aazmaaish: science and stupidity

Idiots Lying About Going to Saba on Facebook, part 1 [with picture]

2008-11-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

There is something incredibly pathetic about someone who outright lies about where they go to medical school. Ie.

Hmmm...Maybe Dalhousie rejected you because you also lied on your application about where you went to college? Just a thought.

Teen without heart for 118 days shows anything but heartlessness

2008-11-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

It seems like every day, the medical news gets more and more astounding. Today, for example, came news that 14 year old D'Zhana Simmons of South Carolina had lived for 118 days without a heart, in anticipation of a heart transplant.

She suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, something that causes the heart to become floppy and dysfunctional. This required a heart transplant, but none was available at the time. Fearing that it could rupture, surgeons removed the heart, and, for the time being, placed her on an artificial pump. This poor girl had to then brave three months for a new heart.

Thank God doctors finally found her a new heart, and that she can resume her life. But as a whole, it typifies a giant problem in the healthcare system. Pediatric departments throughout the United States are suffering from a lack of adequate investment, because these investments into treating rare diseases simply don't pay off. And, ultimately, this leaves the rare child in an awkward and terrifying situation, like young Ms. Simmons had to face.

Unfortunately, there is no amicable solution for such a problem. Government intervention, through subsidization of research and procedures would be nice, but how much subsidies can go around with due fairness and efficiency? And even when they pass, the healthcare system has a tendency to distort such incentives for its own purposes. In any case, it seems like, for the forseeable future, these children are bound to be stuck in a heartless and merciless situation.

USMLE Step 1 Preparation - The Method I Used

2008-11-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

I was really reluctant to talk about my study strategy before I got my results back. I didn't want to sound stupid or presumptuous. Now that I do have it back, I'm more than willing to share, although I don't think that there's anything new that you can't find elsewhere.

In general, I tried to keep it simple and high yield, thereby reducing mental load and stress.

Books:
1) First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: The must-read book for the USMLE. And by must-read, I mean that you must read each and every single line of the book and commit it to memory. If it is in the book, it is important. It's really a godsend, considering how much material is on the exam. However, be aware that there are a bunch of errors in First Aid, many of which can be found on the First Aid website, and others that I hope to share on this blog. Also, right before the exam, I went through the equations and keywords in the back.

2) Lippincott Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Same authors, same basic ideas. For Lippincott Biochemistry, I tried to stay as faithful as possible to the book. For Pharmacology, I avoided placing too much attention on miscellaneous drugs and arcane details.

3) Goljan Pathology: wherever I found there to be inconsistencies in First Aid, I went to Goljan Pathology as a resource. However, as a primary study aid, I don't think it would be particularly helpful because of the depth of its details.

Programs:
1) USMLEWorld: great practice questions

2) Kaplan QBank: good questions too

Exam-taking Strategies:
1) I avoided changing answers unless I felt confident that another answer was correct.
2) I tried my best to pace myself, especially during the killer third block, and maintain focus when I just wanted to get the hell out.
3) I ate small snacks and drank water at every break I could, just to keep on going.

In retrospect, I probably should have spent more time on anatomy and genetics, since a lot of it showed up on the exam. Otherwise, I don't think there is much else I could have done.

Good luck!

Chandrayaan-1 lands tricolor on the moon

2008-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

To many, the Chandrayaan-1 mission to the moon may be overlooked as an overambitious attempt by a third-world nation to attain respectability in the world. To 1,000,000,000+ Indians though, this is momentous.

I'm not sure about how much science will come out of the Chandrayaan-1 and I hope that it will reveal things that will benefit all of humanity. But right now, it comes to me as quite a milestone in Indian history. By planting a tricolor on the moon, India has staked itself at the forefront of geopolitics and geoeconomics. For whatever considerable internal issues the nation has, it proves that India is determined to make its contributions to the entire world and engage it in all spheres.

It is heartening to think that when I look at the midnight sky here in New York, I can see the moon which bears the flags of the two greatest democracies. Also, it seems appropriate that the Ashoka Chakra (Ashoka's wheel of justice) now revolves around the Earth, a reminder of the primacy of duty and responsibility, which ultimately transcends all national boundaries.

When you think about it, it's a fairly important historic reversal: whereas some sixty years ago, the British flag flew across India, today the Indian flag flies over Britain itself. More deviously, Indians today can derive silent satisfaction in knowing that whenever a Pakistani hails his own crescent-mooned flag, he also salutes the tricolour of his nation's arch-rival.

Research Pulls a Homer ... and Cures AIDS

2008-11-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Exciting news from Germany. Apparently, a man with AIDS has been cured through an unrelated bone marrow transplant for his coexisting leukemia. The scientific explanation is that the bone marrow was from a donor who had a mutation in the CCR5 gene, which normally allows HIV to enter cells to reproduce. This rendered the donor resistant to HIV infection, and, so, after the marrow transplant, induced resistance in the host as well. The hope is that in the future, gene therapy will allow doctors to do something similar without the dangers and high costs inherent to a transplant.

Yes, this is a very fortunate case of "pulling a homer" - to succeed at something without knowingly attempting to, trying very hard, or any intelligence [definition via urbandictionary]. It may very well be that history will write that the big breakthrough in HIV treatment was not borne out of billions of dollars in research, but in a great coincidence in Germany.

Gardasil for men. won't somebody please think of the children?!

2008-11-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

New research suggests that Gardasil, the vaccine for HPV, can protect men too. Vaccination to HPV, which is associated with many different types of cancers, including most notably cervical cancer, has been heralded as a public health breakthrough. However so, many conservatives objected to large scale attempts at vaccination, claiming that it would promote promiscuity among their daughters by removing the threat of developing cervical cancer through longstanding HPV infection.

This new research puts an interesting twist on that argument of theirs. It has been recorded that Gardasil prevents the formation of precancerous lesions and genital warts in men as well. Though not as common as cervical cancer, the hope is that vaccinating men will not only reduce their occurrence in men, but make men inhospitable to HPV and thus prevent its spread to women.

With this new information, it will be interesting to see how the religious right will now view Gardasil. A lot of the antipathy towards HPV vaccination came from a hysteria that the innocence of their daughters would be lost. HPV - and the associated cervical cancer - is regarded as something of a moral punishment to women with less self-discipline, and in their eyes, Gardasil ablated the threat of that punishment. Now that the vaccine is shown to carry benefits to guys, will they suddenly fear the loss of innocence in their sons? That their sons will suddenly do risky and irresponsible things because of the lack of a threat from HPV?

My bet is no. I feel that they'll see the health benefits outweighing these concerns and drop their objections. After all, even in the more conservative communities, it is more acceptable for a guy to engage in premarital sex than a woman to do so. Protecting them from venereal disease may come before protecting them from moral vice. With their daughters though, the opposite may very well hold true.

So, to quote Helen Lovejoy, "Won't somebody please think of the children??!"

A Government No Longer Paralyzed By Polio

2008-11-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

The last time I went to India, I remember large banners in many of the chowks and maidans advocating polio vaccination and dispelling rumors about it being a capitalist plot to sterilize the public. As well-meaning as they were, the banners rang empty; vaccinations were still lacking, allowing the debilitating disease to remain and even spread.

Now, two years later, the government has taken more active steps in the eradication of polio from the country by making more easily available polio vaccinations to areas of India that are most affected.

It's about time!! While Indians can boast of its billionaires and its dynamo economy, we feel ashamed of talking about its collective health. Today, it is embarassing that India, with all its manpower, brainpower, and heartpower (to coin a term) has failed to eradicate this ancient scourge. Let us hope that this initiative will help stamp out polio decisively from the world's largest democracy, and with it, a reluctance in talking about the massive strides in healthcare.

To add a bit of wonkish irony to this, unlike many other common diseases, polio actually worsens with economic development and better sanitation. The explanation is complex, but it is generally regarded that the poliovirus affects older patients more severely than it affects younger ones. Thus, with marginally better sanitation and development, the exposure to polio in children is delayed, leading to a more severe infection in the now older children. Though I am not sure whether in these areas this is a factor, it adds a layer of poorly-appreciated irony.

...And Miles to Go Before I Sleep [USMLE post #2]

2008-11-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

The celebrations are over. The Step 1 score joins the ranks of the SAT, MCAT, GRE, and countless APs. Now the hard work begins.

Starting December 8th, I'll start my clinical rotations. In particular, I'll be in Bridgeport Hospital, Connecticut, furiously learning the art and science of Internal Medicine. I'm excited to see the application of all that I learnt in the classroom in practice.

It'll be challenging for sure - frequent movement and at times harsh hours. But I've never been adverse to wild rides.

Expect more frequent postings on this blog, but very few specifics on what I'm doing because of privacy laws. In any case, it's going to be a very busy and exciting time!

I Have Promises to Keep [USMLE post #1]

2008-11-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

Two days ago, I received my scores for the USMLE Step 1. For those of you who do not know what the USMLE Step 1 is, it is the most rigorous and most important examination that any aspiring physician will ever take. Especially among international medical students, it separates the men from the boys.

...and judging by my score, I humbly submit that I am all man.

As you've guessed, I'm extraordinarily proud of my score. It is the result of a lot of hard work and meticulous preparation. But it is equally the product of a world-class education and the dedication of so many professors I had at Saba and at Penn. Many of those professors have been featured in previous blog posts.

To those professors, I pledged to do my best on this examination. And I am proud to say that I have honored them.

At the same time, I consider this score to be part and parcel of a Covenant that I made with God. I'm not normally liable to religion or superstition, but when I entered medical school, I made a silent pact that if He saw me through the hardships of being on Saba and enabled me to do my best on this exam, I would commit myself to improving the world as a whole. So I declare that I will dedicate some portion of my life to the poor and the sick in the Third World, in addition to the "standard" tending to the sick in my future clinical practice. Because He has fulfilled His end of the bargain, I have every intention to fulfill my end.

In particular, I want to become involved with the Lifeline Express, a groundbreaking project in India that is essentially a hospital-on-wheels. I know that it is doing great work throughout the nation, and I would one day like to join its mission of providing medical relief to the needy.

Ok ... its no Sasquatch, but still ...

2008-10-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite used to seeing wolves patrol my backyard. This is the second time I've seen him. By the time I found my camera the first time, it had disappeared into the forest. This time, I was more lucky - I got to capture the canid (I think coyote?) trot across the backyard, nudge against the walls of my house, and cross the busy road to the great plains of my neighbor's frontyard. And even though it was surprisingly shy when approached, its daring attitude - as if to say "what are you doing here?" - was quite notable.

Close up:

Otherwise, nothing else happening.

Done with the Step!

2008-10-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Another test bites the dust.

But I have to say, it was very tough. Not like anything I expected, with a lot more anatomy, epidemiology, genetics, biochemistry, and ethics. Oh, and tons of pharmacokinetics. 350 questions also wears you down towards the end.

Overall, on the Mosby Scale, a 8/10.

Ok ... one more piece of procrastination

2008-08-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Well, this was unexpected.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
1
or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Barack Obama & a Small Piece of Penn Trivia

2008-08-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama plans on accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party tonight at Invesco Field, Denver.

As mentioned on virtually all newschannels, it is partially inspired by Kennedy's speech at the L.A. Coliseum. But 28 years before JFK spoke about the New Frontier at that stadium, another great Democrat, FDR, spoke at Penn's own Franklin Field, to accept the Democratic Nomination for the Presidency in 1936.

No toast was thrown at him.

(now back to studying for the step)

Those 500-some-odd days on Saba

2008-08-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Scratched down, one by one.

A Deficit of Dreams

2008-08-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

August 15th 2008 - Independence Day, not just for the nation of India, but for myself. It was the day that I left Saba, bound home for New York. The entire day was surreal - ultimately one of the happiest days I can recall.

But now I'm dealing with an odd problem - I don't know what to dream about. For 500-some-odd days, my dream of dreams was returning home to the States. Now, when I sleep in my bed, I'm not quite sure what to think about. USMLE? Residency? Who knows?

Or, for that fact, who cares? Even by itself, Surviving Saba is a dream come true.

Wrapping up Saba

2008-08-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Six days to go, and a million miles to run.

I'm currently studying for the NBME examination for this Friday using this nifty flashcard program. We'll see how it goes.

In the meantime, enjoy this verbal collage of the blog, thanks to www.wordle.net You can pretty much see which things take priority for living on Saba - please take note that "fun" and "free time" are not on the collage

Rest In Peace, Dr. Randy Pausch

2008-07-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, it was reported that Dr. Pausch passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer. It is the world's loss that such a dynamic man is no longer with us.

Mishra is the best medicine

2008-07-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

If you could peer into the mind of Dr. Pranaya Mishra, I am sure it would look like a library with stacks of pharmacological texts stretching as far as the eye can see. But between those books lies the true magic of Mishra - the ability to uplift his colleagues and students. Virtually any person who has held a conversation with him would agree. For any situation, Dr. Mishra has an anecdote, a riddle, or a joke. For most people, these are fillers - but for the Mighty Mishra, they are centerpieces of conversation in and of themselves.

I, and the rest of the students at Saba, are blessed to call ourselves students of Dr. Mishra. It is no secret that life on Saba can be tough. Academic work can bog down even the finest students, and the social isolation is at times piercing. Luckily, we can depend on professors such as Dr. Mishra to be there for us, in the cafeteria, at our parties, and even in our homes. He is well aware that his salary comes from teaching pharmacology daily between 10:45 to 12:45, and not from personal visits and inspiring conversation. But he does not hesitate in considering this an integral part of his profession. For that, he has earned great admiration from students like me.

