I got overwhelmed by the avalanche of reporting from copenhagen while I was still trying to find out what they were really talking about in Copenhagen.
Global warming, ozone layer, carbon credits and emissions etc. looked like the icing on the cake that I could not see.
Then came the whole lot confusion, resentment, anger persuasion etc of negotiating the text , with some trying to keep alive the kyoto agreement (where in the world is that place?and why do they want to keep it alive?), while some others wanted to wipe kyoto off.
Obama strode in , the Chinese premier and Indian Prime minister both sulked, and while the european countries lined up behind the US as usual the Africans feeling more safer in the company of brown skins stood beside the Indians and didn't particularly mind the Sino-Indian camarderie.
Locally, I listened to a lot of technical jargons, conjectures and theories - coming from my friends & colleagues who in the first place never believed in weather/climate or its forecasts. All of a sudden their awareness had increased.
But of all the people only one man spoke explicitly and sensibly about climate talks, laying things out simply - M.D.Nalappat . Its better to read him than attend any Copenhagen talks.
Monday, 28 December 2009
On Auto Pilot To Catch The Flight
Mamta Bannerjee beats the traffic.
Couldn't help wondering what some other ministers might have done - probably would 've called up the airline to wait for them till they got out of the jam and boarded.
To some extent that might have happened here too - the pilot getting mixed up in the traffic jam looked very fishy.
Couldn't help wondering what some other ministers might have done - probably would 've called up the airline to wait for them till they got out of the jam and boarded.
To some extent that might have happened here too - the pilot getting mixed up in the traffic jam looked very fishy.
Listen to This ...........
Someone says - "......matters of public policy are not to be discussed in public."
WHAT THE F... does he mean?
Then how are they to be discussed - privately? Secretly may be... so that those privileged few with prior information (insider information) of things can keep on exploiting the others - the public, because they are not entitled to know of policies made on their behalf.
This is what external affairs minister S.M. Krishna had to tell about the tweeting Shashi Tharoor and his 'wayward ways'.
Now if the "public policy" cannot be discussed, analysed, taken apart or critcised in public then there is no use us lamenting about the state of affairs in India. With ministers talking like this - the secretive, non transparent administrative methods are bound to thrive at all levels from the Presidential Bungalow to the local police station where it took Ruchika and her kin years to file an FIR.
S.M. Krishna should first of all stop behaving as if he is the only man with a balanced mind who can absorb it all and that the rest of his country men are absolute duds who understand nothing and more over create a mess if kept informed.
How long will these pompous ministers keep hoodwinking the public like N. D. Tiwari did till he was 86 ?
WHAT THE F... does he mean?
Then how are they to be discussed - privately? Secretly may be... so that those privileged few with prior information (insider information) of things can keep on exploiting the others - the public, because they are not entitled to know of policies made on their behalf.
This is what external affairs minister S.M. Krishna had to tell about the tweeting Shashi Tharoor and his 'wayward ways'.
Now if the "public policy" cannot be discussed, analysed, taken apart or critcised in public then there is no use us lamenting about the state of affairs in India. With ministers talking like this - the secretive, non transparent administrative methods are bound to thrive at all levels from the Presidential Bungalow to the local police station where it took Ruchika and her kin years to file an FIR.
S.M. Krishna should first of all stop behaving as if he is the only man with a balanced mind who can absorb it all and that the rest of his country men are absolute duds who understand nothing and more over create a mess if kept informed.
How long will these pompous ministers keep hoodwinking the public like N. D. Tiwari did till he was 86 ?
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Cricket In Your Town. You'r Not Allowed To Watch!
'Are the tickets already sold out?'
'Well... there are no tickets to be sold.'
'No tickets to be sold? Then who will watch the game?'
'Those who don't (ever) buy tickets.'
Thats the best googly ever bowled by anyone, claiming around 30000 wickets without any tickets.
'Well... there are no tickets to be sold.'
'No tickets to be sold? Then who will watch the game?'
'Those who don't (ever) buy tickets.'
Thats the best googly ever bowled by anyone, claiming around 30000 wickets without any tickets.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
The Headley History
Came across this all revealing background of David Headley alias Daood Gilani.
Its surprising to note that while he fought for or helped fundamentalist islam he never shied away from other liberal and capitalist avenues of life which Islam strictly prohibits like drugs,wine, women and partying.
Its a very dangerous world wherein the supposed puritans follow the paths of the so called 'kafirs' without shame and at the same time denounce the rest of the world as 'kafirs'.
Its surprising to note that while he fought for or helped fundamentalist islam he never shied away from other liberal and capitalist avenues of life which Islam strictly prohibits like drugs,wine, women and partying.
Its a very dangerous world wherein the supposed puritans follow the paths of the so called 'kafirs' without shame and at the same time denounce the rest of the world as 'kafirs'.
India's food Grain Problem Solved !!
Yes you heard me right. We have been able to give a sustainable solution to our perennial problem of food grain shortage. Whats more , if the strategy works it may even be scaled up to meet the export targets too.
We start from hunger. Thus solving hunger. As simple as that. How ingenuous.
Have a look at this - More Indians are taking to hunger strikes. Thus the current food production will certainly end up being double the demand thus boosting our grain exports.
If you get more states in the bargain, all the more better because as a food sufficiency strategy the hunger campaigners must become successful in getting their own spaces declared as states. Only then can it serve as an incentive to drive more people on the hunger strike path.
But tell me something - If so many people are ready to go hungry, why are we complaining of food shortage in the first place?
We start from hunger. Thus solving hunger. As simple as that. How ingenuous.
Have a look at this - More Indians are taking to hunger strikes. Thus the current food production will certainly end up being double the demand thus boosting our grain exports.
If you get more states in the bargain, all the more better because as a food sufficiency strategy the hunger campaigners must become successful in getting their own spaces declared as states. Only then can it serve as an incentive to drive more people on the hunger strike path.
But tell me something - If so many people are ready to go hungry, why are we complaining of food shortage in the first place?
Osama's Great Escape
This document here gives a detailed log of how things unfolded in 2001 resulting in the supposed escape of Osama Bin Laden.
Are they true? Is Osama not dead? Was he not buried on the afghan mountains after the american carpet bombing? Don't ask me.
It has all the charactaristics like the eternal Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose type mystery. The only difference probably being that while Netaji is held in high esteem as a national hero and as one who cared for the people , the other is a dreaded islamic fundementalist who burns down buildings full of people without even blinking, in the name of religion.
Are they true? Is Osama not dead? Was he not buried on the afghan mountains after the american carpet bombing? Don't ask me.
It has all the charactaristics like the eternal Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose type mystery. The only difference probably being that while Netaji is held in high esteem as a national hero and as one who cared for the people , the other is a dreaded islamic fundementalist who burns down buildings full of people without even blinking, in the name of religion.
"Avatar for Christmas."
James Cameron presents another one of his Titanic efforts. Supposedly mind boggling in terms of special effects - "Avatar" has mixed reviews with more on the 4 star side than one the 2 star side.
Looking back at Titanic , Avatar should not be disappointing but can't be too sure that recession hasn't affected James Cameron also.
Looking back at Titanic , Avatar should not be disappointing but can't be too sure that recession hasn't affected James Cameron also.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
The Tiger Out of The Woods!! Not Yet.
The Tiger is endangered for sure.
But that just cannot be. The business of sport has invested much in to the Tiger brand. Hence Secret romps and escapades not withstanding "Save Tiger Campaign " may be launched any time now. The brand managers might almost have finalised a smart way of recovery.
Also now that the normally drab and docile tiger has proved that he can not only roar but also romp, the brand becomes more colourful. More people now would be interested in tracking how Tiger finds his (watering) holes.
But that just cannot be. The business of sport has invested much in to the Tiger brand. Hence Secret romps and escapades not withstanding "Save Tiger Campaign " may be launched any time now. The brand managers might almost have finalised a smart way of recovery.
Also now that the normally drab and docile tiger has proved that he can not only roar but also romp, the brand becomes more colourful. More people now would be interested in tracking how Tiger finds his (watering) holes.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Now I Start Fantacising !!
No, I did'nt meet a beautiful girl recently to make me do so.
What Iam fantacising and salivating about, is a reality show. After all only that seems to succeed these days. Yes reality though artificially created seems to succeed.
We like :
Back to my fantasy -
A never ending reality with the highest of TRPs
What Iam fantacising and salivating about, is a reality show. After all only that seems to succeed these days. Yes reality though artificially created seems to succeed.
We like :
- Normal people behaving below par; People thought to be decent but talking dirty;
- Glamourous people going about in their negligees - as if they might do so privately at home;
- Well known people fighting and abusing each other;
Back to my fantasy -
- A few of the ruling party's cronies and those of the opposition make the basic theme of my reality show. All with their Z-plus security ofcourse.
- The other gentlemen that we require will be a few illiterates, literates, corporate honchos and ofcourse a few dons (Dawood can appear on the TV screen as the host probably - direct from Karachi)
- When gangsters appear so do item girls. Hence a few of them can be thrown in too. The politicians Iam sure will not object and the opinion of the illiterates don't matter anyhow. The literates and honchos can steal a glance while going through their books.
- If you feel like including a free lance killer, Kasab is always there though may be a bit out of practice.
- Since parole is freely available some killers and serial killers too can be roped in.
- There you are we get the best of all realities - our nation, at the press of a button.
A never ending reality with the highest of TRPs
Vigilant India thwarts another 26/11 errr.....11/11 rather.
The cyclone Phyan that was to hit Mumbai and Gujarat had become a major security concern for India.
'As always' the administration was very vigilant. Kudos!! Constant warnings being given free of cost, gave many working people expectations of a holiday declaration and finally that came about making them almost delirious with joy.
The cyclone, though not sent by Taliban (they are not in to cyclonic terror yet), had successfully terrorised the people (or were they happy? - I heard someone mentioning that Mumbai is always a happening city, ofcourse like all mumbaiites he said the same from the comforts of his environs and then he also doesn't need to go fishing for his lively hood. For him its certainly a happening city and he goes for jogging only when the coasts are clear. Thats his style of Art of Living).
Then came the icing on the cake. "Phyanji -our cyclone bhaisaab" having successfuly got a halfday holiday declared for the working (toiling, constantly travelling, jostling, sweating, cursing, fighting... etc) class in mumbai, then turned, twisted, yawned and went off to sleep. He peed before going to sleep giving us the drizzle. The strong security measures being adopted probably pissed him off.
That's the great Indian security success story for you. Now we are totally free from any attacks from the sea side.
For my part, the cyclone was like a full toss being bowled without any fielders on the field. So I fed my boss with constant updates on the impending storm and successfully liberated myself by around 3pm.
PHYAN..... ONCE MORE, ONCE MORE.......
'As always' the administration was very vigilant. Kudos!! Constant warnings being given free of cost, gave many working people expectations of a holiday declaration and finally that came about making them almost delirious with joy.
The cyclone, though not sent by Taliban (they are not in to cyclonic terror yet), had successfully terrorised the people (or were they happy? - I heard someone mentioning that Mumbai is always a happening city, ofcourse like all mumbaiites he said the same from the comforts of his environs and then he also doesn't need to go fishing for his lively hood. For him its certainly a happening city and he goes for jogging only when the coasts are clear. Thats his style of Art of Living).
Then came the icing on the cake. "Phyanji -our cyclone bhaisaab" having successfuly got a halfday holiday declared for the working (toiling, constantly travelling, jostling, sweating, cursing, fighting... etc) class in mumbai, then turned, twisted, yawned and went off to sleep. He peed before going to sleep giving us the drizzle. The strong security measures being adopted probably pissed him off.
That's the great Indian security success story for you. Now we are totally free from any attacks from the sea side.
For my part, the cyclone was like a full toss being bowled without any fielders on the field. So I fed my boss with constant updates on the impending storm and successfully liberated myself by around 3pm.
PHYAN..... ONCE MORE, ONCE MORE.......
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Windows 7
After Windows Vista we get another OS - The Windows 7
Whats good and whats bad about the new windows ? Here are a few useful links :
Get windows 7 ;
A wealth of Info on Windows 7;
A tour of Windows 7.
Whats good and whats bad about the new windows ? Here are a few useful links :
Get windows 7 ;
A wealth of Info on Windows 7;
A tour of Windows 7.
Brother Denies Rape, Sister claims To Be Designer
Sanjana Jon is a designer too. Yes Anand Jon's (who is almost condemned to jail for the rest of his life) sister.
Reading this report about her para-jumping on to the ramp with her designer clothes, I could'nt help wonder about the credibility of the Jon family, though I had been sceptical about his conviction till now.
Reading this report about her para-jumping on to the ramp with her designer clothes, I could'nt help wonder about the credibility of the Jon family, though I had been sceptical about his conviction till now.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
The Austerity gimmick and "Fat Tax"
Its fun for the politicians to travel by trains, once in a while, austerity or what ever name given to the jaunt. But its a different ball game all togather if they were to burn their fat.
The "fat tax" method if implemented Sharad Pawar may not find it funny to say that he does not fit in to the economy seat and hence is forced to travel business class.
The "fat tax" method if implemented Sharad Pawar may not find it funny to say that he does not fit in to the economy seat and hence is forced to travel business class.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Sunday Mumbai
Cricketing Mumbai
South Mumbai - Lazy Traffic Free Sunday
Scoring in the Midst Of High Rises
The moving Numbers that Create Wealth
The Oberoi Trident - much after the terrorists struck
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Mooing With the Crowd
When the crowd is mooing you are supposed moo too.
Shashi Tharoor found that out the hard way when he bleated, errmmm... tweeted.
Then the bleating sheep was found to be black too, and hence in all fairness those on the high pedestal (from where probably they have been guarding the dignity of the poor cattle-like people for many decades) all are for shearing its wool.
