters, "agnostics"are people who don't accept or deny the existence of God, and won't until there is evidence for or against. Basically they are in favour of an empirical answer, not an argumentative one.

I used to call myself an Atheist, now I prefer agnostic. The difference is not just in the noncommittance, it's in the way one views the world. For an agnostic, atheists fall in the same group as believers: after, their beliefs aren't based on reason either. Both sides are equally dogmatic, for me.

When you read some atheists, like Russell, it becomes apparent their problem is not with God: it has to do with religion. Many see religion as harmful, a vice. Arguments that it helps people are shoven to the side. We are shown evidence of religion breeding dogmatism, cruelty, and hampering right actions and new discoveries.

It not evident which side to take. This is different from the problem of God: it isn't just scientific evidence. It's the problem of determining whether a world can live without religion. I personally believe it can be done: but I don't think it can be done quickly, or with a call to atheism. It can be done with the gradual awakening of a scientific and moral sense in us.

But all of us need faith and the ability to distinguish between good and bad. It is feared that in a world of atheists, there will be no moral boundaries. But every thinking atheist or agnostic will tell you that he or she has aview of good and bad, right and wrong. It may not be based on a holy book, but it will be subject to change and argument. Even holy books have different interpretations.

I'm done with my rant. To those who survived: think about religion, God, and it's importance in the modern world, and discuss it with others. It's not an unimportant issue, I feel. Religion dictates how (and where!) millions live, and loathe. It should not escape scrutiny.

Article in focus

This is just... sad. Banning the letter x.

Random Thoughts - 20/11/2006

OK, I haven't posted here in a week. That's entirely my fault... I didn't get any inspiration to post. Sometimes your thought processes just run dry. But today, I'll try :-). I love my blog, and I love you who are reading it.

So, I'll start with Films and Books

Now, as you know, I love films. But before I got addicted to movies, I liked books: not the fiction ones much (except some Perry Mason copies from the library), but the non-fiction. In school, I just devoured every book on science I could buy. Somehow, that love disintegrated in the college years. And I began to appreciate film-making: Copolla, Scorcese, Speilberg. And I became a "movie-connosieur"... I am addicted to films.

Now, I am back to books again, after watching some truly great movies this Diwali vacation. Anne Blythe suggested books, like Shantaram, and supplied me with two by Bertrand Russell. So, the bibliophile in me has a chance to leap out again. And I am happy for it. :D

There were two guys from Mumbai
Who believed they had the eye
And the brain
To film a train
But they had no resources to buy!

About films, our college, this year, has a film festival called Montage (details at this blog). Me and Absconding Soul have made plans for a short film on Mumbai Trains (oh how we love them), and even shot some scenes (which have turned out great :D). But there is a problem: the resolution of out camera. It is inadequate for a film which is to be presented on a screen. I wish we had more resources... Well, even if we don't get to project our movie, we'll make a heel of a movie and post it on Youtube. We're hoping to learn something from this experience, because we are both avid movie-lovers.

Blog thoughts

Where has my blog been going lately?
I confess it isn't very stately
And few read
Or pay heed
But I hope you won't find it hate-ly.

Why haven't I written here for days? Why has my blog posting been infrequent? Well, many reasons... firstly, time scheduling. When I sit on the net, I start surfing and chatting immediately. There's no time to write something on the blog (that requires some thoughts). Most of the day is spent idling. I am a lazy guy... But, as I said, I love my blog. I'll try to post more often, like the frequency I had during my blog's peak days (August). Don't worry, I won't abandon this.

Secondly, I don't know why, I don't get inspired. I write to be read. Maybe I am discouraged by the fact that many people don't read this blog. Maybe I can't write because I think people won't like it. The solution to this is simple... I will not think of what people will judge, just keep writing about what I wish to. I wn't let you down, either. If I do so, complain.

