Chicken Broth

Sitting pretty day dreaming
As the world celebrates nothing
Resolute spirits hold tight
A man of free mind and lazy might
Conquer the world with one brain
The super fuzzy void main
Singing a hate song
Strong riff in my head
All just an illusion
Bigger toys larger springs
Rush of thoughts in the brain
Catches a twitch in my smile
Need another fight
For thoughts to see some light
Chicken sitting on men
Reverse the food chain
Poor men on the street
Rich men don't care to greet
Crows laugh out loud
Finds the odd egg out
Fireball tearing through black cake
Curve inward and keep me awake
Blushing away
Can't stop being me
Into the chorus now
Colliding thoughts no conclusion
And then there is silence
Men are chicken for some

Lonely Planet

* The digital image (origin unknown) on the left, and my rendering using oil pastels on the right. Did some painting after a really long time, feels good again. This was done in just under an hour.

Protect your MEMES!

Well we knew that our genes were the primary key for mapping us into human beings. Every one of us have this unique gene sequencing that dictates how we are, and to some extent how we behave. We don't quite change the way we are as we grow up, but we evolve in the way we behave.

This is learning, and is influenced by what we see, we hear and we retain. It also depends at the level of granularity in our learning. When we first learn to count, we are told to associate "1" with "One". And we are made to count apples, and oranges, and horses, and buttons, and whole lot of things; to make us understand that counting is an universal idea which doesn't depend on what we are counting. And then if we are shown "1.00000", we might not relate to "One", unless someone tells us about the "concept" of decimals.

Consider the following situation.

We have a new born baby, Calvin. He is just opening his eyes, so we assume that he hasn't learned anything so far, other than the fact that the world is indeed a hostile place to live in.

He is shown three balls of the same parameters (size, color, shape or any other parameter that Calvin can read in). Then we take them away from him, one by one. At this point of learning, he sees just the difference in the "number of objects" that he sees. He would not have any idea about the color, size or shape of the object he is shown, because we are not varying that parameter. He hasn't so far learned the "concept" of color, shape or size.

Now if we repeat the same experiment using three pyramids, which have the same color as the balls we used. Then Calvin, gets to understand that shape is a parameter he can read through his eyes, but the prime learning still remains the same. He still counts down from three to zero. He might take a bit longer to actually count 3, 2 and 1 this time. But he is beginning to understand that counting shouldn't depend on 'what' he is counting, if the 'what' is "shape".

If we change one attribute at a time, and provide him with enough sample; Calvin would slowly begin to understand that counting shouldn't depend on the shape, color, or size.

Note of warning. If we showed him 4 pyramids instead of 3, that would mess his mind. Because then he might think that pyramids come in bunches 4 first, and then they go away one by one, so they are different from balls because of the initial count being different. And he might not learn to differentiate based on the shape, size or color. So lets not mess with his mind, you love Calvin don't you?

But the point to note here is; if you wanted, you could mess with Calvin's mind!

You just could have changed two parameters at a time (your grand mom did that to you, so you had to unlearn and then learn counting again? and now you want revenge!?); or you could change the order of the counting, zero to three instead of three to zero (we anyway started with a weird way of counting backwards; so Calvin would have a hard time if someone told him to count and separate 50 apples from a pile! Calvin would start from an arbitrary heap of apples assuming it has 50 apples, and then he'd count to zero. If he had excess to start with he'd be okay, or else he'd have to redo with a bigger pile. This is assuming that he hasn't yet learned how to add, and thus cannot break his problem down into sub problems).

Anyway, so the conclusion is that you could devise N number of ways to mess up Calvin's mind. But you chose not to, instead you carefully selected what Calvin is learning, so that he learns it right.

When we grow up, there is no one who filters what we learn. So we take in a whole lot of wrong things along with a whole lot of right things. "Concepts" or "Units of Learning" are what we call "memes".

Wiki: A meme (pronounced /mi:m/) consists of any idea or behavior that can pass from one person to another by learning or imitation. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, gestures, practices, fashions, habits, songs, and dances. Memes propagate themselves and can move through the cultural sociosphere in a manner similar to the contagious behavior of a virus.

Like our genes dictate "how we are", our memes dictate "who we are". So it is very important to protect our memes, and not let viral memes propagate through us.

