PICKED FROM THE PAPERS TODAY...........

Nirosha,
donno if u were aware of this interesting bit of news I'd heard recently (altho not the latest!) tat our authorities had decided to actually get Hindu idols of all Gods/Goddesses to be made in China! bcos they feel tat Chinese r better skilled at making idols than Indians and can get it done cheap Laughing

but the irony is tat instead of letting them stamp "Made in China" on the idols, they want them to be stamped "Made in India" cos they feel tat purists in India may not buy the idols if they come to know tat they were made in China!....donno wat to say!

No new such! Plain roomours! Don't belive that. The authorities don't bother where you make your Gods. But there are 'Made in China' Hindu gods, complete with water fountains sold here - but it up to the seller to get them made where he wants.

It is good idea anyway. German Mould + Chinese Clay + Japanese paint = make excellent Hindu God!

From: Badri on Sun Mar 6 19:59:15 2005.

Good idea Niro...here's a little trifle!

Mothers win over wives/girlfriends

Surveys done in Australia reveal that mothers win when getting gifts from men!!!

A comparison of the spending on gifts between Mother's Day and Valentine's Day shows the Mom is still a boy's best friend. Men bought more gifts and more expensive gifts for Mother's Day than on Valentine's....

Intersting, huh?
From: geno on Sun Mar 6 20:16:41 2005.

RR,

sizzling one that e-bay news item!

But others haven't quoted any web links to go with their sources Pa!
From: Badri on Sun Mar 6 20:27:50 2005.

Some (guess most) where read in local dailies, including mine...your dinathanthi types...so that's why no links...
From: geno on Sun Mar 6 20:35:07 2005.

But "dhina thanthi"s got their own website Pa!

http://www.dailythanthi.com/home.asp?EditionID=0
From: nirosha sen on Sun Mar 6 22:32:16 2005.

RR - That news item is a hoot alright!! My sister has seen her in action on a visit to Tampa, Florida a couple of years back. Apparently, her silicon job was so huge, they were the size of watermelons!! I believe they were 120 inches Pa!!

Boy, just hope she had those silicones removed before she keels over one day due to a collapsed spinal cord!!
From: scorpio on Mon Mar 7 1:10:53 2005.

Enna news ithellam??

Kadavule! Kadavule!

Niro,

When u meant interesting news, did u mean only 'crazy' stuff??
From: Badri on Mon Mar 7 1:15:34 2005.

Akka...don't be such a victorian prude!!!!
From: nirosha sen on Mon Mar 7 1:46:00 2005.

illa-Pa!! Not only the crazy ones; otherwise it would be another joke section!!

No, no!! Please put in any interesting item of news here which you had picked from the mass-media, that's all! Including the serious stuff, Pa!!
From: RR on Mon Mar 7 4:07:48 2005.

Ok, here's a serious one.. You probably read it, I saw it only over the weekend.

Microsoft showcases its latest wares

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1772515,00.asp

Some innovations mentioned,
- Robots to Watch Children.
- s touch-sensitive interface for a computer that allows things on screen to be moved around with your hand.
- India lab's booth tries to recreate the experience of computing in rural India, complete with a less-than-current computer set up for multiple users, a single lamp, dirt on the floor and Indian posters on the wall for authenticity's sake. But it's hush-hush on what they are developing.
From: nirosha sen on Mon Mar 7 9:07:54 2005.

Picked from the BBC and the local papers : The kidnapped Italian journalist says, that they were shot at without warning as they neared a check-point. Apparently, prior to her release, she was warned by her Iraqi captors that the Americans do not want her back???!!!

What's happening???? Are American soldiers shooting at random, so as to step up international pressure on their govt., so that they can all go home sooner???? Sounds pretty much what they did when they went berserk in Vietnam, all those years ago!!!!!
From: Badri on Mon Mar 7 19:06:40 2005.

Here's an update on RR's ebay auction news: Stripper Selling Infamous Breast Implant on eBay

Internet casino company GoldenPalace.com won the bid for the infamous implant at $16,766 on Saturday, according to the eBay Web site and the seller, known professionally as Tawny Peaks. She advertised a 69-HH bra size before her implants were removed in 1999. There was no word yet on what the online gambling company planned to do with the implant.

From: Ilavenil on Mon Mar 7 19:12:35 2005.

sbadri99 wrote:

Good idea Niro...here's a little trifle!

Mothers win over wives/girlfriends

Surveys done in Australia reveal that mothers win when getting gifts from men!!!

A comparison of the spending on gifts between Mother's Day and Valentine's Day shows the Mom is still a boy's best friend. Men bought more gifts and more expensive gifts for Mother's Day than on Valentine's....

Intersting, huh?

Hi sbari99,

I think that is probabily because in Australia and western countries, wife/ girl friends keep changing. For this particular reason itself all Indian women deserve more gifts and presents

From: Badri on Mon Mar 7 19:15:31 2005.

That is exactly what my wife said too, Ilavenil!!

Goes to show all women think alike, what?
From: Ilavenil on Mon Mar 7 20:01:09 2005.

sbadri99 wrote:

That is exactly what my wife said too, Ilavenil!!

Goes to show all women think alike, what?

This is for you and this is for your wife
From: Badri on Mon Mar 7 20:01:39 2005.

Huh! Women!
From: NM on Mon Mar 7 20:30:37 2005.

sbadri99 wrote:

That is exactly what my wife said too, Ilavenil!!

Goes to show all women think alike, what?

GREAT minds think alike, badri

Anyway, yes, read abt the random shooting by the US army...guess it's time for all of them to pack and leave that country! & Niro, looks like your Pa has caught on many hubbers, Pa!!

I really wonder what they're going to do with the implant!!!!
From: a.ratchasi on Mon Mar 7 21:35:28 2005.

NM wrote:

I really wonder what they're going to do with the implant!!!!
From: scorpio on Tue Mar 8 1:19:28 2005.

Not today's news but reported in Yahoo News on Friday-

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Police arrested an 8-year-old boy who allegedly had a violent outburst in school, head-butting his teacher and kicking an assistant principal, when he was told he couldn't go outside to play with other students.

The 4-foot pupil was led away from Rawls Byrd Elementary School in handcuffs Tuesday and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.

"It's not something that happens every day," Maj. Stan Stout said of what could be the department's youngest arrest ever.

Stout said the chair-tossing, desk-turning outburst occurred after a teacher, and later the assistant principal, attempted to stop the boy from joining his classmates.

The child was later released to his parents.

**********
Another victim of bad parenting??
From: Badri on Tue Mar 8 1:30:24 2005.

Or perhaps just a hyperkid...one comes across these cases, albeit rarely...in all possibility, the kid was not fully aware of what he was doing...some kind of insane rage might have just triggered this reaction...I personally know of one guy who had this trouble..he would get this insane rages when he could clutch his hair and roll around the floor...and this continued till he was 19 years old, mind you...that was when his parents finally realized there was more wrong with their son than just "temper". He is better now, under therapy.

I'd rather think the boy in question too needs psychological help than just discipline or better parenting.
From: lordstanher on Tue Mar 8 3:23:17 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

Lord - Where was the news from Pa???? Please quote your source.

Um...sorry, adhu theriyadhu But if my guess is rite, its prob. 'The Straits Times'.......tats the leading paper here in Sing. (u must be knowing it?) and tats where my friend here usually quotes news from!
Btw, idhu-ennadhu- sum ppl. here hav begun calling me 'Lord'?? As it is, I was against wives considering their husbands as 'Lord' in our culture in the past, and now I'm being regarded by other ppl. as a 'Lord' in this forum?? hmmm.....(kidding! )

nirosha sen wrote:

Another change of Avatar, so soon???? Don't worry, I'll change the next one back to Paru of Devdas later!!

Well, nvr mind, ithu sumaara-dhan irruku

From: lordstanher on Tue Mar 8 3:28:08 2005.

Ilavenil wrote:

I think that is probabily because in Australia and western countries, wife/ girl friends keep changing. For this particular reason itself all Indian women deserve more gifts and presents Very Happy

Well, sadly in todayz scenario where the Western culture is sweeping our society slowly but steadily, we find tat most of our Indian women also happen to be going in the same direction as their West. counterparts.....atleast in most of the cities

I shudder to think wats going to be left at all after say 50 years in our country!

From: Cinefan on Tue Mar 8 6:35:01 2005.

A boy&girl were prevented from talking by a mob in Nasik district today becos they belonged to different communities.Police had to use force to control the irate people.They attacked the couple&took them to a place of worship.A cable crew trying to shoot the incident was also attacked.Is there no freedom for a couple to even talk
From: nirosha sen on Tue Mar 8 10:43:48 2005.

Where is Nasik dist. Cinefan???!!

From: Ilavenil on Tue Mar 8 16:05:39 2005.

I think that is probabily because in Australia and western countries, wife/ girl friends keep changing. For this particular reason itself all Indian women deserve more gifts and presents Very Happy

Ilavenil wrote:

I shudder to think wats going to be left at all after say 50 years in our country! Crying or Very sad

Why did you say that most of the women are becoming westernized and why did you say women, in the first place? I have couple of questions for you. Are you considering women's literacy as westernization? Are you wearing dhotis to office?

From: Querida on Tue Mar 8 16:25:34 2005.

westernized Stanher-sama (same meaning in Japanese ) means what to you?...you seem to confuse 'westernized' behaviour with any bad qualities that women show....i will tell you that it is a nice excuse...any man or women will act out their personality with or without westernization....tell me has looseness, cheating, rudeness, male-bashing,divorce, dating, wanting of independence etc. not exist before this 'westernization'? See people for who they are...not as a stereotype
From: saji on Tue Mar 8 18:16:23 2005.