Along with Dr. Bhaskar, Dr. Mishra has bestowed upon me a vast knowledge of pharmacology, and yet, all of this is dwarfed by the personal legacy of the man. His gentle predisposition and worldly optimism are traits I wish to wholly introject into myself as a future physician.

June Trees in Saba

2008-06-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what they are ... but they look good.

Slaying the Beast: Physiology

2008-06-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I finished Biochem ... for the time being. The incredible amount of details probably means I'll have a refresher within a week or so.

Now, its time for the beast of Physiology. Maybe a week is going to be need - we'll see as it goes.

USMLE Review: Day 1 - Biochem

2008-05-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm studying from Lippincott's Biochemistry and got to Chapter 10 - Glycogenolysis.

So much stuff, but its all coming back, slowly.

Dr. Rao, My Step One Score is Devoted to You!

2008-05-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I begin to study in earnest for the USMLE Step 1, in between studying for Pathology and Clinical Medicine. I dedicate my efforts to Dr. K. P. Seetharama Rao, my anatomy professor.

It is hard to describe how pivotal he's been to my medical school career. With his mastery of the subject, brilliant teaching skills, and love of the subject, he raised my spirits. He demonstrated that Saba is no less than any other school, whether in the States or abroad. Along with my other professors, he restored my self-confidence, that I could indeed become a doctor and a great doctor at that. For that, I am eternally grateful. It is not an exaggeration to say that his blessings have carried me this far. There is little I can say or do to reciprocate.

But I'll strive to live up to his ideals. My USMLE score, whatever if may be, will be consecrated in his honor. I will spare no effort in making him proud.

To Rao!

Jeez....what's the big deal with the Temple of Doom?

2008-05-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

I admit it ... last weekend was a complete waste. The USA Network played the Indiana Jones trilogy twice, and I watched it, twice. It was worth it too. And in the two more times I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, I became inspired by the unlikely positive perspective on Indian culture.

Usually, the knee-jerk reaction of Indians, and particularly Hindus, is that it is based on mindless stereotypes and prejudices. I think it was even banned in India for a while. And, on the surface, it does seem to falsely depict Hinduism as a barbaric and bloodthirsty religion. After a while though, you realize that the message of the film is quite the contrary.

What's really amazing is that the power of Hindu religious belief is affirmed directly by Indiana Jones. Even though he is an anthropologist, towards the end, he actually witnesses and believes in the power of the Shankar stones. He also seems to also have a better understanding of Hinduism at the end, as he scolds Mola Ram for disgracing Shiva (in Hindi too). So overall, its a highly positive assessment.

The gruesome scenes of human sacrifice are probably the most objectionable moments of the film, but its clear that those scenes are meant to be hyperbolic. The sacrificed man falling into that fireball in the pit is simply not possible, and it is clearly meant to thrill the audience, not to educate them. Also, the miraculous removal of a beating heart is meant to highlight the downright horrific practices of a fictional religious cult. Quite frankly, I think it would be far more offensive if they showed how the real Thugs really killed their victims - slow strangulation through a yellow scarf. That would inadvertently hit close to home.

Finally, its easy to overlook the fact that in the remote villages of India, despicable Tantric acts of ritualistic human sacrifice still carry on unabated. The prescriptions in Hindu scripture are scanty and appear more symbolic, but the fact they occur should distance the universal denunciations of critics.

Mola Ram is by far the best Indiana Jones villain. Lucas and Spielberg are geniuses to create a man so deluded in his evil that his fundamental expressions of devotion are utterly gruesome. All that was exaggerated or fictionalized can easily be forgiven.

On the other hand, Indians in the Maharaja's court eating snakes, bugs, and chilled monkey brain cannot be justified at all. Apart from at the starving margins of society, nobody eats these things (some of these creatures are even venerated). For me, this is most insulting, largely because people have asked me personally about these dietary habits. As a lasting legacy of the film, it is truly unfortunate. Otherwise, I'm proud to say that Indiana Jones lay his fictional feet in timeless India.

Mona Simpson Dies - so does the spirit of the Simpsons

2008-05-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

I took time out today to watch tonight's episode of the Simpsons. It's the one in which Mona Simpson, Homer's mother, dies. I couldn't think of anything else more evocative of the decline of the series's quality than her death.

The episode that introduced Mona Simpson, "Mother Simpson," is one of my favorites. The writers did such a great job in conveying a whole host of emotions while cracking really funny jokes. Homer was more than just a 1-dimensional fat man cliche - he was an evolving character with roots in his childhood. His mother was also a character torn by her emotions and duties. The reunion of mother and son demonstrated the power of animation, particularly at the end.

Tonight's episode was anything but that. All the Simpsons, including Mona Simpson, were flat and one-dimensional, notably Homer as the complete idiot, and Mona as the obsessed hippie. Any other perspectives were sidelined. Even the sadness of Homer at his mother's loss - what ought to have been the cornerstone of the episode - was taken aside for the Bond-esque sequence. The scattering of her ashes, the solemn farewell, was nothing but a way for the writers to get a mediocre laugh. It didn't strike the appropriate tone at all.

That's how the episode exemplifies the fall of the Simpsons. Once, they combined humor and insight; now, every episode is a melange of grade C jokes.

With that said, I did laugh at one great joke. Bart's justification that "damn ass whores" isn't a curse phrase because its in the Bible had me laughing for a while.

Ortho-Evra may make your blood stand still (or it may not)

2008-05-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

USA Today reports that a consumer group wants Ortho-Evra to be removed from the market. Ortho-Evra is an estrogen-containing contraceptive patch. The group maintains that Ortho-Evra is responsible for an unacceptably high number of blood clots.

Ortho-Evra is a combination of an estrogen-analogue, ethinyl estradiol, and a progestrin-analogue, norelgestromin. These two hormones alter the environment of the female reproductive tract. Specifically, estrogen prevents the release of eggs, and progesterone thickens the mucus of the cervix, making it hard for the sperm to meet the egg.

Both estrogens and progestrins have effects that go far beyond the reproductive tracts. In particular, estrogen works on the liver to increase the production of clotting factors (especially factors II, VII, IX, and X). This makes the blood stickier. At the same time, estrogen decreases the chemical necessary for liquefying clots away (via antithrombin III). This combination makes blood more likely to clump up, especially when blood is slowed down, like when the legs are still for long periods of time.

These clots are dangerous because they can get stuck in the vessels of the body, especially the lungs. 50% of these aren't all too serious, but the other 50% can progress steadily to difficulty breathing and ultimately, death.

Estrogens in Ortho-Evra, or any other contraceptive, can do this, but it is a very rare complication. How rare it is though, is a matter of dispute.

{This is not medical advice}

Stupid Jeopardy Clip I found online

2008-05-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest...that would be my first answer too.

Apparently, Indians have Fat Genes

2008-05-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

BBCNews reports that people of Indian ancestry have genes that predispose them to obesity. This also means that Indians are genetically predisposed to a variety of associated conditions reducing the quality and quantity of life, including Type 2 Diabetes.

The gene found in over half of the general population (and being a third more common among Indians) is associated with MC4R - the Melanocortin Receptor Type 4. This is the cell-surface receptor for Melanocortin, a group of multifunctional chemicals released by the pituitary gland into the blood. These chemicals are the selectively processed remnants of a single chemical called proopiomelanocortin. Ultimately, they control water and salt balance, color of skin, and, as this study supports, appetite.

Among the Melanocortins, the hormone MSH - melanocyte-stimulating hormone - governs the amount of pigmentation in cells of the skin, and also suppresses signals for increased appetite in the hippocampus, an important part of the brain. The larger the amount of MSH, or the more sensitive the melanocortin receptor, the less the appetite. That is where these genes fit in. It has been well-known that the most common cause of genetic obesity is by a lack of functional MC4R in the hippocampus (the fat mouse above lacks MC4R). In Indians, the studies indicate that the genes governing MC4R may make it less effective than it should be.

In the next decade, its estimated that 60% of cardiovascular disease patients will be of South Asian origin. This gene is one of the many reasons that contribute to this staggering figure. Indians, and other people from across the world for that fact, must take better care of themselves and not consign themselves to their genetic fate.

{I'm a medical school student, and this is not medical advice}

My last day of my last break from Saba

2008-05-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

This demands a haiku -

Leaving for Saba
Leaves me with thoughts of how I
Left home the first time.

{I'm clearly not a poet}

...But why does a ketogenic diet help epileptics?

2008-05-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

The BBC is one of many news organizations reporting that a ketogenic diet helps in reducing the number of seizures in epileptics who aren't responsive to many of the major drugs. It fails to explain why exactly this diet helps, and, it does not do so for a very good reason - nobody is sure of why.

First of all, epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by unprovoked seizures. These seizures appear differently depending on what is causing them and where, but are all linked to disruptions of the electric circuits in the brain. Fortunately, there are many drugs used to treat epilepsy by altering the electrical environment of the cells in the brain, and for many patients, they work. But for those who don't, the effect of this diet is being investigated.

Ultimately, the ketogenic diet is one that is high in fats, low in carbohydrates, and selective in the types of proteins. It mimics the conditions that the body is in when it is starving - that is, when the liver is not releasing glucose, the preferred currency of energy in the body. This glucose comes from many dietary sources but never fats. Fats are processed separately, ultimately forming ketones, another from of energy currency, in the liver. But unlike glucose, this currency - ketones - is not preferred since the liver does not use them and the brain must take time to adapt itself to them. For that reason, ketones come when the body is forced to use up fat, like in starvation or disorders like diabetes. Alternatively, when there can be no source of new glucose, like in this ketogenic diet, only ketones will be generated.

How this state of body affects the state of mind, nobody really knows. But some speculate that the ketones make the brain more hardy and prompt adaptations to have it store more energy more efficiently. In turn, this may confer a protective effect. But little science has come up to support such a hypothesis.

(This is not medical advice.)

Warning on Enbrel

2008-05-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Reuters reports that Enbrel will soon carry a black-box warning about its associations with certain infections.

Enbrel is the generic name for the drug Etanercept, a drug commonly used for inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Chemically, Etanercept is a fusion between two proteins, a receptor for TNF-α and IgG1.

TNF-α stands for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and its secretion is something akin to a body-wide Declaration of War. When working correctly, TNF-α alerts the body that there is something that needs to be eliminated and sets it on the warpath. For example, it prompts the liver to make certain "defensive" chemicals (called acute phase proteins), and activates white cells, especially macrophages, which serve as soldiers on the front line. It also scrambles the reserves, giving the green light for various white cells to move from the bloodstream to other parts of the body, like skin and joints.

The warpath also means that the body's stores, in the form of muscle and fat, are gobbled up in the fight. In patients with cancer or tuberculosis, this can be highly pronounced, leading to wasting. In addition, TNF may be secreted when there's no need, causing inflammatory conditions in otherwise healthy people, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

This is how Etanercept has helped people. Etanercept, as a TNF-α receptor, sets up decoys for TNF-α; it prevents the TNF-α floating around in the blood from bonding to its real receptors, essentially halting the declaration from getting out, when it shouldn't have anyway.

The danger is when there's an actual need for this declaration and Etanercept makes the interception. Tuberculosis is one prominent example. TNF-α is particularly important because macrophages, the white blood cells key to stopping TB, need TNF to be activated effectively. That is the reason why there's now a warning on the box.

(again, I'm a medical school student, and this isn't any sort of advice.)

Deadly E71 virus infects 3000 chinese kids - and the US media just does not care

2008-05-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

You'd never hear this on CNN, but there has been an outbreak of Enterovirus 71 in the Anhui province of China (colored brown on the map). 3 000 kids have been infected, leading to 21 deaths. Considering that Enterovirus 71 is an extraordinarily contagious brother of polio, it is shocking that there's so little coverage. Especially considering the global age, it could spread to other corners of China and the world rather quickly.

Enterovirus 71 is the cousin of both poliovirus and the rhinovirus, the one responsible for the common cold. But unlike rhinoviruses, which cannot survive in the gut, enteroviruses replicate in the cells of the gut, even in the presence of bile and acids. In the process, they kill the cells that line the gut, causing diarrhea, discomfort, and ulcers. The virus also spreads through the bloodstream, which is responsible for the fever and general tiredness. It can also cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease, with nodules and ulcers forming on the aforementioned parts of the body. The viruses which leave the body through feces can then contaminate local water supplies and further its spread.

Certain aspects of enterovirus infection make it hard to respond to. First, the infection can be halted mainly by antibodies and not directly by the cells of the immune system. This means that the body is handicapped in using some of its most potent weapons. Secondly, enterovirus can be shed from not-so-sick people for as long as a month. This makes outbreaks hard to control. Lastly, there's very few drugs that are practical enough to use, so for the majority of those infected, R&R is the best recommendation.

I really hope that it does not spread from these areas of China. But viral outbreaks are furthered by denial, which is something epidemic in and of itself, both in China and the rest of the world.

The Not-So-Great Indian Baby Drop

2008-05-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Remember a few years ago when people thought Michael Jackson went way too far in almost dropping his baby off a hotel balcony? Well, these people didn't think he went far enough:

This is apparently a 500-year old tradition at a Muslim shrine shared by both Hindus and Muslims to instill bravery and courage to their children. Apparently, no baby has ever been hurt - which is the biggest miracle of all.

Looks like VHS will be gone long before Measles

2008-05-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Measles is back...with a bit of an epidemic vengeance. CNN reports 64 cases in 9 states. Not surprisingly, all but one were unvaccinated. The CDC singles the problem to improper vaccination practices abroad (hence, the map below).

We're very fortunate to live in a country without much measles. In many areas around the world, outbreaks happen regularly in communities every three years as waves of new children are exposed to the virus. Measles claims the lives of 300 000 children every year, few of which are American. And, to make this worse, the poor nutrition and healthcare in the underdeveloped world increases the mortality a hundred-fold from 0.1% to 10%.

