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Poems

What is Happening to Us, America?

What is happening to us, America?

Unable to listen, screaming at each others’ throat

Quick to affirm our rights, in a shouting match of sound bites

Denying the right of others, are we growing intolerant of the other

Who appears foreign, forgetting that this land we call home

Is a gift to all, to the peasant off the boat generations ago

To the immigrant of tomorrow disembarking of a Boeing plane

None owning her, a gift to the freedom seeker

In search of justice, equality, and opportunity.

Birthers of those who landed on her a long time ago

Why can’t they care for the new in rememberance of the old

The toil and persecution, the hunger and oppression they fled

That which is evident in the torment of of waterless eyes

Lifeless skin, barely hiding the bone – crushed by the weight of pain

Of the novice eager to belong and take a bite of burger

Founding a new and promised destiny to the next generation may be.

Why don’t we awake in awe of the privilege

That which our forefathers died for in order for us to bask

In the entitlement fight of the land.

Let us remember and celebrate, the gift of care and nurture

That this land gave to the slaves and slave masters alike

To the protestant and hungry, fleeing the oppression of bigotry

To the Holocaust survivor that found a safe home

The political refugee who found respite from having to look over his shoulder

To the woman made to live in a subhuman and subservient order

Coming home to a land, where her fight for civil rights

Would awaken a peoples’ conscious, mobilizing a nation.

Imperfect she may be, but malleable always

Willing to be shaped, by the blood and tears

Of those who choose to partake in the arching of her destiny

Towards a beacon of hope and a promise land for the free.

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Fulcrum of Love

At the fulcrum, hangs the balance between I and we

Defining the equilibrium of love and belonging.

Does she worry about asserting of her right

Or her happiness, her body, or her income

All used to define the essence of an independent woman

Does he care just about his needs

Gratification of self, stroking of ego

Being the center of attention, effusion of machismo.

In the celebrated self reliance gained, at the expense

Of the lost interdependence of nurture

The feeding of care and compassion for the other

His hunger hers, her pain and joy always his

The lever tilting at the fulcrum towards me and I

Away from we, dissolving the bridge

Destroying love and care, exchanging  caress for self.

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A Golden Glory

They claim thousands of years of glory

A civilization unlike any other

The foundation of humanity and being

Philosophy, architecture, art and history

But, where is civilization now

In a population, tied down to the barrel of a gun

Where is the glory now

In the millions of people suffering everyday

Poor, sick, illiterate, and hungry

Where are the marvels of architecture

In the home-less, destitute and lonely

For all the claims of ancestry to the glorious generation

Of vast wisdom, anarchy besets in the land

Steeped in the thousands of years of history

Where the force of military is used to silence the mass

To kill the innocent, to spread hateful ideology

Where is the golden glory of humanity

In the suffering of mothers and baby

Raped to death by the merciless children no less

Turned into killing machines fueled by

Guns and dope delivered for a profit that builds

An oasis of life nurturing and plenty

To children of arms dealer, the corrupt politician

And the drug lord, squeezing humanity out of the land.

In all the despair and imperfection there lies and example

A union of many bound together by a common destiny

Of immigrants: European, African, Asian, and Latino

From east to west north and south

Black, white, red, and brown; together as one

Protected by rule of law with unalienable rights

With a military standing guard of a nation

By the people, for the people, and of some people

A proud institution of protection and defense

With a might of destruction unparalleled

A testament to the perfect balance of power

Between professionalism and passion of voices

Striving to affirm their right; yearning to be heard.

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Ill

Feeling ill, dysfunctional and sick

Lack of interest reaching the peak

Like a fruit wasting away; nearing harvest pick

Uncovered by fashion, which normally sleak

Hiding the rote, masking the stink

Frustration, disgust, and hate; piled like a rick

All matters of cure, unable to break

The vicious cycle, stuck in a wreck

Soul dripping away, essences of being leak

Left a flying zombie, fur seals in Raikoke.

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Flying Thoughts

Like a bird in the sky

With wings spread out to fly

My thoughts sit above clouds

Textured and smooth, fluffy and light

Separating earthly life from heavens

Entrapped in a thin can

With a comfort of air conditioned home

Bound to a seat, in a moment of liberation.

Oh! The cruelty of creation

Delivering Adam and Eve to a land

Dry and sea forever tethered

To the ground incapable of flight

Forever looking up, pleading to heavens

Above, as if living and world that is flat

But, to the omni present blanket clothing the planet

All around the globe, a tapestry of clouds and dreams

Telegraphed upward in seeking and servitude sent.

There, on the planet live, with the vastness of ego

Paralleling the grandiosity of universe beyond

Left to fight for resources finite

In a mission of self-destruction.

Up here, thousands of feet in the sky

There are no gun shots, screams and disorder

All beings and thing aligned in one purpose

Driven journey, anxious to arrive at a destination

Clouds and dreams outside, dispersing in agreement

As if eager, to let go of unwelcomed guest

To the marching forward of the can

Pacing to return, in obedience of creation.

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Hourglass

Speckles of sand flow

From one side to the other

In obedience to gravity

Marking the timeless evolution of time

In symbolism of a body figure sculpted at the waist

Into a proportion of man-made beauty.

The narrowness of the neck dictates

The flow of time in the hourglass

Separating the present from the past

Or is it a testimony to the depravity of delight

In the fullness of body and waist

Manifest in the religiosity of diet.

The bifrication of of purpose distinctly evident

While the diameter of the neck serves

To mark the passage of time infinite

That of the inward pulled and strapped

Serves only to please a fleeting standard

In vanity, of beauty and perfection misplaced.

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Rollercoaster

The ups and downs rendered in formation

Like a marching band befitting of a dawn

The oneness of rhythms and the imbalance of movement

Up and jumpy, happy and limitless at once

Down and thumping, deafening and hardened in instant.

Where is the sigh when it is sought

Where is the melody when one dances

Fickle it is flowing between fingertips

Tangible in the wetness of skin left behind

But, echoless chamber filled with screams.

Where is the engine that could

Pumping more vivacious spirit than just blood

Without fail, day in day out without effort.

Why is humanity the combined sum of parts

Of limbs farflung and lungs charcoaled by smoke

Of flesh weak and enslaved of craving and addition

Of brain and heart like a hardened brick, fearing and knocking

All that is foreign, destroying the other and losing

Self with every chipped corner of fortitude and empathy.

Parallel Universes

They ask why; why are you not jovial?

Alone, pensive, and distant

They ask why; why are you so banal?

Small, shallow, and trite

Their wills live on parallel universes

Governed by rules disparate and diverging

Unbeknownst to them the gulf widens

Like the parting of the sea, only to come

Together at last up on the awakening

On the emotional journey bridging the divide

The essence of completion in the co-joining

Of the complementary universes; through time warps.

On the Release of “Torture Memos”

On a fundamental level, the action of Obama’s administration in releasing memos authored by Department of Justice officials to give legal backing to the “enhanced interrogation tactics” that were applied in the post 9-11 era of the Bush administration is a testament of the enduring strength of the rule of law. It also demonstrates the decency and malleability of our country’s system of governance, as it relates to the ability to self-correct the trajectory towards perfection and bringing transparency to bear in the behind-the -scene government dealings – sometimes delayed, but almost always without fail.

While this action has been lauded by some as courageous act by President Obama, some have expressed anger and disblief about it. These people who opposed the making public of these documents, most of whom are members of the previous adminstration, make the point that these techniques have been instrumental in acquiring valuable information about potential treats posed against the U.S. and her allies. It is difficult to prove the negative. It may be true that the actions taken by the Bush admistration were partly responsible for preventing further attacks. What is clear, however, is that the methods of interogation constitute of torture, which U.S. and international law prohibit. The legalistic parsing of the meaning of pain and suffering and what constitutes of a long-term consequence can not hide the fact that individuals were made to undergo through the type of robust interogation, which resulted in not only the potential harm to the individuals, but also to fatalities in some occasions. Hence, the defense of these memos and the actions ensued based the neutering of the definition of what torture is at best weak and untenable.

The other argument that is posed in defense of the actions taken during those “enhanced interogations” is that in disclosing the information about the type of techniques utilized, the U.S. government is essentially broadcasting to the terrorists as to what to prepare for in the condition that they are captured. This arguement is fundamentally flawed in that President Obama has already ordered, as part of one of the first executive orders he signed, for these methods not to be used from here on out, the reasoning of which was clearly articulated in the president’s inauguration speech:

“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’ sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”

Hence, we are evidently in a new era where the inspiration of the ideals that helped found and sustain our country are to be a shining beacons and legal means are to be utilized to hinder others from doing us harm. So, it makes little sense to argue against the release of the memos by stating that we are communicating valuable information to our enemies. An excerpt from President Obama’s statement on the release of the memos:

“While I believe strongly in transparency and accountability, I also believe that in a dangerous world, the United States must sometimes carry out intelligence operations and protect information that is classified for purposes of national security. I have already fought for that principle in court and will do so again in the future. However, after consulting with the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and others, I believe that exceptional circumstances surround these memos and require their release.

First, the interrogation techniques described in these memos have already been widely reported. Second, the previous Administration publicly acknowledged portions of the program – and some of the practices – associated with these memos. Third, I have already ended the techniques described in the memos through an Executive Order. Therefore, withholding these memos would only serve to deny facts that have been in the public domain for some time. This could contribute to an inaccurate accounting of the past, and fuel erroneous and inflammatory assumptions about actions taken by the United States.”

And there are those, while they are appreciative of President Obama’s decision to make the memos public, who think that this action is only half-measure and demand that those who instituted the interogations should be brought to justice. I find this to be a reflexive reaction. A significant amount is not known about how these interrogation regimes came about. All we know is what is contained within the memos. The time calls for a meditative reflection on what happened and move with caution and deliberation. It does not appear that the government is ruling out any action except for absolving those who acted in good faith to implement these techniques per the order provided to them from being persecuted. The logic applied by the administration in explaining the reason for pursuing this avenue is explained by the following execert:

“In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution. The men and women of our intelligence community serve courageously on the front lines of a dangerous world. Their accomplishments are unsung and their names unknown, but because of their sacrifices, every single American is safer. We must protect their identities as vigilantly as they protect our security, and we must provide them with the confidence that they can do their jobs.”

Indeed, those who partook in the institution of the interrogation techniques are helpless individuals who are consigned to the order of their superior. The ones responsible for this act are those in the higher level of government who sought to apply these methods to some end, no matter how justifiable they think their actions may be. It is unclear whether they did so with the clear intention of breaking laws as they are applied to torture. It is, yet, a remarkable depiction of President Obama’s temperament and judgment not to go down the avenue of crimination given the more than likely chance of the process being highly politicized and distracting the nation from the important task of fighting through the great difficulties facing us. An valuable excerpt from his statement is:

“This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions that these issues evoke. We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past. Our national greatness is embedded in America’s ability to right its course in concert with our core values, and to move forward with confidence. That is why we must resist the forces that divide us, and instead come together on behalf of our common future.

The United States is a nation of laws. My Administration will always act in accordance with those laws, and with an unshakeable commitment to our ideals. That is why we have released these memos, and that is why we have taken steps to ensure that the actions described within them never take place again.

In a nutshell, Andrew Sullivan has the right perspective on this issue. He presents a thorough assessment of the significance of these memos and the actions that they brought about and importance of releasing of these memos at this point in time.

Wishful Vision

I saw you, wished you into reality

A vision of perfection, epitomized

By the grace of movement, dancing

By the lucidity of feeling, sympathetic

By the curing of words, uplifting

By the electrifying touch, erogenic

By the insense of breath, soothing

By the sound of laughter, euphoric

You are not a dream, you are here

A wishful vision realized, heeded

By living in reality and seeing

Beyond imperfection, the lovesick heart.

Confidence

It’s the kind of thing that’s intangible, untouchable

Indescribable, but to a calmed nerve or senses

Vivid and there, in a state of panic or desperation

In times of gain or pain, simply cruising

In autopilot, floating upstream undeterred

The feeling of empowerment with the knowledge

Of a likely failure not being a life sentence

Of doom and gloom, pain and despair.

It is the certainty in waving the sun goodbye

With the knowledge it shall rise yet again

Delayed by a night or a season, but it rises nonetheless.

It is what it takes to step into a river not knowing

How deep the bottom lies and how little breath is left

After a breathtaking realization that today

Is better than tomorrow and yesterday

And tomorrow better than yesterday, because of today

It is what it takes to live and let live with courage

Conviction and comfort in the unknown

Allowing to be tested by the depth of peace and fortitude.

War on Terror >> Overseas Contingency Operation

Much has been said and made about the the leaked memo directed to Pentagon staff, in which an official from the defense department’s office of security review noted that “this administration prefers to avoid using the term ‘Long War’ or ‘Global War on Terror’ [GWOT]. Please use ‘Overseas Contingency Operation.” As pragmatism goes, I find this approach to be telling of the approach the Obama administration is taking in redefining the goals of the Afghan engagement in particular and defeating terrorist elements at large. In the face of little structural foundation for establishment of western democratic system of governance and the rampant corruption and little resource available for “nation-building,” the administration is keen in narrowing the scope of ambition in this already more than seven-year old war. The mission has been re-defined to “disrupt, dismantle, and defeat” al Qaeda and destroy its safe haven in the region. The specificity of this goal is what allows the administration to put in place concrete measures to assess progress towards the eventual extrication of the U.S. from this conflict. The renaming of the “global war on terror” is in line with this purpose. Much like the ineffectual declarations of war on drugs, crime, cancer, and others malices that pose a threat to humanity, which have rendered the nation with vacuous and diffused effort and sloganeering with the appearance of stalemate even in the face of progress, the phraseology of a global war on terror has done little in isolating the enemies we wish to defeat and advancing the goals of eliminating the influence they exert on free people in every corner of the world.

Our conception of war is largely defined by the gigantic conflicts of decades, and generations, past which involved the marshaling of resources against an enemy with a well-defined territorial location and where winning meant conquering of a land and liberation of a nation. Terrorism is a different animal all together. The battle is waged in the minds of innocent individuals. One can not marshal resources and armies against the brainwashing and propaganda, the dissemination of which has been made easy with the pervasive nature of communication apparatus in the current age, that pollutes the young in the most desperate and disparate corners of the world. Moreover, the declaration of war against these small and increasingly fragmented entities elevates them to the level of parity worthy of partaking in a battle against nations as powerful as ours. It provides these entities legitimacy and power, which they should be denied if they are to be made irrelevant and defeated. That is where the Obama administration has excelled. Its efforts against those who did us harm and continue to plot for further harm are defined. The focus is guided by the undertaking of operations, covert or otherwise, to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat these elements.

On a parallel track, President Obama has made increasingly warm and overt reach to the people of nations that harbor extremest elements by appealing to our common humanity and shared history of their country and the rest of the world. This charm offensive, as some have called it, is as effective and targeted as the approach discussed above. While the the de-legitimization of their cause relegates the extremists to state of disgruntled and fragmented bands that are not worthy of war-like engagement against the most powerful nation in the world and its allies, the charm offensive isolates them further from the population that harbors them. In the long run, the efficacy of the administration’s effort in making us safe and ensuring peace and stability in the world will strongly depend in its ability to isolate and destroy the elements that wish to us harm and deny them the platform for propagandist exploitation of their futile effort as an epic war against the west. It appears to me, based on the effort that is put in place in just a couple of months into his administration while actively engaged in averting an economic disaster of historic proportion, President Obama is well on his way in accomplishing this goal.

