Apoptosizing life!!!

Most people are convinced that mortality is the best way of life. Give room for the next generation, dont deplete resources etc., But in one of the many conversations that I had with myself, I was wondering if it really is. It sparked off from the time I read Lord of the Rings. Well I am not much of a fan of fantasy books, but just to make this point, am using it.
The four races described are interesting in terms of their mortality/immortality. The elves, dwarfs, hobbits and us. The shorter the life span the more the population. There are very few dwarfs and even fewer elves. So since we have such a short life span, are we trying to live life in "complete"? In terms of which rapidly reproducing, depleting resources and exploiting the environment? The dwarfs and elves have a more "living with nature" approach. I think while trying to accomplish, we are just growing more and more selfish. We want everything for everyone of us. We dont care if the Olive ridley becomes extinct or who tha Caspian tiger or the dodo really was. Well, not to get very emotional but just reflecting that through the "rat race" we have been reproducing worse than them and taking over everyone's space.
Since it started with the context of life span versus quality of life, I am here day dreaming on how good it would be if we had 20 years to finish a college degree... how better am I going to listen in class?

An ode to PLB524

It was the most amazing course anyone could have taken. The course had only four students registered and we were from 5 different nationalities and from 4 different religion (instructor included). Almost every class extended for another half hour over a table of cookies and coffee discussing religion, philosophy and politics. But the best discussions till date have been about culture and food :-). Now you guys know why I enjoyed the class so much. The instructor had a unique teaching methodology involving formal debates, review writing and movie watching. The best two debates have been about intelligence and the other about death. I wish I had somehow video taped them. I wonder if I would ever come across such diverse thinking again anytime.
If any of you are wondering what this course was, it was gene regulatory networks, offered by a plant pathologist..and believe me, we would never go off subject. Geisler somehow made these amazing connections and kept us grounded on the subject. Well, what an inspiration. Not to study but to teach...

The year 2008

The year 2008 has been the toughest and most memorable year in my life. So as a toast to it, I have started blogging. Here is to the worst and best year of my life