Native habitat restoration

 We recently came across an interesting sign outside Arroyo Seco, an area in which we frequently go for walks. “Native Habitat Restoration,” it said. You see, in Southern California, a lot of vegetation is from plants and trees that are not native. They are of invasive species. The restoration aims to remove them and bring back the natives. “With the aliens taking resources, the natives can’t thrive,” they argue. 

 

This made us think of the larger picture involving people, both natives and aliens. The vociferous opposition to new immigrants, “aliens,” is based, among other things, on belief that they take away resources from those living here already, the “natives.”

 

The first problem with this is who is native and who is alien. Yes, California has native Americans. In our areas, there used to be Hahamongna Indians who lived before being displaced by the aliens. First those from south (Mexico), and then from East (United States). 

 

However, if you speak to most Californians, they would not consider themselves as aliens. They are natives. Only those who are immigrating recently are aliens, otherwise, the narrative does not work. They would not want to be uprooted so that the habitat goes back to Hahamongna Indians.

 

We came across a woman, an elderly local, who lamented the fact that in their zeal to restore native vegetation, the authorities had chopped of a lot of trees. She was not happy at all. The trees being chopped off were so valuable. Good for you, we said. 

 

So, my fellow Californians, let us not get too zealous about restoring native plants at the expense of the alien ones. Listen to the argument made by the old lady we met, and apply it to the human population. We recent immigrants, the “aliens” are here to stay, and we add a lot of value to the society, just as alien plants do. 

 

Enough is enough

When we were traveling most of 2019, and staying in multiple hotels, Airbnbs, and homes of family members and friends, there were two challenges we faced almost every time: How to operate the shower and a far greater one, how to make the TV work.  Each time we wanted to watch something, we were confronted with multiple remote controls, with scant explanation on what buttons to press to see the evening news, or watch a movie. 

Now that we have a place to stay, our household is no different. We are proud owners of four remote controls, one each for TV, cable, the sound bar, and Roku. Together, they have 120 different buttons you can press, some of which would be meaningless to you, as they are to us. To get the news channel, you press the TV power button on the sound bar remote and then the source button on TV remote to make sure you are on HDMI 2.  Next comes the cable remote’s turn. It allows you to select the channel. Now, once you get the channel you want, you need to go back to the sound bar remote to adjust volume. 

 

Want to watch a movie? We subscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime channels. However, to get there, you will need to select HDMI 4 as the source and then learn how to operate the Roku remote. Again, don’t forget, the sound volume cannot be controlled by any remote except the one for the sound bar. 

 

Isn’t technology wonderful? I am an engineer, so this all should be easy. However I am also a senior citizen and find the product complexity unnecessary and infuriating. Pray tell me, why do I need so many choices?

 

Talking about that we bought a Subaru about a year ago. This is a stripped down version but yet it comes with mind-boggling number of buttons and screens.  The main instruction manual is a five hundred and thirty nine page long. It is choke full of information on how to operate the vehicle and its accessories. The section on seats, seatbelts and SRS airbags run for mind-numbing seventy-six pages! Do they expect their customers to go through this crap just to make sure that they are properly restrained in their cars?

 

If you want to know all about instruments and controls, you need to read just one hundred pages, and another hundred will tell you all you need to know about starting and operating the vehicle. 

 

I didn’t read all these pages, of course, but had to glance through them to figure out what most of the switches and buttons do. The last thing I want to happen is press the ejection seat by mistake (I am kidding). Still there were some switches that were not mentioned in the Instruction manual. Two were hidden in the overhead console and two near cruise control.  Then, I read somewhere that if my vehicle is equipped with the EyeSight system then I need to get another manual for that. I was told that indeed our vehicle has an EyeSight system, so I went to the website and found a pdf file of the manual. Guess how many pages are there in that manual? One hundred and sixteen! 

 

We are reaching a state of absurdity, I think.  Yes, AI will come to rescue when all we will have to do is to speak properly and the system will do what we want. No instruction manuals required. However, until that happens, we are caught into this quicksand of increased product complexity, driven primarily by “we will give choices because we can, not because anyone asked us to. “

 

Interestingly, at the other end of the spectrum are some products made by companies such as Apple. They have taken the elegance and simplicity of their products to an absurd level and end up creating the same level of frustration as those that come with too much information, as in the above examples. 

 

So, recently, we got the Apple TV to replace Roku, which is also a streaming device you connect to your television. You get a neat little box containing neat little black components of the device, and practically no instructions. I figured out how to connect the main unit to my TV, but had a great deal of difficulties understanding what the remote did. As I said, there are no instructions. Like the ape in 2001: A Space Odyssey, puzzled at encountering a slick black obelisk, I looked at the small thin black obelisk in my hand, turning it around, and wondering how one can use it to go up and down a simple menu on the screen. 

