Monday, May 01, 2006
Untrustworthy Indians
Can India trust the United States? "No", said 61 per cent Indians in a nationwide poll conducted by a Delhi based publication. The question is-has US ever betrayed India or broke a promise which she had had given to India? If not, then what makes a majority of Indians think that the 'US is untrustworthy'!
As a matter of fact, the US has been exceptionally magnanimous toward India. After partition, Western Punjab, India's wheat bowl, had gone to Pakistan. A food crisis awaited India. A spell of successive bad monsoons aggravated situation even more.
By 1955, India was faced with a sever food crisis. Memories of Bengal famine (1943) were still fresh. Over three million people had died in Bengal famine. During famine, people had begun eating leaves, banyan fruits hitherto eaten by animals and birds.
India had ran out of options. Chinese were already dying of starvation. Russia didn't have any grain to spare. The war ravaged Europe was in no position to help others. Even if there was food available in the world market, India didn't any foreign currency to buy it.
India in 1955 thus had only two options - either leave millions of its people to starve, or some Goddess came in with millions of tones of food as a free gift. It was at this point of time the US came to rescue. India signed a PL 480 wheat import deal with US in 1956.
The US was to supply 3.1 million tones of wheat annually for three years. Since India didn't have foreign currency to pay for even the transportation cost. The magnanimous US agreed to accept the money in rupees.
By 1966, volume of PL 480 wheat import had gone up to 10.36 million tones annually.
By 1971, US was faced with a very moral dilemma as one fifth of India's currency had accumulated in the US account in New Delhi. The US didn't know what to do with that Himalayan money.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the then US Ambassador to India, requested his Government to write off this debt as India was neither in any position to pay it in foreign currency, and nor the US has any usefulness of the Indian currency.
Approved by the Government, Mr Patrick issued a cheque worth $1.26 billion (about Rs 50 billion) to the Government of India writing off that massive debt. That cheque is considered as one of the largest amount of donation given to any nation.
The US however, knew that the PL 480 free feast was no solution to India's food problem. India too recognised that reality. If India had to become self-sufficient, there must be a revolution in its agriculture. But who would help accomplish that task?
Again, US stepped in to transform India. Sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation, America sent agronomist Norman E Borlaug, Father of the Green Revolution, to replicate his Mexican experiment in India. He successfully produced Sharbati Sonora variety of high yielding wheat. With that, Borlaug had implanted a Green Revolution for India as well.
During 50s' and 60s', over three thousand American agro-scientists had worked in India. Over six thousand Indian scientists were trained in American during the same period.
American agro-scientists helped India to establish chain of agricultural universities in States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. "Over 300 American Professors gave more than 700 teaching years of service to India", says an India supportive website.
The present day Punjab, Haryana, and West UP became motherland of the Green Revolution. This highly fertile landmass however, had neither water and nor electricity.
To make this region green one needed to make a Bhakra Dam over Sutlej. But, who would do it? On a personal initiative of Pandit Nehru, US sent Harvey Stocum to build Bhakra Dam.
Completed by early 60s', three times taller than Qutub Minar, Bhakra Dam is considered one of the greatest engineering marvels of the 20th Century.
The US thus, turned a famine prone India into a food exporting nation in less than half a century. US saved millions of Indians from dying, and saved India's honour by transforming a perpetual food importer to a food exporter nation. A million and half Indians are having fun in the US, and another million got jobs due to outsourcing phenomenon.
Yet, 61 per cent Indians can't trust America. How untrustworthy Indians can become.
Article by Chandrabhan Prasad, at the Daily Pioneer.
A rare example of American magnanimity; there is that side to America too.
As a matter of fact, the US has been exceptionally magnanimous toward India. After partition, Western Punjab, India's wheat bowl, had gone to Pakistan. A food crisis awaited India. A spell of successive bad monsoons aggravated situation even more.
By 1955, India was faced with a sever food crisis. Memories of Bengal famine (1943) were still fresh. Over three million people had died in Bengal famine. During famine, people had begun eating leaves, banyan fruits hitherto eaten by animals and birds.
India had ran out of options. Chinese were already dying of starvation. Russia didn't have any grain to spare. The war ravaged Europe was in no position to help others. Even if there was food available in the world market, India didn't any foreign currency to buy it.
India in 1955 thus had only two options - either leave millions of its people to starve, or some Goddess came in with millions of tones of food as a free gift. It was at this point of time the US came to rescue. India signed a PL 480 wheat import deal with US in 1956.
The US was to supply 3.1 million tones of wheat annually for three years. Since India didn't have foreign currency to pay for even the transportation cost. The magnanimous US agreed to accept the money in rupees.
By 1966, volume of PL 480 wheat import had gone up to 10.36 million tones annually.
