The evolution of acid rock as told by Mahavira

‘The merry pranksters’-have u ever heard of ‘em? No, they are not a rock band. What about ken kesey? Bet u have read or heard of his ‘one flew over the cuckoos nest’. But that was before kesey gave up creative writing for creative living.

The merry pranksters were a bunch of merry-loving people of which kesey was the definitive nucleus. The pranksters basically form the latter era of the hippie dream, the former being the beat generation involving jazz and Kerouac. The prankster era pushed the high limits off the drug usage of the hippies. The introduction of LSD was manna to them. Their source of salvation. LSD- which was also called acid.

The pranksters regularly held ‘acid tests’ in which the expensive LSD was given out to anyone who cared to show up at the party which was the test. Hallucinations,happiness and not too happy cops followed. Accompaniment to the ‘acid state’ called up for a new kind of music-distinct and psychedelic . That’s how acid rock came into.

The Grateful Dead were the first and regular acid rock band that accompanied the acid tests. To date, many consider the Dead’s ‘anthem of the sun’ as the definitive acid rock album. Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles with their latter albums starting with ‘revolver’, Jefferson Airplane, Iron Butterfly all added color to the already kaleidoscopic acid scene. The culminative result is one of the most enduring genres in rock n’ roll history that lulls generation x, y and z all gathered inside a loo along with executives in the music business raking in millions and buying their kids jet planes for homecoming.

If you dig the prankster scene, do read the wonderful chronicle of the pranksters in tom wolfe’s ‘electric kool aid acid test’.

Happy, mahavira?

Peace!

Harry Potter’s Virtual Reality

A digital perspective of Harry Potter

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The other day I was watching the Matrix on DVD. Since I was also reading up on Harry Potter books at the time, for some strange reason I started comparing the simulated world in the Matrix with the magical world of Harry Potter. In both these worlds people are able to do amazing things and are able to break the rules of physics. With that in mind I tried to find some correlation between the computer world and the wizarding world.

Before you guys start shredding me to pieces, think about this for a second all right. The wizards and witches learn spells to help them do various stuff in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Doesn’t it sound suspiciously similar to computer programs that are executed to do particular operations? The spells would be the commands to execute those programs. And the wands? Well they sound like the OS which interface between the hardware (the real objects) and software (the spells).

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Brooms, portkeys and the floo networks are used to transport the wizards from one place to another. To me they all sounds like various file transfer and other protocols through which you can transfer information in the form of bytes from one place to another. And the Marauder’s Map sounds like a monitoring system..

We come across various protective enchantments and other protective spells to keep off people from accessing what they are not meant to access. Isn’t that what a firewall is supposed to do? And remember that portrait of the Fat Lady which would allow you to enter the Gryffindor tower only if you know the password. So does the gargoyle in front of the Head Master’s office. Isn’t that what we do everyday to access everything from your desktop to your bank accounts?

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The transfigurations, the animaguses etc where the people can change forms sounds like some form of program mutations. Then there is the curious case of the owl post which is like a more fancied and slower version of the email. They even have their own versions of the instant messaging. Remember how Sirius Black used to communicate with Harry through the fireplace.

The dark wizards sound more like viruses than anything else with Voldemort being equal to the greatest virus of them all. He is able to make multiple copies of his soul like a virus by creating Horcruxes. The powers that Harry has sounds like the only form of antivirus software available to thwart him. The same powers that his mother transferred on to him. Well isn’t that what a software upgrade will do?

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But what really clinches is the amount of complex spell work that is required when they have to manipulate something. Take for example nothing sounds more like a program than the Goblet of Fire. It is programmed to select the champions from each of the three schools. But a powerful hacker, like Barty Crouch Jr, was able to change its code (read enchantments) and was able to make it spit out the name of Harry Potter as well.

Well if you found this post interesting then you are welcome to add your suggestions of other interesting allegories then don’t hesitate to post your comments. If you didn’t like this post… well please don’t murder me as I don’t have Harry’s protection.

