Drinking vessels make no noise

I really like drinking in earthen and glass containers. Today I had gone to the fine-arts facility to pick up a broken piece of ceramic to keep in my fish bowl. Apparently, Betta fish appreciate the hiding place. While I was there, I picked up this discarded cup.
I am now using it to drink tea in. It reminds me of the sort of earthen cups that are used for serving tea on the Indian Railways. They always add a special flavour to the tea. Unfortunately, my new cup doesn't quite manage that. However, it looks splendid. I took some pictures with my

Smoking to dog droppings

So I found a very interesting setup as I walked home today. There was a used pack of cigarettes on the ground. The label on the Marlboro packet said: "If you decide to quit smoking..." In addition, they made a big large friendly green arrow on the packet. What could this possibly mean? Why would anyone pick up a pack of Marlboro if they decided to quit smoking?

However, the angels parted the clouds of my confusion by directing my attention to was lying right next to the packet. I found the relics of a dog (see picture) that presumably hadn't dropped "as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon the place beneath" and the issue of their being twice blessed is also debatable.

The universe made absolute sense for a fleeting moment.

So whenever you meet a smoker who talks about quitting next week (which they often do for many years before dying of lung cancer), you should suggest the Marlboro way.

Mangled Mumbai

I can't believe the recent events in Mumbai (still Bombay for many). It's insane! Only, it's not. It's a fiendish plan to destabilise India's recent efforts to befriend its testy neighbour (Pakistan). It's also frightening that the gunmen were specifically looking for British and American citizens. They pointedly ignored an Italian man and looked for Brits and Yankees. This is a smart way of scaring US and UK citizens away from India and slowing down the economy.

Terrorist attacks have become an annual event in Mumbai. This latest outrage however differs from the usual bombing. My fear is that future terrorists will see the success of this model of attack and emulate it in the future. I fear that this isn't the last we've heard of posh hotel seiges.

Majorly idiotic responses

I am a biology major and I am applying to medical colleges. I hate admitting it in general. Seriously, I am quite secretive about my name and major in general. Do you know why? Just go on reading.

Idiot: So what's your major.
Me: I study Biology.
Idiot (good response): oh that's awesome.

Idiot (anoying response): Biology is just stamp collection for girls. Mathematics and Physics are the true sciences.

Idiot (bad response): You must have to learn a lot of stuff by heart. There's nothing difficult about Biology; it's a lot of mugging-up. (Me: Why, thank you!)

Idiot (Worse response): Ewww...I hated science. I sucked at it in High School. How can you like it? Do you like it? (Me: Of course not; I am just a masochist.)

Idiot (pretending to be smart): What's your research on?
Me: Well, I work with genes in a plant.
Idiot: Genetics!! Oh, can you clone me?
Me: Well, I could give you cancer...

Things get even worse when I mention the pre-med part.

Idiot (bad response): Oh, my grandmother has [insert obscure disease] and her doctor prescribed [insert obscure medicine/surgery]. I think my doctor is a crook, though. Do you think he's fleecing us? (Me: There's this nice medicine called Potassium Cyanide...)

Idiot (worst response): Dude, can you take a look at my [insert embarrassing organ of your choice]? I think I have a problem... (I usually recoil in horror)

Idiot (really slappable response): Doctors are even bigger cheats than lawyers. They overcharge you and then they kill you! (Ohhkkk....)

Idiot (flattering but stupid response): So what do you want to be?
Me: Umm...perhaps a surgeon.
Idiot: Oh, that's intense.
*looks at me in a new light as if he's seen a halo around my head*
Me: Ermm...I am not a surgeon yet, you know.

The Mojave Experiment

http://mojaveexperiment.com/html/?fbid=gYEj-PQ_jfB#

This is kinda cool. People were asked what they thought of Windows Vista. Almost all said that it sucked. Then, they were shown a new windows operating system called "Windows Mojave" and asked what they thought of it. 94% of the people said that it was amazing. At that point, they were told that it was actually Windows Vista they'd seen. There's nothing called Windows Mojave.

Isn't it typical? People tend to form opinions about things without knowing anything about them at all.

peevish emus and extinct predators

The emu's thoughts may be summarised as follows: "You gloating scoundrel, if it weren't for this cage, I'd fix you. Don't forget that my hugely great grand-daddy was a T. rex who'd chew your entire family up for a mid-morning snack!"

Those who know me well know that I love dinosaurs. One person who probably knows me best calls me a velociraptor. This is one of my favourite images; I took it on my way to a holy shrine in West India. I think this was the first time I ever believed that the birds around us are the last remaining dinosaurs. Their feet look exactly like those of most predatory dinosaurs such as T. rex. In fact, The T. rex is more closely related to birds than it is to a Triceratops. Cool, eh?

Childish Scientist I am.

I am really a child.



In some way, I still find it terribly awesome to be doing really really dangerous stuff; it's absurd. Today, I was making a solution of an antibiotic called chloramphenicol in the lab and, due to the dangerous nature of the chemical, I had to put on a gloves, a mask, and protection goggles.


I just had to take a photograph. Maybe this is just my way of flaunting my work to non-science people. Basically, I am saying: "Ha Ha, you guys aren't awesome enough to do this."

Yes, I am absolutely pathetic.