By 1971, US was faced with a very moral dilemma as one fifth of India's currency had accumulated in the US account in New Delhi. The US didn't know what to do with that Himalayan money.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the then US Ambassador to India, requested his Government to write off this debt as India was neither in any position to pay it in foreign currency, and nor the US has any usefulness of the Indian currency.
Approved by the Government, Mr Patrick issued a cheque worth $1.26 billion (about Rs 50 billion) to the Government of India writing off that massive debt. That cheque is considered as one of the largest amount of donation given to any nation.
The US however, knew that the PL 480 free feast was no solution to India's food problem. India too recognised that reality. If India had to become self-sufficient, there must be a revolution in its agriculture. But who would help accomplish that task?
Again, US stepped in to transform India. Sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation, America sent agronomist Norman E Borlaug, Father of the Green Revolution, to replicate his Mexican experiment in India. He successfully produced Sharbati Sonora variety of high yielding wheat. With that, Borlaug had implanted a Green Revolution for India as well.
During 50s' and 60s', over three thousand American agro-scientists had worked in India. Over six thousand Indian scientists were trained in American during the same period.
American agro-scientists helped India to establish chain of agricultural universities in States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. "Over 300 American Professors gave more than 700 teaching years of service to India", says an India supportive website.
The present day Punjab, Haryana, and West UP became motherland of the Green Revolution. This highly fertile landmass however, had neither water and nor electricity.
To make this region green one needed to make a Bhakra Dam over Sutlej. But, who would do it? On a personal initiative of Pandit Nehru, US sent Harvey Stocum to build Bhakra Dam.
Completed by early 60s', three times taller than Qutub Minar, Bhakra Dam is considered one of the greatest engineering marvels of the 20th Century.
The US thus, turned a famine prone India into a food exporting nation in less than half a century. US saved millions of Indians from dying, and saved India's honour by transforming a perpetual food importer to a food exporter nation. A million and half Indians are having fun in the US, and another million got jobs due to outsourcing phenomenon.
Yet, 61 per cent Indians can't trust America. How untrustworthy Indians can become.
Article by Chandrabhan Prasad, at the Daily Pioneer.
A rare example of American magnanimity; there is that side to America too.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Billions of dollars
Billions of dollars are waiting to flow into India as soon as the investment climate improves, according to US Treasury Under Secretary Timothy Adams, who is visiting India next week. On the eve of his departure to Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, where he will be participating in meetings of the Asian Development Bank, Mr Adams told reporters here, “I think there’s billions of dollars sitting on the border of India waiting to rush in. It’s just waiting to be invited in, and part of that is having the appropriate investment climate. You know, there’s an old adage that capital is a coward, it goes where it’s treated well, and it flees where it’s treated badly. The best thing to do is improve your investment climate, and there are lots of ways to do that.” Mr Adams explained, “We’ve talked to the Indian officials about dispute resolution mechanisms so that companies who put a tremendous amount of capital in the ground through infrastructure, whether it’s an energy facility or a plant, feels like that somehow – if something were to go wrong, they can adjudicate their demands. But it really is about creating an overall investment climate – the number of days it takes to get a business license, the number of days it takes to enforce a contract. And India has a long way to go on those metrics.”
“I know it’s tiresome to compare to China, and there’s probably some resentment to it, but on a number of these business investment climates, China does remarkably well. We’ve seen $70 billion of FDI that flows into China every year. The money’s there from the private sector. It does not need to be subsidised. It just has to be invited in and treated well.” Commenting on the evolving global partnership between the US and India, Mr Adams referred to President Bush’s recent successful trip, “It’s important that our economic ties are strengthened too. Over the past 15 years, India has been the second-fastest growing economy in the world, and it is now the 12th largest economy in the world and a growing important economy for the US for export, of goods and services. Our exports to India jumped by 30 per cent last year.” “India is also an important source and destination for US foreign direct investment, and under the right set of circumstances we could see even more US foreign direct investment into India.” “It is also an important destination portfolio capital as well. I was in India last November with Secretary Snow in which we discussed a number of financial and economic issues, some of those we’ll be reiterating on this trip, and they were issues that were also discussed during the President’s visit, and, as you know, there’s a CEO forum which has looked at some of these economic issues, these joint challenges and come up with a set of recommendations.” A measure of the importance that the US attaches to India’s strengthening economy and the emerging rise of Mumbai as a global financial centre is the Treasury’s decision to post a financial attache to the American embassy to will liase with the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank. Mr Adams praised India’s plans to improve the country’s infrastructure, saying this was vital if the economy was to grow beyond 8 per cent. He added, “Opening up the financial sector is an important topic. We think it would import important risk management systems. It would allow Indian savers and investors to better manage their risk by expanding their portfolio options. A vibrant banking centre and system, one that makes decisions based on commercial terms, is an important ingredient to economic growth.” “We’ll also be talking about fiscal policy. The Indian budget deficit is about 8 per cent of GDP, and it is dominated by subsidies and wages. And we think that for the long-term, sustainable health of the Indian economy and their fiscal outlook that makes adjustments in the budget deficit is important, but also changing the mix of expenditures away from subsidies and away from wages, more towards infrastructure and investments in human capital.” Asked about future trading opportunities between India and the US, Mr Adams said nuclear energy and nuclear issues were at the centre of the debate, as were related environmental issues, such as sharing clean coal technology and working together on agricultural development. He also hinted at a more important future role for India in the International Monetary Fund.