Memes can be good or bad, weak or strong. Strong memes capture our minds easily, and are easier to retain in our memory and to replicate. Weaker memes, like weaker genes die out in the competition if not protected. We have to be careful about not letting our minds being taken over by 'strong bad memes'. And we have to be extra careful to protect our 'weak good memes'. Memes might be dependent on each other, and then they are called memeplexes. Memeplexes are a group of memes which are mutually supportive, and thus together become evolutionarily successful, but not independently.

To give an example, "honesty" is a weak good meme. But "greed" is a strong bad meme. Marketing is all about creating strong good memes about your product, or about creating strong bad memes about your competitors. Now there can always be a debate on which memes are good, and which are bad. We can only hope that our decision on good and bad memes are not dictated by the bad memes which are already replicating through our masses.

What we see in the media, what we read in our newspapers; everything is custom made to make us think in a particular way. Sometimes these memes that are promoted through the media are strong enough to hack into our meme-pools and create strong bad memes. Sometimes its the other way around; we could watch a movie and it then imbibes a strong good meme which might totally change the view we have about a certain thing, for good! Religious ideas are good examples of memeplexes. Religions are really strong memeplexes, and thus generate strong beliefs and emotions.

The truth is, every aspect of our lives are dictated by the memes that we harbor in our minds, and by the memes that we take in every moment. So we have to be extra cautious in maintaining our meme pool, because its much tougher than maintaining our gene pool!

Here is some background info:

Richard Dawkins coined the word "meme" as a neologism in his book The Selfish Gene (1976) to describe how one might extend evolutionary principles to explain the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena.

Meme-theorists contend that memes evolve by natural selection (similar to Darwinian biological evolution) through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance influencing an individual entity's reproductive success. Thus one can expect that some memes will propagate less successfully and become extinct, while others will survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate.

"Memeticists argue that the memes most beneficial to their hosts will not necessarily survive; rather, those memes that replicate the most effectively spread best, which allows for the possibility that successful memes may prove detrimental to their hosts."

Philosopher and scientist Dan Dennett argues that human consciousness and free will are the result of physical processes and are not what we traditionally think they are. Something worth pondering upon!

Protect your little Calvin.

Betrayed

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

This is a play adapted by Mr. George Packer based on his own article he wrote for The New Yorker. I saw this play on Thirteen/WNET, which is a part of PBS. I just love this channel.

Getting back to the play, this play is based on real stories of Iraqis who risk their lives to work as interpreters for the US Embassy in Bagdad. They don't do that because they love to see their country being occupied by the Americans, but they hope that the Americans would help them to rebuild their country, and help them live free lives in their own country. Just hope. They've learned the English language, and they love to see the Americans around and connect to their sense of freedom and free will. America promises them a new beginning to their torn lives.

But they are still Iraqis, working in the American Embassy; so they are not trusted by the Americans. But they cannot just stop being brothers to other Iraqis, who might hate the Americans. Anyway, so they don't get any extra privilege over other Iraqis, for any of the service they provide. No extra security, no extra treatment. But they still work for the Embassy. As Intisar says in the play, "It’s not because I’m brave. It’s because I am tired." She wants to get to ride a bicycle through the roads of Bagdad; that is her sense of freedom. But she gets killed by her own people because she was brave enough to remove her Hijab, and do a job to support her family when men sat jobless.

The Americans only get to to talk to Iraqis who would like to see them around, and people whom the Americans want to see in power in Iraq; they just don't get to talk to the "right people". So for them, the picture is all too rosy, because they see themselves as the good guys here. They are trying to remove an anarchy, and trying to restructure the social and political fabric. Good, but you got to watch out, because these are very sensitive issues; people involvement is core to transition. That is exactly when things start to go wrong, when human emotions are ignored, and political aspirations are promoted.

Our fellow Iraqis who work for the Americans are looked upon as traitors by their own fellow Iraqi brothers. They get threatened, and killed, for being responsible citizens and for earning their bread through civilized means. They are working for the Americans, whats wrong with that when there is otherwise no way out, and no economy to support them? When there is a lot of stupidity, everyone tries to make the best out of it, even though it might make him look stupid. But who cares when everyone is stupid!

There is no absolute right, and no absolute wrong. Its the circumstance that is wrong. So there is no use blaming anyone for the mess. Its part of nature to mess things up, and increase the entropy, and human nature only adds to it. Someone has to put an effort to get things back into order.

