tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352215312024-03-13T01:17:50.538-05:00Miniscule matters around meLot of things seem to be happening around me, both good and bad. I feel I am not doing anything to condemn the bad nor to appreciate the good. This blog is going to be my thoughts about good and bad things I see!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-71456693099326036462009-10-27T13:26:00.002-05:002009-10-27T14:10:39.039-05:00Are we over-emphasizing English in India?Two 3rd grade students were <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/students-speak-telugu-punished-in-english-school/104063-3.html?from=tn">humiliated</a> by their teachers for speaking in their mother tongue, in a school in Andhra Pradesh, India. They were asked to go around the school, with slates hung from their neck! The slates said "I will never speak Telugu". Their moms found this during lunch time!<br /><br />Can these school teachers be any more stupid?<br /><br />Already there is a movement in India, saying we should use 'mother tongue' for anything and everything! These overly enthusiastic and stupid teachers are giving fodder to this movement!<br /><br />Apart from these political reasons, do they ever think of the psychological impact on these kids? What would those moms have felt when they saw their kids like that? <br />Will these kids ever like to speak in their mother tongue?<br /><br />I hope the government gives suitable punishment to these teachers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-88596275436294997832009-10-21T14:37:00.002-05:002009-10-21T15:03:16.289-05:00Wellfargo - your Rewards programme is irritating!Dear Wellsfargo,<br /> You have an amazing Rewards programme for your credit card holders. 1c for every 1$ I spend. Amazing! Who doesn't want free dollars?<br /> I signed up. Here I am, ready to redeem my points!<br /> Now I am not able to register to the Rewards website!<br /> Then, I called customer service.<br /> The automatic menu asked for my card number and SSN. After typing my SSN four times, it gave up and transferred me to the First Representative.<br /> First representative asks for my card number, name (thank god! He didn't ask me to spell it!) , address, and phone number. After hearing all these he says you would have logged in to the Business Rewards website. I may be dumb, but not that much! Still I reopen the Individual website again. Try to register my rewards account. Same error! This guy has no clue. He keeps on saying that could be the only problem! I say "I have tried it four times. I am not able to register. What do I do now?"<br /> Then this representative realizes and says "I can transfer you to our Customer Service". Who was I talking to then?<br /><br /> Fun part again. The phone menu asks for my Card number and SSN. After typing my SSN four times, it gave up and transferred me to the Second Representative. By now I realised my SSN is not in the system. But why? How did I get a credit card without SSN?<br /> The second representative asks me all the standard questions - Name, address, phone number, birth date, Card Expiration Date, Card Security Code and my mother's maiden name. Thank God, she didn't ask me to spell my name! I told her my SSN is not recognized. She agrees! Moment of Truth!!!!!!!!! She says "SSN is not required for Secure Card!"<br /> You said it correctly M'm! Then, why is my rewards programme alone asking for SSN? If my SSN is necessary for Rewards programme, why didn't you ask for my SSN while registering for Rewards programme?<br /> Now she gets my SSN and enters it into their system. She says "Now you will be able to login. Is there anything else I can do for you today?" I tamely say "No thanks!"<br /><br /> Fun again! I try to register now. Same error! Normally, I would have given up! But it is a matter of money. I called up the customer service again. Phone Menu, Card number and SSN! After entering SSN for 4 times, I get to the Third Representative.<br /> Name, Address, phone number, etc.<br /> He says I don't know what the problem is. I told him my SSN was entered just now. He kept me on hold for 5 minutes to talk to his customer service I believe. He came back and said "It will take 24-48 hours for SSN to be entered into the system!" Wowwwwwww! Why didn't the previous representative say that? Why did she say that I can register immediately?<br /><br /> Now I am fed up! I am not even 1% sure that it will work after 24-48 hours! I told him to redeem the points over the phone itself. Again a wait time - It will take 5 - 7 business days to redeem the points!<br /><br /> So, I will have to wait till two weeks to see cash in my account!<br /><br /> I have spent 45 minutes over the phone with these guys! And another 15 minutes to vent my frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /> Amazing Rewards programme! Amazing Customer Service Wells Fargo!