Farmer Suicides Highlighted

KBC logo (c) Sony Entertainment

A story in the Hyderabad edition of The Hindu caught my eye today. The widow of a farmer who had committed suicide because of debts incurred, from the village of Vara Kawtha in Yawatmal district in Maharashtra, was given a chance to appear on "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC - the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire). She was identified to the producers of the show by Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, an NGO, and once selected she and some friends were flown to Mumbai for the taping by the producers of the show.

She ended up winning 6.4 lakh Rupees or about 13.5 thousand USD.

Now here is an issue no one else is really talking about, and KBC just gave it a nationwide audience of millions. 6.4 Lakh Rupees is not too much money, but for Aparna Malikar, who survives her husband and has two young girls to take care of, it could be a game changer. Amitabh Bachchan, the star and host of the show, also blogged about the issue and about Aparna herself, and was moved enough to hand over another 50 thousand Rupees (about 1000 dollars) of his own money to her.

Sustainable farming needs to be a bigger focus in India and the coming of big retail and factory farming will be a death knell to traditional, small-plot farming - a practice that remains the backbone of India's large agrarian economy.

Now I'm not a regular viewer, let alone a fan of KBC. I haven't seen a single episode for the latest season, and maybe all of one or two episodes from the last three seasons. Also, when I first read the story my instinct was to be cynical about it and dismiss it as sensationalism.

But here's the thing: KBC and Amitabh Bachchan just gave the issue an enormous amount of visibility, and they put their money where their mouths were.

All I can say is: Bravo! Well done!

If popular platforms like KBC can be used to raise awareness about serious issues, perhaps they will pierce the fog and be featured front and center in political and economic debates!

Social Networking Introspection

Perhaps I should title this post: "Why I post on social networks"... Or: "A note on what led me away from Facebook and Twitter, and on to Google+"... It will serve both titles equally.

Ever since Google+ launched I've been thinking about sharing things online - about why it is the thing to do these days, and whether this is simply the automation or "cloud-ization" of existing social behavior for most people.

The "why" is more perplexing to me than whether there is a real world analogue that we mimic every time we post something online...

The Grey Side of Business

Evidence suggests that technology companies enabled brutal repression in Libya and Bahrain, two of the countries currently undergoing impressive change as part of the Arab Spring. This is not a surprise.

Technology is morally neutral - you can use it for good and for evil. This is been discussed enough and often enough. The real question of the hour is are businesses morally responsible, should they be held to the same standard as we hold individuals and governments? When is it OK for a business stop following a profit motive and hold to a sociopolitical position? Should every business deal be scrutinized to ensure it is not aiding and abetting something "immoral"?

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, given the "evil bankers and financiers" it is easy to pass judgment and say "Of course businesses need to be moral!" Nokia and Siemens have no business enabling dictators to better spy on their people! Lenders had no business lending to people they knew wouldn't repay!

I submit that this represents a less nuanced opinion than the real world would support.

An-na-na-na-na-na!

Mass movements make me nervous, because their leaders are deified and in the eyes of their followers, can do no wrong. The kind of intensity and focus that members of these movements bring to the cause is not often matched by depth of understanding of the issues, or more importantly, breadth of understanding of the world. No issues can be resolved in isolation, or there will be unintended consequences.

All too often, the recruits for these mass movements are those with the time to devote to them - not necessarily those qualified (in any sense of the word) to contribute.

Finally the leaders of these mass movements become rockstars - and from there either they are corrupted by their power, or become victims of their own fallibility, because no one is smart enough to be a god... unless they go completely offstage (or worse, die) before they make their first mistakes.

This is why Anna Hazare's "anti-corruption movement" in India is at best a quixotic piece, and at worst a circus that is going to benefit media TRPs more than the country. I almost feel sorry for the man - he has one good idea, but no vision to speak of, and is now cornered by his own followers. He reminds me of Raju Guide more than Mahatma Gandhi at this point!

A Clouded Memory

The Matrix

Remember the Information Superhighway? Used to be a buzzword about a decade and a half ago. No one uses it any more! I read about this study by Columbia University psychologist, Betsy Sparrow published a little while ago and I was reminded of the concept, and how it is finally coming to fruition. 

Scenario: two colleagues are talking about their favorite author or poet (who I've never heard of) while I'm sitting at my desk. I quickly Google the name, and join in the conversation - but I enter it saying "such and such" is my favorite poem by this poet... particularly the line "..."

Book Review: God is Not One

An interesting book!

We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to speak at some length now about a book that got me thinking about my beliefs or faith (or lack thereof).

Stephen Prothero's "God is Not One" is the kind of counter-argument in the face of the prevailing conventional wisdom that wakes you up like a strong cup of coffee on a bleary morning.

His central thesis is that for all the analogies ("many paths up the same mountain" or "different pieces of the same elephant") being tossed around to describe world religions as being essentially the same, they are in fact very different from each other! They address different central dilemmas, and don't line up in a neat row as those focusing on their commonalities would like. This is a bold idea, and very relevant to our times. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I found myself agreeing with it; it brings a clear-eyed approach to a field that suffers too often from an excess of either fanaticism or romanticism.

