RANDOM RUBBLE

Dear all,                                                                                                           25/06/16

I am a gobbler of Amul Butter. Out of curiosity I happened to read the specifications given in the packet as follows;

For each 100 gms:

Energy 722 kcal. Energy from fat  720 kcal, total fat 80 gms, saturated fat 54 gms, trans fat 3 gms, cholesterol 180 mg, sodium 838 mg, total Carbohydrate 0g,  added sugar 0 g, protein 0.5 gms, vitamin A 850 mg.

It was a revelation to me that there are so many types of fats I don’t understand as to why they should add Sodium and Vitamin A. They could as well add uranium. Atleast I can generate my own nuclear energy. Finally, why should it mention things that are not there as 0gms? They could have as well mentioned Rat poop 0gms.Still I like it because Amul baby resembles my daughter.

This is what is happening in the market place. If you want to buy anything, you are simply floored with un-understandable and irrelevant information.

However, what makes us still buy things about which we really don’t know?

Read the attachment and realise what governs our decisions.

God bless you.

Ramani (C/2)

                                                RANDOM RUBBLE                                     25/6/16

Imagine a hypothetical situation wherein an ass that is equally hungry and thirsty and is placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and a pail of water. It is assumed that the ass will always go to whichever is closer. The paradoxical situation is that, it will die of both hunger and thirst since it cannot make any rational decision to choose one over the other.

The Paradox, called “Buridan’s Ass” was named after the 14^th century French philosopher, whose philosophy of moral determinism it satirizes. Buridan's Ass appears as metastability in digital electronics, when a circuit must decide between two states, when there is an input that is changing its value. In such situations a small amount of randomness acts as a tie-breaker, and the circuits settle into one or the other state after a usually very small, but unbounded period of time.

In the ultimate analysis, we are also Buridan’s like asse and randomness rules our lives.  Honestly, do we really understand even an iota of the mumbo-jumbo spewed about every product in the market?

Let me illustrate

Me and my wife went to a show room to buy a car. I was given a brochure of a particular model containing all the technical specifications. I am giving below only a very small part of it.

Engine Type: Naturally aspirated.

Engine code: Straight 4, 1.8 litres, 1797 cc,

                        Bore and stroke: 81x87.2mm

                        Bore stroke ratio: 0.93.

Double overhead camshaft. 4 valve per cylinder.

Maximum power output: 145 bhp at 6500 rpm.

Specific output: 80.7 bhp/litre

Maximum torque: 176 NM at 4700 rpm

Specific torque: 97.94 Nm/litre

Engine construction: sump – wet sumped. Compression ratio – 10.3:1

Mean effective pressure: 1230.8 kPa

Unitary capacity: 449.35 cc.

I could understand very little. They start with the words “naturally aspirated”. From the dictionary I got the meaning as inhalation. But every engine has to inhale the air to burn the fuel. I don’t get the connection.

Well, like a typical husband I was browbeating my wife on my superior technical knowledge and was reeling out the specs and explaining them to her. As usual she heard none of it.

She just ignored me and selected a car among the many. Literally there were many, differing in size, colour, capacity, specifications etc. These ladies really have hawk’s eyes. As soon as they enter any shop they make a sweeping view and spot the prey and zoom on it. She told me that she liked the car with the light cyan colour. She then sat inside it and found it very comfortable. She tried the music system and found it very pleasing. Everything was over in a matter of about ten minutes.

Later, I asked her as to why she chose that particular car. She told me that it blends with the exterior of our house. Also, the interior was of a shade that my clumsiness and dirtiness will not be revealed. Well that’s it. That is randomness.

Another time I took my mother to buy a TV exclusively for her. There were many TVs, blaring different channels. So, as usual I spotted an LG TV which was fabulous. It was displaying National Geographic channel and I was floored with the crystal clear images without any distortion, even when I was just six inches away from it. As usual I asked for a brochure and the following specifications were given.

Make: LG

Size: 40 cm HD Ready LED

Connectivity – Input 2* HDMI, 1*USB

Refresh Rate – 50 Hertz

Support Audio Format – AC3 (Dolby Digital), EAC3, AAC, Mpeg, PCM,

Supported Video Fornmat – Divx (SD/HD),

Resolution – 1366 x 768

Display Resolution Maximum – 720 pixels

Wireless Connectivity – (Wi-fi) – Yes

Sound output – 15W

DTV Tuner – ATSC/Clear QAM

This was a little better than the car episode. Since I very much wanted my mother to have the best one, I was seriously discussing with the salesman on the salient features and comparisons with other brands.

Suddenly my mother was tugging at my shirt and pointed out to a TV and told me that she liked that. I asked her the reason. She said that the serial Saravanan & Meenatchi which was playing in that TV was excellent. That settled it. The randomness.

I can go on adding many things like cell phones, medicines, foods etc. All these products fool and fuddle you with unnecessary information which you just cannot understand. It is called information overdrive. We all have to live with what we have created.