Its was a total mayhem when a groomed and perfumed (a tad snobbish too?) minister started smelling like shit to his colleagues because he seemed to be taunting their leaders. Sycophants don't like that and smell an opportunity to exhibit their talent at such junctures. Cattle and poor of the country are just a means to the end. As for the poor of this country they would actually grin through a hundred abuses for a 10 rupee note in exchange. So much so for protecting the dignity of the poor.
Its was a total mayhem when a groomed and perfumed (a tad snobbish too?) minister started smelling like shit to his colleagues because he seemed to be taunting their leaders. Sycophants don't like that and smell an opportunity to exhibit their talent at such junctures. Cattle and poor of the country are just a means to the end. As for the poor of this country they would actually grin through a hundred abuses for a 10 rupee note in exchange. So much so for protecting the dignity of the poor.
If one man has got the hang of things right it was M. J. Akbar who aptly pointed out the linguistic disconnect in the episode when he said -
"The first law of democracy is that what you say is less important than what the other person hears."
It is this insensitivity, probably arising out of staying long periods abroad and then rising to be a minister immediately on returning which caused the humorous / in bad taste (depending on who heard it) tweet.
His tweet coming after his unceremonious eviction from the five star accomodation makes it more suspicious as to being a verbal retaliation on the austerity gurus of the government. The raw nerves were further aggravated by his comments being secretly interpreted as an open denounsal of the milk -less udders of the 'austerity measures holy cow'.
Grabbing the opportunity of the journalistic query, if Tharoor was clandestinely tweeting about the hollowness of the current dramatised austerity drive, he probably was true- its all hat without cattle. After all no MP nor minister is going to continue travelling in the economy class or by shatabdi. Once the GDP growth improves from 6.8% to 6.805% they will throw austerity to the winds and will talk business and travel business class. Austerity probably is a synonym for successful assembly elections which incidentally are around the corner. Tharoor and SM Krishna were probably caught in the cross fire of election politics after some deep thinker in the party discovered the importance of recession and austerity in assembly elections. Then comes Shashi trying to puncture the election balloon knowingly or unknowingly with the cows horns. That's blasphemous. Afterall Tharoor was supposed to be the meek sacrificial lamb and not the tweeting black sheep fighting the cow.
What ever the reality, one thing is sure i.e to avoid contracting the 'foot in the tweeting mouth disease' Tharoor may have to bring in all the diplomatic skills he learnt at the UN. That is certainly required of him atleast to keep the self appointed guardians of the dignity of the poor and courtiers of the kingdom of sycophancy out of work.
What ever the reality, one thing is sure i.e to avoid contracting the 'foot in the tweeting mouth disease' Tharoor may have to bring in all the diplomatic skills he learnt at the UN. That is certainly required of him atleast to keep the self appointed guardians of the dignity of the poor and courtiers of the kingdom of sycophancy out of work.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Grave Truth About Quota!!
Till death does us apart......., said someone in the throes of love.
But even death has showed its inability to wean away caste from humanity in India.
In bangalore the government decides to extend reservations to the grave yard too.
Death is said to be a great leveller - but thats for the dead.
The living still continue their fighting, over the dead too.
But even death has showed its inability to wean away caste from humanity in India.
In bangalore the government decides to extend reservations to the grave yard too.
Death is said to be a great leveller - but thats for the dead.
The living still continue their fighting, over the dead too.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Not a Bounce Back Yet, But Stopped Going Down.
That's a much needed confirmation coming from Warren Buffet after Bernanke talked about end of the gloom time.
Warren Buffet clearly says - We may have seen the bottom unless something catastrophic happens. But we are yet to see a bounce back.
Thats quite reassuring.
Warren Buffet clearly says - We may have seen the bottom unless something catastrophic happens. But we are yet to see a bounce back.
Thats quite reassuring.
A Testoterone Problem
The Castor Semenya controversy is getting debated all over the place. The South Africans are rallying behind the allegedly hermaphrodite athlete. The athlete and her family are feeling victimised and humiliated. The world athletic body is deliberating and the general public is confused.
On one side I can ask , "Can't the transgenders be allowed to compete?
On the other side, the other female athletes will feel aggrieved in being sexually challenged in a hermaphrodite athletic sort of way.
So what to do? Add another transgender event?
Semenya herself says - "I see it all as a joke, it doesn't upset me. God made me the way I am and I accept myself."
What ever the outcome, the differential testoterone level is creating a lot of head aches across te athletic kingdom.
There is no such confusion in the animal kingdom. Tuscan Abbe was found to be a hermahrodite too, internal testes and all. She is barred from participating in all mares and fillies championships since carrying testes (internal or external) is quite un-lady like.
Tuscan Abbe shook her mane, not in protest but out of habit and went back to munching the green grass. Afterall unlike Semenya the medal goes to the jockey and Tuscan gets only her grass.
On one side I can ask , "Can't the transgenders be allowed to compete?
On the other side, the other female athletes will feel aggrieved in being sexually challenged in a hermaphrodite athletic sort of way.
So what to do? Add another transgender event?
Semenya herself says - "I see it all as a joke, it doesn't upset me. God made me the way I am and I accept myself."
What ever the outcome, the differential testoterone level is creating a lot of head aches across te athletic kingdom.
There is no such confusion in the animal kingdom. Tuscan Abbe was found to be a hermahrodite too, internal testes and all. She is barred from participating in all mares and fillies championships since carrying testes (internal or external) is quite un-lady like.
Tuscan Abbe shook her mane, not in protest but out of habit and went back to munching the green grass. Afterall unlike Semenya the medal goes to the jockey and Tuscan gets only her grass.
You Could Be Jailed For Owning A Share!!
Now don't panic and start selling off all your shares. The markets may come down and I might be branded a market manipulator.
This is going to be a law in Russia actually. This news item in moscow times says that the executives and share holders of companies will be held liable and punished suitably for unpaid wages. The clause about share holder being a limited liability partner may be ignored. One has to be careful in buying even one share of any company and should be venturing out only after ascertaining the levels of unpaid wages. The moment one gets wind of any unpaid wages everything should be sold - lock stock and barrel. Afterall while your shares might be running huge profits in your portfolio you might be cooling your heels in Siberia.
I wonder what treatment will be given to sacked employees accounting? - salaries that should have been paid but instead employee sacked and hence share holders to be jailed? Again what if the executive's salaries are not paid? Who should be jailed? The employees?
Now I know why share holders/promoters interest are closely linked to that of the employees. Infact all are togather in a big mess with the introduction of this great accounting principle.
This is going to be a law in Russia actually. This news item in moscow times says that the executives and share holders of companies will be held liable and punished suitably for unpaid wages. The clause about share holder being a limited liability partner may be ignored. One has to be careful in buying even one share of any company and should be venturing out only after ascertaining the levels of unpaid wages. The moment one gets wind of any unpaid wages everything should be sold - lock stock and barrel. Afterall while your shares might be running huge profits in your portfolio you might be cooling your heels in Siberia.
I wonder what treatment will be given to sacked employees accounting? - salaries that should have been paid but instead employee sacked and hence share holders to be jailed? Again what if the executive's salaries are not paid? Who should be jailed? The employees?
Now I know why share holders/promoters interest are closely linked to that of the employees. Infact all are togather in a big mess with the introduction of this great accounting principle.
Honey, I Started Playing Cricket !
Latest of the entrants is Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi.
---------------------------------------------------------
The Gujarat chief minister is the latest in the long list of politicians who, after taking a fancy towards the game, have tried their hands, often successfully, at running its administration. Union agriculture minister and NCP supremo is ICC chairman-designate, while Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Arun Jaitley is the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Shukla is the vice-president of BCCI, while union heavy industries and public enterprises minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was only recently elected vice-president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association. BJP MP from Hamirpur, Mr Anurag Thakur lords over the affairs of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Another political heavyweight, Union non-conventional energy minister Farooq Abdullah heads the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. RJD chief and former Union minister Lalu Prasad too turned into a cricket buff, but his efforts to control the Bihar Cricket Association have ended in a legal tangle.
---------------------------------------------------------
Whats luring them? The glamour? The money? The free publicity?
One thing is certain its not for the cause of cricket.
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The Gujarat chief minister is the latest in the long list of politicians who, after taking a fancy towards the game, have tried their hands, often successfully, at running its administration. Union agriculture minister and NCP supremo is ICC chairman-designate, while Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Arun Jaitley is the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Shukla is the vice-president of BCCI, while union heavy industries and public enterprises minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was only recently elected vice-president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association. BJP MP from Hamirpur, Mr Anurag Thakur lords over the affairs of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Another political heavyweight, Union non-conventional energy minister Farooq Abdullah heads the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. RJD chief and former Union minister Lalu Prasad too turned into a cricket buff, but his efforts to control the Bihar Cricket Association have ended in a legal tangle.
---------------------------------------------------------
Whats luring them? The glamour? The money? The free publicity?
One thing is certain its not for the cause of cricket.
The nexus between cricket and politics probably started with a few cricketers contesting the elections. After that the politicians decided to invade the pitch. Now that the politicians have found out the good length spot on the pitch, they started pitching in thick and fast. The pitch will shortly be dug up to suit the people at the helm. Once that is done, you can watch more cricket on the side lines than on the pitch and with so many politicians thronging the corridors of cricket, Iam sure that we may see more of unparliamentary behaviour in cricket than before.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
All That Glitters IS Not Gold !
While trawling through the net for something to write about (since my blogging rate has gone down in the past few weeks I was sort of desperate too, somewhat like wanting to pee but not having enough pee with me )
Thats when I stumbled upon this complaint box thing.
Barclays & Lloyds, the two celebrated banks in UK (world wide too), inspite of the recession are receiving copious quantities of complaints and sorting them out too. Barclays recived about 45 complaints per day and Lloyds around 32.
How do you think the Indian banks are faring? Obviously the new tech savvy private sector banks will have far lesser complaints than those old public sector banks who are just there to employ those unemployable people. The Public sector banks deserve that, since they are alien to that glitzy service of their newer counterparts in the private sector.
"But my dear Watson, you are completely mistaken". I said this to myself when I went through this banking ombudsman report.
Look closely at the situation in India :
Thats when I stumbled upon this complaint box thing.
Barclays & Lloyds, the two celebrated banks in UK (world wide too), inspite of the recession are receiving copious quantities of complaints and sorting them out too. Barclays recived about 45 complaints per day and Lloyds around 32.
How do you think the Indian banks are faring? Obviously the new tech savvy private sector banks will have far lesser complaints than those old public sector banks who are just there to employ those unemployable people. The Public sector banks deserve that, since they are alien to that glitzy service of their newer counterparts in the private sector.
"But my dear Watson, you are completely mistaken". I said this to myself when I went through this banking ombudsman report.
Look closely at the situation in India :
- Private sector banks had around 12 times and foreign banks around 6 times more complaints than the nationalised banks in 2007-2008.
- The private & foreign banks put togather made up around 93% of the complaints received.
- But the complaints that reached the ombudsman were lesser at private sector banks indicating higher resolution at bank level.
- If comparisons are made as a proportion of the business handled by the nationalised banks and private sector banks and the complaints received by them, the nationalised banks are far far superior. Where as the nationalised banks received only around 4 complaints for every million rupee of deposit and loans, for the private sector banks it was 14 complaits for every million rupee of loans and 20 for deposits.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Indians Prove it Once Again !
We once again proved that we could never be the best. In anything.
Thanks to the cricketers, we could pacify the stunned world albeit after a delay of 24 hours.
We just cannot be the best in anything. Then how come in cricket? Even with all the money and fan following etc. If there was ever 2 great cricket teams in the world they were the West Indies in the late 70's - early 80's period during the Roberts, holding , garner, Lloyd, Richards era and then the Australians from the Steve Waugh time to the initial period of Ricky Ponting.
Indians are no where near to that. They may be individually brilliant, at least a few of them. But as a team we are as far away from the best in the world as the Indian hockey team is away from the the hockey world champions.
Thanks to the cricketers, we could pacify the stunned world albeit after a delay of 24 hours.
We just cannot be the best in anything. Then how come in cricket? Even with all the money and fan following etc. If there was ever 2 great cricket teams in the world they were the West Indies in the late 70's - early 80's period during the Roberts, holding , garner, Lloyd, Richards era and then the Australians from the Steve Waugh time to the initial period of Ricky Ponting.
Indians are no where near to that. They may be individually brilliant, at least a few of them. But as a team we are as far away from the best in the world as the Indian hockey team is away from the the hockey world champions.
How Much Do I work For Myself
Idle mind is a devil's play ground.
Having nothing much to do made me think up something and thus wasting your as well as my time.
So here is what I thought up:
I work for 6 days a week.
1) I pay 30% tax. Hence 1/3 of my working days is eaten up by the government. Meaning I
dont work for myself but for the government.
So that makes it 6-2 = 4 days work for myself.
2) But no. I have leveraged i.e I have availed a housing loan and a vehicle loan (the legitimate dreams of an Indian middle class constituent). Both togather amounting to 5 times my annual pay. I pay 10% tax on both of them.
Hence 5 multiplied by weekly working days = 30 days.
10% of that means 3 days. These 3 days I work for the bank from whom I took loan.
3) So in total 2 days for tax + 3 days for loan = 5 working days for others.
So , just one day working for myself ? That's pathetic.
Having nothing much to do made me think up something and thus wasting your as well as my time.
So here is what I thought up:
I work for 6 days a week.
1) I pay 30% tax. Hence 1/3 of my working days is eaten up by the government. Meaning I
dont work for myself but for the government.
So that makes it 6-2 = 4 days work for myself.
2) But no. I have leveraged i.e I have availed a housing loan and a vehicle loan (the legitimate dreams of an Indian middle class constituent). Both togather amounting to 5 times my annual pay. I pay 10% tax on both of them.
Hence 5 multiplied by weekly working days = 30 days.
