My new Book of Poetry is out!

My new Book of Poetry is out!

Here is a link to the Amazon.com page for the book:

https://www.amazon.com/POETRY-WRITTEN-SEVEN-HOURS-AMERICA-ebook/dp/B08963WPJH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=anand+manikutty&qid=1590659629&s=books&sr=1-1

-+-

One thing: I have simplified the exposition of the Theory of Reproducibility introduced in this book.

There is a very accurate model for this, but unfortunately, it is in three dimensions. I didn't want to have a three dimensional model in the book because I was advised to avoid having too much by way of complex mathematics. So, I tried to introduce the idea using a two dimensional model.

The exact model is as follows: consider a two dimensional graph on which you plot each work of art pertaining to each artist of interest. On the X Axis is a measure of the virtuosity of the artist (thus, to the extreme right are artists with high levels of virtuosity such as Mirza Ghalib or Yo Yo Ma, and on the extreme left would be the really poor singers, such as an erstwhile neighbor of mine who used to sing in the bathroom.) On the Y Axis is a measure of the chances of the work of art appealing to the general population (on the top extreme are works of art with likely high levels of mass appeal such as Britney Spears' albums and on the extreme bottom are works of art with likely very low levels of mass appeal such as Ghalib's poetry). On the Z Axis for each work of art, plot an estimate for the audience number for the same.

-+-

One can easily see that the smart move for artists who possess high levels of virtuosity is to move down the Y Axis.

When they do that, they can capture an extremely large market running into the millions, and they could become very rich indeed, even if, say, they only charged a dollar a song.

-+-

Did this blog move? Where to?

Blogger has been fun. But is time to move on to the other things. We are moving on to Twitter. I will post the URL to the Twitter feed in due course of time once I have it set up.

Here is where the previous editions of this blog have been hosted:

•  Ask the Delphic Oracle blog: hosted here.
•  Delfik Orakle blog: hosted here.

Here is my author bio on the Indiatimes website (owned by the Times of India Group): link here.

Update (April 9, 2020): The Twitter feed is available here.

"Jashn-E-Bahaara"

 Introduction:

In the enchanting world of Bollywood music, certain melodies transport us to a realm of timeless beauty and romance, evoking the joy and splendor of spring. One such captivating gem is the exquisite "Jashn-E-Bahaara" from the epic movie Jodhaa Akbar (2008). Composed by the maestro A.R. Rahman and adorned with the soul-stirring lyrics of Javed Akhtar, this song is a mesmerizing ode to the enchanting beauty of nature and the awakening of love.

Melodic Splendor: "Jashn-E-Bahaara" is a masterpiece of melodic splendor, with A.R. Rahman's composition weaving a tapestry of emotions that captures the essence of springtime bliss. The ethereal strains of the flute and the gentle rhythm of the tabla evoke the delicate beauty of blossoming flowers and the soft caress of a gentle breeze. The melody dances with a sense of joy and anticipation, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the magic of the season.

Lyrically Enchanting: Javed Akhtar's lyrics in "Jashn-E-Bahaara" are a poetic masterpiece, painting a vivid picture of love's awakening amidst the vibrant colors of spring. Each verse is a lyrical marvel, expressing the exhilaration of newfound love and the longing for union with the beloved. The imagery is rich and evocative, transporting listeners to a world of romance and passion that transcends time and space.

Iconic Rendition: No discussion of "Jashn-E-Bahaara" would be complete without acknowledging the iconic rendition by the legendary playback singer Javed Ali. His soulful voice infuses the song with an unmatched emotional depth, capturing the ecstasy and yearning of love's tender embrace. Ali's emotive performance, coupled with Rahman's exquisite composition, elevates "Jashn-E-Bahaara" to the realm of timeless classics.

Everlasting Appeal: Decades may pass, but the enchanting beauty of "Jashn-E-Bahaara" continues to captivate audiences, serving as a timeless reminder of the eternal allure of love and nature's boundless splendor. Its timeless melody and evocative lyrics resonate with listeners of all ages, inspiring a sense of wonder and reverence for the beauty that surrounds us. As we listen to this beloved song, let us celebrate the magic of spring and the joy of love's eternal dance.

"Khwaja mere khwaja"

Introduction:

In the rich tapestry of Bollywood music, there exist songs that transcend the boundaries of time and space, transporting listeners to realms of spiritual enlightenment and divine bliss. One such transcendent masterpiece is the mesmerizing "Khawaja Mere Khawaja" from the epic movie Jodhaa Akbar (2008). Composed by the maestro A.R. Rahman and adorned with the profound lyrics of Javed Akhtar, this song is a sublime invocation of the divine, celebrating the universal principles of love, devotion, and surrender.

Musical Majesty:

"Khawaja Mere Khawaja" is a symphony of spiritual majesty, with A.R. Rahman's composition weaving a tapestry of ethereal beauty and celestial grace. The haunting melody, punctuated by the mesmerizing strains of the Sufi qawwali, transports listeners to the inner sanctum of the soul, where the divine presence is felt in every note. The music envelops us in a state of meditative trance, inviting us to lose ourselves in the timeless rhythm of devotion and prayer.

Lyrically Transcendent:

Javed Akhtar's lyrics in "Khawaja Mere Khawaja" are a poetic tribute to the timeless wisdom of the Sufi saints, capturing the essence of mystical ecstasy and divine communion. Each verse is a prayerful invocation of the beloved Khawaja, whose divine presence permeates every corner of the universe. The words resonate with a sense of awe and reverence, inspiring listeners to surrender themselves completely to the divine will.

