Action and not words!

Well, after 26/11 terror attack we saw many states and center too talk about many many measures which they plan to take. There has been talks of Police reforms, National Investigative Agency, NSG in all four metropolis, special law against terrorism... blah blah blah !!

Check out http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080077276&type=News
"Railway Ministry has allocated Rs 60.76 crores for procurement of modern security related equipment to be used by RPF. Besides AK-47, the railways will also procure modern security gadgets, such as INSAS 5.56 mm rifles, SLR 7.62 mm, carbine 9 mm and auto 9 mm pistol.
"A training exercise is being carried out in Bahadurgarh for the RPF men to handle these latest weapons. The training module has been prepared keeping the changed security scenario in mind," said the official. "

I like Laloo's rustic intelligence; He is not just talking but reform is happening right now! Budget allocated for weapons, training is already on the way!

I like it.

Satyam calls off Maytas deal on -ve mkt reaction

Well, one interesting report which points to a 'system' working! At the same time I just cannot understand how Mr Raju thought he could get away with robbing his flagship company to feed his sons companies! Ooops I am wrong; a public limited company is NOT Mr Raju's company; He just happens to be its Chairman! The cash in company is NOT his to give away to his relatives!

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/experts-decry-satyam-maytas-deal-call-it-unethical-/371198
http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/govt-to-look-into-violationssatyam-maytas-imbroglio/17/05/371316
http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-37080020081217

More than anything I am happy to know that system was in place and it worked and the deal had to be called off; more so it would not have gone through any ways. Now they are also under scrutiny of the Ministry of Company affairs for probably violation of Company Act. The Institutional investors may also push for change in company's board too.

Good!

Four statements on Mumbai terror strike

Its actually very interesting how SAME incident has so many viewpoints!!!!!

Well First I found Ajmal Kasab's statement supposedly in verbatim to police
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081211/jsp/nation/story_10236283.jsp
Interesting aspects are they were looking for some building with roof top! they never knew Cama hospital was a hospital and they killed three TOP Mumbai police officials !! Also somethings I read for first time that he was already injured before he was apprehended by police at girgaum & they had never been to Mumbai but were shown pictures maps etc! Another point a bit wierd is that he thought the skoda car had three ladies whom they asked to vacate and took over! Whereas in media there is guy who was telling the story of he and his friends (he didn't say friends were guys or girls) were asked to step out of the car and terrorist drove off! Well, somewhere in media also there was a mention that these terrorist were high on drugs to make them aggressive and awake through days and nights! In his statement seems to be the typical brainwashed dumb youth sent on terror highway!

Second is Lashkar chief Hafeez Saeed, he is completely on his own trip! He completely denies LeT or Jamaat ud-Dawa having anything to do with the attack!
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/11/pakistan.mumbai.attacks/index.html
"It is India's habit to name Pakistan," Saeed said. "Before they took ISI's name, now they take Jamaat-ud-Dawa's name." I found above quite amusing! Is there something wrong with pointing fingers at two groups? Thats exactly India saying these "state" and "state-less" actors are all working together! Well, of course, he is clever as a fox to accept any charge what so ever.
"Saeed, whose face was shielded by group of men who surrounded him during the news conference, " <-- What is the point of shielding his face!? Was it really him or some body double?!

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Killers-will-pay-for-slaying-innocent-Indians--Rahul/397248/
"It is not enough for us to protect the people ... we should go one step beyond. People who have done this should understand very clearly ... not only do we hold lives of our people highly, but there is also a cost to killing innocent Indians," Gandhi said. <-- I like that http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/mumbai-assault-an-attack-on-idea-of-india-rahul-gandhi_100129874.html
Speaking out against politicisation of police forces, he said: “As a young politician I would like to say that in the interest of the country we must desist from it. Also, that in the interest of common people we must stop interfering in the working of these institutions.” <-- Finally one politician said it! In fact I saw in TV news that he said too much focus is on VIP security! <-- finally one politician has EARS!!

Shri Advani, I guess he is now over with elections, campaign and its results too; He has focused on issue on hand. Finally he stood with the government as one reply to terror. Much needed act.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080076163&type=News
In his speech, which at times saw ruling coalition members joining those in the opposition in thumping desks, Advani described the current action against some of the terror outfits in Pakistan as a "drama" and "show" and asked the Indian government not to be "fooled" by such acts. <-- Good Point!

A begining

News reports say 'Operation against LeT-Dawa launched in AJK'
http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/08/top3.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5305642.ece
One official told The Times that among those arrested was Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, an LeT activist whom Indian officials have accused of masterminding the Mumbai attack.
I welcome this step. I do not have any idea if indeed the right people have been arrested or this is an eyewash; but still it is indeed a beginning. Pakistan till now has been blindfolded, probably now they have opened their eyes wide and are looking at the ground reality. I support this, I cheer them to do more, to snub the terror in its roots.

PS: Amit raised an interesting and quite obvious point in his comments to my earlier posting. He asked what is the logic behind being compassionate to the lone terrorist caught by Mumbai Police. Well, I agree there is no reason we should show any sympathy or compassion other than humanity. My point is supported by a woman who lost her husband and daughter to this terror attack who gave a statement, forgiving the terrorists!
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/04/mumbai.synchronicity/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
"We must send them our love, forgiveness and compassion," Kia Scherr told reporters Tuesday of the Mumbai attackers, nine of whom were killed by Indian forces. "As Jesus Christ said long ago, they know not what they do. They are in ignorance, and they are completely shrouded and clouded by fear, and we must show that love is possible and love overpowers fear. So that's my choice." Alan Scherr, 58, and Naomi Scherr, 13, were among 25 people who had traveled to India for a meditation retreat with Virginia-based spiritual group Synchronicity Foundation, to which the Scherrs belonged.
Very magnimous of Kia and I agree with her. Love, forgiveness and compassion separate us from these terror gunmen! That does not mean I am asking for them to be let loose. Only let the law take it course and let us not fill our own hearts with hatred but compassion for these people who have lost their way.

Human face of terror

I came across this news item where a reporter actually visited the village of in Faridkot near Depalpur, Pakistan. Still need to verify the validity of this article but the article does show us another side to the whole story
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/57251.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/120708dnintindia.3e15dbb.html
But village mayor, Ghulam Mustafa Wattoo, confirmed that a man named Ameer lives in Faridkot, with a son named Ajmal. But he said Ameer claimed his son was not the man captured by Indian authorities. But everything in the village fit the details leaked from the Indian police interrogation of Ajmal. Indian police identified the father as Mohammad Ameer, who earns a meager living selling home-made snacks from a mobile cart, and his wife as Noor. At the tiny family house, located on a narrow street deep inside Faridkot, the McClatlchy reporter on a second visit Friday noted a mobile food cart lying in the courtyard. Ameer, 44 and his wife, Noor, 47, were nowhere to be found. According to several villagers, who asked not to be named for their own security, "a bearded mullah" took them away during the night, likely, they thought, to be a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Islamic extremist group accusing of being behind the Mumbai attack.

When I read this bit from the report, my heart went out to the family including the dreaded terrorist. It was easier when terrorist is just another faceless demon whom we all hate and see as the enemy which has to killed at any cost. After I read all this I feel incredibly sadder; likely the enemy is not what we see or someone to whom the facts point to! I know many many people will laugh and say we should not be weakened by emotions; but it does, I begin to empathize. Think if this family was not so poor and this person was educated and had better means in life, how much is the chances that he would have chosen the path which he chose? Well, there is another aspect about highly learned people joining wrongful cause but then its an informed decision and surely I would react completely differently. When I dig deeper, I find no country no religion no clan at fault. The fault is so human, its the feeling of hatred which is getting propagated for years, decades and even centuries!

Yes, in a very philosophical way I will say, Enemy is indeed the hatred which people feel and the only antidote is love. There has to be a way by which we can all come together and say forgive and forget the past, lets start a new chapter now.

Pure Thirst

I read this Persian saying in Amrita Pritam's 'Seedhi ticket'; thought about it and was really blown away by depth of it.

In desert we sometimes mistake shining sand as water and are fooled, pained and confused by this. The learned and wise are not mistaken and they understand the difference. I say, they don't lack in learning and wisdom but they be lacking in their thirst that is why they do not mistake sand for water; I must be lacking in learning and wisdom and must be a fool but nothing lacks in my thirst!

