Activist stupidity and gender

 https://x.com/SenAshleyMoody/status/2011486000900431973

Dharma in none of its shades of meaning can discriminate minds based on topography as urban and rural.

 He cannot misuse a word like dharma to explain distinct collective mindset/attitude ( which by itself in Indian context is blind over generalization). 

There are hundreds of other ways of conveying, I can list at least 25 that come to my mind. 

Even the word Karma can be used with various connotations to suit an argument/ statement/ justification. 

But Dharma in none of its shades of meaning can discriminate minds based on topography as urban and rural. 

Dharma is from Sanskrit root 'dhr' which means to sustain, hold, bear, uphold certain time tested or lasting values ( it has nothing to do with corporate conduct)  the same root gives the words Dharti ( earth)dhruva( pole star) indicating the connective support or stability).  

Dharma in Mahabharata means cosmic laws that sustain life or as swadharma- ethical values - which supports living in harmony as per the context/ situation. It is well explained by Lord krishna to Arjuna (when his emotions make him hesitate to perform the appropriate action in that situation ) asking him to proceed with the war. 

It is indeed our duty to praise from the bottom of our hearts the bravery, duty consciousness and loyalty to the corporate BODY' often it has no  SOUL. In retrospect one could think of many possibilities but it is difficult to act in an emergency like that when panic and fear are the major reactions

Music spun out of sweet ragas are for everyone like what candy floss is to children and makes us relisten multiple times.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQqV7V7WgVE

Panju mittai suvaiku and nenjuku mitti isai sevikku.

Panju mittai attracts through its colour, then it's texture and when it touches the tip of the tongue the taste and after eating, it leaves the colour linger on the lips which no lipstick can give. Except an elephant no one can swallow it in its original size. 

We don't know to give credit to which aspect colour, texture, taste or the un-swallowable size.  

Music and ragas are like that. 

Which child in any part of the world won't want to taste ' Panju mittai' or 

buddi-ka-baal and in European languages called as cotton Candy, also called "Candy Floss," (UK, Pakistan, Ireland, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Canada)"Fairy floss," (Australia, South Africa), "Spider Webs," or "Candy Cobwebs. Whatever, name we may call it,it is a form of spun sugar made by heating and spinning  into thin threads and collected into a mass, usually on a stick. Originally it was supposed to have been only in white, then to my memory and knowledge till some 20 years back was mostly in attractive pink or Rose colour and of course now it comes in yellow, green, red etc with different flavours, even last year the child in me popped up at Uttrakhand and I insisted on having the yellow one and pink one ( despite the scolding from my wife) the vendor was desperately looking around for which two children I was carrying them only to get disappointed to see me consuming both and then come back to order a green one. 

Why I thought of this is because for a conscious mind such small and less harmful temptations are an irresistible pleasures. 

Similarly, excellent program of music spun with sweet melodies create different emotions, producing various flavours and belonging to multiple genres. 

This presentation of such programs  requires not only musical knowledge and capabilities but lot of rehearsals (etymologically from french 'rehercier' =to repeat or go over again re+hercier. Re as a prefix in most words in English mean " again, back, anew etc. 

Such music spun out of sweet ragas are for everyone like what candy floss is to children and makes us relisten multiple times. Kudos and keep it up. 👇

Nuances of music and sweetness of raga

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1213384523488266

Just can't repeatedly listening to the nuances and what a grand finale in violin. Two creative brains at work. It is like watching Shewag and Rohit Sharma in full flow opening the innings

 Excellent and a must listen to more than once. I too feel following the pattern ( many splits possible ) immersed in a raga like Dr. M.Balamuralikrishna and when you render the music that comes out is like gulab Jamun soaked in the sweetness of raga and however you press it or squeeze it still the taste, smell and quality of sugar syrup will come out as well as remain in the remaining gulab jamun ( even dry one) . So, one cannot separate the two raga and layam like gulab jamun and syrap

Filmy style monologues, dialogues, debates, satires and This anti-health care professional stand is a populist whip

 https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTPOkqMif6c/

Usually we get carried away by such filmy style monologues, dialogues, debates, satires etc, but...👌👌👌👌But then there is also a  flip side to this, doctors not only need to study a lot but remember a lot, do a lot of practice to be able to give 'treatments', note the word 'treatment', allopathic doctors never say we will cure ( unlike other alternative medical systems).

They say we do surgery, procedures after finding out through diagnosis what needs to be done to give the best 'treatment'. 

Now, coming to the system and money, why the mindset all over the world is about the profits that pharma, hospitals and doctors make. 

For all their knowledge, works etc, it is nothing compared to film stars, models ( of both sexes), senior advocates, politicians, successful middle men etc most of whom make hundred times the money for half the efforts, responsibilities, knowledge based, empirically end result oriented methods ( for which huge spending is required for R&D), practical feasibility ( because human anatomy is indeed,despite centuries of research a difficult maze especially when one has illness, injury, disease etc) universal applicability ( need not be and cannot be 100% perfect) and universal accessibility and availability. 