<br /><br /> Wow! Wells Fargo, why don't you have such 'informed' customer service in your other departments? Wow again!! You rock! (I wouldn't want to use the word 'suck' in my blog!).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-73058468477654842702009-10-09T07:58:00.002-05:002009-10-09T08:03:21.592-05:00Wow Mr. Obama!Huh! Another suspense of the year is over!<br />Mr. Obama has been awarded 2009's Nobel Peach Prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."<br />Mr. Obama took over on January 20th. The deadline for nominations was February 1st.<br />Congratulations Mr. Obama!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-57725612439128145532009-05-07T23:41:00.003-05:002009-05-08T00:25:32.078-05:00Bangalore or Buffalo?????Mr. Obama played a great marketing jingle for Bangalore!! Wow!! Should I say thanks???? Should the commerce minister and tourism minister send a big letter of thanks to Mr. Obama?<br />Well, let's see!!<br /><br />Till 15 years back, Bangalore was this sleepy little town occupied by Defence people, Retired government employees and of course the business men. What a beautiful city with amazing parks, amazing weather and of course amazing people! I loved the people of Bangalore - very laid back and very helpful.<br /><br />In my opinion, Bangalore never had the infrastructure to accommodate such exponential growth of business and population. Probably, it will never have! Still Bangalore alone had an export of USD 42 billion last year!!<br /><br />Well, it all started small. It all started with just Y2K and testing work. US businesses came looking for a population who can speak good English and who had good IT skills. Wasn't Bangalore good then?<br /><br />But, the Indian government, the businesses and of course the people never stopped with the meagre work they got. They worked so hard to grow. Today, major products are released out of Bangalore. Intel designs microprocessors in Bangalore. Google has one of its biggest research centers in Bangalore.<br /><br />It's not that Bangalore is the ideal business location. IMHO, Bangalore would rate as the worst business location, if not for the people! It has its own limitations<br /> - lack of infrastructure<br /> - government (yes it is, the government can never be so unhelpful to business)<br /> - Politicians<br />If Bangalore with so much of its limitations can grow, any other city in the world can!<br /><br />Buffalo??? What an ideal location! It's just 375 miles from where the money is - New York!! It's around this place we have the best of technical schools. Of course, Buffalo would be a great place for another Silicon city in USA.<br /><br />But, why should Buffalo be a competition to Bangalore? IT market is never going to shrink! Are we going to stop using computers? Are companies going to throw away their computers and do their business using paper and pen? <br /><br />When the economy gets back up, IT market is going to expand. IT industry <span style="font-weight: bold;">has to</span> grow and <span style="font-weight: bold;">it will</span>! There will be opportunities for every city, every country and every region!!<br /><br />If we take out the business away from Bangalore now due to the recession, what will the world do when they need more IT services, when they need more software engineers? Are we going to lose the intellect we have gained over the last 15 years?<br /><br />Or, have we lost hope that Economy would come back up?<br /><br />I hope good sense prevails. I hope American businesses ( and should I say American government?) do not make hasty decisions, thinking of short term gains.<br /><br />Bangalore and Buffalo need not be competitors! They can both <span style="font-weight: bold;">coexist</span>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-38284204070898936232009-02-26T10:33:00.003-06:002009-02-26T11:27:37.220-06:00No idea what I am writingFor more than 6 months, I didn't write anything on this blog. I had a lot to discuss on: Recession in USA, Economic difficulties in India, Lay-offs, 26/11, By-election in TN, Satyam Scam, Moral policing in Mangalore, Pink Chuddi gifts on V-day, and so on.<br /><br />But, what will I write new? All these things have been beaten to death and I feel like there is nothing good happening in this world!<br /><br />One thing, I awed about was the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presidential elections in USA</span> and the way the elections were conducted meticulously. No Loud-speakers, no posters, no cut-outs! Even on the election day, there wasn't anything to suggest so! One thing I was surprised about was, it was a working day! People still voted in large numbers.<br /><br />But, I still don't understand what's the big deal about first African-American President! On top of it, even Indians were so excited about it! It was broadcast live all over the world, as if Obama is going to Preside over the whole world. Whoever becomes the US President, nothing is going to change<br />- the 500 rupees you pay (under the table) for getting your driving license.