Joel's Jottings

Wikipedia's Blackout - A Necessary Stand?

2012-01-18T23:21:00.000+03:00

Wikipedia’s protest, by a 24-hour black-out, has suddenly made the world realize how much it has begun to depend on this free online encyclopedia.

Can the world live without Wikipedia for one day? The answer is, perhaps this : “with very great difficulty.” And most of the world quickly realized it.

But is this new type of strike, of shutting Wikipedia’s English website down for 24 hours, really a wise move? Is Wikipedia right in protesting against the two legislations, SOPA and PIPA, which the US Senate is deliberating on?

SOPA is short for the "Stop Online Piracy Act," and PIPA is an acronym for the "Protect Intellectual Property Act”. These bills are efforts to stop copyright infringement committed by foreign web sites, but, according to Wikipedia, they do so in a way that actually infringes free expression while harming the Internet. Wikipedia says that both are badly drafted legislations that won't be effective at their stated goal of stopping copyright infringement.

The bills will apparently put the burden on website owners to police the user-contributed material, and call for unnecessary blocking of entire sites.

According to Wikipedia “Small sites won't have sufficient resources to defend themselves. Big media companies may seek to cut off funding sources for their foreign competitors, even if copyright isn't being infringed. Foreign sites will be blacklisted, which means they won't show up in major search engines. And, SOPA and PIPA are building a framework for future restrictions and suppression”. This, they say, is unjust.

Wikipedia’s arguments, that the bills will only be acts of ‘restriction and suppression’ of an open internet, may hold some water. But check out my next paragraph.

I saw one of my facebook friends’ mention on his status “I’d hate to be completing my university project today”!! This clearly brings us to the real question of plagiarism and piracy which the proposed legislations are seeking to prevent.

The fact that tech companies in Silicon Valley and the media companies in Hollywood are supporting the legislations, is a clear indication of how important these companies are valuing their intellectual property; and how they do not want any copyright infringement.

If I am Britney Spears, for instance, why should some website – like youtube – allow its users to upload my video song which is 'ripped from a DVD’ or ‘copied from a TV Channel’ onto the website, from where it can then be downloaded again, by the website’s several other users, who even convert my video into audio formats and play it in their parties, with absolutely no revenue to me?? Where are the returns due to me, the real Britney Spears? How can all you users enjoy my song, my hard work, my intellectual property, without giving anything to me?

Luckily, however, YouTube is seen working hard with its Content ID software to prevent unauthorized copyright violations. But several youtube-like, me-too, sites are only encouraging piracy. And millions are acting as if there is nothing wrong. Why? Well, who doesn’t want a freebie?

I believe, in today’s world of copy-paste, it is not just typed material, available in html format that that can be used for plagiarism. I believe that the DVD Rip software, the download convertors, and free download websites are all harming the original copyright owners. They should be given their due.

So, while I do not entirely agree with Wikipedia, in its support of other websites opposed to the bills, I am thankful that, in a way, it highlighted the issue by spreading awareness of intellectual property rights.

Self-contradictory as I may sound, my stand is this: restriction and regulation on Internet may seem extremely difficult, but it is necessary.

Youtube is a very good example on how it is doing its best to prevent copyrighted material from being uploaded to its site, although not entirely successfully.
All website should do their best to protect intellectual property of people like artists, writers, musicians and even software programmers.

Maybe the two bills need some tweaking and fine tuning but they will ensure that 'creativity of the mind' gets its due credit.

Crazy about Angry Birds

2012-01-15T00:25:00.002+03:00

I just thought I was crazy. My wife, however, is convinced that I am. She says I am a bad influence on my children. And the reason is I play ‘Angry Birds’ on phone and computer regularly. She says it is not right to fight - for video game access - with one’s own children.

So, I pointed out two news items from Daily Tribune newspaper’s consecutive editions of Jan 10 and Jan 11 to her; both related to ‘angry birds’. On this matter, I said to her, I am definitely not alone.

Firstly, I pointed out that ‘facebook’ and ‘angry birds’ are the world’s most downloaded apps in 2011, according to Apple Inc. (DT, Jan 10). It is obvious that millions of people have downloaded the game applications.

Secondly, I showed her Daily Tribune's cover page picture (DT, Jan 11) of the huge ‘angry bird’ structure made from piggy banks, in Taiwan. It is now the election symbol of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). That huge structure is outside the campaign office of the presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen.

But when she was still not convinced, I showed her TIME magazine’s report that since the time Rovio launched this video game, as recently as December 2009, Angry Birds has been globally played for an estimated total of 200,000 years! And it still clocks in at 300 million minutes of play time daily! And my wife thinks I am the 'only' crazy one??

The PC Magazine too, in November 2011, announced that Angry Birds had surpassed 500 million downloads, making it the most downloaded game in the history of video gaming. Just imagine, 500 million downloads! Are there so many crazy people?

As if the game download revenue is not enough, the Finnish company Rovio is making money on merchandising and selling the angry birds plush toys, t-shirts, mugs, posters and other paraphernalia for some time now. Apparently it has already shipped more than 10 million Angry Birds toys worldwide. And according to Business Insider, expected sales of 20 million in Christmas 2011.

It is just because of these crazy people, I explained, that the global economy is running. But my wife still doesn’t believe me.

But she said it is okay with her, and she will believe, if my children and I receive money from the company, Rovio, for playing the game.

But, I said, are they crazy?

The Attraction called India

2011-12-01T10:11:00.001+03:00

So, IKEA is entering India? And so are the supermarket giants, Tesco, Carrefour and Wal-Mart? And even Starbucks wants India’s mega bucks?

Suddenly, realizing that the nouveau riche middleclass of India now has a bigger disposable income, and a greater purchasing power, the multinational giants are all making a bee-line to India - salivating from the corners of their mouths, and looking at India with dollar-signs in the blacks of their eyes.

If it is not for a piece of the pie called market share, what else are these corporate bigwigs interested in India for? If it is not for earning revenue from that seemingly bulging wallet of the hardworking Indian, who slogged since Independence to fill his wallet, what else are they after? Isn't the market of the teeming millions beckoning?

But then, anyway, it is not altogether new. You can ask Christopher Columbus or Vasco da Gama. They will say they wanted a sea-route to India for somewhat the same reason. India had always been rich and famous, beautiful and attractive.

But, over the centuries, it had been attacked, marred and robbed of its wealth, time after time, by invader after invader. Plundered. If it was not by war, it was by trade. Even now, it is hard to see the blurry line between the then British government and the then British East India Company.

Yes. Famed travelers like Megasthenes, Marco Polo, and Ibn Battuta have advertised India so well in their writings that young men walking the streets of Florence in the 14th and 15th centuries dreamed of getting into India.

If that was the occidental fascination for India, the writings of Fa Hien and Hiuen-Tsang (Xuan Zang) created an oriental fascination for this land - The land of snake charmers and rope-climbers, of tigers and elephants, of palaces and forts, of rajas and maharajas, but most importantly, of spices and herbs, and of gems and jewels.

So, when Turks occupied Constantinople (now Istanbul), the only piece of land between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, through which European traders used to visit India, did it stop the Europeans? No. it did not deter the dreamers in Italy, Portugal or Spain to attempt to find a sea route to India - for Trade. They decided, if we can’t go to India by land, we’ll go there by sea.

And so, with Vasco da Gama and the rest, the European connection got reestablished. And soon, in came the European knives and forks, and Indian gems and jewels went abroad. And in came European clothes and finery, and the Indian handloom textile industry virtually got killed; which is why Gandhi started the movement of ‘Be Indian. Buy Indian’ and had spun his own cloth. Here's LIFE magazine's iconic picture of Gandhi with his spinning wheel, or chakra.

Oh, shouldn’t I mention here that India’s famous ‘Kohinoor’ diamond is now a part of British Crown Jewels? And that it was sourced from a diamond mine in my native state, Andhra Padesh?

Anyway, agreed, that - soon after independence - for a while, India had to tighten its belt, and tell the world to keep out. So that India can set its house in order. And, after creating for itself an intensely regulated environment, which protected its domestic industry, and therefore the local economy for about forty years, India rose up again. Deregulation and Liberalization followed. And, post-1990, Trade barriers were lifted. Indian borders were thrown open. And, once again, foreign goods, without the customary customs flowed into India. It was no longer the days of only Ambassadors, Premier Padminis and Maruthis, on Indian roads.

Sony and Toshiba are now already proudly displaying their billboards in India. Coke and Pepsi are continuing with their cola wars since the opening of the economy. Audis and BMWs are running on Indian roads more frequently now. KFCs and McDonald's are filled up with eager Indians wanting to look trendy.

But in the era of globalization, why are you talking so backward-ish, you will argue. In this era of liberalization of economy, why are resisting foreign product, you will say. But what can I say. I have to accept your point. And accept these guys, who will hopefully not only take from india but give India newer jobs, careers, infrastructures, and a better lifestyles. I just had to let off some pent-up feelings.

So, even if IKEA, Tesco, Carrefour, Wal-Mart, and Starbucks are coming in, they are coming late. But if come they must, I hope it is not for the greed of those outside India, but also for the good of those inside India.

Is it really 99%?

2011-11-23T12:16:00.001+03:00

"We (the poor) are 99%, and you (the rich) are 1%." - The cry of the Occupy Wall Street movement. But are the poor really 99%? Check out this excellent animation video.

What's in a name, if there is no P in it?

2011-11-12T20:26:00.001+03:00

This is my letter published in Daily Tribune on 12 Nov 2011
Reviewer's response published on 13 Nov 2011

Regarding your Friday review of the movie ‘The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn’, (DT, 11 Nov), I have one commendation, and one correction.

The commendation is for the way the review is written. The style and terminology used is such that any reader and admirer of the comic-book reporter-character called Tintin can easily and quickly relate to. Not only were the visual aspects of this animation magic explained, but also the appeal of the plot and the music effectively analyzed. Well written. Thank you.

The correction is for the way the names of the duo of detectives, the twins, were spelt. They were spelt Thomson and Thomson in the review.

It is perhaps a very minor typo. But to me, a die-hard Tintin fan who has read all the adventures of Tintin several times over, it is sacrilegious!

So, even if you think I am making a mountain out of a mole hill, please allow me this elaborate explanation.

‘Thompson’ and ‘Thomson’ is the correct way the names must be spelt. To be precise, one is with a P. One is without a P. In fact, in many books the twins go to extreme lengths explaining the difference between both of them.

Thompson explains he is the one with a P, as in Philadelphia. The other twin Thomson explains he is the one without a P, as in Venezuela. Of course, being the blundering detectives that they are, they often jump to their own confusions. Like the time whenThompson tells on phone that he is the Thompson with a P, as in Psychology!

Whatever it is, please let it also be known that the twins are actually identifiable; by their‘moustaches’.

If you have read enoughTintin Comics like I did, you will know that Thomson has a pointy moustache that curls outwards. And Thompson has a droopy moustache.

If you wish to argue with me, you can. But please verify with this link first : http://tintin.eugraph.com/tqsect/feature/tvst/index.html

.....

Financial Sense from a Greek Tragedy

2011-10-28T14:26:00.000+03:00

In Ancient Greek Mythology, Tyche was the Goddess of Chance who ruled over people's degree of Life and Luck.

It is to this Goddess Tyche that the Greeks must be singing praises now; for saving them, and Europe, from an ignominious and impending doom.

At last, after months of discussions and debates, a deal is finally made between Europe’s leaders and the Greek debtors, on Thursday morning, which may not entirely solve the European crisis. But, at least, it won’t cause the pillars of the earth to shake, like they shook, in the recent past.

There now seems to be some hope of a solution for Europe’s financial crisis that looked, thus far, like a huge financial Hiroshima just waiting to explode as it gets ignited by a default by Greece on its sovereign debt.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And for private investors to take a desperate 50 per cent cut in the face value of their Greek bonds is not an easy choice. How can they be willing to take such a deep ‘haircut’? They cannot.

But when one is sinking into a quagmire, grabbing quickly, and desperately, at whatever is in hand’s reach can help. And that’s just what the private bankers have done. And the bigwigs at Brussels tried hard to plan a rope out strategy for the bankers in long term, and tried hard to keep the ‘Euro’ on higher ground.

Bloomberg’s website also reported that European leaders had boosted their rescue fund’s capacity to 1 trillion euros ($1.4 trillion) in a crisis-fighting package that is intended to shield the euro area.

As the deal also includes a new €130bn bail-out of Greece by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, it, quite obviously, digs into the coffers of Europe’s funds. And the promises by Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy that they will increase the size of the funds ‘four or five times’ can only send shivers up my spine, if I were a European tax-payer.

Where are they going to get the money from? From my pocket? How will they fund these funds? Well, for the moment, I don’t care.

The world was waiting with bated breath, for some decision from the European leaders. And this Thursday-morning decision is being hailed across the cyber space and satellite channels as a sensible one.

How did the markets react to this momentous deal? Very upbeat.

The Toronto Star’s website reports that by Thursday afternoon, “Britain’s FTSE climbed 2.1 per cent to 5,670.12. Germany’s DAX jumped 3.7 per cent to 6,243 and France’s CAC-40 gained 3.9 per cent to 3,297. Wall Street also headed toward gains, with Dow Jones industrial futures rising 1.6 per cent and S&P 500 futures gaining 1.8 per cent.”

Bloomberg’s website says, that by Thursday afternoon in Europe, when it was still 8.34 am in New York, “the MSCI All-Country World Index gained 2.2 percent”. The benchmark gauges in France and Italy jumped more than 4 percent to the highest levels in almost three months. It also said, “The euro appreciated above $1.40 for the first time since Sept. 8, and the cost of insuring European debt fell to a seven-week low. The 10-year Treasury yield gained nine basis points. Copper rose 4.9 percent, while gold dropped.”

So, the repercussions of this deal are far-reaching and, proverbially put, earth-shaking.

On its website, The Financial Times reports (FT, 27 Oct) that this 50% cut is expected to reduce Greek debt levels to 120 per cent of gross domestic product by the end of the decade. End of the decade?

This is just year 2011. The end of the decade is nine years away. And, in this period, let us all optimistically hope that the winds of change will not remain turbulent and cause bigger upheavals.

The goddess I believe that the Greeks must now pray to, as they stand back on their feet, is Goddess Athena, the Goddess of wisdom.

Walter Issacson on Steve Jobs

2011-10-27T09:53:00.002+03:00

Listen to Walter Issacson who wrote the biography of Steve Jobs. I found this two minute, forty second video on Huffington Post. Worth watching.

Shalom or Salaam. Don't they both mean, Peace?

2011-10-19T11:52:00.000+03:00

Released prisoner welcomed by family

There are two sides to every story they say. But the two most difficult sides to argue for-or-against today could well be the Israel and Palestinian sides.

Monday’s (Oct 18, 2011) prisoners-swap deal between the two countries saw a great furore across the Middle East and the world.

The release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Palestine, in exchange for 477 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel is a very significant development in the long ongoing bitter struggle for land by the two warring peoples.

Israel’s promise through an accord – brokered by the Egyptian government - to release 1,027 prisoners in exchange for the French-Israeli national Gilad Shalit has begun with this first batch of 477 prisoners. And the other 550 are likely to be released soon.

Some would argue that there is an imbalance. Why are so many Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for one Israeli man? Is it a fair deal?

While we do not know about all the negotiations that must have gone on between the two - through Egypt’s mediation - what we do know is that some 5,000 Palestinians are still held by Israel.

And, if Gilad Shalit has been held for 5 years, then some of the 477 released who were held for as long as 20 years to 30 years.

And, even if some of these Palestinian prisoners were caught by Israel on suspicion, or on grounds that they had infiltrated into Israel to perpetrate terror crimes, it must be noted that many were held without proper trials. And the very detention of these people for such long periods is tantamount to their experiencing a long jail sentence. So, it is high time they were released.

Some Israelis are, somewhat justifiably, arguing that their government has been lenient. That it is just not right for Israel to release some of those Palestinian prisoners who had shown no remorse on being caught with incriminating evidence of terror, and who had actually vowed to attack again.

Some Palestinians are jubilant at the release of their compatriots and are chanting that they need to catch more ‘Gilads’ so that many more Palestinians, languishing in Israeli jails, could be freed.

So, with the release, will there be a renewal of terror? Or will there be a resumption of talks? I hope it’s not the former but the latter.

On one hand, the Palestinians are seeking UN recognition of Palestinian Statehood, and are refusing to talk unless the Jewish settlements are stopped, and unless they are given the pre-1967 borders. On the other hand, Israelis are refusing outside interference, even from UN, in what they say is a bilateral issue, and are asking Palestinians to renegotiate on borders and assure them security.

Whichever way it goes, the prisoner-swap deal is certainly an historical event. And we can safely infer that it has the markings of Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy and softening at the same time.

Shalom or Salaam. The meaning is the same. Peace. And if it is not for ‘Peace on earth and goodwill to men’ what is worth striving for?

Indian Air Force and MiG 21 fighter jets

2011-10-09T11:09:00.000+03:00

At the Air Force Day celebrations in New Delhi on Saturday, 8 Oct, India’s Air Chief Marshal MAK Browne admitted that the old warhorse, Russian fighter plane, MiG-21 was difficult to fly, particularly for young pilots, which is why he says, “experienced aviators are being put into the cockpit”.

But, logically speaking, should the focus not be on training the young pilots instead of putting the older ones at risk?

Even though the Air Chief Marshal mentions that all MiG 21s will be phased out by 2017, should the young aviators be completely exempted from flying these aircraft?

I think it is this very lack of focus in developing Indian fighter pilots that had cost the country a lot.

Out of the six air crashes involving IAF planes this year alone, four belonged to the MiG-21 series.

Of the total 976 MiG-21s inducted in the service since 1960s, over half of them have been lost in air-crashes. And a total of 170 pilots were killed in them in the last 50 years or so.

So, while I agree that the MiG 21s are old planes, I think it is not the jets alone, but the lack of appropriate training to the young, that has caused irreparable loss to India.

The planes are good. For those wishing to know more, let me explain that MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, first designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau of the erstwhile Soviet Union, and is arguably of the largest selling fighter jet series.

Some 50 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-century after its maiden flight. The fighter plane made aviation records.

At least by name, it is the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history and the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and it had the longest production run of a combat aircraft (1959 to 1985 over all variants).

So, now, even if third and fourth generation fighter aircraft are being made available, the knowledge and skill of flying these amazing fighter planes should not be allowed to fade away easily.

What's the Road Ahead for Bahrain's Traffic?

2011-10-09T11:01:00.000+03:00

Having lived in Bahrain for a little over 10 years, I cannot but appreciate the government's proactive approach towards easing traffic at very important junctions. But there are still some concerns.

Many would remember the horrible traffic congestions that used to frustrate drivers at Seef, Sitra, Tubli and Isa Town junctions. But they were very effectively tackled by the building of flyovers (two of them with underpasses or tunnels). And the concerned authorities must therefore be complimented on this achievement.

The construction of two underpasses in Hamad Town too, within the last two years, have ensured that vehicles can move smoothly without encountering even a single traffic-light all the way from Manama-BFH to University of Bahrain in Sakhir, if we go over Seef, Budaiya, and Hamad Town flyovers and through these two underpasses.

But your readers would all agree, I am sure, that our troubles are far from being over.

The Mina Salman traffic junction has now become a huge nightmare - 'bottle neck' is too mild a word - in the evenings if you are approaching it from sitra flyover. And so is the Manama Bahrain Financial Harbour one. Even if the Diplomatic Area Flyover which is under construction comes up fast(and I hope it does) I do not think the traffic flow at these two junctions would be eased much.

So, I really wonder what the government is doing about Mina Salman and Manama BFH Traffic Junctions; and if there is any hope of smoother drives, in the near future.

The most horrible one - the mother of all roundabouts that could lead to frustration, especially, if you are approaching it from Sanad - is the big Alba Roundabout near Askar between Nuwaidrat Roundabout and Riffa Traffic lights. The sooner the planned flyover here is built, the better it is for the country.

A related problem within Manama city is the density of vehicles, that move two-ways within two arterial routes, particularly during the Rush hour every evening, from Salmania junction diverging in two directions : (1) towards Andalus Garden and Gudaibiya (via Sana), and (2) towards American Hospital and Sheraton Complex (via Police Fort of Ministry of Interior). We can go on these roads between 6pm to 10pm, only at our own peril. On weekend nights, these roads get completely clogged. And with no by-passes around, the frustration can lead to some real-life cardiac arrests.

Opening of the GCC Roundabout could be a first step at solving some of the traffic congestion in Manama city. But with the rapidly growing number of vehicles, if the government does not keep in pace with its projects to ease traffic, we could be left standing still at many junctions.

Is it possible that DT can publish a list of flyovers, and other traffic related projects, by interacting with the concerned Ministry? We residents would be interested to know what is the road ahead, for all of us.

Meredith's Murder. Who cares?

2011-10-06T10:50:00.000+03:00

She must have liked this picture
of hers. This was on her
facebook profile when she died.

The murder of the 21-year old British girl Meredith Kercher, was one of most shocking true-life stories I read, first in the newspapers in November 2007, and then again a few months ago in LIFE’s The Most Notorious Crimes in American History, a book I possess.

This week I read again the revival of Meredith’s murder in the media. I saw the proceedings of the trial on TV which were telecast intermittently from Perugia in Italy. The courtroom drama finally ended with the acquittal and release of two people - the 24-year old American, Amanda Knox, who was 20 at the time of the crime, and her Italian boy friend, the 27-year old Raffaele Sollecito, then 23, both of whom had been sentenced, for the murder, for 26 and 25 years respectively.

They had, till this week, served 4 years in jail. After having appealed their verdict, they have now been acquitted.

The acquittal of Knox and Sollecito means that the only person now left in jail for this murder is Rudy Guede, an Ivory Coast-born drugs peddler. He had admitted he was in the house which Meredith shared with Amanda, on the night Meredith died, but denied he killed her. Guede is still serving a 16-year sentence and has opted for a fast-track trial. But we don’t know where it will eventually lead to.

If these two just-acquitted people cannot tell the whole story, Rudy should be the one knowing what happened that night.

Whatever the adult games these people were allegedly involved in - or had not been involved in - what remains certain is this: a beautiful young girl, brimming with life, barely 21, was found dead, with a brutally slashed throat and with heavy stab-wounds.

The alibi that Amanda and Raffaele were actually at Raffaele’s flat watching a movie was never proved conclusively. And the DNA evidence of blood on clothes being contaminated during the investigation at the crime scene and while retrieving the samples, makes the entire case, an epitome of ‘unprofessionalism.’ The case as on date remains an ‘unsolved mystery’.