Measles is incredibly contagious - with 90% of exposed people eventually developing the disease. It spreads by cough, and enters the body by respiratory droplets. It then replicates in the throat and goes to the cells of the blood and blood vessels. The complex progression of events is responsible for the signs and symptoms of typical measles: cough, runny nose, red-eye and sensitivity to light. Over half also develop pneumonia. In addition, the body's immune response causes the rash that characteristically starts below the ear.

There are other, more serious types of measles infections - atypical, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and giant cell pneumonia without rash. But they are rare. So too are some fatal complications, like encephalitis.

It was thought that measles would be soon eliminated by the MMR vaccine. But despite all the advances in the third world, its shocking that measles is making a Lazarus-like return to the states.

(again, I'm only a med school student)

Now play nice, you little B-cells

2008-04-30T11:22:00.001-07:00

More interesting news from the world of medicine. Children in daycare may be 30% less likely to develop childhood leukemia. The data's still early, and the science behind it isn't established, but it's notable nonetheless.

The most common leukemia in children is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It accounts for three-fourths of all childhood leukemias, afflicting about 3000 children each year (and 1000 additional adults). Depending on certain factors like age, genes, and involved cell type, A.L.L. carries a good prognosis (90%) with over 50% being cured completely within two years. Despite this, Leukemia is nothing to sneeze at. Leukemia as a whole, kills more people under 20 than any other type of cancer.

Chromosomal translocations have been implicated in the development of A.L.L. Like in other cancers, these translocations interfere with the cell's braking system that prevents inappropriate replication, and thus cancer. But what causes these translocations are unknown. The chemical benzene and high doses of radiation contribute, but most American kids are not exposed to these. This new report seems to say that an underutilized immune system predisposes the development to leukemia - the immunological counterpart to the saying "idle hands are the devil's playthings." That's just what they conjecture, but given that kids in daycare have less allergies and asthma too, it may very well be possible.

In the end, until science finds a mechanism by which a daycare environment prevents leukemia, no one really knows. But if true, it's a tantalizing find and sets directions for new research.

...was blind but now can see

2008-04-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

While the media was busy swiftboating Senator Obama, researchers made a huge advancement in medicine - they restored sight to the blind. And that too, at my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

I think it's a miracle. Granted, it only directly affects about three thousand Americans with a rare condition called Leber Congential Amaurosis, but it's a tremendous step nonetheless. The procedure of inserting correct genes into cells with defective ones using viruses is showing a lot of promise, and may one day be used for a wide variety of disorders.

The science behind this is, as always, complex. People with Leber Congenital Amaurosis have a defective gene that is unable to direct the cells of the back of the eye to produce the chemicals necessary to see. This leaves them blind from birth and suffering from other abnormalities like nystagmus (sudden movements of the eyeballs). Not everyone with Leber Congenital Amaurosis has exactly the same genetic defect, but the outcomes are very similar.

Vision in the eye is governed by the way certain chemicals (visual pigments) that respond to light. These visual pigments come from Vitamin A, and are converted to trans-retinal. This trans-retinal is a signal for the cells in the back of the eye that there is light. In people with Type 2 Leber Congenital Amaurosis, one of the proteins responsible for making trans-retinal is deficient.

The injected virus contained the gene for this protein, so when it inserted itself into the cells' DNA, it got the eyes to make proper trans-retinal. The signaling system for the eye was then restored, and these six children got the gift of sight.

These people are lucky, not only because they got their eyesight restored, but also because they were blinded by a very simple cause. Just one gene was responsible for their blindness, so an injection could suffice. Most other causes of blindness are due to many genetic and environmental factors. For them, a more complicated treatment will be required. I'm sure these researchers are working towards those aims.

(Btw, the picture above are of normal cells stained for the protein that's missing in LCA type 2)
(...and, as always, there's no medical advice on this blog)

I want to go to Friendly's! No wait, I really don't.

2008-04-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

Props to the firm that came up with this incredibly superliminal ad. It pretty much coaches kids on how to harass their parents into going to Friendly's.

Smoking + HPV = Lung Cancer ?

2008-04-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

HPV's turning out to be a major menace. Its the most prevalent STD, causing warts, papillomas, cervical cancer, and head&neck cancers (not to mention the ultra-rare tree-man-causing epidermodysplasia verruciformis).

A University of Louisville study now adds lung cancer to the list.

Specifically, it's been now shown that HPV (human papilloma virus) can aid in causing a wide variety of lung cancers. Smoking has been the most important risk factor for the development of lung cancers, but being infected with HPV makes cancer easier to gain hold.

The science behind it is complex. HPV is a DNA virus that inserts itself into human cells. It then gets to use the cellular machinery to read its DNA for replication and for making necessary proteins. If, as it sometimes happens, the HPV integrates itself but cannot replicate, the cell gets stuck reading HPV DNA over and over, making lots of HPV proteins, some of which can cause cancer.

E6 and E7 are two such proteins. They interfere with the brake system the cell uses to stop going into replication. So these HPV-infected cells charge on to replicate. They can become rogue - unresponsive to any signals to stop - and become cancerous. When combined with other interferences to the braking system, like smoking, the results could be catastrophic.

Luckily, there's now a vaccine against the strains of HPV that can cause cancer. When given to people before they become sexually active, it can prevent the infection - and thus, lower the chance of causing cancer. Currently, it's given to girls only, but if there's more evidence about it causing lung cancer, then perhaps boys should be jabbed too.

For some, that will never happen. The HPV vaccine (Gardasil) seems to grant immunity not only to HPV, but also to sexual promiscuity. I couldn't disagree more, but that's another story.

(btw, I'm a med school student, not a doctor - so this is not advice in any way, shape or form)

Presenting the latest Bollywood cliche - Skanky white background dancers!

2008-04-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Bollywood films have a few cliches - the fight in the garage scene, the cut-away dance on a verdant field, and, oh yes, the last minute aborted kiss in embrace. Add one more to the list: skanky white background dancers. To those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, take a look at this clip from the movie Tashan:

I guess it's a sign of the highly globalized times that white people are being introduced into Hindi movies, but do they have to be so overwhelmingly skanky? The dances are incredibly provocative and the clothes are pretty revealing. Even a decade ago, this sort of display was inconceivable. Today, its ubiquitous - a cliche in its own right.

Taking morality aside, it seems pretty clear there's a racist angle to all this.

First of all, white women are exotic to Indian audiences, and so naturally tend to raise eyebrows. Secondly, it seems far more agreeable to see foreign white people debase themselves than for brown folk to do the same. In many prejudiced minds, it's wholly expected that white folk, with their morally depraved songs and movies, would be so vulgar (never mind that Bollywood superseded Hollywood in that department years ago).

And lastly, and probably worst of all, there's the mentality that white people ought to do this - after all, they exploited us entirely for over three hundred years, so what's the big deal in exploiting them? In this new Indian century, white people following our directions and doing our bidding makes us feel oh so much better about ourselves. We'd pat ourselves on the back, but it's just much more satisfying to pay white people to do that now.

And of course, treating women like objects is objectionable in and of itself, but that's not new to Indian cinema.

I don't want to sound exclusivist or isolationist, but Indian movies should, at the very least, be a little more responsible with the images they display. Bollywood is attaining an international profile, and adding foreign skanks in the background does little but make our culture look insecure and immature.

A word on pancreatic cancer

2008-04-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Cancer is one of the scariest terms in the dictionary. It kills half a million Americans and is responsible for a quarter of all deaths in the US.

We have a right to fear it. Cancer is like a parasite of one's own body. Roughly stated, one of the body's own cells has gone rogue, divided, and is taking up its resources. Some may even attack directly. Depending partly what cell went rogue, and how it went rogue (which gene got turned on or off), cancers can range from potentially curable to absolutely deadly.

If you've read an earlier post, on Dr. Pausch, you may remember that pancreatic cancer is particularly deadly. But why is that?

In all cancers, early diagnosis is key to a good prognosis. Some cancers present themselves early, others are silent. Pancreatic cancer is the second type. The rogue pancreatic cells divide insidiously, sometimes for years, until they cause some pain or start to obstruct the bile duct, causing jaundice. Also, unlike many other cancers, there are no good chemical markers for the cancer. So, when it becomes clear that there's cancer, the cells have divided and spread enough to make it very hard to treat.

There's no cure, but there is hope. There's research being done, especially in chemical markers for early diagnosis. And the promise of gene therapy seems to loom beyond the horizon. As long as researchers keep Dr. Pausch's noble example in their hearts, there will be progress and this disease is bound to be defeated.

{umm...I'm a second-year med student. This is what I learn in class. I'm not a doctor, so please don't take this as medical advice}

The Tree Man explained (sort of)

2008-04-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is Dede Koswara - the famous Indonesian 'tree man'. He's gotten a lot of fame on the internet on the condition, which has turned his hands and feet into husks of bark. Visitors look at him with such grim fascination, wondering if it could happen to them. Well, good news for them - they're probably safe from the disease.

...but they aren't safe from what caused it. Dede Koswara's disease - epidermodysplasia verruciformis - is believed to be caused by the same thing that causes everyday warts, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The only difference is that Mr. Koswara's immune system can't stop those warts from growing and taking over the surface of his skin.

There's a lot more to the story of course. The disease is a mystery - and the causes aren't properly known. There's no treatment either, except regular prunings and checkups to see if the warts became cancerous.

As for HPV, it may seem like an innocent wart-causing virus, but its quite a bastard. HPV is notorious for evading the immune system - which is the reason some warts just don't go away. It's also the most prevalent STD in the world, with some strains causing changes in the cervix that can eventually cause cancer (hence the pap smear).

{ Umm...By the way, I'm a med student - don't take medical advice from me! }

If you have 76 spare minutes...

2008-04-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

...take that time to watch this video.

It's Professor Randy Pausch's last lecture. The first five minutes of the video explains everything.

Updates of Dr. Pausch's condition can be found here.

A new direction

2008-04-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah...its been a while...

I'm on break right now, lounging at home in NY. There isn't quite a lot to do (something i like, btw) - which begs me to blog.

In the past, I've blogged a lot about social and political issues. It kind of makes sense, since I am a poli sci major. But since I'm a med student, maybe I should address those issues.

With that in mind, I plan to make my blog entries more scientific - and more approachable. Every day I go to bbc news and find so much medical news I want to comment on, but never come around to it. Now, in my last semester on Saba, I'm going to go ahead and share my thoughts with you (yes, all three of you).

So, lets hope this works.

a picture from Hillside 2

2007-06-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

The view from Hillside 2 is absolutely beautiful, with the mountains and ocean in full view. So much better than last semester, when all I could see was a rock wall 2 inches from the window.

This photo was taken on a very hazy day. Apparently, its because of the dust rolling in from the Sahara half a world away.

I really should try to keep this blog up

2007-06-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it is kind of shameful that I don't keep my homestead in cyberspace updated.

So, I'll make it my semi-year's resolution to keep the blog updated at least once a week, even if its with a stupid sentence or two describing what I'm doing at the moment.

Heading back soon

2007-05-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

Like all breaks, this one ended far too soon.

For all of you non-med students, here's a glimpse of what I go back to, thanks to the students of the University of Maryland-

There's a whole collection on youtube, but I think this is my favorite though:

A photo from med school

2007-02-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

Just something I took the other day.

Just a tiny photo

2007-02-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

An uninvited visitor to my room last night:

A toast to sobriety!

2007-02-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

I realized something the other day. Among all my friends that I've known since freshman year of college, I think I'm the only one who remains a fastidious teetotaler-that is, I haven't taken a drink of alcohol, ever. EVER.

There were a lot of us back then in 2002. But slowly, I've seen them give way to alcohol, some of them developing serious drinking habit. As a friend to some now alcoholics, it makes me concerned and sad, but more than anything, it's just plain funny. The prodigals were far more militantly anti-alcohol than I ever was. They always justified to themselves that people can have fun without alcohol and how much of a moral vice it is. Unfortunately, for all their words, they lacked conviction and used it as a crutch to justify their fundamental fear of the bottle. Ultimately, as soon as they got their first drop, the depth of their arguments and the logic therein was exposed.

So I want to take a second to expose why I don't drink. It's rather simple-because I'm most drunk while sober. Seriously, everyone's asked me at least once "dude, how much did you have?!", especially at times like hey day or after a big block exam. The answer is always none, but they never seem quite convinced. My life is already a uninhibited party, even when it seems a little slow.

Update: As I was writing this blog entry, I got an e-mail from Steve, my neighbor from freshman year:

triniinhill (12:23:48 AM): so how's school
aazmaaish (12:24:03 AM): its all good
triniinhill (12:24:11 AM): hmmm
triniinhill (12:24:16 AM): suspicious
aazmaaish (12:24:31 AM): why?
triniinhill (12:24:48 AM): "its all good".....is not somehting you usually say
triniinhill (12:25:07 AM): i dont know...its just doesnt sound like you
triniinhill (12:25:14 AM): have you been drinking?

See, I'm not jokin here

Vidyaarthi Panch Lakshanam

2007-02-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

I've been busy studying lately, so my apologies for not updating the site more frequently. Anyways, here's a piece of mind from some guy on the internet.

In ancient India the qualities of a good student were recorded in Sanskrit:

Kakacheshta bakadhyanam, shwananidra tathaiva cha.
Alpahari, brahmachari, vidyaarthi panch lakshanam.

These are the five essential qualities that a student must possess:

Kakacheshta (kaka means crow) - You will find that a crow always remains alert and strives with full effort to do its task. You will never find it lazing around. Acquire this quality from a crow to fulfil one's assigned task ardently and enthusiastically.

