karma police

Book review: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston

Delightful, wholesome, ambitious.

I went into this book skeptical. It was so far outside my typical genre selection that I had nothing but my best friend's recommendation to go by. YET another romantic novel featuring lovey-dovey teenagers?

Red White and Royal Blue is a delicious book.

It tells the story of angsty, lovesick, intrepid oddballs who literally have to fight the world (the Queen of England included) for their love. It's a story so populated by lively characters and insanely courageous bonds that it gently warms one's heart into a wide, wide smile. It's a book that makes you feel alive – as the characters and words and actions and settings fly off the pages in sumptuous paragraphs.

That's why I said the book was delicious – it's a book to devour. It's not a book that felt like a chore to read. It's a book that laughts in the face of deriving beauty from sadness and fragility and introspection – chosing instead to derive beauty from friendship and love and the present.

A book like no other, it lucidly weaves together the tale of a presidential campaign, a delicate royal image, personal frustrations and desires: and most importantly, places the unconventional on the center stage with the spotlight flashing brightly on it.

How does a Cryptocurrency gain value?

We’ve all heard about cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. Most of us know what they are, and some of us know how they work. But most of the struggle to understand one simple question – “how do they have any value?” How do carefully flipped bits in servers across the world represent real monetary value?

Cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value. They aren’t food that you can eat or water you can drink. However, the same can be said about cash. A piece of paper has no intrinsic value – however, since society as a whole has decided that a 100 rupee bill represents a certain amount of value, and it can be transacted freely in exchange for other goods and services, it is considered to have value.

So here’s how something like Bitcoin gains its value:

– Durability – since cryptocurrency does not exist in the physical world, it can never be destroyed, and will never lose its value. Even if a user loses the keys to their wallet, the currency itself will never itself be destroyed.

– Scarcity – the total supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million Bitcoins. Litecoin is capped at 84 million Litecoins. Increased scarcity (or lower supply) drives prices up, causing an increase in the value of such currencies.

– Divisibility – cryptocurrencies are typically more divisible than traditional currency. For example, the Indian Rupee can be precise only upto 10^-2 places. A currency like Bitcoin, however, is better in this regard – being divisible to upto 8 decimal places.

– Transportability – cryptocurrencies can be easily transferred from one cryptocurrency to another, and even to traditional fiat currency. Unfortunately, this process is not very seamless, involving hefty transaction fees. In terms of transferability, cryptocurrency can be efficiently transferred between wallets.

– Recognisability and utility – while not comparable to traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies have been gaining traction and support – it is not uncommon to see them supported for payments and donations at major retailers and distributors.

So if that’s the case, and Bitcoin is just like fiat currency, why is it’s value so volatile? Why are people still on the “crypto-fence”?

The price of a bitcoin is determined by supply and demand. When the demand for bitcoins increases, the price increases, and when demand falls, the price falls. There is only a limited number of bitcoins in circulation and new bitcoins are created at a predictable and decreasing rate, which means that demand must follow this level of inflation to keep the price stable.

Because Bitcoin is still a relatively small market compared to what it could be, it doesn’t take significant amounts of money to move the market price up or down, and thus the price of a bitcoin is still very volatile.

Such are the wonders and complexities of the modern world. Thankfully, there is little stopping an average user from dealing in cryptocurrencies, due to the increased sophistication of modern wallets and trading platforms. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies still wait at the fringes – all set for mainstream adoption.

Disclaimer: This post does not qualify as professional financial advice. Always consult your financial advisor and think wisely before making any investment decision.

COVID-19 and Big Brother

Every major disaster in history has always lead to calls for great surveillance. The false relation between public security and personal privacy leads governments to call for increased scrutiny into the daily lives of the masses.

The important questions that help us consider whether the steps undertaken go above and beyond the need of the hour, whether they are truly effective, are being ignored.

Today, I intend to tackle the three main questions recommended by the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) that MUST be asked while considering private and public response measures to the pandemic.

