The Story of Romanesco

This most extraordinary looking vegetable was in the market today. The fascinating patterns! Never seen it before. Pinched a tip off when no one was looking and chewed before deciding to buy it. Heartlessly chopped and destroyed its shape. But it made a delicious dish with green chillies and jeera. Had it with vethakozhambu and rice.

p.s. Some googling revealed that it is a cousin of cauliflower. Read this.

Technology Invasion - The Intention Scanner

Call for ethical debate over possible use of new technology in interrogation

A team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act.

This device has been developed for interrogation. What makes it different from a lie detector is that it can understand the intentions of the person. It is aimed to be used to interpret the mind of suspects to see if they had any intent to commit crime. The technology of the brain scanner may also be used in medicine. It could help a patient manipulate an artificial limb merely by thought.

Having worked with software - and software always has bugs - as a tester for several years now, I am not always filled with trust for anything that has code in it. Carefully programmed and thoroughly tested code has bugs. And this scanner claims to interpret thoughts in the complex human brain? It may even have power to decide the fate of the persons involved. For now, it reports a 70% accuracy. So, aside all the ethical issues, how does one trust its verdict?

[ Listen to the Guardian Podcast about this ]

Snow caused train cancellations

Stayed at home. Drank numerous cups of tea. Lazed on the sofa. Peered out the window at committed people going to work. Saw people have snowball fights. Wondered where the stray cat hid last night. Watched the leaves heave with snow. Sat on a chair by the window and read a book. Switched off the tv after weather reports. Cleared snow from the windows and pavement. Thawed fingers from the hot water of the sink tap. Made a snowman. Turned to dog. See the picture.

Fridged duck from Florida

There was a duck, like every other duck. Was it ring necked, they said? It was shot by a hunter. Taken to his home. Kept in a fridge. For two days and a bit.

Then, the lady of the house opened the door of the fridge, to cook it for dinner, I think. The duck, aroused from sleep lifted its head and looked up at her. She gasped, I suppose in fright. But then they said she rescued it

The duck was sent to the table. Not as dinner, but as a patient. To be operated and made well. After all it was a badly aimed shot at the wing.

The duck has got a name now - Perky - and lots of fame. And the country is worrying for this duck and weeping for its recovery. Why, there are even T-Shirts being made and sold by volunteers at Goose Creek(whatever that is) to pay for care for that duck.

Its on the news and in internet news videos and on prominent international media

Scary or Funny? - How to tackle global warming

This was on the Front Page of the Guardian a few days ago.

The US government wants the world's scientists to develop technology to block sunlight as a last-ditch way to halt global warming [more]

And, another set of opinions in the Guardian

...Yet, as the Guardian reveals today, instead of sitting up and listening, the US is lobbying the panel to concentrate on science-fiction solutions, such as putting giant mirrors into space. Some politicians and corporations are waking up to the challenge, but too many are still in their slumber. [more]


Every scheme that could give us a chance of preventing runaway climate change should be considered on its merits. But the proposals for building a global parasol don't have very many. [more]