tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29409750532542460912024-02-19T22:23:41.289-08:00Talking to Myselfseth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-32882238639261332612023-08-15T22:10:00.000-07:002023-08-15T22:10:50.918-07:00<p>" <a href="https://thewire.in/government/amid-neet-row-tamil-nadu-cm-stalin-wants-education-shifted-from-concurrent-to-state-list" target="_blank">Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Wants Education Shifted from Concurrent to State List</a>" triggered the old memory of "question out of syllabus" experience. </p><p>It is now over 20 years since the complaint of a faculty member Mr. X and students of another college that the Vice Chancellor had called a meeting and agreed with Mr. X. The VC said that we raise the marks of the students. This was done without even looking at the results. </p><p>Mr. X had a problem as raising the marks increase some students' marks to over 100%. He somehow managed. In my view, the process was unfair to students who had understood the concepts. But why does this incident still pain me like a simmering wound, a permanent damage with no hope of healing?</p><p>The real cause of pain comes down to the implicit and explicit remarks that I had told our faculty member to teach these examples in our college. The thought had never even crossed my mind that anyone could interpret it as such. Or the belief that "The correct answer must be written in the text book" ; hence, I must have cheated.</p><p>Making education a state only subject does not guarantee improvement. However, it does give me hope that may be one of the states may do better. At least there is a possibility that somewhere over the horizon, learning may become a focus point for the future generations.<br /></p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-30057414449569678832022-03-31T04:02:00.003-07:002022-03-31T04:02:25.724-07:00Overcoming a bleak year <p>I butt dialed an old colleague and chatting with him made me realise how bleak the last year had been. Searching mails for a contact made me realise that at the end of 2021 we exchanged hardly any holiday greetings. The greetings at the end of 2020 were full of hope that the coming year will be better. It wasn't.</p><p>It seems as if I/we have gone into hermit-mode and interacting even with friends feels awkward. The most social contact has been with shop keepers! In fact, yesterday only, I enjoyed interacting with the owner of a bathroom fixtures shop. May be he too was affected because he gave me a very good discount😀</p><p>I had been perfectly content with the constrained life, except for not physically meeting grandchildren. The pleasure of such social interaction came alive again and surprisingly made me realise how I have unconsciously stopped making any effort to have any face to face social interaction.</p><p>I have to renew the effort but it seems so hard now😒</p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-72560722404934091072022-03-17T03:14:00.000-07:002022-03-17T03:14:40.335-07:00A way to get rid of reservation in higher education<p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> "Show me where is the answer in the text book!" - stated in an aggressive tone by a faculty member from another college. This memory was triggered by <a href="https://livewire.thewire.in/campus/the-habit-of-copying-are-we-creating-a-culture-of-plagiarism/" target="_blank">"The Habit of Copying: Are We Creating a Culture of Plagiarism?" </a></p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">I could not even have imagined that anyone could have such an expectation for a management information course. My disappointment with teaching is documented <a href="http://start.sethanil.com/opinions/farewelltoeducation" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">If there is a shortage of supply, there will be malpractices and there is a shortage of seats for a decent education. Gaming the system, blaming reservations, etc will be inevitable.</p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">Instead of trying to stop loopholes, what if we accepted that there is a shortage and that there is no perfect way to select the best. We could, of course, auction the seats. However, I doubt if that would seem ideal to anyone, including those supporting auction of coal mines and mobile spectrum! First come, first serve will also not be an acceptable option.</p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">An alternate system is a random selection from among a set of shortlisted candidates. The selection for shortlisting could be very much like the current system; except that there is no queue; rather, a set of acceptable candidates. </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">We can eliminate reservation of seats for varying categories of candidates. The focus can be to ensure and help candidates from deprived communities clear the entrance test barrier.</p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"> </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">The tuition industry would suffer but, at least, I have for one would not shed a tear to see it disappear. </p><p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></p><p><style type="text/css">p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; }</style></p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-6792957206889382202021-12-08T02:46:00.000-08:002021-12-08T02:46:16.827-08:00A generation or two later - What if Corona Virus were handled differently<p>A great theme for speculative fiction novels:</p><blockquote><p>What would the future be like a generation or two later depending on how the Corona Virus were handled. </p></blockquote><p><b>A pessimistic version </b>assuming that the Corona Virus were as destructive as some have feared, especially for the older people, and the societies couldn't control the virus. Would we still be an aging society looking for young people?<br /></p><p>I was intrigued by the possibilities as I read the news that <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57303592" target="_blank">China is now encouraging couples to have a 3rd child</a>! </p>Furthermore, there was the news about <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1012279/india-is-among-the-most-unequal-countries-says-world-inequality-report" target="_blank">the very high and worsening level of inequality now</a>. How would this change were the pandemic let loose? An obvious historical parallel is <a href="https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_the_Bubonic_Plague_make_the_Italian_Renaissance_possible" target="_blank">the black death and the Renaissance in Italy</a>. <blockquote><p>The Black Death marked an end of an era in Italy. Its impact was
