prelims...mmm

Oh my God!! What the heck lah? I tried to correct and make my new layout perfect. But I could not and it still looked ugly. The sidebar contents were arranged chaotically and i didn't know what to do. I messaged Ken and asked him for help. But anyway, i changed my blog to the original one, which looks way decent and nice. Anyway >Ken, thanks for offering to help. I like your blog, very nice. How do you add those things like "I'm waiting..." and About Me stuff??

The coming weeks are slowly starting to look occupied and busy. The pace is starting to pick up speed. Exams look really close. My revision is quite bad right now. Let's see, math -> almost done except for 5 topics, chem -> need to touch up on inorganic and organic, bio -> need to read through all the notes again!! and finally phy -> large areas to cover.

Prelims are really important to me. However, when compared to A'levels, not that important. Grades might slip here and there, but I should not be discouraged from it. Still trying not to give up on physics...

Let's see how things improve, next week. 4 more weeks to go for prelims...

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agape, eros and philia...

Greek philosophers have traditionally distinguished 3 notions that can properly called love: agape, eros, and philia. Agape is a kind of love that does not respond to the antecedent value of its object but instead is thought to create value in the beloved. Like the love that God shows on us, and that we show for God and humankind in general. By contrast, eros and philia are responsive to the merits of their objects, i.e. to the beloved's properties like his goodness or beauty. While eros is a kind of passionate desire for an object, typically sexual in nature, philia is a kind of affectionate regard or friendly feeling towards friends, family members and even business associates.

For this reason love and friendship often gets mixed up, despite them having significant differences between them. Love is an evaluative attitude directed at particular persons as such, an attitude which we might take towards someone whether or not that love is reciprocated and whether or not we have an established relationship with him/her. Whereas friendship, is essentially a kind of relationship grounded in a particular kind of special concern each has for the other as the person she/he is.

Aristotle posited 3 kind of friendships: friendships of pleasure, of utility, and of virtue. Although it is a bit unclear how to understand these distinctions, the basic idea seems to be that pleasure, utility, and virtue are the reasons we have in these various kinds of relationships for loving our friend. That is, I may love my friend because of the pleasure I get out of her, or because of the ways in which she is useful to me, or because I find her to have a virtuous character. Given the involvement of love in each case, all three kinds of friendship seem to involve a concern for your friend for his sake and not for your own.

A friend, is one who (1) wishes and does good (or apparently good) things to a friend, for the friend's sake, (2) wishes the friend to exist and live, for his own sake, (3) spends time with his friend, (4) makes the same choices as his friend and (5) finds the same things pleasant and painful as his friend.

However, friends do not merely have such similarities antecedent to their friendship as a necessary condition of friendship. Rather, friends can also influence and shape each other's evaluative outlook, so that the sharing of a sense of value is reinforced through the dynamics of their relationship. One way to make sense of this is through the Aristotelian idea that friends function as a kind of mirror of each other: insofar as friendship rests on similarity of character, and insofar as I can have only imperfect direct knowledge about my own character, I can best come to know myself—both the strengths and weaknesses of my character—by knowing a friend who reflects my qualities of character.

This is a really great article I found is a philosophy website about friendship. I edited here and there. But the general idea is presented here. It is true that friendship and love is often confused. Love is something mutual. There should be a feeling that you cannot be able to live the rest of your life without the person you love. Some possessiveness and some jealousy here and there. But why not friendship? Nothing is wrong with friendship and love growing together mutually, right?

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Friendship will survive...

I was really happy yesterday to receive an email from my friend Sriram. He was one of my best friends in Bangalore. The others were Rekha and Srikanth. I wonder how they are.

Remember the previous post, in which I begged God to let me have a friend who would make me forget the one person? I believe that Sriram is that friend that God has sent me. I'm really glad that at last God has answered my prayers.

I have for long put away the discussion about the parting of our friendship with Nive. And now I have found the heart to discuss it in my blog. My firstreaction was denial. But now I have faced the reality.

Let me tell to everyone who knows about this event. Nive accused me of backstabing her. And to my knowledge, I have honestly never done that. I would never talk about anyone behind their backs. Gossiping is not my cup of tea. I was really really hurt when I heard this from Kasturi and Kalpana. They at first didn't want to tell me what happened, because they know that i would be hurt. Yes I cried... But why should I when that person simply does not deserve to have my friendship.

Nive was a nice person. I was glad I had her as a friend, sometimes I even thought her as my best friend. But not everything in life turns out to be fine. Some things go wrong. This event was one good example of that...

Well, afterall, she chose to tread a different path in her life, and I wish all the best in that path. And I will never turn back towards her. I would rather shower love and concern to my best friends, Kasturi and Kalpana. And I will promise that I will be there for them when they need me. I also promise that I will be there for Sriram...

