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2010-02-01T14:44:00.001+05:30

I have written the title this time, quite skeptically. We are always told that India was very rich in the medieval times. Please note the claim, ‘medieval times’, not the ‘ancient times’. Many exaggerations of the same are also spread, like ‘pots of gold used to exist in every home’, etc. and etc. In the ancient times, I am quite sure India along with many other nations of the present – day was super rich. But, as far as the medieval times go, most people would amalgamate the medieval era with the ancient era.

There remains a basic difference between the two. In ancient time, India was rich along with its people. In medieval era, India, and even China, for that matter, might be rich as compared to other then-existing world nations. But, were its people rich as compared to other nations of the time? The answer remains no.

In India, it is a common thought in the minds of the people that in the medieval era, the present day developed nations were all poor. That would include the United States, Canada, Oceania (Aus and NZ) and the whole of Europe, while same would have a favorable view on China’s prosperity. USA and Australia were definitely unheard places then but what can we say the same in case of Europe?

There was this interesting piece of read that I found in ‘The Post – American World’ by Fareed Zakaria. I am pasting the relevant passage here. The statistics that are cited are in turn taken from Angus Madison’s book, ‘The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective’. It reads:

We

have lived in a Western world for over half a millennium. Despite the rise of other nations and continents, the shadows of the West will be long and its legacies deep for decades to come, perhaps longer. It has become commonplace to say that actually China and India were as rich as the West right up until the 1800s. The dominance of the West, according to this perspective, has been a 200-year blip, and we are now returning to a more normal balance. This statement also implies that the West's advantages may be largely accidental—the result of "coal and colonies," that is, the discovery of a cheap energy source and the domination of the rich lands of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This view, which embraces a multicultural sensibility that denies any special status to the West, has its political advantages. But while it may be politically correct, it is historically incorrect.

One reason for this misinterpretation is that analysts often focus solely on the total size of the Chinese and Indian economies. Historically, this has been a misleading statistic.

Until the modern age, a country's economy could not be mobilized, extracted, or put to use in any meaningful sense. The fact that in, say, the seventeenth century, millions of peasants in remote and unconnected corners of China were working the land in grinding poverty did not really contribute to the nation's usable wealth or power, even though their output added up to a large number. Population was the main ingredient of GDP, and production was largely agricultural. Since China and India had four times the population of Western Europe in 1600, their GDP was, of course, larger. Even in 1913, when Britain was the world's leading power, with cutting-edge technology and industrial production and trade many times larger than all of Asia's, China could claim a greater total GDP. In studying the preindustrial age, before big government, communications, transport, and broad-based taxation, aggregate GDP alone tells us little about national power or a country's level of advancement. It doesn't say anything about the dynamism of the society or its ability to make new discoveries and inventions. And it was mastery in these areas that gave a country new ways to create wealth and its government power.

We get a much clearer picture of the real standing of countries if we consider economic growth and GDP per capita. Western European GDP per capita was higher than that of both China and India by 1500; by 1600, it was 50 percent higher than China's. From there, the gap kept growing. Between 1350 and 1950—six hundred years—GDP per capita remained roughly constant in China and India (hovering around $600 for China and $550 for India). In the same period, Western European GDP per capita went from $662 to $4,594, a 594 percent increase.*

European travelers in the seventeenth century routinely pointed out that Chinese and Indian living conditions were well below those in northwestern Europe. The economist Gregory Clark calculates that in the eighteenth century the average daily wage of a laborer in Amsterdam could buy him 21 pounds of wheat, in London 16 pounds, and in Paris 10. In China, a day's wages would buy about 6.6 pounds of wheat (or its equivalent). Clark has also examined records to determine differences in the number of famines, which points in the same direction. The West, in short, was more prosperous than the East long before the eighteenth century.

So, there are enough stats and facts kept out there in the passage to enlighten us on the same. The education, innovation, research what the Western countries produced ensured that they would stay ahead of the rest far easily. Even today, the same continues and I do not see India and China turning out the research centers anywhere remotely! That would require an altogether different post, as there was some interesting read on the same in ‘India Unbound’ by Gurucharan Das. Answer lies in education and innovation again though.

On an interesting note, China and India still do stand as the world’s 2^nd and 4^th largest economies of the world. One of my earlier posts is written on the same.

That was an interesting eye opener!

2010-02-01T14:44:00.000+05:30

We

have lived in a Western world for over half a millennium. Despite the rise of other nations and continents, the shadows of the West will be long and its legacies deep for decades to come, perhaps longer. It has become commonplace to say that actually China and India were as rich as the West right up until the 1800s. The dominance of the West, according to this perspective, has been a 200-year blip, and we are now returning to a more normal balance. This statement also implies that the West's advantages may be largely accidental—the result of "coal and colonies," that is, the discovery of a cheap energy source and the domination of the rich lands of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This view, which embraces a multicultural sensibility that denies any special status to the West, has its political advantages. But while it may be politically correct, it is historically incorrect.

One reason for this misinterpretation is that analysts often focus solely on the total size of the Chinese and Indian economies. Historically, this has been a misleading statistic.

Until the modern age, a country's economy could not be mobilized, extracted, or put to use in any meaningful sense. The fact that in, say, the seventeenth century, millions of peasants in remote and unconnected corners of China were working the land in grinding poverty did not really contribute to the nation's usable wealth or power, even though their output added up to a large number. Population was the main ingredient of GDP, and production was largely agricultural. Since China and India had four times the population of Western Europe in 1600, their GDP was, of course, larger. Even in 1913, when Britain was the world's leading power, with cutting-edge technology and industrial production and trade many times larger than all of Asia's, China could claim a greater total GDP. In studying the preindustrial age, before big government, communications, transport, and broad-based taxation, aggregate GDP alone tells us little about national power or a country's level of advancement. It doesn't say anything about the dynamism of the society or its ability to make new discoveries and inventions. And it was mastery in these areas that gave a country new ways to create wealth and its government power.

We get a much clearer picture of the real standing of countries if we consider economic growth and GDP per capita. Western European GDP per capita was higher than that of both China and India by 1500; by 1600, it was 50 percent higher than China's. From there, the gap kept growing. Between 1350 and 1950—six hundred years—GDP per capita remained roughly constant in China and India (hovering around $600 for China and $550 for India). In the same period, Western European GDP per capita went from $662 to $4,594, a 594 percent increase.*

European travelers in the seventeenth century routinely pointed out that Chinese and Indian living conditions were well below those in northwestern Europe. The economist Gregory Clark calculates that in the eighteenth century the average daily wage of a laborer in Amsterdam could buy him 21 pounds of wheat, in London 16 pounds, and in Paris 10. In China, a day's wages would buy about 6.6 pounds of wheat (or its equivalent). Clark has also examined records to determine differences in the number of famines, which points in the same direction. The West, in short, was more prosperous than the East long before the eighteenth century.

2010-01-17T10:40:00.001+05:30

Right from printing press, which spearheaded the flow of ideas, to railways, the single most impacting invention ever, to the recent computer and internet, we have had set of inventions. But, this is not really the age of inventions. It is dominated by small and big 'innovations' that ease the way our already established inventions work. Ahh, without getting much jargonic, let me put up what I want to say.

This was a nice email forward and is taken from ForwardedEmails.Com . Imagine, how much they will ease our life.

Real Smart and cool inventions

SMART CUP

Smart cup in which you can put 2-3 of your favourite cookies. You don’t need extra plates. It’s made for right handed and left handed.

BANANA GUARD

Are you fed up with bringing bananas to work or school only to find them bruised and squashed? Banana Guard allows you to safely transport and storage individual bananas letting you enjoy perfect bananas anytime, anywhere.

LOCK-CUP

Lock Cup – Anti-Theft Coffee Cup. Are you tired of others stealing your coffee cup? Well now there’s a solution. The Lock – Cup has a hole which prevents most people from using it. Only the owner of the cup can use his/hers shaped key to close the hole.

PENGUIN TEA TIMER

Making tea, though easy to do, is also time consuming. Once you pour the hot water into the cup, you must patiently hover over it, waiting for the tea to steep. Well, the Penguin Tea Timer happily does the waiting for you.

Place your tea cup under the beak and set it to the desired time. As you turn the timer dial, the beak lowers the tea into the hot water. When time is up, a bell sounds and the penguin automatically lifts his beak, removing the tea bag from the water.

TRANSPARENT TOASTER

You love toast, but you always burn it? Than, this invention us for you.
This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you just have to take it out when the colour is right. This idea is based on a transparent heating glass technology.

BUTTER CUTTER

One Click Butter Cutter controls your portion as an important part of staying healthy. This ingenious butter cutter delivers one standard pat with each click of the handle. I liked the name though, it sounds rhyming, 'butter cutter'.

GIANT REMOTE

Never lose your remote again!
With giant buttons, this extra-large remote is easy to use and impossible to lose. It’s a 6-in-1 remote so you can use it to control your TV, VCR, DVD player, satellite, cable and auxiliary A/V device. It even features glow-in-the-dark buttons, so you can easily find the remote in the dark.

DAYCLOCK

What day is today? You don’t know? Then you need a DayClock. It’s uniquely designed to keep track of weekly events like your golf day, card night, movie night, and so much more. It’s ideal for vacations and cruises when it’s easy to lose track of the day.

CRIME SCENE TOWEL

Chalk outline crime scene beach towel – be the coolest person on the beach!

LASER SCISSORS

Laser ScissorsCutting a straight line has never been easier. Just aim the pin-point laser and follow the line. The scissor blades are stainless steel and cut very clean with a micro serrated edge.

ILUMINATING CAR SLIPPERS

Do you get up at night to drink water, go to the toilet…Do you wish you could see in the dark? Remarkably bright LED lights are triggered by your footsteps and light up the floor 30 feet in front of you; ultra-soft plush style are extra comfortable and cozy warm.

INFANT PILLOW

The Zaky is an ergonomic infant pillow designed by a mom to mimic the size, weight, touch, and feel of her hand and forearm to help her baby with comfort, support, protection, and development. The Zaky can help calm your baby and help your baby sleep better through the night.

TRAVELER’S PHRASE BOOK T-SHIRT

If you are traveling a lot and don’t always know the language of the country you are visiting, then this T-shirt is for you. It has a phrase book printed on it so just point a finger at the pictogram you need and then point it twice at the question mark, which means, “Where is it?” and in no time you have found what you were looking for… or not.

MODERN LADDER

Realy cool modern ladder. I am not sure whether it would balance itself as the person on it properly.

WHEEL-MOVING BENCH

Whether you want to sit on the sun or in the shade, near the river or under the tree… now you have your movable bench, to sit wherever you like.

2010-01-17T10:40:00.000+05:30

Dooordarshan – Advertisements of the Doordarshan Times!

2010-01-02T22:20:00.001+05:30

First of all, happy new year and new decade to you, folks! :D

This one proved to one of the best pass times on the internet in my case some time back. Watching old ads! The ads are not just simple and naïve, but they get you a nostalgic feeling too. Were they really good or not, I do not know, but that was the only option to view then! Some of them would still make for good ads in today’s world. Please have a look.

Gold Spot Zing Thing

In the second ad in the video, it is Kitu Gidwani! Total YouTube hits: 15k approx.

LIRIL Ad 1985

This was the reshot of ad in 1975. The 1975 ad featured Karen Lunel, an airhostess with Indian Airlines in green bikini on the only national channel then! It was fine in those days as much as it is now. There were rumors that she died in a fatal accident. The accident did happen, but she survived after some stitches. This ad was only to ascertain that she is alive. Oh, and LIRIL is still my favorite soap, from childhood. I never knew the reason why I liked this soap particularly, but it seems this is the reason! Okay, there is a reason to bath daily now. Economic Times interviewed her in August 2009 and they contacted her through her son’s comment on her own YouTube video! She lives in New Zealand. Total YouTube hits: 2,22k approx.

DoodhDoodh Doodh

This was a much advanced ad compared to others but this had two different version of the ad. This one was shorter so I thought of embedding here. Total YouTube Hits: 31k approx.

Jalebee

Dhara Dhara Shudh Dhara! This was the famous ad where a boy wants to leave home but goes back home because of his temptation for Jalebees! Total YouTube hits: 275k

Surf Lalitaji

I don’t know in which years was this commercial famous, but noteworthy is its last line, ‘jee haan, Surf ke kharidari me hi samazadaari hain’ (Buying Surf makes sense). But at the same time, when the above line is being said; it shows two bottles of same size, one of half kg, and other of 1 kg! What makes sense? Total YouTube hits: 75k

Fevicol

The video shows Rajkumar Hirani as the model in it, who is also the director of the ad. He is the director of Munnabhai series. Total YouTube hits: 58k

Chal Meri Luna!

This one is my favorite. Small, simple and the jingle is melodious as well as it fits well with the rhyme used. But, I do not see any particular company name behind this! I think it was promoted by the Govt. to encourage more people to buy lunas. I don’t know! Total YouTube hits: Only 32k

Jab Main Chhota Bacha Thaa – Bajaj

This one is only 20 seconds long and you will suddenly recall the jingle of the ad. It is hard to forget it! It is from the times of '80s. Total YouTube hits: Only 18k

Lijjat Papad

Karram kurram, kurram karram! This is the ad that featured the famous ‘speaking doll’ by Sharad Padhye of the ‘90s. Have a look. Total Youtube Hits: 20k approx.

Cadbury Cricket Ad!

Just watch this! The model doesn't seem to dance naturally out of joy and not as a part of the commercial! There are many other good Cadbury ads with the same motivating lyrics, which you can get by clicking on the video below and then searching for 'Related Videos' in YouTube. Total YouTube hits: 11k approx.

There might be many more interesting ones out there on the web. These were just a sample!

Dooordarshan – Advertisements of the Doordarshan Times!