Now, American media (CBS News, MSNBC, 4 Oct) says freedom to Amanda came at a huge cost, because her family has run into deep debts of almost $1mn hiring and paying the lawyers. However, the British media (The Guardian, 4 Oct) says Amanda Knox can still make as much as £10m from her story, with a potential for a string of lucrative TV and newspaper interviews followed by a movie and book deals. So, Amanda’s parents are relieved. But, who cares about Meredith’s?

Like for me, for several others around the world, many questions still remain unanswered.

How can the forensic experts bungle up, by mishandling culpable evidence such as DNA samples and computer log-records?
Where is the knife that actually killed Meredith, which was never found?
Why is there not more information coming from Rudy Geude?
Did US pressure groups intimidate the Italian courts to free Amanda and Raffaele by staging protests outside the court? And most importantly
Where is justice to the parents of Meredith who are still waiting to know who caused the horrible death of their beautiful daughter?

Voting Rights for Women in Saudi Arabia and USA

2011-09-28T10:40:00.000+03:00

In 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing nation to give the right to vote to all adult women. Two years later, in 1895, the women of South Australia achieved the same right. Very soon, one after the other, almost all democratic countries gave women the right to vote.

Now, 118 years after the New Zealanders, we hear from Saudi Arabia that women will be allowed to run in local elections in 2015. It is four years from now. But yet, it is a giant leap for Saudi Arabia.

The editorial of The Washington Times was, however, quick to criticise on Monday that since Saudi women are not going to vote this year, the announcement of the king was only a PR ploy. The editorial said that this is no big deal, because Elections are only held at the local level in the 178 Saudi municipalities.

What The Washington Times failed to understand is the centuries of tradition and the deep-rooted belief system of the Saudi Arabian people. In a huge country with a strong religious-system, changes cannot occur at the snap of a finger. And this phased manner of enabling women empowerment must be welcomed. It should not be taunted and criticised.

In fact, USA must look back its own history before commenting on women’s suffrage. Let it be known that USA was in fact very reticent and very reluctant to give women the right to vote. Despite USA being a so-called ‘learned’ democracy!

Here is the truth I learnt from a little bit of research. (1) On January 12, 1915, a women’s suffrage bill was brought before the US “House of Representatives” but was defeated by a vote of 204 to 174. (2) On January 10, 1918, another bill was brought before the House. On the evening before, the then President Wilson had made a strong appeal to the House to pass the bill. It was passed by two-thirds of the House, with only one vote to spare. The vote was then carried into the “Senate” (3) On September 30, 1918, the amendment fell two votes short of passage. (4) On February 10, 1919, it was again voted upon, and then it was lost by only one vote.

There was great anxiety among politicians of both parties to have the amendment passed before the general elections of 1920. So the President called a special session of Congress, and a bill, introducing the amendment, was brought before the House once again. (5) On May 21, 1919, it was passed, 42 votes more than necessary being obtained. On June 4, 1919, it was brought before the Senate, and after a long discussion it was passed, with 56 ayes and 25 nays. As a majority of the state legislatures must ratify it, it awaited ratification (6) On Aug 18, 1920, with the ratification by the state of Tennessee, it became a law.

So, that was how the ‘Nineteenth Amendment’ to the US Constitution was approved, allowing women to vote. Interestingly, the state of Mississippi was the last state to ratify the amendment and did it as late as 1984!

If USA took over five years in a ‘democracy’ to let the women vote, what is wrong if Saudi Arabian rulers take a little time? US and other countries should appreciate and applaud the move and wish the best, instead of making critical remarks on this amazingly progressive decision.

- Joel Indrupati

Coal India vs Reliance? Public verses Private Sector?

2011-08-20T12:56:00.003+03:00

I was excited to read the news that Coal India Limited (CIL) became India’s most valued firm this week - as the largest listed entity in terms of market capitalisation - overtaking Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) by Rs. 4,167 crores ( $ 913 mn).

I was not excited because I own shares in CIL. No. I don’t. But I wish I did.

The cause for my excitement is the furore the Indian media has been making on this news. Because, after four long years, finally, a government owned company, from the public sector, is back at the numero uno position.

But for four years consistently, the private sector firm Reliance Industries Limited, led by Mukesh Ambani - the 9th richest man in the world, according to Forbes’ billionaire’s list of 2011 - held sway as the largest company in India fueling a good part of the nations’ economy.

When the Market Capitalization figures on Bombay Stock Exchange showed, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 Aug, that the seemingly invincible private sector giant has been toppled from its number one position, it may have been a surprise to many. But it came as welcome news to those who brought CIL’s shares in its IPO of November 2010.

We can see that the top three companies in India, as on Wednesday, are Coal India Ltd (CIL), Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), and Oil and Natural Gas company (ONGC). All are Coal, Oil, Gas, or other Energy companies showing the strategic importance of these sectors to the growth of an economy. Following these three companies, on the same day, are these three private companies - TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), ITC and Bharti Airtel. And I found out that four out of the top six companies in India are privately held.

So, what does this speak of India and its economy? What can we infer from this country where state-owned companies are struggling to gain and retain the top position? What can we say of a country where a private firm remains as the number one company for four years consistently? Either the government lacked strategy. Or that the government showed strategic excellence.

But I believe that the government has shown excellence in planning. It’s prioritizing and allocating of even high earner sectors of Oil, Gas, Coal, Telecom, Software, Agro-products, Hotels and FMCGs, to private enterprises shows the futuristic vision of the Economists who foresaw value in liberalizing the economy this way.

I believe that India has proven to the world that a vibrant private sector, that is well-run, can be a great asset to the country’s population. I feel that we must appreciate the way India has liberalized its economy, during the 1990s when the now Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had served as the Finance Minister, and initiated major economic reforms.

I believe that if a private enterprise like RIL could be the number one company for four years, it is a clear proof of how liberal and how effectively privatized Indian economy is.

Also, even though the state-owned Coal India is at number one position now, from the way the private sector is performing, I am somehow confident that It won’t be long before it loses that position.

Kung Fu Panda 2 - A Review

2011-06-26T15:48:00.003+03:00

A dragon warrior has a higher calling. He must ensure that ‘kung fu’ does not become endangered. He must show China - and all the world - that kung fu is not dead! He must show this, in particular, to that horrible villain, Lord Shen, the slim and slimy, rude and ruthless peacock.

But can our dragon warrior, the panda called Po, and his band of brothers and sisters, the furious five, succeed? Can Po get the ‘inner peace’ he needs to overcome the aggressor? Can Po find out the secret behind a disturbing memory? Can Po confront the hidden truth about his parentage? Can he consolidate his strength from the memories of parents he had never seen? Can Po fulfill the prophetic statements of soothsayers, and free China from the evil? The answers to these questions lie in the movie - A movie with animation that I felt was cutely captivating, magically mesmerizing, and simply superb.

Using the latest technology that resulted from the invention of fireworks in China, the evil Lord Shen uses fire cannons to terrorize and subdue people, village after village, across China.

But, our reluctant hero, the loveable, cuddly, rotund, black-and-white bamboo-lover, the protagonist Po (voice of Jack Black) must now lead his friends as they traverse the mountains and lakes to meet their nemesis, and to end his evil plans. They must wade through dangers and perils unknown. And they must use kung fu to thwart the dark forces. This team, the furious five, who include Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie chan) and Viper (Lucy Liu), go on to show us the importance of realizing our destiny, embracing our responsibility and ridding the world of evil that mocks tradition and culture.

Like all typical Hollywood villains, specially from James bond movies, Lord Shen has the aspirations of ruling the whole world. He dreams of controlling the whole of China. But like all such villains, Lord Shen must be taught a lesson. Which is what Po’s ultimate mission is.

Like Po, who does not know how Lord Shen’s fire-cannons spew such venomous fire, I do not know how they make these animation movies. But I do know that the blending of music, visuals, and voice has resulted in this fascinating production called Kung Fu Panda 2.

With spectacular scenic beauty, stunning visual appeal, fast paced excitement, crispy, witty dialogues, this is a movie worth watching on the big screen. My children loved it. I loved it. I am sure you will love it too. But please go to the movie taking with you that wonder and awe, and that delight and joy, that a child has.

Government attack on Baba Ramdev - Wisdom or Folly?

2011-06-06T12:08:00.003+03:00

In India, it’s yet another protest by fasting. After Gandhian leader Anna Hazare, we have now seen the famous yoga guru Baba Ramdev locking horns with the ruling Congress-led UPA government by declaring a fast unto death. But why was he fasting?

He had a few anti-corruption demands such as declaring black money stashed abroad as national assets, framing a separate law on national assets and enforcing strict punishment for the guilty. All his demands were obviously for the good of the country, and most people agree with him; especially, the millions of yoga enthusiasts who literally worship him for his teachings.

But his attempt at this ‘satyagraha’ was, however, brutally cut short by the Delhi Police who, on Saturday, in a late night crackdown at the Ramlila Maidan, tear-gassed his followers, evicted him from Delhi, transferred him to his ashram in Haridwar, and banned him from entering Delhi.

Why did the police suddenly do this? Well, they say, it’s simple. He was only given permission in that place in Delhi for conducting yoga classes and not for mass protests. Also, the permission was for only a few thousands and not for the tens of thousands that began assembling to encourage the Baba. A security threat would have arisen if the crowds kept increasing.

Now, this rapid action can only show us the wisdom, or the folly, of the UPA government, depending on our point of view. To be or not to be aggressive? That was a question the government must have contemplated much before sending its police brigade to confront the powerful guru; one who could direct the masses with his fingertips, just like he does with his various 'yogasanas'.

But why did the government take this enormous risk? If we backtrack a bit, we will see that the government’s top brass had met Baba Ramdev for talks, and later announced to the media that they had agreed to his demands and he had agreed to give up his fast. But he quickly responded by saying that he never said he would quit fasting, and that the officials were all liars. Maybe that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back!

And so, soon came the police. And apprehend him they did. The government now says he has some other hidden political agenda, not related to corruption, because they had agreed to all his demands, and yet he wants to go ahead with the fast.

What repercussions this high-voltage drama will now have on Indian politics is something that only time will tell. And whether we call it wisdom or folly, one thing is certain - the Congress is definitely walking on a thin rope. And with actions like these, while it is performing its dangerous balancing act, instead of encouraging crowds to clap hands, it seems to be only encouraging them to throw stones.

Songs for Japan - Listen and Contribute

2011-05-22T12:06:00.005+03:00

I wish to draw your attention, friends, to an audio CD and to online music download, of an album called ‘Songs for Japan’ released by Sony Music. By buying this CD from a music store, or by buying this music online, you would be supporting a worthy cause; because SONY is donating 100% of the net proceeds to Japan’s Red Cross for the reconstruction of Japan, after the devastating tsunami two months ago.

Available on the iTunes store for just $.9.9 (about BD 3.700, or AED 37 or INR 400), you will get to hear 38 amazing music tracks by various artists. The 38 artists, who lent songs to the album, include legends like Bob Dylan, U2, Bruce Springsteen and the late John Lennon; country acts like Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum; rock artists like the Foo Fighters, R.E.M. and Bon Jovi; pop icons like Madonna and Pink; and top hit makers like Bruno Mars and David Guetta.

Also there are Lady Gaga, Eminem, Beyoncé, the Kings of Leon, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

What more can you ask for as little as BD 3.700? Listen to this collection of legal music, and help Japan. Be a better music lover and a bigger philanthropist at the same time, by buying many CDs and by gifting it to your friends.

You can gift-mail them through Amazon.com too. Your friends will never get a compilation like this. And you can never get an opportunity to serve, like this. Little drops of water can make a mighty ocean. Let us buy and let us help.

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Can't the new IMF chief be Montek from India?

2011-05-18T12:19:00.003+03:00

After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York this week, on charges of sexual assault on a maid in Manhattan, the important question that governments want an answer for is, who will be the next IMF Chief?

This has been a question looming in the global financial circles for long because Strauss-Kahn was anyway expected to leave IMF and contest for the post of President of France. Of course, from his cell in the notorious prison on Rikers Island - which itself is a giant leap backwards from the $3,000-a-night hotel suite he stayed in, two days earlier – the French presidency may seem to him, now, like a remote and distant dream, if not a completely shattered one.

For me and for many others, however, the question was whether the new IMF chief would be from the rising economies like India or China, or whether it would continue to be from one of the European countries. Because, Europeans have held all 10 managing director positions since the fund was created in 1945, and four of them have been Frenchmen. So, isn’t it time that one of the rising powers like say, India or China is given a chance?

I was thinking that India’s Montek Singh Ahluwalia would be a good choice. Apart from being a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford, his long stint in India’s Planning Commission, in India’s Finance Ministry, and in the Washington-based financial advisory body, the Group of Thirty, have given him the knowledge, experience and skill, I am sure, that an IMF chief’s post deserves.

But I was surprised to hear Ahluwalia’s announcement that he is not in the fray for the post. I suspect he said it because he knows Europeans will never allow that in the current economic scenario. With the austerity measures and financial cuts by governments of many countries across Europe, they would want the post themselves.

At least, I hope that, in future, the EU and other countries will try to encourage the emerging economies to play a more significant role in the management of the International Monetary Fund.

Indian Elections - Conquests and Upsets

2011-05-16T17:59:00.003+03:00

The results of India’s general elections to legislative assemblies of several states have surprised many of us; expats, in Bahrain. Being away from India, we have completely missed the hustle-bustle of the election fever which India, the world’s largest democracy, usually offers; but could only grab the news bites from Satellite television channels, watching from here.

The states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Pondicherry and parts of Andhra Pradesh have all had some startling results with interesting upsets. And here is a quick short look on the election results, state by state.

In Kerala, the UDF victory had a margin that is wafer thin. Not a very good way to win for UDF. But Congress-led UDF alliance won 72 of the 140 seats, while CPI-controlled LDF got the remaining 68. And, it is interesting to note here that – with a difference of just 4 seats - the outgoing Kerala chief minister VS Achutanandan says that he would not try to garner a majority using disgruntled members from other parties and would choose to sit in the opposition. This win is a big improvement for UDF, from the 2006 assembly polls when UDF had won 42 seats while LDF had won 98. Now, in 2011, even with his hat-trick win in his constituency, it looks like VS Achutanandan cannot stop UDF’s new rule over Kerala; probably under the leadership of Oomen Chandy, the Chief Minister probable.

In Tamil Nadu, we see that, with her allies, the former Chief Minister Jayalalitha has victoriously gained 199 of the state's 234 assembly seats, trouncing the DMK-Congress alliance which did not even manage to garner 40 seats together. Obviously, the 2G telecom corruption scandal - in which DMK’s first family of Karunanidhi and daughter Kanimozhi, along with another DMK leader A Raja are seriously involved - could not have come at a better time for Jayalalitha. From what I understand, at every meeting, she kept reminding her electorate, based on the allegations, what a corrupt party DMK was. And the people could not have agreed with her better! Now, seeing the massive mandate she received the Congress party leaders who openly supported DMK must be, I am sure, privately slamming their foreheads, and cursing themselves, for siding with DMK.

In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and the Congress Party alliance, with a huge win, ended the long 34-year control of the state by CPI-M. Her party bagged 184 out of 294 Assembly seats in the state and made the communists bite the dust. But is this really her success? Or the communists’ failure? The journalist Anirban Roy, of India Today, blames the now outgoing chief minister Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee himself for this debacle for CPI-M. Unlike his predecessor Jyoti Basu, Bhattacharjee could not emerge as the patriarch of the Left Front, mainly because of his soft image and his failure to reign in "corrupt and oppressive" leaders in the grassroots level. Roy added in his article that : “after the death of Anil Biswas, the state CPM chief and a deft strategist, in 2006, a large section of the party cadre deviated from the party's principles, weakening the party's base”. Bhattacharjee had himself lost in his Jadavpur constituency with 16,000 votes; that is his very sorry state in the West Bengal state. But what we need to see is, if Mamata Banerjee becomes the Chief Minister, will she - who gave a dismal performance as the Union Railway Minister - give a greater performance in West Bengal after Jyothi Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee? Let’s see.

In Assam, Congress Party’s excellent performance, I am sure, was able to give some great sighs of relief to its leaders. Sweeping the polls with 78 out of the 126 seats, which are near two-thirds of the total seats, Tarun Gogoi is all set to be the Chief Minister for the third time.

In Puducherry, a union territory, AIADMK led coalition of NRC (N Rangaswamy Congress) Party has won 20 out of total 30, trouncing the DMK-lead Congress coalition. So, hopes that Congress will retain this little Old French territory are all now gone.

In Andhra Pradesh, there were by-elections in two constituencies – Kadapa and Pulivendula. Results from these two places were expected have a great impact on the overall Andhra Pradesh political scenario because, for the first time, a new party ‘YSR Congress’ was fighting with the traditional Indian National Congress. One particular seat to the legislative assembly had the focus of the entire nation, the Kadapa constituency, where Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash, contested and won with over 545,000 votes, a stunning performance. Mr Ravindra Reddy, currently the State Health Minister, and Congress candidate lost his security deposit. And in Pulivendula constituency too, ‘YSR Congress’ won, with the window of the former chief minister winning over her brother-in-law who represented congress, with a record 81,343 votes! Congress has been making major mistakes in its dealings with the Andhra Pradesh popular sentiment.

So, it is a major setback to Congress in some places, while they got some relief from others, but with the political scene is changing like it never did before, if congress doesn’t work harder in the coming months, it could be the beginning of the end.

Manhattan without the Twin Towers

2011-05-03T13:54:00.000+03:00

Though I was raised in a city, my parents had come from a small village in India. They had struggled to give us the best. And for giving that, we children would always remain grateful.

Whenever I shared my dream of visiting USA, with my friends and relatives, they often looked at me with disbelief and derision.

All places aside, for me, USA meant the 'Statue of Liberty' and the 'Manhattan skyline'. And during my childhood, one of the pictures that got seared into my memory - from a New York City tourist-booklet that an uncle of mine, who returned from USA, gave me - was that of the Manhattan skyline with the twin towers of the World Trade Centre looming over it. And I have always desired and dreamed to see that skyline. In that way.

But following that fateful, tragic day, 11 September 2001, when I heard that the towers were attacked by two planes, my television was continuously on for two days as I was glued to the news. My heart was broken, like those of many; not only at the thousands who perished in the attacks, but also at the sight of the two beautiful buildings crumbling to dust in billows of smoke, in those news clips that were replayed again and again.

I was unable to understand how anyone would attack and destroy such beautiful towers. But the Al Qaeda, with its leader Osama bin Laden, seemed to only see destruction, and not beauty, in it.

Last year, I was able to finally visit the New York City. And standing at Ground Zero, with my wife and two little children, the flood of emotions that overpowered me, are not easy to express. In fact, they cannot be expressed. And if I can feel that way, I can understand how much harder it is for the New Yorkers, the Americans, and especially for those who lost their loved ones in the 9/11 attacks.

I was able to talk to a Ground Zero construction site supervisor, who himself was a New Yorker but had been visiting Canada when the attacks occurred, expressing his sorrow. I was able to listen to the tourist guide explaining the new design of the tower coming up at Ground Zero.

I was able to explain to my bewildered children, one of whom was born around the same time that the attacks occurred, on why this particular place had become so important.

The 9/11 attacks have changed the course of history. And the death of this terrorist, Osama bin Laden, who led the attacks must now be consigned to history books.

Somehow, it is very strange; and against my normal temperament, but I just do not seem to have any pity for him.

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Succession in British Monarchy

2011-04-30T11:10:00.006+03:00

For centuries now, succession to the British throne has always been to the first male, born to the ruler, unless there is no male offspring; like in the case of two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, born to King George VI. His death in 1952 automatically made the eldest daughter as Queen Elizabeth II who is currently reigning. Her husband Prince Philip is, however, her consort and can never be called King Philip.

Until her ascension, interestingly, she was always regarded as a ‘heir presumptive’, unlike her own first born son Prince Charles who was, and still is, the ‘heir apparent’ from the time he was born. She was called a presumptive heir because her father George VI before his death was still capable of producing a male offspring who could have ascended to the throne, even if he was many years younger than his sisters. And the King’s wife, of course, is always called a Queen unlike the other way round. So, understanding British Monarchy could be a bit tricky.

But now, in a surprising but welcome move, the British government has begun the process of reviewing the ancient, discriminatory rules of royal succession, so that if Prince William and Kate Middleton, who are getting married today, have a baby girl as their first child she would eventually become queen; even if a male succeeds this female child. However, amending the succession law would require agreement and similar legal overhauls in the 15 Commonwealth countries where the British monarch is the head of state, such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Many are hoping the matter will be resolved before Kate Middleton begins producing children to avoid a confusing line of succession. In the last two centuries, the succession of British rulers from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II makes up a very interesting study.

Queen Victoria’s rule (1837-1901) was over an extremely vast British empire, which at that time had large parts of Africa, India, Japan, China, and some Atlantic and Pacific islands, within it. Queen Victoria's first child was a daughter — also called Victoria — but it was her younger brother who succeeded to the throne, as King Edward VII. This was the queen who faced the first war of Indian Independence from her Indian colonies, and appointed viceroys with military power instead of the East India Company which had held military power till then.

King Edward VII’s reign (1901 – 1910) was for about nine years. He had married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Their first son Prince Albert unfortunately died before the death of Edward VII. So the second son ascended to the throne as King George V. He had also married the fiancé of his elder brother, Princess Mary of Teck.

King George V’s rule (1910 – 1936) had seen much turbulence as the First World War was quickly followed by industrial unrest in UK. It was in commemoration of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary that the ‘Gateway of India’ was built in Mumbai. So, that he and his queen would enter their Indian territory to meet their Indian subjects. His first son who became King Edward VIII caused a major storm in the monarchy’s succession law.

King Edward VIII’s rule (Jan 1936 – Dec 1936) of 11 months was the shortest in centuries of British monarchy. He caused a constitutional crisis, before his formal ascension to the throne, by proposing marriage to the American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions opposed the marriage, arguing that the people would never accept a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands as queen. This would also conflict with his status as head of the Church of England, which opposed the remarriage of divorced people if their ex-spouse was still alive. Amidst the huge crisis, he chose to abdicate rather than give up Mrs Simpson. And his younger brother became the king, as George VI.

King George VI’s rule (1936-1952) began unexpectedly because as the second son of George V, he was always under the shadow of his elder brother, Edward, who was the heir apparent, groomed to inherit the throne, and who no one expected would abdicate. King George VI was not very strong, and had a voice impediment (made more famous by the recent Oscar winning movie on his life, The King’s Speech). But George VI took over from King Edward VIII and reigned well despite a Second World War during his term. King George VI’s marriage to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother resulted in two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

Queen Elizabeth II’s rule (1952 onwards) began instantly with the death of her father King George VI when she was away from UK. With husband Prince Philip, she went to Kenya as ‘Princess Elizabeth’ but had to return to UK as ‘Queen Elizabeth II.’ She was 26 then. She was received at the airport by her then Prime Minister Winston Churchill along with Clement Atlee and Lord Mountbatten. Prince Philip, her consort, stayed back in the plane for a while to allow time for the new queen to emerge and meet the dignitaries and her new subjects. Since then, she has seen almost six decades of amazing changes in the world. And she and Prince Philip have four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales is heir apparent to the British throne; and second in line to the throne is his eldest son Prince William, from his first wife the late Princess Diana. Now, with his son’s marriage to Kate Middleton, all of UK and dominions of the commonwealth are eager to know if in case, the first child born to this couple will be a girl, will she be the future queen?