<br />- the roads that are built one day before the rains, and end up with the same old pot holes making us think why they laid the road again<br />- the politicians who think about the voting mass, only once in 5 years<br />- the government which just exists<br />- the daily struggle of the mass (i.e. you and me)<br />Then, why this hoopla in India over who becomes US President?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oscars for A.R. Rahman, Gulzar and Resul Pookutty</span>! Congratulations! You have made us proud! I mean it. Here in the USA, lot of people have watched it already. Many of them told me that they liked the movie and the music! Ok, many of them think life in India is how it is portrayed in that movie! Ha ha ha!!<br /><br />And, politicians have lined up to take the credit for Oscars! What's new?<br />And, many people want to have their share of limelight. They have filed suits against the movie and are becoming more noticed in the media! What's new again?<br /><br />BTW, why have I become so pessimistic? Even when I write about good things, I end up being negative!! I should find more good things to write about!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-42274531690553468152008-07-23T08:54:00.004-05:002008-07-23T08:59:18.507-05:00Children are rented / hired for begging!!What a shame!! There is an agency to do this. And, that agency takes commission from the beggars and the parents!! Read <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080058310&ch=7/23/2008%2010:58:00%20AM">this</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-79630376243958321412008-01-02T10:44:00.000-06:002008-01-02T11:27:59.614-06:00'New Year Eve' teasing!All over the world, people celebrate New Year on a very happy note. But, in India, it is becoming a scary one for many women!!<br />Is New Year celebration all about harassing women? Who gave such freedom?<br />In <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/new-year-horror-mob-molests-2-mumbai-girls/55426-3-1.html">Mumbai</a>, 70-80 youth molested two 15 year old girls! Not only that, the Police commissioner is saying it is a <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/mumbai-molestation-a-minor-issue-says-cop/55463-3.html">minor issue</a> and the media made a mountain out of a molehill. Wow, 80 men molesting two women is a minor issue! What is a major issue then? Wait, the issue is not yet over. They have not filed an FIR yet, because nobody filed a case. Do we expect the molested women to come and complain? Think of the shame those women will go through if they come public!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/mumbai-molestation-a-minor-issue-says-cop/55463-3.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br />In <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/lalus-sons-get-comeuppance-for-eveteasing/55461-3.html">Delhi</a>, the sons of the Honorable Union Railway minister were involved in Eve Teasing! Wow, they had security guards also with them! Now, all the Indian men can be relieved and satisfied. Even though they don't eve tease, they can be happy that their tax money is used for that!! Yes Indians, your daughters and sisters are eve teased with your own tax money!<br />However the judgment was given there itself. Those two 'sons of the Honorable minister' were thrashed there itself :-) Of course, you guessed it right! A case has been filed against people who beat the minister's sons!<br /><br />In <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/local-revelers-in-kochi-molest-swedish-girl/55436-3.html">Kochi</a>, a swedish girl of 15 was molested in front of her parents. Wow, we are getting global! Aren't we? Read the statement from the girl's father!<br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">While we are standing here and being interviewed by you, telling of all the wonderful experiences that we have had in India — which is true — a young man grabs my daughter from behind. This not proper behaviour of anybody, and I think people should really consider this seriously. If you want people to visit your country and see the beauty here, there has to be respect,</span>" said the father. "<span style="font-style: italic;">I will have to think twice before bringing my children to India again</span>," he added. Isn't the Tourism department talking about 'Aditi Devo bava'?<br /><br />In <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/patna-boys-barge-into-girls-hostel-on-new-year-eve/55456-3.html">Patna</a>, 15 Medical students barged into girls hostel and asked the girls to dance and join the New Year bash in the boys hostel. As usual, no complaints have been filed. The college administration has ordered an internal enquiry! God only knows, what happens to these internal enquiries.