35 Years of the World’s Best Microscope Photography

You don't need a degree in biotechnology to appreciate these photographs:
Microscope Photography

Is thinking really an option?

Is thinking really an option? I wonder...

You have all the knowledge in the world. But what do you make of it?
Can you apply what you know when needed?
You know what intelligence is. You can go on & on about "intellect v/s intelligence".

But does it really matter?
The thought is scary...

Chinese food

Ever had Chinese food in Mumbai?
Chances are that 9 times out of 10 you'd encounter a guy from the North Eastern parts of our country serving Chinese food. This is especially true if it's a road side stall.
Forget road side eateries - i have seen this in decent hotels and even in one of the Mainland China restaurants.

I actually find this strange.
Do the owners really think they'd convince their customers that they are being served 'authentic' Chinese food? Or is it just for the ambience?

Anyway, since no one's complaining, it seems to work well for everyone involved.
Win-win-win!

62 years of independence

"The British left six decades too early" - goes a comment in a newspaper on 15th August.
What did the writer actually mean? He spoke about Indians' lack of planning and how the Brits are better at planning and developing infrastructure. Fair point.

But what came to mind when i first read it was that the British could still rule India.
Sometimes one feels that India should have been 28 princely states (plus the Union territories) rather than one country. The reason i say this is because of our propensity for regionalism. It is always us v/s them, Biharis v/s Mumbaikars, South Indians v/s North Indians, ... Just take a look at the number of political parties in India and you get a sense of what is being said. And then there is IPL - Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Dare Devils, etc.
There is some glamour to it, isn't there?

Who is to blame for all this?
Politicians? You? Me?

Or is it the idea of Indianness?
Such a diverse country can't be described in a sentence. Or can it?
You can't describe it in terms of religion. Although Hindus are a majority, we should not forget that India’s Muslim population exceeded Pakistan’s (until at least the mid-1990s). Besides we have Sikhs, Christians, Jews, etc. Not language, as the constitution officially recognizes 18 languages (God know how many dialects these have). Not even ethnicity - India has been invaded by too many ethnic groups in the past; so the chances of belonging to a single race are out of question.

All said and done, what matters most is that the world's largest democracy works. How it works - nobody seems to know, but it does work. Adman & lyricist Prasoon Joshi puts it well: There's a rhythmic chaos in India. There is something that binds us all - the clichéd "Unity in diversity" comes to mind. We have a Sikh PM who got that position thanks to an Italian. We love Shahrukh Khan.

After 62 years of independence, we still have problems of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, population growth, etc. Despite all these issues, I'm gung-ho about young India. A confident India - ready to take on challenges head on. From MTNL to cell-phones, DD to DTH, restraint to indulgence, from bottling up to blogging, we have come a long way baby.

But we haven't arrived yet. We still have a long way to go. Let us all come together and bridge the gap between Bharath and India.

Leaves of Grass

Although i don't usually read poems, i happened to read one worth sharing. This one's by the American philosopher poet Walt Whitman.


Whoever you are holding me now in hand,
Without one thing all will be useless,
I give you fair warning before you attempt me further,
I am not what you supposed, but far different.
Who is he that would become my follower?
Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections?
The way is suspicious, the result uncertain, perhaps destructive,
You would have to give up all else, I alone would
expect to be your sole & exclusive standard,
Your novitiate would even then be long & exhausting,
The whole past theory of your life & all conformity to the lives around you would have to be abandoned,
Therefore release me now before troubling yourself
any further, let go your hand from my shoulders,
Put me down and depart on your way.


From "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman.

Change is happiness

Have u seen the new Videocon ads?

The new logo is amazing - the green 'V' looks young and refreshing.
The font looks great too.
Really liked the ad - Chow mouw, chow mouw...
(For those who have not seen the ad, take a look @ this.)

And yes, change IS happiness :)

About writing

Just came across these words worth sharing:

Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends & society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted & slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.

How true! At least for me - the irresistible urge to write always creeps up when i m away from home.

Golden words by Shakespeare

This above all: To thine own self be true,
And it must follow as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

- William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

New Vodafone ads?

Did you notice the new Vodafone ads featuring the pug?
After the great Zoozoo ads, i don't understand why almost every other TV channel shows the new ads featuring the little gal and the adorable dog.

Yes, the pug (originally featured for Hutch) is back and very happy to help...

Is Vodafone trying to project a customer-centric image?
Maybe.

I love the new ads but would still like to see the Zoozoo ads.

Young India

When asked what he had gained from his MBA, my friend, initially stumped, said "It is not tangible." He elaborated, "No one can 'see' what I have learnt bcoz it is soft - soft skills to be precise." Our discussion went on for a while and it was finally clear that he had set himself some goals & he wanted to reach there - fast.

There, I think lies the difference between the present and past generations. The assertiveness, willingness to take risks are just a couple of traits that sets the current generation a breed apart from its parents.
So, has India finally arrived?
I don't think so. The journey has just begun...

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is everything. 

It's really infectious - it inspires you like nothing else!

I met a friend of mine who was so excited about... almost everything.

I guess he passed on some of his energy to me - that made me unstable.

In a way, I wrote this to go back to my stable state ;)

New year - Introspection?

The new year's just arrived. This reminds me of something I read about 9/11 a couple of months ago.


As each year fades into the last
As time keeps marching along
As the spotlight fades
and the memories begin
To not be as vivid - as strong
We all struggle in intensely private ways
With all that's happened that day, and since
I know how i struggle to find some peace
When so much never made any sense
But, i know i'm not alone in all these
Emotions that i feel
The pain that still burns in my broken heart
Each tear i still cry is still real
So - I still must pause - this day - every year
Each 26th of November - and look within
And look to the heavens - and pray -
Yes. I pray. And remember.


- From the cartoon strip NANCY by Guy and Brad Gilchrist

(The original strip had 11th of September instead of 26th of November.)