All these involve costs and who is going to pay for it. 

From years of R&D to manufacturing to  marketing to administration to equipment costs to professional fee etc who will pay for them.

Why no one ever questions the exorbitant cost of branded cars, cosmetics, luxury items worst of all unhealthy branded packed food items both solid and liquid ( ordinary beverages) and so- called seasoned wines ( a litre costs sometimes a few lakhs). 

Pharma and hospitals are not a nasty nexus to loot but nice networks to reboot health which had some issues. 

This anti-health care professional or anti-health care industry stand is a populist whip used by many starting from George Bernard Shaw till now. 

Only doctors and patients who are sick and injured know the amount of remedy, repair and the relief they get.

Every human being is personally responsible for his or her health ( physical,mental, emotional, psychological, spiritual, legal, professional, use of material comforts  and social).

If one fails to take responsibility or due to bad destiny happens to face health issues which need immediate care and treatment the entire health care industry starting from Ambulance drivers to doctors to hospital owners come to the rescue. 

These populist videos, documentaries many can make but they hide the other side of the story.

Many of those who do such projects, when they have a problem run to the nearest hospital.

We don't need a mirror to breathe

 Correct observation though I heard only bits and pieces in some videos , youtube etc. 

I remembered Dr. M.B, maharajapuram, somewhere in late 50s MS, SEMMANGUDI, GNB all together rendering that in MA. So for as lyrical faults are concerned no one teaches the exact meaning of at least those songs they learn ( they need not know Telugu, sanskrit, kannada or Tamil) .

 Still, while musically rendering there could be some excuses given to shortcomings if pauses for breathing or getting immersed in musicality ( raga) are dominant. 

Even many legends and stalwarts ( don't want to name) have had some  shortcomings in lyrics but the overall raga bhava imbued rendering compensated for that but here many were reciting them as Vaipaadu ( multiplication tables). 

Most importantly, classical carnatic music in general and the composition of Mumbai murthy's in particular are not meant for ghosti ganam, as the 'emphasis is more on melody, manodharma, individual improvisations' if the artist ( vocal or instrumental) they are not meant for big harmonic archestra of collective rendering. 

Carnatic music is rarely rendered ( unless old or learnt too many compositions) with notebooks or sheets with notations hoisted on a pedestal. 

Even those who know thousands of kritis just render them from memory. 

We don't need a mirror to breathe, close the eyes or open the eyes and see something ,listen to something using our ears and mind, open the mouth ( unless sitting on a dentist chair) and taste something or touch something and feel it. 

Classical carnatic music's raga based melodies are meant to permeate into the five senses and also sensitive the five senses in mind , heart and soul. It is sublime in that aspect. Great itihasas, epics and certain novels and stories too follow this pattern. See the slide below. 

However, I would be failing in my duty if I don't mention that Dr. Balamuralikrishna's school, M.S. Subbalakshmi's school and T.N. Sesha Gopalan's school , D.K. Pattamal's School pay immense attention to perfection of pronunciation of the lyrics in any India language.

Using nations as guinea pigs by the WEST as Global Atlas is a little complicated

                    Using nations as guinea pigs by the WEST

1.     After having tried all forms of homogenization last one being the 90s Globalisation through WTO now there are narratives of decoupling the WEST or Global North.

 

2.     This is not merely a good start as many are posturing it to be, but it is the inevitable as the cohort [in war crimes and purloining have] realised that in the modern warfare overpowering, colonising and looting are not that easy for every one of them everywhere.

 

3.     Is the East feeling like Freya Willowray [character in Indiana Rose’s novels  Dance of Devils and Daylight and Scars of Salt and Silver].

 

4.     If one were to look at it from a jargon free unbiased observers’ point of view the following must be noted:-

Since now they are retreating and talking of decoupling , it gives space for other powers to shape up in Asia, Africa and Middle East .

 

5.     How much practically we can trust statements of, by and from US. 

 

6.     How long will they hold on to such stands. 

 

7. US policies like European ones are purely geopolitical and geo-economic expediency driven by authority in terms of  command and control through homogenisation mania driven ideologies and labelling like:-

Societies and cultures- Roman Empire’s greed to spread its tentacles [ be a Roman in Rome].

Religion which failed with Crusades and Spanish Inquisition.

War mongering and loot -Nazism or Colonialism.

Trade and Economics - classifying everything as either Capitalism or Communism.

Politics as the Right and the Left .