profound, resulting in wide-ranging social, economic, cultural, and
religious changes. These changes, directly and indirectly, led to the emergence of the Renaissance, ...<br /><br /></p></blockquote><p> <b>An optimistic version</b>. Personally, in spite of being in the very high risk group, I am convinced that the societies have overreacted. I was reminded of this by <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/the-omicron-threat-saying-vs-doing-the-right-things-2640792" target="_blank">the efforts to control the spread of Omicron variant</a>. </p><blockquote><p>Here is a simple question: If the Omicron variant is thrice as
transmissible as the Delta variant - as is suggested tentatively by the
existing <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z" target="_blank">data</a>
- why are we putting so many people in one holding area? Will this not
ensure that many uninfected people may actually get the infection?</p></blockquote><p>Some of the major outbreaks of the infections might very well have been because of our societies' efforts to prevent the spread! </p><p>In spite of such questionable implementation issues, damage from virus infections has been more-or-less contained. This reinforces my view that <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5cc92d45-fbdb-43b7-9c66-26501693a371" target="_blank">the light touch of Sweden remains the most sensible approach to the handling of the Corona virus</a>, even though it is very hard to find any articles which do not predict failure and doom for that approach.</p><p>What if societies decided to handle Corona virus lightly, realizing how vulnerable human societies are, focused on the imminent issues facing human societies, e.g. climate, inequality, desperate migrations.</p><p>Obviously, the former will sell, the latter will not!<br /></p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-86904952008142934462020-12-05T22:28:00.002-08:002020-12-05T22:28:27.228-08:00A very clean memory<p><a href="https://talking2anil.blogspot.com/2020/12/rise-and-fall-are-andhrapreneurs.html" target="_blank">More memories of Andhra</a> :)</p><p>My breakfast on each visit to Andhra was black grape juice and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesarattu" target="_blank">pesarattu</a>. It probably started with a night's stay in Vizag on my way, I think, to Orissa. </p><p>I can't recall how I wound up at the hotel, but it seemed nice from the outside. They had no A/C rooms available. Since it was just for a night, I decided to stay there even though I was taken aback by the room cost. After my experiences in the North, I had very low expectations given the price of the room!</p><p>However, the hotel lobby and the passage were clean and well lit. The room itself was very clean and remarkably airy. Sadly, I have forgotten the name of the hotel though the stay was very comfortable and pleasant.</p><p>Given the above experience, cleanliness doesn't have to be expensive. </p><p>I have never understood - what prevents cleanliness in our societies?<br /></p><p><br /></p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-47920825928806191352020-12-05T21:35:00.003-08:002020-12-05T22:13:36.864-08:00<p> The '<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-politics-economy-farmers-protest-7092116/" target="_blank">rise and fall are the “Andhrapreneurs”</a></span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;"> ' reminded me of my first account with a private sector bank. I had always felt uncomfortable with private sector banks. A couple of interactions with their representatives had left me uncomfortable, similar to my comfort level in 5 star hotels, that is, I don't belong there.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">On an impulse, I walked into the branch of Global Trust Bank in Panaji. I needed a demat account and they were on the list given me by the share broker. I was very surprised. </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">It was clean and pleasant. </span></li><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">It was tech savvy.</span></li><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">The person was genuinely helpful.</span></li><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">I felt at ease.</span></li></ul><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">My relationship with the bank increased. There was once some financial interaction my parents had to do. They visited the GTB branch in Chandigarh and were very impressed as well. They too opened an account there :) Had it been nearer, that would have become their primary branch.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">Even after the bank was taken over by Oriental Bank, these branches continued nearly as before. I believe part of the reason must be that the working environment in these branches was much better than in one of the original Oriental Bank branches I visited. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">I miss the absence of GTB and wonder </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">what if election funding was far more transparent in India?