Once upon a time, six friends found themselves stranded on the sandy shores of a tiny, rugged island called Lleh. Just across the sparkling blue channel sat a beautiful, lush land known as Nevaeh. They desperately wanted to reach those green trees and soft grass, but between them lay a sea of restless powerful waves.

Trial One: The Long Walk

The friends looked at the water. Near the shore, it was only a foot deep. "Let’s just walk!" one suggested. They began to trek through the surf, splashing and laughing. But as they walked a kilometer out, the seafloor suddenly dropped away. The water grew deep and the currents became too strong for their feet to hold. Realizing they couldn't walk across the ocean, they turned back to the safety of Lleh.

Trial Two: Too Much Gravity

Back on the beach, they found a sturdy boat named Ayag. "Perfect!" they cried. All six climbed inside and grabbed the paddles. However, the waves crashing against the shore were powerful. With all six friends sitting in the boat, it was too heavy and sluggish. No matter how hard they paddled, the waves just pushed them back onto the shores of Lleh.

Trial Three: Speed without Gravity

"If we are too heavy inside, let’s push it from the outside!"

They decided. They lined up and gave the empty boat a massive, running shove into the surf. Because the boat was light and empty, it hit a wave, bounced high into the air, and capsized, splashing upside down into the water.

Bon Voyage: Teamwork, Science and Timing

The friends sat on the sand and thought hard. They needed a plan that balanced weight, power and could give direction. Finally, they came up with a clever strategy:

1. The Watchman: One friend stayed on the shore to keep a watchful eye and call for help from the village people if anything went wrong.

2. The Starters: Two friends climbed into the boat to provide grounding, direction and rowing

3. The Pushers: The remaining three stayed in the water, using their strength to shove the boat past the heavy breaking waves.

As the boat picked up speed, the plan went into motion. Once the boat was gliding, the first pusher jumped in and started rowing along with the other two. Then the second pusher hopped aboard. Finally, as the boat reached the deeper, smoother water, the last pusher climbed in.

Remarkably, the boat stayed steady! With everyone working in harmony, the Ayag began to sail gracefully toward the horizon. The friend left on the shore cheered loudly, watching the miracle of his friends finally conquering the sea through patience and clever thinking. He immediately ran back to the village of Lleh to tell the people of his friends great adventure

<to be continued>……..

Once upon a time, there lived a nervous squirrel named Pip.

Pip lived at the edge of the Great Thicket, a messy, dark forest where the trees grew in every direction. The elder squirrels had old, dusty maps with straight, neat lines. They told everyone, “Stay on the sides , or you will get lost if you step inside.”

As time went by, the world around Pip changed rapidly. The ground had shifted, the rivers had moved, and the old lines didn’t lead to acorns anymore. Pip wanted to explore and find new havens, so he decided to venture out, gathering all the courage he could find within his tiny self

The First Walk: The Noise

Pip stepped off the old path and into the Thicket. Right away, he was hit by the Noise. Every snapping twig sounded like a fox. Every rustle in the leaves felt like a hawk.

Because Pip didn’t have a map, his heart beat very fast. He was in “High Alert.” To him, the Thicket was just Chaos. It was a scary jumble of things he didn’t understand. He ran back home with no acorns, feeling scratched and tired. He thought,

The Repeated Walk: The Signal

But Pip was hungry, so he went back the next day. And the next. By the Nth time he walked into the Thicket, something in his brain shifted. He stopped being so afraid. He began to filter the noise.

He realized that the scary shadow on the left was always the same Bent Oak Tree. He learned that the “growl” in the bushes was just the wind blowing through a hollow log.

Pip was no longer just reacting to chaos; he was recognizing patterns. He saw exactly where the thorns were and where the ground stayed dry. He was drawing a new map in his head. He used his own survival to find the way.

The Desired Path: The Paving

After many many repeated walks, Pip didn’t even have to think about his steps. His feet just knew where to go. Other squirrels saw how calm Pip was and they began to follow him.

His constant walking had worn a thin, brown path into the green grass. This path was not a straight line like the elders’ maps. It curved around big rocks that were too heavy to move, and it dipped down to a stream where the water was sweet. It was Pip’s own Desire Line, a path made by his repeated journey’s in to chaos.

Finally, the village builders came to the edge of the woods. They didn’t try to force a new, straight road through the trees. Instead, they looked at the dirt paths Pip had made with his own feet. They simply laid flat stones over the path that was already there.

The Lesson

Looking back, Pip learned that Order is not a map someone gives you before you start. Order is the reward you get for walking through the Chaos many times. Once you walk through the noise long enough, you find the patterns, and eventually, you pave a path that actually works.

Pip realized that whenever he was trapped in chaos, the answer was simple: keep walking. By treading the same ground again and again, he learned to filter the signal from the noise, turning a tangled mess into a smooth and steady journey. He also knew that a paved path was a gift to other traveling squirrels, a place where they could finally find rest and rejuvenation before continuing their journey in through the chaos.

Big was the size of a Sun and liked things “Mega-Sized.” Little was the size of an atom and liked things “Little-Sized.” They landed on Earth to draw the lines.

The Divide

It was the most organized breakup in history:

• Big took the Continents. Little took the Islands.

• Big took the vast, salty Oceans. Little took the tiny Puddles and fresh water.

• Big took the Sun (he liked the heat). Little took all the Planets (he liked the variety).

• Big claimed the Whole Universe, but Little snagged all the Galaxies inside it.

For a while, it was perfect. They even had a strict “No Stepping on Toes” policy.

The Deadlock

The stars were aligned, the lines were drawn, and the Universe was perfectly divided. But as the suns began to set, a heavy weariness fell upon the two friends.

Big, being the size of a sun, looked at the swirling, misty clouds of a Galaxy. “That looks like a soft pillow,” he sighed. He leaned his massive head back to rest among the stars.

“Stop!” squeaked Little. “The Galaxies belong to me. You are a giant, and you are trespassing in my garden of stars. Remember the policy!” Big snapped his eyes open. He owned the vast Universe, but he had nowhere to lay his head that didn’t belong to Little.

Little was just as tired. His robotic joints were clicking with every step. He looked down at the beautiful, golden shores of Bali. “I shall take a nap where the waves meet the sand,” he whispered. He packed his tiny suitcase and prepared to land.

“Not so fast!” Big boomed, his voice shaking the atmosphere.

“Rule [1]: The Continents and the Oceans belong to me. You are stepping on my territory, Little. You have no permission to touch my sand.”

The silence that followed was louder than any explosion. They stood in the center of their perfect creation, two masters of everything, yet both were stranded. Big had the Sun, but he couldn’t sit down because the planets belonged to Little. Little had the planets, but he couldn’t walk on them because the ground belonged to Big. They had built a magnificent house, yet they couldn’t enjoy a single room.

The Wisdom

Suddenly, the sky flickered like a faulty lightbulb. Pop! Out stepped Middle. He wasn’t big, and he wasn’t little; he was exactly “Human-Sized.” He wore a very shiny suit and carried a briefcase made of stardust.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen!” Middle chuckled, adjusting his glowing tie. “You’re making this way too complicated. Big, you want to keep your dirt. Little, you want to keep your drops. But without movement, there is no progress!”

Big and Little tilted their heads. “What do we do?”

Middle reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny, jingling coin. “It’s simple! We use Money.”

“From now on, if someone wants to stand on Big’s land to drink Little’s water, they just pay a small fee. We’ll call it ‘Rent-a-Space’ and ‘Sip-a-Buck.’ A coin is not a wall; it is a bridge.”

“Money?” Big asked. “Can I eat it?” “No,” Middle winked. “But you can use it to buy a hat for your Sun!”

And just like that, the Universe stayed split while the friends made progress. The deadlock was broken, and Middle opened the very first Intergalactic Bank.

The Trade

The trade began. Big finally got his glass of fresh water, and Little finally got to take his nap on the warm sands of Bali. The Universe was no longer a silent museum of “No Trespassing” signs; it was a bustling marketplace of stars and sips.

Middle sat in his glowing office at the Intergalactic Bank, polishing his shiny coins and watching the two friends happily swap their fortunes back and forth.

But as the stardust settled, one question remained for all the little humans watching from below:

The Puzzle

Which of these three has the higher demand today: the giant who owns the entire Sun but must pay for a glass of lemonade; the tiny guy who owns all the Galaxies but must pay a parking fee just to stand on a grain of sand; or the Middle Man, who enables everything to move within this split?

Boundaries make us neighbors, bridges make us roommates, wondering what will make friends ?

Scrolling through my feed today was a lot. One video claimed a specific group is plotting a global takeover, another warned that people from a certain country are “stealing all the jobs,” and a third was convinced a specific religion is “invading” Europe. Honestly, it felt like my brain was being hit with a 4K resolution version of the Dark Ages. It’s heavy, confusing, and, let’s be real, exhausting. As usual, I started digging into old stories to see if mythology or history had anything to teach me.

