‘Xvideos’ has been among the top trends on Twitter since Sunday after owner Elon Musk announced the rebranding plans for the social media platform’s new identity.

Netizens joked that Twitter videos would technically now be called ‘X videos.’

The Mindgeek-owned adult streaming site even acknowledged the trend on its Twitter account and thanked Musk for putting it centrestage.

Musk has not commented on this potential branding near-coincidence just yet.

Before we answer this question, we must keep in mind that the current laws against homosexuality in India are based on colonial laws, which are based on Abrahamic mythology. It involves a reading – some would say a deliberate misreading – of a tale where God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone because they perform acts that go against God’s commandment.

What these acts were is open to interpretation, depending on how you read the old Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek scripts. The anti-queer lobby says city dwellers indulged in homosexuality. The queer supporters interpret the story differently, that the city dwellers were not good hosts, and that they raped their guests.

Take your pick. What is curious is that shortly after this incident, the patriarch Lot, who flees Sodom and Gomorrah before they are destroyed, has sex with his daughters, and his incestuous act is not punished by God.

Such tales, of God prohibiting certain sexual acts but allowing others, are not found in Hindu mythology. While in many (not all) Abrahamic traditions, homosexuality is seen as an act against God, in Hindu traditions, homosexuality is seen as part of karma.

We are creatures of karma, and our actions contribute to our future karma. Thus homosexuality is seen as a manifestation of karma. We cannot fight it. We have to deal with it. Just as heterosexual desire needs to be regulated, so does homosexual desire. The extent of regulation varies depending on context.

Some believe sex must be only for producing children, some believe sex should only be between people in love, while some believe sex is just a form of pleasure and must not be taken too seriously.

The Vedas speak of Agni, the fire god, having two mothers! Must this be taken literally or metaphorically? Metaphorically, it refers to the fire-sticks that are drilled to create the fire for the yagna.

In the Puranas, God changes gender constantly: Every god has a female Shakti: thus Vinayaka has Vinayaki, Varaha has Varahi. Shiva becomes Ardhanareshwara, or half a woman, to make the Goddess happy.

He becomes Gopeshwar – milkmaid or cow-girl form of Shiva – to join Krishna in the raas-leela. When Kali decides to become Krishna, Shiva takes the form of Radha, as per Baul traditions. Vishnu becomes the damsel Mohini to enchant demons and sages.

In Tulsidas’ Ram-charit-manas, God says that he loves all creatures: plants, animals, males, females and queers (napunsaka), who give up malice and surrender to his grace. How does one read this? A comfort with gender and sexual fluidity? An acceptance of karma?

Medical texts, such as Shushruta Samhita, subscribe to the Tantrik belief that when a man and woman have sex, the gender and sexuality depends on the proportion of the male white seed and female red seed. If the male white seed is stronger then heterosexual men are born; when the female red seed is stronger, then heterosexual females are born.

When both seeds are equally strong, the child becomes queer (kliba, napunsaka, kinnara). Sanskrit texts on astrology, architecture and music all refer to three genders: male, female and queer. Thus the condition is seen as physiological, not pathological.

The Dharmashastras need to be located in this context. They were books that speculated on appropriate human conduct. They focussed more on “upper” castes and were relatively indifferent to “lower” castes.

Written by Brahmins in the period that saw the composition of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, they have a relatively casual attitude towards non-vaginal (ayoni) sex. This could even refer to anal/oral sex between adult consenting men and women, not just between men, or between women.

The Arthashastra of Kautilya, charges a fine, similar to fines for minor thefts. Women are fined more than men. The fine increases if one of the partners is not consenting. (IV.XIII.236)

The Manusmriti equates homosexual sex to a man having sex with a menstruating woman, or having sex during the day, and the punishment involves purification rites: bathing with clothes on, and fasting for a night, and eating specific cow milk and urine related products.

Failure to purify can result in loss of caste. The crimes of heterosexual adultery and rape, and deflowering a virgin, have much higher fines and more intense purification rituals. (XI:175)

The Dharmashastras clearly value heterosexual marriage and sex that results in production of sons. However, they do acknowledge, albeit grudgingly, the existence of other forms of non-vaginal sex, heterosexual as well as homosexual, and seek to restrain them with fines and penance, without overtly condemning them in religious or moral terms.

Not everything in Hinduism or India was governed by Brahmin texts and that is important to remember. In monastic orders like Buddhism and Jainism where celibacy is celebrated, sexual desire – be it homosexual or heterosexual – is seen as an obstacle to the spiritual path.

In Charvaka, or materialistic traditions, the intrinsic nature (svabhava) of living creatures must be respected and celebrated, rather than judged. Thus India has had a very diverse, generally liberal, range of attitudes towards all kinds of sex, including homosexuality, with warnings about addiction, attachment and obsession.

This article was originally published in DailyO. It has been republished with permission from the author.

Devdutt Pattanaik is an Indian mythologist and writer known for his work on ancient Indian scriptures.

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For Those Who Don’t Know, Who Were The Beatles?

The Beatles, one of the most influential and beloved bands in history, achieved unprecedented popularity during the 1960s and left an indelible mark on the music world. Their rise to fame can be attributed to a combination of factors. First and foremost, their music was revolutionary, blending elements of rock and roll, pop, and other genres, while pushing boundaries with innovative songwriting and production techniques. Their infectious melodies, harmonies, and relatable lyrics resonated with a global audience, capturing the spirit of a generation.

