Medical Records

Google has launched its Google Health beta test site. You can sign on to keep all of your medical records on this site. Google will work with the providers (e.g., Walgreens, Medco, Hospitals, etc.) to compile your medical information. You can choose to release this information to others and you can also add information on your own too. You can add information about your medical condition, immunizations, medications, allergies, etc. Currently, the level of permissions on the data is a the global level. That is, all or nothing type of release is the only one available.

What is interesting in this beta site is the notion that you can control the access and release of your private medical data, which is part of your Digital Persona. Google acts as an agent for you and ensures that the trust and security that you desire are offered by Google. In effect, Google works like a Trust Bank (see our paper). This is an idea that I proposed in our NSF proposal. Unfortunately, the reviewers felt that the idea would be too difficult to implement and that there would be lot of resistance from "luddites" - a term the reviewers used.

I am curious to see how Google pulls this off and also to see if NSF will revisit how they appoint reviewers to panels!

First Solo Public Performance

April 26, 2008 at The Old Opera Cafe, Nevada, Iowa
Boy! What a rush it was! It took almost a day for me to wind down. It was the most exhilarating experience in my life . I never imagined that I would play the flute for nearly two hours. Not only did I play that long, the crowd did not leave. They stayed until I called it a night. I am sure they stayed back because they enjoyed the music!

My accompanist, Atul (Tabla) was somewhat anxious prior to the event. He had reasons to be anxious. we had played together very little and we had a few hours of practice together. He was worried we may not have enough material to go on for two hours. Somehow I felt at ease going into the performance. Perhaps, I got confidence from the advice Kudamaloorji gave me (he asked me to enjoy my music and play tunes that I enjoy!). I had also gotten some tips from Misha - to reduce the complexity of notes. Once I started improvising on the fly I could go on without feeling exhausted.

For anyone interested in viewing and listening tot he performance (not a great recording) go to my VOX site or Facebook page.

Shashank's Flute Lect-Dem

The much awaited lecture demonstration of Carnatic flute by Shashank finally came to pass on April 20. Because of the rescheduling of his concerts there was a slight chance we would not have this event. But I and several others were glad that the event did take place.

Shashank reached Ames around 5:00 a.m., driving from Madison, Wisconsin where he had performed the previous evening. He had with him his wife, Shirisha, daughter Swara, violinst, and percussionist.

We hurriedly set up an audio system for Shashank and his percussionist (Phalgun). Appu helped so did Srikanth. Boy, was the carpet dirty! Viren pulled a surprise on me by asking me to introduce the artists to the audience.

Shashank gave a well received lecture and demo. He started with a lecture about the scales and melodies (raagas). He demonstrated the ascending and descending 12 notes from which raagas are composed. He chose Shankarabharanam ragam to demonstrate the nuances of the Indian music. The raagam is well known among westerners as C major scale. The audience could easily relate to the comparison. The C-major scale and the raagam in its plain form sounded exactly the same. He moved on to show how the Indian version differs. By introducing slides and microtones the notes get decorated. While only a few notes are affected this way for the raagam, he took another raagam, Todi to show how all the notes are modified.

He then went on to describe how Carnatic music makes use of the time cycles or rhythms. One hubderd and fortyfour different rhythmic cycles are possible and when combined with the huge number of raagams Carnatic music really turns into a treat to listen and learn!

He and the percussionist then took the audience through the various (not 144) rhythms as he played Shankarabharanam ragam. He concluded the event with a lecture on how he uses different flutes to go across multiple octaves.

By the time the lect-dem got done it was time to move to the City auditorium for the evening's concerts! What a busy day!

Back from hiatus

I took myself out of writing and posting to see if I can. I am glad to note that I did not feel any withdrawl symptoms. Since my last posting the world has changed. Whether the changes are for godd or evil is upto each person experiencing these changes. The whole family visited India and is back at their tasks. The Air India experiences are never to be forgotten. If there is a good use of the phrase, Never Again, it is to be applied to flying by Air India. It is a blight on a nation that is trying to show progress.

By the way, I have a new interesting blog at vox, which is a mix of social network and blog. If you are interested go take a look.

Flying While Asian

The recent detention of 12 men of Asian (or as reported by media, resembling Pakistani or middle eastern or more correctly brown skinned) origin on the Nortwest flight and two men on the Manchester flight are lucid examples of a society that has gone crazy. It is now dangerous for an Asian man or woman (soon) to fly, drive, ride bus or train, or even eat or stand in a public place without being detained. All because the uneducated, paranoid majority (namely the white trash who are also likely to be in law and other government agencies) are scared. These folks had never used whatever brains they may have, and will never be able to think coherently. The media, again a bastion of ignorant bigots, adds fuels to the issue.

