If life is ever defined in terms of, the amount of sense it makes, then a friend is the one who keeps adding meaning and value to it ! Life is a vacuum if it is devoid of habits, dreams, goals, abilities, morality and friends.
You may or may not not share the same feelings, values, tastes, preferences, likes and you do not have to, with a friend. However a friend is the one who brings an overall wellness feeling, holistic peace, meaningful motivation, freshness and makes you comfortable irrespective of what you are, who you are where you are , why you are and sometimes can keep pitching in queer thoughts, strange actions just to bring solace to your perturbed world and restore balance.
Unfortunately,it is possible that life loses it color, flavor, aroma, sense and confidence when you loose a friend, what it also means is ,a lot would be at your stake when some of your comment, thoughts, behavior, opinions and action of yours will rip the cord of friendship. If there is a measure of friendship bond it would be more likely be related to mutual trust,similar thought-process(or same line of thought) and the extent of mutual freedom space granted during the so called journey of friendship. Trust comes with understanding and honesty ,understanding requires time and patience. Friendship is a feeling and not a relationship. A feeling is a composite subjective opinion based on overall rapport and a sense of comfort with each other. Understanding comes with an effort to understand and attempting to think alike, sometimes with an empathy and trying to see the real picture through your friend's point of view("Put yourself in their shoes"). Friendship flourishes when it is allowed to thrive in an environment of freedom space and intellectual respect. So the key for sustained friendship is effort to sustain it through understanding and the amount of effort required to grant the FREEDOM when required. Ironically some times a friend may expect you for an unexpected help, without him asking for it. The key in either case is balance and also to know what to do at various times, with a sense of intuition helping the cause.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, January 16, 2009
Politics revolution and advancement
If we choose to admit or not, the advancement of a country administered by a nation that chooses its representative, to a very large extent depends on, these very people. We call them politicians. Let me focus on India. We are a democratic nation who choose its people using the "vote" - Rights of individuals.
The politicos are very critical power houses whose leverage can propel the country ahead to unimaginable distances. On the flip side their inefficacies can nose dive the future of the state to dark ages. So it becomes imperative to have a best set of leaders who can set course of its nation in the correct direction. Leaders may not and should not come from anywhere and everywhere if they do not have what it takes to make the educated decisions.
The Leaders need a set of qualities to make the sound and progressive decisions. How this could be achieved, I would talk about it later, though the essence is they need to be the best in the business. When it comes to their attributes, the charm and the ability to strike a chord with the masses and classes is utmost. They ought to be good speakers and receptors to the aspirations of its stake holders. These are the external traits one would desire to have, but these may not be enough and may not make you cut out for your job. They have to have the undivided intellectualness, well rounded knowledge, morally and technically educated. They should have a scientific temperament to understand the people, their responses, their goals or confirming the same from them etc.,
The Million $ Qn now one needs to ponder is, who should we choose and how to get such people into the political stream. How to set up a framework wherein we can keep the political pool filled with such people and who would be they? The answer lies in a) well qualified celebrities b) famous sports demigods who strike a fine balance between mass appeal and leadership qualities with decent academics. These two type(s) of people can help us re jig the existing politicos and make that pool rich which can serve the purpose of taking the field of politics to the next level.
The challenge though remains is how to achieve the above objectives. Some of the probable answers could be, say placing some technical constraints on joining politics. Providing an array of incentives to the type of people who have it in them. There can be various mechanisms which can be devised to achieve these objectives
The politicos are very critical power houses whose leverage can propel the country ahead to unimaginable distances. On the flip side their inefficacies can nose dive the future of the state to dark ages. So it becomes imperative to have a best set of leaders who can set course of its nation in the correct direction. Leaders may not and should not come from anywhere and everywhere if they do not have what it takes to make the educated decisions.