The Beatles’ unparalleled charisma and charm also played a significant role in their popularity. Each member brought their unique personality to the band, captivating fans with their individual styles and collective camaraderie. Their image as “the Fab Four” and their sense of fashion became iconic symbols of the 1960s counterculture.

Following John Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, the surviving members of the band, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, embarked on a project to complete unfinished demos recorded by Lennon. The result was the release of two posthumous singles, “Free As A Bird” in 1995 and “Real Love” in 1996. Through careful production and collaboration, the band incorporated Lennon’s original vocals into the songs, adding new instrumentals and harmonies. These releases not only paid tribute to Lennon’s legacy but also demonstrated the enduring creativity and collaborative spirit of The Beatles.

Unveiling the Rediscovery of a Forgotten Gem

AI is being used across various industries, from music and technology to business and even top online casinos. Sir Paul McCartney, legendary musician and former member of The Beatles, made a surprising announcement that a new Beatles recording would soon see the light of day. McCartney’s use of artificial intelligence to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo has culminated in the completion of a long-lost song. This revelation has sparked excitement and anticipation among fans and music enthusiasts worldwide.

The Background and Journey of the Demo Tape

The demo tape, containing several songs on cassettes labelled “For Paul,” was created by John Lennon shortly before his untimely death in 1980. These tapes were eventually entrusted to McCartney by Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow. Among the compositions on the cassette was a 1978 Lennon track known as “Now and Then.” Recorded primarily on a boombox in Lennon’s New York apartment, the demo showcases Lennon’s characteristic style of introspective and apologetic love songs.

The Influence of AI from Peter Jackson’s Get Back Documentary

The inspiration to utilise AI for the reconstruction of the demo came from Peter Jackson’s documentary, “Get Back.” Emile de la Rey, the dialogue editor for the film, employed custom-made AI technology to identify and isolate the voices of The Beatles, effectively separating them from the background noise. This breakthrough allowed McCartney to perform “duets” with Lennon during his recent tour, including a notable rendition at the Glastonbury festival. Furthermore, AI played a crucial role in creating new surround-sound mixes of The Beatles’ iconic album, “Revolver.”

AI as a Tool for McCartney’s Recent Collaborations

Through the innovative use of AI, McCartney has been able to collaborate with Lennon even after his passing. The technology facilitated the process of isolating Lennon’s voice and seamlessly integrating it into live performances. This advancement has allowed McCartney to honour his late bandmate’s legacy and continue sharing their musical magic with audiences worldwide.

The Resurrection of “Now and Then”

“Now and Then,” the unfinished composition from the demo tape, had previously been considered for a potential Beatles reunion in 1995 during the production of the Anthology series. While two songs from Lennon’s cassettes, “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” were completed and released, “Now and Then” was left untouched. McCartney attributed its shelving to George Harrison’s dismissal of the song, branding it as “f**king rubbish.” The presence of a persistent buzz from Lennon’s apartment’s electrical circuits further contributed to the song’s abandonment.

The Beatles’ Unfinished Reunion

The unsuccessful attempt to record “Now and Then” as part of the Beatles’ Anthology project was marred by technical difficulties and disagreements among the band members. The recording session, which took place over a single afternoon, failed to produce a satisfying outcome. Producer Jeff Lynne, responsible for enhancing the reunion songs, described the session as incomplete and lacking proper verses. Harrison’s disapproval of the song ultimately led to its demise, with the democratic nature of The Beatles preventing its completion.

Technical Challenges and Controversies

The original recording of “Now and Then” suffered from a persistent electrical buzz, which affected its overall quality. Furthermore, over the years, bootleg versions of the demo without the background noise surfaced, leading to speculation about the existence of alternative recordings. Controversies surrounding the authenticity of these bootlegs and the possibility of stolen tapes further added to the mystery and intrigue surrounding the unfinished composition.

McCartney’s Concerns and Excitement for the Future

While embracing the possibilities presented by AI, McCartney expressed both concern and excitement about its applications in music. The rise of AI-generated music, exemplified by high-profile fakes of artists like Drake, the Weeknd, and Kanye West, has raised ethical questions within the industry. McCartney acknowledged the potential for confusion and the challenges that lie ahead but also emphasised the exciting prospects that AI offers for the future of music creation and innovation.

Final Thoughts 

The upcoming release of a new Beatles recording, achieved through the use of AI technology, stands as a testament to the ongoing relevance and influence of the iconic band. Paul McCartney’s success in extracting John Lennon’s voice from an old demo and completing the long-lost song has sparked intrigue and anticipation among fans worldwide. However, the growing presence of AI-generated music has also raised ethical concerns within the industry. As the music landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how AI will shape the future of artistic expression and collaboration.

Disclaimer:

• As per the Public Gambling Act of 1867, all Indian states, except Goa, Daman and Sikkim, prohibit gambling
• Land-based casinos are legalized, with certain guidelines, in Goa and Daman, as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act 1976  
• Land-based casinos, Online gambling and E-gaming (games of chance) are legalized in Sikkim under the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules 2009
• Only some Indian states have legalized online/regular lotteries as per and subject to the conditions laid down by state laws. Kindly refer to the same here
• Horse racing and betting on horse racing, including online betting, is permitted only in a licensed premise in select states. Kindly refer to the 1996 Judgement by the Supreme Court Of India here and for more information
• This article does not endorse or express the views of Qrius and/or any of its staff.