“I know it’s tiresome to compare to China, and there’s probably some resentment to it, but on a number of these business investment climates, China does remarkably well. We’ve seen $70 billion of FDI that flows into China every year. The money’s there from the private sector. It does not need to be subsidised. It just has to be invited in and treated well.” Commenting on the evolving global partnership between the US and India, Mr Adams referred to President Bush’s recent successful trip, “It’s important that our economic ties are strengthened too. Over the past 15 years, India has been the second-fastest growing economy in the world, and it is now the 12th largest economy in the world and a growing important economy for the US for export, of goods and services. Our exports to India jumped by 30 per cent last year.” “India is also an important source and destination for US foreign direct investment, and under the right set of circumstances we could see even more US foreign direct investment into India.” “It is also an important destination portfolio capital as well. I was in India last November with Secretary Snow in which we discussed a number of financial and economic issues, some of those we’ll be reiterating on this trip, and they were issues that were also discussed during the President’s visit, and, as you know, there’s a CEO forum which has looked at some of these economic issues, these joint challenges and come up with a set of recommendations.” A measure of the importance that the US attaches to India’s strengthening economy and the emerging rise of Mumbai as a global financial centre is the Treasury’s decision to post a financial attache to the American embassy to will liase with the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank. Mr Adams praised India’s plans to improve the country’s infrastructure, saying this was vital if the economy was to grow beyond 8 per cent. He added, “Opening up the financial sector is an important topic. We think it would import important risk management systems. It would allow Indian savers and investors to better manage their risk by expanding their portfolio options. A vibrant banking centre and system, one that makes decisions based on commercial terms, is an important ingredient to economic growth.” “We’ll also be talking about fiscal policy. The Indian budget deficit is about 8 per cent of GDP, and it is dominated by subsidies and wages. And we think that for the long-term, sustainable health of the Indian economy and their fiscal outlook that makes adjustments in the budget deficit is important, but also changing the mix of expenditures away from subsidies and away from wages, more towards infrastructure and investments in human capital.” Asked about future trading opportunities between India and the US, Mr Adams said nuclear energy and nuclear issues were at the centre of the debate, as were related environmental issues, such as sharing clean coal technology and working together on agricultural development. He also hinted at a more important future role for India in the International Monetary Fund.
Friday, April 07, 2006
'Why can't we be more American in our manners?'
I'm tired of psuedo-liberal evangelicals ( with their 'more-liberal-than-thou' ) attitude preaching on, about how Indian's should behave more like Americans.
Check this article out: The Indian Attitude Toward Sex? We'd Rather Be Born Immaculate!
Check this gem out :
For Christssakes, grow the fuck up Indians! Sanskriti my friggin arse. Sexual suppression is the worst kind of phobia that most Indian teenagers seem to suffer from.
Ask any Indian teenage boy what the vulva is, he would tell you that it's probably the car - Volvo. No, its no joke, despite sex education being taught in most urban school most Indians don't even know the names of the sexual organs forget about doing it the right way.
1000 says - Ask any Indian teenage boy what the vulva is..."
wrong question ......sister
ask him what a ch**t is......and u will be amazed,why he is not a gynaecologist ...
Check this article out: The Indian Attitude Toward Sex? We'd Rather Be Born Immaculate!
Check this gem out :
For Christssakes, grow the fuck up Indians! Sanskriti my friggin arse. Sexual suppression is the worst kind of phobia that most Indian teenagers seem to suffer from.
Ask any Indian teenage boy what the vulva is, he would tell you that it's probably the car - Volvo. No, its no joke, despite sex education being taught in most urban school most Indians don't even know the names of the sexual organs forget about doing it the right way.
1000 says - Ask any Indian teenage boy what the vulva is..."
wrong question ......sister
ask him what a ch**t is......and u will be amazed,why he is not a gynaecologist ...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Democracy no guarantor of rights
CNN says: Democracy no guarantor of rights
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department on Wednesday said that laudable human-rights practices tend to occur in democracies, but it noted in its annual report on human rights that democracy does not guarantee what President Bush has called a commitment to "the non-negotiable demands of human dignity." ....