Cricket World Cup 2007

The Great Indian Dream Over

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So that’s it then. India is out of the world cup after being defeated by Sri Lanka for 69 runs. It would be a time of reflection and introspection. The team needs to be rebuilt and Indian cricket in general has a lot of rebuilding to do. And please let’s not go and vandalize their homes and engage in petty public posturing, although it would be wise for the Indian team not to come back to the country straight away. There is a chance that India could still go through if a miracle occurs (read Bermuda beating Bangladesh), but the saddest truth of it all is that we were not good enough to deserve going to the next round.

Was this unexpected? If the Indian fans were to answer honestly they would say no. And it would seem from their body language that the Indian team did not believe in itself. Even though the team was able to cover up its inadequacies with some good performances at home, they had always struggled in the last one year. It was very clear to see that the Indians were yet to recover from their defeat against Bangladesh. There was a very palpable sense of fear in the way the Indians approached this match. Much as Sri Lanka, my favorite to win the cup, played brilliantly Indian batting was equally pathetic.

This is where the coach’s role needs to be questioned. Agreed the coach doesn’t have a direct hand to play in the events on field. But definitely it is the coach’s job to make the players believe in themselves. This was not the case. It is the coach’s job to make the fitness if not the fielding better. This was also not the case and it was never expected to. I have always believed that most of the criticisms against Chappell were unwarranted. But when a coach who took over with the sole purpose of doing well at the world cup, and whose various experiments were indulged with in the hope that it would help the team do well at the competition, only to see them dumped out of it in the first round itself… well criticism is inevitable.

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Dravid’s captaincy has been disappointing to say the least. He seemed to be following a set pattern and incapable of adapting to the situation. The much celebrated batting line up too should share bulk of the burden. Tough decisions need to be taken. Places in the side should be based on merit and not on past performances. If the great players feel that they are being given a raw deal then let them prove their worth in domestic cricket and come back. Dravid was not able to motivate the players. He has not able to galvanize the team into a single unit. And he along with the coach has to take responsibility for that.

But keep in mind the trinity of Sachin, Sourav and Dravid are not getting younger. It is for them to decide the timing of their retirement from the game. It has to happen sooner or later. And the sooner we start grooming the youngsters the better. If we don’t have enough talent out there then at least instill in them some fighting spirit. Matches are not won by talent alone. Bangladesh and the Australian team of 1987 are testament to that.

Another big concern to me right now is Sachin Tendulkar. I have always been a huge fan of Tendulkar. I have always stuck up to people asking him to be sacked. This is why it was disappointing to see him play the way he did in this world cup. He just doesn’t seem to be there mentally. He has to sit down and assess if he still has the hunger in him. If not retirement at least take a break from the game and start from scratch. There is no disgrace in taking a step backward to reassess one’s strengths. But it is belittling his own achievements and reputation if he continues to play this way.

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The BCCI too is responsible for this debacle. This is a result of the board’s lack of vision in developing the game at the grass roots. It is all fine that the board makes money, but the focus shouldn’t just be on balance sheets. The money gained from the sport should be spent in improving the infrastructure and ability of the players. The Ranji league needs to be revamped and the number of competing teams reduced thereby reducing the number of matches. Only then will we have quality players playing each other regularly. The pitches need to have more variety so that they have the technique to counter any condition. Right now our batting line up is too full of blind bashers who come up copper when playing on a pitch that offers even the slightest of assistance to the bowler.

There couldn’t have been a bigger blow to this world cup commercially than the exit of India and Pakistan. But then again for a World Cup reeling under an avalanche of controversies and scandals this would seem like just another thing that went horribly wrong.

Indian cricket is facing a crisis and it would be better if all involved gets up and smell the coffee before its too late.

Rich Men and Poor Governments

“All Santa Clauses Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Included” Carlos Slim.

