Behold hurricane Melissa

 

  Pray for Jamaica 🙏

Jokes of the matter!

 

"Personally I have no bone to pick with graveyards" (Beckett)

Humour is existential. Good humour creates aesthetics of absurdity, the awareness of meaningless. The depth of comic is in this awareness of absurdity. The reason why this line is funny and absurd as also subtle word play that creates hilarious impact. Beckett's creative primed in theatre of absurd where meaning can be understood in depth of meaningless. ‘Should I kill myself, or have cup of coffee?’ is humourous question but an important philosophical one. That truly redefine meaning of life itself. There is a reason why Camus assumed Sisyphus to be happy. Zen master snap a laugh and the meaning becomes apparent.

Good humour is hard to find, and in a restricted crass world humour works within the limitation of system in which it performs (what happened in Saudi is assault, not only on comedy, but on liberty and freedom, it is not funny at all, indeed, a serious incursion on free society). It will rarely glimpse the existential, hence complex expression and thoughts that it initiates, but may bring the momentary absurdity of the situation or the system of control. An exaggeration and the unexpected becomes framework for humour. An evolved sense of humour is an art. It needs exceptionally talented raconteur with sense of timing and pulse of audience to execute. A good joke is necessarily compassion driven hence will not be at the expense of anyone but at the absurdity of the situation. The reason why sense of humour is an evolved attribute, nearer to understanding reality, and the bearer essentially good-natured humans. This eviscerating sincerity is what authoritarians fear. Less talented use vulgar, shock and crude expressions, to challenge the system as joke. This works with audience with limited sensibilities (something that is quite common in standup comedians these days) and may act as vent for oppressed populace and rebellious youngsters.

Indian movies are mostly quite mediocre and generally works in its juvenile limited ways (ofcourse there are exceptions but these are quite rare) to excite the herd. Even within these there are occasions where you find good humour, quite talented artists (and yes there are some songs too that leave lasting impressions). Ofcourse with usual caveat that Indian humour mostly comes with sickening prejudices and regressive ways. Despite these there are funny moments. I rarely watch Indian movies (unless ofcourse it is strongly recommended by evolved narration) but watched these as a kid. Many of these I enjoyed (though as an adult I found many quite stupid -some offensive). There were though some who were genuinely funny like Asrani and Satish Shah -both passed away the other day and the reason I am writing this. They bring back some bright faced memories of laughing neighborhood kids! Satish Shah in particular was exceedingly funny in TV serial YeJoHaiZindagi. He was my initial go-to-guy for funny expressions.

Sense of humour is quite difficult to express and I have abiding respect for people with this talent. I too tried these when I was addressing group (whether taking sessions on different topics or when on nature walk/trek) with some modest success. Worst is when you crack a joke to a group and it doesn’t work. They look at you with narrowing eyes, it is truly a mortifying experience. So you have to do a serious self-analysis to get it right. Choice of words, accent/language that match the region (for instance english is differently accented in bangalore as compared to delhi, also the link words has to be local -joke in complete english doesn't really work most of the times hence if you are in Karnataka use bit of essential kannada with english, in TN use tamil with english, in Kerala malayalam with english and in north use hindi with english so on), timing, delivery, facial expression to keep the attention…all matters. The reason why I read joke books (Asimov has some good collection, even Khushwant Singh) as also closely follow cartoons (drawing cartoon is a diligent difficult work that I am thinking of putting more attention into). The other day I was reading an old joke book on environment issues! (pic herein).              

Soul space

If you take the sight within and still

The bright cobalt blue sky etches billowing castles of white

In shades of grey and setting pink

All possible shapes the moment conjures

Paused jellyfish dissolves the leaping rabbit into nothing

The gaiety of transient forces condense and dissipate

Form, deform and reform 

Inanimate stirs the animate to breathe immense kindness  
An eternal rest for weary soul

To grasp through time  

Awards as self-validation

 

Ofcourse Nobel prize has international significance and immense ramification as it brings in people and narration that are valued. Never in living memory Nobel peace prize so keenly watched. Trump is fervently seeking validation through the award. It is no surprise since the mindset primed in neoliberal transactional value hinges on power, position, awards, to showcase self. Lacking self-awareness or redeeming quality they look for next opportunity to position for more money, power and influence. This then is fitted into myths of leaders, business model and eventually as economic growth hence development, and constructed into narration of fame and success. The hypocrisy and existential disconnect is beyond any sensibility or sanity. Though this appalling disconnect is now out in the open, the vandalizing of precious resources continues unabated without any second thought. Nor the economists show urgency to update the system as if humanity will somehow work out a miracle within the exploitative system. The technology and ideas primed in such system will naturally be misaligned. Ideally collective bodies like UN must take up the responsibility to call for re-evaluation of economic model that hinges growth and development. It is not right or left polarized binaries of ideologies but what is appropriate to immense challenges humanity face. They must present an alternative model and effectuate it at the earliest. Agreements on collective actions are failing since they are working within the exploitative system of economic growth. They are misaligned with life nurturing systems. It is clearly unethical. 

Peace is not won it is nurtured with care and concern. It is a long-term collective investment that is formalized with systems that aligns and understand the reality of people’s existence and challenges. Winning and losing are binaries of crass and stereotypes of attention seeking quick fixes. It is but natural for crude positioners to be attracted to these for validation for their meagre selves. The more depraved they are more blatant to use any means to climb the hierarchy to validate their existence. I have seen these people in realtime (and now I see Trump) stampeding for whatever awards, position of power and influence, to garner respect that their limited self is lost and vacant without it. This horror of vacant self needs things to fill, very soon it craves bigger and bigger things. They are incapable and incapacitated for meaningful involvement, it is always the next glitter for grab, next grab for validation. That the system nurtures these is where the attention need to be.        

