Kalliyam

  Thursday, April 27, 2023   Aho’ Rajanaka,   I hope you’re doing well.  The end of University classes is a time of reflection, relief, and, yes,  some   alarm   consternation dismay   dread  excitement: no one could possibly find grading other than a job -in-the-pejorative-sense-of-the-word .  I  like to say that I look forward to reading the final examination papers.   (N.B, they didn’t believe a word of that.)   You know how you feel when the dental hygienist is doing fine work  and you forgot to take that second bong hit ?  I mustn’t complain about my job.  Some people still work for Fox News.  You could be  Tucker Carlson  Ron DeSantis.  I hope your “problems” are as inconsiderable.  Plenty of things in life warrant real concern but a little  this being very  little comedy does a soul good.  Zhuangzi the great Daoist philosopher reminds us, one good laugh is worth 10,000 serious thoughts. INDIA.   Well, now’s the time.  If you’d like to go on pilgrimage, see the temples, meet the

Saturday, April 22, 2023   Aho’Rajanaka,   I hope this finds you well.  It’s spring in Bristol and I’m looking forward to completing Year 36 at the University this coming Tuesday.  Then I’ll be grading exams and keeping away from sharp objects.     The professor who follows me into the same classroom saw the note I’d left on the blackboard (actual chalk, he uses the marker board) about how  any  use of ChatGPT (or any AI) on the take-home final will result in failure.  He said, “I think it’s going to be great for my students who can’t write.”  Education is apparently literacy-optional.   This is our future.  I’m not complaining--- how would that help?  The present can seem unrecognizable to me and while I look like more Yoda every day  and sound too much like Grandpa Simpson , the view here from the cheap seats is that the cheap seats ain’t cheap.  Stuff has a cost, may have value, and maybe even meaning is at stake if we dare to consider as much.  Rajanaka promises no soporific answer

  Saturday, April 15, 2023   Aho’ Rajanaka,   Would you like to go to India on pilgrimage?  We have the details.   This Newsletter is news.  The usual  lame  efforts  at comedy   personal stories  other stuff will have to wait, okay?     INDIA PILGRIMAGE 2023 *We are going to the great temples of Tamil Nadu.  Our aim is to see the gods and enjoy the people (aka the gods).  Our pilgrimage is as traditional and as contemporary as possible: there is a dress code and we’ll be with you every step of the way to make that happen.  We’re tourists only when it comes to the Visa questions asked by the official agencies.  We will do everything we can to insure your safety and health on a trip to India. *Dates: Departure from New York City (JFK) on December 28th, 2023, Depart India January 13th (Chennai) *Cost: $5500 includes airfare from NYC.  For more details see below.  Deposits are due soon so please, please if you are interested in coming, read the details. (This price is only $100 more than