Desicritics Author: Fleiger

Book Review: Churchill's Triumph by Michael Dobbs

Fleiger — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:20:28 EDT

While the war started by Hitler was knocking on his doors, the three most powerful men in the world met at Yalta from 4th February to 11th February 1945, to discuss the future of the post-war Europe, and the world. The third novel in the Churchill's War series by Michael Dobbs, Churchill's Triumph is the story of those 8 days which plotted the course of many years to come.

While American and British forces are being held in check at the banks of Rhine, the Russian forces are "liberating" the eastern European countries. The Yalta Conference (codenamed Argonaut Conference), considered by many to be the meeting of the Trinity, reminds Churchill more of the Second Triumvirate after the death of Julius Caesar. In reality, The Big Three are not so different from the famed monkeys of the fable.

Stalin has come to the conference knowing what he wants (and indeed has scored the first victory by getting the ailing American President and the British Premier to Yalta instead of Mediterranean), and refuses to hear anything which is not in his agenda. Roosevelt wants his dream of United Nations to become reality (along with Russia's support against the Japanese), and doesn't want to see anything which does not fit his idealistic world. And the third old man, Churchill cannot open his mouth without "offending" Stalin and revealing the big holes in the crumbling façade of the alliance.

But Churchill is facing the possible end of the glorious British Empire and British influence in Middle East as well as Asia. At the same time, his stubborn demands of free democratic governments in east European countries (particularly Poland) is getting nowhere. So he realises that the only his words might shield Poland from complete subjugation at the hands of Russians.

Meanwhile, he meets a young Polish plumber, who is actually an officer who ran away from Katyń, and is now living under false identity. The plumber wants Churchill to take him away from Russian influence before his adopted identity is revealed, and in return gives some important information regarding Stalin's plansand the meetings and deals between Stalin and Roosevelt behind Churchill's back. But history is waiting to place the blame of the inevitable failure of Yalta Conference, and Churchill is determined to show where the blame truly lies, even if it means that he has to go back on his personal word of honour.

Churchill, at this time, is a man tired and tempered by the war. Unlike the man he was at the start of the War, he is far more ready to be silent and listen to others before flying off the handle. Yet he is the same stubborn old man at the core, with his belief in his words (no matter how others twist them) and inability to start a sentence without turning it into an oratory. Again we see the man behind the invincible name, a man who is tormented by his decision to betray a gentleman, and by the knowledge that his two allies (including his friend Roosevelt) do not need him or the British help going forward. But even handicapped like this, he cajoles, tricks and bullies the conference into granting him the promise of free elections in Poland, the inclusion of which in the official communique is bound to show Stalin as the liar he is later on.

Right from the starting travel, when the road is filled with ruins, the story takes a personal turn. The novel is filled with interesting touches like Stalin (on the first day) "sweeping" his hand across the map of Russian territories, and continuing west towards Germany (while remarking on the markedly different successes by Russian and British armies) in Churchill's War Room. This picture shows far better Stalin's mentality, than when he brags later that Russian soldiers take what they can by force. At the same time, the story of Marian Nowak, the plumber and his "family" in Poland gives a far more realistic picture of the ground conditions than any description of statistics or any discussion in the conference would have done.

All in all, this story of three old men (both Churchill and Roosevelt travelled with their daughters, "just in case"), who didn't quite know how to finish what they started, is a worthy successor to "Never Surrender", in all respects.

Of course, being an Indian gives you one more perspective into the happenings. While Churchill is adamant about the democracy in European countries, and is ready to go to any lengths to gain that, he is equally adamant about the continuation of British Empire (it is mentioned by Stalin and Roosevelt many times). That is a bit hypocritical, as history remarks.

Because we all know, the track record of the "most civilising empire in the history of the world" is not exactly perfect. But in all fairness, will the young people in Poland, removed by two generations from the freedom struggle, talk about Russia in the same tones, as we do about present-day England? Or, for that matter, would the Tibetans about China, if they ever get freedom?

