Dear Dad

I remember my first day at school. I must have been three years old? I cried all the way to school and just outside that gate, to distract me, you bought me a shiny pink balloon. I remember the burst of happiness when I held that balloon.

I remember getting lousy results in math and looking at you with tear filled eyes, only to hear you say "It's okay". I have never felt as relieved.

I remember you supporting even my most bizarre ambitions and dreams. When I wanted to be a Jockey , when I wanted 'pink' hair...you never said no.

I remember all my phases. I spent huge amounts on 'cool' clothes, I enrolled in classes I hardly attended, I racked up ginormous phone bills...you were calm throughout, always explaining, never shouting.

I remember how you reacted to my first car accident , my first pair of low jeans, my first ride alone in big bad WASHINGTON .My first time going away from home to college , You were so concerned, agitated...and worried , but you continue to tolerate it all, even though I know it's hard for you sometimes.

I remember you staying up at night when I was studying, calming me down when I refused to give an exam, taking me out after my horrid result. You always gave me strength.

I remember asking you for money when I run out, taking permission from you when others say no, watching film after film with you because no one else will watch that crap. You're my partner in crime.

And now, even though it irks you that I spend hours on my blog instead of studying, you support my writing.you are the first one to read my poems[well most of them] !

Unconditional love and unconditional faith, that's what you've given me. Add that to a few unbearably long lectures, a shouting match or two and a few shared secrets that we've kept from everyone in the house (yes, mum still doesn't know that I broke the lamp and you ordered the new one before she would find out ) we have the perfect father-daughter relationship.

So here's to the first and most important man in my life - I love you daddy. :)

Nandini
P.S. Can I have an advance on next week's allowance?:P
sealed with a kiss!!!!

The Upside Of Being Ugly

People always believe that life sucks for ugly people and pretty people get the best of life all the time. I was reading a magazine article some time ago. It said that even the scientists, having conducted a research, believe that now. Well, those guys would know, that's perhaps all they can do. When was the last time you heard about a scientist guy or girl being a regular in the club circuits?

Anyway, the point here is that we, ugly people like me that is, need not worry about things so much. I mean, haven't you ever heard of the silver lining in the cloud? There happens to be an upside of everything and being ugly is not all that bad, you know. I mean, I thought I had it quite bad, but then I decided to change my outlook on life and found out there's much more to being ugly than meets the eye. I even had a discussion with a friend of mine about this and even she agrees with me on most of the points I put up....

First off, ugliness knows no bounds. It does not make distinctions between men and women. But women have an advantage, no eve-teasing (quite an expression we Indians have invented, this one), guys on the street don't tease you. And in my friend's words, "you don't really need to go to the beauty parlor, you are ugly anyway and they can try and you can spend lots of your money but no one can really make you look good and no one is gonna date you. Instead, you can go to a pub (but not in Mangalore) lol .... and spend your money on lots of booze."

Also, if you are ugly, you get a lot of sympathies from all the nosey aunties, which itself is advantageous especially for a kid. They would perhaps hand you some money every time they visit instead of just giving a really useless verbal blessings which they would not really mean anyway thinking that perhaps you could use that money to get yourself a makeover when you are old enough and eligible for marriage. On your part, you can save up on all that money and blow it on booze on your 21st birthday. You also don't really need to hide your birthday and your age. You are already ugly and no one cares for how old you are. Might as well add a few years to the real numbers to get past security in a bar and get drunk - again.

Notice how everything comes back to drinking?:P Well, that's the best part of it. Ugly people can get drunk all they want, make a hell of a scene anywhere and no one will remember after some time. Not the case if you look pretty, huh! Just ask yourself, if some really hot babe (doesn't work that much for a good looking guy, girls seemingly get turned off by such guys ) was making a scene in a pub after having one too many from the juice box, would you forget that too easy? Nooo. But if an ugly guy (or girl) was doing the same thing, not only would he (she) be thrown out of the pub but also from your memory almost instantaneously.

So you see, The Upside Of Being Ugly!!!.

P.S. - I am starting an NGO working for the ugly people's rights. We don't call people like me ugly anymore. The politically correct term is "aesthetically challenged". :D

Too much but still too little

Hello again,

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways,but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We ' ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We ' ve added years to life not life to years. We ' ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor! We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We ' ve done larger things, but not better things. We ' ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We ' ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We ' ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time wh! en there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this thought to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just ignore... Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn ' t cost a cent. Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.

A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

What if I were an egg….

Sometimes…I wonder what would have happened if I were born in a poultry. Would I have been a human or a chick? What if I had been a chick…not the ‘pretty-chick’ kind of chick…but the egg-laying kind.

Guess, I would have just decorated the wire cage in a chicken stall until it was my time to decorate Sunday’s lunch plate.

But what if I were left to be an egg…perhaps…to decorate a Monday morning breakfast plate. Would my brothers worry about me when I became an omelet? Maybe. Maybe not.

Here is a visual on what might happen if I were born a chick and left to be an egg….:O :)

Listen up !!

When I heard the speech the first time, I didn't hear any threats against any particular community. How is it when I hear the different news media, the story keeps changes. For example one media says he is 28 year old and he used inflammatory word to describe Muslims, other says he 30 year old, and he threatened to cut off hands but did not mention any inflammatory word, other just quote what he says. Honestly, if I go by the first time and the quote, I really don't see where the communal hatred is. Maybe Varun is a little hot headed and upset, but I thought India has freedom of speech. So if Varun is charged with all this incitation of hatred, what about all the mullahs, muftis, and malaunas I hear in the damm streets cursing Hindus,Sikhs,Buddhists,Jains,Christians, or whomever is the hot topic of the day and claiming Islam is the only way, and some going to extent of killing non-Muslims. How come they don't get charged for their hate speeches? When did India start obey Sharia law?

