Day Thirtyeight

Photography has been my biggest obsession during the lockdown. Submitted these 2 pictures for the Tamron contest. Looks apt for the theme - creativity shines in isolation



Another letter to Indian Express : This refers to the article “Some Online Questions” (IE, April 29). Distance learning, especially for higher education, has to look beyond technology platforms like Zoom. There are many cost-effective models of delivering learning modules to students. These can not only expand the student population, but also allow them to learn and be tested at their own pace. Finally, we a great opportunity to break free from the tyranny of classrooms and oppressive examinations. 
Pictures like these of men in Hazmat suits disinfecting public places have been common in media. What is the logic? Does it really help contain the spread of infection? Or is it mere PR optics that the government is taking care of us. 
Does disinfecting surfaces really prevent the spread of coronavirus?

 After the confusion last weekend, Gilead now says its trial was a success. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

World's First Vaccine?

Russia appears have won the vaccine race. Putin says his own daughter has been inoculated with the vaccine that has been codenamed Sputnik V . But many experts are sceptical and are expressing concerns about the lack of transparency. Russians say 20 countries have shown interest in the vaccine and that commercial production will begin next month. The vaccine has been developed by Gamaleya Research Institute in collaboration with the Defence Ministry. Meanwhile Phase 3 trials of the Oxford Vaccine will begin soon at 17 sites in India. 
Read more

Day Six

Image
A very disquieting day. Many years ago I had watched, Winter Light, the 2 nd film in Bergman’s Faith Trilogy. The film is a searing questioning of God’s existence. It has a character killing himself because he was disturbed that China is building an atom bomb. I never understood it then. But today it became clear when I revisited the film. My blood boils when I hear about China sitting pretty and getting back to normal after exporting their nasty virus all over the world.  Very conscious about sneezing. Almost afraid that neighbours would have heard it. While clearing my throat with my mouth slightly open, I saw a projectile hitting the wash basin 6 foot away. So 6-foot physical distancing makes sense. The other day I read a tweet that Social Distancing should be rephrased as Physical Distancing to avoid social stigma, which is emerging as a serious concern. I was thinking of an electrostatically charged “bubble” in which we can go out safely into public spaces. And I s...
Read more

Day Eightythree

Pandemic was not the kind of emergency that required industries to shut down at 4 hours notice and leave unsupervised for several weeks at a stretch. Especially chemical industry. Every chemical plant needs time to be shut down safely and for being properly mothballed for a long lockdown. This could be several hours or few days, depending on the type of plant. Annual shutdown lasts a maximum of 4 weeks and pesonnel are always present at the site during this period. A long shutdown of the kind we experienced during the pandemic presents several problems to a chemical plant. Material left behind in tanks and pipelines may start degrading, corroding, congealing, polymerising etc. Storage tanks may need continuous cooling. Each plant has to develop special SOP to handle a long, largely unattended shutdown. Authorities should recognise this and give time for chemical plants to shut down safely and allow staff to access the plant during this time. Some plants may also need periodic monitor...
Read more