A free existence is all I desire...

Education bill faces opposition from school authorities

2009-07-30T00:17:00.000-04:00

Education bill faces opposition from school authorities: "Apart from these, 25 per cent seats in private schools will be given free."

This is fcking crazy! Why do they want private schools to wind up?

The government is ready to make up for the fee shortfall caused by reservation. But schools say it may not be enough.

"Schools have no other source of income. So we will be forced to raise the fees by 40 per cent," said Sumer Singh, principal, Daley College.

The Govt. has a mint or what?

Azad proposes 'late marriages' to curb population

2009-07-11T10:17:00.000-04:00

Azad proposes 'late marriages' to curb population: "Azad proposes 'late marriages' to curb population"

Our rulers are still trying to curb population! What a pity.

Mallya calls prohibition 'farce', Modi govt snubs him

2009-07-11T10:13:00.000-04:00

Mallya calls prohibition 'farce', Modi govt snubs him: "Mallya calls prohibition 'farce', Modi govt snubs him"

Very very well said by Mallya. In retort all the Govt. says is that Mallya should mind his own business. What jerks we have in the Govt! Can Mr. Jaynarayan Vyas (the Govt. spokesperson) give a better retort? He needs to remember that he lives on and spends tax payer money and is accountable for failed policies.

The Freedom To Trade -- Nice Video

2009-05-05T22:14:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVHJ3_FJZKg

Via The Freedom To Trade… - The India Uncut Blog - India Uncut

Hinduism

2009-04-26T02:52:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/books/review/Mishra-t.html

It is a book review. I haven't read the book, nevertheless it reaffirms my faith (as it is not founded on any research of mine) that there is no single defining thing called Hinduism, a thought that excites me greatly and lessens my frustration at the narrow mindedness of the current self-proclaimed saviors and knowledge bearers of Hinduism.

When will I get my next Amazon coupon!!?

Parties of the poor, for the poor?

2009-04-11T16:41:00.001-04:00

What a fucking farce![link]

The Congress party Elections Manifesto 2009, in writing, promises to increase the number of days for which work will be offered under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as also the daily wage rate. As if this is not enough the party goes ahead to offer literally "free lunches" in community kitchens for a certain class of people. And it then promises to make available 25 kg of foodgrains at Rs 3 per kilogram!

Apart from being an inducement to influence the voters, this promise contains a threat to the foodgrains producers that their produce will be procured at artificially depressed prices. Artificially depressed prices over decades have resulted in mass suicides by farmers. This offer was repeated by no less a person than Ms Sonia Gandhi herself in an electoral speech in Karnataka.

In a meeting that he addressed in Wardha, in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi maintained that his party was essentially for the poor and that as long as one poor man remains in the country, he himself, Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh would be there to address his concerns.

Indian politicians have no incentive to see the poor come out of poverty, no incentive, absolutely none!

There is an old adage that goes against giving alms to the beggars; "Give him rather the implements with which to work and earn his bread."

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme condemns millions of people to a life of manual labour, digging pits and filling them, rather than starting an enterprise. Such mindless labour can actually be poverty creating rather than poverty eradicating.

[Via]

Hi-tech Talaq

2009-03-14T05:15:00.000-04:00

Fiza gets rude call, hubby says talaq over phone: "Fiza gets rude call, hubby says talaq over phone"

Otis wants Gandhi articles back, immediately

2009-03-14T02:31:00.000-04:00

Otis wants Gandhi articles back, immediately: "Otis said he would negotiate with India on the 'two proposals he had submitted – increase in the spending on the poor and fully paid exhibition of Gandhi's items in 78 countries to spread the apostle of peace's message of non violence.'"

The man and his proposals!

Master Madoff!

2009-03-14T01:53:00.000-04:00

Master Madoff by Don Cooper:

"One disgruntled former student, Boston money manager Harry Markopolos, appeared on 20/20 four years ago commenting on the simple investigation he had undertaken regarding master Madoff’s activities and the facts unequivocally indicated fraud: Madoff didn’t make buys or sells, he was making consistently above average returns for his clients, etc.. . He implied that the SEC should have caught those simple, basic aspects of trading in securities. He even had the audacity to suggest that they didn’t because either the SEC was an over-bloated, inefficient bureaucracy and/or so incompetent they couldn’t do the simplest things and therefore a waste of taxpayer’s money and/or – and this is just mean-spirited and obviously a product of Mr. Markopolos’ resentment – the SEC was bought off by a billionaire. Oh right. Please, like that can happen. What would Mr. Markopolos suggest? We get the SEC out of the securities markets so there’s no moral hazard and people will take responsibility for doing the necessary due diligence themselves before investing? Hah! Then what would the master’s like master Madoff do? Freak."

Who will regulate the regulator? Sigh!

The Man Who Rumbled Madoff

2009-03-11T23:17:00.000-04:00

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (March 11, 2009) - The Man Who Rumbled Madoff: "Markopolos took the team's findings to the SEC in 2000, but federal regulators refused to pursue the case—that is, until the financial meltdown laid bare the fraud on its own and forced them to act."

Wonder why people trust regulators any more than the selfish capitalists....

Short Puts: India to develop spaceship that carries 3 astronauts. That's because 2 places are reserved for OBCs.

2009-03-11T01:19:00.000-04:00

Short Puts: India to develop spaceship that carries 3 astronauts. That's because 2 places are reserved for OBCs.

Ramadoss turns health messiah again, no hookahs

2009-03-10T01:20:00.000-04:00

Ramadoss turns health messiah again, no hookahs: "After the ban on smoking in public places, health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is now taking on the hookah parlours."

This man needs to go! Why can't he worry about his and his family's health? Maybe we should get the essential stats of all of them and vote on a diet plan that he and his family should follow! All the best Ramadoss if that were to happen.

There is a lot of shit that is very dangerous. The smoke that comes out of public transport is a good example. What say Ramadoss, do we ban transport too?

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has already brought hookah parlours under the purview of the Cigarettes and Tobacco Act.
The corporation has been conducting raids at various hookah parlours in the city and revoking the licenses of parlours that do not have proper documentation.

And of course earning a lot of money from all those parlors whose license is not revoked or will be reissued in the near future.

This world does not need dictators, however noble their intents be.