Deep, isn't it? :-) :D

Go India Go !

The citizens rally in front of gateway of India. By nightfall more than hundred thousand people had joined the rally. Similar rallies happened in many cities across the nation.
I am praying that this turns into a revolution of a kind and brings about much pending change in our country.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?sectionName=&id=c9cec637-b51b-4c85-b6d7-9066ab8036ae&&Headline=What+is+X,+Y+and+Z+security+category?&strParent=strParentID

According to this article:

Z+ category has a security cover of 36 personnel.
Z category has a security cover of 22 personnel.
Y category has a security cover of 11 personnel.
X category has a security cover of 2 personnel.

Isn't it sickening?? It took 200 NSG commandos to take care of all incidents in bombay where as each and every VIP is given cover of 36 SPG personnel !!!!!!!!! No wonder these people cannot feel the security lapse and terror for common man on the street.

How do we tell that NONE of the politicians is worth even a single SPG commando cover. I am quite okay if these people come under attack from terrorist! After all such small incidents do happen sometimes in big cities!!!!!!!

How Patil and Deshmukh could have reacted

Well, I thought a lot about the public outrage against the politicians, they are not wrong but keeping in mind that yet these people are also humans with limited resources and working inside the system. IF they were really remorseful and wanted to show ownership and responsibility, they could have done it. Putting myself in their shoes, I thought. This is my thinking. Shivaraj Patil, Deshmukh and RR Patil should have been at the scene of action [ well not literally but at least in the area.. maybe inside gateway of India or even in sea next to Apollobunder ]. Even with their big contingent of security personnel or even only say two gaurds, As it is the whole areas of action were cordoned off by local security agencies, what fear they had? They could have sat in the media area and spoken about their concern and things which were done and steps taken to stop this kind of terror act and why they failed and scarcity of funds or resources. Whatever it took to explain their situation and demonstrate their solidarity with the people affected and people at large. They could have sat there for at least couple of hours every day or night and showed their concern.

Instead, Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil went in hiding; R R Patil repeatedly put his foot in his mouth with his arrogant stance. Not once they were any apologitic! Shows they are completely worthless. This I say to them:
Any shame in you, resign and go away!

Edit: 1/12: Good news: Shivraj Patil lost his Home portfolio to P Chidambaram. Also it is very likely late today, Deshmukh and RR Patil will also be asked to step down.
Interestingly and very sadly, I would like to add that, the cheapness of politicians is not limited to specific party. Others are also equally worthless, shameless and good at putting thier foot right into their mouth.
Mr L K Advani and Rajnath Singh has no time to attend all party meet on security today; busy campaigning you see, of course with his Z level security through NSG commandos - after all votes is more important than any security for people at large
Mr Narendra Modi offers 1cr compensation to Mrs Karkare widow of ATS chief Karkare! Surely Mrs Karkare threw back the money offered right back at his face!
Mr VS Achudanandan lands up at Mr Unnikrishnan, Sunil Unnikrishnan's, home uninvited! Mr Unnikrishnan quite right showed him the door!
BJP ofcourse wants to make hay while the sun shines, hoping for this terror attack to bring down UPA govt; BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar, demanded that the UPA government should resign taking responsibility for its “failure” to handle internal security! Well it does sound great but my question, why did Narendra Modi and Vijayraje Scindia not resign after the bomb blasts? Even LK Advani did not resign after the Parliament attack. Also what exactly did they do after it? Except ofcourse spend tons of money and put troops on the border to do nothing!
So this is what I have to say next:
Please Mr Politician do not open your mouth to put your foot right into it. Its just to sickening to hear conscienceless people. We, the people of India, do NOT want to hear stupid remarks and political statements.

FIGHT BACK! BUT HOW?

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/angry-india-asks-how-much-is-too-much/79401-3.html
Underlining the popular sentiment, Shobhaa De began the debate with a "fight back" war cry. “Mumbaikars are burning with rage and are looking for leadership that the city has spectacularly failed to provide. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh says there was information but not specific ones. As if terrorists will call and inform the CM about the locations they intend to strike! I have never heard such a ridiculous statement," she said.

I can agree too much with Shobha De! Its not a failure of any security group at all, it is failure of our security establishment as a whole. We need some different way of handling this kind of terror, the old police and intelligence will NOT work.
The other questions which comes to my mind are
1. Why did Vilasrao had to physically land in Mumbai to take decision? Had he left back his brains and mouth in Mumbai? If he had them where ever he was ( in Kerala reports say) why his brains didn't tell him that strike at multiple places is not something his resources can handle and ask for NSG immediately? He called Home minister Patil at 11pm! That is like at the least 1hour late.
2. Why NSG needed IL76? Why couldn't a private airline boeing be asked for? It took from 11pm to 5.25am to reach Mumbai? Why couldn't security agencies think of better logistics? Also the basic question, if NSG is based at one location, Why do they not have their own transport? Did the home minister need a mainframe computer to tell him that it is logical requirement for a security agency of this kind?

I understand Shivaraj Patil the National home minister has resigned. I demand for whole of Maharastra government's head. They need to go. In fact I demand even Indian Prime Minister should submit his resignation and work as 'care taker' government for 2-3months which is time left for national elections. Go away Deshmukh, R R Patil and Mr Singh.

More questions:
3. Why the same old lethargic people being considered for Home Minister post? P. Chidambram? How is he going to give fresh ideas on security? Why is no security specialist being considered? Why can't someone from outside (maybe a career IPS?) being considered? Why no out of box thinking? [The basic parliament membership need can be easily handled through Rajya Sabha membership?] I would be happy even if at the least someone young someone of this century like Rahul Gandhi or Milind Deora could be considered, the likelyhood some 'fresh' ideas could be much more.

Could the answers be..

1. to bring peace in region by converting the LoC to international border? This will remove the 'dispute' status and maybe reason for special focus on India from extremist organization. No, this will NOT be giving in to the extremist forces. We have to realize we have not had those regions outside of LoC for more than half a century! We are not really losing anything. Yes the logistics of such declaration should not escalate into another 1947, for which this will need to be done under eyes of UN or even a special body under UN.

2. Then we can look at strengthening our borders and coastline. Maybe even having constant patrolling in areas in high seas near international border with Pakistan.

3. A strict decision to NOT allow any movement of people across borders, maybe for a decade to start with. Its just too risky!

‘Don’t give air time to politicians’

India Today reports that TV channels across the country have been flooded with calls, text messages and emails from angry and disturbed citizens asking for politicians not to be given any air time to express their grievances, views, or political statements.
A text message from fashion designer Wendell Rodricks reads, "Dear friends, please use your influence with friends in media, especially television for not giving any coverage or sound bytes to politicians who will now come crawling out with their excuses and accusations as well as hiding their own inefficiencies."
Well I'd like to agree completely! PLEASE yes just as a dedication to the hundreds of people who got killed or injured in this attack, if nothing else, let us NOT allow these politicians to make a mockery of this loss!

Type 'SALAAM' and sms to 56388 to dedicate your thoughts to the heroes of the country. This is a service done to nation by NDTV

Hamare liye kuch mushkil nahi hai

The words ring in my brain, these are the words of a NSG commando, just after the Taj operation which last the longest for 59hours and also was most difficult due to layout of the oldest hotel of India, Taj Mahal Palace; as he finally reacted to Times Now reporter persistent asking about how difficult the whole operation was !!
Isn't it amazing, an immense amount of learning, some sort of mantra! This is the way to live!
Hamare liye kuch mushkil nahi hai

