Newsletter #007
In the world of Coffee Guff, you're always licensed to thrill
Coffee Guff
October 22, 2023
While it feels like the universe hit 'pause' for Dashain, we're still in play mode over here.
Good morning, evening wherever you are, agents of wit and wisdom. Welcome to Newsletter Edition #007. Much like our namesake, Bond, this edition unpacks the world's enigmas - from the digital riddles of the Twitter-verse, orchestrated by a certain tech billionaire, to the cultural conundrums faced by our very own Nepali expats. We've unraveled (okay not us but NYT) the financial mysteries of Pokhara's so-called 'Golden Goose' and navigated the intricate web of the NRNA's controversies.
And, for our grand finale, we're unveiling Coffee Guff's very own merch. So, pour yourself a martini (shaken, not stirred, of course) and dive into the covert operations of Edition #007.
Remember, in the world of Coffee Guff, you're always licensed to thrill.
TLDR
Current Affairs
Pokhara Airport: Himalayan Dreams, Chinese Wings, and a Goose Short on Golden Eggs
NRNA: Not Quite the Beacon of Hope We Hoped For
Tech Trends
Elon’s Twitter Extravaganza: A Tale of Tweets, Declines, and a Nepali Temperature Rise
A Fresh Pour at Coffee Guff: Our Online Store, Swanky Merch, and the Hunt for a Digital Dynamo!
Consolation Prize
The Great Dashain Tika Debate: Monday or Tuesday?
Current Affairs
Pokhara Airport: Himalayan Dreams, Chinese Wings, and a Goose Short on Golden Eggs
Gold laying goose, Pokhara airport is short on golden eggs. Nepal govt wants loan converted to grants.
In the balmy embrace of a June morning, Pokhara airport in Nepal rolled out its red carpet, only to be graced by the wheels of a Sichuan Airlines plane from China. Imagine the airport's glee, finally receiving its first international guest after a lonely six months! However, the joyous entry was more like a high school reunion where you realize your old friend now has deep pockets (and guess who paid for the party?).
Dreams of an international airport in Pokhara took flight in the 1970s, hoping to give the tourism sector a caffeinated jolt. But thanks to political turbulence, that dream played hard to get until China stepped in, with an offer hard to refuse. China's involvement wasn't just a friendly neighborhood gesture. No, it had the shades of a geopolitical chess game with the airport as a pawn in its grander Belt and Road Initiative.
Now, here's where things get spicy: The New York Times, playing detective, uncovered that China CAMC Engineering seemed more interested in fattening its wallet than providing Nepal with a world-class airport. While built to "Chinese standards," one wonders if they took inspiration from their famed wall – looks imposing, but with some cracks in the foundation.
The airport was poised to be Nepal's golden goose, but so far, it's laying fewer golden eggs than hoped. Especially with India playing hard to get on those international flights. The debt looms large, and China, it seems, isn't in the mood for charity. So, while the airport stands majestic against the Himalayan backdrop, one can't help but think: Sometimes, not all that glitters is gold. Or in this case, not every plane brings prosperity.
NRNA: Not Quite the Beacon of Hope We Hoped For
NRNA a bridge to connect Nepali expats with homeland is self destructing and no one wants to touch it
First things first, for the uninitiated, NRNA is not a hip new yoga pose but stands for Non-Resident Nepali Association. Their mission? To bridge the gap between Nepali expats and Nepal with all the vibes of economic, social, and cultural exchange. Noble, right? But here's the zinger: like many a soap opera plot twist, it's riddled with controversies, financial drama, and the classic "Oops! My vote vanished" situation. Not convinced? Darling, Google is your friend.
In a not so shocking twist, NRNA seems to have borrowed from the Nepali political playbook. And by borrowed, I mean photocopied, laminated, and perhaps made it even more spicy! No wonder many educated Nepalis, who actually know their stuff, give this organization a wide berth. Because, you know, why jump into quicksand unless you're planning to dive deep into the world of Nepali politics and hobnob with the political elite?
Recently, at the global NRNA convention (think of it as the Met Gala minus the fabulous outfits), Ram Kumari Jhakri, secretary of CPN (United Socialist) took the mic. She went all out, likening certain NRNs to people who rant about politics on social media before even wiping the sleep from their eyes. Ouch! Her message? Being a waiter can get you an NRNA membership…if you want but won't score you political brownie points in Nepal. As you'd expect, the room was split faster than a banana in a sundae.
The event also promised the excitement of a new election for officials. But, plot twist! It turned into a veritable telenovela. Badri KC, the new NRNA president-elect, is now the star of a "Did he hack or did he not?" saga. His rivals, RK Sharma and Mahesh Shrestha, are crying foul, pointing out some rather fishy vote counts. Seriously, who forgets to vote for themselves?
As the curtains fall on the 11th Global Conference, it's evident: NRNA isn't the beacon of hope and unity it once promised to be. For many, it's become a symbol of lost opportunities and collective disappointment.
Tech Trends
Microsoft's AI Romance: A Bold Leap or a Pending Misstep?
As Satya Nadella goes all in with AI, it’s worth noting that with great optimism comes heaviest realities
In the grand corridors of tech, if you were ever curious about Microsoft's take on AI, let CEO Satya Nadella break it down: They're head over heels for it. The company's annual report reads like a love letter to AI. And who can blame them? To Nadella, it's the most revolutionary thing since... well, the last revolutionary thing.
While Microsoft's been bustling about, their attempts at conquering realms like mobile, search, and hardware felt a bit like someone trying to cycle underwater. But behold their cloud kingdom - it's robust and majestic. Yet, every empire has its limits, and innovation in the cloud realm started to plateau.