Iranyan and Prahaladan

Reading about Iranyan, I see a father who turned his power into a massive ego-trap, demanding everyone, especially his own kid, be a carbon copy of his tyranny. But then there’s Prahaladan. Even though he was raised in that shadow, he didn’t let his father’s “villain tendencies” define his life. It makes me realize that even if a father, a family, or a whole society goes down a dark path, there is always a chance for individuals to bear the light and lead the way back.

Ravana and Vibhishana

Then there’s Vibhishana, who lived in a palace of pure arrogance with his brother, Ravana. He could have just played along because “blood is thicker than water,” but he listened to his gut instead. He realized that being loyal to your brother shouldn’t mean you’re obligated to participate in his mistakes. Leaving his home wasn’t about “betraying his people”; it was about realizing that being born into a group doesn’t mean you’ve signed a contract to support their wrongdoings.

The Realization

Through these stories, I’m starting to see that a family’s shadow, a country’s past, or a religion’s reputation doesn’t have to be a follower’s future. Judging a whole subset of people because of the actions of a few, or the past, feels like a glitch in human logic. It ignores the fact that every single person has the power to be decent on their own. Just like a lotus grows in muddy water but stays clean, integrity is something we build ourselves. Our background is just the soil we grew from; where we actually bloom is a choice we make on our own.

The Reality Check

So, here I am, finishing up my deep, soulful scribble about not judging people by their “subset,” feeling all enlightened and wise. Then, right on cue, my wife yells that it’s time to get the kids ready for school. Naturally, my “sovereignty of the soul” evaporates instantly. I find myself snapping:

“Ugh! Everyone in this family is exactly like this! No one let me have five minutes to myself!”

he irony hits me harder than my self-enlightened realization. One minute I’m a philosopher shielding the world from unfair generalizations, and the next, I’m basically a total hypocrite

Even if I’m currently failing my own moral test by generalizing the people around me, I’m learning a tough lesson: the hardest place to stop 'generalizing' isn’t on a random YouTube comment section. It’s right here in the house with the people I love, in the cubicle with my coworkers, and on the field with my friends. What matters most is keeping my heart aimed where I want to be and hoping the waves of life guide me toward it.

Today’s conversation summary between Gemini 2 LLM and myself.

If horoscopes and prophecies are true, they imply a pre-lived timeline, a cosmic movie we are simply reliving. This suggests we inhabit a replayed reality where the illusory “future” has already occurred in the past.

However, if free will exists, we possess the ultimate “gift”: the will to alter doomsday prophecies into beautiful, unwritten realities.

What If, Whether through God, Nature, or the Prophets, we are given warnings of what to watch for as any beloved parent would, to guide us, not to trap us.

But as usual like any Child, Are we moving in to the same outcomes that those prophets/scriptures warned us to watch out for ?

Also “How” do we alter these doomsday prophecies in to beautiful outcomes ? Gemini 2 LLM didn’t have an answer worth writing here.

The outpost had three people: a Security Guard, a Cook, and a Housekeeper. The Security Guard watched the border, day and night, through binoculars, coffee in one hand, boredom in the other. The Cook made warm soup, and the Housekeeper kept the place livable (or as livable as frozen misery could be).

One fine morning, a Minister from the capital arrived, shivering in royal wool and armed with a new government mission: cost-cutting. The King wanted efficiency. No more wasted coins guarding snowflakes.

The Minister observed the Guard for a while. The man just sat there staring into white emptiness. No raiders, no smugglers, not even a wandering yak. “What risk is there here?” the Minister thought.

After some serious “risk assessment” using all the latest risk/management terms. optimization, resource synergy, and lean operations, the Minister came to a grand conclusion:

“This Guard is doing nothing. We can make him cook and clean too!”

And just like that, the Cook and the Housekeeper were dismissed. The Guard, now holding a mop in one hand and a ladle in the other, followed orders. After all, one doesn’t argue with a Minister in a fur hat.

Days passed. The Minister proudly reported to the King that efficiency had improved by 200%. The Guard was now multitasking, a true example of productivity reform.

But one night, as the Guard scrubbed the kitchen floor, something stirred on the horizon. It wasn’t a man or a beast, it was a machine. A silent metal swarm, creeping through the snow.

The Guard didn’t see it. His binoculars were in the sink, soaking in soap water.

By morning, the outpost was gone. The machines had crossed the border unchallenged.

When news reached the capital, the Minister was stunned.

he cried.

Indeed, there weren’t. The Guard hadn’t been watching for people at all, he had been guarding against machines. Machines that didn’t eat soup or care for mopped floors.

And so, the outpost became the most efficient ruin in the kingdom, clean, cost-effective, and completely conquered.

Moral: Efficiency is wonderful, until you optimize yourself into extinction.

PS :

I am pretty sure no one noticed the outpost required 2 guards to start with in the first place.

What is a Dream?

As per to science, A dream is a sequence of images, emotions, thoughts, or sensations that occurs in the mind during sleep, most commonly during the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage. Dreams can be vivid or vague, realistic or fantastical, and are usually involuntary experiences shaped by memories, feelings, and sometimes wishes or anxieties

Why do we Dream?

One common agreed articulation is that we dream because our brains process memories, handle emotions, and solve problems during sleep, helping us make sense of daily experiences and maintain mental health.

Types

• General Dreams

  • Ordinary dreams that happen during sleep

  • Everyday processing of thoughts, sensations, and experiences, usually forgotten upon waking.

• Lucid dream

  • Being aware you are dreaming. You recognize you’re dreaming and may even control the dream’s events or your actions.

• I Have a Dream

  • Dreams that does not let you sleep and move others deep.

Let’s take examples of famous two “I have a dream” from history.

I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King had this one which he shared with a large following

“This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning. My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring.” And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California”

For the Savvy, the abstract of his dream is

• Every person no matter their background, will experience liberty and justice

• The nation will realize it’s founding promise “ Land of Liberty”

• Freedom shall ring in all direction of the nation

A beautiful dream indeed!

Ain’t I A Woman ?

Here is another Dream spoken by Sojourner Truth

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

I always wondered Why do these dreams occur ? Should we encourage them ? Or double down on them with an Iron hand ? To be honest, I didn’t have any answers but this is where i settled my thoughts with my kind of blind reasoning

• These dreams reflect intense emotional pressure building up inside in individuals and societies, just like a volcano accumulating force beneath the surface before an eruption. Embrace them and find meaningful way for them to achieve those dreams so the pressure build subsides or double down on them and let it erupt and find it’s course.

Parting Thoughts!

I am going to leave with these thoughts which has shaped my life, Thanks to Alchemist from Pulo Coelho

So Let’s dream a better world. then

References

[1] Dream: Dictionary APA

[2] Science behind dreaming

[3] Dream Causes

[4] Type Of Dreams

[5] I Have a Dream

[6] Teach a Girl To Lead

At least for myself, it was a question I felt compelled to explore. I decided to allocate two hours out of the thirty-odd years I may have left on this mundane curiosity.

Some modern toxic influencers might call that decision something a "fool" or a “weak man” would make, but hey,

So, let me present to you what I found.

The Fear Grin

According to science and research, the origin of the smile can be traced back to the “fear grin” or “silent bared-teeth display” used by primates to show submission or to appease predators.

Was it really a signal of weakness and submission?

Universal Language

In modern times, smiling is one of the most effective ways to express friendliness, spark conversations, and foster social bonding among humans.

Toxic Masculinity

Lately, I’ve come across videos and content where toxic masculinity is exalted and portrayed as the norm for a man’s life. I admit, I sometimes fall for those hooks, but whenever I do, I’m left with a recurring dream of Batman confronting my dream self and asking,

Smile The Brightest Style

We humans face many hardships in modern times , whether it’s work, life, or, for some, the harsh reality of war. I know how difficult it can be. I can only hope that nature, grants us the strength to smile through those moments and emerge well unharmed, regardless of the side of the situation we find ourselves trapped in.

Long time ago, I studied this couplet from Thirukural by Thiruvalluvar.

Which means

which is

Easier said than Done, at least to myself

Then I saw this video and thought wow some are able to do it in real life.

May be this is masculinity ? because It has not hurt anyone in the process of showing courage and strength ?

See you all in another post. Long live the smile!

References

[1] When did we start to smile

[2] Smile Origins

As usual, let’s start with some juicy ‘creation myths around the world’. But before we begin let’s define some terms in simplest scientific way to ensure we all read the scriptures on common ground!

Glossary

• Chaos : Chaos is unpredictable behavior in complex systems, where small changes lead to vastly different outcomes.