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Who said “if you have money donate it”, whoever he be the Mexican tycoon Mr. Carlos Slim does not agree with it. Mr. Carlos Slim with an asset base of $ 49 billion is the third richest man in the world as per the recently published “Forbes list” and fast catching up with the other two who are placed above him. It was not fashionable to say such words poking fun at the billionaires who spend billions of dollars to charity. The venue where the above comments were passed was also of interest, he was inaugurating the billion dollar hospital sponsored by none other than himself!

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“You people go and build stronger companies instead of roaming the world with pockets full of cash and distribute it like Santa Claus” was his wise remark in a lighter vein. Rich people generally do not talk in such plain languages and give any chances to unwanted controversies.

Mr. Slim being an altogether different rich man, and never regret of being rich can express his opinions as it is felt whether it is diplomatic or not. He is of the view that rich people too have place in the world and they have a duty to perform remaining as rich men itself and not by losing their “rich-ness”.

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Mr. Slim candidly remarked that “poverty cannot be solved by donations” and businessmen can better handle the money themselves rather than giving away as donations to some or other body not appreciated for prudence in spending the same as efficiently as the donors.

These statements should be read in the context when Mr. Bill Gates the #1 is flying around the world offering large amounts to charitable organizations and the # 2 Mr. Warren Buffet is proclaiming a dead-line when all his money would be fully handed over to charities! By calling them “Santa Claus” Mr. Slim had been really very kind and diplomatic to his peers.

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Rich people have a role to play in the world and they should grow richer and nurturing the corporations they own. There should be more and more corporations to serve the world, the more the merrier. A corporation should be there to provide good products or service to people, job to its employees, good business to its venders, tax to the government and profit to the owner like a banyan-tree which gives shades to the travelers, food and shelter to birds which live on it.

When a rich man or a corporation pays the taxes as per the law its responsibility towards charity is complete, each pence paid extra is extra itself and the corporation is not morally bound to do it. By indulging in extra charities corporations make the government machinery complacent in performing its actual duties. As usual a complacent government machinery resorts to waste the amount it collects. Such governments go on urging corporations to build roads, flyovers, hospital etc without any sense of shame as a spoilt child which look upon mother to everything persistently and refuse to grow.

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If there are corporations to do all these jobs why should government do this is the mindset of the ministers they have nothing to say about the money they collect as taxes.

The fact is that amidst poverty company owners live in luxury and it is the guilt feeling make them donate more and more, in this process they spoil an already lazy and corrupt government. The company owners deserve a good life as they are the back-bone of an entity that supports so much people.

Can giving generous alms lessen the number of beggars? An emphatic “no” is the answer, more alms will only attract more people to begging thereby increasing the number of beggars, so is charity, it will only increase the number of crooks who thrive upon charities and pocket a lot of money. There are many crooks that have minted money by forming charitable organizations.

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Companies are not governments they don’t collect taxes and its owners need not be Santa Clauses. The rich have a right to live a life of luxury as long as the money they earned is through proper business and all taxes are duly paid. They playing government’s role is not desirable and is comparable to populism exhibited by politicians.

The owner of a company has one duty to the nation “pay taxes honestly” one to the public “render quality goods and services”, one to his family “be a good home-maker”, one to the staff who work for him “be a good pay-master”, and one to the company “enrich and let it grow more and more”. If company is comparable to a tree, charity is like cutting off its branches to feeding it to lazy cows which refuse to graze!.

Woolmer Murdered!!!

Death due to Asphyxiation caused by manual strangulation

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The shocks and scandals at this world cup just keep on coming. It has reached a crescendo with the police announcing that Bob Woolmer was indeed murdered. The Jamaican police have announced that the cause of death is due to Asphyxiation caused by manual strangulation. They reached this conclusion after autopsy reports confirmed rumors that he had injuries in and around his neck. The Jamaican police have asked for the help of the Scotland Yard and two detectives are already on their way to the Caribbean to help in the investigation.

This event will now overshadow everything that has happened and will happen at this world cup. Speculation is going to be at a fever pitch now since the Jamaican police have not given the details regarding either the motive or the suspects in the case. In fact they have asked for the general public to come forward with any sort of information that they might have.

