I bought this book - 101 Poems against war. Its not as good or as bad as I thought it might be when I bought it(amazon.co.uk).Its got poems by Emily Dickinson (one of my favourite pieces), Yeats, Seamus Heaney, Rudyard Kipling. For all I dont like about Kipling and all I like about him, there are these lovely epitaphs he wrote during the War:
" If any questions why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied"
A SON:
"My son was killed while laughing at some jest,I would
I knew
What it was, and it might serve me in time when jests
are few."
The ones I like the best though are some of the non- English poets. One I like the best is this poem about the 2nd world war by Bertolt Brecht titled "War Has Been Given A Bad Name". Its a lovely ironic poem about how the 2nd world war is viewed as more immoral than the first. Its ten lines detailing the Nazis and how professional, industry, academics allegedly protested against the Nazis and therefore deplored the Nazi actions but not the war. It ends by implying that germans think the war was not immoral, just the Nazis were. Incredible! There is another French poem about parents continuing their pastoral life while their son lies in the graveyard and their routine doesn't change except for daily trips to the graveyard.
There are lots of poems about the futility of war and death of young men. I love poetry only because its far more poignant, musical and often mystical. I spend lots of time trying to read the poem correctly - find its metre and rhythm. I invariably find that I ponder, dream and muse more after reading poetry rather than prose.
Talking about war - I remember my outrage and frustration at the Lebanese war six months ago by Israel under some really obscure excuse - I was even angrier than when the US and UK invaded Iraq. Is that because Saddam was being evicted in Iraq? Wouldn't it be great if the whole world could be like BIG BROTHER and we could evict dictators and leaders across the world by a ballot! Call into the UN security Council for your vote - calls cost ISD 60Rupees - some networks may charge extra for the calls.
Talking about poetry - Newsweek yesterday was discussing Daljit Nagra, an British asian poet writing about his life as an Indian immigrant in the UK ina funny, humorous way. I havent read the poems but might buy his book to be released in Feb.
WORLD BIG BROTHER!! What do you think? Will we get racist remarks in that house? Let me imagine Bush, Hugo Chavez, Chirac and Ahmadinejad - Shilpa and Jane Goody pale in comparison compared to these guys!
Saturday, January 20
Sunday, December 17
Paes and Bhupathi spat
This is what started it. This is what Paes said and this is how Bhupathi retorted. I feel sad that our greatest modern sporting heroes had to end their partnership on such an ugly,distasteful note. If there were Doordarshan Sports Personality of the decade - surely these two would get it. Its one thing to be top of the world in Cricket played at the highest level by approximately 200 men and another to be the best in tennis against about 1500 or more players!!
Being in the UK only snooker,cricket and the premiership are covered by the media or shown on TV, which of course just means that I have missed the entire Asian games this year. Not that it means anything, with India only winning 10 golds and finishing after Iran and Kazakhstan. Also,hockey was a disaster and the only saving grace was tennis and shooting. Of course, the IOA messed up again and their faux pas with Jaspal Rana has to be the funniest cock up in the history of Indian sport.
Being in the UK only snooker,cricket and the premiership are covered by the media or shown on TV, which of course just means that I have missed the entire Asian games this year. Not that it means anything, with India only winning 10 golds and finishing after Iran and Kazakhstan. Also,hockey was a disaster and the only saving grace was tennis and shooting. Of course, the IOA messed up again and their faux pas with Jaspal Rana has to be the funniest cock up in the history of Indian sport.
Cricket
Am watching the cricket.
Brilliant. I am really happy I decided to come to college early in the morning to watch some cricket. Its been a long time since I woke up early to watch cricket. I did this for the 2003 India- Australia series. We had the Aussie and Indian Rhodies getting together in the
Plan for today :
Buy Secret Santa gift
Get things ready to send off stuff tomorrow – GMC,USMLE and Fogarty application.
Write discussion for paper.
Wash clothes
Blackwells First AID
I went to someone’s place for dinner yesterday. I met her rather strangely. JVZS was exploring a romantic liaison with the lady and invited her around for my experimental idli dinner. The idli was half steamed – and disgusting. I couldn’t eat it and the entire dinner went downhill from there. Anyway, we kept in touch and yesterday was payback dinner which was far better than anything I could have cooked. We ended up watching X factor finals which was won by Leona. 17 year old from East London with an incredible voice, terribly shy and a lack of personality -
Is this ridiculous? I consider myself a level-headed character, unexcitable and yet I am really into this test match and rooting for
Saturday, December 9
Ranting about adolescent humour!!