Tourism has always been one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world, with both developed and developing countries relying on the industry for economic growth. Although urban and mainstream travel destinations have always been popular amongst travel enthusiasts, the demand for offbeat destinations and rural tourism has increased exponentially in the recent past.

Although, urban and mainstream travel destinations come with excellent service and amenities along with skyscrapers that never fail to glamorize our eyes, however, every city dweller longs to run away from the madness of the city every now and then. We search for a place with serenity and peace where we can get away from work and connect with our roots. Although rural tourism in India is booming, there needs to be better connectivity and amenities to help it realise its true potential and attract even more visitors, as it can become a source of sustainable livelihood for the rural communities.

Sustainable Rural Tourism

India, which saw a record number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) of 10 million in 2017 and 17 million including NRI’s is already planning to double this number in the next three years. There is a need to develop an open platform around the concept of Sustainable Rural Tourism in India, wherein almost 74% of the population resides in 7 million villages as it can open up income channels for the rural population.

In the past few years, we have been that lack of employment opportunities and poor farming have prompted people to migrate to urban areas. In fact, a report prepared by the Rural Development and Migration Commission illustrated that about 138 people migrated just from Uttrakhand every day in the last 10 years. A combination of rural push and urban pull factors are prompting people to abandon village life, leading to the creation of ghost or uninhabited villages at an increasing rate. Undoubtedly, the development of rural tourism will provide a valuable contribution to the rural economies.

There should be a “holistic approach” towards the creation of a sustainable rural tourism platform, whereby, locally sourced materials, people and experiences are all incorporated to give tourists a “local taste.” Creating such a value chain will create job opportunities for the rural masses. Increasing tourism will prompt the creation of more hotels, caterers, transportation facilities, information and heritage interpretation facilities, which will all lead to large-scale job creation in the local economy.

As more income will be generated in local communities, this income can be diverted towards protecting and safeguarding traditional activities, arts, cultures and reducing the pressure on people to flee to city life merely as a way to earn a living.

Community involvement

In order to create the sustainable tourism model, non-governmental organisations, government, and the community will have to work together. The first step in the process is making community-based initiatives to identify key stakeholders and potential participants, including identifying local talent for basic activities and amenities, identifying potential investors, and other stakeholders for creating a successful model.

Other steps will involve community participation in the development stages and constant exchange of information, education, and communication to ensure all stakeholders are constantly involved in the process. If put into practice correctly, a sustainable rural tourism model will help in reviving the villages and put a check on turning them into ghost villages.

The author is Senior Manager of Concepts (Livelihood) at Fiinovation. 

The Unique Appeal of DMCC

Encompassing a thriving community of over 15,000 companies, DMCC stands as a beacon for entrepreneurs across the spectrum. The magnetic pull of DMCC stems from its seamless blend of world-class facilities, advantageous geographic location, and comprehensive service offerings. This rich concoction of elements brews an irresistible ecosystem that propels businesses onto the launching pad of success.

The Audacious Ascend of DMCC

Birthed in 2002, DMCC has catapulted itself to the pinnacle of global commerce, dramatically shaping Dubai’s robust economic rise. With their unwavering commitment to facilitating seamless and lucrative trading practices, they have successfully magnetised enterprises from every nook and corner of the world. This is an inspiring saga of unyielding growth and triumphant achievement.

Infrastructure: The Pillars of Success at DMCC

DMCC shines not just as a staggering assembly of grandiose statistics, but as the palpable manifestation of a profound entrepreneurial vision. The superior infrastructure, comprising cutting-edge offices, bustling retail spaces, and luxurious residential domains, shapes DMCC into a cohesive community that fuels creativity, collaboration, and unprecedented growth.

DMCC: The Crucible of Innovation

DMCC isn’t merely a marketplace; it’s a fertile seedbed where groundbreaking ideas sprout and flourish. This is where businesses audaciously push the envelope, and innovation is a routine chore, not an intermittent endeavour. By intertwining advanced technologies such as blockchain into trading solutions and incorporating AI-powered services, DMCC is fearlessly charting the future trajectory of global trade and commerce.

DMCC: An Ideal Geographical Proposition

Cradled strategically in the heart of Dubai, DMCC provides businesses an unparalleled vantage point, offering seamless access to some of the world’s most promising markets. Equipped with a robust logistics network and unhindered trade links, DMCC serves as an indispensable gateway, unlocking a panoramic vista of global opportunities for businesses, thereby propelling their international growth.

DMCC’s Embrace of Sustainable Practices

Beyond the dimensions of commerce, DMCC embodies a responsible corporate entity, making strides towards sustainable practices. Its unwavering commitment towards environmental sustainability, ethical trading, and social responsibility is noteworthy. This narrative extension beyond business underscores DMCC’s conscientious and accountable side.

The Art of Doing Business at DMCC

Doing business at DMCC isn’t just about profitable transactions; it’s about enjoying a myriad of value-added services. From licensing, networking events, to professional development workshops, DMCC offers holistic support to businesses, setting the stage for their relentless growth and success.