<br /><br />These are reports that came public. I don't know how many have not been reported! Unless the Police act on their own and take serious actions, these incidents will keep repeating. In a country where the women don't complain because of the shame inflicted on them, it is the responsibility of the Government and Law Enforcement to take care of such issues. Otherwise, either the people will take law in their hands! Then, the Police will have to deal with a bigger issue!<br /><br />I read all these news in IBNLive. But, IBNLive is also having a news article that <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/fullyclothed-rakhi-leaves-fans-disappointed/55448-8.html">Rakhi Sawant was 'fully dressed' in a New Year Party</a>! It seems the fans were disappointed! Is this a news? Is it worth mentioning in a news website? On one hand, the same website points out these molestations of women. On the other hand, it is reporting that the fans were disappointed because Rakhi Sawant was fully clothed! Does it mean she should come naked in public, just because she is a glamour actor in screen? Yuck! Shame on you IBNLive!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-22515661680079103542007-12-20T09:30:00.000-06:002007-12-20T09:47:01.417-06:00என் முதல் தமிழ் பதிவுவணக்கம்!<br />இன்று Firefox browser-ஐ என் கம்ப்யூட்டரில் install பண்ணினேன். எனக்கே ஆச்சரியமா இருக்கு! எப்படி இவ்வளவு நாளா, இதை நான் use பண்ணாமல் இருந்தேன்? இனிமேல் நான் தமிழிலும் blog எழுதமுடியும்! ரொம்ப happy-ஆ இருக்கு!<br /><a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2994">TamilKey </a>எழுதிய Muguntharaj, voiceonwings, Gopi ஆகியோருக்கு நன்றி!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">English Translation (just in case anyone gets offended - I consider myself a global citizen!)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Hello!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I installed Firefox browser today. I am surprised! How did I survive without using it for long? Hereafter, I can blog in Tamil also! I feel very happy! Thanks to Muguntharaj, voiceonwings, Gopi who wrote </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2994">TamilKey!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-88321447203069045522007-11-27T07:52:00.000-06:002007-11-27T08:09:53.093-06:00Assam & West BengalWhat is happening to our country?<br />Is the barbarian count on the increase?<br />We have a state (WB), where CM's own party men take law into their hands. Instead of arresting them, the CM supports them. He says the Nandigram people were <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/buddhadeb-justifies-cpims-recapture-of-nandigram/52246-3.html">given back in their own coin</a>!<br />Wow! Many kids have become orphans. Many women have been gangraped! According to the chief minister, there were paid back in their own coins!!<br /><br />On the other hand, we have another state(Assam) where people protest for something. The local goons attack the protesters. Women have been attacked savagely! I feel like crying after seeing <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/53132/video-guwahati-businessman-attacks-stripped-woman.html">this video</a>.<br /><br />In the photos, take a look at the faces of people watching the scene. They have a smile!<br />God! how can somebody enjoy so much, while watching another person suffer?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-51371570242141389782007-11-22T20:01:00.000-06:002007-11-22T20:02:36.379-06:00Rayil Sneham title songI have been searching for this song for a long time!<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rF1BEEwud1w&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rF1BEEwud1w&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-30287262672486786682007-07-02T17:33:00.000-05:002007-07-02T18:02:33.452-05:00IBN Blog about SivajiHere is a <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/anuradhasengupta/164/2061/the-boss-of-crap.html#">blog by Anuradha SenGupta</a> about Sivaji!<br /><br />First of all, she did not understand the dialogues! After that, I do not understand why she is commenting on the movie!<br /><br />Secondly, she clearly wants to show off saying she is not part of the masses! She represents the 'intellectual' category of the world! 'I didn't like what the world likes! I am different!' You are not!!<br /><br />Sitting at the cosy comfort of an Air Conditioned office, you can comment! But, look at the amount of effort put in that movie! The whole team has worked for more than 18 months to make this movie. And, look at the craze at which people watch this movie.<br /><br />She says media hype! Am not sure what her field of work is. Probably she doesn't have anything to do with media -- but still employed in CNN IBN :-)<br /><br />She says the whole movie was a joke! Come on, you didn't even understand the jokes. Please be adviced that people go to movies to be entertained. And, this movie does that. If you want more melodramas -- you can watch it daily at the comfort of your living room -- soap operas in TV.