If the situation does not improve, perhaps, the same treatment ought to be meted out to all caucasians, whether they are Americans or Europeans travelling and present in Asian countries. An eye for an eye makes everyone blind but the blind cannot see color!

Madness in Madras

M. Karunanidhi, the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, has done it again. Waive loans, offer rice at Re. 2 per kg, etc. This type of actions bankrupt the state. The old fart and his party do not learn from history. I guess equal blame sould go to the electorate, the ignorant asses! There should be a law against such acts.

Shame on you, GOP

Republican party claims to uphold free market enterprise and decry government interventions in private and public life of the citizens. In recent years, their behaviour is anything but that. For example, they have voted down a provision that would have ensured network freedom. Instead their actions support companies that run the internet infrastructure to put limitations on other users. In another instance, the representatives are planning on making the DMCA more draconian by removing the right to have fair use of copy righted material. Even a thought of using copy righted material can be reason for prosecution!

Big money can and does change the way these people behave. They are no longer for the people, by the people, or of the people. They are just selfish, greedy, predators. I guess it is a moral duty of every citizen to ensure that these rogues are voted out of power!

How many blogs?

I keep quite a few blogs. Some are on Blooger.com. Others are on Radio, MSN Space, Yahoo 360. I do not always keep all of these blogs upto date. May be one day!

Firefox to the Blog

Adding a blog entry through the Browser is a cool thing. Often, as I read a page, I may want to write some thoughts. I do not want to wait for a "better time" to do this. I had tried Firefox a while ago but was not happy the way it worked on my laptop PC. I have seen many of my students using Firefox and am tempted to give it a try again. This is the result!

In Aalborg

Appu and I had an uneventful, almost uneventful, trip to Aalborg. The only excitement came when we were not able to reach Rema or Haema (her cell phone) from Copenhagen airport. We were calling the number but apparently missed dialing the city code. Our helper, an SAA employee, did not know we had to dial the code. So, we decided to try our luck at locating Rema at the train station in Aalborg. Lucky for us, Appu figured out how to make the phone call -- I think he finally woke up. But, Rema had already come to the train station.

We dragged our luggage (of course they have wheels), reached the apartment. Met our neighbors, the Reddys, got our foam mattresses, and promptly went to sleep. Haema was out at a birthday party. When she came in we both (Appu and I) were fast asleep. we woke up to find Haema and her friend, Sofie.

We went out yesterday to do a little shopping. I bought 4 coffee cups (for the Senseo coffee machine). I love the design of the appliances stuff here.

Today, Sunday, we called Delhi and talked to Anu and Rema's mom on Skype. We also figured out that Rema needs a different microphone to use with the mac.

Thats all for now. Time to take a bath and get out again -- in the cold....brrrr....

Goint to Denmark

On Thursday, November 18, Appu and I are going to Aalborg, Denmark for a week. This is our Thanksgiving Holiday week. Appus does not have classes and so do I. Though it is going to be cold, just as it is in Iowa, there is no other time we could go and see Haema and Rema. From what I hear, Haema is gearing up to get into a fight with us. She has been honing her skills with her mom!

Staying alone, while having its own advantages, is quite stressful, especially when one has to manage a house and all of the trimmings that come with it. I am ready to share that work load!

Once we get to Denmark, I will write more.

Half of solitude is over

It has been seventyseven days since Rema and Haema left for Denmark. According to Haema, another 59 days to freedom! Also, it has been exactly two months since Appu left home to live in the dorms at Iowa State University. I state all of this to showcase that I have survived so long.

Appu comes every weekend, well almost every weekend, to do his laundry and take in the full dose of TV! His midterms are over. He has not yet told me how he has fared. I hope he does well!

Though Rema's and Haema's on line diaries are more popular, I have been doing the web log for over two years. I strated using it more for my own sake. My reflections, my comments, and my tirades. Any one can read and comment on it. Since then I started this log and many more for various reasons. I use blogs as a teaching tool both in my graduate and undergraduate classes. I am hopeful that the personal log (this one), which also has Rema as a contributor will entertain and inform my family, both near and far!

Test of email blogging

Last time I tried to post to my blog through email it
did not work. Will this work now?



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Off to fish at sun rise over the Atlantic 

Sun rising in the back we are out to fish on the Atlantic 

Is this the beginnig of the end of freedom, democracy, and all that we dreamed? If it is then one thing is sure. Having seen USSR disintegrate as reforms and democracy were adopted, some in this country perhaps feel that having the USSR style functioning is better. Path to this starts with little pieces chipped away. Politicians lacking a free will and a nation full of people scared stiff of dark skinned foreigners speaking in unknown tongues are fine ingredients for this new brew! Paul Revere would have died for nothing.
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