Nasik is a district in the state of Maharashtra in Western India.
From: Badri on Tue Mar 8 18:46:06 2005.

Here's an interesting titbit, for those who'd be interested that is...

"Hobbit" Brains Were Small but Smart, Study Says

Last October, a team of Australian and Indonesian archaeologists reported the discovery of the18,000-year-old bones...Formally known as Homo floresiensis, the fossil skeleton has a unique combination of features not seen in any other humans or human ancestors....H. floresiensis grew to be only about three feet (one meter) tall�prompting archaeologists to christen them "hobbits," after the diminutive Lord of the Rings characters.

Tolkien wasnt too far off the mark, was he?

Check this link...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0303_050303_tv_hobbit.html
From: nirosha sen on Wed Mar 9 0:18:38 2005.

Yet another piece on violence on women!! From the Star today :

A 15 yr old girl was shaven bald, stripped and sent on a donkey ride around her village for allegedly killing a 5 yr old. Apparently, the sentence was meted out by yet another village council in UP state, India.

Famous British chef, Jamie Oliver of the Naked Chef fame, has decided to lead a crusade against the appalling and non-nutritional food served to British children in their schools.

The unhappy chef has petitioned the govt to re-look into the nutritional guidelines provided for the school canteen. So if Jamie has his way, he wants to replace the good ole sausages, minced meat, fried fish and potatoes and other lack lustre diets, with more exotic food-fare like Thai chicken curry and spinach pasta!!

For more info tune into : www.feedmebetter.com
From: scorpio on Wed Mar 9 3:08:29 2005.

UN General Assembly bans cloning (Source- Rediff)

A divided United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a non-binding declaration banning all types of cloning, including those for therapeutic purposes.

While 84 states, including the US, voted for a ban, 34 member states, including India, opposed the document and said they would go ahead with the research.

Thirty-seven members of the 191-member assembly preferred to abstain from the voting, which pitted some of the staunchest American allies, including Britain, against the United States.

The adoption of declaration, which gives symbolic victory to the US, brings to conclusion four years of efforts to negotiate an international treaty putting a mandatory ban on reproductive cloning.

However, nations supporting therapeutic cloning said the world body has lost a major chance to explicitly ban cloning for producing babies.

The declaration, which has no force in law, urges member states, among other things, to 'prohibit all forms of human cloning in as much as they are incompatible with human dignity'.

Several Arab and Latin American countries joined the US in voting for the declaration but Asians and Europeans mostly opposed it.

Many Muslim nations abstained from the voting, saying they were not voting either way because of lack of consensus.

US President George W Bush said he applauded 'the strong vote of the United Nations General Assembly urging countries to ban all forms of human cloning'.

"Human life must not be created for the purpose of destroying it," he said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He expressed the hope that the US Congress will enact legislation to ban cloning in the country.
****************

I'm a bit surprised to see that Bush is against Cloning while India has voted for it!
From: blahblah on Wed Mar 9 3:38:24 2005.

Woo!I am glad that Bush did it! 8)

From: lordstanher on Wed Mar 9 3:46:19 2005.

Ilavenil wrote:

I seemed to've created sum misunderstanding by my comments & apologies 4 tat.....however, wat I merely wanted to say was tat when even our own society is undergoing certain changes (for which most of us had condemned Western societies), and is not exactly perfect, it doesn't sound rite on our part to condemn women of western countries.....now if u don't mind, I too hav a couple of qsns. 4 u- don't u think u were making a generalisation when u said tat in Aus./western countries, wives/girlfirends "keep changing"?? So do u mean tat all women in the West keep changing their spouses just like changing cars?? Certainly not! There r couples even in western countries who've stuck together for ages thru thick & thin, and women who're as devoted to their husbands as our Indian women r......
And weren't u again making a generalisation when u declared tat "all Indian women deserve more gifts & presents"?? R all the women in our society devoted and maintaining the culture/values?? Again, its not so!
The trouble is, we always criticise the attitudes and cultures of other (esp. Western) societies in general, while we tend to think tat all's well & good w/ ours.....we ignore the fact tat similar negative points exist even within our society bcos of the pro-conservative mould around us! So when sumone points these out in the open, we tend to get very upset and defensive!
And in response to ur qsns., I mentioned women in the 1st place bcos even ur comments/discussion were focused on women only and not on men at all, so obv. I didn't think abt discussing nething on men in my reply either!......its not tat I was intending to finger-point women or nething......and no, I never stated tat women's literacy meant 'westernization'.......infact I've known several women (inc. my own mother) who were highly educated but still maintained our culture/values.......and lastly, did I talk abt women's dressing newhere in my comments tat made u point out abt men wearing dhotis etc.?? Infact sartorial conversions alone don't indicate the presence/absence of ne culture among nebody!

From: blahblah on Wed Mar 9 4:33:46 2005.

The trouble is, we always criticise the attitudes and cultures of other (esp. Western) societies in general, while we tend to think tat all's well & good w/ ours.....we ignore the fact tat similar negative points exist even within our society

What a solid point!I just read in todays paper that a UN funded agency found out that of the four Asian countries it selected as sample for their study,India leads in Violence against women!They chose Lucknow,Vellore and Thiruvanathapuram as the centres for the survey.Now we can argue that the study was not scientific etc.But the truth remains that we simply despise other cultures because we don't understand them,without caring to keep our house inorder.

From: scorpio on Wed Mar 9 4:42:22 2005.

Bomb threat to Wipro office in Bangalore

Wednesday, 09 March , 2005, 12:43

Bangalore: An anonymous call claiming that a bomb has been planted at an office of software major Wipro on the busy Mahatma Gandhi Road here sent police into a tizzy today.

Police sent a dog and metal detector squad to the multi-storeyed building, which also houses "The Times of India" office, after the call was received at Wipro’s office, which is one of the several that the New York Stock Exchange-listed company has in the city.

Wipro’s main campus is located on Sarjapur Road on the city outskirts.

"Checking is going on, including physical checking," a police official told PTI. The squad is currently checking the entire building.

The telephone call this morning comes close on the heels of Delhi police uncovering militants plot to attack software firms in Bangalore.
City police early this week recovered arms and ammunition including a sten gun and 149 live bullets at the Contonment railway station here.

***************************

Hi JG, Cinefan, Sandeep and all from Blore,

Is this true? Enna reaction from software companies?? My husband was telling about similar threat to Chennai software companies as well.
From: nirosha sen on Wed Mar 9 7:12:25 2005.

Mmm..why are they targetting software co. in particular, I wonder??? This is certainly disturbing news, Pa!

As for the UN census on cloning, it sounds like the macabre movie, "Boys from Brazil" could very well be a reality one fine day, Pa!! But to think that India is for it, is certainly news indeed! What on earth do they want to clone people for???? Isn't India the most populous country as it is????!!!!

From: Cinefan on Wed Mar 9 7:33:04 2005.

scorpio wrote:

Hi JG, Cinefan, Sandeep and all from Blore,

Is this true? Enna reaction from software companies?? My husband was telling about similar threat to Chennai software companies as well. Shocked

Akka,this is not the first time when Bangalore has been under threat but intelligence here is so lax that the Delhi police is more aware of what's happening here than the local police

The post of intelligence head is a punishment post

&is used by people in power to spy on their opponents than for real intelligence work.The feeling is that Bangalore is safe&nothing untoward will happen.Today's incident looks like the work of a prankster who used that report to play a perverse trick.

From: lordstanher on Thu Mar 10 0:08:18 2005.

I tried replying to u separately cos it sounds like a digression from the topic in this thread but unable to do so...? Neways....

Querida wrote:

See people for who they are...not as a stereotype

Allright, if assumed tat I was stereotyping women in my comments, then don't u think the comments abt wives/gfs in western countries "keep changing" or tat abt "all Indian women deserving more presents" r very much stereotyping as well?? How come they havn't been pointed out in this regard?? And even if the negative qualities u mention existed among Indian women even b4 they got 'westernized', then I'm further inclined to ask.....y is it tat we Indians always scoffed (& still do) at the West 4 their 'decadent' habits/lifetsyle or 'lack of culture/values', while always placing ourselves at the top, taking Indian culture/values as a lesson tat the world shud learn from us, if indeed this cultural perversity is a thing of old & not recent, even among our women, who were known to be far better than the 'erring' men?? Y this 'late realisation' among our ppl. who admit tat we r not a perfect society afterall?? Y did we fool the world (& most of all ourselves) by painting a 'sacred' portrait of our society while condemning the rest of the world??
WAs it fear of damnation/ridicule from the rest of the world or is just tat we took far too much pride in our culture tat we overlooked all the -tive traits tat exist among our own ppl.??

-------Digression ended--------
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 10 0:10:46 2005.

Today's papers have reported the bomb threat to Wipro in B'lore yesterday as a hoax. Quite relieved!
From: Badri on Thu Mar 10 0:12:52 2005.

Akka!!!

Did you have wait to read today's papers to know the threat was a hoax? In my opnion, any bomb that doesn't go off is a hoax...don't need newspapers to tell me that!
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 10 0:15:24 2005.

Bomb vecha edam MG Road aache?

Suppose software companies ellam bayandhu nethu leave vittu, suppose namma JG udane MG road pakkam figure pakka poi, suppose gundu vedichirintha, apparam enna roast panna yaaru irukka??
From: Badri on Thu Mar 10 0:17:13 2005.

Ayyo...Akka...thottuta....