What is known though is that the transcript of the book that Woolmer was working on is missing. This is significant because it was widely believed that Woolmer was set to bring to light many more dark secrets regarding the match fixing scandal and also the bookie-player nexus. Considering that it would have taken more than one person to strangulate a big man like Woolmer the police is saying that there is a strang possibility that more than one person might be involved in the murder. When you have more than one person involved in a murder then by definition there was a conspiracy. This also now puts a cloud of suspicion over the death of former South African captain Hansie Cronje. He it might be remembered also died in a private plane crash. Cronje was previously banned for life for his alleged involvement in the match fixing.

What is also disturbing is that the security cameras at the hotel were only pointing to the entrances to the hotel and also to the floors but it was not pointing to the doors of the rooms. Also it should also be kept in mind that one had to a use an access card to get into the hotel. So far the no one from the Pakistan team or from the cricketing fraternity is a suspect in the crime so far.

So what does this entire episode mean to cricket in general and the world cup in particular? ICC has already announced that the world cup would continue as scheduled. But it would be difficult for everyone involved to put this tragic episode out of their mind. Cricket on its part should be thankful that no one from its fraternity is involved in the murder yet. If that happens then this story would get even more explosive. Let’s hope for the game’s sake that that is not the case.

300 - The movie

An Indulgence in Excess

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Saw the movie 300 yesterday. The western readers of this blog, please forgive me for writing a review about a movie so late after its release. But you see, we here in India get to see only two kinds of Hollywood movies. Either big budget studio movies or those which have received some awards, specifically the Oscars. So as you can imagine we get to see these movies 1 or 2 week after their US release and in some cases it might take even months before it is released here. We usually rely on the DVD to watch good movies. Having said that the scenario has been changing recently and we are getting movie releases almost simultaneously with its US release. But enough of my mumbling and lets cut down to the chase.

Let me first tell you that I love testosterone filled action movies with corny dialogues as much as I love movies made by Kurosawa or Fellini. I believe that each movie should be viewed with a certain amount of expectation and perspective. For example I won’t go and watch a Harry Potter movie with the same mindset as I would watch a Rashomon. But hey that’s just me.

So I went to watch 300 with a lot of expectations and the same thrill I had for a Terminator 2 or a Matrix. I wanted to see if it could outdo Gladiator, which I thought was asking a lot, by the previews did hype up 300 a lot.

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The movie is aesthetically brilliant. A lot of CGI has been used to bring a totally different visual experience unlike any you have seen before. The plot… errr what plot? Does anybody care? For those rare buggers who really want to know here it is. It is based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel adaptation of the Battle of Thermopylae. It talks about treachery, lust for power, honor and glory. It tells how 300 Spartans withstood the might of the invading Persian Empire and held them for 3 days led by their King Leonidas in one of history’s greatest shows of bravery. It tells the story of how he could have held on more if only his own people had not betrayed him.

But enough of the story. The movie is visually appealing though some might find the violence a bit too hard to take. It is certainly not for the weak hearted as the movie is every bit as graphic as the book. The action sequences are well drawn out and have been visualized with a certain degree of style. Style is of the essence here because it is style that makes the movie’s indulgence in excess watchable.

Everything in the movie is over the top and has as much subtlety as a blunt axe to the neck. The Persians are all either blacks, slaves, deformed or monsters. While the Spartans are all white men with bodies that would send the lady folks to seventh heaven and would give 90% of the men on this planet (yours truly included) irreparable complexes about their own masculinity.
The dialogues are no Shakespeare or Wordsworth, but you can’t help loving the over the top adrenalin pumped dialogues. There are many.

Persian: “Our arrows could bolt out the Sun”
Spartan: “Good. We will fight in the shade then”

Leonidas: “Tonight we dine in HELL!!!”

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Lest the lady folks feel left out how about this; when asked by the Persian messenger why a woman is allowed to speak among men, Leonidas’ wife replies, “Because only Spartan woman give birth to real men”.

