When you speak with a Scientist about the glass being half-full and half-empty, she/he says that it's a SWAG (Scientific Wild Assumption Guess) based on only visual observation but not substantiated by any experimental data; and therefore it must be inaccurate. She/he will suggest that you do the following: (a) mark the glass at the bottom of the meniscus of the content, (b) pour the content into a bigger glass, (c) fill the empty glass with fresh content up to the mark, (d) add the original content back in, (e) note whether or not the combined content overflows the lip of the glass, (f) conclude that either the glass was more than half full if it overflows, or it was more than half-empty if it doesn't reach the top, (g) conclude that it was either half-full or half-empty only if it neither overflows nor fails to reach the top. Just a word of caution: Don't be surprised if the scientist, doesn't matter she or he, after all that "scientific discussion" asks you: "Now, what was your question again?

More Quotes by Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate

Sharing a strange experience from my student years at Manchester, England, during late 1970's. I had just arrived in England from India, and was searching for an accommodation, basically a room to rent. I always used to call the English landlords by phnoe first, to ensure that a room was available, and then visit those addresses, located miles away, by taking the bus or a train. Upon my arrival, I was always told that either there was no room at all or that the room was just rented. After a dozen or so such frustrating experiences, it became clear to me that the room was always available - but those English landlords and landladies were reluctant to rent it to someone like me, an Indian or a non-white person. Interestingly, the room was always available to my voice on the phone, because my voice could not reveal either my skin color, or my race, or my national origin. The mystery was thus dispelled, and yet that realization was surely a rude awakening to the true color of English society. It was my first encounter with prejudice and discrimination, and the most shocking moment that shatters one's innocence completely - especially after coming from a noble culture and the best upbringing that takes pride in Equality. I shall always remain thankful to England for the best education that I received during my M.S. and Ph.D., as much as for such exposure to the dark side of the real world. Years later, after coming to America, I realized that America is a whole new wonderful world that welcomes all, and treats everyone with respect and dignity they deserve. God Bless America!