PhD comics!

As a big fan of PhD comics and being a graduate student myself, I am posting a couple of my favorites - there are so many more that I like! Are you new to this? Check this out for a hilarious teaser! Click the images for a bigger size.

And on a seemingly unrelated note, I found this too -

I am more equal than you are

I used to have a pretty strong opinion about the whole reservation-quota-being-increased hue and cry. That was till I read this story from Tehelka.com. It gave me a shocking revelation that casteism still exists among the students of my generation. I thought the whole concept of a higher caste looking down upon a lower caste existed only among a generation that was slowly phasing out. Was I too naive?

Excerpts from this article -

I told him I had stood first on the Scheduled Caste list. The next moment I found myself outside the room, on the ground; he had pushed me out. That was just the first day.

Ever since, I have been reminded of my “low” status every moment I have been here. I was the only “Category” student in my wing. One day, I found this on my door: “Nobody likes you here. F**k off.” On another day: “Everybody can use the carom board, but not Room No 45.”

It is true that not all General Category students are casteist, but caste cuts through everything at AIIMS. They won’t talk to us.

Derogatory remarks were common: “Yeh chamar log kya karenge?” They were always trying to start fights so they could bash us up.

I knew I would fail when the only question I was asked on my viva was: “What is your involvement with the Thorat report?” Six or seven students had scored lower in the internal marks than I — all passed, I did not. I was failed in medicine in my re-professional exam by one-and-a-half marks.

How effective is the education system really when all through till the 12th grade, it has been teaching us that all are equal?

Another question - would he have faced the same problem amongst his peers and superiors had he not claimed he was a "category" student?

Is tagging one as a "category person" really helping the country? (Previous post - Living in a box)

Bayerische Motoren Werke

Keeping aside all the BMW ad-films made, I love this particular advertisement the most. The ad-films are great too, starring Clive Owen in a tight corner in each of them, but always equipped with a great looking (etc.) BMW.

Youtube video (1:01 min)

The BMW film series The Hire was a series of eight short films (each about eight minutes long) produced for the Internet in the summers of 2001 and 2002. The films were directed by renowned Hollywood and international directors. All starred Clive Owen as "The Driver". Each film's story highlighted the performance aspects of various BMW automobiles. (Source: The Hire (BMW films) - Wikipedia). All the eight videos are available on YouTube.

Lightning bolt!

Mindless web-meandering brought me to this -

The original source - http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/archives/photos_skyscapes/060803_1637.shtml

© Sam Javanrouh www.ddoi.ca

As he says, it's the view from his kitchen - terrific view! And notice how beautifully one of the lightning bolts (center) climbs back up - like it forgot something back home! :)) A high resolution image can be viewed and downloaded here.

Losing focus: Moral policing

A fable:

Nationalism - He cut it, she wore it.

First it was Sachin Tendulkar.
Now it's Mandira Bedi.

There was a cake that had the Indian flag on it.
A saree was designed with 16 flags of the countries participating in the CWC 2007.

He cut that cake.
She wore that saree, with the Indian flag located near her feet.

Verdict:
He disrespected the country.
She disrespected the country.

And now there are charges against both of them. Are the law enforcers in the country succumbing to the whims and fantasies of the ones seeking publicity? After Tendulkar's cutting-the-cake came the Gere-Shetty episode and now Bedi's insulting-the-flag is the limelight of the so called moral police.
It would fall on deaf ears if I mention the unending list of things that need fixing in the country. Corruption, rape and female infanticide to name the top few. And while I was writing about this - a thought crossed my mind - the moral policemen have decided that the reason for rape in the country is actually provocative dressing by women. So the main culprit is not anatomy of the male genitalia, instead it is the choice of dressing by women.

Is the country's attitude slowly becoming irreparable?
Have we veered off the path to overall development by defining obscure and ridiculous things as a basis of discipline... what's happening of this country where whistle-blowers are being mercilessly killed or having their lives ruined by the ones in power?

On a completely unrelated note, the sari looks awful.
And my comment on Tendulkar and the cake - when we put a birthday boy's picture as icing on his cake - are we insulting him?

