The Chief Twit

 

Dangers of both sideism, and binary narration

 

There is no way this can ignored, it has reached a saturation point, and is having grievous consequences. It is fueling worst kind of people and ridiculous ideas to center. Social media, and access it provides to everyone to express into public space, has made the situation much bleak. It is easy for issues to fall into ossified fractures that is maintained and nurtured by manipulative forces and carried as a burden into present without any thought or concern. Diversity of opinion cannot be and shouldn’t be straitjacketed into binary narration for the easy of control of the few. It seeds authoritarianism and has complete disregard of nuances that define life. It is the same devious people who instigate both sideism into absurd valuation of situation for majority of hapless people. They mainstream dangerous nonsense as counter view and present themselves as benign liberal arbitrators. I think we also have had enough of this liberal posturing. The word liberal itself needs to be questioned. Liberal is now equated to lazy patronizing for benefits by well placed. If liberalism has to have any value, then it will have to fall in the ambit of progressive. Progressive has no confusion. It’s easy to understand and doesn’t really fall into semantic jugglery. Responsible people must use their intellect -logical thinking and knowledge, and compassion -maturity and awareness, to understand issues that plagues humanity and is cascading quite rapidly. They must encourage diversity of opinion but when it comes to verifiable truth, researched facts, peer reviewed findings, choices of compassion, they must assert. There isn’t any both sideism. There are no binary narrations that need to be debated and ossified into two sides of political bickering and then deviously into binary political party system. Binary politics is created by devious elite to play ping pong with common people’s tribulations as they neatly partition their turf and effectively divide people into this trap. Market media exaggerations and dehumanizing religions degrade it further. Both sideism is the most dangerous contemporary problem that is causing severe setbacks in dealing with emerging reality.          

Despicables at BBC

 

When the adipose of colonial excesses clog and accumulate it takes human form and assume grander view of the world. They also think themselves as exceptional beings while people wanting in their valuation or expectation are usable or disposable. Clearly, this valuation is not based on empathy, intellect or what defines a human. Nothing explains complete lack of application of mind or empathy for tribulations of common people across the world who are facing the cascading effects of climate change. Market media across the world are seen lacking in their response to the looming climate crisis despite the fact that millions face bleak future. They seem to have abdicated whatever little responsibility they have. Although they claim to represent fourth estate of democracy -a watchdog, they are mostly controlled by powerful interests. Few billionaires control influential outlets and they overwhelm the space, hence it’s difficult for concerned committed outlet to emerge -it also is dependent on nature of society too -a primitive society where herds can easily be controlled and kept excited through superficialities of politics, fantasies of religions, mediocre movies, wastrel’s games, it really becomes difficult to be responsible citizens. Herd has to be always kept distracted, otherwise lacking basic sense they turn into mob.

BBC has produced some excellent iconic documentaries on nature and environment over the years, and with David Attenborough it was nothing short of miracle. But these attempts by BBC News to play both sideism on the issue of climate crisis even in the year 2022 is telling. It also shows how much they are complicit in obfuscating the critical issue for the last many decades. It shows how much they value matter that will impact the fate of life on earth, all those amazing species. This is an existential crisis. It is NOT that ‘environmentalists are upset’ over UK PM not attending COP27 or that Sweden has removed Environment ministry (imagine a Scandinavian country has slipped into such a mess, it’s really unbelievable) any sane person will be, and should be, upset.

*western british media like BBC have serious impact on erstwhile colonies since the elite sections frame much of their worldview through these -ofcourse in the recent times democratization has happened through profusion of digital and social media. But many of these News channels carry reputation -not necessarily deservingly as BBC is persistently proving. When I was in my early teens I was asked to listen to BBC since it was supposed to carry authentic news, as also it would help me learn 'good English'. I first listened to BBC when Indira Gandhi got assassinated and there were reports of riots, there was no source of authentic news. Quite coincidently I had recently got a portable Japanese radio set, and would listen BBC with much keenness although I really couldn’t understand much of what they said and the accent made it worse. Fortunately for me they repeated the news every half an hour or so, and I would listen again and again. Slowly I could catch the words and search the meanings in the dictionary, thirteen-year-old me would be exhilarated. I even thought Punjab was actually Poonjab! Now as I look back, I feel violated that BBC is reduced to such crap, or maybe they were always manipulative and that I am no longer naïve.           

Podcast on contemporary non fiction books

 https://depalan.podbean.com/

Listen to the Second Podcast, we continue from where we left. There has been some changes since the earlier platform was not free. Even this one has limited space hence I will be making small capsules so as to not extend the MB limit. Anyway, I am grateful to these platforms for giving this opportunity  

Brownwashing is not progressive

 

So, an Indian origin fellow -the link is tenuous as much as his link to Britain and the tribulations of common people nevertheless it should keep the herd riveted since he is a exhibiting Hindu and all the ridiculousness of religion that comes with it, is now ‘ruling’ (well that’s what the mob here in India wants to believe) Britain. Excelling in manipulation among the opportunist sociopaths in Conservative cabal he scratched and scrambled through, not elected by people nor liked by them. His amazing level of incompetence was on display in the previous government. His lack of concern or empathy was showcased during pandemic. The fellow was busy ticking boxes to please the power that be, to be in their good books, while he upstages the incumbent sociopath (who also displayed psychopathic tendencies). His appalling attempts at influencing Tory sociopaths with ridiculous hackneyed cringeworthy ads didn’t work. That he was defeated by another sociopath (trickle down dimwit) who couldn’t outlast a lettuce is telling.  

