Making a bonsai

I am Just getting started in bonsai!
I am currently learning the technique not for any biotech assignment or project but just out of enthu.

Expert: Mike Hansen
Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Useful links:

http://www.bonsaiforbeginners.com/Bonsai-tools.html

http://how-to-make-a-bonsai.com

Viva

He came, He terrorized and left with an expressionless face. He was an external examiner that had come for my bioinformatics viva. When my roll number was called, my heart thumped and I was already shaking while walking towards him. He asked me to be seated and I quickly grabbed my seat.”So “he began and took a pause while going through my journal, I was saying to myself inside “what ‘so’, just ask and finish the damn thing and set me free”

After wasting my time by ordering for coffee, with his terrorizing eyes and stern expression he asked me the full form of RNA at a very low voice. I asked him to repeat as I couldn’t hear him, he repeated with a bit louder but unclear tone. It sounded like ion A but since that doesn’t have a full form so I guessed it must be RNA. I answered. Before I completed my answer he bombarded me with another question. This time it was to list naturally occurring sources of distilled water. I was saying to myself,”damn…what has distilled water go to do with bioinformatics?” I began staring at the ceiling but that didn’t help. I mentioned rain but he refused (I should have said that natural distilled water is definitely found on mars and say if  he would refuse me this time  then I would ask him to go and check it for himself ).Without waiting long he moved on to another question. This time again deviating from our bioinformatics syllabus he asked me,” what is cloning”? I wanted to answer him right this time so to make sure I asked him if he wanted the definition or the procedure; without paying attention to my question he repeated again what is cloning, but this time in sterner voice. My mouth went dry with fear & without wasting time I gave him the definition. With his expressionless face it was hard to say if he was satisfied with the answer or not. Sometimes these heartless creatures seem so weird while asking question without giving a slightest clue whether your answer is right or wrong.

Further, he pointed to an accession Id mentioned in my journal and asked what it denoted. I was sure that it was a unique number assigned to every new protein or Gene sequence discovered. He began smiling & biting his lips, was it that he didn’t know how to smile or was he scorning and mocking at my answer it was hard to tell. My anger was fuelled up already with his expression but it’s better to control ones’ anger in such situations as it might affect one’s marks. Further the grilling continued till he could.

I heaved a huge sigh of relief when the battle came to an end. Next day, with friends we went for a movie to relax and forget the taxing experience.

Researcher Ki Kahani

Apne Project ke bojh tale dabaa ja raha hai,
WO dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Zindagi se hara hua hai, Par schedule se haar nahi manta,
Apne culture ki ek ek strain isne analyse ki hai,
par aaj kaun se rang ke 'socks' pehne hain, ye nahi jaanta,
Din par din DNA isolate karta ja raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Agarose Gel mein contaminated Bands dhoond leta hai par,
Majboor dost ki aankhon ki nami dikhayi nahi deti,
PC pe hazaar windows khuli hain,
Par dil ki khidki pe koi dastak sunayi nahi deti,
Sunday nahata nahi, week days ko naha raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Kitabon me gulab rakhne wala , PI ki email mein red flag lagaa raha hai,
Dil ki zameen se armaano ki vidayi ho gayi, Din bhar mails ke jawaab de raha hai,
Weekends pe daroo peke jo jashn mana raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Maze lena ho iske to poochh lo,
"Thesis submission" ki party kab de rahe ho,
Hansi udana ho to pooch lo,
"Publication" kab chaap rahe ho?
Wo dekho Foreign se laute project-mate ki chocolates kha raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Kharche bad rahe hain, Baal kam ho rahe hain,
Fellowship ki date ati nahi,
Analysis ke sitam ho rahe hain,
Lo phir se bus chhoot gayi, Auto se aa raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...

Pizza gale se nahi utarta,
To "Coke" ke sahare nigal liya jata hai,
Canteen ki "Thaali" dekh muh banata hai,
Maa ke haath ka khana use roz yaad ‘aata hai,
"Coffee" bani hai phir bhi, cuttin “Chai” pee raha hai,
Wo dekho ek researcher chala ja raha hai...
Aapne ab tak li hongi bahut si chutkiyan,

ek researcher ke jivan ka sach batati ye aakhri kuch panktiyan,
Hazaron ki tankhwah wala, Company ki karodon ki jeb bharta hai,
ek researcher wahi ban sakta hai, Jo lohe ka jigar rakhta hai,
Hum log jee jee ke marte hain , Zindagi hai kuch aisi,
Ek fauj ki naukri, doosri ek researcher ki ,Dono ek jaisi


(Anonymous)

Buddha's Zen

Buddha said: "I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on my foot. I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion of magicians. I discern the highest conception of emancipation as a golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated ones as flowers appearing in one's eyes. I see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of daytime. I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as but traces left by the four seasons."

AM I EDUCATED?

I was once proud to be born and brought up in Mumbai. After all it’s the cosmopolitan city, financial capital, city of dreams an moreover home to bollywood.Being born  here I thought is a privilege in itself, but being brought up here has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Speaking of the disadvantages as a student, the malls are a source of distraction, every style or fashion icon creates even larger hole in parent’s pockets, the education system sucks, as it is besmirched to  money vending machines. Schooling includes boring, monotonous classroom lectures with hardly any outdoor activities, because we have no space to build school grounds. Where is the most needed physical activity? Where are intellectual classroom lectures that involve intense group discussions? I know I have no right to say any of it as schools are constantly striving hard to improve their current models and are growing day by day, thanks to increasing population.Inspite of every argument I put forth, there is no quality emerging within students except the creamy layer, comprising only a few. My observation has been that generally I find, Mumbai kids suit well to the corporate culture that demands a call centre or a bpo job, few choose to be teachers, and very few choose to be doctors or engineers. They settle for early big bucks without giving a second thought to the means by which they are earning or how long will they be earning. To an extent the increasing social pressures ,desires and need to pace up with inflation is to be blamed, but on the long term perspective, rising instabilities, job sacks, dissatisfaction are bound to follow.

What is lacking are experts required for each field, but who taught us the basics when we were in school or even when we reached college that are owned by political leaders ever since. Why do I fare horrible in my viva even when they ask basic questions?Where is the source of inspiration to study while there are banners of Munni and Sheila all over the footpaths? It’s easier to obtain a pirated DVD than educational books on our stalls. So is it Mumbai’s education system to be blamed for not producing better experts? Or do we once again blame it on the politicians.

I am waiting for the day when I say that being educated here was indeed a privilege!