There is a lighter side to the tough experience of doing a PhD. Take a look at
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php
, before you take the plunge.
partha
The Professor shares his discoveries, so that you can share them with others.
2010-03-27
2010-03-25
Begging for books
One of the challenges of teaching in India, is the lack of basic essential material for teaching :: books and journals. We do have bookshops, but they stock only run-of-the-mill books. Books which sell out fast. If you ask for a book which is even slightly higher than the average reader's intellect, you will have to face disappointment. It is not just money, it is just a lack of appreciation for anything above average. So what do I do ? I beg. I beg shamelessly. And I have friends all over the world who understand, and buy me the books I need so badly.
I have received today an exceptionally beautiful book on Lambda calculus, donated by a very close friend (I call him NVS, my children call him "karate master"). Thank you NVS.
If you are reading this blog, from any country outside India, and you wish to help an Indian teacher, just send me a signal. The books you send will be used, for teaching young Indians, so that one day India will also reach a stage where a teacher does not have to beg.
partha
Forget the chocolates, send me some books
I have received today an exceptionally beautiful book on Lambda calculus, donated by a very close friend (I call him NVS, my children call him "karate master"). Thank you NVS.
If you are reading this blog, from any country outside India, and you wish to help an Indian teacher, just send me a signal. The books you send will be used, for teaching young Indians, so that one day India will also reach a stage where a teacher does not have to beg.
partha
Forget the chocolates, send me some books
2010-03-21
Is innovation a bad thing ?
The following concerns a question in a physics degree exam at the University of Copenhagen:
Q : "Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer."
One student replied:
A : "You tie a long piece of string to the neck of the barometer, then lower the barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the string plus the length of the barometer will equal the height of the building."
This highly original answer so incensed the examiner that the student was failed immediately. The student appealed on the grounds that his answer was indisputably correct, and the university appointed an independent arbiter to decide the case. The arbiter judged that the answer was indeed correct, but did not display any noticeable knowledge of physics. To resolve the problem it was decided to call the student in and allow him six minutes in which to provide a verbal answer, which showed at least a minimal familiarity with the basic principles of physics.
For five minutes the student sat in silence, forehead creased in thought. The arbiter reminded him that time was running out, to which the student replied that he had several extremely relevant answers, but couldn't make up his mind which to use. On being advised to hurry up the student replied as follows:
"Firstly, you could take the barometer up to the roof of the skyscraper, drop it over the edge, and measure the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of the building can then be worked out from the formula H=0.5g x t squared. But bad luck on the barometer." "Or if the sun is shining you could measure the height of the barometer, then set it on end and measure the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, and thereafter it is a simple matter of proportional arithmetic to work out the height of the skyscraper." "But if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short piece of string to the barometer and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof of the skyscraper. The height is worked out by the difference in the gravitational restoring force T = 2 pi sq. root (l / g)." "Or if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be easier to walk up it and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up." "If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the ground, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building." "But since we are constantly being exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper'."
[The student was Niels Bohr, the only Dane to win the Nobel Prize for Physics. Credits -- found on th Internet, author unknown to Partha].
Q : "Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer."
One student replied:
A : "You tie a long piece of string to the neck of the barometer, then lower the barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the string plus the length of the barometer will equal the height of the building."
This highly original answer so incensed the examiner that the student was failed immediately. The student appealed on the grounds that his answer was indisputably correct, and the university appointed an independent arbiter to decide the case. The arbiter judged that the answer was indeed correct, but did not display any noticeable knowledge of physics. To resolve the problem it was decided to call the student in and allow him six minutes in which to provide a verbal answer, which showed at least a minimal familiarity with the basic principles of physics.
For five minutes the student sat in silence, forehead creased in thought. The arbiter reminded him that time was running out, to which the student replied that he had several extremely relevant answers, but couldn't make up his mind which to use. On being advised to hurry up the student replied as follows:
"Firstly, you could take the barometer up to the roof of the skyscraper, drop it over the edge, and measure the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of the building can then be worked out from the formula H=0.5g x t squared. But bad luck on the barometer." "Or if the sun is shining you could measure the height of the barometer, then set it on end and measure the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, and thereafter it is a simple matter of proportional arithmetic to work out the height of the skyscraper." "But if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short piece of string to the barometer and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof of the skyscraper. The height is worked out by the difference in the gravitational restoring force T = 2 pi sq. root (l / g)." "Or if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be easier to walk up it and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up." "If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the ground, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building." "But since we are constantly being exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper'."
