1000 days in the ice

This is clearly the most inspiring story I have ever read. An amazing account of scientific acuteness coupled with courage, determination, patience and perseverance of one person. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/01/nansen/sides-text/1

The jump

I sped down the white slope, climbed a mound, slowed down a little, and reached its top - a little jump, something funny in my stomach, skis back on the ground, and balance regained. The next mound, brimming with confidence, I sped up its slope, but dint slow down. A terrific jump, but lost my balance, hit the ground - and boom, blast, dhchaak - my skis detached, face in the snow, nose and lips bleeding, different parts of the body hurting, but nevertheless,  a charmed escape with no broken bones - something to gild a tall story.. the scars remain though - medals of bravery or reminders of bravado

Talks

Giving talks to our research group always looked a piece of cake to me. Now it is getting tougher. The manner in which I present has changed significantly, and consequently the manner in which my professor responds has changed a lot too. Earlier my presentations used to be bare results on the current work, hinting to something, pointing to a possible new direction. Now in my slides I try to explain a physical phenomenon or some previous experimental work, using my simulation results. And when I do it, I get a taste of acuteness my professor. The entire discussion becomes challenging, and sometimes I get to know that some of the work I have done has no physical significance at all. That still hurts, even though I have seen this now many times in the past 2 years.