DMCC: The Beacon of Future Commerce

As we transition into a fresh era of trade and commerce, DMCC remains steadfast in its mission to stimulate growth, pioneer innovation, and shape a sustainable future. As a seasoned narrator, I find this an enthralling tale of resilience; as a keen observer of the global commerce landscape, I view DMCC as a key cog in the wheel of our shared economic future. DMCC isn’t just a hub; it’s a solemn pledge for a thriving, sustainable tomorrow.

Unravelling the Tapestry of Trade: Conclusion

From flaunting world-class infrastructure to enjoying a strategic geographical location, from the unwavering dedication to driving innovation to playing a responsible role as a corporate citizen, DMCC embodies an ideal ecosystem for businesses. For those seeking an environment that nurtures growth, ushers in opportunities, and assures success, DMCC provides an irrefutable answer. This shining lighthouse of global trade doesn’t merely exist; it illuminates the path for others to emulate, thereby setting a gold standard in global commerce.

HAIR. We spend a considerable amount of money on haircare. Nowadays, haircare products are often likened to the plethora of potions in Harry Potter, primarily due to the names and number of ingredients that are added. The cosmetic market is highly competitive and haircare, even more so! Huge, expensive advertising campaigns and celebrity endorsements characterize this sector. 

Variety of shampoos catering to a specific customer base are available nowadays 

To get things into perspective, let us look at the size of the ever-growing Indian haircare market. According to a 2018 report by Nielsen, the Indian haircare industry is valued at around INR 22,500 crore (US$ 3.3bn). Haircare associated businesses have seen an annual growth of just under 10% over the past few years. Maintaining and hair-grooming has become a daily routine for most of us, and the market is flooded with a range of products promising healthy, beautiful, and flowing hair. So, how do some of our favorite shampoos work?

Origins of shampoo

Etymologically, the word shampoo originates from the Hindi word champō, meaning to press and massage hair and skin. Traditionally, soaps were used to clean both hair and skin, but they suffer from poor lathering capabilities, hair damage, and are no longer recommended. Shampoos as we know them today, containing synthetic surfactants, were first introduced less than a century ago. 

What is hair made of?

Our hair is made of a protein called keratin, and has three cross-sectional layers- the cuticle, cortex, and the medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer, consisting of scaly projections that protect the hair surface whilst also providing shine. The layer beneath is the cortex, which contains the pigments which give the hair its characteristic color. The innermost layer is the medulla. 

Hair is covered in an oily coating called sebum, which is secreted by glands situated near the hair follicle. This coating absorbs and traps any dirt from the environment, and even our scalp flakes, and hence our hair needs to be frequently washed. Shampoos help clean our hair, as the oil being hydrophobic in nature, cannot be washed off by water. 

What are surfactants and how do they act?

Oily, or hydrophobic substances, can be made more water soluble by reducing surface tension between oil and water. That is how cleansing agents like soaps and detergents work. The most important molecule in a detergent is a surfactant. Surfactants are derived from fatty acids. Fatty acids occur naturally and are found in various plant and animal sources. The materials used most often to make the surfactants used in shampoos are extracted from coconut oil and soybean oil. 

A surfactant molecule consists of two parts- a hydrophilic (water-loving) polar head group and a hydrophobic (water-hating) non-polar tail group. The hydrophobic part is also called lipophilic (oil-loving). The polar group attracts other polar molecules, such as water, and repels non-polar molecules such as oils. On the contrary, the non-polar tail is attracted to oils and is repelled by polar molecules. The non-polar lipophilic site collects deposited oily dirt and the hydrophilic polar end binds to water. This creates an emulsion of the two. In this way, the surfactant reduces the interfacial surface tension, facilitating the washing mechanism, and removes the sebum from the hair shaft.

Surfactant molecules at an oil-water interface

There are various types of synthetic surfactants- like anionic, cationic, non-ionic, and amphoteric. Commonly used are sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), and ammonium lauryl sulphate. 

The mechanism of working of each type depends on the presence (or absence) of charged polar group, and the nature of charge (positive or negative). Natural surfactants like saponins were used earlier, although their extent of action is now largely inadequate, in comparison. 

Why shampoo, and not soap?

Normally, hair has an acidic pH of about 4-5, at which the non-covalent interactions binding and maintaining the hair strand are strong. Soaps, having an alkaline pH of about 8.5, can disrupt some of these interactions by causing breakdown of the disulphide bonds. This leads to hair damage. Highly alkaline substances can have a detrimental effect on hair, by destroying these bonds. Prolonged use of soap on hair can decrease the number of non-covalent interactions, thereby increasing the amount of weakening and damage. As a result, most shampoos now employ anionic surfactants, which are not only minimally disruptive, but also offer efficient cleansing, lathering, and foaming capabilities.

What are the ingredients in a shampoo formulation and why are they added?

Water: Yes, the most abundant ingredient in shampoos is in fact, water! It makes up around 75-80% of the total formulation. Specially treated water, called deionized water, is used in shampoos. This water is made free from any dissolved ions or particles. 

Surfactants: The next most abundant ingredient and the driving force of the shampoo is the surfactant, which as we saw earlier, brings about the cleansing action. The dual hydrophilic-lipophilic nature of the surfactant allows it to bind to water and oily dirt particles from separate ends. When surfactant molecules line up in this manner, it forms a structure called micelle which gives the shampoo its cleansing ability.

