The reason for this blog is some what related to the topic though. In one of the articles in Hindu, a lawyer from pakistan has mentioned about a law, a law in a completely muslim state, a marriage law which states that “According to the Family Law Ordinance (1962), under Section 6, a man can’t take a second wife without fulfilling the conditions of divorcing the first one or taking her consent,” (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/sania-shoaib-wedding/Shoaib-faces-jail-if-he-doesnt-comply-with-Paks-family-laws/articleshow/5758788.cms). Till now I knew that having four wives is a fundamental right for a muslim man and the wife has no say in it. But, the news is very refreshing as not everything is lost on those poor muslim women. Ohhhhh! sorry, I was in a hurry. Though there is some deterrent for the second (and third and fourth) marriage in Pakistan, it is not the same in India. In India, a muslim man can simply say those five lettered words (even in a drunken stage, which is again illegal by Qoran by the way) and get away with the marriage. Or worse, he can choose to remain the pathi and enjoy all the four. Our Indian law makers never ever are gonna try to change this as for them, Muslims is just a vote bank and nothing more. They do not care what the muslim women has to suffer. The vote politics by Indian politicians are depriving the muslim women and nobody raises a word against it, so as not to be branded as communal. And, many of our rich and famous has mis-used this too. If you want to get married the second time without getting (not giving) the divorce, become a muslim. Do you remember one of our Superstars, or in recent times the saga of Chander Mohan and Fiza ??

Hope our so called psedo seculars wake up at-least now and try to bring in some changes . . . only a wish

What a motivation for a lazy and once upon a time astronomer like me.One small kid in our backyard  who is going to dis-prove Einstein’s theory of relativity.

The news was also published long back in expressbuzz. Do they really cared to verify the facts before giving her the credits. Lets see few things from the article

Hannan’s meeting with Boston-based scientist Hind Rattan Award winner Dr Soumya Soumya “>Vasudevan was a turning point in her life. Dr Soumya, now her mentor, introduced Hannan to renowned scientist and Nobel laureates.

There is no Hind rattan winner by the name Dr. Soumya vasudevan, but there is one Dr. Soumya Vishwanathan  (http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=3160). She is a doctor of medicine in Worcester at present.

At the Houston school, Hannan was credited with designing a rocket bound for the orbit of the Mars which was later launched by NASA on an experimental basis

The houston school (http://www.spacecenter.org/spaceschool.html) from where Hannan was graduated is only a 5 day school where the participants “will experience a 5-day engineering mission to land a rover on the surface of Mars!” and gets Graduation certificate at the end of “FIVE” days. So, designing a rocket in five days . . .

She is also part of the X-Lunar Google Prize, a project to send to the moon a robot that can walk along the lunar surface for 500 kilometers scraping ice off its surface

Google has anounced $30million for which ever team lands a robot on moon …. The prize is not claimed by anybody till (as of 16th Sept, 2009)

She soon approached the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Pune. On the advice of Professor MS Raghunath of TIFR, she went to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and then the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). IIA Professors HC Bhatt, C Shivaram, and Dr Jayant Murthy are now assisting Hannan in her research.

The replies from Prof H C Bhat and Prof Jayant Murthy (in a private communication with  K P. Rajesh, IIT, Chennai)

” . .  not guided Ms Hannan at all. She has visited our institute a couple of times and requested use of our library.  [My] only interaction with her has been to give her official permission to use the library for 2 days, some months ago. She has never discussed any science with me and never revealed what she has been doing.”

and,

“Unfortunately, this girl is flat out lying. I met her twice, as I would any student, and told her that she needed to study hard and learn a lot more physics and mathematics before making wild claims like that.”

The mails are self-explanatory I hope

Hannan has been in touch with India’s former scientist –president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam whose first response to her mail detailing about her theory was that he doesn’t know what this girl is talking about! It was Kalam who introduced her to NASA.

No doubt he did not understand anything. About introducing to NASA, does anybody remember the boy from Balia who claimed he cleared a NASA exam which only Kalam has cleared and became a celebraity overnight ?

Hannan’s meeting with Boston-based scientist Hind Rattan Award winner Dr Soumya Vasudevan was a turning point in her life. Dr Soumya, now her mentor, introduced Hannan to renowned scientist and Nobel laureates.

