venugopal l

idealist atheist rationalist

existential ocd
#longevity
thanatophobia,
ignorance doesn't stop death.

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

Ok I'm tired of this bullshit*t. But in any case, I'll indulge your sealioning nonsense.

Yes, people were "treated" in ancient times with herbs and roots and rituals. They also routinely died at age 30 from diarrhea, a scratched knee, or a tooth infection.

The argument that modern medicine is "overrated" because ancient people used "jadi buti" (herbs) relies on a spectacular cocktail of logical fallacies and errors in critical thinking.

Saying "people managed back then" completely ignores the astronomical infant death rates and the millions who died in agony from infections that a basic antibiotic cures today in 48 hours or a simple drug prevents complications of in this era. You are looking only at the lucky survivors, not the overflowing ancient graveyards. This is your Survivorship Bias.

The assumption that because something is old, it must be wise, effective, or true is common human stupidity. Bloodletting, drilling holes in skulls to release demons, and drinking mercury were also ancient medical traditions. Age is a measure of endurance, not of scientific validity. This is your Appeal to Antiquity Fallacy.

The romanticized notion that "natural herbs" are inherently safer than "chemical tablets" is an idiocy that never dies in the minds of alternative medicine sympathizers like yourself. Nature is not your friend; it is actively trying to kill you just like "all natural" Ayurveda is too.

When an ancient remedy passes rigorous scientific tests, it stops being "alternative medicine" and simply becomes medicine.

But when a traditional treatment fails these tests, a rational, scientific system discards it. A dogmatic business promoting system keeps selling it anyway, pointing to 2,000-year-old texts as "proof."

Also there is no modern Ayurveda. Ayurveda is, was, and always will be primitive medeival dmbfckery. Hope this was sensible enough. Please don't waste my time anymore.

[roobz 🌙 🌸 @tishray]

The smartest people I know are just extremely curious. They don’t see a limit to what they can understand. When they hit a wall, they don’t rush to get past it. They stay there longer than most people are willing to. They try to figure out the answer instead of borrowing other people's conclusions. They’re not trying to escape the friction that comes with learning something new, because they know that's how knowledge sticks.

[Venkatesha L @VenkateshaL6]

I had to pay 1000 fine for somebody removing my vehicle from parking and parking his vehicle ; occured at bm habitat mall the police were reluctant to listen to me i had to pay the fine kindly refund my amount @CPMysuru @Rangepol_SR #mysorecitytrafficpolice

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

If I ask my 4 year old son, what he wants to be when he grows up? The answer would be: an Astronaut or a race car driver.

I honestly can't remember what my answer was as a kid.

Since, class 5: I have competed -- first for marks, then good college, then good jobs, then promotions, then more money.

Every step was a FOMO (fear of missing out).

"If I didn't perform in class 10th, my career would be messed up"

"If I didn't get on the dean's list, I won't get a good job".

So I worked. And, worked. And, worked some more.

As the real life took over-- my answer to what I TRULY wanted to become, became hazy.

At 36, I now reflect: what I truly want from life.
The answer is simple: to work on what I want, when I want, where I want.

While, I often talk about: managing your finances well (and that is truly important). I also would encourage all of you to really think of a 1 sentence answer to: what are your REAL dreams?

Achieving those will make you happier. And, those are the only goals that matter.

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

I can't believe that I actually have to tell people that PF/PPF/FDs are NOT growth instruments.

With PF/PPF, you lock in your money for a fairly LONG period of time at absolutely dismal returns.

The returns on FD are taxed at slab, making it highly tax inefficient.

Your wealth will only grow if you beat inflation.

Let me rephrase: your wealth will only grow if you beat REAL inflation.

PF/PPF/FDs don't do that anymore.

PS: I am not bashing these instruments. They serve a purpose (to lock some money safely). Beyond that don't confuse these as "growth" options.

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

A health supplement that became a death supplement.

More [depressing] reasons for us to avoid health supplements in our daily lives.

Five died. Hundreds hospitalized.

Food and dietary supplements manufacturer Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals is under heavy investigation after one of their health supplements, consumed by tens of hundreds of people resulted in the death of five and hospitalization of more than hundred apparantly healthy people.

People consumed the supplement to lower their cholesterol levels, but some, instead found their cholesterol lowered permanently. The product was based on a fermented rice product called "ben koji" - called Ben Koji Choleste Help.

The fermented rice develops mold which has natural chemicals with various activity that are untested. The mold also produces puberlic acid which is one of the most toxic natural compounds known to man.

Puberulic acid is a crystalline cyclic keto acid with the chemical formula C8H6O6. It is produced as a metabolic product by several molds of the genus Penicillium. It is highly damaging to the kidney and patients who died, died of kidney failure and thereafter multiple organ failure. Imagine the avoidable loss of life, because of a lame untested supplement.