<br /><br />Rajini has grown to be an icon. He is not just an actor. If you want to watch his acting, go back to his Tamil movies in 80s. Now we just want to watch him entertain.<br />Don't judge Rajini by his Hindi movies in 80s. We are talking about a Tamil movie by Rajini.<br /><br />My sincere advice to you madam!<br /><br />Please try to understand the movie before commenting on it.<br /><br />Second, please wait for the movie to be released with subtitles and then watch it. Then, comment on it.<br /><br />Till then, shut the trap!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-85413328884667574932007-06-15T13:48:00.000-05:002007-06-15T13:50:09.789-05:00Thalaivaa...Watch a clipping of Thalaivar - he talks about Big B, does his style in Sivaji, talks about his political ambitions!!<br /><br /><object width='474' height='392'><param name='movie' value='http://features.ibnlive.com/videos/embed/42916/C1520A46F5A03B820B85FADC2E7111C8385B6EFE0E8D09D692202B007C9F6465250AF9776187481B42E0EC7A9A0B83F19C6669118A745B72F748D35AA7C37F76193689626A3816CF6A6ADD515050A3F9'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://features.ibnlive.com/videos/embed/42916/C1520A46F5A03B820B85FADC2E7111C8385B6EFE0E8D09D692202B007C9F6465250AF9776187481B42E0EC7A9A0B83F19C6669118A745B72F748D35AA7C37F76193689626A3816CF6A6ADD515050A3F9' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='474' height='392'></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-58149659420193348762007-06-14T21:53:00.001-05:002007-06-14T21:57:11.546-05:00Big B about Super Star<object width='474' height='392'><param name='movie' value='http://features.ibnlive.com/videos/embed/42933/C1520A46F5A03B820B85FADC2E7111C8385B6EFE0E8D09D692202B007C9F6465250AF9776187481B42E0EC7A9A0B83F19C6669118A745B72F748D35AA7C37F7619369A6E69221EF26B5BC6482144AEE57A9D4C87F3C5'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://features.ibnlive.com/videos/embed/42933/C1520A46F5A03B820B85FADC2E7111C8385B6EFE0E8D09D692202B007C9F6465250AF9776187481B42E0EC7A9A0B83F19C6669118A745B72F748D35AA7C37F7619369A6E69221EF26B5BC6482144AEE57A9D4C87F3C5' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='474' height='392'></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-6180319594554582242007-06-14T15:55:00.000-05:002007-06-14T16:00:35.996-05:00Great People, Great Minds!Follow up to my previous post, please find below an interview Super Star gave to NDTV. Usually, I give links to reports. But, I thought this one is worth keeping it in my blog for ever :) When it comes to Thalaivar, rules do change, don't they?<br />Here's the report ...<br /><br />======================================<br />It is not everyday that you get to interview the God of Indian cinema. A day before the release of his film Sivaji, Tamil icon Rajinikanth spoke exclusively to NDTV.<br /><br />NDTV: Thank you very much for speaking to us. We know you normally do not give interviews. There has been a lot of hype and excitement around Sivaji and people have been talking about the Rajinikanth style. Let us hear it from you, what is the Rajini style?<br /><br />Rajinikanth: It is the media which has made it so big, to be frank with you. You cannot compare me with Amitabh Bachchan. <br /><br />If in the cinema world, Rajinikanth is a king then Amitabh Bachchan is the emperor. It is a fact. So do not compare a king to an emperor. Amitji is my inspiration and my role model.<br /><br />NDTV: You are being very modest.<br /><br />Rajinikanth: It is a Shankar's picture and AVM production. All credit goes to Shankar. He is a master director, hats off to him. You should congratulate and appreciate him. I am only an actor, a puppet.<br /><br />NDTV: People say Rajinikanth does not do stylish stuff, what you do becomes the style?<br /><br />Rajinikanth: (Laughs) I do not know about that, it is God's grace.<br /><br />NDTV: We have been receiving a lot of fan mail, lot of them saying their favourite Rajini dialogue. Which one of your dialogues is your personal favourite?<br /><br />Rajinikanth: If I say once, it is as good as saying it a hundred times. <br /><br />NDTV: Your other dialogue (in Tamil) "Even if I come late, I will come as the latest". Now you have been meeting a lot of your politician friends. So will it be a late but latest entrant into politics?<br /><br />Rajinikanth: See, Chandrababu Naidu is my friend. Karunanidhi is also my good friend, Jayalalitha also, I know her well. So I am showing my film to my friends, who happen to be politicians.<br /><br />NDTV: Chandramukhi is still running at a theatre in Chennai, how long do you think Sivaji will run?<br /><br />Rajinikanth: Let us talk about Sivaji only.<br />======================================Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-21765256767844168932007-06-12T21:52:00.000-05:002007-06-12T22:17:40.527-05:00Who's a bigger star, Big B or Rajini?Do we really need this <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/whos-a-bigger-star-big-b-or-rajini/42771-8.html">comparison?