Book Review: Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove

Fleiger — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:13:08 EDT

The defeat of the Spanish Armada is one of the major turning points in the history of Europe, indeed the world. But what would have happened if the Armada would have reached the shores of Britain?

In "Ruled Britannia" by Harry Turtledove, King Phillip II has placed his daughter, Isabella, and her consort on the British throne, and they have been ruling the isles for 10 years with the conquistadors, the dreaded Inquisition and the help of the Irish. But now, Phillip is on the verge of death, and the old (surviving) advisers of the imprisoned Queen Elizabeth feel that the time is coming to get their freedom back.

Central to their plan is William Shakespeare, whose famous plays have made him the darling of the crowds. He is charged by Lord Burghley to write a play which will rouse the common Briton to take up arms against their conquerors. At the same time, the Spanish want a fitting tribute to their Great King, and there is none better than William Shakespeare who can write a play about the greatness of His Most Catholic Majesty.

So now, the fate of two queens and two kingdoms rests on the words penned by a man who can't decide which play he wants to perform. And the success of the plot, if it materializes, depends on the actors and men who are vain or simple, timid or courageous, oblivious to the danger, or relishing it; in short, the men as common as the audience who applaud and cheer them.

Although he is the central character in the novel, William Shakespeare is still a common man. Like most people he does not want to risk his life by going against the conquerors, and conforms to their customs and rites just to be safe from the Inquisition. And although he would not spy on his neighbors, the only difference between him and the man on street is his prodigious talent. So it is quite ironic that the same talent thrusts him in the center of conspiracy, spy games and possibly "treason."

If you are looking for a hero in traditional medieval mold, senior lieutenant Lope de Vega would be the one. A conquistador who came up on the Armada, he is a brave man, fond of plays and women. As an English speaker and a fan of Shakespeare, he has full "backstage" access. Not to mention, he is a playwright himself, writing in Spanish. He is looking forward to play a part in "King Phillip", and plays a reluctant spy looking for any conspiracy amongst the actors.

Imaginary characters like Cicely Sellis (a "cunning woman") stand shoulder to shoulder with characters like Kit Marlow, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil, acting as the "supporting" cast. Indeed, many times they show more courage than the reluctant hero. The nobles, like Lord Burghley work in the shadows at the back, while Good Queen Bess does not appear until almost the end.

It is only in the last few days that I have heard the name of Harry Turtledove, and the place he holds amongst historical fiction writers. Given my current condition, I am a bit loathe to start any of his series, but I must say that "Ruled Britannia" lived up to all that hype, and then some more.

Movie Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Fleiger — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:06:32 EST

Based on the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” is one more fantasy movie on the premise that the world around us is not exactly what it looks to be.

Storyline: Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon and elder sister Mallory have shifted with their mother to their great-aunt's house. Young Jared is unhappy about his parents' divorce and his anger gets him in trouble.

In the dilapidated house, Jared discovers a hidden library belonging to their great-grandfather Arthur Spiderwick. There are many strange things in the library, the strangest being a book with warning not to open the book. Of course, as any 9-year-old would do, Jared opens and starts reading "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to The Fantastical World around You". But the warning on the book may just be literally correct, and somebody tying Mallory's hair to the headboard at night may be the least of their worries.

Now Jared and his reluctant siblings may have to get help from and fight the creatures in and around the house. They have to meet their (great-)aunt Lucinda (who is in an "institution") and uncover a secret. They have only until full moon before something terrible tries to kill them to get the book.

Although the three Grace children are the focus of the story in the books, the movie puts Jared right in the middle. Jared (Freddie Highmore) loves his father, and is unhappy about moving away from him. He thinks their father will be coming to get them (at least him). But it is his pranks and outbursts which get him mostly in trouble (the only reason he is not expelled from his old school is that they are going to move anyway). At the same time, he is resourceful, inquisitive and adventurous, and really cares about his family.

By contrast, his twin Simon (Freddie Highmore) is a pet-lover (don’t mind the size or ferocity of the animal). By his own admission, he doesn’t “do conflict”, but often gets in the middle of things because of Jared. Mallory (Sarah Bolger) is a typical teen aged girl, just one who is a very good fencer. She is often found with a foil in her hand, and bossing around her younger siblings if possible.