Money: the “Common Whore of Mankind”

As definitions go, this one caught my attention while reading Hitchen’s essay, The Revenge of Karl Marx. I found the essay to be unsatisfying in terms of addressing the essence of the promise (What the author of Das Kapital reveals about the current economic crisis) in spite of the numerous touchstones of historical anecdotes about and philosophical inspirations for capitalism vis-a-vis socialist-order. To be certain, the article makes an unashamed case for the deterministic superiority of capitalism in organizing resources and decisions while settling for the mockery of ideas pushed by Karl Marx. Revealing excerpts are shown below:

Not all of these ironies are at capitalism’s expense, or at least not in a way that can bring any smirk, however wintry, to the grizzled features of the old leftist. (After all, who was predicting even 30 years ago that Russia and China would today be turbocharged capitalist systems, however discrepant in type? And the present crisis was actually triggered by a “subprime” attempt to transform low-income people into property owners, albeit indebted ones …)

Whether one adopts a moralistic or an analytic approach, there is scant doubt that capitalism continues to outmaneuver all attempts by wage earners to shift the odds in favor of shorter hours and more pay. In the story of the class struggle, it’s invariably a case of one step forward and two steps back…”

The main deficiency of the essay, in my opinion, is that it distills the cause of the current economic crisis to the “a “subprime” attempt to transform low-income people into property owners, albeit indebted ones…” with no mention of the imperfection of the capitalist order as it is practiced in the current age. It ignores the fact that the capacity for capitalism to “decide, if not on the value of a commodity, at least on some sort of price for the damn thing” is predicated up on the confluences of selling and buying interests powered by transparent flow of information about the commodity in consideration. In an environment where the few practice the fixing of price based on privileged access to information or influence while taking risks of enormous proportions and posing systemic risk to the health and very nature of global economy, the “subprime” attempt at helping the poor is a scapegoat, not the true culprit. No matter how overzealous the poor may be at transforming themselves in to property-owners or policy makers for advocating for such a cause, which by itself is not atypical of human characteristics, it is the imprudent practice of the property owner or the intermediary to push for selling of a property that is clearly not afforded. After all, the distribution of risk with the assumption of stability in the collective interconnectedness of these shady dealings and the likely scenario that not all of them will fall apart at once (unless of course prices, in a true capitalist fashion, decide to obey the the laws of supply and demand), is not a free lunch. All the risks taken and pushed into commoditized securities, will soon catch up to the objective reality of the ground and the principles of capitalism, as we are painfully experiencing now.

Muscular Presidency

To the attentive observer of the trajectory President Obama’s political career has taken from having to be relegated to the back of a march, just in front of the garbage collectors (as he described it) and denied entry to the democratic convention, no less, to being the president of these United States, this article will not come as a surprise. He has been sending the right signals in what he intends to do with the power bestowed on him by the voters. During the primaries, granted that there may have been a political reason for undermining the significance of the Clinton brand, it might have actually been a true reflection of his inner conviction when he stated that Reagen was one of the most transformational presidents in recent past. He was also eager to point out at many times that running for presidency was not a symbolic exercise for him. He actually intended to win and govern.

So, having come to this point with the the proper measure of reflection about the institution of the presidency and the powers of the executive branch, it does not surprise me that he and his close advisers are invested in strategizing and charting a course for a maximally effectual presidency – or a muscular presidency as described in the U.S. News article. To that effect, his choice of Rahm Emanuel, as it has been recounted at numerous times and places, has a distinct significance. Given his legislative, political, and policy making experience, the learning curve for getting a young presidency off to a great start in the capacity of a chief orchestrator of the administration’s actions has surely been minimal. Indeed, the fruits of such a strategy have already been realized in the passage of significant legislations and the reversing of prior order. The seeds for the implementation of other priorities have also been sown by focusing incessantly about the immediate term resolution of economic crisis and the laying down of long term foundational building blocks for strengthening the economic backbone of the society. So, I say it should not come as a surprise that Rahm Emanuel holds weekly meetings with the inner circle to map out the action plans for the upcoming weeks and months. I can imagine the president himself kicking ideas back and forth with his closet advisers on a regular basis… As he has admitted, he cares very little about shoveling papers through government bureaucracy. He is more of an idea person, and there surely have not been that many presidents who were dealt with this type of historic privilege for shaping the destiny of a nation and a people. I am certain, he, more than anyone else, can sense the fierce urgency of now – with the daunting challenges and generational opportunities it presents.

Finally

Finally, a wish granted, freedom from servitude

To the looks and homogeneous conformity

For pretend belonging, a steep price paid

Denying a creation’s print, subject to humility

The DNA from within, a fingerprint of outer manifest

The risen self inside, proclaiming confidence and bold

Dead of socialite-solitude, a free spirit born again, finally.

Oh Please!

Oh please, stop dreaming that you are a superman

Able to fly and blessedly succeed, unbounded by gravity’s prison

You’re only human, made of flesh dying by the day and imbalance

Of emotion, conflict, imperfection, happiness, and annoyance

Seeking nurturing like a plant needing water and nutrients

Constant attention duly paid or accidental, to rise above others.

Stop day-dreaming now, or a rude awakening awaits

After a life long-lived in numbers, short-lived in experience

Of the thrill of a reward of a hard-earned fruit

Of loins may be; but sweat and tears too

Ploughing the ground and tilling the sand

Until the day of reckoning arrives to lend

A perspective never had, a glancing into the Truth

That you’re only human destined to a life of hard-work and reward.

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On Being Relentlessly Resourceful

Paul Graph has an instructive essay about what it takes to be a good startup founder. He is advice is “Be Relentlessly Resourceful.”

Be relentlessly resourceful.

That sounds right, but is it simply a description of how to be successful in general? I don’t think so. This isn’t the recipe for success in writing or painting, for example. In that kind of work the recipe is more to be actively curious. Resourceful implies the obstacles are external, which they generally are in startups. But in writing and painting they’re mostly internal; the obstacle is your own obtuseness.

There probably are other fields where “relentlessly resourceful” is the recipe for success. But though other fields may share it, I think this is the best short description we’ll find of what makes a good startup founder. I doubt it could be made more precise…”

This strikes me as being a good way to look at a recipe for success not just as a startup founder, but also in any avenue of interaction where one party offers a service that is consumed by another – specifically in the new age of information explosion and super-expansion of Null Information.

We have recently looked at this issue from the perspective of publishing, in which it was argued that the interdependence between a blogger or any other generator of synthesis of information and a reader and follower is one that is symbiotically sustained and strengthened by the exchange of the pleasure of intellectual stimulation, on the creator’s part, with the source of inspiration for further creative engagement, on the part of the consumers. The creator accomplishes the ability to attract a certain level of interest from the audience by being resourceful. The good ones, you might say, are proportionally more relentlessly resourceful than others.

I think that this concept can be expanded to any avenue of creativity and business where the chances of success are directly tied to the ability of the creator or business person to offer the type of service or good that is relevant and useful to the consumer. In succeeding at being resourceful, there is an inherent accomplishment in figuring out what the needs are of the the consumer of information, service, or good. That level of understanding is the catalyst for a successful venture, to which a startup is just one of the many examples. Endowed with the keen awareness of what ticks a consumer, a properly tailored offering can be made. The genius in the phraseology Paul Graham has come up with is in the marriage of that understanding in being resourceful and the drive it takes to succeed, as in being relentless.

Why David Brooks Is Wrong

Of late, David Brooks, columnist at The New York Times and one of “The Liberal Media’s Conservatives,” has taken to pushing the idea that President Obama and his administration are stretched too thin in attempting to do too many things at once. His recent column was filled with sentiments that can be summed up in the following sentence: “But the Obama budget is more than just the sum of its parts. There is, entailed in it, a promiscuous unwillingness to set priorities and accept trade-offs. There is evidence of a party swept up in its own revolutionary fervor — caught up in the self-flattering belief that history has called upon it to solve all problems at once.” Here is another excerpt from The Conversation:

As for what policies I’d drop from the to-do list because of the crisis, at this point I’d have to say all of them… I think this economic crisis could be like nothing we’ve seen in our lifetimes. Big-name economists are talking seriously about another depression.

In that context, I don’t think we can do anything but fixate on this. That is, I think the president should spend 50 percent of his time on the banking crisis, 25 percent of his time on getting our allies to coordinate with a global stimulus package and 25 percent of his time beginning work on a second round of stimulus. He’s taking his eye off the ball if he spends hours every day working on health care, education and energy. Worse, he adds uncertainty into the market.

This is despite the enormous level of attention the president and people around him have been giving to the economic crisis even before they took office. Obama’s own senior advisers, as presented in another Brooks column, I think do a good job in countering his arguments.

The best way that I think to counter Brooks’s obsession about focusing on the short-term alleviation of the economic stress without the long-term thinking about how the post-economic-crisis economic and budgetary foundation can be laid down is to quote a portion of President Obama’s inauguration speech:

The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.

We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. [...]

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply….”

I can’t resist the temptation to also superimpose the rude awakening Brooks is experiencing about the political leanings of the president, as described in his recent column, with, yet again, President Obama’s own words.

Those of us who consider ourselves moderates — moderate-conservative, in my case — are forced to confront the reality that Barack Obama is not who we thought he was. His words are responsible; his character is inspiring. But his actions betray a transformational liberalism that should put every centrist on notice.

Here is President Obama talking about the American Promise in his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention:

…What is that promise?

It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It’s a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves – protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who’s willing to work.

That’s the promise of America – the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.

That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now…”

It is no secret that the president is a strong believer in the robust role the government can and should play in providing an equitable opportunity to all. If such an approach is “trasnsformational liberalism,” then I think David Brooks and others are in for a bumpy and unpleasant ride of their lifetimes delegated to spectatory role as they witness a nation being transformed into a more perfect union.

Rest

Rest is after a late morning sleep

A cuddling of warmth shared between

Lovers, asleep in the sunlight streaming

Forgetful of the frozen tundra across the walls

Shackling and shaking the trees, lifeless and bony

Dried of steam, greenness, and leaves

Left standing are the branches that once

Carried life, bread, and oxygen to the masses

The soothing sound of an afternoon radio

Flowing over the swooshing of the winds

Colliding against the wall, in a battle of dominance

Fiercely fought within a short distance

Of the two beings, restfully lying across

Each other, contented in each others sight

Happy to just be there, for him and her

There is no thirst here no hunger

Nor depravity of sleep, or peace

Contented to just be, being with each others

Company, disconnected from the harshness of the outside

World of hassle and bustle, wait and hurry

They are resting with each other, happily

Eyes popping out in confidence after a full

Night of sleep undisturbed, except for willing

Interruption sought for willfuly submitted to

Ears hearing every crisp of a sound

Of winds trees, radio, and breath

Rest is when the obliviousness to the world

Outside is met with the contentment from within

In spite of the passing of time, not alone

Blessedly together in company of a loved one.

.

She Is

She is like a fall morning sun breaking

The dark night sky, suddenly springing

Hope, like a fountain, endlessly bleeding love

In sickness or health, a gentle dove

Selflessly, tenderly flying, carrying us

To forever land, tirelessly and joyous.

.

Living Chaos

Melodic fragments, discordantly dissonant

Cacophony of instruments, boom and bust

A maestro-less orchestra, as if a disheveled fat

Flapping off the body, off a skin unkempt

Disharmoniously dashing on a collision tract

Jarring to the sense, inducing asymmetric heartbeat

Foolish and confused flesh, rendered insolvent

Letting go of the clutch of a lover’s hand

Causing, shards of porcelain cylinder scattered

About the floor and objects in between, ashes of head

Limbs, worries, laughter, and pain; cremated

Consumed by fire like a California desert

Fueled by wind, gushing with lust and thirst

Exploding out, to eat lives frozen in freight

Into a night sky crowded by galaxies

Stars, nebulae, dust, satellites, and clouds

Ashes escaping the confines of the home

Unshackling the dreams, the short-lived lamb

Sacrificed for accounting of heartbeats and breath

Monotonously consumed, without the experience

Of being a part of bigger than self, foreign

To the moments that take a breath away

In a family with love; touch, feeling, and belonging

Escapes, the confines of the walls of a protectorate

Of earthly existence characterized by delight and disappointment

Joining the ranks of the randomness spread, disordered

Across the vastness of bodies and space

Racing to consume, process, and excrete; living chaos.

.

A Spirit of Self Reliance

They call it a spirit of self-reliance

Excusing a futile existence in a trance

For profit and alone, selling unpaid attention

To a worldly and gothic, discombobulating distraction

Not realizing that the self is indeed reliant

On the interdependence of a family and friend

Sense of bonding long-survived, delivered

Via a mother to a new being in a child

Through the tethering of an umbilical cord

Extending blood, nourishment, and feed

Which despite being cut at the outset

Of an introduction to the doormat

At a brave new world awaiting

Amidst family, friends, and community

Remains timelessly connected in normality

Of generations passed, enshrined in nobility

Until society preaches, willfully forgetting

What’s always been, the essence of its being

Teaching a teen to declare independence

And go it alone, severing ties

As a virtue of growth, a rite of passage

Towards adulthood – ignoring a society’s sage

That albeit the celebration of the individuality

We survive, together as one, in a shared destiny.

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How to Survive in a Machine World

The short answer is: avoid becoming a machine or being easily replaceable by one. The more blabbered explanation lies in the following statements.

• If the task you are currently working on can simply be mapped out onto a probability tree of actions and outcomes, then sooner than later you will find yourself being replaced by a capable machine.
• If you are occupied in your day to day endeavors detached for the human side of business and work, then you are slowly turning into a robot and will soon be replaced by one.
• If you are working on a task that can simply be accomplished by short-term training regiment of a novice, then you are at risk of being a victim of the economic downturn. In the condition that the economy rebounds back, you may still find yourself replaced by a cheaper alternative at a distant shore or a capable machine.
  

So, “what is the solution?” you may ask. I say it is differentiating oneself from a machine. This is simultaneously the responsibility of the individual and those charged with crafting educational policies. Machines are, or will soon be, good at discerning binary choices. They do not have instincts or gut feelings. Machines are not sociable and their interaction is perfunctory and lacks spontaneity. Humans have developed the skill of reading inferences and a keen ability to operate in the grey areas of our experience where there is no obvious black-vs-white contrast of choices. Machines also rarely think or invent. That is not to say that they will not gradually catch up to the capability of humans; it is the admission of the inherent difficult of transforming a set of instructions into a meaningful new insight. For all the predictions of artificial intelligence taking over the world, I believe there still will remain a need for skilled humans to rein over the world. The sooner we realize it and train ourselves for this eventuality, the less painful our collective experience will be in a machine world.

Able to Fly

It stunk with odor so foul

For a briefly lived effect

Of wind and gas, minuscule

In volume, but potent

In its diffusivity beyond

The culprit’s hole

As soon as, it’s allowed

Out in the open

Beginning as a hissing of a sound.

To unknowing eye

Its effect would belie

Such a small thing as a lie

Would be able to fly

From a humble beginning

At the mouth and tongue.

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Opposites

The sheer ferocity and tremble shook

The field as dews streaked down leaves

Stampeded in a fight between an elephant

In asymmetric warfare with and ant

One felt so big, one empowered

By strength of agility versus

Storming and overwhelming force

Lacking agility, the elephant

Took a step hoping to land on the ant

Sooner than when the foot

Landed on an empty land, the ant

Jumped aboard the legs and trunk

So small the sting, piercingly stung

Forcing the elephant to fly

Off the ground into the sky

To land back on the ground

Welcomed, as butterflies cheeringly flapped

Their wings up and down, side to side

Not to be outdone causing

The oceans to shake lose

The tsunamis across the continents

Flooding islands and streams.

.

Shall We Dance

Shall we dance to the rhythms of tango or salsa

Chifera or cha cha cha, boiling-beings and flowing bodies

With the music, souls unified in the feet sliding, in union across

The floor floating, hearts beating, pumping blood to extremities

With awakened senses and heightened sensations

Tingled, ticklish, ecstatic, and levitated in the feelings

Of the touch of the hands, legs, and warmth

Beating in resonance to the music, we dance

Together again, attracting as the poles of a magnet

Intertwined fields of happiness blissfully lost

In the music blended in essence

Ears now closed unhearing of the sounds

Of the rhythms rising and falling with the melodies

Only listening to the beating of the hearts

The warmth of the touch, the endearment of glance

Of eyes looking beyond the iris deep inside

Seeking refuge and belonging, for connection made

Until reality sets by the song’s end

Parting the flesh drained of fluid and renewing the mind.

.

On Beliefs and Freewill

At this point in the human experience, the existence of a super natural force that brought the universe into being is at best the likeliest conclusion, at least a convenient answer to the grand existential question, one arrives at. That is fundamentally due to the fact that no matter how definitive scientific insights may be in unearthing the secrets of creation, there remains an astounding lack of totality of knowledge. In the instance where a deep and fundamental knowledge is acquired or a giant leap taken, there still exist postulates and assumptions that make the knowledge more of an approximation of the absolute truth. In other instances, the fruits of scientific pursuits bring one asymptotically closer to the truth with the uncovering of yet another hidden question that is to remains unanswered; each time taking a step forward in the seemingly infinite cascade of discoveries.

The vastness of our ignorance about existence and the meaning of it lends itself to the belief in human constructs that attempt to make sense of and provide answers. Such human constructs have the simultaneous benefit of providing simple answers and also instituting order and interdependence within society. The manifestations of the good that comes out of believing are not just societal order and organization, but also personal. A recent report in Time magazine indicates “a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that faith may indeed bring us health. People who attend religious services do have a lower risk of dying in any one year than people who don’t attend. People who believe in a loving God fare better after a diagnosis of illness than people who believe in a punitive God. No less a killer than AIDS will back off at least a bit when it’s hit with a double-barreled blast of belief. “Even accounting for medications,” says Dr. Gail Ironson, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Miami who studies HIV and religious belief, “spirituality predicts for better disease control.” This outcome is not contrary to the nurturing that is gained from a close familial upbringing or the sense of togetherness achieved through cultural, racial, or other related relationships. The evolution of the human kind into a social being reliant in the collective well-being of a group, I believe, has conditioned us to be needy of such interpersonal and inter-group connectedness. Moreover, the quest for answering the grand questions of existence can be an isolating and unsettling experience. The inherent incapability of the human mind to provide answers to all these questions renders one helpless and receptive to ease of faith-based explanations.