Following is a verse which explicitly commands Muslims to chop off the disbelievers heads: Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

The Quran is loaded with these hate-filled violent verses.

My question to my dear Islamic convert brothers of Hindu ancestry is: Do only Muslims have the exclusive, god-given right to cut off unbelievers heads whenever they think that the unbelievers are attacking them? What was Varun Gandhi saying? That if Hindus are attacked then kill the attackers. This is exactly the same thing that one finds in the Qu'ran about ALL unbelievers, not just Hindus, but atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs even Jews and Christians.

Again, if you condemn Varun Gandhi then condemn equally Muhammad, the Quran and this supposed god Allah who talks EXACTLY like Varun Gandhi. Why cling to this religion and then selectively condemn the same hatred that it preaches, when you see it in others? We are living in times where you have the freedom to change your religion. Unlike other "peaceful" Islamic countries where the peaceful Islamic law murders ex-Muslims for renouncing Islam, you have the great good fortune of living in a modern, progressive and tolerant Hindu country. You can become Buddhist or Jain, which are REAL religions of peace.

What if there were no women in the World..hmmmm

Some say that Adam got bored and asked God to give him a companion. Some say, God wanted Adam to sacrifice his one leg and one hand at the altar, if he wanted a companion. And when Adam requested God to give him somebody for whom he will only have to sacrifice a rib, God sent a woman. None of this can be believed.

Here is the truth: God made man and finding himself in good form…came up with a better creation – the woman. (Did I just hear the ladies clap?)

Anyways….I was wondering what would have happened if God didn’t make woman for man. Thus, all men were left to fend for themselves. Scary shit. Think about it….:)

How will you become fathers? Who will tell you the good news that you are about to become fathers? For whom will you sit outside a gynecologist’s and imagine a conspiracy theory being hatched against you? With whom will you walk in the evenings? Whenever you pass by a bakery, whom will you stop for? For whom will you shop? And the questions go on.

Now for the real Male Chauvinistic Pig part. Who will make tea in the morning and wake you up with a sweet smile? Who will scold you for taking the newspaper inside the washroom? Who will nag at you to take bath early? Who will call up the office when you are down with fever? Who will iron your clothes when you are in a hurry? Who will wave at you when you race your bike/car towards the office? Who will be ready with piping hot coffee when you go back home? Who will help you with the washing machine? Who will make that tasty coconut chutney you like with your samosa?[ well not in my case]

Needless to say, with no woman in this World, life wouldn’t be the same. Imagine living with another man in your house. Scary! You all would be gays…and wonder how the human race will propagate. Perhaps…we would have found out a way to make test tube babies…but even then where would be egg come from? Gorillas? :P Wouldn’t that make the Human race huge and hairy?

On Saturday nights…the pubs and clubs would be full of men trying to woo each other. The only advantage as I see would be…you wouldn’t have to buy mock-tails, ice-cream and pop-corn to impress! just think about it and be greatful the we[woman] are here to shine your life so bright ..!!

A very rough guide to highlights of 2008:

A not very thorough list of my personal 2008 highlights in mind and brain news, dredged from my memory and reproduced for your reading pleasure:

Funniest (unintentional)
USA Today publishing an alarmist story about 'digital drugs' that can, according to the article, mimic the effects of alcohol, marijuana, LSD, crack, heroin, sex, heaven and hell. Sadly not true, although hilarious to read.

Funniest (intentional)
The Web Therapy web series staring Lisa Kudrow as an incompetent psychologist. Wonderfully produced, cleverly satirical and very funny to boot.

Best film
The English Surgeon. A profoundly beautiful documentary about the work of London-based neurosurgeon Henry Marsh and his colleague Igor Kurilets in the Ukraine. Do not miss it. Possibly a working torrent here.

Best podcast / radio episode
RadioLab's delicious programme on Orson Well's War of the Worlds broadcast and its subsequent psychological impact. Just pure audio delightfulness.

Best video lecture
A gripping lecture at the University of California by historian Prof Alfred McCoy on the 'psychological torture: a CIA history'.

Most interesting new concept
Brain-computer interfaces to weapons systems pose problems for the definition of a 'war crime' if they're triggered preconsciously, according to an interesting analysis by lawyer Stephen White.

Most interesting interview
A tie between sociologist Harry Collins discussing his work on the social interactions of physicists and what this tells us about what we have to do to be considered an expert and what types of expertise there are, and an Neurophilosophy interview with Heather Perry who trepanned herself and is remarkably reflective about the experience.

Most useful academic article
Nikos Logothetis' article in Nature about what fMRI is really measuring and what we can and can't infer about the mind and brain from neuroimaging experiment.

Best example of neurobabble
The cover article on neuroscience-based management in an issue of HR Magazine which has to be read to be believed. Or maybe that's just your basal ganglia talking.

Most tangential post
I start off talking about blond girls in t-shirts and end up talking about philosophy of mind. Actually, usually happens the other way round in real life.

Best cognitive science art project
Artificially intelligence punk rock pogo robots. Enough said.

Best random clip of TV documentary
A TV presenter is intravenously injected with differing mixtures of the active ingredients of cannabis as part of the BBC documentary Should I Smoke Dope?.

Most overdue decision
The American Psychological Association banning participation in torture. Did it really need all the fuss?

To the bunkers! Most likely to hasten the coming robot war
Pentagon requests robot packs to hunt humans. Uh huh.