Paasa Malar kanakka..enna sahodara-sahodari paasam!!!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Mar 10 0:58:43 2005.

From today�s metroplus section of The Hindu:
�Egg-citing�-Radhe Shyam Patel rewrites the Guiness Record by cracking 22 eggs in 30 seconds. This happened in Chennai. The former record of 14 eggs was set in B�lore in 2003. According to the rule book, for an egg to be considered crushed, its diameter after crushing should be less than half its original diameter.
More than the feats, the themes for setting Guiness Record is simply mind-boggling!
From: nirosha sen on Thu Mar 10 2:15:55 2005.

Yup, I've all but given up on this notion of a world record for the silliest reason.

In M'sia, they are getting even worse. Every politician is racing against each other to set the longest this or that!! Being 3rd world country they can really set an example of 3rd world mentality, Pa!!
From: saji on Thu Mar 10 19:10:59 2005.

Rapist marries victim in court!
By: Bibhuti Mishra
March 10, 2005

Bhubaneshwar: A courtroom in Bolangir district of Orissa turned into an impromptu wedding hall on March 5, as a woman tied the knot with the man who raped her four years ago.

The guests at the wedding were the judge of the civil court, police officers, lawyers and relatives of the couple.

The couple will have to wait a while before they can lead a married life as the groom is yet to be released from jail.

The accused, 27-year-old Krushna Sahu of Darlipalli village under Loisingha police station, had allegedly raped Bilasha (22) four years ago.

But the family members of the girl had not lodged a case with the police, fearing social stigma. Instead, they asked Krushna to marry Bilasha.

But Krushna�s family did not accept this marriage �proposal�. Krushna then left for Madhya Pradesh where he landed a job.

Recently, Bilasha�s family approached the court of the first-class magistrate in Loisingha. On the court�s directions, the police arrested Krushna, as soon as he returned home.

While the accused was behind bars, lawyers and others of the local legal aid cell tried hard to strike a compromise.

They finally decided upon the out-of-court settlement � Krushna�s marriage to Bilasha.

The marriage was initially scheduled to take place in the prison where Sahu is lodged but the venue was later shifted to the courtroom.

http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2005/march/105249.htm
From: Badri on Thu Mar 10 19:18:26 2005.

Ridiculous, is all I want to say about this...and this too...

Will the woman in question be happy living with the man? Will the man's family which had opposed the wedding and now has accepted it as a sort of compromise be willing to treat the girl well? Would the man who has been jailed for the rape ever feel kindly towards the woman who, albeit rightly, landed him in jail?

Life, surely, is not a script out of our tamil Amman Bhakthi padams, where the man so suddenly does a U-turn and reforms.

Does societal repercussions matter so much more than the life of the girl who has not only been raped, but has also been now wedded to the perpertrator of the crime, as an added punishment?

Now, I guess, the man can rape her legally all her life!!!

What wonderful society, what brilliant brains, what laws!!!
From: scorpio on Fri Mar 11 1:55:36 2005.

Source-Rediff, Lakshmi Mittal is world's third richest:

Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal became the third richest person in the world, trailing only Microsoft chief Bill Gates and US investment guru Warren Buffett.

London-based Mittal boosted his fortune after quadrupling his net worth by $18.8 billion to $25 billion, Forbes magazine said late on Thursday.

Mittal climbed 59 steps from last year to number three in 2005.

The rich had a very good year. The collective net worth of the 691 billionaires Forbes found is $2.2 trillion, up $300 billion from the combined worth of the 587 people listed last year.

Every region saw gains. The world's richest moguls now hail from 47 countries, including, for the first time, Kazakhstan, Poland, Ukraine and even Iceland. The newcomers include 69 Americans and 38 Europeans. More than half of them are entirely self-made.

American gas pipeline tycoon Daniel Duncan, who was raised by his grandmother after his mother died when he was 7, debuts on the list as the wealthiest new billionaire, with a net worth of $5.1 billion.

Wong Kwong Yu, 35, the youngest new self-made billionaire, runs a chain of 100-plus appliance stores catering to China's burgeoning middle class.

The most conspicuous new entrant: Martha Stewart, who was freed from jail earlier this month. Seventeen people found their way back onto the list, including Home Depot (nyse: HD) shareholder Kenneth Langone, who returns following a rebound in the retailer's stock.

The gap between the world's two richest people, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, narrowed further this year, though Gates hung on to his superlative title for the eleventh year.

The third-richest person in the world, steel baron Lakshmi Mittal, is this year's biggest gainer in dollars, adding $18.8 billion to his net worth.

Microsoft chief Bill Gates led the list for the eleventh year in a row with a net worth of $46.5 billion followed by Warren Buffet, who had a net worth of $44 billion.

Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu came in fourth, up from No. 17 in 2004; Saudi Arabian investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud was ranked No. 5 and Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad of Sweden rose to No. 6 from No. 13 last year.

Microsoft's Paul Allen, German supermarket company owner Karl Albrecht, Oracle's Lawrence Ellison -- returning to the top 10 after slipping to No. 12 last year -- and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s S Robson Walton rounded out the top 10 slots.

Software giant Wipro chairman Azim Premji stood at number 38, 20 places up from last year, with net worth of $9.3 billion; chairman of commodities conglomerate Aditya Birla Group Kumar Birla slipped two places from last year to 149 with net worth of $3.7 billion.

Telecom entrepreneur Sunil Mittal improved his position to 164 with net worth of $3.3 billion. Last year, Sunil was ranked at 186, while construction baron Pallonji Mistry moved up 61 places to 170 with net worth of $3.2 billion.

Godrej Group chairman Adi Godrej was pushed to 355 with net worth of $1.9 billion from last year's 277th position.

Russia delivered mixed results this year: Mikhail Khodorkovsky, imprisoned for 18 months and counting, saw his fortune fall $12.8 billion, making him the biggest loser. (Five of his former partners dropped off our list entirely.)

Controversy surrounds several billionaires, including Poland's Jan Kulczyk, who is alleged to have ties with a Russian spy.

Thirty people fell off the list, either because their net worth dropped below the minimum or because their fortunes were reclassified as belonging to families. Another 14 died, including Canada's french fry king Harrison McCain and Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

The Forbes rankings represent a snapshot of wealth taken on February 11, the date it priced publicly held stocks. That's why chemical maker Jon Huntsman's net worth does not reflect the 15% run-up in the stock since his company went public on February 14.

********************

Interesting news, more interesting to see many Indians up there.BTW, anybody know about Warren Buffet?? The second richest man alive??
From: Badri on Fri Mar 11 2:26:37 2005.

My God...I just read about Warren Buffet, and I am stunned...

Here, read this and be stunned too

Warren Buffet
Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett�s determination and creativity have made him who he is now: the chairman of a long-term investment company which has more than $2 billion in holdings.

As a child, Buffett was already ambitious. He was an enthusiastic and industrious paper boy for the Washington Post, and tried to cover more than one route at the same time. He also made money by collecting and selling lost golf balls. Buffett�s interest in finance was clear extremely early on in his life. He started playing the stock market with one of his sisters when he was eleven.

At twelve, he was betting on horses, and by high school he had started a business (pinball machines) with a friend, which earned him fifty dollars a week. Not only did he own a business by graduation, but he also had bought himself forty acres of Nebraskan farm land with his profit. Graduate school was a formative time for Buffett. It was there that he met Benjamin Graham, an economic scholar whose work Buffett had begun studying in college. Buffett believed strongly in Graham�s theory that it is wise to look for stocks of companies which are undervalued, which will most probably prosper with a little time. Thus began Buffett�s untraditional approach to portfolio management.

After working for his father�s investment banking company for the three years after business school, Buffett returned to Graham and worked as a security analyst at Graham�s company for two years until 1956. In that year, at the age of twenty-five, Buffett started his own investment company, the Buffett Partnership, using $5,000 of his own funds and collecting $100,000 from interested friends and family. One of the smartest moves made by Buffet�s company at that time was to invest in American Express.

In 1963, a scandal surrounded AmEx, and Wall Street believed the company was near the end. But Buffett, always with his wits about him and his thinking cap on, noticed when in restaurants and shops that customers were still using the card to buy. He went ahead and bought 5 percent of the stock, which by 1961 had risen from 35 to 189 market points. Buffett is now chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which makes the long-term investments which Buffett is so adept at choosing.

Paper boy???
From: scorpio on Fri Mar 11 2:32:08 2005.

Pretty interesting read. Own business during graduation?? BTW, what the hell I'm doing in Software having wasted 3 decades of my life already??
From: Badri on Fri Mar 11 2:57:09 2005.

Three decades plus a few years.....
From: scorpio on Fri Mar 11 3:05:41 2005.

How mean?? Not few, only a couple!
From: RR on Sat Mar 12 1:18:45 2005.

Pay Your Taxes, Pa-Rum-Pum-Pum-Pum....

Fri Mar 11, 8:34 AM ET - Reuters

HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - Tax defaulters in southern India are being forced to face the music after city authorities hired drummers to play non-stop outside their homes until they pay up.

After many residents ignored repeated demands to settle overdue property taxes. authorities in a city in Andhra Pradesh state have sent 20 groups of drummers to play outside offenders' houses for the past week.

"They put up a spectacle outside the houses of defaulters, draw them out and explain their dues to them and the need to clear it at the earliest," said T.S.R. Anjaneyulu, municipal commissioner of Rajahmundry city.

"They don't stop until people agree to clear the dues."

The city, owed a total of 50 million rupees ($1.15 million), had been at its wits' end after sops like waiving interest and penalties had failed to recover the arrears.

