Crime and Punishment - the Boston Franchise...

...much more from the Boston boonies...

---Initial parts of this post were composed three weeks ago. Adjust chronological descriptions accordingly!---

Health, or the lack thereof
My last week was spent in bed, the days punctuated by bouts of high fever, shivering and cough, and the nights filled with more coughing! As a rule, I am loath to take anything more than supportive therapy, because most of these nagging illnesses are viral and subside by themselves; unless they are of bacterial origin, and I know that I will not be able to function at more than a sorta-vegetative state without antibiotics. well, I was at that point and it took three different antibiotics and 10 days to subdue this relatively "simple" upper respiratory tract infection. No more rales and rhonchi, S!
I wonder how others in this country would fare? my limited observations (friends as patients, mainly!) has led me to believe that there is an over dependence on the medical system when you have insurance, and an under utilization when you do not. I want to be out there in the field, providing free health care, using my god-given knowledge and skills (as they mentioned in med school - "god only knows how he finished medical school" :) ) . But I am unable to do as I please, for a variety of reasons - economic, residency, immigration. "Patience, patients, patience", I tell myself! :) Massachusetts has a mandatory health insurance requirements for all its residents, but the expected increases in health care coverage among those whom the plan was intended for - the low income group - has been minor. Still, it's early days yet!

Who let the dogs in?
Someone broke into our apartment this week. Nothing that was stolen was irreplaceable, but it made me seriously think of a guard dog, heck any dog! I also had a unique experience of watching a poor man's CSI detective at work (a.k.a real life detective) - charcoal fingerprint kit, underfunded, understaffed, and no, the DNA analysis is not available at the touch of a button. Detective MM, was polite, courteous, and full of suggestions on making the house and electronics (which items were stolen) safe. Quite a contrast to the traditional stereotype of a Boston Police Officer, but then, we live in Brookline (the Genteel Suburb), and the Brookline PD is known for its politeness!

Fame?
In recent news, my quote was featured in the Boston magazine article on a Cambridge churches tour. One of my friends, L, asked me to join her on a "Cambridge Churches as Agents of Change" tour, and I got asked for my opinion of the tour. Me being me, I had to sound deep and knowledgeable, and all-knowing, and ended up sounding pretty pretentious in the article. That will teach me!

Heading down to NYC this weekend, to catch up with the Maitra and Lo (behold! - sorry, could not resist)! Given my string of luck (My numerology number is 4), I probably risk getting mugged, or be a part of a finding-a-bag-full-of-money-and-then-get-chased-by-the-FBI-and-the-Mafia adventure!
Bring it on!

what's happening in Boston?

Has anyone caught the 'Beatles' movie, "Across the Universe"? Chetan's endless replay of Strawberry fields and other random Beatles (henceforth called "B") songs - not to mention his B quizzing - seems to have gained root somewhere in me, because i loved the movie. okay, it was somewhat formulaic, but hey, it's all about the B. How about the B trivia ingrained in the movie - the rooftop concert, the characters named after B songs, "She Came in through the Bathroom Window", the green apple from the Apple Records logo; All of this speaks of true fandom, or as I came to realize when I was present in the Crowded House, Chetan's obsession. On par with Jethro Tull, but that is a post for another day.
On the work front, i am keeping busy. Talk at a lab meeting turned to Harvard, and Irv, who is a HMS graduate from way back in the day, mused aloud, "You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can't tell him anything" :). Word.
Last week was Adi's 6th birthday. A "Mad Scientist" performance was the highlight of the party - i missed most of it, so i cannot verify the popularity of said Mad Scientist performance, but if cotton candy making was any indication, it was a hit!
On a similar celebratory note, appy birdy day, alo.
On the culinary front, I have been active. Of course, one does not by Vee's yardstick, measure performance or quality, as sadly lacking, i will be. But I can say that I carried a whole meal from appetizers (masala dosa with coconut chutney) to entrees (peas pulav, chole, aloo paratha) to desserts (semiya payasam), all in one evening, for my whole lab. I have rediscovered my alter ego, Super Cooker, and I bring him out when there's is trouble in food land.
What else's hanging in Brookline village? the roommate situation is a bit ambiguous right now, and a flux capacitor is required to fill in room vacancies. if you or someone you know wants have a great time in Boston with wonderful roommates, you know who to call.
Spring is in the air, my bike is out of storage... off to Fenway I bike...