Save Pakistan To Save Us All

Well I echo thoughts of writer of this article. There is no way any government, any security agency beat the terrorist in this cat and mouse games in wide coastline and humongous populated country. How can one keep eye on every inch and every person of the country. Terrorism cannot be answered with traditional methods. The way I can think is by going to the crux of the matter and thus pretty obviously to our neighbor Pakistan!
I have copied the editorial in verbatim and acknowledge it as the writer Gautam Adhikari IP.
Save Pakistan To Save Us All
9 Nov 2008, 0034 hrs IST, Gautam Adhikari
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/TOP_ARTICLE__Save_Pakistan_To_Save_Us_All/articleshow/3770216.cms
The ferocious cruelty and unprecedented nature of the terror strikes in Mumbai may have left many in the world gasping at the daring and meticulous planning of the operation. There's also some mud on India's face as a result. But this is an excellent opportunity for New Delhi to try bold thinking and some sorely necessary plain speaking.
To start with, call a spade what it is. It's Pakistan. Much of global terrorism today, not just what hits India, emanates or is planned from Pakistan. Just take a few instances that are obvious to all in the know but the world's eyes seemed, till recently, reluctant to see.
Look at how Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who masterminded the 9/11 operation of 2001, was captured in Pakistan; notice how Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri are hiding and leading al-Qaeda from Pakistan, or the Pakistan-Afghan non-existent border, for years; count the jihadi terrorist groups that work from inside Pakistan who seem to enjoy considerable flexibility of movement within that country despite promises of crackdowns made periodically by the Pakistani security forces. And that's not all.
Recall that the US confronted Islamabad, to apparently little avail, with evidence of the involvement of Pakistan-inspired elements in the July bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul; wonder how the world's premier nuclear smuggler and rogue proliferator, A Q Khan, can lead a low-profile, yet comfortable and virtually unexamined life in Pakistan while being under so-called house arrest, with no one from the rest of the world allowed to go near him; and, to gently remind everyone of India's concerns, Dawood Ibrahim a terrorist by any official standard continues to be sheltered by Pakistani security forces.
No, Pakistan's people are not the problem. To the contrary, it is the people and their future in other words, the viability of Pakistan's state and economy that the world must get together to stabilise and help prosper. There's no time to lose.
The world doesn't have to believe New Delhi, which has been warning about the threat of an unhinged Pakistan for years. Everyone in the know of things now sees the threat clearly; the point is to undertake a global approach to tackle the problem head-on.
Stabilising Pakistan which means genuinely democratising its polity and helping its economy grow back to a sustainable level of prosperity in the medium term will help ensure a viable future for the nation and its people, thereby beating the menace of Islamist extremism that provides ideological energy for jihadi terror. An unstable and economically desperate Pakistan, on the other hand, will continue to promote terrorism under the guidance of the ISI, which helps a corrupt military establishment keep its stranglehold on power by citing external threats and warning of chaos as the alternative to their remaining in effective charge despite the recent transition to civilian rule.
The world must call the Pakistani military's bluff and quickly. But the answer can't be a military one, except in the very limited sense by which sporadic raids are carried out by outside forces and unmanned aircraft or missiles into the badlands on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, where the Taliban and al-Qaeda leadership run free. US president-elect Barack Obama perhaps sees the problem of Pakistan in stark outline, more so than the Bush administration for most of its tenure had cared to see. But increasing allied troop levels in Afghanistan alone won't be able to deal with the crux of the problem.
The crux of Pakistan's problem lies within that country, specifically in the country's military establishment. Remember it ain't Iraq, which itself is still not amenable to a military solution after five years of fierce armed intervention. This is a larger country, with a complicated terrain, and it genuinely has weapons of mass destruction which its armed forces would cleverly threaten to use if push ever came to real shove.
No, the answer might lie in a concerted global effort, at ensuring, first, the sustainability of Pakistan's democratic experiment. And, second, in pouring in as much assistance as required, under strict supervision of not just the IMF but perhaps a specially designed international political-economic authority that would oversee the country's direly needed transition from military domination to democratic viability.
In short, the world, under the newly assertive leadership of an Obama-led United States, must devise a Marshall Plan for Pakistan. Such an effort will require the support of not only the traditional G-7 powers; it must have the cooperation of India and, most importantly, China, which is Pakistan's all-weather friend.
If China, and to a large extent Saudi Arabia, can be persuaded to weigh in with their considerable influence financial as well as strategic over Islamabad, implementing a global plan to pull Pakistan out of chaos might actually succeed. And India should quietly help such a plan from the sidelines as a close ally, as it has become today, of the US.
If, however, China and Saudi Arabia choose to continue to offer their shoulders for Islamabad's military establishment to lean on in order to extract sustenance financial and strategic indefinitely, there won't be any hope of devising a global rescue plan for Pakistan. In which case, we might as well give up any serious hope of fighting terror. The export of the Pakistani-Afghan mayhem to the rest of the world will continue merrily.

Is anyone listening?

Terror attack on Mumbai

I have no words to explain the pain and anguish at this act of cowardly terrorists! My prayers for all who have been affected by this tragedy.
Edit 28/11:
Oh the sights on TV about terror still alive in Mumbai! My heart goes out to the hostages still in the hotels and Nariman House.
I REALLY wish if there was a way out! There is NO point blaming the government or security agencies or even intelligence. The circle of hate is coming back to hit us. Yes, deep inside I do think the 'Babri Masjid' incident was the ignition to this extreme terrorism in India. IF only it had not happened! I can debate that the terrorist strikes won't have been even 5% of what they are now. Anyways what is done cannot be undone!
Interestingly the game of politics is probably the only gainer of this terror strike! Various politicians are trying the gain political mileage and are shooting off their mouth and even trying hard to accomodate their feet there! One such politician claims "Islamabad's "blatant violation" of UN conventions" !!!!!! I can only embarrasingly laugh, IF Islamabad had any control on all this terror would they have let their Mariott be bombed? Would their own daughter of soil lost her life? Sheer stupidity! Sadly a big chunk of population in that politician's home state, listens with admiration! I would rather listen to Prime Minister's "disappointing" address than his extremely shameful speech which only points finger at everyone else! I would like to know what was he upto when his own city was being bombed in serial blasts!

Well, let me not fall prey to such cheap and senseless political environment.
What can I do? Is there anything which I can do to reduce the terrorism even by an iota?

Cruelty

This is second case which I have come across where normal looking, seemingly educated people have meted out immense cruelty on their under-aged servants. The question is not whether they worked according to the requirements of the employer or not, even not whether they might have stolen money or other items; Question is does the employer has any right to beat the under-age servant? Another bigger questions is, how long will we turn blind eye towards child labor? Why did the neighbors and relatives not question the employers?

Boy pays heavy price for Rs-5 bread
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov242008/scroll20081124102462.asp?section=updatenews
On Saturday evening, Latha asked Vijay to buy some goods from a nearby shop. The boy went to the shop and bought the goods. The shopkeeper returned him a balance amount of Rs 5 which Vijay used to buy bread as he was hungry. When he returned home, Latha asked him for the balance amount. When the boy said he had bought bread with the money, a fuming Latha beat him black and blue and hit him on the head with a piece of wood several times and put him in a room. After some time, she branded him with a hot iron on his legs, hands, stomach and face.

Minor girl working as help rescued in Gurgaon
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Minor_girl_working_as_help_rescued_in_Gurgaon/articleshow/3689889.cms
Reportedly, one of Lakhi's eyes was swollen, three of her teeth were broken and there were burn marks on her arms and back. Lakhi complained it was because she was burnt with a hot pan on several occasions. Worse, she had head injuries as she was reportedly thrashed against the wall.

I have taken a decision, if I ever come across child labor; I am going to question the employer even if it is my neighbor or relative AND report it to police.
My request = You also do the same.

History made

Congratulations to Americans and Obama for making history - first African-American to hold the nation's highest office!

Vacation Time!

Yes! Its vacation time! A full three weeks vacation for me!

Unashamed greed!

Yes, strong words, I know but this is what comes to me every time I read news items like this.
These Wall St bosses took home over $1 bn!
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/oct/08sd1.htm
In the midst of a financial turmoil that has raised questions, among other things, about fat executive pay packets, a media report listed out 12 top Wall Street bankers who collectively took home over $1 billion (yes, $1 billion!) in the past five years.
The total take-home pay of the 12 bankers, current and former chiefs of some of the biggest names in the US financial space, stands at $1.053.15 billion during 2003-07, as per data compiled by The New York Times.
Text: PTI, Agencies
Well, let the common man end up in streets, let old people's lifetime saving get wiped out, let parents savings for their child's education reduce to pittance; THE executives who are responsible for the blood bath in financial sector, unashamedly rake in tons of money!
Kali kaal :) I guess!

