FLATLAND

Flatland The Movie
I found out about this movie in a most unusual way as part of a Digital Signal Processing course. Based on the eponymous book Flatland, the film is a satire on the United States society in the 2000s. The protagonist "A square" is an attorney who lives in a 2 dimensional planar world. The elites in his world are bigoted against chromatists or those citizens who have color in their sides, a clever allusion to the race problem that still has not gone away in the country.

But the main theme of the movie is the limited worldview of all people who do not easily accept the perspectives of others. At different instances, characters of certain dimension refuse to accept the possibility that an additional dimension could possibly exist and have its own denizens. So, a point regards himself as an omniscient god like emperor who perceives any communication as a thought emanating from himself. Lineland king tries to kill A square when he tries to elucidate the concept of a planar geometrical figure. A square has been brought up to believe that a circle represents divinity and assumes that all spheres are worthy of worship. The spherical senators consider the notion of a fourth dimension nonsensical.

Further, the status of women is satirized. They are depicted in Flatland as inherently too emotional, even dangerous, with a screechy voice. They are required by law to emit a peace cry among strangers to let them know they are benign! To redeem the misogyny of the world somewhat, wife of A square turns out to be a badass who has a war cry of her own!

Man in the high castle

There are shows and then there are shows. Amazon prime in its efforts to compete with Netflix has put out a stellar show with the Man in the high castle. It is an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Philip K. Dick. With an intriguing premise of how the United States would have been had the axis powers Germany and Japan won in world war ii and compelling characters and subtle science fiction, the show spans two engrossing seasons with the next season to arrive in 2018. All parties such as the Nazis, the Japanese police and the resistance fighting against the occupying powers have complex amoral agendas and the compelling interplay between people trying to manipulate the situation and other characters in ruthless pursuit of their goal. Rufu Sewel's character John Smith epitomizes this while Alexa Davos's character stands for the ultimate humanity that lies within everyone and who is the conscience of the show. This is a show that needs patient watch for a few episodes for a viewer to get engaged. There is plenty for both the thoughtful viewer as well as the viewer who just wants to be entertained.

Rama would never force himself on Sita!

 The position of the Modi government to cite religious beliefs and mindset of society to treat marriage as a sacrament as a reason to not introduce punishment is simplistic and travesty of that very sacrament.

In our legends, it is strongly implied Sita would honor a Rama who makes love to her at moments of mutual passion, rather than a Ravana who would force himself. And for all sects and castes out of the so-called twice born castes, there is absolutely no expectation of sexual subjugation of the wife.

Coming to current legal protections, while the domestic violence Act of 2005 does extend protection to women from all forms of abuse including sexual at the hands of husband, it is primarily punitive and does not foster good behavior on behalf of husbands in building a healthy sexual relationship or to build a strong family. The government's position seemingly does not distinguish between civilized husbands who love and cherish their wives and brutes who  harm theirs and does not promote or glorify the behavior of the former as an ideal for the society.

If the government rejects comparison with other countries on the basis that societal institutions such as marriages and families there are not quite given the same importance there as in India, then surely it should be working to strengthen those institutions! Interpreting religious beliefs erroneously and not supporting 'decent' husbands is not a step in that direction.

Teacher and Janitor

Me: बड़ा होके क्या बनोगे?
Student of rural Bengal (smilingly): बांग्ला (बंगाली) टीचर
Me(with pleasure): बहुत अछा.

Translated
Brian(American teammate): Ask if anyone would like to become a garbage disposal man.
Me: Ok...
Brian: It is a very socially useful profession.
Me: Very true. Just don't know how to translate the question into Hindi or Bangla.
(true but also think about how this conflation of teacher and janitor may offend rural Indian students raised to respect teachers)
      
Later realize that neither American culture in which teachers aren't really respected by students nor traditional Indian culture where teachers are venerated but not paid enough and janitors often ostracized are ideal. Perhaps a need for a new society that can learn from both and respect both professions equally but differently.

Yo boys I am sing song

Soup song Flop song

Why this Kolavari Kolavari Kolavari di?

Why this Kolavari ………. Adi?

Maintain please..

Rhythm correct

Why this Kolavari Kolavari Kolavari di?

Mama notes edthuko ade kayile snacks edthuko

Pa Pa Paan..Pa Pa Pa..pappa pan.

Handlo glass Glasslo Carlsberg.

Ice fulla tear

Empty life

Distance la love love cow cow

Holy cow I want to hear now.

Give me my passport backu

Why this Kolavari Kolavari di?

Anna Hazare and the idea of India

 Corruption is around us and we see, hear about it frequently. Most urban educated Indians seem to value time over money and choose to ignore it as a reality of life that cannot be changed. And yet the movement touched a nerve and brought the topic into daily discussion. Several young professionals have pledged to do their part in forging alternative paths. Many more people are informed about their rights, options to avoid getting into the trap and the government was forced to acknowledge this. Discussion against corruption has entered public discourse and this has led to a far better informed populace.

Also, let us consider the example this movement has set for peasants in Jharkhand or students and workers in northeast. One may not agree with the specific methods adopted by the Anna team but by any definition, it has been non-violent. And that presents a very strong alternative to the gun culture that pervades change movements there.
 
In 47 years, this forced the first attempt to actually pass a Lokpal bill through the parliament.

Anna Hazare's movement is an affirmation of Indian democracy and power of people at work. It maybe an imperfect system but it is one that people care about improving and being part of. And thus it bolsters the idea of modern India.

Cell phones - cancer risk

Finally mainstream media across the world has highlighted the WHO report about cell phones and cancer risk. There are several technical solutions out there some of which I have been using for a long time:
1. Speakerphone - If your phone has a speakerphone, that is probably most convenient and easy to use.
2. Handsfree microphone cable - Always comes with the phone, inexpensive and easy to use.
3. Bluetooth headset - Common and popular especially among technophiles. But I wonder if using them also involves any long term risk since it is closer to the ear and is used pretty much all the time. The one I used broke sometime back. Maybe that actually was a good thing :).

And in terms of usage, it is best to avoid using cellphone in areas where signal bars are few (less signal means the cell phone has to transmit harder to get to the tower) - elevators, rural areas or between tall buildings etc.And for parents concerned about children, definitely a good idea to stop your children from using the phone close to the ear as their developing brains are likely to be more sensitive to radiation.