I don’t want to workout today. Just walk the boy, and then sit and work in the warm home.
But I also don’t want to not workout today, the first day of December.
Update: Cancelled the Pilates class. Swimming is now my only possible saviour.
Category: post
Everybody knows…
It’s the opening title song in the movie Justice League.
I’m haunted (besotted) with it. Can’t just get over it.
Especially love this line in the lyrics:
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Written by someone whose understanding of family, and (fear of) loss is similar to mine :)
Be happy or sad?
Sad: fever is back today morning 🙁
Happy: weight is down, just 0.4Kg from pre India minima 🙂
Importance of learning languages…
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the importance of learning multiple languages in this changing world. My post was in the context of the disruption in white collar careers that improvements AI will bring.
Seems like a few other sharp minds have been thinking on the same lines. Here’s a post in the Financial Times discussing research on similar lines, but addressing impact of disruption by Brexit. Here’s their list of languages, though I recommend you read the full post:
In other news…
I returned from India
It was an unplanned trip, to attend to a family matter. Most of it was very boring. The smog kept me indoors, so couldn’t go for long walks. I’m off TV, so no time to waste there either, and I have no friends left in Karnal to go visit.
Reading was my only escape. I read Anita & Me, and Sapiens, and re-read a bit of Thinking fast and slow. Also read 3 issues of The Economist. Separately, read a 100+ articles in Instapaper.
I even had time to update the AcceleReader for Instapaper Chrome extension with a new feature, despite working on a really slow internet connection.
I met old friends
The visit did end on an exciting note though. On the evening before the flight, I met up with my friends from undergrad for dinner.
I had no clue what to expect. These were the people with whom I spent most, if not all, of my first 3 years of college. And yet I hadn’t seen, or spoken, to most of them in last 5-7 years.
I’ve long believed that friendship is just a bunch of shared experiences. Friendships are kept alive by creating these experiences, or reliving them. What sort of friendship would it be when we haven’t even met or spoken for better part of a decade, and not created shared experiences for even longer?
I’ll just say, I’ll need to revisit (refine?) my understanding of friendship a bit. Continue reading In other news…
Attention economy – a monopoly, and my dues
The thought process that went into building these applications, Facebook being the first of them, … was all about: ‘How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?‘
Sean Parker, ex President at Facebook
We’re living in an attention economy, and Facebook is the (almost-)monopoly firm.
This also answers:
- Why I don’t use Facebook and WhatsApp?
- Why I’m not as active on Twitter anymore?
- Why I’m not proud of still being moderately active on Instagram?
- Why I’ve given up watching TV, at least for the time being?
If it’s an attention economy, then I want to be paid for my attention. And a dopamine shot isn’t a worthy currency for me.
In other news…
Clutter Free went past 10,000 users
I discovered some dark chocolate that I’d packed, but forgotten
I finished a book
And…
I’m bored to death. The smog ensures that I can’t even go out for a walk. And the dry, depressing atmosphere inside the house makes it so sad that I don’t even want to speak to anyone.
The book was an escape. It got over. So, now I’ve started listening to podcasts again.
Also, bought a bluetooth speaker off Amazon, so I stream of Hindi songs on it for everyone during the day.
Planning to start work on a small update to AcceleReader for Instapaper tomorrow.
That’s all, folks!
Languages that I …
… want my imaginary kids to learn.
English
French/German
Hindi
Mandarin
Spanish
Arabic
German/French
Swahili
Punjabi
Tamil
In a globalising, automating world, a personal connect – the soft skills – will rise in value. There are few better ways to enhance your value, and the value of your experience than know the language of the people1.
Smog
It’s been 3 days since I arrived in India. I’m yet to see the sky.
The cab driver called it fog. But the daytime temperatures are in high 20s, even saw 31°C yesterday. Yet this fog never clears.
I’m in my hometown. When I was growing up here, we used to lay on the roof at night, and try to recognise all the constellations.
In three days, I haven’t even seen a clear sun or moon.
Back home in Guildford, we still see the sky bright and clear – just the way it used to be here when I was growing up.
I miss that clear sky. That sharp, clear sunshine. And that bright and clear moon at which my boy barks.
Everyone knows this is smog. Everyone knows what’s causing it. (I think) everyone knows it’s quite bad for their health.
And yet, no one’s bothered about it. Not one bit.
Small differences
Unconnected. Were never connected.
Disconnected. Were connected, not anymore.
In human relationships, one is usually better than the other.
For some, one is hope. For others, the other is respite.
For some, one is failure. For others, the other is.