• Void : void refers to an empty space or region in the universe where matter is nearly absent, such as the vast empty areas between galaxies. It's essentially a region of space with very low density, containing very few particles, energy, or objects

• Random : Random refers to a non-deterministic behavior or outcome at any point in time, meaning that the result cannot be predicted with certainty, even if all initial conditions or inputs are known

Now we have defined them! Let’s look at some juicy ‘Creation Myths’ around the world.

Creation Myths

Hinduism

The Rigveda, specifically the Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn of Creation), presents a concept of the universe emerging from a primordial void. It describes a time before the universe existed, where there was neither existence nor non-existence, no air, and no sky, just darkness and a deep void. The hymn ponders how creation might have come from this chaotic state.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, the universe undergoes cycles of creation and destruction. At the end of each cycle, the universe dissolves into a state of nothingness or chaos, from which it will eventually be reconstituted.

Abrahamic Religions

The Book of Genesis in the Bible describes the creation of the world by God. Before creation, there was "tohu wa-bohu" often translated as "formless and void," indicating a chaotic state of the earth before God brought order to it.

Big Bang

The Big Bang theory is the scientific explanation of the universe's origin. It posits that the universe began as a singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature, about 13.8 billion years ago. The initial moments after the Big Bang were characterized by extreme chaos, with rapid expansion and the formation of basic particles and forces from this chaotic state.

Wow, nice, isn't it? Some common themes in all creation myths are...

• Chaos

• Void

• Randomness

Fooled By Randomness

In our daily lives, we are often fooled by randomness. Thoughts, events, and outcomes can sometimes become random and induce chaos in our lives. Often, we assign meaning to this randomness with words like 'Fate', 'Karma', 'Nature', or even 'God'. However, we must remember the words of Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book Fooled by Randomness, which can be summarized as follows

Predicting Randomness

Rather than me writing paragraphs about this, Please watch the video from Action Lab on predicting randomness!

I am going to leave the words of Sir Francis Galton here as a summary

Mind-blowing, isn't it? Suddenly, prophets, prophecies, and the art of foreseeing the future seem like a clever dance with probabilities.

Did you know ?

Cryptography relies heavily on randomness to secure information. Randomness ensures that cryptographic keys, which are essential for encrypting and decrypting data, are unpredictable and unique. This unpredictability is crucial for preventing unauthorized access, as it makes it nearly impossible for attackers to guess or calculate the keys. High-quality randomness in cryptographic processes is the backbone of secure communication, safeguarding data from interception, tampering, and other forms of cyber threats. Without effective randomness, the security of cryptographic systems would be compromised.

Above is a good example of how humanity has turned randomness around us in to an opportunity for confidential communication.

Sayonara!

References

[1] Nasadiya Sukta

[2] Buddhist Cosmology

[3] Tohu Wa Bohu

[4] Fooled By Randomness

[5] Predicting Randomness

For some of us, when we first wake up in the morning, our minds often turn to the day ahead, wondering about the things we need to accomplish. These ‘before thoughts’ help us set intentions, prioritize tasks, and mentally prepare for the challenges of the day.

Similarly, for many of us, before we go to sleep, there is a time where our brain plays certain selected events of the day and leaves us pondering about them to reflect upon. At times, these afterthoughts result in our growth and lead us to new insights, helping us make better decisions in the future and understand ourselves more deeply.

This reflective vicious cycle of forethought and afterthought has helped us get to the point where we are as humans, constantly shaping our decisions, actions, and growth. It’s through this ongoing process of planning ahead and reflecting back that we learn from our experiences, refine our goals, and continue to evolve both personally and professionally.

The Reversal

However, when it comes to science and innovation, the process often reverses. We first invented the atomic bomb before harnessing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. we first learned to kill with a knife before using it as a tool in the kitchen.

In these cases, action precedes reflection, and invention precedes understanding, leading to unintended consequences that we must later grapple with. This reversal of forethought and afterthought reminds us that progress is not always linear, and sometimes, we must learn from the consequences of our creations before we can fully harness their potential for good.

The Legends of Prometheus and Epimetheus

In ancient Greek mythology, Prometheus and Epimetheus were two Titan brothers, known for their distinct personalities and roles in the creation and development of mankind.

The Creation of Mankind

Zeus, the king of the gods, tasked Prometheus and Epimetheus with creating all living creatures on Earth. Epimetheus, whose name means "afterthought" or "hindsight" was given the responsibility of distributing various qualities and traits to the animals. He gave strength to some, speed to others, the ability to fly to birds, and protective shells to turtles. By the time he got to humans, he had run out of traits to give, leaving mankind weak and defenseless.

Realizing this, Prometheus, whose name means "forethought" took it upon himself to ensure that humans would survive and thrive. He decided to give them the gift of fire, a powerful and divine element that would enable them to cook food, stay warm, and develop tools and technology.

The Hindsight

Now, as with any tales or events, we have the power of ‘afterthought’ represented by Epimetheus, to analyze this Greek mythological story and consider how we could approach it differently if given another chance. We are going to list some of them here just for the laughs or giggles

Shared Responsibility

If Prometheus and Epimetheus had worked together from the beginning, combining Prometheus’s foresight with Epimetheus’s afterthought, they might have created a world where humans and animals had complementary traits, fostering a more harmonious coexistence.

Balanced distribution of traits

If Epimetheus had been more thoughtful in distributing traits AKA had a little more of forethought in him, he would have left some beneficial qualities for humans such as physical strength or natural protection along with intelligence.

Let it be

Creating life involves countless variables, many of which are unknown or unknowable in advance. This makes it impossible to fully plan or foresee the consequences of every action. Even with the best intentions, unforeseen outcomes, like the need for fire or the unintended consequences of distributing traits, are inevitable. So, let it be as it is, accepting the inherent unpredictability of such complex processes.

The Journey Forward

Now, we have created social media platforms that connected the world before considering their impact on mental health and privacy. We are developing artificial intelligence systems capable of performing complex tasks before fully understanding the ethical implications. Here, innovation often outpaces our ability to foresee the consequences, forcing us to confront challenges and make adjustments only after the occurrence. This pattern highlights how the rush to create can sometimes leave us to address the repercussions later, as afterthoughts catch up with the inventions themselves.

We have two(?) choices going forward

LET IT BE

OR

EYE OF THE TIGER

Thanks for reading this blog and listening to those three awesome songs! If you really liked reading this please do share in your circle! ONLY if you enjoyed it or benefited from it!

Sayonara Kara!

References

[1] Prometheus and Epimetheus

[2] Let it Be

[3] Eye of the Tiger

[4] Sayonara Color

Suprabhātam pāṭhakāḥ!

Recently, there's been a significant push towards centralization in our modern ecosystem. We're increasingly relying on centralized systems, be it super cities, federal systems with strong central authorities, or cloud-based solutions.

What do history and mythology teach us about over-reliance on such ecosystems? Let’s dive into the depths of past times and see if we can avoid becoming the next chapter in Centralization Gone Wild!'

Tower Of Babel

As per to the scriptures, Long long ago, after the great flood, We humans united under a single language and lived in one place. It was really an amazing experience to speak one tongue and untied in one place without any differences. To celebrate our success and show our capabilities We decided to build a supercity with a large tower that reached the stratosphere.

As we built this magnificent marvel of a tower, the Lord came down and said,

Look at them, they’re united and speaking the same language. This is just the beginning. nothing will be impossible for them. Let’s mix up their language and scatter them around so they can't understand each other.

So, the Lord confused our tongue which gave birth to languages and scattered us abroad over the face of earth.

Such a story isn’t it!

We will not analyze whether this actually happened, whether it will happen, or who the 'Lord' character is, whether 'Lord' is 'God' or if they are different. Instead, we will explore the possible reasons of

What benefit does learning this story hold today?

Possible Reasons

From a centralized eco-system perspective there are two important aspects told in this story

• United under single language

• United under single location (specially after the great flood)

Outcome of the “Lord’s” actions are,

• Confusing our tongue ( Languages were born )

• Scattering us around the earth

It is evident that our ancestors intended to caution us about the dangers of 'single points of failure' and 'centralization' in our existence.

Rise & Fall of Rome

Rome is clearly another example of a glorious centralized success and failure. Rome had an enormous empire due to the following

• Unified legal system

• Efficient centralized administration

• Centralized cohesive identity

• Centralized military command structure

But

A boon can also be a curse!

The same centralization that led to Rome’s success also contributed to its rapid decline due to following weaknesses,

• Administrative Overreach

  • As the empire expanded , centralized management of distance provinces became a pain in the rain!

• Economic Strain

  • Centralized control of economic resources and heavy taxation created financial burdens on the empire

• Political Instability

  • Centralized power led to political corruption and instability

• Military overextension

  • Centralized Command & Control often led to overextension of military resources , defending extensive borders became increasingly challenging and costly

Centralized Thought Networks

Cloud Computing

Now in modern era, there has been an increase push to build centralized systems in technology through cloud computing adaptations. In cloud computing data, applications and services are hosted on centralized servers managed by cloud service providers such as Amazon, Google and Azure.

