Saturday, August 29, 2009
Some philosophy.............
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Monday, August 24, 2009
Castor Semenya - Golden Girl
Caster Semenya, South Africa’s “Golden girl” is in big controversy now. She won gold medal in 800 meters middle distance run in World Athletics championship being held in Berlin now. But more than being happy, she is more depressed and ashamed of the media glare. Reason, controversy regarding her sex. Ever since she clocked 1:56.72 (world record) at the African junior championships in Mauritius, she became the cenre of attention leading to lot of hues and cries. Now International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) wants to conduct gender test on her.
I wasn’t aware of any of this kind of a test, until I saw news clipping about her in CNN a few days ago. Later as I went on reading about gender tests, causes and the complications, no full proof method available to ascertain one ambiguous person as either female or male, I was baffled. What a complicated biological system we have. Itseems, it is very difficult to classify one as female or male!!!. Very ironical, isn’t it? but , it’s true. Generally the gender tests include gynecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and internal medicine specialists etc. In theory who ever has 43XX chromosomes, she is female and one with 43XY is male. But neither it is that simple nor it is black and white. Almost every 1:1000 people have mixed genitals, many times so underdeveloped that, it is not even visible to ordinary eyes. Until and unless, these people enter into competitions where single sex is participated, or goto doctor for some serious issues, they just go unnoticed. Many have “Androgen insensitivity syndrome” (AIS) This condition includes the existence of a 'Y' chromosome in phenotypic females (typically only associated with a male genotype) and results in an inability to respond to Androgens (Testosterone - male hormone is a androgen). In some serious cases, this unresponsiveness leads to a female body without female internal sex organs. Although the body produces testosterone, it does not react to the hormone since Androgen receptor is mutated. Anyway these are the theories. What happens when these theories stand in front of us as living examples?
Caster Semenya’s results are due in few weeks or months. What will be the fate of her medal or even her future sports career (She is just 18 !!!). I think, failing gender test is worse than failing doping test. South African athletics authorities claim that, they have done all tests and there is no ambiguity of her sex and there is nothing unusual about her. I feel sorry for her. Growing up in an impoverished family, her only dream was to make it to the top in sports world. She and many thousands like her, are born with these conditions (deep voice, facial hair, masculine feature etc etc ). Most of the times, their condition is natural, not due to intake of any steroid. But still have to undergo this humiliating scrutiny throughout their life…..
In sports, one should be clearly a male or female. I completely understand that, if one is phenotypically female, but still has some male features, then it gives them a clear edge over other female competitors in the field. But what if one is transsexual / intersex and still interested in sports??? What about them? For handicaps, there is Paralympics, but for these people? Do we get to see another Olympics for them? Is world ready for it???
-----------------------------------------
Our own Santhi Soundarajan was stripped of a silver medal won at the 2006 Asian games since she failed in gender verification test. She even attempted suicide due to so much of societal pressure and humiliation in India. Later she gave up active sports and now is a coach in her sports academy mentoring the young aspirants.
I wasn’t aware of any of this kind of a test, until I saw news clipping about her in CNN a few days ago. Later as I went on reading about gender tests, causes and the complications, no full proof method available to ascertain one ambiguous person as either female or male, I was baffled. What a complicated biological system we have. Itseems, it is very difficult to classify one as female or male!!!. Very ironical, isn’t it? but , it’s true. Generally the gender tests include gynecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and internal medicine specialists etc. In theory who ever has 43XX chromosomes, she is female and one with 43XY is male. But neither it is that simple nor it is black and white. Almost every 1:1000 people have mixed genitals, many times so underdeveloped that, it is not even visible to ordinary eyes. Until and unless, these people enter into competitions where single sex is participated, or goto doctor for some serious issues, they just go unnoticed. Many have “Androgen insensitivity syndrome” (AIS) This condition includes the existence of a 'Y' chromosome in phenotypic females (typically only associated with a male genotype) and results in an inability to respond to Androgens (Testosterone - male hormone is a androgen). In some serious cases, this unresponsiveness leads to a female body without female internal sex organs. Although the body produces testosterone, it does not react to the hormone since Androgen receptor is mutated. Anyway these are the theories. What happens when these theories stand in front of us as living examples?
Caster Semenya’s results are due in few weeks or months. What will be the fate of her medal or even her future sports career (She is just 18 !!!). I think, failing gender test is worse than failing doping test. South African athletics authorities claim that, they have done all tests and there is no ambiguity of her sex and there is nothing unusual about her. I feel sorry for her. Growing up in an impoverished family, her only dream was to make it to the top in sports world. She and many thousands like her, are born with these conditions (deep voice, facial hair, masculine feature etc etc ). Most of the times, their condition is natural, not due to intake of any steroid. But still have to undergo this humiliating scrutiny throughout their life…..