There is a stampede among castetva and hindutva -in equal ferocious measure, here in India to claim him hence by implication the untold ‘intelligance’ and ofcourse merit that the world is yet to understand. One fellow -inbred in this ecosystem of exceptionalism, in social media claimed in the melee that NASA scientists have learned sanskrit to understand the hidden knowledge of nature of universe. Given half a chance primitive Indian society has the template to take it to the next level of ridiculous. While Rishi Sunak was ticking all the boxes of amassing wealth and influence, and working the nepotistic hold through circle of influence and neo-liberal clique, seasoned Indians here in India easily valued these as signs of blessing, indeed they would be aiming for the same goals given half the chance! What the person is doing or has done (even a cursory glance at this erstwhile hedge fund manager’s performance during pandemic is enough to tick him off -and should never be allowed anywhere near influential positions), what is the values he hold, is not at all a concern as long as wealth and influence is working. Precisely what squatters at Tirupati recommends. Let the money talk. Let us keep them mesmerized with our wealth and power. They will bow. They will want blessing to improve their fate. They will want the share of power and wealth. Everything is justified with power and wealth. Imagine the minds that think like this, and then work to create sacredness around it. And yes, very soon Sunak will be paying a visit (unless ofcourse common people in Britain revolt and general elections are called). This is how ordained soul meet beholder of special power and conjurer of mysterious forces in universe. The more you understand these people absurd it gets. Also, unlike patronizing fattened fluffs who have taken the cudgel to protect religion, these absurdities must be eviscerated and ridiculed. An intriguing discussion in social media was about counting number of Indian origin leaders who have trigger on nuclear bomb. Ofcourse ridiculing Pakistan is a constant endeavor (not that this nation needs any help, corrupt feudal, exploited people, and yes Islam representing the idea of religions that holds worst of possibilities for humanity -the audacity to declare Islamophobia by UN – I am still seething. Religiophilia is an affliction of controllers. There isn’t anything sacred about religion indeed it’s banal, anachronistic nuisance). The idea that more Indian origins have power to destroy world many times over seems satisfying thought to some, as also the implicit claims of superiority (one pretentious news channel reported few months ago that US VP had nuclear button in her control for hours, I couldn’t understand the significance, now I am getting it). What kind of people are these?       

This picture is doing the round in social media to buttress all ridiculous claim by primitives here in India. This need to be dealt. Consolidation of section of cult into hinduism (hinduism was, and is being, consolidated and defined by the other) saw to it that cows become sacred. For most hindus cows were never really sacred except maybe some small sections in North India. Eating cow meat was quite a common practice, even find mention in scriptures. Many rituals reminisce animal sacrifices even human sacrifices. Buddhism presented frame of compassion though not in the degrading concept of purity. Buddha’s last meal consist of pork is documented and explains the context of compassion that caste cannibals were incapable to fathom.  For some it was bulls that were sacred, for some it was peacock, for others it was dog (readers of this blog will recall Jejuri – and the unforgettable lines by Kolatkar -God is the word I know how to read backwards!). During the socalled freedom struggle caste cannibals were working furiously to control narration as also match with the needs of colonial masters hence many ‘interpretations’ and ‘scholarly’ work on Gita to compare and be par with the single holy book religion -read Bible. Bhagvad Gita is just one of the holy books among hundreds of holy scriptures. How did this book gain prominence like cow? Ofcourse colonial racist christian masters with the help of caste cannibals created jokes on holy cow (something that you will not find in any Indian region or language, clearly, it’s a conception of english).  So, when you get photographed paying obeisance to cow it’s carefully crafted to create exotic value to britishers. The otherness that they have constant urge to patronize for their own redemption and to showcase benign nature that hide colonial excesses. It’s seen that when normal decent people migrate, or even spent some time, in West (specifically Britain or Canada) they come back much insular dogmatic versions of religions, identifying with regressive and revivalists. Quite clearly these are nurtured by white European elite working to segregate and exoticize as also exhibit proprietorial control over common people. Alien regressive values doesn’t add to society, it generally spread misery -not only for common people but also for the majority vulnerable within the exotic. There arises revulsion hence xenophobia which is tapped by cunning opportunists to divide and create binary narrations to share power. Praying holy cow and performatory exhibition of exotic faith ticks all the boxes that pleases the West hence the urge to patronize, this later consolidates into power. Back home these regressive performances are being celebrated as hinduism’s mystical connections to universe and how it bestows blessing on some. Ofcourse I am not against cows. When I was kid, we had a cow in hometown and I would hug the calf -such a gentle adorable creature. Also, cow meat is red meat hence bad for health. Ofcourse one must strive for veganism as a choice but with meat diet once in a while. There is nothing patently sacred about cows nor anything evil about buffaloes or pigs. Every life is sacred. Indeed, every life is a miracle (I was reading about incredible ways by which bats echolocate -it’s amazing. Bats are now topping my list of animals that can be considered sacred!)  This praying to specific animals -since some herds do so, by those whom we assume to be ‘educated’ is dangerous. It is ticking the western cliché. Brownwashing is not progressive. Nevertheless Britain will have to see whether he redeems himself? Most people have doubts.  

                                    *                                     *                                        *

Now check these three pictures here. The common factor here is that they are all women of Indian origin who held/hold powerful positions in West. What is also common is that they are nastiest of the lot. To the extend you can call them embarrassments. But they are seen as representing woman of color, vulnerabilities of migrants, exotic culture so on…but these are all superficialities. They are superficial human being, sociopaths who would do anything for money and power. And yes, there are lots like these in India too, so when we talk of vulnerable women in India just be sure. The worst are always lurking salivating for power and ready with PR agency for image change. It goes without saying that this is equally true for men, just trying to point out that this primitive society is much complicated, and that those who claim to represent are not really representing nor can they represent. Even Gandhi was a shoddy attempt.  

