Problems Around the World

Of course, climate change and global warming are the big ones, despite denial by some of the bigwigs in world governments. (Venice going under water has not convinced them yet). But there are other serious questions that need to be asked.

For example, in the U.S. (since we think they are the greatest invention known to mankind), there are shootings galore. Don't know the stats, but seems like an average of one per week. Random killings, mostly because someone has easy access to a gun. The victims, usually school or college kids who did no wrong. Taliban, anyone?

Migration at any cost..Vietnamese in a container, boat people, or others fleeing what they see as a despondent state back home, for some reason. What makes people migrate with such fervour, without a care for the risks involved? War is an obvious answer. Abject poverty or hopelessness is the other (Venezuela is a recent case).

We are no better, as the unending stories of rape have shown us for many years. What is it that makes people sick enough to do this? Deterrence is of course a part of the solution, but what are the root causes and how do we remove those, if possible?

Hopefully, we will not get de-sensitised because of an overdose of these shootings, wars and rapes. Hopefully, we will find ways of preventing them.

Book Review- Naked at Lunch

A book that is very interesting, because it is an attempt to look behind our textile world and the clothes-optional world which some people have tried to create. Don't get wrong ideas. The purpose of most of the "nudists" is not to have orgies, but just to relax and take a good look at themselves- without the burden of the packaging.



Social nudism has been attempted in various places- beaches, nudist clubs and the like, with mixed results. Outrage by the society, indifference, or sometimes, the liberal view, that the right to go naked is something to be protected even if you don't like it. The practice of a sect of Jains (Digambar) is also mentioned, where minimal or no clothing is part of religious practice.

A journalist by profession, the author participates in a few outings at clothes-optional places around the world (including a longish trek!), and pens down his thoughts. Yes, many of these had mixed company, usually with couples only allowed into the enclaves. The motive of the promoters seems to be to get out of restrictions that clothes seem to impose on us humans, and pressures to package ourselves to "look good."

My only encounter of this kind has been at a Japanese Onsen or hot water public bath, and you really don't think too much about it after the initial shyness has worn off. The author seems to say the same.

How to Review an Academic Paper

These are simple guidelines for wannabe reviewers. You will never go wrong with these, and will rise to become an editor of a reputed journal in quick time..guaranteed.

1. Make a blank list of ten bullet points, where you will list the flaws (in the paper) you are yet to find.
2. Ensure that you don't use any adjectives that are positive.
3. Show how well-read you are. Quote three papers that the author has not cited (ignore those he has cited).
4. Ignore what the author has done, and focus on what he could have- examples are, How does this help to solve issues such as global warming? or, How does this help the reader know the exact reasons for Trump's impeachment? Where is the theory underlying this fishing expedition? (it does not matter that Management has not had any new decent theory for the past 50 years and most people think that it is an Applied Field).
5. Underline the fact that this piece of .... will be magically transformed from unprintable crap to a wonderful, life-changing piece that can solve issues mentioned in 4 above ONLY by amending it in line with your review. It's either your way or the highway!

End Game in Politics- A Satire

Actually, there is no such thing, as countless elections and their aftermath (Math is a pun, not intended) have shown us countless times. What appears to be a done thing, can turn out quite the opposite.

Well, this calls for a play, or at least, a play-let. So here goes-

A Multidimensional Romance

Dimension 1 (D1 for convenience) to D2: I am yours forever, but..

D2 (to D1): But what?

D1: I need you to part with your heart!

D3 to D4, in the meantime: I love you, and want you to show me your love, by giving me your heart.

D4 to D3: Love you I do, but cannot part with my heart.

D3: In that case, my heart is D1's...or D2's, if I get to have a heart-to-heart-chat with any one of them.

Soon after: D3 to D1: You want me? Promise that you will never look at D2 again.
D1: But,...Ok, I give you my word.

D2 to D4: My heart is yours, I am on the rebound, from this cheater D1.

D1 and D3 live happily thereafter, and D2 and D4, unhappily ever after.

No politician was harmed during the writing of this...voters, we are not too sure...

Meetings and Nostalgia

Nowadays, every meeting that I have is tinged with nostalgia- tells you a story! Anyways, my friend from childhood in Andhra Pradesh (his parents and mine were both in Singareni Collieries), through a few years in the US, and me, met with family after a while. It was great to catch up, with Ken Jolly, aka Kiran Kenjale, and his wife. Thanks to him, I visited lesser-known parts of L.A., including Knott's Berry Farm, NBC Studios, and also took my first Eurail trip by breaking journey in Frankfurt on the way to India from the U.S. Some pics-

In case you were wondering, this was the wine :)

International Men's Day

Men think they rule the world..maybe they do, in office. But homes are mostly unruled by them, because they are never there, mostly. The race for a promotion, or meeting targets, or just sending money home (for migrant workers) keeps them busy.

It is the women who do the bulk of the work back home even today, which makes it a comfort zone for all who live there - a bit of nagging is a small price to pay for it! This is not to celebrate the unequal partnership, but to express gratefulness for women who do what it takes, in spite of many challenges. Hopefully, one day, men will return the favour in larger numbers.

If men can at least understand the situation, it is half the battle won. Thanks to the women in our lives. It is not one, but several women who are usually behind a successful man.

Marjaavaan- Film Review

It's a miracle that I am alive, after watching this. A horrible mish-mash of various films, jerkily put together. Mind-numbing mix of Deewar without Amitabh (first scene and last scene), Alfred Hitchcock (telling you whodunit in the beginning scene), and a lot more, it tests your patience from beginning till end.

Probably the only original thing is the dwarf (if you ignore the Kamal Haasan role as a dwarf, that is) played by Ritesh Deshmukh. The master-stroke is to select non-actors who can't act to save their life for the lead roles. Nasser is probably the only one who can.

The story is also a hotch-potch (if the above weren't enough) of various Southern-Dons-in-Mumbai from Thalapathi to Once Upon a Time in Mumbai with a bit of Satya thrown in for good measure. Add the crappy way in which the mindless stuff is stitched together, and you have a total disaster.

Ideally, the title should have been Bheja Fry, to indicate what it might do to your brain. The songs are an assault on the senses, in case you want to know more.