Faiths and religions have the unique ability of providing definitive answers, no matter how incomplete and unsatisfying they may be. They prescribe an absoluteness of knowledge about the absolute truth. They have the unique trait of inducing a calming effect in troubling times by the promise of a better life tomorrow or in the after life. They also have the ability to affirm the exaltation of present well-being by interpreting them as being manifestation of the unique and destined blessing of the few. Such combination of explanations to the highs and lows of the human experience make them powerfully appealing. In exchange, the believer is subjected to the necessity of unwavering allegiance to one pathway to salvation as a testament to the affirmation of faith. Any derailment from such path is met with the strong condemnation and warning of a lost reward for obedient behavior.

The model of interrelations between the creator and the follower is one of a master and slave, very much reminiscent of the societal organization that existed when the holy texts were brought onto the Earth and the people. Such construct is common to most religions, each of which aspiring to provide exclusionary answers and redemption through the belief in a particular creator and adherence to specific set of rules and guidelines. It is not, therefore, a stretch of imagination and explanation, to think that not all of these belief systems can truthfully co-exist in the same space. It is either that there is a multitude of manifestations of a creator each of which being uniquely appealing to select few, or a great many of these beliefs are misplaced in their target in the condition that there is just one creator. Since there is just one expansive form of existence and simplicity of organization rules over it, the belief that there are multiple creators or manifestations of one is rendered to be unnecessary. The likeliest conclusion one can arrive at is then, most religions as they are organized are human constructs that have been put in place to fill the void in understanding and satiate the aforementioned quest for answers.

With in the context of creation and existence, a defining issue that is usually raised and needs to be addressed is the question of morality. What are good and evil? How do we discern one from the other? The answers to these questions can simply be attained by the understanding of evolutionary interdependence of members of a group. Such co-existence of the individual and the group depends on the rewarding of behaviors that ensure long-term survival and condemnation of and punishment for those that bring about extinction. As such, reward-able behaviors are perpetuated over a long period of time resulting in the definition of what is “good,” and by necessary contrast what is “evil.” Such interpretation is complete in its analysis as long as the question of the source of creation is answered. On the contrary, one could invoke the existence of a creator and the transformation that occurs within the created upon the acceptance of a certain core principles of belief. This transformation could be one of altruistic inclination or due to the pursuit of self-interest in ultimate salvation resulting in benevolence towards other beings.

The irony is that the seeker of meaning for life and answers to existence are left to investing faith one way or another: The believer in the existence of a super-being invests faith in the doctrine being adhered to; the non-believer invests confidence in the ability of the human endeavor to continue to uncover the mysteries of existence and provide answers to the questions of existence. The vastness of the unknown in comparison to the individual leaves both approaches seeking comfort in intangible beliefs derived from either historic teachings or scientific pursuits. Therein lies the freewill; the distinct choice between two is left to the individual. Of course, one can also choose to believe in the existence of a super-natural being that is not confined by the constructs of human religions or the total birthing of existence out of nothing, however that may be accomplished.

Happily Ever After

Stretched on the summer day into the desert sand

The asphalt fizzling hot, steaming the life underground

Light and life float of the oasis wide and confined

Accentuating the feeling of thirst magnified

By the salty exchange of romance and sweat

Of the lovers burning of greenhouse effect

In their two-door lovebird with windows rolled

To the ground, receptive to the malice and joy of the world

Allowing the air and dust to quench the sweat.

Desolated was the space with no life in sight

Shrubs and sand joined in existence and as if obedient

To the winds swatting this way or that

Or to the love-birds, however expansive in flight

Their fondness and affection, unhinged by the heat.

Within the lovebird, a heavenly calm ascends with the steam of Earth’s crest

They look in the distance as the oasis shifts is position

A vacillating twin of love and hope, a propeller in deep ocean

Streaming forward, away from the isolation towards the horizon

Of lives flourishing and nurtured by exchanges of hormone

A life is created, completeness achieved – happily ever after

In the cuddling arms, joined hearts, and senseless ears

To the sand-storm gathering and racing to the oasis

Faster than the lovebird or the united dreams

Intent on tasting the floating beads of waters.

.

The Future of Publishing

Daniel Lyons, who runs, or used anyway, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, argues in a post at Newsweek that there is no money to be made in blogging and chronicles the ~ 2 years of engagement that he has invested before getting burned out and deciding to quit.

The whole article strikes me as a good example of a case where one misses the forest for the tree. I consider blogging to be a medium of communication and a platform for engagement in self-expressions. The value in the process or the final product is not the intrinsic revenue that may be drawn from the distracting ads buried inside the content. I do not think it is even the content of the pages where these expressions are being poured in. I believe it is in the connection that is established between the audience and the creator. It is the establishment of a two-way dependence of attention-giving; the dependence of the creator in the interaction with the audience to draw inspiration for further creative endeavors and the dependence of the audience on the creator to obtain the intellectual and artistic stimulation of self, and hence draw pleasure from the experience of viewing and reviewing contents of the pages. When this interdependence is successfully established it has a way of resulting in rewards, monetary or otherwise, for the creator.

I think there needs be a paradigm shift in the way monetization of content on the web is accomplished. All the current models rely on the expectation of and banking on the distraction of visitors of a given page by clicking through ads to generate revenue. I think the working model for the future is one of interdependence and loyalty that is established between a creator and an audience. If I am sold on the stimulation that I receive from a given blogger or author, the likelihood of I spending money to see him/her speak in person and buy a published content by him/her is high. In this sense, the future of paper and web publishing will find a way to complement one another and co-exist with out friction. I suspect that the ease with which information can be spread and low-cost publishing can be accomplished through the internet allows for it to be used as an enticing tool. I think a blogger or a web-based newspaper at large should focus more in becoming more relevant and almost indispensable. The one consequence of the explosion of Null Information is that there will always be a tremendous amount of value in the gathering, consolidation, and synthesis of information. The more effectively one accomplishes this task, i.e. the more valuable the content of a blog is, the more meaningful following it garners and the easier it will be to translate it in to a source of sustenance.

Created Equal

All men are created equal says the constitution

Telling a bald-faced ambition of astronomic proportion

Is the life of a child born at the Hamptons or Beverly hills

Equal to one birthed into ghettos, inner cities, or townships

Choiceless in arrival time or destination

Thrown into the worlds and opportunity apart by ocean.

No, they are not created equal no matter the ambition

Of a nation aspiring for perfection

In a shared destiny tethered by milk and blood

Ruthlessly on a new land, in defense and persecution spilled.

If the equality is the physical structure of a body

Magically constructed to the perfection of human envy

That is apparent in the nose, eyes, ears, tongue, and skin

Carried by all as a burden of creation

Still the pleasures of sight of beauty and tranquility

The smell of roses and the delight of tasty

Spices of life enjoyable to touch and feel

Of the soothing voices of order renewing the soul

Are experienced by the few privileged to sense

The world around with its awesome glories

Of joy and rejuvenation, renewal and peace

The equality is in the rights promised

By the creator to the masters bygone on enslaving land

And generations freed feeding on remnant freedom food.

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Lake Michigan, Chicago

The waves tickle evading one another

The light shimmers reflecting of faces

Of troughs and crest created in collision

On wind and water married at the surface

Submissively given to the random motion

Of the rise and fall of water molecules

Bound by forces of togetherness and gravity

Collectively free flowing every-which way.

The cars pass-by buzzing as a colony

Of bees in pursuit of the queen-bee

Or may be as the ants marching forward aimlessly

Albeit orderly movements north and south

Chasing after a presumed destiny along the lake-shore

Composed of impatience and entrapped souls

Of a life filed of discordant hurry and wait

Contrasted in the calming blue waters

Majestically stretched to the horizon out of sight.

Another world of existence lives

In the immediate vicinity, a parallel universe

Housed in inanimate objects tall

Reaching for the sky in competition

As the trees in a tropical rain-forest

Wishing to grab all the offerings of sun, air, and rain

Buried in to texts, wishing to contain

The wisdom of giants and surrounded by ghosts

Of the past framed in books, there live

Lifeless lives completely oblivious

To the lake and buzzing lives beneath.

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Is It Possible to Know

What is freedom to the free-living

Who never tested the depravity of feeling

In control of own destiny of mind and life

Absent the contrast of high and low

Is it possible to appreciate and know

The depth of rest in the rights guaranteed

Foreign to residents in a lawless land

Is it possible to know the value of free speech

To the tongue-less robbed of means for self-expressions

Is it possible to value the freedom of worship

As experienced to the voiceless trapped in godless state

Is the meaning of poverty known

To the free-living with limitless destiny

Living with the safety of provision and protection

In a dream home with a paid for life-plan.

Is liberty known to free-flying eagle

Soaring freely to skies higher and farther.

Is the beauty of smell of a rose known

To the bystander staring from afar

Without having to experience the piercings

Of the skin from the throne of the stems

On the way to the petals guarding the scents

Of heavenly smells of nature.

Well, the answers may be hidden

In the depths of human experience unknown

To me, it boils down to appreciating

Each breath taken with little recognition

Of the sustenance of life breathed in

Until that day when the nostrils are blocked

Of irritating and nauseous mucus and cold

Only that person knows the precious

Value of a breath an unobstructed and fresh

Having experienced a loss, with a new-found contrast.

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Uncertainty

Out in the distance of the horizon

Looms the profile of a cloud

Concatenated of parts fair and dark

All conspiring to block the rays of the sun

In their eight-minute journey to the planet

Distant in sight yet unwaveringly dependent

On the light proclaiming the arrival of a new day

Of water vapor or sand, uncertain to the gauzing eye

Until the thunderous explosion of a sound

Gives away the sign, clearing out the doubt in the sky

But, is it a cloud of a drizzling rain or hiding a cyclone

With ferocity of force unparalleled

Sweeping all the living hopes and dreams in the way

Destroying monuments erected in celebration

Of wimps and greats alike, in glorification of past

The unknowing hangs in the uncertainty

Buried in the belly of clouds distant.

Or, is it a pleasant bombardment of droplets

Of wetness longed for by the earth and skin cracked

Almost ready to swallow all beings in sight

Awaited by dying vegetation of thirst

Frizzling in the heat, unable to make use of nutrients

Dreamt by children anxious to run out and play

In the tingling feeling of a drizzle falling

On the faces unbeknown to suffering and drought.

Uncertainty clouds the clouds afar

Until they arrive and unleash the hidden

Pleasures or devastation soon to be here

Awaiting is certainty helpless in pursuit

Subservient to the forces of nature

Outside its provision and dominion.

Why is the Chase More Fun Than the Catch?

Why is it that we fancy the chase to a destination to only reach it and have a let down? It is a common utterance that people enjoy the courting phase of a relationship than a marriage. Broadly, it is also a common belief that the chase is more fun than the catch. I have a theory that may explain this. Could it be that there is an underlying dormant, but forceful when activated, urge for humans to take pleasure in uncertainty? I think we are wired to seek thrill in an environment where the outcome of an action is probabilistically less than determined. The primary source of this seeking of uncertainty may be evolutionary. It is in the interest of the species to be on the look out for what could potential go wrong and adapt accordingly in order to avert disaster or extinction. Inherent to that process is the undetermined nature of the threat that poses risk for survival. A known outcome, on the other hand, is very much nonthreatening and requires no foresightedness and induces little anxiety. So, no wonder that we are left conditioned to seek for sources of imbalance and, indeed, enjoy the chase more than the catch. The trick of course is to exercise will over this hardwired urge in ensuring the proper measure of pleasure is drawn from the catch after a chase, whether gruelingly or easily acquired.

Dissatisfaction

A thought occurred to me that highlights the cause of the dissatisfaction in life that most experience. I think most of us live and breath a fantasy life. Expectations and dreams are channeled into the rumination of what is missing than in the realization of the fulfillment in what is being had in the moment. The relentless focus on the negative and the missing element of anything, be it life in general or any issue or entity we interact with, has the effect of robbing the pleasures of satisfaction out of a task accomplished and a goal reached, no matter how half-full it may be. There is a distinct tension between the dissatisfaction driven out of the focus on what is absent and the need to identify possible areas of improvement. It strikes me as being a difficult balancing act to work out, and hence the pervasive nature of dissatisfaction. For one to continue to make advancements in the pursuit of happiness, it is crucial to have a concrete understanding of where life is heading, how well positioned we are to capitalize on opportunities that may come our way, or having a good feel for areas of strength and weakness. The most successful among us, I think, have the ability to use the missing elements in life as a motivational tool to continue to persevere and improve. I think there also has to be an inherent contentment in life as is balanced with the healthy dose of impatience for advancement. The successful leaders have a way of highlighting the strengths and providing encouragement while paving the way for correcting the weaknesses. It is a conscious choice one has to make in order to enjoy the gift of the moment while still keeping goals and aspirations for the future in sight. The beginning of the healing process is one that should start with the acknowledgments of the privileges of life as it is and drawing satisfaction from it. The world around us is littered with more examples of lives that have been dealt with a destiny less fortunate than those of the luminaries that we obsess about day in day out. Without that an honest realization of this fact, not amount of material wealth, influence, or acquaintances will be fulfilling.

Advice to the Republicans in Congress: Do the Opposite of Your Reflexive Impulses

By now most of you must have read and heard about the squabble that is going on at the Congress regarding the recovery and investment plan that was put forward by President Obama. There have been a few illuminating incidents about this issue which I wish to highlight in this entry. My affection and admiration for the president is apparent and needs no mention. As such, there may be a hint of bias towards holding the hopes and ambitions of President Obama, as they are manifested in the goals of the current plan, in high regard.

As usual the media has been completely wrong in the reporting and analysis of this issue. Most accuse the president of not being involved enough in the process. Well, these same people have forgotten that the president and congress account for co-equal branches of the federal government. As a constitutional scholar, President Obama has a deep understanding of this fact. He realizes that his task is one of leadership. He said he is interested in creating or saving 3-4 million jobs. That is a goal that he does not seem to be willing to compromise on. He has also expressed his vision for not only getting through the current crisis, but also putting in place fundamental structural advancements in the society that will serve as a breeding ground for a future growth and prosperity. That is the task of leadership – setting clear objectives. He realizes that the job of the congress is to legislate. As such, it seems to me that he has allowed for the representatives and senators to exercise their constitutional duty. To the myopic observers, this amounts to the legislation process getting out of hand. The careful and thoughtful observer understands that democratic processes are inherently chaotic where multiple interests are in continued friction with each other. Of course, the sensationalizing of disagreements between legislators is what most in the media are interested in, and I suspect that they are at best willfully ignorant of the nature of democratic processes.

That said, I find the obstructionism that is being put forward by the republicans to be quite remarkable and very much reflexive. Here is why I think they are marching blindly in a losing trajectory:

1. The president has made public and noticeable overtures in the interest of building bipartisanship. The president has the power of the bully pulpit and is able command more attention than all the 535 representatives and senators combined, no matter how loud they may be. So, when the republicans decide to collectively and almost unanimously oppose this measure while the president is out campaigning and lending an ear to the concerns of the people and describing how it is that the intended plan helps address the problems facing the country, it makes them appear to be quite detached from the general public. They come across as politicians who put the interest of party ahead of country. The country is in the mood for solving problems; it is receptive to trying ideas, which is exactly what the president is trying to do.
2. No mater how principled a lot of the republicans may feel about their new found obsession with fiscal conservatism after many years of excessive federal spending, their attempts come across as the ultimate manifestation of hypocrisy. Specifically because such objections were not being voiced under Bush’s presidency, the current unified and loud voice only goes to re-enforce the perception that they are more in the business of politicking than problem solving.