Power doesn’t corrupt -it attracts

 Let us accept that british system is the worst of possibilities, it’s a confluence of benefits from colonial atrocities, racism, Christianity -instead of guiding- exploiting the situation for proselytizing, anachronistic absurdities of monarchy that normalizes feudal values and spurious ascriptive claims, nepotism and cronyism, a flawed parliament that reserves seats for worst of people -and the gall to call them lords, and not the least patronizing customs, traditions, from worst of religions and systems into ‘developed’ societies hence severely degrading enlightening progressive efforts in poorer societies, as also nurturing charlatans claiming to represent beleaguered people from across the world. Britain has done good and bad to the world. Bad is worst, and it stands out. It really is worst of possibilities, and it happens because lack of vigilance -taken in by laziness of arrogance and exceptionalism as guiding light of the world -it may have been true in scientific achievements century back but the world has firmly moved on and looks back in amusement. Neo-liberal capitalism unleashed by Thatcher onto the world, and now reaping the worst possibility by presenting vilest mediocre puppets as leaders. Britain has just gone through a long post-colonial yawn of indulgent excesses and is now startled out of its siesta to find all its claims in shambles.   

Sane people would have called for general election to stop this calamitous fall of British politics. This absurd stampede to be PM by ticking all the right boxes just for overwhelming naked greed for power while the situation turn utterly ridiculous. Politics run by people who are so isolated from reality that they come with new claims of absurdities every day to startle with their appalling lack of presence, their lack of empathy and their utter narcissism. 

Quite coincidently I am reading this book Corruptible -Who Gets Power And How It Changes Us by Brian Klaas. The book mentions about famous Stanford University prison test conducted in 1971 (there is also a movie based on this) wherein the volunteers who were given power become abusive. The experiment claimed that demons are within us and that power lets them come out. Interestingly in 2007 researchers in Western Kentucky University conducted the same experiment, they replaced these words for the ad asking for volunteers “for a psychological study of prison life” with “for a psychological study”. In some town they placed “prison life” ad while in other they placed “psychological study”. So, the idea was to have people volunteering for “prison life” experiment while others for generic “psychological study” experiment, and to see if there is any difference. What they found was extraordinary. Those who responded to the prison experiment advertisement scored significantly high on “aggressiveness, authoritarianism, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and social dominance and significantly lower on dispositional empathy and altruism” by just including the word 'prison' they were able to attract disproportionately sadist volunteers. The study may demonstrate that sadist people seek out power. Power could be magnet for bad people rather than a force that turns good people bad. In this understanding, power doesn’t corrupt -it attracts.                     

Podcast on contemporary non fiction books

https://depalan.podbean.com/

This is a new podcast (you will have to sign in) wherein I will be discussing, mostly elaborating, contemporary nonfiction books. In the recent times things are changing quite rapidly and with new insights adding to available understanding at breakneck speed. These also have significant impact on future whether AI, quantum computing or biotechnology. Meanwhile there are issues related to climate crisis and evolving parameters, challenges to biodiversity, social media and impact on authenticity (not that mainstream had any say on authenticity, just that the muddle has spread), challenges for democracy and liberty by constantly morphing regressive systems, so on. So, I will be discussing books that presents something interesting. Choosing a book is quite an arduous task since the time spent to read is valuable. Be aware of contemporary challenges and then go for books that are incisive or else follow some brilliant people across the world and checkout their reading list. Avoid market, so-called influencers, and nonsense that comes with it, as also challenges and angst of primitive societies and people. You can easily avoid anything in the framework of fantasies of religion as also market and crass entertainments. In short there should be no time for concerns of herds, herd controllers, their tribulations, angst and happiness. Understanding these pitiable contexts and threat they pose is a frame for good book.    

 In this fast-changing world it has also become quite difficult to spent time on fiction -it is indeed a luxury. Ofcourse youngsters must read fiction (the best ones including the valued writers of last centuries) for insights on humanity and human nature so on, and yes don’t waste time on spectacular versions of garbage that is churned out each day in the name of fiction. Anything that titillates and doesn’t make you think or add to your understanding of life is really a waste – a criminal misuse of time as also a degradation.       

I am starting this podcast with the book I happen to read last month An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us. Quite an interesting book with amazing knowledge of the world we live in. It’s a book we should all buy. Also, this book gave quite a significant shift in understanding towards nature. Last many years I was a Naturalist (conducting nature treks) wherein the constant endeavor was to learn about nature and communicate. Then I was a Biomimic (taking sessions on Biomimicry) here it was about what you can learn from nature. And now this book opens up new understanding, indeed an evolution of sort for me, as to look at the world through the eyes of nature -umwelt of different species. It’s a brilliant book.

British embarrassment is no longer international embarrassment. Thank you.

 She couldn't outlast the lettuce. What a disgrace. Who next? 😄

Meanings are deeper

 

Being a human is a much deeper responsibility. It needs constant vigilance, not only of one’s own actions and inactions but also the context one is placed in as it broadens and involves the whole world. It makes us aware of the state of the world and the systems that are used to control and incapacitate. Systems that keep humans in a constant frenzy, a frantic involvement with world, restless activities towards concocted goals – a distraction that gradually isolate oneself from one’s own being. They become ever busy in fulfilling the meanings of the system. Atrophied by their own negation they use remnant faculties of being a human to work for immediate needs of the system. They are incapable to think beyond. They are incapacitated to use their faculties or sensibilities. This lack of a human is what isolate him or her from the nature, from the earth systems that nurtures life. It is a pitiable existence.