How many women need to be raped

How many women need to be raped before the men relish their victory?
Everyday I see news of women being raped! A few days back it was a nun! Today I read a Hindu orphan girl mistook for a christian raped and murdered! Something in common I've seen is be it communal divide, geographical divide or any conflict; not just India but world over, be it east or west, men have to rape women to prove their victories!
Oh I cannot stop writing sentences with enough exclamations but its extremely sickening; I must say men should hang their head in shame. Its not their victory, actually its their failure. This is the Ravana in them and not Rama.
We sure need a Maha Kali to avenge this dishonor on womankind.

The Solitary Reaper

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass !
Reaping and singing by herself ;
Stop here, or gently pass !
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain ;
O listen ! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands :
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings ? –
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago :
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day ?
Some natural sorry, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again ?

Whate’er the theme, the maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending ;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending ; –
I listened, motionless and still ;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

- William Wordsworth

Sajjanpur, Big Boss, this and that

Well I caught yet another new movie this weekend. 'Welcome to Sajjanpur' or 'Mahadev ka Sajjanpur' as the censor board certificate mentioned. Earlier this year when I saw 'Kismet Konnection' I thought that was very sweet movie made quite rare in bollywood; well rarity happened twice this year !! 'Welcome to Sajjanpur' is extremely sweet movie which is comic and thought provoking at same time.
I also updated myself with things happening in 'Big Boss 2' and was quite amused at the histrionics happening there. Surely entry of Diana Hayden has brought about some amount of sanity. I like the way Diana speaks all so mature and practical. Surely she seems beauty with brains! Her cool as cucumber attitude might just win her the game! Then I think, the boys would surely try to vote her off! Well anyways all this does make the program very interesting to watch. I actually watch it online! who has time to watch it late in night and then keep patience with many breaks of boring endless commercials!
Anyways, in both the movie 'Welcome to Sajjanpur' and 'Big Boss 2' just like Shilpa Shetty commented, there is no dearth of 'characters' and their peculiarities which make them extremely entertaining. I just can't imagine how a reality show could become as engaging and conflicting as a saas-bahu serial !!
Also another highlight of the weekend was the amazing 1000kg blast in Mariott Islamabad! wow, did you guess see [on tv/news] the crater the blast made? and also the CCTV footage! All I can say is WOW, what all can anger and hate make people do! I REALLY wish I could ask those Al-Qaida people, what did they achieve? Most of the near 60 people who lost their lives were drivers, security or staff of the hotel! Mostly poor and middle class people who have literally no say in either local government decision or least of all world politics! Has taking these lives helped al-Qaida's cause any way at all? Does their Allah allow such killings in name of Jihad? These people were likely thier own kin in some ways, at least by way of common faith! So in my opinion all what Al-Qaida has done is kill their own! So what is the point they are try to make?
In the same way many activists of Bajrang Dal have believed to have attacked and ransacked various churches in areas in and around Mangalore. They have even ransacked a prayer hall of nuns of a special order which only does prayers 24x7 and do not even interact with outside world! I believe the Bajrang Dal is against the coerched conversions but then 99% of churches which they ransacked do NOT do that at all !!! These dim-witted people even lack basic understands of various orders in christianity! Something like some American manhandled some sikhs after the 9/11 relating their 'pagadi' as similar to Osama !!!! I wonder if some Americans even think, Obama is some distant relation to Osama ! I won't be surprised.... so what is really these people's point at this violence?? Sadly this stupidity is not even amusing that these people who cannot even differentiate between right and wrong have immense amount of physical power to bring enough hurt in people! That 40 feet wide and 25feet deep crater stands witness.
Seriously speaking, I think these 'terrorist' are nothing but bunch of lunatics who have completely lost their mind! We need some very intelligent pyschologist who can cure these people's mental disease.

Protesting against communalism

Everyone would have read about widespread violence in Mangalore, Karnataka. I understand that number of churches were destroyed and christian protesters were physically harmed even when the protest was non-violent! Shame on the local police to have either supported or being meek bystander in the process. Down with these people who in name of religion bring harm to others. As a devout Hindu, I would like to disown these people who are trying to claim Hindu support. Surely NOT! I protest against harming of unarmed non-violent people who mean no harm to others.
I do not support forced conversions from one religion to another, which I do understand is quite common in India. Drones of missionaries land up on our shores with plan to 'enlighten' supposedly dark minds. I wonder how can a closed mind open minds of others! This is as serious as the terrorism harming countries worldwide. In name of religion christian missionaries are polluting local culture. I wish I come across one such missionary and have an argument against religion conversions. In the same breath, I'd say Indian Federal or state governments have to bring in specific laws banning this practice of conversion without which these people have all the lawful rights to influence gullible rural poor people into conversion.
Someone said this before, not sure who, I may not agree with what they say but I will support all out that they have all the rights to say and do whatever they want to say and do !!!!!!

Do you agree?

Socialism

Well, the bailout of Freddie Mac, Fannie May and AIG by US Federal Reserve had me thinking! I guess the middle path of socialism is the right way to go rather than extreme capitalism and communism!
I am happy that on twenty-sixth day of November, 1949 "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC ", Under social equality, everyone has equal status and opportunities. Economic equality in this context means that the government will endeavor to make the distribution of wealth more equal and provide a decent standard of living for all.
Does this make sense to everyone or I am extrapolating illogically?

Video Eyewear

Everytime I see some interesting video on my mobile or laptop or for that matter even TV, I wished I could see it in much bigger frame and clarity but not using a projector for which I need a huge plain wall or screen and rest of paraphernalia!
I ask the web using Google if there is something like a portable bioscope of olden times! and lo behold, there is not one but many companies offering their wares in this sphere and such things so to speak are called 'Video eyewear'! Seriously, this is the ultimate cool stuff to put on ur nose and step into the world of entertainment.... this is something on TOP of my wishlist........
Here are two examples:
Vuzix: AV920
The AV920 from Vuzix features our best mobile experience yet; a wearable virtual 62” big screen compatible with almost any audio/video device. Ditch your small screen and watch your movies with portable DVD players or personal media players in beautiful, crystal clear high resolution 2D and 3D. The AV920 also works with your video iPod! A small built in lithium ion battery allows for 5 hours of continuous use, and the iWear’s lightweight and ergonomic designs ensures long use in perfect comfort. The AV920 offers the ultimate big screen experience on the go.
ezGear: ezVision
ezVision X4 Video Glasses offers you a 64" virtual screen that fit like a pair of glasses. The ezVision X4 Video Glasses are ultra lightweight, weighing less than 4.0 ounces. With built in earphones, an 5 hour rechargeable Lithium ion battery pack, iPod Video* & DVD adapters, and the included wall charger, you canenjoy movies, music videos, cartoons, and podcasts. ezVision takes the “home” out of home theater and makes a portable wide-screen experience…well..ez.

One Wednesday

One Wednesday, 10th September 2008, the world will be enlightened!
No, I am not talking about the bollywood movie which released last week! I am talking about the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of Council for European Research Nuclear (CERN) in which the scientists will send out two beams of subatomic particles in opposite directions, to collide in the center of the detector leading to not only production of immense amount of energy but also maybe some special type of particles which scientists think exist but have never seen or felt them!
This link gives details on the need of the experiment -> http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/LHC/WhyLHC-en.html
I am pasting details of the experiment from NY Times article here
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/science/09collide.html?ref=science
The collider, 14 years and $8 billion in the making, is the most expensive scientific experiment to date. Thousands of physicists from dozens of countries have been involved in building the collider and its huge particle detectors. It is designed to accelerate protons to energies of seven trillion electron volts — seven times the energy of the next largest machine in the world, Fermilab’s Tevatron — and smash them together.
In recent weeks, there has been a blitzkrieg of papers and predictions on what might or might not be discovered, by theorists eager to get their bets down before the figurative roulette ball drops or the dice begin to tumble.
At stake is a suite of theories called the Standard Model, which explains all of particle physics to date, but which breaks down at the conditions that existed in the earliest moments of the universe. The new collider will eventually reach temperatures and energies equivalent to those at a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. There are many theories about what will happen, including the emergence of a particle known as the Higgs boson, which is hypothesized to endow other particles with mass, or the identity of the mysterious dark matter that provides the invisible scaffolding of galaxies and the cosmos.
But nobody really knows for sure, which is part of the fun, but which has led to a few alarming claims that the collider could spit out a black hole or some other accidental phenomenon that could end the Earth or the universe. Those claims have been vigorously rebutted by a series of safety reports and studies, the most recent of which was published last week in The Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, a peer-reviewed journal.
The director general of CERN, Robert Aymar, said in a news release, “The LHC is safe, and any suggestion that it might present a risk is pure fiction.”
Even if its critics are right, the end is not nigh. For now, the beams will only be circulating, not colliding, in what is more of what Tommaso Dorigo of the University of Padua called a “mediatic” event on his blog, dorigo.wordpress.com. The intensity of the beams, he wrote, “will be more or less like that of vehicles on a dust trail in Arizona, and our detectors will be like poor souls dozing on the side, thumb up for a hitchhike in case a car stops.”
The first collisions, at a non-Earth-shattering energy of 450 billion electron volts apiece, will not happen for another couple of weeks or so. And it might take a month or two to ramp up the proton energies to five trillion electron volts — as high as the machine will go before shutting down for the winter — and collide them.
The whole world will be watching. Information on how to join them is here: lhc-first-beam.web.cern.ch.
Just FYI: India has made financial contributions to this project and is one of the observing nations.

