 By Samir Shukla
One of the dispiriting aspects of the world we live in is that we are increasingly becoming numb to being shocked. War, violence, misinformation. Lots of really bad things. This is largely because of the bombardment of information we endure daily. It’s like getting punched on an arm repeatedly until the arm becomes numb to the punches.  By Samir Shukla
It is November. Election month. This is an off-year election and in most places around the country it is a rather sleepy election. Most contests this year are regional and municipal. Unfortunately, this means the voter turnout will be dismal. Here’s my participation cheer. Remember that Election Day is November 7, 2023. Mark your calendars, check your local ballots and make an effort to vote. Local elections have a larger effect on lives living in that region or state than national ones.  By Samir Shukla
I’m sitting at my computer. Working. It’s a lovely September afternoon and the warm sunlight is streaming through the window. Wait a minute. What’s that, um, aroma? It is rather offending. Ok, who did that? Hold on. I’m the only one in the room, and it wasn’t me. Wait, I was just trying to explore the new AI functionality in the design software I’m using. No, it couldn’t be. Artificial Intelligence is already aping us, now it has already acquired the ability to clear a room via what is typically a very human intestinal function?  By Samir Shukla
Sitting on the 12th floor balcony of a high-rise hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on a bright August evening, looking down at the crowds of diverse folks milling about on the sand, bobbing in the ocean, playing with kids, I thought of the carefree conviviality of the hundreds within my view. Some of them are likely deep political partisans, but in these summertime blendings, the ocean breeze mellowing out even the grumpiest grumps, the incoming political season probably wasn’t on many minds. People were courteous and friendly to a fault.  By Samir Shukla
A meeting of musical maestros can create new horizons and genres, essentially new languages. Imagine a day, say some 50 years ago, a jazz guitarist meets a tabla player and later a ghatam player, and a Carnatic violinist. The musicians have informal jam sessions, write compositions, create new musical possibilities and hybrids. They called themselves Shakti and to say this world music combo broke barriers and boundaries is an understatement. |
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