So there are these Iraqis who want their country to be free from all hypocrisy, and they are willing to cooperate with the world outside to bring change to their country. They find themselves betrayed, by their own people; by America; by the world. Laith says, "The Americans didn’t want me, and the Iraqis didn’t want me. Where will I go? Help yourself by yourself, that’s the best way. Find a solution for yourself. But I can’t see any solution. I am, how do you say it, hung out to dry."

This play made me understand a lot about the Iraqi people and what they are going through. Hope that people understand what is at stake, and do something about it. Thanks to Culture Project for an excellent production.

Mutant X

The following piece of shit was recorded on a kolkata local train. The protagonists involved are Lil' Johnny and Fadar Johnny.

Lil' J: Dad! Dad! See! Cows! They are eating grass!

Fadar J: Yes kid, they love to eat grass.

Lil' J: Do you love eating grass too?

Fadar J: No, we humans have a lot more tastier things to eat :)

Lil' J: Okay. But don't you think we can be more independent and free if we could eat grass? I wouldn't have to study. And, and .. uh you wouldn't need to go to office! :)

Now that is a very intelligent question. Fadar J feels proud that his kid is so bright.

Fadar J: Well, you can say so. But there aren't much vitamins and proteins in grass. So you wouldn't have been so bright, had you been eating grass all your life. You'd be good enough just to produce milk. Would you have liked that?

Lil' J: No. But why do I need to be bright? Its always about doing good in studies, and ultimately about earning money! What if I don't need all that. I can eat grass and be happy! I can run around in the meadows, and play all day under the sun.

Fadar J gets the feeling that this might spiral out of control. He still maintains his calm. He gets philosophical.

Fadar J: Well kid. Its not always about the money, you see. You have to enjoy doing what you are doing. You can play all day now, but it would get boring if you had to do that all your life.

Lil' J: Yes you are right, dad. umm.. so I guess I wouldn't play that much when I get older... But what else would I do then?

Fadar J: You'd probably have to take care of people around you, and act more responsibly.

Lil' J: Okay, I am a good guy, so assume all that's done :) Anything else?

Fadar J: Kid! That alone would take most of the time of your life. Assuming that you'd grow up strong and able :) , you'd have to do something to feed the people and other such organisms who'd depend upon you.

Lil' J: Hmmm...

Lil' J: Dad, I think life is very boring. What should I do when I grow up?

Fadar J: Don't think about it so much kid. You'd get to know when you grow up.

Lil' J: Bad answer. What can change, and so drastic when I grow up? Why does everyone give the same answer, dad? I don't think I'd change even a bit when I grow up. So this question would come back to me anyway. So I want to have an answer now. Do you see what I mean dad?

Fadar J: Hmmm...

Fadar J: Okay kid. Let me tell you then. These very questions bugged me too. They bug me even now. Just that I've stopped thinking. Because I've understood that you can never have an answer.

Lil' J: I love you dad! :) But why can't we have an answer?

Fadar J: Accept the truth kid, every question doesn't have an answer.

Lil' J: I don't believe that dad! There must always be something you can say to any question that is being asked to you! Otherwise how can you differentiate between artificial intelligence and human intelligence?

Fadar J: Wow! Wow! Hold it! Hold it there kid! This can get serious. I have done a PhD in AI. You really want it kid? C'on then! Pack your punch!

Lil' J: I love you so much dad! :) Let's play a game. You keep asking me "Why?". And I would keep answering those questions. I would answer them all! Thats my challenge! :)

Fadar J: Okay. But your answers must always be verifiable by proven scientific laws/axioms/theorems. And you can never consciously allow the session to go into a loop.

Lil' J: I have one objection, at the very outset. Why do you want the answers to be verifiable scientifically? I understand that we humans have discovered those laws to make our thinking easier and standardized. But the truth could actually be much beyond all that, can't it be? Umm.. okay I accept your rule for now. We'd bring up this debate again if we actually face a situation.

Fadar J: Lets get going then?!

Lil' J: Okay. I start first.

The discussion by now had managed to attract some curious, yet laid back, onlookers. They are equally bored in life, and more so because they are on a train. But they too have probably stopped asking all these questions, and accepted their 'fate' or whatever that means. But these people are still excited to know the outcome, with the minimum effort possible.

Lil' J: (saying it loud so that the people around can hear) So should I start with an easy topic, so that we can have a longer session? Or should I start with the toughest metaphysical problem I've ever heard? So then we'd get to the truth much faster!