[The student was Niels Bohr, the only Dane to win the Nobel Prize for Physics. Credits -- found on th Internet, author unknown to Partha].
2010-03-13
More Linux
My next contribution (just 2 cents worth) is now available at :::
http://linuxgazette.net/172/lg_tips.html
Linux gazette March 20101, Issue #172.
Not enough to win a Nobel Prize, but useful, all the same.
Take a look.
And let me know what you think.
partha
http://linuxgazette.net/172/lg_tips.html
Linux gazette March 20101, Issue #172.
Not enough to win a Nobel Prize, but useful, all the same.
Take a look.
And let me know what you think.
partha
2010-03-06
My next experience
Starting a new experience, in one more engineering college affiliated to our dear JNTU. Let us see what comes up here.
partha
partha
Please, Mister Minister of Education
Teachers, Professors etc. wishing to join an institution will now have to submit their fingerprints on line, for verification by the Govt. of india, AICTE -- News
Coming very soon::: Teachers will also have to wear a radio collar. They will have to submit their DNA samples. They may have to report to the nearest police station every day, on their way to college and back. They will have to give their DNA samples and those of their parents and their grandparents, at the time of taking up a job as a teacher. Submitting photographs, testimonials, and certificate copies is out of fashion. We have to move with the times.
All these brilliant precautions are meant to discourage a few dishonest institutions from showing some zombie teachers on their roles. Of course, there will be no more corruption in my country. No employee of AICTE or , University, or UGC will demand or receive bribes any more.
We appreciate all the noble intentions of the Government. We also humbly request you to extend the perks and privileges which terrorists, crooks and criminals enjoy in this free and fair country. Terrorists and crooks do not have to submit any fingerprints or fotos or papers. They can go ahead and freely buy and sell and use guns and grenades. Please consider giving us teachers also this same facility. Please treat us exactly like you treat your criminals.
Thank you Sir,
Let us make "mera bharat mahaan" with all the innovative techniques like the ones above.
partha
Coming very soon::: Teachers will also have to wear a radio collar. They will have to submit their DNA samples. They may have to report to the nearest police station every day, on their way to college and back. They will have to give their DNA samples and those of their parents and their grandparents, at the time of taking up a job as a teacher. Submitting photographs, testimonials, and certificate copies is out of fashion. We have to move with the times.
All these brilliant precautions are meant to discourage a few dishonest institutions from showing some zombie teachers on their roles. Of course, there will be no more corruption in my country. No employee of AICTE or , University, or UGC will demand or receive bribes any more.
We appreciate all the noble intentions of the Government. We also humbly request you to extend the perks and privileges which terrorists, crooks and criminals enjoy in this free and fair country. Terrorists and crooks do not have to submit any fingerprints or fotos or papers. They can go ahead and freely buy and sell and use guns and grenades. Please consider giving us teachers also this same facility. Please treat us exactly like you treat your criminals.
Thank you Sir,
Let us make "mera bharat mahaan" with all the innovative techniques like the ones above.
partha
2010-02-27
Why should anyone care at all ?
I used to be surprised and sad and even angry that no one cared to read all that I put up on the web. No student ever came to me with a question or a remark or a simple thank you. Yet I kept filling up material I knew would be useful to many.
And then I saw this lovely story on the Internet.
Please see my personal blog article "Why should anyone care, anyway ?"
( http://partha-the-person.blogspot.com/ )
I am not disappointed anymore.
partha
And then I saw this lovely story on the Internet.
Please see my personal blog article "Why should anyone care, anyway ?"
( http://partha-the-person.blogspot.com/ )
I am not disappointed anymore.
partha
2010-02-23
Vermiculture, organic farming, composting
My new website for my organic farming and composting and vermiculture related activities is at :
http://drgarden.zxq.net/
Take a look.
partha
http://drgarden.zxq.net/
Take a look.
partha
2010-02-20
The bookworm and his earthworms
New site for the old passion of an old man :::::
http://drpartha.org.in/drgarden/canofworms.htm
Take a look.
partha
http://drpartha.org.in/drgarden/canofworms.htm
Take a look.
partha
2010-02-06
Tamil+LaTeX+Linux
I am struggling to get these three to work together :: Tamil + LaTeX + Linux
Is there anybody in or around Hyderabad who can help me/guide me ? Please get in touch with
drpartha AT gmail DOT com
Sometimes, even Professors need to learn things.
partha
Is there anybody in or around Hyderabad who can help me/guide me ? Please get in touch with
drpartha AT gmail DOT com
Sometimes, even Professors need to learn things.
partha
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