This is something we all knew anyway, but there is some research which supports what we have always believed.
Which is that the wounds caused by the tongue don't heal so well as the wounds caused by fire.
Researcher Zhansheng Chen, from Purdue University in Indiana, who did the research puts it most memorably: it is much harder to "re-live" physical pain than to recall social pain. She means that the memory of emotional pain is more alive and throbbing, than the memory of a physical pain.
If you are interested in how the brain works, she adds, may be it is because of the evolution of our cerebral cortex: "It certainly improved the ability of human beings to create and adapt, to function in and with groups, communities and cultures, and to respond to pain associated with social interactions. However, the cerebral cortex may also have had an unintended effect of allowing humans to relive, re-experience and suffer from social pain."
You can go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7587780.stm, and read all about it, of course.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
A Sensitive and Thoughtful Response
Sir John Simon, whoever he may be, is said to have complained to the
Times when it gave his age as 78 instead of 77. He wrote that the
Times had made a 'wounding error", which, I think is a very thoughtful
use of the word, accurate and displaying his sensitivity to ageing. A
more paranoid man would have used, 'murderous error', because when you
get to that age, you can't really tell how long you are going to live,
right?
Times when it gave his age as 78 instead of 77. He wrote that the
Times had made a 'wounding error", which, I think is a very thoughtful
use of the word, accurate and displaying his sensitivity to ageing. A
more paranoid man would have used, 'murderous error', because when you
get to that age, you can't really tell how long you are going to live,
right?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
An Inspiring Speech
Since we are talking about the violence in Jammu and Kashmir, I would like to share with you the text of a speech given by Robert Kennedy when Martin Luther King jr. was assassinated. I found it moving, and I think it is relevant to our discussion.
It is rather long, but i feel it is worth spending some time over it carefully.
This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.
It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.
Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.
Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.
"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs."
Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.
Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.
Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.
For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.
This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.
I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.
We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.
Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.
We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.
Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.
But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.
Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.
It is rather long, but i feel it is worth spending some time over it carefully.
On the Mindless Menace of Violence
This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.
It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.
Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.
No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.
Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.
"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs."
Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.
Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.
Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.
For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.
This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.
I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.
We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.
Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.
We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.
Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.
But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.
Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.
I got this text from darrenhardy.typepad.com. You can also listen to the speech by accessing a link there.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
In Praise of Common Sense
(What follows is a rough take off from chapter 43 of Tirukural.
The chapter heading in Tamil is Arivudaimai. I am calling it Common Sense.)
Common Sense is the certain shield of protection,
a firewall against malefic, virulent forces.
Intellect is lost in lanes, byways, no-entries,
is stymied in a morass of its own making
while Common Sense drives straight where it wants to go-
Common Sense is not the same as Cleverness.
Common Sense enquires to understand, listens to all,
and is not enamoured with authority,
it values truth, not the status of its source.
Common Sense expresses itself with simplicity,
it sees through the empty garb of majestic words.
Common Sense is friendly with the ways of world,
it is not made happy or burdened with what happens.
The state of wider world does not faze Common Sense,
it accepts life, what it brings, and then moves forward.
Common Sense knows causes have their consequences,
to ignore Common Sense is to have no sense at all.
It is Common Sense to avoid, give the go by,
for evil choices need the courage of fools.
Common Sense is alert, aware action,
the unexpected does not throw it off.
Those with Common Sense, have all they need,
Those without, can have all, yet are nothing.
The chapter heading in Tamil is Arivudaimai. I am calling it Common Sense.)
Common Sense is the certain shield of protection,
a firewall against malefic, virulent forces.
Intellect is lost in lanes, byways, no-entries,
is stymied in a morass of its own making
while Common Sense drives straight where it wants to go-
Common Sense is not the same as Cleverness.
Common Sense enquires to understand, listens to all,
and is not enamoured with authority,
it values truth, not the status of its source.
Common Sense expresses itself with simplicity,
it sees through the empty garb of majestic words.
Common Sense is friendly with the ways of world,
it is not made happy or burdened with what happens.
The state of wider world does not faze Common Sense,
it accepts life, what it brings, and then moves forward.
Common Sense knows causes have their consequences,
to ignore Common Sense is to have no sense at all.
It is Common Sense to avoid, give the go by,
for evil choices need the courage of fools.
Common Sense is alert, aware action,
the unexpected does not throw it off.
Those with Common Sense, have all they need,
Those without, can have all, yet are nothing.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Should we ban Porn & Prostition - Survey summary
Yes - 1
Porno alone - 0
Prostition alone - 1
No - 3
Care a damn - 2
This survey was prompted by Siva's article on a related topic. He was strong in his opinion that it was wrong on the part of Police to arrest and humiliate bachelors for watching porn. When Pornography is illegal then automatically watching it also is illegal. But should we keep porn under the ban? then what about prostituion? Hence the survey. Response was average compared to our earlier polls where on an average we got 12 votes.
