The Matrix - Transcribed so that it is understood.

Neo and the Architect’s famous dialogue

Architect : Hello Neo.

Neo : Who are you?

Architect : I am the architect. I created the Matrix. I have been waiting for you. You have many questions. Although the process has altered your consciousness, you remain irrevocably human. Ergo, some of my answers you will understand and some you will not.

Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.

Neo : Why am I here?

Architect : Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation, (Images in the monitors changes. Shows people in different activities) inherent to the programming of the Matrix.

You are the eventuality of an anomaly which despite my sincerest efforts… I have been unable eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision.

While it remains a burden assiduously avoided, it is not unexpected and thus, not beyond a measure of control, which has led you inexorably here.

Neo : You haven’t answered my question.

Architect : Quite right. Interesting. That was quicker than the others.

Neos (in the Monitors) : Others? How many? What others? (Neos in Monitor going crazy)

Architect : The matrix is older than you know. I count from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next. In which case, this is the sixth version.

Neos (going crazier in the monitors) : Five before me? You are lying. Bullshit.

Neo (Our Neo) : There are only two possible explanations. There were 5 before me. Either no one told me or no one knows.

Architect : Precisely.

As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly is systemic… creating fluctuations in even the most simplest equations.

Neos (really mad now) : You can’t control me!! I am gonna smash you to bits!!! You can’t make me do anything. You old, white prick!!!!

Neo (Ours is very calm) : Choice. The problem is choice.

(Trinity is getting into trouble. Our Neo is unaware of this)

Architect : The first matrix, I designed was naturally perfect, a work of art. Flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure.

The inevitability of its doom is apparent now… as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human. Thus, I redesigned it based on your history… to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature.

However, I was again frustrated by failure. (pause and deep breath)

I have come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind. Or perhaps a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection.

Thus, the answer was stumbled upon by another, an intuitive program… initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the Matrix, she would undoubtedly be its mother.

Neo : The Oracle.

Architect : Please. As I was saying, she stumbled upon a solution whereby 99 percent of the subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice even if they were only aware of the choice at a near conscious level.

While this answer functioned, it was fundamentally flawed. Thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly that if left unchecked, might threaten the system.

Ergo, those that refused the program, while a minority if unchecked would constitute an escalating probability of disaster.

Neo : This is about Zion.

Architect : You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.

Neo : Bullshit.

Architect : Denial is the most predictable of all human responses.

But rest assured, this will be the sixth time, we have destroyed it and we have become exceedingly efficient at it.

(Trinity is in serious trouble)

The function of the One now is to return to the source, allowing the dissemination of the code you carry, reinserting the prime program. After which you will be required to select from the Matrix 23 individuals – 16 females, 7 males, to rebuild Zion.

Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash. Killing everyone connected to the Matrix, which coupled with the extermination of Zion, will result in the extinction of the entire human race.

Neo : You won’t let it happen. You can’t. You need human beings to survive.

Architect : There are levels of survival, we are prepared to accept.

The relevant issue is whether or not you are ready to accept the responsibility for the death of every human being in this world.

It is interesting reading your reactions.

Your 5 predecessors were by design based on a similar predication. A contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species, facilitating the function of the one. While others experience this in a general way, your experience is far more specific. Vis-à-vis Love.

(Trinity is getting thrown out of the window in the monitors)

Neo : Trinity!!!

Architect : Apropos, she entered the Matrix to save your life at the cost of her own.

Neo : No.

Architect : Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed and the anomaly is revealed as both the beginning and the end.

There are 2 doors.

The door to your right leads to the source and the salvation of Zion. The door to your left leads back to the matrix, to her and the end of your species.

As you so adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you are going to do, don’t we?

Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of an emotion designed specifically to overwhelm logic and reason.

An emotion that is blinding you from the simple and obvious truth.

She is going to die and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

(Neo moves to the left door)

Architect : Hope. It is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.

Neo : If I were you, I would hope that we don’t meet again.

Architect : We wont.

(Neo leaves thru the left door and saves Trinity. Architect and Neo never meet again.)

Glossary

Anomaly : (noun) irregular, abnormal thing.

Apropos : (adjective) 1. to the point or purpose. 2. (adverb) incidentally.

Architect : (noun) Designer of building and ships.

Assiduous : (adjective) persevering, diligent.

Concordance : (noun) agreement; index of words used by author in book esp. Bible.

Ergo : (adverb) therefore.

Grotesque : 1. (adjective) comically or repulsively distorted; incongruous, absurd. 2 (noun) decoration interweaving human and animal forms with foliage; comically distorted figure or design.