Finally... since you've made it so far ;-) , a few thoughts on spirituality:

Speaking ... and Doing

I thought I had all the methods,
I had read much advice
To get great marks I would follow:
The ways they had, those mice.

I felt those guys had given me heaven
And gave my exams without fear
But following the books cost me dear
My marks were all of percent 47!

Every day, the Time of India carries, on it Editorial page, a little bullshit. I'm talking about "Speaking Tree". On a page filled with sensible articles and letters, this thing stands out. Not that everyone thinks of it as crap... I'm sure millions read it every day. After all, India is a very spiritual nation, a country of true spirituality which millions believe fully with their heart. It's sacrilege to even point out some so-called "rationality"...

Firstly, such "Value Education" benefits no one. There's a thick line between believing and doing. In practice, even a simple thought may be too complicated: "Love everyone". Why do I love a child molester, or a national enemy? It's easy for us to believe in Love, but hard to practise it when the issue of capital punishment for a terrorist comes up. Being a hypocrite is so very easy.

Secondly, I hold that (most of) spirituality is useless. Like an article the other day trying to find analogies between stability in Physics and stability in life. (There's something known as "carrying analogies too far".) I found it hard to believe the article found place in the most popular paper in India. There was nothing there that would help anyone. Speaking tree is just a tree: shade for a while before you travel again on the road of life. I'd rather goto a roadside dhaba. Many of them these days.

Random Thoughts - 14/10/06

*Warning: This post is sloppily written. No different from others here, you say?

Well, it's time for some Random Thoughts again. My net access at home is down, and my exams just ended, so I have had no time to organise my thoughts. Randomness rules k? , o

Exam Time

The day the exams are over
It feels like you're on auto-hover
Like you've found a charm
There's no cause for alarm
Like you've found a four-leaf clover!

Well, my exams ended today. Not very stressful, but they were somewhat deteriorating to my conscience. I mean, next year is my final year of undergraduation, and what I need the kind of progress that will help me pass with, to use a cliche, "flying colours". So, what exams tell me is, I need to study more.

Anyway, that's all about the exams. I'll have to wait till the results. Till then, I don't wanna think. Not thinking about something is the best form of facing a fear. Or so say cowards.

Life without the internet

Well, how do you suppose is life without the internet? It's like life without a life support system. Only when my net connection at home goes down, do I realise how much the the net means to me. I spend hours on the PC daily, surfing the net: uncyclopedia, forums, google groups, and... er... "whatnot". But when I have no net access, I am at a loss. I get bored, don't know what I should do. A geek, I am.

Difference of Opinions

There lived a wife with her husban
Who got divorced in six mon
Because when the wife
Asked for a kitchen knife
He brought a brand new shotgun!
("You know I kill rabbits for fun
I thought you wanted the same, hon! ")

OK, that was a 7-line limerick, er, poem.

Most of the times, the only thing that starts tiffs, and prevents effective dialogue, is a failure to understand a difference of opinion. What I've seen so far in my life is that people can be different as night and day, yet still live without fights. This may not be the case with spouses, but atleast with neighbours, classmates, and even countries, understanding and adjusting can prevent a lot of fights.

As Celine (Julie Delphy) says in "Before Sunrise": "If there is any magic in the world, it must be in the understanding of another person...". Once you get past the barrier of a difference of opinions, you'll find yourself understanding others, and adjusting yourself to the world. A win-win situation.

OK, enough preaching. I hate being preached to, and I'll hate myself if I preach to you. It's one thing to say something, and another to actually do it. I can very well say that understanding others is the greatest good, but if I go and quarrel with my mother because she wants to watch a daily soap, but my favourite movie is on, I'll have done nothing.

A leader leads by example. And of course, he has to be right too.

Random Thoughts - 21/9/06

Well, I'm back, I guess, and here are some pretty random thoughts interspersed with limericks... (I haven't had the time to organise them as I've been busy).

Life's busy, so am I, I guess
Not that I can't handle stress
But when I study
My head gets giddy
But I rarely study, I confess.