Amitabh Bachchan

http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/2008/08/27/day-126/

We cannot all excel all the time; we cannot choose to direct all as we wish; we cannot but improve but by learning from experience…. collect yourself, dismiss the noise and bother of all other troubles in your life, give over your spirit to embrace your work. It is your best, most powerful and most enduring lover, your most devoted prayer to the Gods..

I was as usual browsing Mr Bachchan's blog and as usual was quite impressed by his writing skills. Today's post describes in details how goes time before a show. Makes a very interesting read. I am pasting the part text here. I guess with due credits its quite valid! I would like to document this in MY blog........... or maybe not :) ones who are interested can jump to this link here http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/2008/08/27/day-126/
But I can't help post here a part which absolutely touched my heart strings:

I work. I work for the love. I work for the affection. I work for the flying kisses. I work for the waving hands. The happy tears. The smiles and the exuberance. The squeals and screams of joy and happiness.
This is my stage. This is where I perform. This is where this mass of humanity has put me. I will give them all and more. And more. And more !!
This is my work, my most enduring lover. My most devoted prayer to the Gods !!
I hold nothing back. I cannot. In prayer or in love. I continue, trance like minute after minute after minute.
How the four hours pass is a mystery. The smiling faces and screams in the audience, the yelps of enthusiasm back stage.
And then just as suddenly as it started, it ends…..
I am back in the car. Quiet. Contemplative.
Thank you Lord for making me who I am and thank you Lord for giving me the Mother and Father you gave me !!
I sit silently on my bed.
And without asking or warning a tiny tear, slides down my cheek.
Ah ! the Lord heareth me !!
- Amitabh Bachchan

bigb.bigadda.com

Independence Day

Independence = the quality or state of being independent = self-governing =having control or rule over oneself; specifically : having self-government
This independence day, I make a promise to myself of having control over myself! I will let go of my past and not let it 'control' me in way at all.
An addition done after a thought: I would like to spread awareness of Solar power across our country. Scarcity of power has been one of big limitations of our country. We have probably ignored the biggest power source which belongs to everyone in this world! Our Surya devata, Sun! Well, I googled and saw commercially available solar products from house of Tatas
http://www.tatabpsolar.com/prod_gallery.html

Here is link to their regional offices: http://www.tatabpsolar.com/regional.html

Balika Vadhu - Kacchi umar ke pakke rishte

For the first time I would suggest everyone to watch this serial on the idiot box. For the first time in my notice is a serial which really looks are problems faced by women in this patriarchal society. Especially in rural areas where superstitions, traditions and customs are dice loaded against women in every aspect social, economical, psychological and even legal in some ways. I really wish women at large watch this program and learn or rather their eye open to the reality!

Set in rural Rajasthan, ‘Balika Vadhu’ traces the arduous journey of child bride Anandi from the brink of childhood to womanhood. Married at the tender age of eight, to an equally young Jagdish, she enters a new world which is at once alienating and confusing. and torn away from the merriment of childhood and her family, she has to accept and accustom herself to this new family of strangers, new relationships and accept her roles as a friend, lover, wife and a mother as she forges her way in the world. ‘Balika Vadhu’ very sensitively portrays the plight of children who are unwittingly forced into marriage, in the name of tradition, and have to bear the repercussions for the rest of their lives.

Friendship

Well this post is inspired by Juneli's post on Love. Well I read her post and was a bit thoughtful. Yes Love is an interesting emotion! Thinking a bit further I felt intrigued by 'Friendship'. One might call friendship a specific pattern of love but its all the more interesting behavior because usually in commonly seen love patterns there is some or other kind of reasoning or formality of relationship but friendship probably has the least. I think friendship is the most altruistic and selfless type of love between two individuals.
I liked what wikipedia has to say about friendship and thus I am simply copying and pasting it over here from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship
Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more beings. This article focuses on the notion specific to interpersonal relationships. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:
* the tendency to desire what is best for the other,
* sympathy and empathy,
* honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
* mutual understanding.

Actually I think it makes sense to have friendship in all relationships one has. I think it will strengthen your relationship, be it your parents, sibling, children or even spouse. Why! I would even say bring in friendship to workplace, hhhmmm.. , its very difficult to be 'friends' in workplace but at least try bringing camaraderie! If you are able to reduce the formality of relationship and bring in informal friendship in it, believe me, your world can be a much peaceful. I think two key points works for friendships, one is lowering of expectation and increase of acceptability. Would you expect your roommate friend to wake up early morning and cook for you? You would just curse a bit about the clutter he makes and get on with your things!

Well well, I pray my friends circle becomes as much as the globe!

Kismet Konnection

'Yes Boss' is one of my favorite movies and so is 'Chaltae Chaltae'; Both of them are quite typical love stories told in not so typical way. Latest movie by Aziz Mirza is yet another such movie. One you'd want to see again and again. Nothing great about story, characters, not even Shahid, Vidya and Juhi but just the combination is just sweetest of the love stories. A 'must see' recommendation from me. Don't be too critical of Vidya Balan, she looks absolute lovely girl next door she portrays in the movie. Yes Shahid is ultra delicious chocolate boy next door. This kid is GOOD in ALL departments, looks, screen presence, dialog delivery, twinkle in eyes, restraint and yes, acting genes from his dad are really superb. My joke is Shahid is Shahrukh + ultra chocolate looks + Acting .. deadly combination .. it also seems some of Shahrukh's good luck has rubbed off on Shahid too :) More power to you Shahid.
check out this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-_EwPx6V4
Bakhuda... tumhi ho, Har jagah, tumhi ho...
haan main dekhun jahaan jab... uss jagah... tumhi ho... ye jahaan... tumhi ho, wo jahaan... tumhi ho...
iss zameen se falak ke... darmiyaan... tumhi ho...
tum hi ho... beshubaa.... tum hi ho...
kaise bataayein tumhe... aur kis tarah ... ye... kitna tumhe hum, chahte hain...
sayaan bhi tera dikhe... to paas jake... uss mein simat hum jaate hain...
raasta... tumhi ho, rehnuma... tumhi ho...
jiski khwaahish hai humko... wo panaah tumhi ho...
tum hi ho... beshubaa.... tum hi ho...
tumhi ye saanson mein... tumhi jazbaaton mein... tumhi lamhaaton mein... tumhi din raaton mein...
kaise bataayein tumhe... shabb mein tumhaare... khwaab haseen jo aate hain...
kaise bataayein tumhe...lafz wo saare... jism ko jo mehkaate hain...
iftidaar... tumhi ho, intehaan... tum hi ho...
tum ho jeene ka maqsad... aur wajah tumhi ho...
Bakhuda... tumhi ho,
Har jagah, tumhi ho... haan main dekhun jahaan jab...
uss jagah... tumhi ho... ye jahaan... tumhi ho, wo jahaan... tumhi ho...
iss zameen se falak ke...darmiyaan... tumhi ho...
tum hi ho... beshubaa....tum hi ho...
tum hi ho.... mujhmein haan tum hi ho.... tum hi ho....tum hi...

Crude Oil Eyewash?