That, only time will tell. But for now, all eyes are on the marriage of a man who would be king.
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Forbes 2011 Richest Fictional Characters - Shady or Not?

2011-04-13T07:09:00.005+03:00

WHAT? I had to exclaim aloud, when I read that Scrooge McDuck has made it to the top of Forbes 2011 list of the 15 Richest Fictional Characters. His net worth is a staggering $44.1 billion (BD16.6bn), the report said. It even had pictures. But then, this Dickensian-Disney character, the uncle of Donald Duck, has always been a miser to the core, and must have amassed enough to reach this No 1 position.

But why did they push the poor little rich boy Richie Rich to the fourth place? And doesn't Bruce Wayne of Gotham city who turns into its night time protector as Batman deserve a higher place than eighth? And why is the corporate raider on Wall Street, Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas) relegated to the 14th place?

The list also had Twilight series character Carlisle Cullen, the icon amongst the young readers, Artemis Fowl II, and chief executive officer of Sabre Corporation from the The Office series, Jo Bennet.

Upon realising that this listing is not fiction, but a fact, I checked up the Forbes website and got deeply worried. The combined net worth of these 15 characters is equal to $135.55bn. Which means they could pose a great threat to countries like New Zealand whose GDP is much less.

Which brings me to another point, what do these guys at Forbes think the real GDP of Atlantis, the fictional city, would have been today? It must be calculated at the base rate of 50 BC, when Julius Caesar ruled Rome, two centuries after Pluto wrote about Atlantis. But, I digress.

Let me come back to my verification. I checked up and discovered to my utter shock that there are biographies, and even interviews with these characters, apart from explanations on how the net worth was calculated.

But I have my arguments against this listing. Why have they not taken into account other characters whose riches I think are worthy of their appearance in the list?

Where is Lex Luther, the archenemy of Superman? With Lex's huge investments into gigantic global projects, and superb scientific prowess, mainly aimed at annihilating Superman, shouldn't he be in the list?

Where is Captain Haddock, from Tintin series? With his forefather Red Rackham's treasure he gets as inheritance, and with his subsequent purchase of the sprawling estate with Marlinspike Hall, shouldn't he be in the list?

Where is Willie Wonka, whose Chocolate Factory is the world's best? With his scores of employees called oompa-loompas, and huge chocolate making plants, shouldn't his assets put him in the list?

They are not there. And I smell something fishy. I suspect some of these 15 rich characters have somehow bribed the guys at Forbes. With the riches at their disposal, who knows to what lengths these characters can go? Most are shady, anyway.

Published in Gulf Daily News on April 13, 2011

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I cheered, like I did in 1983.

2011-04-04T07:27:00.019+03:00

Twenty eight years ago, as a very young teenager, always hanging around with the neighbourhood’s big guys, I huddled around a small black and white TV set with them, watching live the 1983 Cricket World Cup Finals. It was India against the mighty – at that time, considered almighty - West Indies!

Can India ever beat these giants of cricket? The giants who had won in 1975 and 1979, the only two times the World Cup was held? And the giants who, in 1983, were now gunning for a hat trick?

It was way past midnight in India, when at the Lord’s in London, much to our delight, one by one, Gordon Greenridge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Larry Gomes, Clive Lloyd, SFAF Bachhus, Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, and Michael Holding... all fell down

Yes. It is important to mention all the names of these titans. They were, indeed, a formidable team of that time. I had never known any foreign team’s full batting order as I did the West Indies’ then. Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal together, literally ran a truck through the West Indies team taking six wickets, three each. They left two wickets to BS Sandhu, and one each to Roger Binny and Kapil Dev. And, thus the seemingly big and invincible Caribbean team was completely demolished even before they could reach 140 while chasing a target of 183 that India had set.

The giants had fallen! And at the fall of the last wicket, of Michael Holding to Mohinder Amarnath, we had erupted into such loud applause of joy that we almost woke up the entire neighbourhood. What a match!! What a night! When India became the world champions!

Now again, yesterday, as a grown up adult, when Dhoni hit that final six, making India win the World Cup again, I was unable to contain myself, and screamed with the same delight that I had had 28 years ago. Despite that sudden deadly silence that hung in the air when Sehwag and Sachin left the field, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni brought back cheers to Indians the world over. And the climax was heart-pounding.

Today, one of the friends who had watched that 1983 finals on TV, at the same time, wrote on my facebook wall, saying, ‘Isn’t it surprising that from 14 to 41, the digits of my age have reversed, but my excitement has not diminished’? I had to just say, touché!

Just like the black and white memory I have, of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup in 1983, I will now carry in my mind, a colourful picture of this World Cup 2011, of Dhoni and Sachin being carried on the shoulders of their team members. And will I, or will those millions around the world, ever forget the tears of joy on the faces of Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Sachin? Will I, or will those millions around the world ever forget the final six that Dhoni swung into the crowds? It is indeed pure magic. Joy unspeakable.

What a day for us, the cricket-crazy Indians, across the globe that all the years of waiting for a second World Cup are finally over. We had to still struggle, with the three time champions, Australia, with one time champion, Pakistan, and with one time champion, Sri Lanka. But we came through - no, zoomed through - into a final brilliant explosion of sheer delight.

The roar of the crowds on the television, and the roar of the horde of friends in my living room, are still reverberating in my ears, and might take quite a while to subside.

-------------------------------------------

Some special credits,

Then, in 1983..

To Surender anna, in whose house we watched those 1983 matches

To Deena Kumar bava, whose passion for cricket was simply too contagious to resist

To Vidya Sagar Karnam and gang with whom we screamed our lungs out

Now, in 2011..

To Arthi, Pauline and Joyce for the snacks, food, and drinks, (apart from whistles & hoots)

To Lorraiane and her cheerleaders, for cheering so well that my landlord is now threatening to evict me.

To Aldrin Bogi, whose comment I used here.

To my daughters, Jennifer and Janelle, who are still dazed at the behavior of 'adults'.

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Sand is fine. I am not.

2011-03-28T14:05:00.017+03:00

The dust that the sandstorm from Kuwait brought with it, on Friday night, had sneaked very swiftly and promptly into all nooks and crannies of my house. Even though I did my best to secure all windows and doors as soon as the wind started, these tiny, creepy, slippery, slithery, unkindly particles of dust laid themselves into thick layers on our sofas, table-tops, shelves and floors.

When I went down to see my car on Saturday morning, it was also clothed in an attire of such deep dark brown colour, that I had to pay extra to the man who washed my car. I also heard, from your newspaper, that the doctors had to treat dozens of people who went to them with dust-related complaints.

I have now, therefore, come to a firm conclusion that this sandstorm has been specially imported by house-cleaners, car-washers, and medical doctors to make an extra buck, through a wicked multi-national conspiracy.

There is an immediate need for sandstorms — and those importing them — to be strictly warned against further infiltrations like this, and also a grave need for the government to also consider putting up a dust embargo, on neighbouring regions. This dust-to-dust free-trade imbalance should not be tolerated.

LINKS

To see this letter in Daily Tribune click here

Massive sandstorm shuts Kuwait airport

But it is ok now

Japan will rise again!

2011-03-14T12:52:00.007+03:00

The havoc wreaked by the earthquake and the tsunami that hit Japan, on Friday, is truly immense.The lives lost, the people injured, the buildings ruined, and the property damaged, makes it a heart-rending tragedy. I really wonder how many years it will take to rebuild the places which had to face this completely unforeseen devastation and destruction.

Despite the latest advances in technology, and the so-called accurate meteorological and seismological knowledge that our generation possesses, it is really proof again that humans together hold but a minuscule power to fight the forces of nature. And, as if nature's fury was not enough, the blasts in some Japanese nuclear plants, made by man, are likely to cause deadly radiation, threatening the survival of thousands.

One way to look at all this is with resignation. That man is completely incapable of predicting earthquakes and many other natural disasters, and must take all these acts of God, as completely unreasonable on His part, and get angry at Him.

Another way to look at this is with determination. That man is blessed with a unique ability to cope with situations like these. The very fact that man can predict hurricanes, storms, and rains, to determine their motion paths, and to plan warning systems, evacuation methods and rescue operations, are what makes life challenging.

It is the second act that we must consider a precursor to the ‘triumph of life’; when determined people around the world, can come together to help this nation in distress, in uplifting it as it regains its footing, and in helping it pursue relief and recovery much faster than what is expected by all.

Japan has risen from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - like the pheonix - to show the world what a great country it is. And I am sure, with help from countries around, it will do it again!

Our hearts are with you, Japan. And we wish you a speedy recovery.

Phil Collins lays aside his drumsticks

2011-03-14T12:26:00.004+03:00

Uh ho. Phil Collins has called it a day? How can this great singer retire? So quickly? When even the much older Mick Jagger is performing on Grammy's Stage shows still?! But then, he must have his reasons.

But while he performed, he was a great entertainer as a drummer and singer - whether as a member of the group, Genesis, or whether as the solo artist himself.

I cannot forget all the wonderful songs that he regaled me with, and those several millions the world over. I am sure his songs will keep going on around the world; whether in the form of songs on radio, videos on television, CDs in stereos, or as MP3 files over the internet. Against all odds, Sususudio, True colors, and Another Day in Paradise are among my favourite hits of Phil Collins.

Here’s a bit of trivia for people. Phil Collins is perhaps the first, if not the only person, to perform on the ‘same evening’ in UK and USA! He performed at both Wembley Stadium and JFK, utilising Concorde, the supersonic jet, to get him from London to Philadelphia, before it was evening there!

UK TV personality Noel Edmonds piloted the helicopter that took Collins to Heathrow Airport to catch his flight. Aside from his own set at both venues, he also provided drums for Eric Clapton and the reunion of the former members of Led Zeppelin at JFK.

By the way, he had won seven Grammys and one Oscar, not much mentioned in his news of his laying aside his drumsticks for good.

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Where is pakistan's voice?

2011-03-06T21:14:00.000+03:00

Yet again, a man is brutally killed for speaking against the blasphemy laws of Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti, the sole Christian government minister of Pakistan was shot dead in Islamabad last week. Ironically, he was the minister for ‘minorities affairs’ in a country which has the majority, 95% of its 180 million population, as Muslims.

So, what is the protection for minorities in a country where a Minister of Minorities could be shot dead in broad daylight, for holding views contrary to the majority? And what is the state, when the majority simply stands and looks away, extremely tired, worryingly fearful, and indifferently silent to condemn this gross intolerance? What is this strange paralysis that grips and prevents intelligent people of Pakistan from voicing out against this violent extremism in the name of Islam? Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab has proudly accepted the responsibility of killing Bhatti and, except for a few hackneyed phrases of bringing culprits to justice, there is no concrete condemnation, let alone action, from the country’s top officials.

Just a few days earlier, on January 4, Pakistan’s Governor of Punjab province Salman Taseer was also gunned down. By his own bodyguard described by many as a fanatic, but hailed as a hero by some religious groups and even lawyers. The killer allegedly said he was angry with the governor's stance on the same blasphemy laws.

Farhat Taj, a researcher and writer on Taliban, says that both these men had been vocally opposing Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws and publicly supporting the release of Aasia Bibi, a poor Christian woman implicated in a dubious blasphemy case. Both had been publicly highlighting legal flaws in the blasphemy laws. Saying that these flaws are used by some to victimize innocents. And what do these two get for speaking about the flaws in the blasphemy laws? What do they get for saying that these laws are draconian, and need be revised? What do they get? Murder. Death.

The thousands of people who thronged the roads in Khushpur, a Christian-dominated village of around 10,000 in eastern Punjab province, chanting slogans demanding justice as Bhatti's body was flown in and driven through in an ambulance covered with rose petals, are indicative of the respect the dead man had commanded. But what he did not command, and what he had to eventually fall down for, was the hatred and anger of killers who consider themselves sole guardians of Islam.

The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani praised Bhatti and told an audience that included U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, that "People like him (Shahbaz Bhatti) are very rare, I assure you, we will try our utmost to bring the culprits to justice." But it seems unlikely that anything is going to happen quickly, in bringing the killers to justice. Somehow, the State looks weak in the face of Islamic extremism.

I flinch as I type the phrase ‘Islamic extremism’ because no religion should be ever associated with extremism of this nature. And more so, Islam, which is supposed to be a word derived from the Arabic root "Salema" meaning peace, purity, submission and obedience. But atrocious acts like these by misguided elements have created this now ubiquitous but unfortunate phrase.

I heard BBC’s radio interview on this, with Bishop Michael Nazir Ali, who was earlier the Bishop of Punjab in Pakistan, and served later as the Bishop of Rochester in UK, say that the real problem in many parts of Pakistan is the indoctrination of the young into a hatred for anything non-Muslim. He says the growing indifference and intolerance is a result of years of teachings in the madrasas which drip-feed hate. And he calls for Muslim scholars to revamp what is being taught in some religious schools. But listening to contrarians seem to be an endangered phenomenon here. Some minds stubbornly want to stay closed.

While we do not yet know the solutions, what we do know is that only when a country is tolerant to accept diverse views and contrasting ideologies can it raise a new generation of forward-looking, open-minded individuals who eschew violence and embrace peace. And those wanting that change must let their voices be heard.

Bahrain Protests: Let Reason prevail over Emotion

2011-02-21T13:25:00.010+03:00

As an expatriate, I am probably not expected to have, or give, an opinion on the current situation in Bahrain.

Some might say who am I to speak about it? And what authority do I have to talk on this matter?

Some might say, what do I know about how marginalized a section of people were? And how unreasonable the people of the other section had become? What do I know about the undercurrents of discontent here?

Some others might say, why are you even talking sectarian? Isn’t this all for just ONE Bahrain? Isn’t it all for a shared Bahrain that that we all love; A Bahrain, free, with greater reforms? What do you know of the progress Bahrain made? Or of this sudden pain it is going though now? What do you know?

Yes. Maybe, I don’t know.

At least, not everything I should know.

But, after having seen and experienced the hospitality of this lovely island country, over the last 10 years of my employment here, I am unable to contain myself from thinking aloud. After having made great friends from both sects of Islam - who themselves have been great friends with one another - I am unable to stop myself from voicing out.

How can I stay quiet? When the image of this beautiful country is being sullied in International media, and when I see best friends becoming bitter foes, just by their facebook status lines? How can I be silent? When I see an emotional venting of distrust and anger, instead of a rational understanding of truth and legitimacy?

In 1998, I knew very well that I was entering a country described as ‘monarchy’ and I had also read that there were riots here, a few years earlier. But soon, in 2002, I was happy to see Bahrain become a ‘constitutional monarchy’ after the new king announced the adoption of the National Action Charter. The world media then lauded it as a great move forward - towards Democracy. I heard BBC and CNN extol the country’s change. And this change in Bahrain was definitely a first among the region’s countries.

Since then, elections were held three times. Economic progress has been significant. Crime has been minimal. Order has been noteworthy. Educational services grew in number. Social freedom grew appreciably. Establishing businesses became easier. Arabic newspapers increased and private radio channels increased, thereby enabling people to air their opinions more freely. Business opportunities for entrepreneurs, and training opportunities for the unemployed, were on the rise. Simply put, progress was perceptible.

But the protests now, I understand, are for want of a 'real' constitutional monarchy. They ask, mainly, for a more equitable representation of people, for a fairer composition of the Parliament, and for a greater restriction on nationalisation of migrant workers. In other words, they are for greater 'power to the people'. Which I also believe is necessary.

But these issues could have been debated in the Parliament, public opinion swung in their favour, and changes made by constitutional amendments. After all, democratic inroads have already been made in this country. But the parallels drawn with the situations of Egypt and Tunisia are definitely unnecessary and completely flawed. Bahrain’s situation is entirely different.

Just as a peaceful protest should be allowed in a democracy, so should the government’s actions be allowed to protect security of its residents, property, and the functioning of its economy. Though, in this case, it is sad that the firing and deaths had not occurred.

But, ultimately, Reason should triumph. Rationale should win. Logic should pervade. Subconscious sectarian thinking should move aside. Blind passionate emotion should step away. Ill-founded rumours should be brushed aside.

Now that the Crown Prince has offered a dialogue, it should be taken up. Not with a high-handed attitude that the government has stooped and that protestors have won. But with a noble attitude that through these negotiations, Bahrain will win. That through openness on both sides, adjustments would be made. Accommodations and compromises are a part of conflict resolution. Especially because, unlike coups and military takeovers, democracies evolve.

Time is, therefore, a very important determinant in a country’s growth - from a monarchy to a democracy. It sometimes takes years, for some changes to manifest. But here we were, seeing visible changes. In fact, we were seeing them much faster than many had even imagined. But now, a continued state of political unrest can pull the economic progress backwards.

I feel the current situation is showing Bahrain in a negative light to the world, instead of the positivism towards which it was efficiently marching. Therefore, it must be handled with thought and caution. Not with emotion and anger. All sides can never be appeased.

But let us hope that the dialogue between the government and opposition parties is fruitful, and amicable, to all involved. And let us hope that Bahrain will show the world how political crisis can be resolved with talks.

God Bless Bahrain. Let Wisdom, Justice and Peace prevail.
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Move over Superman. Here's Super Granny.

2011-02-14T12:00:00.003+03:00

Who needs Superman when you have Super-granny? Yes. Like some newspapers are calling her, this grandmother in her 70s, who gave a sound thrashing to the three out of the six robbers who attempted to steal from a Jewelry Store, in Northampton, England (DT, 9-Feb), should be given a bravery award.

I found the scene very funny when I saw the video clip online. Running towards the robbers and wielding her handbag as a weapon, she battered them enough to make them flee. She also knocked a robber off his moped, and enabled another to be caught by the passers-by.

I read on other websites that an employee of the shop, Sarah Jane Brown is supposed to have said, "We were terrified. We locked the door. We hid under the desk. We were really scared. And then, we looked outside and, God love her, she was running down the road, with her handbag in the air, banging them on the back of their helmet with her handbag." All Hail Granny Power!

For those who want to watch the video this is the weblink :

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/08/earlyshow/main7328716.shtml

Gulf Air - will it Make Profits?

2011-01-01T11:53:00.001+03:00

If Gulf Air starts to show profits again, in three years time, as a newspaper says in its front page report, (Runway to profit, Daily Tribune, 26 Dec), it will indeed be a great relief to the Bahraini government.

I sometimes feel sad that Gulf Air, which at one time was the brightest star in the region, is now at a state where it has to struggle hard for profits. After reading your report, I did a bit of searching on the Internet and wrote this down which your readers might find not only useful but, perhaps, inspirational in some way.

When, in the 1940s, the British pilot Freddie Bosworth started a flight-taxi-service from Bahrain to Doha and Dahran; and when, in 1951, this smart entrepreneur expanded it under the name “Gulf Aviation”, no one thought it would go higher.

But thanks to the oil drilling and refining operations in Bahrain, the need for speedier air travel was rising, and a joint venture with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was made. Bosworth, they say, tragically died in an air crash in 1951, at an air show.

But the joint venture lasted for more than twenty years, until it was eventually taken over, as 'Gulf Air’ in 1974, by the Gulf States—Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The airline soon became a leader in the GCC, and a stronger political and economic union was formed with more countries; with newer stake holders, the new full set being Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Oman.

But, one by one, as oil was found in these countries, and as they became richer to started their own airlines, they sold off their stake in Gulf Air, and withdrew. Obviously, their commitment to ‘Gulf Air’ reduced, and the regional competition increased.
I remember telling a friend when, in May 2007, I read the news that the last of the countries in the group, Oman, was also selling off its stake in Gulf Air, that it will be extremely tough for Bahrain’s ‘Gulf Air’ to give a strong fight, when all the once major stake holders have now all become competitors!

I am giving here the names of the other regional airlines, in the order of their formation, which have all made this region highly competitive - Saudi Arabian Airlines (1946), Kuwait Airways (1954), Emirates (1985), Oman Air (1993), Qatar Airways (1993), Etihad Airlines (2003), Air Arabia (2003), Al Jazeera (2007), Bahrain Air (2007), FlyDubai (2009).

With this highly competitive situation, I am really not sure if Gulf Air can make profits, without showing competitive advantage on many factors. I am skeptical about how far what your report says can be achieved. But I wish Gulf Air the best.

New York Mayor or US President?

2010-12-18T11:51:00.000+03:00

I read a recent news report, of the New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg saying that he won’t be a contender for the US Presidential race of 2012, with a bit of special interest.

When I was in US this summer, in August 2010, I was travelling on a train from Penn station in New York City to Metuchen in New Jersey. On this reasonably long ride, I got chatting with an articulate fellow passenger who turned out to be the owner of a Jewish Deli, near Times Square, offering what he said was delicious kosher and non-kosher food to a busy weekend crowd. It was way past mid-night, about 2.00 am, and we were, perhaps, on the last train on that Saturday night.

He asked me ‘You know why I am travelling to New Jersey when I have my little restaurant in New York City, at this time of the night? I asked why. And he said “It’s because I can’t afford to live here by paying the rents of New York. Since the time this Mayor Bloomberg took over, the rents in the busiest places have risen higher by almost three times! I am paying thrice what I used to pay as my restaurant rent, and I had no choice but to move my residence out of New York.” When I asked how Bloomberg compares with Rudi Guiliani, he became livid. “No comparison”, he said. “Bloomberg is way down low! And I am saying this knowing very well that he is a fellow Jew”!

Whatever the truth in his story, I seem to understand that Bloomberg doesn’t have a very healthy support from his own community, let alone from the city, state or country, to attempt to become the President of USA.

As the 10th richest person in the United States, having a net worth of US$18 billion in 2010, he may be the founder and 88% owner of Bloomberg L.P., the financial news and information services media company, but he probably has to just concentrate on making NYC as efficient as he can make it. He seems to be getting quite successful at that, even if by angering some. Being the Mayor of the biggest city in the world is job enough!

SAP to pay Oracle

2010-11-26T11:44:00.000+03:00

I found this news-item, SAP to pay $1.3bn to Oracle for theft, really attention-grabbing (Daily Tribune, 25-Nov). Mainly because, we all know that both these companies are among the superpowers of the software world. So, even if SAP is going to appeal the verdict, this highest ever verdict on copyright is going to send signals to all about the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, especially in software.

But I feel there are billions of dollars that software companies are losing not because of their competitors, but because of normal, innocent-looking, individuals who copy software, or download it, without paying anything to the copyright owner.

