Captive Adaptations

All,
Some surprise moments, and after a long but eventful travel via Hongkong, Singapore, I reached Mumbai last night.
Since, this is a work related trip, I do not have too much liberty or luxury to explore the fun places of this newly termed Maximum City. But I am near Pali Hill, and this seems to be a cool place.
Visited the headquarters of one of the largest but really young banks today. Awesome !. Some really good engineering and banking talent has been amassed here, and to top it, they have the right attitude to make it really dynamic. It felt good.
I had a long lay over in Singapore for around 6 hours yesterday, so I got the opportunity this time to take their free trip around the City/Country/State. Will blog those details later. But, this entry is my first from Mumbai.
The next stop is Delhi, and I will try to post something more from there too.

Just a few days ago, I had written about how Economic Hitmen operated, which highlighted how “Oil” has become a big curse for countries like Equador, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia. Crude Oil is already near $70 a barrel, and the events in the past few days will only make it worse.

What events you ask ?. Well, one of the noted Christian Evangelist here in US had something like this for a public cry. What is wrong with people ?. Venezuala is the 5th largest producer of Oil, and there are public statements like this from religious leaders who are very influential here in the US, to “take out” a democratically elected president like Victor Hugo Chavez. Is this how US is going to spread Democracy ?

Now imagine the repurcussions of that, general public like me & you will be shelling out $5 or 6$ per gallon if Venezula decides not to co-operate (No, I am not kidding way back in early April, an Analyst Arjun Murti from Goldman Sachs had predicted that oil would touch around $105 a barrel if disruptions in supply happens). Questions are already being raised, about Latin America being turned into the Next Middle east.

So, can a butterfly flapping its wings in Australia, create thunder-storms in California ?. Meaning, how will all these macro economic factors affect our daily lives. Well, here are a few events that happened just today.

We have hypothetical theories about planes running out of fuel and crashing. (Venezuala again, is this a coincidence).

People are losing lives, and many observers believe such thefts and violence will rise with gas prices.

I am beginning to seriously believe that “Oil” is a major curse to humanity, are we headed for an apocalypse ?

Ah, all you cynics must be saying, “business ethics” - that is an oxymoron. And so, this entry might well be the shortest blog entry ever written ! Hold on, as always there is more to it than meets the eye.

Alright, for the past 2 weeks, I have gone through some serious battles in my mind about ethical decisions, since I have decided to switch companies. Again !?, you ask, yes again !. Mostly I am a spontaneous guy, but with matters concerning my profession & decision making regarding my career, there is a lot of systematic reasoning involved. Its very uphill, uneasy turmoil, simply because these are significant shifts in relationships, and for me that is serious business, and hence its not just another job hop.

So every time I do this, I have to justify it ethically more than monetarily, and I believe most of my decisions to switch, stem primarily because I disgree one way or the other on the means to achieve the goals rather than failure to achieve goals. Well, let me explain, I can confidently claim, that achieveing the desired goal in terms of numbers, deliverables, deadlines, has become quite an everyday activity, and its a given, but the bigger challenges for me has always been justifying the means.

With that background, I can fairly say that I am more inclined to the deontological doctrine of ethics, rather than the teleological doctrine. Mostly, I think I am a hybrid, lets not digress, these are huge topics in themselves, so lets save these for another day. Why am I so inclined on means to achieve things ?, and why does that strike a discord among some people I work with ?. For me the answer is obvious.

Ethics as most people perceive, is not about following a set of “absolute principles”, which are in someways divorced from or imposed on our everyday life. Ethics are how we are and how we go about doing things. (This is clearly means not the end). Its an art of compromises, that can still generate mutual benefits. And if your supervisor cannot see that his/her “means” of achieving a desired goal, will render may people in the team dissatisfied, then even though the goal is achieved, success is defeated. And in such cases, one must stand and fight for “ethical treatement” and not compromise, simply because they are disadvantaged. Not being able to make reasoned decisions, and to just follow orders is itself a failure of logical authority by your superiors, and plain assertion of positional authority. Both of these I have blogged before as well.