</span></li><ul><li><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">what if we got <a href="https://talking2anil.blogspot.com/2018/02/voting-option-not-this-one-or-anyone-but.html" target="_blank">rid of the 'First Past the Post' elections</a> given the multiplicity of parties and interests they represent?</span></li></ul></ul><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Droid Serif, serif;">I am sure the fate of entities like GTB would have been very different and India would be a far richer and better country.</span><p></p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-14271852097723340402020-11-18T20:10:00.000-08:002020-11-18T20:10:02.011-08:00Universalise Holidays<p>Wouldn't it be nice if the human society agreed to a common set of holidays but each group can give the holiday its own name and celebrate it in its own traditional way? </p><p>The following holidays would seem to be great for our current lifestyle:</p><p>1. One holiday each month.</p><p>2. Major holiday every quarter.</p><p>3. Each holiday will be on the 5th day of the week - may be the last one of the month.</p><p>4. Each major holiday will have 4th and 5th days off.</p><p>We will have the same working days - 1 to 5 with 6 and 7 being the weekend. However, some societies may call the weekend Sat/Sun, Thu/Fri or Mon/Tue or whatever their heritage demands.</p><p>No worries about which group gets how many holidays. Peace descends on Earth :)</p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-1350393726258428162020-10-24T12:03:00.000-07:002020-10-24T12:03:19.212-07:00What is moral? How will the future judge us?<p>I found <a href="http://gutenberg.org/ebooks/1290" target="_blank">Flaubert's Salammbo</a> on <a href="http://gutenberg.org/" target="_blank">Gutenberg</a>. It is an incredible book. How do we judge the behaviour and actions of the people in that time? Certainly not by applying the current morality to those times.</p><p>How moral is it that a person who has possession of a Van Gogh painting has assets worth millions while the painter got nothing. </p><p>How moral is it that I can read ebooks only from the vendor from whom I bought the eBook reader?</p><p>How moral is it that our economic system is helping create monopolies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Uber, etc. ? By their very nature, such services need a common platform. Shouldn't such services be distributed, co-operatives? </p><p>I find it very difficult to believe that such services would not have been created or succeeded if the current economic system was not in place.</p><p>I wonder how the future generations will judge us.</p>seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-38519197156526774242020-04-09T00:25:00.000-07:002020-04-09T00:25:58.417-07:00The lockdown will have to continue. There is no choice anymore.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thinking about the inevitability of the lockdown being extended, I vaguely remembered a line from Kafka's Investigations of a Dog - Dogdom went down a path, feeling that they could always turn back.<br />
<br />
Searched on <a href="https://archive.org/details/FranzKafkaCollectionOfShortStories/mode/2up" target="_blank">archive.org</a> and the part I recalled :<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I can understand the hesitation of my generation, indeed it is no longer mere hesitation; it is the thousandth forgetting of a dream dreamt a thousand times and forgotten a thousand times; and who can damn us merely for forgetting for the thousandth time? But I fancy I understand the hesitation of our forefathers too, we would probably have acted just as they did; indeed I could almost say: well for us that it was not we who had to take the guilt upon us, that instead we can hasten in almost guiltless silence toward death in a world darkened by others. When our first fathers strayed they had doubtless scarcely any notion that their aberration was to be an endless one, they could still literally see the crossroads, it seemed an easy matter to turn back whenever they pleased, and if they hesitated to turn back it was merely because they wanted to enjoy a dog's life for a little while longer; it was not yet a genuine dog's life, and already it seemed intoxicatingly beautiful to them, so what must it become in a little while, a very little while, and so they strayed farther. They did not know what we can now guess at, contemplating the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it appears in ordinary existence,</blockquote>
</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-33124798083126448052020-04-07T01:46:00.001-07:002020-04-07T01:46:49.675-07:00Exponential Growth and Lockdown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The lecture by <a href="https://www.albartlett.org/presentations/arithmetic_population_energy.html" target="_blank">Prof Albert Bartlett </a>had made an immense impact on me. I vividly remember the discussion on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbert_peak_theory" target="_blank">running out of oil based on Hubert peak</a>. While shale oil may have delayed the disaster and alternate sources of energy may prevent a collapse, but had we reduced our growth, we may have avoided the climate change issue!<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.resilience.org/stories/2013-09-15/albert-bartlett-on-message-about-exponential-growth-to-the-end/" target="_blank">main lesson</a> though is:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Noto Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function."</span></blockquote>
<br />
What worries me about the current strategy is <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/complete-lockdown-would-cause-more-harm-than-good-dissenting-top-doctor-claims/" target="_blank">the same as in this article from Israel</a>. I am not even sure if they have the parameters for the models right, in which case the predictions over the weeks can be way off.<br />
<br />
Worse, it may create the illusion of having avoided the catastrophe which was never going to happen!<br />