Should we laugh at the ICMR's latest study about Indian penis' being too small for international condoms to be effective. The article was the most widely read and emailed on the BBC website. I wonder why? Of course, it was brought to my attention and I was made fun of. No doubt, millions of young Indian males across the world are being teased and mocked. I somehow, couldn't see the funny side of it.Well,truthfully I could and couldn't ...
Perhaps its just me getting prudish and prickly at my manliness being punctured. Perhaps its the medic and scientist in me. Whatever the reason, I noticed two things.
1. This is probably the most important project the ICMR has undertaken for a long time. Think about it for a bit and you might realise this study may help prevent a huge number of STD's in India.
2.While being jeered I suddenly realised how difficult it is to get people in India to talk about sex, sexual health and anatomy normally. What my friend found the funniest was that 1200 men volunteered to have their penis' measured. Well, how else did they expect to answer the problem? Also, the first reaction to the story was comedy - not once did people think of the science and research involved. Can you imagine if educated people can only take this to be a source of entertainment and ridicule, how difficult it must be to talk about such items in a rural, conservative traditional environment?
Maybe it is age and maybe my hurt ego that I have got so wound up about it, but here is our apex Medical body trying to make a contribution and if I may hazard, a damn important one. Consider that our only chance to halt the HIV epidemic is sexual education and condoms, what is so funny?
I also blame the BBC for potraying this study and its results so poorly. Here is a similar issue in the UK and the NHS. The BBC writes the article in a very different way and it doesn't come off so bad. The difference is that in the UK people might go to their GP and talk about split and loose condoms - of course, thats never going to happen in India.
Anyway, you get the point- Kudos to ICMR for pushing and finishing this study. It would never get into the NEJM as an original article but if nothing else - perhaps the IgNobel prize??
Perhaps its just me getting prudish and prickly at my manliness being punctured. Perhaps its the medic and scientist in me. Whatever the reason, I noticed two things.
1. This is probably the most important project the ICMR has undertaken for a long time. Think about it for a bit and you might realise this study may help prevent a huge number of STD's in India.
2.While being jeered I suddenly realised how difficult it is to get people in India to talk about sex, sexual health and anatomy normally. What my friend found the funniest was that 1200 men volunteered to have their penis' measured. Well, how else did they expect to answer the problem? Also, the first reaction to the story was comedy - not once did people think of the science and research involved. Can you imagine if educated people can only take this to be a source of entertainment and ridicule, how difficult it must be to talk about such items in a rural, conservative traditional environment?
Maybe it is age and maybe my hurt ego that I have got so wound up about it, but here is our apex Medical body trying to make a contribution and if I may hazard, a damn important one. Consider that our only chance to halt the HIV epidemic is sexual education and condoms, what is so funny?
I also blame the BBC for potraying this study and its results so poorly. Here is a similar issue in the UK and the NHS. The BBC writes the article in a very different way and it doesn't come off so bad. The difference is that in the UK people might go to their GP and talk about split and loose condoms - of course, thats never going to happen in India.
Anyway, you get the point- Kudos to ICMR for pushing and finishing this study. It would never get into the NEJM as an original article but if nothing else - perhaps the IgNobel prize??
modelling q
Following testing of blood for HCV, the number of new infections has dropped remarkably. The problem is chronic HCV and the question is can we bring down incidence of any disease low enough that it no longer is a problem? isnt that eradication and similar things are happening with HIV in South Africa. The prevalence of the disease is stabilised because the number of deaths equals the number of new infections.
Can we model how much we need to decrease infection to prevent a disease being a public health problem?
Can we model how much we need to decrease infection to prevent a disease being a public health problem?
Sunday, November 19
Paul Simon live on BBC & borat
Its cool. I am sitting on the bed after a day of ICS and FACSing listening to Paul Simon live on the BBC. Its brilliant.
Also, needed a break from work so decided to pen my random thoughts down.
So, while in dark room today I saw a few clips of Borat on www. youtube.com. I remember seeing the trailer when I went to watch Talladega Nights and thought it to be horribly rude, loud and obnoxious. So, I never contemplated watching it..until today. I saw some clips from his previous episodes and there were bits which were funny. Others weren't.
Most of his jokes are puerile and sexual. He seems to keep making fun of people's discomfort with discussing sex or sexual activities in public. I am not a prude or anything, but I dont think there is anything wrong with not discussing sex in public.
