(Un)Natural Selection

Humans are unique. Unlike other animals, they have a consciousness or understanding of the theory of "Natural Selection". That makes the theory void for us, humans.

We are arguing about genetically modifying ourselves  - some fear it as unethical and artificially toying with nature.. Mankind has negated natural selection for a long time. Apart from physical properties and biological traits, many other things determine who survives. Selection of a mate and propagation of our species is based on - money and property, external beauty(artificial cosmetics, perfumes etc), fame, physical prowess, family heritage, bravery, brains, power etc. Someone who is good in one of the above stands a good chance to propagate his/her genes - though biologically inferior.

Higher human traits like compassion, religion, loyalty, reciprocating goodwill etc may also influence selection. When we provide medical aid for genetic disorders, we are artificially extended a defective gene-pool, helping him/her passing on their defective genes. Present social context may place you is a moral high ground for that. But the point is that we are not only working against natural selection, but have comprehensively outgrown it. The next logical step is the genetic engineering(and selective breeding) of ourselves like the drought-resistant plants and high-yield animals around us.

FYI, selective reproduction in humans is not a new concept. Hitler gave grants and money to pure aryan males and females who bring more pure blooded kids into this world. As we are capable of the concept of religion, science, slavery etc, (which no other animal is) we are also capable of genetic engineering. It is just another tool with the same potential and destructive power of any other.

30 Year Old Baby - The Arjun

Hope you have all heard of the infamous "Arjun" main battle tank project that our scientist have been working for past 30 years. In relatively recent times(las, the tank has made amazing progress. It has matured as a world class machine, much better than T-90 we import from Russia.

But not without its set of problems. It has been criticized time and again for increased time and cost overruns. As always media reports amplified the negatives. Now after proving itself in army trials, there is so much "residual stress" between the Army and DRDO that they are refusing to place further orders than 124 tanks.

Again the media has got something to chew and blow into a big bubble. But this time Arjun will be worthy of the praise since all the defects have been ironed out by DRDO. Check these links

ajaishukla.blogspot.com
livefist.blogspot.com
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=16903

Bang Bang....

Bomb blasts in many major cities. What is RAW doing?

So many bombs, one city after another, day after day - what the hell is wrong with the intelligence bureau and RAW? Some of the following may look notorious/too irresponsible, but here it is

1. Why are these low intensity blasts? believe me they could have as easily set and major explosion killing hundreds.
   
2. What is it with the timing of these blasts? UPA wins a very controversial vote and then bombs are going off in BJP ruled states. Does BJP have a hand in it themselves? Or did the center not inform the state of the attacks? or is the cong and BJP closed their eyes and let this happen for closeness to US?
   
3. Looking at the global scenario, UK, US news is all filled up with terrorism and anti-terror initiatives. India wants to join the west - the quickest way is to showcase a common enemy. What better timing than just before the SAARC meetings?! India appears to be a wounded Hero and steer the meetings
   
4. Pakistan starts firing at the same time these blasts were going on. And then, they lodge a complaint of un-provoked firing from the India side. What is it with the timing again?To save the tarnished image of ISI? Did they know that the blasts will keep the Indians busy? Did they ever know that they will be happening?
5. Identity of the new outfit: May be Manmohan's goverment was not watching closely.. but how in the world can such co-ordinated efforts take place without RAW knowing about it?? There is a huge conspiracy behind this. Damn ugly one too..

Loss of few lives for strategic closeness with US? Bombs to create a sympathy wave for the BJP? Is it Pakistan again?

Nothing Personal..

How many times do we hear these words in the corporate/professional environments...!

Whenever I hear these words, I am immediately reminded of the masterpiece "GodFather" by Mario Puzo. The Don uses this statement a lot of times - It is not personal, it is business. Later on in the novel, his son, Michael Corleone tells his brother how it was always, and all about being personal.

Every decision your senior/manager takes in a professional setting, good or bad, has a huge personal impact on your state of mind. If machines were to do work and they get an overhaul every few months, then may be there is "Nothing Personal" about that. Whenever a human is involved, things are always personal. Every word said, every smallest action and body language has "PERSONAL" written all over it. How can you so easily and completely remove emotional dimension from decisions that change your life?

Most of the times, competition is cut-throat. As much effort must go into portraying/illuminating your work as that put into the doing it. Building a rapport (a.k.a licking your bosses boot), nudging others(even friends) out of the way becomes necessary for you to climb. Blame game, evaluating performance non-objectively, undermine other's efforts etc. Above all,you got to balance your relationships with superiors, equal colleagues and subordinates and keep them well oiled. Most of these actions are so morally degraded, that it is impossible not to hide behinds "professionalism" or the "nothing personal" rhetoric.