In Defence of Liberty

2009-03-09T03:08:00.000-04:00

In Defence of Liberty: "A natural social order"

Building walls with US trading partners - The Boston Globe

2009-03-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

Building walls with US trading partners - The Boston Globe: "Democracy is bolstered by prosperity and damaged by downturns. Since the pioneering work of Martin Lipset 50 years ago, social scientists have tried to understand why democracies and wealth go together. My colleague Robert Barro found that this link exists not because democracies increase prosperity, but because prosperity supports democracy. The appeal of democracy's enemies increases when democracies, like the Weimar Republic, are unable to deliver economic success." [Via]

The Saturday Profile - An Empire for Poor Working Women, Guided by a Gandhian Approach - Biography - NYTimes.com

2009-03-07T03:06:00.000-05:00

The Saturday Profile - An Empire for Poor Working Women, Guided by a Gandhian Approach - Biography - NYTimes.com: "Freedom, one woman said, was “looking a policeman in the eye.”"

Caught between bails and ballots

2009-03-07T02:38:00.000-05:00

So what will u choose, IPL or general elections? [Via:Cricinfo - Blogs - The Surfer - Caught between bails and ballots]:

"Repeatedly we are told that there is far too much at stake for too many people, for the IPL Board to even so much as contemplate the idea of such a postponement or a cancellation. But who are these stakeholders, and why should elected governments stretch their security apparatus dangerously thin in order to protect their interests?

The Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan players proved that cricket could indeed be a soft target for terrorists in this part of the world. While we may want to believe that India is a lot safer than Pakistan — and there is indeed some strong basis for this belief, 26/11 notwithstanding — this is not the time to traffic in illusions."

Well, honestly I am not sure voting makes any bit of difference in India. So, maybe, I would prefer watching a match instead of bothering to choose between the incompetent Gandhi family (where I base my judgement on their record to this day) and Shri. Advani.

The Indian Premier League is about many things. It’s about money, money, money, money, money… and then, of course, about a bit of cricket, of the frenetic kind, too.

Given that fact, this column has a suggestion to Mr. Lalit Modi, the IPL’s high-profile head honcho. He should request the Central Government of the world’s largest democracy to postpone the general elections scheduled for April-May. Well, actually he should go beyond that: he should demand it.

It is about money, only because it is the kind of cricket people come to a stadium to watch. It may not be the purest form of cricket but is the only form one with a 9-6 job can go to a stadium to watch without having to take a day off. Nobody is forced to go to the stadium. People can choose not to go to the stadium.

I am guessing that the Govt. must have been in the know of the IPL schedule given that the schedule was finalized before the general election schedule. I would be very surprised if the Govts (state and center) were not consulted before setting the dates. Organising such an event without Govt. permission should be impossible in India. Also, if the Govt. cannot keep India safe they should let the people of India know, the earlier the better. No life is so cheap to be left at the mercy of an incompetent Govt, a lot have already been lost. It is only reasonable that such an incompetent Govt. allows its citizens to find means of protecting themselves. It cannot force people to live in shackles because it cannot provide them with protection.

Also, the organizers of the IPL have a contract to keep, and I am not sure how I can sit on judgment for they wanting to keep their contract. The Govt. gets away with not keeping their election time promises, it is only good if others insist on keeping theirs even if it is for big money.

Those cheergirls are worth every penny paid to them: they not only get the fans into the stands well ahead of the contest but also help add colour and zest and life to our newspapers’ front and back pages _ and a few in between.

Well, even the newspapers are behind big money!

Now, this is what makes me furious:

There is a simple solution: postpone the polls, no matter what the Constitution says, no matter what the Election Commissioners may say. After all, can these blokes possibly bring in hundreds of millions to the kitty? Can they conceivably persuade Preity Zinta or Shilpa Shetty — draped in the finest their unabashedly expensive wardrobes can offer — to jive it live in front of TV cameras during the matches?

Unabashedly expensive wardrobes? Are Zinta and Shetty to live like the poor of the world? Will that make their cause more just or the poor any richer? They earn the millions because of investments they make of their own money. In contrast, wonder what the Govt. does with our money? Not much seems to change election after election, not even the sloganeering. Oh!, the sanctity of the constitution is at stake.

In a rational world, it would have been an open-and-shut case, a non-issue. If the governments of the States where the IPL matches are scheduled believed they would not be able to provide adequate security to the players because of the election pressures, then the Central Government should simply tell the Board of Control for Cricket in India that it would do well to postpone, or even cancel, the event.

In a rational world, the Govt. has absolute powers. Ya well!

Unions!

2009-03-06T23:44:00.000-05:00

This is exactly what I hate about unions (in the comments of the linked article), the presumption on their part that every worker should be on their side. If you don't want to work for a certain pay, so be it. You want to protest, fair enough. But you cannot force people to follow suit. That's not the way it works! Each individual should have the right to choose who they want to fight for their rights.

Communications Workers of America authorizes strike of 20,000 AT&T workers, could happen soon: "I also am an emloyee and you CAN NOT cross the picket line, If and when there is a strike. You will not be able to keep your job if you do. You have to be a union member in good standing. I do believe that you need to educate yourself... You need to make sure that is really what you want to do if you have bills.. You need to support your union. And for all the people on here that are downing the union. I feel that we are deserving of what we are asking for. We work our butts off also. I for one have been in a wage freeze for some time. How fair is this? I think everyone should educate yourselves before you go off on the CWA. They are fighting for our rights as workers and I am backing them and I will be there picketing and doing whatever I need to do for US as workers."

God's laws?

2009-03-06T22:32:00.000-05:00

God's laws or the Catholic Church's laws?

Nine-Year-Old's Abortion Outrages Brazil's Catholic Church - TIME: "Archibishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho of the coastal city of Recife announced that the Vatican was excommunicating the family of a local girl who had been raped and impregnated with twins by her stepfather, because they had chosen to have the girl undergo an abortion. The Church excommunicated the doctors who performed the procedure as well. 'God's laws,' said the archbishop, dictate that abortion is a sin and that transgressors are no longer welcome in the Roman Catholic Church."

Dhoni's Mis-hit

2009-03-05T19:26:00.002-05:00

India Today - India's most widely read magazine.: "Dhoni's Mis-hit"

When India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was, fresh off the Indian team’s first win in New Zealand, he began by saying he was “shocked and sad” that sportspersons had been attacked. Pressed further about Pakistan he went on, his responses containing these phrases, “I am glad I am in New Zealand and I don't have to worry about these things… Sides like us are quite happy not to be there, in this kind of a situation…. I am happy we didn't tour Pakistan, and that the government didn't allow us to tour Pakistan. It may or may not have happened to us. But overall I am happy to be here.”

It was the last thing out of his mouth and the first thing that got snapped up. The news channels were happy to call this typical of Dhoni “speaking his mind,”. It was all true, it was gut-feel “honest”. It is probably what every Indian cricketer and every player in the world felt privately at the time. But it was not appropriate.