 

Finally, it took an explanation from our son-in-law to figure out that the top part of the remote is like the touch pad on my laptop. You move your fingers and press it to create action on what you see on TV. Also, there is a Siri like capability on the remote. You just say what you want to watch and it will appear on your screen. Would it have destroyed Apple’s brand image if they said these things on a small piece of paper in the box? 

 

Same issues with their new iPhone. My wife and I went through a hilarious episode when we could not figure out how to switch the damn thing off! Now we are not dumb…we have gone to college and earned many degrees among the two of us. Is something wrong with us or the manufacturers just don’t get it? 

 

I say, enough is enough.

Sharing vs. Showing off

 Recently, I wrote a Blog post on why can’t we stop showing off (1^st December 2020). The main part of that post was a story in NY Times about how to get readers get introduced to classical music. This was filled with experts selecting obscure pieces and describing in such technical terms that only other experts will understand. I thought they were showing off instead of sharing their knowledge. 

I followed that soon after with a document introducing the recipients to classical music. Prompted by a gentle jab from a friend asking if now I was showing off, I started thinking. First, I asked the recipients if they felt that I was indeed showing off. I got a resounding response….no I was not. Then, I thought about when sharing becomes showing off. Here is what I came up with. Let’s start from the very beginning. 

 

What do we share?

 

We share information about ourselves, where and how we live, our family, what we do, our hobbies. 

 

We share our experiences, our travels, the places we have visited, the people we have met, the places where we have dined.

 

We share knowledge, something we know, we have learned, we have studied, we have researched.

 

We share our wealth, donate to worthy causes, help a family member, help a friend in need.

 

Why do we share?

 

We share information about ourselves as a way of establishing a social network. Our relationships in part are based on knowing about each other and establishing trust.

 

We share our experiences to learn about what each one of us have done, where we have gone, what types of friends we have made. 

 

We share our knowledge because it is a part of our job, to help someone learn something new, to start a discussion on a new topic.

 

We share our wealth because of altruistic purposes, and make ourselves feel good.

 

Why else do we share?

 

An additional reason for sharing is that being liked, admired, and respected by others will boost our ego.

 

People may say good things about our lives, our family our house, our car, our skills, and that will boost our ego.

 

The listeners will praise us for the experience we have had, places we have visited, folks we have met, and that will boost our ego.

 

Our audience of our lecture will be mesmerized by our knowledge and be grateful because they learned something new. That will boost our ego.

 

We will get heartfelt thanks for the funds received by a worthy cause. Or family member or friend who we assisted will pledge eternal gratitude and that will boost our ego.

 

Now, in an ideal situation, we should be living a life free from ego, as our wise people say. However, most of us it is impossible to achieve that state. So, this additional reason is important, and for many it might be the driver for sharing.

 

When does sharing become showing off?

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

The person listening to us talk about our house, our life, our family, our car may also think how egotistical we are. Although that is not what they will say in our faces. Their praise will not be sincere.

 

The folks listening to us talk, without them asking, about our experiences may think, “Here he goes again. I have heard about your Antarctica trip enough number of times. Just shut up.” Of course, they will maintain their pleasant demeanor.

 

The audience of our lecture, or a recipient of a massive document containing our knowledge, will say “I don’t understand a thing. If he were genuinely trying to impart knowledge, why wouldn’t he take my interests and limitations in to account?”

 

The person listening to our tales of donation will say, “He is doing it just to brag about it.”

 

In short, the recipient of our exchange will think that we are showing off.

 

Now again, for some this may be the ultimate goal. Getting their ego stroked is not sufficient, they want to feel superior to the recipients.

 

How can we stop showing off?

 

Showing off can be harmful in several ways. The relationships we are trying to build may not take hold and the existing ones my erode. We will come across as an egomaniac or a fool, not the most complimentary descriptions to aspire to. 

 

So, we should be aware when our sharing may slip into showing off. How do we do that?

 

The most important element in making sure we don’t fall into the trap is to know the recipients of our sharing. Who is the audience?

 

It is one thing if we are talking about our big house on a seashore with someone in the same wealth level, another if the listener is a person with more modest means.

 

It is one thing if we are comparing notes with another well-travelled person, another if the friend has barely left town.

 

It is one thing if we are discussing classical music with a peer, another if we are doing that with a layperson who is genuinely interested in knowing more about the field.