As with any initiative, Cloud computing does provide following benefits

• Scalability

  • The ability scale resource up/down as per to demand

• Efficiency

  • Simplification of resource management

• Accessibility

  • Ability to access services from anywhere

The nature of our existence is that if there are benefits , there is always an inherent risk attached to it as well. Some of the risks of cloud computing are,

• Single point of failure

• Monopoly by central authority

• Flexibility

• Administrative burden

• Overreach

Brain Computer Interface

With the invention of machine/brain human interface devices, especially the keyboard, microphone, and camera, we have been uploading our knowledge and experiences to the cloud through various mediums such as

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• Tiktok

• Youtube

• Etc, etc

It is evident that in the future, humanity will develop the capability to communicate via thought instantly. For example, if Neuralink or similar technologies were to evolve into a networked system where multiple users could communicate directly through a centralized platform, this could introduce instant communication via thought across the globe, giving birth to 'Centralized Thought Networks’

In other words we will be united under

One Tongue under the Globe

just like the Tower Of Babel story!

As mentioned above such a “Centralized Thought Network” does come with risks and benefits, Some of the risks worth mentioning are;

• Single point of failure

• Corruption

• Overreach

• Overextension

• Privacy invasion

• Data breaches

• Unauthorized access

• Loss of individuality

And most importantly due to over dependence on technology

We might forget how to speak languages over time, as they become unnecessary.

It is important to remember the wise words someone said long long ago!

Menawa Gigawabamin!

References

[1] Tower of Babel

[2] Cloud Computing Risks

[3] Decline and Fall Of The Roman Empire

[4] Neuralink

Good day to you all! Today we are going to start with one of our favorite excerpts from the Abrahamic scriptures.

Reading the above gives us a sense of pride and the feeling that mankind is amazing! Isn’t it? While we rejoice in our glory and awesomeness, it is also time to do justice to this post's title. Let’s begin.

Battle Tactics 1: Troy

Greeks laid siege to Troy for ten years primarily to retrieve Helen, the wife of the Greek king Menelaus, who was taken by Paris, the Trojan prince, sparking the Trojan War. One of the military advantages that Troy had at that time was their impregnable walls.

Troy was able to sustain the siege because of its massive wall, which was ahead of its time. It is believed that Troy had ample supplies of food and water within the city, possibly from springs and local food production, allowing life to continue normally without any disruptions.

Finding the Weakness , Breaking the Defense

Odysseus, a military strategist who observed the Greeks for ten years on the battlefront, understood the following simple truths or weaknesses about the enemy

• Overconfidence (For 10 years, they could not break us)

• Sole reliance on unbreakable wall (Made by the gods)

• Reliance on their divine favor (The gods love us)

• Desire for victory

A determined foe finds a way

Odysseus, as any determined enemy , devised a brilliant plan to exploit every weakness mentioned above.

He proposed sending a large wooden horse as a gift and offering and as a symbol of the “Greeks accepting defeat”. It worked because it appealed to Trojans,

• Desire for victory

• Divine nature ( Deities do accept offerings :-p )

• Confidence

It also enabled maneuvering past their defensive walls with ease by hiding soldiers inside the horse.

Outcome

Troy accepted the offering and took the horse inside their defensive walls, celebrating the entire night with victory dances and drinks. This allowed the Greeks to break the wall defenses and defeat Troy.

Battle Tactics 2: The 'Perfect Battle' at Chancellorsville

In the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee faced a major hurdle: he was significantly outnumbered by Union forces under General Joseph Hooker.

A Bold Risky Strategy

Determined to win, Lee executed a bold and risky strategy. He divided his already outnumbered army, sending a large portion under General Stonewall Jackson on a flanking march around the Union army’s right flank. To add icing on the cake, he maintained a smaller force in front of the Union army at Chancellorsville to engage and distract them.

Unfortunately, Hooker fell for this strategy. Convinced that Chancellorsville was the main Confederate effort, he focused all his attention and resources there, neglecting to scout his flanks adequately.

Outcome

This oversight and carelessness allowed Jackson’s forces to complete their flanking maneuver unopposed. When Jackson's troops attacked the unsuspecting Union right flank, it caused chaos and panic, collapsing multiple Union defense lines that had been weakened by the concentration of resources on the front.

This strategic diversion by Lee, making it appear that the primary threat was directly in front while a more dangerous threat was building on the flank, is a prime example of shifting an opponent’s focus to exploit weaknesses in their defense lines.

Defense Of Humanity

Here is another one of our favorite lines from the Abrahamic scriptures.

How cool is that!

On the surface, Humanity defends itself through a sophisticated system of defenses.

• Collectively

  • We are located in the far corner of the universe, alone and well protected by the void (it takes light years to reach us).

  • We are massive in size (last we checked, 8 billion of us here and we are still growing).

• Individually, our bodies have well-defined defenses at macro level

  • Ears perceive auditory dangers.

  • Eyes detect visual threats.

  • The nose senses harmful odors.

  • The brain processes these signals.

  • Limbs initiate protective responses like reflexes, fight-or-flight reactions, and strategic attack planning to ensure survival.

• Many more!

The Hypothetical Siege On Humanity

Now, let's embark on an imaginative journey to explore a hypothetical scenario where an unseen enemy faces the challenges of breaking through humanity's defenses. How might such an adversary overcome these obstacles? Let's delve into this hypothetical scenario.

Breaking the Wall of Void

Physically, we are well protected by a void of vast empty space. For an enemy to reach us from a nearby star system, it would take a minimum of 4.24 light years. What a marvelous design to protect one’s children, isn’t it?

Yet, there are weaknesses in the design: we are reachable by following for a distant enemy

• Darkness

• Light

• Thought

• ??

Let’s assume the enemy decides to use ‘Thought’ as the horse to break into our defenses, how would such an enemy would do so ?

Breaking the ‘Size Advantage’ : Winning the First Battle!

Through thought enemy would do the following;

• Divide us into Race

• Divide us into Language

• Divide us into Religion

• Divide us into Countries

• Divide us into many other forms by simply using ‘Thought’

By such divisions , the enemy is able to keep us at odds and busy with problems among ourselves shifting our focus and energy totally internally!.

Breaking Individuals : Winning the Next Battle!

A determined hypothetical enemy will not stop at mere single battle victories. If the hypothetical enemy wants to win the war, they would need to defeat every individual guarding such a system. However, we are inherently well protected by design. If such an enemy wants to break us, then they have to:

• Break our individual defensive protections at macro level

  • Ears

  • Eyes

  • Nose

  • Limbs

  • Brain

The hypothetical Enemy could gradually introduce the following to take our defenses and focus them on something else:

1. Radio: Saturate the ears with distracting or misleading information.

2. Television: Utilize visual and auditory stimulation to manipulate opinions and distract attention.

3. Smartphone: Create dependency on constant notifications and social media, diverting focus and our senses ( ears / eyes / hands ).

4. AR/VR: Immerse individuals in virtual environments, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

5. Neuralink: Directly interface with the brain to control thoughts and behaviors. Take control of our Command & Control.

By gradually integrating these technologies, an enemy could shift focus away from critical awareness and weaken our natural defenses.

Also, this hypothetical enemy could top it up by enabling competition and scaling it globally at rapid speed through instant connectivity.

Alright! We are going to stop our imagination horse right here! and move on to most important thing we want to talk about!

Why This Blog ?

For those wondering, why such a horrible imagination ? We want to emphasize a crucial cyber hygiene through this blog which is,

Using Technology Wisely With Well Defined Boundaries and Practices!

and to remind each of us of the importance and strengths of our design. Hope it was entertaining to read!

Oh, by the way, did you all know that Cassandra and Laocoon warned the Trojans of deception regarding the horse? However, fueled by the desire for victory, their confidence in their superiority, and their belief in divine favor, they decided to bring the horse in anyway!

See you all on another weird post!

References

[1] Battle of Chancellorsville

[2] Flanking Maneuver

[3] Cassandra & Laocoon

In the folklore stories of King Vikramaditya and Betal, the wise and brave king is presented with a series of moral challenges through stories by the clever spirit Betal. Each story ends with a challenging riddle from Betal that the king must solve.

Today, we are excited to share one of our favorite story from this folklore: 'The Three Suitors’.

The Three Suitors

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Mandravati. When it was time for her to marry, three suitors approached her parents, each asking for her hand in marriage. However, their requests quickly turned into obsession, as they vowed to kill themselves if Mandravati married anyone other than themselves.

Mandravati’s parents, wanting the best for her and everyone involved, decided not to marry her off to anyone until the issue with the three suitors was resolved amicably.