<br />
Applying a blanket lockdown over all the country implies that the authorities have no information about the potential spreaders, which is clearly unreasonable while claiming that there is no evidence of community transmission!<br />
<br />
I am surprised at how <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/covid-19-suspect-dies-while-trying-to-escape-from-hospital-report-comes-negative/story-cDvhN0ueGa6l35nTpVKyKL.html" target="_blank">scared people seem to be of even the shadow of Coronavirus</a>, No wonder, the workers in farms are <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/corona-has-pushed-bharat-to-the-brink-11585845027852.html" target="_blank">scared of working in the fields</a>!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the normal, routine illnesses are untreated.<br />
<br />
The new normal?</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-61123936217471346992020-04-06T07:02:00.002-07:002020-04-06T07:02:38.182-07:00What are the possible exit conditions of the Coronavirus Lockdown loop?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Being locked in is not pleasant. There is also a little guilt of going out of the house, especially for walks, even if there is virtually no one around. Could we be increasing the duration of the lockdown by being careless? Uncertainty about the duration of the lockdown is stressful.<br />
<br />
So, I thought that if I were writing a program for the lockdown, what are the conditions which would determine the exit condition for the lockdown loop for a particular region with no person entering or leaving the region:<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>There are no new cases emerging.</li>
<ol>
<li>The virus stopped spreading for no known reason. This is the way The Plague by Albert Camus ends.</li>
<li>The virus has disappeared from the community thanks to the lockdown.</li>
</ol>
<li>The community has developed a herd immunity.</li>
<ol>
<li>If the lockdown is perfect, how can the community ever develop herd immunity?</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<div>
If the region has not developed herd immunity and the borders of the region are opened, we will need to make sure that no infected or potentially infected person enters the community. Hence, testing and quarantine of each visitor will be mandatory.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If in spite of all efforts, an infected person enters the community, the lockdown will need to be imposed again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-79017439551090504462019-08-23T22:00:00.000-07:002019-08-23T22:19:11.581-07:00What risks scare or terrify us? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since I am also a believer that natural is not necessarily better, <a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscroll.in%2Farticle%2F934382%2Fare-all-man-made-chemicals-necessarily-worse-than-natural-ones" target="_blank">this article</a> was nothing new. However, the point about how different people rate different risks made me wonder, what do I regard as risky?<br />
<br />
The first was obvious, the highest perceived risk for Nuclear Power by most people, has very low risk for me. I would be happy to live next to a nuclear power plant as I expect that the quality of life around it will not deteriorate. The likelihood of an accident is negligible. Furthermore, and this is just a hope, that should there be an accident, it would be fast and furious :)<br />
<br />
Then there is the risk of driving or even walking down the road. I do both but always wishing for a safer option. I would love to see auto-driven vehicles take over. I would love to see only electric carts within towns and no private vehicles. This is a hope that it will happen one day, though not likely in my lifetime.<br />
<br />
Now the risk which terrifies me. Manipulating the human brain using technology. The only personal experiences of the damage people can do to each other are related to property disputes between brothers and sisters. The passion, viciousness and self-destructiveness defies logic. Hence, it makes it easy to extrapolate to events like riots and even genocide.<br />
<br />
I can easily imagine bots learning to create and spreading ever more effective messages which will be spread using messengers like Whatsapp. The utility of messengers is so great that they will be around like cars and roads. I don't see how the messages can be stopped except, of course, by an even worse solution like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four" target="_blank">1984</a>.<br />
<br />
Postscript: Saw <a href="https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/chidambaram-arrest-tv-spectacle" target="_blank">this about the spectacle of Chidambarm's arrest</a> just after writing about my fears </div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-6255509585662626062019-03-04T02:08:00.000-08:002019-03-04T02:08:06.579-08:00Walking around Chandigarh - still not too smart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Returning to Chandigarh after almost a year, Rose Garden is a bit of a shock. There is huge section dug up for the underpass. I assume it is meant for cars as I find it hard to comprend that this large a space could be needed for pedestrians alone. A few days later I come across <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/chandigarh-smart-city-underpass-to-be-ready-in-march-architects-call-it-colossal-waste-of-money-5593853/" target="_blank">this article on the same underpass</a> calling it a waste of money.<br />
<br />
The markets have barricades along the sidewalks. They may have been intended as a way to save pedestrian spaces but I find them a nuisance and ugly. Barricades may be useful for crowd control but hardly the tool to prevent encroachment of the sidewalks. Are we as a people so insensitive or not able to learn that we have to install such ugly and inconvenient options?<br />
<br />
