I've been in NYC long enough to have seen quite a few weird events and people (thank you subway system). But something happened a few weeks ago that I thought was extremely funny (and therefore should be blogged!)
I've got a pretty long commute on the train, so I needed something to keep me occupied. I always forget to recharge my electronics, so it had to be something... old school. I love puzzles, so I started solving a Rubik's cube (actually I started when I was still living in a cubicle in the corporate world). After a point, I wanted a bigger challenge, so I started solving the cube with my eyes closed (it took quite a while for me to actually figure it out!) These days, I tend to solve it with my eyes closed as often as I can - it's a very good challenge, and I really do feel it helps expand my memory capacity.
So a couple of weeks ago, I get on the train, shuffle up the cube, and then start memorizing it. It takes me about 5 minutes to memorize, and about 2-3 minutes to solve it. My friends tell me I look like the rain man while I'm at it - and that doesn't surprise me one bit. As I am memorizing it, I notice a guy sitting across from me acting a little oddly. Eventually, he started pointing at my cube and saying things to the effect of "it's right there! see it? You move it this way and you are on your way!" Basically he was trying to "help" me solve it. I said (a couple of times) "Yes, thank you; but I think I've got it". The most annoying part of what he said was "it's so easy! It's right there!"
I understand the urge for people to try and help others - it's a good urge that I hope more people would have. But I also think it's important to know when to back off - like when someone really doesn't want your help.
It took me a bit longer to finish memorizing the cube since he kept interrupting and I had to keep saying "yes thanks, I'm pretty sure I know how to do it". I think he might've been a tad tipsy, so I guess he wasn't trying to be a total douche.
So, finally I finish memorizing. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Then it's just the click-click-clack of my cube as I get started. I think I heard the guy whisper something along the lines of "what?!" as I started; but I really had to concentrate on the cube. I do keep my ears out a bit - but only for announcements - I needed the rest of my brain power!
Fast forward a few minutes. It was a bit pressured since I knew my stop would be coming up (and I was already a little late starting on it). I speed up near the end and finally I was done! Well I thought I was done - can't ever be sure till you actually look at it. The train was just pulling into the station - I started getting up and opened my eyes at the same time; looked down at the cube and I did complete it!
As I stepped towards the door to walk out (the door by the guy), I looked at him, said "good night" and walked out.
I'm not a vengeful person by any stretch of the imagination... but that did feel good. I remember the look on his face as I stepped off too.
I guess the moral of the story is - please don't ever think you are better than someone else or that you know how to do something better than someone else can. And most importantly; if someone doesn't want your help - just back off. Doesn't mean you shouldn't offer it; just know when to stow it.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Oh yea
Happy new year! I forgot to put that up here. (And while I'm here - merry xmas, and happy thanks giving too)
I'm sure a lot of people heard that during new years eve / new years day we had a Blue Moon. A blue moon (scientifically speaking) is defined as the second full moon in the same calendar month. Blue moons occur once every 3 or 4 years because the lunar calendar is out of sync (slightly) with the solar calendar months. So seeing a blue moon does happen once in a blue moon... but the blue moon on new years was very special. A blue moon on new years eve/day (by my approximate calculations) happens once in 1400 years.
If that's not a herald for the awesomeness that 2010 holds, I don't know what is! I'm particularly excited since 2010 is when I officially start medical school; so I know 2010 is going to be a very special year for me - wonder if it's the same for other people out there?
I'm sure a lot of people heard that during new years eve / new years day we had a Blue Moon. A blue moon (scientifically speaking) is defined as the second full moon in the same calendar month. Blue moons occur once every 3 or 4 years because the lunar calendar is out of sync (slightly) with the solar calendar months. So seeing a blue moon does happen once in a blue moon... but the blue moon on new years was very special. A blue moon on new years eve/day (by my approximate calculations) happens once in 1400 years.
If that's not a herald for the awesomeness that 2010 holds, I don't know what is! I'm particularly excited since 2010 is when I officially start medical school; so I know 2010 is going to be a very special year for me - wonder if it's the same for other people out there?
Cooking fiasco; part Deux
Well I guess it's happened more than once before - but my misadventures with cooking continued the weekend before new years. I was frying some Poori and I guess the dough I was using had a bit too much water in it (or had a pocket of water). So a nice blob of super hot oil jumped out of the pan and... onto my face.