So, here we are, with a long post waiting to happen...

The Net, and Movies

When I switch on the TeeVee
I find no movie channels for me
The ban's still on
Star, HBO are gone
I'd rather be an Aussie, or Kiwi.

My two biggest pastimes. About the net, I've been researching info on astrology and such to prepare for my anti-astrology post soon. And discussing crappy science journalism like this with my friends online. More on that later in the post.

About movies... I've seen two oldies in the past two days... The Long Goodbye certaingly was entertaining. Cool potrayal of Marlowe by Elliot Gould. Guess who's coming to dinner was nice, with good conversations between the characters. I like it when the characters converse a little. Adds reality to them.

Studies and Laziness

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Don't you wish
I wrote another limerick or two?

Well, the exams are near, so I'd really, really, like to study. But I'm lazy. I don't want to solve problems. And the textbooks are very uninteresting to read. By very, I mean more uninteresting than watching Steven Seagal's facial expression. Booooring.

But I'm trying to find solutions. I did force myself to solve a few problems in Math, and will force myself to do a few more. I'm trying to study the most uninteresting part of physics in my opinion (although that may be due to uninspired teaching) from a cool electronics ebook. So, while exams are planned for... what about my independent physics study? Well, it's falling apart. I wanted to solve problems from Griffiths and the Math Methods ebook I have... Ah well... I'll do it.

Spiderman

What is it? It's a plane, or bird!
Nope, It's just another super-turd!
The thng 'party-pooper'
Is being Less super
And more human... more milk, less curd.

Well, what to say? That I can identify with the character of Peter Parker? That I like the witty comments? That I like the focus on Peter's personal life? Or that I like Mary Jane? ;-)

It's been one of my favourite comics since years. I gave away many of my collection a few months ago, but saved a few of the choiciest ones... make me smile and luagh everytime I read them. If there's wit to be found that's my liking, it's in Spiderman comics. The movies took away much of it because Peter's in-battle comments and monologues were absent. But I liked Spiderman 2 because it made the Peter character seem more real.

You might think: why all the focus on Peter, not Spiderman? Well, I think it's Peter who's important... even beneath the costume, it's him, juggling his shaky personal life with his tremelous superhero reputaton, and this with his rigid conscience.

Philosophical and Psuedoscientific musings

Women just need to work more
'Cause it's less, their IQ score
For ages they've been
Lazy, Dumb, Mean
And what's intelligent about a whore?*

*That's a sarcastic limerick, if you didn't get it. ;-)

Now comes the non-personal matter... or so it seems as I'm writing this.

Now, I haven't trudged through the lands of Philosphy... I am only interested in Ethics and the Philosophy of Science. I believe those are the two important things: understand the world through understanding what understands it (Science) , and understanding what's right and wrong. Now, I have books on both these subjects, if only I get the time to read 'em, I surely will. Currently, though, it's only independent thought, nudged on by a friend of mine who's studying philsophy. Well, so, such musings are not in order today.

About psuedoscience... I'm reading articles at www.astrology-and-science.com and such websites. My astrology post is gonna be a well researched one, lemme tell you. But it'll take a long time to prepare for. I hope you'll find it worth the wait. :-)

Now for the crappy science journalism I mentioned earlier... beware of such articles which go into an overtly sensational tone. Scientists have known for years that women's and men's average IQ's differ a little. Beware of misinformation. I believe no respectable scientist would say that "women can achieve just as much as men - as long as they work harder". Because scientists know a thing or two about Bell curves, which aren't even mentioned in the article. Always google if you think something's wrong... and look at wikipedia. Go here for this issue.

The Thing about science
Science is boring
It invented snoring.

Well, that's all for now... long, wasn't it? If you were bored, I'm sorry. Science does bore people, and personal musings even bore me. But, understanding doesn't come easily. To understand other people, or the world, you have to know their thoughts, and read a lot. And experience the world.