Pedestrian crossings, especially in 17 sector, are blocked by metal railings on one side or both sides. Either jump over the railing, which is becoming harder and riskier as I age, or walk along the road from an opening and cross and again walk along the road till an entry can be located.<br />
<br />
Did anyone design or authorize this? Will that person ever accept credit for this weird solution?<br />
<br />
At least it made me blog after a long time!</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-11837414783097115372018-12-24T07:49:00.000-08:002018-12-24T07:49:54.019-08:00Courteous Driving Resolution - will the effort last even till the new year?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.navhindtimes.in/angry-over-challans-shiroda-locals-shut-down-traffic-sentinels-shop/" target="_blank">Traffic rules in India seem to be against our social norms</a>. My grandsons make me acutely aware of the cultural difference between the west and our environment. They do not let me even start the car till every person has tied his/her seat belt!<br />
<br />
A couple of days ago, the 3 year old was complaining after I used the horn a couple of times - "Mommy never uses the horn". I explained to him that the people were driving in the wrong direction on a one way street and I was upset by them. Yesterday also I used the horn on the same road, which is narrow and very steep.<br />
<br />
Today, he and his 5 year old brother were playing and I heard them blow horns and say, "What are you doing? You are on the wrong side!".<br />
<br />
I decided that I must start practicing courteous driving, whenever it is "safe" :)<br />
<br />
I let people merge or turn at least half a dozen times today. The only minor fear occurred when I let some pedestrians cross. Just as I started, a man ran in front of me. Fortunately, I could stop in time but it gave me a scare.<br />
<br />
The courteous driving did not delay me at all as the brief delay hardly mattered given the flow of the traffic.<br />
<br />
I, though, still have to retain my composure when a two lane road merging into a single lane for a bridge turns into a 3 lane road. I become a bit aggressive and try to prevent the 3rd lane from merging.<br />
<br />
It seems obvious that the optimum solution is that alternate vehicles from the two lanes move into the single lane. Yet we don't do it. Each person from the, now three lanes, tries to squeeze in. Why - even I find myself doing it for fear that I will be stuck and people behind me will blow the horn :(<br />
<br />
Need to practice meditation at least on such occasions :(</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-12470620968735157912018-07-23T15:20:00.000-07:002018-07-23T15:20:56.679-07:00Am I Stingy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A recent incident made me feel guilty and question my avoiding taking gifts when visiting people. My rationale has always been that the people have so many possessions already that our token gift is not going to be of any value. Gifting cash seems vulgar, except for social obligations like weddings and birthdays.<br />
<br />
A second point has been that I never remember the gifts except the ones we did not want and did not know what to do with them. However, I valued each visit of relations and friends for making the effort and time to meet us. I remember the cousins who visited us in Goa. I, especially, valued their visits to my parents in Chandigarh in their last days. (There is a lingering hurt of people who promised to visit but didn't. Showing up for the funeral was of 0 value to me.)<br />
<br />
I suspect that possibly because of <a href="https://talking2anil.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-birthday-party.html" target="_blank">the birthday party</a> in my childhood when no invitee showed up, I have valued showing up so highly.<br />
<br />
I have welcomed a cake or a bar of chocolate and am happy to share them when visiting. Anything else seems like a probable waste of money. Does that make me stingy?<br />
<br />
There is one gift I will never forget - Information :)<br />
<br />
Over 40 years ago, a friend suggested that I may enjoy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stranger_(Camus_novel)" target="_blank">The Outsider</a> by Camus. And later, he suggested <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_and_Punishment" target="_blank">Crime and Punishment</a>. This has been a gift of unbelievable value. It has led to everlasting pleasure I have got from the European literature. Were it not for his suggestions, I may never have explored it. </div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-86656826353493852752018-02-19T20:42:00.000-08:002018-02-19T20:42:54.593-08:00Does a culture of mis-trust encourage and reinforce corrupt behaviour?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/punjab-national-bank-nirav-modi-fraud-how-the-system-was-gamed-5069107/" target="_blank">current fraud at Punjab National Bank</a> highlighted the fact that Public Sector bank employees are typically transferred after 3 years and that did not happen in this case. The message is clear that there must have been collusion even if no one will ever be able to prove it.<br />
<br />
I have felt that the policy of transferring was counter-productive. It is nice to go to a branch and be recognised and there is a comfort in dealing with familiar faces.<br />
<br />
It does not matter that much anymore as I hardly visit the branch and prefer an email response to any query I may have.<br />
<br />
However, it seems to be a part of our (Indian) corporate culture as well that we mistrust employees. There is no issue in having checks. However, should the first impression be that it is assumed that an employee will misuse any privilege given and that must be prevented? Isn't the message we are giving to each young, new employee that misuse the privilege but in a way as not to be detected?<br />
<br />