Anyone who cooks has probably felt the sting of hot oil on their skin. Usually, it is limited to somewhere on my hands. But this time the blob landed on my left cheek - ouch. It's healing up well now; but seriously - I think oil has a personal vendetta against me. Almost every time I cook with oil - something silly happens. A mini explosion, blue flames, or searing my face.
I should probably wear my chem lab gear (goggles, gloves and overcoat) while cooking in oil from now on. Yea, that's not weird at all.
Anyone who cooks has probably felt the sting of hot oil on their skin. Usually, it is limited to somewhere on my hands. But this time the blob landed on my left cheek - ouch. It's healing up well now; but seriously - I think oil has a personal vendetta against me. Almost every time I cook with oil - something silly happens. A mini explosion, blue flames, or searing my face.
I should probably wear my chem lab gear (goggles, gloves and overcoat) while cooking in oil from now on. Yea, that's not weird at all.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Grammar and sentence structure
For some reason, I decided to look over my previous blog posts. I quickly realized that my some of my sentences are horribly constructed.
I don't think I can keep getting away with the whole "oh English is my third language!" excuse... so I'll start proof reading my blog posts. Well, to be precise, I'll pay more attention when proof reading them. For now, it's bed time.
I don't think I can keep getting away with the whole "oh English is my third language!" excuse... so I'll start proof reading my blog posts. Well, to be precise, I'll pay more attention when proof reading them. For now, it's bed time.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The engagement ring
I believe this article in the NYTimes was awesome enough to warrant it's own blog post. Especially the part about the engagement ring.
Now, I have my own reasons for shying away from the diamond ring (or diamonds for any occasion). I have a problem with them because of the amount of blood shed (forcibly) to get them into a consumer's hands. But this article gives a much more hilarious reason to stay away from them. And it is practical to boot...
Now you can all watch as I stay single; for the rest of my life.
Now, I have my own reasons for shying away from the diamond ring (or diamonds for any occasion). I have a problem with them because of the amount of blood shed (forcibly) to get them into a consumer's hands. But this article gives a much more hilarious reason to stay away from them. And it is practical to boot...
Now you can all watch as I stay single; for the rest of my life.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Cooking and setting things on fire.
I'm pretty decent at picking up new skills; and cooking is included in those skills. I cook decently well. And south Indian cooking isn't exactly the easiest to cook! So that's saying something.
Anyway.
The interesting part is that I always set something on fire when I cook. Inadvertently. This isn't one of those times when things are supposed to catch fire.
The last time I really cooked was about 5-6 years ago - when I was doing my internship with Keithley Instruments in Solon, OH. That time, I washed a pan and put it on the stove to heat off any remaining water (water + oil when heating = super hot bubbles that pop in your face... they always seem to wait till you are sticking your head over them to pop). Apparently I forgot how high I set the stove... and for how long.
I eventually poured in some oil. And it started smoking. I knew this wouldn't end well.
WHOOSH it caught fire. But it doesn't end there. As pretty as the flames were, I had to put it out. I didn't want to go outside and pop the fire extinguisher (it was a new one in the hall way!). So I figured I could use some dirt from outside. But it had just rained - so that'll be too much work to scoop and put in.
So I did the next best thing! I decided to put it in the sink and turn on the water.
Yes. On an oil fire.
Yes, yes I know that using water to put out an oil fire is a stupid idea. But it's the only thing I could think of. I also knew that it tends to create a huge fireball when the water first hits the oil. So I put the fiery pan in the sink, and I turned on the faucet. Instinctively I pulled the Matrix move of leaning backwards - almost 80 degrees, because I KNEW what was going to happen.
BOOM huge fireball. It was exactly like in the movies - like a mini explosion / rising mushroom cloud of fire. It licked my face as I bent backwards. Fortunately, no singed eyebrows. Since there wasn't that much oil, it died out pretty quick.
Anyway.
Point of that - I set things on fire when I cook. But I still cook pretty well!
The real point of all of this? Well my parents were coming back from Brisbane, Australia today. My dad was participating in the World Transplant Games (it's like the Olympics, but for people who've had transplants). I figure it'd be nice to cook for them (since they really only eat home cooked food) and they'd be too tired to cook for themselves after an 18 hour flight.
Well, it came out well. The salt was a bit off in one of them - but not too bad for not having cooked in years.