We discussed and debated this topic under two different posts. There are strong views on both sides. Nothing more to add I guess.
Porno alone - 0
Prostition alone - 1
No - 3
Care a damn - 2
This survey was prompted by Siva's article on a related topic. He was strong in his opinion that it was wrong on the part of Police to arrest and humiliate bachelors for watching porn. When Pornography is illegal then automatically watching it also is illegal. But should we keep porn under the ban? then what about prostituion? Hence the survey. Response was average compared to our earlier polls where on an average we got 12 votes.
We discussed and debated this topic under two different posts. There are strong views on both sides. Nothing more to add I guess.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Two Jokes
This is a joke which Gorbachev is supposed to have told a delegation of French politicians who visited Kremlin in the late 1980s.
Gorbachev had arrived late at a meeting looking flustered, and explained that he was sorry but he had been delayed sorting out a problem to do with Soviet agriculture.
"When did the problem arise?", asked a French Senator.
"1917", said Gorbachev.
Good joke, I think.
But it is not a joke that more than 50000 people were put into prison and hundreds executed in Stalinist Soviet for telling jokes such as these.
And another joke, a black one.
In 1969, the Czechoslovakian writer Jan Kalina put out a book of anti-communist jokes, "1001 Jokes". It infuriated the Czech authorities so much, they put listening devices in his room.
After a year, they had enough evidence to charge him with slandering the state.
During the hearing, when the issue of bugging came up, the Czechs did not want to lose their high moral ground. Instead, they claimed that the taps had been placed in Kalina's home by Western Secret Agents.
Jan Kalina, rather drily, responded, "I never told that joke".
Gorbachev had arrived late at a meeting looking flustered, and explained that he was sorry but he had been delayed sorting out a problem to do with Soviet agriculture.
"When did the problem arise?", asked a French Senator.
"1917", said Gorbachev.
Good joke, I think.
But it is not a joke that more than 50000 people were put into prison and hundreds executed in Stalinist Soviet for telling jokes such as these.
And another joke, a black one.
In 1969, the Czechoslovakian writer Jan Kalina put out a book of anti-communist jokes, "1001 Jokes". It infuriated the Czech authorities so much, they put listening devices in his room.
After a year, they had enough evidence to charge him with slandering the state.
During the hearing, when the issue of bugging came up, the Czechs did not want to lose their high moral ground. Instead, they claimed that the taps had been placed in Kalina's home by Western Secret Agents.
Jan Kalina, rather drily, responded, "I never told that joke".
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Haryana Govt announcing purse to pugilists
Pugilists Akhil Kumar and Jeetendra Kumar have made good progress and are in quarter finals, Akhil in particular was brilliant in his come back after trailing against the world champion Russian. I appreciate their efforts and laud their achievements so far. However their job is not over yet. I wish them grand success and Gold medals.
However much pleased I am with their efforts, I am annoyed with Haryana state government when they rushed to announce Rs.25 lakhs each for the Kumars. I am not against money being given but about the timing and the idiotic rush. Where is the need for these politicians to jump in so early? They could always give them money when they return either with the medal or with out it. But by making an hasty announcement they certainly distract the boxers, for one, and making a mockery of what winning in sports is.
I will be if same kind urgency is shown in providing necessary infrastructure for Olympic sports by the Haryana Government.
However much pleased I am with their efforts, I am annoyed with Haryana state government when they rushed to announce Rs.25 lakhs each for the Kumars. I am not against money being given but about the timing and the idiotic rush. Where is the need for these politicians to jump in so early? They could always give them money when they return either with the medal or with out it. But by making an hasty announcement they certainly distract the boxers, for one, and making a mockery of what winning in sports is.
I will be if same kind urgency is shown in providing necessary infrastructure for Olympic sports by the Haryana Government.
Shakespeare Shows the Way
May be we could have avoided this, but since we have started to talk about this, i would like to make my own post about this porn topic.
First let me make this claim: I don't see porn. Once or twice when I had the chance to watch it, I became terribly uneasy. I couldn't sit and watch it. It is a psychology thing, i think. May be something is wrong with me... I am not normal that way.
And I place people who watch porn on the lower levels of my moral scale.
So I have put my prejudice on board.
If you ask me what I have got against porn, I am likely to get high and mighty and state that the viewing of porn puts you in a state of mind where you see all women as sex-objects. Their feelings are relegated to the background, and the him-her relationship is reduced to the level of being mere bodies.