I am not too sure what is inappropriate about saying that one is happy not to have been shot at.

On a day when some of his peers could have been killed, when a match official was fighting for his life and when seven innocent human beings had lost their lives, the over-arching sentiment from the captain of India called for something other than a statement whose sub-text essentially read: “Ooo, lucky, lucky us”.

He was happy not to be there as a result of decisions that were pretty much out of his control. How that translates to "Ooo, lucky, lucky us" is beyond me! Also, the Sri Lankan Board sending the cricket team despite warnings from security agencies is plain stupid.

Indian women burnt to death - Views - livemint.com

2009-03-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

Indian women burnt to death - Views - livemint.com: "Indian women burnt to death"

Maybe this aspect of our culture deserves more attention?

'Democracy Is A Sin, Infidelity' : outlookindia.com

2009-03-05T00:54:00.000-05:00

'Democracy Is A Sin, Infidelity' : outlookindia.com: [Via]

"The Indian government has accused some Pakistan-based militant groups in the Mumbai terrorist attacks."

"I have no knowledge about that."

Heh!

Making nasty comments online can land you in jail

2009-03-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Making nasty comments online can land you in jail: "Making nasty comments online can land you in jail"

“There are so many charges against Ajith, such as x, y, z. Our constitution does not allow such activity so it is not acceptable,” says Cyber lawyer Karnika Seth.

Why does the constitution have to be the last word? Can't it evolve to extend human rights to all?

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (March 04, 2009) - Unglobalization

2009-03-04T16:50:00.000-05:00

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (March 04, 2009) - Unglobalization: "Unglobalization"

The article says, G20 leaders.....

Leaders, my foot.

Need is the new specialization?

2009-03-04T16:42:00.001-05:00

Greg Mankiw's Blog: Another Loss for Economic Freedom: "Another Loss for Economic Freedom"

The Crimson reports:

Amendment to Stimulus Bill Restricts Hiring of Internationals
Troubled financial institutions that recruit heavily from Harvard may soon face restrictions on hiring international students if they accepted federal bailout funding. Under a recently passed amendment to the federal stimulus bill, companies participating in the Troubled Assets Relief Program—a government financial-rescue plan implemented last fall—will face more restrictions in hiring H-1B visa holders, foreigners with at least a bachelor’s degree and “highly specialized knowledge” in a particular field.

Next they should offer Americans in need jobs without interviewing them. Need is the new specialization, the greater the need the greater the specialization! Hurray! Of course, you ought to be an American.

Masters in need, someone?

Three galaxies get cozy: Scientific American

2009-03-04T02:51:00.000-05:00

Three galaxies get cozy: Scientific American: "Three galaxies get cozy"

Cricinfo - Warm-up in doubt over ICL stand-off

2009-03-01T02:05:00.000-05:00

Cricinfo - Warm-up in doubt over ICL stand-off: "'There's no way we'd stand for that,' New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief Heath Mills was quoted as saying in the New Zealand Herald. 'They're New Zealanders and they're perfectly entitled to play in a domestic league in their own country. We will not accept players being stood down because of the petty politics of another country.'"

Good stand indeed! Enough with BCCI's stupidity and cowardice.

Pub attack: Girls can have their own way, says Advani

2009-02-28T16:44:00.000-05:00

Pub attack: Girls can have their own way, says Advani: "'It (the attack) is basically against Indian culture, Indian ethos. Girls or boys, they have their own way', he said, adding that one may not approve the girls in pub but that does not mean one attacks them."

Fair enough! Lets see how consistently he will take the above stand.

MP govt proposes law to regulate Christian properties

2009-02-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

MP govt proposes law to regulate Christian properties: "However, Minister, religious endowments Laxmi Kant Sharma said, 'There is no communal feeling behind the move. The government takes care of Muslim properties as well as Hindu properties so Christian properties can also be looked after.'"

Laxmi Kant, the government, wants more responsibility as they are fulfilling all their responsibilities to the best one can imagine.

U.N. Anti-Blasphemy Resolution

2009-02-28T00:52:00.000-05:00

'Freedom Under Fire: U.N. Anti-Blasphemy Resolution' by Christopher Hitchens, Lou Dobbs - RichardDawkins.net: "U.N. Anti-Blasphemy Resolution"

blas·phe·my

1 a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b: the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

How will anyone decide what is an insult to God? Human rights are inviolable and human rights are sacred and the stupid resolution will be a step towards denying them.

Sachin Tendulkar pulled from T20 exhibition game

2009-02-27T02:38:00.000-05:00

Sachin Tendulkar pulled from T20 exhibition game: "Indian cricket authorities forced star batsman Sachin Tendulkar to withdraw from an exhibition match on Friday because one of the participants, New Zealander Hamish Marshall, had links to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL)"

The cowards at the BCCI treating ICL players (ex and current) as untouchables to ensure that they have no competition!

Shame

2009-02-26T22:37:00.000-05:00

Smoke Signals: "Shame"

Advani hails Rahman; UPA takes credit for Slumdog's win

2009-02-25T00:35:00.001-05:00

Advani hails Rahman; UPA takes credit for Slumdog's win: "The Government has given itself credit for the 'conducive atmosphere' that's contributing to an 'achieving India'."

It is getting more and more difficult to choose between the parties. Not that it was ever any easier! Conducive atmosphere? Achieving India? Do these people not get it? Think of the number of Rahmans, Danny Boyles, Resul Pookuttys that lurk in extreme poverty in the country, will you? That one Rahman gets an Oscar is because the dude is talented, hard working and is sheer lucky that his talent didn't get wasted.

The Congress might want to brag a little less. Maybe they should remember how BJP lost after their India Shining campaign!

The Hindu : Karnataka / Udupi News : Sene opposes provocative dressing: Muthalik

2009-02-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

The Hindu : Karnataka / Udupi News : Sene opposes provocative dressing: Muthalik: "Sene opposes provocative dressing: Muthalik"[Via]

This idiot (hope I have offended him) is opposed to women wearing Burkhas and women provocatively dressed and of course, every other jobless dude will soon find reasons to be opposed to something. Now-a-days this world is in grave need of moral policing. Who other than those that are jobless (not sure if the entire blame for their joblessness is on them) could be better suited to indulging in the unethical and immoral nonsense that should be illegal and criminal but isn't!

Muthalik also shares wisdom:

Mr. Muthalik said that provocative dressing by women was responsible for various crimes, including rape and suicides.

Thank heavens that he didn't blame the west for rapes and suicides in India.