The Grace children are helped and hindered by their household helpful brownie Thimbletack, who turns into a malevolent boggart at the drop of a hat (or mention of the book). On the other hand is Hogsqueal the “hob”goblin (remember, he is not a goblin), whose perhaps only loyalty is to himself, and only wish is to get good birds for dinner.

Having a flying fantasy creature in movie is by now an established way to get some great aerial shots, not to mention some brilliant acrobatics in the movie. If Harry Potter franchise has Buckbeak the hippogriff (and a dragon in future, maybe), the Grace children find the ride on Byron the griffin. With these allies, they have to defeat the fierce and cunning ogre, Mulgarath, who will do anything and take any shape to get the book.

With 5 small-sized books, each around 100 pages in length, I had thought that there wouldn't be any major differences. I mean, I didn't really expect the Spiderwick estate to be as dilapidated as the books made it to be. But I wasn't ready for some changes, like in Byron's story. Even Thimbletack is too much prosaic than his rhyming self in the books, while some creatures are completely missing from the story, probably because the movie takes place in a day or two against the weeks it takes the storyline to unfold in the books. Many important changes seem to be made to make the movie more kid-friendly.

All in all, it is a good fantasy movie, with a feel-good ending and some good humour. If you are a fantasy fan, I would recommend it.

Reading Tintin - The Thin(?) Line

Fleiger — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:33:48 EST

I finally got my hands on the elusive Tintin comics, "Tintin in the Land of Soviets" and "Tintin in the Congo". Now, I agree that the comics were written in early 20th century by a 20-century author. So, on one hand, I am happy that these comics won't ruin the umpteen re-readings of other comics for me (and I am still looking forward to the movie). But on the other hand, one of my sensors will always be looking for racial tones in the comics which I earlier dismissed as racial quirks.

This has also raised an old question to the front of my mind: When do racial caricatures turn bad?

Those familiar with the writings of prominent Marathi author Pu. La. Deshpande will remember one of his most memorable characters, Pestonkaka. The story captures the tones, the language, the quirks of a typical Parsi gentleman in post-independence India (capturing such quirks is a typical characteristic of Pu. La.'s writing). And yes, the story uses these quirks and accents for humour. Yet, even the most "sensitive" individual will find himself chuckling along, and nobody will find anything derogatory in the caricature.

On the other hand is the desi version of "12 days of Christmas" doing rounds on the net. Personally, I found that particular video bad, if not in bad taste.

So, is this a subjective question to such an extent?

Every group, race, nation, people have their own characteristics, customs, accents, language (I am not talking about English, Hindi etc. here), which define them as a group. Personally, I think any true to life portrayal of a particular person will have these, giving the person an identity. There are so many differences, that you are bound to find one or more of such characteristics funny. Just to give an example, every Bollywood (and even Hollywood) film watcher will have a plethora of characters in mind, which portray a particular identity in good, cheesy, all the way up to bad and pandering to popular perception way. And personally, I don't think writers using such devices for humour is bad, till the time it is in "good taste".

But at what point does the funny turn into bad? Is overuse the line to cross here? Do we perceive the "intent" of writer to be offensive (or think we perceive it) based on our sensitivities (and sometimes, our mood at the moment)?

Or, is it just a case of us vs. them, and everything is funny till we are at the other end of the joke?

Short Fiction: The Relic Hunter

Fleiger — Sun, 6 Jan 2008 03:31:22 EST

He stood watching, surrounded by the ruins.

Behind him lay the path he had covered, tortuous and half covered by the jungle, almost invisible to the eye. In his mind, the path was indicative of the year of research, false leads and real and false hopes. An year spent in the dusty libraries and shops, ancient manors and the unknown corners of the world. Following a life after another, all connected by a single thread. Hoping against hope to find just one single clue, one more elusive piece of the puzzle. Frustrating as it was at times, the exhilarating path had finally taken him to the place he was standing in.