The Leaders need a set of qualities to make the sound and progressive decisions. How this could be achieved, I would talk about it later, though the essence is they need to be the best in the business. When it comes to their attributes, the charm and the ability to strike a chord with the masses and classes is utmost. They ought to be good speakers and receptors to the aspirations of its stake holders. These are the external traits one would desire to have, but these may not be enough and may not make you cut out for your job. They have to have the undivided intellectualness, well rounded knowledge, morally and technically educated. They should have a scientific temperament to understand the people, their responses, their goals or confirming the same from them etc.,
The Million $ Qn now one needs to ponder is, who should we choose and how to get such people into the political stream. How to set up a framework wherein we can keep the political pool filled with such people and who would be they? The answer lies in a) well qualified celebrities b) famous sports demigods who strike a fine balance between mass appeal and leadership qualities with decent academics. These two type(s) of people can help us re jig the existing politicos and make that pool rich which can serve the purpose of taking the field of politics to the next level.
The challenge though remains is how to achieve the above objectives. Some of the probable answers could be, say placing some technical constraints on joining politics. Providing an array of incentives to the type of people who have it in them. There can be various mechanisms which can be devised to achieve these objectives
Monday, September 29, 2008
Vernacular and Literary Language
The importance of Vernacular/Literary can never be undermined, what with they still serve various aspirations of people as well as preserve/promote identity even in the age of Business/Information/Technology. These entities provide us an opportunity to celebrate life, to enjoy diversities, preserve human values, provide window to express thoughts, works, etc as humanely as possible as opposed to any other. Even though language provides an approximate form of communication between individuals, it is the best we have. An identity of self won't have any meaning without language.
Languages have influenced the technologies, what with we standardize the applications built using English-like language. We have software / O/S es being made available in Spanish, Hindi, German, Tamil etc., to name a few. We don't have National character set for databases without any reason.
Language as an entity is a set of symbols and interplay of symbols intended for a purpose. The purpose to communicate, exchange ideas/information. A language may not perhaps remain an entity. It would/could eventually converge with other languages and form a composite set spoken by wider set or people. The basic reasons could be migration/displacement of people, trade , etc. The essence of language remains same - exchange information, understand ideas, collaborate , not to mention the efficacy of the same depends on the users using the language, it would depend upon their understanding the fine nuances of language - its attributes like grammar, structure, semantics.
Languages have influenced the technologies, what with we standardize the applications built using English-like language. We have software / O/S es being made available in Spanish, Hindi, German, Tamil etc., to name a few. We don't have National character set for databases without any reason.
Language as an entity is a set of symbols and interplay of symbols intended for a purpose. The purpose to communicate, exchange ideas/information. A language may not perhaps remain an entity. It would/could eventually converge with other languages and form a composite set spoken by wider set or people. The basic reasons could be migration/displacement of people, trade , etc. The essence of language remains same - exchange information, understand ideas, collaborate , not to mention the efficacy of the same depends on the users using the language, it would depend upon their understanding the fine nuances of language - its attributes like grammar, structure, semantics.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
World Economy
World economy in the true sense depends on Mega economies, starting from US, Japan, Russia, China and up to a small extent(Minors) a composite virtual union of Singapore, Hongkong, India, Brazil, Taiwan, UK,France and Germany. If the Megas/Majors (Note Russia is on the free ride from Minor to Mega) do well, we all do well and everything would be hunky-dory. The component of Megas would be Crude, Technology, Currency (as a commodity like UK), defense entities that serve as drive engine. The Component of Minors would be Agri/Pasturs/Forest/Fishing, Service, Semi-conductor, telecom, chemicals. The definition of majors and minors is purely at the aggregate level and not at the per-capita level, since a minor like UK, France are light years apart from China, Russia from per capita point of view.
The third component, called as other, would include the rest that would hardly drive/non-drive the world.