ANTIDOTE: The Purpose Of Law

2009-02-23T23:39:00.000-05:00

Pretty shocking this:

ANTIDOTE: The Purpose Of Law: "If anyone causes damage or injury to anyone else, he must pay damages. In India, this vital pillar of The Law simply does not exist. You may be hit on the road by a car driven by a reckless driver, and break a few bones, but under our The Law, you can claim no damages as compensation. You may go blind drinking illicit hooch – but there is no damage that the bootlegger will be forced to pay you. Your building may collapse in the rains, but the builder will not pay damages. In all these instances, the criminal law will take over, the police will be called in – and these bullies will extort money from the tortfeasor, as in the case of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, or the Uphaar cinema fire."

VHP asks Muslim groups to issue fatwa on terror

2009-02-22T02:56:00.000-05:00

VHP asks Muslim groups to issue fatwa on terror: "VHP asks Muslim groups to issue fatwa on terror"

So there will be a fatwa on VHP too?

IBNLive : Nandan Nilekani's Blog : The last chance

2009-02-19T23:37:00.000-05:00

IBNLive : Nandan Nilekani's Blog : The last chance:

"The NDA government had made a stab at labour reforms and backtracked at the outcry, and while the UPA government had plenty of reformers in its midst, it sidestepped these critical issues. Unless the next government at the Centre takes up these reforms and resists both the inevitable outcry that will come from interest groups and the temptations for easy shortcuts like reservations, we will see our biggest promise - our demographics - become our albatross. As millions of young people with high aspirations enter the workforce and find they neither have the skills to get a proper job, nor the ecosystem that creates proper jobs, the disappointment is going to be palpable. Almost every crisis we have today whether it is the atavism in Mangalore or the parochialism in Mumbai can ultimately be traced to unemployed and underemployed youth. Without quick action the demographic 'dividend' could well turn out to be a demographic 'disaster'. The next five years is our final chance."

Advani-raj

2009-02-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

If BJP wins, India wins: LK Advani-India-The Times of India: "'There's no country in the world where constitutional head of government was reduced to this level. What we have is not Manmohan Raj
but Sonia Raj,' said BJP's PM candidate L K Advani at the Rashtriya Raksha and Vijay Sankalp rally here on Sunday. He also said, 'If BJP, India wins.'"

Well, at least he didn't say if Advani wins India wins! I guess if Advani/Manmohan/Sonia and the rest of the Gandhi clan, and any other politician I can think of wins, India only looses. Unfortunately, in a democracy some dude has to win!

IBNLive : Sagarika Ghose's Blog : Panties and Perverts

2009-02-13T23:54:00.001-05:00

I had reached the quoted link via [India Uncut]. Then I had not cared to read the link in its entirety. On reading it I was reminded of how people had ganged up against women who worked at call centers, so much that it had been proposed that women should not be allowed to work later than 10PM in the night! This was their response and solution to a couple of women raped and killed on their way to their way to work at night. Maybe women working late hours and giving up their traditional duties (in line with western culture?) is also not a forward movement for India. Of course, victimizing the victim is indisputably Indian culture?

IBNLive : Sagarika Ghose's Blog : Panties and Perverts: "However much we may hate the Sene, upholding the commercially-driven Valentine's Day as a supreme cultural resource, or seeing the pub as the shining symbol of our social 'freedom' may not be forward movement for India. If young people are choosing urban lifestyles that are desi imitations of Sex And The City, this is hardly a matter of celebration. In fact, today, fears about 'westernization' are so deep that with the exception of UR Ananathamurthy, few of Karnataka's galaxy of public intellectuals have come to the defence of the young women drinking at the Amnesia Lounge in Mangalore on 24th January."

Politically, there is even a consensus on the moral failings of "pub culture, " with even the BJP's ideological opposites, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and health minister Ambumani Ramadoss expressing energetic disapproval of pubs. When union minister Renuka Chowdhury urged that there should be a "pub bharo" campaign against the Sene, several of her own Karnataka Congress leaders protested that drinking was against their norms.

Also, I think she reads too much into the response of politicians who, even if they think otherwise, will not speak anything that will put off their vote banks (a lot of Indians who have in all probability never been to a pub but are very confident of their notions of what a pub is like and especially what men and women do in a pub.).

To me it is hardly a matter of celebration that so many people think freedom should of the kind they think is acceptable.

I am no historian but did Indians never drink? We do have bhang and bhang ki thandai even now-a-days. Why are people so scared of drinking? Its OK not to drink but being scared or calling it un-Indian seems to be a stretch to me and yes I love to drink and would hate to live in a place where I can't buy one at will.

'Despite these riots, I stand by what I wrote' by Johann Hari - RichardDawkins.net

2009-02-13T18:12:00.000-05:00

'Despite these riots, I stand by what I wrote' by Johann Hari - RichardDawkins.net:

"'All people deserve respect, but not all ideas do. I don't respect the idea that a man was born of a virgin, walked on water and rose from the dead. I don't respect the idea that we should follow a 'Prophet' who at the age of 53 had sex with a nine-year old girl, and ordered the murder of whole villages of Jews because they wouldn't follow him. I don't respect the idea that the West Bank was handed to Jews by God and the Palestinians should be bombed or bullied into surrendering it. I don't respect the idea that we may have lived before as goats, and could live again as woodlice. When you demand 'respect', you are demanding we lie to you. I have too much real respect for you as a human being to engage in that charade.'"

...........

The protestors said I deliberately set out to "offend" them, and I am supposed to say that, no, no offence was intended. But the honest truth is more complicated. Offending fundamentalists isn't my goal – but if it is an inevitable side-effect of defending human rights, so be it. If fanatics who believe Muslim women should be imprisoned in their homes and gay people should be killed are insulted by my arguments, I don't resile from it. Nothing worth saying is inoffensive to everyone.

It is a tragedy that the editor and the publisher were arrested. Were the fanatic goons arrested? When will mobs stop ruling opinion? To all the goons, stop getting offended! If you have such great conviction in your beliefs try to engage in a to and fro of opinions.

The solution to the problems of free speech – that sometimes people will say terrible things – is always and irreducibly more free speech.

Can't agree more!

Minister scolds, airline cuts back fare hike

2009-02-12T00:24:00.001-05:00

Minister scolds, airline cuts back fare hike:

Patel's statement came as leading airlines decided to stop promotional fares to arrest losses, though flag carrier Air India said its fares will be ten per cent lower than those of Jet Airways and Kingfisher's cheapest rates.

Patel said Air India will 'never be a part of such cartelisation and will ensure that competitive pricing ensures better prices to passengers'.