In sports, one should be clearly a male or female. I completely understand that, if one is phenotypically female, but still has some male features, then it gives them a clear edge over other female competitors in the field. But what if one is transsexual / intersex and still interested in sports??? What about them? For handicaps, there is Paralympics, but for these people? Do we get to see another Olympics for them? Is world ready for it???
-----------------------------------------
Our own Santhi Soundarajan was stripped of a silver medal won at the 2006 Asian games since she failed in gender verification test. She even attempted suicide due to so much of societal pressure and humiliation in India. Later she gave up active sports and now is a coach in her sports academy mentoring the young aspirants.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
For Mac users
A friend shared this link. One of the platforms where free software's are available for Mac Evangelicals. No offense please. But whoever coined this term for Mac crazies, this is the best word :)
http://web.mac.com/simon_elliott/simon_elliott%40mac.com/Software.html
http://web.mac.com/simon_elliott/simon_elliott%40mac.com/Software.html
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Twinkle Twinkle desi style - Mind blowing :)
Sab dard ki dava "Twinkle Twinkle little star-desi style". Tan tana....
For viewers information, this appeared in a TV serial ( Kaasalavu Nesam by K.Balachander) few years ago. Styles used in the video
1. Tamil Carnatic Music,
2. Kannada /Telugu,
3. Malayalam (Kerala),
4. Punjabi Folk,
5. Bollywood Oldies
By any chance, if you have forgotten the lyrics, here it is.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
For viewers information, this appeared in a TV serial ( Kaasalavu Nesam by K.Balachander) few years ago. Styles used in the video
1. Tamil Carnatic Music,
2. Kannada /Telugu,
3. Malayalam (Kerala),
4. Punjabi Folk,
5. Bollywood Oldies
By any chance, if you have forgotten the lyrics, here it is.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Armstrong........(Tholbala wins ???)
Armstrong………..last couple of days, media was full of this name. Armstrong, does it ring a bell??? I knew of two Armstrongs, separately, but never tried to link them. I admired both of them. Guess who… Neils Armstrong and Lance Armstrong. One who walked for the first time on moon, on july 20th, 1969 and the other who won Tour de France – a cycle racing event for 7 consecutive years. One who inspired to look beyond the horizon and the other, inspired to look into the eyes of death and still win over it.
One ignited scientific spirit by saying “That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind” and the other stood as a symbol of human spirit and said, ““Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight”.
We hear about amazing achievers all the time. Sometimes it’s funny and also delightful to recall when and where we heard of them for the first time. You come across Niels Armstrong in every textbook, so did I. But Lance Armstrong…. that I came across in my friends place. She had this book “It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life - by Lance Armstrong”. I heard about him, read about him, got inspired and later even gifted the book to my younger sister who is one another inspirational figure.
Lance was the National amateur cycling champion at the age of 20. His career was shining, looking bright, till one day, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, cutting his career and may be even life. But still he survived and won over death. But the road to victory has not been smooth, which makes his story all the more compelling. Cancer had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. He underwent surgery for his brain tumours and had less than 50% chance of survival. But he came back like a Phoenix and won prestigious Tour de France for seven consecutive years from 1999-2005!!!. He is the only person to achieve it.
Even though he couldn’t win Tour de France this year, he continues to inspire many millions and me. His foundation (www.livestrong.org) unites, inspires and empowers the cancer-affected people. He declared himself not a cancer victim but a cancer survivor.
Bravo !!!
One ignited scientific spirit by saying “That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind” and the other stood as a symbol of human spirit and said, ““Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight”.
We hear about amazing achievers all the time. Sometimes it’s funny and also delightful to recall when and where we heard of them for the first time. You come across Niels Armstrong in every textbook, so did I. But Lance Armstrong…. that I came across in my friends place. She had this book “It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life - by Lance Armstrong”. I heard about him, read about him, got inspired and later even gifted the book to my younger sister who is one another inspirational figure.
Lance was the National amateur cycling champion at the age of 20. His career was shining, looking bright, till one day, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, cutting his career and may be even life. But still he survived and won over death. But the road to victory has not been smooth, which makes his story all the more compelling. Cancer had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. He underwent surgery for his brain tumours and had less than 50% chance of survival. But he came back like a Phoenix and won prestigious Tour de France for seven consecutive years from 1999-2005!!!. He is the only person to achieve it.
Even though he couldn’t win Tour de France this year, he continues to inspire many millions and me. His foundation (www.livestrong.org) unites, inspires and empowers the cancer-affected people. He declared himself not a cancer victim but a cancer survivor.
Bravo !!!
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