2010-01-02T22:20:00.000+05:30

2009-11-13T01:38:00.001+05:30

It is no slightest doubt that everyone in India has experienced what really is global warming. The average temperatures have gone up in the last few summers, and even the winters and rainy seasons are showing abnormalities from their behaviors over the last few years. Indeed, this is ‘global weirding’ or rather ‘climate crisis’ that would define the thing better.

But, what really caused global warming? Industrial revolution for one, heavy pollution caused by it another and there might be numerous such reasons. But, how do we know that we have landed in a state of global warming? Of course, anyone who has experienced summer in any part of India would know better. But, any symptoms that would convince the rational mind? Yes, in fact there are many. If you haven’t seen Al Gore’s documentary, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ you must watch it once. I would rate it 5 stars, as it is a must watch for everyone today. From the official website of An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore, I could get some science behind this. The symptoms are listed below and are sourced from the website climatecrisis.net (official website of An Inconvenient Truth). Do visit the website, it has a good music track played once the website is accessed. Other initiatives from Al Gore are the website of WeCanSolveIt, TakePart, RepowerAmerica.

[caption id="attachment_286" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Image from www.cranberg.com"][/caption]

Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising.

The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence.¹ The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.

We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.

The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.²
Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.³
The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.⁴

At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.⁵

Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.⁶

Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.⁷

Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.⁸

More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.⁹

Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.

¹ According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this era of global warming "is unlikely to be entirely natural in origin" and "the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence of the global climate."
² Emanuel, K. 2005. Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years. Nature 436: 686-688.
³ World Health Organization
⁴ Krabill, W., E. Hanna, P. Huybrechts, W. Abdalati, J. Cappelen, B. Csatho, E. Frefick, S. Manizade, C. Martin, J, Sonntag, R. Swift, R. Thomas and J. Yungel. 2004. Greenland Ice Sheet: Increased coastal thinning. Geophysical Research Letters 31.
⁵ Nature.
⁶ World Health Organization
⁷ Washington Post, "Debate on Climate Shifts to Issue of Irreparable Change," Juliet Eilperin, January 29, 2006, Page A1.
⁸ Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. 2004. Impacts of a Warming Arctic. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Also quoted in Time Magazine, Vicious Cycles, Missy Adams, March 26, 2006.
⁹ Time Magazine, Feeling the Heat, David Bjerklie, March 26, 2006.

2009-11-13T01:38:00.000+05:30

The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.²
Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.³
The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.⁴

At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.⁵

Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.⁶

Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.⁷

Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.⁸

More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.⁹

Absurd Heights!

2009-09-09T22:50:00.001+05:30

> 1. What is height of Fashion?
> Ans : Dhoti with a zip .

>
> 2. What is height of Secrecy?
> Ans : Offering blank visiting cards.

>
> 3. What is height of Active laziness?
> Ans : Asking for a lift to house while on a morning walk.

>
> 4. What is height of Craziness?
> Ans : Getting a blank paper Xeroxed.

>
> 5. What is height of Forgetfulness?
> Ans : Seeing the mirror and trying to recollect when you
> saw him / her last.

>
> 6. What is height of Stupidity?
> Ans : A person looking through a keyhole of a glass door.

>
> 7. What is height of Honesty?
> Ans : A pregnant woman taking one and a half ticket.

>
> 8. What is height of Suicide?
> Ans : A dwarf jumping from the footpath on the road.

>
> 9. What is height of De-hydration?
> Ans : A cow giving milk powder.

> 10. What is Height of Kanjoosi ?
> Ans : Banta's house has caught fire and he is giving
> miss calls to the Fire brigade!!!

Absurd Heights!

2009-09-09T22:50:00.000+05:30

2009-07-23T01:44:00.001+05:30

There are aplenty of hopeless people around the world. Did they all become hopeless all of a sudden, or did they have any choice? Understanding this is complex. However, I believe terrible helplessness at some point of time makes people hopeless. If they ever had any other choice, they would opt for it!

[caption id="attachment_272" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="Image from www.emotionalcompetency.com"][/caption]

This is a song (as well as the whole movie) portrays the helplessness of six different people who are close friends. I have been listening to the songs of this movie, Kaante, since it was released, and I never got bored. Oh, but I felt somewhere I am missing one song out of the movie (which I had heard a lot sometime) and upon Googling for the lyrics, I got it back! Do not know how but I accidentally seem to have deleted this song back. Maybe, because it was Punjabi and I did not even get an essence of it then. It is 6 years that I am listening to the songs of this movie, but I happened to watch this movie only yesterday night on Star Gold.

I am yet to come out with any better movie that portrays the helplessness of people in personal lives so precisely. All actors were great, but Mahesh Manjrekar (originally a director) stood different as an actor in this, and so did Sanjay Dutt. Kumar Gaurav and Amitabh were great as usual. Suniel Shetty and Lucky Ali did not have many dialogues as always but their body language spoke a lot.

As such, this movie is ‘inspired from’ Reservoir Dogs, but many have told me that this one is better presented. Whatever, this post is about the song and not the movie. The song will show the helpless situations of the six friends in the video itself. I found it touching. It is originally in Punjabi, and I got it translated from a Punjabi speaking friend.

I wish I should have heard it daily for the last 4 years!

By the way, this song appears in the movie when Amitabh’s wife (played by Rati Agnihotri) is about to die and Amitabh wishes to get her back. He has no one to live for except her. He is asking for his own thing to God, but he cannot get it. The initial lines are in Punjabi, next two in the brackets are in Hindi, and the last two are in English. If you know any one of the three languages, you will understand! :D

Yaar Mangiyasi Rabba Tetho Ro ke, Kedi Main Khudaai Mang Laayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke
Kedi Main Khudaai
(Yaar manga tha Rabba Tujhse Ro Ke, Kaunsi Maine Khudaai Maang Li
Mar Jaane De Kisi Ka Mujhe Ho Ke, Kaunsi Khudaai)

I only asked for my dear (wife), I did not ask for your (God’s) kingdom

Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom...

Kinniya Duawan Mangga, Koyi Vi Na Manni Jaaye
Kaanu Roz Roz deve sanu dhokhe
Kedi Mein Khudai
(Kitni Duayeein Mangu, Koi bhi Na Mani Jaaye (or sunee jaye)
Kyun Roz Roz De Mujhe Dhokhe, Kaunsi Khudaai)

How many times I’ve prayed, not a single one is reaching you,

Why give me trauma everyday? I did not ask for your kingdom…

Pyaar Mera, Kar Rabba Mere Hawale, Yaar Bin Dil Mera Kaun Sambhale
Cheez Apni Hi Mangi Maine Tuhjse, Kedi Mein Paarai Manglaayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke, Kedi Main Khudaai
(mera pyar, kar mere hawale rabba, yaar ke bina kaun dil sambhale
cheez apni hi mangi thi maine tujhse, kaunsi parrai (kisi aur ki) mang li
Mar jaane de mujhe kisi ka hoke ..kaunsi khudai....)

Give me my love (wife) back, who will look after me without my dear?

I have asked for something of my own, did I ask for anything of others?

Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom...

Mera Ye Naseeba, Hai Meri Nahin Sunta
Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunta
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kedi Mein Khudai
(meri ye kistman , hai meri nahi sunti Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunti
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kaunsi Maine Khudai)

O my luck, doesn’t even listen to me, weaving out dreams of its own daily and daily,

Sometime listen to my two lines of prayer, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom.....

2009-07-23T01:44:00.000+05:30

Yaar Mangiyasi Rabba Tetho Ro ke, Kedi Main Khudaai Mang Laayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke
Kedi Main Khudaai
(Yaar manga tha Rabba Tujhse Ro Ke, Kaunsi Maine Khudaai Maang Li
Mar Jaane De Kisi Ka Mujhe Ho Ke, Kaunsi Khudaai)

I only asked for my dear (wife), I did not ask for your (God’s) kingdom

Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom...

Kinniya Duawan Mangga, Koyi Vi Na Manni Jaaye
Kaanu Roz Roz deve sanu dhokhe
Kedi Mein Khudai
(Kitni Duayeein Mangu, Koi bhi Na Mani Jaaye (or sunee jaye)
Kyun Roz Roz De Mujhe Dhokhe, Kaunsi Khudaai)

How many times I’ve prayed, not a single one is reaching you,

Why give me trauma everyday? I did not ask for your kingdom…

Pyaar Mera, Kar Rabba Mere Hawale, Yaar Bin Dil Mera Kaun Sambhale
Cheez Apni Hi Mangi Maine Tuhjse, Kedi Mein Paarai Manglaayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke, Kedi Main Khudaai
(mera pyar, kar mere hawale rabba, yaar ke bina kaun dil sambhale
cheez apni hi mangi thi maine tujhse, kaunsi parrai (kisi aur ki) mang li
Mar jaane de mujhe kisi ka hoke ..kaunsi khudai....)

Give me my love (wife) back, who will look after me without my dear?

I have asked for something of my own, did I ask for anything of others?

Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom...

Mera Ye Naseeba, Hai Meri Nahin Sunta
Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunta
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kedi Mein Khudai
(meri ye kistman , hai meri nahi sunti Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunti
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kaunsi Maine Khudai)

O my luck, doesn’t even listen to me, weaving out dreams of its own daily and daily,

Sometime listen to my two lines of prayer, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom.....

2009-07-22T19:04:00.001+05:30

Okay, I am back to post after a long time. I had lost internet connection for some time, courtesy rains and courtesy BSNL. Well, I do not want to write anything with facts and stats, analyses, on economy, business, politics or whatever this time, or rather from now onwards. I have not even been in touch about current affairs from some time, as all the time I am busy enjoying and watching movies.

This last month, I watched some four movies, starting from Paying Guest, then Terminator Salvation, and finally Transformer: The Revenge of the Fallen. After these three, I watched a movie named Gunda. Most people call it a cheap B – grade flick, and adding to it the fact that Mithun – da has acted in it, most elite watchers leave it there. Nevertheless, then even most people believed that the earth is flat and it turned out wrong, right? This is a logical fallacy called as Argumentum ad populum.

Right from the start until the end, the movie is full of rhymes, and one cannot stop oneself from enjoying it! The comments about the movie on IMDB seemed great, and I do not think any B – grade movie has ever achieved any feat like that. In Transformers, the hero is saved so many times that it becomes hard to believe the stuff we watch. However, in Gunda, the villain has to save himself some 200 times! There are aplenty of unbelievable stunts, but after I saw Transformers, do not know why but I found it less stupid!

Overall, it is a great comedy pack with action that would put behind the Terminator (s). Caution, it is to be viewed only by above 18, and I would rather not recommended it to females because of the tremendous cheap obscenity. Ishrat Ali was at his best! The names of characters are Lamboo Ataa (played by Ishrat Ali), Pote (Mohan Joshi), Bulla (Mukesh Rishi), Chutiya (Shakti Kapoor), Ibu Hatela (Harish Patel), etc. Noteworthy fact is that these actors have acted in many quality movies, even by 1998. There is everything from fighting with bare hands to even rocket launchers. I think this movie has even sparked an inspiration for a video game series where Mithoon would be the protagonist, on a mission to kill the villains one by one.

These are some of the dialogues from the movie and I believe they are the greatest in any movie I ever saw! And they were all delivered at some serious scenes in the movie, which makes it all the more enjoyable! I think the actors couldn't have stopped themselves from laughing.. Wonder to whom the Best Dialogue Award went in 1998... You need to watch the actual movie to enjoy these and some other great ones! Comment below and let me know which one you liked. :D

Bheegi hui cigarette kabhi jalegi nahi,

Aur yeh tay hain ki, teri maut ki tarikh kabhi talegi nahin!

Aaj 1 tarikh hain, 2,4,6,8 aur dus,

Ab bass, dekhna main hota hoon kya tass se mass,

Jab train aati hain tab jaise station kaapta hain,

Waise meri khauff ke bukhaar se, tumhare andar ki hamdardi bhi kaapne lagegi

Jahan dekho wahan jurm hain, jahan dekho wahan paap,

Insaan aaj ke to hain, jurm aur paap me shaitaanon ke bhi baap

Mera naam hai Ibu Hatela,

Maa meri chudail ki cheli, baap mera shaitaan ka chela,

Khayega kela?

Mera naam hai pote,

Hum who hain joh apne baap ke bhi nahi hote,

Mera naam hai bulla,

Main rakhta hoon khulla,

Are a kundan,

Lagaaungi tuzko chandan,

Aur bhejungi tuze isi hawai jahaaj se London!

Inspector kale,

Ab lagnewaale,

Tere mooh pe, maut ke taale,

Kitna bada risk hain,

Teri maut ki date fixed hain

Are main to ek nariyal jaisa hoon,

Jo bahar se garam par andar se bada naram hoon,

Muze tum jaise garibon par badi hamdardi hain,

Hum samaaj ki karte hain seva,

Aur badle me dete hai gundon ko thoda mewa,

Hat jaao varna phaad ke rakh dunga,

Saamne ayaa koi toh gaad ke rakh dunga

Bhaiyya, bhaiyya maine kya bura kiya,

Kisiki ijjat lutna bura hota hain kya?

Hum sab Ravan milke ab tuz jaise Ram ko maarnewale hain,

Itihaas hi nahi balki sabkuch ab se ulta likha jaayega aur padha jaayega

Are abhi to tere tube me light ayaa thee,

Aur Shankar ne to tera fuse hi udaa diya,

Waah, khote sikke ne kya baat hain boli,

Boli toh aise hai boli jaise ho koi bandook ki goli!

Are bulla,

tune khullam khulla,

Lamboo Ataa ko maut ke tawe me senk diya,

Uski laash ko Worli ke gutter me phek diya?

Villain: A kaun hai be tu?