 

 

8.     Now, the WEST realises the harsh reality that the  Global Atlas is a little complicated in the sense on one hand technology has shrunk it enough for anyone to have access to any information anywhere and at the same time the Global Arena has become multipolar in reality with voices and space to many countries to follow  their own path to empowerment without a few self -proclaimed unruly hegemonies setting rules and controlling the reins.

 Hence, whether the WEST likes it or wants it, many countries and   nations who ensure security, have  natural resources and prioritise and focus economic development with skilled and intelligent citizens will get empowered and become strong enough [ some already are] that the WEST can no longer try to interfere, loot and sabotage that easily.

As it is the WEST has been sustaining in the past few years through proxies in the form of  so-called international institutions and media narratives, slogans and sanctions.

 

Chennai book fair and LEFTyeast

 As it is for the past few years Chennai book fair has become an unfair leftover or left in the lurch LEFTyeast and Periyaryeast fermented fanatic festival sporting an aura of pseudo  intellectualism or farce fair for literary broth à la confusing any piece of paper for literacy and  assuming speaking in English as intelligent. These popular misconceptions are difficult to erase from the mass hysteria of the population. 

One also will find exclusive stalls and statues for Marx ( even his family may not care), EVE raw i..., Che Guara ( cheque from vera country) on one side and on another excessive abject bhakthi manuals when the public need to be imparted philosophical thinking,  rational perspective and scientific mindset. In between loads of stalls for children / kids, excess of IIT JEE, NEET coaching manuals, obsessive maths puzzle books and of course the inevitable food stalls. 

Every day some talk shows on themes totally irrelevant to any walk of life but meant to generate controversies. 

I am restraining with difficulty from unleashing unparliamentary language. What to do, we have not merely divided society on  ideological basis but also sabotaged the fabric of culture in toto

Wings of art and music

Wings of art and music, like colourful birds of various kinds, fly high or dance beautifully or peck at or preen or bury their head in sand or ....based on the expressions, imaginations of the artist each having his or her own style or splendour or depth of expressions.

Therefore, unfortunately, purely for the Western academic oriented thinking which tends to interpret and extrapolated everything or rather tries confine everything to dichotomous labelled wings- Right Wing or Left Wing. 

Doesn't these stereotyped labelling of anything from politics to trade to commerce to economics to culture and art undiagnosed diseases which cannot describe anything ' beyond the closed circuits or labels of Right and Left' unable to see the glorious splendours beyond, besides and between these narrow labels. 

Do we need to always label anything and everything why not just go with the flow and enjoy. Or everything can be classified under specific labels always *1

From an artist's perspective it is to enjoy and express his joy; from a rasika's perspective it is to enjoy either with or without the technical knowledge and from a critics perspective to analyse and to criticise to enhance the art and artist and explain to the public who are going to read those reviews. 

No one asks a film or fashion review in any magazine to classify them as per the standards or labels of any traditional Indian attire. 

Incidentally, many  would also like to get enlightened about pure LEFT wing music. 

Music is music and like every other art form it has its own wings. 

Let the hyper narrative manufacturing factories inspired evaluations  refrain from certain unhealthy *2attaching of wings ( either Right or Left) to any and every domain and let the domain and its practitioners soar high in their own way rather than distracting everyone with sour interpretations and extrapolations.

*1.

The following are CURD based food items in South India which hence, may be classified as dairy products but why should those enjoying these food items with their existing recipes , ingredients and preparation be keen on trying to classify them as fermented items or dairy products or precheese or post cheese. 

In South India alone we have the following that come to my mind, if I have time I can make a lexicon.

Raita

Pachdi

Morekolambu

Majjigehuli Karanataka style

Aviyal 

Bread instant dahi vada

Curd riceKoozh (fermented cooked ragiporridge ) with buttermilk popular summer breakfast in Tamilnadu

Ragi ambli with buttermilk in KarnatakaBeaten rice in curd( Mosaravalakki)

Vermicelli in Curd (Mosaru Shavige)

Curd Upma

Dahi sabudana

Masalamajjige(spicy buttermilk) 

Lassi, 

Neermore/ neerumajjige(watery buttermilk)

Shrikand from highly fermented slightly sour tasting curd       

Tambli

Kachiyamore/ More curry of Kerala

Mosarubajji of potato/sweetpotatoKadi

Majjigesaru

Majjigemenasu or moremilagai ( green chillie soaked in buttermilk and then sundried, deep fried in oil like papad)

Taiyrvada/mosaru vada/ dahivada

Rava idli,

Poha Idli using curd

Golibaje or mangalore bonda ( maida + curd mix)

 

*2.  Healthy wings needed to soar beyond unhealthy narratives of Left wing or Right wing.

It is unhealthy to carry on with existing narratives in politics and media.

It is unhealthy if humanity does not realize that it needs sanity more than any particular identity.

It is unhealthy if political and media narratives- while inevitably using some identity based steps tend to stop or to slip or to slide down rather than climb up with sanity.