Well, Here is an interesting statistics which I understand are from Bank of Kuwait as per http://www.oil-price.net/
Can some one make me understand that why is that if cost of producing Oil is so less then why price of crude oil is upwards of $125? Well it did tumble nearly $16 over a week. I am sure it will tumble to $100 soon.
My thinking is that it will remain there for a long time with the push and pull logic whatever it is. One thing is sure that there is indeed no basis for such a price rise except mere speculation. I do understand that [ am i wrong? check Opec site] that there are indeed known reserves of oil to last this planet for another half century. Newer oil fields are discovered on daily basis sometimes even couple of billion barrels!
Thus ladies and gentlemen, I would like to question raising of the crude prices to three times within a year and putting economies of many countries in jeopardy as some sort of conspiracy!! ;) :D

Discovery

A company that will go to the ends of the earth for its people
will find it can hire them for about 10% of the cost of Americans
;)

Having seen so much life in my lifetime, very few things surprise me but I saw this news item and just the picture made me skip a heart beat and feeling breathless!
http://www.ddinews.gov.in/National/National+-+Other+Stories/fgfgf.htm
Around two-inch wide and five-feet-long iron rod pierced through 23-year-old Supratim Dutta’s body and remained embedded for 90 minutes but he survived and recovering at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
The rod entered Dutta's body from the front on Saturday when his car rammed into a construction site on Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.
It remained embedded for one-and-a-half hours before he was taken to AIIMS.
A meticulous surgery was carried out on the HCL executive as a result of whom he is surviving.
"When he was brought to the hospital, we saw that an angle (rod) had pierced through the upper part of his abdomen and had come out of the thorax (chest) on the left side of the body," said Dr M C Misra, head of the department, Trauma Centre, AIIMS.
Even in that condition, he gathered strength to call up his family and friends for help.
"Locals had gathered by that time and managed to cut the angle and rushed him to the trauma centre," said one of Dutta's friends.
"When he was brought here, we saw that the rod had missed his vital parts, like the kidney and the heart," said Dr Biplab Misra, another surgeon who was a part of the team that conducted the surgery. Misra said this was the main reason for Dutta's survival too.
Another reason for Dutta's survival is that the rod was not extricated from his body.
"When the rod passes through the body, important blood vessels get punctured and the rod itself seals them. It is like a nail stuck in a tyre. If it is taken out, the tyre gets punctured. Till it is in, the tyre remains blown up. The same happened when the angle pierced through his blood vessels," said another doctor who did not want to be identified.
"Had anybody tried to take that rod out, Dutta would have suffered immense blood loss, leading to his death. But luckily he was brought with the angle in," Dr Misra said.
A team of anesthetists, trauma centre specialists and surgeons and workers from the blood bank struggled for nearly six hours and contributed to his survival.
"Several of his organs, including stomach and spleen, had been damaged when he was brought in. It is one of the rare surgeries. We had to be careful as one wrong move would have cost the life of the patient," said Dr Misra.
Dutta's condition is now stable and he will lead a normal life, said Dr Misra.

Well, My faith in someone really up there has increased. Also, some learning - Use presence of mind. Human body is pretty strong, more than body its our mind which needs training. I remember reading somewhere, the usual reasons of death in accidents or even bullet wounds is not the wound but loss of blood and shock. If one can contain that, you can bear almost anything.
Before closing, good luck and best wishes to Supratim Dutta. I guess I don't need to say God bless, He is indeed blessed but still God Bless!

Are you more knowledgeable than Dr Kalam, Mr Karat?

ah well, no I am NOT aligning myself to left right or center! Just a thought cropped my mind and I wrote this blog. The political drama or should I say circus happening in media amuses me no end. The million dollar or rather billion dollar Question is about the nuclear deal with US. Is it in national interest or not? Here is what Dr Kalam says,
The Hindu Friday, Jun 27, 2008
Bangalore: The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Thursday favoured India signing the nuclear deal with the U.S., saying that it would benefit the country which needs uranium supplies till thorium reactors are ready.
Mr. Kalam, speaking on the sidelines of the International Conference on Aerospace Science and Technology organised by the National Space Laboratories to mark the institute’s golden jubilee celebration, said “the pact will help us.” — PTI

Ahem... I guess most of the world knows Dr Kalam's credentials to speak on the subject matter, and I will surely take his word on this.
Mr Karat, Gen Secy of CPI(M) who seems to speak for the entire left does not accept or not even really care what Dr Kalam says. Actually it seems to me, He (and the left) are not really even bothered about the treaty, their problem is that its with US and not China!! BJP and rest of opposition is just too happy with left abandoning the govt and asking for blood. Their only objective seems bringing down the government by hook or crook!
National Interest, wotz that??? whatever it is, surely can't be mixed with politics :)

Women in religious office

First and foremost, I'd like to clarify that I am not intending on showing any religion in bad light instead only put forth my personal view on this particular matter of current news.
Vatican says Anglican church's plan for women bishops 'a step backwards'
Indian City Opens Doorway to Female Hindu Priests
I surely don't like the idea of allowing only 'Male' human to take up clergy position. In this 21st century I think Vatican is being completely backward in not recognizing rights of all humans irrespective of their gender or choices. Why are women second class citizen of religion? I wonder why billion people who are Roman Catholic Christians not question this! I am happy that Hinduism has take step in right direction or rather realized that there is no hierarchy in faith! Hinduism has acceptance for everyone irrespective of gender or choices. I wish I could find more information on reasons why Vatican is so much against women bishops ( and I am assuming here it includes even priesthood). I am also looking for reasons why in catholics Priest cannot marry.
This is very similar to an intriguing fact that United states of America gained its independence in 1776 but women's suffrage happened nearly century and half later in 1920! I noted following interesting information from wikipedia
Women's suffrage denied or conditioned
* Brunei — Women (and men) have been denied the right to vote or to stand for election since 1962.[18]
* Lebanon — Partial suffrage. Proof of elementary education is required for women but not for men. Voting is compulsory for men but optional for women.
* Saudi Arabia — No suffrage for women. The first local elections ever held in the country occurred in 2005. Women were not given the right to vote or to stand for election.
* United Arab Emirates — Limited, but will be fully expanded by 2010.
* Vatican City — No suffrage for women; while most men in the Vatican also lack the vote, all persons with suffrage in Papal conclaves (the Cardinals) are male.
Isn't it interesting that Vatican is grouped with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates? :)

Meaning of success

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is the meaning of success.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I saw this on Big B's blog and remembered that I had posted the same in my blog also probably a year or more back. My mind started a status inquiry, have I been successful? Here is the dissection:

• To laugh often and much; ---> Yes I do that often and make efforts to keep humor in my life, my thought is Life is fatal, no point being serious about it :)
• to win the respect of intelligent people ---> My work helps me here, I try to keep my curiosity and hard work in sync, I thank God that He has given me enough IQ as well to gain decent respect from intelligent people; surely its visible in their eyes when I am able to add value to our conversations
• and the affection of children; ---> basic courtesy and ample attention is all what is required to gain affection of children, even though I am child-less, I have understood this from my interactions with children
• to earn the appreciation of honest critics ---> Again my work helps here, no one signs on the dotted lines and pays top dollars for my creative solutions without 'critical appreciation' :)
• and endure the betrayal of false friends; ---> ah well, this is touche' ..all I can say is yes, I barely managed to 'endure' .. yes it took all my energy and life spirit to come out of betrayal of friends who claimed to be true friends but weren't
• to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; ---> doesn't come natural but I indeed make efforts to see good part of others and turn blind eye to bad part ... another saying comes to mind... love like you've never been hurt ... tough but my conscience says thats the way girl!
• to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. ---> Yes indeed ... this is indeed work in progress... believe me, nothing brings more peace to heart than to know that one life has breathed easier because you've done something

*smiles* *smiles* yes, indeed I am a successful woman! I surely have no regrets and also no wants no asks, even if I breathe my last just this moment. :-)

Asian Woman day out!