Like a tech guru meditating for years, waiting for the next 'Eureka!' moment, Microsoft found its calling when the AI wave started building. It was like watching a surfer spot the ultimate wave.
Nadella, in his report, states:
"We're in the midst of an AI renaissance! Almost half a century since Microsoft's inception, we've been shape-shifting through tech eras, and here we are, ushering in the AI epoch."
While Microsoft has had its share of 'almost there' moments with gadgets and interfaces, their alliance with the AI prodigy, OpenAI, was like finding the golden ticket. Imagine if Google got that ticket instead. Microsoft would probably be that kid outside the candy store, nose pressed against the window. But fortune favored Microsoft, and they're making it rain, ensuring their bond with OpenAI is tighter than a coffee lover's grip on their morning brew.
However, Nadella's mention of AI as a "powerful new reasoning engine" raises eyebrows. If you're an AI enthusiast, you know this generation of AI models doesn’t truly 'reason.' They're not solving philosophical dilemmas over a cup of tea. But their performance can mimic reasoning so well that it's like watching a magic trick.
AI's potential is thrilling, but as with all young tech wonders, we're still learning its bounds. AI's risks lie not in some dystopian future, but in today's overzealous applications of it. A CEO blinded by the AI glitz might overlook its pitfalls.
Microsoft is poised on a tightrope. They're innovating, but with every innovation comes unforeseen challenges. The spotlight's on them, and the tech world is grabbing its popcorn. The show's just getting started!
Elon’s Twitter Extravaganza: A Tale of Tweets, Declines, and a Nepali Temperature Rise
Although overall twitter now X’s traffic is declining, Musk fan following increased by 96%
Ah, Twitter – or should I say, X? The brainchild of the ever-erratic Elon Musk (or as we lovingly refer to him, King Troll). It’s been a year since Musk’s grand takeover, and in true Musk-fashion, he’s turned the birdie upside-down.
Traffic on X has seen a nose-dive, with a whopping 14% worldwide decline. And you might wonder, is the US, Twitter's home turf, any different? Nope! A 19% dip. But hey, if you're Elon, why worry about the global stage when your tweets get a staggering 96% traffic growth? That's right, Musk’s posts are the shining beacon in this decline debacle, probably because he’s rearranged the X-verse to glorify his tweets. All hail the King Troll!
Now, one might ponder, why such a decline? Could it be Musk's penchant for hosting the troll Olympics? Or perhaps the renaming of Twitter to X (because, why not?). And let's not forget the fabulous idea of rate limiting tweets. But wait, there’s more! Misinformation is the new black on X, making those prized blue checks as trustworthy as a chocolate teapot.
But, lo and behold! While the world debates the Musk-effect on X, our Nepali tweetey are heating up their keyboards, proving that no matter how topsy-turvy the Twittersphere gets, there's always room for more voices (or tweets). So, to everyone who's feeling the burn of the new X, maybe take a leaf out of the Nepali playbook and keep those tweets coming. After all, in the world of X, anything's possible!
A Fresh Pour at Coffee Guff: Our Online Store, Swanky Merch, and the Hunt for a Digital Dynamo! ☕🚀
Hey there, digital aficionados! It's us, Coffee Guff, and we've got some brew-tiful news to spill. We're pouring our hearts into our brand-new online store! That's right, we've just set up our own little digital shop, and it's decked out with Coffee Guff branded goodies. Think of it as a virtual extension of our wit and wisdom, neatly wrapped in swag.
We're launching with a select range of items, handpicked and curated with the same attention to detail we put into our content. We genuinely hope you will appreciate the quality and thought behind each product. It's not just about flaunting the Coffee Guff logo; it's about being part of our ever-evolving, digital-savvy community.
But wait, there's more. As we keep brewing up new ideas, we're also on the lookout for someone to sprinkle a little extra magic on our social media game. We're actively seeking a vibrant part time contractor – someone who can match our vibe and help amplify our voice in the vast world of socials.
To wrap things up, this is us, Coffee Guff, stepping out of our comfort zone and into a world of e-commerce and digital dynamism. Come along for the ride, won't you? Here's to our next chapter in the bustling digital bazaar! 🎉🖥️👕📱
Consolation Prize
The Great Dashain Tika Debate: Monday or Tuesday?
When to Tika? Monday or Tuesday?
Ladies and gentlemen, Nepalese across the globe are in the throes of a forehead-focused frenzy. The ultimate question: to tika on Monday or to tika on Tuesday? It's the kind of conundrum that makes you wonder if there's an app for that.
Thanks to the ever-helpful Panchang Samiti, we have a timetable. But it seems they've taken a leaf out of a mystery novel and left us with a cliffhanger. Some of the auspicious times for our expat friends fall a day ahead of Nepal. It's like attending someone's birthday party, eating all the cake, and then realizing the birthday star hasn't even made a wish yet!
Let's paint a picture: Imagine you're an expat, and your family back home is getting their tika game on. You, on the other hand, are a day early, sitting with a red forehead and wondering if you've jumped the gun. It's like time-traveling, but with overgrown jamara!!
So, what's a Nepali to do? Our two cents? If you've got a heart full of FOMO and your fam is in Nepal, synchronize your tika time. But if your clan is with you then follow the local auspicious time. After all, you wouldn't want to tick off the tika gods.
Here at Coffee Guff, we've found the perfect solution: we're getting tikas on both days. Why? Because our foreheads are vast expanses, ready for all the blessings they can get. Besides, when in doubt, why not both? Tika-tastic!
Last but not the least
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