Self Critical

Have you every tried analyzing your own actions and their outcome? Tried to look deep inside, trying to rationalize/criticize your decisions? What defines confidence?

It is probably the most difficult thing. For me, it was never encouraging :) . I consider confidence as the accumulation of positive outcomes of our previous decisions. Continuous failures either result in reduced effort and blame games. In my case, though I have made some good decisions, which improved my life, I tend to consider each one as a disconnected occurrence. It is like I have a short term memory loss, when it comes to my good decisions. I am busy being critical about the situation, that I don't appreciate my own capacity for continuous, good decision making. On the positive side, it keeps me on my toes and prepared for anything. No presumptions, always critical, no memory of negative outcomes. Starting with a clean slate.

At least at a subconscious level, all decisions ARE affected by the past ones. Mine just doesn't fit the conventional definition of confidence. It is more of a combination of hunch and spot-analysis. Taking a checkpoint once in a while and looking back at my decisions gives a certain amount of reassurance - but that as far as I go with confidence.

One more thing - I lie a lot when I write about myself!

An Article From "The Hindu"

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071555200900.htm

Scarface Movie Quotes

Scarface (Al Pacino) - One of my all time favorites :)

[proposing to his boss' girl.. later kills his boss]Okay, here's the story. I come from the gutter. I know that.I got no education......but that's okay.I know the street, and I'm making all the right connections. With the right woman, there's no stopping me. I could go right to the top. Anyway......what I got to tell you is this: I like you. I liked you the first time I laid eyes on you.

This is paradise, I'm tellin' ya. This town is like a great big pussy just waitin' to get fucked.

[to the guests at the restaurant after getting hammer drunk] What you lookin' at? You all a bunch of fuckin' cockroaches. You know why? You don't have the guts to be what you wanna be. You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!

Arithmetics

Number of MPs
   who withdrew = 58
   who joined new = 38 (possibly 37)
   required for majority = 44
   required still = 6 (better 7 or more)
   who need assured nominations in next elections = much >7

Number of suitcases required to attain majority = ???
Number of Indians taken for a ride = > 1 billion

Who said politics is about ideals? It is about numbers... plain arithmetics

Final Nail On The Coffin

BJP is trying to hit many birds with a single stone. Asking the government to prove its majority at this juncture is a master tactic.

SP is not yet committed to the government, but may support the deal. At this point,

1. Breaking the stalemate between the left and the government. This will almost certainly lead to early elections. BJP is asking for committed stands from congress, left and SP.
2. It is filling up Congress' hands stopping it from concentrating on the N-deal.
3. Made the people to start thinking. Thats crucial before an election.

The best that can happen for the ruling party is salvaging the N-deal and then losing next elections . The worst is they dont complete the deal and still lose the elections :)

Now that is real BAD

Indo-US Nuclear Drama

One of the most dramatic agreement - the 123. Both countries need the deal finalized, both countries have internal resistance to the deal, both countries facing elections soon, both governments are planning to showcase this as an achievement to hide their pathetic track records.

India is seeing record inflation rates (11%) and US economy is at its abyss. For India, the deal provides energy security (or so it seems) and for the US, this is an important step if furthering defense exports and its strategic reach in Asia-pacific. Now to the minus points of the deal:

• If the deal goes through, US will most likely stop India from going for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and launch its next offensive against Iran.
• India cannot do further nuclear tests without attracting sanctions
• India becomes a puppet to US in the UN resolutions and other international matters.

If you were an opportunist like me, you would ask "Whats wrong with that?"

For a country which is a non-aligned nobody, it should be clear that being associated with no-one cannot work anymore. When YOU are not using you friends as military allies, your enemy will readily do. Like it or not, you need the backing of one of the superpowers (US, Russia or China). Since Russia is weak, and China is never going back us, US is the only real option.

Independent foreign policy and the restriction on further nuclear testing are shown as reasons against the deal. Nuclear tests are no longer done under land or water. They are done on supercomputers. Turn opportunistic, act subdued, use all the help US is giving, be good to them as long as YOU want, fuck them (only) if and when needed - but that is a decision for later. Look at Pakistan - they get help from the whole world but still criticize everyone for not helping enough.

Can't agree more with left's argument that we need develop alternatives to depending on US (or any other country for that matter). But till that time, it would be wise to lock up your ideals and act practical.