So, what is the alternative? Imagine for a second if the republicans in congress truly find it in themselves to be willing to work with the president and act in a bipartisan manner. Imagine if instead of ridiculing the bill that is under consideration, they choose to amplify the good programs, of which there are many, while attempting to draw attention to the parts of the bill which they find to be objectionable? That is, of course, not the first instinct of a leadership of a party in the minority. It has been common practice in politics that a party in the minority positions itself for a game of blamocracy. A few years from now when their darkest wish of this recovery plan not working is realized, they want to say if only they had their way… Well, the problem with that approach is that this time period comes at the heel of an election in which the population collectively exercised a moment of reconnection to the idealism that makes this country unique – the belief that all things are possible. It is also being played out with a popular and historic president at the helm of power. I suspect that the historic nature of this presidency has unleashed a level of good wish and prayer for success from the population at large that has not been experienced in recent past. The action of the republicans in congress is to be contrasted uniquely with this state of affairs. For a party that has electoraly found itself to be regional, I believe the courageous and bold course of action to take is not to cater to the approximately 30% of the population that gets overjoyed with every utterance of tax-cut prescriptions or moral-values irrespective of the political or socioeconomic environment; but, to broaden its appeal to a significantly larger proportion of the population and symbiotically feed from the good wish invested in the Obama presidency. Why is that a politically smart move as well us beneficiary to the country? Because, the republicans right now need a way to make themselves relevant again in national politics. The people know that our country is in trouble and serious work needs to be done to rekindle vibrancy of the economy. The recovery plan will most likely pass and get implemented with or without their support. Besides the fact that republican mayors and governors, who actually have to face to task of governance not just in words, but also in works, are behind the president in seeking to pass the plan under consideration will only make the national politicians look out of touch and divorced from reality. It is also the patriotic thing to do. Instead of political positioning to rip the benefits of a presumed failure of policy, it would be in the nation’s best interest if they could work with the president and the majority to carve out a plan that would catapult the economy out of the current miserable state. In president Obama, I think they have a leader who can work with them and is for the most part not interested in political gamesmanship. The sooner they realize it, the better of their chances of returning to a party of national acceptance and the better of the political system and the culture in Washington will be.

How Come I Am Blessed

How come I am blessed

one who stumbled at the confluence

of preparation and luck

paving the way to success.

How come a boy goes hungry

across the ocean and behind the alleyways

and a girl mourns of a family destroyed

standing on shattered limbs

in a village raided, burned to ground

by the cruelty of humanity

aided and comforted

by the willful ignorance of many.

How come I am blessed

a sinner like any, born to a biological miracle

sudden and unique, ubiquitous at once

how can I pretend I am chosen

for a lucky destiny special

and ignore all the choiceless

women, men, boy and girl

caged in eternal prison of hopelessness.

How come I am blessed?

.

Will You Remember

Will you remember the time we spent

together in happiness or the nagging angst

of relationship building painful and long.

Will you remember the sight of joy

of my relief in seeing you finally missing

your loving care of compassion

or my discomfort in feeling alone and helpless

in my inability to be together in emotion.

Will you remember the happiness shared

in triumphs unlikely overcome with bravery

or the cowardice in the fear of the unknown bend

coming around the corner hidden in a blind spot

leaving us shaken in a future uncertain.

Which will you care to remember

the happiness and joy or the restless quarrels

which brought us closer unveiling the true self

hiding behind the mask of completeness and fulfillment

glorified in pretentiousness hiding the dying being underneath.

We have been stranded into a helix of a DNA

at once a duet and binary in unison eternity

I pray you celebrate the moments of uplift

along with the desperation of moments empty

vacuum of words yet populated in thought

of the togetherness we have formed

at the highland and low, the home we’ve built.

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An Epidemic of Hope

An epidemic of hope

avails itself to escape

to the dreamer locked

in a confined cage of no end

invading the emptiness

left behind in the abyss

from a struggle of pain and sorrow

brought to an end in a breakthrough

brightening the future and day

as a sunny night spring sky.

Oh! alive and elated

feels the heart hope filled

ready for a renewed life journey

sailing by the wind of dream and joy.

.

Seeing Everywhere

There is one phenomenon that I find to be intriguing. It is the issue of limited perception that we experience in our day to day lives. The best manifestation of this is how we see the persons we are introduced to in our sphere of interaction everywhere once they have been brought to our attention. Has it ever happened to you? Whether at school or workplace, there have been a few instances where a person who co-inhabits the same space for quite a long time without it being known to us. For all we know the same persons frequent the spaces that we spend a significant portion of our lives completely oblivious to us. Then suddenly, once they are brought to our attention, we start to see them everywhere. What does that say about the human experience and how perceptive we are to our surroundings? Is there a limit to how information that is all around us is brought into bearing meaning? Is the learning process one that requires a conscious acknowledgment of the process? All these are questions that I have no answer to. I find them to be intriguing nonetheless.

Insurance

Where does hope begin and when does it lend itself to believing and certainty? Can one afford to take risk if failure means losing all? For hope to be effectual, I believe it is a human instinct to need an insurance against future ambitions to align our thoughts and dreams into one or limited targets. The vision in the minds-eye that one can see and the safety-net one feels in the imagination of the fruits of a labor being applied at a goal and ambition are crucial in sustaining ones hope about a future outcome. But, that is only where hope finds sustenance. The birth place of hope requires the fertile ground for meeting the mundane everyday survival needs. I think it is in human nature not to take leaps of faith without the knowledge that the fall from failing to meet the goal is less than catastrophic. In some instances it may just be the realization that even when one fails, the basic needs for survival like food and shelter can easily be met.

Insurance in life is the less-than-desirable outcome and the fall-back position. So, what separates the pioneer from the rest? The answer to that rests in the impatience the leaders, trend-setters, and pioneers have with the status-quo. That feeling of restlessness can propel one into a state of willingness to take the fall in the knowledge if all else fails, there is still the status-quo to fall back to.

America: The Promise Land

America, the promise land of people varied

to her shores flock, teleported identities

in pursuit of freedom fleeing misery

immigrating with hope and unbridled dreams.

Escaping from tyrants human and natural

destitute, depravity, and lack of dignity

away from a life endured, staring down evil

yearning for her promise of inalienable rights

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

She is made for and by a people freed

with uprooted identities forging new lives

charting and living a liberated destiny

she is the land of promise, aspiration aplenty

a promise for all, a promised land for the free.

.

A Land Green

I see a land green

prosperous and lush

a brighter future ahead

open, free, and fresh.

Out on the horizon

I say to you my friend

the pastures are green

on this and other side

come along I say

for one joyful ride.

.

Keep At It, My Friend

Keep at it, my friend

for sooner than later

something will materialize

out of the red sky

a destiny blue.

So, hang in there my friend

for this too shall pass.

I can see it coming

the moment of relief

a progress forward

a time of recognition

you shall be rewarded

for your efforts handsomely.

The moment is near

for you to be liberated

from anxiety and fear

of an uncertain future.

Your destiny is mine

we are linked in prayer

separable by none

irrespective of the present

which may be hopelessly bare

my prayer is one

that you do not despair

so stay strong, my friend

for this too shall pass

in a future near.

.

Barack Obama: The Underestimated Chess Player

I have come to realize that a number of actions President Barack Obama takes require meditative reflection in order to grasp the full measure of the intention and desired outcome behind them. The hyperventilated punditry, which passes for media and analysis these days and has been so common place in the past some odd years, seems to be finding itself incapable of appreciating the strength of drive and the intellectual fortitude behind the decisions the president makes and the way he goes about executing them. He is a grand master; they, novice players of chess. They say great ones can see the whole game play itself out over multiple moves. They have a keen insight into the tango of action-reaction and move-counter move dances of thought and will played out on a chess board. I believe that the president exhibits similar characteristics in the arena of leadership and shaping public perception.

They said his inauguration speech was bland – lacking poetry and oratorical flourishes. These are the same people who were accusing him of being empty on specifics and all about speeches and words. They said words are easy, where is the beef. They had it really backwards. Whether you are chess player or a fighter in combat, understanding the opposing side and knowing the characteristics traits and tendencies give one the upper hand paving the way to a seamless victory. From the outset of his campaign for the presidency, he wrote and talked about the smallness of the politics as it was being practiced, which he believed was in direct contrast to the magnitude of the challenges facing the nation. He knew there was a yearning to believe again; to believe again in the yes-we-can mentality. There was a yearning for rekindling the hope and aspiration and dream of a world that could be in spite of the world as it is. There was a yearning for a political system that works; a system that is more capable of solving big problems than one engaged in a tit-for-tat game of blamocracy. There was also a generation yearning for inspiration to challenge oneself and provide meaning and purpose to life. He clearly knew that. He rightly sensed that the issue was not the absence of a multi-point policy prescription or a plan of one kind or another. He channeled the dreams and hopes of many and articulated his messages into melodic symphonies of words that are so uplifting, which leave the listeners levitated and overcome with emotions. That was one presidential campaigning and half.

Then, the inauguration arrived in a moment that is as equally challenging and intransigent for a system that is broken as it is to a people who have come to expect little from government. With the majority converted and the rest willing to lend a hearing, he was set with the challenge of communicating the hardship facing our nation while reminding us all of the glorious past and the seemingly insurmountable challenges that have been overcome in the unlikely experimentation is self-governance and organization that is America. The symbolic significance of his rise to the highest office in the land was self-evident in his image and needed no proclamation. In this regard, I was reminded of his acceptance speech for the democratic nomination in which he referred to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as a young preacher from Atlanta, which the self-aggrandizing elements of the black community predictably riled up against. How could he dare not mention his name, they exclaimed. How could he shy away from the dark history of race relations in this country, they asked. When asked by Steve Kroft a similar question, the president in response said “I think people notice that… I think people understood the significance of that…” It is also that depth of insight not to blabber the obvious and let moments speak for themselves that characterized his inauguration speech. There was no need for poetry. Nor was there a need to engage in a collective-kumbaya-moment. The people who where there and the billions of eyes glued to their televisions knew the arrival of a new historical demarcation. They also knew that not only America, but also the world is amidst troubled economic times. The task at hand was not to provide an escape from that reality. It was one of facing challenges with grit and determination in the knowledge that this too shall pass. “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met,” he inspired a people.

Then, in recent past there have also been few examples where some of his decisions were met with a quick anger, only to be brought to light in their full significance with the advantage of hindsight. A prime example is the mini-controversy around his selection of the Rev. Rick Warren for providing the invocation and opening prayers for the inauguration ceremony. Those on the left we fired up for all the wrong reasons. How could such a person be given a platform that is as grand as this, they asked. I sense that it was not lost on the president that the Rev. Warren believes in truths drawn from the strict adherence to the bible. What could a preacher of the bible be expected to believe in after all? Yet, I think it was also clear to him that Rev. Warren cares not just about issues such as gay marriage and abortion, which have lately been adopted as being defining litmus tests for what constitutes as christian and moral values, but also about those of social justice. The president realized the task at hand was to bring about more understanding and accommodation. Bridging the gap between those caring about one issue or another and getting them to come closer is what the president seems to be good at. I can not help but think that Rev. Warren was left touched by the gesture extended to him. I read somewhere that some of the less agreeable language was taken of his website in the aftermath his selection. I sense that those who were so offended by his selection were probably better served by it than would have been otherwise. Then, the other day we heard that he granted the first formal interview as a president to an Arabic television network. Some found this odd and weak. But, he realizes the fight against the religious extremists is not just one of conquering land and military engagement. It is one of winning the hearts of those who are willing to listen. Such an action broadens the avenues of communication and provides a higher platform for engagement and understanding. It is precisely these types of actions that steal innocent minds from the dangerous brainwashing that is fed by the extremists to perpetuate their destructive agenda.

The distinguishing quality of the president, which should have become apparent to many long before, is that he is not afraid to face big challenges. I sense that he realizes greatness is not for the faintest of hearts; it is earned by those who see the significance and consequence of their actions in the immediate future, but also take them with a methodical and precise understanding of their effects in the long run. That is what makes him the chess player at heart and an effective leader. Those who continue to underestimate and lose sight of the less-than-obvious intentions and wit of the president find themselves as being a minor footnote of history as he continues to trail-blaze an uncharted path into greatness.

Mind Over Body and Body Over Mind

In glory of the mind

they say it is

a super-power of an organ

complex and massive

with dominion over matter

and all things physical

conquering all if only

there is the will.

Deep in thought

a conversation I heard

relentless and vigorous

between the body and mind.

I am the master

and you are the slave

says the mind

rested you have

now it is time to work.

Irritated and restless

responds the body

there comes a point

when you lose

the power over I

no matter the urgency

to catch a shooting star

no matter your will

I am unwilling and

will render you alone

aimlessly trekking the thought-land.

I see, says the mind

I see that you may be

needing a respite and wastefully tired

drained of energy, fallen under the rock

that serves no one

now get up and work.

Well, says the body

well let’s see your magic

I see you getting

helpless and frantic

unable to control a fiber of my being.

So continued the debate

between the mind and body

unresolved and beastly left

to the sleep which suddenly

swept through me

leaving the body laid

and the mind on bended knee

giving in the end

to the powers to be

relocated in thought

in a motion slow

uprooted from reality

am I dreaming now?

.

He Stood

He stood

beaming hope

on a day icy cold

preaching truth.

He stood

with a nation

tall and proud

born again

vivacious and free

basking in memories golden.

He stood

with echoes of past

on shifting sand

a union

built on blood

of distant shores

in suffering shed.

He stood

with a people brave

seekers of liberty

free and gallant

in pursuit of happy.

He stood

with humanity

of corners of the world

yearning liberation

freedom and food.

He stood

the 44th president

confident and bold

in a future bright.

In the Sense of Time

In the sense of time I die

I die cell by cell

and piece by piece

destined for a life mortal

in war and peace.

Yet I breath

knowledge I absorb

expressions of self

in spite of death.

In the sense of time we die

yet dreams of a preacher

live on to see

a destiny fulfilled

a changed generation

and a nation perfected.

The hope distilled

of pain and despair

seeing no end

lives on to inspire

elevating a son

of a mother single

a bearer of light

a hope-vessel half-full.

In the sense of time we die

dreams live

but you and I.

.

Why I Love Her

In her presence I delight

in her absence I shiver

missing the glow

of her warming care.

Her love

a thirst unquenchable

undying hunger

a sibling never had

a companion in sorrow

a believer in truth

a guiding arrow.

Absent her love

a life aimless

floating above

an lifeless canvas

restless in thought

flying aground

soulless in spirit

frozen and bound.

Her love

eternal and enlivening

a kindred life

worth living

music to the soul

complete in her

union alive

that is why I love her.

.

The Great Equalizer

There is a lot to be learned

at times I get so overwhelmed

by the almost nothing I know

about dark and snow

life and the globe

woven into a web

it makes me feel inconsequential

insignificant and peripheral.

.

Then came along the Internet

the great equalizer to the rescue

an outlet of expression

pent up and long overdue.

.

Liberated the mind and imagination

forever freed and seeking

birthing new life

and life to meaning.

.

Willful Ignorance

The saying goes ignorance is a bliss. That, however, is referencing to the type of ignorance that is beyond the control of oneself – the type of ignorance that one can be availed of up on proper educationing. It also points to the lack of knowledge about the existence of the ignorance itself.

In a heated discussion about the state of human affairs, a friend once confided in me that he continuously chooses to not be aware of the happenings around the world. He said he willingly chooses to be ignorant. He said he would rather not know for with knowledge comes responsibility and the awakening of a compassionate consciousness. Once awakened, that consciousness renders one restless in pursuit of seeking for alleviation of the ills of the world, or induce a type of guilt that takes the joy out of life, he stated. I was amazed by this claim for I hardly ever gave much thought to willful ignorance.

Surprised and puzzled as I was by that admission, I could not understand the reasoning behind it. That is a manifestation of the highest level of selfishness, I thought. I thought it was distinctively a necessary part of evolution that our collective existence depends on our ability to learn about, relate to, and care for one another. A mind that seizes to learn and a soul that stops to care are surely of a dying variety detached for communal existence, I thought. If we stopped to care to even inform ourselves about the demise of the less fortunate, what is to become of us? I asked: What is to become of us when we stopped to lend sympathy to the needy? Are we losing the communal fabric that clothes us together? I could not answer these questions. Can you?

Life and Fractional Distillation

Fractional distillation is a process by which crude oil is extracted from the belly of the Earth, refined and desegregated into its multiple components. A more elaborate explanation about the process is found in the video above. The topic I wish to discuss about is far from the actual process of distillation. It is not even related to the grand energy challenge that we face, as central an aspired focus as it is to ROL. If there is any parallel to be drawn with previously discussed topics, it is one of relating scientific concepts to other endeavors of human experience, as can be seen here and here.

The topic I wish to ROL about is one of drive, refinement, and success. The distinguishing characteristics of fractional distillation is that the boiling point of the various constituents of crude oil are dissimilar due to their respective unique molecular weight. The heavier components tend to have the lower boiling point and are evaporated out of the bottom end of the distillation column. The lighter components endure the length of the column with agility and flight until the hotter sections of the column are reached and they are finally liberated from the crude composition.

