"Cyclic Integral of Heat Over Temperature"

The human brain is an amazing learning machine. Nothing equals the human brain when it comes to learning from experience; although, some human brains seem to be gifted more in this department than others, but that is not what I want to rant about.

As a child, life is simple in many ways and hence happier in some ways. As one 'grows up' the complex concepts begin to dawn upon oneself and it opens a plethora of pleasures and disappointments.

I remember as a kid I never appreciated some vegetables and their taste and nutritious value. I hardly liked any bell peppers and absolutely abhorred the exotic ones like the ridge gourd (doDkaa); but as I grew up or grew older I should say, I started experimenting with them a little more and now I absolutely love these vegetables. Also, even though the nutritious value is not directly evident to me, I am able to empirically appreciate the way these veggies seem to energize each and every cell of my body. Now I exactly know why my parents urged me to eat my veggies. It is so proverbial to ask your children to "eat your vegetables"; but now I know it comes out of the parents' own appreciation of nutritious food. They are at an age where they have begun to truly understand the benefits and wonder why their children don't.

I attribute this change in attitude towards vegetables to both the evolution of my own brain and the other physiological changes in my body.

When I was a young adult of 20 years age, I was studying Mechanical Engineering at the College of Engineering Pune, India. I and a close friend of mine got interested in 'Thermodynamics'. Very early in the semester the subject of 'Thermodynamics' seemed very arid and desolate; mostly due to the attendance in the class; but we hung on and thanks to the brilliant teacher (Professor Domkundwar) we got fascinated with the topic and in all modesty really understood the various concepts in 'Heat Engines', 'Refrigeration' etc.

That was the year when Professor Domkundwar taught us the concept of 'Entropy'. It was a new concept and then very hard to understand. It seemed weird that the 'Entropy of the universe always increases'. We even solved some silly mathematical questions based on the concept of Entropy; but not because we really understood the concept, but because we memorized the mathematical formulas involved in calculating Entropy.

So our frustrated young souls one day caught up with the Professor after class and directly posed him the question...."Sir, What exactly is Entropy?". He looked at us with pity and said..."It is very difficult to explain Entropy. I can tell you that mathematically it is the cyclic integral of heat over Temperature, but that won't mean much to you. One day you guys will just get it." and he walked away leaving us in disbelief. We mulled over the answer for some days puffing away cigarette smoke, inadvertently increasing the Entropy of the universe. We didn't have a choice; No matter what we did the Entropy increased.

It has been 17 years since and I don't claim to completely understand what Entropy is, but I am pretty sure that I have a feel for it. I have a feel for why it always increases and doesn't decrease, ever. Now, I also understand what the Professor meant when he said ..."one day you guys will just get it."

I am excited by the prospect of 'getting' many more such concepts as I grow older.

I took up golf when I was 33 years old. It is a damn hard game as it is and starting late in life doesn't help. Initially I took a few lessons with Matt who is the Golf Pro at the Los Lagos golf course in San Jose, California. While working on my swing and watching me get frustrated trying to hit the sweet spot consistently -- even with the fitted clubs -- Matt one day said to me ..."Golf swing is a complex phenomenon. You keep practicing the good things and one day you will have an epiphany and just get it." I still remember that sunny Saturday afternoon at the Los Lagos golf course. Matt had reminded me of Professor Domkundwar and had boosted my optimism about my golf swing. One day I will just get it.

I don't know when I will get it really. Does anyone ever get it? May be Tiger Woods does.

So when someone on the tee, after hitting a bad slice to the right asks me "do you ever get this golf swing thing?" I am going to calmly reply..."Yes I do, I finally get it...It is simple really...It is the cyclic integral of heat over temperature!"

Come'on Barry!!

In his stand up routine Hugh Fink talks about the roles of the first base coach in Baseball. I too never really understood what the first base coach really does there. Hugh Fink is right in pointing out that the first base coach usually chews on tobacco and silently encourages the batter. "Come'on Bobby!!"

That might as well be true, but this post is not about the first base coaches. Today Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run; against the Washington Nationals team when he sent one over the left center field.

All the controversy surrounding the alleged steroid use and the asterisk mark against Barry's name is astounding. I wonder if the opposing teams fans would boo Barry if he were a good old Christian white boy, who called for God when he uttered every other word during the press conferences, or would it be the same if Barry were as dear to the press as say Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are these classic good boys who give what the press people want. They utter these mundane answers which the press likes to hear, at the risk of being boring. I am sure they know, but they prefer to comply than be bothered by the press.

Barry on the other hand is different. He is almost hostile to the press and is hated by the journalist. Since he got close to Henry Aaron's record in the past two weeks I have read so many articles bashing Bonds and how the world doesn't care about his record. I think all of it is made up by the reporters who I am sure at one point or another had a not so pleasant interaction with Barry.

What happened to good old 'innocent until proven guilty'? Barry might as well be guilty of using steroids. Although I am not sure if steroids help you improve your hand eye co-ordination? Steroids might help you stay healthy longer and play for a long time. That would be a definite advantage. But until it is proven otherwise I would like to give the benefit to Barry.

So, Congratulations Barry!! It is a great feat and asterisk or not you would be remembered by baseball fraternity for a long time to come.

Most people would argue if it is fair to give Barry the credit because of these allegations against him. I will tell you what is not fair....a guy in Mets uniform catching the ball worth at least a million dollars! that is not fair at all!!

"Come'on Barry!!"