It is unhealthy when debates and discussions resort to visceral vitriol vindicated by the votaries of identity politics of various hues, colours and ideologies.

It is unhealthy because the self-proclaimed representatives of the masses, through either the Left wing praxis of pseudo liberal appropriations and assigning of labels or virulent feverish provocations by Right wing advocates, dominate the narratives.

It is unhealthy to stuff such approaches and extrapolations to everything that the free birds of discourse and the splendorous feathers of aesthetic creations can never take flight and soar into realms of any sane unbiased zones as it will be Left overburdened with weight of one wing and Right away pulled by the overbearing of another wing.

It is unhealthy when both groups slide into snide dismissals rather than direct arguments.

It is unhealthy if we do not realize that the present practical difficulties faced by individuals and societies need solutions and not seeking endorsement by or to be sanctified by any specific ideology- however great or good that may be.

It is unhealthy that militancy without being curtailed is made to move from a mere posture into a well organized program.

It is unhealthy that radicalism without being admonished outright gets rewarded.

It is unhealthy if we are not aware that in human history till date no single ideology or institution or inscription of individual can be defined as some panacea which can claim to offer a tailor-made template but with a universal cure –all, correct –all, comfort –all solutions embedded in it!

It is unhealthy if we do not realize  that human race is far more than the opportunities it is consciously aware of as Jean Paul Sartre provides the example of the young man who puts his hand on his first date's hand. She, who does not really know him yet, must either leave her hand there or remove it. Either choice reveals something not part of her consciousness. We are far more than the limited opportunities present in the world.

It is unhealthy when we either deny or defy the importance of anyone or anything or any ideology as each may have evolved to fulfil a specific need and may fit in some gap in the jigsaw puzzle called life.

It is unhealthy if we are not sensible to not to hurt the sensitivities of others.

It is unhealthy not to be open to a wide variety of ideas, observations from multitude of sources and nothing stops us from planning to properly relate with everyone and everything to facilitate the understanding of meaning of life.

It is unhealthy if we do not know that the meaning of life which is after all the result of churning of the outer world by the inner self or the way inner self relates with the outer world in all its multiple manifestations.

 

 

 

It is unhealthy if we do not realize that our inner self is a combination of heart (body) mind (conscious awareness) and soul. Heart itself is wonderfully referred to as HRUDAYA in Sanskrit which is one of the most perfect terms to indicate both the physical and psychological functionality of the heart. Meaning of "Hrudaya" from the Bruhadaranya Upanishad: 'Hru' means to bring. This involves bringing impure blood from the body to the heart. 'Da' means to give, involves giving pure blood to the body. 'Ya' means to set right all the activities and maintain the stability of the body. 

It is unhealthy if we do not realize the inevitable fact of life and stark reality is that whatever we may have planned or planning to plan may not be the plan that unfolds in life in all spheres of life irrespective of whatever label we may give to such state of affairs: - as fate or destiny or we may wish and try to ignore it or work hard to justify it. This does not mean or need not necessarily lead to the conclusion that we must not plan and that there is no use in planning.

Healthy conditions can be planned and programmed if those scripting any political narrative realize to do away with the outdated dichotomy of Left and Right because life, especially socio-cultural and economic life, has many dimensions each having its own dynamics and in addition there are also those emanating from intersectionality and interactions and all of these manifest themselves with varying degrees of intensity. Fortunately, life and all its concomitant evolutions happen despite and beyond the blinkered narratives peddled by status quo addicts of trite dichotomies and have made visible various options between, besides, beneath and above those dichotomies, and these may strengthen the wings and enable the discourse to soar into unbiased zones and offer some solutions to many present day problems faced by humanity.

 

Zig zag currency markets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Qm8Sv1LxiHtqPH5U&v=Uc1Adgk9Czw&feature=youtu.be

 Zig zag currency markets of unprecedented and unpredictable levels by so-called financial markets all due to resources depletion, well planned over 5 years and timed exactly on 23rd December the so- called last day of international metal trading while everyone including the finance market journalists were busy preparing for vacations. 

Let us dive and dissect the plot. Very interesting video. Don't miss it. Most parts cannot be dismissed as conspiracy theory. 

While the West loves and laps up its publicity cult the East manifests its silent intelligence secretly. 

When a combo of geopolitics and geoeconomics or partially factual and partly believable accounts have more twists and thrills than a James Bond movie, it is really attention grabbing stuff. 

It is a long narrative but it has too many facts and information which cannot be abbreviated or edited further.

But two big failing and falling economic structures ( fall is inevitable) have been working on either to divert or delay the manifestation of the inevitable fall through certain actions, as usual with specious justifications.

English prepositions, punctuations and grammar

 English we all know is a language where prepositions are the most illogical part of speech and that adds more to the inherent scope for ambiguities generated by syntax.