I used to feel that software folks will change our culture. The working environment in these companies was so much better and my hope had been that once the older folks were replaced by the younger ones, who had a lot more exposure to working with US/European clients, we will keep getting better.<br />
<br />
From what I can gather, that has not happened. Processes have become more like in the rest of the companies, except with greater reliance on tech-tools.<br />
<br />
It is unfortunate as a culture of trust would have helped create software companies that could have been the seeds of a new Indian work culture and a hope for a better future for our children. <br />
<br />
I just can't get over the failure of our generation to create processes that we trust you unless proven otherwise. How hard should it have been?<br />
<br />
I believe very hard in a society convinced of and obsessed by presumptive and notional losses. So, it is a delight to read the <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/pnb-fraud-as-psbs-target-hr-vinod-rai-led-banks-board-bureau-to-shut-down-118021900695_1.html" target="_blank">likely winding up of the board</a> for<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="p-content"><span>advising the government on enforcing “a
code of conduct and ethics for managerial personnel” in these banks,
will expire at the end of March. It is unlikely the government will look
for a successor to Rai,</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-30710416827293025462018-02-05T21:25:00.001-08:002018-02-05T21:25:38.531-08:00Voting Option: Not This One or Anyone But<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I keep wondering if the outcome of elections in first-past-the-post would be any different if we had the option to vote against a candidate instead of just for someone.<br />
<br />
There are times when one would find it hard to vote for a candidate though the idea of another candidate winning may be even more worrying.<br />
<br />
Even in a binary election, the result may not change but the message to the winning party and the moral strength of victory can be very different.<br />
<br />
I hope some psephologist would take that up and we can have a better understanding of people's voting intentions.<br />
<br />
The goal, of course, would be that can it succeed in politicians avoiding polarising voters and creating a more just society for all.<br />
<br /></div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-16757939485657885282017-06-27T02:09:00.000-07:002017-06-27T02:09:20.348-07:00It's a wonderful life and suicidal thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/" target="_blank">It's a Wonderful Life</a>" has always felt like a corny film and, yet, it's message of optimism has been unforgettable. I was reminded of the film by the impact a silly act had on me years ago and I wish I could thank the two involved.<br />
<br />
It was the start of spring and I was walking home - depressed. Progress in research had been very slow and seemed hopeless. I used to walk through the city forest near Helsinki railway station on my way home. I was fantasising about jumping in front of the train going from Helsinki to Leningrad.<br />
<br />
My thoughts were interrupted by a pre-teen. It took me a while to understand the broken English and Finnish words. She was asking if I had a pen. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Sorry, no". Suddenly, she kissed my cheek and rain away.<br />
<br />
It was a strange experience even though my looks aroused curiosity even in Helsinki in those days. Suddenly, I heard two girls giggling away.<br />
<br />
It changed my mood. I felt I was taking me/life too seriously. I have never contemplated suicide since.<br />
<br />
So, I hope those two anonymous girls have had a wonderful life.</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-61154839651235095792017-06-09T03:56:00.000-07:002017-06-09T03:56:41.382-07:00Can inexpensive services and decent earnings co-exist?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A friend posted a link to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgQPj90OrQE" target="_blank">Why Uber is a scam: maths explains</a>. I had seen it before but I now have an additional perspective. I do not keep a car in Chandigarh and use Ola/Uber reasonably frequently. I would have liked to use the same option in Goa.<br />
<br />
I can easily believe that in the long run, given the fares, the drivers cannot be making a comfortable living. I also realize that if the fares reflect my desire that drivers make what I believe to be a comfortable wages, I would wind up owning a car.<br />
<br />
There is a conflict and no easy way around it. As a society, it is in our collective interest that there aren't too many cars - both to save on parking spaces and prevent congestion and pollution on roads.<br />
<br />
Long term solution is obvious and inevitable. The Ola/Uber vehicles will be driver-less.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, what if we had a minimum income provided to all citizens. Then a driver's earnings are over and above the minimum needs. Hence, the needs of society, the consumer and the service provider can coincide.<br />
<br />
This model would be useful for all services from helping patients/old people who are bedridden or need assistance to inexpensive coffee/tea shops not exploiting the workers. <br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-71232161706090580992016-10-16T07:15:00.000-07:002016-10-16T07:15:14.901-07:00Bad memories of why I left research<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This article, <a href="https://news.slashdot.org/story/16/10/15/1333256/china-has-now-eclipsed-the-us-in-ai-research" target="_blank">China Has Now Eclipsed The US in AI Research</a>, would not have triggered bad memories had I not come across this article, <a href="http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-commentary/meddling-with-education-needs-to-stop-if-india-wants-to-compete-in-technology-driven-world/" target="_blank">Meddling with education needs to stop if India wants to compete in technology-driven world</a>, just a few days back.<br />