One day, Mandravati caught a terrible disease and died abruptly. All three suitors, grief-stricken, attended her funeral with deep sorrow and pain. After the funeral, each suitor, overwhelmed by grief, made drastic changes to their lives:

• Suitor 1 decided to stay in the cemetery, collecting the ashes of her body and sleeping next to it.

• Suitor 2 took her bones to the Ganges to perform her final rites.

• Suitor 3 became an ascetic and wandered off.

During his wanderings, Suitor 3 met a mysterious person who possessed a book capable of reviving the dead from the ashes. One night, while the person was sleeping, Suitor 3 stole the book and returned to Mandravati's cremation ground.

By this time, all three suitors had reunited, and with the help of the book, Suiter 3 was able to revive Mandravati from the ashes. Once Mandravati was reborn, or more accurately reanimated, the suitors began arguing and fighting among themselves over who should be eligible to marry her.

Now, we'll pause the story here and pose the same question to our viewers that Betal asked King Vikramaditya.

Who among the three suitors should be the husband of Mandravati?

While Vikramaditya reflects on the answer, let's take a radical step forward and discuss 'Open Source’

Open Source

An open-source project is a collaborative project endeavor where the project's outcome is made freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute by its collaborators.

Wait! People Do it For Free ?

We do know that, 'If We’re good at something, We should never do it for free’.

But, when it comes to passion and interest one has to understand that,

So, Individuals or groups with a personal interest or passion often start open-source projects to solve problems without worrying about getting paid or reaping any benefits.

As these projects evolve, they gain traction, become widely adopted, and frequently end up in the devices we use daily.

Open Source Projects Around Us

• Linux

• Android

• Mozilla Firefox

• VLC Media Player

• 7-Zip

• Kodi

and millions of other projects which are either one way or another used in systems and products around us in our homes and day to day lives

Suitors Of Open Source

As with any other collaborative ecosystem, open-source has the following suitors in the playground,

• Creators

  • Originators of the project idea, initial developers and designers, people who set the project’s vision and goals

• Collaborators

  • Contribute code, documentation, and design, review and test contributions from others, Participate in discussions and planning, provide feedback and suggestions

• Users or Beneficiaries

  • Utilize the open-source project in their own work or products and request features, share feedback on usability and functionality

• Advocates

  • Promote the project through blogs, social media, and talks, Educate others about the project and its benefits, Help grow the community by attracting new contributors and users

• Sponsors

  • Provide financial support or resources, Fund development, events, and infrastructure, Offer grants, bounties, or donations

The Freedom

The main attraction of open-source is the freedom for individuals or groups to come together and solve problems without restrictions from regulations and organizational bureaucracy.

The open-source project governing licenses specifically define this through 'No Liability' and 'No Warranty' clauses. These clauses allow collaborators to pioneer their vision rather than be bound and restricted by their environment.

The core characteristics that made open-source successful so far are,

• The Personal Interest or Passion

  • Open-source project begins by an individual’s or group of individual’s personal interest

• The Freedom

  • Open-source project sustains when the developers have the autonomy and empowerment to define the future vision of it

• The Transparency

  • Open-source project is widely adapted due to the transparency nature of it’s working mechanisms.

• Cost Effectiveness

  • It is ‘free’ as in Money

• The Collaborative Community

  • People invest their time and energy without pay out of passion and personal interest

The Dilemma

Mission Creep/Drift

As the open-source project grows in popularity and adaptation, sometimes the first casualty is the original vision of the project. The collaborators, rather than working toward the initial founding vision, end up catering to the needs and wants of users and beneficiaries.

The original aspect of personal interest and personal itch takes a back seat, and the project rolls into an informal sphere of organized bureaucracy governed by feature requests dictated by the beneficiaries of the project.

The desire to appeal to a broader audience takes the front seat, while the original vision silently succumbs in the back.

Regulatory Burden

Recently, the pressure of compliance to regulations has taken the open-source projects by storm, limiting the ability or diverting the focus for innovation and experimentation in this sphere one way or another.

The Reputation Burden

Finally, in response to the rise in supply chain attacks, we have proposed implementing reputation scores for open-source projects to classify and penalize 'good' and 'bad' projects informally.

Although commendable and noble intention, one long-term impact of such scores is that projects may focus more on attaining good scores than on solving the primary problem or advancing towards their vision.

The Riddle

We are strong believers that ensuring security and safety in the open-source software supply chain is crucial. However, the riddle for us is,

How should the scales balance among 'Freedom & Innovation ' vs 'Regulation and Reputation' ?

who among the open-source suitors shall be tasked with balancing it?

The Answer

As for those who are waiting patiently for the answer to the 'Three Suitors' riddle above, according to King Vikramaditya,

The one who brought her to life with a spell is her creator, equivalent to her father. The one who carried her bones to the Ganges is equivalent to her son. But the one who laid himself on her ashes out of love could be her husband

References

[1] An Interview With Linus Trovald

[2] Opensource has a funding problem

[3] EU Act on Open Source AI

[4] Executive Order 14028

[5] Scorecards for Opensource Projects

We at Cyberscribble stand as both advocates and critics of technology and automation. While we cherish its potential for advancement, we remain vigilant in ensuring its application serves our collective betterment rather than leading to undesirable outcomes.

Having said that, today we are going to look into 'Intelligent Automation'. Let's begin!

King Croesus and Oracle at Delphi

Once upon a time, in the realm of Greek Mythology or more specifically in Asia Minor, there lived a King, who was so wealthy that he gave birth to the expression 'As rich as Croesus.'

Croesus was determined, ambitious, and had all the wealth in the world. Naturally, the next step for him in his ambitious legacy was to expand his empire. He eventually succeeded in doing so. At the height of his reign, he was the most powerful monarch in Asia Minor.

The ‘Fall’

Croesus had a good habit, he will always seek advice from Sages and Oracles before making any great decision. One day, he reached out to Oracle at Delphi and inquired about making war against the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Let’s imagine the conversation between them.

King: “Hey Oracle! if I wage war against Persia, what will happen? keep the response within 11 words.”

Oracle: “If you go to war, you will destroy a great empire.”

The Oracle, ambiguously predicted that if Croesus attacked Persia, he would destroy a great empire. Interpreting this as favorable, Croesus attacked, but the empire he destroyed was his own.

Sad!

Why did we tell this story ?

In modern days, we do have many 'Sages' and 'Oracles' living in our devices in the form of 'recommender systems' and 'artificial intelligence' such as 'Alexa and Google Assistant.' As of now, we use them to get advice on 'cooking,' 'traveling,' and 'entertainment,' among other things.

As AI advancement continues, we are seeing ‘Intelligent Automation’ incorporated vastly into our daily and institutional lives to help us make decisions . Some worth mentions are

• Trading.

  • Trading intelligence systems which recommend and suggest our next trades.

• Automotive.

  • robots on production line and prediction systems on supply chain shortages.

• Healthcare.

  • Analysis , diagnosis and treatment.

• Social welfare.

  • further bellow in this article.

Oh well, We can hear your mind voice going ballistic: 'We already know this! What's the catch?

The ‘Catch’

The problem with 'Intelligent Automation' systems that augment our decision-making these days is that the 'data' they are trained on and the 'algorithm' they use intrinsically have several flaws, which make them ill-suited as it is for certain industries and applications.

Flaw in ‘Data’

• Bias : Data used to train these systems can contain inherent biases that reflect historical or societal inequalities, which the automation system then perpetuates

• Incompleteness: Missing data can lead to incorrect or incomplete analyses, affecting the system's decisions.

• Dynamic Environments: Data that does not reflect changes over time can become outdated, making the system less effective

Flaw in ‘Algorithm’

• Ethical Concerns: Algorithms can make decisions that, while efficient, might not align with ethical or legal standards of fairness and equity.

  • For example, the classification systems, which are commonly used almost everywhere these days, usually work by 'separating,' 'ranking,' and 'categorizing' data of concern to make decisions, philosophically this is also a modus operandi of 'systems of discrimination'

Study : Intelligent Automation in Digital Welfare

In modern times, we have seen several nations rolling out automated intelligence in social protection systems. These systems are often presented as 'neutral' systems without human judgment bias, which can provide great coverage, reduce costs, enhance security, and, most importantly, detect frauds.

However, due to reasons such as "flaw in data" and "flaw in algorithm," the systems themselves are biased and discriminative.

Occurrence 1

Amnesty International discovered that an algorithm used in the Netherlands for detecting fraud in childcare benefits unfairly targeted non-Dutch nationals, assigning them higher risk scores. This led to increased investigations, benefit suspensions, and severe financial hardships for affected families.. The discriminatory system was eventually discontinued by the Dutch government [4]

Occurrence 2

Researchers in India found that individuals were erroneously declared deceased by a faulty algorithmic system used to establish eligibility for an allowance for those aged 60 and above.. Being erroneously declared deceased rendered people ineligible for support, and these individuals then faced an ordeal to prove that they were, in fact, still alive to be able to reinstate their allowance [4].