Lil' J is acting smart. He doesn't even have an idea about what metaphysics is all about :)

Fadar J: Anything kid!

Lil J: Okay. Say we have Mr. X, he works hard.

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: He has to feed his wife, kid and a dog.

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: Because he was a fool! He thought he was going to have a great life with a beautiful woman by his side. But he ends up in this deep soup, where he has to work hard like a donkey. He has got a kid who is donkey too, who keeps asking questions :) The only good thing in his life is the dog! That woman is a good human being and a good mother, but she keeps wasting his time and money on nothing constructive.

Fadar J: Hmmm. Why?

Lil 'J: Because she too is aimless in life.

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: Because she never asks questions. She thinks she's too grown up to ask such questions. How foolish! She should help him find an aim in life, other than just making babies and taking care of them.

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: Because thats why I suppose they got married. Because they thought they could complement each other, ask questions and get solutions to all problems of life. And .. and then do something great! Something that would change the way the world thinks. No ... that was probably too much to expect. But, they soon got bored of each other. But at least they dreamed about getting a really intelligent kid, who'd ask a lot of questions, and make their life interesting again!

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: Because they had good genes themselves. So they expected the crossover to yield good results. Unfortunately that didn't happen :)

Fadar J: Why? :) .... Watch out kid! You are entering hostile space. There are lots of scud missiles lying around idle!

Lil' J: Because something wierd happened with the molecules. A didn't bind with T but G instead. So C didn't find anyone to bind with. The biology books had to be re-written. They had earlier claimed that A binds with T, G with C always! And Mr. X had assumed it to be true. How foolish. He should have found it out himself rather than relying on those mad scientists. So the crossover gene was basically equivalent to a mutant gene ... But the kid was very happy that he was a mutant.

Fadar J: Why?

Lil' J: Because he could think 'thoda hatke' :) Isn't that exciting!?

Fadar J: I love you kid for the way you are. But I got to say that this is getting really boring! :)

Lil' J: Thats why I love you so much dad! Because you too get bored like me, and then we can play such awesome games like this! :)

Fadar J: :)

Life so trivial

Leaving town tonight
Heart doesn't want to
On high spirits
Easing my pain
Dusty windshield
Watch the road ahead

Road signs glaring bright
Rock song on my stereo
Banging head, keep eye open
Tail lights at a distance
Speeds away around the bend

Bright lights keep company
As my senses give me away
Leaving behind a wasted life
Chasing my dreams
Happy days under the sun

Speed away from life
Escape the inevitable
What irony life spells
Try to make sense
Numbed thoughts blue veins

Little girl, cold feet
Dead leaf bring life
So much to light a fire
Cook food, comfort the fingers
Cruel nature gave few twigs
Cross road, hope in her wings

Saw her, a fleeting glimpse
Soft touch no escape
Lying dead on the highway
Cold night cold senses
Warm blood trickles and freezes
Headlights burning, only hope
As life turns white and fades away

Stand trembling, blood rushes
Is it the cold or is it fear
Causing death chasing life
Looking in from the outside
I did sin I did crime

Pick her lifeless body
Blood on my hands bring back senses
As conscience rush orders
Hands drained of feelings
Still feel the warmth
Of human touch

Feel her soul
Another life, another dream
Hold onto her, hold tight
Like my little sister
Big hug, bidding her farewell
Travel to the unknown
Life so trivial

Can't think anymore
I stand there still
As world comes clear
Dreams sound unreal
Coming full circle now
Life so trivial

The Old Banyan Tree

The words that I speak
Keep drifting in my head
Can't seem to get over them
No one is listening
As the walls reflect them back to me

Blowing bubbles in the sun
Bursting little drops on my face
I wipe them off with my dirty hands
Muck on my face
Smell of wet earth fill my lungs

Ants march, follow the smell
Men walk on the same old lanes
They follow the money around
Keep walking, someone says
Aimless thoughts clutter my head
As I lie on dead grass

Morning breeze on my face
Sit up, wonder what life has to offer
Children playing, mothers smiling
Was my mom thinking the same
When I was out there playing
Do things change
We march on in life

I sit alone
Tearing grass to while my time
Time doesn't fly
My world stands there gasping
At the emptiness inside

Would I run or sit under a tree dreaming
Others leave me behind
Run to the hills
As the sun plays hide and seek
Dead thoughts finds way to my diary
I'd keep them with me, my times of grief