Do comment. :-)

Next post: A serious poem plus some limericks. :-)

Reality Bites... (plus a Poem)

Firstly, a Poem : I've tried to be creative and use different rhythms, and not tried to use humour, cause, here, it may've been of the "forced" type, here. :-)

A Visit to Hell

One fine (??) day, I went to hell
That's right, I was dead, as well
All was cold, dark
The colours, stark
And every place had a dying smell.

I searched far and wide, for relatives and friends
But obviously, before Death, they'd made amends.

And now I was here, living in fear
(Rather, dead, without tear)
Where was everyone, where was the sun?
Where was the life, and fun?

I guess it's loneliness, that hurts us most...
Instead of living/dying/lying here,
I'd rather be a ghost.

Come again? Isn't hell Pain?
Or, a mythical creation?
No, it exists... in desolation.

Comments, as always, are welcome. :-) I hope I'm geting better at serious + creative poetry.

Reality Bites

The other day, I was chatting with a friend from overseas. After some time, she said that the chat made her feel I was "real". She meant that I never really talked about everyday things, and talking about them this time gave me an air of reality... (which isn't always possible over the net).

That makes me wonder... I post limericks, my thoughts on some important issues, etc... but then, don't I remain true to my name, Anon-ick? Do I seem a real person? I think not.

So, I've decided to be more personal. I will comment on large issues, but I feel real life, common life, is more important and interesting. Or atleast I will try to make it so. Do tell me what you think of this idea of mine. I never did imagine my blog would one day become personal, cause I never read personal blogs... but I think it is important it does... and I'll try to read other personal blogs. The poems, and "worldly" thoughts will remain here too, of course. :D

You read the blog by Anonick? Why?
Now I know what you think (sigh)
World issues? "Bah"
Only Limericks? "Gah!"
"Hell, I don't even know if Anon's a guy!"

That's what an impersonal blog does...

New Lights-2

New Lights 2 is a little different from New Lights-1... in the sense that the issue I wish to speak about is a little more important and murkier. I don't even know where I stand on some points. Still, I'll try and think about the issue in a way opposite to which I normally do.

Whatever lights we have, the need
Is for more of the same breed
We want new insights,
And far fewer fights
Enlightenment of our thought and deed.

About New Lights-1 (and I've renamed it that)
I wish to make some clarifications: I was just giving the example of intelligence. I could just as well have considered cheerful girls, or something. I have to make some unnrealistic categorisations... but the main point is in the two partners "clicking". I just wanted to say that shallowness in looks isn't the only shallow thing men show.
About the astrology post: Do look at the links. They clarify a lot of things. Also, read my psuedoscience post here. :-)

Too Much Freedom?

This post is about the Danish Cartoons Controversy. I support the complete freedom of speech, but I think the other side has a point too. A VERY informative page with excellent links and references is the wikipedia article about it.

Crazy Dane, Crazy Dane,
What are you doing?
I have no restrain
So I am cartooning.

Protesting Muslim, Dear boy
What thoughts are churning?
Not thoughts, only riots
And flags are burning.

A Danish newspaper published satirical 12 cartoons in 2005 about Islam and terrorism. A huge worldwide protest ensued, with people speaking of a "clash of civilisations". But the real question is whether we should value the freedom of speech more than the effect of it upon people who are hurt by satire.

The cartoons made fun of Islam... and they generalised. All muslims aren't terrorists. And Muhammed certainly did not preach terror. Anyway, the main point I want to make is not about Islam.

Do we have the right to publish anything we want, even though we know it may hurt a community? Can't a government interfere in such matters to curtail the freedom of speech?

Those who have read, learnt and understood western ideologies (like me, when not looking for new lights ;-) ) hold that freedom of speech is the about as high and holy one can get in human rights. But what when a race, community, or religion is affected and hurt by this very right? Clearly, we need to demarcate the what is valid and what is blasphemy when this happens.