While setting up a garnish for one of the dishes - you heat a bit of oil (it always has to be something with oil - only thing I can set on fire really! Then again... I don't put it past me to find new things to set on fire while cooking), put in mustard seeds and wait for them to pop. Then you dump in a couple of red chillis, and pour the whole thing into the dish (Rasam).
I toss in the red peppers. And guess what? WHOOSH. A nice little mini explosion of fire. This fire plume went high enough to touch the cooking range's vents (so from my hip to just over my head). And this flame was blue! Well, a blue-green really. So it was pretty to look at. Fortunately it put itself out pretty quickly. Silly red peppers were completely roasted though. Then again, my grandma used to say that "when a red pepper's nice and roasted does it's spicy-ness leak out". So maybe it was all for the best. I'm not exactly sure why it caught fire this time. It wasn't wet. But maybe some of the oil crackled up and out of the crucible and made contact with the stove's flames? That could set it on fire I guess. But blue-green? That's an odd color for an oil fire.
But hey, they came out well! Okra Sambar. Lemon Rasam. Okra curry. Some Daal on the side too (really just excess daal that I didn't mix in with the sambar and the rasam).
So next time one of my friends asks me to cook for them (which I'm mostly happy to do - I just hate cooking for just myself - too much work / ingredients needed for 1 person ); just remember to bring a fire extinguisher along with your appetite.
Remember to always practice safe cooking. I'm a "trained" professional. Don't try to recreate these awesome stunts at home.
- K out
Anyway.
The interesting part is that I always set something on fire when I cook. Inadvertently. This isn't one of those times when things are supposed to catch fire.
The last time I really cooked was about 5-6 years ago - when I was doing my internship with Keithley Instruments in Solon, OH. That time, I washed a pan and put it on the stove to heat off any remaining water (water + oil when heating = super hot bubbles that pop in your face... they always seem to wait till you are sticking your head over them to pop). Apparently I forgot how high I set the stove... and for how long.
I eventually poured in some oil. And it started smoking. I knew this wouldn't end well.
WHOOSH it caught fire. But it doesn't end there. As pretty as the flames were, I had to put it out. I didn't want to go outside and pop the fire extinguisher (it was a new one in the hall way!). So I figured I could use some dirt from outside. But it had just rained - so that'll be too much work to scoop and put in.
So I did the next best thing! I decided to put it in the sink and turn on the water.
Yes. On an oil fire.
Yes, yes I know that using water to put out an oil fire is a stupid idea. But it's the only thing I could think of. I also knew that it tends to create a huge fireball when the water first hits the oil. So I put the fiery pan in the sink, and I turned on the faucet. Instinctively I pulled the Matrix move of leaning backwards - almost 80 degrees, because I KNEW what was going to happen.
BOOM huge fireball. It was exactly like in the movies - like a mini explosion / rising mushroom cloud of fire. It licked my face as I bent backwards. Fortunately, no singed eyebrows. Since there wasn't that much oil, it died out pretty quick.
Anyway.
Point of that - I set things on fire when I cook. But I still cook pretty well!
The real point of all of this? Well my parents were coming back from Brisbane, Australia today. My dad was participating in the World Transplant Games (it's like the Olympics, but for people who've had transplants). I figure it'd be nice to cook for them (since they really only eat home cooked food) and they'd be too tired to cook for themselves after an 18 hour flight.
Well, it came out well. The salt was a bit off in one of them - but not too bad for not having cooked in years.
While setting up a garnish for one of the dishes - you heat a bit of oil (it always has to be something with oil - only thing I can set on fire really! Then again... I don't put it past me to find new things to set on fire while cooking), put in mustard seeds and wait for them to pop. Then you dump in a couple of red chillis, and pour the whole thing into the dish (Rasam).
I toss in the red peppers. And guess what? WHOOSH. A nice little mini explosion of fire. This fire plume went high enough to touch the cooking range's vents (so from my hip to just over my head). And this flame was blue! Well, a blue-green really. So it was pretty to look at. Fortunately it put itself out pretty quickly. Silly red peppers were completely roasted though. Then again, my grandma used to say that "when a red pepper's nice and roasted does it's spicy-ness leak out". So maybe it was all for the best. I'm not exactly sure why it caught fire this time. It wasn't wet. But maybe some of the oil crackled up and out of the crucible and made contact with the stove's flames? That could set it on fire I guess. But blue-green? That's an odd color for an oil fire.