Foaming agents: Also derived from fatty acids, they are added to enhance the foaming characteristics of the formulation like amount of foam, lathering, size of bubbles. Commonly used foaming agents are lauramide DEA and cocodiethanolamide (cocamide DEA).

Thickeners: They are added to increase the viscosity of the formulation and make the shampoo thicker. Examples include methylcellulose and even sodium chloride (common salt). 

Sequestering agents: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used as sequestering agent to chelate and remove calcium and magnesium ions from the formulation. This prevents itching and dulling of hair due to hard water. 

pH adjusters: The pH of a shampoo formulation needs to be approximately 5.5, which is pH of the scalp. Use of detergents causes alkalization of the hair due to the negative charge, and acids like citric acid or glycolic acid are added to balance and maintain the pH.

Preservatives: They are mainly added to prevent bacterial and microbial contamination and associated decomposition of the formulation. Sodium benzoate, disodium EDTA, 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, methylisothiazolinone, etc. are some commonly used preservatives. 

Other additives: Perfumes, plant extracts, fragrance oils, colouring agents, etc. are added to give the formulation a distinct, pleasant aroma, and an aesthetically pleasing colour. 

Outlook and recent advances: The FMCG sector being very dynamic, manufacturers are developing newer technology depending on consumer demand. Nowadays, 2-in-1 shampoos providing both cleansing and conditioning, are rapidly becoming the norm. 

Latest advances include better conditioning products to prevent hair damage. According to various studies published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, use of silicones like dimethicone lead to improved conditioning and hair colour retention. Use of skin care ingredients in hair care products is another major development. For instance, collagen and peptides lead to improved moisturization and help strengthen the hair shaft. Recent research also shows that amino acids like lysine, tyrosine, and histidine, when added to shampoos, help repair hair damage by restoring the amino acid balance. Companies are heavily investing in R&D of polymers and silicones in shampoos and other cosmetics. 

One such scandal was the obvious change in his appearance, especially his skin color, which started from the mid-eighties to slowly but surely turn from dark to white.

By the mid-nineties when Jackson released his album History (1995), it was more than obvious even to his most dedicated fans that the man of Thriller (1982) looked nothing like the man who had recently married Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie. By this time, Michael Jackson was milky white; a skin-color transition that started almost a decade earlier was more or less complete. So what happened?

What Is Vitiligo?

According to his family and Jackson himself, the ‘King of Pop’ had vitiligo, a condition that causes depigmentation of parts of the skin, which usually results in white spots on the patient’s body; these are even more noticeable if the person has a dark complexion as in Jackson’s case.

The 1 in 250 or so people who have this condition typically first start seeing signs of it beginning between 10 and 30 years old.  Approximately 30% of the people who have it also have it run in their family, which is true of Jackson.

In addition to this skin disorder, Jackson also reportedly suffered from systemic lupus erythematosus, which besides potentially being a very serious condition can also cause loss of skin pigmentation.

When the controversy about his changing skin color hit its zenith, Jackson spoke openly about his vitiligo for the first time in an interview he gave to Oprah in 1993. He said among other things,

It is something I cannot help. When people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me. It’s a problem for me. I can’t control it. But what about all the millions of people who sit in the sun to become darker, to become other than what they are. Nobody says nothing about that.

In the days after, at Jackson’s request, his condition was publicly confirmed by his dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, who also stated Jackson was first diagnosed with the condition in 1984. It was also confirmed that he had lupus erythematosus, but that it was in remission.

Conspiracy theorists propose that there was much more to it than this.  That in fact, Jackson had no such disease and that he, instead, systematically bleached his skin using Benoquin cream and other medical cocktails in his quest to look like a white person.

The obvious and extensive cosmetic surgeries he had on his eyebrows, eyelashes, lips, and nose only served to enforce the theory that he was simply purposefully tweaking his appearance even more by bleaching his skin.

So is there any truth to this? Dr. Christopher Rogers, deputy medical examiner at the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office and the man who conducted Michael Jackson’s autopsy, chimed in on this after performing the autopsy on Jackson. Dr. Rogers confirmed that Jackson indeed suffered from vitiligo, most noticeably with patches around his face, chest, abdomen, and arms.

So did he also bleach his skin?

According to dermatologist Dr. Hanish Babu, Jackson did; this is sometimes a treatment used for those with vitiligo.

When these white patches first started appearing, you can see from certain of Jackson’s concert footage that he was trying to mask them with makeup matching his original skin color.  Once the patches became too numerous to easily hide with makeup (and he supposedly became tired of the extensive time needed to apply the makeup every day), he switched strategies and began the process of bleaching his skin, supposedly under the care of his dermatologist and using 20% monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (Benoquin Cream).  

Much later, in June of 2009 after his death, tubes of Benoquin and hydroquinone were found in Jackson’s home.  As Dr. David Sawcer said, “some patients with vitiligo get to the point where it makes more sense to remove the brown bits because so much of the skin is pale.”

Besides giving him a white complexion, this also results in being prone to sunburns, which is why in later years he often kept himself nearly completely covered when outside in the sun.

In the end, only Jackson knew his true motivation for ultimately choosing to bleach his skin, whether as a treatment for his vitiligo to even out his skin color as reported, or as the conspiracy theorists claim, to further change his appearance to more of a Caucasian look, though one would think the latter would be an odd move for the co-author of the line (with Bill Bottrell), ‘It don’t matter if you’re black or white.’

