Analects of confucius

An article in Economist May 19th issue on confucianism making a comeback in the books and recent television series on CCTV in China by Yu Dan (her book grossing 4m copies) made me do some googling on confucius's analects and her interpretations. She seems to be getting both a lot of flak and appreciation for her interpretation and bringing back the ancient wisdom in today's context when there is no spiritual and moral anchor and money is the only value system.
China like India has similar problem with the huge economic surge of widening regional disparity, wealth differentials and rising social tension. For the government then, confucianism seems like a blessing. Anyways, here are some analects I liked

The Master said, "Let the will be set on the path of duty. Let every attainment in what is good be firmly grasped. Let perfect virtue be accorded with. Let relaxation and enjoyment be found in the polite arts."

The Master said, "The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."

The Master said, "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors"

Reek of India

There was a time i used to believe like Diogenes the cynic that i am a citizen of the world. I used to say that a blade of grass is the same anywhere. Now i think that each blade of grass has its own spot from where it draws its strength. So is a man rooted to a land from where he draws his faith and his life. But there is also a struggle to extricate ourselves from our pasts — from family, obligations and the “curse of history”.

Gurucharan Das has so well expressed in these last few lines about the roots of a person and how it is plays to give strength to his/her life..I think though the reason why we are away from it is because of our obligations to ourselves..and now with more opportunities in India, we have the choice to fulfill both: our obligations to ourselves and our pasts.

Grindhouse

I really liked the 'Death Proof' feature by Quentin Tarantino in this double feature movie with dented cars chasing another , long talk stretches, ramblings and female power vanquishing in the end! The other feature - 'Planet Terror' had some nice scenes between Rose Mcgowan & Freddy Rodriguez like 'Two against the world, baby' but was mostly gross and gross!

While on my way back from ACS Chicago at Midway airport, searching for a perfect two hour read, I came across this New York Times bestseller called ' Vital Friends' -The people you can't afford to live without. Although I was sceptical reading such opinions I am glad I read through it. Drawing on research and case studies, the book shows how each person in a friendship contributes in a different way - Builder (the ones who push you to achieve more each day), Champion (the ones that stand up for you and what you believe), Collaborator ( the one with similar interests, passions), Companion (the ones who are always there for you in good or bad), Connectors (the ones who know everyone and introduce you to others), Energizer (the fun friends who are likely to make you laugh), Mind Opener (the ones that expand your horizons and perspective on life to make you a better person), Navigators (the ones who give advice and keep you guided in right direction). I sure never did think of such clear cutting up of role play of people in our lives.

Stephen Colbert's searing routine targeting President Bush and the media at 2006 White House Correspondent's Association Dinner which Frank Rich had called a defining moment of the US' 2006 midterm election. Link to video-http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

India poised

Nice video..must watch

Great Quote by Swami Vivekananda

The remedy for weakness is not brooding over weakness, but thinking of strength.

An Inconvenient truth

Saw this really well documented movie at a time when Al Gore is nominated for nobel peace prize for his work on environmental issues and when the congress is getting increasingly democratic and greener with major presidential candidates proposing bills on global warming. Several propose cap and trade scheme which was sort of introduced by Europe to meet Kyoto targets. Like Gore showed in the movie--scientific papers warning Americans for years about the "risk of extreme weather change" do not drive messages home as convincingly as the destruction of a city (by Hurricane Katrina).

America is presently the biggest contributor to global warming accounting for a fifth of world's emission. Few years ago, corporate America was strictly against carbon tax and controls. Businesses and States are changing their mind now. Several states are taking bolder steps towards cutting emissions than federal govt. California has taken on carmakers: to develop and sell fuel efficient cars, has introduced cap-and-trade schemes for industry, and has laws requiring utilities to generate 20% power from renewable resources like windmill and biomass. North Eastern democratic states are also propogators of green America. Hopefully it seems, America won't evade this issue anymore.

Some of Nora Ephron's 'What I wish I had known' - in her book : I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman

People have only one way to be.

Buy, don't rent.

Don't buy anything that is 100 percent wool even if it seems to be very soft and not particularly itchy when you try it on in the store.

The world's greatest babysitter burns out after two and a half years.

You never know.

Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of thirty-five you will be nostalgic for at the age of forty-five.

Keep a journal.

Take more pictures.

If the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit.

Back up your files.

Never let them know.

If only one third of your clothes are mistakes, you're ahead of the game.