But I can see how porn can act like a tranquiliser, if not as an aphrodisiac. People who are pained by their urges, could turn to porn and find vicarious satisfaction of their needs.
About the fears of civil society, that the viewing of porn is something evil, and would inspire us to commit vile deeds, I am not impressed. Some people would get worse, but most would not. Even religion makes fanatics and fundamentalists of some, but we don't go all the way and say all religions are bad.
Wrong comparison? May be.
But recently I read an article, which says porn is not likely to make maniacs of us. It is anecdotal, has no statistics, but it has a view point.I think it is good for that reason. The article is 'The Porn Myth', By Naomi Wolf.
The points she makes are these:
i. If you see more and more porn, you are likely to see fewer and fewer women as porn-worthy. It puts you off real women. Real naked women are just bad porn.
ii. Junk food makes you obese, right? The more junk you take, the more you need to take. If your appetite is stimulated by poor-quality material, you need more if you want to be filled up. Porn, instead of bringing together people, turns them away from one another. They are not able to face each other, erotically, without the disturbing, and subverting, images of porn. Men who view porn are less inspired to move by the company of real women.
iii. The reason why this happens is this, she says: Greater supply of the stimulant equals diminished capacity. Much like everything else which gives us pleasure, pornography works in the most basic of ways on the brain: It is Pavlovian. If sexual pleasure is associated in your mind with the touch and smell of your wife, that is what will turn you on. Bit if you associated that with a stream of images of your TV/PC, that is what will turn you all. Your pleasure might be enhanced by porn, but it dilutes your motivation to perform.
iv. The more it is a mystery, and a game between two people, the more it is likely to be meaningful and fulfilling, she says. Otherwise it becomes just an urge you want to get rid off, quickly, very quickly.
So, if any of you enjoy porn, my advice is, don't.
Instead, go and write poetry:- however bad, it is more likely to set you aflame.
After all, it is the poets who go after and get the beautiful girls, right, not the peeping toms.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Whom to drop survey summary
Ganguly - 6
SAchin - 3
Dravid - 1
Laxman - 1
Expectedly Ganguly topped the survey and he is most likely to be dropped. I expected Dravid to come second but surprisingly it is Tendulkar who got 3 votes and comes second. Sorry guys he won't be dropped as we have a world record to beat. No, we won't drop him. Solitary vote for both Dravid and Laxman. Interestingly no one choose the last option.
It will be interesting to see whether selectors will drop Dravid or not?
SAchin - 3
Dravid - 1
Laxman - 1
Expectedly Ganguly topped the survey and he is most likely to be dropped. I expected Dravid to come second but surprisingly it is Tendulkar who got 3 votes and comes second. Sorry guys he won't be dropped as we have a world record to beat. No, we won't drop him. Solitary vote for both Dravid and Laxman. Interestingly no one choose the last option.
It will be interesting to see whether selectors will drop Dravid or not?
Gordon the Robot with a Rat Brain
Please read this article in the New Scientist. It is about a robot with rat brains.
It is likely to get more intelligent than us.
There is a wonderful article about Gordon by 'Technically Incorrect'. It is simpler than the News Scientist article, and also has perspective.
Do look in. He is intelligent and hilarious.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10017283-71.html#addcomm
Are we in Victorian Era?
Times of India - Times City - Chennai edition - 13-Aug-2008
4 held in lodge for watching porn
Police On Daily Checks Raid Mansions, Arrest Software Professionals TIMES NEWS NETWORK Chennai: In what seems to be an act of moral policing, a special team from the Triplicane police station raided a mansion in Triplicane and arrested four persons, including three software professionals, for watching blue films in their room. Police claimed to have seized 57 digital video discs containing pornography from the room of three software professionals and seven more DVDs from the room of a mechanic. The police team, which is now engaged in daily checks at lodges and mansions as part of security measures prior to Independence Day celebrations, raided a mansion on Triplicane High Road and arrested three software engineers in their late twenties, and a mechanic. The four were remanded in judicial custody. Their ‘offence’ was watching blue films in their room, behind locked doors. “They had many pornography movie discs with them. Why should they have so many discs? There is a possibility that they might sell them in the market. That is why we arrested them,” S Lakshmi, deputy commissioner, Triplicane, said. Police seem to have forgotten that such DVDs with pornographic content are available freely in markets like Burma Bazaar for just Rs 15 onwards. By selling 57 discs, the men could have made a maximum of Rs 1,000. “The claim of the police does not make any sense as the youth are paid a handsome salary,” another resident of the mansion said. “The police have no right to intrude on us. We pay rent for our rooms and it is our private space. We are not criminals. We choose to stay in mansions because most landlords in the city refuse to rent their houses to bachelors. This incident is an example of police high-handedness,” Krishna Prabu, who stays in a mansion in Royapettah, said. MORAL POLICING Police claim to have seized 57 DVDs containing pornography from three software professionals Seven more DVDs were seized from a mechanic Porn DVDs are available freely in markets like Burma Bazaar for as low as Rs 15 By selling the 57 discs, the men could have made a maximum of only Rs 1,000.