Bonus Facts

Thanks to his vitiligo and needing frequent care from a dermatologist, Jackson met Debbie Rowe, a nurse of his dermatologist.  The two became fast friends and over a decade after they first met, they married in 1996.  They divorced three years later, but reportedly remained friends for the rest of his life.

The autopsy also found that Jackson’s lips were tattooed pink, while his eyebrows were tattooed a dark hue. The front of his scalp was also tattooed black, apparently to blend his hairline in with the wigs he wore (he was balding).

Also according to the autopsy, Michael Jackson was 5´9˝ and 136 lbs at the time of his death.

The article was originally published by Today I Found Out. People can also follow them on their YouTube channel here:

What has led to the new friction? The simple response is the Wolfowitz Doctrine.

Looking into the Wolfowitz Doctrine

In late 1989, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George H. W. Bush declared the Cold War. In February 1990, then-Secretary of State James Baker suggested that in exchange for cooperation on Germany, US could make “iron-clad guarantees“ that NATO would not expand “one inch eastward”.

As Gorbachev acceded to Germany’s Western alignment on the condition that the US would limit NATO’s expansion, Baker’s own top officials at the Pentagon began to push Eastern Europe in the US orbit.

That is how the Wolfowitz Doctrine—named by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Paul Wolfowitz, later the prophet of George W. Bush’s neoconservatives—was developed amid the end of the Cold War.

The Doctrine deemed the US as the world’s only remaining superpower and proclaimed its main objective to be retaining that status. Its first objective was “to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union.”

Bush-Clinton “shock therapy” and Russia

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, bilateral ties remained warm between the George H. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations and President Boris Yeltsin until the neoliberal “shock therapy”—the huge privatisation and liberalisation project designed by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the US Treasury—led to a nightmare Depression in Russia.

As Russia struggled for survival, three former Soviet satellites—Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic—were invited to join the NATO. By the mid-90s, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Baltic states were ushered into NATO against the angry but ultimately futile protests by presidents Yeltsin and Gorbachev.

By then, the 1990s destabilisation had paved the way for the rise of President Vladimir Putin who was able to re-stabilise the economy between 2000 and 2008, when Russia enjoyed a major boost from rising commodity prices.

Bush’s NATO enlargement and nuclear policy

In 2001, President George W. Bush wanted to reset US Russia relations. However, if there was a historic opportunity, it was soon lost. After the White House was swept by the 9/11 attacks and neoconservatives’ unilateral foreign policy, it began incursions into Afghanistan and invaded Iraq.

Meanwhile, NATO began looking even further eastward to Ukraine and Georgia, while Moscow’s protests turned angrier.

Most Russians saw the Rose Revolution in Georgia 2003, and US effort to build an anti-ballistic missile defence installation in Poland with a radar station in the Czech Republic, as intrusions into its sphere of interest, along with US efforts to gain access to Central Asian oil and natural gas.

In June 2002, the Bush administration withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), which had been in force for 30 years. The construction of the US missile defence system was feared to enable the US to attack with a nuclear first strike.

The withdrawal was a “fatal blow” to the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and led to a world without effective legal constraints on nuclear proliferation. One of its consequences is the ongoing nuclear debacle in the Korean Peninsula.

From Obama sanctions to Trump’s reversals

Like Clinton and Bush, President Obama wanted to reset US-Russia relations. By March 2010, both countries agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Yet, the reset was not supported by his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates and US ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle. Subsequently, rising tensions in Crimea were seized to bury the effort.

What followed was a series of Obama sanctions against Russia in 2014 and 2016, with the support of the European Union (EU).

In the 2016 campaign trail, Trump lauded President Putin as a strong leader, arguing in favour of friendlier relations. Meanwhile, FBI began investigating alleged connections between Trump’s former and current campaign managers and advisers.

In January 2017, Trump and President Putin began phone conferences as the White House still mulled lifting economic sanctions to reset relations with Russia. By May, former FBI chief and the Bush neoconservatives’ loyalist, Robert Mueller was appointed to investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US elections.

In the fall, Trump approved still new sanctions on Russia crushing hope for the reset in US-Russian relations. By the year-end, his administration’s new security strategy named China and Russia as competitive rivals.

The primacy of Wolfowitz Doctrine

It was the Wolfowitz Doctrine that undermined the efforts of four post-Cold War presidents to reset relations with Russia.

In each case, the US “military-industrial complex“—about which President Eisenhower, a five-star general, had already warned the country in 1961—has played a critical but low-profile role behind the scenes.

President Clinton did not oppose the military interests, as long as they supported US economic interests. Bush’s inner circle was identical with Pentagon’s ultimate insiders and neoconservative hawks. Obama initially opposed the military and security complex but, eventually, became its loyal cheerleader. Trump fought efforts to kill resetting of Russia relations, until the appointment of the special counsel.

The Wolfowitz doctrine has prevailed—against all postwar US presidents.

Dr Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and an internationally recognised strategist of the multipolar world. He has served as Research Director of International Business at India China and America Institute (USA) and Visiting Fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore).