Hero: Main hoon jurm se nafrat karnewaalaa,

sharifon ke liye jyoti, gundo ke liye jwaalaa,

Villain: Ab rakh dunga tuze banakar maut ke mooh ka niwaalaa, tere seene me gaad dunga maut ka bhaalaa,

Edited To Add: The 1998 Best Movie Dialogue was awarded to 'Dil To Pagal Hai' which I honestly think is a joke. On request of Amit Simant, there is one more dialogue added.

Munni meri bahan Munni, Ooth,

To Tu Mar Gayi?

Lamboo Ataa ne tuze lamba kar diya?

Maachis ki tili ko khamba kar diya?

2009-07-22T19:04:00.000+05:30

Bheegi hui cigarette kabhi jalegi nahi,

Aur yeh tay hain ki, teri maut ki tarikh kabhi talegi nahin!

Aaj 1 tarikh hain, 2,4,6,8 aur dus,

Ab bass, dekhna main hota hoon kya tass se mass,

Jab train aati hain tab jaise station kaapta hain,

Waise meri khauff ke bukhaar se, tumhare andar ki hamdardi bhi kaapne lagegi

Jahan dekho wahan jurm hain, jahan dekho wahan paap,

Insaan aaj ke to hain, jurm aur paap me shaitaanon ke bhi baap

Mera naam hai Ibu Hatela,

Maa meri chudail ki cheli, baap mera shaitaan ka chela,

Khayega kela?

Mera naam hai pote,

Hum who hain joh apne baap ke bhi nahi hote,

Mera naam hai bulla,

Main rakhta hoon khulla,

Are a kundan,

Lagaaungi tuzko chandan,

Aur bhejungi tuze isi hawai jahaaj se London!

Inspector kale,

Ab lagnewaale,

Tere mooh pe, maut ke taale,

Kitna bada risk hain,

Teri maut ki date fixed hain

Are main to ek nariyal jaisa hoon,

Jo bahar se garam par andar se bada naram hoon,

Muze tum jaise garibon par badi hamdardi hain,

Hum samaaj ki karte hain seva,

Aur badle me dete hai gundon ko thoda mewa,

Hat jaao varna phaad ke rakh dunga,

Saamne ayaa koi toh gaad ke rakh dunga

Bhaiyya, bhaiyya maine kya bura kiya,

Kisiki ijjat lutna bura hota hain kya?

Hum sab Ravan milke ab tuz jaise Ram ko maarnewale hain,

Itihaas hi nahi balki sabkuch ab se ulta likha jaayega aur padha jaayega

Are abhi to tere tube me light ayaa thee,

Aur Shankar ne to tera fuse hi udaa diya,

Waah, khote sikke ne kya baat hain boli,

Boli toh aise hai boli jaise ho koi bandook ki goli!

Are bulla,

tune khullam khulla,

Lamboo Ataa ko maut ke tawe me senk diya,

Uski laash ko Worli ke gutter me phek diya?

Villain: A kaun hai be tu?

Hero: Main hoon jurm se nafrat karnewaalaa,

sharifon ke liye jyoti, gundo ke liye jwaalaa,

Villain: Ab rakh dunga tuze banakar maut ke mooh ka niwaalaa, tere seene me gaad dunga maut ka bhaalaa,

Edited To Add: The 1998 Best Movie Dialogue was awarded to 'Dil To Pagal Hai' which I honestly think is a joke. On request of Amit Simant, there is one more dialogue added.

Munni meri bahan Munni, Ooth,

To Tu Mar Gayi?

Lamboo Ataa ne tuze lamba kar diya?

Maachis ki tili ko khamba kar diya?

2009-06-05T13:36:00.001+05:30

Economic recession has hit countries the entire world hard. It included even the most booming ones like India and China, where the estimated growth was not reached. In case of India, it happened to achieve lesser growth than the expected even though the economy did expand. So, a question remains which countries survived the economic recession best?

Answer – Australia

Servcorp carried out the survey. The countries that were worst hit were all the Western ones. The unemployment is growing high in the developed West, whereas it went up even in the Third World Arab countries, which are traditionally having a high unemployment. In the survey too, the list does not have any name in the top 10 except for Canada.

Image Credit : Digital Inspiration

It seems having a not – so – open economy helps. The external diseases do not hit hard enough, but conversely when the world economy booms, the external growth does not come in fast too. Followed by Australia were China and India/Singapore. New Zealand stands at ninth stop. Many names are from the Eastern world. Clearly, this is the century where rise of the Asian countries phenomenon can be seen. In his book, ‘The Post – American World’, Fareed Zakaria talks in detail about the phenomenon which he calls ‘The Rise of The Rest’. It means the rise of other powers apart from America.

The 19^th century belonged to the British, the 20^th century belonged to the Americans, and it seems the 21^st century belongs to Asians!

As for the major western powers, there were all booming when the world markets were booming. The effect of recession they felt was also high when the global recession took place.

It is not so easy to say whether an open economy helps or not. In most cases, an open economy only helps. If the whole world opted for open economies, well, the world would be much more free, peaceful and prosperous then. Countries indulging into free trade do not have any skirmishes or any problems with each other. That is the beauty of free trade.

A British politician, Richard Cobden once (1857) said:

"Free Trade is God's diplomacy and there is no other certain way of uniting people in the bonds of peace."

[Source]

At this time of recession, Obama’s policies are turning out more protectionists. Pranab Mukherji, earlier Foreign Minister of India had also accused him for the same. This same mistake was done by the Western countries back in ‘70s and the outcome was nothing good. What different can we predict in case of America?

Coming to the survey, when people in Australia were asked which countries do they find surviving the recession best, Australia was the answer from their side as well!

Still, I do have a doubt. The survey was carried out by Servcorp. It seems an Australian based firm, and if you observe, the countries that you find there in the survey list are very close to the ones where the firm has its locations!

Now, that is quite fuzzy, but still I would rather rely this as Australian Dollar is hitting high from last eight months even in the times of recession.

The survey is can be found by clicking here.

The top countries best surviving the global recession:

1st - Australia
2nd - China
3rd - India and Singapore (equal)
5th - Hong Kong
6th - Canada
7th - Japan and Qatar (equal)
9th - New Zealand
10th - Malaysia, Sweden and Vietnam (equal)

2009-06-05T13:36:00.000+05:30

The 19^th century belonged to the British, the 20^th century belonged to the Americans, and it seems the 21^st century belongs to Asians!

"Free Trade is God's diplomacy and there is no other certain way of uniting people in the bonds of peace."

[Source]

The top countries best surviving the global recession:

1st - Australia
2nd - China
3rd - India and Singapore (equal)
5th - Hong Kong
6th - Canada
7th - Japan and Qatar (equal)
9th - New Zealand
10th - Malaysia, Sweden and Vietnam (equal)

2009-05-27T01:43:00.001+05:30

Never before have I seen a Marathi movie as good as this. No, I generally do not watch Marathi movies, and the number of them focusing on the urban middle class audience is less. This was one is a gem of a movie I must say. It is released at a right time, as the media hype over the local politics was high some time back. Mahesh Manjrekar is excellent in all he does, be it writing, directing or acting. Some of the incidents in Shivaji’s life were very excellently correlated with scenes in the movie and the theme is about a common person voicing opinion in politics. The movie is somewhere similar to Nayak only that this one has a high focus on the Marathi cause and people. As a matter of fact and coincidence, the protagonist in the movie Nayak: The Real Hero was also Shivaji Rao (played by Anil Kapoor). Nevertheless, the presentation is awesome. Before the time comes that saying ‘I am proud of being Marathi’ means your affiliation with some right – wing political party, a movie that brings of sense of pride among the people was certainly the need of the hour.

[caption id="attachment_250" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="A movie still from Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosle Boltoy"][/caption]

The protagonist (Sachin Khedekar) of the movie is a clerk in a bank in south Mumbai, from a typical middle class Marathi household with two kids. The son (Abhijit Kelkar) is a computer-engineering aspirant, and the daughter (Priya Bapat) is an aspiring actor. The protagonist is more like a loser living in the heartland of Mumbai, in a thwarting big old bungalow. The movie is all about his personal experiences of being discriminated as a Ghaati (a term used for lower middle class Maharashtrians), the loser feeling that he gets and the encounters with a builder (Vidyadhar Joshi) who wants to vacate his bungalow. The builder intends to build a multi – storey complex at the place of his bungalow, and send Mr. Bhonsle to Badlapur, a town in the outskirts of Mumbai along with the gift of a car. The drama is all about this fight. Typically, a middle class person would not go for any fight with a builder who already has contacts with goons and the government offices. Nevertheless, Mr. Bhonsle despite being the kind of a looser he is goes on to fight against the builder when Shivaji starts appearing to him the Lage Raho Munnabhai style. The fight is no that smooth, there are wonderful vicissitudes midway.

When his son is attacked, he refrains from the fight anymore as the matter has reached his home, but then followed by a powada, (a form of Marathi song) his imaginary Shivaji starts motivating him again. The fight between Shivaji and Afzal Khan is presented in between the powada very wonderfully. He rises up again, and then there is the episode when his whole family is kidnapped, and again the imaginary Shivaji comes up with another incidence.

The 10 – minute speech on politics is a good one. The important point that politics is dirty because we people are dirty is a notable one. After all, it is rule by the people. The discrimination faced in the first half, and answered in the second half is a must-watch. This movie will bring your pride of being a Marathi up, and on a very positive note. This movie does not look for bringing up a Marathi spirit by any common hatred (the way dictators look for doing), but by binding of some common goals. This film does not have any racial slurs, or anything against any community.

However, I do feel the case of the protagonist is somewhere exaggerated; it does not represent the common middle class Marathi man. The middle class Marathis too are having their own achievements and a decent education, openness to modernity and modesty. The average middle class Marathis are not that naïve as much as shown in the movie (my personal perception). We can say this one is for the naïve, who has not waked up for the caliber he has, and the opportunities in front of him in MH itself.

The dialogues are very exact, with those in the first half being a little on the losing side, whereas those in the second half were glorifying. A must watch for the Marathi pseudo – liberals and the extreme right – wingers (hoping both will have a shift in their opinion).

The best part of the movie was the presentation of the story. The way incidents of real life of Shivaji are connected with the story of the movie are something worth seeing. This one will not make you to give any jingoistic ‘jai Bhavani, jai Shivaji’ chant, but one filled with a meaning!

My rating: ****

2009-05-27T01:43:00.000+05:30

2009-05-20T16:15:00.001+05:30

This was a post return prior to the elections. Due to connectivity issues, I am uploading it now. The elections are over by now and the result is also declared. Will soon come up with a post on the post - poll scenario. Take this as a pre - poll scenario. Thanks.

With all the media focus on voting, I was sure many young voters would queue for voting at the booths. Nevertheless, the things turned otherwise. We have one of the least voter turn – out this election. If this trend is considered, the time is not so far, when we have some narcissist taking over the country and there would be no elections! Bal Thackeray put it saying, voting should be compulsory as if political manipulations would not stop if we go to the other extreme of making voting compulsory.

[caption id="attachment_246" align="aligncenter" width="351" caption="Image Credit: The Hindu Business Line"][/caption]

It is quite a sad fact to say but the governance and the kind of politicians we get is an outcome of the thinking of public. In a democracy, the government is a direct output of the wish of the public. It is after all rule of the people. It is, we, ourselves to blame for the apathy, anarchy that has quite groped in. At some 65% literacy and at 50% people living below at $2 per day, is it a surprise to see what a banana republic India is? This is a common problem ailing the III World democracies. Nevertheless, what we should be thankful for is that people have elected politicians quite wisely despite all this. India has not seen any military coup; India has not seen any dictator overthrowing power (except for Indira Gandhi’s 22 months) and serious attempts to overthrow democracy at present are negligible. In the long term, democracy always pays. If one looks at the journey of the Far Eastern nations, and how they come up after their independence from absolute poverty, no one would stop giving the credit to democracy. It is a thousand times better option than a monarchy, for any monarchy has high unemployment. Look at the unemployment statistics of any Arab country, from Tunisia to Jordan, and even Iran (which happens to be a Persian country and not Arab), the official unemployment figures there aren’t less than 10%, whereas the real figure is always higher than what the data these monarchies provide.

As far as Indian elections go, there are two main contestants. Congress and the BJP. Third Front or other parasites do not have any chance to take over. Polls until now show that results favor Congress. Well, that is a good sign. It is the lesser evil of the two. Lesser evil, but still evil.

Both parties have their own strengths. Congress has some good economists like P. Chidambaram, Manmohan Singh (who is likely to become the PM again), Montek Singh Ahluwalia of the Planning Commission, Sheila Dikshit in Delhi, and there is this recent addition of Shashi Tharoor that is very likely to work in favor of Congress. This party’s strength lies in the fact that they have shown good economic stability even in times of recession, controlled inflation, and a decent growth. The single biggest impressive thing that this govt. did was the Indo – US Nuclear Deal. Manmohan has a wise brain and has the guts to talk tough things at times. There is no person better than him who would give India a good stance, geopolitically. On Mahmoud Ahmedijenad’s visit, he clearly taunted on Bush saying, ‘no one advise on two of the world’s ancient civilizations’, when Bush was dictating terms to India, whereas he had kindly said to George Bush before that ‘India loves you’. He had the audacity to stand very firm on Indo – US Nuclear Deal despite all the petty opposition from Communists and Advani. He signed the Nuclear Deal and was bold enough not to visit Iran for an Iran – Pakistan – India pipeline that Iran is very curious to go for with India. The proposed IPI would go from Baluchistan in south – West Pakistan and no other information is required further. When almost no country of all the countries from OIC was not of any help to India, post 26/11 and were passively in support of Pakistan, he came out with a statement, ‘the entire civilized world is in threat from terrorism’.