Back from road trip to Miami, Key West and Everglades Natl Park. December is a good time to visit florida ..it was so much cooler than in may when we went down to Tampa. The airboat ride through the swamps filled with gators felt like flying through those remote wetlands. Snorkelling in Key Largo was great too though couldn't spend much time due to high tides...some pics

It was a lofty experience listening for the first time a carnatic musician and that of a calibre of Sudha Raghunathan, a padma sri receipient. Upon suggestion of a friend who is into carnatic music for years, we all went to attend the concert in Hindu temple of Atlanta. Quite genuinely, even though I didn't understand the language of the compositions, it was simply majestic. The clear, melodious voice in lower octaves or higher was so fresh,undulating and bewitching! The joy of music knows no language :)

Bacterial conversations

Oct 23rd issue has an interesting article on how bacteria coordinate when in close proximity (quorum), everything, from infection to luminiscence by turning on genes that work better in group. Luminescence, virulence and exchanging DNA (for new antibiotic resistance or catabolizing an energy source) - all work better if group carries out .

The chemicals released are called autoinducers, mostly AHLs-acyl homoserine lactone (with a conserved homoserine lactone ring and having 4-18 carbon acyl chains with different variations in chain length giving distinct quorum sensing words) which are continuously released at low levels in near by surroundings. Bacteria also have receptors that can detect when other bacteria are sending signals (either externally by membrane proteins which dimerizes and initiates phosphorylation cascade or diffusing through membrane and detected intracellularly by LuxR protein which on binding to it dimerizes and binds to DNA activating target gene). Activated gene can code for proteins that are involved in producing toxicity or virulence.

As a result of this quorum sensing, another feature formed is biofilm. After reaching quorum, many bateria secrete a complex mix of proteins, carbohydrates creating a sticky matrix that keeps nutrients from diffusing away and antibiotics from diffusing in. Many scientists across are developing strategies to prevent bacteria from communicating- developing phenylacetic acyl chain inhibitors which can bind to AHL receptor in bacteria preventing their binding to AHL.
One firm in Australia, Biosignal, is building furanone inhibitors based on pentanediones which cyclize into several quorum sensing mimics inhibiting conversations. They are testing whether furanone coated contact lenses can prevent biofilm formation in lenses that causes red-eye and inflammation or using them in toothpaste to reduce plaque.

The search for quorum sensing inhibitors and molecules continues. Meanwhile, It gives us the lesson to brush our teeth often enough!

My fav Neruda poems

I was just reading through some poems online by Pablo Neruda and thought of uploading my
super favorite ones! Here they are -

I do not love you... by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself
the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,risen from the earth,
lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
that this: where I does not exist,
nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep

If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda

I want you to know one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look at the crystal moon,
at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals, were little boats
that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly you forget me do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners that passes through my life,
and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots,
remember that on that day, at that hour,
I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land.

But if each day, each hour, you feel
that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own, in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine.

We are the clumsy passersby by Pablo Neruda

We are the clumsy passersby, we push past each other with elbows,
with feet, with trousers, with suitcases,
we get off the train, the jet plane, the ship,
we step down in our wrinkled suits and sinister hats.
We are all guilty, we are all sinners,
we come from dead-end hotels or industrial peace,
this might be our last clean shirt,
we have misplaced our tie, yet even so, on the edge of panic, pompous,
sons of bitches who move in the highest circles
or quiet types who don't owe anything to anybody,
we are one and the same, the same in time's eyes,
or in solitude's: we are the poor devils
who earn a living and a death working
bureautragically or in the usual ways,
sitting down or packed together in subway stations,boats, mines,
research centers, jails,universities, breweries,
(under our clothes the same thirsty skin),
(the hair, the same hair, only in different colors).

Galileo's Daughter

I have been reading this Dava Sobel's novel which brought to light the schism between Science & Religion existing in the seventeenth century. Galileo was working on his scientific theories of earth's rotation around sun after discovering telescope and this opened a clash with catholic doctrine of earth centered world and hence the Church (Vatican). The novel moves between Galileo's grand public, academic life and his daughter's (Suor Maria Celeste) sequestered world as a nun in a convent. It illuminates the Florence of Medicis and the papal Vatican existing at a time when great architect Bernini, Pope Urban and art patrons such as Cardinal Barberini (of Galleria Borghese) were co- existing. Some lines i liked- 'I discovered in the heavens many things that had not been seen before our age' 'They show a great fondness for their own opinions rather than the truth and use biblical passages they cannot comprehend to condemn worthy theory which they have not read' 'Theology is conversant with loftiest divine contemplation and occupies regal throne among sciences by dignity. But her professors should not arrogate to themselves the authority to decide on controversies in professions which they have neither studied nor practiced'