There is more way than one to classify the World economy, the other being non-novel - emerging, developed and under-developed economies. BRIC is Emerging as we all know, which was over hyped to be future driver, only of late being realized that It follows the Whims, whips and Whishes of Global superpowers (read economic superpowers). But the future holds bright beneath the horizon for BRIC.
The irony of 21st century is when Megas shudder, the Minors get concious and hide into cocoons . The not so well happen(read Under developed countries) to starve as we have seen of late when Agri rich isolate themselves with their involuntary exports. The M2 s of the world US of A and the oriental Japan have lot at stakes, if we realize, how the world economy shivers when they sneeze more often than required. Though the acceptable expectation would have been a diversified conglomerate polarized economies. That day seems to be not so far away, but not quite yet. Watch out for the logical Entities like Euro, BRIC and SE economies (Include India)
The one way to solve the contemporary economic problems and dependencies would be to multiply monies. To start the next level of innovations, discoveries that would drive the cost and expenditure towards South. Some examples for the same would be Solar energy, Space exploration, Nuclear fuels used at domestic level as opposed to industry, Bio-fuels, etc.,to name a few. To address the issue, we need to look into the focal point. The focus of attention goes to Dark continent countries, Argentina, Asian economies and some regions of developing economies. These regions are dearth of opportunities, resource management, entrepreneurship culture, freedom of economy and an array of issues. These is where the World Organizations like UN in general should have had pivotal role, but alas had failed. The need for including Minors in UN would become a matter of necessity and design than political objectives which some Vetos oppose with Vested interest for further expansion
The third component, called as other, would include the rest that would hardly drive/non-drive the world.
There is more way than one to classify the World economy, the other being non-novel - emerging, developed and under-developed economies. BRIC is Emerging as we all know, which was over hyped to be future driver, only of late being realized that It follows the Whims, whips and Whishes of Global superpowers (read economic superpowers). But the future holds bright beneath the horizon for BRIC.
The irony of 21st century is when Megas shudder, the Minors get concious and hide into cocoons . The not so well happen(read Under developed countries) to starve as we have seen of late when Agri rich isolate themselves with their involuntary exports. The M2 s of the world US of A and the oriental Japan have lot at stakes, if we realize, how the world economy shivers when they sneeze more often than required. Though the acceptable expectation would have been a diversified conglomerate polarized economies. That day seems to be not so far away, but not quite yet. Watch out for the logical Entities like Euro, BRIC and SE economies (Include India)
The one way to solve the contemporary economic problems and dependencies would be to multiply monies. To start the next level of innovations, discoveries that would drive the cost and expenditure towards South. Some examples for the same would be Solar energy, Space exploration, Nuclear fuels used at domestic level as opposed to industry, Bio-fuels, etc.,to name a few. To address the issue, we need to look into the focal point. The focus of attention goes to Dark continent countries, Argentina, Asian economies and some regions of developing economies. These regions are dearth of opportunities, resource management, entrepreneurship culture, freedom of economy and an array of issues. These is where the World Organizations like UN in general should have had pivotal role, but alas had failed. The need for including Minors in UN would become a matter of necessity and design than political objectives which some Vetos oppose with Vested interest for further expansion
Morality & Rationality
What is morality ?
The Wiki Says this -
The ability to distinguish good and evil or right and wrong, right or good conduct; Motivation based on ideas of right and wrong.
Does morality has absolute meaning? Is it a grea area? Would hunting animals for survival be termed as moral?If involuntary hunting is immoral, so does it mean non-survival is moral ? I would define morality as a code of values for right form of existence - not necessarily optimal but behavioral. So if non-survival is moral then it concludes that morality are just principles and not the absolute rationalities. From involuntary hunting perspective non-survival is moral and survival is rational. This makes morality stacked against rationality in some unavoidable circumstances.
When contradictions exists, chosing morality makes one irrational and otherwise. There are four forms of existence - One which is moral but not rational - supported by people of the type Social - " Rights" . The one which is rational but not moral - Mostly individuals, Capitalists. Exceptions exists in this case, when Capitalists are both moral and rational. The third form being - moral and rational - true individuals, true industrialists/capitalists - ( like Mr. Gates) ,and finally the immoral and irrational - the one driven by instincts.