I understand that many software companies are actually pricing the products high because they know that once the original is out – with no matter how strong their embedded anti-duplication locks are – people will rip them, copy them, and do not give back anything to the company, the real genius, behind the making of the product. So, obviously, companies are wanting to earn as much revenue as possible with the launch sale.

My suggestion to these software companies is to reduce the prices of their original products to the lowest extent possible, so that people can be attracted to buy the originals and avoid copies.

But I believe the tactic of lowering prices could help. Then, hopefully, all across the planet, we shall see more legal copies, whether of simple Microsoft Office, or of complex ERP from SAP.

INDIA - MYANMAR Balancing Act

2010-11-21T15:18:00.001+03:00

When US President Obama addressed the Indian Parlaiment last week, and said that India should not shy away from criticising some countries, he was very obviously referring to Indian Foreign Policy on Myanmar. Because, at about the same time, controversial elections were being held in the military-run Myanmar.

What he failed to see is this - Indian strategic interests in this large neighbouring country necessitate India to take a very careful diplomatic stance. The growing Chinese presence in Myanmar must be countered, and huge Indian investments in Myanmar must be protected. Also, there are deeper ties because Myanmar, then Burma, was a former province of India. And, India must watch what it says. Its not called shyness, but diplomacy.

Furthermore, India is Burma’s 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, China and Singapore. And India is the largest market for Burmese exports. Indo-Myanmar bilateral trade figures are staggering.

So, the engagement of US and other countries with Myanmar cannot be seen as being the same as that of India’s. And Obama must note that.

He seems to have forgotten that US had to deal with a military-run Pakistan, before the elections were announced by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who had made a hostile takeover of a democratic country. US had in fact provided enormous support funds to this Musharraf government.

So, is it ok for US to deal with non-democratic governments, but it is not ok for India?? He must know that what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Haitian Rice and Economic Sense

2010-11-20T15:25:00.000+03:00

Haiti's rice farmers are unable to compete with US imports of rice. This is what I heard on a BBC Radio, driving home a couple of days ago.

And why are they unable to compete? It was soon revealed that US is actually dumping rice at extremely low prices, in Haiti. And, obviously, the local farmer cannot compete against the lower prices of this US import which they call, ‘Miami rice’. When he can’t sell it, why would he produce it?

It begs another question - how come US rice is sold at such low prices here? The answer is simple. It is because the US farmers can afford it. They are getting government subsidies!
Not just me, but anyone listening to the programme would have cried, ‘unfair’! And quite rightly so.

Haiti is a poor country struggling to rise up after that devastating earthquake, and the big nations like US are selling Haiti the same food stuff, that Haiti should be encouraged to grow domestically. In fact they are killing the local market by under-cutting on prices of imports. What kind of justice is this?

On reaching home, after a bit of googling, I discovered a few more shocking truths. Haiti’s rice production had actually plummeted over the last twenty years or so, thanks to imports.

In 1980, Haiti was virtually self sufficient, on rice. But today, it actually imports 80% of its rice! Why? It is because western countries forced it to liberalize its economy in 1994. And it had to cut taxes on imports. And quickly, rice imports went up. Local rice production went down. Way, down.

And here’s another interesting tit-bit. Did you know that $434m paid in annual US rice subsidies is more than the total US aid to Haiti of $353 million?

No wonder, therefore, that Oxfam, the International Aid Agency is urging US to stop subsidies on rice to Haiti. According to Oxfam, agriculture must now be a priority for Haiti’s Reconstruction efforts. And it is asking international donors and developed countries to come forward and help Haiti recover. Especially, in contributing to Haiti’s new $772m agriculture plan.
For a start, US should begin promoting agricultural growth in Haiti. And stop its sale of agricultural produce if it can be locally grown by Haitian farmers. And the developed nations must assist Haiti in becoming self-sufficient.

Lao Tzu’s words, ‘Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day. But teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time’, suddenly ring true here.

So, for Haiti, is it indigenous rice? Or imported rice? Let’s hope that better economic sense will prevail. And not Miami Vice......I mean..... Miami rice.

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Angels and Humans

2010-10-13T00:19:00.002+03:00

Angels. This is what many are calling them. The rescue workers struggling to lift up the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile, are being viewed as nothing short of wonderful farishtaas.

And, rightly, so. They have just brightened what was a faint glimmer of hope, for all the families of the miners.

For nearly two months now, since the cave-in occurred, and since the world discovered that all 33 miners were safe, but utterly trapped, there were continuous prayers at the mouth of the mine.

Families waited and watched with helpless grief, as rescuers worked in a race against time. So, after 66 days, when the drill finally broke through to reach them, it is no wonder that the Chileans, as a nation, are celebrating with dancing and singing; with tears of hope and relief.

The miners’ survival for 66 days is itself an amazing feat, thanks to the small bore hole through which food and water was being passed on to them, and communication was maintained. Interestingly, one of the miners, Ticona, even saw the birth of his child on a video sent down that small hole!

Two weeks ago, I saw in the TIME magazine, the pictures of these miners and the scribbled drawings they sent up to the rescuers, explaining where they are trapped, and how they can be reached. I had shown these pictures, and was telling my daughters, how difficult it could be to rescue them.

Called as the world’s most complex mining rescue mission yet, this will be viewed with awe and wonder. One by one, as the miners are pulled up through a hole, not wider than a man’s shoulders - with the help of a cage-capsule called phoenix - it would be a daring and daunting test of minds and nerves.

Only on Wednesday will the actual rescue begin. But to have successfully drilled a 2,050 foot-long (625-metre) shaft over these 50 days or so, is itself, an act of astounding engineering marvel.

The depth is somewhat equal to putting the two towers of Bahrain Financial Harbour one atop another and also National Bank of Bahrain Building on top of them (each BFH tower is 260 m tall, and NBB Building is 140m). That gives an estimate of the depth.

But more than the depth of the physical hole that has been drilled, it is the strength of collective human endeavour to reach out to fellow humans, which should make us grasp the import of sensitivity, to others, in times of trouble.

To prevent accidental caving-in or collapsing, the walls of this drilled passage way, I heard, are being reinforced. And, around the world too, our faith in human beings is being reinforced.

Oh, what a fulfilment it is for the heart to know that, even if the task seems insurmountable, we as humans can rise up to great heights – or in this case, go down to great depths - in the honourable service of fellow humans. So, much so, that humans are called Angels.

Fidel Castro - Our Man in Havana

2010-08-11T03:06:00.006+03:00

Only 11 minutes?

I am surprised that Fidel Castro gave - perhaps - the shortest speech ever. In his career, this week! News-item here.

Four-and-a-half hours. That was Fidel Castro's 1960 UN General Assembly speeech record. 4 1/2 hours!

So, 11 mins is a surprise. Age is taking its toll. And the length of the duration of your speech is, probably, inversely proportional to your age (Joel's theorem).

Did you know that he was already the President of Cuba by the time I was born? Infact, he continued to be the President of Cuba, until just four years ago.

Until, he handed over the reigns of the country to his brother, Raul. and the world thought that that was the end of it.

But he is back again. 'Alive and Kicking', is definitely the right phrase. He lambasted the world powers, for tottering on the brink of war. He chided the great governments, Especially, Obama's.

Many years ago, he also caused great fear to the government of Kennedy's.

Poor JFK had the toughest time, with entire world on the brink of a Nuclear War at that time, with the Cuban Crisis.

Wonder what crisis is brewing now. But it's small wonder that Our Man in Havana is giving a lot of impetus to the likes of Iran and Venezeula, and their overt display of anti-american sentiment.

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Sunlight in Winter

2010-02-15T12:21:00.004+03:00

Lovely morning.

Driving up to work on a long stretch of road as the bright sunlight streamed onto my face, was a wonderful feeling. After a few days of cold, it is a joy to feel the beautiful warm feeling this morning.

Sunshine is often given a lot of importance in the cold countries, and not in countries like Bahrain where avoiding heat is what we all want. But then, just wanted to record that sunshine is always good, after a cold time.....even in hot desert regions.

Btw, saw Star Screen Awards last night where Javed Akhtar got a Life Time Achievement award.

Cant forget one line from the song he penned. From '1942: A Love Story'. एक लड़की को देखा थो ... in that there is a line where he says 'जैसे सर्दी की धुप' ! jaise sardi ki dhoop is like the sunlight in winter। :-)

Also, cant help remembering that song from the Ad which Seef Cinema used to keep playing on and on... "aint no sunshine॥when you are gone'....

You can see an old post on this here ।

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Which name connects these pictures??

2009-10-14T14:31:00.006+03:00

Please try and guess which name connects these pictures.

The Paths of Glory – A Review

2009-09-27T13:49:00.008+03:00

The master story-teller hasn’t lost his touch.

In this latest work of his, of 2009, Jeffrey Archer regales us with the wonderful story of the British mountaineer, George Mallory - a character that he builds in such a way that we cannot but admire.

Our love for this protagonist will just keep increasing by each chapter. And, as readers, we become so captured and so enraptured by the glowing spirit of this determined man, that despite insurmountable odds, we want him to continue chasing his dream. We soon begin to hope - in fact, desperately hope - that he will succeed. To the end. To the very end.

But, what’s George’s passion? He wants to climb and reach the pinnacles of success, in their truest sense. The snowy summits and the coarse crests. He cannot resist the Alps, and the Himalayas. But in the 1920s, when neither transportation nor communication technology could aid him - though oxygen cylinders had just made an entrance – it is a big struggle to get funds arranged, let alone climbing up the steep slopes of icy mountains.

Only after mid-way through the book did I realize that it was actually the “true story” of George Mallory. So, I was tempted to do a little research on Google, and was shocked at the enormous and colossal research that the writer must have done - into the real life of George Mallory, his family and his friends. Before coming out with this work of fiction.

Even though many people may know the actual end of this amazing story. The mystery behind whether he has achieved it or not, will keep you riveted to the book.

The story is traced along the historical happenings of the early 1900s. We’ll see his life in the backdrop of the First World War, the freedom struggle in India, the US and New York’s rise, and the Cambridge-Oxford education. It is all very well-brought out in the truest and inimitable Jeffery Archer style.

Yes. George Mallory’s is a unique story. His determination and his die-hard passion for mountaineering. His studies, his friends, his inspirations. His likes and passions. His dislikes and detests are woven very well into this captivating narrative.

It is certainly a great read for all lovers of adventure stories.

My verdict?

Five Stars! ˜˜˜˜˜

(But then, hee.. hee..., perhaps I am biased. By my long-term adoration for Jeffrey Archer’s writings. I think I've read almost all his books – my first book of his being Kane and Abel, which I had read when I was just fresh out of high school in 1983. Now its 2009. And he still is very good at story-telling. I hope he’ll live long to write more).

……

Joel's Laws of Inevitability

2009-09-22T11:48:00.001+03:00

The Oddity of life is that we are often mocked at, by circumstances. But we should just take them in the stride, as God's sense of humour. Here's my little compilation of some things I feel we all encounter. I will keep adding to this list. And you can contribute to these laws too, by sharing experiences similar to these :-)

Law 1 : When you switch queues to join a faster moving one, the one you left will move faster than the one you joined.

Law 2 : When you are driving at leisure and not in a hurry, all the traffic lights will turn green and the roads will suddenly become free-er.

Law 3 : When you accidentally drop a rolling object, it will always be on a sloping surface that rolls the object into some inaccessible place.

Law 4 : When you have a special meal to cook, or have special guests over for dinner, the cooking gas will get over that day.

Law 5 : When you scribble an important phone number on a little slip of paper, you will lose it when you need it. And you will suddenly find it after its usefulness has expired.

Law 6 : When you wear a dress that you don’t want a certain person or group of people to see you in, you will bump into that person or group somewhere.

......

A Thriller and an Entertainer

2009-07-03T12:20:00.001+03:00

Also published in GDN on Jul 2, 2009 (pdf)

In 1984, Grammy awards were not telecast live in India. So, my friends and I had to wait for a whole week to watch Michael Jackson receive that record 8 Grammys in one awards-ceremony.

A week earlier, we had seen the TV episode, of Grammy Nominations. And I was mesmerized by video-clips of Billie Jean, Thriller, and Beat it. And, like my friends, was desperate to watch the videos again.

India had only one TV channel at that time - Doordarshan. MTV had not arrived yet. And music videos were completely new and special for us. They had a wonderfully weird and magically magnetic effect on all of us, fresh out of high-school.

We Oooh-ed and Aaaah-ed listening to those albums and discussing them. Some well-to-do friends had had stereos and audio tapes of latest music. Some even had VCRs and VHS tapes. But getting foreign music video tapes was extremely difficult. Knowledgeable friends - with access to foreign magazines – updated us on the US-Europe music scene.

We listened to, and talked of Police and Eurhythmics. Of Stevie Wonder and Irene Cara. Of Tina Turner and Culture Club. Of Duran Duran and BB King. Many of these were, actually, among Grammy nominations that year. In 1984. But Michael Jackson was our topic number one.

I now wonder how he won those Grammys pitted against the best in the industry.

A few months earlier, a knowledgeable fan - who showed off a large poster of Michael Jackson with Diana Ross in his room - announced that MJ was hurt in a fire accident while shooting an Ad for Pepsi. (By the way, India had not seen Pepsi or Coke then, except as pictures in foreign magazines and tabloids. Thanks to then regulated economy).

I now hear that Michael Jackson donated all the money received as damages from that Pepsi-fiasco to the hospital that treated him.

Anyway, when we finally got to watch the Awards ceremony, we did it with goose-bumpy excitement. We gaped at his effortless moon-walking on a kaleidoscopic dance floor, at his glittering hand of sequined glove, at his swaying of hand-and-hat to that staccato beat, at his robotic movement of fascinating jerks. We were tantalized beyond senses.

The video tape ‘The making of Thriller’ soon became a big hit among friends, and we must have watched the tape again and again to the point of complete erosion.

Needless to say, we soon liked his collaboration with Lionel Richie for the song ‘We are the world’, during the Africa-Aid times. We admired his part in raising money for Africa. We liked his songs with Paul McCartney – especially ‘Ebony and Ivory’ and ‘The girl is mine’. And we are still captivated by the powerful meaning of ‘Heal the world’!

His solo albums – apart from Thriller(1982) – Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995), sold by the million. Thanks to MJ-crazy fans like us.

His recent erratic behavior and child abuse allegations notwithstanding, he will remain unmatched as an extremely talented musician, a vibrant stage entertainer, and a unique dance artist.

His popularity is evident from the fact that - even in the face of new music of newer generation - almost all the tickets of his series of 50 concerts titled ‘This Is It’, scheduled to begin in London on July 13, 2009 were sold out, before this untimely death.

Little wonder, therefore, that - after 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 800 million records worldwide - Guinness Book of World Records chose to call him the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"!

A Republic Revival

2009-06-16T15:05:00.003+03:00

The masses of Iran have always been a force to reckon with. And every government that ruled Iran would agree.

So, the scenes of angry mobs on the streets of Tehran and other places, following the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after 12-June Presidential Elections, are not really strange or new.

But the distrust over election results has become increasingly evident from the enraged demonstrations supporting the ousted candidate, and former Prime Minister, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and other moderates.

The power of people is such that, surprisingly, the Guardian Council - Iran's top legislative body - is now even considering a recount of ballot in areas contested by the losing candidates. But it comes only after a massive protest on Monday (June 15) involved hundreds of thousands of people – who, according to BBC, is the largest since the Iranian revolution 30 years ago – and only after the Radio announced seven deaths during that protest.

Whether this mass movement will grow on to change the course of Iran is something for us to speculate.

But, an unprecedented 85% voter turnout, requiring extended polling time, is itself a testimony to the enormous enthusiasm that these elections have generated in a land already filled with politically-active people.

Returning to a four-year presidential term, with 62.6 % of the vote, Ahmadinejad is saying these were ‘Free and Healthy’ elections. But his main contender, Mousavi – who got 33.7% - and his supporters completely disagree. And the disagreement has spilled onto the streets in violent forms. And other countries are looking at the re-elected leadership with curious suspicion. Not many congratulatory letters to the President yet.

What is noteworthy is this. About a third of Iran's eligible voters were born after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They grew up without direct memories of the early upheavals, such as the storming of the U.S. Embassy and the 444-day hostage standoff, or the early years of the 1980-88 war with Iraq. Their views are moderate and liberal, and often defined by the borderless world of the Web, which Mousavi tapped to build early momentum; while Ahmadinejad relied heavily on state-controlled media.

There were TV debates, in which the two main candidates aggressively confronted each other on a range of issues; a relatively new mode of electioneering in Iran.

There was facebook. The government’s blocking and – later, after protests - unblocking of facebook, the social networking site; a sign of the growing use of technology by youth who make up most of Mousavi’s support.

And then there was texting. And allegations of jamming of text-messaging by the government, just before elections. Texting was yet another way the Mousavi team tapped the power of the youth.

And then, there were potatoes. Potatoes? Yes. Potatoes. Amusingly, "death to potatoes" ("marg bar sibzamini" in Farsi) was a new chant by Mousavi - making a mockery of government alleging that it was giving away 400,000 tons of free potatoes to voters.

But, of course, there are definitely weightier issues than potatoes. Like Iran’s nuclear programme, and its extremely defiant anti-US stance. From a world perspective, these were the real issues that necessitated a change. And Mausavi front had been promising a moderate stand on these.

But now it cannot deliver for at least four more years, if Ahmadinejad stays in power, and/or if the election recount – if it happens – still favours the ruling President.

In four more years, the number of disappointed youth could grow. And will they stay silent? Are they staying silent? Knowing the powerful people of Iran, it is not so hard to tell.

.......

Quote. Misquote.

2009-03-22T15:27:00.010+03:00

Also published on Page 9, in today's GDN (Sun, 22-march)
...
"Play it again, Sam".

Isn't this the famous line from the film Casablanca?

No. It's not.

Or that's what I've come to know.

Because this line, though supposedly from that film, was never a part of its script. And was never uttered on screen. The actress Ingrid Bergman actually said something slightly different.

But Woody Allen later wrote and acted in a full-length movie-spoof on Casablanca, and even titled it, "Play it again, Sam"! Fully aware that it was a 'misquote'.

I watched the original black-and-white movie classic five times. But until I read about this 'misquote', I could have sworn I heard her say - "Play it again, Sam." And, maybe, a thousand other viewers would have also sworn the same.

But now, after I came across this startling piece of information, I quickly did some investigation into some 'famous misquotes'. And I was startled even more!

"Elementary, My Dear Watson", is a misquote! Yes. You heard me right. It is not in any of those Sherlock Holmes' books! The creator of this famous fictional detective, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had not, in any of his books, used that phrase. Even once!

But how did this line become so famous? Well, such is the mystery of misquotation. It is said that the phrase "Elementary, My Dear Watson", first appeared in a film review in the New York Times, on October 19, 1929. And people have been using it ever since.

Star Trek fans would say "Beam me up, Scotty" was a great line too. But that's another misquote. The closest that Captain Kirk, the head of Starship Enterprise ever came to it was an occasional, "Beam us up, Mr Scott".

Many people believe that Mahatma Gandhi said: "If someone slaps you on one cheek, show him the other". It was even more popularised in a recent hit Hindi film, Lage Raho Munnabhai. But many are completely unaware that Gandhi himself had quoted Jesus who said it in the Sermon on the Mount. The correct quote was actually this: "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39)

But, hang on. There are more historical misquotes. Did you know that Queen Marie Antoinette never said: "If they have no bread, let them eat cake!" And that Machiavelli never said: "The ends justify the means." Or that Murphy - of Murphy's law - never said: "If anything can go wrong, it will"?

Even the quote attributed to Mark Twain, "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes," should actually be attributed to Benjamin Franklin who said it first.

Misquotations and misattributions like these can be primarily ascribed to journalists and speakers who don't always get their facts right. When they should. Unlike in the olden days when word-of-mouth and passing-on-of-information-from-person-to-person was prevalent, today's journalists can actually verify things, more easily.

I read an article recently, which opened with the words: The Bible says, "marriages are made in heaven......" But I found that nowhere - yes, nowhere - in the Bible are those words. And the author was definitely wrong! He could have simply verified with any of those online Bibles.
But then, with the plethora of website content now available, one cannot simply believe everything in cyberspace.

Misquoting - whether changing the lines, or attributing a line to a source not original- is never a good trait. And, when quoting famous people, films, or books, all writers and speakers must be conscientious and do double or triple checks. Because this attitude of arbitrary attribution should change. It's a change we need. Yes. "A change we need".

But, please, let's not forget that it's a phrase popularised by a certain Mr Obama, who said it first!
....

Where has LOVE gone???

2009-02-26T20:08:00.004+03:00

This news was shocking to me!!

Maybe it won't be, to some.

But, two weeks ago - in Bay City, Michigan, USA - a 93 year old man was frozen to death - because the electric company had cut off power to his house, for non-payment of bills. ( I placed the news-link below this write up).

In that cold house, without a heater, he began to freeze, and was unable to get help. He is supposed to have died a slow, painful death from hypothermia.

What is even more shocking is that he had left all his estate to the local hospital!!

If no one was seeing him, calling him, or visiting him, my question is - Where are the neighbours? Where are the Friends? Where are the relatives?

Or simply speaking where has LOVE gone???? What have we become??

Click for the news on CNN website

....

Golden Triangle Trip

2009-02-15T13:34:00.006+03:00

Thank you for coming over. I know I've not been updating this blog for a while.

So, if you came this way before, thank you for your patience, .

I was in India in the first week of February, and I thought of sharing with you some pictures from the Trip : Delhi-Agra-Jaipur.

Check out the pictures by clicking on links below, from my facebook photo albums.

...

My Words on BBC World Service Yesterday.

2009-01-02T22:25:00.005+03:00

I was able to question Mark Regev, the spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on their attacks on Gaza.

It was on BBC's Live Radio Programme, 'World Have Your Say' on thursday night (31-Dec-08) at 9.30 PM, Bahrain Time. And I am pasting a link below, for you to hear, an audio clip from it.

Eventhough Israelis say they are targetting only Hamas Installations, we hear of many innocent women and children being killed. And I asked if these killings are justified.

Here, Mark Regev says Israelis are taking care not to hurt innocents and civilians in the Palestinian territory. But that they will continue to target Hamas' military installations.

Well, what's happening there is certainly a terrible humanitarian crisis, and lets all hope and pray that this rain of bombs will stop soon.

But, for me, its a dream come to true - to speak on BBC!!

Listen to it. (It is a 5 minute clip from the one-hour programme..I come in after 1 and half minutes or so)

But you can also find the whole programme ( and all the last week's programmes) at the following website (mine was on Thursday, 31-Dec).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/whys/

.......

Queen Rania herself.

2008-12-30T21:21:00.002+03:00

Queen Rania of Jordan herself on her YouTube Channel. I loved the way she spoofs David Letterman's Top 10s.