Where this Govt. lacks is on many fronts. It is a pseudo – secular government, there is no doubt about it, but still a better choice than communal Advani. The border with Bangladesh needs to be sealed urgently. There entry into India has caused many a bomb blasts, especially all those that we see happening in Assam, North East, the growing slums of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Mumbai and various other issues. But, a smooth entry in India with Rs. 5000 that gives them Indian citizenship ensures vote bank for Congress. Even Manmohan Singh did not take any tough measure for this. It is true that his stance on terrorism is soft, but the use of more technology emphasized by him would surely give out good returns over time. It is not an easy task to manage a banana republic ands a billion plus country.

Regarding BJP, there are not many good prospects, as Advani is the proposed PM. Had it been Modi, well, the whole of young India was sure to vote him up. There are many pseudo – liberals in India, that is a problem with Indian youth, but all of them would certainly vote for him if one sees the tremendous change that he has demonstrated in Gujarat. Right from cutting the funding of terrorism without harassing people, every step hat he took is admirable. Something like Vibrant Gujarat at the India level would make great sense. Suhel Seth was one of his most ardent critiques, but his change of opinion is worth noting. His Financial Times article is revealing in this regards. Modi had clearly said in an interview that if he is found guilty in Godhra incident, he should be hanged to death. Delhi would not have stopped hanging him were he to be guilty, but you never know the truth. He has shown a good turn around, even gave order to raze some 1000 temples in Gujarat, and distanced himself from VHP after the incident. There is no looking back for him since then.

BJP has a very good record of accomplishment if we consider their regime of 1998 – 2004. India started to boom truly in that time. Their infrastructure projects were pioneering. All their proposed projects literally stopped under INC, and 2007 was termed the slowest year for all infrastructure projects across India. Under the BJP – Shiv Sena state of MH, a completely new Mumbai – Pune expressway was built on state expenditure. A proposal for Mumbai – Nagpur maglev train would have took off had it been there for the second term. The real reason why they lost is only urban focus.

BJP’s stand as a political party may be centrist with right – wing affiliations, but their leaders at present are pathetic. If control of the nation is given to Advani, he is bound to destroy the nation in the best possible manner. Playing the Ayodhya card has cost BJP very badly. It is time they should understand that divisive politics, communal politics has no place in Indian public’s priority.

What an average person needs is more than $2 per day.

A good thing about leaders of all non – Congress leaders, is that they have toiled to come this far, that toil may include rapes, assassinations, murders, etc. but nevertheless they weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth. In case of INC, we find half – monarchy of the Gandhi – Nehru dynasty. Now, that must stop. People like Man Mohan Singh should be given another chance, rather than any Gandhi.

The manifestos of various parties had economic growth on their agenda even at the state level, like, someone of Andhra Pradesh who revamped Hyderabad (a long time back), Modi of Gujarat, and all ministers in MH and even the new dictator Raj Thackeray promises the same for voters in Mumbai. That on one hand, and what one would find happening in other part of the nation is a party promising ‘removal of English and computers in government offices’, only to keep the region backwards forever. This was said by some party in the state of UP, the most highly populated state. This will only add fuel to the fire for others in MH, Goa, Assam and Delhi for the voice they have raised against hordes of Bhaiyyas entering in.

Populist measures need a break when the public is highly illiterate, uneducated, and does not know what is good for them. With India’s literacy and middle – classes growing, let us hope that the new majority of voters push the politicians towards newer issues that would benefit all.

2009-05-20T16:15:00.000+05:30

2009-05-20T15:23:00.001+05:30

After the success of his other books like ‘Lexus and the Olive Tree’, ‘Longitudes and Attitudes’ and more recently, ‘The World is Flat’, the new theme the New York Times columnist has got in is global warming. Global warming is a problem common all throughout the world. Well, for one it is real. There is an astonishingly high number of people for whom it took too late to understand that ‘global warming’ is not any political innovation. It is already happening. Your experiences in May (in case you are in Northern Hemisphere) give you a receipt of this repeatedly. The 2006 European Wave that took some 35, 000 lives is one big receipt. Of course, Hurricane Katrina and 2004 Tsunami were other that affected other parts of the world.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="468" caption="Image Courtesy: Treehugger.com (A Mirage in Finland)"][/caption]

Globalization or rather flattening of the world has brought up many a people from poverty into middle classes. More and more people coming into middle classes marks a new phenomenon and that is, ‘flat meets crowded’. The case with world is such that it doesn’t matter how many people live on earth, what matters is the number of people living a typical American Dream, where the energy consumption is high. Fighting global warming is quite an urgent issue, but Thomas Friedman leaves no bone in elaborating his well researched points that can help economically as well.

There are five major reasons that Friedman gives in his books: Energy and natural resources supply and demand, petro - dictatorship, climate change, energy poverty and biodiversity loss. There are chapters dedicated to almost each of this term in the first half of the book.

Supply and Demand: The oil price rise that we saw in May 2008, when oil peaked at $147, was driven by the imbalance between supply and demand. This was not about geopolitics as it was in case of the 1970s oil embargo. This was purely because the demand had grown, from China and India and from other developing countries.

Petro – Dictatorships: This is another important issue in combating global warming and in coming up with alternative energy / fuels. Oil as a resource, is found with mostly all authoritarian regimes of the world. Saudi Arabia, Russia (which is a complete autocratic state at high oil prices), Nigeria (democracy was best there at oil $10 in 1995), Venezuela, etc. Graph of oil price vs. freedom is given in the book.

Climate Change: ‘Global warming’ is kind of a misnomer. In fact, it is ‘global weirding ’or rather‘climate crises’. Al Gore had first called it global warming, but later on he named his website of his documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ as www.climatecrisis.net .The term climate crisis describes the term more aptly.

Energy Poverty: This is all about load shedding/blackout and I am experiencing it greatly! Yes, this problem is grave. Developing countries are rising, and so is the demand for electricity. Blackout is common all across Africa, especially Zimbabwe and South Africa, and in India as well. Renewable energy is necessary now, also for environmental concerns, and for business concerns. The country that will come up with something substantial in energy technology is going to lead the world next. US and China both are doing well in this regards, and Obama administration has paid heed to this pressing issue. Can you imagine a day without electricity? No computers, no internet!!

Biodiversity Loss: This mainly deals with the deforestation that is taking place at a very fast speed in Brazil, and Indonesia, two of the countries in the world that have claim to one of the biggest and dense forests. Different species have started becoming extinct, and let us hope human race is not one of them!

This revolution, green revolution is unlike other. There is not a single revolution in the history of the earth, in which no one got hurt. In green revolution, everyone is enjoying. It is going to help us all as it is a question of human survival in the end. It is rather a green party.

The second part of the book is well researched and provides solutions to the American industry on what to do next. It gives a 7 – page example of an experiment that was carried out in Washington, US on efficient electricity utilization. It saved electricity by 70%! This is no exaggeration. The model is described in detail in the book. It is all about a smart grid to be used, in every home as well in every block.

After the recession in 1991 that gave birth to IT it is the turn of ET after this global recession equivalent to The Great Depression. It will make a good entertainment to see which country gets a major share in it. As of now, US and China have the highest chance of getting it, though Israel has a good chance too owing to a successful electric car experiment there. India has all resources but no political will.

The world at present is all about going green.

2009-05-20T15:23:00.000+05:30

2009-04-10T02:10:00.001+05:30

'Google for the terms that you do not know', 'I'll Google for it' is an oft-repeated statement that I found people telling each other online. The days of scholastic are gone. There is nothing special about the 'walking encyclopedias' now, as all that work can be easily done by the internet now. Information is available at your fingertips like never before and all it takes is less than a second for any search result.

I am sure most people in the world use Google as their default search engine. It is anytime a better pick over MSN, Yahoo or many other such websites. Despite Google's popularity, I was surprised to know that Yahoo! was the number one ranked website for a long time. Well, it seems to have slide down to number 2 on the Alexa rankings. With Google Chrome's popularity, the ranking seems to have gone up, as Google is its default search provider.

An entry for Google as a noun, and as a verb has also come up on various dictionaries. Check this one at dictionary.com!

Main Entry:	google¹
Part of Speech:	v
Definition:	to search for information about a specific person through the Google search engine
Example:	She googled her high school boyfriends.

Why people use Google? This image will tell you that. More than 50% say for spell - checking! Doesn't MS - Word help you in spell - checking? That is better I must say. In my case, the use of Google is for the first purpose, second and third purpose given in the image. I really do not like typing in complete '.com' thing in the address bar.

[caption id="attachment_208" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="Image from www.nonsenseplanet.com"][/caption]

The suggestions that come up while typing a search term are also helpful at times. I do not know how Google comes to it and on what basis, but they are interesting to see.

Here are some half - searched terms and its suggestions below, they really made my day! It's said, 'how', 'why' and 'what' are one of the toughest questions to answer on earth. Just go through all the suggestions listed and you will something crazy!

Well, the above one made for some interesting read!! No one will ever get answers on that.

And this one on girls!

If girls get scientific answers for this, I would agree that reason of humans has reached a peak like never before.

Surprised to see many good entries suggested!

That made for a good laugh! Stink, smell, cows, beef... hmmm... And Indians cannot be terrorists.

Some desperate women might have searched that! I am quite confident not many are going to get answers. Not even Google is going to help them! :D

Was curious to see the suggestions on this. Ok, only one entry came down, fine.

Interesting ones... Women can't read maps is something new for me!

One of the toughest questions 'why'. Decent suggestions... For the second query, I don't get why don't people try it for themselves and enjoy the magic?

If any of the search queries were interesting, go ahead and have it. Screenshots taken accurately, without the address bar and section above it using SnagIt software. All the suggestions were on Google India. You may get something different based on your geographic location.

2009-04-10T02:10:00.000+05:30

Main Entry:	google¹
Part of Speech:	v
Definition:	to search for information about a specific person through the Google search engine
Example:	She googled her high school boyfriends.

India Losing Shine?

2009-03-22T04:20:00.001+05:30

The times ahead are quiet unpredictable owing to the global recession that has occurred. No country is certain about its future. Neither the superpowers, nor the booming ones are confident about their positions in the coming time.

[caption id="attachment_203" align="alignnone" width="184" caption="Image from ZDNetAsia"][/caption]

India did well this year comparatively, but the recession had its toll by reducing the growth. The growth has come down to 7.3 % a little less than that of the last year. In addition, future expectations are reducing linearly too. What would survive now, especially the developed economies is its business friendliness. India stood at a dismal 75^th place, down from last year's 64^th place in the Forbes' business friendly country survey. [ Source]

The various parameters considered by Forbes were stock market performance to reflect the extent of disrepair in countries' banking systems, as well as investor confidence in a recovery. Intellectual property rights, the promotion of free trade and low inflation, combined with low taxes on income and investment, and personal freedom. Don't you think any other business friendly destination would catch up and replace India soon? This matters for the fact that India houses the largest number of poor of the world.

Already, IMF has forecasted slow growth for India in the coming years. [Source] The next estimate is that India' GDP growth the following year would cling down to an approximately 5%. Azerbaijan is the country showing the maximum GDP growth rate at 15%. Well, whatever the numbers say, one thing is for sure, India's growth is not likely to stop, come what may! Even 5% growth to the world's fourth largest economy (on PPP terms) means a lot for sure! However, our great Indian IT sector does not seem to get affected by anything. The same IT growth will be continued.

However, for ensuring a good future, shouldn't India focus on being a business friendly place? FDIs are kind of nerves of economy for any developing nation. India should get a decent place in business-friendliness. Topping the list for 2009: Denmark, for a second straight year, takes the No. 1 spot. The U.S. is up two spots to No. 2, Canada is up four spots to No. 3, Singapore is up four to No. 4 and New Zealand is up seven to No. 5. Okay, let's not expect a Third World country like India to directly reach in the top 10 spots, but isn't it a cause for concern that India's place is going down? We always have plans and estimates considering some constant growth rates. Going by that logic, I think we should also have some plans and estimates for some constant contractions taking place like this. At least, they will help us make aware and avoid any contractions and deteriorating place of India in the world.

India's inflation has fallen down to a record low of 0.44%, the lowest since 1977! It has gone even below most of the developed countries. The developed countries had an average of 2.5% inflation. Now, is that good news considering the fact that food items have gone costlier?

The necessities of humans are becoming costlier day by days and other items for luxury are getting cheaper.

Well, whatever the facts and stats say, one thing is for sure. The more innovation a country brings in, the more prospects of its future are bright. India must have its own businesses, especialy in IT and ET both, coming up rather than merely being an outsourcing destination. The political will is not there, but public's will is certainly there. Resources ready, but will not ready!

India Losing Shine?

2009-03-22T04:20:00.000+05:30

2009-03-07T01:35:00.001+05:30

Globally, America has always had two images. First, of a Goliath who wants to dominate the whole world. Second, as a land of opportunity, as a country that was formed by many immigrants, all those who wanted to create something new, who wanted to live a life what is now known as "The American Dream".

Those like George Bush ensured the first image. In recent years, Republicans tended to have more policies that represent the first image; Democrats had more policies that represent the second image. Republicans favored free trade, Democrats favored home labor. Bush was good for India, bad for the world. Obama is good for the world, better for India.

[caption id="attachment_198" align="alignnone" width="488" caption="Image Credit : Bloomberg"][/caption]

The governments that came shaped one of the two images globally. Leaders like John F. Kennedy ensured the second image. JFK Immigration Act brought so many skilled immigrants in America that it ensured to suck the growth of other major nations. Chinese, Indians, Russians, Iranians were the largest in number. Now, we see the Silicon Valley having so many Chinese Entrepreneurs, Indian Entrepreneurs, and co-founder of Google, is also a Russian! Russia would have been the superpower with one Google, but immigration act ensured the best talent of the world stayed with America.

