Extracts from a Diary

Too Long; Didn’t Read (TL;DR): The Air Quality issue hasn’t been solved in Delhi-NCR/North India for decade+. Politicians would care if it were a major electoral issue or a major ‘interest groups’ issue. Residents don’t have enough exit options (alternate cities to move to).  Optimism : More people aware of the fact that there’s a problem. People willing to pay. Money & people => possibility of and motivation for technological, political, or social solution.  Prediction : Delhi will halve its current PM2.5 particulate matter in 8 years. But, it requires for the issue to become a voter priority. Long; Do Read: Introduction For the past few years, starting in mid-October, a few things happen without fail in significant parts of North India (and especially Delhi): Delhi skyline changes to the yellow-orangish tint, often seen in Hollywood/Netflix movies when they are depicting Mexico countless (and much-needed!) think pieces around: cause of the dangerously high AQI (at tim...

The nuclear age left radioactive traces in all modern steel. The LLM age is doing the same to digital content. Some analogies and lessons from that. Radioactive Signature on Steel From around 1945 onwards, in specialised niches and applications, there came up a need for specialised steel — steel that was made from before 1945. You see, after the nuclear tests and detonations, there exists a certain level of diffused background radiation in atmosphere. While these detonations happened in US and Japan, initially, followed by USSR and elsewhere, the radiation spread quickly and to somewhat uniform levels, throughout the world. The typical steel-making process uses atmospheric oxygen. And this background radiation in atmosphere leaks into the steel-making process. All steel made after 1945 has a certain level of radioactive traces (or its radioactive signature) slightly and measurably higher than for steel made before that cut-off. There are a set of highly sensitive, niche applications, w...

Examining claimed market failures, government intervention, and the regulatory alternatives that were ignored It’s not often that you get one clean-and-cut story that at the same time showcases: Government’s natural tendency to consolidate more power and reduce citizens’ freedoms, their swift movement in doing so, in a growing industry that has a large number of business-to-consumer users, and the overwhelming discourse, even among the otherwise basic economics educated individuals, is actually cheering them on in this move. But, that’s what happened. The government (of India) recently came out with a bill that effectively banned ‘real money gaming’ (RMG). It banned apps that allowed or facilitated gambling or fantasy leagues, where people bet actual money. It’s a 10 page bill and can be read here ( link ) if one is interested. It passed on Friday, 22nd August 2025 after the President Droupadi Murmu signed on it. In about 4 days from the time it re...