We - Starring as Dancing Elves!!

2008-12-26T01:49:00.005+03:00

Here's a creative and innovate animation made possible by jibjab -Starring yours truly with wifey Joyce and kids, Jennifer and Janelle.

We made complete elves of ourselves.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A Muslim Perspective

2008-12-14T11:06:00.002+03:00

It is now a couple of weeks since the Mumbai attacks.
But the newspapers are filled with stories and articles related to it.
Here's an intersting muslim perspective I found from Khaleej Times.
An article by Aijaz Zaka Syed called No Time to Hide for Muslims' .
Check it up.
....

Dear Terrorists......

2008-12-03T09:46:00.002+03:00

Are you satisfied? Are you content?

With the murder and mayhem in Mumbai?

But what have you achieved? By killing hundreds of innocents. By injuring women and children. By smashing up wonderful buildings. By creating fear and terror. By bringing this death and destruction? Yes. Tell us. What have you achieved? What have you gained?

In what way do you think you have furthered your cause? Did you? Bunkum! Hogwash!

You think your cause is so great? That life has became so cheap? You think your freedom is so important? That you can wreck others’ freedom? You think your wicked minds are so great? That you take pride in bringing this devastation?

You know what? You are just evil and shameless. You are daft and brainless. You are depraved and soul-less. You are wicked and heartless…. I can go on and on like this. But do my words hurt you? Of course No. They won’t.

How can reason penetrate thick-skulled people like you? How can remorse or regret be ever felt by those numbed in senses? How can love or respect have any meaning to you who spread hate and violence? How can care or compassion be ever felt by those driven by irrationality and insanity?.

Otherwise, which sane man will open fire on simple people, waiting with loved ones, at a railway station? Which sound individual would plan to bring down historical buildings? And for heavens sake, which rational person would use guns and grenades to try and kill people at ‘a hospital’??

Accept it, my dear terrorists, you are twisted. You may be thinking you are masterminds - that you used satellite maps, AK 47s, grenades and RDX. You may be thinking that you are clever – that you have hijacked boats, beheaded people, infiltrated into territory that is not yours, and planted bombs.

But, you know what we think? We think that you have contorted minds. That you are gullible birdbrains and brainwashed cowards. That you have spun your web of lies and deceit without any human feelings.

But remember. You cannot bring us down. Your blazing guns speak no reason. Your cunning plans lack the soul. We are the ones who stand tall with courage. Because we can defend our beliefs. Because we have the will to persevere against dastardly acts like yours.

We won’t give up. We will fight terror. And we will fight terror mongers you. With your limited capacities to think, and with our unlimited potential to persist, you will surely be defeated. Again and again. Like how you just got defeated.

Your malevolent acts will be no match to our will power based on love and respect for one another - irrespective of differing ideologies.

So, give up arms. And sit across the table if you can. Choose brains over brawn. Stop these cowardly acts and be courageous. And stop these inhuman acts and be human.

...

Games Politicians Play

2008-12-01T01:37:00.010+03:00

The Mumbai terror drama ends. And the political circus begins.

Heads need to roll. To appease the masses. And politicians do what politicians do.

So, Shivraj Patil, Home Minister of India resigns. (And Manmohan Singh takes up the Finance Minister's portfolio himself, making Chidambaram the new Home minister). Why did Patil resign??

Because Scapegoats are necessary. Because BJP has been crying hoarse that security of the country is being compromised for long. And because half the country would be very happy that something very strong was done by Congress. And Congress would hopefully look good during this election time.

But quick comes the reply from BJP that Patil's resignation is itself 'too little and too late'. BJP attributes the nation's security lapse and a host of problems - often blown out of proportion - to the entire Indian government itself and not just to the Home Ministry. It projects the the ruling NDA combine - which the Congress leads - as weak and incapable of weilding power. Why? Because BJP would hopefully look good as a patriotic and concerned party during this election time.

Evidently, each party has its own interest. Showing us their skills in Games Politicians Play!

So,
मेहरबान और कदरदान
आईये, आईये

politicians का खेल देखिये
Narendra Modi का one-crore offer देखिये!
Vilasrao Deshmukh का ताज यात्रा देखिये ।
इनका बेटा को Ram Gopal Verma के सात देखिये (Btw..here's the latest on this)

इस पर Veerappa Moily का व्याख्या देय्किये!
और उस पर NDTV का coverage देखिये
Star TV का सनसनी खुलासा देखिये
The Great Indian Political circus देखिये !

आईये ... आईये ...
मेहरबान और कदरदान
हुम्रारा ये इंडियन तमाशा देखिये !!

What do some other bloggers say?
Amandeep Singh Bachoo

....

Murder and Meyhem in Mumbai

2008-11-27T01:51:00.004+03:00

Over 80 people dead. Hotels and hospitals attacked. 4 Top cops killed. Army called in. Guests held hostage. Tourists in panic. Its complete chaos all around.

Murder and Meyhem in Mumbai. Terror has struck like never before.

As I write this, I watch on TV - almost every news channel is covering this live - a fire growing atop the heritage building of Taj Hotel. I see the smoke engulfing Hotel's dome. I hear gun fire as the army is storming into a Hotel. I see the TV news reporters cover their head and ears between their hurried words into cameras.

And if watching all this on TV is scary. I wonder how the people there must be feeling. Particularly those families of the dead, those people held hostage, those policemen crouching outside hotels, those doctors looking at the injured, and those pamedics lifting the corpses.

Oh.... the ugly face of terror! Where is it taking us all?

Why O why do these shameless cowards attack the innocent??

Why O why do these misguided fanatics create such havoc?

Why O why do these tactless terroritsts trauamatise the commoners?

Whatever their cause is, whetever they are fighting for, does it merit this horrible blood shed? Does this massacre solve their problems?

Why don't they realize that it is in no way going to further their cause.

I strongly feel that 'they will be brought to justice' is a too soft a phrase. Its just a worn-out platitute and cliche.

These horrible mudereres should be not just quickly caught, but they should also be so.... so very...severely punished that no one should ever dream of doing this again.

Copyright or Copying Rights?

2008-11-25T19:59:00.002+03:00

Did you know that over 6 hours of video is being uploaded onto YouTube, every minute??

That is why I wasn't surprised when I read that this enormous uploading of videos - throwing copyright law to winds - has now resulted in an interesting development - Video Identification Tool.

The content owners can now use a video identification tool that will act like the video fingerprint embedded into the video. If anyone else uploads a similar video, the tool identifies a match. If a match is found, the copyright holders' policy preferences are applied to that video (Rights owners, apparently, can choose to block, track or monetize their content).

How cool can you get??? eh?

Now that Google owns You Tube things would be good I think. Some would remember that last March, Viacom, owner of Hollywood studios Paramount and DreamWorks, launched a $1bn lawsuit against YouTube for copyright infringement.

Oh btw, among those who contributed to this development are Time Warner and Disney!

.....

Oh! This Online Culture!!

2008-11-19T17:49:00.008+03:00

"If you haven't been bookmarked, retweeted and blogged,
You might as well not have existed" - Ben Walker

To all of us, online junkies, here's a bit of philosophy. I've come across this defining song on youtube, by Ben Walker ...(lyrics are pasted below the video)

...

You're no one if you're not on Twitter
And if you aren't there already you've missed it
If you haven't been bookmarked, retweeted and blogged
You might as well not have existed

In the old days it was all about achievements
Collecting all your trophies in a shrine
Then everybody came across the internet
And suddenly you had to be online

A home page was all you really needed
To seem like a success but not a geek
As long as you updated semi-annually
And checked your email once or twice a week

You're no one if you're not on Twitter...

Technology was moving rather quickly
And the next thing you needed was a blog
With intimate and detailed press releases
And now and then a photo of your dog

More recently the students brought us Facebook
And everybody has a hundred friends
The parties in the photos look amazing
They're not so great but everyone pretends

You're no one if you're not on Twitter...

Now you need to publish every movement
And every single thought to cross your mind
I'm told the Twitterverse is full of rubbish
But most of us are actually quite refined

We validate each other's insecurities
And brag about the gadgets that we've bought
We laugh out loud at every hint of jolliness
And try to self-promote without being caught

You're no one if you're not on Twitter...

.....

Michael Jackson & Bahrain's Sheikh

2008-11-19T13:04:00.005+03:00

I feel its an amusing turn of events.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa Vs Michael Jackson would be an interesting case for the London High Court to handle.

The Sheikh says he gave MJ a full 7 million dollar amount as an advance - for an album and an autobiography that MJ never produced.

And MJ says that he thought it was a gift!! ( Ofcourse MJ used a part of the 'gift' amount to pay of his Neverland Ranch's Bills).

Now its the turn of lawyers on both sides to twist the facts (or fiction) to their advantage.

Knowing how one feels about the slick US lawyers, who knows what they will come out with to defend the great MJ?

And Knowing...sorry, not knowing... how one feels if they lose 7 Million dollars, who knows what our Shiekh's lawyers would do?

Whatever the case may be, or however the case might turn out to be, I know that, ultimately, it will be the lawyers who will be laughing all the way to the bank :)

I'm sure, our Shiekh, the now once-bitten amateur song-writer, will make MJ sing a different tune soon.

Check out this news on,
BBC website : MJ too sick to travel to witness in case
CNN website : Sick Jackson may not attend trial
USA Today : Arab Shiekh sues Michael Jackson
GDN (Gulf Daily News) site : Jackson betrays firm

.....

Zain's zain?

2008-11-18T13:29:00.003+03:00

I had experienced a slight problem with Internet Connection to Zain, the ISP that I subscribe to. And I soon put forward my observation in a slightly round-about way.

But here's the nice way they responded. I am sure you will say 'zain'!

(Some of my non-arab friends might know that 'Zain' is also another word for 'good')

Click here on this link and read for yourself :-)

Just thought of sharing - as a good example of customer service/PR response by the company - eventhough it happened a couple of months ago.

.....

McCain? Obama? Who?

2008-11-04T21:16:00.003+03:00

Who will become the most powerful man on earth? In less than 24 hours, the world will know.

Over the last two years, we have certainly seen one man battle it out - first with Hillary Clinton and then with John McCain. First, in order to become the Presidential candidate of the Democrats. Then, in order to, hopefully, become the President of the great United States - regarded without a doubt as the most powerful country in the world.

We don't know whether he will indeed become the President or not. But what we know is that the neck-to-neck race to the white house has become very very exciting in the last few days. Obama's aunt's illegal status, Sarah Palin's foot-in-the-mouth lines, John McCain's poor republican jokes and joseph Biden's faux pas.

Now, the death of the Obama's grandmother could give him a small sympathy wave of votes too. But the fierce speeches of John McCain in an incredible seven-state tour in just a day, could buy him more votes too.

So, Obama? or McCain? A Democrat or a Republican? Who? Who will become the most powerful man in the world? (Ok Ok.. those thinking I should be talking about the UN Secretary General or about the Pope can relax and bear with me).

I feel it will be Barak Obama.

My reasons?

Most of America is tired of the George W. Bush, the Republican, they see. And they want a 'Change'. Which Obama strategically kept hitting at the masses as 'Change we need' (ofcourse its another matter that very few US Presidents faced the crisis situations Bush faced - a horrifying 9/11, a few disastrous Hurricanes and an earth-shocking Financial Crisis, even if we hastily conclude that war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran are his own doings, which are not entirely his.)
Obama's campaign, I think, has succesfully tied up John McCain to Bush and his unwelcome policies. (So much so that John McCain had to keep saying 'I am not Bush', and had to keep reiterating that he and Obama do not agree with the Bush-policies).
McCain is unable to get out of the Bush shadow..that is horribly large and unfortunately hated-a-lot in the US and outside.
The choice of Sarah Palin has been unwise (Choosing the Governor of Alaska aganist several worthy candidates from other 49 states has not gone well with Americans... even if she is a beauty...and yes...even if she is one with the brains (but her brains have spawned thousands of jokes on youtube or elsewhere, making McCain seem like a victim of bad decisions).
There would be a massive black turn out at voting (even if they did not hitherto cast even a single vote over decades of US Presidential elections. Which black wouldn't want a black President??).
Despite John McCain's wonderful experience and excellent oratorial skills, I feel that Obama has the charisma that two other former democrat presidents, Keneddy and Clinton had.

Well, I am an Indian. I may not know much about US politics. But this is my take on the world's greatest event going on.

....

Ode to Meeting 2204

2008-11-03T13:33:00.004+03:00

At our Toastmasters Club this Saturday(1-Nov), the theme was on poetry and it was an exciting and refreshing difference.

The entire programme - business session, educational session, joke session and evaluation – was peppered with the sharing of short poems and couplets by different members. It was good fun. And drawing some inspiration, I composed the following lines at the end of the meeting. Then, I refined them after coming home, and mailed it to all, and they were all glad.

Ok… Ok…. You will think I am just showing off.

But you know what?....… Yes. I really am showing off. :-D

.....................................................

Ode to Meeting No. 2204

After some Ballads of Business
Sprinkled with marriage announcements
Came Emcee Madhavi – a passionate poetess
With her poem-filled pronouncements

Next, for all folks, were Gopan jokes,
Of diapers of kids, and photos of wives
Of men who knew too much like oaks
And all of those cops after our lives

Then came the words of d'anger and damage
Spoken by our own – cool and calm – Alya
If anger you fail to quickly manage
You’ll have no friends. – They will say , “See ya”.

Later for all of us, O ladies and gents
Was Osama on 'body', and its intelligence
He observes with care – maids and labourers
And doesn’t even spare, men in wheel chairs

After some pastries and some black tea
Came Abdulrahman, the engagement sign-er
He became all bullish, ‘on global bankruptcy’
And made many a master, a share-market whiner

Then from the hills, came Nepalese Neelesh
With serious and sombre, General ‘Evalesh’
(Evalesh? (I know!) Its a new word I made up
Inspired and enthused, by our emcee’s work-up)

Yes, folks. Today’s Ballads of Business
And those Epics of Education
Along with lots of Rhymes of Recess
Made it more than mere couplets, in conclusion.

.................

Nagma's Interview

2008-10-27T17:21:00.004+03:00

Continuing on the coversion topic is this intersting interview with the hindi film-actress, Nagma.

Click here to read it.

...

I, The Convert

2008-10-23T00:38:00.005+03:00

My earlier post touched upon the sensitive topic of Conversion.

You would have noticed that it was a digression from my normal writings. I needed to speak out because of the high voltage scenes in a certain district of Orissa state against the Christians - with some Hindus arguing that force and inducements were being used to convert people.

But I was very surprised to see this article 'I, The Convert' by the Editor of Outlook Business. It makes very good reading for analytical thinking. So don't miss reading it by clicking here . (I also copied it and pasted it down below, as you may need to register on the outlook website)

And on the opposite side, over the last few years, I have read and I have seen many intellectuals from India being moved and motivated by the strong writings of Francois Gautier. He is a French journalist who has amazingly acculturated himself to becoming an Indian - much much more an Indian than we indians ourselves. Here is his piece on Hindu Anger, though not directly connected to Orissa.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I, The Convert
My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart
by Anand Mahadevan

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity.

I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them.

I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God.

When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus.

It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.

The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality.

If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine.

But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.

God bless India.

(Anand Mahadevan is the editor of Outlook Business.)

.....

Attacks on Churches in Orrisa

2008-10-12T10:01:00.014+03:00

I am a Christian. Or that's what I call myself. But I have a number of Hindu friends. And I also have number of muslim friends (In fact, I live and work in an Islamic country with muslims all around). Even Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists are my friends. I like them and I respect their beliefs.

Now, despite my long resistance to speak out on this sensitive topic, I decided it's time my friends heard my feelings. The continuing attacks and attrocities against churches in the Indian state of Orissa are extremely disturbing. The burning of churches and killing of christians - saying that christians are being 'converted' either by inducements or by force is slowly and steadily getting me all worked up. Especially, when I hear that... BJP is even asking for a new legislation, an Anti conversion Law!

I am upset, firstly, because some misguided fanatics - who are calling themselves Hindus - who with the seemingly visible backing of VHP(Vishwa Hindu Parishad) or Bajrang Dal, are spreading violence against christians. And, secondly, because some sensible friends who call themselves Hindus, who move around in the so-called higher echelons on power - are being shockingly silent to this growing hate-phenomenon.

Silence, in a way, is an acquiescence of what is happening. And I think sensible Hindus should see reason and speak out against these atrocities instead of being mute witnesses.

I am sure - all will agree - that it is not doing any good neither to India nor to Hinduism. And I don't think Hinduism is an insecure faith that needs these violent defenders.

The question of faith and belief is largely individual, and I do not think anyone can be 'converted' by coercion or by inducements. If anyone did convert that way, it is no conversion! It is only a display of ignorance or greed. But if it is a conversion to earn the so-called 'respectability', then it must be addressed in an entirely different manner - by finding out how and why they were disrespected in the firstplace.

One must also understand that those of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are infact losing government-given opportunities (of university and job reservations), by becoming christians. So, how can anyone easily assume that becoming a chistian is financially beneficial?

As far as I know, churches and christian schools (which are being blamed) in India have always promoted education and knowledge so that people can become more enlightened in their choices.

Though born in a Christian family, I have (as a child) argued and debated with my parents and church leaders on why I should believe in Christianity. I read books for and against christianity. Even the controversial work 'Why I am not a Christian' by the great Philosopher, Bertrand Russel. And I read books of and on other religions too, apart from the Bible. And I've listened to and participated in many inter-faith dialogues and can, perhaps, with reasonable clarity explain the diferrence between Vedic Hinduism based on Advaita from that of the general Hinduism that people know of.

As for me, I can say with confidence that I am a Christian by choice. Not by birth. And certainly not because some great-grandfather had converted to Christianity. While I do not know the actual reasons for his conversion, I do know that it is not for 'inducements' or 'financial traps' or any such mythical monies. Because I do not recall any way in which the church has given anything to us 'financially' , but I do know that we ourselves have contributed to the churches in whatever way we can. Just like how many other christians do. Infact, some do this very very sacrificially.

Anyway, before I close, I suggest that my Hindu friends read a write-up by a Hindu TV journalist whom I admire a lot - Karan Thapar - by clicking here. It can broaden our thought processes.

Or another link where you can read another view (You must go down a bit on that webpage) by Dipankar Gupta by clicking here.

When someone is really on the quest of 'Truth', I am sure he or she will always find it.
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Who is Karan Thapar?

Karan Thapar born in November 1955 in Srinagar is perhaps India 's best known television commentator and interviewer. Thapar is noted for his aggressive interviews with leading politicians and celebrities - his interviews with cricketer Kapil Dev where he broke down into tears, Manmohan Singh, General Pervez Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto , US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and His Holiness The Dalai Lama are particularly well remembered by Indians. An alumnus of The Doon School and Stowe School , he graduated with a degree in the Economics and Political Philosophy from Pembroke College , Cambridge in 1977. In the same year, he was President of the Cambridge Union. He subsequently attained a doctorate in International Relations from St Anthony's College, Oxford . He began his career in journalism with The Times in Lagos , Nigeria .

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..

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2008-10-06T11:02:00.008+03:00

I know I am reading it a bit late, compared to many others, but reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hossein, is really an experience worth sharing.

I am more than half-way through it, and there have already been quite a few places, where I had to just pause and take a deep breath.

I feel its an exceptionally well-crafted work of art. The lucidity of the description of rural Afghanistan will appeal to you just as much as the grim portrayal of emotional upheavals that the characters face. The loves and hates, the joys and struggles, the sacrifices and betrayals of ordinary people among the changing political scenes of the Afghanistan, are amazingly informative and thought-provokingly entertaining.

I still wonder how he was able to write like women. Right from within their souls.

If I was moved by his earlier book, The Kiterunner, I am now deeply touched by this one. And I strongly recommend it to all who enjoy a good reading.

Watch this space. There could be more coming up as I finish the book.

....

You can find the NYT's Herald Tribune review of the book here ...

Olympic Feelings

2008-08-25T15:51:00.000+03:00

Call me sentimental, but lack of emotional control has turned me into a joke among friends and family.

Since Sunday, wife and kids have been telling everyone that, 'he cried watching the closing ceremony of Olympics'.

'Can you believe it?' they've been announcing completely embarrassed. 'He sometimes cries at sad movies, and we somehow bear it. But now, tears at this closing ceremony?? Its plain ridiculous! He is losing it!!'

They have been mocking me ever since. And I feel sheepishly wimpish or wimpishly sheepish. Or whatever. But Yes. I admit. I had teary eyes.

But seriously, somehow, something about the Olympics always makes my heart go all lumpy, into some hard-to-explain twists of joy. A strange vicarious sense of pride wells up within me - every time I see the champions standing on the podium, receiving their medals, and mouthing their national anthems as they watch their countries' flags go up. The joy and pride so largely writ on their faces, the sense of accomplishment so evident in their hearts after their successes, gives me some delicious goose bumps - Even though, of course, I had nothing at all to contribute except as being a wide-eyed, open-mouthed TV viewer!

And watching the peoples of nations coming together, in the opening and closing ceremonies, is simply awe-inspiring. The acts of precision seen in organizing these events, and the feats of team work in managing them, goes to show the astounding heights to which human effort can take us.

Since 1984, when I saw the live telecast of Los Angeles Games as a child, I have been hooked to this international celebration of human endeavour. And watching on TV, the games that followed at Seoul(1988), Barcelona(1992), Atlanta(1996), Sydney(2000), Athens (2004) and now at Beijing (2008) have not lessened but only increased my appetite. To see the eyeful feast of human fortitude. To see the athletes rival one-another in strength and agility. To see the wonderful coming-together of nations in peace and harmony. And to see how far, and how high, the mighty human being can reach.

As 204 countries participated in these Beijing Games, reaching peaks and breaking records were sport stars like Superfish Michael Phelps, and Jamaican runner Ussain Bolt, who together set 10 out of the 43 world records set here. An amazing 132 Olympic records were broken.

And a fitting tribute to this human triumph was the closing ceremony where the surprise appearances of Leona Lewis, Jimmy Paige, David Beckham, and Jackie Chan only enhanced the euphoria. And very soon, we’ll call this nostalgia.

But whatever it is, instead of just watching on television, I think its high time that I now make some live contribution of my wide-eyed and open-mouthed viewing. Not to mention the teary-eyed farewells. So, 2012 London Games, here I come.

..

Home Alone

2008-08-21T11:10:00.000+03:00

My article in Gulf Daily News on 20-Aug-08

Here

For a Few Dinars More

2008-08-17T09:35:00.007+03:00

What do you feel when you read this sad news?

An Indian manager is on his way from Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Bangalore, India via Bahrain. He checks in at the Bahrain airport. Refuses to give his details to Immigrations. Looks around the officials strangely. Refuses to go up the escalater on to the plane. Starts making weird noises and gestures. Starts sucking his thumb. Begins to act like a child.