Now, at a critical time of recession, when America is in dire needs of startups and more companies producing more jobs, instead of opening doors of immigration Obama administration is thinking of shutting doors down for skilled knowledge workers. A quick look around the world will show you that countries with friendly immigration policies have had strong economies. In fact, immigration has been the sign of a developed nation. And yeah, India has the 8th largest number of immigrants interestingly!

There is talk in American circles that Obama is not probably going to deliver the promised change. Apart from this issue, the economic stimulus put forth by him is another step that very obviously many are opposing. Rather than financing the lazy loser companies that have virtually become money destruction machines (all American automobile companies for example), it is time to invest into new start-ups that would bring in innovation and new products for America to sell across the world. However, Obama is busy passing the stimulus for the lazy losers.

An article in New York Times by Thomas Friedman recently pointed out on American immigration. Shekhar Gupta of Indian Express said, "All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans, We will buy up all the sub prime homes. We will work 18 hours a day to pay for them. We will immediately improve your savings rate - no Indian bank today has more than 2 percent nonperforming loans because not paying your mortgage is considered shameful here. Moreover, we will start new companies to create our own jobs and jobs for more Americans." So very true! And we all should be happy to see so many NRIs sent back. Imagine what that would produce for India! Let us expect more and more start-ups and innovation-based companies here in India and not in the West anymore! :D

Microsoft even asked the government for more H1-B visas to foreign students. Microsoft has even moved to Vancouver, Canada close to its Redmond HQ citing on its website that 'The Vancouver area is a global gateway with a diverse population'. For now, let us be happy in the fact that more Indians will look for starting ventures in India and changing the scenario here. The dire need that America has of startups and more companies that are new may be fulfilled in India with more NRIs returning! The reverse brain drain is happening and it would certainly prove India beneficial, thanks to America and UK for that!

Why would their return prove beneficial? What exactly did immigrants to USA did for the betterment of USA?

Despite the fact that they constitute only 12% of the U.S. population, immigrants have started 52% of Silicon Valley's technology companies and contributed to more than 25% of our global patents. They make up 24% of the U.S. science and engineering workforce holding bachelor's degrees and 47% of science and engineering workers who have PhDs. Immigrants have co-founded firms such as Google (GOOG), Intel (INTC), eBay (EBAY), and Yahoo! [Source]

Now, this is for the total immigrants to USA. The numbers of Indians were the second largest in it only after the Chinese.

Bottom line: Obama will be good for the world, better for India, and time will prove what for America!

2009-03-07T01:35:00.000+05:30

2009-03-03T23:02:00.001+05:30

Well, my blog is something that cannot be considered of any one category. As for the blog, I am sure am not a noble soul who writes keeping audience in mind. I write almost whatever that strikes, any random thought (maybe politically incorrect) that I find worth putting in here. My frequency isn't that great, just a post once a fortnight is what I look for. But, quality first, quantity second! (if at quality exists in the shady piece!)

So, I am really not a stats-hungry persona, but I would love to put my stats here. Earlier, I blogged at Blogspot and then I started this once around 26 July, 2008. It's dot 7 months complete now! ( as on 26 Feb, 2009)

Now, this is what the charts show.

Months and Years

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
2008							1	238	545	472	616	612	2,484
2009	788	985											1,773

Average per Day

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Overall
2008							0	8	18	15	21	20	16
2009	25	37											31

Which Were the Top Posts?

Well, I've crossed 4,000 hits as such and the lately great traffic is coming. Just observe Jan and Feb in the first chart alone have ahigh number. And more is likely to come my way!

Top Posts for all days ending 2009-02-26

All Time

Title	Views
World's Strong Economies!!	1,056
Effects of Globalisation	966
The Causes Of Globalization	334
World's Happiest Countries :) !	214
The Menace of MNS - A Marathi Manoos Per	132
About	62
It is not Mumbai, It is India under Atta	47
Oil Prices at $50 Per Barrel!	45
Population:A Boon Or A Bane?	43
Hyperword!	42
Shoot On Sight-A No Spoilers Review	40

These were the top 10 posts. The one on economies crossed 1,000 views followed by those on globalization. So, I'll ensure to have more stuff on economies and various lists.

Visitors Across the Globe

Current Country Totals
from 13 Aug 2008 to 26 Feb 2009

United States (US)	926
India (IN)	858
United Kingdom (GB)	378
Australia (AU)	155
Canada (CA)	136
Singapore (SG)	60
Malaysia (MY)	48
Pakistan (PK)	47
Germany (DE)	45
Philippines (PH)	41

Search Terms Used By Visitors

Search Terms for all days ending 2009-02-26

All Time

Search	Views
effects of globalisation	131
strong economies	76
prosperity	72
globalisation	66
cobie smulders	62
countries with strong economies	59
causes of globalization	53
causes of globalisation	35
cheerful	29
bad effects of globalisation	20

2009-03-03T23:02:00.000+05:30

Months and Years

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
2008							1	238	545	472	616	612	2,484
2009	788	985											1,773

Average per Day

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Overall
2008							0	8	18	15	21	20	16
2009	25	37											31

All Time

Title	Views
World's Strong Economies!!	1,056
Effects of Globalisation	966
The Causes Of Globalization	334
World's Happiest Countries :) !	214
The Menace of MNS - A Marathi Manoos Per	132
About	62
It is not Mumbai, It is India under Atta	47
Oil Prices at $50 Per Barrel!	45
Population:A Boon Or A Bane?	43
Hyperword!	42
Shoot On Sight-A No Spoilers Review	40

These were the top 10 posts. The one on economies crossed 1,000 views followed by those on globalization. So, I'll ensure to have more stuff on economies and various lists.

Visitors Across the Globe

Current Country Totals
from 13 Aug 2008 to 26 Feb 2009

United States (US)	926
India (IN)	858
United Kingdom (GB)	378
Australia (AU)	155
Canada (CA)	136
Singapore (SG)	60
Malaysia (MY)	48
Pakistan (PK)	47
Germany (DE)	45
Philippines (PH)	41

Search Terms Used By Visitors

Search Terms for all days ending 2009-02-26

All Time

Search	Views
effects of globalisation	131
strong economies	76
prosperity	72
globalisation	66
cobie smulders	62
countries with strong economies	59
causes of globalization	53
causes of globalisation	35
cheerful	29
bad effects of globalisation	20

2009-02-24T21:59:00.001+05:30

Never before has the president of a country has so candidly accepted the victory of an external threat as Zardari did when he said that it would be no surprise if Taliban takes over Pakistan. Dramatically, after the American Diplomat's visit to Pakistan, the country candidly also accepted its involvement in Mumbai Attacks. After this, two immediate moves were found taken backdoor by Pakistan.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignnone" width="460" caption="Image Courtesy : Lonely Planet"][/caption]

First, the release of A. Q. Khan and second was giving Taliban autonomy in the Swat region, merely 160 kilometers from Islamabad. It is still a wonder why America is approving of this act of Pakistan despite its own talk of human freedom and democracy. The non-state actors (NSA) or rather the privatized terrorist groups from Pakistan took the mission to cut India into pieces as their ethical choice. Now, that international pressure is building against them, can Taliban be considered as the new choice from Pakistan to cut India into pieces? It would be just too naïve to not to think so. The sympathizers of Taliban are aplenty in ISI. It is clear from the remarks that the ISI chief is making in his interviews by saying that 'they are terrorists for us, but freedom fighters for them', and 'they should be made into a political party to have their say'. Pakistan Army soldiers were trained with the conviction that they are protectors of Islam and Muslims in Pakistan and their main goal is to fight India. (Not necessarily in defense) What we see is that they are deployed to fight against Taliban who coincidentally claim to be better protectors of Islam with their insistence on Sharia or Islamic law. Pakistan Army has lost just too many soldiers fighting Taliban by now.

The gravest mistake of Pakistan was to let open Afghan border from where Taliban could easily enter Pakistan and now has control even in Islamabad and Lahore. Luckily, we do not share an open border with Pakistan. A smart move from India would be to seal borders with Bangladesh, and with Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet/China. Taliban may have won against Pakistan Army, but let us not over emphasize the might of Taleban. It remains a fact that Taliban could not set up it's regime in other neighbors of Afghanistan like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Iran. The coastal protection has received attention after 26/11 but even after a warning from navy chief, nothing significant has happened. Apart from border check, it needs no mention that internal security has to be strengthened like never before. India has to set foot faster towards being a first-world country with a strong economy as the threat of Taliban is always setting foot faster towards India.

As far as Taliban's enemy is concerned, neither Pakistan nor India is their enemy. Their real enemies are freedom, equality and democracy. Above all, pluralism is very unacceptable to them. After all, Taliban has the dreams of world Islamic conquest and Sharia for the world. That is exactly what Sufi Mohammad of Taliban had said recently.

Once Taliban comes into force in Pakistan, the maximum literacy can never go above 50%, as girls are not allowed schooling. There is quite some skilled work force in Pakistan at present, but if Talibanization of Pakistan continues, the only education they will receive will be Islamic education. Therefore, despite the huge army of suicide bombers, an advanced military will not be feasible in Taliban's rule. On the contrary, India has increased its defence budget. Air force was one place where Pakistan was drawing parallels to the IAF, but modernization of Indian air force is fast. In addition, Indian Army is being equipped with advanced weaponry. It is necessary if India has decided to stay proactive with Taliban.

The only way Taliban will look for setting up itself in India would be through the local Muslim community. There are not many but a few clerics still do support Taliban. We have witnessed this in the past when quite a few clerics encouraged youth to fight against America in December 2001 in the tribal area. The only thing we should hope is that the mainstream community alienates such clerics and speaks out loudly against them.

Considering the 50% maximum literacy scenario, the economy that Taliban rule can ever create will be next to negligible. What is most important is to cut their funding. The Taliban gets major part of its funding by poppy growing and drug trading. Strict sanctions against this have to come in place. On one hand, Taliban is full of fighters who claim to have never been defeated, but on the other hand, they lack the modernity and education required to fight in the sophisticated armed world. If Taliban ever opts for modern education, their main theme in brainwashing of getting heaven after killing innocents will loose appeal!

Moreover, let us stop the home-growing Taliban please. Else, the scenario is not that far when a Hindu Taliban along with The Taliban stand side by side with control on nukes! LOLOL :D

2009-02-24T21:59:00.000+05:30

2009-02-08T02:59:00.001+05:30

I came across a few wonderful quotes while surfing on the Internet. I can't recall what was the source of this, but I did immediately save it by copying in MS-Word. This one is the best, on woman! I do not like to write such micro-posts to write something abrupt, but most people don't have the patience to read a well written, well researched long article. Well, but after all, this is 'Whatever Strikes'

Please read only if you are above 18 and below 36! :D

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.

If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home.

If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart.

She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

Hope, you liked it! In case, you are curious who is the girl in the pic, please do not waste time googling the image credit. It is Cobie Smulders, a Hollywood TV-Actress cum international model. I know naughty minds will either click the backlink or Google now! :D

: Image Credit : StarPulse

2009-02-08T02:59:00.000+05:30

Please read only if you are above 18 and below 36! :D

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.

If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home.

If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart.

She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

: Image Credit : StarPulse

2009-02-03T00:37:00.001+05:30

[caption id="attachment_168" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="An oil derrick from Iran"][/caption]

The dance of oil prices is well worth observing from May-December 2008. It went on a historically high price of $147 in July and now falling down back to $41, the price of oil that was 5 years back. Spike in oil prices was one single reason enough to stir recession and cause inflation. Our government ensured to take the oil prices domestically further up when the international oil prices went up.

At the peak of oil prices, the push for research into alternative fuels and energy technology increases. Suddenly, the elite start speaking of this option of alternative fuels and also clean technology and green technology. As the prices dip, the push for viable alternative fuels and fuel-efficient vehicles goes down. For successful transition into the area of clean fuels, high oil prices are necessary. If not something like $100, at least the domestic price of oil must be high. High oil price is a boon for the proponents of clean fuels. After all, how can long can we live on dirty fuels?

Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the former oil minister used to tell others to never raise the oil prices too much to an extent that will cause innovation into wind, solar and other options in the West. The 1970s oil embargo had seen this happen when the oil prices quadrupled. The famous quote used by him when he was OPEC oil minister was

'Stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones'

Our job is to turn Yamani's nightmare turn true. Fossil fuels age shouldn't end because we ran out of fossil fuels. Now is the right time to innovate.

There has been one price cut in December. India trimmed diesel prices by 6 percent and gasoline rates by 10 percent in early December, the first reduction in two years, after crude oil plunged from its July peak above $147.

My point is, why another now? Moreover, if at all, government's motive was to reduce inflation, there was no better way than to reduce diesel prices and keep high petrol prices. Petrol at around $1 or Rs. 50 or Rs.60 was the best bet, if not a little higher. A constant price set for petrol is the need of the hour if we really want clean fuels. Obama administration came into power by playing the gasoline-tax card, where he insisted on a gasoline tax. The gasoline tax is supposedly to be spent on research and investment into clean fuels. Similarly, charging Rs. 5 behind every liter was reasonable for the govt. for a similar push into clean fuels. Tell me, doesn't India have some potential in this regards, in the field of research into clean fuels considering the second largest pool of engineers that we have?

India is the sixth largest consumer of oil and the consumption is only growing fast. In the consumption, it is noteworthy that petrol is generally used by private vehicle owners of 2-wheelers/4-wheelers for personal purposes, where as diesel is used in buses, trucks and railways for transportation of goods. For curbing down inflation, the best way forward is to reduce diesel prices. When diesel price goes down, transportation becomes cheaper, all the commodities and other domestic products in FMCG sector all become cheaper. Products in FMCG would mean almost anything that we buy from a general store. Reduce diesel price, but not petrol.