The new method seems to be working, though. One week of incessant drumming has cleared 18 percent of the backlog.
From: nirosha sen on Sat Mar 12 1:25:33 2005.

I believe they call it the "Thandora" in Tamil, Pa!! In the old days, that's how they use to pass messages from the rulers to the masses!!
From: blahblah on Sat Mar 12 1:26:06 2005.

RR,How amusing!I wonder who was the inventor of this innovative method of collecting taxes!It works for sure!

Just think about ourselves in such a situation!
From: jaiganes on Sun Mar 13 23:38:10 2005.

DIGRESSION

scorpio akka wrote:

Quote:

JG udane MG road pakkam figure pakka poi

Those days are soon coming to an end as there is gonna be someone who is going to roast/boil/cook me. Yes guys! Soon I am going to be 'Shekar'ed.

End DIGRESSION
From: Roshan on Mon Mar 14 0:00:57 2005.

blahblah wrote:

RR,How amusing!I wonder who was the inventor of this innovative method of collecting taxes!It works for sure!

Just think about ourselves in such a situation!

hahah yes!!! it's an innovative idea !!

jaiganesh,

We can expect more wife basing jokes then.. Anyways.. All the very best to you.. !!
From: scorpio on Mon Mar 14 0:09:30 2005.

Thambi JG,

All the best ( to yr fiancee) and Vazhga Valamudan!

Soon, we can all expect steaming prairie soup!
From: jaiganes on Mon Mar 14 0:14:51 2005.

Roshan wrote:

Quote:

We can expect more wife basing jokes then

I hope I dont get to post wife bashing jokes in my life at all.

scorpio akka wrote:

Quote:

Soon, we can all expect steaming prairie soup!

I hope/pray that doesn't happen too.

Thanks for the wishes.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Mon Mar 14 3:23:08 2005.

Hearty congrats, jaiganesh
From: Cinefan on Mon Mar 14 3:38:12 2005.

Hey Jai,

Congrats,All the best,hearty wishes etc etc etc.U will require all this goodwill&more.
From: jaiganes on Mon Mar 14 4:22:24 2005.

Thanks pavalamani madam and cinefan!
I am indeed fortunate to have your blessings.
Thanks again.
From: lordstanher on Mon Mar 14 4:56:20 2005.

Read this in the online version of 'Deccan Chronicle' (Hyd'bad paper):

Now, cellphone users get spammed!

Hyderabad, March 13: Are you being bombarded by unwanted text messages or commercial SMS on your mobile phones with details of a get-rich-quick scheme? Welcome to the world of mobile phone spamming. And beware, because if you reply, you could be making someone else rich as you are generally asked to respond using a premium rate phone service.

While e-mail spamming is annoying at worst, mobile spamming not only clogs your inbox but will suck up your air time. Hyderabadis are worried because mobile spamming is growing alarmingly. Apart from mobile service providers telemarketing companies and advertisers are turning spammers. �Win ALTO! Call 646 & dedicate Ur Favorite song free. Also get a chance to win Alto car. Call@ Rs 6/min. Such messages are flooding our SMS inboxes. I receive at least three spam messages per day. It�s an intrusion and worse, it eats into our air time,� said Anil Kumar Reddy, a Maths lecturer at Loyola College at Alwal and an Airtel subscriber.

It�s the same with other service providers like Hutch and Idea Cellular. �I receive a lot of unwanted text message. It�s not ethical and it�s an invasion of my privacy,� said N Saianna, a businessman, who lives in Chikoti Gardens in Begumpet and who subscribes to Hutch. Cyber Forensic Expert M Krishna of Government Exami-ner for Questioned Documents department told Deccan Chronicle, �Earlier e-mail accounts of Internet users were spammed. Now the menace has spread to mobile phones. Service providers should move to check cellphone spamming.�

�Spamming can be even used as a tool of harassment. In addition, tele marketers and advertisers have begun to intrude,� said Krishna. He says mobile phone spamming is a crime in some countries. �Considering it illegal and unethical, California in the US recently banned mobile phone spamming. In Britain too, they took steps to prevent it,� he said adding that while there are many anti-spam programmes for e-mails, in the case of mobile spamming, only service providers can help prevent it.

In the future, pornography, money-making schemes and health products may start clogging mobile phones in AP as is happening in other countries unless an anti-spam law is introduced here too. �Those who seek extra services like ring tones and songs from the Internet will be targeted. Missed call marketing is also catching up,� says Krishna. So while ordering a ring tone or song or other similar services over the Internet, make sure you check the clause that may allow your number to creep into cyberspace only to come back and carpet bomb you with spam.

But mobile phone operators have a different story to tell. AirTel Vice Pres. (Sales, Marketing & Operations) N V Subba Rao told Chronicle, �We respect consumer privacy. If consumers don�t want the SMS we will not send them. They can contact our customer care round the clock and leave a message. On the other hand there are a lot of customers who want to benefit from the free schemes. We get calls asking us to send the schemes to them.�
From: lordstanher on Mon Mar 14 5:01:01 2005.

Also found this in the same paper.....even more interesting!

Women vow to fight for ban on liquor

Visakhapatnam, March. 13: Spearheading anti-liquor movement in Rayalaseema and other parts of the State, Sandhya, leader of anti-liquor movement, has called for total ban on liquor and appealed to all the women to pressurise the government till the goal was achieved.
Addressing a meeting on anti-liquor movement organised by Jagruthi Mahila Sangham here on Sunday, Sadhya said when the people were demanding drinking water, the State government was replying them with liquor. There were 7,000 licensed liquor shops and more than one lakh belt shops in the State.

She said it was shocking to note that the State government was justifying the new liquor policy stating that it was formulated for the welfare of the people. �While the Congress leaders were in Opposition and conducting padayatras, they made tall promises to ban liquor in phases. But they forgot all of them and launched a new policy to facilitate more flow of liquor in the rural areas,� Sandhya said.
Stating that the movement against liquor was not new to the women organisations she said the earlier movement was suppressed and Tada cases were filed against important leaders. She said the movement could be revived with more vigour if all the women came forward. Jagruthi Mahila Sangham secretary M Lakshmi said it was unfortunate that the State government was appealing against the High Court order on the new excise policy.
From: hehehewalrus on Mon Mar 14 15:15:27 2005.

JG congrats!!! We can expect your fiery contributions in one thread atleast
From: Badri on Mon Mar 14 19:27:26 2005.

Hey, congrats, JG...join the club...

Heard this one about marriage?

"All men must get married; after all, happiness is not the only thing in life."
From: Cinefan on Tue Mar 15 1:27:41 2005.

http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=13693330

Hoax bomb call at Infy campus in Bangalore.

Has this got anything to do with the fact that dear Jai has still not logged in today
From: scorpio on Tue Mar 15 1:29:22 2005.

Cinefan,

Very possible..Sincerely pray these hoaxes does not turn into reality!
From: lordstanher on Tue Mar 15 5:15:34 2005.

IAF Dundigal tutor harassed 3 girls for sex (source: Deccan Chronicle):

New Delhi/Hyderabad, March 14: The Indian Air Force on Monday ordered an inquiry into allegations by three girl cadets at its academy at Dundigul that a senior instructor had sought sexual favours from them in return for fitness certificates to help their commissioning in the force.
"Allegations have been made and we are looking into the matter," a senior IAF official in Delhi said on charges made by flying cadets Preeti Behl, Sarabjit Jas and Anusha Singh, who have been suspended and asked to pack up from the academy. The three cadets were from the accounts branch in the faculty of ground duties and were to be commissioned later this month at a passing out parade.
Anusha Singh said her instructor (name not given) had threatened to fail her if she did not respond to his sexual overtures, a source at the academy said. According to IAF sources, the cadets had failed to pass three tests and had not complained of sexual harassment at a training review board headed by the deputy commandant and three independent officers. They said after the girls had been suspended for poor academic record, that they had filed a complaint of harassment at the Air Force headquarters.
However, according to a wing commander at the academy, the cadets alleged that their suspension was a follow-up action to their in-house complaint against the instructor, a charge which the academy denied. "The cadets did send three complaints to Air Force headquarters in Delhi but there was no mention of any sexual favour charge in any of their representations," said the wing commander.
From: hehehewalrus on Tue Mar 15 5:26:43 2005.

yaar these kind of things happen regularly in india, dont waste ur time copy pasting things and sighing and shedding tears over it.
From: nirosha sen on Tue Mar 15 7:59:48 2005.

hehehewalrus wrote:

JG congrats!!! We can expect your fiery contributions in one thread atleast

Yes, Jai!! Heartiest congratulations!!

In response to Walrus : Make that my Agony Aunt thread!!
From: scorpio on Wed Mar 16 3:06:07 2005.

Source- Rediff.com

IIM-A hits the jackpot
Corporates in a rush for campus recruitment is old hat. What is not is a management graduate being hired for an annual salary of Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million). This placement season is indeed proving to be bountiful for graduates at the Indian Institutes of Management.

An IIM-Ahmedabad student is reported to have got the highest-ever annual salary of Rs 50 lakh from one of the leading global investment banks on Day Zero itself, as corporates converged on the institute campus today. The highest salary offered last year was around Rs 43 lakh (Rs 4.3 million).

The scenario was same at IIM Bangalore, where placements concluded way ahead of schedule.

At IIM-A, a record 250 students are seeking placements, and roughly 180 graduates, comprising those from the class of 2005, have been given offer letters at IIM-B.

While IIM-A officials, including director Bakul Dholakia, are tightlipped, sources said 2005 had witnessed an unprecedented surge in the number of new companies entering the campus recruitment fray.