Bakadhyanam (baka means crane) - While studying, focus entirely on your books. Similarly, while doing Anapana, do it with full concentration. In developing this quality of concentration, make a crane your inspiration. You may have noticed how a crane stands absolutely still on one leg without moving a single feather as if deep in meditation- with its mind fully concentrated on catching its prey. You should also learn how to meditate with concentration like that of a crane.

Shwananidra (shwana means a dog) - Sleep is essential for everyone. But to fall off into a deep slumber snoring loudly, oblivious of one's surroundings is not the right way of sleeping. The art of sleeping is mastered by a dog who, even though apparently fast asleep, will open his eyes and be wide-awake at the slightest sound. A student should also abandon laziness and unawareness and sleep with inner wakefulness like a dog. With the practice of Anapana and later Vipassana, you will attain the state of complete alertness even while being asleep. Like a dog, you will wake at the slightest movement.

Alpahari (one who eats less) - Eat according to your hunger. After having a satisfying meal, we tend to stuff ourselves with more food even though our stomach is full,. We pamper our tongues even on a full stomach. This will lead to lethargy and laziness. How can you hope to succeed when you will be wasting time sleeping, when you should be studying. A student should always remain alert and sleep only as much as is required; he should not get overpowered by sloth and torpor. For this, it is necessary to eat less.

Brahmachari (one who leads a life of celibacy) - A student who does not practise celibacy cannot afford to study. His or her mind will always remain absorbed in such harmful thoughts and thus will be unable to concentrate in studies. Therefore, as a student, one must observe celibacy. So work with this determination.

These are the five traits of an ideal student.

Cute kids

2007-01-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Why'd the chicken cross The Road

2007-01-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

I never thought about the joke seriously until I saw this earlier today.

...A Three Hour Tour, A Three Hour Tour...

2007-01-21T15:43:00.000-08:00

A view of The Bottom

Saba at Sunrise

Windwardside at sunset

Mist everywhere

Celebrations in Matthew Dorm after the first Lab Exam

ok, gotta run...exams on Tuesday

The last month

2007-01-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

Wow...the last month has been amazing.

Apart from some delightful personal surprises, it's been the first [and probably only] month where my blog has been updated regularly.

By pure happenstance, I was "discovered" thrice, first for my perspective on the word macaca, then for the surprisingly controversial entry on Amitabh Bachchan worship, and finally-and most noticeably-for my gaffe on Saddam hanging photos, which almost landed me on CNN.

From now on though, I'm aiming for a more low-key and personal blog, reflecting zeitgeist and less weighty opinions.

Get to know my cousins I

2007-01-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, I pushed this off but I wanted to start a series on my blog about my innumerable cousins and family members. I guess I only have time for one set of cousins today to give a sneak peak of my family, so here it is. I promise all of you that I will have most, if not all, of them up at some time in the indefinite future.

So here we are. Fifteen things the entire world should know about Sonu, Golu, and Prakhar.

1. All three absolutely love cricket, hockey, tennis, basketball, and virtually every other sport. I read their palms and sure enough, at least one of them will become a major athlete.

2. All three are humongous fans of Kabhi Khushie Kabhi Gham and have watched Dhoom 2 at least three times by now. A few years ago, they used to like Salman Khan, but now adore Hrithik Roshan.

3. One of their favorite indoor games is 'Atlas.' You know, the one where the last letter of the last place is the first letter of the next place. And they're really good-they almost won against even me.

4. Sonu wants to be at least six foot tall when he grows up. The way he eats, he may actually reach eight!

5. Golu wants to see the Statue of Liberty in New York because he can't believe its even taller than the date tree in Budhansi.

6. Prakhar is incredibly intelligent, especially with computers. He can answer virtually any question you have.

7. Playing cards with Prakhar, against Sonu and Golu, is an experience in and of itself. Just make sure that Sonu and Golu are never on the same team-you may very well hear very faint whispers of "play hearts" or "no, the other one" between the two.

8. They always come first in their classes. Always.

9. Sonu and Golu are eager to be carried from place to place and sit on laps, like the royalty they are.

10. They are very money savvy. Sonu did not forget in the least that I owed him eight rupees (16 cents).

11. Sonu and Golu drink more tea in one week than I do in a year! In fact, on our trip to Budhansi, they drank three cups of tea each.

12. If you've ever seen those cartoons where three guys are fighting with one another in a gigantic ball of smoke, that's like seeing a fight between the three of them.

13. All of them are extraordinarily disciplined. It's hard to believe the precision with which Golu parts his hair.

14. They really can't stand the smell of Flomop, the mosquito repellent we use. Whenever we put it on, they protest loudly.

15. Sonu just can't get enough of the American way we say "really?" and "no," as well as my uncanny psychic ability to predict heads or tails.

By the way, If you are in Bhopal on May 16th or September 14th, make sure to wish them [Prakhar, and Sonu and Golu, respectively] very, very, very happy birthdays.

!فارسي را مي آموزم

2007-01-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

ببخشيد- در اين ازمايش ِكوچك چندين خطاها هستند

خوش آمديد، دوستان!

متشكرم كه به بلگِ من آمديد. نامم آزمايش است و طالب دانشگاه ميدسين آمريكي ام. چونكه فرهنگ ايران را دوست دارم، فارسي درس مي كنم. خاهم كه بعد از مكمل درس فارسي آزمايش بكردم ولي چونكه امروزه مشغولم، اغلب نمي نويسم :-(

خوده حافظ

Saddam Hussein Lives...in Bihar

2007-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

Remember when I found those pictures earlier of macacas idolizing Saddam? well, here comes an article from Sify about hundreds of Saddams being born in Bihar.

Once more, I am utterly baffled by the Indian fascination with Saddam Hussein. It reminds me vaguely of the hysteria in early 20th Century South Asia concerning the overthrow of the Ottoman Sultan/Caliph, only much, much stupider.

One Saddam dies but Bihar has many!
Gaya (Patna): What’s in a name? Well! There is a lot in it especially if it is as big as Saddam Hussein.
Saddam Hussein bowls to Saddam Hussein and even those fielding are all Saddams in a Lucknow village in Bihar’s Gaya district.
The legacy of the Iraqi leader lives on in Gaya as the residents pay a silent tribute to the late Iraqi leader by naming their children after him.
Over 25 children are named Saddam Hussein in the village. And some 100 others in adjoining villages bear the same name too.
“We have named our children as Saddam because Saddam was a brave man. He was the protector of Muslims and was an honourable person. We have named our children as Saddam and will continue to do so,” says a local resident, Mohammad Abul Kalam.
“I am proud of myself and my villagers are also proud that there are many Saddams in this village. More Saddams will be born. No hero has been born as great as Saddam and will never be born,” says a local resident Saddam Hussein.
“America had attacked Iraqi in 1991 and I was born in the year 1992, “ says a child, Saddam Hussein.
“We have named about 15 to 20 of our children as Saddam in our Lucknow village and by the grace of Allah we will name more of our children after Saddam,’ says a local resident, Nazir Ahmad.
Even as the Sunni-dominated village mourns the execution of its hero, there is reaffirmation that the custom will continue.
“Sadddam has perished but many Saddams have already been reborn in every corner of the world and will be reborn again,” a local resident, Imtiyaaz Ahmad.
So the rebirths of so many Saddams may be cause for small worries to the world's sole superpower.

Honestly, I don't think Americans need to worry. A million [illiterate] Bihari Saddams aren't nearly as much trouble as that one Iraqi Saddam. It's India that should worry. Those million Saddams under the leadership of a Laloo (the dude in the pic) spells major trouble ahead.

The Mahabharata Sword

2007-01-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

I read a translation of this part of the Mahabharata a few months ago. It's part of the creation myth that details the creation of the sword by Brahman [God]. It is narrated by Bhishma Pitamaha to Nakula, and is much, much longer that what I've excerpted here. I chose this part to share because it gives the pith of the story and a hint to the aesthetic beauty of the entire epic.

It is heard that a creature sprang (from the sacrificial fire) scattering the flames around him, and whose splendour equalled that of the Moon himself when he rises in the firmament spangled with stars. His complexion was dark like that of the petals of the blue lotus. His teeth were keen. His stomach was lean. His stature was tall. He seemed to be irresistible and possessed of exceeding energy.

Upon the appearance of that being, the earth trembled. The Ocean became agitated with high billows and awful eddies. Meteors foreboding great disasters shot through the sky. The branches of trees began to fall down. All the points of the compass became unquiet. Inauspicious winds began to blow. All creatures began to quake with fear every moment.

Beholding that awful agitation of the universe and that Being sprung from the sacrificial fire, the Grandsire said these words unto the great Rishis, the gods, and the Gandharvas. This Being was thought of by me. Possessed of great energy, his name is Asi (sword or scimitar).

For the protection of the world and the destruction of the enemies of the gods, I have created him. That being then, abandoning the form he had first assumed, took the shape of a sword of great splendour, highly polished, sharp-edged, risen like the all-destructive Being at the end of the Yuga.

It really goes to show you how much the sword was respected by the warrior kings of the past. In fact, in this portion of the epic, there is less spoken about the creation of man himself than of the creation of the sword.

Mubarak Mahal in Jaipur

2007-01-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

Probably my favorite picture from Rajasthan

Baby Elephant in Jaipur

2007-01-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

Random picture I found on the computer. Again, more pics here.

Some Photos from India

2007-01-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

You can find more of my photos here

Jain temple, Ranakpur

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Sand dunes of Jaisalmer

Albert Hall, Jaipur

Vishnu temple in Chittaurgarh

REEEEEEEEEE-KO-LA!

2007-01-02T04:35:00.000-08:00

Remember this commercial? It was so forgettably plain but for some mysterious reason, hilarious at the same time.

A Macaca's New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

I hate it when people make new year's resolutions, because 90% of them are so stupid-losing weight, exercising? come on, we all know that it'll last two weeks. My philosophy is that, since we plan to have at least fifty years-worth of resolutions in our lifetime, we should make tiny resolutions each year that bring us closer and closer to perfection by the time we're eighty. And, lets face it, making a few big resolutions aren't going to work--resolving to break many tiny habits is more realistic.

Try to avoid killing insects. I should embrace ahimsa.
Be a tad bit more sensitive. 2006 taught me that not everyone has skin as thick as mine.
Wake up no later than 7 am, weekends and all. Waking up in the afternoon kinda spoils the day
Update the blog once in a while, even if there isn't much to update it with.
Say a quick prayer before going off to bed
Keep my desk clean.
Avoid saying 'like' as a filler word.
Actually wish people 'happy birthday' ahead of time.
Stop vandalizing wikipedia. Idiots actually believe it and use it for papers.
Hang clothes in the closet, not on chairs and the bed.

Any bets as to how many of these will actually last til March?

To reiterate...

2006-12-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

Putting stuff on fire and then beating the ashes with sticks. Neanderthals and these macacas do have something in common.

India and Saddam Hussein's Hanging Pictures

2006-12-31T16:33:00.000-08:00

Last November, I saw a Saddam mural on the side of a mosque in Syohara. I really thought that was an isolated expression of adoration by a bunch of nutsos, but judging from the reaction in India of his execution, I'm not so sure.

Here in Yahoo Pictures, there's at least four pictures that I instantly recognized were from India. And apparently, its not just Muslims who are pissed...Communists too are somehow outraged that this epitome of fascism has been put to death.

Aladdin's Cave of Wonders in Puri, Orissa.

Reminds me of Mary Poppins. Just you probably don't want to step in that time.

Amazing how communists are able to ruin a perfectly good effigy burning.

Putting stuff on fire and then beating the ashes with sticks. Neanderthals and these macacas do have something in common.

Baffling. Just plain baffling why some sectors of Indian society have such an affinity to such a vile and evil man. He did nothing for his own nation, let alone India, and yet they continue to lavish a man who committed such great crimes against humanity with such love.

Comrade Edwards sells his Red Square

2006-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

NEW ORLEANS-- Last week, Comrade Edwards sojourned to Novoyorleansk to uplift its beleaguered and oppressed workers, and rededicated himself to eradicate local and global poverty in its entirety. All committed Bolsheviks ought to applaud his actions to reclaim the two Americas as one in his proposed Four Year Plan.

Towards fulfilling the great ends of his Manifesto, Comrade Edwards has forsaken his Red Square in DC. Without any doubt, this most selfless of workers (and Son of a Mill Worker) plans to use the funds raised in this sale to directly aid the aggrieved poor and not simply squander it on self-aggrandizing bourgeois campaigns.

Hail to him! May all the rest of us workers undertake equally great sacrifices in the name of Social Justice!

Edwards sells D.C. house for $5.2 million

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Former Sen. John Edwards, who on Thursday announced he was running a second time for president, has sold his Georgetown house for $5.2 million.

Edwards, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2004, purchased the P Street property for $3.8 million in 2002 and extensively renovated it. After his two younger children finished the 2004-05 school year, the Edwards family returned to North Carolina, where Edwards built a new home on a 100-acre estate in Chapel Hill.

The Washington house had been on the market since spring 2005. As of last week, the advertised price for the six-bedroom property was $5.6 million.

Edwards on Thursday officially began his second campaign for president. After speaking in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, he continued a six-state tour with stops in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina — all early voting states — and his home state of North Carolina.

Let's play hangman!

2006-12-29T23:50:00.000-08:00

Some hints...

His last words were "Palestine is Arab" and/or ::menacingly:: "Muqtada" //varying accounts//

He refused to wear the black hood upon execution

He was the life of the party as Shiites chanted and danced around his corpse.