Simply put, he has a nervous breakdown. And is admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital.

(Its actually a complicated situation because he has already checked in. And he is not a Bahrain resident. But somehow the officials were working around)

The following information can give us some insight into the background

........................................................................
The 24-year-old had worked as a manager for a manpower supply company in Ras Tanura, near Dammam, for more than a year.

Sources claimed that his sponsor had cancelled his visa and he was being sent back home without his contract being renewed.

"He was reportedly depressed because he was blamed for an accident involving a company car and was threatened to pay BD5,700 compensation," said the sources.

"He began to show worrying signs of depression. Members of a Dammam social group, Navodaya, learned about his plight and helped admit him to a private clinic.

"Due to intervention of Saudi authorities, the sponsor agreed to cancel his visa and send him home at the company's expense."
........................................................................

Obviously, he was shaken at the loss of job, and probably didn't know what to do, or what to tell his folks back home. He may be feeling he has been wronged. Or that he was being blamed for a fault that wasn't his. He came to earn. And he is going midway, with no renewal.

We are not fully aware of the whole story, but I have a few questions and thoughts on this. Specially, with regard to the accident. Wouldn't a company car be covered by insurance? Why would an employee be asked to pay BD5700 (that's a whopping 6 lakh rupees)? Where would he get it from?

Well, there could be reasons. Like, either the company car was not insured or its insurance not renewed. Or alternately, the person driving was not licenced to drive. If its the first case, its definitely the company's fault. If its the second case, I wonder how he got to driving it.

Whatever the reasons, I feel it is the story of a man who's been accused and abused. It is not of a person with a weak mind, or of a person with no courage. Because, I assume we can credit a worker called as a 'manager', with atleast a bit of common sense.

So, I smell something fishy. And I fell terribly sad. For the way foreign workers are treated. And for the way they are made to feel stressed and depressed. In fact, to the point of making the worker insane!

It is a well known fact that many indians come to Gulf for just a few dinars (or a few riyals more). Hoping that jobs here would get them more than what they would get in India.

Well, not just indians, but filipinos, pakistanis, bangladeshis, srilankans, ethiopians, sudanese, lebanese, jordanians and a host of other nationalities also come here.

It is common knowledge - when you look at many countries today - that the overall growth of a national economy is largely dependent on migrant workers, and sometimes immigrants' toil. When there is a shortage of labour locally (or when there is a lack of expertise or skill locally), it has become imperative for countries to import the same from outside.

Even the great USA is made up of migrant workers and immigrant labour, over the years. We see Canada, Australia, NewZealand are actively seeking immigrants, and they are eager to take them in, for the knowledge and the skill the prospective immigrant is useful for the country.

When you consider geographic mobility over the centuries, shouldn't we ask questiions like these? Did mankind just pop up in diffrent places, at random, and bred generations? Did people stay stuck to their own lands without moving at all? Did countries get formed only by themselves without people coming in or moving out?

In a way, what I am asking is, aren't all countries, made up by labour in motion?

So why disregard people?

.......

Digital Data Merchants

2008-08-11T11:46:00.005+03:00

“7 million Americans searched for Apple's iPhone on the Net in April 2008 alone.”
“27 million people watched more than 3.5 billion videos online in UK in March 2008.”
“11 billion videos were watched online in US, in April 2008.”
“Internet audience grew in India by a whopping 27% from April 2007 to April 2008 -the highest in the Asia-pacific region.”

Now, reading the above lines makes one wonder how it is possible to collect data like this. And who keeps track of this information.

Well, its interesting to note that today, there are companies spending thousands of dollars on thousands of employees to keep track of information like this. All aimed at understanding the cyber world to help businesses and individuals in decision making.

I found out that while an organization like 'IDC' - International Data Corporation -keeps on its research of information technology companies and markets, there are organizations like 'ComScore' which maintain massive proprietary databases that provide continuous, real-time measurement of the several ways in which the Internet is used.

IDC provides global market intelligence on IT companies and IT markets around the world. And this Business Intelligence and the Analytics can be downloaded or bought at a price by the information-seeking organizations. The price could seem very high at first, but when compared to the value they have to offer, and when compared to the amount of research-effort that has gone into it, it would be fully justified.

IDC is actually a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. Founded in 1964, IDG had 2006 revenues of $2.84 billion and has more than 13,000 employees worldwide. It offers the widest range of media options which reach more than 120 million technology buyers in 85 countries representing 95% of worldwide IT spending.

The world’s huge amount of IT spending makes the need for well-researched information very relevant. And the need is being ably met by companies like IDC.

ComScore is a company that measures the digital world. Its core competency is the measurement of the usage of internet around the world. How does an internet user behave? What does he search for? What does he buy online? What does he listen to? What videos does he view? Which websites are the most trafficked? Which products are the most searched for?

Answers to most of these questions can be found in the output of continuous surveys and studies published by ComScore. This information is now extremely critical for marketing decisions by companies that want to reach specific market segments, with specific internet habits.

Market research agencies used to rule the roost at one time. They still do, but with lesser significance now. Because, these days, the new researchers are on the rise. These cyber data vendors. These data-sellers whom you can’t ignore in a world that is fast getting wrapped in the digital media.

In these days of pay-per-click advertising by Google or pay-by-click transactions by Paypal, who can ignore the need for up-to-date information on a host of things? Its is, therefore, from these research organizations that we learn that the world’s changing. Especially, the digital world. And that…

“Internet advertising spending in US has increased by 23.9% (to $7.1 billion) in Q1 of 2008 over the last year.”
“Google remains the leader in the U.S. with 24.8% of the Internet advertising market share.”
“US Internet Ad spend by 2012 is forecasted to be 16% of the total ad spend compared to the current 11% now.”

The Job

2008-07-12T22:38:00.004+03:00

Close to our home in Hyderabad was a market place, where there was also a place called adda. This is where, each morning, the daily-wage earners waited and looked for jobs. And then they were picked up by the job-givers to be taken away - to serve that day as cleaners or masons or brick layers or painters based on skills they said they possesed.

But here, in this video you will see an entirely different scenerio. A bit scary or a bit comical, depending on who you are.

...

'Comprises'? Or 'Comprises of'??

2008-07-08T12:07:00.007+03:00

I was just involved in an argument on the usage of english on phrases which have the word, 'comprise'.

When we say that something is 'comprised of' we, obviously mean that it includes the items being refererred to. For example, the building is comprised of a bathroom, two bedroms, a kitchen and a living room.

But my friend was saying that it was ok to say : the building comprises of a bathroom, two bedroms, a kitchen and a living room.

And I was saying that he was wrong. I said that it should actually be : the building comprises a bathroom, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room.

After much debate and verification with experts I have decided to stay my ground.

So, here's what I think:

(1) If the sentence is "The building ............ a bathroom, two bedroms, a kitchen and a living room."
or
(2) If the sentance is "The new group …….. Joel, John, Jaani, Janardhan and Joyce."

is comprised of......OK
is composed of ....Ok
comprises .........OK
consists of ......OK
contains ......OK
includes ....OK

comprises of..............Pleugghhhh!!

Hee hee....I picked that last one after some investigation on internet from here.

Anyone still thinks that I am wrong??? Comments?

Oh, btw, you can also check these..

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/comprise

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/070.html
...

Ken Lee - The Sensation on YouTube.

2008-06-23T10:24:00.003+03:00

Did you see this? The video of Valentina Hassan's performance? In 'Bulgarian Idol'?

You haven't? Well, you have missed something important on the internet! She sang a song which no one understood...initially. But then, when she told the language and the singer's name, she, instantly, she shot into fame.!!! She got TV interviews, rave reviews, album offers, and became an instant celebrity!

Seeing is believing. So, I am embedding three videos here. Take some time..turn on the speakers and enjoy. Comical....and true.

Her performance

Her TV interview

Her appreciation - by Mariah Carey

College days

2008-06-17T11:31:00.010+03:00

Just a couple of days ago, while driving, I was thrilled to listen to this lovely song on 104.2 Voice FM. I've searched for it, and am embedding it below. So that you can listen and enjoy too. Ofcourse, as it is in hindi and english, my non-hindi-speaking friends may not fully follow it. But do check it out if you can.

It made me think of my college days. The jokes, the pranks, the last-minute assignments, the last-minute studies, reading the exam paper, and getting angry at whoever set it!! The fun days, the troubled days, the friends we made, (for life, sometimes), the friends we lost, (and we hope we knew where they are now).

Nowadays, when I watch my students who are writing their final exams at the University, I feel that many may also be going through the same feeling. Of what they will miss. From their "college days"

कब मिलेंगे न जाने हम
यारों फिर से सबी
लौट कर अब न आए वह दिन
मस्ती भरे दिन कभी
ओ, दिल ये अपना कहे , ये दोसतों
I am really gonna miss this place
I am gonna miss my college days......

Find some time, and listen to it by clicking below. I found it wonderful. Gaurav is the singer. It is also on you tube...but u must listen to it before watching it. Enjoy the memories of your college days.

......

Kite Runner - And Nostalgia

2008-06-03T00:14:00.006+03:00

I am half-way through the book I started this week. The Kite Runner. By Khaled Hosseini.

The book is a touching narrative of an Afghan boy, and his joys and fears as a child in the pre-taliban Kabul. His wonderful emotional bonding with his friend, Hassan, begins to strain at the weight of the boy's guilty actions. To tell you all a little more, would perhaps make this a spoiler. So, I'll stop there.

But with each page I turn, I couldn't but help go down memory lane. To the time when I was growing up. When I was between my 10th and 14th year. In Hyderabad. In India. In the months of January. When flying kites seemed a great art. And a great skill.

I still remember a certain boy, Subash, who was known as the greatest kite slayer in our neighbourhood in Ramnagar. My kite had to bite dust many-a-time to his.

There were legendary stories about how he acquired the maanjaa, the string that cut my kite's string. His family made it, by mixing finely-grounded glass with some special plant's leaf called kalamadaa-aaku...and some other herbs, and some choice colours...and after mixing it into a special paste, it is then applied to the strings and made to dry... .. It was normal in those days to walk in some streets where you will see....strings dyed in various colours...pasted with ladi left to dry...strung to nails on walls.

The dried string becomes so tough, so sharp, and so strong that when one's kite's string is battling with other's, it could neatly rip the other's string. Often, the kite flyer's expertise and thereby, his reputation depended on the design, type and size of the kites he flew, apart from the strength of the maanjaa.

We had a name for almost every design - wonder if people of my age still remember doppan, gilloraa, langot, naamam, naaman-langot, gillora doppan and host of other such names. The threaded-edge kites were called dhaagey daar.

Size also mattered - Ek Pound, Do pound.

You cannot forget the wonderful whirling of the spool of string in your partner's hands as you let go the string when your kite is soaring high into the sky; the joyous feeling of a tug of weight on your thumb and forefinger; the palpable tension when you decide to dip your kite toward's your opponent's kite, to fight him.....the troubled momements when you are deciding whether to let go more string (deeel) or pull it back in rapid wave of arms (keench).....and the ecstatic moment when your opponent's kite is finally cut.....and the ear-shattering cries of 'saaaaaaaaf' from your friends, when your opponent's kite - cut loose from the taunt string - begins to float away in short jerks and dips.

And the kite runners, running ater the slain kite, sometimes with poles attached with throny bushes, going after it to capture the kite floating down. Then, the group of kids fighting for it. To come under it. To catch it. And then one would finally own it..and walk away beaming with awesome pride that only......yes.. ...only a kite runner would understand.

I still remember a time when I (known for my timid and soft nature), was unable to contain myself and brutally bashed up another kid. He had jumped on me and tore off the kite in jealous desperation, after I had run and caught the kite painstakingly. I was claiming it over several other kids. The others watched our fight and no one came to his rescue. Because they all knew it was rightfully mine. In fact there were cheers when I knocked him down. My friends who knew I would rather run away frightened than to every fight a bulky kid at anytime where absolutely shocked. They were amazed at my new and sudden burst of courage and strength!! Such is the impact of Kite Flying!

I had bruises. They were painful. But they were also trophies in leiu of the kite I lost. And, they were also scars from a worthy battle!

Oh.... the joy, the pleasure, the power of Kite Flying!

I miss it.

My Talk-Time Trouble

2008-05-07T13:50:00.011+03:00

People say that they've stopped visiting my blog. Because I don't update it often.

So, a big 'Hi!' to all the new comers...Thank you for coming over, to visit this page. I am glad you came here.

And I hope you will keep coming back. Unlike all those..... psssssssst.............those lazy, crazy, hazy people who don't appreciate that I'm a busy man, and that I have a hundred other things to do. Even if I don't update this blog. Ofcourse, you might call a lot of the things I do as crazy and hazy things. But I am certainly not lazy.

Those who know me well would know that I am the type who will always end up doing more than one thing at a time.

I know I bite more than I can chew. I know I accept responsibilities when I'm already loaded with others. I know I can't say easily say 'No'. But what can I do? Altering one's own personality is not an easy task.

Well. among the many things I know about myself is this. 'That I "talk" a lot'.

I know I go yap yap yap even though I am amidst wise company. I am trying hard to learn the fine-art of listening. But 'listening' seems like an art-form that doesn't easily come to the likes of chattering magpies (who, btw, have recently complained to my wife that I was giving them an inferiority complex). And my wife, obviously, was in complete agreement with the opinion.

She is, therefore, going to hit me on the head next time, if I keep speaking in friend's parties.....she is even carrying around a large cellophane-tape to shut my mouth in emergencies. So, in the interest of my almost-bare head, and also in the interest of my moustache which would be seriously damaged in the event of a cellotape attack, I am hereby attempting to talk less.

But the main reason for my wife's state of exasperation is that her repeated calls to order have gone utterly unheeded by yours truly. It is because she has already told me to control my mouth 12,448.75 times.

No. You did not read it wrong. That '.75' is not an error.

It was that time when I had walked out, in a huff, after 'three-fourths' of our conversation. Well, to be precise, you couldn't have called it a 'conversation'.

If both of our voices were hitting decibels of a higher level during the said oral verbal communication process, would you call that 'a conversation' or 'a spat' or something else?

Whatever you call it, just don't call my wife about my 'talking' problems, in case I lose control when talking to you.

Yes. Some have drinking problems, and some have smoking problems. But I have 'Talking' problems.

Is there an organization like Talkers Anonymous, that I can join?

Like those joining Alcoholics Anonymous or something, maybe I will be rehabilitated.

Or my wife will throw me out of the house. And I will then be re'habitat'ed'.

I'd prefer changing my ways, than my homes. By talking less. But...oh my god.... look how far down you have already scrolled reading this, my nonsense talk!!! I just can't stop......

See????.... I think you are now getting the drift.

Maybe, I must shout like Jim Carey.......'Somebody, stop me!'

'Somebody, stop me!!!!!!!!'

....................................

An Officer and a Policewoman

2008-03-27T10:59:00.010+03:00

It was great. Listening yesterday, to Dr. Kiran Bedi, perhaps, the Best Indian Police Officer the country ever produced.

Actually, it is probably right to say that she was the one who produced the best in the Police Officers of India.

(Here, in Bahrain, she met the Minister of Interior, Lt. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdula Al Khalifa, yesterday, and is supposed to have agreed to assist the Ministry's police on community policing and prison reforms).

Click here to read the news Item in GDN

Btw, She is the Civilian Police Adviser in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations now.

A woman wanting to be a Police Officer was unthinkable in 1972. But not only had she become the first woman who became an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer, but she excelled at her job for 35 years, and brought a whole new meaning to the Police job.

She became an inspiration to the women of India. Because she transformed a semingly-uncomfortable profession into a dream-aspiration for many women.

Listening to her in Bahrain was a delight, as she eloquently explained the predicaments she faced, the resources she harnessed, the prisoners she reformed, the family she was blessed with.

She spoke about how the Education she had, the Environment she grew in, and the Experience she had had shaped her life. And how they usually do in everyone's lives. She spoke about how four tenets that affected her and how they can affect us all... 'We reap what we sow';, 'Change is the law', "giving is good' and 'Happiness happens.'

Remembering that what we do today will affect us later, that 'change' is a necessary aspect of life we must all embrace, that the attitude of gratitude is essential, and that Positivism of looking at joys more than at sorrows leads to happiness, was what she put into her lecture.

No wonder the organisers, ILA (Indian Ladies Association) gave this, their Annual Leela Jashanmal lecture, the title - Kiran - a Ray of Inspiration !

It was inspiration indeed.

.....

OMG! Is this place really that??

2008-02-28T10:59:00.021+03:00

Watch these pictures, and try to guess for what purpose this facility was built.

And I am sure you would be as surprised and shocked as I was.

IT IS A PRISON!

Yes. This is a Jail in Austria. Justice Centre of Leoben! (Justizzentrum Leoben)

It sounds crazy but this Justice Centre of Leoben in Austria, was designed by about 10 artists and built in March 2005.

It was developed as an exercise to implement humanitarian thoughts in the building and design of the prison.

Can you believe that? They even say that they took ECHR (European Commission on Human rights) and Other Human Rights and Prison laws into consideration.

When I got a mail with these pics, I laughed it off as one of those crazy emails, but was shocked after a little bit of research. The only thing that made it plausible for me was when I read that this place has courts, prosecutorial offices as well as the prison.

Just imagine criminals having a whale of a time by ending up in this five Star Prison. I now know that if you have to comit a crime, Austria is the place to go and do it.

For more pictures on this click here.. [ Remember 'vor' is next, zuruck is previous, schlieben closes the window]
For a pdf file on Current issues in Penitentiary Organization and Management, click here
For a webpage on Postmodern Prison architecture, click here

.............

Pakistan up ahead

2008-02-20T14:45:00.009+03:00

The recent scenes in pakistan are reminiscent of the scenes in India in 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi, the former PM of India was killed in a suicide attack. Just like Benazir Bhutto the former PM of Pakistan was killed last month. And both were on their election campaigns. And both were children of former PMs of their respective countries.

In both cases the elections were postponed. And in both cases their parties swept the polls. Riding on the massive sympathy-wave, both the parties (Congress-I in India & PPP in Pakistan) led the formation of new governments.

Isn't it also a strange coincidence that parents of both, Rajiv (Indira Gandhi) and Benazir(Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) met untimely deaths? While Indira Gandhi was assasinated, Bhutto was hanged.

Very few may even recall that Zulfiker Ali Bhutto had actually writen a book titled If I am Assasinated.

Well, whatever, now the parents as well as their luminary children have stopped emanating the bright light they used to. But their political parties are still going on. And going strong.

Seeing the election coverage on pakistani channels, one can be sure that the future seems tough and wrought with many difficulties, but the determination in the country to make democarcy work is very much palpable. The fact that arch-rivals, PPP [of Benazir's, now led the widowed Asif Zardari], and PML-N [of Nawaz Sheriff] shaking hands is a very very strange occurance in a country like Pakistan. But it is indicative of the willingness to let go egos to form a democratic government. The joy of ousting a dictatorial, Pervez Musharraf, has clearly converted these two ecstatic 'rival political parties' into seemingly willing bed partners.

It could have a strange impact on the US Foreign Policy, as they have already pumped billions into the country in their 'fight against terror'. But then, hopefully, the assurances given by the emerging leadership of the soon-to-form-government must have assuaged apprehensions.

The seemingly uncertain future - I am certain - is going to turn out much better than what was in the past. Maybe no government completed a full term but Pakistan has been learning. And the massive pakistani youngsters, and the growing education systems, can only lead to a brighter outlook.

Time will tell. And I am sure it will tell well.

...

Indiana Jones is coming back!!!

2008-02-19T01:15:00.003+03:00

I am very glad he is coming back. The archeologist, historian and adventurer, Indiana Jones is going to be back on cinema screens after a long long time.

I won't forget how - after watching the first movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - I was waiting for the second one Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom which unfortunately was banned in India for its ill-portrayal of indian customs. I was able to still watched it with friends - the father of one of whom got it from Mozambique somehow.

Trailer of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Then, there was the third one Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I watched it in Kishore theatre near Kacheguda. It was about The Holy Grail and I won't forget his amazing escapades, and specially the scene of the large ship's propellers chopping the water, and also chopping off the small boat in which our adventurer is fighting villians. Amazing action.

I just wonder if Harrison Ford is still fit to do his stunts after aaaaalllllll these years. In this fourth one Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

But looks like I must wait till May 22 !

Well.... to get some good things in life, one must be patient.

...

Valentine's - A day too late

2008-02-14T08:19:00.002+03:00

It was a different feeling. Very strange. Very special. Sweet Sorrow? Lovely longing? Didn't know what it was. A warm inner glow. A calm simmer of joy. Didn't know what it was called.

It had been happening for a while. Everytime I met her. Everytime I talked to her. Evertime I laughed with her. Everytime she laughed at my jokes. A lump in my throat. A gulp to swallow my thrill. Trying to keep a straight face, when my knees grew weak. Trying to speak normally when my heart thumped at high speed. And I hoped, desperately, that she was feeling the same too.......

Click here to continue on to my old post

...

Bahrain's Crown Prince speaks

2008-02-03T01:23:00.000+03:00

Here we have.

Directly from the Crown Prince, and the Chairman of EDB (Economic Development Board), Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

I liked the way he responded to the Davos Question, on economy. Listen to it. He speaks a bit slowly but very wisely. We sure have a Shaikh who is unshaken when it comes to clear thinking. :-)

Sunshine Ahoy!!

2008-02-02T14:39:00.002+03:00

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
It's not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long anytime she goes away.

Wonder this time where she's gone,
Wonder if she's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away.

Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

In Seef Cineplex, I used to enjoy the lovely picturization of a Cigarette Advertisement they almost always showed before every movie. It was about a glamorous woman executive, who has gone away. And friends who miss her, are waiting in a yatch, for her to come back. She comes back in a helicopter - or rather, on a sea-plane - and then two steam-boats, travelling in opposite directions, cut the shape of a heart in the water, welcoming her, as she flies in. (And we hear these lovely lines, ...Aint no sunshine..). ......And its the sunshine part that I am drawn to, as she seems to bring it in, or take it away! Or I think that's what Bill Withers meant when he wrote it first.

Just today, I got to know why people seek 'sunshine' so much. This realization dawned upon me, with the sun, this morning.

After the last few days of rain, drizzle, haze, and chill, today, when the Sun finally peeped out of the clouds this morning, it felt warm and it felt wonderful. A special thrill. Especially when it fell on my eye, as I drove to work, near the A'Ali roundabout. It reminded me of yet another song, Top of the World, by Carpenters which, many of you know, has the following words:

Such a feelin’s comin’ over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream....

The pleasant feeling of sun that comes in from the cold, is really a joy hard to explain. No wonder the Bollywood lyrist Javed Aktar also, penned these lines, giving a list of pleasant sensations.