But there are doubts that some communities may grow ultra-sensitive and any protest will easily curtail our fundamental right. That is a valid argument. But insensitivity to a community's sentiments will only make matters worse. Ultimately, we must let society decide. The cartoons caused a rise in the anti-West sentiments inthe Middle-East. This leads to a divide between two "civilisations", and helps extremists.

Instead of Satire, we must use our rights to ensure that the "East" and "West" come together, and trust each other. I'm talking to both Muslims and Westerners. Speak up, make your voice of freedom, trust and peace be heard. Let us not distrust each other.

P.S. The Middle wasn't all that nice in it's protests either. 130 people died, flags were burnts, and there were calls for assasinations of the cartoonists. Peace is right, violence, murder, disrespect to any national flag, is wrong.

The post ended with an unrealistic-seeming Utopia-like statement. I hope it is not too unrealistic, and the East and West trust each other in the near future.

India

*Warning: Another long, self-centred post below. The author promises that the next post will be limericks. But he does not promise that he will act on his promise. "

A nice young girl named Cynthia
Fell in love after coming to India
She being an outsider
They always chided her
So she changed her name to Priya.

My posts, normally, have a global appeal. And I like it that way. :-) But... today is different. I will post New-Lights 2 and some limericks too soon. I'm also inspired my my friend Absconding Soul's blog post here. Also...

Today is India's independence day. :-) I like being an Indian. Despite my inherently cynical nature, I feel this country is progressing. There are problems, but we're on the right track. Who's have thought that the world's second most populous country would be able to continously retain it's demacratic nature despite all odds? India's been doing this for 59 years, and undoubtedly there will be many, many more. The people here like democracy. It's not ingrained in their psyche. I feel proud.

There have been problems. The bomb blasts remind us we still live in an unsafe world, and the police making no breakthrough more than a month after the blasts is disturbing. The focus is shifting from the villages to the cities. Not much id being done about the farmer suicides in central India, while people are pushing for the need for more attention being given to Mumbai.

It's disturbing how the people are becoming more and more city-centric and upper-class-centric. The ground realities of India are different. Poverty is still a major problem, and people live in villages under tons of debt. Bollywood and IT may fetch India india international fame, but agriculture is still the blood of the country. The gap between villages and cities is rapidly increasing.

The problem with people
Complaining
And Abstaining.

But enough complaining. As people become more and more aware of their, and others rights, and act for what they think (case in point: the Rang De Basanti - style reservation protests by students across the country). An India where the citizens are indifferent to the government, and live for themselves, not caring for the nation is not, I think, what the future holds. Democracy holds sway.

New Lights-1

The earlier light was blue, My new light is Red
Now different is my shoe, And different is my bed.

The things I thought were violet, now they're strangely dark
And new colours appear, on objects previously stark.

I see the room now, better
Although I see the same,
My vision is greater.

A change of perspective can do wondrous things to you: reaffirm your beliefs, challenge them, even make you adopt sillier ones. However, such a change can be beneficial. So, in today's post, I experimented. First, I begin with a quote from Bertrand Russell, and then I move on to address "Shallowness" and Astrology from different viewpoints than I actually support. I'll post a New Lights - 2 in a few days. I didn't want to make this post too long (although it IS very long). :)

A good way of ridding yourself of certain kinds of dogmatism is to become aware of opinions held in social circles different from your own.If you cannot travel, seek out people with whom you disagree, and read a newspaper belonging to a party that is not yours. If the people and the newspaper seem mad, perverse, and wicked, remind yourself that you seem so to them. In this opinion both parties may be right, but they cannot both be wrong. This reflection should generate a certain caution. - Bertrand Russell, "An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish"

Now for the real content. It's in ascending order of importance (an order which will continue in New Lights -2). The first section isn't really important, just some thoughts.