Morality is like doctrine, set defined beliefs associated with a sect, group, following, ideologues, hypothesis propagandists etc., They are outside the realms of logic and usually define a specified behavior for mankind for his overall well being
While rationality has got nothing to do with behavior. It is driven by the logic and analysis. It is driven by the most optimal goal, It is more akin of a machine instructed to perform specific operations to complete a task(s) assigned
The Wiki Says this -
The ability to distinguish good and evil or right and wrong, right or good conduct; Motivation based on ideas of right and wrong.
Does morality has absolute meaning? Is it a grea area? Would hunting animals for survival be termed as moral?If involuntary hunting is immoral, so does it mean non-survival is moral ? I would define morality as a code of values for right form of existence - not necessarily optimal but behavioral. So if non-survival is moral then it concludes that morality are just principles and not the absolute rationalities. From involuntary hunting perspective non-survival is moral and survival is rational. This makes morality stacked against rationality in some unavoidable circumstances.
When contradictions exists, chosing morality makes one irrational and otherwise. There are four forms of existence - One which is moral but not rational - supported by people of the type Social - " Rights" . The one which is rational but not moral - Mostly individuals, Capitalists. Exceptions exists in this case, when Capitalists are both moral and rational. The third form being - moral and rational - true individuals, true industrialists/capitalists - ( like Mr. Gates) ,and finally the immoral and irrational - the one driven by instincts.
Morality is like doctrine, set defined beliefs associated with a sect, group, following, ideologues, hypothesis propagandists etc., They are outside the realms of logic and usually define a specified behavior for mankind for his overall well being
While rationality has got nothing to do with behavior. It is driven by the logic and analysis. It is driven by the most optimal goal, It is more akin of a machine instructed to perform specific operations to complete a task(s) assigned
Financial Turmoil
What with Options for financial planning taking a beating, the million $ question of the day is how to think clearly in the era of "Financial Turmoil"
To begin with let's first identify the status quo issues that appears inescapable
a) Inflationary pressure - at decade high. This force would off course would have its impact on input cost for manufactures, wage hikes for firms, etc. The investors* would always aim to obtain greater return from the markets beating inflation
investors* - any aspiring investor whose one of the aim for investing, would be to beat inflation
b) Securities performance - Reaching new record lows, making difficult for the retail investors to stay invested and expect reasonable returns - thanks to the systematic pull out of foreign investment and claiming the market to be less attractive
c) Industry performance - Thanks to the low average wage inflation across industries, would prompt investor to have a rethinking on the investment and financial planning
d) High Interest rates - This would make loans dearer and would leave us with less savings for reinvestment and expenditure
e) Housing market - Following the trend of metal bust, it is witnessing a slow down at a global level
Having identified some of the basic burning issues handy, an appropriate optimal solution has to be applied for the same.
(i) For retail investors, who have already invested should stay invested and not press the panic button. They should look for averaging and buy more stocks to make the security more cost effective. They should also consider investing in blue chip firms. They must avoid speculation and take rational decisions
(ii) Identify commodities that seems to be giving good returns, say they must consider investing in Gold deposits which has proved to be a decent investment, considering a good 10 % returns per annual.Investment in gold could happen in the form of certificates or bars or accounts or they can be even traded like shares in Gold Exchange traded fund.
(iii) Identify dormant amount in the savings which would not be disposed of say 1 year. Keep certain percentage of dormant amount (depending on financial goals) in Fixed deposits and/or Mutual funds for a period <= 1 (an example)
(iv) Never seeking a loan with the objective of investing in "investables", except for real estate/housing
(v) Like Gold, certificates of the Silver to can be obtained which follows a direct co-relation. Silver accounts could also be opened
(vi) For low risk appetite individuals, the Debt investment is a good option which can return more than the average inflation.
