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If you love cooking, then you will love cooking shows, and if you love cooking shows, then you will love the show, MasterChef!

If you know about MasterChef, then you will know about this Star rating of hotels and restaurants all over the world!

But did you know that this rating was only a side-effect or Side bonus to make you get out of your house and drive your car and finally make sure your tires get worn out more!

So French tire manufacturers André and Édouard Michelin wanted to encourage more driving and boost tire sales!

But  in 1900, there were fewer than 3,000 cars in France. The Michelin brothers needed to boost car ownership and driving to increase tire demand!

So they introduced the Michelin guide!

The original free Guide Michelin offered travel tips, maps, and restaurant listings!
The brothers created the free “little red book” packed with practical info (maps, hotel listings, gas stations, tyre repair tips) to motivate motorists to travel, thus wearing out their tires!

The guide became popular, and they noticed people used it to find restaurants, prompting them to start listing fine-dining spots!

Then in 1926 they introduced a star rating system for fine dining!

In the Beginning the Guide began awarding a single star to fine dining establishments.

Later on in 1931 a hierarchy of zero to three stars was introduced and finally in 1936 came the Standardization which was the criteria for one, two, and three stars. This  remains similar to this day!

One Star: A very good restaurant in its category.
Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

The system grew to rely on anonymous inspectors, cementing the Guide’s status as a prestigious, independent authority in gastronomy, despite its roots in marketing!

And now having a Michelin star rating for your restaurant is a matter of pride and honour and chefs would go to any length to get it!

All this Because two brothers thought that your cars need new tires more frequently!

So have you ever driven your car to a Michelin star rated restaurant?


Frankly, though I love the taste of the roadside Dhaba! Has to be clean though!

Clean also were movies starring Devika Rani Chaudhuri!

Think about one Michelin star restaurant you want to go to!

Good night…

You know there was this war which was called a great war!


Now it gets me thinking; can any war be great?

The very fact that there is war implies that there is no peace!

Then again, there are so many war related nuggets and with the ongoing war this may be the best time to know about them!

While commonly called “The Great War” between 1914 and 1939!

The whole world knows this war as World War I!
But it was like that only after the second world war!

World War I was first termed the “First World War” by German philosopher Ernst Haeckel in September 1914. However, the title did not become official or commonly used until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 necessitated separating the two global conflicts!


So you can realise that you can name a war only after it’s over! Like the hundred years war!


Then again, when you realise so many terms which we use so frequently, nowadays were actually derivatives of wars!


Among the native-born terms that are not self-evident, bazooka was called after a comical stage prop – a kind of homemade trombone – used by a popular comedian named Bob Burns!

Now every soldier, especially an American soldier is called a GI. In fact, there is a popular show and series named after GI!

It’s interesting to know that the terminology also came from war!

GI stands for general issue, the initials stamped on all military property!

No one knows quite when GI was first applied to soldiers, but GI Joe can be dated with certainty.

He first appeared in the 17 June 1942 issue of Yank, the armed forces newspaper, in a cartoon drawn by Dave Berger!


So one possible, good effect of war is that you get new words!

Then again, I’m sure there are better ways to get them!

Let’s have war and villians only in movies!
Like Tiger Prabhakar!

Praying for peace!
Subh ratri…

NINTENDO EFFECT

If you are a gamer or if your children are, then you would know what’s an Nintendo

But do you know what’s an Nintendo effect?

There are two definitions. The first one is very simple and clean while the second one is a wake up call to humanity…

The FIRST “Nintendo Effect” generally refers to the phenomenon where the company’s unique, accessible, and often nostalgic games or hardware revitalize older franchises, drive massive sales, and normalize gaming through high-profile, CC mainstream popularity.

It frequently highlights how Nintendo’s brand and portability turn niche or older games into popular, must-own, “portable” hits!

All okay, you say, but then you have the Nintendo effect of the war! Being in the middle of one, this is the best time to tell about this…

The “Nintendo Effect” in war refers to the sanitization and gamification of military conflict, particularly how precision-guided warfare in the 1990-1991 Gulf War was presented to the public, resembling a video game!

News media, supplied with Pentagon footage, showed nighttime, black-and-white, high-tech weaponry (cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs) hitting targets with extreme precision, creating a “virtue-less” view of combat.