It dawned on me: Is it not the same with success? Is it not the same with perseverance? Is it not the same with endurance? There is one trait that I think is a driving force for any form of accomplishment: drive. The willingness and eagerness to continue to work at an issue is what is the equivalent of the molecular weight of the crude oil components. I will lay the following claim from the outset: The underlying universal rule of life is that perseverance pays off. It may be a delayed return to effort expended now. It may even be a goal never realized, a dream never reached, and a life toiled with pain and suffering. In the process of it, even absent the desired outcome, one gets a sense of mission and direction to life that would not have existed otherwise. Indeed, those who persevere and perspire arrive at long last to the exaltation and fruition of their dreams, if not in their life times, but generations later. They lay the foundation on which the giants of the future scale to higher ideals and places of existence.

It takes more than a goal to get a want fulfilled. It takes the agility and flexibility and the high boiling point to make it to the higher strata of a destiny. For a destiny to be realized, some of the molecular weight bearing down on us needs to be shed – the low self-esteem and expectations need to be unveiled; the fear of rejects and failure conquered, and a sense of unwavering direction and commitment built. Only when that weight is let go can the soul be freed to flights of fancy and imagination. Only when the “yes we can” mentality sears deep down and holds root, can a son of a single mother and a goat herder aspire to be and become the leader of the free world.

Distillation has consequences. It is fundamentally a process of refinement. As such, it discriminates against the components of the crude oil based on one primary trait. Life is much like that. Life has an exacting efficiency in distinguishing between the driven and the rest. It is ruthless in endowing opportunities on the prepared and rewarding the successful. A drive, however, is the not the only consequential trait as one could argue that there are many examples of suffering peoples despite efforts. There are examples of farmers who go hungry not for the lack of effort, but the absence of timely arrival of natural rain. There is a kid who will grow up amounting to little productivity not for the lack of drive, but the negative externalities of policy failures. Indeed, one could even argue that there are many that land on success by virtue of inheritance. In spite of these examples to the contrary, I still hold that life is really a process of fractional distillation for the misfortune of unrewarded labor is only a symptom of failed societal organization. And the landing on success without the refinement process leaves one devoid of the sense of purpose for existence. I say life is all about refinement and distillation. The winners rip the benefits of attaining, if not delayed gratification, the compass and meaning for life. The losers and the short-cutters waste away a life destined for greatness if only they could climb up the distillation column.

Yearning for Levitation

In the physical sense, levitation is a defiance of nature. It is a defiance of gravity; a force that is as powerful as any keeping us firmly aground and ensuring the working order of the small and grandiose stretching out to the heavenly bodies. Then, there is also levitation in the emotional sense. I am referring to the the agility of thought and the free-floating of ideas and the liberation of a mind that is in the know. Therein lies the yearning at the boundary between ignorance and enlightenment; the desire to grow and mature and be lead, the seeking for a cause greater than the self, and the attainment of meaning to life.

Levitation is also an achievement of a state of freedom and uplift. That is the metaphor that came to mind in thinking about the inspirational values of speeches given over the years by gifted orators, who have the access to language and delivery and the precision in their economy of use of words. I was reminded of the levitation they provide in the uplifting of a spirit and hope and the renewal of purpose and sense of direction. More so after listening again to the “I have a dream” speech of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and superimposing it to the speeches of Barack Obama leading up to his arrival in Washington D.C. for his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States of America. The confluence of a call for liberation stretching from then to now is palpable. Rev. King dreamed of a day when people would be judged “not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.” He sought for the awakening of a society and the liberation of a people. Soon-to-be-President Obama challenged a nation for new kind of independence.; an independence of the self. He said, “America needs a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives — independence from ideology and small thinking, independence from prejudice and bigotry, independence from selfishness.”

That is what great leaders provide. They do not fulfill every unmet need of a people. They rarely meet all the excess expectations of success or the subdued fears of failure. The great ones call on a people with a grand vision and provide a guiding light and direction. They provide a forward momentum of commitment and a watchful eye of supervision and provision. The good ones know the values of their words and the power of their language. They channel them to great effect in communicating a message of pain and sorrow, hopes and dreams, and vision and purpose. They quench the thirst and yearning for levitation.

Brain Sex

Before the magic happens

and the sense of elation descends

a calming breath blows

the winds of uncertainty

a moment of doubt and incredulity

disbelief, devoid of equanimity.

.Then, suddenly, the magic happens

clearing the fogs of ignorance

endowing the gratification of patience

the orgasmic explosion of euphoria

sets in the knowledge of knowing

a mind is liberated

a soul revived

a person re-born, from strongholds of illiteracy

That is when the magic happens

with rapture and joy conceived of brain sex.

The Utopian African Way That Is As Real As Barack Obama Is African

You can imagine my surprise, given my take on the current state of leadership in Africa, when I learned that Archbishop Desmond Tutu believes:

Obama himself embodies the best African tribal values. Remarking on Obama’s dignity, patience, and inclusiveness, Tutu noted that these traits reflect “the African in him.”

The African in him is the one who is making him ask, “What is the consensus?” That’s the African way at its best. The good leader in Africa is the leader who keeps quiet and lets others speak and then says at the end, “I have heard you all, and this is our mind.”

I find this thinking to be quite disconcerting and teachable. On one side, there is Africa made of the people who may indeed be patient, accommodating, inclusive, considerate, and truly remarkable in demonstration of dignity and endurance in suffering and humiliation. Before that thought settled in my mind, I was reminded of what disturbed me about this comment in the first place: The sweeping generalization that is as stereotypical as it is Utopian, idealistic and irrational. I think it is foolish to be speaking of the “African” way doing of anything. Africa is not monolithic. There is no one uniform culture or way of life in the continent, which is as vast in its geography as it is in the diversity of its tribes and cultures.

Moreover, the suffering that is prevalent all across the continent is not all the fault of past aggressions and current interferences by foreign powers. At the root of all the crisis that is ravaging the continent is the lack of all the qualities Tutu ascribes as being “the African way.” There is an incredible lack of dignity, patience, and inclusiveness in the leadership class across the continent. “The good leader in Africa is the leader who keeps quiet..,” says Tutu. The Africa I know is infested with leaders that are barking at each others throats with the mouthpieces of their guns. “What is the consensus?” That’s the African way at its best, says Tutu. The African way I know that is reality is filled with examples of I-know-it-all way of doing business.

I do not blame the Archbishop for thinking this way though as the people are fundamentally descent, as are others living on other continents; endowed with thousands of years of history and glory and prided with the diversity of cultures that is unparalleled. The irony is that the leadership that has been the cause of the stagnation suffocating the life out of the continent is in direct contrast with this reality.

Once in a while, one lets go of personal guard and allows imagination and wishful thinking to take over. Sadly, I think the Archbishop was just reflecting on the Utopian African way that is as real as Barack Obama is African.

Africa: Raped By Poverty of Leadership

It is not the food Africa is starved of, for there is plenty waiting to be equitably distributed. It is not water Africa is thirsting of, for rivers flood all across the land. It is not for the lack of means of any kind – earth-bound or alive. There is only one cancer that is the root cause of all evil: Africa is raped by poverty of leadership.

Raped by egoistic, selfish, and ignoramus buffoons who pretend to stand for her; humiliated world-over; left behind to die impoverished and in despair; stained by the blood of innocents falling victim to violence, cruelty, and lawlessness; hemorrhaging her precious resources – living and non-living.

Bloodied, exposed, and defiled by the ruthlessness of her own; helpless and powerless in exploitation; shamed by plagues and misery: Africa is raped by poverty of compassionate leadership.

A play-ground for aggressors and opportunists, exploited and sold, with bleeding arteries that became boarders between nations: Africa is raped by poverty of courageous leadership.

With potentials unfulfilled, promise unrealized, lands un-tilled and deforested, ravaged by civil-wars among brothers and sisters, dependent on remission and gifts, an empty basket filled with hope and faith: Africa is raped by poverty of visionary leadership.

Africa is raped by poverty of leadership!

Concrete Wealth

I failed utterly in my attempt to locate it now. It is hidden in the vast confines of the Null Information. It was an advertisement for the city of Chicago. The narrator in the ad says something to the effect of: most cities like to measure growth in charts and graphs. We like to use something more concrete; like concrete. Then, the ad spans through the multitudes of high rises gracing the sky of Chicago that are, needless to say, made of concrete.

Now, you may ask what does that have to do with wealth itself. Well, the answer is concrete. The essential message of the ad that remained stuck with me is the connection made between prosperity and advancement with a more tangible measure of wealth, like the one made of concrete. Starkly contrasted against this message, suddenly I was reminded of the recent news about the big debacle in the stock market which robbed the populace in wealth amounting to $7 trillion dollars within the past year; a presumed wealth and capital on paper that somehow evaporated into thin air. It is bewildering as to how one year a country could be rich by the tune of trillions of dollars (that is half the GDP of the U.S.!), then lose it the next year. Where did that money ginormous money go? How did it seize to exist?

It is the thought about and answers to those questions that brought flashes of that ad flooding back from memory and the desire for a more substantive look into what is the stock market.I have neither the expertise nor the inclination to write a treatise on the working principles of the stock market. Here, I will just attempt to put down my reflections about it and tie it to the message of that Chicago ad and the big debacle.

Frequently, we hear that the stock market went down by this many percentage points and up by another. In fact, it was reported that since Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, “the S.& P. has moved more than 5 percent in either direction on 18 days. There were only 17 such days in the previous 53 years, according to calculations by Howard Silverblatt, an index analyst at S.& P.” Well, that may represent an extreme form of fluctuation in recent past, which by itself is worthy of another exploration and will not be covered here. However, the underlying susceptibility for fluctuation is what I find intriguing. Let alone well informed economists, even the lay (wo)men by now know that the U.S. economy is under significant duress. The structural issues that are causing the recession have been gathering strength over the years and will most likely take years to be corrected. During this time period, all sorts of statistics are released every now and then describing the symptoms of a slowed down economy that is in recession. And there goes the stock market wildly swinging all over the place as if no body knew that unemployment numbers are going to be grim at best, company profits, if any, are going to be significantly curtailed, and dept and bankruptcies rates are going to be rising. Every time a new piece of information comes out describing the illness in the economy, everyone acts surprised and the stock market takes a nose dive. Then, there are also cases of an up swing out of no where that are based on flimsy developments that have little effect in addressing the fundamental problems with the economy; only to be wiped out again at the next announcement of a bad news. That fluctuation and the inherent capability for the stock market to be swung one way or another are what give me grief about it. As a measure of wealth, it is completely intangible and vaporous. I suspect that is also why such an astounding amount of “wealth” can be wiped out in such a short period of time. That leaves one to wonder as to whether the yardstick for measure of prosperity and wealth is misplaced or not. Is the hope of a better future or a retirement age based one a rosy scenario analysis of long term and sustained growth in the stock market completely misguided? I think it is. One only needs to look at the persons who are nearing or at retirement age now and are in desperate need of using the hard-earned income that they have been pouring into the stock market and are finding that it has evaporated. Is it any way for, let alone individuals, for institutions to be relying on and hope to draw their sustainability from the stock market? I think not.

Part of me yearns for more concrete. The stubborn thing about concrete is that it remains where you left it, barring some unforeseen natural disaster, which by the way can potentially be overcome by employing smart building codes. It is there in the good times and bad. It is there in sickness or health. It does not suddenly evaporate one day and seize to exist. It is indeed as lasting a measure of wealth and prosperity as one can get. The Colosseum in Rome, the obelisks in Axum, the Parthenon in Athens, the pyramids of Giza, and many others are historic truths that have proclaimed and shall remain to tell about the state of advancement of a people. The message of that Chicago ad harkens back and, I think, is in desperate need to be applied not just to Chicago, but the U.S. and the global economy at large. Would it not be nice if we had a more concrete way to measure wealth instead of charts and graphs of the latest ups and downs in the stock market? Would it not be great if only we used more concrete? I would say yes!

On New Year Resolutions

This is the time of the year when we start discovering that we have set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. It is the time when that new year resolution that was set in the spirit of excitement and desire for self-improvement slowly slips from the grasp of reality. It is the time for an awakening; a realization of limitation.

Resolutions and goals are intrinsically expression of desire for an upward progress in fulfillment. When they are properly set and utilized, they have a channeling effect on our focus and resources towards meaningful ends. In fact, a life without goals is one that is aimlessly wandering and drifting with every-which-wave that splashes across the shores. The failure is in not reconciling the current state of being with the final destination that one aspires to get to. There is the omission of and obliviousness to the process it takes to get there. It is in the course of that process a winner is made, excellence is achieved, bad habits conquered, and relationships built. It is that hard-work that is not taken into account when the new year resolution is proclaimed.

With regard to resolutions and finding ways to effectively keep them, it is teachable to explore the issue of gifts, talent, and world-class performance. The first misconception about success, I think, is gifts and talents are desired by many and possessed by few. The thinking goes that athletic abilities, agility, dexterity, and reflexes are all endowed by creation. You can aspire to be a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods or a Michael Phelps or a Ronaldinho. Such pursuit leaves one exactly at one place, aspiration. That the life long preparation nurtured by environment only helps sharpen and polish a pre-existing set of skills that allows one to excel. They say a leader is born, not made. You can spire to be a Barack Obama. But, that kind of aspiration leaves one only at one place, imitation. These pronouncements are partially true in that it is highly unlikely for one to achieve a similar level of impact, let alone duplicate the success achieved by any number of these people. The key, however, is in the realization that the inspiration Barack Obama is to millions and the power he holds in his ability to communicate effectively, although cultivated through years of engagement with people of various backgrounds, is unique unto him. The abilities any number of athletes have and the package of skills they demonstrate in their craft is uniquely shaped by the environment they were brought up in and the life long coaching and preparation that has gone into accentuating their gifts and talents.

I believe excellence is a manifestation of unique gifts endowed by creation that for the most part wither undiscovered. I wonder what would have been of Roger Ferderer if he had not picked up a tennis racket; what would have been of Tiger Woods if he had not be handed a set of golf clubs; what would have been of Isaac Newton if he had not stumbled upon the thoughts about the issue of gravity; what would have been become of any person that is the epitome of excellence and a standard of high achievement. It is in musing about such scenarios that I have come to believe that there is a hidden unexplored potential that is waiting to be discovered; anxious to come alive and change the world. What distinguishes those that excel and those that fail to capitalize on the hidden gift and talent is the recognition of current level of abilities and the desire to continue to improve. Such marriage of reality with ambition is what results in sustained improvement resulting in remarkable accomplishments. It is what is lacking in the the wishful thinking that is new year’s resolution to many. The other factor is the impatience with status quo. Apparently, Obama was told that he was too young and inexperienced; that it was not his turn. He should just wait for a few election cycles before he ventures into such a grand adventure. Michael Jordan was apparently warming the bench at his college basketball team and Tom Brady as wallowing as a backup quarterback before he stepped into greatness by seizing the opportunity he had to start. It is that ability and readiness to excel that differentiates the “talented” from the rest of us. It is the impatience to self-improve and not simply settle for mediocrity. They are relentless in trying new ideas and overcoming defeats and despair; raising oneself to continue marching on the arch of success and progress.

Therefore, the lesson is that one should not despair about failing to keep a resolution. But, one should assess the current state of being, project a way forward, and commit to the process required to get there. Without that, those resolutions that are not achieved this time around and upcoming ones in the years to ahead will simply be wishful thinking. A wish without work is as thin as air; un-graspable and forever-invisible.

Expectations and Disappointment

Disappointment; we have all experienced it. Almost always it is a result of the falling short of something to our expectations. It is almost always induced by the action of another human being. We never get disappointed at the weather, or a car that fails to work, or a cat that somehow always seems to find ways to betray us. If we ever find ourselves upset at the action of a non-human being, our disappointment, if there was any, is short-lived and we find it in us to forget about it and move on with life.

As experience go, it is a kind that leaves one in despair, doubtful about self-worth, and shakes the foundation of one’s faith in humanity. There are potentially two sources of disappointment. One is that, indeed, that someone we are disappointed at simply fails to hold up to their end of the bargain. The other is that we unknowingly set an unrealistically high expectation for others, which they simply are not capable of meeting. In either case, the root cause is the divorce between reality and expectation. A friend recently pointed out that he has lost faith in others and that he used to believe the best in people he meets for the first time. Unfortunately, he has been continually disappointed that he has now resorted to believing the worst in others and gradually grading people upwards as they continue to live up to his expectations. I think there is one antidote to disappointment that can be a cure to either case. That is not believing the worst in others, but simply setting low expectations. Much like we do not get disappointed at non-humans, we can assume that someone who we are dealing with is just like a weather, a cat, or a car. That is not denying their humanity by any measure. It is quite simply accepting the fact that we humans are imperfect, prone to making mistakes, and, yes, disappointing others.