Now, despite the fact that we all know he is over-the-top comedy, very slap stick and intended to potray a western stereotype of Central Asian culture, I find his insistent disparaging of women slightly unnerving.
Some of his stuff is just funny. There is a very funny bit, where he visits a dating agency in America. Its incredibly funny not because of him , but the lady running the agency. There is such a naivety and righteousness about the woman who is trying to inculcate this barbarian about western woman and western values, that makes this entire scene comic.
At one point, he talks about "crushing a cheating woman". The woman answers," I am sorry but if you keep saying that you wont fit our agency criterion. American women wont date someone who keeps saying that". As if, domestic violence and infedility crimes dont occur in the West.
Anyway, what I still kept thinking was what is the limit in offensive comedy and is there a limit we shouldn't or couldn't cross. At what point does comedy turn into invidious behaviour? More importantly, should society ban such undesirable humour?
In my opinion and after much thought, I cant think of any reason to ban any form of expression. I think its a personal choice as to whether you wish to see such forms of entertainment. The fact that things like Jerry Springer and Borat, Ali G are popular indicate that there is a market for this kind of comedy. If people did not watch or enjoy these people, they would not be on TV or popular. In balance, its probably important that expression of these forms of satire are allowed. Can you imagine Jerry Seinfield as our only form of humour?
so, although I would never pay money or even accept money to watch Borat except for curiosity values, I also accept that some people like it and for them its worth the money. So why should I care?
Ok back to writing tutorial reports.
Also, needed a break from work so decided to pen my random thoughts down.
So, while in dark room today I saw a few clips of Borat on www. youtube.com. I remember seeing the trailer when I went to watch Talladega Nights and thought it to be horribly rude, loud and obnoxious. So, I never contemplated watching it..until today. I saw some clips from his previous episodes and there were bits which were funny. Others weren't.
Most of his jokes are puerile and sexual. He seems to keep making fun of people's discomfort with discussing sex or sexual activities in public. I am not a prude or anything, but I dont think there is anything wrong with not discussing sex in public.
Now, despite the fact that we all know he is over-the-top comedy, very slap stick and intended to potray a western stereotype of Central Asian culture, I find his insistent disparaging of women slightly unnerving.
Some of his stuff is just funny. There is a very funny bit, where he visits a dating agency in America. Its incredibly funny not because of him , but the lady running the agency. There is such a naivety and righteousness about the woman who is trying to inculcate this barbarian about western woman and western values, that makes this entire scene comic.
At one point, he talks about "crushing a cheating woman". The woman answers," I am sorry but if you keep saying that you wont fit our agency criterion. American women wont date someone who keeps saying that". As if, domestic violence and infedility crimes dont occur in the West.
Anyway, what I still kept thinking was what is the limit in offensive comedy and is there a limit we shouldn't or couldn't cross. At what point does comedy turn into invidious behaviour? More importantly, should society ban such undesirable humour?
In my opinion and after much thought, I cant think of any reason to ban any form of expression. I think its a personal choice as to whether you wish to see such forms of entertainment. The fact that things like Jerry Springer and Borat, Ali G are popular indicate that there is a market for this kind of comedy. If people did not watch or enjoy these people, they would not be on TV or popular. In balance, its probably important that expression of these forms of satire are allowed. Can you imagine Jerry Seinfield as our only form of humour?
so, although I would never pay money or even accept money to watch Borat except for curiosity values, I also accept that some people like it and for them its worth the money. So why should I care?
Ok back to writing tutorial reports.
Sunday, September 3
Why watch tennis?
Agassi - my hero has just ended his career losing to Benjamin Becker in the third round of the US Open.
Why watch tennis? I couldn't watch the whole match because of some idiot watching Discovery channel, so I had to be content with US Open Radio.
I wish I was there.... End of an era..no more Sampras,Agassi, Ivanisevic, Rafter.
Tennis as I knew it is over... I cant get myself to cheer anyone in tennis. No heros left, no more idols. The only person I liked on a tennis court has now left it.
Why watch tennis? I couldn't watch the whole match because of some idiot watching Discovery channel, so I had to be content with US Open Radio.
I wish I was there.... End of an era..no more Sampras,Agassi, Ivanisevic, Rafter.
Tennis as I knew it is over... I cant get myself to cheer anyone in tennis. No heros left, no more idols. The only person I liked on a tennis court has now left it.
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