10% of that means 3 days. These 3 days I work for the bank from whom I took loan.
3) So in total 2 days for tax + 3 days for loan = 5 working days for others.
So , just one day working for myself ? That's pathetic.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
A 'V' and a 'W' and Now a 'Square Root' !!
As the "green shoots" of the economic recovery supposedly became visible, the guessing game on the shape of things to come hottened up.
Some said it will be a 'V' - shaped recovery.
Some proffered a 'W' shaped one.
Some others say a double dip recession is in the offing after the initial euphoria.
Now a new theory has come in. Liz Ann Sonders says , its more likely be a 'Square Root shaped one. That sounds quite plausible.
Some said it will be a 'V' - shaped recovery.
Some proffered a 'W' shaped one.
Some others say a double dip recession is in the offing after the initial euphoria.
Now a new theory has come in. Liz Ann Sonders says , its more likely be a 'Square Root shaped one. That sounds quite plausible.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
High Profile Political Deaths in India
YSR's death is being discussed and covered like that of a national leader. The media now a days is very successful in creating a high class suspense thriller out of a terrorist attack or a politicians death. People love to watch the high octane drama, even though later on they may criticise the same.
But we are not here to look at the functioning of the media.
I made list a of the premature & untimely deaths among the Indian political leadership. The scales are tipped heavily on the side of congress.
The list :
Congress : Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi (Assassinations); Rajesh Pilot, Dr. Shrikant Jichkar (Road accidents); Madhav Rao Scindia, O.P Jindal & YSR (Air crash).
BJP's share has not been alarmingly high in Pramod Mahajan (Shot) & Sahib Singh Verma (Road accident).
The scales seem to be clearly tipping in the side of the congress.
Is it because they are the major political party and in power mostly and hence its leaders were targets of assassination attempts and that they get to travel by choppers and chartered flights?
Or is it because of some mysterious orchestration by destiny?
But we are not here to look at the functioning of the media.
I made list a of the premature & untimely deaths among the Indian political leadership. The scales are tipped heavily on the side of congress.
The list :
Congress : Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi (Assassinations); Rajesh Pilot, Dr. Shrikant Jichkar (Road accidents); Madhav Rao Scindia, O.P Jindal & YSR (Air crash).
BJP's share has not been alarmingly high in Pramod Mahajan (Shot) & Sahib Singh Verma (Road accident).
The scales seem to be clearly tipping in the side of the congress.
Is it because they are the major political party and in power mostly and hence its leaders were targets of assassination attempts and that they get to travel by choppers and chartered flights?
Or is it because of some mysterious orchestration by destiny?
Friday, 4 September 2009
CEO - Encoffination Pvt. Ltd !
Yes you heard it right- "encoffination" as in - 'putting the dead body in a coffin'
In Japan its a package deal to cleanse and prepare the dead body, conduct or help in the wake and then complete the subsequent cremation. The company offers the complete package deal or individual deals for a particular part only.
It can also be pre-booked for one's own funeral too. Relatives are just left with conveying the death intimation. Rest will be taken care of by the company. Neighbours and relatives need not swoop down and take over in the grief ridden absence of the family members. Everything is arranged professionally.
I also never knew that an oscar winning film was made on this kind of a company official ("Departures").
Also notice the similarities in the post creamtion procedures of the Buddhist Japanese and the Hindu system. The "urn"; "Bone collection"etc. Surprising is'nt it?.
In Japan its a package deal to cleanse and prepare the dead body, conduct or help in the wake and then complete the subsequent cremation. The company offers the complete package deal or individual deals for a particular part only.
It can also be pre-booked for one's own funeral too. Relatives are just left with conveying the death intimation. Rest will be taken care of by the company. Neighbours and relatives need not swoop down and take over in the grief ridden absence of the family members. Everything is arranged professionally.
I also never knew that an oscar winning film was made on this kind of a company official ("Departures").
Also notice the similarities in the post creamtion procedures of the Buddhist Japanese and the Hindu system. The "urn"; "Bone collection"etc. Surprising is'nt it?.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
The Neat Dirty Bra !
Honestly It has not crossed my mind whether - 'does my partner change her bra everyday'?
I wear a new vest every day when ever I wear one. But it never occurred to me to check on the female side of things. I probably took it for granted or just never really thought about it.
From what I read here I gather that the female side of the story is always more intriguing than the male side.
Is it so with Indian females too? I dont know
A great Indian dirty bra poll may need to be done.
I wear a new vest every day when ever I wear one. But it never occurred to me to check on the female side of things. I probably took it for granted or just never really thought about it.
From what I read here I gather that the female side of the story is always more intriguing than the male side.
Is it so with Indian females too? I dont know
A great Indian dirty bra poll may need to be done.
YSR
Inspite of reading widely I go blind many a times. That's why after the galmourous tech savvy Chandra Babu Naidoo left the political helm in Andhra, I turned blind towards the Andhra Pradesh politics. Till recently I did not know that YSR was from congress (not that it mattered).
My ignorance made him unpopular to me.
On the 2nd of September 2009 afternoon during a friendly chat with someone from Andhra , it was, that I learnt about the dissappearance of the state's chief minister. Since then things have changed a lot.
I was glued to the media, trying to keep track of the search operation updates. That's how I came to know a lot more about the person that YSR was. Now I see why he upstaged Chandra Babu Naidoo. He was popular - a people's man.
Its a bit late in the day for me to know about him. But I still can live with that. But he does not.
Its sad that a state loses its chief minister in this fashion.
Its sad that his family loses his presence in such a way.
Its sad that another 4 families and the loved ones lose their lifelines.
The fault may lie with anyone (or everyone) from the dead chief minister himself to the DGCA, the pilots or the technicians who maintained the helicopter. But its extremely unfortunate that 5 men die of something that was clearly preventable.
My ignorance made him unpopular to me.
On the 2nd of September 2009 afternoon during a friendly chat with someone from Andhra , it was, that I learnt about the dissappearance of the state's chief minister. Since then things have changed a lot.
I was glued to the media, trying to keep track of the search operation updates. That's how I came to know a lot more about the person that YSR was. Now I see why he upstaged Chandra Babu Naidoo. He was popular - a people's man.
Its a bit late in the day for me to know about him. But I still can live with that. But he does not.
Its sad that a state loses its chief minister in this fashion.
Its sad that his family loses his presence in such a way.
Its sad that another 4 families and the loved ones lose their lifelines.
The fault may lie with anyone (or everyone) from the dead chief minister himself to the DGCA, the pilots or the technicians who maintained the helicopter. But its extremely unfortunate that 5 men die of something that was clearly preventable.
She Went To Venus and Then Aliens!
His wife has been to Venus- she insists.
She went in a triangular shaped UFO and found the planet to be very green.
She knew Tom Cruise in her previous incarnation and would'nt hesitate to remind him if she met him.
She also claims to have been abducted by aliens once.
He says - " The average man chooses his mate from among unmarried women. I chose mine from among all women."
Thus he married a 'married-woman' and probably instigated a divorce.
Both make a good pair.
He is the Japanese Prime Minister elect and she - his wife.
Japan inspite of being othodox allows freedom of expression I guess, unlike our rich culture which mostly is aimed at throttling freedom through a false sense of propriety.
She went in a triangular shaped UFO and found the planet to be very green.
She knew Tom Cruise in her previous incarnation and would'nt hesitate to remind him if she met him.
She also claims to have been abducted by aliens once.
He says - " The average man chooses his mate from among unmarried women. I chose mine from among all women."
Thus he married a 'married-woman' and probably instigated a divorce.
Both make a good pair.
He is the Japanese Prime Minister elect and she - his wife.
Japan inspite of being othodox allows freedom of expression I guess, unlike our rich culture which mostly is aimed at throttling freedom through a false sense of propriety.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Why We Need More Women!
No, we are not talking about any kind of Polygamy here. Also we are not debating about the gender eqality. In fact we are emphasising that the two genders are different and how they can complement each other.
In the current era we hear all round cries for more representation for the fairer sex on every forum (with nothing happening in reality). We see the women's reservation bill hanging in suspence for quite a long while for the lack of political will and consensus. We listen to doubts on the wisdom of reservation for women - can the ladies perform or will they remain the same puppets in the hands of the men who decide (Like a Rabri Devi for a Lallu Yadav) ?
While we deliberate on the political representation of women, have a look at what Kate sweetman writes, indicating the benefits of bringing more women up (atleast) the corporate ladder.
Though our corporate leadership is successful in providing equal opprotunities than our political leadership, they too can think in terms of minimum reservations for the fairer sex, if not for the women's sake then for the corporate's benefit.
In the current era we hear all round cries for more representation for the fairer sex on every forum (with nothing happening in reality). We see the women's reservation bill hanging in suspence for quite a long while for the lack of political will and consensus. We listen to doubts on the wisdom of reservation for women - can the ladies perform or will they remain the same puppets in the hands of the men who decide (Like a Rabri Devi for a Lallu Yadav) ?
While we deliberate on the political representation of women, have a look at what Kate sweetman writes, indicating the benefits of bringing more women up (atleast) the corporate ladder.
Though our corporate leadership is successful in providing equal opprotunities than our political leadership, they too can think in terms of minimum reservations for the fairer sex, if not for the women's sake then for the corporate's benefit.
A Bank Gets In To Your Pants !
HT reports about a bank getting in to financing your jeans purchase.
After all if a man can't pay for his pants, he deserves to be caught pants down. So no defaults on that count, i guess, lest his jeans gets seized.
After all if a man can't pay for his pants, he deserves to be caught pants down. So no defaults on that count, i guess, lest his jeans gets seized.
Indian Curry for 1.5 lacs
Vir Sanghvi writes about one of the most outrageously expensive Indian Curries ever cooked.
Just imagine, you can buy almost 100 grams of gold with that kind of money in India.
Its something like - if you want to be on the front pages then why not try dacoity?
Just imagine, you can buy almost 100 grams of gold with that kind of money in India.
Its something like - if you want to be on the front pages then why not try dacoity?
Monday, 24 August 2009
6 Foot 5 and Still Winning
Height is an advantage - no not always.
Thats what Edward McClelland writes about. Inspite of his probably disadvantageous height,Usain Bolt has re-written history.
An interesting read.
Thats what Edward McClelland writes about. Inspite of his probably disadvantageous height,Usain Bolt has re-written history.
An interesting read.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Something For Shiney!
Now a days, there is a test for anything. From IQ to Swine Flu.
A swab here or there can pinpoint a rape or a swine flu.
Such a swab test caught our man Shiney Ahuja. No he did'nt catch the flu, that would have been much better.
But can we classify him a sex maniac on the basis of this crime? Or was it an accident? (that does'nt make the crime any lesser though.)
So when I came across this on the net, thought the actor.....er.....ex actor might as well test his inclinations using this Sex Addiction test.
By the way never knew, till now, such tests existed.
I tested negative.
A swab here or there can pinpoint a rape or a swine flu.
Such a swab test caught our man Shiney Ahuja. No he did'nt catch the flu, that would have been much better.
But can we classify him a sex maniac on the basis of this crime? Or was it an accident? (that does'nt make the crime any lesser though.)
So when I came across this on the net, thought the actor.....er.....ex actor might as well test his inclinations using this Sex Addiction test.
By the way never knew, till now, such tests existed.
I tested negative.
A Shoe For Every Millipede Leg
Here is some one who has (of all the fetishes) a shoe fetish.
10,000 pairs of foot wear. Assuming that a pair may occupy one square foot of space, it takes 10,000 sq. feet of space to store them if placed side by side. The average apartment size in Mumbai is around 700 sq. feet or so? Your friendly neighbourhood bata store may not have so many pairs.
One other person who had such a fetish (she had others too) was Imelda Marcos wife of deposed Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos.
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After the Marcos family fled Malacanang Palace , Mrs. Imelda Marcos was found to have left behind 15 mink coats, 508 gowns, 888 handbags and 1060 pairs of shoes.
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There was a huge furore then over the number of slippers. But it pales in comparison to this 10,000 pairs.
10,000 pairs of foot wear. Assuming that a pair may occupy one square foot of space, it takes 10,000 sq. feet of space to store them if placed side by side. The average apartment size in Mumbai is around 700 sq. feet or so? Your friendly neighbourhood bata store may not have so many pairs.
One other person who had such a fetish (she had others too) was Imelda Marcos wife of deposed Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos.
----------------------------------------------------------
After the Marcos family fled Malacanang Palace , Mrs. Imelda Marcos was found to have left behind 15 mink coats, 508 gowns, 888 handbags and 1060 pairs of shoes.
----------------------------------------------------------
There was a huge furore then over the number of slippers. But it pales in comparison to this 10,000 pairs.
Blogging Tips From Blog Gurus
Its tough going guys, being a blogger.
Not that you want your blog to be the best, but then you also want others to read your blog, right? Though you certainly derive satisfaction from writing , you would want someone to read that and comment on it, don't you?
Take my case for example. I learnt about blogging 3 years back. Got started then. Never publicised it and posted almost like twice in a year or so. Recently the blogging bug got to me. So here I am, pouncing on almost everything, and writing a blog about it.
I am sure many are there like me out there (Of the 11 crore i.e 110 million bloggers the world over and the millions getting ready to start). For all of them here is some help.
Look at guys like Amit Agarwal, an IIT alumnus who have taken up full time blogging along with being a technological columnist. He is now among the top 200 bloggers in the world and has around 2.5 million page views a month. Another one, Amit Verma, after being in the cricinfo.com, now blogs full time and has taken up writing as a career.
You can also have a look at some of the best Indian blogs and decide for yourself, what you would like to write and how. There are thousands of others whom you will come across while u keep blogging. All the info should help you.
Though its tough trying to be the best among bloggers, I guess its even greater fun just trying to be so. It can also help many others by getting them the information that they want, all the while enriching your own experience and knowledge about this world.