Finally, I am coming to the crux of the matter. One day my wife asked me as to how I chose her. She asked me tauntingly, whether I had drawn the fullest metrics of her and also of other girls specifying colour, height, weight, number of broken teeth, angle between the eye balls, BMI etc

How could I tell her that there were no dating apps then? All I did was to obey my mother, who with uncanny ability of a typical hawk, told me to tie the knot on her?

Randomness? You bet.

God bless you all,

Ramanis (C/2)

MACHOS VS MIOS

                                                MACHOS VS MIAOS

Me: Hey, Chachlu, long time no see. What Happened to you?

Chachlu: I went on a holiday to Goa with school friends and we had a whale of a time. I wanted to stay there for more. But mummy, as usual said that I must return to finish my holiday homework.

Me: How is everything in your colony?

Chachlu: As usual fighting, fighting, and more fighting.

Me: What happened?

Chachlu: It is Swartznegger Machos versus Popeye Miaos.

Me: what do you mean?

Chachlu: The Arnolds want macho machines to run. But Popeyes think that by eating spinach one can become strong.

Me: Don’t be joking.

Chachlu: you see Thatha; Gymwallas want the Gym for work out. But Popeyes say, it pinches them to run it.

Me: I am really more confounded than confused? What is the problem of using Gym? After all it is to make one healthy. All the developers build Gym, theatre, Swimming pool, shuttle courts and so on, so that we all can enjoy them.

Chachlu: Your are very correct. They do it so that the apartments are sold. They don’t care about whether they are maintained or not.

Me: You see, if you run it properly, there should be no problem

Chachlu: It is not a question of proper running but a question of affordability.

Me: How come:

Chachlu: For example, the running cost of a Gym consists of the electricity charges for running the air-conditioners, tread mills, and also for maintaining them.

Me: How much?

Chachlu: Our Gym contains 3 air-conditioners and two tread mills. On an average, it is operated for a total of about 6 hours per day. It is run for about 300 days in a year. On an average about 20 people use it in a year.

Me: So, what is the problem? It is good that it is drawing people throughout the year.

Chachlu: At today’s power rate, it comes to about Rs one lakhs per year. Added to this is the annual maintenance cost. The total cost will be about Rs 1.50 lakhs per annum..

Me: That is quite an amount.

Chachlu: With this money the Popeyes say they can buy water for one and half months for everybody.

Me: So, can’t an association afford it?

Chachlu: Certainly not. Most of us are living in a middle class colonies. We all collect a base rate of Rs 2 per square foot. This goes for maintaining the very basic necessities like security, housekeeping and electricity charges for lighting, lifts and pumping. In some colonies, they can’t afford any repairs even.

Me: What is the major expense?

 Chachlu: You know that in many places, metro water does not flow even with the pipe lines laid. So, they all have to buy water. For a colony having an average strength of about 120 families at any time, the money paid for buying water comes to about Rs One Lakh per month. In essence, the maintenance charges collected goes towards maintaining the essentials. I will say survivals. Rest are all luxuries.

Me: What is the remedy? Can’t you raise the maintenance charges?

Chachlu: For the pleasure of a few, do you want the entire colony to pay for it?

Me: Is there no way that the Gym can be run. After all people want an outlet?

Chachlu: Yes. Provided the built up area is large. Let me explain. It is affordable if a colony has atleast 5 Lakh square feet built up area. The money collected even at Rs 2 per square foot/month brings in Rs 10 lakhs to the kitty. This can take care of everything including a swimming pool. The breakeven built up area can be taken at about 3 Lakh square feet.

Me: What happens to the lower built up area colonies?

Chachlu: Consider that in a colony of built up area of about 1.50 Lakh square feet. At Rs 2/sq.ft per month, they would be collecting Rs 3 lakhs. This can just sustain the essentials of the colony assuming that no major expense crops up.

Me: Then what about the patronage of the gym?

Chachlu: if the gym patronage is just 50 numbers at any time in the year. Then each has to contribute about Rs 3,000 per annum. If it is 100 then it will come down to Rs 1,500 per year. In essence, if there is no financial patronage, you close it or allow it to die. No other option. Look at some of the gyms like Talwalkers or O2. To breakeven, they have to have at least 200 fellows at any time. The pity is, having paid a huge sum, many members have to wait long to get a chance to do the workouts even.

Me: One last question. What about the cinema theatre, which also contains ac’s, and projector equipments.

Chachlu: First of all, there are no moving parts in the equipments. Second, on an average it operates one day in a week and that too for about 3 hours. The overall annual cost with four air conditioners will be about a maximum of Rs 3,000 only. In the ultimate analysis the participants are the children and their families including thathas and pattis.

Me: Very good. So what picture is going to be shown in your colony?

Chachlu: Finding Nemo. Boring.

Me: When Patti used to bathe you in a tub, she gave you a plastic Nemo to play with. You will be squealing with joy every time it slides out of your tiny fingers.

