The Third Slip: Issue 144 - Emergency breaks!
The Third Slip is now available as a PDF as well - Read issue 144 - PDF version
Hello, Slippers! Welcome to The Third Slip - the weekly newsletter that is like a protest march. It’s carried out by amateurs who are sick and tired of the pillars of democracy failing them and cynics will say it serves no purpose. But at least, we are leaving a few kilobytes of indelible marks in the annals of history.
This is issue 144. No, we didn’t make that up. It’s just an incredible coincidence. Nonetheless, just on the off-chance that big brother is watching you, don’t read this issue in groups of more than 4 people. Otherwise they might turn off the internet or something. Who knows the rules anymore? But here’s the news...
At Home
From amateur-tests to protests
Phew, what a week! The unnecessary police violence on students in Delhi during protests against CAA+NRC led to protests across the nation, and the world. The greatest democracy in the world responded with internet shutdowns, arbitrary imposition of section 144 in many states, and violent policing. We’re just going to assume you’ve been following the protests because there is just so much to cover. TL;DR: Peaceful protests across many states, but over 22 people have died due to violent policing in BJP ruled states. And now in UP, the state sponsored violence has reached Muslim homes. Remember that frog they were slow boiling last term? Well, it’s been overcooked, deep fried, and lit on the fire of hate now.
The government is on the backfoot as several states have said they won’t implement NRC, (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, WB), and many allies are backing away from what they voted for on the bill. Meanwhile, the PM addressed the nation on Sunday with a very enlightening speech that finally established the difference between fake news and plain lies. Does anyone have stats on how much of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme was used to give LPG cylinders to households and how much was used for gaslighting the entire nation?
:)
Trial period over: The Unnao rapist, a BJP MLA, has been sentenced to life term till end of life. But you know this might make the “:(“ section in the next few weeks.
Economix: Nirmala Sitharaman’s grasp over numbers and economics is either worrying or hilarious, depending on how much you’ve given up hope. Read on, this is one “word salad” that might cheer you up.
Adorable pancreas: Speaking Sanskrit can help you cure diabetes, according to a BJP MP. No one can accuse the BJP of being insulin, even if they’re insular.
Bill Makepeace Thackeray: “Mixing religion with politics was a bad idea” - Udhav Thackeray. Lulzzz. What a windfall the Shiv Sena government is turning out to be so far - protests peaceful across Maharashtra, and a loan waiver for farmers already. Enjoy while it lasts.
Turn it off and turn it on again: Government aims to provide broadband all across the country by 2022 - and we have a few ideas where they can start. After all, we’re now the internet shutdown capital of the world - by FAR.
:(
India-China hai hai: Kashmir’s internet shutdown has got praise from… You know it - China.
Coast-Benefit Analysis: The Supreme Court said Mumbai’s Coastal Road project is ok, please go ahead destroying ecology so that 1.5% of Mumbai’s commuters will benefit.
Lactose intolerant: As always, the poor get hit the worst - as a recent milk price hike indicates. If the government wants a clever way out of this, they could take the vegan argument.
A break from all that depressing shit
Two boys volunteered to walk their neighbours’ dog. The dog replied.
Trust the Japanese to bust menstruation taboos with manga.
If you’re gonna quit your Starbucks job, you might as well write a song about it.
International
Donald still holds the Trump card. So it’s finally happened. Trump is impeached. But, for those wondering - ‘impeachment’ doesn’t mean getting kicked out, think of it as a permanent stain. He will now face trial in the Senate (their Rajya Sabha), but since it’s filled with his lackeys, he’s unlikely to be convicted and thrown out of presidency despite mounting evidence and even Christian publications calling for his ouster. He is even eligible for re-election and some even tip him to win. So yes, despite all this, an impeached Donald Trump could be president of the US, could be impeached a second time, and STILL be president till 2024. Even if he is miraculously kicked out, VP Mike Pence will be worse - he’s evil and not a bumbling idiot.
:)
Ad or detract: Hallmark Channel ran ad showing lesbian couple. People outraged. Hallmark stopped ad. Other people re-outraged. Hallmark re-ran ad.
Club sandwich: Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil spoke up against China’s treatment of the Uighurs and predictably pissed said country off but, the club distanced itself from the remarks.
You’s-best-kistan: The Economist’s most improved country of the year is a surprising one. Just as surprising as the fact that there is at least one country which has improved this year.
:O
Full stop: Pervez Musharraf was sentenced to death! Meanwhile, Pakistan also sentenced a professor to death for blasphemy on social media.
Scot free: Increasingly, Scotland is having enough of Britain’s nonsense and wants to stay in the EU after Brexit, so… independence?
:|
New clear talk: “Woah woah woah don’t blow anything up let’s talk let’s talk” - US to North Korea
Lam-basting: Xi shows support to HK’s leader while wagging a finger at the country.
:’)
Koala story, bro: A motorist stopped to feed water to a koala in a scorching Australia.
Tech cetera
Mining data: Congolese families have sued a bunch of big tech companies (yes, all our usual suspects are here) - because of cobalt-mining-related-deaths. Jeepers. (Cobalt is used to power smartphones, laptops and electric cars).
Consumed in moderation: Content moderation is a very very tough job. Here’s a long-read about how it’s affected some people who worked on the vilest platform of all - YouTube. FB is adding more people, and Instagram will start fact-checking too. Basically - machines can only do so much.
The scale isn’t falling from their eyes: FB knows its problems come because of scale, and is still pushing product managers to achieve numbers that will exacerbate the problem. It still struggles to clean up its mess, while being busy building an OS of its own.
Music to their ears: Surprisingly, YouTube Premium is outpacing Spotify, Gaana & JioSaavn in India.
Chance pay dance: Google Pay has become so successful in India that Google wants to replicate it in its home country. Whatay.
LinkedOut
The sad story of Afghanistan’s first female pilot: Once an icon, now living with shattered dreams.
One of the roadblocks lab-grown meat is facing: What to call it.
A great read about how increasing ‘green’ awareness is forcing companies to adapt.
“Keynes’ grandchildren are Marxist” - beautiful piece, this.
Nobody’s making money in Tech IPOs anymore :(
The FB Like hijacked our attention and lots of money in the 2010s.
Some nice fun tech trends in 2020 for you.
That’s it for this week. If you’d like to get in touch with us, we’re on Twitter (Chuck | Tony). Or you can reach us on good ol’ email. Until next week, may your Christmas tree be lit brightly with love and laughter. Bye!