Oye, friends...

I spent the evening with Amar, he of the Joslin Clinic fame. We didn't do anything spectacular - dined at Rami's in Brookline, watched a movie at Fenway, and talked... mostly talked. That felt nice. It was good to talk to someone who knew where i came from, where i was going... kosh, wither thou? it's been too long . The reason why they did not base inspirational movie scripts on our (Amar and mine) friendship in the med school days was because we weren't particularly close. We knew each other, and of each other, and I was always the "different" (read weird) kid who hung out with the engineers. But ever since my move to Beantown, we have hung out more often than in all of our medical days! And enjoyed hanging out. Amar used to travel across town to meet up. He trekked across every Sunday (almost!) to watch the NFL on my TV, patiently explaining to me that the "reason why they do not go for an offensive game on the fourth down is because they want to play it safe", and more answers to other asinine questions of mine... i still say that the offensive linemen should pull down the quarterback's pants while he is throwing, which sneaky strategy will work to a team's psychological advantage... Our times together involved talking about life, sports, molecular diabetology, and at some point, we watch a movie! good times...
These thought ran through my head when I was talking to my friend J about.... friends... with whom we are in touch... and i was telling her that my first response to a "need to talk" is to dial India! Why is that? Is it that it is a hardwired response? With the time difference, it can get difficult, but i cling to it (in a good way!)... As much as i love talking to folks back home, I also have close friends here that I can talk to just as easily, and I do talk to them... And my mentors are my best friends!! sharing my times of sadness and joy, of failure and success, of paradise lost and paradise regained, I am here now...
Hurrah for Amar!

America's Next Top Statistical Model

I get a call from Jess, who was excited about this idea that has been conceived by her friend Andy. Andy who goes to the Harvard School of Public Health wanted to spoof the show "America's Next Top Model" and make "America's Next Top Statistical Model"!! Given that I am used to making the most pathetic statistical puns, even in Data analysis class, Jess thought that I would enjoy getting my hands dirty with this... and she was right... we sat together one sunny Sunday and made the whole thing!! it was great fun!
Andy got together a class cast to act out the characters and with about 6 practice sessions, they were ready... cool... i added background effects and we were good to go for Harvard School of Public Health's International Night! they were amazing on stage and i loved watching the abstract puns come to life...hahaha

The background of the play:
There are 8 statistical models and the compere, Ion T-test, gives them a task based on which one will be chosen "America's Next Top Statistical Model". The email (ahem..."STATA MAIL") outlining the task:
Hey Ya’ll, I need some help. My grandmother has come down with some serious heartache. I need you to help me lessen her risk. So ladies, it’s time to pimp my relative’s risk. In this challenge, you will each have to build a model that will fill her aorta and balloon her heart with love. Please turn your output and syntax into me by midnight.
In Confidence,
Ion T-Test

the fun begins soon after!

This is not the whole play and it is missing bits, as you can make out, and this was shot with a handheld so the audio is a little screwy, but enjoy it all the same!




It links here

Eventful...

January 2005: Jim and the impromptu "Happy Birthday to You" rendition @ the Boston Symphony Hall!
January 2006: Ram, Shalini, Nunu and Sitara @ Asmara... and how did that cake get sneaked in under my very nose? Brilliant!
January 2007: Afsan, Tara, Mo, Caroline, Magali, Greg @ Addis and follow-up with sleigh bells, cake and "funny" (atleast he thought he was!) waiter at Garden of Eden....

Yep... eventful, wonderful, memorable... its what we live for, isnt it? *sigh*