They find meaning in being part of these demeaning and degrading systems -conceived by devious working of market, religion and compromised institutions that seek to trap (this extends to state machinery and the concept of nation itself in its negative assimilation of exceptionalism). They get compromised being part of these dehumanizing systems, they now cherish as astute herd members hence seek meanings in these associations. With limited sensibilities and ever restrictive systems it is never going to be good for the humanity. In this delusional existence they approach existential crisis that humanity faces. Lacking basic involvement expected from vibrant human life they find common sensical issues beyond their grasp and easily fall for conspiracy theories and manipulation, indeed being a herd member, they revel in this opportunity to prove their herd credential. They obfuscate facts, create alternate truth and generally vitiate matters that could easily be understood if their minds were not constricted and decrepited by the system. They volunteer to be irresponsible. They volunteer to be not human. They refuse to think. Their lack and obedience is celebrated by collective assertion of systems -market, religions and devious controllers, through entertainment, art and general notions of success. This powerlessness to face the reality, this lack of trust in one’s own sensibilities and incapacity to apply mind, in the overwhelming overbearing presence of systems is what makes people dangerous.      

Two thinkers have become extremely important in these trying times: Hannah Arendt (it was her birth anniversary yesterday, and I was recapping her brilliant philosophies) and Ludwig Wittgenstein. The matter of thinking and meanings we assign. Truth sustains as we search for meaning, this search and deeper involvement in this process is what collapses the fake. Meanings are assigned through words hence the words have to be dynamic to contain the truth -the collective consensus, of the context and time. We find the meaning of the word by looking at the commonalities it is exposed to. Dictionary assigns basic meaning but a milieu of social, historical and contemporary realities through reflection of collective intelligence creates a dynamic meaning. It is therefore important that words are not allowed meanings that is ossified in the realities of past hence triggering the fractures that hold less or no meanings in present. These attempts at controlling words into easy meanings and clichés to polarize discussions, to facilitate comfortable narrative control of few, must be resisted. As we critically analyze the situation, we must think deeply about the words we use. Words must reflect diversity of experience, and shouldn’t be allowed into binary for manipulation. Words that don’t reflect the reality makes the experience superficial as it is made incapable to encapsulate deeper meaning. Without deeper meaning we cannot have deeper understanding hence truth fades and is replaced by banalities.                   

Unnecessary provocation

 

NATO doesn’t have any locus standi in dealing with Russian attack and genocide in Ukraine. International community must make it urgently and unambiguously clear that NATO is worsening the situation. UN must assert itself and mediate in this crucial juncture. UN has mandate of international community; it has 193 members. UN secretary general must be the voice of the world. He must articulate the apprehensions and call for sanity. He must elaborate on threats of nuclear war to the world. He must be the voice of reconciliation, and must actively involve in day-to-day happenings to reduce the escalation, information dissemination on this crisis need to happen through UN. NATO is very much part of the problem hence must keep quiet. This constant harping (essentially taunting) of ‘retaliation against nuclear attack’ is extremely provocative (this was made few minutes back). Will the world survive the retaliation? What is NATO talking about? A military alliance only knows language of war, either its winning or enforcing peace. A paranoid murderous dictator has already crossed the line by committing genocide. He has nothing much to lose. Is it necessary to provoke and challenge his ego. NATO is worsening the situation, and is considered a threat by Putin so why indulge in provocative speculations. Isolate Putin not Russia. If there is any intelligence input on nuclear arms movement then it should be shared with UN, or other world leaders, who use the language of pacification to defuse the situation. This is not the time for bravado, entirely unnecessary. I hope they understand how serious the situation is. It is not about ‘if you attack then we attack’ game, this is about annihilation of life on earth. There are no winners. It’s about you and me, and all the beautiful lives on earth. It’s about irreparable damage to precious planet.         

Dangerous escalation

 

What a mess we are in. This is escalating dangerously. We people all across the world are seriously concerned. An urgent intervention by UN and responsible leaders of Western nations is needed here. We common people across the world are always fodder in bigger game of powerful people. We really don’t know what is happening. We see horrible sights of bombs exploding and people getting killed, and now threats of nuclear war. What can we do except watch with growing concern. 

Let’s get the basics. Respect sovereignty of nation. Respect borders of nations. Russia, under dictator Putin, has attacked another country and massacred people. These are facts. What is also true is presence of anachronistic cold war relic NATO -that Russia see as a threat. Russia at this point is ruled not by reason but by survival instinct of an egomaniac. He has access to nuclear arsenals that can create havoc at a scale that would make Hiroshima look minor event and collapse life system on earth. Steps towards de-escalation could include roll back of NATO and eventual disbanding while Russia evacuate Ukraine territory. The world doesn’t really need military organizations that is ossified in the realities of 20^th century. If there is no Warsaw pact then why is NATO needed? What is the threat that NATO is protecting? World has evolved and is nowhere connected to realities of 1940s or 50s, there is nothing in common -it only exists in the minds of older leaders and their egos. West must recognize this by not pushing the world into fracture lines of the past. West must show magnanimity and confidence in its capabilities. Nobody is giving into the blackmail of a dictator. It’s logical thing to do, as also good for the world to strengthen UN. Deploy UNPKF at Russia-Ukraine border. Encourage democratic forces in Russia. If world leaders are not able to take decision, then feed all these facts to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and I am quite sure this is the optimal solution an AI would also suggest. This need not be a zero-sum game, it’s a loss for humanity and for life on earth. It can still be salvaged.  