As far as something like gasoline-tax in India is concerned, it likely to be opposed because India also houses the largest population of people living below $2 per-day. Still, I am sure most 2- and 4-wheeler owners do not fall in this bracket of income. A higher petrol price will only cause the manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. Owing to the economic considerations, most Indians have while buying a car/bike; the manufacturers came up with good fuel-efficiency motors. Higher petrol prices would ensure the same. Fuel-efficient vehicles and clean energy research is not something that NGOs have to protest for, but it has to come out of companies in the market.

Another aspect is that of corruption. If we let Rs. 5 or Rs. 10 so per-liter reserved like the gasoline-tax, there is almost no guarantee that its use by the Honorable and Respected Govt. of India will be for the very purposes it is supposed to. However, it will at least ensure lesser consumption, thereby not causing any high demand and the price hike that comes along. It will at least ensure that employees in the oil companies do not go on a strike again thereby causing further inconveniences to us. It will at least ensure that the treasury of Indian Govt. gets richer, and not the treasuries of some authoritarian regime like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, etc.

The money the govt. would earn can be invested in setting up a few companies in the area of energy technology and research. Remember, it was IT that took countries ahead dramatically after the recession of 1991. It will be ET (Energy Technology) that is going to decide the next rising countries after this recession. If India really is aspiring to be a superpower, it should not underestimate the politics of energy and the future challenges.

The factor of petro-dictatorships is yet another one to consider. In the Amarnath issue faced in Kashmir, the riots in Kashmir received funding from Saudi Arabia, according to a statement of Ghulam Nabi Azad. India has been the second-worst victim of terrorism, only next to Iraq. Most of this funding is coming from Saudi again. The petro-dictators fuel up by more oil consumption. The best response to such authoritarian regimes is to hike oil price. A smart option for George Bush on the morning of 9/12 was to raise oil prices domestically, and enrich his own treasury than that of the authoritarian regimes like Iran, Russia, Venezuela and Saudi. I am thankful that India does not have oil, as the trend in oil countries shows a lot instability in their politics and country's life overall. This would require a different article all together.

Image Courtesy: Bank REO Real Estate

2009-02-03T00:37:00.000+05:30

'Stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones'

2009-01-30T13:02:00.001+05:30

When Gaza massacre occurred there was a lot of tumult in media and people's mind. Honest reporting is never found and people often find a media source either pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. Most of these decisions seem to be based on emotions of the viewers. As expected, this time, when one of the biggest massacres of the last few decades took place, many people found out the same.

First, it was Hamas that was blamed for launching rockets into Israel and this was even backed by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority PM Mahmoud Abbas who blamed Hamas for the Gaza massacre. News from some sources (including western media sources) came and says it was Israel who broke ceasefire and bombed in Gaza back in July. Israel continued the action on the pretext of self-defense.

A total of 4,000 Qassam rockets have been fired by Hamas in 2000-2008. [Source]

The story form the other side is that it was Israel who broke the ceasefire. They had attacked on a tunnel in Gaza is what these reports say. But, they weren't large scale attacks as claimed by the anonymous Israel Army soldier and the tunnels were threat to Israel's security. But, the fact remains that even Palestinian Authority and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have blamed Hamas this time. Also, Israel wanted to stop this menace of increasing range of rockets that Hamas was firing. Initially, it was 10-mile range rockets, then 20-mile and if it is 30-mile that would easily attack the international airport of Tel Aviv as said by Israel's Foreign Minister Tpizi Lvini.

It's often said that in case of this conflict, media is always biased from Israel's side. I don't know whether it is true or not. The Google News results give hundreds and thousands of links and how can a single person know regarding media bias when there are such a large number of news items?

In all this, what was most irksome was the fact of Hamas' use of human shields and children suicide bombers. The use of human shields is something that only the inhuman would do. Innocents used as pawns! It is this common technique used that takes toll of many innocents. It has a very good propaganda value too. In a world that is interconnected like never before, just post up pictures of those killed and it gives enough fodder for the brainwashers in various parts of the world for more violence.

Because the retard terrorists live like rats and hide among civilians, it becomes extremely difficult to snuff them out. The attacks by US in Afghan-Pakistan tribal area are thus taking the toll of many innocent civilians. Same was the case with Indian army in Kashmir where insurgents and terrorists were hiding in residential societies. The cases of mistreatment to people there (mostly Muslims) gives fodder again to brainwashers. Exactly, the same with Pakistan army in Baluchistan.

The attack on an UN school in Gaza by Israel was very much criticized by the media. It was the same school from which many children suicide bombers were sent by Hamas. Also, Hamas had attacked one school in Gaza which was providing education to boys and girls together. But, in all this, the one who are suffering the most are innocent children.

As for this conflict, I have given up hopes of peace. A two-state solution seems to be the only option and Hamas denies the existence of Israel completely. That is where the core of the problem is.

When a country is under pressure, it performs its best. When there are scarce natural resources, a country's culture turns out to be of hard-work like we find in the Far East. It is exactly the constant threat to the existence that Israel has faced that it has become a great military power with one of the most advanced weaponry, apart from a democratic developed country.

Thinking from an Indian perspective, and with no soft corner for either Israel or Palestine in the conflict, I think India must march ahead in its relations with Israel and have more military ties with Israel. I say this with my soft corner for India J

The transcription that the Indian Government gave regarding the 26/11 Mumbai Attack clearly shows terrorists from Pakistan wanted to kill more Jews and disturb India-Israel relations.

What I sense from this is that the terrorists are themselves terrorized by the Israeli might.

Remember, that Pakistan considers Israel as its enemy and does not recognize Israel. If more military ties take place between India and Israel, it is sure to make India a very strong power against Pakistan. That is exactly what Lashkar-e-Toiba fears!

2009-01-30T13:02:00.000+05:30

FREE INTERNET

2009-01-20T23:33:00.001+05:30

Indian ISPs have been charging exorbitantly high prices, with no quality, or speed in return. Interestingly, there is this option of free internet coming soon J ! Now, Indian government plans to give out free internet all across the country by 2009!! Thanks to the visionary we have, our Honorable Respected Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh! Of course, you must be having many questions about this all, but a detailed news article in ET has all your answers.

The hows and whys are explained somewhat in the news report.

But, think of this, why internet? Forget free, isn’t at least reducing the price and providing a better speed a need of the hour? Today’s is the Information Age: the world will be able to tell the rich from the poor not by GNP figures, but by their Internet connections. The internet is surely one of the important tools behind globalization, or in other words, ‘A Flattener’ which causes flattening process of the globe. Can you guess which place has the maximum business and allied transactions in world?

Even if the oil prices are low and hovering at $46 or so, no one knows when will demand go up or the supply goes down. Remember that oil producers are all authoritarian regimes and it’s up to their wish regarding the supply. More the processes go online; lesser people have to travel, lesser they have to hit the roads and use a vehicle. More use of Internet will reduce dependency on oil; however, this is not a permanent solution to oil demand and traffic jams/congestions. But, meanwhile getting majority of the things done online can also help. It will surely save your time and money on petrol/diesel. India is already the 6th largest consumer of oil!

It is sure to spearhead economic progress with a higher speed. When we are famous for software/IT industry, and boast about the no. of engineers churning out, shouldn’t the Net be highly penetrated?

Also, the Indian e-commerce industry hasn’t witnessed a boom, and more penetration of internet also means an increase in the Services industry. India’s growth is mostly driven form services sector and we still have space to grow. Currently, Indian services sector accounts to around 60% of the economy. Most of the developed countries have services sector at 75%.

A key difference between India and China is the fact that India has much higher quantity as well as quality of entrepreneurs. There are many Indian entrepreneurs willing to jump into startups in the online space. The reduction of internet prices and better speeds is going to help businesses the most, apart from many other households. The more and more companies start plying into the online space; that’s for sure, is going to generate more employment.

Another key difference between India and China is the fact that India has a large English speaking population. It is this tool that helped us in getting a pie in outsourcing and the profits would be maximized even beyond outsourcing in case we open up more to the world; of course I mean with more internet access. In these times of recession, many surviving companies are looking for cheaper costs and there is on destination better than India in this regards, at least as of now.

Internet is also one great tool to ensure equality of opportunity. Free internet will help effectively to those in rural India as well. Access to all of world’s information to rural Indians will prove out a great tool to help millions out of them come out of poverty; the same way it has helped a developing country like India to bring millions into the middle class.

China has recently reached the top. If you observe, this is somewhat also the list of the top 10 economies! The more internet-friendly a country, stronger is its economy. By number though India, China may seem ahead but they are pathetic in terms of penetration.

India, one of the world leaders in IT and software has a pathetic 5.2% internet penetration, well below the global average of 22%!

I can’t stop to compare this with the Liberalization – Privatization -Globalization (LPG) of 1991 when Man Mohan opened up the Indian economy to the world. Yes, this is the time when we need to open up, get connected with the world faster and there is no need to say reducing Internet prices (or making it free) is the way to go! So, will 2009 be that great next landmark? Fingers crossed…

“Technology is only as powerful as it is accessible.
Broader access brings education, information, and
a sense of community that can help combat AIDS,
malnutrition, ignorance and neglect. The power of
a connected and enlightened world community
is just beginning.”

– Hector Ruiz, Chairman of the Board
and President of AMD

FREE INTERNET

2009-01-20T23:33:00.000+05:30

The hows and whys are explained somewhat in the news report.

2009-01-09T01:13:00.001+05:30

The more one thinks of the recent Mumbai Attacks and on India-Pakistan issue, the more one starts believing that there is no solution to this. It is becoming somewhat Israel-Palestine.

Even though there is not much good that is likely to come out, I'm pacifying myself by signing this online petition. I believe such petitions don't really create an effect unless a high no. of people access it. But the message if read by many people at least once does create effect. In February 2007 an online petition against road pricing and car tracking on the UK Prime Minister's own website attracted over 1.8 million e-signatures from a population of 60 million people.

Especially in the Indian sub-continent where Internet is accessed generally by English speaking and educated class, or to put in other words not much by the extremists and radicals, one can expect a positive message to spread around. Here is one such petition I found regarding the India-Pakistan issue.

To: Prime Minister of India and President of Pakistan

Joint Signature Campaign by Citizens of India and Pakistan Against Terrorism, War Posturing and To Promote Cooperation and Peace

We the Citizens of Pakistan and India demand that:
•The Government of Pakistan and the Government of India should practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the interest of the very sustenance and prosperity of both the countries..
•Recognising that the problem of terrorism in both the countries are qualitatively different, we urge both the governments to take all appropriate initiates to contain and root out the activities of all fanatic and terrorist groups and catch and punish perpetrators of any acts of terror in their respective countries to make the subcontinent safe and secure for all.
•Both the governments should immediately set up a Joint Action and Investigative Agency for total cooperation and mutual assistance to address and overcome the problem of terrorism effectively and without any further delay.
•War can never be a solution but the beginning of insurmountable problems for both the countries. Hence both the governments should desist from war posturing and immediately engage in meaningful and effective dialogue and actions to address the issue of terrorism and to resolve all other outstanding problems.
•Both the Governments should follow in letter and spirit all the Conventions and Resolutions of UN and SAARC against terrorism and for cooperation to secure an atmosphere of mutual trust and holistic cooperation that alone could ensure security of all citizens and prosperity of the entire region.
•We appeal to the media of both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in this hour of crisis to propagate and strengthen positive attitudes for the resolution of all the outstanding problems and discourage escalation of conflict and adventurism that could jeopardize peace and prosperity of both the countries.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

You can also sign this petition if you wish to. The petition is available here.

[caption id="attachment_152" align="alignnone" width="408" caption="A pic from the Rwandan Genocide, Africa"][/caption]

I don't know when was this petition launched, but if you read this, please do spread the word around. Interestingly, this phenomenon is defined by a term called Slacktivism.

It was coined by Snopes.com in one of it's articles. This is what our revered Wikipedia has to say about this. I'm editing the actual article and pasting some part here. By the way, my spell-check shows this word as incorrect! :P

Slacktivism (sometimes slactivism) is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism.

Examples of slacktivist activities include signing internet petitions, the wearing of wristbands ("awareness bracelets") with political messages, putting a ribbon magnet on a vehicle, joining a Facebook group, posting issue-oriented YouTube videos or taking part in short-term boycotts such as Buy Nothing Day or Earth Hour.

In a statement on Snopes.com, Barbara Mikkelson states:

We can't claim credit for having coined this term, nor do we know its actual origin, but we love it nonetheless. Slacktivism is the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society's rescue without actually getting one's hands dirty, volunteering any of one's time, or opening one's wallet. It's slacktivism that prompts us to forward appeals for business cards on behalf of a dying child intent upon having his name recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records or exhortations to others to continue circulating a particular e-mail because some big company has supposedly promised that every forward will generate monies for the care of a languishing tot. Likewise, it's slacktivism that prompts us to want to join a boycott of designated gas companies or eschew buying gasoline on a particular day rather than reduce our personal consumption of fossil fuels by driving less and taking the bus more often. Slacktivism comes in many forms, but its defining characteristic is its central theme of doing good with little or no effort on the part of the person inspired to participate, through the mechanisms of forwarding, exhorting, collecting, or e-signing.

2009-01-09T01:13:00.000+05:30

2008-12-16T13:38:00.001+05:30

In 1999, the price of oil hovered around $16 a barrel. In July 2008, it reached a peak of $147 a barrel. In the months that followed, as fears of a global recession grew, prices plunged to the $75 a barrel range, a roller coaster ride that left both producers and consumers confused and wrung out. Prices were still far higher than they had been a few years earlier, but oil-producing countries that had reshaped their economies around the huge influx of revenues faced a suddenly altered landscape.