To begin with let's first identify the status quo issues that appears inescapable
a) Inflationary pressure - at decade high. This force would off course would have its impact on input cost for manufactures, wage hikes for firms, etc. The investors* would always aim to obtain greater return from the markets beating inflation
investors* - any aspiring investor whose one of the aim for investing, would be to beat inflation
b) Securities performance - Reaching new record lows, making difficult for the retail investors to stay invested and expect reasonable returns - thanks to the systematic pull out of foreign investment and claiming the market to be less attractive
c) Industry performance - Thanks to the low average wage inflation across industries, would prompt investor to have a rethinking on the investment and financial planning
d) High Interest rates - This would make loans dearer and would leave us with less savings for reinvestment and expenditure
e) Housing market - Following the trend of metal bust, it is witnessing a slow down at a global level
Having identified some of the basic burning issues handy, an appropriate optimal solution has to be applied for the same.
(i) For retail investors, who have already invested should stay invested and not press the panic button. They should look for averaging and buy more stocks to make the security more cost effective. They should also consider investing in blue chip firms. They must avoid speculation and take rational decisions
(ii) Identify commodities that seems to be giving good returns, say they must consider investing in Gold deposits which has proved to be a decent investment, considering a good 10 % returns per annual.Investment in gold could happen in the form of certificates or bars or accounts or they can be even traded like shares in Gold Exchange traded fund.
(iii) Identify dormant amount in the savings which would not be disposed of say 1 year. Keep certain percentage of dormant amount (depending on financial goals) in Fixed deposits and/or Mutual funds for a period <= 1 (an example)
(iv) Never seeking a loan with the objective of investing in "investables", except for real estate/housing
(v) Like Gold, certificates of the Silver to can be obtained which follows a direct co-relation. Silver accounts could also be opened
(vi) For low risk appetite individuals, the Debt investment is a good option which can return more than the average inflation.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Indians Sided by Oz in front of Siders? (Read Sydney Siders) ....To be Continued
Though I am as much a cricket lover as an average Indian is, I must say & confess that I am not an expert in understanding Cricket Nuances at its core level.But that would not stop me to write something about the Cricket episode "Sydney" as I would like to Call it that has occupied our minds perhaps of late.
I understand everyone of us have lots of questions and some (may be all) of us are infuriated about the Sydney. Unsurprisingly the media has come up with master analysis on its own rational/irrational interpretations. Some of them do give the technical explanations on whys of the events that happened. Some justify the events using their interpretive Logic. Some reflect the sentiments that we hold so close to our heart. Some do all these things at an appropriate mix. It makes a good read overall.
1)But sometimes I get the feeling that Do we also look at the issues from gray perspective. Should We look at it that way, just like tautological analogy.
2)The next moment I feel that there is nothing called as gray and everything is either correct or incorrect but not both. Everything when drilled down to its premises would yield its true color. It would answer in Yes or No.
Some of us hold the view 1 & the other hold the View2. Let me tell you it is a tough call between 1 & 2. I would stick with 2 because i share that value
Let me now list a gist of questions that I would like to share my thoughts on
1) Should Harbhajan be banned for x matches?
2) Should Ponting be sacked?
3) Should BCCI have recalled India?
4) Should Bucknor be asked to go by Speed?
If what has happened to these things is one thing, what should have happened is another. I am interested in the latter.
**
Let me quote the absolute as it exists today. There was no technical evidence to prove that Harbhajan hurled racial abuse to Symonds. I do not even confess that if Harbhajan did say that or not. Both parties disagree with each other which means one was speaking the truth.If Harbhajan did not cross the line then it would be gross injustice to punish him. Such events would destroy the spirit of the game.
