Philosophy #0: A New Year's Resolution: Thinking Out Loud About Philosophy

A New Year's Resolution: Thinking Out Loud About Philosophy

This year, I’ve decided to make philosophy a bigger part of my life—and my blog.

As part of my New Year’s Resolution, I’ll be writing a series of posts on philosophical topics that have intrigued, challenged, or even frustrated me over the years. I’m not promising a fixed number, but I do plan to write at least six posts before the year is out.

Some will be reflections on historical schools of thought, like Scholasticism. Others may explore the way language influences how we think—perhaps even how a language like Esperanto might help offer philosophical clarity. I might also respond to modern philosophers, or offer personal takes on perennial questions.

In short: I’ll be thinking out loud.

These posts won’t try to sound like journal articles. They’re not meant to impress, but to provoke thought, spark conversations, and maybe even poke at a few sacred cows. If anything I write makes you pause and consider something differently—even for a moment—then I’ll count that as a success.

So here’s to a year of curiosity, challenge, and conversation.

Let the thinking begin.

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Zero time

Yeah, zero time.

As you might have guessed, I spent basically zero time worrying about what I put on this blog.

I take some of this material and keep it around for later social media action, like making another post about this workshop.

It is handy to have all this information around in one place. 

[[ IEEE Computer Society / Computer Society of India & HCC Present - Productivity and Mental Wellness Webinar ]]

 My latest LinkedIn post on my Mental Wellness Workshop, sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society, Computer Society of India and HCC.

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[[ IEEE Computer Society / Computer Society of India & HCC Present - Productivity and Mental Wellness Webinar ]]

[ Join Us for an Exciting Webinar on Productivity and Mental Wellness in the Workplace! ]

I am thrilled to announce that I’ll be presenting a webinar titled "A Presentation on Productivity & Mental Wellness in the Workplace, including a discussion of The Ekzercado Method," hosted by the IEEE Computer Society, the Computer Society of India and HCCC. This session promises to be an engaging exploration of how we can align personal well-being with professional excellence, using actionable insights from cutting-edge research and age-old wisdom.

The webinar will delve into the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese philosophy that offers a practical framework for discovering purpose and finding fulfillment by aligning what we love, what we are good at, what the world needs, and what we can be paid for. We'll also discuss mindfulness, gratitude practices, and how positive psychology can enhance both mental wellness and workplace productivity. These principles, while rooted in personal well-being, have powerful implications for team dynamics and organizational success.

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I’m particularly excited to introduce The Ekzercado Method, a simple yet transformative approach to continuous improvement for mental and physical wellness. By integrating small, consistent actions into daily routines and reflecting periodically to optimize habits, this method empowers individuals to take charge of their health and productivity journeys effectively.

[ Date of the Webinar: Saturday, 28th Dec 2024 ]
[ Time of the Webinar: 6.30 pm to 7.45 pm IST ]

This webinar is worth attending for professionals, students, and anyone interested in boosting their personal and professional lives. Please find attached our latest draft of the webinar poster, where you can find the registration link. (If there are any changes, you can follow the following website for notification of any changes: https://lnkd.in/gyakZG8m, although we don't expect there to be any.)

Stay tuned for the event details in the attached promotional notice, and I hope to see many of you there! Together, let’s explore how we can thrive in our workplaces while prioritizing our mental and physical well-being.

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The "I am on a break from Facebook" technique for managing Facebook Attention

 I have a rule that every time I jump into Facebook and spend too much on it, I make a post saying "On a Facebook Break" and force myself to take a break from it.

Then, you simply see how often you have been making these "I am on a break from Facebook posts" just to get a rough idea of how much time you have spent on Facebook that month. It is a rough gauge of what you might call "Social Media / Facebook Attention", that is, the time you spent on Social Media / Facebook.

My latest Facebook post on this technique is below.
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For my new Polyglot friends—first off, isn’t Duolingo just wonderful? Nothing quite like that little green owl guilt-tripping you into fluency. 🦉

Now, onto some thoughts sparked by a recent video: The speaker is spot on. Spend an hour on Instagram or Facebook, and you’re left feeling like you’ve binge-watched a season of Nothingness: The Series.

That’s why I avoid Facebook like it’s that one uncle who asks too many questions at family gatherings. I dip in now and then, post a bit, and leave—like someone sneaking into a party just to grab the samosas.

You may have noticed my occasional “I’m on a Facebook Break” announcements. No, I’m not trying to be dramatic—it’s just my way of monitoring myself. Think of it as a modern-day pebble system: every log-in feels like moving a pebble from one pocket to another. Except instead of pebbles, it’s posts about cat videos and motivational quotes.

