Saturday, July 23, 2005

Staring at flies walk!

Yup! Thats what Im doin these days! Staring at walking patterns of Drosophila. Its part of my job here. U might be wondering why I'm studying 'walking' patterns of a 'fly'? Well, the Drosophila genome is very well studied, and since my work involves genetic stuff, it IS important to use one with a smal, convenient and well understood genome. There are other perks in using such stuff. For example, I dont want the flies to fly off. U may say, 'cut the wings'. But we do something easier. With a well studied genome, and well studied mutants, we breed mutants that cant fly (becoz of curled wings!).

Although the work now seems to be boring of sorts, but it will get interesting soon! The ppl here are nice and friendly! My Prof is a very lively person. So is my semi-guide semi-coworker : Neha. Having a nice time here, although, before being assigned a project here, I dreamed of being assigned somewhere else.

Whatever, the net connexn here is fast! It gives 2 Mbps at this time. So, was playing around with Google Earth(best used with a high speed connection). It is really cool. Its a free download. I had tried 'Keyhole', an earlier version of it, before it became free. Google Earth is the buzz around here 2day.

Current Mood : Not too good, not too bad!
Currently listening to : The weird noises in the lab, as in the previous post, but envying Neha sitting next to me, listening to music with headphones, that too from the comp I'm using!

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Busy yet interesting times!

Recent times have been fully pressurizing, special thanks to Vinay, who constantly keeps reminding me to prepare for the entrance exams coming this year. Even apart from academics, there are issues troubling me. I heard about 'someone's ' decision, and am totally shocked, especially because I'm guilty of probably being one of the causes.

Recently, all (almost all) of the REAPmates met to discuss about their respective projects. Figured out that many of 'em are having undoo-fundoo projects. Only me and Adi (Arcane Crapper) were placed at NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences). But, even he managed to get a non-bio project. He got to choose between stuff on AFMs (Atomic Force Microscopes) and stuff in non-linear optics. Dammit! I'm the only one with a bio project - "Genetic inheritance of neuronal networks". Although the name looks snazzy, I would easily love something more in Physics. Whatever! The other REAPmates (except Goo) actually hate biology. So, I guess I was the only person left to choose it. (The selections were made probably on previous year's performance. But, did I perform sssssssssooooo bad? I dont think so!)


Whatever, I'm an optimist as u know! This oppurtunity has certainly introduced diversity into my skills. The work is interesting., and there is plenty to learn. Moreover, its a happening area. So, I seriously hope for (and foresee) a great time here.

And yea, my net connexn will be back in a week. After a lot of debate and thought, we opted for BSNL DataOne. So, u will see more posts soon!

Right now, I'm posting this from NCBS. Its 2:45 am (The timestamp on each post in my blog is accurate) and I'm slowly begining to feel drowzy. Wondering what I'm doin up this late? Well... I was doin some expts here, none of 'em came out well! Then, I started to write my Physics practical record. Mood worsened. Went out on a stroll, had a coupla burgers (Thanks to Harsha's warnings of midnight hunger). Came back, started writing again. Mood worsened. Here I am, blogging!
Current mood : zzzzzZZZZZZZz! $%@#$@$% Huh!! @#$@#!$ What?!?!!?
Currently listening to : All the interesting sounds made by the zillions of referigerators and incubators here! (No music on this comp)

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Sangeeta (probably a million years ago!) Sorry for the late reply.
So here goes!

Warning: Majority of the books I recommend are for ppl into Physics. So dont buy it and curse me if u go and buy something, and dont like it.

Total number of books I own:
100-120. This includes technical books, but not textbooks.

Total number of books given to others and never came back:
10-15. I was very much pissed off for the books I didnt get back. But now, I'm sorta fine with it, after looking at Sangeeta's figures.

Total number of e-books:
4169 (That is 2.94 GB) Whoa! will I ever be able read all of 'em?!?!. Btw, thanks to Hari (Srihari Srinivasan) for all the eBooks.(Or else the number would be something like 5 or 6!)