 

It is one thing if we keep the story of our donations just to ourselves, another if we use it to impress a new set of recipients…our family and friends. 

 

That’s my thinking on the topic.

 

American Terror: An unfinished opera

Act 1: Exposition

 

In this act, the three main characters are introduced and described.

 

1. Unhappy people: Mostly rural population that is unhappy because of a variety of reasons. One is the changing character of the country; it is not mostly white Christian country any more. The other is disappearing jobs. Manufacturing is moving to China; coal is not in demand any more, the Mexicans are taking over menial jobs. The old life is disappearing, and they desperately yearn for good old America. 

 

2. Social Media: A new way of communicating has emerged. There are multiple platforms that comprise Social Media: FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and so on. They provide a legitimate service by connecting billions of people worldwide, and bringing them news and entertainment However, they are also misused by those with malice in mind or have an alternate view of reality. These are addictive platforms, and what gets posted is quite believable.

 

3. Donald Trump: A low life narcissist who has mastered the skill of sounding very believable. He has inherited money and run several businesses with utter ruthlessness. 

 

Act 2: Development

 

In this act, the three characters interact among themselves, forming alliances and creating conflicts.

 

Donald Trump finds out that there are a large number of Unhappy People. He crafts a message that offers them salvation. Using his oratory skills, he convinces sufficient number of Unhappy People that he should be President of United States. He wins.

 

Donald Trump discovers the power of Social Media. He uses one form of Social Media, Twitter, as his megaphone and uses it to reach Unhappy People. He could say whatever he feels like, truth be damned. Since whatever comes through on these Social Media channels is believable, the Unhappy People lap it up. 

 

Several Unhappy People start creating an alternate universe that would explain to them and their cohorts why they are failing in spite of their birth right to succeed. They create conspiracy theories and put them on Social Media. Since anything on Social Media is believable, Unhappy People lap up these theories. 

 

Donald Trump discovers the power of alternate universe and conspiracy theories. Now he does not have to work hard to keep Unhappy People in his fold. He can find scapegoats for anything that does not work. Any negative reporting is attributed to horribly biased media. Every pain that Unhappy People are feeling can be blamed on Democrats, social liberals, Chinese or Mexicans. Almost all of the communication is done using Social Media. How convenient?

 

The conspiracy theorists use Social Media to weave theories on how Donald Trump is the savior that is god sent to save the Unhappy People from the others. Since everything on Social Media is believable, Unhappy People lap it up. 

 

Unfortunately, reality intervenes. The savior is soundly defeated in elections. How can that be, ask Unhappy People? Donald Trump is supposed to rule for ever. Donald Trump uses Social Media to confirm their suspicion. His defeat cannot be true. The election was stolen by Democrats, social liberals, and helped by media (and black and brown people).

 

Unhappy People become even more unhappy. The get angry. They want to do something about it. Donald Trump uses Social Media to foment anger. Things come to head on January 6^th when the US Congress convenes to officially deliver their savior, Donald Trump, a defeat. 

 

This cannot be allowed to happen, say Unhappy People. They storm the Capitol where the dastardly act was happening, Bastille style. After many hours, they are turned back, but not before they have caused damage, terrorized elected representatives, and infuriated the rest of the population. 

 

Act 3: Recapitulation

 

In this act, the conflicts start resolving but are not resolved.

 

Donald Trump’s defeat is confirmed and certified. He is out of office and impeached. His access to Social Media is cut off. The Social Media also takes steps to contain conspiracy theorists. However, the Unhappy People remain unhappy. They remain defiant and have promised a continuation of their movement. 

 

The opera is unfinished. 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Note: A common structure for a movement in symphony is called “Sonata Form.” It has four parts. In the first part, exposition, two themes are presented, followed by the development part in which themes interact with each other causing conflicts. These conflicts are resolved in the recapitulation part, and finally a coda closes off the movement. I have taken liberty to use this as a way of explaining what is happening in America at the moment. I have called it an opera instead of a movement in symphony, so themes become characters. Also, instead of four movements, this one has three…the closing has not happened. It is an unfinished opera.

 

It is hard to predict how this opera will end. Like a scene from Romeo and Juliette, when the two feuding families Montague and Capulets reconcile after death of the lovers, the crisis has prompted some form of reconciliation among Democrats and Republicans. Will that be enough?

  

Irresponsibility during Covid times

As I write this Blog Post, the daily number of new Covid cases in US has remained close to 200,000 and deaths have surpassed 340,000. If you look at the maps of new cases and listen to the health officials, there is no doubt that travel and gatherings for Thanksgiving contributed to the latest surge. CDC continues to urge folks to follow three simple guidelines: (1) Do not travel, (2) wear a mask when outside, and (3) avoid large gatherings of friends and family. 