Operating in a low-expectation universe has the priceless quality of having a win-win outcome of any human interaction. In the event that someone does not live up to their promise, we have already prepared ourselves to avoid disappointment a priori. We do not set ourselves for disappointment. This outcome is one of avoidance of disappointment. The other outcome of an interaction is that someone lives up to their promise. In that event, we find ourselves to be pleasantly surprised and experience a moment of joy and confidence in humanity. So, I would say, we hold the key to a disappointment-free world. The answer is in thinking about the weather, a car, a cat whenever we are dealing with others.

Happiness and Contentment

I believe happiness and contentment are two qualities that are the major sources of sustenance of a human life. Even more so than nourishment and the promise of hope and a better future. As we learned in a previous post, there are practical steps one can take to ensure happiness. I take happiness to be the fruit of satisfaction, the result of a fulfillment of want/need, and the attainment of meaning to life. Contentment is a pathway to happiness. It is the sense of accomplishment and arrival at a desired destination. No wonder that researchers in the area of positive psychology have found that setting meaningful goals and avoiding comparison are key steps at drawing happiness in life.

Happiness and contentment are, however, are fleeting emotions; moving targets needing continued refocusing of effort. In the age where we are inundated with promotional information that is aimed at making one feel incomplete and lacking, achieving these states is a tall order to most. It turns out that marketers have perfected the art of invading and exploiting the gap between a desired and current states of being. In almost all cases, the desired state of being is one that is shaped by societal norms, which have been carefully cultivated over time with the help of promotions themselves. The need for belonging and acceptance are probably the most insanely moving emotions that can persuade one to to acquire anything and everything that can alleviate those feelings. One is made to feel that happiness and contentment would be achieved if only you could buy A, B, and C, if only you could go to a place D, if only you could watch a movie E or a TV program F, if only you could look like a person G, if only you could eat and drink a food type H, and if only… It is a never-ending entrapment; a vicious cycle aimed at creating an alternate reality and perception. The unfortunate consequence of this state of being is that, sure enough, the act of consuming a presumed means to happiness and contentment may give a momentary fix for the craving of belonging and acceptability. However, those senses of fulfillment are short-lived leaving one having to immediately face reality with all its glorious trials and tribulations. The transition from a state of fulfillment to one of depravity helps reinforce the original sin that kicked in the sense of lack and unwantedness in the first place, which in turn creates a state of desperation and anxiety that can only be relieved if the the aforementioned actions are taken again. There is where the trap is set for one to want and need to have something that is not inherently connected to any source of long-lasting happiness and contentment.

Then, one would have to answer how one can achieve happiness and contentment or avoid getting trapped in the perpetual despair-happiness cycle. At the root of the answer to this is the understanding of the primary needs for survival. Our collective evolution overtime has been predicated upon our ability to lead a simple life. That life is one of fulfilling our basic needs of fuel, safety, continuity of existence, and a sense of self-confidence and excellence to navigate a way forward in times of hardship. I believe we have, overtime, built the ability to survive and thrive in moments of despair. We have developed a sense of belonging and community through a collective sharing of responsibilities. The key then is in the realization that there is a reservoir of survival-kits to live on. The battle against the despair-happiness vicious cycle is, therefore, lost is at the moment when one cedes this know-how to those that instill a sense of incompleteness. The battle is lost when one begins to feel inferior because of looking a certain way or coming from a certain background. It is lost when one attempts to deny the natural being he/she is and aspire to look and feel like someone else. That is where the entrapment begins. That is where one steps onto a slippery slope having to be committed to a forever-insurmountable uphill climb. The key, therefore, not to give in. Not to cede any space to information, which instills a sense of inadequacy masked by pronouncements of care and compassion.

Surely, it is a difficult battle to win against. It is a battle between an individual and a society backed and shaped by billions of dollars of mass mis-information. To win, one would have to exercise discipline, which is a quality that requires perseverance and self-confidence. Parents can play a prominent role in shaping the world view of children as the grow up to help lay the foundation. For those lacking that foundation, let us always remember it is better late than never. Let us start by not give in to the latest advertised I-steps plan to get there. Let us look within inside and be confident and fulfilled in who we are. Achieving that is already a long way to happiness and contentment.

The Paradox of Conventional Wisdom

There is a surging interest in tapping into the collective wisdom of a group. Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations, one book summarizes it in a title. The idea behind such thoughts is that the sum of the collection of independent insights is better than that of the individual. The thinking stipulates that the collection of individual inputs results in a type of wisdom, called conventional wisdom, that surpasses that of a well informed individual. There are many examples in multiple human endeavors where this is applicable and are chronicled elsewhere.

For a mathematically-inclined, it does not come as a surprise that, indeed, there is a net positive effect to the aggregation and averaging of inputs over a wide spectrum. The simplest mathematical demonstration I can think of in this regard is the normal (or Gaussian) distribution. Known as “the bell curve,” the Gaussian curve is mother-nature’s way of doing exactly that; the aggregation of the highest outcome about the mean of a certain parameter. According to this formulation, 68.2 % of outcomes lie with in one standard-deviation from the mean, 95.4 % lie with in two standard-deviations from the mean, and e.t.c

In fact, one can cite many examples where the enormity and complexity of a given task is so great that no one or few elites can accomplish it. Here at wolafen, the vast reservoir of facts stored in wikipedia has been utilized as a reference for multitude of topics. The power of the Google search, which is built upon the gathering and interlinking of individual decisions about the relevance and usefulness of pieces of information, is also used to locate information of interest. These are two examples where the wisdom of crowds has been applied to a practical end.

The paradox I see in wisdom of crowds, or conventional wisdom, is in might of predicting outcome and shaping it. Conventional wisdom, by necessity, is not immediately linked to originality. It is a gathering of facts and ideas and organizing it in such a way that it is acceptable to the majority. It is a description of events as they occur in the now. It is an insight into the present collective psyche of a group about a given topic.

I believe no revolutionary or transformational idea is part of conventional wisdom. The type of idea or insight that causes a dislocation in the time evolution of thinking rarely arises from the wisdom of crowds. This is not to be confused with the appearance of some unexpected outcomes as a result of averaging of multiple inputs. That is merely a process of organization. The type of idea I am thinking about is one that is so original that it ends up overturning conventional wisdom and sets its own course for evolution of thought.

It took the standing against conventional wisdom for one to believe and set out to prove that the Earth is not flat and that it is indeed round. It took the standing against conventional wisdom for Newton to believe that the heavenly bodies are governed by the same laws of nature as a falling apple from a tree. It took the standing against conventional wisdom for Louis Pasteur to believe and set humanity free of plagues of diseases by infecting one with same type of microbes that are desired to be fought against in order to induce the development of internal immune system. It certainly took the standing against wisdom of crowds for Barack Obama to decide to run for President of the United States and prove that a non-white and skinny guy with a funny name can rise up to the highest office in the land. Such luminaries have a fundamental effect in the course of the human experience. They provide insights previously unknown. They pave a new course in history. In the process, they shape future outcomes.

That is the paradox at hand. As mighty as one may think conventional wisdom or wisdom of crowds is in organizing our efforts and thoughts, it is beholden and crippled by the same averaging effect that give it its power and limit its ability to shape future outcomes. It appears, despite the prowess of crowds, that the hand of elite few may still have more power in stirring the time evolution of our collective experience.

The Silent Tsunamis

Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the 2004 Tsuinami of the Indian ocean, which caused a tremendous amount of destruction, took the lives of more than 200,000 people, and caused the displacement of many others. It was a moment that shall remain transfixed in the collective imagination of all the people. In a previous post, we have covered how social media facilitated the transfer of information from the affected regions to the different corners of the globe. While commemorating this anniversary, one can not help but feel saddened and depressed about the continuing silent tsunamis taking and causing havoc in the lives of many more across the globe. Almost always, these tsunamis are occurring in the forgotten corners of the world, where no media attention is paid and the socioeconomic condition is poor that the affected have little power by way of plugging into the sphere of the social interaction. When I speak of these people, I am thinking of the millions that are brutalized and affected by the continuing unrest in Congo, the hundreds of thousands in Darfur, the millions living in a lawless land that is Somalia, the thousands that are having to suffer from among the most avoidable illnesses such as Cholera in Zimbabwe, billions in the world living on less than three meals a day, the millions that die from treatable diseases such as malaria, the millions more that die of starvation and malnourishment, and millions more living in the dilapidated of circumstances devoid of any hope for a better future. The silent tsunamis are everywhere and are quietly destroying the lives of significantly more people than those affected by the one we remember today looking back at the horrific images of destruction that were brought into the attention of the world.

These people are helpless. They are unsafe fearing from attack of not just the ill-intentioned, but also those that are charged to protect them. They are terrorized to live another day. They are voiceless in the global discourse. They are desperate and hungry. The world needs to remember past disasters and check to see if the necessary learnings about prevention and preparedness have been taken. But, let us not forget also those that are living through the silent tsunamis now. They need an outlet of voice; a helping hand. In the moment of despair and anguish, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a gem hidden deep in President-elect Obama’s speech on November 4, 2008. He said:

…And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.”

They are waiting for the new dawn of leadership to rescue them. They are waiting for miracles.

Time to Reboot or Upgrade America?

Thomas L. Friedman, in a recent column, discussed about the need to “reboot America.” While I agree with the sentiment described in this column and elsewhere, I feel that the analogy used to describe the transformation that is needed to take place in America is misplaced, at the very least. The idea of rebooting speaks to the re-powering of a system; a re-energizing and resetting of a pre-existing order. I believe the more apt analogy to be used is one of the need to “upgrade America.” The nature of the grand challenges facing the nation are such that just a resetting of the system as it is now will simply not do. The economy needs a boost of activity and an influx of government-driven/sponsored works to jump start it. The energy infrastructure will require a complete transformation of how energy is created, stored, transported, and utilized. The environmental challenges will require the coming to terms with the changes taking place in the climate and the ecosystem and a changing of way of life. The educational system will require a radical rethinking how education is delivered to the masses and how assessment is made about progress being made by the students and the competence of teachers. The health care system will require the altering of ways of delivery of care and broadening of access to the more than forty million that do not currently have it. The policies set forth by the President and congress will need the realignment of priorities towards an encouragement of a more equitable distribution of prosperity through the different economic classes. The emergence of new global players and the facing of threats posed by non-state agents will require the rethinking of foreign policy in the new century. So, I say to Mr. Friedman and others, we do not simply need a reboot. Let us not kid ourselves. The ingredients for thriving in the 21st century may be there. But, at this historic juncture, we are going to need a full-blown upgrade of not just the hardware, but also the software of America.

A Hobby is Born

If one is asked to name a hobby, an assortment of physical activities and creative expression is usually listed. One may say I enjoy playing a sport A, B, or C. Another may have inclination more towards absorbing knowledge in all its forms; a time spent by reading and reading passionately. There are those that enjoy the process of writing or partaking in a creative process of self-expression. Then, there are others that take delight in the social interactions arising form communal activities.

I am hit by the sudden realization that there is actually not a defining hobby that I have consistently partook in. That is not to say I do not enjoy the less-than-frequent sport outtings or reading for pleasure or the togetherness and belonging arising from fellowshiping with friends and family around one type of an activity or another. It is the recognition that there has been an absence of a thread connecting through all these activities. It is the discovery that there was not undeterred continuity or periodicity to these activities; a lack of continuum of evolution and growth.

It is in this context that I started pouring in my self-expressions, either by writing about a given topic, drawing, or gathering pieces of information of interest, into these pages. I have previously spoken to the sense of active learning or consumption of information that arises from this process. I have also described the transformation in my thinking about the concept of time. I am learning there is a sense of liberation in the ability to pull in numerous sources of knowledge, digest and store them with remarkable ease of access and connectivity. There is also a sense of joy, and I must say an addictive quality, to the process of seeking for information and learning; a momentary excitement of discovery. It almost feels like a sleeping giant has been awakened and is actively thirsting for knowledge. This, I must say, is a remarkable transformation in my thinking about education.

I have reached this point after having spent decades, from childhood to adulthood, in the world of structured learning environment guided by the immediate need to complete a homework/task or pass an examination. Absent that structure, one is suddenly confronted with the the unbounded nature of knowledge and the lack of framework for absorbing it. I think learning is, fundamentally and at the truest form, a process of absorbing, digesting, and expressing. This medium has provided for engaging in these processes in unison. It is the process of active reading, synthesizing of information, and writing that provides the venue for sustained learning; the framework for organizing thoughts and relevant information. Here, in these pages, I think, a hobby is born. Born to the pent up craving for freelance learning and expression. The mind is awakened and is wanting to absorb. No more puzzlement as to what my hobby is. I have discovered it is learning and, to be exact, blogging.

O! and Leadership by Example

There has recently been a tremendous amount of buzz spreading all over the internet around the shirtless pictures of President-elect Barack Obama. O!, gushed The Huffington Post. Thinking about this incident, I could not help but be impressed by the subtle, but symbolic, example it sets for the nation. Every bit of news coverage of his daily work activities during the transition process has been making note of the fact that he incessantly goes to a gym without fail. He is probably one of the busiest persons on the planet and yet makes time to exercise on a daily basis. Needless to say, the fruits of such habits clearly manifest themselves in his good physical health and shape the images that surfaced project.

This is to be contrasted with the obesity epidemic that is affecting the nation. It is incredible to note that almost all the states have > 20% of their population as obese. The pace at which the numbers have been increasing is cause for alarm and is crying out for a major intervention and an act of strong leadership. What are the consequences of obesity? The answer to this question can be found from Weight-control Information Network, at National Institute of Health:

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem. Many serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Men who are obese are more likely than nonobese men to develop cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Women who are obese are more likely than nonobese women to develop cancer of the gallbladder, uterus, cervix, or ovaries. Esophageal cancer has also been associated with obesity…

That is where I see Obama leading by example. Without saying a word, the good physical shape he is in communicates the result of sustaining an active lifestyle. The discipline with which he goes about attending to his daily workouts communicates the type of commitment it requires to stay healthy and, for that matter, overcome obesity. He is indeed a leader unlike any other.

Why Some Ideas Go Viral And Others Do Not

In the spirit of continuing the process of correlating concepts in physics/science with that of day-to-day human behaviors, here we will discuss why some ideas go viral and others do not. The formulation presented here concerns with the idea of quantum tunneling. When a wave-like entity at a quantum scale encounters a potential barrier of a higher energy than its own, it undergoes one of the following: (1) reflection, which occurs when the entity is not able to penetrate through the barrier, (2) tunneling, which is the processes of partially-passing through the barrier, or (3) combination of both. In all cases, the ability of the wave to surpass the potential barrier is dependent on its energy level and the width of the barrier. The mathematical description of this dependence is given by: Θ ~ Exp[- √Eb³ . Xb], where Θ is the tunneling probability, Eb is the barrier height, and Xb is the barrier width. Hence, the larger the barrier height and width, the more difficult it is for the wave to penetrate through. In the event that tunneling occurs, the amplitude of the wave is diminished as it passes through the barrier.

Barrier Penetration

Now, with that rudimentary introduction to quantum tunneling, let us proceed to the postulation of what the reason behind the ease with which viral ideas spread is. Below is the graph representing the different regions of interest.

Why viral ideas spead quickly

The three distinct regions consist of the genesis, refinement, and viral-spreading of an idea/information. The vertical axis represents the potential of the idea/information to have any type of impact, which is its ability to inspire, depress, delight, annoy, revolutionize, disgust, or any other strong reaction that can make people itch until they share is with someone else. For an idea to break out of the genesis phase and go viral, it needs to overcome what I call the refinement barrier. This barrier, much like the potential barrier in the case of quantum tunneling, allows a given idea to pass through only if the width of the barrier is thin enough and the idea has the necessary potential to overcome it. In the cases where the potential is not sufficiently high, the idea/information will have to tunnel through the barrier and undergo a process of refinement. That is, the lower the potential of the idea, the more time it requires to refine. The higher the potential, the easier it is to propagate it through without much refinement. The nature of potential for impact of ideas gives a characteristic triangular-shaped barrier. Consequently, some ideas have such low potential that they are reflected right back by the refinement potential as the length of time required is simply too much to allow for the process to work. Hence, the primary factors determining the ability of an idea/information to go viral are its potential of impact and the time-length of refinement it requires. In the cases where the idea does undergo refinement, much like the wave that has a diminished amplitude, the refinement process condenses and filters the idea to make it more strong-reaction-inducing.