I wonder how Air India can offer 10% lower fares than other airlines. But then it is owned by the Govt., so I guess it has all the money it needs. As far as my experience goes Air India has to be the worst I have been aboard. So unless Air India is eating into tax payer money, it rather offer lower fares, else I would have very little reason to board their aircraft.

Jet Airways announced 30-day apex fares on key domestic routes after Patel made his displeasure over airlines hiking fares clear.

On what basis does Patel know what the correct fares are? Also, from what I know the biggest part of cheap tickets is the airline tax. Maybe Patel should cut the tax a bit!

Also, the Govt.-industry nexus sucks in India. The industry wilts very easily under Govt. pressure and I think that is because of the favors exchanged between the two. Setting up anything, not just an airline but lesser business enterprises would need greasing the palms of the government and of course greasing will continue as long as the enterprise. I am especially skeptical of the big business families in India who very often are seen sucking up to politicians. They keep the Govt. happy and at least till very recently and I guess even now to a great extent the Govt. protects them from any external competition.

Landlords play moral police -Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

2009-02-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

Landlords play moral police -Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India: "House owners in the city are now asking single working women to furnish character certificates on company letterheads, before renting out their houses."

Bastards!

Fire the foreigner, it is the moral thing to do!

2009-02-08T19:37:00.003-05:00

Okay, protecting the American's job is the moral thing to do is what the senator said. Of course, to accomplish that favor firing the foreigner!

[Via a friend's shared item on Google Reader]:

"'Hiring American workers for limited available jobs should be a top priority for businesses taking taxpayer money through the TARP bailout program,' Sen. Grassley said.

'With the unemployment rate at 7.6 percent, there is no need for companies to hire foreign guest workers through the H1-B program when there are plenty of qualified Americans looking for jobs,' Sen. Grassley said.

Sen. Grassley and Sen. Sanders both argue that U.S. firms have a moral obligation to protect U.S. workers' jobs."

It is not clear to me why would companies go through the pains of hiring foreign workers if there are enough qualified Americans around who are looking for the same jobs.

Have American companies been hiring foreign workers because they are altruistic? How is it moral to spend the tax payer's money in an inefficient way? Of course, the tax payers can choose to do so and may want the companies getting the bail out to do so as it is their money. That reminds me that H1-B workers pay taxes too and given that they are highly qualified workers the tax each one of them pays, I am guessing and could be wrong, must be more than an average American pays. Anyway, H1-B workers don't have the right to vote and so have no way of controlling how their money is spent.

More wisdom from Grassley on how Microsoft should handle its planned layoffs:

"These work visa programs were never intended to allow a company to retain foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American workers, when that company cuts jobs during an economic downturn,"

"It is imperative that in implementing its layoff plan, Microsoft ensures that American workers have priority in keeping their jobs over foreign workers on visa programs,"

Okay, now we should layoff based on nationality. I would toss a coin if there were two equally valuable employees and I had to fire one but nationality seems like a morally correct option. Senator Grassley, as an American senator must now renounce all stuff he has other than that which is Made in the USA. Having renounced all that isn't made in the USA he should start buying Made in the USA. That will add to the stimulus that the economy needs and is the moral thing to do.

Breaking News: Barber is derogatory!

2009-02-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

SRK to drop 'derogatory' term 'Barber' from film posters-India-The Times of India: "The association had earlier objected to the title of the film, terming the use of the word 'barber' 'objectionable and derogatory'.

The association president Uday Takke had reportedly threatened to take to streets if the film, that is set to hit theatres next Friday, was released with some objectionable content."

Wonder what Uday Takke wants us to call him?

Economic View - It’s No Time for Protectionism - NYTimes.com

2009-02-07T22:33:00.000-05:00

Economic View - It’s No Time for Protectionism - NYTimes.com: "Critics of China say it is keeping the yuan undervalued to gain an advantage in the international marketplace. A cheaper yuan makes Chinese goods less expensive in the United States and American goods more expensive in China. As a result, American producers find it harder to compete with Chinese imports in the United States and to sell their own exports in China.

There is, however, another side to the story. The loss to American producers comes with a gain to the many millions of American consumers who prefer to pay less for the goods they buy."

[Via]

Who Hired All the People Getting Laid Off? - TIME

2009-02-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

Who Hired All the People Getting Laid Off? - TIME: "As the mass layoffs that are part of the daily news increase, economists and analysts will begin to ask how all of those people came to be employed in the first place. Recent data show that jobs cuts actually increase productivity, at least to a point. At some successful companies, it appears that adding personnel was just poor expense management."

CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News

2009-02-06T00:04:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News: "Phelps suspended, loses sponsor after bong photo"

What's wrong with people?

ANTIDOTE: On The Side Of Modernity

2009-02-03T00:28:00.000-05:00

ANTIDOTE: On The Side Of Modernity: "But this battle must be fought. It is not only about a “way of life” – the good life, if I may add – it is, most importantly, about the subjugation of women. In Mangalore, the goons beat up the women. They want all Hindoo women in sarees, demure, serving dinner dutifully to their (drunken?) husbands. This stereotypical Hindoo woman is their ideal. This may hold appeal to some village women, but it is not the way in which Indian women have been progressing in their long march to Freedom."

After Bush, shoe-cide attack on Chinese Premier

2009-02-03T00:21:00.000-05:00

After Bush, shoe-cide attack on Chinese Premier: "Following the incident, Wen said: 'This despicable behaviour cannot stand in the way of friendship between China and the UK'. He was then ushered away by security personnel."

Haha... the Chinese premier calling throwing of a show despicable behavior!

I do think that the Chinese Premier should have been allowed to finish his speech. I also don't condone throwing a shoe at an unarmed defenseless person. But I do wonder what would happen to a citizen of China if he/she had thrown a shoe at the premier at a speech in China. Also, how different would the shoe thrower be treated than the treatment the Iraqi show thrower would have suffered under Saddam's regime....

Assets of ministers, kin exempt from RTI: PMO-India-The Times of India

2009-02-01T19:23:00.001-05:00

Assets of ministers, kin exempt from RTI: PMO-India-The Times of India: "Assets of ministers, kin exempt from RTI: PMO"

Dr. Manmohan Singh, thanks for leaving a legacy of corruption behind! What a shame, though!

Pub culture must stop in India: Ramadoss - Economy and Politics - livemint.com

2009-01-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

Pub culture must stop in India: Ramadoss - Economy and Politics - livemint.com: "Pub culture must stop in India: Ramadoss"

I wonder when will this nut job leave! According to him "It is not our culture. If it goes this way I don’t think India will progress". I wonder how can he define what is and isn't our culture? Also, drinking is not in our culture??? And if all this is recent what was stopping India's progress earlier? People like Ramadoss, who do everything other than what they get paid for by tax-payers?