French and German are precise, unlike English. Besides, there are regularities and abnormalities taught with emphasis. French pro.relative ( qui, que, dont are very clear  & preposition based pronouns 'y & en' are also very clear. In English as it is that amount of clarity was lacking and in addition to many versions and excessive abbreviated expressions have mutilated the language too much.

 Like Grammaire Pratique by Larousse read this it will be interesting. I like these grammarians as they tunnel into words and expressions to cull out the minute nuances. English, a few years back Steven Pinker did. Unfortunately, we were fed on wretched Wren & Martin or tossed into Fowler. Thanks to American and Asian English both outdated structures and unwanted purism were removed. https://www.college-de-france.fr/sites/default/files/media/document/2023-06/1995-1996_zemb.pdf

 But parsing is proper way to learn and understand grammar because it explains the form, FUNCTION, syntax    but again thanks to American and Asian versions of English context was also factored in. In fact, form hardly matters , it is 'function' that determines the word label.

 Incidentally I used to use the word DANCE to teach different parts of speech or various avatars of a word, during Grammar classes to indicate that a word gets its label as a noun, verb or adjective based on its function in the context and not on the form /spelling like :-

I like to dance [sometimes used in colloquial lingo as I like dancing] with girls.

Dancing gives good shape to the hips.

I saw a person with a dancing stride.

I like Indian dances.

Briju maharaj dances energetically

 👌👌👌true the best way to avoid ambiguities and misunderstanding,is to make statements explanatory.

 Rightly so because basic/ fundamental/ primary function of communication is to convey something and that does not require perfection or profound linguistic clarity. Grammaire is like Thalam it is supposed to enhance and compliment but both can act as a hindrance as well for a free flow or cascade of emotions. That's why alapana, RTP  ( in which thanam) bring out more nuances of musical phrases and  that's why, in language too ( in many languages) literature migrated  from classical poetry towards free verse which conveyed a lot of abstract ideas and philosophies. From my limited experience, I feel, be it grammar, punctuation, long winding sentences to chop into chunks will provide more clarity to the otherwise, complex structures of a language. In fact, one of the projects, I had in mind was to write context based grammatical labels. On punctuation, I have written a few years back the following:-When thoughts, ideas, opinions gush forth like a cascade or a cyclone little do they bother about the twigs and saplings on the way. 

The flow and force get prioritized and the recipient is not even in the scheme of things.

I suggest everyone to read one of world’s leading linguist Steven Pinker’s [of Harvard ]‘The sense of style’ -‘The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century’ -from page 284 on Punctuation. This chapter covers very comprehensively the complete width and depth of  the uses and usefulness of punctuations.

“ The problem for the writer is that punctuation indicates prosody in some places, syntax in others, and neither of them consistently anywhere…..Even the sticklers cannot agree how to stickle….In 2003 the journalist Lynne Truss in her wonderful book ‘Eats, Shoots &Leaves’ ..decries the punctuation errors she  spotted in ads,..newspapers. 

In 2004 New Yorker Review the critic Louis Menand decries punctuation errors he spotted in Truss’s book.

In Guardian …the English scholar John Mullan decries the punctuation flaws he spotted in Menand’s review”

The world functions on actions spurred on by thoughts and ideas and not punctuation marks

History and past

 History , records and documentation are important tools and templates which act as reference manuals , instructions or ready reckoners or prompters to adopt certain things and to avoid certain others. 

However, to dwell only in the past and to harp on it for everything (even if the past document be a great scripture or a highly authentic evidence based factual account of history) is likely to hamper or to delay the experience of life with contextual relevance, changes, changing priorities, prevailing rationale ( may be pleasant or otherwise). It is as bad as living in fantasized dreams of the future.

Ironically, there are excessive debates, discussions on chronologies and calendars ( human invented measurement of time) but life is lived from moment to moment where the past either fades or lingers on the memory and the future leaps about in hope and expectations. 

Past is the cape for navigation and hope the preparation for activation .

China's growth reality,

 here are lots to learn from China's growth reality, unlike the Wests growth stories, from unbiased perspective from purely economics development. 

How and why of China's economic growth post 90s has been intentionally sidelined by the Western media narrative factories. In way it warded off greater envy based internal sabotages sponsored by Europe and US of A. 

It is high time that we need to acknowledge nations which have achieved economic development, a more vital component of post 60s world and life in general ( it does not mean excluding other things but prioritising the vital). 

We need to impartially look at China's growth story, sorry, reality. 

The West started to get benefits from real factories rather than media narrative factories from 2005 onwards, at times gradually, and at times very aggressively.