If he did then we have a wide open debate. Let's assume he said it. When we do that we must also remember the facts that started it. I would like to call it a fact because both parties agreed that 'Symonds' proved 'Harbhajan' . So irrespective of the gravity of the situation the fact remains that it was a reactive response. Should reactive response get some allowances It depends? I don't think so. Since Symonds was the initiator of nasty hoopla, ironically i feel that , that needs to be investigated first and addressed appropriately.
Assuming Harbhajan did say what he should not, should he be punished. Yes if assumption is correct. I would say this even though this is a bias. Since we know the naked fact that some teams (no name calling please ) get special allowances when they have crossed lines (Read racial abuses) as many times as their instincts wanted to. So the fact of the matter is the system itself is biased and relies on selective judgment. I would also regret my view point that Harbhajan be punished if assumption is true. But remember that I am still using the word assumption and we should not get conclusions based on assumptions, but only on knowledge and rationality.
So let's give the benefit of the doubt and let's strive to put a more advance technical detection systems that can validate the claims and counterclaims. That the system is defective, Biased is out of context here. :( . I am sad that I cannot involve it as a parameter to involve that into discussion, I am bound by truth, I am bound by soundness of judgement, I am tied by rational mind though my heart says Bhajji is non faulty in either case.
I understand everyone of us have lots of questions and some (may be all) of us are infuriated about the Sydney. Unsurprisingly the media has come up with master analysis on its own rational/irrational interpretations. Some of them do give the technical explanations on whys of the events that happened. Some justify the events using their interpretive Logic. Some reflect the sentiments that we hold so close to our heart. Some do all these things at an appropriate mix. It makes a good read overall.
1)But sometimes I get the feeling that Do we also look at the issues from gray perspective. Should We look at it that way, just like tautological analogy.
2)The next moment I feel that there is nothing called as gray and everything is either correct or incorrect but not both. Everything when drilled down to its premises would yield its true color. It would answer in Yes or No.
Some of us hold the view 1 & the other hold the View2. Let me tell you it is a tough call between 1 & 2. I would stick with 2 because i share that value
Let me now list a gist of questions that I would like to share my thoughts on
1) Should Harbhajan be banned for x matches?
2) Should Ponting be sacked?
3) Should BCCI have recalled India?
4) Should Bucknor be asked to go by Speed?
If what has happened to these things is one thing, what should have happened is another. I am interested in the latter.
**
Let me quote the absolute as it exists today. There was no technical evidence to prove that Harbhajan hurled racial abuse to Symonds. I do not even confess that if Harbhajan did say that or not. Both parties disagree with each other which means one was speaking the truth.If Harbhajan did not cross the line then it would be gross injustice to punish him. Such events would destroy the spirit of the game.
If he did then we have a wide open debate. Let's assume he said it. When we do that we must also remember the facts that started it. I would like to call it a fact because both parties agreed that 'Symonds' proved 'Harbhajan' . So irrespective of the gravity of the situation the fact remains that it was a reactive response. Should reactive response get some allowances It depends? I don't think so. Since Symonds was the initiator of nasty hoopla, ironically i feel that , that needs to be investigated first and addressed appropriately.
Assuming Harbhajan did say what he should not, should he be punished. Yes if assumption is correct. I would say this even though this is a bias. Since we know the naked fact that some teams (no name calling please ) get special allowances when they have crossed lines (Read racial abuses) as many times as their instincts wanted to. So the fact of the matter is the system itself is biased and relies on selective judgment. I would also regret my view point that Harbhajan be punished if assumption is true. But remember that I am still using the word assumption and we should not get conclusions based on assumptions, but only on knowledge and rationality.
So let's give the benefit of the doubt and let's strive to put a more advance technical detection systems that can validate the claims and counterclaims. That the system is defective, Biased is out of context here. :( . I am sad that I cannot involve it as a parameter to involve that into discussion, I am bound by truth, I am bound by soundness of judgement, I am tied by rational mind though my heart says Bhajji is non faulty in either case.
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