Our true friendships will survive...

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Listen to this, while i was browsing through some news, I saw this. Read it. Fascinating, isn't it?

Russian city of twins continues to puzzle scientists

In 2004 there’s been a real “twin boom” in the Russian town of Kirov and scientists still have no idea as to how to approach the matter.

Nowadays, the department's laboratory is conducting various experiments to study the effects on bio and electromagnetic fields on the natural process of cell division during meiosis. Scientists use lab rats in their experiments due to some of their similarities to the human organism. Although this is still an ongoing research, one thing has already been determined: the lower the mammalian class, the higher is the chance for twins to be born.

In 2004 there's been a real “twin boom” in the Russian town of Kirov and scientists still have no idea as to how to approach the matter. In the meantime, the entire array of twins and triplets in the region is considered to be mere coincidence. However, according to medical statistics, one out of 100 people is a twin couple. As for triplets, they are born in every 7 000-10 000 couple.
After taking a stroll through one of the town’s districts, one can easily begin doubting the statistics. The city’s population barely reaches 500 000 and identical couples (or even triplets seem to be everywhere).

Scientific explanation

“It is possible that some kind of electric field had its affect on such high multiple birth rate in the town,” presumes chair of biology and genetics at Kirov’s medical academy Alexander Kosykh. “Any biological cell has its own electric charge and its own polarity. That is why, it is quite possible that strong electromagnetic field in this particular district somehow affects genetic processes. However, we cannot make any definite claims yet.”

Nowadays, the department’s laboratory is conducting various experiments to study the effects on bio and electromagnetic fields on the natural process of cell division during meiosis. Scientists use lab rats in their experiments due to some of their similarities to the human organism. Although this is still an ongoing research, one thing has already been determined: the lower the mammalian class, the higher is the chance for twins to be born.

For instance, cats, dogs, rats almost always produce identical litter. African armadillo is an absolute champion in producing its “clones”. This creature gives birth to absolutely identical babies. Horses, whales, elephants and more so human beings are not quite as fertile. This is exactly the Kirov’s phenomenon appears so mystical.

“It is also noteworthy to mention that in southern countries twins are born more often than in northern countries,” notes Alexander Kosykh.

Long-term scientific observations have revealed that multiple births are more likely to occur in dark-skinned mothers over 35. However, there are no dark-skinned women in the “Krasnaya Gorka” district.

World statistics has determined several other factors that can supposedly account for such high multiple birth rate. However, not only do they find themselves helpless to explain the Kyrov’s phenomenon, they make it even more mysterious. In this regard, scientists noticed frequent cases of multiple births in some countries of Northern hemisphere (Finland or northern part of Japan for instance), where summer days are longer. It has also been noticed that the day’s length somehow stimulates secretion of a certain type of hormone. A woman could also give multiple births as a result of undergoing infertility treatments.

Kirov is not the only town with such strange occurrences. Another “factory of twins” exists in Nigeria in a small town Igbo-Ora situated not far from Ibadan.

By the way, twins do not simply look alike on the outside. They also possess so-called twin-DNA. The molecules are absolutely identical; even their electromagnetic characteristics are identical. This factor alone could easily allow them to function as “antennas” transmitting and receiving information. More so, their similar heredity forms identical informational RNA as well as identical proteins and twin-cells. Therefore, total capacity and amount of the so-called “transmitters” tuned in to the same “frequency” will increase considerably. Should this hypothesis prove to be correct, it will account for the uncontrollable telepathy between twins. It will also be able to explain those similarities in behavioral patterns in the lives of twins.

One day, i would love to have twins...

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Friendship vs Love

Friendship is a quiet walk in the park with the one you trust
Love is when you feel like you are the only two around

Friendship is when they gaze into your eyes and you know they care
Love is when they gaze into your eyes and it warms your heart

Friendship is being close even when you are far apart
Love is when you can still feel their hand on your heart when they are not near

Friendship is hoping that they experience the very best
Love is when you bring them the very best

Friendship occupies your mind
Love occupies your soul

Friendship is knowing that you will always try to be there when in need
Love is when you will give up everything to be at their side

Friendship is a warm smile in the winter
Love is a warming touch that sends a pulse through your heart
Love is a beautiful smile to which nothing compares
A tender laugh, which opens your heart
A single touch that melts away your fears
A smell that reminds you of the tenderness of heaven
A voice that reminds you of the innocence of youth

Friendship can survive without love
Love cannot live without friendship

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The FIFA World Cup...it's a disaster!!

Why why why??? With England and Brazil lost, where is this world cup going? The spice and suspense is gone. It is very clear and obvious that Germany will win. Just because the World Cup is held in Germany doesn't mean that Germany should win the World Cup. Why?