Everyone likes to be pampered every once in a while. One transforms into a child like state when our loved ones shower us with pampering. Well, now that I have no family living with me, I decided to pamper myself with a whole day spent in a spa. Also that the "pamper" really is felt I chose - Maharani for the Day package to indulge and be pampered like Royalty.
I entered a candle-lit room filled with aromas from exotic essential oils, surrounded by plants and sounds of trickling water, you are one with nature. The massage with a secret combination of herbs such as jamu together with hot compressors will lull you to deep sleep. This was followed by Hot Stone Therapy. Relax and unwind as dark smooth stones glide on your body. A combination with Swedish Massage with aroma oils and the heated stones is deeply soothing and relaxing. The stones are left at specific points of the body that stimulates a flow of energy that is relaxing and therapeutic. This was followed with an aroma bath of milk, exotic flowers and secret oils that make your skin supple and smooth as silk.
It didn't end there, After a nice hot lunch of nice north Indian cuisine; You walk along a pebble strewn path surrounded by plants and water features and climb wooden steps to your private hut. The Spa Therapists thoroughly cleanse, groom and restore the condition of your hands and feet. Relax while you soak those precious peds in the warm bath strewn with rose petals and essential aromatherapy oils. Skin is softened with a secret scrub, exfoliation and mask. The pedicures also include a heavenly lower leg massage with foot reflexology and acupressure.
Pamper those lovely hands as they soak cuticles in special lotions for maximum hydration and softness. It also includes a scrub mask to gently ex-foliate the hands and arms with pure essential aromatherapy oils, followed by a deep relaxing hand and arm massage, shaping of the cuticles and nails and finally, the polish of my choice.
Asian Woman Spa

Movies

Oh well, I guess every one knows by now that I am a movie buff! I think its great that Moser Baer is making VCD/DVDs affordable at less than fifty rupees.
Check http://www.moserbaerhomevideo.com/index.aspx
I recently bought a special set of six movies of one of India's greatest directors Guru Dutt. My dad, also a Guru Dutt fan, and I sat and watch all these movies over the weekend.

Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila
Humne To Jab Kaliyaan Maangi Kaaton Ka Haar Mila

Bichhad Gayaa Har Saathi Dekar Pal Do Pal Ka Saath
Kisko Phursat Hai Jo Thaame Deewane Ka Haath
Humko Apna Saaya Tak Aqsar Bezaar Mila
Humne To Jab...

Isko Hi Jeena Kehte Hain To Yunhi Ji Lenge
Uf Na Karenge Lab See Lenge Aansoo Pee Lenge
Gham Se Ab Ghabraana Kaisa Gham Sau Baar Mila
Humne To Jab...

TV usually drones in the background, sometime playing cricket, other times bringing breaking news and most times plain singing music. I've never been a fan of the idiot box but I do love watching bollywood movies on it. Occasionally some interesting serials come up like Tu Tu Mein Mein, Office Office which has caught my attention and earlier I used to make it a point to see them.
Well, after a long time, I saw a serial on TV which moved me to tears, literally! The show is “Naya Roop Nayi Zindagi”. Yes, its that 'extreme makeover' desi makeover!! I have seen couple of episodes of 'Extreme Makeover' but it just amused me, that all. The desi version, maybe because I related to the Indian participant, really touched my heart. The first episode especially was really a heart-wrenching story of a teenager. The makeover was indeed extreme, she was transformed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. You can see the episode online @ http://www.apnicommunity.com/naya-roop-nayi-zindagi/49935-naya-roop-nayi-zindagi-1st-episode-1st-may-08-a.html
Not that I believe in outer beauty and not the inner beauty but face is indeed the showcases of one's personality. Though I might try my best to be unprejudiced by what I see but stark truth is that most of the world does not. As a beautiful face and body turns people's head with acceptance and admiration; an ugly face and body can bring sneer in rejection. The flaws on the face hides the true personality and I think it become important to bring clarity on it so that the inner confidence and beauty sparkles through.
I also like that apart from physical transformation, the show also tries to enhance one or other skill of the person to build much more confidence. The teenager in the first show loved dancing but was stage shy due to her looks. The show got her to join Shamak Davar's Dance classes and she indeed performed brilliantly in later part of the show.
For once, a reality show which truly touches human lives and transforms them in a very positive manner. The show really builds back the confidence of people who have had some shocking and heart breaking incidents in their lives. My compliments to the show team and also the concept originator.
PS: I must share also that I doubly relate with the participants of the show because I myself went through similar transformation process myself. The change is NOT so drastic but good enough for my ego boost :-)

Tanhayee

Tanhayee Tanhayee
Dil Ke Raaste Mein Kaisi Thokar Maine Khaayi
Toote Khwaab Saare Ek Mayusi Hai Chhayi
Har Khushi kho Gayi Zindagi so Gayi
Tumko Jo Pyaar Kiya Maine To Saza yeh hai Paayi
Tanhayee Tanhayee Milo Hai Faili Huvi Tanhayee

Khwaab Mein Dekha Tha Ek Aanchal Maine Apne Haatho Mein
Ab Toote Sapno Ke Shishe Chubte Hai In Aankhon Mein
Kal Koyi Tha Yahin Ab Koyi Bhi Nahin
Ban Ke Naagin Jaise Hai Saason Mein Lehrayi
Tanhayee Tanhayee Palko Pe Kitne Aansoon Hai Laayi

Kyon Aisi Umeed Ki Maine Jo Aisi Naakaam Huyi
Door Banayi Thi Manzil To Raste Mein Hi Shaam Huyi
Ab Kahan Jaao Main Kisi Ko Samjaon Main
Kya Maine Chaha Tha Aur Kyon Kismat hain layi
Tanhayee Tanhayee Jaise Andhero Ki Ho Gehrayi

Curtsy - Movie 'Dil Chahta Hai' - Javed Akhtar Saab

Ethics

The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction
b: plural but sing or plural in constr : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
c: a guiding philosophy
d: a consciousness of moral importance
3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)
Ethics is a major branch of philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life. It is significantly broader than the common conception of analyzing right and wrong. A central aspect of ethics is "the good life", the life worth living or life that is satisfying, which is held by many philosophers to be more important than moral conduct.

A basic set of eight such principles has been suggested by Resnik, David B.:
Non-malificence: Do not harm yourself or other people.
Beneficence: Help yourself and other people.
Autonomy: Allow rational individuals to make free and informed choices.
Justice: Treat people fairly: treat equals equally, unequals unequally.
Utility: Maximize the ratio of benefits to harms for all people.
Fidelity: Keep your promises and agreements
Honesty: Do not lie, defraud, deceive or mislead.
Privacy: Respect personal privacy and confidentiality.

I try to follow the above said principles in my life and happy to report that in my thinking I have been quite successful in doing so. Question though is how many people believe in these in today's world. In my experience, there are two principles which are surely ignored the most, Fidelity and Honesty. In my thinking Fidelity is a form of honesty, cause if you are not keeping your promises, well, you are lying! Many people just go ahead and say whatever comes to their mind to get out of sticky situation, some times even to demonstrate love or affection. Even though many religious texts and literature is full of examples of how sometimes lies or part lies are used to achieve a noble ending, I do not believe that is correct in any ways. Lie is a lie, avoid it as much as possible. I agree, its not easy to live an honest life in this 'Kali kaal' times but try as much as possible to not bend yourself to dishonesty.

Reminds me of really old Billy Joel's number
If you search for tenderness, it isn't hard to find.
You can have the love you need to live. But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind. It always seems to be so hard to give.

Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you.

The next question is obviously, WHY? Why should any one be ethically right? I have no answer to that. Religious answer that you'd go to hell or heaven depending on your acts in this birth is quite questionable and a matter of faith. I think that the only logical answer is that this is the correct way to lead a life in a society, to ensure that society raises its level of happiness and prosperity for its constituent and does not fall into lawlessness.

'Krazzy 4' case highlights Bollywood's copyright woes

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Krazzy_4_case_highlights_Bollywoods_copyright_woes/articleshow/2952337.cms

Well, by now everyone would have already read or heard about this case. This is my understanding, Rajesh Roshan, the music director of Krazzy 4 liked some parts of Sony Ericson's advt. and wanted to use it in his song. Roshans approached Sony Ericson and got a no-objection letter from them. Now the twist in the tale is that I believe that Sony Ericson has no right to the tune! yes thats another part of discussion as to why is that IPR is NOT with the buyer of services to render to advt but with the composer!! but we will come to that later. Thus the NOC given by Sony was not worth much but presumably unknown to Roshans who went about releasing the music and working towards releasing the movies. In the meanwhile, Ram Sampath who was the original composer decides to stick in a court case right at the time the movie is to be released and tries to get a stay on the movie. Roshans panic and pay like 2crores !!