Perception of beauty

"...a little reminder that even supermodels don't look like supermodels..."

My roommate had come across this video and I had to post it on my blog. It's a really good morale booster to those who are intimidated (if at all) by those amazing models on billboards. Turn up your speakers - the accompanying music is really good.

Google Video duration: 1 min 14 sec

The video is part of a campaign by Dove - A self esteem project (http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca) It's really nice! Quoting from their website -

In a world full of impossible beauty standards and confusing media messages, 92% of the girls aged 15-17 want to change part of their appearance. What can we do about it?

Cool. 'Like it.
However, considering that Dove is a product of Unilever which also owns brands like AXE, Vaseline, Lux and Ponds, it is paradoxical that both have conflicting campaign USPs.
Anyway, I like what Dove has done here. It's really essential nowadays and should be targeted at teens striving hard to get the Lara Croft waistline, or the Victoria's Secret Model skin tone.

Eat Mor Chikin

Somewhere during my mindless web-meandering I read that the chicken is the closest living relative to the Tyrannosaurus Rex. LOL. Surprisingly it's true! I searched for some more of such useless trivia and found these:

• You can literally hypnotize a chicken by holding it and drawing a line in the dirt over and over. The chicken will stay still right there as long as you do this.
• According to National Geographic, scientists have settled the old dispute over which came first -- the chicken or the egg. They say that reptiles were laying eggs thousands of years before chickens appeared, and the first chicken came from an egg laid by a bird that was not quite a chicken. That seems to answer the question. The egg came first.
• Chimney's used to be cleaned by dropping live chickens down them
• The closest living relative of the t-rex is the chicken which makes the phobia 'Alektorophobia' (Fear of chickens) slightly more plausible. [:D]
• In Gainesville, Georgia - the chicken capital of the world - it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork!
• If a rooster is not present in a flock of hens, a hen will often take the role, stop laying, and begin to crow.
• The waste produced by one chicken in its lifetime can supply enough electricity to run a 100 watt bulb for five hours.
• The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.
• There are more chickens than people in the world!

Ooooooh. Intrigued I am. *Wow* this is.

Sources:
Eat Mor Chikin® is the award winning slogan of Chick-fil-A®.
http://www.comedy-zone.net/triviazone/animals/page8.htm
http://www.vfr.net/~tbruce/facts.html
http://www.toysbymailorder.co.uk/acatalog/TE0158.jpg (The original chicken)
http://www.toysbymailorder.co.uk/acatalog/TE0020.jpg (The original dinosaur)
Cartoon creation by me, idea rights reserved.

Of cultural sentiments, hugs and kisses

From The Daily Collegian, 27th April 2007

This news article appeared in the daily published newspaper (The Daily Collegian) of my university - staring at everyone in big bold letters.

Click to view larger image.

Aaaargh! Don't publicity seekers (the judge, in this case) in India EVER realize what a big fool they are making of themselves voluntarily? A silent satirical mockery has been made of "publicity seekers" and frankly, many of us are plain EMBARRASSED that it has been printed in a paper with a readership of over 40000 students from all over the world. I actually tore it off and scanned it so I could just put it up here... my emotions are a mixture of ludicrousness, sympathy and embarrassment at the same time.

Spotted in this article -

"their kiss at a public function transgressed all limits of vulgarity and have the tendency to corrupt the society"

What tendency to corrupt is this judge (the one issuing the arrest warrant against Richard Gere) talking of, in a society riddled with fiscal corruption, rape, child trafficking and atrocities to womankind? A playful peck on the cheek to compliment someone is NOT corruption of social customs! Don't even get me started on that age-old argument of "hurting the religious customs and culture of India". Who gave them the license to rule what is the right culture? Isn't culture and open-mindedness a relative thing?

Railroad model club

The Penn State Model Railroad Club was founded by Glen Van Winkle and received official recognition as a Penn State Club on March 23rd, 1955. They had organized an exhibition of this, with over 2500 feet of a complex networks of track, fully automated trains scaled down to 1:87. It was amazing... and pictures can do only so much justice to a feeling of complete awe we guys had when we saw the magnificence.
Seeing them move flawlessly through the complicated network was the best part. On the lighter side, they provided sound effects in the engines too!