Walls and statues surrounded him, full of stone carvings and depictions. A tableau of history, depicting the scenes he recognized from the countless hours spent reading, pictured in numerous books, and told in many tongues across the ages. Dramatised and embellished by the believers and the devout, scorned by the cynics. Frozen moments in the history he had pieced together carefully. A life-changing moment here, a sad realisation there. Just the way his quest had been.

Before him lay the relic. The goal he had been chasing for such a long time. The single discovery which would mark the crowning achievement of his successful life. The object which would fulfill his life and make his dreams come true, as it had done to the select few throughout its almost-mythical life.

Anybody who was less determined than him would have given up the quest. Anybody less resourceful would have met too many dead ends to continue. But he stood there, staring victory in the eye. Yet again proving that he was the best of the lot.

He had to be careful now. One final piece of the puzzle was still missing from his notebook, despite his efforts. Even the most complete maps to the place stopped short of showing this place. He had to step carefully across the temple, watching each step. Every step could land him in a booby-trap, every support he took could bring the walls tumbling down on him.

After the excruciating journey across the short distance, he finally reached the pedestal. His goal lay in front of him, and he just had to stretch his hand to claim it. Yet his mind was troubled by the complete lack of anything designed to discourage people like him. This complete absence of any defensive measures was so disquieting, that he stopped a moment longer before claiming victory. Staring at the relic.

And that's when everything came together in his mind. The hours spent reading stories, woodcuts and the carvings. The sheer force of will which took him from one stop to another along the trail. The complex path his quest had taken through time and space. All had been pointing to a single fact. The quest which had taken over his life, had become something more. It had become his life, had shown him his life in a different light. The victory he was looking for wasn't over his rivals. The rival he was competing against wasn't anybody else, but his own self.

Touching the relic for the first and last time, he turned away. The last piece of the puzzle was finally in the place, and the completed picture was shining through in his mind.

He had realised why the relic never needed any booby-traps and trap doors for its safekeeping. Sometimes the journey itself is the goal...

Some More TV Detectives

Fleiger — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:10:13 EST

I want to finish up the "Desi Detectives" series with a few TV detectives I didn't cover last time, starting with a serial I didn't know existed.

The Name: Special Squad
The Men (and Women): Aryan Khanna, Shaina Kaur, Dipika Ghosh, Ajay, Neha, Boxer, Shotgun, Papaji

Background: Special Squad (not to be confused with their Australian mates) was set up by Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, as a "special" team. Supposed to be a crack team of homicide investigators and forensic experts, they are pitted against "perfect criminals". The team is led by Aryan Khanna (who is pushing himself because he could not solve the case of his wife and daughter's murder) and later by Dipika Ghosh (who is put in the team to control the unorthodox ways of Aryan).

The cases are a combination of ones where the team has to find the criminal and the ones where they have to catch the criminal. While the latter often tend to be more police-procedural drama, the former are interesting, if not brilliant. Perhaps the major point I can talk about is that the cases do not seem to be overtly "inspired".

Then again, the series was a 2005 original, and I am not really conversant with crime dramas of that period. Also, although the story of a cop troubled/fueled by personal trouble is common in books, it was rare in the serials I have seen in that time period (for a particularly good serial in this genre, refer "Life").

As far as the investigative cases go, they are fairly guessable. But when we see the unit reconstructing the crime scene while investigating, the "re-enactment" shows the real criminals. I want to find out who made this decision, as this definitely takes away a lot from the suspense. I agree that a group of people discussing how the crime happened is less interesting than actual visual (picture being thousand words and video being many pictures), but then seeing the face of the actual criminal about halfway through the episode is not good either.

I think if the serial had gone beyond one season, this would have been a good one. Of course, I don't think this would have given any serious competition to CID. This is much more emotional drama, not to mention that CID has got quite a few years behind them to establish the characters. But then again, this slight emphasis on emotion does make them less prone to the unintentionally-funny gaffes CID often makes.

That said, I did not know that the time of death could be pinpointed to the minute by forensic examiners. Neither did I know that bullet cases are recovered from victim's body, and not the bullet.