Now if that happens for a sustained period, inspite of repeated requests and efforts from your end, that is when its time to quit any engagement, since neither is the means appropriate nor is it any longer mutually beneficial, and that is how business ethics I think should be practiced.

Over the past fortnight, I have observed numerous articles about America losing its competitiveness in Science and Technology. My opinion, people and their “Cool Hunting” nature is to be blamed for the most part. If history is any evidence, this is what we have observed.

Take the manufacturing industry, some 30-40 years ago, manufacturing jobs were honorable in the US, but today no body in US or Western countries want to work in the Shop floor which involves huge amounts of sweat and strain. But people in China are happily churning out the volumes.

Lets take the airline industry here in the US. At one time, being an airline pilot was thought to be glamorous work. But bankrupt airlines, falling salaries, the threat of hijacking, the grind of globe hopping, and a life of chronic jet lag have made the profession much less romantic and less desirable than it once was. But in the Booming Airlines industry in India this seems to be exactly the kind of jobs the youths are looking for. I sincerely believe that the nature of the jobs or nature of the industry as such, does not change, its the nature of the people that changes. Yes, the geographical locations might change, but if you are interested you should be willing to pursue them in which ever part of the Globe. Otherwise, One man’s menial job is other man’s dream job.

The IT industry has also started to take a toll due to this search for non-challance. At one point IT was a youth movement, an infusion of cool ideas and fresh technologies, having brains was really cool. But with Outsourcing and Offshoring, long hours and attention to detail, the effects of the “cool steroids” began to fade. Tech jobs have turned out to be monotonous, uncreative and easily farmed. The youths here started looking for other avenues, and hence stayed away from Science and Technology.

The results of this attitude has already started to show with US beginning to lose its competitiveness. Maths, Science and Technology decline has only been in the minds of people. For as long as I can remember Maths, Science and Information technology skills have supported economic expansion in all sectors. Its only that the generations after the 70’s here in the US and in most Western countries, that it has lost relevance & hence its direction. The parents and current generation kids alike, seem to have lost interest.

Its little wonder, that the Asian Century has begun. Can a few thinking parents, save the West ?. Overall, I think this cartoon summarizes it all !.

What is this new stuff you ask ?. Its the methodology that we have developed here at Captive Adaptations to observe, analyze, categorize, and evangelize seemingly unrelated concepts, enabling us to abstract and render them into coherent solutions. Sounds like some Grand Plan, did I hear !. Let me clarify its just a beginning, and we are taking babysteps. While your eyes gaze on the Bull’s eye below which is the nucleus or central idea behind Captive Adaptations, a little yada yada yada about this…

The idea of Captive Adaptations originated some 2 years ago, and we have been refining it gradually over this period, the monotony of our day jobs is tying us down. As you must have guessed “Captive Adaptations” the name and phrase is not just poetic or accidental. It has some reasoning behind it or atleast that is what we think. As we go through this journey with you my dear reader, we will unveil what we have termed as the CapAdap Methodology ™, in the most articulate form we can. If the pictorial depiction above, did ring a bell in any of your minds, feel free to post your comments, we are eagerly waiting for all sorts of inputs. We are very positive that everything in the representation above from the various “tives” to the color codings and the layerings have well reasoned meanings asssociated with them, so stay tuned for some insightful explorations.

A juicy topic today. Why does the success rate of most arranged marriages exceed the success rate of most love marriages. A topic for perinnial heated dicussion one might say. Well.., not after you read this. I have long argued with my close friends that the answer to the above observation clearly lies in Game theory. I did not know which concept was a necessary and sufficient condition to prove this, although many cooperative gaming strategies like Prisoners Dilemma had led me to believe that Game theory might definitely hold the key to end the heated debate of arranged marriages and love marriages.