And what about Leonidas’s yell after he kicks the Persian messenger into a deep well with “This is SPAAARRRTTAAAAA!!!!”

Okay time to get a grip on myself. The acting in this kind of a movie is usually immaterial but I felt all the cast members did a fairly decent job of their jobs especially Gerard Butler as Leonidas and Lean Heady as his Queen Gorgo.

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Story schmory!!! There are big holes in the story but who cares once again.

So how good is the movie? Don’t go to watch the movie expecting a classic. It is not. Don’t go expecting it to have some meaning in all the mayhem. There isn’t many. But go and watch the movie if you like blood, guts and gore. If you like your action movies to be non-stop violence and over the top dialogues. Watch the movie for its style and beautiful cinematography.

As for me personally, the excesses did get to me in the end but I wasn’t bored at all while watching the movie. It’s an entertainer and that’s all that can be said about it. By the way did I mention about the violence? However I was a bit disappointed with the movie, maybe because I expected so much more from it. I still loved Galdiator more and believe it’s in a totally different league from 300. What else did you expect? This is SPAAARRRTTAAAAA!!!!

Coca Cola

Coca-Cola’s farewell to Kerala

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Should not have rushed in to this state when no one else dared to tread. Good bye Coke! Wish you good and trouble-free business in Orissa under the youthful CM Mr. Naveen Patnaik!

The Coke is finally bidding farewell to this land of obscurantism. They have decided to dismantle their production unit at Plachimada in Palakkad district, Kerala, the plant will be relocated in Orissa state in North India coming under the “bemaru” banner. The word bemaru (word in Hindi means diseased) is a short form for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Orissa and Utter Pradesh. The word “Bemaru is quite meaningful as all these states are dogged by poverty and illiteracy.

It was the activist and Janata Party minister Mr. George Fernandez who first waged a war against the “colas” and made them close shop and go. Everybody knows such activism led India with less than one billion dollars as foreign exchange reserve and had to pledge reserve gold for paying imports. Later the reformist Mr. Manmohan Singh re invited them to India along with numerous other multinationals. All those who accepted the invitations were prudent enough to avoid the state of Kerala as they guessed the ground realities correctly.

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What happened to Coke is hard to guess they mistook the invitation by the Marxists (the same party who now raise cudgels against the company) as genuine. The consequences we all have seen the company was forced to vacate after spending a lot of money on litigations and measures to appease the local people who were instigated by the Marxists and so called activists.

The company could not get the court orders in its favor to get implemented as the local government came to power also happened to be Marxists and the council did everything to get rid of the factory. Their allegations were that the company draws ground water and pollutes the village by its effluents. Moreover it was alleged that their products contain pesticides in alarming rates.

All the pleas of the company fell in to deaf ears; the accusing local bodies never accepted the company’s invitations to sort out the problems and kept on doing everything to see the company downs its shutters. Several local people lost their jobs and the state as well as the local body stands to lose substantial revenue by means of tax and other incomes. When stray activists devoid of responsibilities come to wield enormous power and neglect the court which is only empowered to issue judgments anything can happen.

People of Kerala are not activists and they have no hatred towards multinationals, they consume products which are good in quality whether it is made by local or others. The colas are sold in Kerala as much it is sold elsewhere. But they are not organized and don’t pay much attention to these activists.

The presence of Coke is considered as the symbol of American imperialism by the so called Marxists and this stuff is being sold in abundance in China – in anyway better communists than them- do not matter to these people. Chinese government knows the worth of the multinationals and they let them flourish and let their people gain the benefit, is why China is growing to be world’s largest economy.

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What the government of Kerala has done can they name any company that has come to invest here actually done it why have they gone back? If everybody runs away from one there must be something objectionable, instead blaming them for running away is not the way.

There must be serious introspection on the part of the government otherwise youth of Kerala will be destined to flock to other parts of the world and suffer discriminations there, all for want of some commonsense on the part of the rulers. The deal the Coke has got from this state will definitely remain as a scar on the face of the government for years to come.