28th Apr19 :

Weight: 77.6

Changes proposed :
1. Dr Dixits diet : 2 meals a day .... 1-2PM and 8-9 PM
    No tea / coffee or anything else at other times

2. Long-runs on tuesdays, another short run on thursday

Went for run today. Rohit was going to join, but then something came up. i had intended to do a full 3 mile thing, but right at the start, changed my mind and ended up doing just 1.5 mile instead. non-stop :D

Had a good run, even if a bit slower than i would have liked. It helped that i had exercised the NYTimes thing 2 days back. I feel it strengthens my core and legs especially.

Takeaway :
1. Running by myself is not so bad.
2. I need to invest in a better pair of running earphones. Mine come off.
3. Need to create a plan - unless i do that, chances to "sticking" to it are v less. Unless there is a pre-planned thingie, i never manage to stick to what i intend to do at the start.
4. Need an armband - bluetooth is a pain otherwise. Had to hold the mobile in hand, otherwise kept loosing signal.
5. Find other playlists like gully-boy. possibly create multiple 40-50 minute running playlist/jukeboxes.

Ok, These are the facts of the case:
1. "Skip" Gates is a distinguished professor from Harvard. He specialises in African-American studies, and is a popular face on media.
2. Gates is a refined gentleman, known to his friends as a quiet, friendly guy. Someone who can't be missed to be a burglar (in the least)

3. Sgt Crowley on the other hand is another distinguished. Policeman with the force for 11 years. Crowley has taught racial profiling in police academy and is known in his circles as the most dependable guy. Definitely not the rogue police you would see in mississippi movies.

4. The most important fact : Gates is black, and Crowley is white.

5. Gates returns from China, and on returning to his home in Cambridge, is unable to enter his house. The cab driver helps him pushing the door open, and he enters.

6. A woman sees this, suspects that the two men are breaking in, calls hte police, and Crowley gets dispatched to the scene. On entering the premises, he asks for identification. Gates gets abusive. Asking Crowley, if he was being treated so because he was a black man, and he a white policeman. Crowley asks Gates to step outside his house, because he is unable to speak over his phone in the kitchen with Gates shouting at the top of his voice.

7. Crowley warns Gates to take it easy ... Gates is outraged. Next thing we know, Crowley handcuffs Gates and is charged with creating nuisance.


A huge row breaks out in the US over racism. over a "black guy getting arrested for entering his own house"


My take : This is the silliest of cases which has brought back the racial discrimination to the forefront. I am completely with Sgt Crowley on this one. He did nothing wrong.

On the other hand, it should have been Skip Gates who should have been charged with racial behaviour, (besides being charged for creating nuisance)

Matters dont get sorted so easily here. Obama jumped fray, and called the police dept "stipud" in arresting a black person in his own home. This is the first time that I am not taking sides with Obama. Obama is clearly wrong. He is acting more like a black man, than the smart president of United States that he is. I am pretty sure, this is going to loose him a few browny points with the white men folk in general. Taking sides against a cop is surest path to political disaster. An extremely disciplined, honest, honourable cop in this case.

May common sense prevail.

Check out my new pots :) Got them first thing after Swarupa went to India. Just avoided a "discussion" on the price of those in the process. Even while buying I was imagining being pushed ahead in the aisle, as she a twinkle in my eyes while I was looking at the pots. Just one of those things that entice you in life you see.
I suddenly remembered the collection of pots I had in Pune. Those were lovely ones. I wish I had a photo of those. I had at one point managed to create a perfect "green spot" a collection of about a dozen pots of all kinds. a hanging one with beautiful creepers, and a rose and of course my favourite mogra.
That brings me to fond memories of the various flowers that I loved while in Pune. The one thing that would always enchant me was the smell of those beautiful parijatak flowers, which are there all over Deccan Gymkhana. Especially in the lane adjacent to PYC Gymkhana, from Bhandarkar Road towards the Deccna Gymkhana. I would stop by everyday near the electricity board, to collect a ओन्जळीभर collection of flowers, and then smelling them as I walked around Bhandarkar Road, then Karve Road, then Law college road and back to home. That was beautiful :)

These british folks have beautiful gardens around where I live. Makes me jealous. But after having lived here for over an year, I am starting to understand that a little better. Brits are fanatical about their gardens. and they obviously dont mind spending a significant amount to look after gardens. I was trying to go on cheap and still do up my garden, which prevented me from getting a good one. So then ... here is my attempt to beat the British at their own game :)

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: 

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! 

--Rudyard Kipling