Not that you want your blog to be the best, but then you also want others to read your blog, right? Though you certainly derive satisfaction from writing , you would want someone to read that and comment on it, don't you?
Take my case for example. I learnt about blogging 3 years back. Got started then. Never publicised it and posted almost like twice in a year or so. Recently the blogging bug got to me. So here I am, pouncing on almost everything, and writing a blog about it.
I am sure many are there like me out there (Of the 11 crore i.e 110 million bloggers the world over and the millions getting ready to start). For all of them here is some help.
Look at guys like Amit Agarwal, an IIT alumnus who have taken up full time blogging along with being a technological columnist. He is now among the top 200 bloggers in the world and has around 2.5 million page views a month. Another one, Amit Verma, after being in the cricinfo.com, now blogs full time and has taken up writing as a career.
You can also have a look at some of the best Indian blogs and decide for yourself, what you would like to write and how. There are thousands of others whom you will come across while u keep blogging. All the info should help you.
Though its tough trying to be the best among bloggers, I guess its even greater fun just trying to be so. It can also help many others by getting them the information that they want, all the while enriching your own experience and knowledge about this world.
BEES SAAL BAAD!
Life is strange and some deaths are even stranger.
Syed Modi was murdered in 1988.
Why would someone want to murder a badminton champion? Obviously not his badminton rival. Its not settled in sports that way. Also there was not enough money in badminton at that time (Is'nt it the case even now?). Atleast not enough money to motivate a murder. But it happened.
Murders happen based on mostly business/ money rivalry; fight for women; and family/community/caste honour. Right?
Money being out of question here, an entire ocean of suspects can be excluded. Could it have been for a woman? The murdered man's wife marries a UP politician two years after the murder. As soon as he is acquitted by the courts. They live happily ever after. So it could have been for her - a point blank love.
From 1988 - 2009 , one by one most of the accused are liberated by the courts. Only one contract killer gets a lifer at last. The scape goat? or the contract convict? I dont know . But its strange that the contract killer should decide to make a murder on his own and he didn't get the dead man's wife. Some one else did. But that was incidental, atleast it is made to appear so.
Since he is the only one to be convicted we should assume that he made out a contract to himself to eliminate someone. Very bad guy.
The honourable courts are right, but then its a bit strange that after 20 years of struggle we find no motive for the crime. Scotland yard says - any murderer how so ever well planned or meticulous makes on an average 39 mistakes to which the police and courts can latch on to.
But we failed to even find the motive. In the motive lies the criminal. Hence we failed in the first step itself. Hence we failed to find the motive itself, lest we may arrive at the criminal himself.
So we have now set a new precedent in the criminology books, so that scotland yard and others may update themselves.
We have donated an unmotivated high profile crime for the records.
Syed Modi was murdered in 1988.
Why would someone want to murder a badminton champion? Obviously not his badminton rival. Its not settled in sports that way. Also there was not enough money in badminton at that time (Is'nt it the case even now?). Atleast not enough money to motivate a murder. But it happened.
Murders happen based on mostly business/ money rivalry; fight for women; and family/community/caste honour. Right?
Money being out of question here, an entire ocean of suspects can be excluded. Could it have been for a woman? The murdered man's wife marries a UP politician two years after the murder. As soon as he is acquitted by the courts. They live happily ever after. So it could have been for her - a point blank love.
From 1988 - 2009 , one by one most of the accused are liberated by the courts. Only one contract killer gets a lifer at last. The scape goat? or the contract convict? I dont know . But its strange that the contract killer should decide to make a murder on his own and he didn't get the dead man's wife. Some one else did. But that was incidental, atleast it is made to appear so.
Since he is the only one to be convicted we should assume that he made out a contract to himself to eliminate someone. Very bad guy.
The honourable courts are right, but then its a bit strange that after 20 years of struggle we find no motive for the crime. Scotland yard says - any murderer how so ever well planned or meticulous makes on an average 39 mistakes to which the police and courts can latch on to.
But we failed to even find the motive. In the motive lies the criminal. Hence we failed in the first step itself. Hence we failed to find the motive itself, lest we may arrive at the criminal himself.
So we have now set a new precedent in the criminology books, so that scotland yard and others may update themselves.
We have donated an unmotivated high profile crime for the records.
Friday, 21 August 2009
Minister With The Foot-In-The-Mouth Disease
After a lull he takes off again.
This time its his foul language. Ghulam Nabi Azad used some unparliamentary words in his swine flu induced delirium. He accuses the "bloody" state health departments of complacency amounting to culpable negligence whereas the central health ministry has supposedly stopped sleeping ever since the swine-flu hit India.
Bravo sir! Bravo! How committed you and your officials are. India is indeed lucky.
If someone tells you that you and your bloody officials kept on sleeping or was caught napping while the H1N1 entered due to improper screening at airport and other entry points, Iam sure you would be happy that such a mistake was pointed out and in such a stern language.
But I like it anyhow because as far as the public is concerned. It doesn't really matter whether its the central ministry or the state ministry that gets abused as long as things get done.
Jokes apart, Iam sure we may soon hear the minister again with both the foot in his mouth.
And if he sustains his tempo, he may not have miles to go before he sleeps and falls from his chair.
This time its his foul language. Ghulam Nabi Azad used some unparliamentary words in his swine flu induced delirium. He accuses the "bloody" state health departments of complacency amounting to culpable negligence whereas the central health ministry has supposedly stopped sleeping ever since the swine-flu hit India.
Bravo sir! Bravo! How committed you and your officials are. India is indeed lucky.
If someone tells you that you and your bloody officials kept on sleeping or was caught napping while the H1N1 entered due to improper screening at airport and other entry points, Iam sure you would be happy that such a mistake was pointed out and in such a stern language.
But I like it anyhow because as far as the public is concerned. It doesn't really matter whether its the central ministry or the state ministry that gets abused as long as things get done.
Jokes apart, Iam sure we may soon hear the minister again with both the foot in his mouth.
And if he sustains his tempo, he may not have miles to go before he sleeps and falls from his chair.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
More about Jinnah.....
From Tarun Vijay's blog -Indus Calling- in the TOI, I get to know more about Jinnah :
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"Muhammad Ali Jinnah , aristocrat by temperament, catholic in taste, sectarian in politics, and the father of Pakistan, was the unlikeliest parent that an Islamic republic could possibly have. He was the most British of the generation of Indians that won freedom in August 1947.
As a child in the elite Christian Mission High School in Karachi, he changed his birthday from 20 October to Christmas Day. As a student at Lincoln's Inn, he anglicised his name from Jinnahbhai to Jinnah.
For three years, between 1930 and 1933, he went into voluntary exile in Hampstead, acquired a British passport, set up residence with his sister Fatimah and daughter Dina, hired a British chauffeur (Bradley) for his Bentley, kept two dogs (a black Dobermann and a white West Highland terrier), indulged himself at the theatre (he had once wanted to be a professional actor so that he could play Hamlet) and appeared before the Privy Council to maintain himself in the style to which he was accustomed. He wore Savile Row suits, heavily starched shirts and two-tone leather or suede shoes……
Despite being the Quaid-e-Azam, or the Great Leader of Muslims, he drank a moderate amount of alcohol and was embarrassingly unfamiliar with Islamic methods of prayer. He was uncomfortable in any language but English, and made his demand for Pakistan — in 1940 at Lahore — in English, despite catcalls from an audience that wanted to hear Urdu.”
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Not bad at all for a man supposed to be a purist islamist who was deeply worried about the fate of Mussalmans.
What actually might he have been worried about? Equal rights for all OR the biggest stature and seat for himself ?
---------------------------------------------------------
"Muhammad Ali Jinnah , aristocrat by temperament, catholic in taste, sectarian in politics, and the father of Pakistan, was the unlikeliest parent that an Islamic republic could possibly have. He was the most British of the generation of Indians that won freedom in August 1947.
As a child in the elite Christian Mission High School in Karachi, he changed his birthday from 20 October to Christmas Day. As a student at Lincoln's Inn, he anglicised his name from Jinnahbhai to Jinnah.
For three years, between 1930 and 1933, he went into voluntary exile in Hampstead, acquired a British passport, set up residence with his sister Fatimah and daughter Dina, hired a British chauffeur (Bradley) for his Bentley, kept two dogs (a black Dobermann and a white West Highland terrier), indulged himself at the theatre (he had once wanted to be a professional actor so that he could play Hamlet) and appeared before the Privy Council to maintain himself in the style to which he was accustomed. He wore Savile Row suits, heavily starched shirts and two-tone leather or suede shoes……
Despite being the Quaid-e-Azam, or the Great Leader of Muslims, he drank a moderate amount of alcohol and was embarrassingly unfamiliar with Islamic methods of prayer. He was uncomfortable in any language but English, and made his demand for Pakistan — in 1940 at Lahore — in English, despite catcalls from an audience that wanted to hear Urdu.”
----------------------------------------------------
Not bad at all for a man supposed to be a purist islamist who was deeply worried about the fate of Mussalmans.
What actually might he have been worried about? Equal rights for all OR the biggest stature and seat for himself ?
Mohammed Ali Jinnah and More
One of the leaders of India's right wing party tries to glorify Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the architrect of Pakistan. Jinnah is given a clean chit and infact is projected as having tried to prevent partition and failed in the same because the other leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar patel would'nt accomodate the demands of a better status for the muslims in India.
These are the revelations supposedly in former foreign minister Jaswant Singh's book (recently published) - and he has been expelled from the BJP for that.
It seemed worthwhile to me, just to check on this personality of Mohammed Ali Jinnah and some connected happenings.
Jinnah's Official Life
Born probably on Dec 25 1876 (Christhmas day) in Karachi. Belonged to Khoja Muslims (Sindhi merchants converted to Islam by Persians). Studied law in England from age 16 to 20yrs. There after practiced in Mumbai. Worked with Gopala Krishna Gokhale (moderate faction of INC). Got disgruntled with Gandhiji's leadership and also the then muslim league leadership. Went back to England to practice law in 1931.
Some other milestones :
1910-1919 - In the Viceroy's legislative council
1916 - For the first time, in the 'Lucknow pact' demanded separate communal electorate for muslims.
1934 - Was persuaded to come back to India. Revitalises Muslim League. Unlike an outgoing leader he was "formal, fastidious aloof and imperious" as some of his followers put it.
1937 - Due to differerences with INC starts working for Pakistan nation.
1942- Muslim League's Lucknow conference passes resolution for Pakistan
1947- Pakistan formation.
Till death in 1948 Pakistan's first governor general and was titled Quaid-e-Azam (Supreme Leader)
Jinnah's Personal Life - A life of Separations
His first wife, a child bride, died when he was a student.
The second wife was Ruttie Jinnah, nee Rattan Bai Petit.
She was the daughter of Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit, one of the richest and most devoutly orthodox Parsi-Zoroastrians of the nineteenth century Bombay. Ruttie converted to Islam on her 18th birthday and left her father's mansion with two pets to marry Jinnah. Exactly eleven years later she was dead of an overdose of painkillers to treat her abdominal cancer. Jinnah never married again and died a lonely man. Known as the nightingale of Bombay, Ruttie died on her 29th birthday on 20 February 1929. Rattanbai bore Jinnah his only child, daughter Dina, on the midnight of August 14, 1919. Exactly 28 years before Pakistan's Independence.
Ruttie died at the age of 29. When Pakistan became independent Jinnah's daughter Dina was 28 and she preferred to remain in India.She went to Karachi only for Jinnah's funeral.
Jinnah's relationship with his daughter was marred by the fact that Dina wanted to marry a Parsi, Neville Wadia. Jinnah tried to dissuade her, just like Sir Dinshaw had tried to influence his daughter (Ruttee) many years ago, but to no avail.
Justice Chagla (who Jinnah had invited to join him and settle in Pakistan as the Law Minister) recalls, "Jinnah, in his usual imperious manner, told her that there were millions of Muslim boys in India, and she could have anyone she chose.
Then the young lady replied: 'Father, there were millions of Muslim girls in India. Why did you not marry one of them'?" The relationship became formal after she married. They did correspond, he addressed her formally as 'Mrs Wadia'.
(Dina wadia married Neville wadia. Their son is Nusli wadia. Nusli's & Maureen wadia's sons are Ness & Jeh Wadia. Ness wadia of IPL and Preity Zinta fame and Jeh Wadia of Go-Air)
The only person from his family who accompanied him to Pakistan was his sister Fatima.
Jinnah Built his - Jinnah house (originally called "South Court")- on the Malabar Hill in Mumbai, in 1936 after returning from England. He spent Rs. 2.0 lacs then for the 10000 sq.mtrs i.e 2.5 acres property. Supervised its construction brick by brick. Italian stone masons were brought from Italy for the marble work. Jinnah House is worth more than Rs.300 crores now.
(No wonder Dina Wadia is legally making a fight for the property now, though she got estranged from her father when he was alive)
Ironically the round of talks, between Nehru and Jinnah, that altered the course of history and led to partition, was held in this building on the 15th of August 1946. The talks failed.
There after India and Pakistan separated.
Jinnah then led a separate life in Pakistan, from his prized possession in Mumbai, as was the case with many of his prized possessions.
Separation was always on his mind. So did he reap.
These are the revelations supposedly in former foreign minister Jaswant Singh's book (recently published) - and he has been expelled from the BJP for that.
It seemed worthwhile to me, just to check on this personality of Mohammed Ali Jinnah and some connected happenings.
Jinnah's Official Life
Born probably on Dec 25 1876 (Christhmas day) in Karachi. Belonged to Khoja Muslims (Sindhi merchants converted to Islam by Persians). Studied law in England from age 16 to 20yrs. There after practiced in Mumbai. Worked with Gopala Krishna Gokhale (moderate faction of INC). Got disgruntled with Gandhiji's leadership and also the then muslim league leadership. Went back to England to practice law in 1931.