Astronaut Michael Collins was present at her convocation ceremony at Houston. There she could also meet Dr Satish Reddy who was part of the team that successfully fixed the US spacecraft ‘Endeavour’.

US president Barack Obama, whom she will be meeting in this US trip, has recently mailed her asking about her research and preparation for the Siemens competition. She will be meeting Obama in this visit. Neil Armstrong has already expressed his interest in meeting Hannan. She has been invited to visit Spain, Belgium, France, Lebanon and Qatar.

No comments . . .

Just finished the first two stories, “Marooned off Vista” and “Nightfall”

Imagine you are on a planet which have several suns and never experienced what darkness is. And, suddenly (actully once in few thousand years), there is darkness everywhere and you start seeing stars.  And, what if you are only the select few who knows its going to happen in shortly and connect the incidence to the cycle of civilization. Scary right, thats what happened to me now. I will leave the rest to the readers, try to catch a copy and roll down, you will never regret it.

Brilliant ! We should screen `Great Dectator' by Chaplin. He says;
"any resemblance to a person living or dead is entirely intentional"!

Cheers,

xyz

a summary of the incidence leading to this reply.

I didnot (can not) made any changes (except one, changing the institute name to INST) as it spoils the fun !! Coincidence is, it is 1st of April and I wish, this was just a prank . . .ENJOY and please drop a line of reply . . .

DISCLAIMER: If you laugh your head off, or roll from your chair or inflict any kind of injury, YOU are forewarned. Not for light hearted who laugh out loudly . . . . .

ACHTUNG !!

(Bulletin No. 1 of disciplinary committee)Ze date: April 01, 2008.

———————–

Ze disciplinary committee of

ze INST zecret police yesterday caught red-footed one (not so nimble) student climbing over ze holy wall. Ze sentencing of said criminal (and his accomplices) will take place on April 1st. All inmates of INST hostel should take note that: whereas animals (dogs, cats,etc.) are free to wander in and out of our glorious premises at will (see attached Herr Baghi’s email), this luxury is not extended to inmates of our most glorious asylum. (Note to typist: `asylum’ written by mistake — replace with `institution’ before circulating).

As its name suggests, JVDBB, `Institution for Universal Correction of Amorous and Alcoholic Activities’, will put down, with firm hand, any future misdemeanours indulged in by inmates. In view of the grevious nature of present activity (attempted escape over wall) and past misdemeanours (walking on garden of glorious institution) all lectures are suspended and lecture hall I,II, III will henceforth work as detention centers for inmates caught indulging in wrongful activity. Note `wrongful’ in this case means: loud talking, frivolous discussion of non-academic topics like cricket, falling in love, listening to music, etc.

Ze Inst is a moral institution dedicated to the advancement of science. No other activity will be tolerated and all dissent will be suppressed systematically. Any attempt to justify your actions will amount to treason, and the inmate caught in this heinous act will be immediately deported to ICCRAA (Indian Correction Centre for Reformation of Amoral Activity.)

In view of significant breaking of confinement-in-hostel a muster kept at the reception must be signed by all concerned at 6 am (morning wake up call) and at 6 pm (voice count and lights out).

COOPERATE (or else…..)

signed,

GESTAPOT (Group for Establishment of Stringent Theoretical Astrophysics and Policing of Occupied Territories.)

I am re-producing the mails for their high amusement quotient.

These mails are ADDRESSED to me and there were no non-disclosure agreement attached to the mail. And hence, I assume that I have the right to post them. If some one thinks otherwise, please drop in a line and I will promptly remove the same.

I might have removed/changed certain names to safeguard the privacy of the concerned. Between, let me make declaration. I am one of the accomplice for the crime and punished accordingly. So, I might be giving my side of the story only. Hey, wait a minute, thats what exactly happened, they never wanted to listen to our side of the story and nobody even asked me what happened. Anyways, these are the only mails I got and I dont know what happened behind the walls. So, I am sharing only those I have with me. And, in the following mail, where ever you see a YYY thats ME . . .

Here is the first message . . . .