Many factors contributed to the long buildup between 1999 and 2008, including the relentless growth of the economies of China and India and widespread instability in oil-producing regions, including Iraq and Nigeria's delta region. The triple-digit oil prices that followed appeared to redraw the economic and political map of the world, challenging some old notions of power. Oil-rich nations made enjoying historic gains and opportunities, while major importers - including China and India, home to a third of the world's population - confronted rising economic and social costs.

Countries like Russia, Venezuela and Iran that were flush with rising oil revenue saw that change reflected in newly aggressive foreign policies. But some unexpected countries reaped benefits, as well as costs, from higher prices. Consider Germany. Although it imports virtually all its oil, it has prospered from extensive trade with a booming Russia and the Middle East. German exports to Russia grew 128 percent from 2001 to 2006.

The surge in prices hit automakers hard, as sales of the truck-based models that had been Detroit's most profitable product dropped sharply. Mass transit systems across the country reported a sharp increase in riders. As prices fell in the fall, the question facing OPEC and car makers alike was whether those shifts would reverse, as they had in previous downturns, or whether a tipping point had been reached.

The rise of oil prices for just a few months has taught us several lessons. The pressing need for research into alternative energy, or the renewable and clean energy technology was felt like never before in these few months of oil price hike. I believe there are two main reasons for venturing into energy technology. One, for global warming; And two, for curbing down the petro-dictatorships.

The factor of petro-dictatorships has been understood like never before to many. It is a matter of concern that most of the OPEC countries are totalitarian regimes. It was only when the oil prices were nearing its peak, Russia attacked Georgia. It was only when the oil prices were high; Iran went on making many statements against US and Israel, to the extent of calling them as "Zionist conspiracy"! The superstitious attitude of the Third World and especially from a country which is in the world of conspiracy theories was at display to the world. Iran was gathering support from people the world over for its ability to poke America and other strong nations with a stick, though for no real reason. The country is now sleepless with $46 per barrel oil, with unemployment at 12.5%, a notable shortage of skilled labour and 25% inflation! After the birth of renewable energy, it will be no wonder if the world comes up with a statement calling Iran's monarchy as "Satan". Despite all the figures of unemployment and inflation, who cares for the public? As far as Ahmadijenad and his monarchial associates are happy, Iran is a happy country for them.

Please note it's the Monarchy in Iran responsible for the situation in which it is today, not the people as even they themselves are helpless. Citizens there did have a protest many times demanding democracy and the marches included women too.

As the oil prices now fall down, the Civil War in Iraq has stopped, as reportedly the Iran funding is reduced. Much of the oil money that goes into these totalitarian regimes, especially like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, stops the need for change there. As alternative sources come up and the need for oil is reduced, these countries will feel a need to drill in the energies of the people instead of drilling more oil wells. It was only when Bahrain's oil reserves depleted, the need for changes was felt. Today, woman candidates can have a say in politics there and also vote. All this, because of the end of oil money. There is a threat to human freedom and democracy when more money stocks with the oil producers.

Finally, what speculation can now be made regarding the future oil prices? Considering the current trend, analysts point to $0 by Christmas 25 December or at the most by 31^st! There has been a supply cut last week from OPEC, a move made to boost up the oil prices. Even this move did not stop prices from falling, and I wonder whether we will get to see prices at $30-$39 range!

2008-12-16T13:38:00.000+05:30

2008-11-30T21:11:00.001+05:30

So, an easy target for the retards, possessed by the demon, who have no other good thought in mind than to go and kill innocents. Attacks on women and children were severely criticized before, so these people started striking males (preferably of religion other than theirs) with guns in their hand rather than placing some bombs cowardly. They happened to kill many of their own religion in their rampage beyong their notice. They were yet to get a good idea of the structure of this society.

[caption id="attachment_124" align="alignleft" width="425" caption="Image from Tomsgames.com"][/caption]

It was like what you get to see in a video game, or particularly GTA San Andreas where the protagonist kills many people on streets by chance during missions.

[caption id="attachment_123" align="alignleft" width="460" caption="Image from Mumbaisuburbs.com"][/caption]

Sure, these rats are not that cowardly as they were before. They have dared to atleast come in front of us, avoiding the investigation, politics and manipulation which creates more problems further. They probably were inspired from the movie 'A Wednesday'. They striked on Wednesday, wanted to kill hostages in front of the media (as revealed by one terrorist), just the way Naseeruddin Shah had killed suspects opposite media in the movie. Their plan failed, thanks to brave people like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar. Please read their Wiki articles to get an idea what we lost. After our home grown SIMI has been almost completely ousted, experts had warned of no SIMI-like attacks anymore, but from external sources. It was Lashkar - e - Toeba this time, if we are to believe the alive terrorists' own words. This was for the India-Pakistan rivalry, and a plan to destroy India's financial nerve centres.

The hand of Dawood cannot be understated in this. Calls to Karachi had only confirmed this, and the help of the locals which they required can only be provided so finely by the 'D' Company. Luckily, Chota Shakeel, his likely successor had said in an interview that he loves India and will never engage in any anti-national act. If you notice, not a single attack took place in the region of Arun Gawli which lies 1 km north of the CST station. These gangsters have this code of conduct for conducting their organized crime as such, I'd read somewhere.

Next is what? Al-Qaeda and Taliban! These assholes haven't directly attacked yet, but they may be somewhere in the back of all this, providing some support. They are busy attacking Pakistan, as of now. Remember, Al-Qaeda is not an enemy of the non-Muslims, but of democracy and the free lifestyle. They are against prosperity and people living happily, against freedom of speech and expression, against freedom itself and against people not accepting their own so called Taliban's way of life. That's why the West is there first target. Probably, we will understand this only after we experience one attack. These retards cannot go anymore inside Britain or America, and that is the reason why they need to catch British and American citizens outside of these countries. Maybe Lashkar is there branch for operations on India, and we have to catch their Senior Operations Manager, or CEO soon. The GM is hiding in Tora Bora, like a rat and the world is doubtful whether he is alive or not! :D

After things have started stabilizing in Iraq, by the virtue of Obama being the next President, a promise from America to withdraw American military troops, and above all the reduced support of Shiite and Sunni people for mindless violence anymore which is seeing the end of the Civil War there. These forces of Al-Qaeda worked as Sunni factions in Shia-Sunni Civil War in Iraq, and have now deflected their attention towards the soft target India to spur up another divide here. They know, India is the most minority friendly country of the world, and India's resistance cannot be that strong as the Western countries. There is something we Indians need to understand:

India is at war. Our situation is similar to Israel, surrounded by some rogue elements in the neighbouring countries, and we have to do everything we can to avoid calamities here.

By the way, there is one message for the extremists. It can be found by clicking here. Sign the petition and forward.

2008-11-30T21:11:00.000+05:30

2008-11-07T03:31:00.001+05:30

And so it came to pass that on Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern time, the American Civil War ended, as a black man - Barack Hussein Obama - won enough electoral votes to become president of the United States.

A civil war that, in many ways, began at Bull Run, Virginia, on July 21, 1861, ended 147 years later via a ballot box in the very same state. For nothing more symbolically illustrated the final chapter of America's Civil War than the fact that the Commonwealth of Virginia - the state that once exalted slavery and whose secession from the Union in 1861 gave the Confederacy both strategic weight and its commanding general - voted Democratic, thus assuring that Barack Obama would become the 44th president of the United States.

This moment was necessary, for despite a century of civil rights legislation, judicial interventions and social activism - despite Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King's I-have-a-dream crusade and the 1964 Civil Rights Act - the Civil War could never truly be said to have ended until America's white majority actually elected an African-American as president.

That is what happened Tuesday night and that is why we awake this morning to a different America. The struggle for equal rights is far from over, but the Americans start afresh now from a whole new baseline. It lets every child and every citizen and every new immigrant know that from this day forward everything really is possible in America.

How did Obama pull it off? To be sure, it probably took a once-in-a-century economic crisis to get enough white people to vote for a black man. And to be sure, Obama's better organization, calm manner, mellifluous speaking style and unthreatening message of "change" all served him well.

But there also may have been something of a "Buffett effect" that countered the supposed "Bradley effect" - white voters telling pollsters they'd vote for Obama but then voting for the white guy. The Buffett effect was just the opposite. It was white conservatives telling the guys in the men's grill at the country club that they were voting for John McCain, but then quietly going into the booth and voting for Obama, even though they knew it would mean higher taxes.

Why? Some did it because they sensed how inspired and hopeful their kids were about an Obama presidency, and they not only didn't want to dash those hopes, they secretly wanted to share them. Others intuitively embraced Warren Buffett's view that if you are rich and successful today, it is first and foremost because you were lucky enough to be born in America at this time - and never forget that. So, they needed to get back to fixing their country - they needed a president who can unify them for nation-building at home.

And somewhere they also knew that after the abysmal performance of the Bush team, there had to be consequences for the Republican Party. Electing McCain now would have, in some way, meant rewarding incompetence. It would have made a mockery of accountability in government and unleashed a wave of cynicism in America that would have been deeply corrosive.

Obama will always be America's first black president. But can he be one of the few great presidents? He is going to have his chance because the greatest presidents are those who assumed the office at some of the darkest hours and at the bottom of some of the deepest holes.

"Taking office at a time of crisis doesn't guarantee greatness, but it can be an occasion for it," argued the Harvard University political philosopher Michael Sandel. "That was certainly the case with Lincoln, F.D.R. and Truman." Part of F.D.R.'s greatness, though, "was that he gradually wove a new governing political philosophy - the New Deal - out of the rubble and political disarray of the economic depression he inherited." Obama will need to do the same, but these things take time.

"F.D.R. did not run on the New Deal in 1932," said Sandel. "He ran on balancing the budget. Like Obama, he did not take office with a clearly articulated governing philosophy. He arrived with a confident, activist spirit and experimented. Not until 1936 did Americans have a presidential campaign about the New Deal. What Obama's equivalent will be, even he doesn't know. It will emerge as he grapples with the economy, energy and America's role in the world. These challenges are so great that he will only succeed if he is able to articulate a new politics of the common good."

Bush & Co. did not believe that government could be an instrument of the common good. They neutered their cabinet secretaries and appointed hacks to big jobs. For them, pursuit of the common good was all about pursuit of individual self-interest. Voters rebelled against that. But there was also a rebellion against a traditional Democratic version of the common good - that it is simply the sum of all interest groups clamoring for their share.

"In this election, the American public rejected these narrow notions of the common good," argued Sandel. "Most people now accept that unfettered markets don't serve the public good. Markets generate abundance, but they can also breed excessive insecurity and risk. Even before the financial meltdown, we've seen a massive shift of risk from corporations to the individual. Obama will have to reinvent government as an instrument of the common good - to regulate markets, to protect citizens against the risks of unemployment and ill health, to invest in energy independence."

But a new politics of the common good can't be only about government and markets. "It must also be about a new patriotism - about what it means to be a citizen," said Sandel. "This is the deepest chord Obama's campaign evoked. The biggest applause line in his stump speech was the one that said every American will have a chance to go to college provided he or she performs a period of national service - in the military, in the Peace Corps or in the community. Obama's campaign tapped a dormant civic idealism, a hunger among Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves, a yearning to be citizens again."

None of this will be easy. But my gut tells me that of all the changes that will be ushered in by an Obama presidency, breaking with the racial past may turn out to be the least of them. There is just so much work to be done. The Civil War is over. Let reconstruction begin.

2008-11-07T03:31:00.000+05:30

2008-10-20T05:15:00.001+05:30

I'm not much of a regular moviegoer, but still one can't really control the temptation at times. Recently (my recent is ¾ months back),a few good flicks like Mumbai Meri Jaan and Wednesday were a good watch. To add to it, Shoot On Sight is top of the charts for me.

Even though I claim this a ‘No Spoiler' review, depending on your own taste this may turn out different for you. This movie has once again touched the sensitive issue of terrorism, and as we all know how it is labeled onto a community. The lives of an innocent victim, the cops, a brainwasher fundamentalist, and a stupid from Pakistan who turns out a bomber later are shown in the movie very nicely.

[caption id="attachment_97" align="alignright" width="203" caption="Naseerruddin Shah: Great As Ever!"][/caption]

It all starts from an early morning train at 7.15 am when a bearded guy with a white cap is running for catching a train. He is also simultaneously listening to music on an ipod and coincidentally the terror alert is high in the city as informed to the cops. The order of ‘shoot at sight' is given and he is told by the cops to raise his hands up. The guy is a little amused, and puts his hands in the pocket for stopping the ipod when he is shot dead.

If we think from the guy's perspective, he was not wrong as he was listening music and couldn't really get what was going around. Raising the hands immediately should have been his priority but may be he couldn't understand the seriousness of what's going around. If we think from the police's perspective, they weren't wrong either. On the day when terror alert is high, when a person who hesitates from putting hands up, and enters his hand in pocket for switching something(which is very likely to turn out to the remote of an explosive or something), cannot be an innocent person either.

As usual, the western media (democratic and liberal) prints about the innocent being killed. The police also have pressure of stopping terrorist attacks and no risk is affordable for them. Our beloved Naseerudin Shah is a police cop here married to an English lady. His nephew Zaheer soon comes from Pakistan, after a visit to Saudi Arabia to study in London. Zaheer is an engineering graduate as such, but considering the barbaric and tribal background of Pakistan one knows what's there in him. Marrying a cousin is still a rife in Pakistan, and Zaheer has some feelings for Shah's daughter too.

Om Puri(Junaid) is a long time friend of Shah who works as an Imam in a mosque, but rather the real job of this Imam is to brainwash the innocent youth for violence. A religious person like him is someone supposed to give all good messages of world, those of faith, and not hate. He makes one sided talks of attacks on Afghanistan, and other places without considering the fact that these attacks took place after many US embassies were bombed, after many innocent Americans were killed and especially after the 9/11. This has astonishing chord with the reality and it reminded of Thomas Friedman, who was so very correct in pointing out the importance of stopping such hate speeches, exactly in one of his award winning New York Times articles. Of course, Shah doesn't approve of such acts and while he is discussing all this with Junaid, Zaheer gets impressed with all of Junaid's stuff.