Officials say that ben koji has been used traditionally, since centuries and so everyone was surprised. But remember this is the same nonsense response given by any alternative medicine practitioner or industry when faced with adverse events. This same lame response was even given by the Ayurveda community in India when Giloy herb was found to cause liver faillure and death when used during Covid. Appeal to tradition and antiquity is a fallacious (not scientific) response when asked to demonstrate effectiveness. Please remember this.

Remember this when you feel like trying or buying a natural health supplement for your "wellness," or cholesterol reduction, or diabetes or whatnot.

Please dont die.

Sources:
[1] https://t.co/TXLP8Wi5PZ
[2] https://t.co/IJcqjvuoqy
[3] https://t.co/QPPiFPzkl9

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

[1] Gold prices have doubled in the last (~ 4 years)
[2] Bitcoin has doubled in the last 1 year.
[3] NIFTY has almost doubled last 4 years.
[4] Good Real Estate has doubled last 4 years.
[5] Your rent too has doubled in the last 4 years.
[6] Your kid's education fee has almost doubled last 4 years.

- People with no discretionary income suffered.
- People who could invest (had discretionary income). And, chose to invest, benefitted.
- People who could invest (had discretionary income). And chose NOT to invest, are NOW feeling the brunt.

Next 5 years, the cycle is likely to repeat.
Why? governments WON'T stop printing more money.

If you understand the game, you will thrive.
If you choose not to understand the game, you will struggle.

These are plain facts.

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

Private College kids pay anywhere between 8-15 Lakh (course fee).

[1] College takes 0 responsibility of placing students.
[2] Give gyaan like: "this is not a job placement agency", we impart knowledge.
[3] Half the professors (or assistant professors) at such colleges are themselves preparing for CAT/GMAT/UPSC.

On top of all this, many colleges have rules like: 75% attendance.

So even when you realise that: your college is pretty much pointless, you still got to show up. And, waste your time.

Such colleges do not just waste your money.
They waste 3-4 years of your productive life.
If you simply go by what your college tells you, you will waste the most productive time in your life.

Solution: if you are stuck in such colleges, work on your skills.

Block out 4 hours of your time to learn things like: coding, business building, etc.

Once you graduate, people won't care about your DEGREE (irony is: that even your own college might not hire you). You have no brand value.

But, people/organisations will care about what you can do for them? can you help them save time or money?

If the answer is YES. You will have a good career.

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

According to a 2012 RTI filing, there were 8 Lakh people with more than 1 Cr in Agriculture income, who paid ZERO taxes in India.

[1] 1% farmers in India own more than 10 hectare of land. And, they are by no standards poor.

And, as per a paper by the erstwhile Planning Commission, if we could tax even 0.04% richest farmers, it would generate 50,000 Cr of tax gains.

[2] This money is enough to run the MGNREGA scheme for a year.

This post is not against farmers.
It is about getting the rich to pay their fair dues.

[3] It doesn't make much sense why a normal corporate employee making 25K/month should be carrying the burden of taxes for Crorepati farmers.

Widening the tax base would not hurt the government's revenues.

And, it would improve the life of a normal tax payer.

But, guess how many political parties are talking about it?

Share it with others to help yourself.

[Law Of Thinking @lawofthinking]

Be private. No drama, no jealousy. More privacy. More success.

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

Till class 10th, I could not speak English well. Till day, I am more comfortable speaking in my regional language than in English.

But, I went onto work in Management Consulting, attended INSEAD.
And, built one of the leading long-form YouTube (English channel) in India.

It is funny that people now ask me for tips to communicate better in English.

The only tip I have is: that if something is important to you, you will work long-enough. And, hard enough on it. Therefore, my friend, you will improve.

But, most people struggle to identify things that are important for them.

You can use my framework called: Point of Pain theory to understand this concept better.

I imagine the worst that would happen to me, if I did not learn English (or a thing that was important for me): in my case, I grew up in Gwalior.

And, my parents deeply worried about my ability to speak in English.

[1] I would have disappointed them, if I did not improve.
[2] I would have lost out on reading good material (as most of it was available in English).
[3] I would have lost out on jobs.

As a 15 year old, I could imagine this pain.

May be I could not put them in words-- the way I am putting now.
But, I got the fact that if I DID NOT improve, I would struggle.

And, that was it. Reading more, speaking with people in broken English, watching only English movies etc, were all by-products of this PAIN.

Whatever improvement came -- came automatically.

Share this with someone who needs to read this today.

[Muthukrishnan Dhandapani @dmuthuk]

From Rs.29 crores to Rs 10,000 crores:

There is a government arm called ‘Office of the custodian of enemy property’ coming under Home ministry and governed by Enemy property act of 1968.

This office has confiscated share certificates from Pakistan nationals after the war of 1965 and 1971.

The value of these shares was Rs.29.4 crores in 1971.

Please note that these are confiscated shares and not a well thought and structured portfolio. These are being kept as it is for last 44 years. So definitely this would also contain perished companies, fraudulent companies who stole investor money, sub-par performers etc. The idea I’m trying to convey is that this confiscated stock portfolio is not like Sensex or a mutual fund, which are periodically changed and actively managed.

The above shares in the physical format and now govt. want to dematerialise (demat) it.