These were the result of more than a decade of policy priorities  and perfect focussed  execution on economic development - more vital aspect of this century- rather than trying to engineer conflicts, involving in wars in far away geographies, rather than resorting to verbal diahhrea on strategy , growth etc and ma...ation of ideologies, not letting the population to get diverted by or swayed by any religious, political, cultural , traditional ideological fixations, though people were free to observe them as a personal choice rather than making them into mass frenzies.  

All the unwanted aspects of Free dumb like frequent riots, dissents, anti growth demonstrations were not allowed or suppressed because no amount sermonising or philosophical preaching about giving back to society will work on a large scale collectively, instead , China made citizens that they have be of functional utility for nation building. 

Besides, they never resorted to hyper publicity, instead silently worked their way up as a top economy not only on paper or  the basis of GDP etc but the extent of how most people, industries,institutions across many countries have become dependent on China. 

They silently acquired most of the vital raw material resources be it in medicines or electronic devices or lithium batteries.

No one wins or climbs the ladder all of a sudden or by looting ( as the colonial West did).

Emotions have always ruled over everything else.

In a way emotions have always ruled over everything else. 

Emotions make human beings involve with total intensity and intense totality. What else other than emotions can have a stronger impact.

Emotions have given humanity religion, literature, arts and even science and technologies get emotionally accepted for the  physical comforts and functionally utility that they provide.

Therefore, social systems of administration or social engineering cannot and need not be an exception. Let us be thankful that our democracy is not dictated by violence or royal family edicts or dynasty-based dictatorship. 

Reference to song please note CULTURAL COHESION  ( not to be misinterpreted as isolation) is important for a COMPATIBLE COHABITATION , renaming is RESTORATION OF CIVILIZATION GLORIES of the past wresting from glorifying the colonial looters and invaders( mass murderers), bulldozing is the way to RECLAIM UNAUTHORISED and illegal constructions.

 "We seldom realize that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but were given to us by our society."-Alan Watts.

 

Diplomacy of different dimensions

 

Diplomacy of different dimensions in tune with the present geopolitical context is very much alive not necessarily under the label of ambassadors, but even the national leaders be they the presidents, PMs or External Affairs Ministers they all assume that role and play the game effectively.

Especially in some Asian and African countries, unlike Europe and USA who are gloating in their recent century of global media driven narrative setting and post war establishment of certain International Institutions  ( both are getting exposed because their hidden agenda has become evident). 

Now with the access and expansion of information, if not knowledge and understanding, everyone is at least aware of realities on ground beyond the grand Western media lies.

Language and words

 

Astrology and time

 

words and language and emoticons

 

Calendar and Time

 

Human Intelligence cannot be over simplified -Education

 

Science and scientific research or discoveries and inventions stem from keen observation

Science and scientific research or discoveries and inventions stem from keen observation or scrupulously trying to solve a problem and end up, perhaps finding the remote connectivity.

Strength ( physical besides the olfactory sense of smell) of nose.

Afterall, these 

1.Elephants Trunk , 

2. Rhinoceros Horn ( actually it is not a horn but a bunch of hardened fibers of  keratin) and of course, 

3. The beaks of Turkey Vultures and

4. Snouts of many animals. 

5. The glue of a barnacle cannot be dissolved with strong acids or temperatures set as high as 440 degrees Fahrenheit.

In fact, a few things puzzled me not with their mystery but the unbelievable functionality.

It was with this curiosity one day I sat down and started reading animal and plant trivia and decided to start a blog which I did but have up soon due to many other priorities.

In particular, I remembered the stories that Kripananda Warriar used to say ' that wealth comes unnoticed like how sweet coconut water is found inside hard coconut, covered by hard shell which again is covered by multiple layers of hard fiber - irony is only coconut tree sapling is planted with loads of salt in the ground'. 

Similarly, wealth disappears , unnoticed like the seeds of vilammphazham ( wood apple) eaten by elephants. 

https://chemistrywise.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-to-international-year-of.html?m=0

Paradox of Choice-Variety, differences and heterogeneity were and are there everywhere as part of nature.

 

I think this is cherry picked over generalisation and over simplification. Life is lovely because of the variety it has by nature and in nature and human beings enjoy options rather than crunching them to only a few. Variety, differences and heterogeneity were and are  there everywhere as part of nature.

"In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice—the hallmark of individual freedom and self-determination that we so cherish—becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice—from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs—has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse.By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counter intuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on those that are important and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make".

How to normally encounter and evaluate any subject or topic

 Coming to the aspect of evaluation, how to normally encounter and evaluate any subject or topic?

 

It is preferable to  immerse  any topic or subject matter, primarily and basically with its intrinsic elements/components/aspects/attributes intact, into a cauldron which has  a mixture of all these- knowledge based analysis, limited perception based on frames of reference and scales of observation, scepticism , criticism, intellectual scrutiny, compassionate emotionalism, humane socialism, rational thinking, contextual relevance [ which includes too many components] , traditions, practical viability, psychological comfort, aesthetic sensitivity, scientific scrutiny etc and  churn the cauldron without clinging on to any particular restrictive social, cultural or political or religious identity.