The gluttonous sponsors of existential crisis

 

So, you are baffled that exploitative corporate like Coca-Cola (carbonated sugary water) is to be the ‘sponsors’ of one of the most crucial climate summits COP27 in Egypt. That a military dictator ruled Egypt (that quashes dissent and arrest dissidents including well respected and popular Alaa Abd El Fattah) is being chosen as venue is in itself problematic. As much like depleting biodiversity democratic egalitarian spaces across the world are also reducing at an alarming rate. Almost a decade back common people in Egypt had provided glimpses of possibilities when they uprooted a corrupt dictator unleashing a vibrant movement across the region. Unfortunately, they couldn’t sustain it as democratic institutions were not strong enough hence opportunist forces like religion capitalized to degrade and so army moved in as saviors. Feel extremely sorry for brave -tremendously inspiring, humanists of the region. Democracy provides humanist voices and institutions to thrive. It values liberty and freedom. Feudal control and influences are always anti thesis to democratic values. Attempts to patronize democratic institutions by feudal forces through euphemism of stability is ploy for control.

Imagine how they conceived the idea of ‘sponsoring’ a climate summit, quite clearly an attempt to normalize consumerism and work it within the ambit of ‘problem solvers’. And who is better to help us solve problems than Coca-Cola! They teach it as marketing strategy to younger herd as they are coopted into system as ‘success stories’ of money and intelligence. In primitive societies these are referred to as case of untold blessing as they easily move around pirouetting skills, charming people, influencing decisions, and generally agreed upon as refreshing ‘positive energy’ (there is a word in malayalam which was constantly used, and pushed on to ambivalent failures, ‘nokipadikada #@&#’ meaning ‘see and learn #@&#’). For marketeers this is -in their success churning lingo, a marketing coup. Most ‘leaders’ in flawed democracies across the world are presented to herd through these miracles of market. The ‘leaders’ are then elected to sustain corporate needs through euphemism of growth and development. Coca-Cola has this to say on its latest transgression on humanity “Coca-Cola’s firm belief that working together through meaningful partnerships will create shared opportunities for communities and people around the world and in Egypt.” When words are assigned narrow meanings devoid of contexts or evolving realities then it is an attempt at controlling narration.

There is no need to keep elaborating worst of corporates like Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Apart from largest polluters on planet it has played havoc on health, particularly of younger generation, all across the world by increasing obesity, diabetes so on at an alarming rate. Taking the specific case of Egypt which has the highest obesity rate in the African continent. ‘Between 2015 and 2019, the carbonated soft drinks market in Egypt grew by 27%, and from 2020, has been increasing annually by 19. By 2025, the market is estimated to be worth $4.08 billion’. There are other significant issues, that is also undermined by mainstream market media, of groundwater exploitation -natural resource depletion, and prioritizing electricity and resources to these exploitative corporates over needs of local population. This blogger had covered it in India almost two decades back https://depalan.blogspot.com/2011/03/anecdotal-study-on-nature-of-mncs.html. Not that it has changed anything but I can only do what is within my limit, as each one of us as conscientious objectors. We do our do. There are powerful forces who sideline, undermine and eventually block or tarnish, meanwhile they will ofcourse pose as benevolent force, as helping saviors, through opportunist celebrities and pliable influencers. Just that they will usurp all the power and money, and then ‘trickle down’ to keep the exploitative feudal system stable. It is how market spreads positive energy crap of ‘development and growth’. Unfortunately, they have reached a dead end. Neoliberal growth cannot work on limited and precious planet resources. Nice advertisement and meaningless words cannot stop climate calamities. West is facing the other end of neoliberalism what poorer societies have been facing all along. There is reason why west is suddenly facing ‘third world problems’. As they say, chicken is coming home to roost. Earth’s system cannot sustain unending demands of neoliberal gluttony. Quite clearly COP27 is turning out to be jamboree for leaders of flawed democracies, dictators, sponsors of greed, polluters and their lobbyists            

A Spectre Is Haunting World

 

Superficially black

 

This fellow here is a right example of what is defined as “superficially black”, indeed most ‘ethnic faces’ in British cabinet for last many years were superficially black. What Tony Blair’s party (that attacked Iraq and was responsible for many deaths and mayhem thereafter) aka Labour party must realize is that we are not living in 19^th century wherein ‘black’ had only one meaning devoid of any context -not even human, and that of skin colour. World has evolved since so has the word ‘black’, now the word, apart from ofcourse the unfortunate reference to skin colour hence racism, has a political and social context too. What it essentially means is that Kwarteng although he is black -hence all the historical context of racism/slavery attached against it, his evolution into social political has been such that his skin colour identity has become rather superficial. He is a neoliberal elite in a powerful position, and has consistently been immune to social reality of common people or the precarious state of environment. His education has failed him. Hence he is superficially black. Not at all difficult to understand. And this bunch who don’t even understand basic semantics of discourse or contexts of reality we live in are providing the political alternative in Britain. They want to keep common people ossified and controlled within the binary narration that help their manipulation for power. How can people ever trust these who pose as liberal progressives and an alternative to buffoonery show in Britain? These polarizing binaries is a significant reason why the world is in such a sorry state. While market media do ‘balancing act’ i.e. both sideism, to give credibility to manipulations and fake narrations. Ossified semantics, narrow meanings, becomes main mode of controlling narration to keep it tethered to past that has no value or connection with challenges common people face, indeed it’s a distraction, a criminal negligence, a sadist game.    

Hindutva hooligans at the fore

 

What to expect from a primitive society? The mainstream nonsense is becoming unbearable. With castetva forces degrading the society and institutionalizing regressive values, expectedly lacking personal probity (nepotistic corrupt sycophantic charlatans working on eloquence and hedonistic ways as liberal) in the last many decades, it was but expected. Entertainment in this part of the world was always substandard (with very rare exceptions -necessarily against the norm. As mentioned earlier music and colors -mainly through folk art, are two aspects of expression that worked for me from this depressingly degraded part of the world), an excruciating experience. With modern technology it can only go to worst of details. To expect something enlightening from regressive foundation is foolishness, hence we have to tolerate, this therefore becomes defining moment for freedom of expression and arbitration of possibilities that democracy and modern technologies provides.     