Ramanis (C/2)

NATURAL FARMING

Dear all,

Permaculture is a system of social design principles centred on simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature.

This term originally denoted "permanent agriculture", but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture", as it was understood that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system.  

Permaculture has many branches that include but are not limited to ecological design, ecological engineering, environmental design, construction and integrated water resources management, regenerative and self-maintained habitat and agricultural systems modelled from natural ecosystems.  

However, let me confine to the Natural Farming philosophy inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka of Japan. His book “One Straw Revolution” published in 1978 was an eye opener to the agriculturists’ world over. This philosophy propounded by Masanobu Fukuoka is a precursor to Permaculture concept.

My daughter, who runs an NGO for organic farmers, gave me this book two years back. It is among the many she gave regarding earth, sea, and air. All these gave me immense pleasure to read and realise how little I know of nature.

To cite an example, the book “Sea around us” by Rachel Carson gave me a glimpse of ecology of the sea, including the fact about the powerful tides below the Atlantic, which move 100 billion tonnes of water daily in Bay of Fundy in Canada.

I also understood that everything created or even destroyed on land, air and water, ultimately ends up in the sea.  Her book “Silent Spring” forced US government to ban DDT.

Please read the attachment on the revolutionary principles of Masanobu Fukuoka which sadly could not be universalised.

God bless you all.

Ramanis (C/2)

Sense of Belonging

Dear All, 

I have been seriously thinking for quite some time as to why people behave as they do and if so, can they be changed? What is the reward for them?

Everyone knows that humans are social animals, always like to be in a group. However, of late it is found that this is breaking down. Here again, does every human being want to be like a hermit without depending on anybody for anything. Is it possible?

On the other hand what is the reward if one belongs to a group or a community whatever be the denomination? I am giving below my attempt to understand this phenomenon.

God bless you all.

Ramanis (C/2)

NOTE: Someone advised me not to send anything as attachment. It is a disruption and so people never read them. Well, that has given me a new dimension in communicating.

It is very interesting to observe the following groups of people in a residential colony:

• Who totally dedicate themselves for the welfare of the colony.
• People who are executive members of the colony’s association acting constantly.
• People who rise like phoenix to solve any major crisis and then disappear.
• People who are bystanders but silently obey whatever the situation demands.
• People who are whiners and squealers, who constantly moan for any and every reason.
• People who are politicians and disruptors who want their agenda to be fulfilled.

Whether one is an owner or a resident, they all fall into one of the above categories. But why is it that people behave like what they do?

Well, it is all a question of “Sense of Belonging”. One of the many things that are common to humans across cultures is the need to belong and be accepted by others. This is one of the reasons people seek to spend time bonding with the family, friends, hobby-buddies, sports, or any religious congregation.

The question then arises: “do we really need a sense of belonging? The answer is a resounding yes. Because it helps one to survive. From evolutionary point of view, it all started with “hunting together”. The ultimate Reward is “Being needed gives meaning to life”.

The question is how to promote this Sense of Belonging when disparate people who have given away most of their earnings to the builder and the banks, and have come to live with hope in their hearts and dream in their eyes. Is it left to a few or is everyone responsible?

To start with, let us consider those who take the initiative to do any work. They do so, not because they are stupid but because they understand the concept of responsibility. Is it possible for everyone? There can be thousands of excuses not to. However, it is left to one’s own way of commitment.

One has to go to a Langar (kitchen) in any Gurudwara. The highest sense of dignity of labour is displayed there. The first tenet is to be humble and do any work voluntarily. This covers probably the above first three categories for a residential colony.

Everyone knows that, when people elect even a Panchayat president, a big shutter falls down.  Once they assume office, the public have to simply obey them. Otherwise they are severely punished.

This is not so in a residential colony. Fundamentally, it must be remembered that every executive member is equal in status like everyone. Furthermore, they are not full time employees. They have their own personal commitments. They have come forward and offered themselves to serve the community. Having assumed the onerous task, they realise that, more than the internal squabbles, they have to deal with external threats from every corner including the builder.

Most of the residents fall into the fourth category. They are the silent majority. They are what is called the middle class. They can neither rise above nor stoop low.

It is better not to talk about the last two categories, since it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Suffice to say that they have never assumed any responsibility on any common cause in their lives.

For an infant colony, the problems are mostly deep and unexpected. It takes sometimes a few years to solve. During this period - patience, forbearance, empathy and most of all togetherness will play a large part in coalescing everyone.

As mentioned above, the rewards are immense if one inculcates a “Sense of Belonging”, whether one is an owner or a resident.

Assuming an average 100 families are there at any time and suppose they spend an hour for the welfare of the colony. This will come to 100 hours. Let’s further assume that they can spend it during the weekends only. This will amount to each family spending more or less an hour in a year. Is it a tall order? They can do whatever they would like to do in a positive way. All it takes is a leap of faith and conviction.

I earnestly request every one of us to join me in offering our little, like the legendary squirrel in Ramayana, by carrying bits of sand to build the bridge to an Utopia.