My apologies

2006-12-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

I learnt that AlShariqiya is actually passing off old photos as ones of Saddam prior to being hanged.

This photo, from TimesOnline.co.uk, came from when Saddam was taken to trial in 2004, and those pictures look suspiciously similar, down to the beard and guards' uniforms.

My apologies

Saddam Hussein Hanging Photos

2006-12-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

These are photos from al-Sharqiya of Saddam Hussein being unshackled and then carried to be hanged.

No other comment. I'm not sure what to think. More photos on the way...

[stupid CNN thinks these are too violent for some reason]

Trekkies ♥ John Edwards

2006-12-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

This was a picture on Yahoo News concerning SoMW's decision to run again. Their überdorky costumes somehow reminded me of Star Trek:

...and by the way, doesn't "Tomorrow Begins Today" sound incredibly orwellian?

In defense of Saddam...

2006-12-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

Ah, screw it...he's an evil man and justice should be delivered as soon as possible.

Not like I have anything groundbreaking to say, but I do have misgivings about hanging the despot. Perhaps it's because it gives him a sense of decency. After all, some of the greatest martyrs have been hanged, instead of just being ignominiously given a lethal injection. In fact, I think letting him rot in a jail cell on an island far far away for decades to come, a la Napoleon, would be the best option.

Lets hope that he will be remembered like Romania's Ceauşescu-a murderous dictator removed long after he should have been. But I have a sneaking suspicion that by hanging him, the cause of those Iraqi 'dead-enders' and 'thugs' will be boosted at precisely a time we need it to mellow. After all, in their eyes, the move seems to bolster the idea that the war was conducted to decapitate their government and head of state [no pun intended].

Flashback to Reagan's Funeral

2006-12-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Remember the monthlong dirge in 2004 when President Reagan died? I certainly do, because it was when I got my mail on the O'Reilly Factor.

To those who don't know, I didn't really like Reagan that much...its a long story but I consider him really hyped. So when I saw Bill O'Reilly eulogizing him and then comparing Bush to him, I decided to send a message.

This is what was sent:

This is what was on TV:

As O'Reilly would say, you be the judge!

...not that I'm complaining...I got my 15 seconds of fame :-)

Rest In Peace, President Ford

2006-12-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

He pulled a Homer Simpson to become President of the United States. He healed the nation after Watergate. He oversaw the complete withdrawal from Vietnam. Most of all, he refused to compromise with irresponsible New York City bureaucrats.* Rest in Peace, President Ford.

*later on, the government was forced to bail the city out.

Yet another old essay

2006-12-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

No point letting these essays rot away on my hard drive. As long as it provides inspiration to someone else, I think there's value to posting it on the blog. The topic here is pretty specific-Manusmriti and the slave narratives, so I doubt any ding dong's going to have the chance to hand this in and pretend it's his own.

Once more, a cliffs note: "Just as slaves are fettered to their masters in this material world, they are fettered to God in the spiritual. While one master is cruel, merciless and instills desperation, the other is compassionate, loving and brings hope. "
----------------

XII. 4. "If the shudra intentionally listens for committing to memory the veda, then his ears should be filled with (molten) lead and lac; if he utters the veda, then his tongue should be cut off; if he has mastered the veda his body should be cut to pieces."

VIII – 271. "If he mentions names and castes of the (twice born) with contumely, an iron nail, ten fingers, shall be thrust red hot into his mouth."

X – 129. "No collection of wealth must be made by a shudra even though he be able to do it; for a shudra who has acquired wealth gives pain to Brahmana [God]."

These are three laws of the Manusmriti, a text written thousands of years ago in ancient India. The author, Manu, composed these laws to justify the social order of his kingdom, which was highly stratified on the basis of caste. Throughout his canonical text, we see invective comments against the lowest castes, the shudras, and diktats to prevent their empowerment. Almost three thousand years after the compilation of such laws, we see the same spirit of Manu in the treatment of slaves in the Deep South by their white masters. Though race and caste are distinct concepts, the works of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs document similar barbarity in antebellum America as in Vedic Bhaarat.

In A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, we see this wanton cruelty straight from the start. In the first two chapters, Captain Anthony’s brutality is emphasized, especially towards Aunt Hester. Though Manu would condemn the concupiscent desire of Captain Anthony towards his slave, he would certainly justify his actions by noting that he, just like Brahmins of his day, are entitled to all. The behavior of Mr. Severe, Mr. Gore, and Colonel Lloyd are even more demonstrative. In Chapter 3, the incident involving the tar surrounding his fruit garden is strangely reminiscent of Manu’s XII-4 law concerning lead and the fruit of wisdom, the Vedas. The fact that it is unlawful for slaves to read, even the Bible, is absolutely in line with the Manusmriti; it is not inconceivable that Frederick Douglass’s mastery of literacy would warrant mutilation in Manu’s world. In addition, just like in the Manusmriti, slaves are meant to be silent, and though Lloyd’s punishments are not nearly as severe as Manu’s, are meant to promote a culture of silence, whereby acts of cruelty are not even acknowledged. In Chapter 3, we see the illustration of law VIII-271 when Colonel Lloyd dismisses the slave to a crueler master upon his utterance of his master’s name and description of his deeds. In addition, Mr. Gore’s cold murder of Demby is also dismissed in the same vein as the Manusmriti. There are countless examples of this throughout his book, and we see amply that the slaveowners have reason to implement such laws. After all, as soon as Douglass was able to acquire some pride, knowledge, and wealth, he was able to rebel against the establishment, and his work helped bring down their regime.

Harriet Jacobs presents a different narrative of slavery, emphasizing the sexual overtones and emotional abuse of bondage and submission. Despite this, once more, the spirit of Manu is seen. In Chapter 2 for example, William’s direct address of his mistress before his father violates the laws and mores of society, and he is duly whipped. The resentment Mr. Flint feels towards Linda’s lover, who happens to have some wealth due to his carpentry skills, also falls in line with the Manusmriti. In addition to this corporeal abuse, Jacobs emphasizes the emotional abuse and dehumanization through threat and intimidation. She seems to state that though the physical punishment is incredibly difficult to bear, the emotional tolls of slavery make it truly unbearable. Indeed, she states that the threat of violence placed against slaves drives the stability of Southern society. This is illustrated in the later chapters, when even after Dr. Flint’s death, she fears violence and separation from her children, even in Rochester. Though the Manusmriti does not have any prescriptions for inflicting emotional harm, almost all commentators note that the worth of the Manusmriti lies in the prospect of implementation, and not in the execution, of punishments.

Of course, the greatest irony is that religious treatises, which are meant to promote humanity, nobility, and compassion, are being used to justify the most the vile acts. Manu claims to be divinely inspired; he claims to be the Vedic equivalent of the Biblical Adam. Rulers of India, from his time to the British, used and abused his laws in reaching their nefarious ends. Half a world away and a few millennia thereafter, we see how white slaveowners use the wealth of their religious scripture to cover their moral penury. In Chapter 10 of Douglass, he openly states how many men in the community profess religion to justify cruelty. He notes how Reverend Hopkins and Reverend Weeden, neighbors of the kind and pious Mr. Freeland, are the cruelest and most cowardly of all the slaveowners, engaging in preventative punishments and thoroughly enjoying sadistic acts against female slaves. Harriet Jacobs couches her criticism in the historical events of the Nat Turner Revolt. After the rebellion, she notes how her masters emphasize mercy and compassion, but seldom live by such words. Reverend Pike, “a wounded Samaritan”, quotes Ephesians 6:5, in saying “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5). He continues, condemning them based on convenient prejudices and stereotypes.

In many ways, it is natural that religion enters into the discourse of slave narratives. Just as slaves are fettered to their masters in this material world, they are fettered to God in the spiritual. While one master is cruel, merciless and instills desperation, the other is compassionate, loving and brings hope. Slaves and other oppressed souls live in the contradiction between these loyalties, and these inner conflicts are manifested in their accounts. On the other side, Slaveowners and other oppressors are also bound to this common master, but are corrupted by the material world; they ignore the religious exhortations of egalitarianism and equanimity. In the name of profit and social status, they abuse God and the word of God as much their slaves. As Jacobs and Douglass, as well as Manu, demonstrate, it seems to be a universal characteristic of any society defined by social stratification, regardless of race, sex, and time period.

comments are always welcome.

Memories of the Orange Revolution

2006-12-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

I was looking through my old files and found this essay for a CSIS Fellowship, back in the days when I was a gung-ho Political Science major. The topic was on global leadership and I wrote about Viktor Yushchenko, strongman of the Ukraine.

If its too long, lemme give you the cliff notes: "He played Russian Roulette against Kuchma, Kiev, and the Kremlin, and was able to win without even once wincing. He survived three bullets and a poisoning while the world seemed to turn its back on democracy. It is a tragedy what has happened to him physically, but his story is that of gritty determination and resolve, and for that, he holds my highest esteem."

-----

In front of the capital on a chilly November night, a man with an ungainly face stood atop a pedestal, swarmed by thousands of his supporters. He rallied ‘Nyet, nyet, nyet’ to the policies of his government and to what he and the world saw as an illegal grab of power. This could have easily been 1991 in Moscow, when Boris Yeltsin, in defense of his country and his Western liberal ideals, struck the fatal blow to the Soviet Union. But it was not. It was Kiev in November 2004, and that leader was Victor Yushchenko. Granted, he did not vanquish a superpower like Boris Yeltsin, but he led a revolution that captivated the hearts of democrats around the world. And what enthralled the world most of all was that, unlike Boris Yeltsin and the 1991 fall of the USSR, it was the singular vision and drive of Victor Yushchenko that led to such a massive change.

The fall of the Soviet Union over a decade ago by no means heralded the expansion of democracy throughout Eurasia. On the contrary, cosmetic differences and nationalism were played up, while democratization held a lower priority. In the absence of a true democratic revolution, the people of the region suffered, and, though it was tattooed on billboards throughout the new states, true freedom still remained as distant as Washington and London. Since the 90s, there have been concerted indigenous efforts to overthrow these political kingpins, but among the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, only Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and the Ukraine can be even remotely called successes. It turns out that the only common factor is the quality of the opposition’s leadership. These leaders had the courage to implement their vision through dedication and drive. It’s important to note also that along with these encouraging successes, many others have fallen, and have paid with their lives.

Victor Yushchenko wasn’t always the firebrand that the press often paints him to be. On the contrary, he was once a pliant accountant from Ternopil’. Shortly after the Ukraine proclaimed its independence in 1993, he led the initiative to change the ruble to the grivnia, and in 1997, became head of the national bank. Through his good work, he became a hero to reformers and, in 1999, became the Prime Minister. However, by 2001, oligarchs of the coal industry felt threatened by his popularity, and the largely Communist parliament had him ignominiously removed.

With millions of dollars in his account and a nice consulting job for an international banking company, he could have very well retired from politics altogether. Were he any less of a leader, he would have faded into the background, typical of what happens to leaders of the opposition in the more democratic former Soviet Republics. But he did not waiver, and instead founded his own political party, Nasha Ukraina, Our Ukraine. Dedicated to the eradication of corruption by the oligarchs, it won a plurality in the Ukrainian parliament, and, as its leader, he became the shadow president of the nation. His straightforward and homespun style of speaking made him popular in Western and Central Ukraine, but also made him a visible target for assassination attempts. According to many credible news reports, there were at least three incidents in 2003 alone. In addition, his offices were burgled many times and he was constantly hassled by the revenue service. In the summer of 2004, during his campaign, he was poisoned, most likely by the SBU, the Ukrainian equivalent of the KGB. This drastically reduced his life expectancy and transformed his face into a blotchy and blue-grey mélange. It was believed he would drop out, but his beleaguered complexion belied an indomitable passion for reform. However dramatic, beyond the Ukraine, his struggle fell on deaf years as virtually everyone was focused on the elections in the United States.

November 21^st was when the big news was expected to break-that the people put forth a mandate against Yanukovych. Instead, bigger and more surprising news broke that Prime Minister Yanukovych had barely won and Yushchenko demanded a revote. Buoyed by exit polls, Yushchenko firmly believed the election was stolen, and he vowed to fight tooth and nail for his values. In any of the former Soviet republics, such an audacious claim would have been received by a bullet in the head, but Yushchenko pressed forward. After some 86 days of legal wrangling and heavy civil disobedience, another vote took place, and he was vindicated. The next day, Victor Yanukovych handed his letter of resignation to President Kuchma, and Ukraine’s orange revolution had mellowed.

Already, the recently inaugurated Yushchenko has significantly changed the politics of the world. He has brought a new mood of optimism to the former Soviet states that was lacking before. In Uzbekistan, the electorate dared to ask why they weren’t living in a true democracy, and over 15% of people registered a blank vote. Anecdotal reports say that they yelled Yushchenko to President Karimov, much to his ire. Unfortunately, no Yushchenko exists in Uzbekistan, but his story brings hope to reformers. Geopolitically, in Europe, it has ensured that the West has a friendly partner in Eastern Europe, and has stopped, at least temporarily, the Kremlin’s nefarious plans to reassert itself in the ‘Near Abroad.’

The average guy on the street may not feel that he can ever be a leader on the scale of Victor Yushchenko. He probably doesn’t even know Yushchenko, or for that fact, the Ukraine, but Yushchenko has proved that leadership is accessible even to him, so long has he puts genuine effort and thinks critically. After all, Yushchenko was once only a humble accountant in Ternopil’. We also see how far a good mind can take us. Victor Yushchenko is a representation that sound intelligence, whether economic, political, or just intuitive, in making a difference. Personally however, I find his chutzpah to be his most important quality. He played Russian Roulette against Kuchma, Kiev, and the Kremlin, and was able to win without even once wincing. He survived three bullets and a poisoning while the world seemed to turn its back on democracy. It is a tragedy what has happened to him physically, but his story is that of gritty determination and resolve, and for that, he holds my highest esteem.

