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Kaleidoscope

A series of changing phases or events.

Name:Amit Saha
Location:Houston, Texas, United States

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Reservation in Higher Education

I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.

From Atanu Dey's blog article on the recent "reservation" fiasco threatening the education system of India. The blog article can be read here. Original quote by Stephen Jay Gould.

Tendulkar Territory

... a thundered six over midwicket, a classical straight-drive off the front foot - with a high elbow, minimum follow through, and slight nod of the head a few moments after bat struck ball ... Fifty off 50 balls, momentum seized, bowlers hassled, fielders guessing, captain experimenting, crowd in a frenzy ... welcome to Tendulkar territory.

From a report by Vaidyanathan (Oct 25, 2005) on cricinfo.com following Tendulkar's return to cricket after a six month lay-off due to injury.

Hurricane Rita

The Dalai Lama must be very impressed with the security measures taken up in Houston for his visit. The entire city of Houston is being evacuated!

21st Sep. Dr. Keith Cooper, Rice University. Many people in Houston evacuated because of impending hurricane Rita which made landfall early 24th Sep.

Amazon.com Delivery

If the tracking information indicates the package has been delivered, please check with your neighbors or family members. Packages are occasionally left with neighbors, a building manager, or are placed somewhere relatively safe such as your porch, garage, or even behind bushes.

On a help page on Amazon.com.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly. And listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, for they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, for they are vexatious to the spirit. Never compare yourself with others. You may become vain or bitter, for there will be always greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements, as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble. It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of life. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many people strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love. For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings, for many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be there. And whether or not it is clear to you, the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Originally written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s. Shared with batch of 1999 by Dr. A.K.Roy, ECE, IIT-KGP.

Happy 59th Indian Independence Day, Aug 15th, 2005

The appointed day has come - the day appointed by destiny - and India stands forth again, after long slumber and struggle, awake, vital, free and independent. The past clings on to us still in some measure and we have to do much before we redeem the pledges we have so often taken. Yet the turning-point is past, and history begins anew for us, the history which we shall live and act and others will write about.

Jawaharlal Nehru, August 14, 1947.

Discount Entrance

Online advertisement of a comedy club in New York City.
Discount for any adult under 5 feet with proof of height.

Gladys' Comedy Room, 145 W. 45th St btw Broadway and Sixth, NYC