While representatives of several firms were head-hunting at the campus, many others preferred to pick graduates through tele-conferencing and telephonic interviews. The huge response shows that Brand IIM-A had gained in strength, said an IIM-A source.
From: lordstanher on Wed Mar 16 3:07:19 2005.

hehehewalrus wrote:

yaar these kind of things happen regularly in india, dont waste ur time copy pasting things and sighing and shedding tears over it.

Arey yaar.....this thread is abt wat u pick up from the papers regularly.....so wat else r we expected to put here?
And I copy/pasted this article from the online version of our hyd. paper cos I didn't hav time to describe the whole thing as a summary here......
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 17 3:56:38 2005.

Not today's news, but something for us to take note of:

Violence and Suffering in Sudan's Darfur Region

The Crisis in Darfur
A preventable humanitarian crisis, affecting more than two million people, is raging in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Not since the Rwanda genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of slaughter, rape, starvation and displacement. Government-backed militias, known collectively as the Janjaweed, are systematically eliminating entire communities of African tribal farmers. Villages are being razed, women and girls raped and branded, men and boys murdered, and food and water supplies targeted and destroyed. Victims report that government air strikes frequently precede militia raids.

According to the findings of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry, January 25, 2005,
"government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur. These acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis ... The vast majority of the victims of all of these violations have been from the Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit, Jebel, Aranga and other so-called 'African' tribes."
The effects of this ethnic cleansing campaign have been devastating. It is estimated that at least 200,000 people have died. More than 1.6 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad. Many now live in camps lacking adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and health care. Women and girls who leave the camps to gather much needed firewood risk being attacked and raped by Janjaweed patrolling the countryside.

The Sudanese government continues to flout international law with impunity. They have made no progress in disarming or prosecuting the Janjaweed; Sudanese police forces have attacked displacement camps and forcibly relocated people; there have been recent reports of bombing in violation of agreements the government has signed.

In recent months, the situation has deteriorated significantly. Fighting has escalated and several relief organizations, unable to protect their workers, have pulled out of the region. If the violence continues and people do not receive adequate aid and protection, many more Darfurians will die.

******************

Animal behaviour!!
From: dev on Thu Mar 17 4:14:32 2005.
From: nirosha sen on Thu Mar 17 6:25:00 2005.

All of us are by now aware of what Shakti Kapoor has been accused of course???!!! Looks like the guy is a real life villain after all!!!
From: Cinefan on Thu Mar 17 6:35:56 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

All of us are by now aware of what Shakti Kapoor has been accused of course???!!! Looks like the guy is a real life villain after all!!!

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/17guest1.htm

This article raises some pertinent questions on the media's role in the whole episode.
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 17 7:31:07 2005.

Cinefan,

True, insightful article. At the end of the whole episode, what has been achieved???

Niro,

'Oru Paanai sotrukku oru soru padham' endru kelvi pattirukkireergala? Shakthi Kapoor is just unfortunate to be that 'Oru soru', that's all.
From: Roshan on Thu Mar 17 7:53:00 2005.

scorpio,

Though I understood what you intend to say.. antha oru paanai sORu pazhamozhi wouldn't fit here
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 17 7:55:09 2005.

Unmai thaan Roshan, Oru koodai azhugina thakaaligaluku Oru azhugina thakkali padham-nnu yaarum pazhamozhi sollaliye!
From: Roshan on Thu Mar 17 7:56:24 2005.
From: nirosha sen on Tue Mar 22 8:42:53 2005.

Hi folks - Just been following the panning of the "Da Vinci Code" by the Catholic Church. The fact that the Church actually forbids the masses from reading it, apparently lends more weight to its notoriety as blasphemous!

The good Cardinal has actually called it a sackful of lies! Now why would he be so riled by a work of fiction, I wonder????
From: Sudhaama on Tue Mar 22 13:20:54 2005.

Well !!.. The Catholic Church has taken the RIGHT action..

... BEST APPROACH towards... Not only... the Christians...

... But also the ENTIRE HUMANITY around the World?

Even though Fiction, why Blasphemous writings are banned by the Govts as well as the Social-Service-Societies ?

Even if it is a True-Story... can it be allowed to be published openly?

If a Lunatic Young Pretty Damsel escapes ... and runs amuck.... STRIP- BARE-NAKED ...in the Main-Road...

... and a Press-Photographer got a lucky chance of taking several poses of Still Photography as well as Video ..

...Can it be published in any Newspaper or Magazine... or even in a Separate Book ?

It is Banned by the Govt as a CRIME !!!... Even though TRUE Event Coverage!!!

So any Public can sue against the Photographer as well as the Publisher

From: hehehewalrus on Tue Mar 22 14:46:09 2005.

Hi folks - Just been following the panning of the "Da Vinci Code" by the Catholic Church. The fact that the Church actually forbids the masses from reading it, apparently lends more weight to its notoriety as blasphemous!

The good Cardinal has actually called it a sackful of lies! Now why would he be so riled by a work of fiction, I wonder???? Confused

Nirosha,
What's wrong with propogating caste? Since it's all fiction and nobody cares about it, what's wrong with dividing people on the basis of caste and race? what harm can fiction do anyway?

just extending your "brilliant" analogy

From: Badri on Tue Mar 22 18:54:24 2005.

Dan Brown has not said anything new. If you search through any well-stocked library or bookstore, you would find hundreds of books on the quest for the Grail. Even Arthurian legends have revolved around this search. He has merely given a story form to an already existing theory that is all. And as always, a story attracts more attention, and well written story becomes a rage. If the Church had wanted to ban this particular line of thinking, they should have started a long time ago. If Dan Brown's book had flopped, surely, the Vatican would not have been so riled?

And then, let us look at the public reaction to the book as well. It is quite obvious that people love sensationlism of any sort and in trying to ban the book, the Vatican is only going to increase sales and expand the reader base of the book. Very, very wrong move, if you ask me.

For that matter, even Harry Potter was being questioned. If that be the case, no one would have any freedom of writing at all. Historical novels would cease to exist.

There are societies actually in existence that believe in Brown's idea of the Grail even before Brown wrote it. In his own words, it is inspired by the existence of these societies that he himself penned his novel. So, although apparantly blasphemous, there is nothing really novel in his novel (ahem, pardon the pun).

Neither is this the first blasphemous work either. There have even been works of fiction that portray Satan as the true heir to the throne of God and how the other angels plotted against him causing his fall from grace.

Why weren't all these banned? Simply because these did not enjoy the publicity that the Da Vinci Code enjoys.

It is my personal opinion that by such hasty measures, the Vatican is only demeaning its position and stature. If instead, it chooses to be magnanimous about it, and said the same thing it has now said in more mature words, the issue would have actually been resolved more easily.

What does the Church believe? That it is stil living in the Middle Ages, that one diktat to not read the book will actually cause people to refrain from doing so?

Reality Check!!!
From: blahblah on Wed Mar 23 2:30:39 2005.

I wouldn't prefer to comment on the Da Vinci code incident as I may look partisan,being a Christian.

But about the Shakthi Kapoor incident,I would like to bring your attention into certain issues.My opinion is that it was unethical media backmail taking advantages of the personal weaknesses of a man.I saw a discussion on NDTV just a couple of days back during which Shakthi and Mahesh Bhatt were present.

What I understand from the incident is that if there is a real victim here,it is Shakthi Kapoor himself.This woman has been calling him for more than a month[more than 30 calls] and invites him to a five star hotel room at the middle of the night and serves him alcohol in a private room.She was seducing him and egging on him to make the wrong move or to say something which will bring trouble on him.

Here I don't know what sort of famil relations he has got .Even if he is a great father and a great husband, he is someone who is staying away from his family frequently as part of his profession.Men with greater positions and moral values have fallen for woman!This guy didn't rape anyone or so.He was just trying to pick up the apple that was so forcefully offered to him.

India TV, which was unheard of till then,achieved their goal.Shame on them,they did it at the cost of dignity of a family.

I heard Shakthi has an 18 year old son.What service are these media morons doing for the families they have destroyed thorugh blackmail and sinister means.
From: nirosha sen on Wed Mar 23 5:51:48 2005.

Mmm...could be entrappment alright!! But still, the casting couch syndrome is nothing new to Bollywood, Hollywood or anyother Wood, Pa!!

He has hastily put together a denial to gain public sympathy, Pa!! But still, in now way does it diminish what he has done. People in the movie industry are no strangers to temptations or the temptresses who are aplenty! The only difference here is that he was caught on video, period!!
From: blahblah on Wed Mar 23 6:16:28 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

temptresses who are aplenty!

There comes the answer.I am not a sexist but the attitude towards sex by both sexes should be seen separately.You tempt a man too much and he is more likely to fall than a woman.That is universal truth and that is how we are created.That is how men are born,impulsive,ready to enjoy sex with a stranger. If women deny it ,that is at their own peril.I will never blame Shakthi Kapoor for this particular thing as much as I blame this 'journalist seductress'.
From: nirosha sen on Thu Mar 24 3:48:57 2005.

Hey guys - just heard Aish is working in the new movie, "Mistress of Spice". It's a Hollywood production based on the novel. Filming is taking place in Oakland, California!

Surya? Have you run into her yet, Pa???? 8)

From: Cinefan on Thu Mar 24 7:36:31 2005.

Hey guys - just heard Aish is working in the new movie, "Mistress of Spice". It's a Hollywood production based on the novel. Filming is taking place in Oakland, California!