 

Did we learn those lessons after the Thanksgiving surge? Hell no. Just look at the images of millions of people at the airport during Christmas time, carrying about as if the Corona Crisis has passed. 

 

So, what is going to happen now? Yet another bump on the top of the recent surge. More deaths, more lockdowns, more businesses bankrupt, and additional untold misery. 

 

I am angry, and I don’t lose my temper that easily. 

 

If you ask people why they travelled, knowing what havoc it is likely to cause in January, they will all have a convincing answer.

 

We took all the precautions. Yes, I am sure you did but there is no question that you exposed yourself more than if you had obeyed the guideline and stayed home. Combine your action with that with all the other travelers and you will be a contributor to the inevitable next surge. 

 

We had to see our friends, and family members.  What exactly is “had to”? Couldn’t it wait? If the friend or family member was in deathbed, it is one thing, but I bet that was not the case (in most instances).

 

It is a tradition in our family to have a big meal. Is it also a tradition to infect your grandma and grandpa?

 

Don’t single us out, we did what lots of others did. This reminds me of the Tragedy of the Common in which eachperson allowed his cow to graze with no control, saying that the other person was doing that. The result? No grass was left and every cow starved. 

 

We did not know that our action would cause a surge in cases. Yes, you did. There was the Thanksgiving bump to tell you what would happen if people didn’t listen to health officials.  

 

We are tired of being cooped up.  Sure, you are but don’t you think we are too? A medical doctor put it, “if you are tired, put yourself in our shoes, working without a break day and night.”

 

Of course, we are a country where no one can tell the others what to do. In some places, staying home means staying home. If you are under quarantine, your phone is tracked and if it goes outside your home, someone pays a visit. If you are not home, you pay a huge fine. That country is Taiwan which has hardly had any deaths. Can we do something like that in US? Not a chance. We can’t even tell people to wear masks. 

 

When individualism becomes irresponsible, we all pay a price. I hope that we begin the new year with that realization and pay more attention the society instead of just ourselves.

 

 

  

Why can't we stop showing off?

 Recently the Editor of Classical music at New York Times  “posed a deceptively simple question to their writers and editors, as well as some artists they admire: What are the five minutes or so — longer than a moment, shorter than a symphony — that you’d play for a friend to convince them to fall in love with classical music?” He got great response and the results were published in NY times with links to music they selected. 

 

I started listening to the pieces selected and how they were described by these eminent experts. I could not but think that they were more interested in showing off how much they knew and what connoisseurs they were instead of helping their audience “fall in love with classical music.” That or they are incapable of going down from their high perch to the level of a person who is trying to get into classical music.

 

Here instance, here is what one expert said, I kid you not. 

 

“XXXXX’s  “YYYYY,” for two violins and orchestra, is a wonderful distillation of his processes. There is a clear pulse, moving through a series of chords, each lasting just a few seconds. Each chord feels like it’s finding repose from the previous one, creating a sense of release without feeling repetitive. On top of this, two violins play politely interlocking canons and patterns. A minute before the end, he lands on a sort of jazzed-up F-major chord, which, after a brief move to a minor key, resolves itself back into F — a moment of deep structural satisfaction.”

 

Unless you are yourself an expert at classical music, not a person tipping his/her toe, you would not be able to make head or tail out of what he is saying. Why would he select a totally obscure piece to make people fall in love with the classical music and why would he explain his selection like that? 

 

However, the best one of the series is the following:

 

“You can’t listen to a recording of it, and the many YouTube renditions won’t give you a sense of what it really is. Instead, like all great musical works, “4’33”,” John Cage’s three movements of silence, must be experienced live in concert, where the transient energy and the perception of time becomes a collective and individualized event. The accidental and unintentional sounds of everyday life, from coughs to faraway sirens to the hum of an air conditioner, become the piece itself. A strong reaction is guaranteed — perhaps, like it did for me, it will awaken a sense of the still untapped potential in classical music.”

 

I found a YouTube version of it and as the critic says, there is nothing but silence. The conductor waves his baton and the musicians just sit there doing nothing. Is this a joke? What BS is the writer saying? Is this the way NY Times is going to convert people to appreciate classical music?

 

I can draw parallel to a wine connoisseur trying to get a friend interested in wines. “Here I have selected (an obscure) wine from (an obscure) vineyard. It is vintage (very old) because in sipping it you will feel the release of vanilla which is asserting itself over nutmeg, which can’t resist the pull of lime with a hint of chocolate, all the while pepper is trying to rise above the din and saturate the nose.” 