4 held in lodge for watching porn
Police On Daily Checks Raid Mansions, Arrest Software Professionals TIMES NEWS NETWORK Chennai: In what seems to be an act of moral policing, a special team from the Triplicane police station raided a mansion in Triplicane and arrested four persons, including three software professionals, for watching blue films in their room. Police claimed to have seized 57 digital video discs containing pornography from the room of three software professionals and seven more DVDs from the room of a mechanic. The police team, which is now engaged in daily checks at lodges and mansions as part of security measures prior to Independence Day celebrations, raided a mansion on Triplicane High Road and arrested three software engineers in their late twenties, and a mechanic. The four were remanded in judicial custody. Their ‘offence’ was watching blue films in their room, behind locked doors. “They had many pornography movie discs with them. Why should they have so many discs? There is a possibility that they might sell them in the market. That is why we arrested them,” S Lakshmi, deputy commissioner, Triplicane, said. Police seem to have forgotten that such DVDs with pornographic content are available freely in markets like Burma Bazaar for just Rs 15 onwards. By selling 57 discs, the men could have made a maximum of Rs 1,000. “The claim of the police does not make any sense as the youth are paid a handsome salary,” another resident of the mansion said. “The police have no right to intrude on us. We pay rent for our rooms and it is our private space. We are not criminals. We choose to stay in mansions because most landlords in the city refuse to rent their houses to bachelors. This incident is an example of police high-handedness,” Krishna Prabu, who stays in a mansion in Royapettah, said. MORAL POLICING Police claim to have seized 57 DVDs containing pornography from three software professionals Seven more DVDs were seized from a mechanic Porn DVDs are available freely in markets like Burma Bazaar for as low as Rs 15 By selling the 57 discs, the men could have made a maximum of only Rs 1,000.
Jammu vs Kashmir - Government's failing
Kashmir is a troubled territory for very long and we have been hearing and watching stories of terrorism and violence related to Kashmir for almost 3 decades now. But never before I felt so disturbed as at the moment with what is happening in Kashmir and of course also in Jammu. It is not a question of who is right and who is wrong with regard to Amarnath yatra land row but it is a question of whether government is right to allow this issue to become so huge as it is today.
I have never heard of 1,00,000 plus Kashmiris thronging the streets to protest against government and walk to Muzaffarabad. It's a huge problem and I don't know how the Army can bring peace in the valley if the scale of protests continue at this level. Some might say, just shoot and people will run away. For heavens sake, remember they still are part of India, officially, and how can an Army shoot at its own civilians who are fighting against economic blockade. Army does shoot at protesters but every life lost in this way makes me feel more guilty as an Indian.
There were protests in the past but the scale of protest in Kashmir, this time, looks huge and terribly troublesome. Militancy was controlled to a great extent and there were signs of local support waning. They claimed, people are tired of terrorism and militancy. After a very long time elections were held with good degree of success and a democratic government was in power. When everything looked good all things that can go wrong have gone wrong. This will provide the fillip for militancy and act as necessary tonic for the Pakistani hawks.
In the first place the Government, both central and state, lacked the vision and failed to picture the consequences when they allotted and later revoked the land allotment. They failed miserably to gauge the sentiments of both sides and laid red carpet for protesters on both sides to walk in to complicate the situation. They failed to foresee Jammu reaction when so much was made out in media and in public when the state government did a 'U' turn. At least they should have sprung into action to guard and clear the highways, after Jammu erupted. Both governments have failed comprehensively on all fronts. With the general election nearing I don't see any honest effort by the instigators to calm Jammu. Kashmir cannot be kept calm till they get their food and medicines. After all it is just not 1, 2, 3 alone. Governance is much beyond that and is for the people of this country. Alas, we have politicians who have lost their conscience.
God please help Jammu and Kashmir, after all it is for your sake that Jammu and Kashmir have turned against each other.
I have never heard of 1,00,000 plus Kashmiris thronging the streets to protest against government and walk to Muzaffarabad. It's a huge problem and I don't know how the Army can bring peace in the valley if the scale of protests continue at this level. Some might say, just shoot and people will run away. For heavens sake, remember they still are part of India, officially, and how can an Army shoot at its own civilians who are fighting against economic blockade. Army does shoot at protesters but every life lost in this way makes me feel more guilty as an Indian.
