Minimalism

So I had time to kill and I figured I would play around with a few themes and jazz up my blog. After countless permutations of color combinations coupled with background images of the grass, the sky, the birds, abstract art and even exotic windmills, I was swimming in ugly disgusting waters, which is when the beauty of minimalism silently surfaced from beneath and took upon itself to bathe my blog in it's pristine perfection.

It might not look the greatest, but I like it a lot better now.

Reminds me of a famous quote
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

All is fair in love and war. Really?

Amélie Poulain's friend poses the nice looking guy a series of questions revolving around proverbs.
"A rolling stone"
"Gathers no moss", he answers quickly.

"Out of sight"
"Out of mind"

After a few more proverbs, she declares that her dad used to say that someone who knew proverbs can't be all bad and she tells him where Amélie is.


Though I suppose the French might have their reasons for supposing so, I've never thought of being merely cognizant of proverbs as such a strong and desirable trait. Arguably what you probably believe in might offer a better incisive look at your personality.

There's been two of these especially that make me boil inside every time I think deeply enough about them. One of them is "Out of sight, out of mind" along with it's counterpart the more classy "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". Though I am not quite sure about the times or the circumstances in which these two idioms were born, I have a strong propensity to classify the latter as medieval and the former as one that accurately reflects our contemporary times and in case you are wondering am a sucker for the latter. It's sad that most of today's generation demand instant gratification at everything, at work, at career, at passions and even at love. Whatever happened to the slow moving medieval pace of Pride and Prejudice?
"Out of sight, out of mind" - I mean what is that? Does it mean we don't let each other get out of sight? for a month? a day? an hour? for a minute? What are we? needy dependent people who don't value freedom, solitude? What are we? parasites? It brings more fundamental questions out in the open. Anyone of you would have stayed away from your parents for a reasonable stretch of time. So is that it? You don't care anymore for them? If you do, then why two different yardsticks for your own personal relationships? Do you know what that makes you look like?

The other one that's been on my hit list for some time is the one that strives to remind us that "All is fair in love and war". Really? As simple as that? Yes?

In the holy war of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas resort to all sorts of trickery to win the war.
Arjuna, the embodiment of valour hides behind Sikhandi (who was originally born as a girl) when they attack Bhisma, that warrior who had a rather neat policy of not fighting women. So he simply stood by receiving Arjuna's arrows that cut through him slowly, while doing frankly nothing but trying to distinguish which of the arrows were Sikhandin's and which of them were Arjuna's!
Yudhishtira, the very embodiment of truth lies about Ashwattama's death to Drona (on Krishna's advice) making him lay down his arms when Dhristadyumna swoops down on him with a bloody sword!
Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas asks Karna to not kill his brothers. The great warrior promises to kill only Arjuna if at all so that she would still have 5 sons and during the war, he very clearly has chances to kill each of Bheema, Yudhishtira and Nakula, which he refrains from and spares them with mere taunts! (OK this part from Kunti wasn't exactly trickery, but you get how the odds are stacked against the Kauravas)
Krishna advises Arjuna never to get into a direct battle with Karna as long as Karna holds Indra's weapon as that could easily kill him. Karna is then later forced to use the same against Ghatotkacha (Bheema's Rakshasa son) on one fated day when the battle continues into the night when the Rakshashas apparently have greater power.
Krishna saves Arjuna by pressing the chariot in the nick of time during the direct battle with Karna!
Krishna clues in on Bheema to break Duryodhana's thighs against the established code of fighting in those days.

Iam sure there are a lot more instances I have missed out. The Pandavas finally realize at the end of the war that it was won not because of their valour or military prowess, but because Krishna was on their side. Every time they had a problem, it was Krishna himself, the embodiment of God who guides them on the path of trickery, which they follow religiously after the initial instinctive apprehensions.

On reading various versions of the Mahabharata, my first reaction was one of disgust. I mean clearly there were two sides here. One was in the right and one was in the wrong. Why couldn't the side in the right just win out rightly without having to resort to any sort of trickery? Didn't being the right side imply just that?