1. Would the proposal work? In all cases, the burden of proof should fall on the authority proposing a measure. In a lot of cases, projects have been undertaken without a clear understanding to the public how and why they would be useful. While it is understandable that there is little time to conduct extensive research, there must be clear communication about the problem being solved. For example, while the calls to carry out location tracking of citizens to track the spread of the virus are common, there is little evidence to suggest that this granular data (accurate in the magnitude of many meters) could help meaningfully establish contact points.
2. Would it excessively intrude on our safeguards? Measures undertaken must be proportional to the risk at hand. Theoretically, a company could launch a system to read a user's every message to determine if they reveal that they are infected by the virus – and then alert the government. However, this is not proportional to the issue at hand – and is an unforgivable breach of privacy. An example of a proportional measure is the storing the names and contact details of international travellers during the time of a pandemic. This targets a very specific, heightened risk of transmission, and has a clear public benefit.
3. And are their sufficient safeguards? There are some clear safeguards to be established when it comes to pandemic measures. The EFF lists 10, but a few key points stand out.
   • Consent: the user must specifically “opt-in” to such a program
   • Anti-bias: many major algorithms intentionally or accidentally display bias as described in my fellow student's article. All such measures must be explicitly tested for this weakness.
   • Expiration: the most important. Powers gained during the pandemic should not be treated as permanent. After the crisis, all data collection must stop. All data collected should either be deleted or minimised to explicitly health-related concerns after the pandemic.

Technology can massively help prevent the pandemic. It is up to us to decide whether we want to create what Edward Snowden calls an “architecture for oppression” or what I envision – “the operating system of humanity”.

(published here)

Learnings from Nu School – Personal Finance 101 by Judith Weiniger

#100DaysToOffload

Learnings from Nu School – Organizational Behavior 101 by Nicole Abi-Esber

#100DaysToOffload

Learnings from Nu School – Government Policy and Civic Duty with Jessica Cole

#100DaysToOffload

Learnings from Nu School- Cold Email 101 by Daniel Ahmadizadeh

#100DaysToOffload

Quotes – Part 2

(A continuation of Quotes – Part 1)

The White Book by Han Kang

“Standing at this border where land and water meet, watching the seemingly endless recurrence of the waves (though this eternity is in fact illusion: the earth will one day vanish, everything will one day vanish), the fact that our lives are no more than brief instants is felt with unequivocal clarity.”

“The fortresses of the old quarter, the splending palace, the lakeside villa on the outskirts where royalty once summered — all are fakes. They are all new things, painstakingly reconstructed based on photographs, pictures, maps. Where a pillar or perhaps the lowest part of a wall happens to have survived, it has been incorporated into the new structure. The boundaries which separate old from new, the seams bearing witness to destruction, lie conspicuously exposed. It was on that day, as I walked through the park, that she first came into my mind. A person who has met the same fate as that city.”

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”

“Nevertheless Moira was our fantasy. We hugged her to us, she was with us in secret, a giggle; she was lava beneath the crust of daily life. In the light of Moira, the Aunts were less fearsome and more absurd. Their power had a flaw to it. They could be shanghaied in toilets. The audacity was what we liked.”

The Big Bang Theory Series Finale

“And now, speaking of not listening, my husband, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Sheldon. What? Did you finish? Great job. Thank you, Dr. Fowler. I have a very long and somewhat self-centered speech here. But I'd like to set it aside.

PENNY: Yea! WOLOWITZ: Way to go! (whoops)

Because this honor doesn't just belong to me. I wouldn't be up here if it weren't for some very important people in my life. Beginning with my mother, father, meemaw, brother and sister. And my other family, who I'm so happy to have here with us. Is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer I was under a misapprehension that my accomplishments were mine alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired and tolerated not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had. I'd like to ask them to stand. Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali. Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski Wolowitz. Astronaut Howard Wolowitz. And my two dearest friends in the world, Penny Hofstadter... ...and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter.

I was there the moment Leonard and Penny met. He said to me that their babies would be smart and beautiful. And now that they're expecting, I have no doubt that that will be the case. Thanks, Sheldon. I-I haven't told my parents yet, but thanks. Oh. I'm sorry. Don't tell anyone that last thing. That's a secret.

Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Penny, Leonard, I apologize if I haven't been the friend you deserve.

But I want you to know in my way, I love you all. And I love you. Thank you.”

Schindler's List Ending Scene

LEVARTOV We've written a letter trying to explain things. In case you're captured. Every worker has signed it.

Schindler sees a list of signatures beginning below the typewritten text and continuing for several pages. He pockets it, this new list of names.

SCHINDLER Thank you.

Stern steps forward and places a ring in Schindler's hand.

It's a gold band, like a wedding ring. Schindler notices an inscription inside it.

STERN It's Hebrew. It says, 'Whoever saves one life, saves the world.'

Schindler slips the ring onto a finger, admires it a moment, nods his thanks, then seems to withdraw.

SCHINDLER (to himself) I could've got more out...

Stern isn't sure he heard right. Schindler steps away from him, from his wife, from the car, from the workers.