Coming next time: This detective lives with a doctor. They tell us that he is a master of disguises. Sounds familiar? Well, you will be surprised.

Movie Review: The Golden Compass

Fleiger — Sun, 9 Dec 2007 00:21:51 EST

This seems to be the year of movies based on books. Considering the popularity of corresponding books, The Golden Compass is perhaps the most awaited after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Plot for those who haven't read the book yet:

The story is set in a parallel universe, where the "souls" of humans stand next to them as their daemons (familiars). Lyra Belacqua is a young lady growing up in the most prestigious college in Oxford, Jordan College. Her parents were killed in an airship accident, and her uncle, Lord Asriel is a famous scholar in Jordan College and an explorer. Lyra is taught sporadically by Master and other scholars in the college, and is growing up to be rebellious, fearless (and almost barbarous) child. But there is trouble afoot, in the guise of "Gobblers" who are kidnapping children across England, one of them being Roger, Lyra's best friend.

Lyra meets the charming Mrs. Coulter, who takes her up to London. Lyra is supposed to be Mrs. Coulter's assistant, and accompany her on her trip to North (where Lyra hopes she will meet Lord Asriel). But Lyra starts finding out hidden depths in Mrs. Coulter. When Mrs. Coulter finds out that Lyra was entrusted with an alethiometer (known as "golden compass", which is supposed to help you learn the "truth") by the Master of Jordan College, her reaction forces Lyra and her daemon to run away.

Lyra is taken by gyptians who have been following her from Oxford, and learns that gyptians are gathering their forces to rescue the children kidnapped by Gobblers (who Lyra knows by now are connected to Magisterium). She goes to North with gyptians to help rescue her friend Roger. On the way to North, she meets the queen of witches, Serafina Pekkala, an airship captain called Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison, an armoured bear. She also starts learning to use the alethiometer, although nobody knows how exactly it works.

Lyra helps the exiled Iorek Byrnison gain his rightful place among the armoured bears, and gains his help for their cause. They go to rescue children held in a station, guarded by Bolvangar armymen with fox daemons. While fighting Lyra learns that Lord Asriel may be in mortal danger, and goes ahead with her companions to save him.

In the movie, Dakota Blue Richards is very good as the rebellious, fearless, devious and curious (over-curious?) Lyra. The only thing is that her look of fear does not suit her properly (it looked to me more coy than afraid). Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel does look like a powerful man, as a scholar and explorer with political connections. Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter is also perfectly cast, charming and dangerous at the same time.

From what I have read of the book, the movie is not so different. The mention of "Dust" (the cosmic uncharged particles which "connect" different universes) may be slightly reduced from the book. Lyra makes the "discoveries" on her own, or gets information (about her parents, about gobblers etc.) from other sources than in the book. She does start using the alethiometer perfectly almost magically, not start understanding it slowly. Yes, the Magisterium (the church, or what stands for church) is corrupt and power-hungry, but the atheist message for which the books are "renowned" seems to be much muted (or at least, it seemed to me). But at least, the changes made will not raise the hackles of the readers, as they don't take away much from the main storyline.

The universe does have zeppelins and ships working on "atomcrafts", with old-school buildings of Jordan College and majestic "London" vistas, and magnificent stretches of ice on the North pole. All these are beautifully created. But don't compare the movie to Lord of the Rings, at least not in battle scenes (Is it just me or did the Bolvangars look like computer animations?). As a fantasy tale, the movie is pretty good, easily understandable even if you haven't read the books.

Before I finish, there really are circles (or spheres) in every scene, right?

The New Updated "Spamming 101" - Part II

Fleiger — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:15:07 EST

The successful candidates who finish Part I of the "How to Spam: Spamming for Beginners" course will graduate to the part II, The Hardcore Spam:

Now this is the part all the students have been waiting for, or at least those who want to launch their own spamming careers. This is the part which will earn you money, and unlike mails from part I, often ends in "Spam" folder.