There were protests in the past but the scale of protest in Kashmir, this time, looks huge and terribly troublesome. Militancy was controlled to a great extent and there were signs of local support waning. They claimed, people are tired of terrorism and militancy. After a very long time elections were held with good degree of success and a democratic government was in power. When everything looked good all things that can go wrong have gone wrong. This will provide the fillip for militancy and act as necessary tonic for the Pakistani hawks.
In the first place the Government, both central and state, lacked the vision and failed to picture the consequences when they allotted and later revoked the land allotment. They failed miserably to gauge the sentiments of both sides and laid red carpet for protesters on both sides to walk in to complicate the situation. They failed to foresee Jammu reaction when so much was made out in media and in public when the state government did a 'U' turn. At least they should have sprung into action to guard and clear the highways, after Jammu erupted. Both governments have failed comprehensively on all fronts. With the general election nearing I don't see any honest effort by the instigators to calm Jammu. Kashmir cannot be kept calm till they get their food and medicines. After all it is just not 1, 2, 3 alone. Governance is much beyond that and is for the people of this country. Alas, we have politicians who have lost their conscience.
God please help Jammu and Kashmir, after all it is for your sake that Jammu and Kashmir have turned against each other.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thank You Bala, Hi All, And About Thoughts
Thank you Bala for the invitation to post. I'm honored. My greetings to you all.
I'm convinced the content and the strength of conviction of our thoughts dictate our actions, their degree of success, and quality. If our thoughts are consistent, our actions too progress in the same manner.
Merely thinking will not produce an effect unless it is acted upon. We tend to act upon (or withdraw from) those thoughts we think about more than others.
If we can make our thoughts like a powerful cascade of positive direction, our actions will create value for others, and therefore us.
I'm working on impatience at the moment. It has been an old failing of mine which has interfered enough with my actions...aborted them too often from a purposeful direction.
I'm convinced the content and the strength of conviction of our thoughts dictate our actions, their degree of success, and quality. If our thoughts are consistent, our actions too progress in the same manner.
Merely thinking will not produce an effect unless it is acted upon. We tend to act upon (or withdraw from) those thoughts we think about more than others.
If we can make our thoughts like a powerful cascade of positive direction, our actions will create value for others, and therefore us.
I'm working on impatience at the moment. It has been an old failing of mine which has interfered enough with my actions...aborted them too often from a purposeful direction.
BINDRA RIFLE TAMPERED
See how sentational anything about bindra is written. (in rediff).
it tells that he was unaware of the fact that his rifle vision or something is tampered. on reading the title i thought something mischievous has happened to strip us the only one gold. but the matter is different. it tells that he inspite of that won the gold.
and now everyeach person in the world is aware that we havent won a single individual gold so far.
we shall phelps next time when he is retired. its good even if he gets two.
it tells that he was unaware of the fact that his rifle vision or something is tampered. on reading the title i thought something mischievous has happened to strip us the only one gold. but the matter is different. it tells that he inspite of that won the gold.
and now everyeach person in the world is aware that we havent won a single individual gold so far.
we shall phelps next time when he is retired. its good even if he gets two.
I Should Be in Utah.
This news item was an eye-opener to me, it could be a shocker to you. Depends on who you are.
Utah State in US, since August 8 this year has become the first state to institute a compulsory four-day work week for most state employees. It joins local governments across USA that are altering working hour to save money, energy and resources.The change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80% of the state workforce, who will put in four days of work- ten hours a day.
The four day week is expected to reduce the state's carbon footprint (Utah state targets to reduce its energy usage by 20% by 2015), increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.
Rex Facer, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University, estimates that about one-sixth of U.S. cities with populations above 25,000 offer employees a four-day work week. "More and more young workers are entering the work force," Facer says.
They will, won't they!
You can read more about this at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-four-day_N.htm
Utah State in US, since August 8 this year has become the first state to institute a compulsory four-day work week for most state employees. It joins local governments across USA that are altering working hour to save money, energy and resources.The change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80% of the state workforce, who will put in four days of work- ten hours a day.
The four day week is expected to reduce the state's carbon footprint (Utah state targets to reduce its energy usage by 20% by 2015), increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.
Rex Facer, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University, estimates that about one-sixth of U.S. cities with populations above 25,000 offer employees a four-day work week. "More and more young workers are entering the work force," Facer says.
They will, won't they!
You can read more about this at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-four-day_N.htm
Monday, August 11, 2008
Gold for India at Olympics
I was thrilled when I read the SMS yesterday, informing of India's first olympic gold in individuals sports. It is a dream come true for many Indians. We Indians know the value of a gold medal better than many other nations.