One wonders about the role marketing and publicity have in the spreading of an idea/information. The aforementioned analogy would dictate that there is an intrinsic potential an idea/information has to have a strong impact. No amount of advertising will change that. What the publicity will do is lower the refinement barrier height. In so doing, the probability of an idea going viral is dramatically increased. The other effect advertising can have is contracting the width of the refinement potential, which has the effect of reducing the time required for an idea to undergo the refinement process. This is accomplished by merely making more resources, e.g. number of people participating in the process, available to partake in the process. The unfortunate reality of this formulation is that if an idea/information does not have the necessary potential for impact to tunnel through the refinement barrier mostly by itself, that is, if it requires the help of major advertising push, its long-term acceptability and utility will most likely be minimal and will not last in the viral-land for a long time.

“The Story You’re Delivering is Always More Important…”

… than the delivery system.” That is according to a publisher discussing about the transformation that is taking place in the way books are being read. Gregory Cowles, who blogs about books for NY Times, states that “2008 may be remembered as the year that e-books finally caught on.” The argument is based on his observation of the prevalent use of the Kindle among the public and the publishing community. There is also another good article here on this topic. The transformation from print to electronic media in the modes of information dissemination is an inevitable one. We are making incremental steps in that direction. The convenience and cost factors will gradually dictate as to which delivery technology will win. It is, however, clear that the convergence of functionalities is proving to be a winning combination allowing for having all the information that is relevant on the go or easily accessible from the same device.

Why Writing Well Is Hard

The process of writing transforms thoughts into structured composition of words. I believe the difficulty in writing, for that matter in any creative process, lies exactly in the challenges posed by the extraction of the inherent randomness in the thought process while transforming them into ordered synthesis and description of ideas.

Why writing well is hard

There is a parallel to be drawn with the concept of increasing entropy, as described with the second law of thermodynamics. This law states that the natural tendency of processes is to progress in the direction of increase in disorder. For any process, countering this tendency requires the input of work in order for it to occur. That is precisely why writing well is difficult. The second law stipulates that there is a price to be paid to take the the randomness of the thought process and organize ideas in ordered format. The price is the work that needs to be put in the writing process.

The work required to take an idea through the three stages shown above requires the lowering of the overall randomness of the system of thought. There are no shortcuts to it. One only learns about the path of the least resistance through study and practice. This process could be one of developing faculty with the language of expression or other instruments of creativity. It could also be, in the process of reading, the sheer absorption of ways, intentionally or unintentionally, in which other great writers were able to accomplish this task. What differentiates the good from the not-so-good is the discovery and channeling of that unique path.

Is The Internet Almost Full?

So asks Seth Godin in a post that explores the implications of the explosion in content creation and dissemination. Below is an excerpt of the post:

… Of course, the decentralized nature of the net means that it will never be physically full. As long as we can keep making hard drives, we won’t run out of space to store those inane videos of your Aunt Sally. What is full is our attention.

Ten years ago, you had a shot of at least being aware of everything that mattered. Five years ago, you had to be really selective about what you took in, but at least it was possible to know what you didn’t know. Today, it’s impossible. Today, you can’t even read every article on a thin slice of a thin topic.

You can’t keep up with the status of your friends on the social networks. No way. You can’t read every important blog… you can’t even read all the blogs that tell you what the important blogs are saying.

Used to be, you could finish reading your email, hit “check email” and nothing new would show up. Now, of course, the new mail is probably a longer list than the mail you just finished processing.

The internet isn’t full, but we are.”

This is a wonderful observation. I do not think that this particular topic is properly examined. Of course, an observation that was previously made about Null Information concerns exactly with this issue that Seth is referring to. He is making note of the tremendous amount of content, and information about the content, that is being generated, and the relative scarcity of our own time and attention to make use of it. Indeed, even with the increased productivity and prolonged work-day, we have a limited amount of time and attention to be paid. On the contrary, what goes into the Null Information is rapidly expanding and explosively growing. One is a finite resource the other has an infinite room for growth, especially given how storage is becoming cheap and increasingly portable.

There are two issues this raises to me. One is the need for coming up with drastic evaluation, assortment and synthesis of information. This could be in the form of increased efficiency and exactness in location, indexing and delivery of relevant information (e.g. better search algorithms), or by tackling it with renewed vigor by the age-old approach of division-of-labor and specialization. More so than at any time before, there is a need for development of expertise, not necessarily only in filling once brain with an amount of knowledge about a body of information, but also in locating where the information is/how it can be utilized/who can benefit most from it/ and making it readily accessible. The distributed nature of this task could allow for taking piece by piece on the behemoth that Null Information is becoming.

The other issue that this paradigm reminds of me is the limited nature of our foresightedness. Sure enough we have an explosion in the amount of information that is being made available and we are seeing a big danger sign staring us right in the face. But, my sense is that people in the old ages, when printing press was first discovered and made popular, were probably thinking of the same thing; fearing the rapid dissemination of all the information and knowledge that is good and evil. Looking at it from today’s perspective it is difficult to argue that we have not fared well by the advent of the printing press, and we express little concern about all the books that are getting published in masses and filling up library shelves. The society as a whole has gradually figured out a way of filtering out, although still highly modulated and manipulated by marketing rather than substance of the books, what is relevant and important.

I think, in the long run, the issue is not going to be so much that there is just too much information out there that is beyond our ability to pay attention to, but it is rather about people, companies and society, at large, figuring out a way to organize and make information relevant and useful to the seeker.

On Credentials and Certification

Paul Graham has an interesting post on the evolution of judging people, specifically as it relates to prediction of future performance. He argues that the change from state where family influence and bribery were of determining factor to one in which academic credential were used as a measuring stick to evaluate the knowledge one has was brought about by the Chinese. He informs about the benefits that this change brought about the and pitfalls of using credentials as a predictor of performance and output. Such pitfalls of the system, are being overcome by another transformation he sees taking place in the way businesses are organized and how the large scale ones are perceived.

These observations are precinct and applicable to this day and age and actually have particular relevance as it relates to not only measuring performance, but also ensuring active engagement is made in broadening one’s usefulness to society. In a previous post, I discussed about the difference between passive and active consumer of information. Performance, as measured by credentials and certification, is an indication of past glory and accomplishment. Even if one assumes that these credentials are well tailored and made “unhackable,” I think the degree of relevance of these indicators have in evaluating a person’s knowledge on a given topic or the mental faculty to think and learn diminishes over time. This is mainly due to the pervasive occupation in a passive information consumer state. To overcome this one has to engage in an active, deliberate, and focused effort to continue to learn and develop the ability to absorb, digest, and apply new information. Hence, one has to transform oneself to an active consumer of information.

The danger I see with credentials and certification is that, specifically because they measure past glory, they can lead one into having an inflated sense of self-worth. If one is not actively engaged in learning, hidden behind the stellar indicators of accomplishment may be a brain that had deteriorated in its ability to ensure good performance now. Personally, I would not do away with credentials and the value put in attaining a good form of education as they still are the best ways we have for ensuring, not just that one has some abstract intrinsic amount of knowledge, but also the necessary basic preparedness and discipline it takes to learn. But, steps can be taken to ensure continual improvement, either self-induced or incentivized.

A Severed Artery

That is what is being said about the broken internet connection between Europe, Asia and Africa after damage to undersea cables linking the three continents took down a major route for internet traffic. “As much as 70% of internet and telephone traffic between the continents has been affected by the outage, which was caused by damage to a string of cables that run under the Mediterranean between Italy and Egypt. The lines, which hit the Egyptian coast at Alexandria and go on to connect to Asia, were probably damaged either by a ship’s anchor or a minor earthquake, according to officials.

This begs the question: will there come a day when the internet will be liberated from the need to establish connection between continents using massive undersea cables? I believe that it will. This will actually fit with the prediction about the wirefree world preciously talked about. Below is amap of the world’s undersea internet cables. Looking at this map one can not help but be amazed by how connected, in physical sense, we are to each other. At the same time, while acknowledging the tremendous scientific and technological feat it is to stretch these cables over thousands of miles of distance and ensuring that they have the necessary fidelity and built-in redundancy, one wonders about how old and unimpressive these undersea cables look tethered together all over the place.

Passive/Active Consumption of Information

Why blog at all? That is a fair question to ask. A detailed discussion on the social implications and the meaning of blogging is not the intention of this post. It is rather a reflection on the consequence of active blogging in the patterns of information consumption. In a previous post, I have discussed the concept of Null Information, the untapped and unaccounted for reservoir of knowledge and wisdom, and the never-ending battle between the explosive pace at which content is being created and the efforts being made to make information more relevant and accessible to the masses. Here, what I would like to ponder on is the consequence of blogging on the transformation of receiver of information from a passive to an active consumer. I think this could have a far reaching consequence in terms of the development of communication skills and building of intellectual capital. Let’s take the example of writing. Most of us work in an environment where one is rarely forced to synthesize and describe information that is outside of our area of expertise. So, all one gets to build in a day-to-day basis is really fluency in a limited language. Then, there also is the advent of instant messaging where written communication in a truncated word or sentence construction format is commonplace. It does not take a stretch of imagination to believe that a great many of us gradually forget how to write in complete sentences, how to think, how to articulate thoughts and communicate them. The direct consequence of this is that one is transformed into a passive consumer of information. In this paradigm, the act of reading an article or a book, watch a program on TV becomes a one-way flow of information, where the substance and meaning of that piece of information is not thought about or synthesized concretely. To me, blogging is the antidote to this. The act of blogging forces one to gather, synthesize, and, at the very least, describe pieces of information. The process of selection of and writing about a given topic forces one to think and reflect on the piece of information under consideration. It provides the venue for expansion of knowledge on topics of interest; the “schooling” ground where learning takes place. That is where the merit of blogging lies: the transformation of oneself from a passive consumer of information to an active one.

A Time To Be Had Or A Time To Be Made?

That is the question. Of late, I have started to give a serious thought about whether our concept of time is slightly distorted or not. The common answer one gets to an enquiry made about why a certain task is not completed is “I had no time” or “I was busy.” I must say I am as guilty about this as anyone else. Now, one could be busy in the sense of being continually engaged in working on a task. Seldom do we though effectively do that without uninterrupted concentration and focus for an extended period of time. If we critically analyzed patterns in daily activities or habits, I think, we would realize that there is a non-negligible bit of time that is spent with no consequence or added value to our overall well being. In those instances, the idle occupation of the mind and body and attention with senseless tasks is what leads to the sense of busyness. I am realizing that when one starts to actively prioritize the tasks at hand or the pleasureful activities that are of interest, it is amazing how one all of a sudden starts “finding” the time that was never thought to be had disguised in the form of “busyness” and buried in the “busy” land. The message is that we all have exactly the same amount of time granted to us, unless you happen to find yourself travelling at close to the speed of light, and how we use it is strictly dependent on our ability to actively prioritize the tasks that add value to those that do not. So, it is really not that we do not have time relative to someone else, it is really that we do not always make time for what is important.

Performance

What is responsible for world-class achievement? How does success come to pass? The topic of performance and two books by Malcom Gladwell (Outliers: The Story of Success) and Geoff Colvin (Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else) were discussed on Charlie Rose (12/19). It was an incredible program to watch as these two authors have cristalized two notions that I firmly believe are not only contributing, but determining, factors to achieving a goal or distinguishing oneself from others in any field of endeavor. These two ideas are concerned with:

1. How conducive an environment one is brought in to that helps cultivate the the gifts and tendencies of individuals? Gladwell argues that, indeed, the fabric of recognized or unrecognized support system are behind some of the greatest achievers success. This support system that give a hidden competitive advantage to the high-achievers could come in the form of societal, cultural, or experiential. We have looked at a study that has recently come out that highlighted the effect of socioeconomic status on brain development. Needless to say, this is an example of the the impact of the environment has in endowing some with a structural advantage over others.
2. What role does disciplined and focused work ethic play in breeding success? Colvin argues that this has everything to do with it. In fact, it is not really that of natural gifts and advantages, but the persistent and focused hard-work applied to a field of study or experience that culminates into a world-class achievement. He points out that the building of greater advantage over others overtime through the understanding of past failures and the application of specific effort at addressing them is what leads to differentiation.

These two books, and other related publications, have successfully highlighted the importance environmental advantages in shaping up the outcome of an endeavor. That success is not an accident and a miraculous and immediate confluence of events to catapult one to a high level of dominance over others. It is the building of competitive advantage overtime by capitalizing on the smaller fast-starts given to one at each step of the way. Capitalizing on these fast-starts leading up to world class performance requires the application one’s mind and the discipline and perseverance to continue to improve over a long period of time. This is a prime example of what I would call the laws of incremental returns. In fact, this shall be the second law of incremental returns.

The Making of a President: Interpretations

Shown below are the seminal speeches of Barack Obama shown in condensed word cloud representation with the exclusion of common words in the English language. It is very striking to note that each of these speeches have a particular and unmistakable message and theme as exemplified in the most frequently used words in the respective speeches (In the case of the word cloud representation, those words are the ones that are seen to be of the largest font size in the cloud). I think this goes to show Obama’s ability to communicate effectively, a topic that was discussed in a previous post. Here, I will attempt to decipher the key themes of each of these speeches based on just a few words that are prominently displayed in each cloud.

• Iraq speech: opposed, fight, war: There is no mistaking that he wanted to get across the point that he opposed the war. He had multiple parts of the speech where he asks “You want a fight, President Bush?” and goes on to describe worthwhile fights. In so doing, he is able to effectively communicate, as he put it, “I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.”

Delivered on Wednesday, October 2, 2002 by Barack Obama, Illinois State Senator, at the first high-profile Chicago anti-Iraq war rally.

• Democratic Convention speech (2004):- America, hope, states, country: If we ignore the references to John Kerry, which was inevitable as the occasion called for it, these words are central to the unifying theme that he was speaking to. He was calling the people to the sense of country, hope and unity in spite of the presumed divisions that exist between people of different states.

The keynote speech before the Democratic National Convention given by then candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois on July 27, 2004

• Iowa speech:- Hope, America, moment, change: The victory Obama had in Iowa and this speech, which he gave in the aftermath, are the two factors that transformed him into a credible and viable candidate for the presidency. The grand theme of hope tied to a message of all things being possible in America and a coming of change make this speech one of the most memorable ones.

After the victory in the Iowa Democratic caucus on January 3, 2008

• New Hampshire speech:- Yes, new, America, something, happening: This was a concession speech unlike any other, and one of my favorites. The themes sounded in this one speak to the re-energizing of the campaign effort, the relaunching into a new and drawn-out competition for the nomination, the stirring of a “yes we can” mentality, and the articulation of the coming together of forces to re-align the political landscape. In the face of defeat, this was as solid and motivational a speech as one could ask for.

Concession speech in New Hampshire on January 08, 2008

• Race speech:- white, black: this speech is a substantive one. These two words say it all. Below is an extended passage from this speech that met the challenge of the day facing Obama’s campaign and served to give a historical lesson about the arc of progress being made in race relations from the original sin of slavery to this day.

A more perfect union, a speech on race relations given on March 18, 2008

• Acceptance speech:- Promise, America, McCain: This speech marks the culmination of a long nomination fight and a transition to the new phase of the campaign in which Obama squarely put the choices facing the American people in the plainest of ways. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this was an aggressive speech that was directly aimed at contrasting with McCain/Bush, and hence the prominence of the word in the cloud. While doing that, he still maintains the unifying theme of focusing on and proclaiming the promise of America and its people.

Democratic National Convention nomination acceptance address delivered on 28 August 2008

• Victory speech: America, tonight, new, people: Only in America can this indeed happen, only in America! Obama election is a historical marker that shall be used to demarcate the degree of transformation the country is making towards becoming a more perfect union. His speech amplifies these themes (America, tonight, new) where, on that particular night, the coming together of a broad coalition of people has elevated him to the highest office in the land and charted a new course in history.

President-Elect victory speech delivered on 4 November 2008

The Wirefree World

Here is a prediction to go a along with the projection about the future of the internet that was put out by Pew Internet & American Project. My prediction is that in the next two decades the world will have been liberated from the strong hold wires have on devices/machines/appliances. This prediction is specifically related to the wirefree transmission of power and signals of communication. The machines and devices of the future are going to have the capability to tap into the energy transmitted wirefree from power generators. Until broad availability of what I call energy signal is made possible, charging-by-proximity will have been made possible by technological advancements in the intermediate future. The model for this will be the equivalent of the a modem that converters wired internet into a wireless one. Within the home and office environment, all appliances and devices will have had connectivity with each other and capability of communication in which a smart centralized system will allow for effective allocation of energy resources. Freed from the need to be tied to wall, appliances and devices will have had maximal mobility. This last leg of technological evolution will complement and add to the advancements that are being made in wireless internet, content transmission and communication.

