The world, as we speak, appears to have been overcome by a severe bout of fatalism. Nothing good seems to be happening anywhere for anyone. Elon Musk and Donald Trump could be the exceptions. They make money irrespective of the catastrophes that beset the globe. Some might even say, ‘because of them.’ The rest of …
Author Archives: sureshsubrahmanyan
Coming to terms with AI’s Sense and Nonsense
In recent times the audio-visual medium, in whichever form, has decided that its offerings are being watched by congenital idiots. Whether it is a television series or a film on cable, a podcast featuring two or four talking heads or, for that matter, a physiotherapist of Indian origin based in Chicago speaking English in a …
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Everyone has a book inside them
There is a virus floating around in the air. It has been in existence for hundreds of years, but in more recent times, it has taken on the characteristics of an epidemic. It is called the book writing virus. A very prosaic term for a literary pursuit, I admit, but that was the best I …
My Funny Valentine
Cockroaches come to the rescue of broken hearts. News item. Declaration: I swear on the Bhagavad Gita that this piece was written at least five years before the Cockroach Janata Party was even a twinkle in the eyes of Dipke, Dass, Ranka, their associates and mentors. Any faint (virtually non-existent) resemblance to the CJP and …
An Open Letter to the Movers and Shakers
I have decided to send a brief open letter to our political masters, at home and across the globe, who play an important role in shaping our destinies, bar one who is not yet a master but hopes to become one. I do not expect to receive a reply from any of them. I do …
Lost (and found) in translation
‘If you want to be happy, it is necessary not to be too intelligent.’ This shrewd quote, one that resonates completely with me, is attributed to 19th century French author, Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary). Many English writers have described Flaubert as a ‘stylist.’ On what grounds it is unclear to me because the Frenchman wrote …
For Whom the Bell Tolls
The term ‘gig workers’ is derived from a jazz-age slang. In the 1920s and 1930s, jazz players in the United States used ‘gig’ to describe a short-term booking or club date where they were paid per show. In recent times, the term ‘gig workers’ has become an integral part of our lexicon. You cannot miss …
Diabolical Diabetes
Laughter is the best medicine – unless you’re diabetic, then insulin comes pretty high on the list. British comedian Jasper Carrott. Diabetics are up in arms. At least, this one is, if this one is at all a diabetic and that is the moot point. Which is the main reason why my arms are up …
In The Gallery
And then you get an artist says he doesn’t want to paint at allHe takes an empty canvas and sticks it on the wall. Dire Straits. There are moments in one’s life when one can unwittingly enter into a conversation with a stranger and feel somewhat trapped. I say unwittingly because it was not my …
Writing for fun. Seriously.
Humerus: The upper arm bone that runs from your shoulder to your elbow. Pronounced like the word humorous. Hence, the elbow area nearby is called the funny bone. Every now and then, I keep getting asked by friends and by people online I do not know from Adam or Eve, why I don’t comment seriously …