Despite having 1 billion people we have failed for long to produce a gold winning sportsman. I used to wonder why and even used to debate in many forums that quantity not necessarily means quality. However my heart couldn't buy the fact that India is incapable of producing supreme sportsmen. Where do we go wrong?
Like many mediocre institutions in our country sports also suffers due to lack professionalism in administration, lack of systems, and corruption. As long as chamchas and the lot are in control of sports there would be hardly any improvement in Olympic sports in our country. We need competent and qualified men and women to administer and take charge of sports institutions. To go with it there should be clear road map, responsibilities and accountability.
I salute Abinav Bindra who gave moment of glory for us Indians and it was moving to see Indian flag waving at medal distributing ceremony. Thank a lot to Abinav, his coach and his family.
Despite having 1 billion people we have failed for long to produce a gold winning sportsman. I used to wonder why and even used to debate in many forums that quantity not necessarily means quality. However my heart couldn't buy the fact that India is incapable of producing supreme sportsmen. Where do we go wrong?
Like many mediocre institutions in our country sports also suffers due to lack professionalism in administration, lack of systems, and corruption. As long as chamchas and the lot are in control of sports there would be hardly any improvement in Olympic sports in our country. We need competent and qualified men and women to administer and take charge of sports institutions. To go with it there should be clear road map, responsibilities and accountability.
I salute Abinav Bindra who gave moment of glory for us Indians and it was moving to see Indian flag waving at medal distributing ceremony. Thank a lot to Abinav, his coach and his family.
Jammu Protests - Summary
We received 12 votes and 9 of them feel Jammu protests are unfair whereas one thinks, protests must go on till the land is reallotted. I am bit surprised with the high percentage of people thinking that it is unfair. I expected a fair divide between the first and third option.
Whatever be the real picture there really is no point in spilling blood on the streets. Human life and time should not be wasted like this. We should mature to a level where people take the democratic process resolving conflicts and disputes rather than blocking essential commodities and making life difficult for other people.
Whatever be the real picture there really is no point in spilling blood on the streets. Human life and time should not be wasted like this. We should mature to a level where people take the democratic process resolving conflicts and disputes rather than blocking essential commodities and making life difficult for other people.
DANGEROUS LIVES
I am sorry to bring this piece of nonsense to your attention, but what can i do, it is so funny!
The Indian Express carries a report from Reuters, which says that women in Afghanistan should not buy cucumbers, because they are suggestive of the male member ;-).
Honestly!
It quotes Sheikh Hameed al-Hayyes, a Sunni tribal leader in the province of Anbar: "The Talibans even killed female goats because their private parts were not covered and their tails were pointed upward, which they said was haram... They regarded the cucumber as male and tomato as female. Women were not allowed to buy cucumbers, only men."
Of course, I don't believe any of this.
Some kind of conspiracy, I am sure.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
THE GOLD RUSH
The Olympic Competitions are supposed to start tomorrow. I am happy to tell you that I am boycotting this. I don't care who wins what or how much. If India come back empty handed, that would be fine, no regrets. A medal in China would be a great dishonour.
No one is bothered at the boorish behaviour of the Chinese State. Today I read in the newspaper that Beijing has designated three public parks as 'protest zones' for people to have their shout, but if you plan to go there, wait. You should have received the permission from the authorities in advance. I suppose whoever is doing the protesting would be riling against the Dalai Lama.
The American 400 metres champion, Sanya Richards and her like are our lights of hope. Should she win, she would kneel, say a quick prayer, and then point skyward to show us who made her great. "It's important because I want people to know that I'm not the best because I'm Sanya Richards. I'm the best because of God. I truly believe we can't will ourselves to win. I hope people see the same thing I see', she says.
Let us hope she wins and shows the Chinese the power of God.
There is a wonderful verse by Vallalar, which is appropriate here, but I will find it and post it later.
(I know this qualifies as rant, but i am sorry, Balajhi should delete it, may be, but I am quite emotional about this).
Jai Bhadrakali!
No one is bothered at the boorish behaviour of the Chinese State. Today I read in the newspaper that Beijing has designated three public parks as 'protest zones' for people to have their shout, but if you plan to go there, wait. You should have received the permission from the authorities in advance. I suppose whoever is doing the protesting would be riling against the Dalai Lama.
The American 400 metres champion, Sanya Richards and her like are our lights of hope. Should she win, she would kneel, say a quick prayer, and then point skyward to show us who made her great. "It's important because I want people to know that I'm not the best because I'm Sanya Richards. I'm the best because of God. I truly believe we can't will ourselves to win. I hope people see the same thing I see', she says.