I think our Indian forefather’s being highly philosophical, some-how emperically observed and gained game-theory like insights and concluded that “Arranged Marriage” was the way to go. How and Why you might ask ?. Well read the “Philosophical & Historical Motivation” for Game Theory and let me quote what it says

“Despite the fact that game theory has been rendered mathematically and logically systematic only recently, however, game-theoretic insights can be found among philosophers and political commentators going back to ancient times”

So this proves that our ancestors had some mathematical or systematic approach however intutive it might appear to us, to arrive at the conclusion that arranged marriages would be best for the society. Hold on, don’t jump at me, the next couple of paragraphs will provide probably the best explanation, for us to judge.

According to the most important contemporary political social contract (isn’t marriage a social contract too) theorist John Rawls, we would build a successful co-operative system when we are under the “Veil of Ignorance“, rather than when we have rational choices in front of us. “Veil of Ignorance” is exactly what most couples who enter wed-lock through arranged marriages feel they are under, at the time of making a decision.

Here let me explain in a short summary, let us consider a difficult ethical dilemma. Imagine that you don’t know what position you hold with a particular outcome - you don’t know whether you are going to be impacted in a beneficial way or in a detrimental way by the decision. Now, without that knowledge (i.e, under the “veil of ignorance”), what decision would you make ?. John Rawls argues that you will make the most just decision under these circumstances. Its no wonder when a large or majority of the people make just decisions, the success rates of such outcomes to be naturally higher. Isn’t this wonderful ?

Captive Adaptations wishes all Indians a Proud & Happy Independence Day !

Every anniversary is a reminder for each of us to stop and reflect on the Events that have passed by, and think about the events that can and will be. On this Independence day, lets introspect and apprise ourselves of the India we do not know.

Being in the IT industry, I have to highlight this. India’s share is 3% of the world’s IT GDP, and even with this small number, we have ensured that everyone takes notice of our capabilities. I am modifying Vajpayee’s statement of 2 years ago here and let me quote his Hindi statement “Theen pratishath Logon ne Karode-OnKa Dil Jeeta, Agar 100 Karode Miljayenge, Tho Kaun Hame Hara Payega ?“. The English translation goes something like this, “

So lets contribute in our own small ways, and lets bear in mind Kennedy’s words, Ask Not what the Country has done for you, Ask what you have done for your Country !

If you need Total Information Awareness, well this is an article you cannot miss. Some of you must have already read this New York Times best seller “Confessions of an Economic Hitman“. I read the excerpts of this book sometime in April, but today I got a chance to watch this 1 hour interview of John Perkins. It just sends a scary chill down your spine !

Do parallel universes exist ?. Of course they do in the back yard of our own Universe, without giving us a hint, except for some “Unidentified Objects” every now and then . But let my sarcasm not trivialize this serious issue. As India rises for its rightful place in the Universe, and while we get closer to United States, all of us need to understand the rules of the game. Being its democratic citizens its our moral obligation to understand the nature of our friends and foes.

Is no hidden secret that America has been involved in many proxy wars, but the extent to which Greedy American Corporations and Governments can go is simply frightening. The case of Economic hitmens like Perkins sounds like a James Bond movie, but we have to start accepting that these are very REAL. The following countries are discussed by Perkins alone. Panama, Equador, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and we have already seen what is happening to Afghanistan, Iraq and even Pakistan who have previously been close to USofA. All of them have disintegrated one way or the other.

While our Leaders (Mannu’s Mission and Sonia’s pending visit) start their diplomatic courtships we need to be extremely cautious in this high stakes game, lest we might endanger our own Soverignity. “Jaagthe Raho..” is the message for this Independence day from Captive Adaptations !

Last night with my favorite bunch of friends I watched “Aamir’s” new movie “The Rising“. With Indian Independence Day, just 2 days away most of the mainstream media’s coverage this week will be relating to Independence / Freedom and Wars. Not a surprise that my attention and pursuit of any new ideas also follow the same trend, of course “The Rising” has added more fuel for my thoughts on these concepts of War and Peace.