Lessons learnt

• People who were employed to use these 'Intelligent Automation' systems inherently trusted the system's decisions so much that they ignored traditional sources of information, including their own judgment [4].

• People who observed discrepancies and raised concerns, found that their concerns were ignored by their superiors due to a high level of trust in technology.

Decision Making: The Importance Of Diversity and Alternate Opinion

When making decisions , It is important to involve diverse sources, tools and multiple individuals to make a well-balanced decision.

Sources of Decision 21st Century

• Experience

• Education

• Experts & Authorities

• Research & Studies

• Stakeholders

• 360 Judgment

• Intelligent Automation Recommendations ( NEW )

Currently, many view ‘Intelligent Automation’ primarily as a means to cut costs and enhance process efficiency. While this perspective holds true in some scenarios, it often overlooks the necessity for additional training and the creation of new roles essential for effective implementation.

Moreover, ‘Intelligent Automation’ should be seen not just as a tool for efficiency but as an integral part of the decision-making process. This integration requires a robust pipeline with more, not fewer, skilled individuals to ensure balanced and informed decisions.

Without a comprehensive approach that includes adequate human oversight, organizations and nations risk facing the same pitfalls that led to the downfall of historical figures like Croesus.

Recommendations for Intelligent Automation

• Implement an ‘Intelligent Automation’ compliance program which is supported by necessary standards

• Establish a dedicated team to rigorously evaluate ‘Intelligent Automation’ rollout and champion diverse viewpoints within an organization.

  • An example Intelligent Automation Oversight Team structure,

    • Ethics and Compliance Officer for Intelligent Automation

    • Automation Auditors

    • Ethics Officers

    • Automation Risk Managers

    • Intelligent Automation Advisors ( Pro and Against)

• For public institutions, establish independent and public oversight body over the use of automated and semi-automated decision-making systems.

• Enhance, strengthen ‘Intelligent Automation’ decision making pipeline by adding more individuals as part of the decision making ecosystem.

  • An Example Intelligent Automation Decision Validation Team Structure:

    • Lead with a team of at least 3 members

    • Decision Engagement Specialist

• For institutions and organizations which employ extensive ‘Intelligent Automation’ , it is highly recommended to form and operate a Decision Audit Office which encompasses

  • Chief Decision Auditor

  • Compliance Analyst

  • Ethical Violation Reviewer

  • Stakeholder Liaison Officer or Stakeholder Engagement Officer

As for us, it seems like we need more people to sustain the 'AI' and 'Intelligent Automation' era that is dawning upon us than fewer. Remember,

Before we go, Did you all know ?

Philosopher Thales of Miletus worked as an Engineer in Croesus army during the military campaign against the Persians.

References

[1] Coresus

[2] Intelligent Automation

[3] Racial discrimination and emerging digital technologies

[4] Social Protection In Digital Age

we @ cyberscribble stand as both advocates and critics of technology. While we cherish its potential for advancement, we remain vigilant in ensuring its application serves our collective betterment rather than leading to our destruction.

Our first experience with social media, long before Myspace and Facebook gained popularity, was essentially a mailing list, known as Yahoo Groups. Among our friends circle we shared our updates like 'Who is travelling where?', 'Who is getting married?', and 'Who might win the next election?'. These never-ending chains of emails served as our social feeds or timelines back in the day.

Fast forward 20 years, and now we live in a world filled with social media giants like Facebook, Twitter (now X), Snapchat, TikTok, and others. These platforms bring moments of life around us to consume. People and organizations spend millions of dollars strategizing to appear in our timelines and feeds.

Pandora's Jar

In Greek mythology, Pandora was given a jar and told not to open it as it may have grave consequences. Pandora's curiosity led her to open that forbidden jar, releasing all evils into the world. Some evils released from the jar which are worth mentioning include,

• Sickness & disease.

• Pain & suffering.

• Jealousy and envy.

• Greed & avarice.

• Hatred and anger.

• War and conflict.

• Misery and despair.

While all the above were released there was one which remained in the jar,

It was “Hope”

A wonderful but cautionary tale, isn't it? Let’s try to find the meaning of things in this story. Trying to find meanings in stories is a weird human trait indeed.

Interpretation 1:

Through the experience of suffering and facing challenges, we come to appreciate and discover hope.

Interpretation 2:

The cost of humanity discovering hope lies in facing the adversaries that serve as its equilibrium.

Interpretation 3:

Hope is a ‘deceptive expectation’ or an ‘illusion’ which keeps us going through the sufferings and challenges without fruitful outcomes or materializing benefits[2]

Social Media : The Modern Pandora’s Jar

Now, in our lives we are all given a “Pandora’s Jar” in our hands and as usual our parents, mentors and well wishers warn us

use it wisely, don’t get addicted to it

Yet, here we are, scrolling our feeds to read this Newsletter just because we are ‘curious’

Similar to Pandora’s jar social media has bought a lot of ‘evils’ to our world, some worth mentions include,

• Misinformation & fake news.

• Cyberbullying and harassment.

• Addiction and distraction.

• Privacy concerns.

• Comparison and low self-esteem.

• Echo chambers and polarization.

• Social isolation.

• Distrust and disinformation.

It has also brought many benefits such as connectivity, activism, information sharing, business opportunities, entertainment, creativity, etc. Today, we are going to analyze a subset of these benefits to determine whether they are truly beneficial or merely an 'illusion of hope'.

Social Media benefits as an ‘Illusion Of Hope’

Connections

Many advocates for social media argue that its invention has promoted global connectivity, fostering a sense of community and belonging. However, these connections can often be superficial, prioritizing the quantity rather than the quality of interactions. There is a tendency to value connections based on the number of followers or likes received, reducing relationships to a form of idol worship and opportunistic.

A platform for activism

Social media enables users to quickly raise awareness and mobilize around political and social issues. However, these efforts often fall into what is termed 'slacktivism', where individuals believe they have made a contribution simply by posting and liking online.

For example, many times we have 'supported' a child afflicted with cancer by sharing within our social circle and felt satisfied about what we have done. In the past, we would pray, donate, and discuss such issues at length within our social circles. Now, it is often just a 'support' button click before we move on to the next item in our social media feed [6] .

Professional opportunities

Platforms like LinkedIn offer opportunities for career advancement and networking. However, the pressure to maintain a perfect professional image can be stressful and may hinder genuine personal and professional growth.

In the past, we were encouraged to fail and learn from our mistakes, but now, the consequences of making a mistake can be significant and everlasting within the archives of social media. This discourages experimentation and failure. We often present an idealized version of ourselves to secure better job opportunities and maintain face among the professional masses.

Wearing this 'mask' across generations could weaken our society, as the progress of humanity can be attributed to two crucial factors:

1. Encouragement of ‘culture of experimentation’.

2. Acceptance of ‘culture of failure and learning’.

Information sharing

While Social Media can be a valuable tool for learning and accessing a wide range of information, the spread of misinformation, algorithm driven echo chambers and information overload can distort user understanding drastically.

Information overload can lead to difficulty in understanding issues, making decisions, and managing tasks effectively. This occurs because the sheer volume of information creates a chaotic environment, where it becomes challenging to filter out noise and focus on what is truly important. The result is often stress, confusion, and decreased productivity.

What Can We Do ?

• Better connections: It's important to strive for both virtual and physical connections within our social circle. Each individual can sustain a certain number of connections and relationships, and this number varies from person to person. Understanding yourself and identifying that optimal number is essential for personal growth.

• Activism: First, each of us should assess our mindset and commitment to a cause. If we feel strongly about it, it's crucial to take tangible actions in both the virtual and real worlds, within the boundaries of ethics and reasoning.

• Professional/personal growth: We as professionals need to embrace authenticity online. Encourage sharing true experiences, including failures, to foster a supportive professional community.

• Information sharing: The practice of 'info diligence' in information sharing is important; we must see ourselves as individuals guarding the chain of sanity within our social circle. It is our duty to practice responsible information consumption and distribution.

Conclusion

We won't draw a conclusion in this article, but we are going to encourage readers to form their own opinion.

The “curious” question we have is , Just like Pandora discovering hope, What are we all as individuals going to “discover” in this journey through the social media age!

We leave you with a thought to wonder!

References

[1] Pandora’s box wiki

[2] Hope Vision & Illusion

[3] How Social Media Changes Our Perception

[4] How Social Media Sells The Illusion Of Reality

[5] How Social Media Exploits Our Loneliness

[6] Slacktivsm

““Feed yourself a balanced diet, Keep your Feed balanced”

We live in a time dominated by social media feeds, where sometimes, but not always the lines between truth and fiction blur. Our feeds are an endless loop of opinions and perspectives that “echo” our own. One might be asking,

There is nothing wrong with it, but history has taught us otherwise about the dangers of being trapped in an 'Echo Chamber’

Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging [1] .  