Cafe Hayek: Government Does Not Know Better (Or Even As Well)

2009-01-25T20:33:00.000-05:00

Cafe Hayek: Government Does Not Know Better (Or Even As Well): "Government Does Not Know Better"

MS Gill...

2009-01-24T05:38:00.000-05:00

Cricinfo - Blogs - The Buzz: "Hockey is a spiritual sport in India and is directly related to one's heart"

He sure has lost it!

Why?

2009-01-24T02:00:00.000-05:00

Why is it so difficult to get one to do what one wants to do?

India bans Chinese toys for six months-India-The Times of India

2009-01-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

India bans Chinese toys for six months-India-The Times of India: "'We welcome the decision. It is good for the industry,' association President Raj Kumar said, adding it is in the interest of the country"

Rather than welcome competition the sissies want protection against competition. How the fck is it in the interest of the country? It for sure is in the interest of the Indian toy makers!

However, trade expert Arun Goyal said, "The ban would encourage smuggling of toys through Nepal borders. That would be more dangerous... It is bad, especially for the slum children, who an afford the cheap Chinese toys only."

Some sanity at the end of the article!

ANTIDOTE: Good News, Crazy News, Bad News

2009-01-23T01:34:00.002-05:00

"Liberty is about Individualism"

ANTIDOTE: It's Gujarat Versus Goa

2009-01-18T23:37:00.000-05:00

ANTIDOTE: It's Gujarat Versus Goa:

"Yes, Ambani, Mittal and Tata have endorsed Narendra Modi – drawing Jug Suraiya’s ire. They say he is a great administrator. Their clearances to set up business came through in a matter of days. Thousands of MoUs to set up new businesses were signed in Gujarat recently. So what?

Are the people happy? Are the people free? Is there social harmony? Is there, indeed, a “body politic” based on a common recognition of the same rules? Or is this just a laboratory experiment in Hindootva? We are Hindoo chauvinists, yes; but mind you, we support private enterprise. Big deal. No matter what Tata, Ambani and Mittal might say or do, I find the “Gujarat model” despicable.

Spot on! Can't agree more.

VHP activists bash up Christian missionaries at Magh Mela-Allahabad-Cities-The Times of India

2009-01-18T13:21:00.000-05:00

VHP activists bash up Christian missionaries at Magh Mela-Allahabad-Cities-The Times of India: "VHP activists bash up Christian missionaries at Magh Mela"

VHP activists or terrorists?

"When the news reached the VHP's camp situated nearby, a volunteer was sent to fetch a copy of the pamphlet and to our horror we found all sorts blasphemous things about Hinduism," senior VHP leader Manoj Srivastava said.

You don't agree with something written on a pamphlet go propagate what you believe is true. You can't just go and beat people up.

Police In Mumbai Shutting Down Open WiFi | Techdirt

2009-01-16T18:28:00.000-05:00

Police In Mumbai Shutting Down Open WiFi | Techdirt: "Police In Mumbai Shutting Down Open WiFi"

Such BS! When will the dumb asses get their act right! Lets go to a prehistoric era and only then we shall be safe! Blame the state's incompetence on technology. And why the f*** did the commandos arrive a night later after Mumbai was taken over by terrorists? Were they hooked to wifi too?

Pak artiste flees India after MNS threatens him

2009-01-15T19:50:00.000-05:00

Pak artiste flees India after MNS threatens him

The MNS at it again! All they can do is threaten, beat people up, kill, destroy property that they don't own...

Restrictions on reporting from Gaza?

2009-01-12T04:12:00.000-05:00

Few in U.S. See Jazeera’s Coverage of Gaza War - NYTimes.com: "In a conflict where the Western news media have been largely prevented from reporting from Gaza because of restrictions imposed by the Israeli military, Al Jazeera has had a distinct advantage. It was already there."

Why should there be restrictions on coverage from Gaza?

IBNLive - News | India News | World News | Latest News | Breaking News | Latest Headlines

2008-12-30T01:22:00.000-05:00

IBNLive - News | India News | World News | Latest News | Breaking News | Latest Headlines: "Students score with RTI, CBSE gets transparent"

Great News! The CBSE runs on tax payer money, not sure why they weren't keen to part with information in the first place...

India’s dangerous divide - Culture - livemint.com

2008-12-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

India’s dangerous divide - Culture - livemint.com: "India’s dangerous divide"

Lawyer hints at taking up Kasab case, faces ire

2008-12-15T01:24:00.002-05:00

Lawyer hints at taking up Kasab case, faces ire: "Lawyer hints at taking up Kasab case, faces ire"

Nearly 200 activists of Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena held demonstrations outside Sarogi's home in Malad, Mumbai and pelted stones.

The goons of Shiv Sena at it again! They pelt stones, beat people up, vandalize others' property, kill people and get away with it. They are the Shiv Sena.

Update: Finally some sanity. It seems the goons have not reached Janardhan's residence yet!

Adultery law may punish women-India-The Times of India

2008-12-13T22:40:00.000-05:00

Adultery law may punish women-India-The Times of India: "Adultery law may punish women"

WTF? Why should adultery be a criminal offence? Get a divorce damn it, if you have a problem with your spouse's adultery! WTF has the state to do with it? Have our politicians gone nuts?

Really, WTF!

Bankruptcy Doesn't Equal Death - WSJ.com

2008-12-12T17:39:00.000-05:00

Bankruptcy Doesn't Equal Death - WSJ.com: "Bankruptcy Doesn't Equal Death"

Obama Ran a Capitalist Campaign - WSJ.com

2008-11-07T02:28:00.000-05:00

Obama Ran a Capitalist Campaign - WSJ.com: "Obama Ran a Capitalist Campaign"

A thought experiment, Mr. President-elect: What if as your campaign raised more and more money it was taxed away and given to Mr. McCain to level the field? Or think of this: What if you were not allowed to opt out of the public financing scheme that left Mr. McCain with a paltry $84 million, about a quarter of your autumn total?

Is the President-elect listening?

ANTIDOTE: On Being Governed By Nutts Inc.

2008-11-06T23:28:00.000-05:00

ANTIDOTE: On Being Governed By Nutts Inc.

And do note that this is not a tariff that collects any revenue.

When the tariff is so high, there is zero trade, hence zero revenue.

Lovely insight! Very commonsensical...

Google's growth makes privacy advocates wary - Yahoo! Philippines News

2008-11-04T00:47:00.001-05:00

Google's growth makes privacy advocates wary - Yahoo! Philippines News

For all the power governments have I would be more worried about them rather than Google. Google has little incentive to goof around with its users' data. In fact, it is very likely that Google will be forced to divulge a certain individual's information by a certain government in the name of law and order and security and etc.!