</a><br />Who asked IBNLive to compare Amitabh Bachan and Rajnikanth? No one is less or more. Both of them have worked hard from very low levels in the cine industry, and reached great heights!<br /><br />Why does media create controversy? It is the same media which compared SRK and Amitabh Bachan -- that ultimately led to a war of words between those two.<br /><br />The media can make or break a nation. They have that power! <br /><br />But, why do they stoop to such lower levels? Is it news, in the first place? <br />IBNLive is one of the best news sites, India has. Such cheap 'news' does not indicate the decency and quality, readers expect from one of the best news sites!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-67468478794002081622007-06-11T12:56:00.000-05:002007-06-12T21:42:28.692-05:00Ban Orkut!!!!Ok, I am sure all of you would have visited rest rooms (toilets) in your respective schools and colleges. Have you read the Graffiti in those walls? "X loves Y", "Your life is in your hands!" and lot more unmentionable stuff.<br /><br />Is it a good practice? Certainly not!<br />Some of us would say 'Freedom of expression'! As somebody said, "Your freedom ends where my nose begins!" So, noone would accept getting maligned by somebody else.<br /><br />What should be the prudent way to stop / control this bad practice?<br /> 1. Educate the users of the restrooms, that it is not a medium of expression.<br /> 2. Or, paint the restroom walls, more frequently.<br /> 3. Or, impose a heavy punishment for those who get caught.<br /> 4. Or, more Restroom Policing (Wow! I am creating new jargons!)<br /><br />But, if <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/06_2007/govt-mulls-ban-on-orkut-your-views-42662.html">this report</a> is true and logical, all the rest rooms should be destructed. You should not have rest rooms in schools and colleges!<br /><br />Huh, what a stupid logic!<br /><br />Somebody writes anti-social stuff in Orkut, so ban orkut!<br /><br />Come on folks (read 'Sainiks')! Grow up!!<br /><br />At the end of the day, orkut or any other website is only a medium of communication. It can be used for good purposes and bad purposes. We should find ways to stop / control the bad use of orkut or any website. The owners of orkut CANNOT be held responsible for what is written on orkut. Find out the actual writers of anti-social material and punish them! Leave orkut! <br />It is a great website and it is changing the way people communicate!<br /><br />A knife can be used to cut vegetables; it can be used to kill people. So, have we banned knives? All of us still eat cut vegetables, don't we?<br /><br />I pray that the Indian Government thinks before making any such moves!<br />I pray that the Indian Government doesn't fall for such cheap logic!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-79852433706784605802007-05-30T14:32:00.000-05:002007-05-30T14:39:00.539-05:00Chennai is the cleanest city in India!!!!!Oh my God! That's what came to my mind, when I read this <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/05_2007/chennai-rated-indias-cleanliest-city-41726.html">report</a>.<br />And the next surprise is Bangalore is the second cleanest city in India!!<br />I *C A N N O T* believe it!<br />Chennai with it's huge 'open-air sewage system' called Coovum and Bangalore with its clogged sewage lines (Have you been to Bangalore when it rains?), are the 'cleanest cities in India'.<br /><br />If I were to believe this report, I pity the rest of the cities in India!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-35418670109260444022007-05-15T08:37:00.000-05:002007-07-19T17:42:44.315-05:00Exit Polls - a sham!After nearly 15 years, the largest and most populous state in India has got a stable government. Atleast till somebody applies a wedge on BSP, UP government will not fall due to any coalition tactics! Congratulations and All the best voters of UP!<br /><br />Now that the dust has settled, I am just thinking about the exit polls conducted by various media. Every exit poll suggested a hung assembly. Here are the links to the various exit polls -<br /><a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/05_2007/mayawati-up-up-and-away-set-to-get-160-seats-40018.html">Mayawati set to get 160 seats in UP</a><br /><a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bsp-leads-bjp-slips-in-up-poll/40063-4.html">BSP leads, BJP slips in UP elections</a><br /><br />Please find below a little bit of layman-level analysis on these exit polls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGu1ZH6heAPI5r-0FZe7QevvEW3Tc_bOw5OUDNCpPpcNMH92jBMv-sfh0WmJ7Wpxhg8JYJjRr2VxnS6P-7dfHy90xf4JYIToozyepDV_PUdh71g2JJk8pSmP26OKgsy47dB47LA/s1600-h/exitpolls2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGu1ZH6heAPI5r-0FZe7QevvEW3Tc_bOw5OUDNCpPpcNMH92jBMv-sfh0WmJ7Wpxhg8JYJjRr2VxnS6P-7dfHy90xf4JYIToozyepDV_PUdh71g2JJk8pSmP26OKgsy47dB47LA/s400/exitpolls2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064810725033933538" /></a><br /><br />Just take a look at the error percentages!