I've never understood that part of it until recently when I've come up with a much more plausible analysis, that's comforting and rather soothing once you understand it. What's right and what's wrong isn't exactly in black and white. It's more of shades in gray. It's still distinguishable, but it's quite difficult to figure out what exactly is the right thing to do in a given situation. It's no real wonder that more often than not people get this wrong, ... really wrong. One reason for it is the same impatience that makes them swear to "out of sight, out of mind". See the connection?

what I read from the Mahabharata is irrespective of how the war was won, it's important to know why the Pandavas won it. The Kauravas were practically invincible. Bhishma himself had a boon that he was the only one who could choose when he wanted to die. Drona could never be conquered (without a lie). Karna had Indra's weapon(though use and throw!) that could kill anyone. Yet the Pandavas won, because Krishna was on their side. Dharma was on their side. Here's where it gets interesting. You could see it as the Pandavas won because Krishna was on their side or you could see it as the Pandavas were on Krishna's right side... Krishna's right side, since he was the embodiment of everything there was also a dark side, ... hence those acts of trickery! Which leads us to...

All is fair in war only when you are on the fair side itself.

Love isn't exactly war, but there's a fair side to it and a unfair side to it. There's a compassionate side to it and a vengeful side to it and there's also plenty of shades of gray in between. We might want to see which end of the spectrum it is that we are standing on before we resort to say morally questionable acts. The art of deducing where we stand is often the trickiest part though and is the part that matters, the rest being fair/unfair are mere consequences and maybe, maybe in light of all this it's just worthwhile to reserve judgement until all the facts are presented.

The Rat Race - And then what?

So you got that new promotion you wanted? Cool! More money, I bet!
What do you plan to do with it?

LED TV! Yay!

Nice! And then what?

Bose Home Theatre!

Great! And then what?

Blu-Ray player!

Ok. And then what?

I'll be content. I promise. serious. Trust me.

That LED TV, was it 3D that you wanted?

Oh! 3D's out? No I had only thought of a 46" one!

I hear there's a 55" one out.

Oh! Ok that's the very last thing I need and then I'll be content. serious.

This is never going to stop. It's a vicious cycle. Money needs more money to survive.

Wah. Very profound. Care to enlighten me?

You make so much money. Now you are worried you might lose it. So you try to protect it. How? By maybe hiring security. How do you hire them? With more money!
You buy a HD TV and then you realize you can't enjoy it's benefits without HD transmission. You need to throw out your existing set top box, buy a new one with HD capabilities, pay more every month. It doesn't stop.
You buy a much better car. A sedan compared to the old beaten up hatchback that you drive and guess what? You put in more fuel? More expensive maintainance? More money!
The more you crave for these possessions, the more you are stuck making money to take care of the money you already have. And crave you will. I mean there are so many things that you don't have and who could possibly resist all these temptations?
It doesn't stop. It never does. And then what?

Hmm now that you put it that way, I feel guilty to even crave for a ice cream right now. What do you think I need to do?

They say time is money. So instead of putting your money(time) making more money to retain and enjoy the money you already have, why don't you put it in pursuit of more intangible things?

What's intangible?

Simple stuff. Things like riding a bicycle. You never forgot once you learnt. Did you? I'll leave you to figure out the rest, but remember even when you lose all that you have, you won't lose these ... ever.


This dialogue with self was inspired by a long standing desire to buy a LED TV and constant demands from family and friends to upgrade my old beaten up hatchback, both of which I've resisted upgrading ... for now

2011 - II

Producer: You are back?
Huck: Hee Hee. yeah with a real resolution that everyone who can, should definitely do
Producer: What's that?
Huck: Ditch the lifts, escalators. take the stairs when you can!
Producer: Why?
Huck: cause it's fun! - http://www.thefuntheory.com/piano-staircase

2011

Producer: Welcome to the greatest talk show on Earth hosted by the most beautiful person, on the inside and on the outside!

Assistant Producer: What's the big deal? I thought we were done and dusted with?
Huck: You are kidding! I was on a sabbatical!
Producer: So what is this last show going to be about?
Huck: You are the producer of the show, and you don't know what's it going to be about?
Producer: If only I had that luxury, if only I had...

Huck: Your wish is granted. This show is about new year resolutions. 2011 is almost upon us. So let's all make resolutions. All rise!
Producer: Resolutions? That sounds interesting! How many are we gonna make?
Huck: As many as we can think of!
Producer: Awesome! and how many are we going to actually do?
Huck: That depends. (holding a book) I have with my the 'Huck's dictionary of interesting terms' - As per this book, A resolution is like a promise. It's meant to be made and broken at any time. So well it depends...