Some other milestones :
1910-1919 - In the Viceroy's legislative council
1916 - For the first time, in the 'Lucknow pact' demanded separate communal electorate for muslims.
1934 - Was persuaded to come back to India. Revitalises Muslim League. Unlike an outgoing leader he was "formal, fastidious aloof and imperious" as some of his followers put it.
1937 - Due to differerences with INC starts working for Pakistan nation.
1942- Muslim League's Lucknow conference passes resolution for Pakistan
1947- Pakistan formation.
Till death in 1948 Pakistan's first governor general and was titled Quaid-e-Azam (Supreme Leader)
Jinnah's Personal Life - A life of Separations
His first wife, a child bride, died when he was a student.
The second wife was Ruttie Jinnah, nee Rattan Bai Petit.
She was the daughter of Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit, one of the richest and most devoutly orthodox Parsi-Zoroastrians of the nineteenth century Bombay. Ruttie converted to Islam on her 18th birthday and left her father's mansion with two pets to marry Jinnah. Exactly eleven years later she was dead of an overdose of painkillers to treat her abdominal cancer. Jinnah never married again and died a lonely man. Known as the nightingale of Bombay, Ruttie died on her 29th birthday on 20 February 1929. Rattanbai bore Jinnah his only child, daughter Dina, on the midnight of August 14, 1919. Exactly 28 years before Pakistan's Independence.
Ruttie died at the age of 29. When Pakistan became independent Jinnah's daughter Dina was 28 and she preferred to remain in India.She went to Karachi only for Jinnah's funeral.
Jinnah's relationship with his daughter was marred by the fact that Dina wanted to marry a Parsi, Neville Wadia. Jinnah tried to dissuade her, just like Sir Dinshaw had tried to influence his daughter (Ruttee) many years ago, but to no avail.
Justice Chagla (who Jinnah had invited to join him and settle in Pakistan as the Law Minister) recalls, "Jinnah, in his usual imperious manner, told her that there were millions of Muslim boys in India, and she could have anyone she chose.
Then the young lady replied: 'Father, there were millions of Muslim girls in India. Why did you not marry one of them'?" The relationship became formal after she married. They did correspond, he addressed her formally as 'Mrs Wadia'.
(Dina wadia married Neville wadia. Their son is Nusli wadia. Nusli's & Maureen wadia's sons are Ness & Jeh Wadia. Ness wadia of IPL and Preity Zinta fame and Jeh Wadia of Go-Air)
The only person from his family who accompanied him to Pakistan was his sister Fatima.
Jinnah Built his - Jinnah house (originally called "South Court")- on the Malabar Hill in Mumbai, in 1936 after returning from England. He spent Rs. 2.0 lacs then for the 10000 sq.mtrs i.e 2.5 acres property. Supervised its construction brick by brick. Italian stone masons were brought from Italy for the marble work. Jinnah House is worth more than Rs.300 crores now.
(No wonder Dina Wadia is legally making a fight for the property now, though she got estranged from her father when he was alive)
Ironically the round of talks, between Nehru and Jinnah, that altered the course of history and led to partition, was held in this building on the 15th of August 1946. The talks failed.
There after India and Pakistan separated.
Jinnah then led a separate life in Pakistan, from his prized possession in Mumbai, as was the case with many of his prized possessions.
Separation was always on his mind. So did he reap.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Astrological Notes
Some major planetary movements that are to take place this year are as below:
Saturn on September 9 - from Leo to Virgo - Natives of Rasis (Lagna Chart ignored here) Gemini, Acquarius and Sagittarius will go through the " Kantaka Sani". Natives of Rasis, Leo, Virgo and Libra will undergo the Sade-Saath Sani.
Rahu (Hence Ketu too) - Rahu will move from Capricorn to Sagittarius and Ketu from Cancer to gemini on the 17th of November. The natives of the different Rasis shall face the difficulties (or finish their difficult periods accordingly). e.g: natives of sagittarius Rasi may have a troubled family life where as natives of Virgo rasi may have troubles at work place.
Jupiter - Moves from Capricorn to Acquarius on the 19th of December. Jupiter moving away from its debilitated position in Capricorn should do good to some atleast.
Mars - The mars remains in cancer (debilitation) from October 5th to May 26 , 2010. This will do a lot of bad effects for some atleast.
(All elaborations above are based only on Rasi Charts and Lagna charts are not referred to at all)
Saturn on September 9 - from Leo to Virgo - Natives of Rasis (Lagna Chart ignored here) Gemini, Acquarius and Sagittarius will go through the " Kantaka Sani". Natives of Rasis, Leo, Virgo and Libra will undergo the Sade-Saath Sani.
Rahu (Hence Ketu too) - Rahu will move from Capricorn to Sagittarius and Ketu from Cancer to gemini on the 17th of November. The natives of the different Rasis shall face the difficulties (or finish their difficult periods accordingly). e.g: natives of sagittarius Rasi may have a troubled family life where as natives of Virgo rasi may have troubles at work place.
Jupiter - Moves from Capricorn to Acquarius on the 19th of December. Jupiter moving away from its debilitated position in Capricorn should do good to some atleast.
Mars - The mars remains in cancer (debilitation) from October 5th to May 26 , 2010. This will do a lot of bad effects for some atleast.
(All elaborations above are based only on Rasi Charts and Lagna charts are not referred to at all)
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Sterilise and Rule !
It was divide and rule mainly.
Then the British also tried - Sterilise and Rule.
That's how the British and Queen Victoria allegedly tried to bring the Rajasthan Royals to an end.
Read this link from TOI :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Queen-asked-Ranjit-Singhs-wife-to-end-dynasty-Book/articleshow/4899311.cms
But that's ok with some people. But, what if the Royal foraged among some others than his wife and then produced some results? The British might have banked on the fact that the illegitimates won't be getting the same public backing as the legitimates.
But then would'nt the assassination of the Royal himself, have been a better plan for the British rather than lurking around the Royals bedroom and attempting family planning ?
Then the British also tried - Sterilise and Rule.
That's how the British and Queen Victoria allegedly tried to bring the Rajasthan Royals to an end.
Read this link from TOI :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Queen-asked-Ranjit-Singhs-wife-to-end-dynasty-Book/articleshow/4899311.cms
But that's ok with some people. But, what if the Royal foraged among some others than his wife and then produced some results? The British might have banked on the fact that the illegitimates won't be getting the same public backing as the legitimates.
But then would'nt the assassination of the Royal himself, have been a better plan for the British rather than lurking around the Royals bedroom and attempting family planning ?
Saturday, 15 August 2009
A frisking Fiasco Yet Again
Its Sharukh Khan this time around.
Shame on us ,really.
What do we expect? :-
That we be allowed to pass through any place through the green or VIP channel?
That crowds buzz around us everywhere, as in Bandra, and then we shake our heads as if exasperated at being a celebrity, while secretly enjoying the same.
That no man consider his duty above our celebrity status?
That others are to take us for granted that like some of the MLA's and MPs and other big guns caught in the Human Traficking scandal - no S.R.Khan or any other man will ever be caught again.
That if Sharukh Khan decides to reduce the frequency of his visits to the US, the US as a country will wind up and hence they will start diluting their securuty checks.
That we expect the US and all others to take a defensive posture the moment we accuse them of discriminating others on religious grounds. Hence we take it as a first line of offence when pushed in to a corner.
That even though there are islamic terrorists all around, no country has any right to check on anyone since that amounts to suspecting everyone as islamic terrorsts.
In short we expect all others to follow the rule book as we do - i.e in a shamelessly lawless way.
We never had a rule book for ourselves.
Rules never applied to us.
It only applied to our neighbour or others when we wanted to suffocate them, when we wanted to impose ourselves on them.
Then our victims too lost faith in the rules.
Thus we all became lawless.
Now we believe that the histories of other countries too are similar to ours.
So it gives a jarring effect when others follow the rules, unlike us.
The SRKs and others in this part of the world, instead of visiting countries like US should stay there for longer periods to cure themselves of this "celebrity-flu".
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/My-name-is-Khan-Too-bad-SRK-feels-the-heat-of-American-paranoia/articleshow/4897426.cms
Shame on us ,really.
What do we expect? :-
That we be allowed to pass through any place through the green or VIP channel?
That crowds buzz around us everywhere, as in Bandra, and then we shake our heads as if exasperated at being a celebrity, while secretly enjoying the same.
That no man consider his duty above our celebrity status?
That others are to take us for granted that like some of the MLA's and MPs and other big guns caught in the Human Traficking scandal - no S.R.Khan or any other man will ever be caught again.
That if Sharukh Khan decides to reduce the frequency of his visits to the US, the US as a country will wind up and hence they will start diluting their securuty checks.
That we expect the US and all others to take a defensive posture the moment we accuse them of discriminating others on religious grounds. Hence we take it as a first line of offence when pushed in to a corner.
That even though there are islamic terrorists all around, no country has any right to check on anyone since that amounts to suspecting everyone as islamic terrorsts.
In short we expect all others to follow the rule book as we do - i.e in a shamelessly lawless way.
We never had a rule book for ourselves.
Rules never applied to us.
It only applied to our neighbour or others when we wanted to suffocate them, when we wanted to impose ourselves on them.
Then our victims too lost faith in the rules.
Thus we all became lawless.
Now we believe that the histories of other countries too are similar to ours.
So it gives a jarring effect when others follow the rules, unlike us.
The SRKs and others in this part of the world, instead of visiting countries like US should stay there for longer periods to cure themselves of this "celebrity-flu".
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/My-name-is-Khan-Too-bad-SRK-feels-the-heat-of-American-paranoia/articleshow/4897426.cms
Disregard to the Anthem on the 15th?
Looked strange to me.
There was the national anthem playing in the background. People (spectators and other officials) in the stadium could be seen standing, including some foreigners too.
But the anchor on the Doordarshan Sports and Aparna Popat (if Iam not mistaken) were seen seated and what's more they were carrying on with their expert chatter, with the national anthem as their background music. The anchor even appeared to be irritated by the national anthem being played in the background. This happened around 1.50 pm, today, during the live telecast of the world badminton championships being held at the Gatchibowli stadium , Hyderabad.
Now I do not know whether the anchor and Aparna Popat were seated in the stadium, the studio or somewhere else.
Was anthem audible to them? It appeared to be so.
Did'nt they know what to do on hearing the national anthem?
Were they so callous enough to disregard our national anthem or was it plain negligence?
That too on the government owned channel?
That too on our Independence day.
I hope I saw things wrongly.
But I am all for finding out what actually happened.
People can make mistakes. But the issue should be sorted out so that some others don't commit such blunders again.That too on the National Television.
There was the national anthem playing in the background. People (spectators and other officials) in the stadium could be seen standing, including some foreigners too.
But the anchor on the Doordarshan Sports and Aparna Popat (if Iam not mistaken) were seen seated and what's more they were carrying on with their expert chatter, with the national anthem as their background music. The anchor even appeared to be irritated by the national anthem being played in the background. This happened around 1.50 pm, today, during the live telecast of the world badminton championships being held at the Gatchibowli stadium , Hyderabad.
Now I do not know whether the anchor and Aparna Popat were seated in the stadium, the studio or somewhere else.
Was anthem audible to them? It appeared to be so.
Did'nt they know what to do on hearing the national anthem?
Were they so callous enough to disregard our national anthem or was it plain negligence?
That too on the government owned channel?
That too on our Independence day.
I hope I saw things wrongly.
But I am all for finding out what actually happened.
People can make mistakes. But the issue should be sorted out so that some others don't commit such blunders again.That too on the National Television.
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Going A Bit Green In The Head
First of all I never thought that my buying a car will endanger this world.
When I had to buy a car,I had to.
Power windows, power steering, keyless entry, spaciousness, adjustable steering, collapsible seats, etc etc, whether these mattered or not, were discussed.
Carbon-dioxide and his brother 'monoxide were never mentioned, neither by the salesman nor by me. Then we haggled about the discount and tried to outsmart each other openly.
Regarding emission standards of the vehicle,I always thought it as - Euro III as more car for the same money as compared to Euro II. If it was Euro IV compliant- a still better bargain for me. It was as if I was getting the latest gadget.
Environment figured nowhere in my head.
But then this article on the "Cash for Clunkers" scheme in the US makes me think about how deeply, green-conscious, people are. (Cash for clunkers is a scheme which encourages the car owners to discard their old cars and avail hefty discounts on buying new ones)
On the basis of a better fuel effeciency, it seems it takes on an average of 5 years for the new cars to sort of break even with the higher emission caused during the production of the new cars. Since the average american uses a car for around 10 years (and I thought americans just threw their cars away after a months use) the positive effects for the environment are not much.
-----------------------------------------------------
"Was spending $1 billion a particularly cost-effective way to achieve those CO2 reductions? Probably not. Assuming the above calculations are correct and that each consumer keeps his or her car for 10 years, then the total savings should be a little less than 5.7 million tons of carbon dioxide. That means each ton of carbon dioxide would be worth about $175.53 to the U.S. government. As the Washington Policy Center pointed out, a ton of CO2 currently goes for about $17.50 on the European Climate Exchange."
----------------------------------------------------
And finally in the process of writing this, I discover how rich India is.
With CO2 at, $17.50 a tonne, India certainly is a rich country.
http://www.slate.com/id/2224306/
When I had to buy a car,I had to.
Power windows, power steering, keyless entry, spaciousness, adjustable steering, collapsible seats, etc etc, whether these mattered or not, were discussed.
Carbon-dioxide and his brother 'monoxide were never mentioned, neither by the salesman nor by me. Then we haggled about the discount and tried to outsmart each other openly.