A Malazan Meditation - (On Species)

This is a continuation of my 'meditation' on Steven Erikson's opus: The Malazan Book of the Fallen, which I view as an exercise in attaining reader catharsis. If you haven't already, for some context, please read my prior posts - a Prologue that explains what this is all about, Part 1 - Elements, and Part 2 - Quirks & Features. If you have already, read on...

Warning: This post contains spoilers for various books in the series, but I have tried to stay away from revealing too many specifics. The imagined species that make an appearance in the series, their physical attributes, and some portions of their history and overall arc are mentioned. I don't think I reveal anything that will necessarily spoil your experience of reading the books; if anything it might enhance your appreciation for some of the elements... but that's just what I think.

This (and the next post) will be the most spoiler-filled of the lot. If you're completely anti-spoiler, please stay away!

A Malazan Meditation (Part 3: Species)

Where I look at each of the eponymous elements of the world, their role or agency in-story and in the series as metaphors and motifs...

A Malazan Meditation - (Quirks & Features)

This is a continuation of my 'meditation' on Steven Erikson's opus: The Malazan Book of the Fallen, which I view as an exercise in attaining reader catharsis. If you haven't already, for some context, please read my prior posts - a Prologue that explains what this is all about, and Part 1 - Elements. If you have already, read on...

Warning: This post contains spoilers for various books in the series, but I have tried to stay away from revealing specifics. Some tropes used, and the social/ philosophical dilemmas explored will however be revealed. That said, I don't think I reveal anything that will necessarily spoil your experience of reading the books; if anything it might enhance your appreciation for some of the elements... but that's just what I think.

If you're completely anti-spoiler, please stay away!

A Malazan Meditation (Part 2: Quirks and Features)

Where I try and point out what makes this series ‘special’ or what literary devices within it expand upon the primary theme. To highlight how this series is set apart from other SFF literature, I propose to compare it where appropriate with the writings of JRR Tolkein (the grand-daddy of fantasy literature) which have served as templates for much fantasy fiction in the last sixty or so years.

I'll start with the low-hanging fruit, the easy 'structural' features and then move into heavy territory...

A Malazan Meditation - (Elements)

This is a continuation of my 'meditation' on Steven Erikson's opus: The Malazan Book of the Fallen, which I view as an exercise in attaining reader catharsis. If you haven't already, for some context, please read my prior post that explains what this is all about. If you have already, read on...

Warning: This post contains spoilers for various books in the series, but I have tried to stay away from revealing specifics. Broad plot structure, the various crises explored etc. will however be revealed. That said, I don't think I reveal anything that will necessarily spoil your experience of reading the books; if anything it might enhance your appreciation for some of the elements... but that's just what I think. If you're completely anti-spoiler, please stay away!

A Malazan Meditation (Part 1: Elements)

Where I describe some of the building blocks of the series...

A Malazan Meditation - (Prologue)

Once upon a time, there was a world...

How would you tell the story of Planet Earth? Is there a coherent story to tell?

Would you focus on the 150 million year reign of the dinosaurs, their rise and cataclysmic fall, or the roughly 10,000 year history of ‘civilized’ apes? Is it enough to depict the rise and fall of the Neanderthals – a "failed" branch of ‘humanity’ as broadly defined - who eventually lost to us Homo Sapiens? Should it be the tale of the triumph and attendant hubris of Humanity itself?

Will you project the end of us self-acclaimed "intelligent overlords" of the Earth – the only species in existence to (arguably) subjugate its environment – and laugh and cry at the colossal, idiotic waste and ephemeral achievement?

Well... must you choose?

On Pakistan

A. Hypothetical Scenario...

Imagine... a large country, of disparate ethnic populations and a brutal history of Imperialism, war, and fluctuating borders. Parts of it are tribal areas, ruled by tribal laws and councils of elders, and feature separatist/ insurgent sentiments. Large chunks are in the grip of seemingly insurmountable poverty and beholden to grassroots radical movements, increasingly restive and violent.

The military strutting proudly before a domestic audience, has little hard power or "projection" capability on the world stage - except for control over a nuclear arsenal which, although only marginally useful strategically and tactically useless does earn it bragging rights.

The right-wing political class openly advocates a philosophy based on the majority religion, projects a jingoistic national identity that glosses over any historic failures, and nurses a grudge against a neighbor.

Religious nuts and a sensationalist media have taken command of the public square and and often operate behind the political scene, commanding policy-makers if not the policies themselves. Resource and market hungry corporate actors use and enable shadowy such power-players. The trivial and banal rules the burgeoning airwaves at the cost of serious issues - a situation all too convenient for the empowered class engaged in essentially strip-mining the country of its natural resources and filling their own pockets.

A rising middle class is oriented to the West and largely out of touch with the rural and poorer population; income inequality is at horrifying levels and rising. Corruption is rife, and the subject of much public debate. In large parts there is a flight of the affluent class to greener pastures (mostly America and Europe).