In Favour of Shallow Men

What is shallowness? In this context, it means a man who takes only looks into account, not a woman's intelligence or nature. Just looks. That's bad, right?
Maybe... not. After all, consider men who go after intelligent girls. Aren't they partial? How are intelligent girls "better" than good-looking ones? Some people prefer intelligence, some prefer looks. Some have other tastes. There is no universal definition of "better".To each his own. So don't think less of shallow men. It's their kind of thing.

In Favour of Astrology

My stars guide me to my fate
It's above, in formations great
Look at them, and see
What will be your destiny
Don't fill the mind with scientific hate!

Psuedoscience is a field I'm very interested in. Sometimes, though, one has to think from the other side. Let me say at the beginning that these are not my normal views, and the arguments contain flaws. Still...

Why do all skeptics think they're always right? They try to impose "objectivity" and the "scientific method" as a constraint on everything.

Firstly, we can't be totally objective. Evolution has built us such that we need intuition, and rely on it. One can't totally eliminate the bias. Secondly, what fields should the scientific method be applied to? Astrology is not science, it doesn't claim to be. So why insist on applying the scientific method to it? And, is the scientific method foolproof?

Also, how can we be sure that researchers always eliminate bias? Several studies claim to show astrology is false, but those are done by researchers who are biased against astrology.
Astrology is a complex field, and a study of only one factor (like intelligence) does not conclusively disprove it. There are other factors which should be taken into account. Also, Astrology has been practised successfully for more than 2000 years. It is a verified fact. One cannot challenge it just because he/she thinks it's not "science".

Lastly ( I think this is the best real argument), Astrology helps people. Astrologers have years of experience in dealing with troubled people. They know what their clients need, and supply them with advice and confidence. Sometimes, all people need is confidence, and astrologers provide just that, at a nice prices.

For the uninitiated in astro-skepticism, go here. Read it, it's interesting.
A very good (though not "nice") exchange can be found (in four long parts) in these links: 1 2 3 4 . This is also a good site.

Hopefully, you liked this one, although I didn't address really important issues. I have some good topics for New Lights-2, really murky territory. I think I'll post that in a few days, based on the response.

Do comment. :)

"Reflection"s, and College

Recently, there was a comment on my post "Change, Poetry and Physics" where the commenter, Leavanescence, directed me to some poems of Ogden Nash. I googled and read many poems by Nash. He's a very funny poet, very creative. I was inspired by him.

Many of Nash's Poems are entertaining two liners:

Reflection on Babies
A bit of talcum
Is always walcum.

So, I tried my own:

Reflection on College
Because of Lectures,
Get Brain Fractures.

Reflection on Student Life
Bloody
Study.

I have become a fan of the two-line poem... you can say so much in a few words ("Purity... is Obscurity" - Nash). Sometimes, what is funny is the title. Here is one more of mine:

Reflection on Dinner
Farting
Is starting.

Now, here is a slightly longer poem about college:

College

Is it paradise? Is it cool?
The only thing I say is
It's better than high school.

Are there beautiful girls
Wanting to bond with a nerd?
Yeah, like your face
Wants to bond with turd.

Then what is college?
Just studies? Grades?
Well, if you study a lot
All desire slowly fades.

Your life becomes routine
All you read is books
You forget you're a teen
And outta go for looks.

That's the way life is
Inside it's all rotten
Outside, all fizz.

Hope you liked me experimenting with poetry and proper metre. Do comment. :)

Change, Poetry, and Physics

Change

Change is the only contant in life
No change often leads to strife
Balance is needed, much
'Cause the lightest touch
Of change too much, is a knife!

Yesterday, my friend Absconding-Soul decided to change his blog a little, and increase the range of his blog. I was reminded of how, about a month ago, I too changed my blog. I started including my own thoughts along with the limericks, with situational limericks in the serious posts. My impersonal blog became psuedo-personal. And the idea was sucessful : my friends liked it, The Limericker became Bestest Blog of the Day for July 18th. I have been mighty pleased with the outcome. :D

Change has to be the only contant in life. For me, routine is boring, and change is essential. So, my blog will keep changing and evolving with time. With every change, I plan to learn and take the good forward, leaving the bad behind.