...Let's set Bush aside, he probably didn't coin the phrase anyway, but what are the "non-negotiable demands of human dignity" ?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department on Wednesday said that laudable human-rights practices tend to occur in democracies, but it noted in its annual report on human rights that democracy does not guarantee what President Bush has called a commitment to "the non-negotiable demands of human dignity." ....
...Let's set Bush aside, he probably didn't coin the phrase anyway, but what are the "non-negotiable demands of human dignity" ?
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Which State is best for business in India?
Which the State that is most friendly to Business in India? Which is the State should Indian entrepreneurs look to setup their business?
Which State has the least beaureacratic red-tape? A robust police-force, fast resolution of legal disputes?
Can anybody give a ranking?
Note: I am not talking about location of natural resources, or human resources - let's assume the business does not involve natural resources, and there is easy access to educated labor.
Which State has the least beaureacratic red-tape? A robust police-force, fast resolution of legal disputes?
Can anybody give a ranking?
Note: I am not talking about location of natural resources, or human resources - let's assume the business does not involve natural resources, and there is easy access to educated labor.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Gora ka kutta Rajghat mein moota...
American Sniffer Dogs at Rajghat draw BJP ire...
Get the full story here:
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14154799
Get the full story here:
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14154799
Friday, March 03, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
A Quote
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
- Steve Jobs.
See my previous post...http://dekhbhaidekh.blogspot.com/2006/01/procrastination.html
- Steve Jobs.
See my previous post...http://dekhbhaidekh.blogspot.com/2006/01/procrastination.html
Nicomachean Ethics.
Eudaimonia
Most things are desired for the sake of something else (e.g., we desire food that we might be healthy), but Aristotle argued that there must be something desired only for its own sake. This he identified as happiness, well-being or flourishing (Greek: εὐδαιμονία eudaimonia literally "having a good guardian spirit"). When asked "Why do you desire this?" and then "Well, why do you desire that?" in response to each answer, many people will eventually stop at "in order to be happy." Eudaimonia is not a means to an end, but an end in itself--in fact, Aristotle argued that it was commonly recognized as the ultimate goal of life (Book I, Ch. 4). Happiness thus understood is not a mood or temporary state, but a state achieved through a lifetime of virtuous action, accompanied by some measure of good fortune. It is in this sense that the American Founding Fathers would later advocate the "pursuit of happiness," which cannot be understood as mere contentment or sensual gratification.
However, living according to virtues is often not enough to guarantee a happy life. Another prerequisite (in addition to virtuous behavior) is good fortune which brings one the goods necessary, but not sufficient, for a happy life. Another prerequisite for a happy life is health, which is also desired for its own sake. For Aristotle even the most virtuous of men can be denied happiness through the whims of fortune. As a consequence, one cannot be sure of achieving happiness until one's life is fully played out (Book I, Ch. 9).
Get the entire article here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomachean_Ethics
Most things are desired for the sake of something else (e.g., we desire food that we might be healthy), but Aristotle argued that there must be something desired only for its own sake. This he identified as happiness, well-being or flourishing (Greek: εὐδαιμονία eudaimonia literally "having a good guardian spirit"). When asked "Why do you desire this?" and then "Well, why do you desire that?" in response to each answer, many people will eventually stop at "in order to be happy." Eudaimonia is not a means to an end, but an end in itself--in fact, Aristotle argued that it was commonly recognized as the ultimate goal of life (Book I, Ch. 4). Happiness thus understood is not a mood or temporary state, but a state achieved through a lifetime of virtuous action, accompanied by some measure of good fortune. It is in this sense that the American Founding Fathers would later advocate the "pursuit of happiness," which cannot be understood as mere contentment or sensual gratification.
However, living according to virtues is often not enough to guarantee a happy life. Another prerequisite (in addition to virtuous behavior) is good fortune which brings one the goods necessary, but not sufficient, for a happy life. Another prerequisite for a happy life is health, which is also desired for its own sake. For Aristotle even the most virtuous of men can be denied happiness through the whims of fortune. As a consequence, one cannot be sure of achieving happiness until one's life is fully played out (Book I, Ch. 9).
Get the entire article here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomachean_Ethics
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
My Reply
5 decades of protecting the Tatas, Ambani's and Mallyas have increased inequality tremendously in this country. The people who had capital grew richer faster, while the state of the middle and lower classes improved marginally. While competition between Tata and Ambani, might have driven down prices (in telecom etc) we need more competition. Foreign employers would be a big egalitarian boost to India: the middle and lower class can get rich without making the established rich richer.