Smoky mountain trip

This was our second trip to smokies after last year hiking camp-out with my research group. It was ridge upon ridge of endless lush green forests and trees canopying endlessly towards skies. The pristine hills and valleys mingled with history of native american appalachian remains was quite overpowering.. We rafted in pigeon river having class 3 & 4 rapids and stayed in a beautiful B&B..some pics

The Metamorphosis

I really liked this short novel masterpiece by Franz Kafka (translation from original german) in its treatment of mutability of life, isolation, alienation through an absurd transformation of the protagonist into a monstrous beetle. Everything else that follows after this is portrayed with convincing logic and details. The shift in relations with the world, the self, the gradual indifference of people that constituted his world and his ultimate release are so well written. His work's said to be symbolic of travails in his own personal life. Some of the memorable phrases i liked -
'Just don't stay in bed being useless'
'Eating soon stopped giving him the slightest pleasure, so, as a distraction, he adopted the habit of crawling crisscross over the walls and the ceiling'
'Who in this overworked and exhausted family had time to worry about Gregor any more than was absolutely necessary'
'Was he an animal, that music could move him so'
'He would have announced this to everyone last Christmas-certainly Christmas had come and gone?'
'His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister's'

Middle East Calling

Its all over media again..the middle east crisis hits every once in a while and leaves most thrown between the several terrorist outfits in the region and power equation among the states. Iran was on world spotlight over its nuclear ambitions until Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers inciting Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. Here is condensation of few facts and motives behind the sudden eruption of this latest crisis.

* Hizballah is an Islamist Shi'ite group that operates freely from southern Lebanon. Iran helped create Hizballah in 1982 and continues to sponsor its activities. Syria remains a sponsor of Hizballah even after its withdrawl of troops from Lebanon in 2005 and is host to Hamas leaders.


* Hamas is a Palestinian (West bank and Gaza) extremist group founded in 1987 and known for suicide bombings against Israel. It is presently the ruling Palestinian party.

* Iran is torn between its President Ahmadinejad and its supreme leader Ayatullah Khamenei. Ahmadinejad has close relation with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps - an extremist militia outside Iranian state funded by private instituions called bonyads. These together are the patrons of Iran's external terrorist organization, Hizballah. Iran has become stronger in the region since elimination of its enemies -Taliban and Saddam Hussein by the US.

A popular theory contributes Iran to starting the present crisis. Iran wanted to come off the world spotlight on nuclear negotiations and riled up the Israelis. Hizballah could not have crossed the border into Israel without approval from Iran, not that they needed any justification to strike Israel. Israeli retalitation by bombarding Lebanon and Gaza was not expected though against its usual stance of negotiating a huge no of prisoners for one or two of Israelis. Its newly elected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is said to be influenced by President Bush in "no negotiations with the terrorists". Olmert's government is also using this opportunity to destroy Hamas's homemade 'Qassam rockets' which it had been firing into Israel from Gaza. Together, this makes for a hot summer in the mid- east.

Implants get going

In the July10 '06 issue of C&EN there is a report of the finnish firm -Inion which started in 2000 going big on the body implants. The product are sets of plates and screws to treat fractures in bones of face, jaw and skull; products designed to treat breaks in wrists, ankles, feet; products for sports medicine - biodeg spinal fusion system for spinal care among other products for orthopedic industry.

The concept is using biodeg polymers for implants instead of the currenty used metal implants since there is always a surgery required to extract the metal. The earlier showdown with these polymers were their lack of strength to hold the bones and were limited to use as pins and screws in minor surgery. But now, biodeg polymers such as glycolic acid, lactic acid and trimet-carbonate are blended (just like in technical polymer industry) to achieve the perfect rate of egradibility and strength required. Inion's latest product - Optimaplus uses plasticisers such as NMP (N-methyl pyrrolidone) to accelerate bone healing. It is currently running clinical trials to prove that use of NMP enhances bone healing upto 50%

This success only proves how we can extend from the polymer industry concepts to customize products for use in our body.

