Back to the future with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Here is a series of tweets by Neil deGrasse Tyson on 21st October 2015, known as the Back To The Future Day to the fans of the Back To The Future franchise. In the film Back To The Future II, on October 26th 1985, the protagonists time-travel to 21st October 2015. So, admittedly, the future is past as I write this blog post. In his first tweet Neil deGrasse Tyson writes

As the Geekiverse knows well, today is “Back to the Future II Day”. So let’s do this... pic.twitter.com/kWepmtsirX

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

He goes on checking the things that we have achieved, and the things we haven't.

On thumbprints:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Thumbprint Locks. [Got it] pic.twitter.com/hrBia4aXje

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On video chat:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Video Chats. [Got it] pic.twitter.com/LKI7tiCaoY

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On pocket digital cameras:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Video Chats. [Got it] pic.twitter.com/LKI7tiCaoY

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On precision rainforcasting:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” imagined life on Oct 21 2015: Precision RainForecasting [Nope] pic.twitter.com/K5dwlyeL1z

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On drone-walked dogs:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Drone-walked Dogs. [Nope] pic.twitter.com/pYxGqWhMeB

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On multiple home fax machine:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” showed life on Oct 21, 2015: Multiple Home Fax Machines [WTF?] pic.twitter.com/VfOLQ77D9Z

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On double necktie:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” showed life on Oct 21, 2015 — Double Neckties. [WTF?] pic.twitter.com/CCGAgs9F8a

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On inefficient post offices:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” showed life on Oct 21 2015 -- Inefficient Post Offices. [Still got ‘em]

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On home fusion reactors:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Home Fusion Reactors. [Nope] pic.twitter.com/iTojVbwWeu

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On flying cars:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Flying Cars. [Still no] pic.twitter.com/Amncgq7JRA

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On lawyers:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015: Lawyers Abolished. [Dream on] pic.twitter.com/MiOg5puLmK

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On hoverboards:

The 1989 film “Back to the Future II” envisioned life on Oct 21, 2015 — Hoverboards. [Working on it] pic.twitter.com/9zprapgeg6

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

On Cubs:

The 1989 film “BackToTheFuture II” foretold life on Oct 21, 2015 — Cubs win World Series. [Unlikely] pic.twitter.com/IUsoSCZxcj

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 21, 2015

Hope the fans would like this commentary on the present as envisaged thirty years earlier in a science fiction film by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Kolkata, as I want you to see her

Finally I got a new idea for this almost dead blog that I attempt to maintain at times. My friend (born to and brought up by a very endearing Kannadiga family in Bangalore) has been staying in Kolkata for over five years. After much dillydallying, her mother finally decided to come and spend 10 days with my friend. And I have been entrusted with the task of making a list of places to see. Although I know there are better persons around us to do this job, I did it quite honestly.

Here is what I wrote to her (in italics).

The places you might want to take you Amma:

Kolkata Park Street - Esplanade region:

1. Town Hall Museum (I have not been there, at least I don't remember)
2. Eden Gardens, Shahid Minar, Raj Bhavan (See them on the way)
3. Indian Museum 
4. Asiatic Society (There is a museum and a library)
5. Armenian Church in B.B.D. Bagh area
6. Job Charnok's Tomb near B.B.D. Bagh
7. South Park St. Cemetary
8. Lower Circular Road Cemetary (Getting a bit spooky? skip them)

Kolkata Rabindrasadan Area

1. Victoria Memorial Hall and Museum
2. St. Paul's Cathedral (You may want to check the timings online)
3. Academy of Fine Arts
4. Gaganendra Pradashanshala
5. Netaji Bhavan

Central - North Kolkata:

1. Ashutosh Museum In Calcutta University College St Campus (Centenary Building)
2. Jorasanko Thakurbari
3. Vivekananda's Ancestral Home
5. Mahajati Sadan (there is a museum inside)
6. Thanthane Kalibari (near Bethume College: Not a visual pleasure, but has some historical significance)
7. Firingee Kalibari (B.B. Ganguly St., Bowbazar. Built by a European named Anthony who married a Hindu Brahmin Widow, this temple is a testimony of the medieval tyranny that was rampant in Bengal in those days. I have never been there.)
8. Nakhoda Mosque (You can see this from outside. However since it is on the infamous Rabindra Sarani, I would suggest not to go after 4 p.m.)
9. Marble Palace

East Kolkata:

1. Science City
2. Mother Teresa's Home (near Taltola Sealdah)
3. Nicco Park (Really?)

Extreme North Kolkata:

1. Dakshineswar
2. Belur Math (boat ride and the evening prayer)
3. Barrackpore Gandhi Ghat and Museum (and the Railway Stn)

South:

1. Kalighat Temple (Skip it, and I mean it)
2. Gurusaday Museum (a bit too far, in Joka. But an amazing place to be in. Here is a link: http://www.gurusadaymuseum.org/)
3. Alipore Zoo (in a pathetic state)
4. Tipu Sultan's Mosque in Anwar Shah Road
5. Greek Church Near Kalighat
6. Birla Temple Ballygunge
7. Birla Industrial and Technological Museum
8. Yet another spooky place: Bhawanipore Cemetary (near the Zoo)
9. National Library
10. Agri-Horticultural Society
11. The two Jails: Presidency Jail and Alipore Jail (Politically incorrect: they are now correctional homes. And of course to be seen from outside)
12. My home 

West:

1. Of course, the Ganga and boat ride
2. Armenian Ghat 
3. Princep Ghat
4. Millenium Park (You might not want to be seen there with your mom)
5. Botanical Garden
6. The three bridges connecting Kolkata and Howrah
7. Howrah Station

This is pretty much what I know about Kolkata and adjoining areas. A lot of interesting places (Example: Mysore Garden adjoining Keoratala Crematorium) have been deliberately omitted, and a lot that have been included may not be worth seeing. Tried to add a little bit of humour here and there, bad jokes as usual, I know. 

 I know it would be cool to post some pictures along with the places. May be, just may be I will stop procrastinating some day... 

Granada on a three day conference

The trip to Granada was via Delhi (onward: 16 hr hault, return: 8 hr hault) and Moscow (22 hr hault, return: 12 hr hault). We got down at Malaga International Airport, named after Picasso, and took a bus from there. There is a smaller airport in Granada, named after Lorca. Overall, the wordle below sort of explains it:

The decade that was...

• 2000: Appeared for the first big exam in life - Madhyamik. Joined a new school, learnt to make new friends and adjust. Olympics
• 2001: New life brought troubles. Was dead confused what to do in life. So gave up all hopes and took to writing poems (which was an absolute failure, big time).
• 2002: Yet another board exam. Gave up continuing with Physics and Chemistry. Wanted to take up Statistics but landed up in the Economics Dept. of my college. World Cup Football.
• 2003: In January experienced the coldest days of my life in Kolkata.
• 2004: Got the right to vote. Also appeared for University exam: part 1. Olympics
• 2005: Lost interest in voting politics altogether, and appeared for University exam part 2. Joined masters' course.
• 2006: In one year made a whole bunch of new friends and new idols. Appeared for Part 1 exam. World Cup football.
• 2007: Appeared for Part 2 exam. Joined ISI. Felt the initial adjustment problems. Had Somindu as hostel roommate, though we hardly interacted.
• 2008: Illness and death ruled this year. A fresh breath of air was brought in by Apd. Olympics.
• 2009: Became SRF. And nothing much significant except for my trip to B'lore and Kerala.
• 2010: A year full of incidents. I got engaged and brother got married.

Life hasn't changed much, just added a few responsibilities.

Most significant achievement: Gained 20 kg in 10 years!

Earthquake

For the first time in my life I experienced an earthquake at around 1:30 a.m. in the morning. It is not that in the past twenty six years there hasn't been a single occurrence of earthquake in Kolkata, a city I have been staying in for almost that time. But this is the first time I realized that the earth has shaken.
It is strange that earthquakes mostly hit in the middle of the night. Like ghosts. What are they afraid of? Lack of impact? Less loss of lives? And less media coverage? This nightmarish attitude of earthquake is the reason I never felt its presence before. Every time (twice or thrice I suppose, not counting the Tsunami) next morning I would be informed that it did happen. And I would miss the opportunity to watch things toppling or water in a bucket becoming turbulent. Remember those were the days I used to go to a school and was just another kid in the block, following a daily routine prescribed by parents. Those were the days of no late nights. Things have changed much in the past few years. My sleeping habit has undergone a sea change. 1:30 a.m. isn't exactly the time I would fall asleep. I was sitting on my bed working with my laptop only to notice that my head is spinning. I thought I must have fallen ill. Then I found the doors that were open fluttering like a flag on the pole hinting that earthquake has arrived the town. It happened for at least 30 seconds! The simultaneous cawing of crows and shrill shouts of the inmates of Irene Curie Hall confirmed it was 'that queer shake' with epicentre near the Andamans.
It brought with it the haunted memories of Latur (1993) and Gujarat (2001), the cries and whispers they brought to us. And the resilience of the Japanese, their way to live with it...

One more realization

One interesting thing I noticed, 'random' is probably the most common word that is used in blog titles. Its just an eye reading though.

Introspection

I just realized one thing for the first time. Though I named my blog as "Archiving Randomness...", quite an ambitious name for a blog, it is not highly random. Most of my posts have revolved around rain. I call it a quit till I can come up with something more meaningful or more divergent topics.