Mr Raghavan argues the case for Indian capital, as if Indian capital is shared equally by all it's citizens. The stark truth is, only the rich can afford to be entrepreneurs in today's 'liberalized' Indian economy. To really improve the state of the lower and middle classes, we need competition in labor markets. Only higher demand for labor can increase the wage-rate - that our-own Indian entrepreneurs have suppressed for decades.
We need foreign employers, foreign capital, foreign businesses - the more the better. No doubt, the competition in product markets will drive down prices and improve product standards, but the competition in labor markets would truly uplift the classes, and give a big boost of equality to India.
It is easy to see why the business elite argue for protection from foreign capital. It would overwhelm them. Whereas if the masses knew, how the government hinders foreign employers from providing them with more and better-paying jobs; while they spend days in the sun looking for one, they’d be seriously rattled.
The rhetoric of protection is just rhetoric: all they are really protecting is the system of inequality in India. The elites, who are served by the present system of inequality, don’t want it go – not only does it guarantee them low labour costs but also protection from competition. They also know a wealth differential has benefits in India – and these benefits are not only financial. They’d do everything to preserve the status quo.
Above is my reply to Raghavan's rant:
http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/28guest2.htm?q=tp&file=.htm
Mr Raghavan argues the case for Indian capital, as if Indian capital is shared equally by all it's citizens. The stark truth is, only the rich can afford to be entrepreneurs in today's 'liberalized' Indian economy. To really improve the state of the lower and middle classes, we need competition in labor markets. Only higher demand for labor can increase the wage-rate - that our-own Indian entrepreneurs have suppressed for decades.
We need foreign employers, foreign capital, foreign businesses - the more the better. No doubt, the competition in product markets will drive down prices and improve product standards, but the competition in labor markets would truly uplift the classes, and give a big boost of equality to India.
It is easy to see why the business elite argue for protection from foreign capital. It would overwhelm them. Whereas if the masses knew, how the government hinders foreign employers from providing them with more and better-paying jobs; while they spend days in the sun looking for one, they’d be seriously rattled.
The rhetoric of protection is just rhetoric: all they are really protecting is the system of inequality in India. The elites, who are served by the present system of inequality, don’t want it go – not only does it guarantee them low labour costs but also protection from competition. They also know a wealth differential has benefits in India – and these benefits are not only financial. They’d do everything to preserve the status quo.
Above is my reply to Raghavan's rant:
http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/28guest2.htm?q=tp&file=.htm
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Procrastination?
My Chemistry book lies on my desk, 5 inches to the right from my laptop. It has been there since this morning when I pledged I'd get down to studying it. It's 8:52 PM in the night now, and I haven't touched the tome yet.
I keep telling myself, after this cigarette, after breakfast, after lunch; then I forget and lose myself to aimless TV watching, surfing the Internet for "news", surfing for viral videos, listening to music on my laptop (of which I am sick by now). Anything but getting down to studying.
Here's the deal: I don't believe I am procrastinating. I believe, I am thinking. Of other things. Such as the nature of man, the human condition, the nature of the masses, how vocabulary-systems create meaning etc. And these thoughts are worthwhile. Or at least one could argue they are.
I'll leave you (those who have read this far and haven't shot their brains out) with a small nugget of wisdom. Something this day of wasteful, reflective thinking yielded to me-
There are two kinds of people on earth. Those who reach their conception of reality through someone else's description of reality. And those who describe reality for themselves.
And the 2nd type aggresively builds their vocabulary, so that they can talk about anything. They agressively read Marx, Foucault, Mencken -anyone- and all they look for are words - and the meaning the words attempt to convey. They do not hope to find wisdom. They hope to find vocabulary.
Be the 2nd type.
Here is what Steve Jobs had to say on the Issue:
I keep telling myself, after this cigarette, after breakfast, after lunch; then I forget and lose myself to aimless TV watching, surfing the Internet for "news", surfing for viral videos, listening to music on my laptop (of which I am sick by now). Anything but getting down to studying.
Here's the deal: I don't believe I am procrastinating. I believe, I am thinking. Of other things. Such as the nature of man, the human condition, the nature of the masses, how vocabulary-systems create meaning etc. And these thoughts are worthwhile. Or at least one could argue they are.
I'll leave you (those who have read this far and haven't shot their brains out) with a small nugget of wisdom. Something this day of wasteful, reflective thinking yielded to me-
There are two kinds of people on earth. Those who reach their conception of reality through someone else's description of reality. And those who describe reality for themselves.
And the 2nd type aggresively builds their vocabulary, so that they can talk about anything. They agressively read Marx, Foucault, Mencken -anyone- and all they look for are words - and the meaning the words attempt to convey. They do not hope to find wisdom. They hope to find vocabulary.
Be the 2nd type.
Here is what Steve Jobs had to say on the Issue:
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be
trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.
Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most
important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow
already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."- Steve Jobs.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Semester Begins in Five...