Penn State Railroad Club Exhibition (click to view album)

If you ever get an opportunity to visit any railroad model exhibition, do not miss it! It's worth all the time you give it, trust me. :)

The end of the world (Flash Video)

This one is hilarious! The end of the world, it says! Turn up your speakers...

Rating MA (for mature audience only)

(Original source: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/end.php)

Shooting at Virginia Tech

Is it normal to feel so supremely devastated by something you are not (seemingly) related to? Well, I am. And I have been staring at the CNN website all day since I came to my office.

I am shocked and depressed by what has happened. Though I know no one among the ones who have lost their lives, I don't know - I am just unable to work today. I feel sick to the stomach reflecting on what has happened.
Yesterday I was fine and so were many around me. So were the many students who were talking to reporters all day yesterday. Today there is a heavy gloom all across my campus and this silence is making the hum of air conditioning uncomfortably loud.

I guess it takes a while till reality and gravity of shock sink in.

I pray for all the lives lost - may their souls rest in peace.

"We are Virginia Tech" (link):
A rather moving speech given by Nikki Giovanni, English poet and Professor at VTech (3 min, Courtesy: CNN)

We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on. We are embracing our mourning. We are Virginia Tech ...

-- Nikki Giovanni
University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist

Blink

Smoke from an extinguished candle.
Starched kurtas.
Milk powder.
Nice conversations.
Uneven mirrors.
Condensation on sides of a glass of cold water.
Melted cheese.
Soft contrasts.
4:00pm.
Dust on a table.
Snapping fingers in a candle fire.
Shifting sands due to wind.
Water rolling off a leaf.
Yawning babies.
Cool cushions.
Subtlety.
Shadows of leaves.
Smell of freshly baked cake.
Coffee with streaks of brown in foam.
Ice on torso.
Liquid stains on old pages.
Long emails that are years old.
Fire.
Spherical drops of water on fingernails.
Tall trees swaying together.
Watching babies trying to figure something out.
Spray of mist.
High speed winds.
Driving in convertibles.
View points.
Black & white photography.
Babies smiling at a camera.
Music that reaches a climax.
Smell of rain.
Sans serif fonts.
New cars.
Holding her hands, and in silence.
Winter afternoons.
Tacit smiles of understanding.
Chocolate melting in the mouth.
Dried up glue.
Seeing someone smile to oneself.
Right alignment.
Matte finish.
The colour orange.
Storms before rain.
Smell of leather upholstery.
Standing at the doors of trains at high speed.
Vaporising deodorant.
Orange on white.
Double entendre.
Fast piano.
Ink on tissue paper.
Drinking water after soanf.
Tango.

These are things I like. These are all that came to my mind. These are few of the thousands more.


Post Script: This was written in exactly 5 minutes (clocked) and closed. Just wanted to see what all came to my mind.

Bad Advertising

(Duration: 29 seconds, Google Video)

I came across this particular advertisement on contraceptives. They depict a few babies being messy (which I find adorable, by the way). A female voice then says, "There's so much more to look forward to. Get your contraception ... at your local pharmacy."

There are better ways to spread public awareness about contraception and birth control than showing babies, the most beautiful things on earth, in a negative light.
It is NOT good humour.
It is NOT good advertising.

Holy Art and the Fashion Mart

French fashion house Marithe and Francois Girbaud launched this poster in February last year (2005) as a version of Leonardo da Vinci's work, but with an almost all-female cast. Women clad in the company's latest fashion-wear pose around a table as Christ and his apostles. One man, with a bare torso and low riding jeans, representing John the Apostle gets close and comfortable with one of the women.
In Milan, where Leonardo's fresco is preserved and the influence of the Vatican is never far away, city authorities have banned it.

One of the women apostles is kissing the naked torso of a man, which just makes the imitation more offensive. As does the use of Christian symbols like the dove, the chalice and the position of the fingers of the female Christ.

The company says the image is not offensive but, as it refers to it in the advertisement, is a tribute to women. Inspired clearly and openly by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the advertisement suggests that the figure of John in Da Vinci's masterpiece is actually Mary Magdalen in disguise.