**I watch Nobel peace prize announcement with much trepidation considering history of likes of Kissinger. I am deeply troubled if Trump wins, it will be a debilitating setback (I will quit social media altogether, as it is I am reflecting on it). I shared this with ChatAi, it assured me Trump has low chance -but nevertheless a chance and that is a concern. People with power and influence can do anything they want; they can create their own narration and mainstream it, and even make us learn it. This happens all the time. Validating them with prestigious awards will diminish humanity in no uncertain term. Ideally an award seamlessly appreciates the appropriate. 

***it is announced, great news Venezuelan democracy activist Mario Corina Machado. Phew!     

****Oops Houston we have a problem!       

Incredible MOFs

 There is a remarkable material called Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that is the subject of this year’s Nobel prize in Chemistry. These are self-assembled hybrid material made of organic linkers. What is astounding is that they have very high surface area. These are emulating nature’s building blocks: minerals and organics. These have diverse sustainable applications. Two areas that excites are carbon sequestration and extracting humidity from air.

Few years back when I was reading about how seashell went about creating itself, the biomineralization process. It is quite amazing indeed in a way precursor to life. The carbonate ion (from dissolved CO2) and Calcium ions (from dissolved rock minerals in ocean) are guided by framework of organic molecules (like proteins)- as a scaffold, for mineral deposition -the mineralization process. These two ions combine to create calcium carbonate -the shell. So, when the organism die it settles on the ocean floor as sediments and after millions of years as limestones. These limestones are then extracted by cement industry for quicklime from calcium carbonate that is processed to release CO2 (fun fact here is that quicklime when heated produced intense light, this was used to light stages during plays in medieval times hence the term ‘in the limelight’). To cut the story short the whole process of seas shell formation is amazing. So is the case of how Namib beetles use specialized hydrophilic cells to extract water from mist. How are these structures on beetle arranged at molecular level? The high surface area of MOFs is quite intriguing. Does it have parallel in nature or is it human ingenuity of working the periodic table beyond the reach of nature?

One of the scientist awarded, Omar Yaghi, has an amazing generational leap. A refugee from Jordan to US his mother is illiterate. Imagine that. I guess it has to do with, apart from his brilliance ofcourse, framework of accessible high quality public education that US was able to offer, as also some quality teachers and infrastructure. It reminds me of Camus -his mother was deaf and illiterate, from Algeria. What is remarkable about Camus is sophistication of thinking and nuanced expressions that is really quite difficult -indeed almost impossible, to achieve in meagre surrounding and lack of intellectual context. France was able to provide the framework. The reason why liberal progressive space is so important. Now ofcourse internet is making it accessible to all across the world. 

A milestone for renewable energy

 

In the increasingly bleak scenario, something remarkable is achieved. Climate thinktank Ember reports that for the first time since 1940s clean power surpasses 40% of global electricity generation. World’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal plants for the first time. It is a crucial milestone despite overwhelming odds. What is important to note is that China and India are responsible for this surge in renewable sources of energy. This is expected to grow and with rapid advance in technology and increased efficiency we may substantially decarbonize into sustainable responsible progress syncing with earth’s life systems. Petro states and fossil fuel greed industry are a threat (the recent failure to agree on plastic ban is another setback). There is an increasing threat from sinister greed trying to undermine scientific consensus (indeed science itself) and common good.

US is becoming a rogue state as also nurturing ominous agenda across the world. Something must be done immediately. This everyday infliction on the world collective must be stopped. It causes untold misery to common people across the world. Deep state (a consolidation of interest of entrenched elite) is overwhelmingly regressive and conservative as it seeks to control power through feudal institutions, entrenched values and nepotistic clout. Incremental gains of democracy and intrusive decentralizing nature of technology weakens this clout and strengthens grassroot participation. But deep state remains powerful and has significant say in mainstream narration, even with changes in political parties running the government, as also using technology for surveillance. An egalitarian society will have benign deep state that will diminish into people. Whatever maybe the case deep state doesn’t compromise on national interest and sovereignty. Even if the foundation is flawed, state authoritarian or theocratic or corrupt, deep state doesn’t devalue its integrity as a nation. Deep state in US must realize that this narcist psychopath is a threat to US. This horror is ofcourse a threat to the world and has severely undermined collective actions but his role in substantially reducing US must be understood and noted with alarm. US is now a laughing stock, has low credibility, and obstinately in the path of self-destruction. Deep state must take action before it is too late. Post-Trump US must actively participate in collective actions against common threat. A better world is also for the good of US and everyone.             

Shadows 

In the crumbling scene, the collapse, the plumes of bleak

Trace the outlines of struggling forms

Of each soul shaping the shadows in the altered world

Witnessing, listening and seeping

The crevices of silenced sights and shattered thoughts

Vast indifferent space replicates

The anxiety of disintegration

Lost meanings articulate desperation

A new language assimilates the sinister

Hear the snapping scaffoldings that hold the precious

Feel the chill surge diminish selves

Give way to gathering procession of dread

As each fold inside

deeper and deeper into their own shadows    

       

 

"We have the choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place..."

no words can fill this void