Soma Purana

I saw a brief interview on MSNBC this morning with a doctor,  "Zeke" Emanuel.  I was astounded by the topic and found this provocative article. I subscribe to his  views entirely. http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/014/09/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75/379329/

I always wanted to make short math videos for my class. I tried making my first video. Surporisingly, it was pretty easy and came out fine on the first attempt itself. http://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=1ygx_ZAgL0g&u=/watch%3Fv%3D43nMxh5lxoM%26feature%3Dem-upload_owner I don't know why the URL is so long.

I got a newsletter yesterday from my healthcare company. It provided a checklist of preventative care items that apply to me specifically (considering my age and gender). I was surprised; it included so many items and vaccines I was not aware were included. The one that caught my attention is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. I looked up and learned something. If our blood vessel is weak in a spot it widens or bulges like a car tire does (have you seen bulging occasionally on a worn tire?). Such a bulge is called  aneurysm. The blood vessel we are talking about is aorta which is a large artery that supplies blood to various parts of the body. Abdominal aorta is located in the abdomen.  Localized widening or bulging of a bdominal aorta is called  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. There! The problem with Abdominal aortic aneurysm is often it does not cause symptoms.  Rupture of an aortic aneurysm is a catastrophe  where blood escapes the aorta and the patient can quickly bleed to death. T

I sign up for MOOCs like crazy and then drop quite a few and settle on manageable number. Righ now I am pursuing three MOOCs. Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios by Duke University: Another chemistry course! I took MIT's Solid State Chemistry before I was lost in that very broad course. This Duke's course is much narrower and I have benefited a great deal in getting a really good understanding. An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python - Rice University: I already had taken two python courses before (Michigan and MIT). In this Rice course we will be developing several games. I am looking forward to this. Mechanical Behavior of Materials - MIT: I love this course. This is hard. This is hardcore mechanical engineering. There are so many topics in this course that I should have learned in my engineering college but never did because they were never taught.

When I read some statements by so called great people, I say to myself, wow! no wonder he (or she) is great. But then, they say somethings that trouble me. For instance, there is this swami called "Ravishankar." He seems to be bright, good natured, and seems to brought happiness to millions of people. But I see he is referred to as Sri Sri Ravishankar. Why Sri Sri? Even God gets only one Sri.  I saw a photo of him wearing a fabulous crown. I saw somewhere his statement "If you feel lonely and feel that no one loves you and cares for you - remember me." What does this means? If I remember you, my feelings disappear? If I remember you, you will love me and care for me? How?

Since the last time I reported I have completed the following MOOCs. Justice by Michael Sandel - Harvard U Introduction to Solid State Chemistry - MIT: really hard course!  Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python - MIT another hard course Internet History, Technology, and Security - U of Michigan Programming for Everybody (Python) - U of Michigan So far I have completed 31 courses. In the last two years, I took many biology related courses (e.g., Genetics, Epigenetics, Programmed Cell Death). I am now focusing on computer science and chemistry. Right now, I am pursuing another chemistry course. The rate of MOOCs has dropped somewhat, primarily because the courses I am taking now are harder courses (I took harder courses before also but they were interspersed with somewhat easier courses).