Tuesdays with Morrie

I am currently reading 'Tuesdays with Morrie' by Mitch Albom. It is the true story of Morrie Schwartz, a professor of sociology and his relationship with his students. Knowing fully well that he was dying, the professor chooses to make his last days meaningful not only for his family, friends and students but also for the community at large. The relationship between the teacher and the student(Mitch Albom) is a gift many yearn to have. A book that is a must read I would say, especially for those aspiring to be academicians. A gist of the book can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuesdays_With_Morrie

Killing Enthusiasm

Four days in a row
Tried and tried
The same thing
O'er and o'er again.

Motivation high
Enthusiasm peaking
Rallied on and on
To get the thing going.

The big day came
With happiness posted
Hoping for reviews
To move up a plane.

Waited and waited
Walked the corridor
Hoping against hope
For people never coming.

Finally came the news
It was not to be
Dejected and angry
Enthusiasm went awry.

The second day
Writ large on the face
Was disinterest total
Excuses to be.

Duped now again
Second year in a row
Why know not I
Lesser mortals maybe.

Next year same time
Will enthusiasm drive
Will motivation exist
Know not I.

Intelligent Homes

Well, or should the title read 'Futuristic Homes'. Reading the article felt like out of science fiction. What else could one think of about houses that reminds you your medication, measures your pulse rate, mirrors that remind you to brush your teeth, wash your hands and bathrooms that suit your specific needs. Reminded of the TV series 'Star Trek'.....

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090324/860/ttc-your-smart-house-will-take-care-of-y.html

Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer University have come up exactly with something like that.... read on. Dreams, wild and crazy in the old ages but set to become a reality in the future.

Reactions!

Well, what does one do when someone tries to further their own agenda through you ? How do you identify it and cut them out ? Difficult for me, but I have seen many people handling such situations beautifully. I for one get caught with mixed emotions, not exactly upset and not exactly angry.

Why ?
Why can't people be straight ?
Why can't people learn
To do things by themselves
To earn their own rewards
Why such scant disregard for a fellow human
Why such insensitivity
Why such ....................

Questions and questions, but no answers...................

I am reminded of Leo's poem 'Why ?'. http://leonardolf.blogspot.com/

The wedding between a crow and a bird

A saying in India, if it rains when the sun is shining high. That is what happened today. Peak summer, the afternoon was scorching. And then at 4:00 p.m., one heard the sound of thunder. It rained, with the sun still shining. It reminded me of the old saying, something I heard from my mom when I was a kid. "Kaakakum kuruvikum kalyanam" (in Malayalam). The same exists in Tamil too. I asked her then what it meant - of how a crow can marry a bird. She told me that it was metaphorical. Thinking again of the saying, it probably spoke of the variances in nature. Of the differences we have and how to coexist. Of how two people may not be alike but can do things together. Beauty and the beast, remember. Of love maybe, of friendship across language, colour, cultures, religion ...... I have heard that there are similar sayings in other cultures. We the human kind think so much alike despite the differences we have.

Old men were wise, weren't they. Just that we aren't ready to listen maybe, and think a wee little bit.

Lab Day 2009

We celebrated the Lab Day on March 7th, 2009. Photos show the SE group. To my left is my supervisor, Prof. Hrushikesha Mohanty.






Over a cup of coffee...............





With some of the alumnus