<br /><br />Many of the error percentages are hovering around 100%.<br /><br />I am wondering how a statistically conducted exit poll could be so very wrong? That too all the exit polls are blatantly wrong!!<br /><br />That makes me wonder how these exit polls are conducted. How do they choose their samples? Are these samples representative of the voting population? Or, <span>do they conduct exit polls sitting in their offices?</span><br /><br />This is not the first time exit polls went totally wrong. In the last General Elections, all the News Papers and News Channels fought so much to present their exit poll results - "BJP will be the winner"!!<br />Alas, the actual result was a severe drubbing to the BJP as well as these 'exit poll stalwarts'!<br />One of the news channels even made hay, during last General Elections! They timed this and went public! They cashed on the 'exit-poll wave' and they were over subscribed more than 10 times!<br /><br /><span>The fourth estate (as the media is called) is supposed to sensitise the people when something wrong happens!<br />However, has any news channel / news paper owned up to its mistake? They have just swept it under the carpet.</span><br /><br /><span>I am 100% for 'Freedom of the Press'. But, Freedom comes with some responsibility.<br />The media should own up to their mistakes. The Press Council of India should come up with some guidelines for conducting exit polls.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-32027881593898607252007-05-08T08:12:00.000-05:002007-05-08T08:51:48.001-05:00Pulling ourselves backward ...For a long time, I have been controlling myself not to write about this issue.<br /><br />As I was reading this <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sc-seeks-legal-view-on-obc-quota/39996-3.html">news report</a> some thoughts crossed my mind.<br /><br />First of all, does 1931 census reflect the composition of the population of today? In my opinion, it doesn't. Reasons:<br /> - After the partition, people have migrated across three different countries.<br /> - The country has taken refugees from Tibet, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.<br /> - There are some castes where birth control is still not recognised. The population of these castes could be more!<br /> - Lot of people have migrated to other countries like USA, UK, Singapore, etc.<br />Apart from the above reasons, people have migrated to different states within India itself. Though this may not affect the national composition, it will affect the composition of each state. So, I am not sure whether reservation in states like TN are fair!<br /><br />Secondly, assuming 1931 census does reflect the today's population, I have one question.<br /> - How are we sure that the 'backward class' in 1931 are still 'backward'?<br /><br />Having said that, how do we go about it?<br />I still vote for Reservation. However, it should not be on a caste basis.<br />The following people should get reservation.<br /> - Children of people working in Defence forces. (Ok, if you have any doubt, none of my relatives are in Defence forces :-) <br /> - Handicapped and visually impaired people<br /> - Sports persons (Not any sports person. Should be a person with proven ability.)<br /><br />Lot of people are suggesting reservation based on Economy. I don't agree with that too. Education is free in all the Government schools. These schools admit students from all economic backgrounds.<br /><br />Only in colleges, people need money to study. The government can give more scholarships to the needy people in colleges.<br /><br />In the name of reservation, we as a country are pulling ourselves backwards!<br />I pray the Supreme Court rules in favour of justice and NOT the 'Social Justice'!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-87318891352892473842007-04-14T01:50:00.000-05:002007-04-14T01:53:31.104-05:00Creativity at its peak!Some human beings are more creative! Just watch this!<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pv5zWaTEVkI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pv5zWaTEVkI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />How many of us would have thought, a treadmill can be used for dancing?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-57143530162390946542007-04-11T01:56:00.000-05:002007-04-11T02:04:31.022-05:00Another Bangalore kid died of dog bite!Do you know Bangalore has 2.5 lakh stray dogs? This <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/boy-dies-of-dog-bite-in-blore/38215-3.html">CNN-IBN report</a> says so.