This presentation, often described as a “Nintendo War,” altered public perception by making warfare seem clean, precise, and low-cost in human life, according to analysis of that era.

BUT THIS IS A CATASTROPHY!

This trivializes the conflict!

Modern interpretations of this phenomenon suggest that portraying military actions via gaming-style interfaces or “stylized” media can sanitize the brutality of war!

The “Nintendo Effect” highlights the tension between the reality of war and its representation in media, often reducing complex and devastating human events into simplified, sanitized, or “gamified” narratives!

Basically, a person sitting in a close room, much away from the battle in just in front of the TV screen can just push a button and thousand can be killed! But he or she would not even see or feel the human aspect!

As far as she or he is concerned, he or she, Might as well, be playing a game!

That is in short, the Nintendo effect!

When will we wake up and smell the coffee and realise that war is not a game?

Or sleep away silently as lives are lost and peace gets rare…

Or listen to some nice songs say by Sujatha Menon…

Your choice…
Humanity or insanity…

I have often joked about this!

If the meteorological Department said today that it will rain, I would announce that it will be sunny today for sure!

And when they announce that it’ll be sunny, I would always take the umbrella!

This is actually not a joke. It’s a fact based on chaos theory!

Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will is a book by Robert Sapolsky talks about the theory when you try to estimate the future weather.

So Chaos theory explains that weather is a highly sensitive, deterministic system, where small uncertainties in initial data grow exponentially, creating a limit to long-term predictability known as the “butterfly effect.”

While weather is predictable for only a few days, ensemble forecasting helps by mapping out possible future states.

Butterfly Effect was coined by Edward Lorenz and this concept highlights that tiny differences in initial atmospheric conditions—like a butterfly flapping its wings—can lead to vastly different weather outcomes, such as a storm forming or not. This also has been debated.

Edward Lorenz discovered this behavior in the 1960s when he noticed that re-entering data into his simulation with slightly fewer decimal places yielded entirely different results, proving that, despite deterministic laws, the atmosphere is inherently unpredictable!

Now the weather is not random, but it is chaotic. Due to the rapid growth of errors, accurate weather forecasting is limited to a few days.

Beyond roughly two to three weeks, precise daily forecasting is currently impossible!

Despite short-term unpredictability, atmospheric behavior follows patterns known as “attractors.” These represent typical seasonal climates or recurring, large-scale circulation patterns.

So instead of relying on a single model run, meteorologists run multiple simulations (an ensemble) with slightly altered initial conditions.

Probabilistic Forecasts of ensemble; If all 50+ members of an ensemble show rain, confidence is high. If they show different outcomes, confidence is low. This provides a “forecast of forecast skill”.

While tomorrow’s temperature can be predicted more or less accurately, predicting the exact temperature for a specific day three weeks away is hindered by the chaotic nature of the atmosphere!

So like I said, before, if the forecast is predicting a sunny weather, take an umbrella!

Then again, have faith on something or someone, and you will be fine!

Like a faith over Bhagwan Mahaveer

Wishing a very happy and blessed Mahaveer Jayanthi

Did you know that there is this whole profession who now influence a lot of rules and regulations all over the world which was named after a room?!


Don’t worry, I will not beat around the bush for long!

The origin is mentioned in the novel by Bill Bryson; Made in America!

The profession is lobbying!

The term “lobbyist” originated in the early-to-mid 19th century, referring to individuals who frequented the lobbies or hallways of legislative houses to influence lawmakers.


Derived from the Medieval Latin lobium (gallery), it described people waiting in corridors of the British House of Commons or US Capitol, later gaining popularity through tales of President Grant meeting petitioners at the Willard Hotel!


In the 17th Century the term “lobby” was used to describe the public anteroom of the British House of Commons, where citizens could speak to their representatives.

The practice of “lobbying” began in American statehouses in the 1810s. Newspaper accounts from 1817 mention “lobby members” (individuals acting as agents in the lobby) in the New York legislature, and “lobbying” appeared in print by 1820.


The Willard Hotel Myth: A widely circulated story suggests President Ulysses S. Grant coined the term when he met with individuals trying to influence him at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., and referred to them as “those damn lobbyists”. While popular, the term existed before his administration.

Originally, it often referred to people in the physical lobby, but it evolved to describe professional advocates. By the late 19th century, it was also used in the context of women, such as Susan B. Anthony, lobbying for rights in the Capitol’s Marble Room.

