Biomachines: where is the line?

Xenobots are made from stem cells of a frog/Image credit: Dezeen

On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, a team of scientists and roboticists announced their formula for making a new programmable lifeform from stem cells. These are called xenobots. The word "xeno" means "frog" in latin.

Choices are hard

Choices are hard

We often find ourselves stuck when it comes to choices. Choosing the right school. Choosing a person to love or not. Choosing the career path. Choosing a life partner. Choosing the neighbourhood. Even choosing the ice cream flavour.

Choices are hard.

And we often tend to leave our choices on our fate.

Even knowing the fact that we cannot run away from the act of choosing.

Though, at moments, we tend to not choose. As we feel safe. As we think that it will not have any consequences.

Beauty is in your mind. And also the peace.

Image Source: StockSnap

There is a beautiful story about Agnes Martin. Once her eleven-year-old grand daughter, Isabelle, was visiting Martin, and the little girl was holding a rose plucked from the bush outside her house. Martin took the rose from the girl and asked, “Is this rose really beautiful.” She said, “Yes.” Martin, then, hid the rose behind her back and said, “is the rose still beautiful.” She again said, “Yes.” Martin said, “You see Isabelle, beauty is in your mind, not in the rose.”

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas: Does Age Gap Really Matters?

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas: Does Age Gap Really Matters? Source: Instagram

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas engagement may be in the news for all the effing reasons in the world but the age gap is not the reason I want to hear.

On a meme about Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, a girl commented, "She might not have learned the acting skills, but she made up her Hollywood stint worthwhile with her cougar skills." Another guy commented, "Maa Bete Ki Shaadi Ho Rahi Hain Kya?" (Literal translation: Is this the marriage between a mother and a son). Moreover, if you log into your news apps, you will get tens and hundreds of such article, "You will be shocked (or amazed) to know about the Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas age gap" and so on and so that.

Is there no alternative to Mr. Narendra Modi?

Is there no alternative to Mr. Narendra Modi?

What is the alternative to Mr. Narendra Modi?, a question now and then thrown upon you when you try to reason his policies in front of any Modi fan or a casual political debater.

Meanwhile, you are going to come up with a name, they will interrupt you and say, "Are you thinking of Pappu?" Gone are the good old days when Pappu was the name of your beloved maternal uncle. You are dumbfounded and you want to say "No", but without waiting for your reply, they will also label you 'Pappu' and say, "you deserve a person like that."

You still want to say something, but the argument is already over, and you also have fallen into the trap of there is no alternative to Mr. Narendra Modi.

The Dilemma of A Young Indian MBA

A Young Indian Professional (Representational Image Only)/Source: Pxhere

Like any given normal day in the opening week of June, when monsoon has not reached the northern part of the country, it was raining fire in Delhi.

The earth was parched. The air was depressed. Moreover, the water (in my twenty four hour heat resistant thermosteel flask) was simply undrinkable.

I was dragging myself, just like everyone else, in order to reach home.

Then, somebody called my name. I turned back. I found it was him, the well-paid, well-groomed, bourgeoisie thinking, mildly aggressive speaking in a highly accented English, working as a junior level marketeer, MBA.

Good Handwriting Tips From Gandhi

Good Handwriting Tips From Gandhi

I confess, my handwriting is not something I am very proud of, but I am not also ashamed of it. It lingers somewhere between the grey area of seemingly readable and not so freaking bad.

However, the reason for writing this very specific post is my Younger Brother.

His handwriting sucks. And today, he asked me for the help.

It is hard to read anything, he jots down with his pen or pencil or any other instrument of writing. (Sorry for being a jerk here :P)

Justice For Asifa: Think Again, she was just an eight-year-old child.

It is shame that thousands of people are communalizing the horrendous murder and rape case of little Asifa.

To all such people, my simple request is to think again, and stop uttering such nonsense.

Before being Muslim, she was an eight year old child, just like your eight year old little blabber.

So please, shut up and don't dehumanize yourself.

Instead, Please Stand up and Demand Justice for our little Asifa.

Digital Vs Paper

Digital Vs Paper: Write Better/Image Source: Startup Stock Photos

There is a thing about writing on a digital medium, it allows you to erase your mistakes and move on, a privilege which is not available to you when you write on a blank sheet of paper.

However, if you look at it again, you might feel, it is not much of a privilege either. It is sort of an unseen disadvantage.

The Street and The Stargazer - A Short Story

The Street and The Stargazer - A Short Story

Last night, for no cosmic or earthly reason, I had a strong feeling to watch a play, especially a Samuel Beckett's, but it was half-past twelve and there was no remote possibility of a theatre staging a Beckett or any other play at that point of time in any part of the city.

The Art of Good Writing - Tips from the Mahabharata - A Story

The Art of Good Writing - Tips from the Mahabharata (Image Source: Pixabay)

"You know, there is something for everyone in this book", the Old Man said pointing toward the copy of Penguin's translation of the Mahabharata by Bibek Debroy, I was holding in my hand, in front of the Dyal Singh Public Library's Religion section.