<br /><br />I really don't know why the Animal activists are fighting to save the stray dogs when human beings are getting killed! Will they keep saving the stray dogs, even after one of their family member gets affected? I feel the whole animal activism in this issue is gimmick! God only knows why they are fighting! If they really want to fight for animals, why don't they go to the Bannerghatta national park and see how the animals are confined in cages? They are animals that need to be protected.<br /><br />Karnataka government is known for its careless attitude on many of the important issues, including infrastructure. But, this is a very minor issue. Why can't the government act tough on such a small issue?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-1159590764824313042006-09-29T23:04:00.000-05:002007-04-11T02:15:20.640-05:00Mr. Shashi Tharoor ...Ah! For once, India decided give it a shot in a world forum! For once, the Indian government stood up for one of its illustrious citizens!<br /><br />Mr. Tharoor has been in UN for the last 30+ years!! Of all the candidates, he seems to be the best. But, as of Yesterday's straw poll, he has almost lost the race. That too by a wide margin! Well, I still have hopes! Kofi Annan got elected after much background discussions, just two weeks before he actually took over.<br /><br />But, if Mr. Tharoor is qualified so much, why is he facing an uphill task? It should have been a cake walk for him!<br /><br />In my opinion, it is not his popularity in question!<br /><br />The whole world knew that the next UN Secretary General has to be elected in October. And, though not a written rule, everybody knew that it was Asia's turn! <br /><br />WHY COULDN'T OUR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE HIS CANDIDATURE WELL IN ADVANCE?<br /><br />Why was he announced as our candidate just two months back? If we are decided that we are fielding a candidate, we need to have done our homework!<br /><br />We should have decided on him long back. We should have given him sufficient time to do his campaign!<br /><br />Nobody votes simply on an individual's popularity. People want to be convinced of a leader, before voting. India, in my opinion, has not done that convincing. Because, we decided late in the game to take part in the game and we did not have time.<br /><br />Having an Indian, at the helm of UN, would have been lot easier! After all, we deserve to be a permanent member in the Council. Mr. Tharoor could have very well helped India get it. <br /><br />It is everyone's opinion that the Security Council needs reforms. Yet another politician there surely is NOT going to bring out the reforms! The UN needs a CEO who can take things forward and actually bring out the reforms. Another politician is the LAST THING, UN needs! Mr. Tharoor, with his UN career of more than 30 years surely fits the bill. But, one question remains! <br />HAVE WE DONE OUR HOMEWORK?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35221531.post-1159509473160504352006-09-29T00:57:00.000-05:002006-09-29T00:59:24.733-05:00<span style="font-family:arial;">Good morning / afternoon / evening folks! (I am not going to do this in every post anyway!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Being my first post in a blog, I wanted to talk about something good.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Currently, I am in Woodbury, Minnesota. The other day, I was waiting in a queue, in a shop counter. Just in front of me was young mom, with her daughter (may be 4 years), with their shopping cart. Before them in the queue was an old lady.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">After a long wait, it was the turn of the old lady. As soon as she moved to the counter, the little kid also pushed their shopping cart and crossed the 'wait-here-for-your-turn' line. The young mom, pulled the kid back vigorously and said, "You NEED to wait for your turn!".</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">One another day, I was going around the vegetable section of <em>Rainbow</em>, one of the big stores here. There was this little boy (probably 7 years), pushing the shopping cart, with his mom walking along. Being the vegetable section, there was very little space in the aisle (two shopping carts can go at a time). As soon as he entered an aisle, this kid started walking in the middle of the aisle, with his shopping cart. The mom, pushed him to the right and said, "You SHOULD always leave space for others!".</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I just wonder, how do these mothers care about even such small things?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I don't think, I will teach such small things to my son. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Is it because, I am in a country where there are a billion people apart from me? </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Do we teach our kids to think, that there are other people in the world apart from him/her?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0