It started with Steve jobs official biography that released the september of the year he passed away. I read it probably over night. And it is a book I return to often.

Couple of years later I read 'A regular guy' by his sister Mona Simpson. And even later a memoir by Chrisann Brennan -mother of steve's first daughter. I randomly found it on the display during a library visit.  I might have even read a essay by steve's widow - I am not sure. Early on,  I had found a collection of essays/writings by his daughter online - https://lisabrennanjobs.net/. *
 

After reading all these,  I remember thinking if somebody has write in that family i, it should be his daughter.

Her book comes out in less than a week.  I might or might not read the book but I will definitely read everything else she will ever write.

* Earlier it just had her writing, now looks like it has suddenly been spruced up.

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Standup 'Comedy'

Caught Hari Kondabolu and Hasan Minhaj shows on netflix couple of months ago. Both good shows.

They talk about social issues. Hari talks about racism, homophobia and all that. Hassan's show is actually a complete bollywood act.  It has father sentiment, sister sentiment, drama, emotion why even a love story with families opposing. You get a happy ending. Quite thought provoking shows.


But where is the comedy man?

Where is the humor about mundane, pointless issues. Like trying to bargain with bag shop owner at the mall who saves you a dollar. or Like that show about nothing..

Why is stand up comedies so serious these days? Can they still be called comedies?

This post isnt about making sense, more like I had to get it out of my chest.

Some one did a good deed, stupidly good deed. It was stupid because it wasnt worth it, stupid on their part to do it, the others who should have done it didnt.  Infact recipients seem evil to me.

But it was an unselfish act.

That someone suffers today. unnecessarily.

It troubles me.

Not close enough to reach out. heck in the past I have judged that some one for something else. I feel so uncomfortable for judging them. On the other hand it was a different act and judgement worthyone.

Though I did think if I meet the someone again I will behave better. 

Oh well, no reason someone should suffer after a good deed.

Tamil nadu politics

My thoughts have been the exactly the same as rest of Tamil nadu wrt recent events. It is just that these sentiments have zigzacked quite a bit this past year. We have been jumping off from one log to another in a sinking situation. Too many blinders.   

At first, we hated DMK for its 2G scam corruption and nepotism so much that TN that Jayalalitha won a historic consecutive term. Then when Jayalalitha was hospitalized, anybody other than sasikala became the new Mantra. We hoped Stalin would be able to break ADMK and form a government in case something happens to Jayalalitha. Well Stalin is DMK ( & his brother & nephews & half sister & so on). Suddenly DMK's corruption which still mattered after 6 years, wasnt discussed after 6 years and 6 months. 

Now we think Paneer selvam anyday over Sasikala. But what do we know about him? Is he corrupt and if so how corrupt? ( surely there are grades of corruption levels for Indian politicians). Is he a good administrator?  

We dont know.  In fact the only thing we know is Jayalalitha trusted him and he never betrayed that trust. 

One cant even say that about Sasikala. How much of Sasikala's corruption did Jayalalitha partake in will be more of mystery than how and why these two were that close. The latter part atleast JJ knew but I wonder if she knew about the former well.

By shrouding herself with all the relatives Jayalalitha had thrown out and by throwing out the very administrative team JJ put together, it is very clear that 30+ years of friendship that elevated her in status and materialism means Zilch to Sasikala. Nobody had heard Sasikala speak while Jayalalitha was alive. What we knew were only the stories in media. Her behavior post Jaya's death has been consistent with all those evil stories we read. 

I understand the need to keep Sasikala out at any cost but I am not sure if Paneerselvam is the elixir we are looking for or if he would be even a reliable log.  

Continuing on how clueless english media and Sasikala

http://www.rediff.com/news/special/is-sasikala-the-next-jayalalithaa/20161208.htm

- Another day another article on Sasikala without a single mention how much people hate her.

Vikatan - The tamil magazine writes one article per hour on how horrible sasikala is.

Updated: Not bad english media is finally catching up but the paid news articles of Sasikala has started appearing too.

Jayalalitha, Tamil nadu and English media

Just some points after reading multiple articles on Jayalalitha's death in English media.

1. Jayalalitha was super corrupt in 1991-1996. An meglomaniac. 100 car trail, an ugly and most expensive wedding. But her subsequent tenures have definitely not been blatantly corrupt. More importantly she implemented schemes that actually had a good impact on  normal lives.

Jayalitha was tempestous, petty and had a colassal ego. None of that takes away the good

2. No they werent all populist measures. Infact one of her strict and the right move - terminating teachers who were repeatedly going on strike ended up costing her election. She made rain water harvesting compulsory -  Believe it or not it actually had an impact. It should be made a pre-requiste across India - Karnataka should do it before fighting for cauvery water. 

She went to court for cauvery dispute - Karunanidhi never did this instead he only purely made politics out of it. Going to the court has been the best for tamil nadu since the agreements have been favorable to tamil nadu. In terms of law and order, she had always been good. LTTE were routed out during 91-96 tenure itself and sandal veerappan was caught when she was in power too. 

These are to name just a few.   

Sure populist schemes would have got her the vote bank but DMK does too. One cursory look, would reveal the popularity she enjoys among the middle class and upper middle class.They didnt vote for her for a mere promise of a bad tv.

 

I guess #1 made news and #2 doesnt. Because negative news travels faster.

There is a reason why she was re-elected this year.

3. That brings us to Sasikala. No tamil newspaper would talk of sasikala after Jayalalita as automatic ascension. Every single English media outlet has. As of now, every one in TN hates her and have always hated her. If you are talking about MLAS - no one voted for any MLA - most people voted only for Jayalalitha. People associate every corruption of Jayalalitha with her. Period. She might have got the right caste equations in politics but so does every political party. Sasikala is well versed in politics and she doesnt have to worry for another 5 yrs but as of today, she has negative public opinion.

English media has not even acknowledged sasikala's absolute lack of popularity( either they didnt understand or they were trying to curry up a good rapport). No tamil news paper/magazine would write about her in glowing terms. 

All of these makes me wonder what quality of news am I getting about other states? I really wish every national newspaper has journalist who are also familiar with vernacular languages.