Regarding emission standards of the vehicle,I always thought it as - Euro III as more car for the same money as compared to Euro II. If it was Euro IV compliant- a still better bargain for me. It was as if I was getting the latest gadget.
Environment figured nowhere in my head.
But then this article on the "Cash for Clunkers" scheme in the US makes me think about how deeply, green-conscious, people are. (Cash for clunkers is a scheme which encourages the car owners to discard their old cars and avail hefty discounts on buying new ones)
On the basis of a better fuel effeciency, it seems it takes on an average of 5 years for the new cars to sort of break even with the higher emission caused during the production of the new cars. Since the average american uses a car for around 10 years (and I thought americans just threw their cars away after a months use) the positive effects for the environment are not much.
-----------------------------------------------------
"Was spending $1 billion a particularly cost-effective way to achieve those CO2 reductions? Probably not. Assuming the above calculations are correct and that each consumer keeps his or her car for 10 years, then the total savings should be a little less than 5.7 million tons of carbon dioxide. That means each ton of carbon dioxide would be worth about $175.53 to the U.S. government. As the Washington Policy Center pointed out, a ton of CO2 currently goes for about $17.50 on the European Climate Exchange."
----------------------------------------------------
And finally in the process of writing this, I discover how rich India is.
With CO2 at, $17.50 a tonne, India certainly is a rich country.
http://www.slate.com/id/2224306/
How much will it cost to shoo...A Judge?
Just Rs.200/-.
Or if you can't pay that, then free food and accomodation for a month at a jail of 'their' choice.
I really thought that was a graver offence.
Though a murderous intent is not there in a shoe throwing episode, the judges don't come so cheap, do they?
After all can anyone throw a shoe anywhere (even outside the courts) on a judge at a cost of Rs.200/-?
Look at what happened at a court in Mumbai from the link below.
A free Kick !!
A 25 Crore freek kick at that.
The BCCI has decided to help out its impoverished cousin, AIFF, with 25 crore from its coffers.
The goal? Is to find a few goals in the 2011 Asian games.
If poverty has been the constraint, then with this,we have started moving towards providing the foodballers with some pizzas instead of vada-pavs.
It remains to be seen whether they will find their goals or if the 25 Cr will vanish in to their own goal post.
---------------------------------------------------------
"With little funds coming from corporate houses for the 'Goal 2011 Project', AIFF acting president Praful Patel was seeking help of his party chief Sharad Pawar to get financial assistance."
---------------------------------------------------------
And who says that sportsmen should head sports bodies?
Iam all for the ministers heading them.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/BCCI-approves-Rs-25-crore-grant-to-AIFF/articleshow/4889522.cms
The BCCI has decided to help out its impoverished cousin, AIFF, with 25 crore from its coffers.
The goal? Is to find a few goals in the 2011 Asian games.
If poverty has been the constraint, then with this,we have started moving towards providing the foodballers with some pizzas instead of vada-pavs.
It remains to be seen whether they will find their goals or if the 25 Cr will vanish in to their own goal post.
---------------------------------------------------------
"With little funds coming from corporate houses for the 'Goal 2011 Project', AIFF acting president Praful Patel was seeking help of his party chief Sharad Pawar to get financial assistance."
---------------------------------------------------------
And who says that sportsmen should head sports bodies?
Iam all for the ministers heading them.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/BCCI-approves-Rs-25-crore-grant-to-AIFF/articleshow/4889522.cms
Weather God v/s Indian Weather men
Peter Webster, a professor at the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, says:
"The basic problem of the Indian Meteorological Department is that they are mired in the past" .
Mr. Hatwar, of IMD, defends his model, noting that it has accurately gauged the country's average rainfall for most years.
In 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 the IMD predicted a near normal rainfall . In '03 and '05 it matched with what actually happened. In '02 and '04 we had drought.
In '06 and '07 , below normal rainfall were predicted and we had near normal and normal. Mumbai got flooded too. in '08 the prediction and actuality merged at near normal. But '09 seems to be way off the mark.
The weatherman's job is not easy. But he may have to devise better methods and models for predictions. With 60 crore farming families, to say the least, looking upto him, he cannot leave anything unturned.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125002552576623777.html
"The basic problem of the Indian Meteorological Department is that they are mired in the past" .
Mr. Hatwar, of IMD, defends his model, noting that it has accurately gauged the country's average rainfall for most years.
In 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 the IMD predicted a near normal rainfall . In '03 and '05 it matched with what actually happened. In '02 and '04 we had drought.
In '06 and '07 , below normal rainfall were predicted and we had near normal and normal. Mumbai got flooded too. in '08 the prediction and actuality merged at near normal. But '09 seems to be way off the mark.
The weatherman's job is not easy. But he may have to devise better methods and models for predictions. With 60 crore farming families, to say the least, looking upto him, he cannot leave anything unturned.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125002552576623777.html
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
One DJ Gets Magsasay
An engineer who reached MIT.
A couple of years there and he's back in India to work for the "poor India".
He helped uplift about 1,00,000 families.
His NGO PRADAN is associated with projects in about 5 Indian states all among the poorest of the poor.PRADAN works with around 1,70,000 families and adds around 20,000 to 30,000 families every year.
Poverty, for him means- "at one level it is the inability to feed your children and yourself, at another level it's the fact that you don't count, you don't have a voice, you can't influence anything."
His pancea for food security and empowerment of the poor and unskilled is - Proper management of Rain-fed agriculture by better rain water harvesting.
He says " Work is work, nothing high or low brow- it became a habit for me"
That's Deep Joshi for you - the recipient of Magsaysay award this year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124990333366219177.html
A couple of years there and he's back in India to work for the "poor India".
He helped uplift about 1,00,000 families.
His NGO PRADAN is associated with projects in about 5 Indian states all among the poorest of the poor.PRADAN works with around 1,70,000 families and adds around 20,000 to 30,000 families every year.
Poverty, for him means- "at one level it is the inability to feed your children and yourself, at another level it's the fact that you don't count, you don't have a voice, you can't influence anything."
His pancea for food security and empowerment of the poor and unskilled is - Proper management of Rain-fed agriculture by better rain water harvesting.
He says " Work is work, nothing high or low brow- it became a habit for me"
That's Deep Joshi for you - the recipient of Magsaysay award this year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124990333366219177.html
Some Marriage Ads.
(Some of the details in the ads ( from an internet site), given below, have been doctored to protect the identities, the essence alone is bottled for you)
--------------------------------------------
1) Suiteable Match for Teentotler M.A, B.Ed, Manglik, Girl
(teen..... toon....probably she got confused between teens and the toddlers)
--------------------------------------------
2)Hi, i am 49 years old 6' ht. fair, in govt. job,in search of a friend cum life partnerblind, Deaf & dumb, over weight or can not become a mother or alone for any reason please welcome / contact me ........if conning, lair, riggid, after property& comfort only, quarralsome,selfish please exuse me .........
(Now whats riggid? The fellow got too eloquent towards the end)
--------------------------------------------
3)The matrimonial AD For somu
SM4PbBr HBoy 39 5'9" M.Sc Math,MCA,Mphil wkg MNC S/W Engr 4.50LPA wkg Girl DLI- NCR Area.
(Now Somu surely had a stint with the telegraph department)
-------------------------------------------
4)Wanted grooms for my cuisine brother in Tanjavur dist
(Is the brother a sister wanting a groom? or is he gay? Any way what has the cuisine got do with either of them? Is that why they say not to speak (err.... place an ad.) while eating?
-------------------------------------------
5)Looking for wife
I am a boy .28 years .i need wonderful one wife. my one month salari 120000
(Very Clear - one month, one salary and one wife)
-------------------------------------------
6)I am looking for someone serious to share my time with that enjoys doing the things I do and can introduce me to new things as well. Someone that will take an interest in getting to know me and not be afraid to show me what they're all about in return. I am pretty silly at times, so someone with a sense of humor and great appreciation for just living life is important. I am very selective of those I allow into my life and I only like to surround myself with real and genuine people who can let loose and have a good time.
(what does he want actually? Iam sure he inserted this ad. while in one of his "Pretty silly times")
--------------------------------------------
1) Suiteable Match for Teentotler M.A, B.Ed, Manglik, Girl
(teen..... toon....probably she got confused between teens and the toddlers)
--------------------------------------------
2)Hi, i am 49 years old 6' ht. fair, in govt. job,in search of a friend cum life partnerblind, Deaf & dumb, over weight or can not become a mother or alone for any reason please welcome / contact me ........if conning, lair, riggid, after property& comfort only, quarralsome,selfish please exuse me .........
(Now whats riggid? The fellow got too eloquent towards the end)
--------------------------------------------
3)The matrimonial AD For somu
SM4PbBr HBoy 39 5'9" M.Sc Math,MCA,Mphil wkg MNC S/W Engr 4.50LPA wkg Girl DLI- NCR Area.
(Now Somu surely had a stint with the telegraph department)
-------------------------------------------
4)Wanted grooms for my cuisine brother in Tanjavur dist
(Is the brother a sister wanting a groom? or is he gay? Any way what has the cuisine got do with either of them? Is that why they say not to speak (err.... place an ad.) while eating?
-------------------------------------------
5)Looking for wife
I am a boy .28 years .i need wonderful one wife. my one month salari 120000
(Very Clear - one month, one salary and one wife)
-------------------------------------------
6)I am looking for someone serious to share my time with that enjoys doing the things I do and can introduce me to new things as well. Someone that will take an interest in getting to know me and not be afraid to show me what they're all about in return. I am pretty silly at times, so someone with a sense of humor and great appreciation for just living life is important. I am very selective of those I allow into my life and I only like to surround myself with real and genuine people who can let loose and have a good time.
(what does he want actually? Iam sure he inserted this ad. while in one of his "Pretty silly times")
Mil-'Kingg' The Reality
The thread is still running.
Rakhi & her newfound 'would be' (or 'may be' or 'should he?' rather) play parents on another reality show.
--------------------------------------------------------
After Rakhi ka Swayamvar comes Pati, Patni Aur Woh, where television’s ‘it’ couple Rakhi Sawant and Elesh Parujanwala will take on the task of bringing up kids
--------------------------------------------------------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Baby-paws-Rakhi-in-public/articleshow/4878586.cms
Now Iam not blaming them for doing this show, since in reality it's all about money.
But then should the babies be subjected to it? There is nothing in it, at all, for them.
After all they dont get any pleasure out of pawing at cleavages. They are just eyeing the milk route and I dont know if they will get it.
Also I dont know if Elesh will get to paw at anything at all or whether he will get mauled instead.
Rakhi & her newfound 'would be' (or 'may be' or 'should he?' rather) play parents on another reality show.
--------------------------------------------------------
After Rakhi ka Swayamvar comes Pati, Patni Aur Woh, where television’s ‘it’ couple Rakhi Sawant and Elesh Parujanwala will take on the task of bringing up kids
--------------------------------------------------------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Baby-paws-Rakhi-in-public/articleshow/4878586.cms
Now Iam not blaming them for doing this show, since in reality it's all about money.
But then should the babies be subjected to it? There is nothing in it, at all, for them.
After all they dont get any pleasure out of pawing at cleavages. They are just eyeing the milk route and I dont know if they will get it.
Also I dont know if Elesh will get to paw at anything at all or whether he will get mauled instead.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Unhealthy Minister
After the Television - contraceptive, our health minister comes back with a bang. This time saying that the dead child in Pune (Reeda) was responsible for spreading the virus to around 80 people.
Though he quickly retracted the statement and apologised to the family - it showed the insensitivity of the minister
And then he follows it up with another gem when he said - around 33% of the Indian population are likely to contract the flu by 2011 and many more deaths are likely to happen.
He means :-
1) Another 30 odd crores will surely be infected.
2) The flu is likley to remain for another 2 years atleast.
Even if these are true, I cannot fathom the minister's wisdom in scaring the people.
Then he says - "People should not PANIC"
Ram Gopal Varma may have failed in scaring the film going public with his film "Agyaat".
Our health minister here scares the whole nation with his foot-in-the-mouth comments.
Though he quickly retracted the statement and apologised to the family - it showed the insensitivity of the minister
And then he follows it up with another gem when he said - around 33% of the Indian population are likely to contract the flu by 2011 and many more deaths are likely to happen.
He means :-
1) Another 30 odd crores will surely be infected.
2) The flu is likley to remain for another 2 years atleast.
Even if these are true, I cannot fathom the minister's wisdom in scaring the people.
Then he says - "People should not PANIC"
Ram Gopal Varma may have failed in scaring the film going public with his film "Agyaat".
Our health minister here scares the whole nation with his foot-in-the-mouth comments.
Not Air Pockets, But Pockets Full
In these times of pronounced wails from the airline industry, its quite heartening to note that atleast one is flying without hitting air pockets.
Indigo air not only is making profit but steadily increasing its market share all the while sticking to its no frills model.
The link gives an idea about how some perform in difficult conditions too.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20090810/1056/tnl-head-above-the-clouds.html
While every now and then the promoters of Jet Airways and KingFisher occupy the front pages of our news papers for reasons ranging from retrenchment to threats of strike followed by heavy sobs, Indigo people are not visible.
--------------------------------------------------------
"The airline management declined to meet HT. Gangwal did not respond to emailed queries. CEO Aditya Ghosh, too, refused comments."
"And Bhatia said over phone, "We don't run our business through newspapers. I don't want to say anything."
-------------------------------------------------------
Thats how they function. Quietly but efficiently. Especially the wails and threat to corner the Government pie being significantly absent.
The reasons for success may be many, including not making costly aquisitions (like King Fisher and Jet did). But most of all their one minded devotion in running the show efficiently with less of hype may have been the most important one.
Indigo air not only is making profit but steadily increasing its market share all the while sticking to its no frills model.