The mainstream media and inbred litters in social media, shifting from castetva cannibalism to hindutva hooliganism, are baying blood for a latest movie about some Ramayana references through Ravan, Sita so on (check the details in the picture herein. This is India's next generation creating sinister conceptions from mythical stories as marketeers -in the garb of moviemakers, journalists...feed on 'controversy'!). As it is these were quite insipid stories carefully working feudal patriarchy crass contexts for religious values to keep common people in leash. Juvenile stories that move from adolescent spectacles to bawdy crude fantastical were meant to provide moral values, and are still vociferously presented in this modern world as alternate reality. Since herd is riveted, market driven mediocre entertainers have been using these for easy money. In the last many decades mediocre entertainers had free run to manipulate these ‘moral’ symbols for money churning enterprise. In recent time with hindutva hooligans working the deal for herd the ‘hurt sentiment’ has cascaded into riotous hold. Marketeer turned film makers working for easy money with least talent or creative skills conceptualized Ravana -closely resembling mainstream conception of Islamist or jehadi nightmare, the quintessential monster mullah. Now this was clever work to mollycoddle the hindu herd into contemporary realities of hatemongering hence successful formulae for money making. They even had him riding a flying bat -most likely to tap on the corona scare where bats were proclaimed as bloodthirsty villains to the hounded populace (I feel very sorry for bats -one of the most diverse mammal species they play a very significant role in ecosystem, and if you study how they use echolocation it's absolutely brilliant), now this is served to otherworldly blessed section with ordained role as saviors of humanity, of jagath gurus and mahatmas ordered as needed, who strongly hold the view that blessed Indians, obviously intelligent (pundit=intelligence/holder of spectacular knowledge that common people can never be privy to, and now even western ‘civilization’ too have acknowledge it by including it in daily conversation), could fly much sophisticated things than mere aircrafts!  

These cacophonies of absurd surrounding the ‘discussion’ (within the mythical vad-samvad traditions of putrid society) gets excruciating by the day. For literacy to become education is a big deal, it is saddening that modern technologies and spectacular access these provides has made it immensely possible but what we get is pursuit of crass and crude. It is easy to blame castetva cannibals for consolidation of hindutva hooligans, though this is largely true, but we are seeing trends across the world (latest in Brazil) where the worst of the people are getting acceptance in large scale. It is about time to understand this dangerous shifting -wise and better equipped minds should explore this. Most importantly these clever binaries that were assiduously created, and now collapse with remarkable ease in common people’s estimation, is stark. Manipulating feudal structures and hedonism into liberal and freedom while carefully feeding regressive religions as symbolic sacred. These constructed binaries are meant to polarize for easy manipulation and consolidation of sinister forces. These degradation of egalitarian into words with ominous intents has reached a dead end, it is being thoroughly breached into desperations of common people. We need to reclaim words that defines egalitarian values and human progress that hinges the shared aspirations of humanity. These cannot be kept ossified into 20^th century contexts and value system through narrative control of few. Modern world and its continuously emerging challenges need forceful semantics. Words holds meaning. Meanings are vibrant and constantly evolving.               

Interesting premise for a book

This book The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan works on an interesting premise. He chose to focus four domesticated plants namely Apple, Tulip, Cannabis, and Potato, each representing an important class of domesticated plants i.e., a fruit, a flower, a drug, and a staple food, to trace its social and natural history. These ‘domesticated’ plants took “advantage of one particular animal that had evolved not only to move freely around the earth, but to think and trade complicated thoughts. These plants hit on a remarkable clever strategy: getting us to move and think for them”. Its about exploring social natural history from plant's perspective. As Pollan puts it “That’s why it makes just as much sense to think of agriculture as something the grasses did to people as a way to conquer the trees”. Phew, figure that!               

A finite life

A finite life 

Infinity is a place on the beach

Where you can walk forever and ever.

Where passing clouds and waves repeat

Again, and again.

Continuity of ocean breaks into discreet grains of sand.

The scene pixelated in infinite possibilities

Looking at you from shores light years away.

Thinking thoughts pause the fleeting moment

This sliver of time

This finite life

Through this human form

We are given only this much to see.   

nasa is live

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RA8Tfa6Sck

Two minutes to impact!!

Urgent collective action

 

Nature thrives in collective action. World is sustained by collective actions of different forces. Symbiosis and mutualism are norm. Predation and competing, though for specific limited purpose, these too are synergic part of the system that sustains life. Humans cannot survive on their own. They are dependent on biodiversity services of nature. Nor individuals can survive without society. That really doesn’t mean humans are social insects. Humans are sentient, and have free will, aspirations and different conceptions of ambitions and ideas of life. The instinct of life is byproduct of billions of years. Evolution is gradual consolidation of these instincts. Nature optimizes and not maximize; it sets it limit through synergic association with surrounding. Understanding nature’s instinct will therefore add significantly to awareness. Inquisitive minds and wise people have sought to understand these and consolidate into subjects of inquiry and knowledge. In this critical juncture of existential threat instincts of collective actions needs a way.    