Too many “I’m on a Break” messages in a month? That’s my red flag. It means Facebook has quietly turned into my part-time job again. (And let’s be honest: no one’s paying me for this.)

So, there you have it—a brief primer on my “I’m on a Break” system. It’s weird, but it works.

Gxis poste! (Trans: “Until later!”)—or until the next pebble. 😎

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[ A NOTE OF THANKS ]

A post I prepared for Faceboko, but decided to delete. I simply don't have the time to field comments. If we won the Internet debate, we won it. Why even bother to reply to further comments over it, even if the person on the losing side was even racist?

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 [ A NOTE OF THANKS ]

A big thank you to everyone for your continued support of the RALPH project, my book project, and my workshop initiatives.

I’m thrilled to share that my other LinkedIn profile has crossed the 200-follower mark. Like my nova amiko (new friend) Emmanuel, I, too, have been hard at work boosting engagement—and it’s paying off!

On the poetry front, the feedback on the A.I. poet’s work has been nothing short of stellar. I was even informed that I’ve won an award for my latest poetry book—though let’s be honest, the real reward is knowing that every subsequent book will be better than the last. How? Thanks to our Continuous Improvement model. #Kaizen #JaiHind

Now, about the recent racially-tinged attack aimed at my poetry books (a swing and a miss, dear troll): our response was swift, decisive, and—to borrow from the trolls' lexicon—an epic fail for them. Next time, I’d recommend they invest in some Qwykr Brain Pills—just $590 a box for fast, efficient, and probably IQ-improving results. Alas, affordability might be an issue. Better luck next time.

Here’s the thing: John Keats, William Wordsworth, Ian Fleming, and Peter Benchley didn’t have what we have—technology. Continuous improvement of our creative “software” is a game-changer. That’s why, mark my words, you can expect consistently high-quality poetry books. Things are only going to get better.

Now, the job of a Writer and Poet is to think about the “bad” in the world and write about it. The job of an Engineer? To eliminate that “bad” altogether—through technology. So why stop at eliminating bad reviews? Let’s eliminate bad reviewers through technology, too. (Okay, not literally—no Gatling Guns here, but Mjolnir is ready if needed. ⚡️)

Never forget, my friends: we are capable of magic—ĉi tiu magio is the result of our fusion of creativity and technology.

And Mjolnir? Well, it’s only the beginning.

Gxis poste! (Trans: “Until later!”) 🚀

🌟 Reflecting on the Journey of Innovation 🌟

 🌟 Reflecting on the Journey of Innovation 🌟

I received last week an email from Xartup about one of their Fellowships, and it prompted me to pause and reflect on how eventful and rewarding this journey has been for our startup. 🚀

From humble beginnings, our vision to develop transformative technologies has steadily gained recognition, and I’m thrilled to share some of the milestones we’ve achieved along the way:
✅ Microsoft for Startups – Honored to be part of this esteemed program that has provided invaluable resources and mentorship.
✅ Google for Startups – A remarkable opportunity to access a global network and expertise, empowering us to scale our impact.
✅ IIM Kashipur's FIED Program – Joining forces with one of India’s premier institutes to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
✅ And many more – Each partnership, program, and accolade has been a step closer to our mission of advancing literacy and education through cutting-edge technology.

If you are starting a company of your own and need some tips, please free to comment below. Also, I would be happy to discuss with you the possibilities of us mutually helping each other, expanding our networks in the VC world.

These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our team, mentors, and well-wishers. 🌟 Thank you all for believing in our vision and helping us turn ideas into reality.
Here’s to continuing this journey of innovation, collaboration, and impact! 💡✨
hashtag#Startups hashtag#Innovation hashtag#Entrepreneurship hashtag#MicrosoftForStartups hashtag#GoogleForStartups hashtag#IIMKashipur hashtag#FIED hashtag#TechnologyForGood

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Serendipity: The Power of Chance Encounters

Sometimes, a simple interaction can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Recently, I posted a comment on Anu Lall's LinkedIn post, which caught her attention. She replied, asking what language the comment was written in—Esperanto, as it turns out.

This sparked a meaningful exchange. We had the opportunity to share our slide deck, originally prepared for Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, as part of our efforts to introduce RALPH to a broader audience.

Moments like these remind me of the importance of staying open to connections and conversations—they can pave the way for incredible possibilities.

Update:  Here is what I conveyed to her, in case the image is not coming through okay. 

"I am learning Esperanto because my company is developing a technology based on Esperanto. We believe that it has potential to significantly impact literacy and educational development, like no other technology around, especially in India. I know that everybody speaks in hyperboles about their own startup, but, in this case, we have discussed this technology with many academics & researchers, who have experience with numerous field studies, and so we have good reason to say that. We have even brought it to the attention of two Nobel Laureates, so far. Two and counting. :-)"

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