It was clear from the beginning. During the Argentina vs Germany match, the referees gave yellow cards to Argentinians, whereas the Germanians (is this the right term?) were just given warnings. What, was that fair??!!!

And second, winning a match in penalty shoot outs is such a dumb way to assess a team's skills. It all depends on the skills of the goalkeeper. I can atleast accept the fact that England lost, because it had already lost to Portugal in an earlier match. But how could Brazil lose? With Brazil gone, Germany had cleared its way to the World Cup.

Well, football fans alll over the world are pretty upset about such an outcome...Me too, although i'm not a crazy soccer fan... Let's see whether my prediction comes true...

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mmm...

I really don't know what to blog right now. But the irony of this statement is that, I do really know what i want to express in this blog. I just...oh don't know. I'm doing stupid things each day. For one thing, i'm talking a lot to myself. That's not normal. I'm talking in my sleep.

It's all because of one person. It started last year and ended last year. I thought it was finished. But its started again. And i don't want to go through that again. It will then be difficult at the end of this year when i won't be seeing that person again forever:(

Why is this happening to me? I would just be very happy if someone comes out of the blue (as the cliche goes) and rescues me out of this situation. Someone who would make me forget that person.

I hope that will happen. I just need a person, a dear friend who would make me forget everything in a nice way...

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my personality...

Heya!!

I took a personality test in this website called www.personaldna.com. It was so cool. You ppl must try. Anyway you can view my results here...

My Personal Dna Report

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Brave New Worlds

Heya!!

Well, it has been a long time since i posted anything in this blog. Well now, here i am. I read an excerpt from this book called Brave New Worlds, written by Bryan Appleyard. Here it is:-

Finally, knowledge of gene regulation may also lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer - the disease which kills one in three of us. All cancer is genetic because it involves an alteration in a cell's DNA. Some types are also genetic in the sense that they are hereditary, but the remainder seem to be the result of mutations due to environmental factors or the action of viruses which replicate by changing the DNA of the host cells. If we can regulate genes with sufficient accuracy, we can, in theory at least, turn off cancer-causing genes or otherwise change the genetics of cancer cells to eliminate tumours.

Already we have isolated a number of genetic factors involved in cancers. The first breakthrough came as long ago as the 1960s when the American scientist Peyton Rous discovered a gene - christened 'sarc' - that caused cancer in chickens. Since then, there have been steady though not spectacular developments. Colon cancer and breast cancer, the most common form of the disease in women, have been traced to certain genes, called oncogenes. There will be huge increase in the number of cancer-causing genes we are able to identify.

Genetic advances have already transformed the way cancer is regarded. Traditionally cancers have categorized on the basis of the part of the body in which they occu - colon cancer, lung cancer, and so on. It is now becoming clear that it is more accurate to categorize cancers on the basis of the chemical pathways involved. So a cancer of the throat may, biochemically, have more in common with a cancer of the bowel than it does with another throat cancer. As the geneticist Eric Lander said: 'We will classify the tumour according to the pathway, not the site in the body.'

One form of specific human cloning is currently being used as a treatment for cancer. This involves the production of so-called monoclonal antibodies. White blood cells are removed from a patient and exposed to cancer cells in the hope that they will produce the correct antibodies to destroy the cancer. Only about one in 100, 000 white cells will react in this way. But this is enough if they can then be cloned and injected back into the patient to seek out and destroy tumours. This technique has long been promising, but results are so far inconclusive.

These are simply examples of the use of genetics against cancer. The field of cancer research is so vast that there are many others. Current cancer treatment is still largely based on the conventional methods of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. In spite of all the effort in the past half-century, cancer treatment has only been refined, not revolutionized. While would-be revolutionaries now look to genetics, in view of the history, it would be safest to say only that some kind of breakthrough may happen in the next ten years.

It was certainly enlightened to read this book. It talks about eugenics and cloning in the not too distant future.

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just stopping by...

Heya!!

the holidays are going fine. i love holidays... Especially after five exhausting months of school, holidays are wonderful. Eventhough all i'm doing is revision and studies during these holidays, i love it. I'm actually making some kind of progress and i'm happy of it. I'm also happy that i've made some improvements in essay-writing. But not in compre. (sigh!!!)

So far for math, bio and phy, i'm quarter-way there. I hope i could finish revising by the third week of the holidays. For chem, i have much to do. And my problem is that for most of the time, i couldn't concentrate and focus. But my thirst to finish as most revision as i could by the end of the holidays, is motivating me. I wish my friends are doing fine in their revisions too.

That's all i have to report folks. Next time, i'll come up with an entry worth reading. Sorry for this short one!!

Tata...

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