The Spring Semester begins in 5 days. It's back to college, books, and chemistry. I enjoyed blogging these 13 days, and now that I have my blog setup, I'll drop in a line now and then.
I'll keep updating the Quotes Box with more quotes; quotes are something I collect anyways, so that'll be up. Expect to see more pro-Liberty quotes, and more insights from our friends Calvin and Hobbes, Kyle, Stan, Catman, Holden Caulfield, Mark Twain, Art Garfunkel, ...anybody really.
Anyway, if you have a funny quote send it in - we accept funny, insightful, reflective, fraudulent, confusing - we love them all. We don't discriminate.
I'll keep updating the Quotes Box with more quotes; quotes are something I collect anyways, so that'll be up. Expect to see more pro-Liberty quotes, and more insights from our friends Calvin and Hobbes, Kyle, Stan, Catman, Holden Caulfield, Mark Twain, Art Garfunkel, ...anybody really.
Anyway, if you have a funny quote send it in - we accept funny, insightful, reflective, fraudulent, confusing - we love them all. We don't discriminate.
The Quotes Project
So I spent a lot of time on this Quotes thing on the right...but it's working for now and will have more quotes later. I got the idea from the Center for Civil Society, here. They have a small bar that hammers out catchy aphorisms that stick. It's pretty neat except they don't have too many quotes in there.
I'll add some more quotes and it'll have more than just government taking away people's liberty. Not that it isn't important. It is.
Feel free to whack the box for your site. I'm working on the instructions..., it'll be up once I figure some out.
I'll add some more quotes and it'll have more than just government taking away people's liberty. Not that it isn't important. It is.
Feel free to whack the box for your site. I'm working on the instructions..., it'll be up once I figure some out.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Life
Lyrics from a Simon and Garfunkel Song:
Through the corridors of sleep
Past the shadows
dark and deep
My mind dances and leaps in confusion.
I don't know what
is real,
I can't touch what I feel
And I hide behind the shield of my
illusion.
So I'll continue to continue..
to pretend My life will
never end,
And flowers never bend..
With the rainfall.
The
mirror on my wall
Casts an image dark and small
But I'm not sure at all
it's my reflection...
I am blinded by the light
Of God and truth and right
And I wander in the night without direction.
So I'll continue to continue..
to pretend My life will never end,
And flowers never bend..
With the rainfall.
It's no matter if you're born..
To play the king or pawn
For the line is thinly drawn ’tween joy and sorrow,
So my fantasy..
Becomes reality,
And I must be what I must be
and face tomorrow.
So I'll continue to continue..
to pretend My life will never end,
And flowers never bend..
With the rainfall.
The Reserve Bank of India
Am stunned by the opaqueness of the vocabulary, and jargon, used by our Central Bank, in describing our monetary policies. Check it out: http://www.rbi.co.in under Monetary and Macroeconomic Developments.
The terms used to describe the "Real" Economy are understandable even if the figures don't seem to hold. But they really lay the jargon thick when it comes to describing the Monetary and Fiscal situation.
Yawn... Gotta go to sleep.
The terms used to describe the "Real" Economy are understandable even if the figures don't seem to hold. But they really lay the jargon thick when it comes to describing the Monetary and Fiscal situation.
Yawn... Gotta go to sleep.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
The Two Thought Rule
Have been watching some C-Span (the US public TV servive dedicated to covering politics and other issues of public importance) and some of their shows that have viewer call-ins. And the hosts obviously don't let the callers rant on about their political beliefs, but they also enforce what I call the one-thought rule. The one thought rule is that callers are allowed to express one thought or one question which the interviewee (some public figure) then responds to. Usually a good way to proctor viewer call ins, in my opinion; seems to work.
Likewise I propose a two-thought rule for each blog-post. That is, each blogger should limit himself/herself to two thoughts in each post - not only does this make for easier reading but the author is also challenged to condense his argument into pithy sentences. Obviously, one could argue, this format is arbitrary and restrictive and more regulatory of freedom; sure, but it would make for a better blogosphere experience on the whole.
Likewise I propose a two-thought rule for each blog-post. That is, each blogger should limit himself/herself to two thoughts in each post - not only does this make for easier reading but the author is also challenged to condense his argument into pithy sentences. Obviously, one could argue, this format is arbitrary and restrictive and more regulatory of freedom; sure, but it would make for a better blogosphere experience on the whole.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Making Money with Bhojpuri Cinema
There's no biz like show-biz. Raking in the moolah with showbiz UP-Bihar isstyle -
Here is what BBC has to say:
Bollywood is having to take a backseat as the hitherto little-known regional Bhojpuri film industry steals the show in India. The industry, catering to 200m people who speak the Bhojpuri language - a dialect of Hindi - and live in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, is raking in cash like never before.