The hysteria began when a group of young girls in Salem Village claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. It was one of the deadliest witch hunt in the history of colonial North America.

Let's examine the 'Salem Witch Trials' from an 'Echo Chamber perspective.' An 'Echo Chamber' has the following characteristics:

• Closed Environment

• Reinforcement of Existing Beliefs

• Ignoring or Frowning Upon Dissenting Views

• Amplification of Existing Views

• Ignorance of Critical Thinking and Skepticism

“Salem Witch Trials” had the same characteristics

• Closed Environment: The trials took place within a tightly knit community where social interactions were limited within the village.

• Reinforcement of Existing Beliefs: Belief in witchcraft was deeply ingrained in the Puritan culture of Salem.

• Ignoring or Frowning Upon Dissenting Views: Individuals who questioned the validity of the accusations or provided alternative explanations were often accused themselves, discouraging dissenting viewpoints.

• Amplification of Existing Views: The hysteria surrounding the trials led to an escalation of accusations and a heightened sense of fear and paranoia within the community

• Ignorance of Critical Thinking and Skepticism: Despite the lack of substantial evidence, the court system during the trials frequently failed to apply critical thinking or skepticism

The Salem Witch Trials is a good example of how an “Echo Chamber” thought culture can amplify fears and unverified beliefs, leading to tragic outcomes. Even today, in our digital age, we encounter a modern manifestation of this through 'Reality Distorting Social Media Feeds.'

Reality Distortion Feeds

The social media feeds we engage with daily are shaped by our preferences, including likes, dislikes, comments, purchases, and searches. These feeds often become 'Echo Chambers,' reflecting our own biases and viewpoints. We find solace and comfort in hearing/seeing our beliefs reinforced from people virtually around us in these social media feeds.

Humans are naturally homophilic, meaning we gravitate towards people like ourselves. Therefore, being trapped in an 'Echo Chamber' is not inherently wrong. What is important is to understand how to harness it to our advantage, while also recognizing when it MAY become a vulnerability.

What MAY be The Problem

Reality-Distorting Social Media Feeds' may drive us to make decisions or express opinions that are biased toward extremes. This could be as simple as purchasing goods or services or as significant as making major life decisions.

On the extreme side, there is a high possibility that individuals or groups, influenced by these reality-distorting echo chamber feeds, may end up making decisions and taking actions similar to those seen in the 'Salem Witch Trials.

One might say, 'The majority are not affected by it,' which is evidently true [2]; yet, we human beings are historically influenced not by the majority viewpoint but by the admiration, ideologies, and views of the minority

If you are wondering “How!”,

Worldwide, social media content is produced by 5-10% of the population, while the rest consume it. Of those consumers, only a handful actively participate in conversations around this content and act on them. By 'act,' we mean activities ranging from participating in protests to voting on decisions, both minor and major, that influence our lives [2]. We can safely say that interactions within social media not only shape our purchases but also drive tangible changes in the real world.

As influencers and followers, we have a social responsibility to make decisions in a balanced manner rather than being guided by the biases of an 'Echo Chamber'.

Easy “Just Get Rid Of Social Media” ?

If we blame the 'System or Tool' and fail to correct the ways we use it, we risk regressing to an 'Age of Darkness.

Every tool humans have invented, from the knife to fire, has the potential to harm us in one way or another. So, moving forward, adopting sensible habits, as we have done with the 'knife' and 'fire', may take us to a better place.

What Can We Do ?

For Users:

• Variety: Instead of always reading or tweeting about “Political Analysis and World Affairs,” consider listening to good music or watching comedy.

• Seek Diverse Opinions: Actively look for opposing opinions and perspectives.

• Program Your Personification Algorithm: hack your algorithmic social media “Personification” in a balanced manner by liking a variety of opinions and perspectives.

• Reset Browsing History: Occasionally reset your social media browsing history to start new.

• Engage in Healthy Debate: Participate in healthy debates that value and appreciate opposing opinions, avoid trolling.

For Social Media Giants:

• Balance Goals with Responsibility: Explore ways to meet business objectives while also being socially responsible. A good starting point is to improve the “Personification” algorithms.

• Prioritize Customer Needs: Remember, the customer is still king, but it's not just about what the customer wants; it's about what the customer needs. A truly satisfied customer becomes an excellent advocate, as opposed to a dissatisfied one.

Here's a toast to a better cyber life, and we leave you with another cyber hygiene thought for the day.

References

[1] Salem Witch Trials

[2] Role of Social Media In Polarizing Canadians

[3] Do Social Medial Algorithms Polarize Us

[4] Echo Chamber Driven Polarization

[5] Homophily

Fear not, we are going to embark on a journey where history meets cyber defense in a mashup hotter than a Taylor and Ed Sheeran Collab. So grab your drinks and get ready to RUN through the trenches of digital defense. Onward to Maginot and beyond

The Maginot Line: France's Ultimate 'Do Not Disturb' Sign

France, post-World War I, built a massive wall of steel and concrete, stretching from Luxembourg to Switzerland. Built over 10 years with a whopping 500,000 workers and costing a cool 3 billion francs, this fortification was France’s ironclad bet against future invasions.

We know, We know , We hear your mind voice asking, “was Germany the reason behind this wall ? “

Yup! Germany was totally the reason France went all out on the Maginot Line. After getting a tough time in World War I, France wasn't about to let history repeat itself. They built this massive wall thinking it would be the ultimate blockade against any future German shenanigans. It was their way of drawing a line in the sand—or, well, using concrete and steel—to say, "Not this time, Talk to the wall, Germany!" The whole idea was to force Germany into longer, more predictable routes that France could defend more easily.

But here’s the twist, when World War II rolled around, Germany was like, “Cool wall, France!” and simply marched around it through Belgium. Oops!

The Maginot Line went down in history as a high-budget defense initiative that flopped, teaching us that even the best plans can get sidestepped in a flash.

Alright, let’s leave the fun/sarcasm aside ! French being the humble teachers even in failure has left us with 3 important wisdoms which are applicable in modern cyber world , those are

1. Don't Put All Your Chips in One Basket ( Diversify your defenses )

2. Stay Adaptable and Evolve ( Be Agile )

3. Understand and Anticipate Adversary Tactics ( Don’t just Design Security , Discover it )

Amazing isn’t it! Now it is time to time travel to modern times and understand another incident “Colonial Pipeline Ransomware” attack

The Cyber Maginot Line: How the Colonial Pipeline's Defenses Went Up in Virtual Smoke

Colonial Pipeline had implemented robust cyber defenses, employing a defense-in-depth strategy characterized by multiple layers of security aimed at preventing unauthorized access. Their security arsenal included firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure VPNs for remote access. With a comprehensive cybersecurity toolkit at their disposal, they were well-prepared.

Everything was good and well UNTIL……, On Friday, May 7, 2021, at 5:00 AM, a Colonial Pipeline employee found an electronic ransom note demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency Oops!

Alright, We can hear your mind voice going up again ! “They had best defense / cyber budget what happened ? “

As per to the birds in the internet, this is how the cyberattack went down! The hackers, known as DarkSide, launched the attack by sneaking in through a vulnerable, inactive VPN account that didn’t have multifactor authentication. This weak spot allowed them to access the network undetected. Once in, they deployed their ransomware, which encrypted data on the computers, effectively locking out the company from its own systems.

Sad!

Conclusion

it's an unfortunate reality that determined hackers and sophisticated adversaries occasionally manage to breach some of the best security measures in the world. However, among these challenges, there are valuable lessons to be learned. those are,

• Diversify your defenses : Just as the Maginot Line focused heavily on physical barriers, Colonial relied on its VPN and firewalls. Both teach us that it’s not enough to just fortify the borders; we need robust internal security measures too

• Agility : Both scenarios underline the importance of evolving/dynamic security measures. The Maginot Line didn’t adapt to new warfare strategies, and Colonial’s static defense wasn’t prepped for modern ransomware tactics. Keeping security dynamic and up-to-date is crucial.

• Don’t just Design Security , Discover it : Sometimes, to catch a thief, you have to think like one. Understanding the sneaky paths and back alleys they might take helps plug those gaps before they even lace up their sneaky sneakers

We just want to take a moment to thank everyone for tuning in and reading it up till this point during your busy schedules. Thank you!

We're talking about everything from search engines to browsers to operating systems to office suites, you name it, and it's probably free. It's like a never-ending buffet of tech goodness, and we've all got a front-row seat.

Only concern in this “free” tech tools is how secure they are for everyday user ? What are the implications for the tool “producer” and “consumer” on the long run ? Let’s start with a little story from Greek Mythology,

Prometheus and the fire

In the legendary tale of Prometheus, It is said Prometheus defied the gods by slipping humanity the ultimate gift: fire.