Now here is MY opinion, without much 'law' knowledge, going by common sense and ethics, I would say that Ram Sampath has acted in a very unethical manner! This is surely obvious in the way he waited till the last moment to stick in the court case after about six weeks of release of movie's music! Also, IF he was indeed ethical he should have NOT accepted out of court settlement or may be not at the least the kind of money he took from Roshans. That was sure shot taking advantage of someone's weak position! The court case and the stay order was all over the news so courts would have delivered justice sooner or later but Ram Sampth taking money from Roshans showed his intent was not really to get justice on plagiarism, if he didn't have any clue about Sony Ericson's NOC; but plain unethical extortion of money!

Well, for this exact reasoning I am completely FOR, yes for, NOT having any copyrights at all. Logistically its next to impossible to track and most often than not the copyright owners decided on exorbitant value of their IPRs. Take for example the DVD releases, One can get DVD originals of older movies for like Rs 40, but for newer movies it can be anywhere between Rs200 to 500!! This shows lack of ethics in the entertainment industry itself! They want to take the public on a ride and exhort money for public's interests in the movies! Even after making like Rs 100crore plus on movies, they still want to price the DVDs steeply at Rs499! Then when the DVD gets rampantly copied and sold in secondary market, they sit and complain about piracy!! Well, my point is they deserve it! :-) :D

PS: One day I want to also write about lack of ethics in todays world. I seriously think that lack of ethics leads to lack of guilt and repetition of wrong doing and makes this world worse place to live in. I remember reading an article to that affect as well; hhmm another day I will surely write about that.

Calangute, Goa

I am happy to report back from a super trip of Goa!
Am I happy about getting back? naaaaaaaaah! I could spend my life in the beach shack! My retirement plans are changed now, any one wants shares of Moonie's beach shack in Goa?

Bored

boredom

Main Entry:
bore·dom Listen to the pronunciation of boredom
Pronunciation:
\ˈbȯr-dəm\
Function:
noun
Date:
1852

: the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest

Leo Tolstoy: Boredom: the desire for desires. - Anna Karenina

30 things every woman should have and should know by the time she’s 30

http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/articles/2007/02/haveandknowby30

This 1997 Glamour article has become a popular web chain letter, usually titled “Maya Angelou’s Best Poem Ever.” Glamour contributor Pamela Redmond Satran is flattered, but she wrote the list, updating it in 2005.
By Pamela Redmond Satran
By 30, you should have:
1One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13The belief that you deserve it.
14A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
1How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2How you feel about having kids.
3How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
4When to try harder and when to walk away.
5How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8How to take control of your own birthday.
9That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
10That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
13Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15Why they say life begins at 30.

Random thoughts

I have not posted anything for past couple of weeks now. I guess I am having something like a blogger's block 'cause I can't think about any one topic to post a proper post. I decided that I'd just post my thoughts in the meanwhile.

One of my most reoccurring thoughts is a realization which has dawned on me about importance of visible beauty in our society. I might want to deny it but the world still looks at waif-like pale faced woman as beautiful. Beautiful women are always sought out, may it be for an alliance, preference in work areas or even just a smile. People become benevolent to beautiful women. The idea seems same about men too but I ain't sure.

Most people out there have no clue about Religion and more so about religion they follow. You'd be amazed by sheer percentage of people who just blindly follow rituals and think thats religion.

Fear of unknown seems to me as the biggest fear people have and that seems to dictate all major decisions in people's lives. Its quite contrary to the fact that nearly everything about the future is unknown and uncertain! Strangely, no decisions are taken keeping in mind the unknown! Sounds strange na? Think about it!

Last but not the least, I finally have started to understand the enormous meaning of 'this too shall pass'; the enormity is so huge that there isn't words to explain it any more.

A Safer India

I guess, this is what Mrs Kiran Bedi is upto after resigning from her job at Indian Police Service! Check out this website http://www.saferindia.com

This is a site of an NGO started by Ms Kiran Bedi you can go to this site an log your complaint regarding any crime if the police at your place is not accepting your complaint. Then this NGO will mail your complaint to the DGP of your area. You can also use this mail as the legal document in case of filing a case in the court of judgment.
This is to be noted that this site is directly administered by Ms Kiran Bedi so all your mails directly goes to her .

Friends spread this information in your network so that any one in such need can go to this site and launch his/her complaint.

PS: I was sort of disappointed though to see the website pop many errors; I hope they work on it and iron out the issues ASAP.
Update: I sent SaferIndia.com a feedback about broken links and lo behold! I got a reply from none other than Mrs Bedi herself!!! Wow! Well, Yes, the links have been fixed and the site is up and running without any errors.

Love Actually: Coma can't put a fullstop to this tale

I was so touched by this news story that I just had to post it here to share with world at large! Well,
hai sabhee kuchh jahaan me, dostee hain wafaa hain
apanee ye kamanaseebee, hum ko naa kuchh bhee milaa hain

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/love-actually-coma-cant-put-a-fullstop-to-this-tale/58970-19.html

Mumbai: College romances are meant to be fun, laughter and companionship. But for 23-year-old Sunny Pawar, companionship has assumed a new meaning.

His girlfriend, Aarti Macwan, met with a serious accident a year-and-a-half ago and has been in coma ever since.

Sunny says Aarti - his girlfriend of of two-and-a-half years - was a cheerful, independent girl. But now she needs to be cared for 24 hours a day.

“I spent 15 months with Aarti before the accident and 15 months after. It’s those 15 months that have forced me, motivated me and given me the determination to go on,” says Sunny.

Sunny was a student before the accident but he has now given up his studies to take care of Aarti. He feeds her, keeps her clean, talks to her and takes care of all her daily needs.

Aarti's mother Bharati Macwan can only marvel at this young boy whose role has transcended way beyond the regular boyfriend.

“He is a male member and taking care of my daughter and serving her like anything even before marriage. He' s her boyfriend, he's her father,” she says.

Struggling with financial difficulties and the inevitable depression, Sunny pins up poems and positive messages on the wall opposite Aarti’s bed.

And even though this unique couple isn't bound in a marriage, they are already living their vows - together in sickness and in health, till death do them apart.

All of India is mine!

Yes, Mr Raj Thackeray, you are highly mistaken and also just shrugging off that your party members are not responsible for deaths in Nasik does not resolve you of the responsibility you hold as a leader of a party which you incited into mob violence! You indeed did incite hatred between communities which were living quite peacefully.
Yes, you can keep harping about protecting Marathi manush rights but I stand for only rights of an Indian. I also have complete right to speak which ever language I feel comfortable in and find viable to communicate even if it is not the local language. Your Marathi manush has all the rights to go to any part of India and find employment too. Yes he can keep speaking in Marathi if he so wishes and is able to get his thoughts across!
Its so obvious that Mr Raj and like-minds are only doing this to gain political mileage. A case so similar to BJP's agitation at price rise of petrol and diesel; gasoline is hitting $100/barrel in international markets but BJP is against the raise in prices by Rs.2! This is called as playing with people's sentiments and gaining political mileage!
Mr Raj Thackerey chooses to close his eyes on the development of infrastructure, well being of the country as whole and inevitable movement of people across states in search of employment. Haven't lakhs of people moved from all parts of country to cities which are IT/ITES centers? That also includes the 'Marathi manush'!
I am not really for suppressing the local culture especially since thats what makes our country so colorfully diverse and vibrant; but one cannot suppress development and change! Due to the winds of change some local flavors are surely going to get mixed up with other prevalent cultures. We should be ready to accept these changes too! Gol-gappas will be called pani-puris and Aloo-tikki will renamed batata-vada etc.
I really do wish Mr Raj Thackerey reads this and it drives some sense into his brains. I would repeat my demand for apology from Mr Raj Thackerey to not just people of India but also poor migrant workers in Maharastra from whom Mr Raj Thackeray's party stole bread and water since they had to leave their only livelihood and go back to their villages in hope that things would settle down and they could come back to their jobs and give their families a better living.

Are you listening Mr Thackerey? kaay vichaar kara? ei changala nahi! :-) :D