Made on a modest budget of $65,000, Sasura Bada Paisawela took in over $3m at the box office. Daroga Babu (I love you) mopped up nearly $900,000 on a similar budget. Many Bhojpuri movies take about 10 times their costs. With a success rate of almost 100% it is not surprising that Bhojpuri cinema is wooing Bollywood players like never before. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, presently recovering from surgery, and star actress of yesteryear, Hema Malini, have signed up for a Bhojpuri film together.
The four-decade-old Bhojpuri industry is attracting foreign talent too. Ukrainian model Tanya has already played a Russian girl in love with a Bihari boy in Firangi Dulhania (Foreign Bride). Now 24-year-old Cambridge-educated British actress Jessica Bath has signed for two Bhojpuri films. "Most Bhojpuri films are made on small budget of usually $50,000 to $60,000 and usually gross 10 times their costs at the box office, which is much higher than any Bollywood hit," Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh says.
The full BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4512812.stm
The top-grossing movie titles, that define the genre:
Sasuda Bada Paisawala
Daroga Babu I Love You
Dulhan Banwa Chudail (bride turns witch)
Ma Biwi Aur Sali (mother, wife, and sister-in-law)
Mat Bhulaiye Mai Baap Ke (Don't forget your parents)
The Great Bong covers Bhojpuri cinema: http://greatbong.blogspot.com/2005/12/bhojpuri-bituwas.html
Thursday, January 05, 2006
American Involvement in Somalia
Just saw a documentary on the American involvement in Somalia, in 1993; the subject of a Hollywood movie Black Hawk Down. It is amazing to see how arrogant Americans were in deciding to remove the local leader Aidid who they decided was no good for Somalia. This piece is about American arrogance by the way. And how American arrogance took a blow at the hands of a small African nation.
So America decides to pick up Aidid from his headquarters in Mogadishu, and they send in 4 Black Hawk helicopters, and around 10 of armored vehicles, around 90 Rangers and Delta men. Now the US Rangers are seriously tough men - military elite in America - genetically tall, buffed, tough men. If earth was fighting aliens in hand to hand combat - these men would be sent. Seriously intimidating in their physical presence- they clearly know it, and are full of it. And they, in their own words, describe themselves as 'Supermen' - physically unchallengable. They are so arrogant, , so proud of themselves and their elite group of "brothers", so sure of their patriotism and moral superiority, you could not find a better set of killing machines on the wide earth.
So these men were sent to pick up Aidid. Everything was going according to plan, when a Black hawk helicopter manning the operation was shot down. Four army rangers fell into occupied territory. To recover these 4 Rangers, America sent in 90 more rangers - with disastrous consequences. 30 American Rangers died killing over a thousand Somalians (by a conservative estimate) and captured only a few of Aidid's generals. Aidid captured one US Ranger.
So now Somalia releases video footage of this one US Ranger in captivity - Michael Durant - to CNN. So Clinton, immediately, in a show of force, lines up the entire bay of Mogadishu with the US Navy and the Army, ready to level Mogadishu to the ground. It was an awesome display of power and an awesome sight covered by an international press. The world waited with bated breath to see the first demonstation of the military might of the now, lone superpower. Fresh out of the cold war, Somalia would be America's first example to the rest of the world. It would be a cruel sight - and the world was ready to take in every gory detail. The pop-corn was ready, the movie would soon begin.
Clinton knew this - and and he knew Aidid did too. And his message to Aidid was terse: 'Michael Durant, or else.' Aidid dropped Durant like a hot potato and Clinton orders his entire fleet back. The GI Joes are obviously angered: they want to go back out and flatten the entire country down - angry at being pulled back; they have developed a furious hatred for the Somalis by this time. They know, if they go back out, they can kill Somalis like mosquitoes, and make them accept complete and humiliating defeat, but they cannot. They retreat in anger, their egos smouldering with belittling spite for the Somalis who have ostensibly defeated them. They retreat as they watch Somali's celebrate their 'victory' over America.
So America decides to pick up Aidid from his headquarters in Mogadishu, and they send in 4 Black Hawk helicopters, and around 10 of armored vehicles, around 90 Rangers and Delta men. Now the US Rangers are seriously tough men - military elite in America - genetically tall, buffed, tough men. If earth was fighting aliens in hand to hand combat - these men would be sent. Seriously intimidating in their physical presence- they clearly know it, and are full of it. And they, in their own words, describe themselves as 'Supermen' - physically unchallengable. They are so arrogant, , so proud of themselves and their elite group of "brothers", so sure of their patriotism and moral superiority, you could not find a better set of killing machines on the wide earth.