Comments are welcome, especially from visitors who may be from the Ukraine.

Another entry on Yushchenko

2006-12-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

Unlike the previous essay, this one was written as I eased myself back into Biology from Political Science. Therefore, it has a synergistic theme and technical feel to it, comparing bacterial transformation with political revolution in the Ukraine. Its tedious and way out there, but it got the job done.

Once more, if its far too long to read, here's the pith: "If indeed the Orange Revolution spurs its community of nations to transform, perhaps we’ll view the recent events of the

Ukraine

not as just pangs of political revolution, but rather as the commencement of a larger phyletic transformation."

---

When we think of the Orange Revolution, we see images of a disfigured Yushchenko in Independence Square, of thousands of orange-clad Ukrainians angrily chanting TAK! TAK! TAK!, and maybe even of Yanukovych popping an aspirin and conceding the election. One thing we most definitely do not envision is a Petri dish containing colonies of yeast undergoing genetic transformation. Although this may seem like the furthest thing from the Orange Revolution, perhaps this should come to mind, since conceptually, there isn’t much difference between this and the Orange Revolution. To those of you who may not know, genetic transformation is the process by which a cell absorbs DNA from its surroundings and spontaneously incorporates it into its genetic machinery. In this process, the cell’s genome is analogous to the Ukraine’s political regime, and its transformation by foreign pieces of DNA parallels the transformation in the Ukraine by Western liberalism. In addition, the dynamics of both processes are governed by the same three factors: permeability, expressivity, and integrity. By comparing one to another, we can gain a wealth of information about the dynamics of the Orange Revolution and what it means for the United States.

Both the Orange Revolution and genetic transformation are initiated by an increase in permeability. In the cell, genetic transformation begins with a heat shock, which softens the cell’s membranes so DNA can enter. Similarly, the Orange Revolution commenced when the political, economic, and social boundaries of the Ukraine were relaxed in the late 90s, as international bodies convinced the Kuchma administration to lower barriers to foreign trade, travel and investment. Since that time, a steady stream of liberal international actors, such as news networks, multinational corporations, and non-profit organizations, have entered the country. They have diffused new goods, services and ideas, and have liberalized society by eroding society’s wholesale dependence on the government. In addition, they introduced liberal counterparts to entrenched conservative interest groups like the labor unions. But this increase in permeability has raised many problems as well. By opening any system to its environment, equilibrium becomes much harder to maintain. In cells, when the membranes become more porous, it becomes harder for the cell to maintain homeostasis for regular activities. The Ukrainian political system is no different, and precautions must be taken such that the Orange Revolution does not similarly undermine the integrity and cohesion of the Ukrainian state. It’s not impossible to envision a few years from now that, if equilibrium cannot be reached, the state may pursue illiberal reforms to lessen the influx of destabilizing elements, retarding the revolution, or may abandon democracy altogether in a Thermidorian reaction. Though US involvement within the Ukraine’s borders ought to be limited, the US can aid the Ukraine from abroad, through actions such as pursuing foreign transnational criminals who are taking advantage of the current disequilibrium in the Ukraine.

The second characteristic inherent to the success of both processes is expressivity. In genetic transformation, unless the cell can read the newly incorporated codes of DNA and express them, it’s as if nothing happened at all. It is a similar idea in the Ukraine, where, unless democracy is fully exercised by the citizenry, the revolution remains superficial. Unfortunately, this is precisely what’s happening. People are still unaccustomed to dealing with their government, especially at the level of the local radas. This enables reactionary groups, such as the labor unions, to control the local organs of government, such as electoral and school boards, and stifle genuine change. Perhaps more importantly, this denies sustainability to democracy as new civic leadership cannot be fostered. Though the Yushchenko government has tried to reduce corruption, it is unlikely that they can succeed in isolation, since even the top national leadership of Nasha Ukrayina is suspect. Thus, the US and other liberal actors should engage themselves directly in promoting local democracy at the local levels. Non-governmental organizations such as the Carter Foundation and the Open Society Foundation will be crucial, as they have been in other countries. In addition, conditional aid to the Ukraine for implementing anti-corruption programs should be offered, in lieu of offering military credits as foreign aid, as in the status quo. Finally, multinational organizations such as OSCE, the Council of Europe, and GUUAM should be engaged and offer their services, as they are doing currently for Serbia and Bosnia.

The final hurdle to genetic transformation is the preservation of the genome’s integrity. Many times, even with successful integration and expression, the genome is so destabilized by the entry of new DNA that the entire genome is rendered useless, leading to the cell’s disintegration. With reference to the Orange Revolution, it means that liberal reforms must be paced so as to not destabilize the entire state and society. This puts the administration in a precarious balance between fulfilling liberal promises for its base, and upholding the status quo for reactionaries and conservatives. So far, it looks like Yushchenko has been successful in doing both, but Ukraine’s ideological, economic, and geographical fragmentation remains a big problem. Yushchenko must also ensure that the Ukraine maintains its integrity in foreign affairs. Liberals in Yushchenko’s government are actively pushing for integration into the West, but Yushchenko cannot fulfill these desires at the expense of its ties to Russia, the Ukraine’s largest trading partner and energy source. The establishment of the Putin-Yushchenko Commission is a step in the right direction, but is not nearly enough. As thorny issues like integration into NATO arise, the Ukraine will have to negotiate carefully to prevent becoming a flashpoint. Unfortunately, very few prescriptions can be given currently since there are so many unknowns. Overall, the United States should try to maintain a presence in the region that stabilizes a strong liberal Ukrainian state. The clearest of these prescriptions is to reduce CIA interference, which, as evidenced by the recent disclosure of secret detention centers in the country, is still quite pervasive.

The most tantalizing similarity between the two may be in their inductive effects. Just like how the cell can induce genetic transformation in its neighbors, we may be seeing the Orange Revolution inducing political changes in Eastern Europe and the CIS. Though in its incipient stages, we are witnessing creeping political change in neighboring Moldova and Belarus. Therefore, the stakes for all liberals and democrats, including the United States has been raised greatly in the Ukraine. If indeed the Orange Revolution spurs its community of nations to transform, perhaps we’ll view the recent events of the Ukraine not as just pangs of political revolution, but rather as the commencement of a larger phyletic transformation.

Comments are appreciated, especially from any visitors who may come from Ukraine.

Ten things Jews should know about Hindus

2006-12-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

Talking heads on TV have the tendency to divide things into neat and clean categories. One of the categories recently invented by the Bill O'Reillys of the world is the idea of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Without doubt, it does exist, but by claiming distinction vis-a-vis the Eastern faiths, it creates a skewed paradigm to view religion as a whole. Hindus and Jews have much in common, even if they aren't elaborated by pundits [no pun intended]. Here are ten similarities between our two faiths-

1. Hindus believe in the existence of one God, Brahman.
2. There is no hell in Hinduism. Heaven [moksha] is achieved after lifetimes of atoning for one's bad deeds.
3. Sarasvati and Brahma are progenitors of the Hindus (akin to Sarah and Abraham)
4. God is associated in the Vedas with a burning fire that does not consume itself.
5. Hindus relied on a hereditary priestly class in antiquity.
6. Dvijaan ceremony among traditional teenage Hindus marks the passage into adulthood.
7. The oldest continually inhabited conurbations in the world are the holy cities of Varanasi and Jerusalem.
8. Covering one's head by a turban is a Hindu token of humility before Heaven
9. The truest name of God is so powerful that it can never be uttered by man [from the RigVeda].
10. The language of our religious texts uses multiple voices to describe the creation of the world by one God.

Of course, this greatly simplifies the tenets of our religions. Hinduism and Judaism have distinct conceptions of God that are, in many, many other ways, completely irreconcilable.

45 points for the MCAT

2006-12-25T21:17:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me to compile this after my results came out. So, months delayed, here are 45 MCAT tips that I'd take if I were you.

1. Keep disciplined. Its better to study 4 hours/day than 8 hours/2 days
2. Study shrewdly, not crudely. Memorization of details counts.
3. Never, ever leave a practice question unanswered
4. Learn to draw physics diagrams quickly with shorthand
5. Take 30 minutes to read-and digest-the newspaper each day
6. Don't expect basic information to be given in the essays. That you have to know beforehand.
7. Learn fundamental philosophy-relativism, empiricism, etc. It comes in handy on Verbal.
8. Avoid being frustrated at lower than expected scores on practice exams. They will rise with time.
9. Juxtapose: nine letters that make an R out of any essay
10. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with descriptive chemistry.
11. Never look at the answers before finishing a question. It colors your judgment.
12. Take a peak at the questions before reading a science essay, so you can focus fully.
13. If the same answer appears twice in two successive questions, chances are its answer to none.
14. Memorize all the effects of hormones.
15. NMR-know all the trends
16. Study hypothetically-ie. what if hormone xxx is oversecreted?
17. Fungi questions rarely come in passages, so learn the material for a free-response.
18. Review books shouldn't be thought of as a syllabus for the MCAT
19. Currents and flow of electrons run counterintuitively
20. Know genetics cold.
21. Aldol condensations are tricky.
22. Draw simplified flow charts of the endocrine system as a way to remember it
23. Digestive enzymes provide simple points. Knowing the origin and purpose helps.
24. Don't study vitamins and minerals. A few older books had them, and they're no longer in the topics list.
25. Evolution and genetics go hand in hand. Questions in evolution usually have a genetic bend.
26. Don't forget to study for the essay part-it actually does count.
27. Memorize the female reproductive cycle. It'll save time if you there's a passage on it-you can go straight to the questions.
28. Markovnikov was an ass of a man, but his rules are still important.
29. Practice your knowledge by using it in mundane situations. Ie. why do you feel sleepy after a heavy meal?
30. The MCAT doesn't have trick questions. They phrase questions clearly so that there's no later appeals. So pick the clearest phrased answer.
31. Lose weight. It can't hurt.
32. Eliminate answers that have peripheral information. Testmakers make deliberate questions
33. Avoid exam anxiety. If a question isn't falling your way, let it be and move on. There's nothing you can do.
34. The MCATs tend to have physics questions that combine dynamics, kinematics, and electrostatics. Find similar practice questions.
35. Don't forget to review what you know already. You may have missed something.
36. Write an introduction and conclusion first. Graders are more likely to read them than the body.
37. Sleep after studying. Studies confirm that REM sleep is necessary for memory processing
38. Use process of elimination, but you already knew that.
39. When in complete doubt, the answer's C. A and D are least likely to be correct.
40. Don't compare answers during break. It just makes you nervous and you can't go back.
41. Sleep well for the week before the exam
42. Write an introduction and conclusion first. Graders are more likely to read them than the body.
43. Eat a light but nutritious breakfast. Meat may make you logy during the exam
44. Take every break as an opportunity to use the restroom. Last thing you want is to be uncomfortable during the exam.
45. Remain motivated. After all, you want to become a doctor at any cost!

Good luck.

This is a work in progress--if you took the MCATs and have any tips, just write it in the comments. I'll substitute them for some of the vaguer ones.

Big B should not be worshipped.

2006-12-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

I originally wrote this as a reply to Mr. Bhushan's entry Why Big B should be Worshipped? This is a slightly edited version of that reply.

First of all, I make no bones that Amitabh Bachchan is worthy of praise, and that he deserves those awards by men across the globe. He is a delight on the screen and one of India's greatest stars, but I must reaffirm my conviction that he is only a man and not a God.

The Hindi aphorism "Maano to Ishwar aur naa maano to pathar" indeed reflects a Vedic philosophy but a literal interpretation yields a colored conclusion. Rather than saying that stones may be Gods and Gods may be stones, they advocate that any form of worship-even worship of stones-is laudable if it helps in the improvement of man.

From my standpoint, it is very hard to believe that these guys in the video who were worshiping Bachchan were using his icon to improve themselves or their communities. All I could see was a bunch of fans who took their praise of him to a different level. And the only charity I could see is the allotment of funds to furnish a museum in his honor, hardly a humanitarian pursuit.

That is why, in my opinion, they crossed the thin line into idolatry. And, as a Hindu, I take this equivalence between Amitabh Bachchan, made of flesh and blood, and God, divine and omnipotent, as representative of a disease that has struck our society.

I fully respect their right to worship the Big B, but how can I possibly believe that this is a positive development in the growth of our society? In my own native land, men are worshiping each other as Gods.

I sincerely regret that you are so deeply offended by this innocuous entry in a little known blog-enough to call it a fatwa, but I reaffirm my belief--Amitabh Bachchan should be honored, but not worshipped.

Post-Script: blogging is a low priority for me, so even though I promise to read your response [if you write one, that is], I probably won't be casting another reply in turn. Please do not take it negatively, and best of wishes to you.

Dissenting opinion

2006-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

This post, originally at bigbhushan.blogspot.com, was written by Mr. Santosh Bhushan as a response to my entry concerning Bachchan-worship. I disagree with his views, but felt it was important to give a dissenting view. Please take time to visit his blog.

Why Big B should be worshipped ? Who are you to stop them..

This article is in response to the "Blog: Why Big B should not be worshipped."