Poetry

I have been reading some technical details about Poetry. I want to expand my range beyond limericks, and make my limericks better in terms of metre and rhyme. I am not into serious poetry however... for some reason, it bores me. But I will try. The short term plan, however, is to explore the world of non-limerick funny poetry. I hope I can do it. Comments, as always, will be welcome. :D

Physics

There was a young lady named Kite
Who went much faster than light
She shattered light cones
But was eaten by tachyons
Serves her right!

Now for a totally unrelated topic: Physics. The thing I love about physics is ( I know what you're thinking: dork!) that it is beautiful. The equations and derivations are lovely, of course, but the physical interpretation is the beautiful thing about Physics.

Physics can, partly, answer the "why" questions in the real world. And it can do so aesthetically, on principles of symmetry, elegance. Of course, that is not the whole story. But it adds an element of art to physics, making it aesthetically pleasing.

I'm not going to talk much about physics, partly because "I ain't seen nothing of physics yet", and partly because I want this blog to have a wider audience than just dorks ;-).

The next post is planned to be limericks-only. :-)

Influences, Role Models

*Warning* This post contains massive amounts of self-introspection and deep thinking (which hurt the writer's brain a little). If you don't like introspection or deep thinking, think carefully about why you don't.

We are all influenced by great people, people who we hold as our role models. Most times, we don't know what affects us. Who is to say that Einstein affected me as much as I think he did? We can't look at ourselves in an unbiased light. So, what I say below may not have much truth, but I've thought a lot about it. So, here goes...

How do you know who changes you?
Everybody can, and may have to
The proffesors you hate
The watchman at the gate
Hell... even the designer of your loo!

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.
- Albert Einstein

One person who has influenced me heavily is Einstein. He's one of the greatest physicists ever, and I am fascinated by his thoughts and stands on physics and other issues. One thing about Einstein is that it's easy to see where he's wrong on international issues. Most times he takes too simplistic a view, and is too optimistic. If nothing else, this has taught me to be wary of thinking in such a way. In physics, however, (aside from his stance on QM) he was almost always right. Always thinking differently, working hard, not minding poverty, but minding fame. A great role model.

Be very wary of opinions that flatter your self-esteem. Both men and women, nine times out of ten, are firmly convinced of the superior excellence of their own sex. There is abundant evidence on both sides. If you are a man, you can point out that most poets and men of science are male; if you are a woman, you can retort that so are most criminals. The question is inherently insoluble, but self esteem conceals this from most people.
-Bertrand Russell

The second, (obvious to those who know me), is Bertrand Russell. He was a mathematician, a philosopher, and much more. I love to read his essays on Atheism, Politics and Common Sense. He was a non-conformist, mostly a peace-lover, an agnostic, liberal in thoughts. I was first introduced to his writings in the 8th grade, through his superb essay "Intellectual Rubbish". If there's any man I've admired as much for his sense, it's Russell. The only thing about which I dislike the stand he takes is Religion. His stand is too extreme, I think. I am an agnostic myself, but I'd give more credit to religion than he does. I'd like to read more Russell, and I think will. He was just way cool (and witty) ;-).

As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves.
-Mohandas Gandhi

One more man I admire is Gandhi. He was, really, the new Buddha. Always looking for non-violence, peace. But he was clever too. He had personality, power, but honesty. I wish his philosophy was used and taught more today. He was sometimes too extreme in his superstitiousa and conservative ways (eg. he disliked sex, due to a personal tragedy), but the man had a lot of patience, a clear sense of right and wrong, a diplomatic mind, and very nice methods of convincing people.

A lot of other people have influenced me, among them, my good friends on the net and in real life. The thing about role models, though, is that you can know what they did wrong, look at them as flawed individuls, but learn from them and their mistakes. Role models are important, and it is important to choose them wisely.