Let us hope she wins and shows the Chinese the power of God.
There is a wonderful verse by Vallalar, which is appropriate here, but I will find it and post it later.
(I know this qualifies as rant, but i am sorry, Balajhi should delete it, may be, but I am quite emotional about this).
Jai Bhadrakali!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Kevin Pietersen - Captain of England
In 2005 he was a revelation. He laid his claims to super stardom in SA and further cemented them against Australia in the Ashes. He was a hero and still is considered a hero by many English fans. Today he is going to lead his side against Proteas at Oval in the 4th test of the series. There is nothing to lose for England and every thing to gain. Dead rubber sets the perfect tone for the new captain to start his innings. Pietersen couldn't have asked for a better start to his captaincy career.
There is no doubt that Pietersen is a good player. He may even become a great with bat but is he the right material to lead England? Personally I thought Strauss would make the cut but then his place in the team is not secure. There is no other player who is experienced enough to take the mantle. Flintoff is out of the question due to his problems. Either one deserves to become captain or become one since there is no one better than him. In Pietersen's case I think it is the latter.
He has so far come across as a batsman obsessed with his own performance. Like Sachin Tendulkar Pietersen also carries this selfish tag. Can such a player be good enough to lead a side? Would he be able to get the best out of his team men? It's going to be a challenge for him and England. Vaughan was a good captain who become average after Fletcher left. In fact Vaughan / Fletcher partnership was a very good one for England. I consider Naseer Hussain to be a much better captain than Vaughan. In fact it was he who led the resurgence of English cricket in late 90's. Gooch commanded the respect and Brearley was a an exceptional captain.
It's not going to be easy for Pietersen. Will he be another Botham or will he fall among Atherton / Stewart types? Interesting times for English cricket.
There is no doubt that Pietersen is a good player. He may even become a great with bat but is he the right material to lead England? Personally I thought Strauss would make the cut but then his place in the team is not secure. There is no other player who is experienced enough to take the mantle. Flintoff is out of the question due to his problems. Either one deserves to become captain or become one since there is no one better than him. In Pietersen's case I think it is the latter.
He has so far come across as a batsman obsessed with his own performance. Like Sachin Tendulkar Pietersen also carries this selfish tag. Can such a player be good enough to lead a side? Would he be able to get the best out of his team men? It's going to be a challenge for him and England. Vaughan was a good captain who become average after Fletcher left. In fact Vaughan / Fletcher partnership was a very good one for England. I consider Naseer Hussain to be a much better captain than Vaughan. In fact it was he who led the resurgence of English cricket in late 90's. Gooch commanded the respect and Brearley was a an exceptional captain.
It's not going to be easy for Pietersen. Will he be another Botham or will he fall among Atherton / Stewart types? Interesting times for English cricket.
Sachin Poll
Six think he won't and 2 think it's doubtful. Sachin is just 97 runs away from breaking the record. End of the week we will know where he stands.
Monday, August 4, 2008
TOLERANCE
I will be short today.
"I will not harbour any ill will towards those who abuse me", says Lal Ded, the Kashmiri mystic poet.
It is such a nice thought, I thought I should include in our values. After all, it is not those who abuse us that hurt us, it is our reaction. Though we can't help how we react, it is definitely possible for us to rise above the sense of resentment.
The Glass Palace
Yesterday i was talking to someone, and he suggested that the whole edifice is a glass palace. i don't know what prompted him to say that. do you have any ideas?
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sushma Swaraj's comment
In the first poll, 4 people felt Sushma is a nut and 4 felt she may be right. That's interesting. Even in the outside world where I checked, opinion was pretty evenly divided. Only god and congress know whether Sushma is right or wrong.
From now onwards our poll will run only for 3 days (inclusive) as suggested by Baskar.
The current poll questions whether Sachin will break Lara's record in Lanka. I think he needs more than a 100 to break the record. Will he? Please cast your vote in the survey.
From now onwards our poll will run only for 3 days (inclusive) as suggested by Baskar.
The current poll questions whether Sachin will break Lara's record in Lanka. I think he needs more than a 100 to break the record. Will he? Please cast your vote in the survey.
Timing is important, even for apologies
It is sad that controversy has engulfed the apology/clarification that has been tendered by Rajinikant.
There is no reason to doubt Rajini's sincerity, but the timing has brought the storm upon him. Rajini would certainly have realised that he went too far on that day when he incited violence upon those who violate the law. If he had clarified the very next day that he was sorry that he got carried away and did not mean what he said, the whole thing would have boiled over. But as it is, today his sincerity is in doubt.