I too love my religion and and its vedic philosophy and it says "Mano to Ishwar aur naa mano to pathar". If you have faith you can see GOD in stones or else it is mere a stone. The only point i want to make here is that we should not question those devotees who have seen GOD in others. There are many such instances when people get influnced so much that he/she see GOD in others. Vivekanand had seen GOD in his in guru Ram Krishna. Rabindra Nath Tagore described Gandhi as Mahatma (Supereme Soul). It is our rich culture that we worship from banyan tree to human being to snakes to stones. We Indians sees everything as the inherent part of GOD and we worship for people who has done something extraordinary for our country. We praise Sachin Tendulkar for what he has showed with the bat in the game of cricket. We praise Amitabh Bachchan for what he has done in the field of acting. If certain section of the society has built temples in the name of these celebreties and are doing charity works, then tt should be appreciated and not seen as otherwise. Sadly we have very few living legend around who have made us proud in the whole world and Amitabh Bachchan is one of them. I have been to few of the places where people recognizes indians as the place of Amitabh Bachchan and they do not know anyone else. Aren't
we so selfish that we forget all the good deeds done by these people.If i would
start writing what Mr Bachchan has done for the betterment of the humankind and for the goodwill of our country, a book will not be enough, but i can mention the references. It would be better to go and ask those people who became aware of polio drops only after watching him on posters and tv screen. It would be better if you go and ask UNO why they have selected this icon to be its goodwill ambasador. It would be better if you go and ask French Govt why they have awarded him the highest civilian award to Mr Bachchan. It would be better if you go and ask UK university and Delhi university why they have awarded him the honour. It would be better if you go and ask why universities have accpeted Mr Bachchan as a subject and awarded PHD to those people who have studied them. It would be better if you go and ask BBC why Mr Bachchan has been awarded as the Superstar of the Melliieum. If you are not satisfied with these answers i would request you to visit few of the temples in his name and ask those people who are putting their hard earned money,building temples in his names and worshiping him, but please do not issue fatwa against those innocent guys who are doing charity work in the name of our icon, it is for sure not in our culture.

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my response

The Indian Institution of the Remake

2006-12-23T20:25:00.000-08:00

I threw popcorn at the screen when I watched the new Don. And I'll probably chuck some sholay at the screen if I watch the new Sholay. As you've probably guessed, this macaca hates remakes with a passion, but I have to confess, it is impossible to avoid them.

Every single Hindi movie that I can think of has precedence, either in Hindi cinema or American. My dearest Sholay is after all nothing but a spaghetti western with a side of chutney!...and there's nothing fundamentally wrong with that!

But more importantly, its part of our Indian tradition to remix things up. It comes from the beginning of our literature. After all, Mahabharata and Ramayana are self-described re-visions of the Vedas--not strict copies but nevertheless instructions of the same virtues to the common man. Though it remains debatable how much these epics resemble the Vedas, the fact remains that they were fully intended to be remakes. In fact, Ramayana and Mahabharata themselves were remade tons of times thereafter, imbuing social messages relevant to the era. Tulsidas's Rama Charit Manas, where the Hanuman Chalisa arises from, is a case in point.

Anthropologically, its also claimed that the "original" Ramayana and Mahabharata are remakes of earlier versions of the stories. According to them, Lord Rama was a folk hero for centuries before, perhaps even related to the Greek King Odysseus, and Mahabharata is a suffusion of earlier tales heaped onto the shorter epic Jaya. Without arguing the validity of such research, the self-evident conflation of these stories into epics is testament to the power of the Indian remake.

Even in the muslim tradition, strict as it is, stories kept on being refashioned to suit the public's taste. Sheesh, the son of Adam, became an Indian king, buried in Ayodhya. Adam himself was supposedly banished from the Sri Lankan Garden of Eden. Though there is little theological evidence to support that [Hazrats] Sheesh and Adam were born on the subcontinent, this ostensibly heretical reinterpretation of Abrahamic tradition remains incredibly popular in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

I could go on and on with dry academic examples from antiquity, but the point remains--remakes in all their avatars are an original Indian thing. They help to keep our culture fresh and connect us to our history. Because of this, we can't rail against remakes in totality, but only against the quality of the given films. If composed correctly and sensitized to cultural realities, a remade film has the potential to surpass the original. But that's where Don, and Umrao Jaan, and probably the new Sholay will fail. Ironically, they violate the Indian tradition of remakes, and that is why, regardless of box office receipts, they are inherently doomed to ridicule and notoreity.

*sholay=hot, glowing embers.

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Thanks for visiting!

2006-12-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

I just learnt that I've been linked by IndiaFM about Amitabh Bachchan worship. The story is below, along with a video. Feel free to comment, but please make an effort to be incisive and not invective.

Also, a few visitors noticed that I use the word Macaca quite a lot. I am an Indian-a Macaca-and don't find the term to be offensive. I wouldn't like to be called so by a person out of malice, but co-opting the term eases whatever injury there may be.

Thanks again for visiting! I hope you come back soon.

The Real India

2006-12-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

I couldn't tell how fast the jeep was going because there wasn't an speedometer. No fuel gauge either. Or, for that fact, an indicator switch. It was just a moving hunk-o-metal with a steering wheel, gear box, and a horn that played La Cucharacha. And oh yes, 24 people crammed inside.

It started because I, in typical form, became impatient waiting for the bus to Syohara to arrive. Looking across the street, I decided to give the "express jeep service" a chance. Never denying a person a ride, the driver crammed me right in the front of gearbox. In the front row itself there were seven men and two kids, one of whom was resting on my lap. And that even doesn't count the driver, who was hanging on the side where the door was supposed to be, steering like a madman with a lead foot.

Skidding and jumping, the car was going about 40 mph, but everything seemed to freeze in my poor petrified eyes. All I could hear was La Cucharacha from the horn and the driver swearing at motorcyclists in the Bijnori accent "GADHE KE AULAD! KYA SAMAJHRIYO! SARAK KE MALIK HORIYE!?" [son of an ass, you think you're the damn boss of the road!"]. My desi face fell completely pale as he dodged incoming Tata trucks overfilled with sugarcane.

An hour later, the 24 of us arrived at Syohara. With legs wobbling, I gave him 20 rupees (40 cents) for the daredevil exploits that got me there. Awful as it was, I probably would have still been waiting for the bus in Dhampur at that point.

...so then I got my business done there [I had to get a train ticket to Aligarh], and-you guessed it-took the same express service back.

It may sound crazy but that's the way things are in India. This is the common man's commute. Far removed from the memories of international students at Wharton and of Taj-crazy tourists, that is the India that I longed to see last November. That, my friends, is the India that I love.

[Note: the pic is not of that jeep, its just to give an idea of what a roads in India are like]

It's morning in America again

2006-12-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

I miss Penn...but damn it if they ask me to give $$ again!

EDWARDS '08: "HYPE IS ON THE WAY!"

2006-12-16T22:37:00.000-08:00

Two thumbs up for two Americas!

Believe it or not, some time ago, I was a proud and loyal Democrat. But the events of 2004 so soured me to the party, and politics in general, that now I'm more an independent, and, quite frankly, if not for George Bush's incompetence, would be a Republican. What started this rather substantial transformation was the 2004 selection of SoMW [son of a mill worker] as the much-hyped Vice Presidential candidate. I remember writing the following that summer.

::old sitcom flashback harp music plays::
...In short, I always felt that the Republican Party was a group of extremists who, using their own words, were ‘out of touch with this nation,’ while the Democratic Party, the party of Clinton, was more in tune with the pulse of the nation. But yesterday, when I heard John Edwards’ history-making convention speech, those established views were annihilated. I’d never been a great fan of John Edwards-there’s a certain sliminess I sense in his character that I simply don’t feel in other big shots. Maybe it’s that footage of him as a trial lawyer claiming to channel the voices of a dead girl in court that turns me off. But I digress…

It was essentially an ordinary campaign speech with a little more red meat and spice; the same characteristic words trickled out of his mouth to make the crowd scream. But instead of joining the crowd this time and climaxing when he said, “hope is on the way,” I grew more and more concerned.

As usual, he spoke at length again about two Americas-a speech ingrained into the minds and hearts of Edwards supporters. As usual, the crowd grew loud and wild, with some women crying in the hall. Ten minutes of comparisons between rich and poor ensued, ending with his refrain of bridging the gap through government. The crowd was enthralled by his two-Americas, one rich and another poor, rhetoric, but it didn’t take a genius to see from where he took these words. For one thing, those gigantic bright red Edwards signs waving below were clear giveaways.

In the midst of our ‘War on Terrorism,’ it seems that we’ve forgotten our long struggle against Soviet Russia and Maoist China during the 20^th Century. Liberals and conservatives can both agree that we fought valiantly for values such as self-reliance, independence, and freedom from meddlesome others. It was always the Soviets who believed that there were two Americas; we always maintained that there were millions of Americas, because we were individuals with fundamental rights to our beliefs. We did not believe that we could be classified into any megalithic economic class, whether proletariat or bourgeoisie-unlike those hiding behind the Iron Curtain. In the twenty-first century, the memory of this struggle has grown dimmer in lieu of the terrorist threat, and now we see that this venomous ideology has infected our own political system.

I don’t mind when honest folks like Jimmy Carter talk about the economic justice, because they speak from the heart, and have other issues to back them up. But what of John Edwards? He rose from the depths of political obscurity solely on a platform of uniting (read destroying) the two Americas to form one. He exploited the economic jealousy of the masses to achieve his fame-bypassing local politics to get on a Senate ticket-and yet, after all this fiery rhetoric, did little to give anything back. Legislatively, he’s been a dud-a so-called liberal who supported and still supports the Patriot Act, an offense against all Americas. Additionally, his half a million dollar investment in a consulting company that encourages outsourcing to its clients shows you the depth of his commitment to restoring jobs here at home.

John Edwards, though proudly appealing for votes through nationalism, is a true believer of Communism-whether he realizes it or not. In almost every speech, its undeniable that he affirms the existence of the proletariat and bourgeoisie, the haves and the have-nots, the two Americas, and puts a plan to clash these two worlds to one. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, because I, and many others, believe that even Marxism has some truth to it, but to act saintly as a leader of the people while actually representing the big interests such as the trial lawyer lobby, and then accuse others for doing the same crosses the line of palatability. It’s something so low that it may be the last straw and may force me join the other party.

Come out of the closet, Kremlin John. You have nothing to lose but your chains!

::generic sitcom flashback music ends, screen goes all wavy and returns back to 2006::

I will admit, the last part was a bit too much. And, quite frankly, I don't want Kremlin John to come out of the ideological closet. I'd rather have one of the two Americas to get a giant padlock and shut him in there til the end of time. The yutz is on the way!

Pizza Hut: the Great Indian Treat!

2006-12-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

No commentary needed [click to view full version]

haha, okay, maybe a bit of commentary is warranted. I kind of shy from making any judgments however because this is neither an indictment of globalization in the subcontinent nor a monument to it. Rather, it reflects the enormous capacity for India to absorb foreign influences. To me, its reminiscent of other "foreign" inventions that have become synonymous with India-cricket, dowry, and qawwalis, to name a few.

Amitabh Bachchan Worship

2006-12-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

I love my religion and its Vedic philosophy, but quite frankly, I am on occasion ashamed to be a Hindu. The way how many of my fellow Hindus practice our faith makes me thoroughly sick to my stomach. Below is a video of people making a murti, an icon, of Amitabh Bachchan and subsequently worshipping it. Nothing in our religion, vast and liberal as it is, could sanction such a practice.

To those who do not know, Hinduism is a fundamentally monotheistic religion. But unlike the Abrahamic faiths, it encourages its adherents to understand God in their own personable manner. Thus, a million practices and deities have appeared; most, like that which occurs in the mouse temple are not sanctioned by any Veda. Even then, in a loose sense, it has roots in the Vedic religion, which preaches that every living creature has a value to it, even lowly mice. Mind you, I didn't feel closer to God with mice scurrying about, but if it makes better men out of the citizens of Deshnoke, then more power to them. At worst, there is some merit to feeding and providing shelter to another living creature. Compare this to the worship of Amitabh Bachchan. Offering prashad to a clay murti of an actor, even a man as great as him, will do no person any good. It doesn't make the world more charitable or more pious and doesn't even make devotees better actors. Instead, at best, this practice takes food from the mouth of the poor and leads men away from making a meaningful difference in their community.

Don't get the wrong idea-Amitabh Bachchan is my favorite Bollywood actor. There's no finer way of passing a lazy Saturday afternoon than watching one of his films, especially Sholay. But this isn't about him or his status. It's about the disease that's crept into our faith and the complacency that Hindus have towards eradicating these ills in our society.

In short, if these macacas are serious about worshipping Amitabh Bachchan, they are mentally ill; if they aren't, then they make a mockery of our ancient Aryan faith.

[PS: Worship of film stars and mice is not at all common in India. I use this, however, as an example of the idiocy that pervades Indian society.]

Reply by Simply Bhushan, and my response

also, Ten things Jews should know about Hindus and The Remake: a bona fide Indian tradition!

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Too little, too late for Kashmir

2006-12-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

Jammu and Kashmir are back in headlines this week because of Pakistan's startling non-admission that it has no legal claim on the state. Indian, American, and Chinese ears perked in response, and plaudits were laid at Musharaf's liberal-mindedness. In reality though, its just a testament to General/President Musharaf ostensible gain in political capital. After all, his officials said such an audaciously true statement. He doesn't need to suck up to extremists or hear from the 98% of the populous that voted for him. Instead, he can focus his efforts on wooing innocent and gullible Macacas across the border, and pacifying his American maalik.

To tell you how much of a non-issue this is, Pakistan doesn't even recognize the bulk of its occupied territory as part of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, in defiance of UN resolutions, it divided its Jammu and Kashmir into three: "Azad" Kashmir, Northern Areas, and the Trans-Karakorum Tract. All are, nominally, controlled by three separate governments.

