Author: manuscrypts

  • Conscious choices

    I found this video shared by K (part of a series by Professor Russell Stannard) offering me a very interesting perspective on the free will vs determinism debate. (earlier post)

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8EI4obG5zM

    He starts with talking about the brain as a physical object which is governed by the physical/chemical/biological rules of nature – like a computer works within a  set of mechanical/electronic laws – and therefore predictable. So it should be possible to predict our choices. But it doesn’t work that way. Consciousness is different.

    He then talks about how some are trying to apply quantum theory to the free will – determinism debate. Apparently, at sub atomic level, the ‘future’ is not predictable with absolute certainty. It has a built-in uncertainty in it. What we can do, however, is predict the odds of various possible outcomes – the average behaviour of various items. So if this is applied to individual cells whose behaviour is unpredictable, it would be free will, say the proponents of this theory. But the prof refutes this, and says that this is one of the debates that can’t be solved to everyone’s satisfaction.

    [This prediction of group behaviour reminded me of Asimov’s Foundation series and specifically Hari Seldon‘s psychohistory, through which he predicts the future in probabilistic terms.]

    But more importantly, it made me think that if indeed, there is a creator, maybe he built the automaton inside our head to make us predictable. The automaton grows with us, making most of our decisions unconscious ones, based on baggage accumulated over time – conditioning. That could explain why those few who break out of it are able to attain a higher level of thinking in which they can bend the rules, predict the future and so on and the only advice they can give others is to be aware of every second.

    And when I think of predicting the odds of outcomes, I wonder if the results of all our free will choices are written, like a tree with infinite branches. And as we continue our journey of choices that is life, one by one the branches disappear, until on hindsight, they look like one straight line that was always meant to be that way.

     until next time, a predictable end

  • Applewood

    It’s been a while since we left the safe confines of Koramangala city and explored dining options in the suburbs. And thus it was that we decided to try out Applewood, the newly opened restaurant in Indiranagar. It’s on 100 feet Road, above the Van Heusen showroom, just after the 12th Main junction when going from Koramangala. Here’s a map to get you there. There’s basement parking, so you don’t need to worry on that score.

    Applewood is on the 3rd floor, and is more partly open than really alfresco, with a few seating options facing the 100 ft Road – 2 and 4 seaters. The ambiance is quite pleasant, and wood indeed dominates. Music is 90s pop including MLTR. 🙂 The menu is mostly continental, with plenty of pasta options, but also has sizzlers, and a smattering of Mexican and Spanish. You can see the complete food and liquor menu at Zomato.  Meanwhile, the placemat spelling did manage to confuse me. Though there are no soup options on the menu, except as part of the pasta combination, they do serve it if you ask for it. But we went for a Pema Chicken, which is billed as ‘must try’. It turned out that it indeed was. A kind of spicy kebab-like dish complemented extremely well with a Skinner’s chutney and a smooth mint chutney.

    For the main course, we decided to check out the sizzlers. The Roast Clay Pot Chicken was only moderately spicy and the skewers reminded us more of kababs than anything else. The Cheesy Chicken Fungi got the chicken breast right but skimped on the cheese and cream. The onion rings were also soggy. For dessert, we asked for the Very Good Chocolate Cake. It turned out to be Very Long in making, but was thankfully worth it. Bit costly at Rs.195, but boy, it’s XL!! Make sure you leave enough room for it.

    The service is quite enthusiastic, and only the serving time for dessert was a downer. All of the above including the service charge and tax cost us just over Rs.1300. Do give it a shot if you’re in the area and are in the mood for some fine dining.

    Applewood, No: 760, 3rd Floor, Above Van Heusen Showroom, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar Ph: 40942311

  • Halo Dilli

    No, I’m not shifting to Delhi.