The current estimated value of these shares now stands at Rs.10,000 crores.

This works out to a return of above 14% over last 44 years. Even a confiscated and rusting Indian equity portfolio give this kind of return over 5 decades.

This does not include Rs.40 crores received as dividend last year. This portfolio has been generating regular return in the form of dividends for last 44 years and dividends are only increasing. In nominal terms, one year dividend now is worth more than the initial capital.

I assume that the returns would have been few percentage points higher if we include dividend yield as well.

Visualise how much wealth you can you can generate in next two decades if you leave your investments in index or equity funds untouched. All the more if you continue to contribute whatever sum possible every month; you are capable of creating your own fortune.

Past returns need not be obtained in future. Given the growth trajectory of Indian economy and corporate India over next two decades, all I can say is good inflation beating returns are possible.

Develop conviction and patience. Invest for long haul. Reap the benefits of compounding and time.

(I wrote this in 2015)

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

Once upon a time, a man used to drink close to 1L dark rum a day

Over the course of four years, he developed chronic liver disease

Doctors advised him to stop alcohol. He did not. His wife got beaten up everytime she advised him for his good. It was his money, so he could do anything with it, was his excuse.

An year later, after a session of binge drinking, he developed severe alcohol-related hepatitis and his chronic liver disease became unstable

As the liver failure progressed, he figured out he would not live for long and his very young children will miss him. Only a liver transplant could save him.

His wife was a matching donor. He made a promise he would not touch alcohol again. The blood, sweat and tears drama ended with him getting a life saving liver transplant from him wife. She gave a part of her liver, so that the father of their children would survive. And he did.

Their business thrived. Everyone was happy.

Two years after the transplant, during business trips, he started with one glass a day, then three glasses a week. By the end of 6 months, he was back to drinking close to 1L of dark rum a day. He found his old friend.

Doctors advised him to stop. He broke deaddiction protocols. He did not turn up for counselling sessions.His wife got beaten up everytime she advised him for his good. It was his money, so he could do anything with it, was his excuse. But it was part of her liver and he had no right to destroy it, was hers. But now it was his. So he kept drinking for more than 18 months.

Six months ago, his new liver was diagnosed to be cirrhotic. His old friend had gotten his old disease back. Three months ago, he developed severe alcohol-related hepatitis after a binge. And his newly developed cirrhosis liver became unstable. Again.

As the liver failure progressed, he figured out he would not live for long and his grown children will miss him. Only a second liver transplant could save him.

The wife could not donate again. But her sister was a match. He made a promise he would not touch alcohol again. The blood, sweat and tears drama ended with them telling him no. There was no more money left. There was no more trust left.

Yesterday I send him back home, for comfort care and palliation, to die in peace, surrounded by the family he never knew he had.

"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you."
- F. Scott Fitzgerald

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

If you start selling stocks at ALL TIME HIGH!
And, if the market keeps going up...

You will find it impossible to re-enter.

To quote Peter Lynch: More Money has been lost waiting for corrections, than in them.

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

[1] Gold has hit an all time high
[2] Real Estate is booming
[3] Stock Market today hit all time high

Winners: people who invested.
Losers: who kept debating what is the 'best'. And, did not invest.

[Daniel Mahncke @MnkeDaniel]

Biases that distort our Decision Making:

1. Confirmation Bias - We interpret new information as confirmation of our existing beliefs.

2. Availability Bias - We tend to rely on information that comes to our mind easily/the quickest.

3. Action Bias - We favor action over inaction.
That's why we sell or buy prematurely.

4. Overconfidence - We overestimate our own knowledge and ability.

Often because we know too little to know better.
(Less knowledge => more confidence)

5. Survivorship Bias - This is a sample bias that occurs when we assess only successful outcomes and disregard failures.

What Biases do you struggle the most with?

[Atish Mathur @atishmathur]

Hello, Am releasing all my polity lectures recorded in 2022 completely free and permanently for anyone and everyone. Education should always be qualitative whether it’s paid or free :) https://t.co/HqzcJPQ8sB

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

Study history and you will quickly see: nations get rich through innovation.

[1] The Dutch Empire innovated the ships

[2] The British Empire innovated machines (Industrial Revolution)

[3] The US Empire innovated money (created Fake Money and made the world accept it)

Consider even India at its peak, when it controlled 33% of the world's GDP. India was innovating on trade, commerce, Urban Development and Education.

While we keep speaking that we will become the richest economy one day, would love to know what exact *innovation* will get us there?

[Akshat Shrivastava @Akshat_World]

The value of 1 Crore, after:

- 10 years from now= 50Lakhs.
- 15 years from now= 36Lakhs.
- 20 years from now= 25Lakhs.

(Assume: 7% inflation)

Mutual Funds show you the opposite picture: invest 10K/month for 20 years. And, you will get 1Cr.

But, do understand the true value of that 1Cr, 20 years from now.

Therefore, the goal should not necessarily be to make 1Cr.

The goal should be to grow your money faster than inflation.