Amateurism, Limericks, and My Blog

*Warning* This post contains Egotism.
Yes. No Erotism. I can hear you sighing.

Amateurism

It's not that the mind's in the sewer
It's just the unaltered love, the lure
It's a hobby, my friend
To be pursued till no end
It's not professionalism, it's Amateur!

I like to be amateur. The word expresses a certain kind of love for a hobby: not too much, but not little. I am an amateur singer, an amateur programmer, a very amateur poet, and a lot more. The only thing I'd like be a pro in is Physics. All other things, I'm satisfied to be an amateur.

There are advantages... no one takes your work too seriously, so there is no pressure. And you can still concentrate on the one thing (Physics, in my case) that you like above all others. But there are disadvantages. Take msuic. I sing a lot of bollywood songs. But I will never be able to understand the basics as well as nuances of music unless I make an effort to study it. I don't have time for that now. So amateur remains... amateur.

Limericks

Lines five, two and one make
A very happy piece of rhyme-cake
Lines two, three
Rhyme with glee
No more lines, for Mr. Lear's sake!

About poetry: I write only small poems, besides limericks. My limericks are not even close to perfect when it comes to metre, and sometimes rhyme. I try to compensate for that by infusing some creativity and variety.

One more thing about limericks is that a "serious limerick" seems a contradiction in terms. If the last line is not funny, it seems like a dissapointment. I want to try to get over that and actually write some serious limericks. I am going to read more about limericks so that I can get my metre and rhyme right.

This Blog

A remote corner of the net
Is that all I get?
I will cherish it, and post
Post till I'm toast!

Please wish me good luck in my future plans for this blog: social commentary, personal posts, serious limericks... The funny limericks will not go away, though. :D This is the only blog I have, and a precious corner of the net, for me. Please feel free to read all my posts. Feel free to comment. Thanks.

The Monsoon: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Since many are writing about the monsoon... I thought I might as well. In fact, I might as well start commenting on some social and world issues here... and include limericks in the posts. Standard all-limerick posts will be posted frequently too (I think ;) ). I am inspired by my friend Amar, whose blog is here.

The Monsoon
Water everywhere? No harm
The monsoon has it's own charm
Happens every year
To us it's dear
There's no cause for alarm!

The Monsoon has been part of Indian culture for long, and Mumbaikars have long grown used to it. Last year, however, when the 26th of July rains struck, Mumbai recieved a record 950 mm of rain in a single day. The administration failed, but Mumbaikars helped themselves, plodded their way through the watery mess. This year, the monsoon is back, and it's been raining heavily. Here are some observations:

The Good
However badly we are hit
We won't, just at home, sit
We'll go to work
Student, officer or clerk
We'll celebrate a never-say-die spirit!

I read somewhere "The monsoon brings out the best and worst in Mumbai". I agree... the best part is, as I said above, a never-say-die spirit. This year too, volunteers helped the people who were stuck, rescued people. The administration learnt it's lessons, atleast in part, and this year it's response was quicker and much better. People seem to remember last year's lessons.

The Bad
Or do they? Once the monsoons over, the worst is past, we turn a blind eye to precautions like not using plastic, not dumping anything anywhere. Next year, these very things come to haunt us. The administration remembers the work to be done only when the next monsoon's close. Both are at fault, the people as well as the administration.

The Ugly
The glories of past gone!
The new factor is on!
Where is the love, wonder, dear?
All we have is fear, fear, fear!

Are the Mumbaikars forgetting how they used to "romance the monsoon"? This year, a normal amount of rain fell, but people panicked, remembering last year's deluge. Are we losing our never-say-die spirit? Maybe we are, but we must work hard to regain it. The monsoon is our friend, if we take enough precautions. Last year taught us that. We can avoid deaths and inconvienience. But we must also avoid fear. We must learn something, but not learn too much. Let's enjoy the monsoon as always. But not forget the precautions to be taken, even when the monsoon is gone.
Let's love rains again!