Surya? Have you run into her yet, Pa???? 8)

It's based on a novel by Chitra Divakaruni Bannerjee, one of whose other novels was made into a serial 'Snehitiye'by Manirathnam for Sun TV in the 10pm slot in 2001-2002.

From: scorpio on Thu Mar 24 7:56:51 2005.

Cinefan,

Hats off to you..

Perukku ethha maathiri ella cinema vishayathayum ippadi finger tips-la vechurukeengale!
From: Cinefan on Thu Mar 24 8:22:44 2005.

scorpio wrote:

Cinefan,

Hats off to you..

Perukku ethha maathiri ella cinema vishayathayum ippadi finger tips-la vechurukeengale!

Thanks akkaou,perukku ethha mathiri irukkavendama,athu thane oru manithanukku azhagu?Innum konjam solren kettukkunga-'Snehitiye 'was produced by Mani&directed by one of his assistants Priya who is now turning film director with a movie titled 'kanda Naal Muthal' with Prasanna,Laila&the guy who acted in 'Vanam vasappadum'.Intha sarakku pothuma,innum konjam venuma?
From: scorpio on Thu Mar 24 8:32:08 2005.

Cinefan thammmmmmmmmmbi,

Podhum, podhum. Aama enna velai pakkareenga?? Film news anandan sishyan kanakka irukkeenga!!
From: Cinefan on Thu Mar 24 8:34:21 2005.

scorpio wrote:

Cinefan thammmmmmmmmmbi,

Podhum, podhum. Aama enna velai pakkareenga?? Film news anandan sishyan kanakka irukkeenga!!

Velaikkum ithukkum enna sambantham,oru theeeeeeviramana hobby,good memory avvlo thaan.

BTW,Long weekend ahead.Enjoy the holidays,See you all on Monday.
From: nirosha sen on Mon Mar 28 17:45:05 2005.

Picked from Yahoo just now : A major earthquake measuring 8.7 has just hit the Island of Nias, off the shore of Sumatra. Apparently, Tsunami warnings have already been posted to neighboring countries.

So far casualties are confined to only the Island itself. Hundreds have been feared dead so far!
From: Badri on Mon Mar 28 20:00:19 2005.

300 people feared dead in the island. Although a tsunami is not evident, a warning is nevertheless in place.

In India, the government issued a tsunami alert for the coastal areas, as well as the islands of Andaman and the southern state of Chennai, where officials advised residents to move inland at least a third of a mile.

Sri Lanka also issued a warning that the earthquake could spawn a tsunami that would reach Sri Lanka's shores by about 3 a.m. Tuesday (4 p.m. ET Monday) and urged those living in low lying areas to move to higher ground. There was no indication anything had happened by that time.

Guess it is safe now....

From: Roshan on Mon Mar 28 22:57:52 2005.

sbadri99 wrote:

Sri Lanka also issued a warning that the earthquake could spawn a tsunami that would reach Sri Lanka's shores by about 3 a.m. Tuesday (4 p.m. ET Monday) and urged those living in low lying areas to move to higher ground. There was no indication anything had happened by that time.

Guess it is safe now....

Yes!! safe at the moment but we had to evacuate last night after the government issued a tsunami warning. Got back home around 6.30 am. We were up almost the whole night and had got back to work now. I feel a bit disoriented and exhausted!

From: nirosha sen on Thu Mar 31 18:54:57 2005.

Terry Schiavo dies after being removed from the feeding tube after 13 days!! May her soul rest in peace with this release from a vegetative state!

In Gemelli Hospital, Vatican, the Pope has received his last sacrament rites! Sources close to him, say that he is slipping! The world is bracing itself for the inevitable!

From: Querida on Thu Mar 31 19:57:36 2005.

In Gemelli Hospital, Vatican, the Pope has received his last sacrament rites! Sources close to him, say that he is slipping! Sad

The world is bracing itself for the inevitable!

He has served as Pope for a very long time (approx. 27 years?), for quite a while there has been rumours of his memory slipping which would wreck havoc with the belief of infallibility of the Pope when he is speaking on matters of religion and morals...he come out prove this wrong time and time again. Yet we all have to leave our mortal coil inevitability.

If anyone's interested I'm including a short bio of the Pope John Paul II:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/pope/bio/early/

From: nirosha sen on Fri Apr 1 3:22:13 2005.

The Pope has just had another heart failure!! Looks like it'll be over soon!!

Rumours have it, it's the "Da Vinci Code" hating Cardinal who might replace him as the new Pope!!

All Catholics??? Please pass your copies of Dan Brown's book to the rest of the Heretics, please!!
From: hehehewalrus on Fri Apr 1 3:27:17 2005.

its just another human being completing his race here. take it as such and leave it.
From: nirosha sen on Fri Apr 1 9:48:49 2005.

a suitably chastened Niro, Pa!! Sorry!!!!
From: Querida on Fri Apr 1 20:27:47 2005.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Five jockeys tumbled from their mounts and a race was declared void after a flock of seagulls flew into a dozen horses at the Sandown race way in the southern city of Melbourne on Thursday.

Mayhem erupts as a flock of seagulls takes off as a field of race horses heads toward them at Sandown racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday.
In fading light for the last race of the day, the jockeys were on the home straight approaching the finish when the seagulls flew into the horses, forcing many to shy away and toss their riders.

Five jockeys were injured, including apprentice Brady Cross, who broke his left arm.

and here's Badri not even using the rock he's carrying around!
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 0:15:09 2005.

Recent news has circulated worthy of a Dan Brown novel!! Apparently, the Pope could have died as early as last Friday, but those in the tightly knit conservative Vatican circle, had hushed it up to buy time for a bigger, well orchestrated funeral for Pope John Paul II.

These rumours have been widely reported as very possible, considering medical reports had been repeatedly announced as that, "all kidney and cardio functions had collapsed"! In view, of this many believe, it was deliberately done to buy time for a larger convergence of mourners at the Vatican square.
From: Roshan on Wed Apr 6 1:19:39 2005.

Nirosha,

You seem more obsessed with news related to Muslims and Christians.

Too much obsession with religion is not good Pa
From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 1:44:34 2005.

Roshan wrote:

Nirosha,

You seem more obsessed with news related to Muslims and Christians.

Particularly with Pope and inside stories of Vatican.

Is our agony aunt in some agony herself??
From: Roshan on Wed Apr 6 3:06:11 2005.

blahblah wrote:

Particularly with Pope and inside stories of Vatican.

Also with Da Vinci Code Dan Brown himself wouldn't have been so obsessed with - while writing it
From: a.ratchasi on Wed Apr 6 4:04:44 2005.
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 5:49:36 2005.

Thanks Pa!! But what can this agony aunt do, when it's been nothing but mortality in the news lately.

As for Muslims and Christians, now that's an overstatement, Pa!!

Hmm, however the conspiracy theory is indeed intriguing, so thought I'd put it in, nevertheless!!

Anyway, with regards to mortality, Prince Rainier of Monaco too has just expired. Now that's news from Yahoo Pa; not me!!
From: Roshan on Wed Apr 6 5:51:17 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

Thanks Pa!!

Why Thanks ?????
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 7:45:50 2005.

Anyway, isn't there anything else in the news for the rest of you to put in, as per the title of this thread???!!!

Some of us are such sticklers not to derail the original intent of the threads, aren't we???? Let's stick to it, shall we????!!!!
From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 8:04:40 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

Anyway, isn't there anything else in the news for the rest of you to put in????

But why should we search for something like that when there are things more eyecatching??

And what is the conspiracy theory?
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 8:07:01 2005.

My dear Blah-Blah, can't stay away from a conspiracy theory, can you????!! Hmmm......will read up more and let you guys know, Pa!!

Meantime, let me know what the Indian papers say???? If it's media-reported, let's hear it, Pa!!
From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 8:20:38 2005.

Well,I have been following all Indian papers,but let us forget them.I have been following CNN and BBC as well.Yet I am hearing it for the first time that the Pope might have died on Friday itself.As long as it is simply a little addiction to gossips,I don't have anything against you.If it something beyond it,I would like you to post the links atleast and tell us how dependable they are!
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 8:24:12 2005.

Gosh mine is 1st hand news????!!! Wow!!

Okay-dokie - Try www.thestar.com.my. It was in today's world section!! But the news itself is from, a foreign news agency. Could be Reuters (have to read again)!!
From: aravindhan on Wed Apr 6 8:27:02 2005.

Granny rugby-tackled jay walker
6 April 2005 (Ananova)

A 77-year-old granny made a citizen's arrest in Germany when she rugby-tackled a 20-year-old jay walker.

The pensioner sat on him until police arrived - because he had walked across a road before the light was green.

The woman, from Freital, near Dresden, shouted at the man as he crossed the road before the little green man flashed up.

The old lady said she became even angrier when he hit her with his rucksack as he pushed past her when he reached the other side of the road.

She grabbed his hair and managed to wrestle him to the ground where she sat on him until police, who had been called by a passer-by, came.

He was taken to a local police station where he was fined for jay walking.

From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 8:33:25 2005.

Okay-dokie - Try www.thestar.com.my. It was in today's world section!! But the news itself is from, a foreign news agency. Could be Reuters (have to read again)!!

Gosh mine is 1st hand news????!!! Wow!! Rolling Eyes

Come on Nirosha,why do you act like the greenhorns here?Your link doesn't provide any information regarding what you claimed.Try it yourself

.