<br />
I recall the first interview I attended. There were over 50 candidates to be interviewed in one day for 2 positions! Most of the time of my interview(just over 5 minutes) was taken up by the Vice Chancellor worrying whether I met the minimum requirements - a second class Master's degree. I had a BA (Summa cum laude) and a PhD from well known university but I did not have a Master's degree! The fact that the Vice Chancellor was wasting this time in an interview just destroyed my mental equilibrium.<br />
<br />
I was pleasantly surprised when I got hired at a small research institute after a fairly serious interview lasting about an hour. This was just my second interview. I had not expected the job because I had been advised by 'well connected' people that the jobs are fixed in advance! Anyway, my happiness lasted till a change in director.<br />
<br />
As I was walking past his office, the new director called me in and there were two visitors in his office. I was supposed to be the faculty in charge of technical equipment. Out of the blue, he said that he felt that one of the senior faculty members was making excessive use of the photocopying machine and I should monitor it!<br />
<br />
This was the final trigger and I was lucky to have switched to software industry otherwise I would have migrated back to the US.<br />
<br />
On second thought, lucky?<br />
<br /></div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-72250632133352970282016-02-07T07:37:00.000-08:002016-02-07T07:37:40.998-08:00Why I look forward to robots as waiters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am somewhat guilt ridden. Should I have tipped more? It has been quite some time since a person seemed to be so desperate and pleading for more tip. It wouldn't have mattered to me but may have made a difference to him. But it brings up the same dilemma of giving to a beggar. I may help a person and feel good about it; but I may actually be contributing to the preservation of a bad and unjust social setup. <br />
<br />
It was the last leg of our trip to Kerala. We took the Trivandrum Rajdhani from Ernakulam to Margao. It was painful to watch 3 attendants sleeping in the corridor outside the compartment - one on the proper berth and the remaining two on the floor.<br />
<br />
I wondered why was there a need for three attendants and whether they were actually employed by the contractors.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Was it just the easy option of hiring extra people at a very low cost in order to 'improve' service? </li>
<li>Could it be that railways insist on the extra staff to make sure that one person is not overworked for the long journey? </li>
<li>Wouldn't it be desirable and better to have the staff change midway?</li>
<li>Or does the actual employee outsource his job to desperate youngsters for no wage but tips? </li>
</ul>
Since I can do little about it, I would rather not have to think about whether to tip and how much to tip. That would be easy if the server were a robot.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-32095512022195261672016-01-28T21:26:00.000-08:002016-01-28T21:26:41.983-08:00Why don't you open the bank account in Margao?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I thought about the <a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2013/11/stamp-paper-getting-new-electricity.html" target="_blank">bureaucratic hassles </a>in <a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2016/01/rto-agents-not-touts-but-service.html" target="_blank">day to day life</a>, I recalled trying to open a bank account in Goa.<br />
<br />
The proof of residence I seemed to have was not enough for the bank. The officer was very happy that my passport had a Goa address and suggested that I open an account in their Margao branch. Thanks to computerisation, it just wouldn't matter for my normal usage.<br />
<br />
It did not matter that I did not stay in Margao anymore! I could give them the proof they needed to complete the paperwork.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-22469361174061169942016-01-28T20:58:00.000-08:002016-01-28T20:58:07.686-08:00RTO Agents - Not Touts but Service Providers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I paid<a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2015/01/smart-cities-start-with-smart-laws.html" target="_blank"> still another visit to the RTO office</a>. I expected it to be the last but it wasn't. If I look back, I have not faced any deliberate delay. In fact, most of the time, the people involved have been helpful.<br />
<br />
There has not been a single occasion when I felt that any attempt was being made to delay the work and re-enforce the impression we have. It is just that the process is needlessly complex and pointless.<br />
<br />
For example, the proof of residence was not one of the accepted ones. So, I needed to give an affidavit on a stamp paper that I stay where I say I stay.<br />
<br />
Are our rules so bad that if give wrong information to the RTO, it does not have any legal implications. For me to be penalised, I have to re-iterate the wrong information on an affidavit?<br />
<br />
I had expected in 2005 that <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-pushes-for-admn-reforms/articleshow/1073046.cms" target="_blank">Manmohan Singh make day to day life easier</a>. I don't think I will ever understand why he did not or could not.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Union cabinet, chaired by PM Manmohan
Singh, decided to constitute a group of ministers to finalise the terms
of reference of the body that will be set up to prepare a blueprint for
revamping the public administration system acr-oss the country. </span> </blockquote>
I am retired and stay not far from the Chandigarh and Goa RTO offices.
