Category Archives: Life notes
The invitations
First, I was invited to speak at a science communication meeting in X in November. Next, I was invited to host an event at Y around the same date. Then I was invited to speak at Z on the same … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged grumpy, manel, public speaking, science communication
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The virtues of local travel
Here’s something I wish I’d read before overtourism and flygskam removed the pristine gloss of desirability from the selfies, 360º panoramas and videos the second-generation elites posted every summer on the social media: It’s ok to prioritize friendships, community, and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Life notes, Op-eds
Tagged Bengaluru, climate change, Delhi, extractive capitalism, flygskam, grifter, Max Weber, mental health, overtourism, Protestant ethic, remote working, Silicon Valley, work from home
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Fear and delight
Earlier this week, I published my 1,100th blog post on this site. It hasn’t been a long and great journey because it hasn’t been a journey, per se, at least I haven’t seen it as one. After publishing each blog … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged blogging, imposter syndrome, inner peace, inner self, The Correspondents, writing habit
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Good writing is an atom
The act of writing well is like an atom, or the universe. There is matter but it is thinly distributed, with lots of empty space in between. Removing this seeming nothingness won’t help, however. Its presence is necessary for things … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes, Scicomm
Tagged dark energy, electrons, galaxy, good writing, Hubble constant, neutrons, protons, science journalism, science writing, universe, vacuum, vacuum energy, void
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One-track mind on a flight
The air hostess I just paid 300 rupees to mistook the 100-rupee note for a 50, and realised her mistake only when I asked her for the change. She said she’d give it to me later because she didn’t have … Continue reading
Fog of war
August 2019 was a crappy month. I’m just emerging from nasty fevers of the body and mind and haven’t fully recovered yet. I’ve become more cynical in the last few weeks – which I didn’t think was possible – and … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged anxiety, depression, Fear Inoculum, Ian C Esslemont, Kindle, Linode, Tool, Trick Mirror, writing
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Being understood
Before the definitive version of Blade Runner was due to be released in April 2015, Michael Newton re-reviewed the film for The Guardian, where he wrote: If the film suggests a connection here that Deckard himself might still at this point deny, at the very … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049, creative writing, fiction, nonfiction, purple prose, writing
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Update on the reading habit
My reading habit has taken a hit this year. There has been more to do at work so I haven’t been able to find the time, but for the sake of keeping up the reading habit, I have tried to … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
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Blogging as a response to the times
I have been a blogger since 2009. I started during the penultimate year of my undergraduate studies as a way to interrogate my own ideas and interpretations of the nonfiction books I started to read around that time, especially those … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
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