SCHINDLER (to himself) I could've got more... if I'd just... I don't know, if I'd just... I could've got more...

STERN Oskar, there are twelve hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

He can't.

SCHINDLER If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money, you have no idea. If I'd just...

STERN There will be generations because of what you did.

SCHINDLER I didn't do enough.

STERN You did so much.

Schindler starts to lose it, the tears coming. Stern, too.

The look on Schindler's face as his eyes sweep across the faces of the workers is one of apology, begging them to forgive him for not doing more.

SCHINDLER This car. Goeth would've bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people, right there, ten more I could've got. (looking around) This pin —

He rips the elaborate Hakenkreus, the swastika, from his lapel and holds it out to Stern pathetically.

SCHINDLER Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would've given me two for it. At least one. He would've given me one. One more. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. One more. I could've gotten one more person I didn't.

He completely breaks down, weeping convulsively, the emotion he's been holding in for years spilling out, the guilt consuming him.

SCHINDLER They killed so many people... (Stern, weeping too, embraces him) They killed so many people...

From above, from a watchtower, Stern can be seen down below, trying to comfort Schindler. Eventually, they separate, and Schindler and Emilie climb into the Mercedes. It slowly pulls out through the gates of the camp. And drives away.

Hang on around for Part 3 – a collection of some of my favorite song lyrics. There are SO MANY that I might restrict it to a single band (Radiohead). We'll see.

Quotes – Part 1

Quotes are odd. We've seen hundreds and thousands of them – mostly from famous figures. We tend to sideline most quotes into the same mental box as clichés – agreeing with their premise passively, and moving on with life.

I've realised that the quotes that have stuck with me over time aren't from famous figures and celebrities. They're from TV shows and movies and books – pieces of art that I cherish. So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite quotes of all time:

---

The Mr Robot finale

“There are some people out there… And it doesn’t happen a lot. It’s rare. But they refuse to let you hate them. In fact, they care about you in spite of it. And the really special ones, they’re relentless at it. Doesn’t matter what you do to them. They take it and care about you anyway. They don’t abandon you, no matter how many reasons you give them. No matter how much you’re practically begging them to leave. And you wanna know why? Because they feel something for me that I can’t… They love me. We’re all told we don’t stand a chance, and yet we stand. We break, but we keep going, and that is not a flaw. That’s what makes us.”

“What if changing the world was just about being here, by showing up no matter how many times we get told we don’t belong, by staying true even when we’re shamed into being false, by believing in ourselves even when we’re told we’re too different? And if we all held on to that, if we refuse to budge and fall in line, if we stood our ground for long enough, just maybe… The world can’t help but change around us.”

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

“What happens when people open their hearts?” “They get better.”

“Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.”

“I really like you, Midori. A lot.” “How much is a lot?” “Like a spring bear,” I said. “A spring bear?” Midori looked up again. “What’s that all about? A spring bear.” “You’re walking through a field all by yourself one day in spring, and this sweet little bear cub with velvet fur and shiny little eyes comes walking along. And he says to you, “Hi, there, little lady. Want to tumble with me?’ So you and the bear cub spend the whole day in each other’s arms, tumbling down this clover-covered hill. Nice, huh?” “Yeah. Really nice.” “That’s how much I like you.”

Human Acts by Han Kang

“After you died I could not hold a funeral, And so my life became a funeral.”

“Glass is transparent, right? And fragile. That's the fundamental nature of glass. And that's why objects that are made of glass have to be handled with care. After all, if they end up smashed or cracked or chipped, then they're good for nothing, right, you just have to chuck them away. Before, we used to have a kind of glass that couldn't be broken. A truth so hard and clear it might as well have been made of glass. So when you think about it, it was only when we were shattered that we proved we had souls. That what we really were was humans made of glass.”

“The look in someone’s eyes, the beliefs they espoused, the eloquence with which they did so, were, she knew, no guarantee of anything. She knew that the only life left to her was one hemmed in by niggling doubts and cold questions.”

Brooklyn 99 – Gina's last day at the precinct

“Life is chaos; success is completely arbitrary, and confidence is everything”

---

So those were some of the quotes that have stayed with me. There's Part 2 and 3 to come- Part two with more of the same, and Part 3 with some of my favorite song lyrics.

I'm doing this for fun and nostalgia – to reconnect with some of my favorite pieces of art. These are little words that play in my head at all times, thoughts I think in daily life. They're beautiful and small and wonderful. They're what quotes should be.

NeoCities, our Internet, and the “Ideal Internet”

#100DaysToOffload

Website: advaitsangle.com NeoCities: upcoming