[Yahoo link via Instapundit.]

Veerappan as a respectable businessman

2008-11-04T00:35:00.000-05:00

Go Read!

Well, for one, Veerappan would have been a sandalwood farmer — not a brigand, and killing him would not have been an act of maintaining law and order. I once met a retired forest official who told me, in confidence, that Veerappan was actually doing the forest department’s work: for every sandalwood tree he cut down, he used to plant 50!

[Via Sauvik's Post]

Individual Rights and Democracy

2008-11-03T01:26:00.001-05:00

Someone Else Will Divorce You Now

In my opinion democracy is a good start. However, democracy cannot guaranty individual rights. The majority's way should not be imposed on an individual!

Hoping for a world where human rights (and not just the will of the majority) will be up held ...

NCP joins Raj campaign, talks about 'redrawing of balance'-India-The Times of India

2008-11-02T05:25:00.001-05:00

NCP joins Raj campaign, talks about 'redrawing of balance'-India-The Times of India

The irony being that Praful Patel is an industrialist who seems to run the Rs 500 crore CeeJay group. A few questions that come to my mind. Does his group only employ Maharashtrians? Do his industries sell their products only within Maharashtra?

Asked whether there was a need for redrawing of balance between Maharashtrians and non-Maharashtrians in the state, Patel said "if you do not do that, sooner or later you will not need a Raj Thackeray to do that, the people themselves will do it."

The people may choose to do it, but not via violent means or use of force on migrants. Not even via legislation that forces migrants to leave. Of course, Maharashtrians are well withing their rights to choose to not to employ any non-Maharashtrians, not to avail of any services offered by non-Maharashtrians, not to trade with any non-Maharashtrians living in Maharashtra and etc.

Also, it may be true that people from Bihar migrate to Maharashtra because of lack of opportunities in Bihar or in search of better opportunities in Maharashtra. That they end up getting a certain opportunity in Maharashtra instead of other Maharashtrians must be of some benefit to the state of Maharashtra. Else why would the people from Bihar get the opportunity? Does the Maha Govt. have opportunities reserved for the people of Bihar?

Also, in general all opportunities cannot exist in all places. It is also understandable that opportunities and the best people for them may not exist at the same place.

Patel, whose party is a major partner in the Congress-led Maharashtra government, saw nothing wrong in party leader Chhagan Bhujbal's advocacy of "sons of the soil" slogan. He also asked non-Maharashtrians to respect the sentiments and culture of the state.

Respect the culture of the state? Will Patel and Raj respect human life and every individual's right to opportunity?

Ironically enough, the party to which Patel belongs is the NCP, the Nationalist Congress Party.

Don't Just Do Something. Stand There. - WSJ.com

2008-10-31T16:04:00.000-04:00

Don't Just Do Something. Stand There. - WSJ.com:

"Back in March, Henry Paulson, Ben Bernanke and the experts assured us that Bear Stearns had to be propped up. If not, the whole system could come crashing down. It is crashing down anyway. Just as in the 1930s, there is no evidence that the policy makers have any understanding of what they are doing. They need to make way for the natural forces of repair."
.........
"Unfortunately, there is no consensus about a preferable alternative. The economists are almost as clueless as the politicians. At such a time, inaction may be the wisest course of action."

[My emphasis]

He Believes!

2008-10-24T04:30:00.003-04:00

Interesting... On Credit!

Open immigration

2008-10-24T00:31:00.002-04:00

But the moral case for open immigration is paramount. That case is this: a geopolitical border is a grotesquely arbitrary reason to prevent people from dealing with each other in whatever peaceful ways they choose.

Also, why should one be constrained by choices one didn't make? One doesn't choose to be born in a certain place. Of course, we are constrained by circumstances, many beyond our control. However, why should laws and political boundaries constrain individuals?

Who pays for that?

2008-10-22T03:12:00.001-04:00

Why me?

Raj Thackeray, a terrorist!

2008-10-21T01:33:00.001-04:00

Terrorism

Q) Is Raj Thackeray a terrorist?

A) Yes!

Absolutely Indecent!

2008-10-18T21:01:00.003-04:00

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/girl-set-on-fire-for-wearing-lipstick--govt-fumes/76182-3.html

Meanwhile, Woman and Child Development Minister, Renuka Chaudhary said, "Lawmakers should such people a lesson. There is no law in the country that states that a girl cannot wear something unless it is absolutely indecent. It is very shocking, backward and illiterate.

I am sure the "nana" thought that applying lipstick was absolutely indecent, infact in his opinion, and I must add he is not alone, all indecent girls should be molested and burnt. Renuka is no different, she too has a definition of indecent albeit a different one!

I am not too sure how and why are the decent so easily worried by the indecent...

How can the law punish the indecent for what is a weakness of the decent? On what basis does the law decide what is decent? In my opinion that should be an individual's choice.

It should be against the law to force another individual to live by ones definition of decency!

Saluting the genius!

2008-10-18T17:30:00.000-04:00

The Little Master who was born to runs - Cricket, Sport - The Independent:

"It is 10 years since India Today reported: 'When he goes out to bat people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives.'"

Joe the Outlaw

2008-10-18T00:40:00.003-04:00

Joe the Outlaw by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

The idea of licensing is that it assures quality standards. But this is just a cover used by guilds since the Middle Ages. The real goal of licensing is to create a professional cartel. Fewer providers means higher wages for those with licenses. It is all about boosting income by restricting competition. This is of course a violation of human rights because it impinges on the fundamental freedom of association

Does just being born in a country give you greater right to opportunity available in the country (a sort of license to opportunity)? Should people not born in a country have restricted access to opportunity available in the country? Should barriers to entry be created for people not born in the country?

Will she talk of her responsibility?

2008-10-04T00:25:00.006-04:00

The chief minister of Delhi speaking her mind. What a good example she is of the rot that governs India!

"All by herself at three in the morning in a city that is believed to be unsafe...is being adventurous," Dikshit had said.

"Barely twenty-four hours later, the CM told CNN-IBN in an exclusive interview that the employers were morally responsible for the safety and security of employees working in round-the-clock jobs."

A city that is believed to be unsafe, and whose chief minister is Madam Dikshit! Will she talk of her responsibility?

Govt says Noida CEO death a warning, India Inc in shock

2008-09-24T01:35:00.001-04:00

Govt says Noida CEO death a warning, India Inc in shock

CEO death a warning? Is the f***ing Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes out of his mind? Is it ok to go and kill? Shouldn't the f***ing minister try and ensure that the culprits are convicted, shunned from society for ever?