The link gives an idea about how some perform in difficult conditions too.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20090810/1056/tnl-head-above-the-clouds.html
While every now and then the promoters of Jet Airways and KingFisher occupy the front pages of our news papers for reasons ranging from retrenchment to threats of strike followed by heavy sobs, Indigo people are not visible.
--------------------------------------------------------
"The airline management declined to meet HT. Gangwal did not respond to emailed queries. CEO Aditya Ghosh, too, refused comments."
"And Bhatia said over phone, "We don't run our business through newspapers. I don't want to say anything."
-------------------------------------------------------
Thats how they function. Quietly but efficiently. Especially the wails and threat to corner the Government pie being significantly absent.
The reasons for success may be many, including not making costly aquisitions (like King Fisher and Jet did). But most of all their one minded devotion in running the show efficiently with less of hype may have been the most important one.
Tiger Roars For His Opponent - Fined
I've heard about sportsmen arguing with the referees.
I've seen them complaining about the poor officiating of the match.
But almost always, such complaints are when the complainant is part of the losing delegation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/Woods-to-be-fined-for-criticism-of-rules-official/articleshow/4879814.cms
But now, Tiger woods shows us what a true proffessional is.
Though he was on the winning side , he faulted the officials for the sake of the sport.
He faulted them for putting his opponent to discomfiture and argued that his opposition would have performed better and probably won had there been no time pressure.
Though I know about golf as much as I know about space shuttles, nothing prevents me from appreciating the born sportsman that Tiger Woods is.
I've seen them complaining about the poor officiating of the match.
But almost always, such complaints are when the complainant is part of the losing delegation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/Woods-to-be-fined-for-criticism-of-rules-official/articleshow/4879814.cms
But now, Tiger woods shows us what a true proffessional is.
Though he was on the winning side , he faulted the officials for the sake of the sport.
He faulted them for putting his opponent to discomfiture and argued that his opposition would have performed better and probably won had there been no time pressure.
Though I know about golf as much as I know about space shuttles, nothing prevents me from appreciating the born sportsman that Tiger Woods is.
Monday, 10 August 2009
How Many More?
England decided to pull out of the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad. Not that they were bound to make a huge impact on the matches. But that's besides the point.
Whats relevant is that, this is becoming a trend now. Sports in India is getting targeted.
(Sports in Pak too, probably- the way Srilankan cricketers were attacked)
First it was the IPL being shifted to South Africa.
Cricket did'nt lose. India did.
Now the guns are trained on Badminton.
Do we see the threats continuing for the Nehru Cup Football (August 19-31, 2009); the hockey world cup ( March 2010); Common Wealth games (October 2010); and the cricket world cup (2011) ?
Iam sure the last two certainly will be a tug-of-ego-war between India and the terrorist outfits.
Its Indian sports under threat - generally speaking. This is on top of our Sports Boards, Assocaitions, Federations etc heaping shit on our sportsmen.
(Disclaimer : Cricketers are beyond sportsmen and being on a much higher pedestal they heap shit on others and not the other way. They can dope too or atleast avoid doping tests, since their families get to spent less time with them. Hence applying the term 'Indian Sport' to them may be misplaced.)
Someone has to pay for these Pak based anti sports threats, surely. Why should we be at the receiving end, silently bearing it all - shifting venues, cutting sorry pictures in the face of withdrawing national teams and all. Why should we?
If not the political establishments, then atleast the sports establishments in Pak should be made to pay for these. That way we may atleast sleep peacefully, after having done something.
Whats relevant is that, this is becoming a trend now. Sports in India is getting targeted.
(Sports in Pak too, probably- the way Srilankan cricketers were attacked)
First it was the IPL being shifted to South Africa.
Cricket did'nt lose. India did.
Now the guns are trained on Badminton.
Do we see the threats continuing for the Nehru Cup Football (August 19-31, 2009); the hockey world cup ( March 2010); Common Wealth games (October 2010); and the cricket world cup (2011) ?
Iam sure the last two certainly will be a tug-of-ego-war between India and the terrorist outfits.
Its Indian sports under threat - generally speaking. This is on top of our Sports Boards, Assocaitions, Federations etc heaping shit on our sportsmen.
(Disclaimer : Cricketers are beyond sportsmen and being on a much higher pedestal they heap shit on others and not the other way. They can dope too or atleast avoid doping tests, since their families get to spent less time with them. Hence applying the term 'Indian Sport' to them may be misplaced.)
Someone has to pay for these Pak based anti sports threats, surely. Why should we be at the receiving end, silently bearing it all - shifting venues, cutting sorry pictures in the face of withdrawing national teams and all. Why should we?
If not the political establishments, then atleast the sports establishments in Pak should be made to pay for these. That way we may atleast sleep peacefully, after having done something.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
A case of Mass Arousal
Hospital, delivery, operation, nurses strike and baby dead. Do these sound like a part of any pornographic material ever published?
But pictures of this failed delivery were branded as pornography in Zambia. By none other than the President of the nation , Rupiah Banda, himself.
The journalist who mailed the photos, to highlight the plight of the patients, was charged with supplying pornography and arrested.
-------------------------------------------------------
The private secretary, I am sure, would have found it hard to describe "the great arousal" and would probably have resorted to fantacising.
The courts seem to be in cahoots with the aroused president, else it would've dismissed the case as frivoluos and refused to admit the same.
We should atleast be happy that the journalist (being woman) was charged with only pornography. Had the individual been male, they would have somehow fitted in a rape as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8185221.stm
But pictures of this failed delivery were branded as pornography in Zambia. By none other than the President of the nation , Rupiah Banda, himself.
The journalist who mailed the photos, to highlight the plight of the patients, was charged with supplying pornography and arrested.
-------------------------------------------------------
"The defence is arguing that the case rests on the definition of obscenity and so witnesses should have to describe what counts as obscene and arousing.
The first prosecution witness, the senior private secretary to the vice-president who opened the Post's letter, was roundly embarrassed by having to describe arousal."
-------------------------------------------------------The private secretary, I am sure, would have found it hard to describe "the great arousal" and would probably have resorted to fantacising.
The courts seem to be in cahoots with the aroused president, else it would've dismissed the case as frivoluos and refused to admit the same.
We should atleast be happy that the journalist (being woman) was charged with only pornography. Had the individual been male, they would have somehow fitted in a rape as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8185221.stm
Salman in Siberia?
Hey there, surely a Salman look alike. The attire and all. And I didn't mean the horse.
Sorry Putin-bhai, You know what? How much ever you try, you just cannot match our Sallu-topless-guy.
Next time around, leave the horse alone and have something to do with Chinkaras and Black bucks and ofcourse you can try the ultimate stunt of mowing down a few people sleeping on the side walks, with your car.
Will He ? or Wont He? - Be finished.
Where-ever I happen to read about it, its always :
"Will Rakhi wed Elesh?"
(Rakhi Sawant and Elesh Parujanwala of the "Rakhi ka Swayamvar" fame)
Iam yet to read the reverse.
The poor guy does'nt seem to have a choice nor seem to be able to stand a chance.
No one seems to care for that poor chap with suicidal tendencies.
"Will Rakhi wed Elesh?"
(Rakhi Sawant and Elesh Parujanwala of the "Rakhi ka Swayamvar" fame)
Iam yet to read the reverse.
The poor guy does'nt seem to have a choice nor seem to be able to stand a chance.
No one seems to care for that poor chap with suicidal tendencies.
Nobel & Nudity
Both are linked.
No, they have'nt yet announced a new Nobel for the best nude. No
They are linked by blood.
Nobel Laureate father Amartya Sen's daughter, Nandana Sen, plays a nude model in the film "Raja Ravi Varma" - a film about the painter prince of the Travancore Royal Family in Kerala.
Whats more, there is every chance of an M.F.Hussain style controversy being raked up for replacing Goddesses Saraswati's and Lakshmi's faces with that of Nandana Sen.
That's after this swine flue mess gets cleaned up.
Nandana and her co-workers may be wishing the same too- for the publicity that years of advertisement cannot bring can be achieved with one good controversy.
Thus the controversial prayer to the Goddesses are already made now.
Controversial blessings remain.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Nandana-goes-nude-is-proud-of-it/articleshow/4873356.cms
No, they have'nt yet announced a new Nobel for the best nude. No
They are linked by blood.
Nobel Laureate father Amartya Sen's daughter, Nandana Sen, plays a nude model in the film "Raja Ravi Varma" - a film about the painter prince of the Travancore Royal Family in Kerala.
Whats more, there is every chance of an M.F.Hussain style controversy being raked up for replacing Goddesses Saraswati's and Lakshmi's faces with that of Nandana Sen.
That's after this swine flue mess gets cleaned up.
Nandana and her co-workers may be wishing the same too- for the publicity that years of advertisement cannot bring can be achieved with one good controversy.
Thus the controversial prayer to the Goddesses are already made now.
Controversial blessings remain.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Nandana-goes-nude-is-proud-of-it/articleshow/4873356.cms
Friday, 7 August 2009
Blogging Gets on Someones Nerve
A blogger gets on the nerve of nations.
Then the nation/nations/groups bring face book and twitter to their knees, atleast for a few hours.
Thats what has happened in Georgia.
The states around or behind the iron Curtain are still holding on to their charactarisitcs, I guess.
Go through the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/07/internet-attacks-georgia-cyxymu
Then the nation/nations/groups bring face book and twitter to their knees, atleast for a few hours.
Thats what has happened in Georgia.
The states around or behind the iron Curtain are still holding on to their charactarisitcs, I guess.
Go through the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/07/internet-attacks-georgia-cyxymu
Epidemic, Pandemic or Whatever ; Somethings that Possibly You Could Do
Everything comes to India. Except its people - they all want to go out.
After reading about it for a while - creating chaos in the east asian and western countries, we are ultimately face to face with the swine-flu.
Why the hell did it choose Pune? More swines there? I dont know.
But even Delhi and other cities are starting to throw up many more cases of the disease.
Citizens of other rich countries can quell the danger by shutting themselves out from the outside world.
But not Indians.
They will then die of hunger.
They have to essentially go to work.
So what do we Indians do?
1) Wear a mask (Iam sure, in a few days time flight tickets will be cheaper than masks)
2) Wash your hands and face frequently and keep them clean. Never touch your face with your hands after touching any object or anyone.
3) Eat what ever you want (The flu does'nt spread that way)
4) If you feel the symptoms keep away from others and consult a doctor.
Symptoms include : Cough, sore throat, fever, chills, body ache , running nose etc.
5) Take a dose of the drug Tamiflu, probably ( Forget the flight ticket, the vaccine might become costlier than the plane itself)
Read this link below, quite a useful one :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Symptoms-and-prevention-of-swine-flu/articleshow/4867481.cms
Now be a gentleman and dont throw stones at the swines that cross your path.
We already have crossed that stage. Swines dont spread the disease anymore.
Its spreading from human to human now.
So be a good boy, keep yourself clean and help others around you to remain safe.
The situation is grave and can go out of hand.
Dont let that happen.
Dont let the flu make a swine out of you. protect youself.
After reading about it for a while - creating chaos in the east asian and western countries, we are ultimately face to face with the swine-flu.
Why the hell did it choose Pune? More swines there? I dont know.
But even Delhi and other cities are starting to throw up many more cases of the disease.
Citizens of other rich countries can quell the danger by shutting themselves out from the outside world.
But not Indians.
They will then die of hunger.
They have to essentially go to work.
So what do we Indians do?
1) Wear a mask (Iam sure, in a few days time flight tickets will be cheaper than masks)
2) Wash your hands and face frequently and keep them clean. Never touch your face with your hands after touching any object or anyone.
3) Eat what ever you want (The flu does'nt spread that way)
4) If you feel the symptoms keep away from others and consult a doctor.
Symptoms include : Cough, sore throat, fever, chills, body ache , running nose etc.
5) Take a dose of the drug Tamiflu, probably ( Forget the flight ticket, the vaccine might become costlier than the plane itself)
Read this link below, quite a useful one :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Symptoms-and-prevention-of-swine-flu/articleshow/4867481.cms
Now be a gentleman and dont throw stones at the swines that cross your path.
We already have crossed that stage. Swines dont spread the disease anymore.
Its spreading from human to human now.
So be a good boy, keep yourself clean and help others around you to remain safe.
The situation is grave and can go out of hand.
Dont let that happen.
Dont let the flu make a swine out of you. protect youself.
Mind your Decibels !!
I read from the TOI about the arrest of a few members belonging to a 'bhajan' (hindu religious hymns) singing group in a local train in Mumbai.
This arrest came, it seems, after the crack down earlier on the 'paan' (betel leaves)spitting and card playing groups.
This compels me to be philosophical and rationalise things yet again :
1) If 'Bhajans' on local trains can be troublesome to other (not so explicitly religious) people, should'nt we apply the same yard stick to our loudpeaker based religious fervour too?
2) It is obvious that even in a temporary place like a train people use 'bhajan' groups as a ruse to corner seats as well as carry on doing what they like to do most. These at the expense of others (say, someone who would like to quietly read).
Isnt the religion being exploited the same way outside the trains too? Isnt it high time that we started cracking down on any public display of religion.
Isnt terrorism an extrapolated phenomenon of the false religious passion. A passion hollow in spirituality and filled to the brim with ritualistic fanaticism.
3) Its time that we declared - "Religion in this country exists in the souls of the people and nowhere else"
And if it exists in the souls, why to go for temples, churches , mosques and ofcourse mobile Bhajan sounding rail compartments?
This arrest came, it seems, after the crack down earlier on the 'paan' (betel leaves)spitting and card playing groups.
This compels me to be philosophical and rationalise things yet again :
1) If 'Bhajans' on local trains can be troublesome to other (not so explicitly religious) people, should'nt we apply the same yard stick to our loudpeaker based religious fervour too?
2) It is obvious that even in a temporary place like a train people use 'bhajan' groups as a ruse to corner seats as well as carry on doing what they like to do most. These at the expense of others (say, someone who would like to quietly read).