Inexorable : (adjective) relentless.

Intuition : (noun) immediate apprehension by mind without reasoning. Immediate insight.

Irrevocable : (adjective) unalterable; gone beyond recall.

Neo : (in combination) New.

Quintessential : (adjective) purest form or manifestation of some quality etc.; highly refined extract.

Saving Face - Joan Chen, Michelle Krusiec & Lynn Chen (my favourite)

Saw "Saving Face" today. I had caught a bit of it before on HBO but did not get to see it properly. Downloaded it. Fantastically funny and cute movie. It had me laughing in most places and smiling through the rest. IMDB describes the movie's plot as "A Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother are reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations"

That description is correct. But before you tag it as just an other lesbian / gay movie. You should see it. I have not seen many gay / lesbian movies that I remember except for things Debbie did with her girlfriend in Dallas (good "movie" too).

I loved Saving Face.. it was different and sweet.

"Krishna Menon was a Bachelour, just like his father"

It was a comment from one of our Generals about the most infamous Minister of Defence that India has had. He was a bureaucrat, a diplomat and then the Minister of Defence. People who remember him remember as the most useless human being who got to stay and stand tall bcoz he knew how to kiss ass.

There are more like him in today's Congress. Old guys, who kindle familiarity and loyalty to The family, to stay in power. It is difficult to enumerate what they lack... there are far too many things wrong with them. Before signing off, I will list the number 1 in the list Character.

Congress (I am a congress voter) has to drop these guys before it can grow a spine to support it in the coming elections. Otherwise, it is screwed.. and this time for good.

BMTC - Par for the course

Took a Bangalore Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (BMTC) bus tour of the city. The BMTC offers a full day pass for Rs. 30/-. Wanted to see how much of the city, I could cover in about 8-10 hours. Not a bad service. Reached the International airport in about 1 hour 15 mins. The normal BMTC bus does not take you right upto the airport. It stops at along the main road from where they operate a shuttle buss service for R.10/- to the airport. Service is ok. But if you are carrying luggage you need to travel by the special and dedicated bus which cost upwards from Rs. 80/- and above with Taxi drop to the designated bus stops extra at Rs. 100/-. The airport is nice looking but dead. No crowd mostly empty. Unlike airports like Dubai international which sees a plane taking off every 3 minutes. BIAL does look like a middle airport though... sits alone is an open dusty land. High dusty winds finish the picture.

Took a total of 15 buses to cover BIAL, Majestic, Banshankri, Silk Board, K.R. Puram and White field. For those of you, who have not visited Bangalore, those points make up the major extremes of Bangalore. I did miss Kengeri (Bangalore University) in the south west corner. But I had already visited that place this week and there is not much to see there.

Point to note.. if you are at silk board never visit Total Mall. Badly placed and lousy maintenance and staff.

Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister

Broadband and Bittorrent are god given tools to overcome bad programming on Cable TV. Downloaded all the seasons of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. The show is one of the most brilliantly funny series to come from BBC. Paul Eddington plays the Minister / Prime Minister while Oscar nominated (for madness of King George) Nigel Hawthorne plays his Permanent Secretary.

I have read the books too. Books are funnier. They have got letters queries by the Minister in the margins and subsequent evasive and incomprehensible replies by the Secretary etc which reminded me about my own office and how closely the series recreates the way government functions.

I first saw this series when I was 10 years old, when I did not follow English very well. But I did manage to understand some of the jokes. Saw it again years later.. it blew me away.

It is still funnier than most sitcoms that are on TV.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Minister

Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald

Read it over the week. An ok a book. Light reading. Written by an Australian Radio host about her stay and travels in India, while living with and marrying ABC's reporter. It is her account of her stay. Filled with some funny anecdotes and comments. Not an all together true account :) . Aah for that read V.S. Naipaul. If you can that is... A bit too honest .. he is a keen observer. Sarah on the other hand tries to be nice to every religion she meets in India and Pakistan. She is hard on Parsis and overly accommodating about others. I think she did not want to go into hiding like Salman Rushdie. Overall it is a travel account and lightly entertaining.

Indian leader fades away.. no one to take his place.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw faded away. His "state funeral" was not attended by the head of state and our bureaucracy the President, not by our very well educated Prime Minister, not by the Service chiefs of an army which is fast turning into a branch of the administrative services, and not by senior members of the administrative services. The Field Marshal has led the nation and the army through some of the most crucial moments of the nation's history. He leaves no one to take his place.

Point to note :-
The former President Abdul Kalam had visited the Field Marshal in the hospital, when the later was admitted in 2005.