 

This process inevitably will bring out lot of outputs. We can exercise our freedom and 

Sometimes,  select and choose some of the outputs.

Sometimes, the outputs will draw us.

Sometimes,  away from all or any of our intended searches and seeking, outside the circle of these known paradigms, almost tangentially serendipity will drag us to an oasis of serene clarity.

 

At all costs, the intrinsic attributes must be the predominant factor. So that, whatever is thrown into the cauldron and however it is churned, the ultimate output must include those attributes to ensure so that our evaluation is not distorted or desperately doctored to fit into any predefined and expected outcome.

So, what pans out ultimately depends on various factors and aspects some of which are explainable within the ken of logical and rational thinking, but some are beyond these.

We can also observe uneasily how the human intellect polished by a rare faculty [compared to other species] of conscious awareness, capacity to think, store the knowledge, retrieve it for reference etc, is mostly, unwilling to take the risk of accepting the uncertain; the intellectually undecipherable and the inexplicable outcomes, even if such acceptance is branded, extolled and promoted as virtues of humility or modesty.

For example if one is evaluating music, one must ensure that music quality/musicality as an intrinsic aspect must be highlighted and then evaluate the other extraneous factors like who renders it, how it is rendered, who is the composer, what is the composition, what is the lyrics, how is the acoustic quality, how the person who is rendering it is dressed, how was the ambiance of the place where it was rendered etc.

 

https://contentwriteups.blogspot.com/2013/12/story-of-mango-fruit-sambar-and.html?m=1

https://contentwriteups.blogspot.com/2013/12/carnatic-music-cockroaches-cars.html?m=1

 

Have your own set of resolutions to make and break.

 Have your own set of resolutions to make and break.

Attitudes are formed because of this ongoing process of evaluations.

We all constantly evaluate everything, everyone and various aspects of our environment. So, to ensure correct attitude we must analyse what are the tools with which/basis on which we evaluate?

The methods we adopt to evaluate.

And how we evaluate?

All these, in turn, will largely determine our attitude in most cases.

This will also give us an idea whether our attitude influences our behaviour or our behaviour influences our attitude.

Evaluate the purpose of life by the amount of happiness you have given to others.

Evaluate the value of life by the extent you have been useful to others.

Evaluate the meaning of life by the love you give to others.

Evaluate the destiny of life by the amount of love you get from others.

Evaluate the quality of your life by your attitudes.

Evaluate the wisdom of your life by the experience you have gained and the lessons you have learnt and the knowledge you have acquired from your experiments and actions.

Evaluate the worthiness of your life by the amount of or extent of realizations you have had.

Evaluate the totality of life not by owning anything or even trying to own life itself but by living life.

But the best way to evaluate life is to live it.

And you live based on what you have and who you are.

Even if you are schooled in irrelevant, inadequate, outdated, useless, erroneous trivia at least do not base your belief systems or thoughts on them because

Your thoughts and beliefs decide your life irrespective of whether you are prosperous, peaceful and happy or the other way.

Because they help you to make the choice. The choices you make decide who you are. What you do depends on who you are and ultimately what you do gets you whatever you have.

But unfortunately, we tend to think the process topsy-turvy.

We want to have whatever we want and think that it will make us and shape us.

Be on your own. Don’t choose for others nor let others choose for you.

So, have your own set of resolutions to make and break.

 

Balance of Mind. Composed mind

 Balance of Mind. Composed mind is all about balance. Art of balancing not the jugglers or trapezium artists stuff but to navigate the circus of life.

 

What is a composed mind?

 

Morning first message I get is about is what is a composed mind?

 

Let me put it this way how do we know it, i.e. composed mind? We all know it is needed or at least wished for, not merely verbally but as a matter of fact.

 

Lack of it is what is causing ill treatment of senior citizens or derailment of many relationships and increasing the visits to psychiatrists.

 

It does not require great knowledge in any field or any specific spiritual exercise or any philosophical concept etc. The moment mind starts to follow predefined specific routes; it is gradually getting rooted into some identity and therefore vulnerable to conflict with a different identity.

 

So, what is or are the acid test[s] of composed mind?

 

There was news about a computer program that predicts death http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/30011/20150915/hospital-computer-predicts-death.htm

 

But I can assure you no technology can predict human intentions.

 

Acid test of a composed mind involves basically a question of balance and prioritizing our choices, actions and decisions with contextual relevance.

 

It is a question of arranging a balance between being firm on certain values and principles and at the same time being flexible and willing to confirm to certain obligations.

 

Trying hard to be great in whatever we do but be honest and humble enough to be grateful to whoever has helped us on the way to greatness etc.