The course will cover in detail the industries which provide support for our operations:

The Pharmaceutical Industry: Given the amount of "pills" and other "aids" sold on the internet, it does not come as a surprise to the educated people that the world population has sky-rocketed recently. But remember, that means the number of potential customers is increasing by the second. And it is our job to keep the world (-population) ticking.

The Inheritance and Immigration Laws: With pros of globalisation, come the cons. With people spreading all over the world, and the nuclear families shrinking, it is hard to keep track of one's relatives (and their money). The course will teach how to track down the immediate relatives (the "relative" being a relative term here), how to get government departments and banks to "clear" the concerned inheritances and to get the "authorities" to write to the "relatives" to impart the glad tidings.

The Banking Industry: Given the number of banks coming up (and being taken over by bigger fish), it is understandable that the websites for banks keep on changing. It is our duty to provide people with the updated information. Also, there is a social-service angle attached to this of helping people who forget their passwords by storing them.

The Retail Industry: Given the globalisation trends, it is but understandable that new industries need to spread overseas. And who more can understand the tricks of local markets and finances as "finance agents" recruited in the country to collect and send money to parent company? Ask any professor in marketing...

The Stock Market: The number of new companies coming up every day, and the rising global economy... It pays to be on top of your portfolio.

The Movie and Media Industry: There has been a decline in number of mails giving people access to their favourite "stars" and their special "movies" or photographs which the general public can never come across. We feel that like retro fashions, this industry is poised for comeback, not to mention an upturn. This is the evergreen source of clicks out of all the mentioned industries. Remember, this is where the "hardcore" part of the course name can be taken literally.

Apart from the market review, the course will also cover the essential skills required of a successful spammer. A short list of course contents:

What's in a name: How the name doesn't matter, and how getting even a part of name is enough online.

Spelling and grammar, do they matter?: Hint: not in the least.

No red tape: How to avoid the delays in official channels by bypassing the authorities (see point 2 and 3 above). We can send their mails for them.

The New Royalty: After all, Africa can have only so many deposed princes and dead rich men. There are more continents (and hence countries) in the world.

Marketing medicines, an art: The claims of "breaking a log" are definitely getting old fast.

Know thy enemy: The videos such as this, and other information.

Admissions are open (Instructors and research fellows can also send mails, with 3 writing samples in their area of interest).

Legal small print (because our lawyers said so):

The institute does not guarantee any income after the course (except for the institute of course).

All fees are payable in advance, in cash. Offers of partnerships with overseas industry or details lost bank accounts will not be accepted in lieu of the fees.

The course does not advocate sending spam mails, the role of the institute being limited to teaching.

For any damage caused to the candidates, the institute will only be as liable as the institute teaching horse riding or archery.

For any damage caused by the candidates, the institute will only be as liable as the institute from where a student creates and sends out a virus.

The New Updated "Spamming 101" - Part I

Fleiger — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:39:23 EST

It's been an year since last time I gave you the sneak peek into my course "Spamming 101: Tips for New Spammers". And given how things change in today's fast-paced world (the fact brought to me by this great article by Aditi), what then was cutting edge is now commonplace. So, I think it is time we need to make the course known once more for the syllabus which is truly the ahead of its time.

Here's your look into the new, updated "How to Spam: Spamming for Beginners" (yes, the changes start from the name, and no, we don't like calling potential customers "dummy").

The new course will be split into two parts: the non-earning part, and the monetizing part.

Non-earning or social part:

The slew of social sites and suchlike have opened up new ways for the learning spammers to hone their skills. And since this is more of irritating, and not exactly "spamming" (except for some people), you can easily get away with a lot, while getting less brickbats and flames coming your way.