Producer: Damn! What's the first one?
Huck: We'll start with the standard one. Let's make a resolution to not make any more resolutions!
Producer: Hear Hear! My dear audience! Huck has gone mad! Aren't we defeating the purpose of the show then? Why would we need to make any more resolutions after that?
Huck: Hear Hear! My super dear audience! I hope you were paying more attention than this stupid producer! (waving the book) We make the resolution and then break it immediately! Moving on to the second one.
Producer: I object! How dare you abuse me on this show? You are such a superficial, shallow person! For years you have been dumping garbage on your audience! and now on me! in a live show! You lazy goose!
Huck: Overruled! (long pause) any more objections?
Producer: I strenuously object!
Huck: Can't you atleast be original in your objections? Why do you copy dialogues from 'a few good men' ?
Producer: Damn! you've seen that too?
Assistant Producer: (hushed tone) Pst! I gave him a DVD copy.
Producer: (hushed tone) Remind me to fire you after the show!

Huck: Of course, I have. Anyways. Since I have been accused that am superficial, shallow and I dump all sorts of garbage on my viewers. So I am going to make a resolution for that.
Producer: What's that? dump sewage instead?
Huck: Looks like even if I wanted to change, some extenuating factors won't let me!
Producer: Err. sorry! Dump Kerosense then?
Huck: No my resolution, err response is I speak the truth. Sometimes the truth is sweet to hear. Sometimes the truth is harsh to hear. It could be nectar or it could be garbage, but it is the truth. No one said that the truth is only about nectar. Did they?
Producer: (Surprised tone) That's a resolution?
Huck: (Waving the book and tapping it) - I have alternate definitions for everything in here!

Producer: Sigh. What's next?
Huck: Next am going to make an example out of you!
Producer: Good lord! What did I do?
Huck: You'll see presently!
Producer: Can't we do it in private?
Huck: Not really! You asked for it by publicly ridiculing me on live television. So can't help it (Shrugs)
Producer: What are you going to accuse me of now, you superficial, shallow person?
Huck: Ha Ha! You are already on the offensive! At the start of the show you termed me a beautiful person and then without warning you call me superficial and shallow because it's convenient. There's a term for that. Hold on. (rapidly consulting pages in the dictionary...)
Producer: (fondly) Found anything?
Huck: Not yet. Hold on...( thumbing more pages...)
Producer: Look at this dear audience! He has no respect for any of your times!
Huck: Found it! Here! (showing the page) It starts with a H. see?
Producer: Damn! You aren't going to show the term to the audience? and make me look even more bad?
Huck: No.
Producer: Why not?
Huck: My next resolution is about forgiveness. I forgive myself for my mistakes (because no one else seems to be) and I forgive everyone else for the mistakes they did to me. So I forgive you. So I'll not ridicule you in public like you ridiculed me.
Producer: Does this mean I can do anything now and get away with it?
Huck: Err. Wait let me think.
Producer: (rubbing hands in glee)
Huck: No wait! The forgiveness is for acts already done.Don't test me!
Producer: Damn! and here I thought I had a real chance!

Huck: Let's move on the next resolution. Shall we?
Producer: Sigh yes.
Huck: The next one is about...
Assistant Producer: Excuse me gentlemen, the advertising guy is on the phone. He wants to know why his advertisement has not come yet.
Huck: WTF! Tell him we are busy making resolutions.
Assistant Producer: He insists
Huck: oh ho! He insists eh? Tell him, I am making a resolution to show all his advertisements with immediate effect!
Assistant Producer: (on the phone talking). Yes. That's what he said
Assistant Producer: (hanging up). He said he's happy now
Huck: Good! Let's get on with the show.
Producer: Wait a nimute! Wait a nimute! Aren't we going to show his advertisement?

Huck: Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the audience. Looks like this stupid producer will never learn! It was a resolution! Now we break it! Kapish?
How else do you want me to call you now? Intelligent? savvy? stupid!

Producer: (sadly) So much for forgiveness.
Huck: I did warn you. didn't I?

Producer: Are there any more?
Huck: One last one! That's it folks! No more Huck's talk shows anymore!
Producer: Thank God for that! Now I can retire in peace and be free of you!
Huck: (exclaims) Ayyooooooooooooo! Someone give him this dictionary!

won't you come for the social network?

This is a invitation for the social network movie, just like you wanted.

Betting

The gentlemen's game first had match-fixing, where the whole match's results were fixed. Crime does not pay.

So then we have now spot fixing, where the result of a single delivery is fixed. Crime does not pay.

So then we will have field fixing, where something will be fixed before a ball is bowled, and that can only be something with field placements.
So here's my wager.
$3000 that Dhoni will be in the wicket-keeping position
$5000 that Dhoni will be in the wicket-keeping position if Dinesh Karthik is also playing!

aww. Cricket was a gentlemen's game once because of not just the players, but the spectators and people with interest in the game. Where did they all go?