However, I am convinced that it would have been economical even for me
to go through a tout, rather, a very valuable Service provider! </div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-26085460233293109812016-01-15T21:54:00.000-08:002016-01-15T21:54:43.101-08:00Life guards on the beach - saving lives or removing fun?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have very mixed feelings about <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/goa-news/strike-by-lifeguards-in-goa-enters-fourth-day-1261325" target="_blank">the strike by life guard</a>s in Goa. I became aware of the strike the day after I went to the Calangute beach recently.<br />
<br />
It was surprisingly quiet on the beach. I realized the reason when I read about the strike the next morning.<br />
<br />
On a visit to the beaches a couple of months earlier, there was an almost continuous whistling by the lifeguards. It appeared as if they did not want the people to get into the water at all.<br />
<br />
A life guard seemed to be gesturing towards me to move out of the area though I was at best in ankle deep water on the edge of the beach. It is possible that his gestures were directed towards someone else. However, I just moved further away seeking a quieter area.<br />
<br />
In fact, at one place I saw a fight between the guards and some tourists and it seemed like a very likely occurrence. Typically Indian solution. Just don't do it. No explanation or reason for why :(<br />
<br />
I want to hear the sound of the waves not whistles on beach.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940975053254246091.post-65332991745726793452016-01-07T00:24:00.000-08:002016-01-07T00:24:25.297-08:00Wealth, Quality of LIfe and Paradise Lost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was <a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2012/05/would-i-now-like-to-retire-in-goa.html" target="_blank">pretty sure that I would retire in Goa</a>. I loved the place. I like the greenery and the beaches. I like the small towns and villages with the comfort of a modern life.<br />
<br />
Now somehow <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EKqQWPjyo" target="_blank">Bob Dylan's Things Have Changed </a>resonates. <a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2015/12/the-stress-of-walking-whats-wrong-with.html" target="_blank">The road in front of my flat now hums with traffic</a> and it is bound to get worse. <a href="http://www.navhindtimes.in/taxi-operators-clash-over-business-rivalry-at-thivim-railway-station/" target="_blank">Taxi services are aimed at tourists </a>who have no other options. With such conflicts, there is little chance of <a href="http://techcrunch.com/gallery/uber-and-beyond-12-transportation-on-demand-services-in-asia/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29" target="_blank">Ola or Uber</a> like services.<br />
<br />
If one way taxis from home to point of destination were easily available at reasonable costs, I for example would be happy to use them and not own a car. Who wants to search for a parking place near a beach or in the town?<br />
<br />
I can't imagine roads being cleared of parked vehicles anytime soon. We don't need more roads but <a href="http://talking2anil.blogspot.in/2016/01/india-should-stop-building-roads-and.html" target="_blank">using the roads more effectively</a>. That too is not going to happen.<br />
<br />I don't see any efforts on changing the mindset of the people. We should expect polite and courteous behaviour on the roads. Discourtesy should be the exception and not the other way around. Try showing courtesy to pedestrians and observe their nervousness!<br />
<br />
I don't see any chance of cars being stopped and parked outside the coastal villages. We should move around the beach area by walking or using small electric vehicles like golf carts.<br />
<br />
I can expect that we will widen the roads, create new roads. We will not create a society where people do not need to move around so much or need personal vehicles. We will not be able to manage well with what we have. Growth is the modern mantra :(<br />
<br />
In short, Goa is no longer an obvious choice for retirement. The cold and the heat of Chandigarh no longer seems so bad. I can walk to rose garden.</div>
seth.anil@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05691472392159378214noreply@blogger.com0