Embracing Islam (or not) - both sides of atlantic

While US is currently fighting a 'war on terror' against the radical islamic states, the muslims at home are quite comfortably ensconced as against those in European states (French riots, Danish cartoons..) where there are increasing riots and restlessness among the muslim immigrants and the natives. EU is home to 20 million muslims while US is home to 4-7 million muslims. A look at basic differences in embracing Islam between the two sides of atlantic reveals some facts (Economist-June 06)

Europe fails to give newcomers decent economic life due to highly regulated labor laws. In America it is easier for a newcomer to get work and hard to claim welfare as against Europe.

Europe has volatile muslim underclass which is poor and from hungriest, angriest parts of muslim world (France and Netherlands having North African muslims, Germany- Turks) while American muslims are from south Asia or Iran or black American converts which lack any personal link to heartland.

Europe is agnostic and exhibits exclusionary nationalism. France's strict approach of banning muslim children from wearing head scarves as compared to America's political culture which places importance on right to religious difference provides better environment for assimilation.

The merit of American system is the freedom of speech on almost anything other than laws passed by elected lawmakers with a legal culture which enables people to fight back if their rights are infringed through Civil Liberties Union. This free speech culture and religious tolerance provides better for co-existence.

O(il)lives for life

Economist lifestyle magazine 'Intelligent Life' (summer 06) carries an article about EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and all other Olive Oils(OO). Olives declared as 'the richest gift of heaven' by Thomas Jefferson are being used quite popularly by a lot in food. While searching through the plethora of competing bottles in a supermarket alley, its confusing to make a pick with the labels- 'Extra Virgin'? 'Cold pressed'? 'Hand picked'?. Here is some useful information-

*Better oil if olives pressed within few hours of picking (lowest level of acidity/oleic acid). EVOO has limit of 0.8% oleic acid per 100 gm of oil. Above this limit is virgin, then ordinary virgin and finally lampante virgin (good for lamps only).
*Refined OO means that taste and acidity is chemically produced.
*Cold pressed is good since second (heat) pressing degrades some delicate flavor but increases yield by taking off that extra little oil from olives
*Hand picked means care has gone into production when the mechanical tree shakers generally get it done faster

Wisdom

When I have ceased to break my wings
Against the faultiness of things,
And learned that compromises wait
Behind each hardly opened gate,
When I have looked Life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the Truth,
And taken in exchange -- my youth.

Sara Teasdale

Shadow lines

This novel by Amitav ghosh set in a period of post partition Bengal switches back and forth in time and places and is mainly interweaving of reminiscence, fiction and fact. It earned him the Sahitya Academy award. Ghosh indirectly talks about the shadows (or secrets) we want to keep from others and the shadows that we cast (or reflection) and want to show to other people..both may or not be the accurate reflection of us. The nonlinear time switching reminded me of the William Faulkner novel 'The Sound and the Fury' I read back in college.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

This is my second Kundera novel after 'Ignorance'. The characters were read and forgotten but what came alive was the fraility of actions, time, doing. What seems to be burdensome and irrevocable as a past action, history now passes onto us as something that happened once and has no power of repetition and will not exist tomorrow. The moment is the only truth which make you feel the 'unbearable lightness' of your existence. 'Einmal ist keinmal' - what happened once might as well not happened at all , lays out the tone of the book. The speculations of the communist run Czech-the effect of russian invasion on the life of eastern europeans is well depicted.

Being happy in life

I liked the tips to being happy posted on lifehack

.Make a plan for achieving goals that you believe would make you happy. Your mood will increase as you pursue your goals coz you are going after something you value
.When something goes wrong try to figure out a solution rather than wallowing in self pity
.Spend few minutes each day thinking about things that make you happy which will help you to focus on positive things in your life
.Do something nice for yourself each day - treat yourself to a lunch, take a long relaxing bath, or spend few extra minutes on your appearance. It will subconsiously put you in a good mood
.Maitaining your health - not eating nutritious food can have negative effect on your mood.
.Finding humor in situations and understanding you deserve happiness

Minor differences?

Hanging on, persevering, WINNING
Letting go, giving up easily, LOSING
Accepting responsibility for your actions, WINNING
Always having an excuse for your actions, LOSING
Knowing what you want and setting goals to achieve it, WINNING
Wishing for things, but taking no action, LOSING
Seeing the big picture, and setting your goals accordingly, WINNING
Seeing only where you are today, LOSING

Nivedan

March 12, 2005

The day when our bonding was blessed by priest, judge and well-wishers. Witness those moments.

The invitation that we sent out.