Isnt the religion being exploited the same way outside the trains too? Isnt it high time that we started cracking down on any public display of religion.
Isnt terrorism an extrapolated phenomenon of the false religious passion. A passion hollow in spirituality and filled to the brim with ritualistic fanaticism.
3) Its time that we declared - "Religion in this country exists in the souls of the people and nowhere else"
And if it exists in the souls, why to go for temples, churches , mosques and ofcourse mobile Bhajan sounding rail compartments?
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Mothers -in- Law , Safe and Kicking
Its official now.
Mothers-in-law can safely kick their daughters-in-law.
Whats more, they can threaten and and recycle their used clothes too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Kicking-daughter-in-law-or-divorce-threat-not-cruelty-SC/articleshow/4858336.cms
Look at it this way-
If the daughter-in-law's mother had kicked her when she was at her home and given her old clothes of her sister, would she have complained?
So why does she complain now?
Afterall if her mother had kicked her properly then, she would not have to be repaired now.
So any way you look at it - "Its Saas Andher Bahu Baahar" (similar sounding to Baba Ramdev's Pranayam?)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Allegations that appellant No 2 (mother-in-law) kicked the respondent (daughter-in-law) with her leg and told her that her mother is a liar may make out some other offences but not the one punishable under Section 498A. "
"Similarly her allegations that the appellant No 2 poisoned the ears of her son against the respondent; she gave two used lady suits of her daughter to the complainant (daughter-in-law) and has been giving perpetual sermons to the complainant could not be said to be offences punishable under Section 498 A", it said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is something in it for the sons too. Now they need not fret over their ears getting poisoned from either side.
And if his mother can kick her, why not he too enjoy doing his bit.
(Disclaimer : Whereas the court decision is on a specific case, this write-up is general in nature and does not attempt to question the court nor its wisdom in any manner whatsoever. This is a write-up without any prejudice or malafide intentions to any person or institutions mentioned above)
Mothers-in-law can safely kick their daughters-in-law.
Whats more, they can threaten and and recycle their used clothes too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Kicking-daughter-in-law-or-divorce-threat-not-cruelty-SC/articleshow/4858336.cms
Look at it this way-
If the daughter-in-law's mother had kicked her when she was at her home and given her old clothes of her sister, would she have complained?
So why does she complain now?
Afterall if her mother had kicked her properly then, she would not have to be repaired now.
So any way you look at it - "Its Saas Andher Bahu Baahar" (similar sounding to Baba Ramdev's Pranayam?)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Allegations that appellant No 2 (mother-in-law) kicked the respondent (daughter-in-law) with her leg and told her that her mother is a liar may make out some other offences but not the one punishable under Section 498A. "
"Similarly her allegations that the appellant No 2 poisoned the ears of her son against the respondent; she gave two used lady suits of her daughter to the complainant (daughter-in-law) and has been giving perpetual sermons to the complainant could not be said to be offences punishable under Section 498 A", it said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is something in it for the sons too. Now they need not fret over their ears getting poisoned from either side.
And if his mother can kick her, why not he too enjoy doing his bit.
(Disclaimer : Whereas the court decision is on a specific case, this write-up is general in nature and does not attempt to question the court nor its wisdom in any manner whatsoever. This is a write-up without any prejudice or malafide intentions to any person or institutions mentioned above)
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
STRINGS OF SAFETY
In these uncertain times of road safety, using religious festivals in this fashion to enhance safety for the young world is most welcome.
The people who thought this out, need to be given a good round of applause.
And unlike the subterfuge of mixing business with religion, this was all about infusing more logic and spirituality in to religion.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4854133.cms
The people who thought this out, need to be given a good round of applause.
And unlike the subterfuge of mixing business with religion, this was all about infusing more logic and spirituality in to religion.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4854133.cms
BIHAR FEELS THREATENED
It seems Maharashtra is ahead of Bihar in the number of crimes committed (..errr atleast reported) So the link below suggests
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mumbai/State-ahead-of-Bihar-in-crimes/articleshow/4854034.cms
A detailed list of other crimes (in 2008), not seen in the link but shown in the paper based version of the news paper, goes like this :
Dacoities; Robberies; Burglaries; Thefts
1085; 3031; 16004; 52860 for Maharashtra
640; 1536; 3343; 14143 for Bihar
Thats awesome figures for Maharashtra. Bihar may look to out gun the Marathi Manoos next time around.
But what perplexes me is this - How to distinguish between burglary, theft, dacoity and robbery?
Each obviously looks to be a different profession.
Looking at the figures we may safely assume that while theft is a mass oriented profession with lower skill requirements, Dacoity is a class phenomenon with higher specialisation.
Also that the dacoits may have to ensure a basic minimum number of personnel and a threshold sum , otherwise they face the ignominy of being called thieves.
I pity the policemen who have to not only find the criminals but also do the exact required classification.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Are These Laws For Real ?
Sunshine.co.uk, an online travel agent, has launched a guide that warns travellers about the dos and don'ts in many foreign cities.
The travel advisory goes like this :
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090730/385/ten-new-guide-tells-holidaymakers-about.html
Are these for real?
Look at point no.6
(6. In Florida, any unmarried woman who parachutes on a Sunday could be jailed. Singing while wearing a swimming costume is also prohibited.)
Whats that? Are they tring to protect- the Unmarried women, Parachute or Sunday?
Point no. 8
(8. In Hong Kong the wife of a husband who commits adultery is legally entitled to kill the mistress in any manner desired, and the husband with just her bare hands.)
Thats called killing two birds with the same stone. Mistress eliminated by Mrs. Mrs eliminated, by Mr in self defence, while trying to kill her husband. Thats called a 360 degree legal protection for the Mr.
(4. In Thailand, it is illegal for anyone to leave a building without wearing their pants.)
what is the average Thai ? A Perennial pant hater?
The travel advisory goes like this :
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090730/385/ten-new-guide-tells-holidaymakers-about.html
Are these for real?
Look at point no.6
(6. In Florida, any unmarried woman who parachutes on a Sunday could be jailed. Singing while wearing a swimming costume is also prohibited.)
Whats that? Are they tring to protect- the Unmarried women, Parachute or Sunday?
Point no. 8
(8. In Hong Kong the wife of a husband who commits adultery is legally entitled to kill the mistress in any manner desired, and the husband with just her bare hands.)
Thats called killing two birds with the same stone. Mistress eliminated by Mrs. Mrs eliminated, by Mr in self defence, while trying to kill her husband. Thats called a 360 degree legal protection for the Mr.
(4. In Thailand, it is illegal for anyone to leave a building without wearing their pants.)
what is the average Thai ? A Perennial pant hater?
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
To Be Frisked Or Not To Be Frisked?
I do not wish to pass any moral judgement on the issue of Our Ex-President Abdul kalam being frisked by the Continental Airlines.
The man himself seemed to be least bothered about it, unlike Praful Patel (Union Aviation Minister) who appeared to be fuming.
But have a look at some of the 'frisking related episodes' that have happened.
1) In November 2007, Union defence minister A.K. Antony informed the Rajya Sabha that the civil aviation ministry had turned down his ministry’s request to exempt the three service chiefs from being frisked at Indian airports.
Subsequently, after the furore and heated debate, the service chiefs were excluded from being frisked.
2) Robert Vadra is excluded from being frisked when accompanying his wife or mother-in-law, both of whom obviously are not in the list.
3) George Fernandes was reportedly asked to take off his shoes and socks at a US airport. He did feel the insult.
4) Somnath Chatterjee once cancelled his trip to Australia when officials insisted on making a physical search. He probably took it as the exploitation of a 'poor communist' by the 'capitalists' and since "Inquilabs" dont work at the emigration counter he might have decided to return.
In the 1980s, the list of those exempted from being frisked at Indian airports was limited to the President, Prime minister, Chief justice of the Supreme Court, Lok Sabha speaker and State Governors.
Today,the list also includes the three Service Chiefs, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the Attorney General of India and all Bharat Ratnas, Ex-Presidents and Ex-Prime ministers.
The rest like Robert Vadra et al are more likely to be the unoffical " green card holders".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The former US vice-president Al Gore was once stopped for extra screening at an American airport (by then he had completed his term and had become a private citizen) He said he was “more than happy to do his part for airport security" .
The people there would probably have pushed him in to the cubicle for a thorough search and later patted him on the soulder saying "Hey Gore, man you did a good job there".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is that irks (Abdul Kalam is not that type I guess) the VVIPs on being frisked?
Is it that they get the feeling that they are being doubted as a terrorist, or that they cannot be believed?
Or is it that they have hugely bloated egos and hence see themselves above the laws of the land?
The man himself seemed to be least bothered about it, unlike Praful Patel (Union Aviation Minister) who appeared to be fuming.
But have a look at some of the 'frisking related episodes' that have happened.
1) In November 2007, Union defence minister A.K. Antony informed the Rajya Sabha that the civil aviation ministry had turned down his ministry’s request to exempt the three service chiefs from being frisked at Indian airports.
Subsequently, after the furore and heated debate, the service chiefs were excluded from being frisked.
2) Robert Vadra is excluded from being frisked when accompanying his wife or mother-in-law, both of whom obviously are not in the list.
3) George Fernandes was reportedly asked to take off his shoes and socks at a US airport. He did feel the insult.
4) Somnath Chatterjee once cancelled his trip to Australia when officials insisted on making a physical search. He probably took it as the exploitation of a 'poor communist' by the 'capitalists' and since "Inquilabs" dont work at the emigration counter he might have decided to return.
In the 1980s, the list of those exempted from being frisked at Indian airports was limited to the President, Prime minister, Chief justice of the Supreme Court, Lok Sabha speaker and State Governors.
Today,the list also includes the three Service Chiefs, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the Attorney General of India and all Bharat Ratnas, Ex-Presidents and Ex-Prime ministers.
The rest like Robert Vadra et al are more likely to be the unoffical " green card holders".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The former US vice-president Al Gore was once stopped for extra screening at an American airport (by then he had completed his term and had become a private citizen) He said he was “more than happy to do his part for airport security" .
The people there would probably have pushed him in to the cubicle for a thorough search and later patted him on the soulder saying "Hey Gore, man you did a good job there".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is that irks (Abdul Kalam is not that type I guess) the VVIPs on being frisked?
Is it that they get the feeling that they are being doubted as a terrorist, or that they cannot be believed?
Or is it that they have hugely bloated egos and hence see themselves above the laws of the land?
The Face Book Story....
Those facebook buffs need to go through this link too :-
http://www.doublex.com/section/work/appallingly-sexist-origins-facebook
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Facebook began in 2003 with two Harvard students: the now-famous programmer Zuckerberg, 25, and his classmate Eduardo Saverin, 26, who bankrolled the original operation and is no longer affiliated with the company. Both, according to the book, were self-proclaimed nerds who couldn’t get a date to save their life. The connection between not getting any and inventing Facebook would seem preposterous, if Mezrich weren’t so consistent in portraying Facebook’s founders as sexually frustrated. He measures each step of Facebook’s success in sexual currency.
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What is written there may or may not be true. But what needs to be undertood is :-
1) All good things may not have been started with a holy attitude.
2) Even nerds are inetrested in girls. None escapes them.
3) At the bottom of every pyramid is a female. She decides if this Pyramid is to be felled or to inspire someone else to make another pyramid - in her honour that is.
http://www.doublex.com/section/work/appallingly-sexist-origins-facebook
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facebook began in 2003 with two Harvard students: the now-famous programmer Zuckerberg, 25, and his classmate Eduardo Saverin, 26, who bankrolled the original operation and is no longer affiliated with the company. Both, according to the book, were self-proclaimed nerds who couldn’t get a date to save their life. The connection between not getting any and inventing Facebook would seem preposterous, if Mezrich weren’t so consistent in portraying Facebook’s founders as sexually frustrated. He measures each step of Facebook’s success in sexual currency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is written there may or may not be true. But what needs to be undertood is :-
1) All good things may not have been started with a holy attitude.
2) Even nerds are inetrested in girls. None escapes them.
3) At the bottom of every pyramid is a female. She decides if this Pyramid is to be felled or to inspire someone else to make another pyramid - in her honour that is.
Monday, 20 July 2009
A Heart Burn - Hollywood Style
--> Siena Miller suffered cleavage burn while filming new movie-->
Mon, Jul 20 09:47 PM
London, July 20 (IANS)
Hollywood actress Sienna Miller has revealed she burnt her cleavage while filming her new movie 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'.
The actress who plays femme fatale The Baroness in the movie suffered the accident after getting too near to a controlled explosion, reports contactmusic.com.
'Luckily, it wasn't my breasts, it was the bit in-between. It got a bit burnt when an explosion got a bit close,' she said.
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Even the fire seems to be picky and choosy on what to burn.
On second thoughts I felt this could be a promotional stunt too - "Hey, its simple. If cleavage gets burned then, surely, there is ample of that in the movie." (Other wise why the hell should that alone get burned leaving everything else intact?)
If this stunt is not enough, then I guess, they will keep burning other things as well.
Mon, Jul 20 09:47 PM
London, July 20 (IANS)
Hollywood actress Sienna Miller has revealed she burnt her cleavage while filming her new movie 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'.
The actress who plays femme fatale The Baroness in the movie suffered the accident after getting too near to a controlled explosion, reports contactmusic.com.
'Luckily, it wasn't my breasts, it was the bit in-between. It got a bit burnt when an explosion got a bit close,' she said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even the fire seems to be picky and choosy on what to burn.
On second thoughts I felt this could be a promotional stunt too - "Hey, its simple. If cleavage gets burned then, surely, there is ample of that in the movie." (Other wise why the hell should that alone get burned leaving everything else intact?)
If this stunt is not enough, then I guess, they will keep burning other things as well.
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