Ek ladki ko dekha tho aisaa lagaa
Jaise khilata gulaab
Jaise Shayar ka khwaab
Jaise ujali kiran
Jaise van mein hiran
Jaise chaandini raat
Jaise narmi si baat
Jaise mandir mein ho ek...
Jalta diyaa....

Ek ladki ko dekha tho aisaa lagaa
Jaise subhon ki roop
Jaise sardi ki dhoop..
Jaise beena ki taan
Jaise rangon ki jaan

Pay special attention to the line about the 'sardi ki dhoop,' which - let me explain to my non-hindi speaking friends - means 'it felt as lovely as the sunshine in winter'. and 'ujali kiran' means the 'soft bursting out of the sun-ray'

Sunshine, therefore, is lovely. And it is essentially there for us to enjoy. And we should. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…”

So, lets enjoy the sunshine. Let the sun shine. In all its warmth! In all its Glory!

------------------------------------------------------------

Psssssssssssssssst..

Btw, here's a corrolary to the theorem!! Opposing views.

Two quotes :

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”

“It takes both rain and sunshine to make a Rainbow.” (I liked this one)

...............................................................................................

In Bahrain? Just Chill.

2008-01-15T13:30:00.000+03:00

Brrrrrrr.......Itttts Ccccoooold.

And this weather is the coldest in 20 years I understand. Or that's what GDN says.

And just look below at what I saw on Bahrain's weather website this afternoon. Can you believe it? 7 degree celsius ! In Bahrain!!!

These days, my wife and kids look like eskimos on a visit to Bahrain. Wrapped up in mufflers, gloves and socks, apart from layers of sweaters. The heater - turned up to the max - is only making futile attempts at buzzing away cold. I must get two more blankets today, if I have to cover the three-layered blankets even more securely for my two little kids. The water-heater is the only saving grace....but we can't even wait for the cold water to run out of the tap before the hot water gushes out. Its taking its own sweet time. Brrrr.....The warnings from newspapers are just adding to the tension.

On the personal front, I also discovered that a man with hair on head is a lot more luckier than me. Because the icy hand of winter can be placed more firmly and flatly on a bald head like mine, than on those with good hairy heads. :-(

I also realize that God in his infinite wisdom, made feathers for those birds, and fur for all those animals to prepare them for these days.

But its sad to see school kids and working people waking up to meet their tryts with the same enthusiasm as on the non-cold days. But then, I know there will be some who'll say, "you call this cold??? Come and see Canada, USA, Greenland or the North pole"

Well, whatever they say, Bahrain is ccccccccoolddd.

And, some like it hot.

No...nowadays..we all like it hot.

Indians in Gulf - An Opinion

2008-01-07T14:41:00.000+03:00

Surprised? To see Arabic here?

Well, I found this interesting opinion on Global Voices (its english translation is below it) and wanted to share with you all.

The author, Hafez Bucheery is thinking about the development of the Gulf societies in general; he writes about the role South Asians, specifically Indians, have played over the years:

جاؤوا وما علموا بأنهم كانوا وراء نهضة قد امتثلوا, يختبئون خلف السطور الأولى التي تقترف النجاح, سطور سطرها أصحابها بابتذال, وكأن البنيان شيّد في محض من الخيال, أو كأنها سقطت من أعلى السماء. تناسوا في لحظة أن هنالك أناسا يعملون ليلاً نهاراً في دعك الاسمنت وصف الطابوق فوق بعضه البعض, أحداً منهم ينظف طرقاتنا المتعفنة, ويا ليته ينظف معه ضمائر شعوبنا المتخلفة, وأحداً آخرٌ يسهر على تنظيف ما نرمي من أوساخ خارج بيوتنا وداخلها, إخلاصاً منه في العمل, ورغبة منه في البقاء.هكذا حرضهم فقرهم, وحضهم على بلوغ الصعب من أجل تحقيق معنى الإنسانية, معنى ثقافة الوجود, معنى أن يكون للبشر قلب يضحي ويتقاسم الحياة مع من يحب بشرف. لا تغره تلك الحياة في لحظة من لحظاتها المنتكسة, ولا تستطيع أن تحرك فيه ساكناً من أجل الانحراف. لا نقول هنا الجميع, فطبيعي أن في كل قاعدة شواذها, ولكن يبقى الأصل في المسألة هو ان هؤلاء الفقراء علمونا كيف للبشر أن يعمل, كيف للبشر أن يخلص وأن لا يكون اتكالي, ينتظر وضع اللقمة في فمه, من بعدها ينتظر من يمسح له مؤخرته.فصرنا نفتخر كوننا أشباه هنود في ما مضى, لم نجد ذلك الاعتزاز صدفة, أو أنه تكون معنا لمجرد الإفراط في كمية الدهن في شعراتهم, وليس لأنهم يصنعون من ” السمبوسة ” وجبة عظيمة, بل لأنهم هم من نذروا أنفسهم للعيش الشريف, وحققوا الهدف السامي في الحياة بالرغم من التفات ضوء الشمس عنهم, وتجريد الناس ثوب الحياة منهم. شرفٌ لهم أن يكونوا أحفاد غاندي, وشرفٌ لنا أن يعيشوا في أراضينا بسلام

They came without knowing that they would be behind a boom, hiding behind the first lines which celebrate success, lines which its owners have penned with excess, as if what was being built was a figment of the imagination, or as if it had fallen from the sky. They pretended to forget for a moment that there were people working day and night in mixing cement and putting bricks on top of each other. One of them was cleaning our rotten streets and I wish he would clean the consciences of our backward people too. Another was staying up late cleaning the filth we throw inside and outside our homes, out of loyalty to work and a desire to survive. This is what their poverty had pushed them to do, and encouraged them to face difficulties to achieve the meaning of humanity, the meaning of existence, the meaning for humans of having a heart which sacrifices and shares life with those you love with honour. He isn't taken in by this life in any of its changing moments, and you cannot alter his stride. We don't say here that everyone is like this, as it is natural for every rule has its exceptions. But what remains in this issue is that those poor people have taught us how humans work, how they can be loyal and not depend on others to feed him and then wait again for them to wipe his behind. And so we were proud to be likened to Indians in the past and that pride did not come to us by chance, or was formed from admiration of the excessive oil they use in their hair, and it isn't because they create a great feast from samboosa, but because they have sacrificed their lives for an honourable living. They were able to achieve the noble goal of life despite being away from the spotlight, and despite their dehumanisation at the hands of others. It is an honour for them to be the descendants of Gandhi and an honour for us that they live in our countries in peace.

...

New Year? Already???

2007-12-31T14:02:00.000+03:00

Yet another year is going away.

Into the past.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were all talking about the Year 2000??

But then, the cliche rings true. And time and tide have just followed their platitude. Seven years just rolled right past our surprised faces.

And now as we stand on the threshhold of 2008, without knowing what's in store for us, what can I wish for all of us ?

Judging from the horrible things we see, hear, and read - in Newspapers, TV, Radio and Internet - I can only feel that its appropriate to wish for PEACE.

I wish for all of us, a time of peace.

Peace in our families, among our friends, within our community, inside our country, around the world. Peace.

Salaam.....Shalom..... Shanti.....

May it be a peaceful...and.. ofcourse.... a happy new year.

God Bless us all.

The Stone

2007-12-12T23:59:00.000+03:00

This is one of my favourite poems.

It is a poem about a girl whose lover is dead. And she goes to a stone cutter asking him to cut a tombstone for her dead lover.

I read out the poem here. You can listen. Just turn on the speakers or headphones, and click on the 'play' button below. While it is playing, you can even follow the words by reading them below.

.....

THE STONE
by
Wilfred Wilson Gibson

"AND will you cut a stone for him,
To set above his head?
And will you cut a stone for him—
A stone for him?" she said.

Three days before, a splintered rock
Had struck her lover dead—
Had struck him in the quarry dead,
Where, careless of the warning call,
He loitered, while the shot was fired—
A lively stripling, brave and tall,
And sure of all his heart desired...
A flash, a shock,
A rumbling fall...
And, broken 'neath the broken rock,
A lifeless heap, with face of clay;
And still as any stone he lay,
With eyes that saw the end of all.

I went to break the news to her;
And I could hear my own heart beat
With dread of what my lips might say
But, some poor fool had sped before;
And flinging wide her father's door,
Had blurted out the news to her,
Had struck her lover dead for her,
Had struck the girl's heart dead in her,
Had struck life, lifeless, at a word,
And dropped it at her feet:
Then hurried on his witless way,
Scarce knowing she had heard.

And when I came, she stood, alone
A woman, turned to stone:
And, though no word at all she said,
I knew that all was known.

Because her heart was dead,
She did not sigh nor moan,
His mother wept:
She could not weep.
Her lover slept:
She could not sleep.
Three days, three nights,
She did not stir:
Three days, three nights,
Were one to her,
Who never closed her eyes
From sunset to sunrise,
From dawn to evenfall:
Her tearless, staring eyes,
That seeing naught, saw all.

The fourth night when I came from work,
I found her at my door.
"And will you cut a stone for him?"
She said: and spoke no more:
But followed me, as I went in,
And sank upon a chair;
And fixed her grey eyes on my face,
With still, unseeing stare.
And, as she waited patiently,
I could not bear to feel
Those still, grey eyes that followed me,
Those eyes that plucked the heart from me,
Those eyes that sucked the breath from me
And curdled the warm blood in me,
Those eyes that cut me to the bone,
And pierced my marrow like cold steel.

And so I rose, and sought a stone;
And cut it, smooth and square:
And, as I worked, she sat and watched,
Beside me, in her chair.
Night after night, by candlelight,
I cut her lover's name:
Night after night, so still and white,
And like a ghost she came;
And sat beside me in her chair;
And watched with eyes aflame.

She eyed each stroke;
And hardly stirred:
She never spoke
A single word:
And not a sound or murmur broke
The quiet, save the mallet-stroke.

With still eyes ever on my hands,
With eyes that seemed to burn my hands,
My wincing, overwearied hands,
She watched, with bloodless lips apart,
And silent, indrawn breath:
And every stroke my chisel cut,
Death cut still deeper in her heart:
The two of us were chiselling,
Together, I and death.

And when at length the job was done,
And I had laid the mallet by,
As if, at last, her peace were won,
She breathed his name; and, with a sigh,
Passed slowly through the open door:
And never crossed my threshold more.

Next night I laboured late, alone,
To cut her name upon the stone.

.....

Runway on sea?

2007-12-09T09:36:00.000+03:00

I was surprised at the stunning pictures of a runway built almost on sea!!

I received these pictures - some of which I placed below - as an an e-mail forward from my friend Mohan Gokavi, and couldn't help investigating a bit.

I now understand that this is a beautiful island called 'Madeira' that belongs to Portugal. At a 15 minute flight-distance from Lisbon, this airport has won the IABSE award for structural engineering. Click here to more about the award.

The Award recognises the most remarkable, innovative, creative or otherwise stimulating structures completed within the last few years.

Watch pictures below and enjoy. Don't miss the cars parked under the bridge!

---------------------------------------------------------
Madeira Islands

The Madeira Islands, known originally to the Romans as the Purple Islands, were found (accidentally) by the Portuguese in the 15th Century.

Positioned in the Atlantic Ocean, about 360 miles directly west of Morocco, Africa, and 540 miles southwest of Lisbon, Portugal, Madeira and Porto Santo are the only inhabited islands.

These islands are a popular year-round resort, famed worldwide for their Madeira wine, embroidery artisans, a perfect climate, striking scenery and beautiful flowers.

Don't cry for me, Argentina!

2007-11-06T15:05:00.000+03:00

Eva Peron

Don't Cry for me, Argentina.

This was the song I heard Sharon Prabhakar sing, on TV, about 15 years ago.

The then-famous Indian Pop Singer and the celebrity wife of Alyque Padamsee - who was, and perhaps still is, India's leading Advertising Guru - made this song popular in its special opera-tic rendition.

I had found out that this song was from the Broadway musical EVITA . And curiosity led me to find out more about Eva Peron (Evita), the former First Lady of Argentina, on whose life it was based.

(More recently, Evita was made into a movie too, with Madonna playing Eva Peron, and singing the same song).

But during those days, you can say, - when I was still a student at the University - I had become an amateur-expert in Argentinian politics!! Much to the surprise, and much to the irritation of my disbelieving friends.

Anyway, last week, when I read that the current First Lady Christina has been elected to become the next President, I couldn't help getting excited about my past mental association with Argentina.

And also, we know that Hillary would perhaps be another former First Lady who could be the President.

So, digging up some info, I quickly wrote this article for Gulf Daily News, (Sunday, 4-Nov '07). I wish the title was Women Power in Argentine Politics., but 'Cristina is the new Evita? was good enough :-)

Isabel Peron - Former First Lady
who became President on
husband's death.

Cristina Fernandez - Former First Lady
who became first 'elected' President
who succeeded her husband.

----------------------------------------------------
The pictures are
- Eva Peron (high above), Former First Lady - who did not become Vice President
- Isabel Peron (left), Former First lady & VP - who became President on husband's death
- Cristina Fernadez de Krichenr (right), First Lady 'elected' to take over from husband on Dec-10
----------------------------------------------------

I am also embedding below Madonna's song from Evita

Smart Child

2007-11-04T13:44:00.000+03:00

Something intersting

Microsoft and Ethics

2007-09-28T12:18:00.000+03:00

...

I feel that last week's ruling against Microsoft by EU's second highest court could be a strong blow to Microsoft.

The court upheld the European Council decision of March 2004 saying that Microsoft abused its monopoly in computer operating systems; that its anticompetitive business practices have limited consumer choice; and that remedies imposed by antitrust regulators — including the forced licensing of sensitive technical details of the Windows operating system to competitors — are appropriate.

I am placing a serious analytical link here. You can click here and read in detail if you wish.

Despite my being a Microsoft loyal for long, I must admit that I feel now that Microsoft should rethink its business strategy. It should understand why competitors are hell-bent on fighting it based on anti-trust law. And why these competitors are feeling that they are being cheated out of selling their own products. I think its time now that the people of Microsoft weigh their own actions against ethical principles.

Let’s look at it this way. We know that arguably 90% of the world's computers are now running Windows Operating Systems. But do we know whether Microsoft has achieved these astounding sales with ethical business practices?

Because today, when you buy a Microsoft Windows Operating System you get with it, a lot more. Among many other software freebies, you get the latest of Internet Explorer browser, Outlook Express e-mail ware, Windows Media Player, and the Windows Movie Maker. All bundled. And All Free. So, obviously, customers would buy it up. And the sales chart would look up.

But this has been annoying other software vendors who make browsers, media players or movie makers. And quite rightly so. After all, why should Microsoft kill these competitors’ market segments by offering products free in those segments? Isn't Microsoft exploiting its dominant market position, by these bundled offers? Isn’t Microsoft preventing other software vendors from purveying their wares?

Therefore, it was no surprise when Sun Microsystems and Real Networks decided to take on Microsoft by complaining and thereby moving the court, which after a five-year investigation, said in March 2004, 'Yes. Microsoft has abused its monopolistic position, and used anticompetitive business practices."

According to Tuesday’s Seattle Times, Microsoft had settled with Real Networks out of court two years ago for $716 million, and struck an alliance with Sun in 2004. It also has already paid and accounted for the fines.

In spite of all that, now, with this Monday’s upholding of that 2004-decision by The European Court of First Instance, it could be very heavy on Microsoft. It now faces a $613 million penalty, the commission's largest, equal to about 3.3 percent of Microsoft's operating income in its past fiscal year.

However, Microsoft can still appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Communities, the highest court in Europe, and continue the battle, but will it do a lot of good to its image? That is the question.

There may be some who say what’s wrong with Microsoft’s way. It didn’t steal. It didn’t spy. It just gave its own products free. And some may even quote “All is fair in love and war”. But this is Business. And when Business does not seem fair, there is always competition that will fight for it, and the government that will insist on it.

Business Ethics is not an oxymoron. Anymore. Atleast not in these days.

.....................

Ramadan Mubarak

2007-09-13T09:28:00.000+03:00

...

Ramadan Mubarak to all my muslim friends!

And here's some Ramadan Information for all my non-muslim friends.

Today is the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and yesterday was the end of the month of Shaban, in the Islamic Calender.

And among the many things that awe me in Islam is this 'Holy Month of Ramadan' that begins today; a month of fasting for muslims all over the world. People fast from sunrise to sundown, abstaining from food, drink, smoke, entertainment and even sexual relations with their spouses.

Many attempt to spend time tuning up their spiritual lives. I had a colleague who actually completed reading the book of Quran during Ramadan last year. She had said that that was her target and went on to do it. Many still do.

That is why Ramadan month is often termed as a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control.

Special service in the form of the distribution of food and clothing for the needy, is also undertaken by many muslims or muslim charity organizations.

Fasting during this month is actually the third of the five pillars - or religious obligations - of Islam. For those who wish to know the five, they are:

IMAN - Faith or belief that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet

SALAH - Prayer five times a day (Mosques call for prayer (or Adan) at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall. Listen to some Azzans/Adhans here ).

ZAKAH - Giving to the poor from what God gave. [All wealth is God-given, and individuals are merely trustees. Zakah actually means 'purification' or 'growth' and one can be purified by setting aside some of their wealth for those who need].

SAWM - Fasting in the month of Ramadan. ROZA is another word for the same.

HAJJ - Piligrimage to Makkah (in Saudi Arabia) by those who are able to physically and Financially do so. [I remember a muslim friend who came and returned some money he owed me - the day before he left for Hajj - saying, 'I want to go for Hajj with a clear conscience and I can't do so without settling this'.]

Bahrain, despite its cosmopolitan nature, is still proudly Islamic. And during daytime in this month, eating, drinking or smoking in public is not allowed. Cafes, restaurants and other eating places are closed. Public - muslim or non-muslim - will not be seen eating anywhere. People dress modestly, and no blaring music is heard from cars. All Discos, Bars and Night Clubs cease their activities.

But ofcourse, like the world over, the elders complain that the younger men and women are not observing Ramadan in its true spirit, with devotion. They say that during Ramadan nights, they infact eat more than they eat during normal days. And they stay up late nights, as most schools, universities and offices work for less time during this month.

One muslim friend joked saying that some young people look forward to Ramadan-Month not because its a time of fasting but because its a time of feasting!

But all said and done, having seen the months of Ramadan, living in Bahrain, for eight years now, I can only say that the fervour and the devotion with which it is observed is remarkable. To abstain from drinking even water during the "Hot Arabian months" is not easy. Its an amazing test for self-control. I tried and fasted a couple of days during some Ramadan months, and I must say its tough!!

Most importantly, the devotion, the charity, the seriousness and other aspects of life of the muslim brethern is simply admirable.

With each passing Ramadan, my respect for my muslim friends just keeps growing.

Ramadan Kareem.

......

On Leave

2007-08-10T15:12:00.000+03:00

Dear all,

The blog will become active again, after Sep 5, 2007.

The blogger is on leave now and regrets the inconvience you had of coming to this site and then finding out that things are just the same.

But Thank you for visiting. Please visit again.

The Amazing Apple iPhone

2007-06-30T09:58:00.000+03:00

Wow!! I watched the demo video of Apple's new release yesterday, The "iPhone". And I am floored! Using the wowsome Indian word, I must say I am completely Fidaa over it. (You can see a video I've embedded below this write up)

Apple never ceases to amaze me! The people at Apple are so so advanced in their concepts and designs - whether it was their macintosh computer or the macintosh operating system and whether it is their iMac or their iPod.

The rest of the computer companies complacently think they themselves are advanced but with this release, Apple tells the world again that Apple is miles ahead!

So..with iPhone you can forget about dailing numbers, or holding a stylo to carefully click on the numbers with it. You can simply tap, push, drag your fingers on the large touchscreen. To call people, merge calls, listen to music, send and receive pictures, check you e-mail, browse the internet, by minimum exertion of energy even with your fingertip, and the maximum benefit of options in terms of value.

The Price??? 499 Dollars in the USA! (Less than BD 200!!)

But I don't know how soon it will be available here in Bahrain.

Below is the video from youtube

I've put together a few links below, you might like to visit

iPhone News on Information Week

iPhone News on Hindustan Times

iPhone Review on sfgate

iPhone review on CNET

iPhone on Engadget

iPhone on Wikipedia

...

Shrek the Third - Delightful or Dull?

2007-06-26T03:02:00.000+03:00

Just came home after watching the movie, 'Shrek the Third' along with my kids and my friend's kid, at the Seef Megaplex.

I had earlier enjoyed watching 'Shrek' and 'Shrek 2' - well, you'd be watching these type of movies too, if you have kids in the age-groups as those of mine - but somehow I feel that this part is not as good as the first and second.

It was delightful in a way, with all the fairy tale characters together - from Cinderella to Gingerbread Man, from Pinocchio to Rumpelstiltskin. But somehow, I felt the focus shifted away a bit from the antics of the Donkey or Puss in Boots - who I think are the life-blood of the Shrek series. And Shrek and Princess Fiona too get less screen-time. Well, even though my favourite character from this edition is Merlin the wizard, [despite his brief presence...oh..by the way he is dressed briefly too!], the overall impact of the movie wasn't as high as I anticipated.

But then, its also possible because the media raises our expectations, with all that marketing imagery. But seeing the repetition of scenes and locales, again and again, can slowly bore you in sequels. See how you feel your interest waning as you watch The Matrix and then The Matrix Reloaded and then the Matrix Revolutions? Or Jaws series or Scream series. Even Superman and The Lord of the Rings and the Pirates of the Caribbean can make you lose that wonderful first love for the first film.

I know there will be some who'd say, this is rubbish. And even point a case that the Lord of the Rings' third part actually won 11 Oscars. But I still feel that winning academy awards gives no evidence or proof that the enjoyment is same, or more than, when watching the first one that preceded the sequels.

So, here's my Law. Joel's Law of Movie Sequels. "In movie sequels, all things being constant - such as characters, dialogues and music - the degree of excitement one perceives watching a sequel is inversely proportional to the number of the sequel!"

Hee hee. My own postulate. A Royalty-free quote. But please give my reference, every time you use it.

Uh ho..... . I must run away now. I'll continue this later.

So, watch this space.

A slip that is showing!

2007-06-21T00:31:00.000+03:00

This is one amazing girl I found on youtube. Simply amazing! I am sure she'll go far, and make waves. More than what she had already made by her talent.

She writes her own scripts, gets her folks to help her shoot herself. She can play music, sing, talk, act, direct, shoot, edit, dub and do a host of other things and is a delight to watch.

Click below and listen to her song '7.7.7'. About youtube gathering on 07.07.07

For those who are wondering why she called her VLog (Video blog) as "Happy Slip", listen to its hillarious origin and her story in her own words, below.

Here's her one song I loved about her Big Mac. Not the one you get at Mc Donald's. But the one you use to type out your e-mails. She sings it to the tune of James Blunt's song, You are beautiful.