As mentioned earlier systems that dehumanizes and isolates from humanity are constant threat. Significantly it prevents collective actions. A thriving collective action needs aware knowledgeable individuals otherwise collective becomes a danger of herd that has potential to be misled into mob. It is from these dehumanizing frames another regressive value system emerges that propose some as especially capable, some blessed individuals uniquely endowed to solve humanity’s concerns. Popular medium and entertainment has driveled these into mass psyche as hero worshipping -god is only a carefully constructed expressions of these. These seemingly proposing humbleness to bigger forces tend to undermine capacity of human. Individual assertions are classified as arrogance while individuality is seen as a threat. When someone escapes the tentacles of these regressive systems and is able to contain his/her unique human identity to contribute to humanity and if checks system's conception of success i.e. money, power, fame so on, then they are sought to be appropriated as blessed, as specially endowed, with divine grace as supernatural, as heroes, as avatars. Such is the degradation that money, power, fame -the paraphernalia of greed, sick minds, are presented by market as defining attributes to emulate to be successful. Since system rarely produce space for uniqueness hence we are presented with cheaper versions of entertainers with much fanfare. Comic versions are now serious mega buck heroes and influencers carrying the burden of humanity for quick and easiest fixes consolidating the subconscious narration of religion, of providence, of miracles. They create caricature of possibilities into implausible that needs superheroes, divine presences and blessed saviors.     

Life in itself is a providence. Each and every expression of nature is a miracle. It is only when humans are dehumanized that they fail to see these miracles. An evolved society will make it natural for humans to be part of the miracle. With knowledge, awareness and presence, they effortlessly connect and become perceptive to the vibrant universe surrounding us. Depending on their attitude, passion, they gain skills to explore. Thus, whether in art or science or both -since nature doesn’t work in silos nor mind, they sense the essence for humanity. Thus increasing our awareness and understanding hence evolving collective mind of humanity into a better world. It doesn’t need any specially endowed human or specific blessings since every life is part of the miracle and hence capable to replicate that miracle. In primitive societies such presences are impossible so binaries are created to appropriate the exceptions as a lesson for herd on implausible divine, impossible superheroes, so as to keep them in leash while awestruck to the miracle of the system and otherworldly providences that can be converted into goodies if they obey and follow. In evolved society or aware minds miracles are common place without loosing any of its wonder.

Climate breakdown is an existential crisis. It needs collective action from all across the world. Some people emerging from primitive societies are pushing for divine intervention -a super hero, an avatar or someone specially endowed with miraculous power (preferably a white male or a whitewashed exotic agreeable representation) to propose mindboggling solutions that unblessed are incapable to even comprehend. Beware of these mahatma burden carrying charlatans with severe savior syndrome. There is a reason why youngsters from some societies (particularly Scandinavian region) are actively involved in pushing for urgent climate action. Ofcourse, it has spread to other parts of the world creating a vibrant movement among youngsters but what is to be noted is that these aware youngsters are reflection of the evolved nature of society and perceptive education system. You will also note this kind of heightened awareness among tribals and aborigines who are synced with nature and can sense changes. Climate action is nurtured and empowered by active participation of youngsters into collective involvement from all across the world.

History is no reference

 

What happened a century or centuries back is no reference for events now. Contemporary world is quite a different place and is significantly evolved with immense awareness hence has nothing really in common with medieval times. The present cannot be judged from the prism of past. Past can only be understood. The only context when primitive references of history matters is when some present systems trace its values from history or seeks legitimacy through history or primacy of traditions or tries to replicate it through institutions that intends to suppress and discriminate group of people or individuals. This is true for white supremacist (fascist, nazis etc.), exceptionalism of anachronistic religions (through caste cannibals, monster mullahs, white racists, herd fantasy, so on) or feudal institutions like monarchy that nurtures deviant values and norms that is anti-thesis and a persistent threat to democratic institutions and egalitarian values. No country or society in the world valued equality, liberty and primacy of law in its true sense even a century back. World was a nasty place. The world as of now, despite its lacunas and serious flaws, is the best of humanity’s possibilities. Democratic values in its true sense nurtures egalitarian systems and humanistic concerns. It fosters each individual to their potential.

There are two issues -which claims wronged history to rectify present, that needs attention. With death of british monarch debate was initiated on reparation with specific reference to Kohinoor diamond (a crystalized carbon that shines and had many wasted Homo sapiens irresistibly attracted). Let us make it clear few centuries back colonialism was a norm, at local level these were exploitations nurtured by feudal ways and idiosyncrasies of the ruled, any space for sanity was provided through patronizing hence control. Nincompoops in Indian region were incapable to defend themselves from colonial forces or invaders is not the fault of colonial forces or invaders. There was no rule of law, not by the invaders nor by the invaded society. It was might that ruled and decided. The claim for Britain reparation for colonial loot is quite ridiculous. How much is estimate of reparation? Who decides? Also, even within Indian subcontinent the feudals owe a reparation to common people. Where does this debate end? Britain is different country now so is the region of Indian subcontinent that was colonized. History froze in 1947. The rule of law came into effect. It is the democratic ideals that needs protection. 

Serious concern is not reparation or loot but the system that is being sustained. The feudal values that is nurtured through monarchy, as also how much it associates with colonial ways and racist mindsets. Most significantly, how much have these british medieval theatre of absurd influenced and degraded nascent emerging democracies of Asia and Africa in last many decades since independence? In many ways flawed society’s path towards democracy and egalitarian values, hence aspirations of common people, were actively undermined by elite sections who sought extra constitutional authority by emulating monarchy. Feudal values negated democratic institutions into pomp theatric ‘traditions’ while nurturing exceptionalism, nepotism and crony capitalism. Those who value liberty, equality and ideals of democracy must fiercely resist feudal forces even in its benign proposedly stabilizing form. It’s a dangerous and persistent threat to humanity. Democratic values through individual right and rule of law assure liberty and equality hence hope to common people. Hope brings stability.