But hey, they came out well! Okra Sambar. Lemon Rasam. Okra curry. Some Daal on the side too (really just excess daal that I didn't mix in with the sambar and the rasam).
So next time one of my friends asks me to cook for them (which I'm mostly happy to do - I just hate cooking for just myself - too much work / ingredients needed for 1 person ); just remember to bring a fire extinguisher along with your appetite.
Remember to always practice safe cooking. I'm a "trained" professional. Don't try to recreate these awesome stunts at home.
- K out
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
My website is working again! And this time... it's suitable for public consumption!
Well... it may be a slight exaggeration that it's fit for public consumption. For the people that know me... it's still me. Depending on the level of math / science / philosophy and crazy stories I put on here, you can go from "what is he talking about; I have a headache" to "he did WHAT?"
Anyway.
It's still time to rejoice (for me anyway)! I've had this domain for about 6 years... but my websites always ended up fizzling out since I'm not the best with HTML coding and I refuse to figure out annoying web-design programs. So I guess blogging's the way to go. Maybe I'll add a few pages of info etc. too. That'll be a nice easy way to make this into a real page!
Honestly though, between this and facebook; I'm not sure I'll be posting here very often. But it's a nice place to put down my longer thoughts for posterity's sake - better than facebook that's for sure. But then again... I worry about airing anything that comes even close to resembling dirty laundry through blogging. I mean... for one, it's just common sense to not do that. Secondly, you never know when or what things will come back to bite you.
Sadly, this doesn't just include dirty laundry. It can even include certain opinions I (may) have that don't match up with what the majority of the public believes - especially on controversial topics. Of course, the Constitution agrees with me that that's ok; but that doesn't mean potential employers, schools or even business associates agree with that. It could heavily prejiduce them against me - letting them paint an extravangtly negative picture of me.
This is where Facebook seems to be a bit better - you get to restrict your thoughts/posts/pictures etc. to just your friends. I know there's the option to do that with this blog as well... maybe I'll opt to do that in the future. But unlike Facebook, there's no "friend network" set up here. It seems like something that'd be very manual. Now if somehow the blog could tap into my friends list on facebook to populate a list that'd be awesome! Then again... it'd kind of become like facebook...
Well that string of thought didn't end up anywhere. But I guess my point was that free speech and free thought will never really be free.
But will that keep me from talking? Well, those of you who know me know the answer to that. I'll probably find ways to express my opinions on controversial topics without looking like a complete douche either. Or that's the plan anyway.
- Karthik M
Anyway.
It's still time to rejoice (for me anyway)! I've had this domain for about 6 years... but my websites always ended up fizzling out since I'm not the best with HTML coding and I refuse to figure out annoying web-design programs. So I guess blogging's the way to go. Maybe I'll add a few pages of info etc. too. That'll be a nice easy way to make this into a real page!
Honestly though, between this and facebook; I'm not sure I'll be posting here very often. But it's a nice place to put down my longer thoughts for posterity's sake - better than facebook that's for sure. But then again... I worry about airing anything that comes even close to resembling dirty laundry through blogging. I mean... for one, it's just common sense to not do that. Secondly, you never know when or what things will come back to bite you.
Sadly, this doesn't just include dirty laundry. It can even include certain opinions I (may) have that don't match up with what the majority of the public believes - especially on controversial topics. Of course, the Constitution agrees with me that that's ok; but that doesn't mean potential employers, schools or even business associates agree with that. It could heavily prejiduce them against me - letting them paint an extravangtly negative picture of me.
This is where Facebook seems to be a bit better - you get to restrict your thoughts/posts/pictures etc. to just your friends. I know there's the option to do that with this blog as well... maybe I'll opt to do that in the future. But unlike Facebook, there's no "friend network" set up here. It seems like something that'd be very manual. Now if somehow the blog could tap into my friends list on facebook to populate a list that'd be awesome! Then again... it'd kind of become like facebook...
Well that string of thought didn't end up anywhere. But I guess my point was that free speech and free thought will never really be free.
But will that keep me from talking? Well, those of you who know me know the answer to that. I'll probably find ways to express my opinions on controversial topics without looking like a complete douche either. Or that's the plan anyway.
- Karthik M
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