Now of course the role of lobbyists has grown from informal influence to a heavily regulated profession, particularly after major legislation passed in 1995.

Today, a lobbyist is often defined by the time they spend (e.g., more than 20% of their time) trying to influence legislation!

Now of course, lobbying has shifted to the social media, and now it is the weapon of influencers.

Just imagine that all this started from a room! Then there is a whole movie which started from a job!

Golmaal!

Which reminds me of Utpal Dutt!

Shubh ratri…

Do you know that both positivity and negativity can come with two forms of energy?

This energy reflects in the way we act!

There is a positive calm, there is a negative calm and in the same way, there is a negative energy and a positive energy!


Don’t worry I understood that it went right over your head!


But according to the novel Behave by Robert P; these are a combination of the effective states of humans!


Like the famous story of the Sage and the King, where the King finds the Sage without care in the world!

While the king was searching for treasures and kingdoms to conquest and finally get happiness, the Sage was already blissfully, happy and content!

It is the same with sadness…

This state of excitement is called arousal and the state of mind is the valence and these are the key elements here!


A High arousal with positive valence includes excited, happy elated! This is the typical way we express our joy! It could be your favourite cricket team of India has won the World Cup or the war finally ended! You would jump or even dance for Joy!

Now a High arousal but with negative valence includes nervous, tense upset! Which means that you’re not only sad, you’re also anxious and having the ‘nerves’ so to speak! Here, also,  you have the energy, but it’s negative!

Then you have the negative valence with low arousal! This is the state when someone has depression, simply sadness or boredom! He or she would be dull and sad without energy!

Finally, you have the ultimate bliss!

Positive valence with lower arousal!
Here you have a mind full of positivity and Bliss and you are so content and happy that you just lie down and relax without a care in the world.

That is the peak form of happiness!

Hope for that for everyone away from War and mayhem…
Think about that while watching some old movie like by Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran!

Praying for peace…

Shubh ratri…

You know what’s intelligence then you know what is artificial intelligence!

But (!!) do you know what is artificial superintelligence!?

Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) is a hypothetical AI that surpasses human intelligence across all domains, including creativity, reasoning, and social skills.

While current AI is “narrow” (specialized), ASI is projected to be a transformative, self-improving system. Its development poses both profound opportunities for scientific breakthroughs and significant safety risks.

Now ASI is expected to possess the ability to iterate and rewrite its own code, leading to rapid, exponential growth in capabilities.

It would process data, solve complex problems, and make decisions in seconds that might take humans years, operating far beyond human speed and accuracy.

Unlike specialized systems, ASI would apply superior intelligence to all fields, from science to art.

The potential benefits include solving mysteries in physics, developing life-saving medicines, and accelerating scientific research.

It can also address massive challenges like climate change, poverty, and optimize nfrastructure.

Experts caution that if not properly managed, ASI could pose a threat to humanity.

Some experts believe we are in a rapid, “last mile” phase of development, with some predicting AGI as early as 2027!

Then again it doesn’t take or need intelligence of the super kind to understand how war is one of the least intelligent thing anyone can do!

Lets hope that God bless us with at least that much intelligence!


Happy Ram Navami once again

Shubh ratri…

Are you planning for an emergency surgery!?

Just make sure that it is not the Surgeon’s birthday!


Of course, when we go for a Surgery, we think and plan and discuss a lot of things!
But when it comes to Emergency, there is no time! One thing you may need to find out is the lead Surgeon’s birthdate!

Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will is a book by Robert Sapolsky about the question of free will mentions this interesting information!

Of course, that meant that we need to investigate it further, and I was certainly surprised!


Apparently studies show a 23% higher mortality rate for emergency surgeries performed on a surgeon’s birthday compared to other days!

This is thought to be due to distractions from birthday celebrations, causing surgeons to rush or be less attentive, particularly affecting elderly patients undergoing emergency procedures.


The Surgeon also may make decisions which leads to faster outcome, but not the ideal outcome. This means that the Surgeon may try to finish the case earlier and may not select the best protocol, but fastest!


A key finding on Surgeon’s Birthday vs. Normal Days is that Patients are more likely to have complications within 30 days if their emergency surgery is done on their surgeon’s birthday.