 

You get what I am saying. Does this expert give a damn about teaching his friend about wines? Hell no. He just wants to show off what an expert he is, or as I said before, cannot put himself in the shoes of his friend. 

 

I remember when I used to present papers at conferences, I said one time, “I am going to show you one equation in my presentation…Afterall I have a PhD.” The audience applauded, because I followed a professor who could not resist showing off his intellect through massive number of equations to an audience that was just trying to understand the basics. 

 

I am no saint. I am sure there are situations when I am tempted to show off but I hope I am not being as blind to the audience as the folks mentioned above.

 

Afterall, what will I gain by showing off?

 

The Ballot

 My mail-in ballot has arrived. Now I can participate in a historic election without having to wait until November 3^rd and waiting in line at a polling booth, which is what I have done in the past elections.

 

The ballot is not just a simple document listing choice for President and Vice President, but five pages of multiple people and items to be voted on. This is the participative democracy in action.

 

I skip pages 1-4 in my first reading of the ballot and go to Page 5, the most important one. I am given a choice to select not just between the two well-known opponents in the Presidential election but among several. Standing in the election are the Republican and Democratic candidates, but also those from The Green party, The Libertarian Party, The Peace and Freedom Party, and The American Independent party. The last pair intrigues me; the candidate Roque “Rocky” de La Fuente Guerra for President and Kanye West as Vice President. Just imagine they getting elected. Then, if something were to happen to Rocky, Kanye West would be our President and Kim Kardashian, the first lady. Wouldn’t that be interesting? On the other hand, when I think about it, that wouldn’t be worse than the current situation. May be even better.

 

Next, I start from the front of the ballot. The choices are neatly arranged according to levels---City/Local, County, and State. Being new to this area, I know almost nothing about most of the candidates in City/Local level except for our Congressman. The representative of the 28^th district is none other than Adam Schiff. In addition to him, I can claim some familiarity with our mayor. He knocked on our door a few months ago, soliciting our vote. However, I know next to nothing about the candidates who are standing for the State Senate and State Assembly. 

 

Things get more complex when I come to the County candidates. I need to vote for District Attorney, and three judges for the superior court. Yes, I have seen ads on TV. If I vote for one of the DA candidates, I am told that hell will break lose. There will be riots on the street and the attorney will do nothing. She is supposed to be the meanest person on earth. No such ads for the judges. 

 

Now wait. A few days ago, I had received a thick packet from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (whoever that is) with candidate statements & measures. When I read about the candidates, they all promise to work for me and assure that heaven on earth will be created by their tireless activities. 

 

Intermingled with the candidates are “measures” on which voters are supposed to vote as “for” or “against” each measure. Californians are experts at introducing measures. This time, we have two measures at the city/local level, one at the county level, and twelve at the state level. Yes, twelve. They are literally all over the map, from County measure “J” --- Community investment and alternatives to incarceration minimum county budget allocation --- to State Measure 24 which seeks to amend consumer privacy laws, initiative statute. 

 

I have a choice to vote yes for all measures, or no, and be a bad citizen, or read up on each one--what it is about, and make an educated choice. The packet that arrived before the ballot has the full text of ballot measures and pro and con arguments. The full text of Measure “O” runs to more than eight pages of double column densely packed information. Besides some bureaucrat saying that “we informed citizens about what the measure was all about,” and thereby reduce the likelihood of being sued by the defeated party, I don’t see what purpose the descriptions serve. I may not have time to read them or ability to comprehend.  

 

Of course, once again, I can watch the TV ads. One projects of images of patients who claim that they all will die if a specific measure is passed. An ad for another measure mentions that untold hardship awaits a huge segment of the society if that one is not given the nod. 

 

I wonder what is wrong with this picture. 

 

How will an average citizen be able to weigh pros and cons of each proposition and decide what is good for the society? Most of them will have the “other” side, increasing deficit, or bringing hardship to some segment of the society while benefiting others.  Don’t we elect representatives to make tough decisions such as those presented by these measures? What is their job? To get elected and then worry about re-election? 

 

Also, I am, or should be, familiar with some of the local and state representatives, but how will I know the rest? As I mentioned, some of them have provided statements in the packet that I got. Are those sufficient for me to make an informed selection? Or, should I rely on the TV spots where each one gets trashed? 

 

I am a fairly educated and experiences voter, and I am having a hard time filling this ballot conscientiously. What will happen to my less educated or informed fellow citizens? Yes, a participative democracy is the best form of government, but how effectively and efficiently is it functioning?