Fire brought heaps of benefits, like warmth, cooking, and civilization itself. But let's not overlook the fact that it came with a hefty side of risk too. Kind of like giving a toddler a flamethrower and hoping for the best.

Impact of “Giving” fire to humanity

• For Prometheus : He got strapped to a rock while an eagle dined on his liver daily. And because he was immortal, his liver grew back each night, ensuring a never-ending cycle of agony and snack time for the eagle.

• For Humanity : Fire has caused fair bit of harm in human history , ranging from erupting volcanoes to burning cities.

Nuggets of wisdom

Although this is a mythological story, the interpretation for us is,

• There are implications for both the “Giver” and the “Consumer” when it comes to an exchange of good or service

• The importance of “Duty of Care”

The important takeaway here is that even when we provide tools/services for free we have to practice “Duty of Care”

What is “Duty of Care”

Duty of care obligates the provider/producer/giver to ensure that the goods or services provided do not cause harm to the receiver. Of course it is difficult to practice all the time, but good folks at CISA has come up with set of recommendations to ensure that “duty of care” is achievable. Those are

• Secure by Design

• Secure by Default

We will talk about “Secure by Default” in this article

What is “Secure by Default“

Any knowledge, tool, technology, or organization MUST be designed to offer security by default for its stakeholders and end-users, without requiring further modification.

Put simply, when we download and use an Internet browser like Chrome, Firefox, or IE, The tool's maker (Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, etc.) MUST configure it to provide adequate security for the end-user without necessitating any additional setup.

• In essence, a secure configuration should serve as the default baseline. Products should automatically activate the most crucial security controls required to safeguard both end-users and enterprises.

• The intricacies of security configuration should not burden customers or users.

Who is behind “Secure by default“ Initiative

This initiative is a partnership involving several international agencies from different countries across continents , Some of the participants are US / Canada / UK / Germany , Netherlands, Norway, Korea, NZ , Israel, Japan , Singapore..so on and so forth

Secure by Default —> Recommendations

• Eliminate “Default” secrets

• Single Sign On

• Secure Logging/Monitoring

• Secure Authorization Profile/Templates

• Track/Reduce Hardening Guides | Better to use “Loosening” guides

• Balance User Experience and Security Wisely

Study : Chrome Secure By Default Readiness

We will use, Chrome, the internet browser heavyweight that's got 67% of the market wrapped around its little finger as a sample to understand the concepts mentioned above. Chrome do claim “Secure by Default” in their product page. Let’s dive in on evaluating the “readiness” on this front

Eliminate “Default” secrets

Chrome do store passwords securely in encrypted form. So it gets a +1 on this front.

We took a stroll down Chrome's not so secret flags lane and peeked behind the curtain at [chrome://flags/]. For us, it honestly felt like diving headfirst into a bowl of alphabet soup! Flags were about as clear as mud.

We believe additional clarity could enhance trust significantly. Specifically, the 'Default' setting often leaves users uncertain about its implication, whether it signifies 'Enabled' or 'Disabled.' Providing more explicit guidance or descriptions could help ensure users make informed choices without needing to rely on assumptions

We are going to give a “No” for chrome on this one. Sorry Chrome!

Single Sign/On

Not applicable

Secure Logging/Monitoring

Chrome do support Secure Logging/Monitoring capability using “Chrome Events”. We are going to give a “Yes” for this one for Chrome.

Secure Authorization Profile/Templates

Chrome do have following templates premade and configurable through a click of a button!

• Stealth/Incognito mode

• Safe-Browsing Security Setting with options like

  • Enhanced Protection

  • Standard Protection

  • No protection ( not sure why )

We could give a “Yes” for chrome on this one too.

Note: During our research of Chrome. We bumped in to the fact that, For standard protection template HTTPS browsing was disabled by default. We would have preferred it otherwise

Track/Reduce Hardening Guides | Better to use “Loosening” guides

Chrome is more into the whole "Security Hardening" strategy than the "Loosening guide" strategy. It would be nice to flip the script and have a "Loosening Guide" instead of a "Hardening Guide". We are going to give a “No” for chrome on this one. Sorry again Chrome.

Balance User Experience and Security Wisely

We do have some thought on this front but we are going to “suppress” them and give big “Yes” to Chrome on this one.

Conclusion

Considering Chrome's commitment to being 'Secure by Default' as outlined in their product page, it might be constructive to publish a measurement/score against a checklist / criteria showing the validation of this commitment. It MAY enhance trust and security with the end users.

In the journey to know it all, watch out for Mimir's well, If we do not , we might end up loosing more than we bargained for

Welcome, fellow privacy warriors and shruggers, to the tale of War for Privacy: A journey down the memory lane of failures and learnings! Grab your tin foil hats and get ready to laugh, cry, and ignore at the wild ride of digital privacy battles of past! We're not just talking modern tech; oh no, we're going back to the "Age of mythology" to dive into the story of "Odin and the Well of Mimir.".Let’s begin

Odin and the well of Mimir

Once upon a time in the mystical realm of Norse mythology, our buddy Odin was on a quest for wisdom - like a walking, talking encyclopedia with a serious thirst for knowledge. So, when he heard about Mimir's Well, the fountain of all things wise, he just had to have a sip.

Odin strutted up to Mimir, and was like, "Hey, buddy, mind if I take a swig from your wisdom pool?" Mimir, being the chill guardian of the well, was like, "Sure thing, but there's a catch, pal. You gotta fork over one of those peepers(eyes) of yours in exchange."

And you know what Odin did? He said, "Sure, why not? Who needs depth perception anyway when you've got all the knowledge in the world?" Talk about dedication to your thirst for wisdom!

Nuggets of wisdom

• Not every juicy nugget of knowledge needs to be blasted across the internet. Sometimes, keeping things under wraps benefits everyone. (Secrecy)

• Let's face it, not every tidbit of info is worth knowing. Some things are better left in the shadows, where they belong. (Privacy)

• And here's a kicker: Sometimes, you gotta give up something near and dear to nab something even worse. It's all about finding that sweet spot of balance. (Equilibrium)

Alrighty, folks, let's wrap it up and fast forward to the modern era, where secrets are harder to keep than your grandma's secret pancake recipe!

A walk down the internet’s memory lane…

Do Not Track Signal

What is "Do Not Track" (DNT) Signal?

Imagine a little digital flag waving in the vast sea of the internet: that's the "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. It's a browser setting superhero, letting users tell websites, 'Hey, I'd rather not be followed around like a lost puppy, thanks!' This nifty privacy feature sends a signal from your browser to websites, politely asking them to back off from tracking your online antics for targeted ads or anything else snoopy."

How does it work?

When a user activates the DNT setting in their web browser, the browser appends a distinct HTTP header to every outgoing web request. This header conveys a clear directive to the website, indicating the user's preference regarding tracking. Simple in concept.

Why didn’t it fly ?

Well, if the internet suddenly stopped tracking your every move, businesses might have to dust off their old crystal balls and try their hand at mind reading to keep the digital wheels turning. I mean, I'm sure the internet's crystal ball is on backorder at Amazon - right next to the unicorn saddles and flying pig wings!

The failure of the "Do Not Track" (DNT) initiative can be drilled downed to,

• Lack of standardization

• Industry resistance

• Lack of user awareness

Well, surprise, surprise! Turns out, DNT ended up about as effective as a chocolate teapot in protecting user privacy online. It's like trying to use a paper umbrella in a hurricane - you might as well just embrace the storm!

Nuggets of Wisdon

Global privacy control

What is “Global Privacy Control " ?

Global privacy control is kind a like DNT's long-lost twin, but with a cooler haircut and a more relaxed attitude. It is also another http header , sent from the browser to websites telling them “Do not share data with 3rd parties”

Here we see some lessons of DNT failure incorporated

• Instead of the stance of “Do Not Track “ the stance is mellowed down to “ Do not share with 3rd parties”

• More buy-in and support from some players like New York Times, Wesleyan University, DuckDuckGo, and Brave so on and so forth

But it is still plagued by the fact that

• Lack of support from Major internet players

• No legal binding

• Limited user awareness ( In other words No one cared or cares )

Winning the war for privacy…

If we're gonna conquer this War for Privacy, it's time to whip up some solutions that learn from our past mishaps:

• It is important to get everyone on the same page about the whole privacy versus business needs gig. It's like teaching your grandma how to use emojis - a bit tricky, but had to be done.( Education )

• we need to slap some legal handcuffs on those internet bigwigs to make sure they're playing nice with our personal information. It's like telling a misbehaving toddler, "No more cookies until you behave! ( Law )

• last but not least, It is important to cook up a good set of standards and regulations that'll keep both users and internet giants happy campers ( Standardization )