The likely causes included distractions from personal plans, birthday messages, or potential reduced care following the procedure!

Remember that the elevated risk was observed for emergency surgeries, but not for elective (scheduled) procedures.

The Studies though primarily analyzed older Medicare patients.

While it is a fascinating statistical anomaly, experts advise that patients generally do not need to avoid scheduling elective procedures on a surgeon’s birthday, as the evidence is still limited!

Then again, if it is the Surgeon‘s birthday statistics or not, let him or her enjoy one day!

So the next time you are in an emergency, Surgery watch out for the birthday cake and read the Surgeon’s name!

You can also shout happy birthday and remove the person who responds with a ‘Thank you’ from the operating room!

Then again these are simply stats! You have a hundred things that decide the fate of your surgery! Just be cool and get it done! Watch some comedy! Like the KSS with Archana Puran Singh!

shubh ratri!

Atticus Finch tells his children, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”.

Miss Maudie explains this means mockingbirds are innocent creatures that only make music for enjoyment, symbolizing harmless, innocent people!

Of course, any humane person would prefer not to shoot any bird for that matter whether the song is melodious or not!

The NYT yesterday had a clue about the song of a Swan!

Have you actually heard a Swan Sing?

But do you know what’s a swan song?

Apparently, they do, but when their end is near!

The term “swan song” originated from an ancient Greek belief that swans remain silent for most of their lives, only to sing a single, beautiful melody just before they die!

That is so poetic and philosophical! Which means that if you do hear a swan sing, then maybe it’s the last song!

In Greek mythology, swans were sacred to Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and prophecy.

In Plato’s Phaedo, Socrates argues that swans do not sing out of sorrow, but rather out of joy because they have “foreknowledge of the blessings in the other world” and are returning to the god they serve.

By the 3rd century BCE, the idea of the “swan’s song” (kýkneion ásma) had become a common proverb in Greece. It was later mentioned by writers like Aristotle, Euripides, and Cicero.

Chaucer provided one of the earliest English allusions in The Parliament of Fowls, describing “the jealous swan, against his death that singeth”.

Even our Shakespeare used the imagery multiple times, most notably in The Merchant of Venice (“he makes a swan-like end, fading in music”)!

That’s literature!

But did you know that while the Mute Swan (the species most common in Europe) only makes grunting or hissing sounds, the Whooper Swan has been noted by naturalists for a unique behavior!

As its lungs collapse upon death, the air passing through its long, coiled trachea can produce a series of drawn-out, flute-like notes—a physical phenomenon that likely served as the grain of truth behind the legend!

That last sound would be so melodious indeed since it would have the last bit of air leaving to never return again…Poetic indeed…

Then again only soldiers are the ones who would save their last breath and voice for the country! Like Hoshiar Singh Dahiya!

Now turn on your alarm and sleep!
No bird would wake you up!

Shubh ratri…

Do you know what determines whether a person gets a bail or not in a court of law?

Apparently, one of the things is whether the judge has had his or her breakfast or lunch!

Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will is a book by Robert Sapolsky about the question of free will mentions the famous study on judicial decisions.

The study known as the ‘lunchtime effect’ is a 2011 study on judicial decision-making (often referred to in behavioral economics), there is a significant, albeit unintentional, relationship between the timing of a bail hearing and the likelihood of bail being granted!

The Research indicates that judges are more likely to grant parole or bail at the beginning of the workday or immediately after a break (like lunch), while the likelihood of a favorable ruling drops significantly as the session progresses!

As judges hear more cases without a break, decision fatigue sets in!

They become more likely to choose the default, lower-effort decision, which is often to deny bail and keep the accused in custody (the “safe” option).

Now officially “Bail is the Rule, Jail is the Exception”: but despite legal principles stating that bail is a right and detention should be the exception, this psychological trend suggests that environmental factors (like hunger or fatigue) can influence the administration of justice!

So the optimal Timing is usually after a good lunch!

The study found that favorable decisions dropped from roughly 65% to nearly zero over the course of a session, returning to 65% immediately after a food break!

So you want to case to be in your favour then maybe send his or her favourite food to the judge!?

Of course, not committing the crime in the first place is also a good option!

You can instead be a good citizen and follow the law and you do not have to worry about court! Like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw!

Now have dinner and sleep!

Shubh ratri…