Dear All,
     I am writing this email to inform you about a very disturbing
experience, me, xxx and YYY had today. Last night at around 12, me,
YYY and XXX were returning from city after dinner and I instead of
coming through the Sreeshilam gate, just climbed the wall. It was an
innocent act done in good humour. But suddenly the security guard who was
present started demanding explanation in an extremely rude manner and
refused to open the gate for XXX and YYY to take the bike in. In
fact he told them now why don't they jump into INST with the bike instead
of
entering through the gate. Then he called his supervisor who
threatened us that they will complain against us to Mr. Nambiar. We
simply kept our head cool and instead of carrying on the argument, left
the place.
   In the morning, three of us were called to Mr. Nambiar's office when we
were having breakfast at the canteen. On arriving, we saw Dr. ZZZZ and
XYXY Madam were also present. The first thing Mr. Nambiar inquired whether 'I
am a student in INST or I am here to jump over walls' such that jumping
wall is a serious crime for the students. We have been also told that,
   1. No student under any circumstances, should jump the wall, since
according to Mr. Nambiar it is a serious offense.
   2. We have been also told, that today we have done a criminal act by
jumping the wall and if they are liberal to it, next day we might
commit a much more serious crime, say for example murder. (thats what they
mentioned explicitly.)
   3. I have been asked to record this incident in paper and provide them
a written apology for CLIMBING A WALL.
   4. Even after explicitly saying I am sorry and asked them to end the
matter, they refused to do so and what continued to bother them was such
innocent spontaneous acts may lead to serious crimes.
   5. During the conversation, we have been accused that we might have
indulged in drug addiction and other illegal activities in our hostel.
This is VERY SERIOUS allegation and before saying anything like this they
must provide some proof.
   6. YYY, who is a visitor in INST from Indian Inst, was threatened
that he will be thrown out of INST, anytime without any reason for
allegedly supporting me.

It seems to us, that this is a really insignificant issue for the head of
the administration to be concerned and there is nothing to apologize from
our part after the meeting. The way we have been treated is just like
criminals in  a police interrogation. I was very hurt when I asked them
whether this act makes me a criminal. Their answer was "YES". Being in
INST we always felt a free and friendly atmosphere, where one pursue the
quest for knowledge in a liberal environment. But this kind of
maltreatment, because of insignificant incidents, present us a view that
we are like prisoners. I appeal to all the responsible academic
authorities to take measures so that nobody else gets victimized like us
over such trivial issues.
Lastly, I am not going to submit any written apology unless responsible
academic authorities inquire into the matter and listen to our side of the
story.

Thanking (   )

Magar problem yeah hain-ke

Yeah Kushi kaun hain :)

The live CD booted smoothly and came up with minimal desktop effects. Not too bling, but just to show what it can do. Both of my network cards were detected properly and the X-server set the proper resolution of 1280×800 Hurrah !!!!

But, the installation hanged at 22% with the error message ”Could not copy files from CD”. I re-checked the CD for errors and found none. Just cleaned the CD a bit and re-booted and this time the installation went smoothly. Installed on a separate partition and within 40 minutes, my new shiny Gutsy was ready for use.

Some of the changes, so subtle was interesting as well.

1. This is the first Ubuntu which comes with compiz as default. But, this is slightly mis-leading as I explain later.

2. The gnome-settings is now integrated. You can change all the appearances and desktop-effects from a single application.

3. First tried restricted manager to install ATI drivers and enable desktop effects. But, alas NO desktop effects. It gave error saying the currecnt driver is not in the whitelist and XGL is not available either. I was shocked as desktop effects worked like a charm in the live CD version.

Little googling told me that, though compiz is default, to be on the safer side, it is disabled unless the free drivers for ATI, nVIDIA etc is used. Though the new restricted manager informs you the availability of a better but not-open source driver available, installing it disables desktop effects :(

Removed restricted driver, went back to the free driver and my laptop is very happy to give me basic desktop effects

4. Be prepared to see increased CPU activity for an hour or so, even though you are not running any memory

intensive programs. The culprit is trackerd indexing. The new trackerd uses tags to index.

5. The password prompt for sudo now prefixes the user name to it.

Okay, thats all I got from my first two hours of Gutsy, not go back to work and play ..

Hope you enjoy them. A comment/appreciation is always welcome

Cloud burst

I am very lucky to be at a place where I get evenings like this.

Enlightenment

This is one of the photos I took at NainiTal, Uttaranchal

A picture postcard. Sunset from our campus

Girish