The Orwellian termed Azad Kashmir is the only point under contention, according to this statement. Nominally independent, those Kashmiris live under the worst human rights violations in the entire subcontinent. This sliver, captured in the 1947 war, is largely dispensible. The only reason it falls under controversy is because of Pakistani assertion and assumption that, as a Muslim majority area, it is bound to become Pakistani.

The Northern Areas don't fare any better. Gilgit and Baltistan are incorporated areas of Pakistan proper, and, counter to UN and Indian definitions, is not considered Kashmiri. Because of its geostrategic importance-as a corridor to China, a link to the headwaters of the Darya-e-Qaum [The Indus], and advantageous location vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir-- this is not under consideration. But, for precisely these reasons, and, as the largest chunk of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, it should above all be on the table [in addition to Indian J&K].

The final portion is most definitely not on the table. In 1963, the Trans-Karakorum Tract was ceded to the Chinese, once more in defiance of International Law. It is Chinese, and not Pakistani, and administered as part of China's Aksai Chin territory.

This aside, this non-about face is far too late. This is fifty-nine years after the Pakistani establishment used its combined telepathic talents to decisively answer the Kashmir question in its favor. Even if somehow, miraculously, Pakistan [and India, and China] withdrew from the state, the legacy of sixty years of brutalization by all sides can never be undone. The venom introduced against kin across the border on all sides cannot be withdrawn. Promises about the return of Kashmiri Pundits can never be realized. Those soldiers who died defending Kargil and Siachen, and those civilians dehumanized in the streets of Srinagar can never be recalled from Yama Raja's domain.

Its a sad state of affairs throughout the entire subcontinent, but most of all in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan's statement glimmers dimly with hope, but considering how inconsequential it amounts to, all of us, regardless of nationality, ought to be wary. Perhaps in India and in America, we heard what Pakistan's stand should have been fifty-nine years ago instead of what it is on the ground. In either case, the fabled resolution to Jammu and Kashmir and its citizens is no closer today than it was a week ago.

A Man among Macacae

2006-12-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

We may all be Macacae, but Bhagat Singh was in the truest sense a man. You may not know him, but he is certainly one of the finest children that Bhaarat ever bore. His story is a long and complicated one, but in addition to Rajguru and Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh was convicted by a kangaroo court and executed by the British for their activities against the tyranny. The nation mourned for them, and out of their sacrifice came the world's largest and most durable democracy.

Yet in India today, I'm sad to say that people don't remember them. Instead, they consecrate virtual temples to local netas and casteist leaders. Fools like former UP Chief Minister Mayawati throw shoes at statues of Mahatma Gandhi, and sue for his replacement. Those statues that remain, such as this one in Dhampur, remain in such pitiable condition.

And lets not talk about Pakistan, where Lahore Jail stands. I doubt even a plaque exists to commemorate his sacrifice. I'm certain that the populous only knows his trademark phrase "Rang De Basanti" through the ubiquitous effect of Bollywood...but if any Pakistani wanders onto this page, please tell me otherwise.

[Note the paint peeling off, the broken clock above, and the birds resting on Shahid-e-Azam's felt hat.]

Bollywood Zindabad, Taleban Murdabad

2006-12-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hearts and minds, Hearts and minds...the United States has tried to win them for over five years in Afghanistan. Little do they know that Bollystan won them years ago. I remember how they were partying in the streets when Kabul was liberated. Afghans spontaneously broke out in song and dance, just like in Indian movies, with old Hindi songs playing in the background. I smiled when I heard "Wah Wah Ram Ji" on the news as they ecstatically whirled around MSNBC's Ashleigh Bandfield, something that would send chills down the spine of the Taleban.

Of course, its been a two way street. The Badshah-e-Bozorg of Bollywood, Dilip Kumar [Yousef Khan], is a Pathan from Peshawar, and all those Khans-Salman, Amir, and Shah Rukh-purport to be Pathan in origin. And many films, like Khuda Gawah, and now Kabul Express, are set in their land.

It really underscores the fact that Pashtunistan has traditionally been part of the Indian fold. It may not seem like a significant indicator, but as far as soft power politics is concerned, its a powerful hint. Taliban may come or go, but Aishwarya is there to stay.

A Proud and Loud Macaca

2006-12-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

Macaca Maharaj ki Jaya!

I was in India while the midterm elections were taking place, so I didn't see the action. But the one thing that was shown on Doordarshan News was how George Allen, the Virginia senator who slurred a fellow Indian-American with the term Macaca, failed to recapture his seat. It was shadenfreude, Indian style.

But I for one thank Senator Allen. He introduced a brilliant word into our lexicon, Macaca. Its a world-class word that we Indian Americans can roll off our tongues as our own. Simultaneously whimsical and scientific, this trisyllabic jumble can be a high term of endearment.

To tell you the truth, I initially had misgivings. I thought that the senator was an awful man and something ought to be done. And then I thought of who Senator Allen would call the Mahacaca, and what he would do. Surely, in his infinite humility, he wouldn't contest the term, but rise above it. In fact, as a devotee of the Maharaja of Macacae, Lord Hanuman, he probably would take it as a compliment.

So in the name of that Mahacaca and all the other Macacae of the world, I proclaim myself another loud and proud Macaca.

Temporarily moved

2006-12-04T01:28:00.000-08:00

for the time being, I'm posting at http://sherji.blogspot.com . This new blog is targetted for family back in India, but I see no point in doubling up posts for stuff that happened over the last month.

The Real Temple of Doom

2006-12-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

60 km outside Bikaner lies Deshnoke, a sleepy village whose only claim to fame is its temple. In a land of millions of temples, it may seem unassuming until you actually enter the temple itself. It then becomes clear why it is so special-the entire inside of the temple is full of rats.

The local Hindus believe that an incarnation of Durga Mata built this impressive temple, and, to make a long story short, the souls of her reincarnated descendents are in the mice. Certainly its a sight to behold as you can see thousands of "her children" roaming free, eating gifts of milk and sweets, and squeaking with delight as they roam about carelessly.

Warning: pictures not for the squeamish!

Family

2006-12-01T23:52:00.000-08:00

My flight's only nine hours away so I'm in a bit of a retrospective mood about my monthlong trip to India. In short, its been fantastic-and despite the fact that I didn't go to as many places as I wanted [ie. Fatehpur Sikri and Ajmer], I don't regret a thing.

Its a cliche to say that visiting family is a way to get in touch with your roots, but in this case, it is rather apt. I learnt that the tendencies that I thought were uniquely mine are actually products of my aunts, uncles, and grandparents's idiosyncrasies. Apparently, I eat as slowly as my dadaji and have naniji's autodidact streak.

Here's a few photos of family I took in Ghaziabad, Aligarh and my ancestral home of Budhansi.

Dadaji and his two heirs.

Two overgrown macacas

Me and Yuvraj playing elephant (my loooooooooong nose is in Yuvraj's left hand)

Golu, me, and Sonu in our ancestral fields in Budhansi. [Sonu's making a bit of a face in this photo because I just revealed to him that WWE wrestling is actually fake].

Nanaji returning back from the Dhampur bazaar on scooter.

Naniji singing along to some old songs on mp3 player.

...more photos to come when I reach New York!

I'm packin my bags and then I'm off!

2006-11-02T14:39:00.000-08:00

I leave for India tomorrow...and I am very excited.

Unfortunately, I can't list the exact places and times I'm going. Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) is a lawless state-the Indian equivalent of Alabama or Mississippi-and Rajasthan is probably not much better, so I don't want to draw any attention whatsoever. I've placed red squares on where I will be in this composite map though, and a preview of a few sights I plan to see.

Chittaurgarh fort and the Taj Mahal:

And this little unassuming plot on Earth, where my mother hails from:

Of course, the place I'm looking forward to seeing the most is my ancestral village. Unfortunately, there isn't a single photo of the village on the internet and its too small for even Google Earth to record.

[map not to scale]

I'll see all of you guys in December
@:-) <--turbaned aazmaaish in India

Some politics

2006-11-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

I'm going to miss election night, which is killing me but I'm still keeping up with politics. I'm also not planning to vote because there aren't any competitive races in New York, and I'll be damned if I vote for that potemkin gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Eliot Spitzer or [yuck] Hillary Clinton. I also really, really regret voting for John Kerry. I wouldn't vote for George Bush, but I'm just sickened by what Kerry said [the video's below]. I'm sure, as written, he was referring to George Bush but it seems much more likely given the ellision at two separate points in the sentence that this was a Freudian slip. That notwithstanding,the rest of his speech was unnecessarily invective.

I do hope the Democrats take control of the House, and perhaps they should gain the Senate too, but I really fear what would be in their agenda. Sure, Congress is negligent in its duty today, but proactive Democrats in power means more potentially intrusive legislation that could do more harm to the country than good.

If there's any plus points to this election, it looks like General Clark, my horse in the 2004 Democratic primaries is on the up-and-up, campaigning for candidates in commercials across the country. The ads aren't great, I feel the candidates (esp lamont) will lose, and he seems to overact, but the man is a bona fide genius [despite the stereotype that Kerry ostensibly supports] who deserves to become President of the United States.

...and now I'm off to pack for India

A short somewhat serious entry

2006-10-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Its been an awful newsweek. From the beginning, we've heard how terrorists are achieving victory in Iraq, genocide is accelerating unabated in North Africa, and schools across the country are becoming killing grounds. Well, okay, the last statement maybe a bit hyperbolic, but you get the point--there's very little good we can personally glean from these stories.

That is, except for one: the massacre in Georgetown, Pennsylvania. The mental image of five young schoolgirls, donned in stainless white dresses hemmed by their mothers, silently being laid to rest in graves dug by their fathers, stops people in midthought. Our thoughts turn to anger, indignation, and bewilderment. Theirs, as far as we know, turn instead to hope and forgiveness. Without shedding a tear or raising a voice, they take up the mantra that all processes of life are governed by God and just carry onwards.

May we all learn what dignity and nobility mean from their silent example.

The "other" language I learnt

2006-10-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

curlychavoncita: hey
curlychavoncita: I found an old computer game around the house today
curlychavoncita: guess what it was?
aazmaaish: hmmm....Barbie's hair party?
curlychavoncita: that was one of them :-[
aazmaaish: really?
curlychavoncita: Barbie Hairstylist, I think
aazmaaish: WOW
curlychavoncita: I'm not sure if that was the name
aazmaaish: I have too many friends who are girls
curlychavoncita: lol
curlychavoncita: ok guess again
curlychavoncita: you might get it!
aazmaaish: the cutesypoo adventures of my little pony?
curlychavoncita: holy crap
curlychavoncita: how did you KNOW?!!!!!
curlychavoncita: =-O=-O=-O=-O=-O=-O=-O=-O=-O=-O
aazmaaish: I became bilingual in girly-poo some time last year
aazmaaish: proficient in girly-poo and guy-crap
curlychavoncita: i'm still in disbelief
aazmaaish:actually, I am too

Sorry for not writing sooner

2006-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Things have gotten extraordinarily boring.

Good news though, I'm off to India in a month. Visiting family and getting reacquainted with the motherland.

Here's another thing-

dangerthirdrail: guess her major
dangerthirdrail: hint: she's fat, ugly, school pres
dangerthirdrail: and thinks she'll one day be united states pres
dangerthirdrail: but she's pretty stupid
aazmaaish: women's studies?
dangerthirdrail: WOW
dangerthirdrail: you're good
dangerthirdrail: what gave it away?
aazmaaish: dangerthirdrail: hint: she's fat, ugly, school pres

Update!

2006-09-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry I don't update this so much...there isn't much going on in my life, but here I am post-MCAT.

So...What am I up to?
I'm refreshing and updating my Persian through the teach yourself Persian book and the BBC News site. Right now, I understand about 75% of the news stories, but its like annoying static when I get to points I don't get. Hopefully, that'll be solved soon enough.

It may seem like a stupid and fanciful thing to do, but its immensely rewarding to learn this language. I understand what's happening in the middle east a little better by being able to access primary sources [not that it'll help me get into med school]. I even read Ahmadinazhad's blog yesterday...which, to tell you the truth, is extraordinarily creepy.

I do other stuff, but being 4 am, I'll leave my thoughts for another day.

Another test bites the dust

2006-08-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who wished me well on the MCATs and gave advice to help me on this whale of an exam. I really do appreciate all of your goodwill. [and of course, thanks for the bday wishes!].

The MCATs are a beast of an exam...I started at 8 and ended at 4...and this was the "shortened" computerized version. Completing 8 hours of physics, chemistry, writing, verbal, biology, and orgo is a daunting task and like everyone else I felt completely exhausted afterwards. Adding to the problem was the need to go to the bathroom mid-section and extraordinarily loud testing staff.

Here's a rundown of my observations-

80% physics, 20% chemistry on the Physical Sciences section. Extraordinarily unbalanced, but I like physics much more so it was a pleasant boon. I completed it ahead of schedule but a few questions still bother me.

Verbal passages were brutal. Somehow, they fit the most dense and stupid topics into one section. I had passages on obscure Irish monks, rants about the semantics of evolution, and really arcane material on American Sign Language. I was running out of time too, so bleh.

Two essays-one basically on communist premises and the other about government censorship. Overall, a stupid waste of time.

Biology was weird too...very few orgo questions, nothing on meiosis or cell respiration, and a great emphasis on genetics, especially non-Mendelian genetics. I know now that at least one question I guessed on is wrong, but then again I wasn't expecting a perfect grade anyway.

For you guys who are taking the MCATs, I have a lot of suggestions for studying for the MCATs--especially the new computerized version, but I'll leave that for another day-and we'll see how the test comes out-~60 days to results being sent.

And now, off to a few months of R&R and plenty of thought on what to do in the future.