I can claim I have a fairly decent know-how of Indian History, but having been in the US for nearly 6 years now, a passing thought of what I know about American history translated into some major digging this morning. Let me admit at the outset, like most moderate humans I don’t like the concept of WARS, and unfortunately to my discomfort I just realized that American Leadership (note here not people, but the successive Governments) have always been itching to go to WARS.

Its a Nation Obsessed with War. Don’t believe this, well first check out the history of the formation of the United States - all 50 states, almost every conflict was resolved only with a WAR. And here is the Military history of America. Why ?. Is Bombing other nations to submission, the only way to become a Superpower ?. While most people might argue that “Warrior Mentality” is a necessary condition to be driven, focussed and goal oriented, and might also argue that WARs are a first or a final resort to resolve conflicts, I fail to see why they conclude it that way.

Problems, Differences and Conflicts are a part of life. Is death and destruction the only way to achieve a resolution ?. Do we resort to Massive Destructions as an end to a conflict, or are these just really UGLY sides of our human nature ?. Lets take the Hiroshima / Nagasaki bombings as an example. The myth and beliefs of 90% of the people is that “But for these bombings - we would not have seen an end to Second World War”. Why even me up until today morning thought so. But my digging today uncovered some really bitter information.

The Tokyo-Fire Bombings

The Americans dispatched the first wave of more than 300 bombers from Guam, Saipan and the Tinian Islands, 2,500 kilometres south of Tokyo. Each plane dropped 180 oil-gel sticks, less than a metre long, on the tightly knit neighbourhoods of wooden houses. Then two waves of planes emptied their bays of a lethal cargo: napalm. The resulting inferno unleashed hell on earth. The dead from that one night’s bombing numbered 80,000 to 100,000—more than how many died in Nagasaki (70,000 to 80,000), and more than half the number who died in Hiroshima (120,000 to 150,000).

Was Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki indeed necessary ?

In April and May 1945, Japan made three attempts through neutral Sweden and Portugal to bring the war to a peaceful end. On April 7, acting Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu met with Swedish ambassador Widon Bagge in Tokyo, asking him “to ascertain what peace terms the United States and Britain had in mind.” But he emphasized that unconditional surrender was unacceptable, and that “the Emperor must not be touched.”… By early July the US had intercepted messages from Togo to the Japanese ambassador in Moscow, Naotake Sato, showing that the Emperor himself was taking a personal hand in the peace effort, and had directed that the Soviet Union be asked to help end the war. US officials also knew that the key obstacle to ending the war was American insistence on “unconditional surrender,” a demand that precluded any negotiations. The Japanese were willing to accept nearly everything, except turning over their semi-divine Emperor. Heir of a 2,600-year-old dynasty, Hirohito was regarded by his people as a “living god” who personified the nation

I completely agree and submit to the famous words of Samuel Huntington of the “Clash of Civilizations” fame, let me quote “…the West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence & wars. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.“

I was just reminded by a friend that today is International Friendship day. I spent a few moments of introspection, and realized how important this day actually is. Most of us take our friends for granted, and we have a benign neglect towards them. I think its important to recognize days like this, and realize how fortunate we are for the friends we have around us.

As a matter of fact I think “friendship” as a concept is very interesting. I don’t mind being taken for granted by my friends, when they are neglecting or demanding, cursing or caring, I don’t mind any of it. This is true for all of us. Its as if everything friendship embodies, - joy, sorrow, love, fun, anger, mischief, rage, highs, lows - all of it, was just meant to be the way it is, and nobody defined those rules, we just accept it.

In my words or sentences, I cannot possibly describe the essense of friendship and do justice for it, but I remember one of poems that was taught in my childhood, in my mother tongue Kannada, and I think so far I have not come across any literary piece that summarized the concept of friendship, so beautifully as this one did.

Although, I remember just 3 paragraphs from it, I think it will give you a sense of what I feel about friendship. For those who can read and understand Kannada, here I just reproduced it in Kannada.

For all my other dear readers, here is my loose English Translation of the same.

Have a fun filled friendship day !