Have fun listening to her. I have seen many of her videos. Though not all. But apparently she is becoming a great star. Making up her own soap operas on her you-tube channel which people are subscribing to from Manila to Malibu.

>>>>

Rajnikanth's Razzle-Dazzle

2007-06-17T10:57:00.000+03:00

No Indian movie was ever released with as much fanfare - and watched with as much frenzy - as this one, in Bahrain. (check this news)

Two friends excitedly called me on Friday asking if I wish to watch Shivaji, the new Rajnikanth movie with them. They said, in particular, that I must consider it a special honour. Because they bought the tickets at a much higher price than that from the ticket counter - in black, as it is termed - and with great difficulty.

Three other friends asked if I had the tickets to the movie. Or at least tell us, they said, if you know some way of getting them. When I said No, they stiffly, chided me. Their argument? Not making an attempt to buy tickets for this movie that's making waves the world over, is tantamount to insanity.

Most interestingly however, none of them is a Tamil-speaking person! And the movie is in Tamil!

I pointed that out, and expressed my doubts about their viewing comprehension. But they said that language simply doesn't matter as long as they can feast their eyes on the stylish antics of the icon, the legend, and the reigning czar of Tamil cinema, the south Indian superstar, Rajnikanth.

Apart from his acting in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies for which he is renowned for, Rajnikanth had also done some Bollywood blockbusters in Hindi such as 'Andhaa Kanoon' and 'Chaalbaaz'. They had brought him good fame. But he chose and stuck to the south Indian cinema, particularly Tamil, where he is now a demigod.

Not many people know that his mother tongue is actually Marathi, but he didn't do any Marathi film. Named as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, when born, he grew up to do all sorts of odd jobs before starting his career in the film industry including that of a bus-conductor in Bangalore.

But from a bus conductor to a stage-player, to a cinema villain, to an anti-hero, to a super hero, he's certainly taken the road less travelled. And travelled quiet far. Now, raking millions of dollars from around the globe, and having a fan-following that almost treats him like god.

I remember my journey into the interior of Tamil Nadu, ten years ago, when in my earlier job as a marketing guy, I had to visit places like Chennai, Erode, Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pondicherry. I was surprised to see Rajnikanth's face peering at me from various angles from various places. In his trade-mark sunglasses, and with his thick crop of dense dark hair, his face was ubiquitous. It was everywhere. On the glass panes of hair cutting saloons, on the back sides of the passing trucks, on the rear glasses of taxis and auto-rickshaws, on the side-walls of supermarkets and on the sides of the city-buses. Everywhere.

It was because the then hero-hungry masses were agreeably sated by the arrival of this man on the silver screen, who played their hero - yes, their hero - in scores of films. This angry young man's irreverent fights against exploiting employers, his courageous conniving against manipulating zamindars, and his witty scathing dialogues uttered to hit their heart, have all spawned a new generation who swore allegiance to the new style icon.

Joyous whistles, claps and hoots rise up from the front-benches to reverberate in theatres every time he employs a style unique only to him. He can kick the villain's goons, rising high up into the air, defying all Newtonian laws of gravity. He can smash things with an incredible swish-swashing of arms and legs. He can suddenly twist his neck to throw his ruffled hair, back into place, to quick swooshing music. He can, like in fits and starts, stylishly place his sunglasses on his nose twisting his hands and wrists at unbelievable angles. He can hit his one elbow with the other hand, ejecting from fingers, a live cigarette, which makes a couple of summersaults in the air before his mouth deftly catches it, by the right end. Yes. Endearing feats for fantasy-yearning fans.

Recently, his Telugu movie, 'Peddarayudu' (remake of Tamil hit 'Nattammai') had broken several records. His 'Muthu' and its songs became a rage in Japan and, 'Padayappa' also ran to packed houses in the UK and USA. Now his latest release, 'Shivaji', is running to packed houses, across the globe, wherever it is released.

The cinemas are packed and the shows are booked. But is it caused by genuine anticipation for a star-movie, or is it just a marketing stunt and media-generated frenzy? Maybe yes. Maybe No. But what is sure is that Rajnikanth is obviously still cruising on the crest, drawing multitudes to his movies. And for a star-size that is larger-than-life, reviews just don't matter. Hit Happens.

.....

A 'Moving' Experience!

2007-05-29T13:12:00.000+03:00

"Oh...God. Where's that book?"

Daddyyyyy.... I can't find my red slippers"

The remote? Oh...I kept it in the same box as the DVD... Now! Where's that blasted box?".

I'm getting late... I'm getting late... In which box did I keep the combs?"

The above are some 'sample phrases' being bounced off, and on, the walls of our new home, these days.

Moving is one helluva job. Since the time we decided to shift houses, its been one big traumatic experience till now. Throwing away unnecessary things. Arguing and debating on what to keep and what to throw. Crazy sentiments versus clear logic. Hoarding rubbish against disposing valuables. Or the reverse. Sorting stuff and arranging things in different places, readying our belongings for the packers and movers.

And then they came. Actually, they descended on us. A small army of packers. Their sole aim was to grab everything in sight, wrap it up in paper, and shove it into the cartons. You pay - we pack. No talk - just watch. That seemed like their motto... or perhaps their type of a mission statement.

"Heyyyyyy, that's a very expensive glass vase... you could break it." A look of shock on my wife's face. "Don't worry Ma'am. We've been doing this for years" A throw of skill with the glass-vase. Which his colleague deftly catches and wraps it into bubble-wrap-paper and pushes it into another carton.

A display of apathy. At its best. They seem completely immune to any feelings for our thumping hearts or our lumping throats . They do not wait for us to arrange stuff. They do not wait for more discussions on whats to be left or taken. Their simple saying is "You tell us what goes where. And we'll just put it there".

Within hours, our flat is stripped bare. From our wardrobes, even the clothes with hangers are lifted straight off from their iron-rods... and taken into the van outside. They are then neatly hung to the iron rods affixed to the ceiling in the interior of the huge vehicle.

Very soon, the journey to the new place begins. And away went the movers' van - well-laden with loads of clothes, utensils, crockery, photo-frames, paintings, vases, books, jars, tins, shelves, pillows, shoes, cameras, TV, etc. etc. and more etc. and much more etc.

We lock up the old house, run to our car, and drive to the new place. Through the Bahrain's now-bothersome traffic, through the heat and dust outside, through lines of bumper-to-bumper cars, through the the angry afternoon sun, we move slowly to finally, finally reach the new place.

Lo and Behold! Our more-than-efficient troupe of movers-and-packers are already there! Waiting at the gate of the new place, ready to unload.

The workers seem blessed with boundless enthusiasm. What's their job again? To lift heavy weights, of cartons, suitcases, and furniture again, off from the van into the new place. And they do it with such speed and agility that we are dumbfounded.

Now, their large moving van was stripped bare of all those boxes and other belongings. And soon our new place was filled with those cardboard boxes and other belongings.

The skilled army of packers-and-movers were then quickly off to another house! They seem to be a tearing hurry. Not even completing consumption of offered sandwiches and orange juice. And off they went. Probably to shock yet another frustrated family, with their prowess.

But our ever-faithful, men-friday, Reddy and Rangaiah, helped us with the rest, in the new house.

Its over a week since we moved. But nothing seems to be in its place. It'll take a while to adjust and reorient ourselves to the new directions and the new locations of the old things.

From sugar-tins to shoe-polish and from screw-driver to stereo-adapter, its one big search after another.

"Daddyyyyyyyy..... where's that book of Fairy Tales?? You said you'd kept it in my box with my name on it....but ..its not here!...... I want to show it to my new neighbour, Shaima."

Well, Sorry folks......Bye for now.... I must go and find that book for her.

...

Me, My Wife, and Batelco - A Love Triangle?

2007-05-06T13:38:00.000+03:00

Wow! Batelco announced its 1st Quarter profits, last week, of nearly 25 million!

And did you all know that I contributed to those profits??

My calls inland, my calls abroad, my software downloads, my children's game downloads, my wife's purchase of sim-sim cards, her calls to her friends, her calls to near-relatives (who stay far-away), her SMS-es to game shows, calls to 900 numbers, my MMS attempts......

So, excuse me, Batelco. Don't you think I deserve at least a 'Thank You' note?

But instead of a 'Thank You' note, what do I get yesterday?

A Red Bill. By post.

And also a SWEET Voice. On phone. "Azeezi izaboon.... Dear customer, your telephone bill is over due.....please pay the bill immediately to avoid disconnection."

And also an ANGRY Voice (of my wife), "If you don't pay it today, they may disconnect the phone. And then, how can I show my face to my friends who call??"

"Just a minute," I said. "How can you show your face on telephone......I thought you make your friends hear your voice... right?

No. She didn't like the joke. In fact, that made her furious.

"Stop being childish! The last time, you had promised you'll pay online, and still waited until they almost disconnected."

"But didn't I pay it, even if late, and stop the disconnection?"

"Oh yeah?? You did. But that was only because you were worried about losing the Internet connection, and that precious time you spend on your stupid computer."

"Oh yeah? And it doesn't matter to you? You can't be grateful a bit? That I was able to let you show your face... ..er... make your friends hear your voice??"

"I am in no mood to appreciate your silly talk."

"I am just asking you to appreciate my paying telephone bills. Even, if late."

"Why? You think I forgot that time when they actually disconnected?! And how you ran helter-skelter to get it reconnected again?"

"But, I got it done. On the same day!"

"Yes. But what about the additional 'reconnection' charges to Batelco?"

"But dear, look at the result…"

"Now, listen. If that's what you think, go ahead. Let the phone be disconnected if you wish. I can always talk to my friends on my mobile phone. And anyway, I want to see how long you can live without the internet connection."

"Hmmmm....."

"What happened...... cat got your tongue?"

"You know, dear.... We must really upgrade to a bigger broadband connection. You can speak for hours with anyone around the world. What is more, I already explained and showed you. You can really, actually, show your face to friends - on webcam, by using an instant messenger ....without paying anything."

That got her attention.

"Without paying anything?"

"Yes."

"Impossible! You must be paying for something!"

"Well, not for telephone calls."

"Then?"

"For Internet usage, on broad band, based on the data bits we send and receive."

"So, simply speaking, the more you use it, the more you pay?"

"Well..umm…yes."

"No. Thanks!"

See, folks? Its so sad. There are still some people who do not wish to contribute to Batelco's profits, and this country's economy.

.....
....

Love Stories in Songs - Part 3

2007-04-29T15:04:00.000+03:00

(5) Unanswered Prayers

This is a strange, unusual, love song by Garth Brooks. A love song for "the wife." A chance meeting with an old flame, makes the singer take a nostalgic trip down memory lane. He remembers the many times when he'd prayed to God, to get that girl. But now, he thanks God for "unanswered payers"!! Listen to the lyrics (you can also find them by clicking here), watch the video below and enjoy.

Just the other night, at the home-town football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame.....

Here, Garth Brooks is seen singing, at a open concert, in New York. So I wonder if you can hear the words clearly. But its worth listening to his clear version.

....

Love Stories in Songs - Part 2

2007-04-25T11:59:00.000+03:00

I am trying to put two more songs here following my earlier post.

I am just amazed and thrilled to find that most of my favourite songs are already on "you tube" in some form or other. It makes me happy that there are many others with similar likes.

Anyway here's song No. 3. You can see it below

(3) Goodness Gracious Me.

This song was originally, actually, sung by actors Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren themselves!! And not by any playback singers. Peter Sellers acts like an Indian Doctor based in London, and his accent is hillariously Indian!! In the movie 'The Millionairess" he is a simple doctor who spurns the advances of an italian beauty even though she is a heiress to a fortune, and very keen on him.

I heard this song many years ago, read the singers' names and movie's name; but was unable to find this movie to watch, until I came to Bahrain where in one DVD/Video shop - four years ago -I saw this title. Well, I borrowed and enjoyed the movie, but was shocked and disappointed that the song did not figure in it, at all!!

Apparently, this was a song that they both did as a 'promo' for the movie, and no original video is available by both of them, anywhere. :-( Let me know if any of you know more about this.

Anyway, an enterprising couple decided to mime to the song, and placed it on 'you tube'. I am placing it here, for you. They did a fantastic job here......though I just wish the doc was an Indian.

Listen to the very funny lyrics, and the perfect Indian accent of Peter Sellers. You'll enjoy it.

(4) Angelo

This is a song I used to listen to, on radio, when I was very very young [All India Radio, Hyderabad used to broadcast 1-hour of english programmes daily, which I used to eagerly look forward to]. It may have been the time when I was in High School. It is sung by Brotherhood of Man, a group that was very popular for nice romantic numbers and some peace-on-the-world types. This one is a regular love-story. Poor boy falling in love with a rich girl. Listen to the lyrics (you can also find them clicking here), watch the video below and enjoy.

........

Love Stories in Songs - Part 1

2007-04-24T07:48:00.000+03:00

...
There are a few love songs, with stories in them, that can move us a lot. Here are FIVE songs of this type, that I like most. Though not necessarily in the same order. (I know some of you might call me a sentimental fool after seeing & listening to these. But do I care?? :-p )

(1) Tie a yellow ribbon round the 'ole oak tree.

Sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn, in 1973, its a story of a released prisoner going in a bus, singing this song, for the passengers and the bus driver, hoping to see a yellow ribbon tied around the 'ole oak tree. He is desperately hoping and expecting his lady love to still like him after three years in prison. He had written a letter asking her to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree, if she still wants him. And is willing to go away from her life, if he doesn't see that yellow ribbon. For Lyrics, click here

(2) Coat of many colours

Its the love story of a mom and daughter. This Dolly Parton song was one of those few songs that actually moved me to tears. Many years ago, when I was living alone, this song made me think of the sacrifices that my parents had made for us. It is the story of a girl who, when she was young, had no proper clothes to wear. But her mama made her a coat of rags sewn together, which the girl proudly wore.

Lyrics can be found if you click here. Though this is a recent stage performance of Shania Twain - with the original Dolly Parton - the audio is not that clear. You should listen to the clear Dolly Parton number. Watch out for a glimpse of Oprah Winfrey in the audience at the end of the song!

.....to be continued

The other three songs I promised, will be coming soon in another post as "Part 2" and "Part 3".

......

Radio Ride

2007-04-05T11:36:00.000+03:00

....

She's sun and rain, she's fire and ice
A little crazy, but it's nice....
She's every woman that I've ever known.

Listening to these words, as I drove to work this morning, gave me a nice warm feeling. Strains of melody from the vocal chords of Garth Brooks, have always given me such feeling. In fact, good old country music always does that to me.

This morning, at the Isa Town Roundabout, when I was impatiently waiting for the cars in front, to get out of the way, it was this country music that was calmly soothing my nerves!

You might ask, Country music? That slow old-fashioned music?? I know I know. There are those who think I am very old ( well..ummm, probably I am. Because its not chic and sound-of-music-ish to sing 'I am 37 ... going on 38'... at my age).

But the truth is, I hate 'heavy metal' and 'acid-rock', and wonder where on earth 'techno' has come from. And what the hell 'hip-hop' or 'funky' is...... I get even more bugged when those in the age-range of I am sixteen, going on seventeen, start discussing the differences of terms like 'R&B' and 'Blues' and 'smooth jazz', as old fashioned. Well, if people can let aside their tastes, and give me just country music anytime, I would be content.

In fact, listening to music while I drive to my place of work each morning is now a rejuvenating experience. Praise songs, that warm your heart on sunny pleasant mornings, and these country music songs that relax your mind in the rush-hour traffic, are a great cure for a stressful mind.

My glove compartment (glove? I don't know if its the right usage in Bahrain) has got a good collection soft soothing music to beat the 'Oh-my-God-I-am-late-what-do-I-do-now' moods.

Music really is the saving grace when up-front, the cars are not moving and the friendly policeman at the roundabout is beckoning the drivers to go past, and go fast, waving his arm at high speed - sometimes I really worry that his arms could come off at the hinges.... er.... joints - but meanwhile he is heartlessly halting and completely ignoring my lane, and line, of cars.

Switiching to radio - I go to 96.5 FM, and hear Krazy Kevin's screams, squeals and guffaws, and some coffee talk, and flick to another channel, 104.2 FM, (Voice FM, the new Indian radio channel from Bahrain with its pot-pourii of languages), where Juhi-ji is talking to some Ahmed who has SMSed her a long poem which she is faithfully reading - khaas-doston-key-liye-ek-khoobsurat-kavitha - in her special soulful voice.

She asked a question and wanted the listeners to SMS their answer. I almost did that, forgetting the recent law in Bahrain! That drivers should not use headset-less phones while driving!! Luckily for me, I didn't. Because our friendly neghbourhood policeman had finally relented. And with a grim face, a generous nod of head, a quick wave of hand, he indicated that our line of cars can now safely enter the roundabout, and move on. He immediately and majestically motioned to the otherside to come no further, while our relieved train of cars slid forward on road.

Oh, the power the traffic policeman weilds !!! [it reminds me of the question my little daughter asked "who is the strongest man in the world?", and when I feigned ignorance, she answered that it was "a 'traffic policeman' because he can stop many cars and even buses with just one hand!!"].

While the Voice FM's hindi song, regales my mind, I move on, only to soon see before me yet another line of cars, at next intersection - the A'Ali (Traffic Directorate) roundabout - and wait again. I was glad, however, because this will be the last traffic intersection, before I reach my place of work.

After the song on the radio, Juhi-ji, came online. She began talking to a cricket expert, who is refusing to accept the term 'expert', but waxing eloquent on Bangladesh's excellent performance in worldcup. Shutting them off mid-way, I flicked to 101.4 FM and heard - for the umpteenth time - Natalie Cole's song 'Unforgettable' which she sang with her late father Nat King Cole (the song had won a grammy for Sound engineering).

Just when I thought I'll get delayed even more, traffic moved on. And I moved on to tape from radio... and Garth Brooks came to his ending, as I too ended my ride, and parked my car to get into our building..

She's anything, but typical
She's so unpredictable
Oh but even at her worst she ain't that bad
She's as real as real can be
She's everywoman
....

Business Ethics or Balderdash?

2007-03-29T13:56:00.000+03:00

....

Business Ethics. Is it an oxymoron? Is it a myth?

Some might still argue that there is no such thing as Business Ethics. But today, ethical considerations cannot be taken for granted, by any sensible or responsible organization.

This 'Ethics' issue comes to forefront once again with last week's news of Christophe de Margerie, the CEO of the French Oil and Gas giant, 'Total', being put under judicial investigation for alleged financial misconduct. He is being questioned on claims that kickbacks were paid to win a contract with the Iranian government to operate the South Pars gas project.

Total insists that they acted in full compliance of the local laws and that there was no violation of its code of ethics. But, only time will tell if the claims against Total are 'total'ly baseless.

Corruption in high places has always been good feed to the media, quite obviously for the readership, viewership and listenership it generates. But whatever the hype, the real question is whether companies can ever be fully ethical? If not, how far can they be ethical in their dealings?

If we quickly revisit some recent financial scandals in business, they are all true stories of leaders condoning negligence, consenting to falsification, and still complacent in optimism.

Heads of companies were thinking they can misrepresent facts, and remain silent for just a little while more. But the noise of crashes these companies made, as they came down, must be ringing loud in the ears of their former bosses and employees.

In 2002, it was the Enron issue - one of the biggest bankruptcies in US history - where thousands became jobless overnight. Lavish unchecked expenditure, misrepresentation of accounts, refusal to allow employees to sell their company stock, have all snowballed into a horrible mess from which Enron was unable to untangle itself. Employees were made to believe that everything was hunky-dory until suddenly, the brutal truth of enormous bills, hit them all. And the panic-stricken investors, withdrew the support and the whole thing quickly collapsed. And it was sad to see the way the company crumbled.

Arthur Anderson, Enron's auditing firm – which until then was renowned as among the world's 'Big Five' auditing firms - had to also swiftly bite the dust. Because, withholding crucial information from employees or investors, and shredding incriminating evidence is not easily taken by courts. And in its wake came the WorldCom collapse, which had beaten Enron to become an even bigger US bankruptcy case. Reason? Once again, misrepresentation of finances!

Despite the great reputation she built for herself, Martha Stewart was jailed for five months, for selling stock, on the basis of insider information. The information she apparently got from the former head of ImClone, Dr.Waksal, had proved very costly for her, and she now struggles rebuilding her own organization. And meanwhile, Dr Waksal himself is serving a 7-year jail sentence for securities fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and perjury.

But why do people fall from grace? Is it because they are unaware of legal controls? Or is it because they are confident their actions justify ethical values? Whatever it is, one can easily infer that if we make mechanisms that challenge the 'get-rich-quick' guy, he will surely find a way to beat it. There would always be these Nick Leesons and Harshad Mehtas who will find ways and means to hoodwink the world with brilliant plans.

Its not just financial control mechanisms, and impregnable banking systems, but the individual attitudes of honesty, openness and transparency that actually yield ethical behaviour. Its not the decades of reputation that a company has garnered, but the moral values of its current members, that will dictate its decision making policies.

Morally upright actions would result only from a societal upbringing that respects honesty and rewards integrity. If the values of integrity and goodness are taught in a way that individuals are not swayed by greed or temptation or even lack of courage, then the organizations will have better workforce. Better staff would mean better organizations, and thereby a better world.

Yes. 'Corporate Governance' will be a wonderful reality only when individuals, who make up the corporate, are governing their conscience.

.....

Grand Canyon Skywalk

2007-03-24T13:11:00.000+03:00

All of us, I am sure, can never cease to be amazed at what collective human endeavour can produce.

Whether it is a complex symphony, or an engineering marvel. Whether it is a key hole surgery, or an open-source operating system.

I am writing this after hearing, and reading, about the opening of the Grand Canyon's new Horse Shoe structure, made for visitors to this marvelous place in the Arizona State of United States.

Engineers, we are told, have drilled holes into the Canyon's rocky body to support this structure that protrudes 20 metres into open air. And this very-heavy, firmly-entrenched structure, has glass floor for people to look down at the canyon's deep deep ravine. And down below, the Colorado river flows. Wow! Just thinking about it can make one dizzy.

The Grand Canyon is supposed to be very deep — in places over a mile (1600 m) deep - and 277 mile (446 km) long, and is cut in the Colorado Plateau. The canyon is still owned by the Red Indians, of the Hualapai tribes.[For comparision, (for my indian friends) the length of 446 km metres would be more or less the distance between Hyderabad and Nagpur. (For those outside), it is the distance between London and Paris, and a bit more].

The sky walk can withstand the weight equivavlent to 71 fully-loaded boeing 747 planes!! Can sustain winds of over 100 miles an hour! From eight different directions!! And even a 8.0 earthquake within 50 miles!!! WOW!!.

Yes, the adage rings true. "whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve"!

Check it out at http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/

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