With all due respect to the sentiments of the Catholics, I loved the advertisement for the stunning allusion of The Last Supper.

My Utopia

John Lennon's Imagine means more to me than a mere song. It reflects what kind of an idealist I am, and what kind of world I would love to live in. Today, as Winamp was playing songs from my 3000 strong playlist, Imagine came up in the random shuffle after a long time. I realised that this song was buried under scores of western classical, western oldies of the 60s and trance; and I had quite forgotten about it.

Here's Imagine, the world where I would be the happiest... My utopia.

Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

People don't see me talking highly of my country... I get looks of "How can you disrespect the years of struggle India has gone through to get independence?" Well, I do acknowledge and admire that, but it's not the country I am disrespectful towards; I am against the whole concept of territorialism.

I hate to see boundaries in humanity. I hate to see differentiation and bloodshed due to countries, religion, caste, colour and what not. We are a single species of mammals. Why can't we live by sharing the whole world?
I see fundamental flaws in human beings.
A destructive mind.
A quest for limelight and power.
A feeling of hatred seeing other people succeed.
An innate desire to see other people fail.
Why do we call it a rat race, when we truly are much worse than the rats?
Rats do it for food. For survival.
But we have all that.
Our main motive has become to outdo the other, and see the other suffer too.
We go wrong at a very grass root level. We do.
Can't we fix this? All we have to do is realise it...

An idealist, am I? A dreamer too, may be. Well, at least I imagine things that are happy. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

It's a wonderful world. Not.

It is becoming an increasingly disturbing trend as to how Indians are now seeking out reasons to show agitation, grief and discontent - and bringing public life to a grinding halt.
Fine. That is acceptable to an extent.
But unprecedented deaths in these situations cannot be justified under any circumstances. Whether the public grievance is real or imaginary, it is provoking a riot and an apparently inevitable death of a number of people, that cannot be ignored. The bottomline is that this is a practice so wasteful, so pointless that it is hard to believe that the people involved are not realising it!
Frenzied fans of the thespian Rajkumar went on a rampage in Bangalore, pelting stones and targeting vehicles in and around the stadium where his body had been kept. Six persons, including a police constable, were killed in the violence.
Why? Why did the people have to resort to violence because someone died of perfectly natural causes? Why did they have to resort to burning down buses and stalling everything? What is the whole point!?!
The latest this is that now, residents of Vadodara are rioting because an old dargah that is two centuries old was demolished by the local municipal corporation. So far five people have been killed and several injured. Curfew was imposed in the area to put a stop to the gruesome killing, especially after an unruly mob of 1500 set ablaze a car burning alive a muslim gentleman, late on Tuesday night. In the Vadodara incident, the government bodies claim that they were only going ahead with a well-announced demolition drive aimed at all kinds of illegal structures, including shops and temples as well. The demolition order was preceded by an effort from Muslim organisations to have it declared as a heritage structure, which was refused by the mayor of Vadodara. The mayor's justification was that there is no dearth of such places of worship that spring up on public land and that they should be treated like any other illegal structure.
A weird incident - A couple in Gujarat exchanged wedding vows over the telephone after the bridegroom could not make it to the ceremony due to violent clashes in the bride's city.
What all this really tells us that Indian people are not capable of managing discontent without having chaos on the streets and public areas, which leads to the pointless and tragic deaths. It is as if mobs looting, damaging and burning public property and stalling a normal life have become the symbols of protests and anger in democratic India.
All the sane and probably more effective methods of raising objections or debating have become useless and irrelevant. Killing, violence and unrest have become the first choice of the aggrieved!

The irony of it all? While all of this is claimed to be in public interest, it is the public that suffers the most.

What a pity.

--
Other blog entries in Mostly Pointless related to recent happenings in India

India Files: This is outrageous! (April 4th, 2006)
Textbooks in Rajasthan compare Indian housewives to donkeys, and call the latter more loyal.
Living in a box (March 30th, 2006)
The proposal for 50% reservation in premier institutes in India - a few quoted reactions and a proposed solution to the issue.