So these men were sent to pick up Aidid. Everything was going according to plan, when a Black hawk helicopter manning the operation was shot down. Four army rangers fell into occupied territory. To recover these 4 Rangers, America sent in 90 more rangers - with disastrous consequences. 30 American Rangers died killing over a thousand Somalians (by a conservative estimate) and captured only a few of Aidid's generals. Aidid captured one US Ranger.
So now Somalia releases video footage of this one US Ranger in captivity - Michael Durant - to CNN. So Clinton, immediately, in a show of force, lines up the entire bay of Mogadishu with the US Navy and the Army, ready to level Mogadishu to the ground. It was an awesome display of power and an awesome sight covered by an international press. The world waited with bated breath to see the first demonstation of the military might of the now, lone superpower. Fresh out of the cold war, Somalia would be America's first example to the rest of the world. It would be a cruel sight - and the world was ready to take in every gory detail. The pop-corn was ready, the movie would soon begin.
Clinton knew this - and and he knew Aidid did too. And his message to Aidid was terse: 'Michael Durant, or else.' Aidid dropped Durant like a hot potato and Clinton orders his entire fleet back. The GI Joes are obviously angered: they want to go back out and flatten the entire country down - angry at being pulled back; they have developed a furious hatred for the Somalis by this time. They know, if they go back out, they can kill Somalis like mosquitoes, and make them accept complete and humiliating defeat, but they cannot. They retreat in anger, their egos smouldering with belittling spite for the Somalis who have ostensibly defeated them. They retreat as they watch Somali's celebrate their 'victory' over America.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Should the private sector have quotas?
Should there be reservations for backward classes ? What the public has to say.
http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/03msg.htm
Supreme Court says no reservation for Muslims:
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/04sc1.htm?q=np&file=.htm
Read the above bulletin boards. It is amazing to see such vituperative hatred on the part of the public against the government - who want to ruin the country for vote maximization - that is the common sentiment at least. It is a democratic goverment after all -what did you expect? Unfortunately the populist policies of the government has gone too far and the middle-class is lashing back.
The UPA government doesn't mind setting the country behind just-a-little-bit if the political gains from it could be huge. Unfortunately, the government didn't anticipate this reaction from the new India - a large percent of whom are employed by the private sector. Promising reservations is no longer an easy way to garner votes bitches - this is not the India of 1945.
http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/03msg.htm
Supreme Court says no reservation for Muslims:
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/04sc1.htm?q=np&file=.htm
Read the above bulletin boards. It is amazing to see such vituperative hatred on the part of the public against the government - who want to ruin the country for vote maximization - that is the common sentiment at least. It is a democratic goverment after all -what did you expect? Unfortunately the populist policies of the government has gone too far and the middle-class is lashing back.
The UPA government doesn't mind setting the country behind just-a-little-bit if the political gains from it could be huge. Unfortunately, the government didn't anticipate this reaction from the new India - a large percent of whom are employed by the private sector. Promising reservations is no longer an easy way to garner votes bitches - this is not the India of 1945.
Monday, January 02, 2006
The Need for Labor Market Reform
In an insightful piece at Rediff, Crisil (chief economist) points out how the UPA government tends to trust direct redistribution schemes over market-based solutions, in attempts to solve India's labor problems. He argues that while political compulsions may necessitate direct schemes, such as The Rural Employment Guarantee and reservations for minorities, more needs to be done to actually solve India's labor problems. India, according to Crisil, direly needs a Human-Capital strategy that should be able to equip the youth with skills that are needed in India's marketplace. Supply should meet demand to avoid mismatches of skill or numbers.
See the entire article here:
http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/jan/02guest.htm
India Accelerating
The New York Times covers stories connected to the Golden Quadrilateral, India's version of the American Inter-State. This story ties into a larger story of India's accelerating growth. The link is to an condensed interactive feature; the original articles made the front page of The New York Times, over 4 editions.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
India and Pak exchange lists of nuclear installations.
Are We Kidding Ourselves?
Check out this article on Rediff:
India and Pak exchange lists of nuclear installations.
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/01nlist.htm?q=tp&file=.htm
You've got to be kidding me. Apparently it is a tradition: every January 1st since 1988, India and Pakistan have been sharing a list of their nuclear installations. How Sweet. And the best part of the treaty? Both countries agreed not to attack each others nuclear facilities. Awesome.
I guess then the people, on both side, would have to get blew up. Because their governments are not going to attack each other's nuclear facilities. The genius of this treaty eludes me.
I guess a far more honorable treaty would be: in the event of a war we make a solemn promise to first blow up each others' nuclear installations. And, btw, also not target the civilians in the cities. But this agreement has nothing to say about the civilian population, just the desert where we have our stockpile of nukes.
Awesome!
Check out the timelime of Pak hypocrisy around the nuclear-issue for the last 30 years, from the Federation of American Scientists: http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/nuke/chron.htm
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