    Lara Dutta is not an actress I’m a fan of, though I’ve not been able to fathom why. And this was long before she became part of Colgate’s Namak Harem (after Koel Puri and before Sonakshi Sinha), so that, though enough, can’t be the reason. However, Vinay Pathak is an actor I like, especially in roles in which he is a silent sufferer. (remember Dasvidaniya)

    Things thus balanced out, I decided to watch Chalo Dilli. Vinay’s Manu Gupta is awesome as ever, and Lara Dutta actually surprised me with a decent performance, and the ‘bhaisaab‘ and ‘behenji‘ shared an excellent chemistry throughout the road trip. Yana Gupta has always received an excellent chemistry from my side and that continued with her rendition of ‘Laila o Laila’. Since this isn’t a movie review, I’ll stop at that, and let you read a legit review by my favourite reviewer. Not a movie I’d fancy at a multiplex, but easily one that I’d buy a DVD of.

    Somewhere during the movie, probably the scene where Lara is surprised by the joy of seeing a sunrise, I had an epiphany of sorts – that I might have a better shot at joy if I didn’t pre-decide what could give me happiness. The templates that I form – movies, shopping, vacations, reading etc probably make me shrug off opportunities when they present themselves. In fact, I probably go out of my way to ignore them and prevent them from arising.

    It also made me think of the flip side – unhappiness/sorrow. Would I be better off if I decided what are the things that would really make me sad, instead of being upset over every minor derailment of plans? The ideal is to be able to treat happiness and sadness with the same calmness and even further, detachment, but until the time I get there, this is probably a good measure.

    until next time, chalo comment, don’t dilly dally 😉

  • The Elephant and the Maruti: Stories

    Radhika Jha

    Radhika Jha is perhaps one of the most unique authors I’ve ever read, even if I had to judge only from this book. There is a vividness in the prose that I’ve rarely experienced before. The book consists of 6 stories. ‘The Wedding’ gives us a peek into Delhi’s high society, as portrayed by a wedding that stops just short of bizarre. This would be my least favourite. ‘Hope’ uses two characters – the narrator, who represents a typical middle class migrant to the big city (Delhi) and Shibu Mondal, a roadside beggar with a cruel past, and their experiences, to describe facets of the city’s relationship with its inhabitants.

    3 characters and their unique relationships with ‘Beauty’. This one is set in Bangalore and features Koshy’s. ‘The Elephant and the Maruti’, is a chain of events set in motion after an elephant steps on a Maruti in a busy Delhi traffic junction. The story takes us through a cross section of social layers, and seems a hat tip the ‘circle of life’ as well as the ‘butterfly effect’. ‘Sleepers’ is set in the remote village of Mangladi, and the narrator’s experience with the role of blind faith and religion in individual lives and the community. ‘The Cook’ is the story of a chef whose family realises that he has lost his skills. The chef feels that his family is plotting against him. What follows is a maze of betrayal and counters, which ends in a neat twist.

    The stories are all a mix of vivid explanations and layered mysteries, often leaving a lot to the reader to imagine, and fill. Worth a read.

  • Food for Soul week

    The Lovedale Foundation sent me a mail about an initiative called Food for Soul Week, which they’re organising in association with several restaurants across Bangalore (list below) as part of the Joy of Giving week, from the 2nd – 8th October. Details from their Facebook Page –

    The objective of this event is to create awareness and raise funds for Lovedale Foundation, an NGO which provides holistic education to under-privileged children from granite quarries in suburban Bangalore. In this initiative, all the participating restaurants are reserving a table ‘Food for Soul Table’ for Lovedale Foundation. Proceeds from that table will be donated by the restaurant towards supporting Lovedale Foundation. The funds raised through this event will be used to procure a school bus for the children of Lovedale Foundation. 

    When you are thinking about where to lunch or dine during this week (2nd-8th October), think about the children who will benefit from your decision. Head straight to one of the participating restaurants and do not forget to ask for the special ‘Food for Soul’ table.

    Enjoy a sumptuous meal and experience the little joys of life, the ‘Joy of Giving’!

    List of participating restaurants and hotels: 
    • Fava (UB City – 22117444) 
    • Mocha (Lavelle Road – 42110094/95) 
    • Mocha (Koramangala – 41570437)
    • Mast Kalandar (all 25 outlets across Bangalore) 
    • The Biere Club (42124383/84/86)
    • Opus (23442580)
    • The Gateway Hotel, Residency Road (66604545)

    Do spread the word and if possible, take part.