Iconic Rendition:

No discussion of "Khawaja Mere Khawaja" would be complete without acknowledging the iconic rendition by the legendary playback singer A.R. Rahman himself. His soul-stirring vocals infuse the song with a sense of transcendental fervor, elevating the listener to heights of spiritual ecstasy. Rahman's emotive performance, coupled with his masterful composition, makes "Khawaja Mere Khawaja" an unforgettable musical experience.

Eternal Reverence: 

Decades may pass, but the reverence for "Khawaja Mere Khawaja" remains eternal. Its timeless melody and profound lyrics continue to inspire and uplift listeners, serving as a beacon of spiritual enlightenment in a world often fraught with turmoil and strife. As we immerse ourselves in the divine beauty of this sacred song, let us be reminded of the eternal truth that, in the presence of the divine, all worldly sorrows dissolve into the bliss of divine love. 

Critique of Becker-Posner Posts: Blog Post #1

 Critique of Becker-Posner Posts:  Blog Post #1

[ Post contents hidden ]

TECHNOLOGY: Technology Brings Rugged Iditarod Race to Global Audience

Via the Associated Press:

Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race uses technology so organizers and fans worldwide can monitor the sport in real time. This year's race has 51 contenders traveling between remote village checkpoints across the 1,000-mile (1,600-km) route, tracked electronically by operators in Anchorage hotels. Volunteers and race contractors monitor the dog teams via sleds outfitted with global-positioning system (GPS) trackers, which let fans follow them online while organizers ensure no one is missing. Some operators function as aircraft dispatchers for pilots who ferry supplies, as well as competitors and dogs that drop out; others process live video streamed from checkpoints, using satellite dishes. Still others oversee race-standing updates broadcast through equipment first tested last year, making it possible to activate a super-size hot spot in the most remote locations with satellite links.

TECHNOLOGY: NSA Makes Ghidra, a Powerful Cybersecurity Tool, Open Source

Via Wired magazine: 

The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has chosen to open source the cybersecurity tool Ghidra, a reverse-engineering platform that takes "compiled," deployed software and "decompiles" it. Reverse engineering allows malware analysts and threat intelligence researchers to work backward from software discovered in the wild to understand how it works, what its capabilities are, and who wrote it. Said NSA cybersecurity advisor Rob Joyce, Ghidra was "built for our internal use at NSA" and "helped us address some things in our work flow." Joyce noted that the NSA views the release of Ghidra as a recruiting strategy, allowing new hires to enter the agency at a higher level or contractors to provide expertise without having to first come up to speed on the tool. Added Dave Aitel, a former NSA researcher who is now chief security technology officer at Cyxtera, "Malware authors already know how to make it annoying to reverse their code. There's really no downside [to releasing Ghidra]."

INNOVATION: Self-Driving Cars Risk 'Future Errors' Due to Difficulty Detecting Darker Skin Tones

 Via the Washington Times:

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have found that state-of-the-art object-detection systems, such as the sensors and cameras used in self-driving cars, are better at detecting people with lighter skin tones, meaning they are less likely to identify black people and to stop before crashing into them. The researchers examined eight image recognition systems and found the bias in each one, with accuracy 5% lower on average for people with darker skin. The team proved the hypothesis by dividing a large pool of pedestrian images into groups of lighter and darker skin using the Fitzpatrick scale—a scientific way of classifying skin color. “This behavior suggests that future errors made by autonomous vehicles may not be evenly distributed across different demographic groups,” the researchers wrote.

INNOVATION: NYPD Says Its New Software Is Helping Analysts Track Crime Patterns More Quickly

Via the Los Angeles Times:

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is using pattern-recognition software so analysts can compare robberies, larcenies, and thefts to hundreds of thousands of crimes logged in the department's database, finding matches faster than they would manually. The Patternizr algorithm was launched in December 2016, and NYPD assistant commissioner of data analytics Evan Levine said, "The more easily that we can identify patterns in...crimes, the more quickly we can identify and apprehend perpetrators." Levine and co-developer Alex Chohlas-Wood trained Patternizr on 10 years of patterns that the department had manually identified. Patternizr accurately reproduced old crime patterns a third of the time, and matched parts of patterns 80% of the time. The software compares factors like method of entry, type of goods stolen, and distance between crimes, and reduces possible racial bias by not counting the race of suspects when looking for patterns.

TECHNOLOGY: When Passion for Videogames Helps Land That Job

Via the Wall Street Journal:

Employers across a spectrum of industries are welcoming applicants with experience in making or playing videogames, believing such backgrounds can help workers with online collaboration, problem-solving, and other key workplace skills. For example, General Electric (GE) is hiring people with game development expertise to train robots to inspect hazardous areas via virtual reality technology, a role that GE's Ratnadeep Paul said "came out of the gaming industry." Although some people still regard gamers as socially maladroit, in recent years that assumption has been dispelled, partly due to increasingly popular online multiplayer games that encourage players to form teams and strategize via online text or voice communication. Said the Rochester Institute of Technology's Andrew Phelps, "What we used to stereotypically think of as a weird thing some folks did in their basement is now part of everyday life. Gaming has become a common touch point for people."