Located in a volatile region, this nations territorial disputes abound and two neighbours were (at least until recently) in a state of civil war, one is in the grip of poverty and natural disasters, another is a "failed state" according to Foreign Policy magazine, and yet another is ruled by an uncompromising military junta...

Do you see it? Do you see this sad country?

That's India, not Pakistan, as you may have guessed already - from a biased point of view.

Hold that thought.

On SMS-speak (or whatever the kids are calling it these days)

Seriously, people. It isn't "tat" or "dat". It's THAT. See also, dis, dere, n, whr, u, c, fr, tk, cr, AARGH. Does typing one extra alphabet really give you Carpal Tunnel? I can understand (not like mind you, but understand) people using SMS-speak on a cellphone with a T9 keyboard; but if/ when you have a full QWERTY at your disposal, why not use it?

Also someone explain to me the value in changing "My" to "Ma". I was talking about this the other day with a friend of mine and we both thought it senseless because it doesn't actually save any keystrokes. in fact, on a full QWERTY keyboard the m and the y are closer together than the m and the a. So unless you are a Chicago gangster asking his crack gang to "go back to ma crib n hang" you really shouldn't be invoking your dear old ma.

While on a and m... no, sweetykins, sentences DO NOT begin with a fucking Am. You can't say "Am going here" when you mean "I'm going here". Phonetic equivalence be damned. We aren't speaking Spanish where you can officially shorten "Yo verbo" to just "Verbo" and everyone knows what you're saying.

It isn't cool to use SMS-speak. Really. It's more like irritatingly idiotic. It indicates a lack of patience, polish, and an all round retardedness that is a major turn-off.

So, u no... tk ur fking crp ls-whr /rant

Next time on Grumpy Old Troll - making paragraphs out of your indecipherable blocks of text in an email...

Of Moments

I've stood upon a beach
At dawn
Felt sand at my feet
And marvelled
At the stars overhead, infinite

I've stood atop a forest
In the morn
Breathed in the wooden smells
And gaped
At life's myriad battles, unending

I've stood by a river
At noon
Toes buried in the loam
And stared
At ripples over the water, ephemeral

I've stood on busy streets
In the afternoon
With sweat on my brow
And wondered
At the bustling people, uncounted

I've stood by towers mighty
In the evening
Hands in empty pockets
And goggled
At ambition that blocks the sky, unchained

I've stood by my beloved, fast asleep,
In the middle of night
The world a mere whisper at my ear
And felt awed
By the promise of love, unconditional

I sit now and ponder
About the times I've seen
A smile on my lips, and a tear in my eye
And am overcome
By this heady mix, of moments...

Open Letter to Nat Geo, Discovery, and Ilk

O Mighty Custodians of Popular History and Science,

I'm tired of most of your programming.

I'm tired of programs that rehash the same history/ science and pretend to be new. I'm tired of Penguins, Nazis, King Tut, Polar Bears, Aliens, Tigers, Mythical Monsters, 2012, Nostradamus, Dinosaurs, Black Holes, Whales, and UFOs. If I had to put a number on it - looks like I'm tired of 80% of your content! (Pareto - it gets everywhere, what can I say!)

I hate how your programs feature silken-voiced narrators who pose rhetorical questions about the most banal things before a commercial break to build "suspense". For example: Narrator says "Could the team on the verge of proving Einstein wrong?... fade to Kellogs Corn Flakes commercial. Seriously? Dude, wasn't it obvious from the past 40 minutes of jabber that the old master WAS in fact wrong about some things? Your whole program was predicated on that. For all I care, the program TITLE was "Einstein's Greatest Mistakes".

Complexity

The world is complex.

This simple admission is too much for most to stomach.

“No!” they protest, “when you think about it, when you break it down to manageable pieces, within the context, it is not that complicated at all! Why...” and then they proceed to stop thinking, start believing, and disseminate said belief, in manageable pieces and within the context, of course. Except soon that context will be stripped off and said belief will become an unassailable truth, an axiom of civilization!

Consider a student, young and of nimble mind, toiling away at his lessons. He has been told by all quite often that his lessons will determine his life's direction, its quality, and content. He works away, devouring knowledge that everyone agrees is relevant and germane… and yet that knowledge is not the only determinant of his future, nor is it even the most important determinant. What is? How the fuck would I know? The world is complex!

Causality is a fact, undeniable, enshrined in the very nature of the universe we inhabit. That is not to say however, that it can be gleaned by any human. These waters are muddy, and those on the quest to uncover the bottom only succeed in kicking up more silt.

And yet there are those that take whatever glimmer they caught of some causal relationship and they peddle it as the truth. Within context, initially, until one day it becomes the whole truth,the truth of their existence, and of all existence,the prime mover, the cause at the beginning of all causes! Until one day it becomes a cause of its own, and then they come down the mountain and crush all dissent…

Their certainty, you see – their faith in the veracity of that glimmer – is the most dangerous thing in the world; not only when they are wrong, but also – and especially – when they are partly right. For then this certainty, bolstered with a smattering of evidence, and a throng of believers, makes them… zealots.