Peter Pan, a Disney fairy tale, has been children’s all-time favourite character. Ironically, it has been, however, particularly comforting and reassuring to millennial adults (1977-1995) to embody, quite in literal terms. Being Peter Pan has many attractive features—one of them is living in a space of timelessness that transcends itself through a series of never-ending moments, characterised by the refusal to confront the consequences of the past and perpetual avoidance of looming thoughts of the future.

A Peter-Panian lifestyle is an emulated form of existence devoid of consequential responsibilities. We are widely known to be the Peter Pan generation largely due to our fears of embracing adulthood as we practice a conscious decision to postpone meeting life-milestones on a daily basis. In this digital age, there are many factors that put us at a disadvantage to Generation X (1965-1976) and the Baby-Boomers (1946-1964), which turn on the mode of stagnation in our lives as far as developing maturity is concerned.

Jumping to adulthood

The beauty of milestones in a person’s life is that it exhibits a state of progression to something better in a smooth-sailing manner without any drastic changes. Moving towards something better always means attaining something bigger, something worthy to be called an achievement, which most naturally entails an increased set of responsibilities, but that’s the point of it. Meeting milestones endows the feeling of success as we climb the social ladder which, in turn, grants the feeling of self-fulfillment and satisfaction. However, in today’s era, that ‘social ladder’ has been cracked into ruin due to a culture that exposes children to information beyond their years. “It can easily be said that in popular music, for example, children are increasingly exposed to the adult-themed material, with various entertainers, whose videos and music appeal to vulgar and overly eroticised imagery which, in an earlier era, would have been scandalously inappropriate to young audiences but now have become normalised.”

This exposure to inappropriate content forces young kids to grow up faster and skip an essential developmental stage of childhood. They attempt to skip to a stage that seems to be “adulthood”—only it is a mirage of some sort, because believing and behaving as an adult are two different contradictory states of mind. Once adulthood really strikes physically, the subconscious tries to fill in the cracks of childhood, which creeps out of a person’s psyche in a way that encapsulates childhood tendencies throughout adulthood, affecting behaviour and ways of rationalization. This way of existence creates a never-ending resistance to fly out of our chickadee’s nest.

Convenience of denial of age

Jacobo Bernardini, from the University of Perugia in Italy, expertly explained this awkward developmental growth of today: “The traditional stages of the life cycle, to which the social sciences still refer [has been] progressively postponed and altered. The age of childhood has been shortened; adolescence today begins long before puberty and, for many, seems to last forever; the boundaries of adulthood seem, by now, indefinable; and seniority, as a phase of life, is likely to become an individual concept”. In other words, it emerges as a ‘concept’ that is utterly abhorred, instead of admired, and defined by the fear of ageism. People are in denial of their age in a way that manifests itself through an incessant preoccupation of maintaining a youthful appearance. Therefore, while youth has been traditionally seen merely as the carrier of potential—an uncertain but, nevertheless, transitory period of time—it is now something accessible at any point as people appear to inhabit a timeless existence.

This stagnant existence can be partly blamed on the consumerist culture that interminably promotes hedonist impulses, starting from tethering addictions, such as playing video games, smoking substances that take you into a dimension of stupor and carelessness, and the ever-clinging pursuit after adrenaline-pumping thrillers. All these preoccupations nourish the mass-produced [economy propelled by the] soft entertainment [that is a] best fit for a globalized culture of perpetual adolescence. [This culture is] slavishly going from one fad to another without purpose or end in sight in an aimless search for the next thrill—the more bizarre the better. All these help to avoid facing life headstrong—avoid thinking about creating financial security, developing long-standing careers, or settling down in a way of creating a family.

Burden of freedom

The anxiety to grow up is centred on the issue of having a sea of opportunities that generations preceding us never have had, which invokes an extremely unsettling and stormy feeling within us as we feel suffocated by choice, responsibility and self-doubt. Since our culture moved far astray of what is perceived to be traditional, the decisions on whether to marry or not marry, start a family or not, travel or stay put, stick in your existing job or find a new one, can [altogether] make us overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. In other words, too much freedom, being unshackled by societal pressures, believe it or not, works against us—works against us in a way that it delays maturity.

There are many dimensions of maturity and the one we are greatly lacking is moral maturity in the avenue known as “respecting others”. According to Kieran Mathieson of Oakland University, a morally mature person “can interact with others without feeling that his or her own worldview is threatened, [which is an interaction practised by] listening carefully, encouraging, exploring ideas, posing questions, arguing, speculating and sharing”. The key concept here is sharing ideas with others without having one’s ‘worldview threatened’—being strong in one’s own convictions even if someone else’s is contradictory to one’s own. However, college campuses, nowadays, are functioning in a way that caters to the sensitivities of the millennial generations, which moulds them into easily upset overgrown children.

Victims of emotional immaturity

Because of this dysfunctional system of pedagogy, professors and educators have to be wary of exposing them to realities of the world, such as bigotry, racism, violence, and even disagreement, lest they break down in tears having found out that people can be evil, have different opinions, or that harsh things happen out there. Seriously? But there’s more to this: The mollycoddling of the fragile little things is also innovatively pervasive and insistent. That treatment is largely about ‘emotional well-being’…to elevate the goal of [so-called] protecting students from psychological harm. The ultimate aim, it seems is to turn campuses into ‘safe-spaces’ (like high-schools) where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable.