We should start killing ministers as we sure have been frustrated by them. May be only then their lot will be warned!

Twenty more tragedies...

2008-09-13T16:28:00.000-04:00

20 DEAD IN DELHI SERIAL BLASTS

PHD Comics: How Professors spend their time

2008-09-09T23:09:00.001-04:00

PHD Comics: How Professors spend their time

How I would like to spend my time?

Not being told what to do...

Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs - CNN.com

2008-09-08T23:00:00.001-04:00

Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs - CNN.com

What a quote!

"When the spirit comes on you, you utter things that nobody else can understand ... only God can understand what is coming out of our mouths."

"Sarah wasn't taught to look for one particular sign -- a cataclysmic sign. She knew as every Christian does ... that God is sovereign and he is in control."

Palin's former pastor says he has no doubt her religious beliefs will influence her decision making when it comes to government policy. Regarding her desire to build an Alaskan pipeline and explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, McGraw told CNN, "Sarah knows that in Genesis, God creates the world and it's very good and that we're supposed to be caretakers in terms of not destroying the environment, so there's no way that Sarah is going to exploit or damage the Alaska tundra in the name of getting gas if she doesn't have to."

Maybe GOD should be the next President or at least McCain's VP!

Jihadi Engineers

2008-09-07T15:54:00.000-04:00

IEEE Spectrum: Extremist Engineers

It would be interesting to know from where these engineers came. It seems most were from the developing world. It would also be interesting to know what is the most sought after degree in such parts of the world. In India at least, engineering is highly sought after a degree as the job market has a demand for engineers. Maybe it is because most investment has gone into colleges that teach engineering and/or medicine.

I am not sure about the claim that people who take to engineering have more radical values. I think it is people who live in societies where radicalism is largely prevalent, and it may be a coincidence that engineering, due to other reasons, is the most sought after profession in those societies. At least from my own experience, engineering must make one less radical and fanatic and more accepting of others.

Mobs rule over campuses!

2008-09-07T00:49:00.001-04:00

Mobs rule over campuses - Columns - livemint.com [via IndiaUncut]

It seems the only way you can get people to agree with you is disallowing them to listen to others! An act of cowardice to say the least.

Update

2008-03-11T04:01:00.002-04:00

Sins updated! Heh!

Hmm...

2008-03-10T02:49:00.001-04:00

I have a blog....

Peace Be With You

2007-03-06T23:03:00.000-05:00

Peace Be With You! - [From time.com]

Life and experiences

2007-03-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

Life is about learning from experiences not shying away from them.

Rang

2007-03-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

"Warden Kaka, Yeh Rang Kitne Rang ke hote hain?" - Awesome stuff... watch till end [link via IndiaUncut].

Tanha

2007-03-02T02:49:00.000-05:00

Tere bare mein jab soncha nahin tha main tanha tha magar itna nahin tha.....

- From a Jagjit Singh Ghazal.

Red Blooded Woman

2007-03-01T17:14:00.000-05:00

You will never get to heaven if you are scared of getting high! - Kylie Minogue - Red Blooded Woman

Why?

2007-03-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

Why are people born in Iraq? Why are people born in Africa? Why are people born in the USA? Why in India or why in any other part of the world?

Well because people in the parts of the world reproduce!

Why is a person born black? Why is a person born white? Why is a person born a Brahman? Why a Sudra? Why a Hindu? Why a Muslim or a Christian?

Well these are traits or identities a person acquires from his parents and ancestors!

Why does a person end up being a child of black parents or Indians or white parents or Muslim parents?

Why?

Why wasn't the black child born to white parents (as a white child)?

Why wasn't the African child born to American parents?

Why?

I don't really have an answer and so wonder why people get so fanatic about their beliefs, origins, color and etc.

They said so! - The taliban!

2007-03-01T05:27:00.000-05:00

"They said music is a sin and prohibited in Islam" [link]. I guess they also said that looting/killing/coercion/vandalism are all the gateway to heaven!

Gaussian Life

2007-03-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

Every individuals life and its many vagaries can probably be described by just two parameters, one the mean and other the variance of a Gaussian Random Variable! [CLT]

Diye Jalte Hain!

2007-02-22T04:27:00.000-05:00

I love this song!

Diye Jalte Hain Phool Khilte Hain
Badi Mushkil se Duniya Mein Dost Milte Hain

Jab Jis Waqt Kisika Yaar Juda Hota Hai
Kuch Na Poocho Yaaron Dil Ka Haal Bura Hota Hai
Dil Pe Yaadon Ke Jaise Teer Chalte Hain

Is Rang Roop pe Dekho Hargiz Naaz Na Karna
Jaan Bhi Maange Yaar to Dede Na Naraaz Na Karna
Rang Ud Jaate Hain Dhoop Dhalte Hain
Diye Jalte Hain Phool Khilte Hain.. Diye Jalte Hain!

Daulat Aur Jawaani Ik Din Kho Jaati Hai
Sach Kehta Hoon Saari Duniya Dushman Ho Jaati Hai
Umr Bhar Lekin Dost Saath Chalte Hain

Diye Jalte Hain Phool Khilte Hain
Badi Mushkil se Duniya Mein Dost Milte Hain.. Diye Jalte Hain!

- Namak Haraam/ Sung by Kishore Kumar

Is this what a bandh should be?

2007-02-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

The entire state has come to a halt [link]! Why shouldn't an individual have the right to go on with his/her day as he/she wants to? What if one doesn't support the bandh? What if one doesn't think that the bandh is a solution to the problem? What about my right to freedom?

Declaration of a bandh should just be that, a declaration. Peoples' mandate should make it successful or unsucessful!

Phd Oscars!

2007-02-11T14:18:00.000-05:00

"An award like this is a rare and beautiful thing," said Colin Davidson, honored for his work on 3D modeling. "An award like this to a geek is a rare and beautiful thing squared." [Link at Time.com]

Koi dost hai na rakeeb hai

2007-02-08T23:05:00.000-05:00

Koi dost hai na rakeeb hai
Tera shaher kitna ajeeb hai

Woh jo ishq tha woh junoon tha
Yeh jo hijr hai yeh naseeb hai

Yahan kiska chehra padah karoon
Yahan kaun itna kareeb hai

Main kise kahoon mere saath chal
Yahan sab ke sar pe saleeb hai

Koi dost hai na rakeeb hai
Tera shaher kitna ajeeb hai!

- Rana Sahri (Sung by Jagjit Singh in the Album : Visions Vol. II)