Barack Obama

This is a thought put together much later than almost all has been said about the person of Barack Obama and the significance of his rise to the highest office in the land. As my former teacher would say, it is better late than never. What pushed me even more to jot down my thoughts on this historical moment is the myopia and utter lack of historical perspective a significant number in news media and even larger number of those who oppose(d) have been showing in the course and since the end of the presidential campaign. What amazes me is that some observers and most of his political opponents seemed to not be able to learn from the demise of their predecessors. Looking back at his political career, from a crushing defeat in his first attempt at elected office to his election as a state senator and later as a US senator, one quickly learns that he has a consummate ability to seize opportunities that come his way. These opportunities were not being thrown at him as an endowment of a privileged background. He had the necessary preparation, insight and forward-thinking to position himself in a place where he can take the most advantage. They do not say luck favors the prepared for no reason. That at-all-time readiness has singlehandedly catapulted him from a son of a mother living on food stumps to a position of influence and power unlike any other.

He is a practical kind of a leader who seems to wisely choose the battles he wants to fight knowing that he has a higher than likely chance of succeeding. He has demonstrated that time and time again. Essential readings in this regard are: Relentless: How Barack Obama Outsmarted Hillary Clinton, by Roger Simon and Making It: How Chicago Shaped Obama, by Ryan Lizza. Even of late, there is a sense of amazement among many about the kind of team he is building to be a part of his adminstration. Many are expressing wonder in how pragmatic he is and centerist his approach has been during the transition period. These same people were giving a deaf ear to his message during the campaign and were more interested in believing the distorted perceptions about his political leanings, even after he had written a best selling book professing to the idea otherwise. One needs only to hear what some of the most conservative members of the Harvard Law Review had to say about his leadership style that was embracing of all sides and the intellectual strength he had to entertain ideas that are vastly different than his own. Below is a portion of that Frontline program:

As they say, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In the case of the presidential election, they continued to underestimate him and simply found themselves at the losing end.

On a personal level, witnessing in real-time what will be remembered for a long time as a spectacular political accomplishment of the last many decades was a privilege. I believe that the inspirational value of his election would far outweigh many of the practical policy accomplishments that he will have had during his term. Millions of kids, be they whites or minorities, will have grown up taking for granted the fact that all things are possible. It is especially more meaningful as the country progresses forward towards a nation where minorities will have collectively made for the majority of the population. When Obama says that he was raised by a single mother without a father around and that his family was relying on food stumps to make it, a lot of children from broken homes can hear and see him and know that they too can make it irrespective of their current circumstances. The outcome of the election was also an affirmation of the core decency, as Obama would put it, of the American people. Watching the election returns come in, I was just sitting there thinking to myself what a great country this is. There may be some cynics, racists, bigots, and other people prone to be guided by prejudices, but there are a greater many who are open to persuasion and are willing to be inspired by a message of unity irrespective of the background and skin-color of the messenger. The civility about the process and the malleability of the nation to change and self-correct also make it the most unique among many.

What I think is most remarkable about Obama is his ability to put thoughts and ideas in to a melodic symphony of words. His ability to effectively communicate in writing and speaking are of tremendous inspiration for all and of a great asset to him. I think the biggest lesson we should all take from this is that not only success favors the prepared, but also that one has to have the courage, boldness, and, shall we say, audacity to step into greatness. He could have easily been satisfied to remain as a community organizer, law clerk, civil rights lawyer, a professor, a state senator, or the only sitting black US senator. But, every step of the way, he was ready and prepared to take a step forward to accomplish the unthinkable and pave the way for those willing to take the example. And because he did, he has forever changed the world and how the world perceives people like him!

Null Information

Information is power and currency. Unlocking this power is the key to a competitive advantage as those with access to and knowledge of it are empowered with the insight that others do not have. As such, more informed decisions can be made or risks taken, which in turn could translate into the creation of value. In thinking about the transformation the electronic evolution has brought about in enabling easy dissemination, storage, and retrieval of information, a thought came to mind that puts into question the current evolutionary path in location and presentation of relevant information. A case in point is the tremendous success Google has had in making information readily accessible. For a better insight into the business model and the unique approach in creating value in the inter-linking of domains of information and services, please refer to a previous post here. In parallel to the development of search technologies, recent advances in web based applications has made creation of content easier. With the advent of this development, the prevalence of what I call Null Information has also increased. Null Information is the kind that is of no determined value or relevance. For example, a Google search for “information” returns, as shown below, 3,040,000,000 results. Now, there used to be a time when this was considered to be an incredible feat. But, to the interested party who is looking for information on “information,” no pun intended, the fact that there are more than 3 billion results is completely irrelevant and uninteresting. This information is by itself useless for the most part.

A Google Search for “information” on 12/17/08

A given individual is at most going to be able to check out information contained in the first few pages of this result. Let us assume that the Google search engine is an all-too-powerful one that scavenges all over the internet and returns all the relevant information for a given search inquiry. Let us also say that that one would have the patience to review and digest information from the first 1000 results, which would be 100 pages of search results. I understand that almost no one does this. But, for the sake of argument, let assume that it happens. If that is the case, the 1000 search results would be less than 0.00004 % of the overall outcome. The remaining 99.99994% of the information returned is what I would consider to be Null Information. It is not that this astounding amount of content does not have any intrinsic value. It is just that it has not been properly tapped into or made relevant to what is currently being searched for.

To put it in perspective, let us consider the population of the U.S. On 12/18/08 at 01:14 GMT the population of the U.S. is
projected to be 305,904,346. The equivalent of the search result would be taking ~ 100 people to be representative of what the American people are like. The remaining 305,904,246 people are completely left out of this outcome. All the intricate and unique information about these people is not really accessed or accounted for. This body of knowledge is what is the Null Information. It can be argued that it is possible to come up with 100 Americans that are a good representative of the general population. However, we can agree that whoever decides who gets to be one of the hundred better be really good in order for the outcome to have the most consensus. There are a few ways to ensure that this selection process come as close to being good as possible. One is to go ahead and undertake a massive census of all the people of the country and find out about the characteristic traits of each and every American; if not all as, many as possible. Endowed with this knowledge one can synthesize the data to filter out the most common traits that are shared by the people and select the top 100 people having them. This requires that a centralized entity undertakes such an effort. This would be the equivalent to how search is evolving, where the likes of Google are amassing as much personalized information as possible so that they can customize the delivery of services to the interested party. The other option is to leave it up to the people of the U.S. to decide who get to be their representatives. This would be much like the elections, but with an important twist. The election is not to select a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, but the equivalent of selecting 100 presidents with as close to a 100% participation rate in the election as possible. Already one can see how messy of a process this can be. If it can be pulled off, this would give a direct platform for the people to make their desires be known. It also provides a direct access to the collective individualized-wants-and-needs of the people, and would truly provide for as an accurate a representation as possible. There are information retrieval approaches developed around this concept. The advent of tagging of information and bookmarking are attempts in creating a platform for democratic expression of interests and desires. Using this gathering of information, entities can then provide services back to the participants that are directly applicable.

The decision as to which method is the most effect is a difficult one to make. On the one hand, the first approach puts all the power of decision making on one entity. Although such an entity can aspire to take into account the ways in which one piece of information is more relevant than the other (in the case of Google the taking in to account not only the content of pages, but also the degree of inter-linking between the other pages and the one in consideration), the final decision remains exclusively with that entity. Reliance on a method of deciphering relevance through a particular approach has its own pitfalls as it gives incentive for other parties to come up with a way to essentially game the system. A very good example of this could be the budding industry in “search engine optimization.” Incidentally, a search for “search engine optimization” by itself returns > 27 million results. On the other hand, the process of allowing participants to express their interest is an involved process that is prone to high level of inefficiency and difficulty in consensus building. If there is not a 100% buy in to the process of selection, then the same problem of few deciding what is best for all is encountered. In the long run, both approaches will likely continue to develop and find ways to stay useful for the masses. Either way, there remains a core problem in tapping into the Null Information. Whether it is for companies to acquire as much personalized data as possible so that when individual X makes an inquiry about Y, (s)he is not inundated with billions of irrelevant data wasting the resources required for storage, retrieval and review of data or the case of building a large-scale platform for as many people as possible to participate in a democratic process of self-expression, there is a lot to be done about the Null Information. There is an astounding need for not only search for information, but also sorting and customizing it. As search technologies become more powerful, this may be accomplished with ease granted that there is an existing data connecting individual with pieces of information. There is also a need for providing venues for expressions of one kind or another. With the rapid rise in content creation and dissemination, it is going to be a battle fought over a long period of time with the aforementioned entities playing catch up with the population at large. Now that is a battle for the ages!

Social Beings

Human beings are social beings. We are bound by the fabric of inter-dependencies that link a mother to a child, a child to a father and immediate family, a family to a community, and a community to a people. I think, in an environment where individuality is celebrated, technological advancements that foster introversion and exclusion have been playing a role in loosening the connectedness between us. Advancement of technological capabilities has made life more convenient and fast-paced than ever. The added convenience, however, comes at the expense of minimizing real world human interaction. The prominence of social media, I think, is indicative of this condition. Engagement with others via virtual media acts as a substitute for the lack (or scarcity) of one in the real world. The long-term consequence of this trend is yet to be seen. Any ideas on studies conducted on such topics?

Energy Prices versus Consumption

Ever wondered about how the historical comparison of oil prices compares with the overall consumption in the U.S.? Here is a thorough onestop collection of data and analysis on this topic. I find the following graph particularly instructive as far as the Grand Energy Challenge is concerned.

Petroleum Consumption and Price By J. L. Williams

The sustained pace at which consumption has been going up since the early eighties is cause for alarm. In fact, for most of this period, the price of oil has been lagging behind the corresponding energy consumption rate. This is also the case if one looks at the trend in weekly price of gas. The following is a plot put together from data put out by the Energy Information Administration.

Weekly U.S. Regular Conventional Retail Gasoline Prices

Gas prices are arguable the most visible and immediate anchor of perception for energy prices for consumers and, unfortunately, policy makes. In this measure, in recent past, it is only during the early part of this century that the price of started to show an appreciable increase. Despite the alarming rise in the total energy consumption rate, policy makers have not shown a sense of urgency and political will to deal with the problem, partly because of the lack of immediacy of impact on the population at large. It took the catching-up-to-reality of the prices to finally bring into the collective consciousness issues such as climate change and efficiency of usage. Now that there is the coming-together of the will of the public to look beyond the energy guzzling vehicles and appliances and of the policy makers to admit to the need to deal with the issue, a visionary leadership is needed to not let this fortunate coincidence to go to waste. The incredible fall off in the prices in the last six months has brought prices to the pre-this-decade levels. There is a finite time period left until the > $4/gallon prices are quickly forgotten about and the will to enact bold agenda will be slowly deteriorate. It time to act, and act now.

The Efficiency versus Redundancy Dilemma

What is the inflection point at which built-in redundancy in a system becomes an impediment on efficiency of allocation of resources and execution of tasks? Below is what I would define as “the Efficiency – Redundancy (E-R) curve,” which has four distinct phases.

The Efficiency-Redundancy Curve

Phase I is a stage at which the rate of growth in efficiency for increase in capacity is the fastest. Then comes Phase II where there is still an upward return in efficiency for increasing flexibility afforded by maximizing redundancy. In organizational framework, the early detection of the decline in the rate of return for the added redundancy is imprortant in stearing the forward progress of goals and proper allocation of resources. It becomes even more important to be watchful for the onset of Phase III where system efficiency stagnates and there is no added benefit in increasing redundancy. If continued in this path, then the long, but inevitable deterioration of system efficiency occurs as a result of the increasing disorganization that naturally grows out of excess resources-redundancy built into the system. This is Phase IV, and the demise of most organizations that are lead by the principle of simply throwing resources at a problem without accountability and a critical assessment of where the project/organizational goals are at the E-R curve.

Memory Deficit Disorder (MDD) in the Mobile Device Age

As mobile device usage becomes more prevalent, the sophisticated communication capability and connectivity they afford has made these devices indispensable for many. Could the inevitable excessive reliance on such devices for accomplishing even the most rudimentary of tasks be setting us up for underdevelopment of our metal faculties? How many phone numbers can you recite of top of your head? The memory deficit disorder that could result is only the beginning. The interesting reality of this particular disorder is that those that will be the most affected are arguably the most literate part of the population. While the long-term consequence is yet to be seen, this may be the beginning of the convergence of the human and the machine with humans relegating information storage and processing capabilities to machines. All the mobile and discrete devices that seem to bring the world to our finger tips and that we hold so dear and near to us may one day find themselves integrated with our physical body and embedded within. Somehow that does not seem to be that far away…

The Structural Disadvantage of the Underprivileged

In the two previous posts here and here, we saw that the brain development of kids from low socioeconomic background significantly lags behind that of those from rich background and that a relatively large portions of the world remain underdevelopment (measuring by the visibility of city lights at night), respectively. It is striking to me how the two reinforce each other. The underdeveloped corners of the world have significantly larger proportion of their population as underprivileged and from low socioeconomic background. Could the implication of this natural coincidence be that the gap between the developed and underdeveloped world is forever deemed to continue to exist? How can this viciouscycle be broken? Of all all the choicelessness a human being experiences throughout life, this one is by far the worst them all. It makes a difference on whether one is born in Darfur or Boston, or inner-city or suburbia. Policy-making aimed at alleviating suffering will need to critically look at the structural disadvantage of the underprivileged in overcoming the odds stacked against them. The combination of these two factors, the underdevelopment of the environment and its consequence in the development of the individual, beg for intervention at early stages of development. For example, if one is to offer help to the underprivileged, it will be more sensible to give support for early childhood education than pour money in the form of affirmative action at institutions of higher education.

Paying for Now

Seth Godin has a post on the high cost of access to source or moment of information:

More than ever, there’s a clear relationship between how new something is and how much it costs to discover that news.”

One point of view that needs to be highlighted, however, is, in the current times, the acceleration between the limited introduction and broad distribution of the latest item/piece of information is high. So, what used to be the latest it “to be or have or know” does not stay that way for far too long. If one is to do the cost-benefit analysis of such acquiring of the now and waiting, a lot more people would probably be best-served if they were to be patient. This is a case in point for laws of incremental return (LIRs). While the high cost of living in the now may be acceptable for the affluent, for a great number, the immediacy and gratification of being a part of the latest it “to be or know or have” is simply too costly to justify the utility gained from it. Being patient allows one to experience a far smaller cost, give time for reasoned reflection on differentiating between need and want, and choose between multiple offerings giving similar utility. The urgency to consume and consume indiscriminately is partly to blame for the massively credit-ridden and troubled economic landscape we find ourselves in. Go ahead an wait it out. That latest expensive gadget that seems to be cool is soon going to be everywhere. If you wait long enough, there will come an even better one. The learning from this is that utility of your time/money is directly proportional to time. Let that be the first law of incremental return (LIR).

The Laws of Incremental Returns: Reclaiming the Long-term Perspective

The old adage has it that patience is a virtue. In the day and age where attention is continually being interrupted and many of us are driven by the desire to find the shortcuts in life there is a case to be made for patience. I shall aspire to document thoughts and information that will go into the formulation of what I call the laws of incremental returns (LIRs). An attempt will be made to make the case for sustained development and application of ones faculty and its relative importance in achieving objectives. A quick brainstorming of areas of interest the will be explored in pursuit of formulation of LIRs include, but not limited to:

• Economics: Aggregation and compounding

• Education: Adaptation, refinement, and advancement of knowledge

• Certification, accreditation, and access to opportunity

• Research undertakings: Influence of past precedent of the discovery process (we stand on the shoulders of giants)

• Interpersonal and inter-community relationships: The building of trust

• Growth of faith

• Governance: Institutional organization and efficiency

• Physiological evolution and organization

• Cognitive development

• Decision making

• On the functionality of the union of components being more than the sum of the individual components

• Health and endurance

• Creationism and evolution

• Marketing, traction of ideas and popularity

• Intelligence and smartness

• Democratization

The Grand Energy Challenge: The Four Cardinals to Long-term Sustainability

I believe the discussion on the transformation of the energy-landscape should be firmly anchored on thorough assessment of what I call the four cardinals to achieving long-term sustainability and address the grand energy challenge. These four cardinals are: creation, conversion, storage, and transport. Creation is to the exploration of sources of energy through tapping into natural resources or harnessing the energy-byproduct of activities. Conversion is to the the interchangeability of different energy-forms. Storage is to the identification and on-demand accessibility of repository of unwanted energy. Transport is to the creation of carriers of energy-form. Such a holistic approach in the treatment of the energy problem allows for the addressing of issues concerning energy usage from the source to the point-of-use. Under this broad theme example of advancements in any of such areas will be highlighted and discussed.

The Four Cardinals to Long-term Energy Sustainability