This is why we are a generation that can get easily offended, without the intention of the party that is ‘offending’. All of this, like chain-reaction, contributes to our ‘emotional immaturity’. When our lives do not go according to plan, we unleash temper-tantrums. When someone says something we don’t like, we emotionally break down and cry a river. This is why we are called the “Snowflakes, the Generation Confused of the new millennium”. In more concrete terminology, all of this throws us off-track, makes us weak and creates us into a generation that is disoriented, wandering into pathless destinations, thus, rendering us completely directionless.

Self-fulfilling attitude

Not to mention that millennials have become non-accommodating in their corresponding field of employment, which creates us into being a generation full of entitlements. To put that concept in a greater application, it is important to understand what entitlement is, which is “a human condition…[that is] selfish by nature. [This is why] we have to work hard and intentionally to overcome or suppress our selfish behaviours”. The way entitlement is inhibited is by practising the ability to see and act on behalf of others, while entitlement does not allow you to see things from someone else’s point of view.

What promoted the over-indulgent entrenchment of one’s own view are the manifestations of the [more] connected world, which empowered us to take too much ownership over every aspect of our lives. For example, Glassdoor and LinkedIn allow ownership of one’s career. YouTube allows ownership of one’s content. Instagram and Snapchat allow ownership of one’s personal brand. Netflix allows ownership of one’s content consumption. All of these, collectively, offer us excessive amounts of personalisation and customisation at every turn of [our] lives. Therefore, we expect the same control that we practice in our social-media at work, which creates an intense amount of distrust between us, being the employees, and our employers as we demand promotions, certain salaries, and senseless accommodations that other employees of different generations don’t even think of asking.

Upon experiential observation, however, this problem of overbearing immaturity seems to be exclusively pervasive over Western civilizations and is less of a problem in Asian and Middle-Eastern civilizations. It particularly seems to be less of a problem in India, because, since birth, children are pressured by family members to fit into their model of an ideal son or daughter, while we are running around completely untamed. We finally need to practice what Paul, the apostle, had said:

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: But when I became a man, I put away childish things…”

‘Are you saying my Krishna is polygamous?’ the man said, his tone angry and threatening. I could not believe his reaction. Why was he surprised? Why was he angry? Was this not common knowledge? Since that strange confrontation years ago, I have met dozens like him, men and women confident about the scriptures without ever reading a single one.

Yet Krishna’s many marriages have been described in the various sources of Krishna stories: Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, dated from 300 BCE to 1300 CE. Krishna has eight principle wives (the asha-bharyas) and 16,100 junior wives.

The eight principle wives are Rukmini of Vidarbha, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Bhadra of Kekeya, Mitravinda of Avanti, Satya of Kosala and Lakshmana of Madra. Rukmini elopes with Krishna. Satyabhama is given in marriage by Satrajit who is grateful that Krishna found the killer of his brother Prasenajit.

Jambavati is given in marriage by the bear-king, Jambavan, who is impressed by Krishna’s strength in wrestling. Kalindi is the river Yamuna who follows Krishna from the Gangetic plains to Dwarka. Bhadra and Mitravinda choose Krishna in their respective swayamvaras.

Satya’s hand in marriage is won by overpowering wild bulls, while Lakshmana’s hand is won by winning an archery contest. The 16100 junior wives are given protection by Krishna after he defeats Narakasura and discovers them in his harem. The story goes that when Narada visited Krishna in Dwarka he found 16,108 mansions and a Krishna in each mansion giving full attention to each of the senior and junior wives.

Arguments go that this is metaphorical, but then all of mythology is metaphorical, a set of symbols communicating complex psychological ideas, even the idea of Krishna itself.

Then there is Radha, who is not mentioned in early Puranas but appears in folk literature and finally later Puranas, like the Brahmavaivarta Purana, where she is presented as his true cosmic wife, even though on earth she never marries him, but stays back in Vrinda-vana, with her husband while Krishna goes to Mathura and thence to Dwarka.

And along with Radha are many milkmaids who dance around Krishna while he plays the flute in the forest of Madhu-vana at night. People have always been uncomfortable asking questions about Radha’s relationship with Krishna. In fact, in 1718, at the court of Nawab Murshid Ouli Khan there was a huge debate regarding the theology of Svakiya (Radha as married to Krishna) and Parakiya (Radha as married to someone else). The Parakiya side won!

Krishna’s polygamous nature is designed to stand in stark contrast to Ram’s monogamous nature. He is romantic rake, who breaks hearts while Ram is the faithful husband, who is always distant. Through these two contrasting forms of Vishnu, Vaishnava theology plays itself out.

But who is interested in theology and philosophy and metaphysics today? For many today, it is all about politics. We want our gods to be historical entities not psychological realities. We have convinced ourselves that the past is more important than present, matter is more important than mind.

Our gods must have all the qualities we want — they must be monogamous and vegetarian, stories from scriptures not withstanding. Anyone who tells Krishna is not what we imagine Krishna to be must be of a Western mindset, a left liberal ‘sickular’.

The imaginations of manipulative cult leaders have become the reality of their equally power-hungry domination-seeking followers. It does not help when ‘rational’ academicians use this information as ‘evidence’ to explain Indian patriarchy.

This article was originally published in Devlok, Sunday Midday. It has been republished with permission from Devdutt Pattanaik.

Devdutt Pattanaik is an Indian mythologist and writer known for his work on ancient Indian scriptures.