Further, I asked you to tell us how dependable your links are.Now when I click on your link,a pop up window opens and it says,"The authenticity of this content can not be verified,so it can not be trusted"

From: aravindhan on Wed Apr 6 8:43:36 2005.

blahblah wrote:

Come on Nirosha,why do you act like the greenhorns here?Your link doesn't provide any information regarding what you claimed.Try it yourself .

The Telegraph reported it today as well:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050406/asp/foreign/story_4580081.asp
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 8:59:10 2005.

Thanks for the verification Aravindhan!

Yes, so sorry abt the link, folks!! It's not there! But Ratchasi could always verify it for me "
It's pg 34 World News section of April 6th The Star. They too have quoted their source as the Daily Telegraph.
From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 9:06:09 2005.

Aravindan,you are talking about that funny newspaper which is not even well known in India? You ask anyone from South or central India about this telegragh and they will be surprised to know such a paper exists.It is available only in Calcutta and some north east cities.When I asked for links,I asked for credible links.

It is easy for some s*n of a b***h to write something about christians.They won't find it so easy to do the same stuff with Bal Thackeray.

From: aravindhan on Wed Apr 6 9:20:53 2005.

blahblah wrote:

Aravindan,you are talking about that funny newspaper which is not even well known in India? You ask anyone from South or central India about this telegragh and they will be surprised to know such a paper exists.It is available only in Calcutta and some north east cities.When I asked for links,I asked for credible links.

Hi Blahblah. Everyone seems to be citing an article in the UK's Daily Telegraph, which is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/05/wpope405.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/05/ixnewstop.html

I don't know how credible the UK Telegraph is, though they're treated as a serious newspaper, not a tabloid. But I think they make it quite clear they're reporting a rumour ("politics moved into bizzare territory", "rumour", "conspiracy theory", "may sound far-fetched"), not something which should be treated as or given the credence of confirmed news.

From: blahblah on Wed Apr 6 9:31:40 2005.

aravindhan wrote:

But I think they make it quite clear they're reporting a rumour ("politics moved into bizzare territory", "rumour", "conspiracy theory", "may sound far-fetched"), not something which should be treated as or given the credence of confirmed news.

I don't think there is much left for me to explain.

From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 11:21:58 2005.

Sorry Blah-Blah!! Did I open up a can of worms??? I guess I was more interested, since it was media reported as this thread says, Pa!!
From: Badri on Wed Apr 6 19:46:15 2005.

Perhaps we should all take a lesson from the TV show going on here currently, "Desperate Housewives". This was reported in one of our daily papers...(hardly a paper, more a tabloid!!)

Originally, they had planned for a dialogue when someone dies..."Really, the Catholics are so much better in grief" but when the show hosts learned that the Pope was seriously ill, they scratched the line out and replaced it with something else...just so that even inadvertantly they should not hurt anyone's sentiments.

Good sensitivity...but I can't comment on their sensitivity as far as the original dialogue goes anyway!!!

But conspiracy theories abound for everything of international reknown pa..something inside us which seems to relish chaos in everything orderly!! Perhaps we just have to wait till we get more reliable info.

By the way, did you know that the last words of the Pope were supposedly "Amen"? It seems he heard the people praying outside his window and summoned up enough strength to look towards the window and say Amen...he didnt say anything else after that, and died shortly.

What a way to go for the Pope!! He lived and died in prayer!!!
From: nirosha sen on Wed Apr 6 20:53:14 2005.

That was profound, Badri!
From: a.ratchasi on Wed Apr 6 21:15:20 2005.

Niro, I am afraid I have missed that one.
Anyways, aravindhan has clarified the nature of the reporting.

So, let's move on...
From: aravindhan on Wed Apr 6 21:21:02 2005.

Here is a story I saved about an april fool's joke which went... ah... slightly awry:

April 1 joke sparks protests
Friday 1 April 2005 (Ananova)

An April Fool's joke nearly caused a riot in Croatia after thousands of protesters took to the streets.

It came after an online news service claimed the country faced being banned from the 2006 World Cup finals.

Index news claimed FIFA would not allow Croatia to take part in the World Cup unless the country handed over fugitive general Ante Gotovina.

Gotovina is wanted for war crimes during the civil war that led to the break up of Yugoslavia. The EU has cancelled entry negotiations with Croatia for refusing to hand him over.

FIFA's president Sepp Blatter was quoted as saying: "It is clear that Croats care about football more than about anything else.

"In contact with EU Council of Ministers, we have decided to ban Croatia from World Cup before the country extradites the fugitive general Ante Gotovina."

Thousands of protestors took to the streets carrying banners in support of Gotovina and attacking FIFA before the web site admitted it had made the whole thing up.

As well as gathering in Zagreb, there were demonstrations outside General Gotovina's birthplace Pakostane.

Local police spokesman Zlatko Mehun said: "There was a large gathering outside his former home. It was very heated but peaceful, and I have heard that there were also large gatherings in Zagreb and angry scenes, but I don't believe there were any arrests."

Croatia leads in the World Cup's Group Eight with 13 points from five matches ahead of Sweden, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland and Malta.
From: hehehewalrus on Wed Apr 6 22:58:10 2005.

Aravindhan
welcome back
That was a good one
From: aravindhan on Thu Apr 7 14:29:36 2005.

Since we have been discussing the Pope, I thought I would post this link from the BBC's website which gives you some idea of how long the queue of mourners waiting in Rome to pay their last respects was:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4420879.stm#map
From: dev on Fri Apr 8 11:35:24 2005.

Hi guys,

What do U think will be the impact on future of BPOs in India after the theft by Msource employees coming to light...

Here is what the news is...

A Forrester Research report has warned that what looks like just another theft might curb the booming Indian BPO industry's growth by as much as 30 per cent.

Forrester said the arrest of three former employees of MphasiS BFL's BPO operation Msource, and nine others, on April 6 in Pune -- for allegedly stealing over $350,000 from four Citibank customers -- has sent shock waves through the Indian IT-enabled services sector.

for more details chk out...
http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/08bpo.htm
From: Querida on Sat Apr 9 14:41:23 2005.

Royal wedding: Charles and Camilla tie the knot
CTV.ca News Staff

A choir sang, an orchestra played, and the Queen looked on as Prince Charles and his new wife, Camilla, had their wedding blessed at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

The blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev. Rowan Williams, was the culmination of a day that blended new touches with traditional royal pomp and pageantry.

The religious portion of the day was an entirely separate event from an earlier one in which Charles and Camilla were married in a 20-minute civil union.

With all the official events over, the couple joined their friends and family for a reception at the castle's State Apartments, given in their honour by the Queen.

There they mingled with their guests who were reportedly offered egg and cress sandwiches, mini Cornish pasties and scones.

(You'd think they'd serve better tasting food )
From: Surya on Sat Apr 9 15:01:52 2005.

Quote:

You'd think they'd serve better tasting food

That's probably the only reason ppl actually ATTENDED the wedding of the 2 Senior Citizens, in the last chapters of their lives!

From: hehehewalrus on Sat Apr 9 16:20:00 2005.

You'd think they'd serve better tasting food Razz

Quote:

That's probably the only reason ppl actually ATTENDED the wedding of the 2 Senior Citizens, in the last chapters of their lives! ROTFL

Saapaatu mela irukkum kuri thavaraadhey

surya, u have shown u have come out of india but india has not come out of you

From: Surya on Sat Apr 9 16:25:17 2005.

Walked right into that one.
From: scorpio on Tue Apr 12 1:03:28 2005.

Source-Rediff

A British television channel is in the process of making a film on the romance between Prince Charles and Camilla Camilla Parker Bowles, who wed on April 9.

The film, 'Whatever Love Means', will be made by ITV, and it will depict how the romance between the two blossomed.

The channel is in the process of finalising actors for the film, which will be of 120 minutes duration.

Though Charles was in love with Camilla, he married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. However, the two got together again after Diana's death in a car crash in 1997. (What a royal hypocrite -
From: Badri on Tue Apr 12 1:07:38 2005.

Perhaps, but I think the title is rather apt!

Whatever!!!
From: RR on Fri Apr 15 10:37:42 2005.

A team from MIT submitted this paper

http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/scigen/rooter.pdf

to the heavily advertised SCI 2005 conference and got the paper accepted.. Only that the paper was generated using a program..!

http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/scigen/

Ever dreamed of having a paper published in a CS conference? You are just a few clicks away..
From: rashwin1979 on Fri Apr 15 16:46:47 2005.

This seems to be an interesting thread !
This news is not latest, but is interesting though !

All the Kavithai s about diamonds in the sky is not entirely false.
Just have alook at it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3492919.stm

Cheers..
Ash
From: krishnan on Fri Apr 15 18:34:34 2005.

Looks like Kaiyendi bhavan type of road-side vendor shops are handed out some hygene lessons in Calcutta. There are now plans to produce maps of "safe stalls" for visitors to the city. Hope they do it in all cities so that we can enjoy authentic "Roadside food" without worrying about "Hygene" issues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4437523.stm

hmmm.... Banglore-la friendsoda second show cinema pathutu vandhu Jayanagar 9th block kitta irukkara thalluvandi-la neyi roast, masala dosai ellam sapitta kalam ellam thirumba varuma?? Andha naalum vandhidathooo
From: nirosha sen on Sat Apr 16 4:23:28 2005.

Picked from Yahoo : hey heard this one???!!!

San Jose, Calif., - A woman found a 1 and a half inch finger in her bowl of chilli stew in a Wendy restaurant.

Police scoured for the owner of the finger and turned up no clues. Suspicion though, is now cast on the woman, Anna Ayala, that she could have planted the finger there, to sue the Wendy chain!!!!
From: krishnan on Tue Apr 19 15:24:03 2005.