So this is the value he teaches us today- If you feel sorry, go the whole way. Don't be halfhearted about it. Otherwise, everybody feels insulted.
There is no reason to doubt Rajini's sincerity, but the timing has brought the storm upon him. Rajini would certainly have realised that he went too far on that day when he incited violence upon those who violate the law. If he had clarified the very next day that he was sorry that he got carried away and did not mean what he said, the whole thing would have boiled over. But as it is, today his sincerity is in doubt.
So this is the value he teaches us today- If you feel sorry, go the whole way. Don't be halfhearted about it. Otherwise, everybody feels insulted.
A Film Review
Yesterday I happened to see Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book". He has directed Total Recall and Basic Instinct, so you know what to expect. Black Book has sex, greed and violence, sickening and brutal. To tell the truth I didn't like the film.
But it is impressive, registers itself in mind. The problem for me was that there were too many twists and turns, and i think i was able to predict 75% of them. And then there lots and lots of coincidences, which spoils the film.
I would say that the film is about corruption- how you get corrupted by greed. Everyone betrays everyone. In the last scene, i thought the heroine would get pushed into the lake and the old man would drive away with the money. You get to think, you can't trust anyone here.
This is a second world war film, but if you change the uniform you can place it anywhere. There is nothing specific, except that the Jews get hunted in this film.
As I say, i was disappointed at the end of it. But the scale of sex and violence: you should see the film and see if it brutalises you too.
But it is impressive, registers itself in mind. The problem for me was that there were too many twists and turns, and i think i was able to predict 75% of them. And then there lots and lots of coincidences, which spoils the film.
I would say that the film is about corruption- how you get corrupted by greed. Everyone betrays everyone. In the last scene, i thought the heroine would get pushed into the lake and the old man would drive away with the money. You get to think, you can't trust anyone here.
This is a second world war film, but if you change the uniform you can place it anywhere. There is nothing specific, except that the Jews get hunted in this film.
As I say, i was disappointed at the end of it. But the scale of sex and violence: you should see the film and see if it brutalises you too.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Infinity
This is a very big world. I realised that just now.
About three hours back, i went to have a look at the sites of Guardian and Times magazines. There are lots and lots of stuff out there, i don't know how you will have time to look at it all. There are more magazines like that one, and when you realize that, you see there is no end to it. Like self-knowledge, world-knowledge is also infinite, ever expanding.
It is a bit dispiriting, to say the least.
Here i sit posting some tiny bits, into a very tiny blog, which you and one or two people will read. What is there to get important about? We are not even small fish in this big ocean.
I don't know.
It is like coming out of a well, and seeing that your well is very tiny hole in a big, big world you won't even be able to comprehend.
About three hours back, i went to have a look at the sites of Guardian and Times magazines. There are lots and lots of stuff out there, i don't know how you will have time to look at it all. There are more magazines like that one, and when you realize that, you see there is no end to it. Like self-knowledge, world-knowledge is also infinite, ever expanding.
It is a bit dispiriting, to say the least.
Here i sit posting some tiny bits, into a very tiny blog, which you and one or two people will read. What is there to get important about? We are not even small fish in this big ocean.
I don't know.
It is like coming out of a well, and seeing that your well is very tiny hole in a big, big world you won't even be able to comprehend.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Driven
I am giving this post the label, Karma Yoga, but this is actually in continuation of my previous post yesterday: this is about being driven by what you enjoy, though it might make you suffer.
It seems that Dan Brown, whose Da Vinci Code sold more than 60 million copies, wrote three books before that one. They did not sell more than 10,000 copies, yet he sat down and wrote the fourth. You know how hard this writing business is, but still he went on with it.
And J.K.Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter book in terrible circumstances, that would defeat most of us. She had got divorced, her mother had died, she was an unemployed single parent on state benefits, she had a baby girl to take care of. She would carry her child and walk around till the child went to sleep, and then she would sit in a café in Edinburgh and bring out the story in her head with pen and paper. And then what happened at the end of it?
So, success might look a long way away, but, don’t look for results now: you are the author of your story, as long as you have the fire in you, you can’t help but keep writing it.
India - is there a silver lining?
Not a great time for India. Facing problems on many fronts.
- Prices are soaring
- Corporate confidence shows signs of weakness
- Margins are pressurised
- IAEA members mouthing some uncomfortable words
- Increasing noises from US on Hyde act and how India is bound by that
- Elections looming large with no clear favourite
- Terrorism on the rise
- Monsoon failing to meet expectations
- Mendis is mesmerising India's fab four
- Develped world pressing India at WTO and Kyoto
- Job market cooling off
- India's blue eyed boys are not exactly
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