Second issue is that of Gyanvapi mosque that is being claimed by hindus. What has happened in history cannot be claimed on present. Ramjanam Bhoomi/babri masjid case was different matter made worse by devious castetva congress capitalized by hindutva bjp. The site is now occupied by gyanvapi mosque, so it shall be. There is a distinct possibility that temple was demolished and mosque built over it. It was a norm during medieval time. Might ruled. Also, as invaders demolished temples common people did not come out to defend since it is quite possible that they had no dealing with temple. Indeed, temples weren’t space for egalitarian values or morals. It was a space that nurtured degrading dehumanizing values. How Buddhism exited out of India to contribute for egalitarian societies in East Asia must be studied. Also, how gods connected to local region, nature and saints were appropriated and castefied (avoid using words like 'brahmanical' since it gives leeway to castetva forces and their narrative control context. There are also compelling reasons why caste cannibalised words like pundit, pariah etc. were introduced into english and still used with impunity while caste cannibals played liberal savior exhibiting proprietorial entitled control over common people of India in West). Meanwhile sensitivities related to shivling must be respected and so need be handed over to hindus. Herds controlled by devious forces using religions shouldn’t be excited against each other. It is only common people who will suffer while deceit position. It is quite clear that religion is a threat to humanity and a terrible waste of time. Rule of law must prevail.   

A magnificent creature nevertheless

A magnificent creature nevertheless 

Bees see more colours than I can

Birds see colours I cannot conceive

Mantis shrimp see circularly polarized light that I don’t even understand

Fire chasing beetle sense heat I don’t feel

Elephants hear what I cannot sense

Moth locates scent miles away

Butterflies taste with their feet

Crocodile sense pressure many times over my fingers

Killer fly catch prey in space of my eye blink

His brain process visual information many times faster than mine

Dolphins echolocate what I cannot locate

Shark sense electric field

Robins use earth’s magnetic field to migrate

Dung beetle use milky way galaxy as navigational aid…

What I see and do not see

Not blind yet not so

What I hear and do not hear

Not dumb yet not so

What I sense and do not sense

Invulnerable yet not so

Yet I claim exception in all my actions

I am created in god’s image

I am all the million multi-headed, multi-handed, bigger and smaller gods

I am the wise

Yet I lack the sight, sound and sense of common place.

Yet I am another magnificent creature in the vast oasis of life.  

Word salad 

Ideograms of undeciphered thoughts

Hieroglyphics of forgotten deeds

Words stampede from left to right or right to left

It may float or congregate into strange patterns

Or collect in a bowl

To be eaten raw

Stream through blood

To decipher alien thoughts

Of civilization lost     

On studying useless thing

 

Market with active support from religion -as signs of blessing, have nurtured aspects of usefulness for herd to be kept occupied and controlled. Hence whatsoever doesn’t fall into this matrix of usefulness is deemed useless pursuit. Usefulness is clearly about extractive mindset -that market capitalism sustains on; it is quantified by money and power of control over herd. This then is showcased as success for which we are expected to strive for. Primitive religions authenticate these as outcome of specific blessings that is being granted. So, more money, power and godforsaken fame is to be latched with god returning the favor to obedient devotee. Hence the stampede to please and obey. 

It is in this context education is qualified by usefulness. Thus, we have younger herd members prepared to replicate the template of success by carefully regurgitating useful education into money churning enterprise. They compete and waste, and essentially become threat to all that is cherished. Market defines usefulness in education hence create goals to be attained. Religion works to authenticates these as god’s will. The more the young mind is goal oriented more extractive mindset settles in destroying the potential and capacity of the human. They become a cog in the competition to prove their worth in the extractive system. The existential impasse we are in can easily be traced to these devious ways of control. TedCruz is an American embarrassment on humanity. His extractive mind emblemizes the threat. Extractive mind essentially lacks qualities that define human, compassion being one. No one anywhere anyplace in the world should be taking loan to learn. Education must be free, if ever it should be minimally charged. Student in debt is a failure of society. Most importantly education must strive to create self-aware individuals, inquisitive to learn for knowing and using latest advancements to understand. Whether what they find interesting to be pursued or researched further must be decided by individuals and their aptitude. Society is expected to nurture the minds as presences to probe and sense the reality and subtleties. Awareness increases depth to observation. Fields of expertise are just tools. Only an evolved society produces such presences which therefore becomes common place, a norm. In primitive societies such presences are exceptions hence claims of blessedness or great souls. In these presences there are no binaries of usefulness and uselessness. These presences are excitements of life expressing what it means to be alive. It is these presences over the centuries that carried humans from caves to the sophisticated comforts and value systems to explore. Education is being conscious to all that connects lifeforms and systems at work. What is useless in extractive system is useful in life nurturing systems. In nature there is nothing useless. That ofcourse doesn’t mean carbon trapped in likes of TedCruz is in useful state.                

 

British embarrassment is now international embarrassment

 

The world is seeing worst of people churned in by complacent insecure people -lulled by consumption driven market and dehumanizing religions, into the helm of affair when existential threat to human life on earth is becoming increasingly apparent and imminent. As the climate crisis takes hold (as indicated by pandemic, food crisis, energy crisis etc.) nationalism is expected to rise as devious people controlling the systems will arbitrate to please the herd, and very soon as the situation deteriorates richer section will barricade and isolate.  

Colorful dinosaurs

 

Dinosaurs that we have come to understand through popular media, as also serious literature, is that of dull colors of brown and grey. The pleasant surprise here is that dinosaurs were most certainly tetrachromats, meaning, they were able to see vivid colors that humans could not only not see but cannot even conceive. Humans are trichromats which technically means they have three cones in the eye -that is, color spectrum consist of different combinations of basic colors Blue, Green and Red. Dinosaurs, like birds, have four cones and are able to observe further range of light through UltraViolet. Now if trichromats humans could observe non spectral colors like Purple that doesn’t exist in the rainbow, meaning, it needs more than one wavelength of light to form, imagine with extra cone what kind of vivid colors dinosaurs could have seen hence exhibited. Amazing. All this from an interesting book An Immense World (by Ed Young) I am reading. Strongly recommended.