Mars closest to Earth in 60,000 yrs

For the second time in nearly 60,000 years, the Red Planet will swing unusually close to Earth this weekend, appearing as a yellow twinkle in the night sky. The Red Planet will be 43.1 million miles away from earth, Saturday, Oct. 29. The two planets, normally separated by about 140 million miles, will not be this close again until 2018. Most backyard telescopes will see Mars as a small, brilliant ball. Observers with more powerful instruments might be able to discern details on the planet's surface, including its southern ice cap and white clouds.

Let's all Pledge to Fall Sick at least once this season

Last time you had to meet the doctor how long did you have to wait in the queue? 10 minutes…. 30 minutes … 1 hour… more?!?!? Well the average I have waited to meet the doctor is 30-45 minutes. Better the doctor, longer the wait. But in the recent past, it has been a different story.

In the last 4 months I have visited the doctor on every(!!) 24th because of a bad cold. The waiting period has reduced with each visit. I hardly noticed the difference till 24th of this month, when I found that our family doctor was on leave for a week. I do not remember the last time the family doctor took a leave!

Today again, I had to visit a few doctors. For varied reasons - University admission procedures, eye infection, sprained leg & a prolonged cold. I went to a recognized doctor in the city. The first time I met him he was chit-chatting with a few shopkeepers. The second time, he was cleaning the clinic – got him at an awkward moment. And the third time, he was reading a mystery novel. Secretary was on leave and there wasn’t another soul in the clinic. I went to an imagining center to get an X-ray. Empty! The person behind the desk was sleeping. I was out in a minute. I went to get a blood check up and again I was the only one there. My last stop was to see a MD. There were 3 other MD’s on the same floor – all of them empty. The one I visited was playing solitaire! Even our family dentist is on a Diwali break!!

Weird! I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence. I thought that there was no off-season in this profession, but apparently there is one now. Whatz happening? Have …

• Doctors have spread out in the city. People from the suburbs/villages do not need to come to the city doctors anymore?
• Evolution of a new immunity defensive mechanism thingie, which has made all the people of the city immune to diseases? I feel like the only sick person around.
• The Diwali season has affected people in a manner that no one wants to fall sick? They want to parti in the coming festive season, and this positive approach to life has defeated all chances for diseases.

Whatever the case, it’s good for the city, but I don’t think the doctors would feel the same. It’s a festive season and they too would like to take home a bonus. They have always been there when we needed them. So let’s all join hands and make a pledge to go visit them sometime this season. ;)