The coursework will consist of topics like (as usual, my comments are in brackets):

Social Networks and Invitations:
- How to make sure invitations are sent to all your contacts
- How to make sure all your address books are used for sending out invites
- How to optimize contact lists so as to make sure nobody is left out
- How to avoid the temptation to add anything personal to the invites (mass-invites are always more efficient)
- How to add all the Facebook applications you come across, so as to multiply the amount the mail
- And for extra credit: Sending invites to people who will be least interested in the app you are promoting

Social Networks and Requests: With social networking, you are in an enviable position to keep your contact list always growing, thereby giving you new people (and mailboxes) to experiment with.
- How to give personal touch to the requests with creative new words (who said the orthodox word "friendship" sounds better than the new-age avataar "fraanship"?)
- Experimenting with grammar (these two points come in handy in next part of the course, too)
- How to use smsese and other forms of not easily understood words (today's kids should excel in this)
- For extra credit: Only for girls, sending "frndship" requests (told you we are ahead of our times)

Forwards: These have been around for ages, and yet, the importance of forwards in spamming can never be underestimated.
- How to send all the forwards you get to everybody you know, however remotely.
- How to write effective "If you don't send this to X people in Y minutes" appendices, and add them to all forwards which don't have anything at the end (that's a waste of a forward if you ask me)
- The optimum number of daily forwards you should send so as to irritate people an optimum amount
- The main point: Never ever, at any point of time, for any mail, put the e-mail addresses in anything but "to:" field. In fact, remove "cc:" and "bcc:" fields from your mail application. Remember, the more the "visible" number of people you send the mail to, the more people will think of you as a famous person.

But remember, since this is done mostly to the people you know (or people in your address book), this can go either way. So you should carefully monitor the amount of "social" spam you generate. On one hand, if you irritate the people a lot, they know where you can be found. But on the other hand, your "friends" may be able to forgive you a lot more worthless e-mails than the people you don't know.

So, the main part of this course will deal with the determining frequency and amount of spam you should start with. Research positions are available for this topic.

The course will also cover other media, like scraps, blogging (and comments on blogs) and so on.The successful candidates who finish this part will graduate to the "Hardcore Spam" part of the course. For details of that part, stick around till next post.

One Star Out of Five, Anyone?

Fleiger — Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:17:05 EDT

Yesterday, I was talking to a fellow blogger friend about his blogging experiences. He is an aspiring writer with a pretty decent writing style (and a good sense of humour), and has contributed a piece or two to magazines (that I know of). He looks to blogging as a medium to improve his writing. So, I was very surprised when he suggested he was very unmotivated, and was thinking of shutting down his blog.

When I asked why, he told me that this was because of the feedback he was getting. He has a gadget for ranking on his blog (rather like the stars I have in left sidebar), and there are some 15-20 people who have managed to put him down in the last 20% on quality.

He told me he was planning to take down the gadget, as he felt it was not a nice advertisement for his blog that so many people feel his blog is so bad. I told him he cannot do that. That is like taking away freedom of expression of his visitors, and as we all know, you cannot do that. In today's world, every person should be able to say how he feels about everything, for it is their right.

Secondly, he is not the one who is clicking on that gadget (at least, I assumed that in the interest of fairness). So all his shouting was like a kid who is not allowed to vote, ranting against the elected leaders in democracy. i.e. completely pointless.

What really got his goat was that none of those people wrote any comments or criticize him, which would help him improve his writing. I told him that he should be thankful that people took time from whichever site they frequent, to let other viewers know how they feel about his site. And he cannot expect them to take more time off to write him any comments. Because although it is the viewers' right to give him feedback, it is not their responsibility.

His other option was to stop writing the blog completely. I told him he should do that, because if so many people think he is not good, does he really believe that he can improve given time and practice? But then, if he continues writing, I would respect that too, if only for his stubbornness.

And now that the markets have spoken (in the words of US Presidential candidate Stephen Colbert), I am wondering whether I should stop visiting my friend's (well, he is more of an acquaint., to be precise) blog, even though I like his writing.

But that also prompted me to think about how we give feedback to somebody. In today's fast paced world, if you can rank somebody on a scale of 1-5 by just a click, is there any point writing any comments and giving any "constructive" criticism? Isn't constructive criticism an oxymoron anyway?

P.S. In the interest of security (mine), some of the facts of this case might have been changed. I would suggest you not to go around hunting in my blogroll looking for the subject of this post.