 

Being rooted in certain humane values and not hesitating to uproot anything that goes against those values even if they have been part of our society or culture.

 

Being useful to all others around us everywhere without allowing being misused or abused by others.

 

Synchronizing our intentions and actions without pretensions.

 

Being involved without interfering.

 

Living life enjoying every moment of it rather than merely passing through different motions of existence as if life itself was an obligation made up of several parts.

 

I like Zen principles which teach many of these things.

 

No matter whatever we do, we must ensure minimum of hurt to others, in all aspects emotional, psychological, physical etc, especially at least to those who are part of our extended self- our parents, children, spouse[s], colleagues, society, country men, and the whole of human race and environment and it can extend beyond these too.

 

Everyone and everything are some points of reference in life and not a pointless object to be treated with indifference.

 

In brief, we must ensure that we are the subject and subject matter of life and understand how we are interrelated and interconnected with others.

 

We must not allow ourselves to be looked upon as an object- an object that can perform certain function –because in that case it is only logical that a better performing object can always replace us.

 

This is how even relationships are getting ruined, there is nothing wrong in expectations, but what are the expectations and what is the extent of them?

 

Present day marriages are negotiated like contracts with specifications of one being decorated doll or ATM? It would be better to have them rather than getting into a relationship with another human being. The society needs to rethink.

 

This is also one of the reasons why senior citizens are not treated with love and affection because we feel that as an object they are less useful, less attractive etc but fail to realize they were the very substance of our life, they were the ones who guided us through life, they were the pillars of support on which we grew etc.

 

We can be engaged in any activity but ensure to prioritize with contextual relevance, which again is a sign of composed mind.

 

Contextual relevance must preferably be the predominant feature/factor of our choices and decisions at any point of time.

 

Here is sample on acid test I wrote a few years ago

http://idiomsidiomsalltheway.blogspot.in/2012/03/14ultimate-proofacid-test.html

 

"Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune".- Chanakya

 

 

So, a mind can be composed even amid the worst calamities and catastrophes if only it learns the art of balancing. It is okay for human beings, being a species which is primarily animal to have certain momentary aberrations, annoyances, and keeping in abeyance certain values but they must not become permanent feature life or culture or society. 

 

Internet Era

 Internet Era 

Avatars, algorithms and automations accommodate abilities of life while android activates fingertips.

Browsers, Broadband Bandwidths, Bluetooth, blogs and Bitly become bridges to the broader world outside.

Cyberspace with its clickbait, chats and ChatGPT are crowded Clouds catering to clarify doubts while cybersecurity calibrates cookies.

Diggs, data and downloaded digital literacy defines diligence.

Email exchanges engage everyone and emoticons express emotions while encryption eliminates eves dropping. Electricity is the Paramathma or Supreme God manifesting in various forms. 

Firewalls and Facebook fences frame freedom

Graphs give a glimpse of grand data while GPS maps the movements all through the gadget Gods.

Hadoop helps to heap, and haptic feedback help to have hyper experience for humanity. Hosting need not mean hospitality. 

Internet is the international religion imparting a lot of utilities but irrigating intelligence into Instagram is injustice to intelligence.

Jpeg can compress the pictures but the picture of life experience has no tools to compress except through listening to or reading expressions of anecdotal or biographical experiences shared by some means.

Keyboards and Kindles have become humankind's companions.

Life does not laboriously linger on but leaps in LINE and LinkedIn.

Memory is not necessarily stored in the human brain; Mobile is not necessarily movement but somethings that starts of the day and settles one down with a handset and Medium is a meaningful social media platform.

Networking nets more dividends. 

Online presence is more valued than off line sense. 

Password is to be protected like gold while PERL shines like a pearl and Pintrest will lead you to browse without rest.

Quora to get answers to questions from various perspectives not necessarily authenticated.

Reddit radar reaches the urban like internal router but restricts the rural.

Softonic can supply software, snapchat can supply stories, social media can submerge one’s time while search engines can supply  sumptuous information while Sim card may leave its mortal frame to disappear into the digital swamp.

Technologies are cults one cannot turn away as Tumblr, Twitch, Threads may treat one immensely while Tinder may upDATE .

Useful are the unending universes of URLs manifesting many things that exist in space, time, matter, energy, and physical laws, information about planets, stars, galaxies, and even dark matter/energy. 

Virtual reality veers many through Viber, Vimeo, video chats where reality of virtues become vague.

Web of life  wakes up with WhatsApp messages and winds the day through various websites.

X factor of X is its real total freedom to tweet briefly and blossom into hashtags where very little can be hushed up.

YouTube will make one use it and realise how useful it is.

Zoom into meetings, zip files but cannot evade Zipf’s Law

Zipf’s Law

A principle that common elements in datasets appear disproportionately often.