Later on, one of Junaid's disciple starts making bombs along with Zaheer. Their apartment is checked by police, but one young hesitates from letting the police come inside the apartment. This much is enough for the police to know the reality, and they get the bombs, but unfortunately Zaheer runs out. Images of Zaheer running out from a back view are printed in the next day newspapers. Shah's wife senses this from the T-shirt but Shah's emotions refuse this.

An interesting thing to note is that this guy, while interrogation with the police possesses absolutely no shame whatsoever on his face, but rather all pride, as if he has caught a thief or criminal. This reminds of a scene in the start of the movie where a few teenagers are caught consuming illegal drugs, but after getting caught possess aplenty of shame on their faces and are willing for a change. Another interesting thing worth noting in this interrogation is that one cop gets irritated with the proud criminal and says "We'll send you back to your scrap country"(tumhare fatichar country vaapis bhej denge). The very next day he apologizes to his female colleague, a native of an Arab country for the ‘scrap country' comment, a comment of just two words. There is absolutely no such apology or sorry feeling with Junaid for his speeches.

Shah's wife requests the colleague of Shah in the police department to keep a watch on Zaheer. She gets something very important but is killed in the process. The information collected by her proves very useful, and from Zaheer's laptop Shah gets the exact location where Zaheer is going to plant the bombs, which is in a reputed shopping mall. After a little drama, Zaheer goes to press the button on remote to explode the bomb inside the mall, but Shah very quickly shoots him (his own nephew) before he does so. This scene also reminds us of the very first scene when an innocent was killed, where he also puts hand in the pocket to press a button.

One more interesting point is when Shah enquires the cop of killing the innocent, a little communal dialogues come up .Shah asks what if his name would have been Gaurav? Cop answers I wouldn't have shot. Shah labels him as racist, but what striked me is that even this racist British does respect a Hindu or Indian sounding names! Overall, this movie has a really good presentation and provides good thrill. The second half of the movie is very thrilling and is much better than the first one. One just can't get up from his seat in the whole movie. A much better pick than Karz of our beloved Himesh! Yucksssssss...

My rating: **** (4/5)

Image Courtesy: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

2008-10-20T05:15:00.000+05:30

2008-10-17T03:09:00.001+05:30

Globalisation,a theme widely used by corporates to market themselves by informing us how global their footprints are,and a world map is a commonly found in many advertisements.Google Trends shows that the query 'globalisation' as well as 'globalization' is on an upswing since 2000.The highest no. of searches coming for 'globalisation' is from Nigeria,and secondly South Africa,whereas for 'Globalization',the highest number was from Pakistan :P ,followed by Philippines,Malaysia and India.Interestingly,New Delhi has alone has the highest number of searches,followed by Chennai,Adelaide and Johannesburg! :) .Even,in my blog,the highest visits are tributed to the post 'Effects Of
Globalisation',as many as 4 times the ordinary posts.[Source]

What really caused this?The causes can be attributed to several political as well as socio-economic changes that took place in the decade of 1991-2001.In Tom Friemdan's book 'The World Is Flat',ten points or rather flatteners are mentioned.Several other points were also mentioned in one of his earlier books 'Lexus And The Olive Tree' and 'Longitudes And Attitudes'.

Fall Of Berlin Wall(9/11!)

Yes,that's 9/11 in our DD/MM system!
This was the time when the walls fell and Windows opened.This event marked something more,the rise of capitalism and fall of communism.Many countries staretd opting for capitalist concepts in economy as well as opened up to free trade in the coming years.Notable example is India.Out of 200+ nations of the world,almost 150+ opened up,and this meant that any company can work and set up branch anywhere.

Netscape

Netscape was beyond the name of a single company.It was the creation of web browser.The US Department of Defence was working on a common network across USA,but it was the web browser which made it possible to make every computer accesible to this network.Indeed,you are now viewing this on a web browser,and the network across America has spread across the globe now known as Internet.I don't need to say any importance of internet.

Work Flow Software

The monopolisation of Microsoft Windows in the OS arena did facilitate developers for creating application software.Almost all the major application software were designed for Windows.A chaos of which software works the best on which OS did not arise.This uniformness mattered a lot.If you are in some other part of the world,you can still work on MS Word there,or Notepad even if these softwares are in a different language.You are familiar with the options and the general location where they are placed only because of this uniformity.

Outsourcing

This one word 'outsourcing' has brought fortunes for millions of homes in central USA,India,China,Mexico,Brazil and Russia.Due to the advent of internet where location did not matter,outsourcing just got a boost.For certain task,work can be outsourced to a location where it will be done in cheapest and most efficient way.In short,every country was to get it's deserving pie.India earned it through software and services,China in manufacturing,Mexico in other areas.

Off-shoring

The difference of this term with outsourcing is,in the sense that,in outsourcing only work is shifted to a different location,whereas in offshoring the complete company is shifted.All the Intel chips manufacturing units are now taken away from US and shifted to China.Same has happened with many other manufacturing units of other companies.In offshoring,China is one name which has taken maximum advantage.

In-Sourcing

This concept is right now is used in mostly the developed nations.Suppose,a logistics company like DHL is doing all transport related work of Compaq.A customer of Compaq who has some problem generally calls Compaq,and the HCL does the delivery work.In-sourcing is like doing this engineering work at HCL itself.Engineers are employed at HCL itself,and every piece of Compaq system need not be transported to it's main office of that particular country.

Supply-Chaining

Due to all the flatteners mentioned above,and especially the internet,many businesses went up and down.But,logistic providers saw a growth.Better logistics,and the use of software in logistics was something which changed the face of this field.Ordering and tracking is done automatically using some business software.You place an order of a book on Rediff or Indiatimes,and the emails to respective publishers for a copy are sent by these business softwares.Better supply chain has only helped globalization.

In-forming

For some discrete piece of information,regarding anything in this world,one had to buy and read encyclopedias,read aplenty of books for some particular piece of info and so on.The internet is one place where Google can just answer all your queries in less than 1second!Anything you need,you just google it.The 9.1 crore daily Google searches,as well as questions asked in Yahoo!Answers,or the articles in Wikipedia is very high.Where did people ask all these earlier?People are getting information like never before on their fingertips sitting at home.

The Steroids

Steroids are nothing but the technological tools which are springing up day by days in larger numbers.Smaller computers,smaller mobiles,faster internet,cheaper internet and then more advancement in al these gizmos is leading to an addiction of all this.This helps world flatten faster.In Japan,one can access the internet almost anywhere using a wireless palmtop device or it's ilks.More e-tickets are bought than actual tickets.

In short,one can say globalisation is caused by many inter-dependent things.One just can't say anymore,"I am not dependent on you"!(considering countries in the context)When the oil prices go up,a sudden inflation rise took place across the world.When one market falls down,a repurcussion is found at other places.Places like Dubai have more Indian institutes,where as more foreign companies are found in India.

Image Courtesy:Sam Houston State University

2008-10-17T03:09:00.000+05:30

On Blogger And Wordpress

2008-10-03T16:20:00.001+05:30

Shifting a blog is really such a Herculean task.On my recent move from Blogger to Wordpress,I'd realized this.New design,new options,new widgets,and so much.Getting all the HTML codes of favourite widgets,etc.

The interesting themes in Wordpress add to this all.I was too confused,or rather am,regarding the choice of theme,and as usual,obsessed with a black background.There are some 42+ themes here.Many people found the Blogger address a very mysterious looking place because of it's dark background.Despite being well settled there,I've got here on Wordpress because of the excellent interface,better features.Blogger simply provided colour options,and all the more it provided with matching colours.But,blog stats and other options were pathetic.

The blog stats is the best feature found here.The statistics are an ever attracting thing,be it about anything.The daily number of visits,from which link they came,and if from search results,then what was their search query is all provided.Most viewed posts are given along with the exact no. of views.The links which people clicked,like the underlined hyperlinks,image,or any click for that matter from this place,is also shown here.

When I recently checked one of the sources from which my blog got a click,it turned out to be some live.com link,and another from Gmail.Bingo!I had informed my friend through Gmail,and the live.com was a mystery.The long squabby link contained the ID of a friend,and it was easy to guess that he's checked from one of his emails which he received!For someone like me who thinks of himself as a the top guy of IB or CIA,even though I don't have any right to think so,this feature is a great one.The themes here are pretty unique,and fresh one,unlike the ones in Blogger.Either ways,Wordpress rocks!And it is still a wonder,how a website like Blogger,coming from the home of Google doesn't give the option of emoticon in it!Neither in the posts,nor in the comment.. :P :)

The lack of emoticons really matters.If a wink like ; ) is entered in a comment along with some casual fact,the other person may misunderstand it as some offence.It happened recently when I wrote at Zubair's blog in casual sense that 'Marriage is licence to procreation ; )' :) .No one could get that I wanted to say it jokingly.

From blog stats,the maxiumum visits are to the post on globalisation,followed by the one on world's strong economies.It's time that I should stop posting sporadically,and be a little disciplined in posting. Discipline....Aah :D !An unattainable virtue.. :P

On Blogger And Wordpress

2008-10-03T16:20:00.000+05:30

2008-09-14T15:26:00.001+05:30

George W. Bush,the current Uncle Sam,what does it remind you?Sure,a lot many funny cartoons and caricatures.His start of term was marked by the scandle in Florida province,where it was proven that Al Gore had won the elections.It was Al Gore who had more votes than Bush.Had Al Gore been the president of US,a lot over global warming and renewable energy was to happen by now.

Next to the scandle,Mr.bush was very busy enjoying his vacations at the start of his term.After being elected in January 2001,Uncle Sam was off on leave for almost 35% of the time.Yes,that's the President of ther United States.

What made him come back to office on a serious note was the 9/11 disaster.

Just 4 commercial flights,and only 2 required to demolish the WTC.We got to see something seen never before live on our television sets.The planning of the attacks was on from 1998 in Afghanistan,with individual terrorists from Saudi Arabia(15 out of 19),UAE,Germany and Morocco.The planning was going from a long time,but what these empty heads missed out was the timing.The first flight which collided on WTC North Tower,hit at around 8:40 am,at a time when barely the offices are filled.The 2nd took place by 8;55,but The first collision was enough to evacuate the people in 2nd tower.The total number of people estimated to be working,or visiting the WTC at peak times was around more than 12,000.But luckily due to bad timing,the toll did not go above 2500.

Bush's reaction to the attacks was crucial to everyone in the world.A war on Al-Qaeda was the answer,as it was clear that Bin Laden was the mastermind behind.Warnings of an attack were known to the FAA,and a report presented by FBI to Bush in August 1st week wasn't paid much attention to.The award winning Michael Moore's movie,Fahrenheit 9/11,has stressed on many details of Bush's presidency.

Attacking Afghanistan was the right choice then,but it was wrong to go for improved relationship with Saudi and Pakistan.But,Bush does it!We all know what happened in Afghanistan later.The Taliban fell,and thankfully a group of religious fundamentalists was down.That was good for world peace.Many of Al-Qaeda members were caught,but Laden went off.There hasn't been a single Afghanistan sponsered terror attack since 2001,and the bombings were enough to terrorize the terrorists.Islamic militants didn't attack US ever again.But,an obsession of eliminating terror form the world was in the mind of Bush.It was not enough to stop there for him.

Later in 2003,USA intelligence had some solid proofs of WMDs in Iraq.If WMDs were not in Iraq,why did Saddam resisted inspection checks from the UN 5 times??A country which never attacked USA,never threatened to do,wasn't involved in killing at least a single American citizen ever was invaded.There were other points stated as to bring democracy in Iraq,get rid of the dictator,remove Al-Qaeda and similar terror networks in Iraq and the likes.In short,liberate Iraq under the Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Saddam's hanging,was it good or bad?If we have a look at his life,even before any contact with US,and his atrocities on Kurds and Shi'as,probably it was good.He was against Saudi,against Kuwait,against Iran,against Israel,against US,and hostile to several other countries.Next hitler!!But,why hang when he did not possess any WMDs?Probably bad.The resistance for inspection cost him a lot.

WMDs were not found,bringing in democracy partly happened but the insurgency inside is not ready to stop.I wonder how come the US troops are there to mediate peace as they claim when their own nation is at an economic peril.Al-Qaeda in Iraq is weakened,and that was the good to have happened.

The long extended Iraq war,and also the war on terror has costed dearly,and the economic recession is one fruit of it.

The killings of the innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq isn't justifiable.A major point to be noted is,that Iraq has the world's 2nd largest oil reserves.Oil fields are reportedly well protected by US Army.That's enough to sense whatever we have to.The 9/11 conspiracy also did come up in the US media by 2006,and the Govt. did answer the claims.It's hard to believe in either of the claims,from the sides of conspiracists as well as Bush Adminsitration.

Bush's policies are like a Goliath who wants to capture the whole world.Coming back to the basic question,did the poilicies work?80% of the world believes no.For India,yes!Bush had been a favourable person,as he helped outsourcing in every way possible.The Indo-US Nuclear Deal was yet another milestone.Though Uncle wasn't good for the world and the US itself,he proved favourable to India.This is an era where one has to be economically strong to achieve power.Winning wars can't win you a great economy.This is not Alexander's era.John McCain is aggressive on all these failed policies,but thankfuklly Obama is getting an upper hand in the forthcoming elections.It's crucial for a Democrat to win.US needs one more JFK,and not a Bush.The time demands to invest in economy,alternative energy and fuels,and not in wars.

India took the lead in technology,and is now the world's 4th strong economy.The country leading in renewable energy will lead the world now,and sadly India does not seem too keen on this.

2008-09-14T15:26:00.000+05:30