Last book I bought:
The Tao of Physics : Fritjof Capra
There's a history behind this one. I was reading the review of 'Road to Reality - Roger Penrose' on Slashdot. Many commenters spoke of 'The Tao of Physics". I added it to my mental wishlist. Then, months later (which is like a week ago from now), I was reading "In search of Schrodinger's cats" in class.(Yea! I dont listen to the lectures, I read my own books. I sit in class for attendance!). The guy sitting next to me (not so interested in Physics) asked for my book. He glanced through the introduction. The author had mentioned the "Tao of Physics" book somewhere. It caught his eye, especially because he didn't know what 'Tao' meant. Then a coupla days ahead, he saw the book in some book mound (Books piled up on the streets). He called me up and asked me whether I wanted it. I said yes, inspite of some budget problems. But he haggled it to within my budget (I got it for Rs.70!)

Last book I was gifted:
QED:Richard Feynman (Awesome book for anyone with some inclination to Physics, to know more about Quantum Electrodynamics) gifted by my friends.
Surely You're joking Mr. Feynman - Feynman. (A must read for anyone. The autobiography of this eccentric and remarkable Physicist. A very humorous read) gifted by my bro
These were gifted on my B'day

Last book I read:
In search of Schrodinger's cat - John Gribbin
This was another awesome read. It deals with Quantum mechanics, and also its philosophical consequences. It is a popular level book. The only equation he has used in the main part of the book is E=hv. So, ppl with only slight interests in gretting into the math, can also read it.

Currently reading:
Schrodinger's Kittens - John Gribbin
Sequel to the previous book.

Five books that mean a lot to me:
FivePointSomeone - It sort of changed my life, due to some not so obvious reasons.
Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman - Feynman is sorta what I wanna be like. Fun loving and full masti character, but yet a very good physicist, and one of the best physics teachers the planet has seen. His autobiography is one thing that will inspire me lifelong.
The Feynman lectures on Physics(3 Vols) - It gives a total different perspective of all the Physics I've learnt. With Physics lying deep in my heart, this is one important series.
Famous Five :Treasure Island - This was the first novel I read. I read it about 5 to 6 times by the time I was in 8th. I simply loved it as a kid. But alas, it went into some kabaadi store, thanks to mom.
In search of Schrodinger's cat - The philosophical implications of QM has been beautifully portrayed. And it has had a deep impact on my views of the world.

Book that made zero sense to me:
College Physics - SundarRajan, Syed Azeez, George Thomas.
Talking abt zero sense?!?! This makes negative sense! This is our textbook for college! Damn! I could write a whole blog cribbing abt it! However, I will provide just one excerpt from it
"When a body gains heat energy, it becomes relatively colder". Mind you, the book is full of such crap like y=bx/a, (where a & b are parameters) is the equation of a pair of lines. (In treatment of lissajous figures) It is full of makeshift faulty proofs. And dammit, we should reproduce these in the exam! ok. I said 'one excerpt', but sorry, couldnt stop!

OK, so thats it with the tag! If anyone is willing to be tagged, leave a comment.

Current mood : Relaxed! After a lot of time now!
Currently listening to : A Thousand Years - Sting

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

My Bro's blogs

My bro has started a coupla blogs. (I am very late on this one, thanks to the damned net connexn). One is about the usual cribbings of a geek life : life2text.blogspot.com.(He doesnt update it often)

The other is a serious one, in which he discusses ideas and solutions to tech problems. He wants ppl to review his ideas. dreams2text.blogspot.com. (He updates this whenever he gets a new idea, which is pretty frequent) He is waiting to see ppl's comments on his ideas. His ideas are usually down-to-earth, even if they initially appear highly technical. I feel u guys will definitely have some strong opinions about his suggestions.

Current mood : sorta wild!
Currently listening to : All Rise - Blue