Mumbai bar girls wondering why government should interfere in their profession.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4458083.stm
From: Surya on Tue Apr 19 21:31:38 2005.

Source: The Times of India.

BEIJING: A man who killed his wife and hid her body in a refrigerator for three years was given a suspended death sentence by a Beijing court, state media reported on Tuesday.
Zhao Qingsong told the Beijing Number Two Intermediate Court that he strangled his wife in the Chinese capital during a heated row in 2001, suspecting her of having an affair, Beijing News reported.
After realising he had killed her, he hid the body in a fridge and burned incense for her every day, it said.
He moved house three times but took the refrigerator with him. He even took her body out on three occassions to clean it, the report said.

Guess he wasn't worth her dowry!!

Regards. 8)
From: Querida on Tue Apr 19 22:18:57 2005.

Joseph Ratzinger of Germany [78] has been chosen as the new pope and renamed Pope Benedict XVI today

"Ratzinger is known as the "Enforcer" of the Catholic faith. And while he has received some criticism for his hard-line stance on many moral issues, he is also seen as an intelligent man with much influence."

Source: MSN News

From: blahblah on Wed Apr 20 5:57:14 2005.

Querida wrote:

Joseph Ratzinger of Germany [78] has been chosen as the new pope and renamed Pope Benedict XVI today

"Ratzinger is known as the "Enforcer" of the Catholic faith. And while he has received some criticism for his hard-line stance on many moral issues, he is also seen as an intelligent man with much influence."

Source: MSN News

I was quite surprised at the easy election of Ratzinger,being a catholic.As soon as we came to know that the new Pope has been elected on the second day,I told my wife that it will be this guy.I hoped to have a more broadminded man as the supreme authority of my church.It is wellknown that while John Paul the second was trying to have some inter religious dialogue, this guy came out with the statement that Catholicism is the only true religion.Again he is accused of scuttling a probe against a priest accused of sexual abuse.For the 1.1 billion catholics across the world,this is something to think about.Benedict the sixteenth will be forced to live under the shadow of John Paul the second and I don't see how he can win hearts.

From: RR on Thu Apr 21 23:17:41 2005.

Fla. Man Secured BenedictXVI.com Weeks Ago

By David McGuire
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2005; 5:30 PM

By the time Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany assumed his new papal moniker on Tuesday, it was already too late for the Vatican to buy the corresponding dot-com Web address.

That's because a St. Augustine, Fla. man, Rogers Cadenhead, registered the address BenedictXVI.com on April 1, hoping that would be the name of John Paul II's successor. To cover his bases, Cadenhead, 38, also registered ClementXV.com, InnocentXIV.com, LeoXIV.com, PaulVII.com, and PiusXIII.com.

Cadenhead, an author of 20 technology "how-to" books with titles like "Movable Type 3 Bible Desktop Edition" and "Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days," said he registered the names for $12 each from Internet address seller Bulkregister.com.

"I couldn't resist the chance to have some skin in the game. Someone else already has JohnPaulIII.com and JohnXXIV.com, but otherwise I put a chip down on every name of the past three centuries," Cadenhead wrote on his Web log at Cadenhead.org.
From: scorpio on Fri Apr 22 1:29:47 2005.

Source-Rediff

Some news for 'The Da Vinci Code' fans:

Sir Ian McKellen (who played Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings) has reportedly signed up for the movie version of Dan Brown's bestseller, Da Vinci Code, to be directed by Ron Howard.

According to Fox News quoting Variety, McKellen is to play the sinister Sir Teabing while Alfred Molina, of Spider-Man 2 fame, will play Bishop Arigarosa. Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou are expected to play Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu.

The film, being scheduled for a May 2006 release, is also expected to feature Christopher Eccleston, the hero of Dr Who.
From: Badri on Fri Apr 22 1:53:47 2005.

More on the Da Vinci Code

The global best-seller The Da Vinci Code, which has been condemned by the Vatican as a pack of lies, has been named book of the year at the British Book Awards.

The book has sparked a furious religious debate - a fact that Brown said caused him much delight.

"For the record, it is a novel," the former teacher, who rarely makes public appearances, said in a videotaped acceptance speech at the literary awards ceremony in London.

From: a.ratchasi on Fri Apr 22 4:43:55 2005.

San Jose, Calif., - A woman found a 1 and a half inch finger in her bowl of chilli stew in a Wendy restaurant.

Police scoured for the owner of the finger and turned up no clues. Suspicion though, is now cast on the woman, Anna Ayala, that she could have planted the finger there, to sue the Wendy chain!!!!

Picked from Yahoo : hey heard this one???!!! Laughing

True enough, the woman has been arrested!
Click here

From: blahblah on Sat Apr 23 7:04:32 2005.

a.ratchasi wrote:

True enough, the woman has been arrested!
Click here

Picked from Yahoo : hey heard this one???!!! Laughing

I heard that this woman has a history of suinf restaurants-Is it rue?

Have you all heard about an incident where an 16 year old girl was raped by a drunk cop in Marine Drive Police Chowky,Mumbai?

From: Badri on Tue Apr 26 2:54:04 2005.

"I prayed not to be elected Pope"

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI said on Monday that he had prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected Pope but that ``evidently this time He didn't listen to me.''

For the first time since his election, Benedict shed light on his feelings inside the conclave, telling an audience of German pilgrims that he viewed the idea of being elected Pope as a`guillotine.''
From: nirosha sen on Tue Apr 26 7:03:17 2005.

Oh, I'm sure he was being modest, Pa!! The highest office, you know; naturally it's met with trepidation!! 8)
From: blahblah on Tue Apr 26 7:46:14 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

Oh, I'm sure he was being modest, Pa!! The highest office, you know; naturally it's met with trepidation!! 8)

Niro,I am sure that you are being a bit 'modest' here too!

And be reminded that I expect the hubbers here to be conscious about the hub rules.If you want me to bring it to your notice again, 'religion/cast related and potentially offensive topics are strictly taboo'. .I hope all[including some sleepwalking mods] will keep it in mind!!!!
From: nirosha sen on Tue Apr 26 9:38:20 2005.

Why does a reply from me, become a taboo subject but not for others dear Blah-Blah???!!!! Exactly what is offensive abt what I said, pray tell Oh Cerebral One!!

From: Badri on Tue Apr 26 20:10:29 2005.

Quote:

Blahblah: I certainly did not mean to offend any sentiments, when I posted that news from the Internet. I found it interesting, that is all. And I certainly did not expect you to be offended by it, considering that it was you who had posted in this same thread your opinion of the new Pope. You had even said that you had hoped for someone more broadminded.

Besides, as Niro has rightly pointed out, it certainly seemed to be an act of honesty and humility to me. In fact, the statement raised him high in my esteem, which was why I decided to post it here, thinking more people would certainly think as high of him as I did.

You had also said, �I don�t see how he can win hearts�. Although not a Christian, he has already impressed mine, by his genuine Christian humility.

Again, this is not a post about religion, it is a post about a man who has the courage to confess the truth of his heart, his high office notwithstanding. Much can surely be expected of a man who has the courage to be truthful to himself!

Still, if my posting the piece of news has somehow hurt your sentiments, I am really and truly sorry about the same. I can only state again that I was genuinely impressed which was why I posted that news here.

From: Surya on Tue Apr 26 20:24:41 2005.

Fraudster sells PM's residence on the Net!!!!!

[url=http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13727622&headline=Fraudster~sells~PM's~home~on~Internet]
Click Here [/url]
From: blahblah on Wed Apr 27 6:08:21 2005.

Hello Badri mod, I have a feeling that atleast on this hub,it depends on 'who' says 'what' about 'whom'!

I know it is a pity that someone has to shout so loud when it happens to be something that you wouldn't mind saying yourself, yet has to oppose it when the same stuff comes in bad spirit from 'someone else'.

I am sure there are a lot of Hindus who will criricise 'some' Hindu Godmen,yet will oppose it tooth and nail if it comes from a muslim clergyman from Pakistan,just because they know it comes from bad intentions.

I am speaking from experience on this hub and it is my humble request that those who have got into hot waters before by speaking about the Pope or Catholicism, atleast try to conceal their contempt while they speak about Vatican.I am sure you will grasp things .

And where were you mod,when one fellow was flooding this hub with all his **** just day before yesterday?

BY THE WAY,I DIDN'T START THE TOPIC!

From: aravindhan on Wed Apr 27 18:06:03 2005.

blahblah wrote:

I think you're judging him too harshly. I think we may well find that the Church has elected another leader of great moral stature. Yes, he will be conservative, but then so was John Paul II.

*On his statements on Catholicism: remember that as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, he was required to be doctrinaire and rigid. It was his job! In his first statements, he has said that he will try to continue interfaith dialogue. And he can't return to the position that Catholicism is the only true Christianity without undoing Vatican II, which not even the pope can do.

*On sexual abuse - my feeling is that he is being misrepresented. In an interview given when John Paul II was still alive, Benedict XVI condemned the sexual abusers in very strong words (he called them "filth in the church and the priesthood" or something to that effect). I have heard from Italian catholics that he was believed to be in favour of much harsher action against sexual abuser priests than was being taken. Let's give him time on this.

*If you look at his past statements, he has been vehement in denouncing global inequality and the ease with which the rich learn to ignore the poor. He has always tried to prick their consciences and remind them what Christianity requires of them. He has also denounced corrupt and oppressive governments. I think his opposition to liberation theology has been blown out of proportion, with the result that people have lost sight of the fact that he cares passionately about justice for all.

From: Surya on Wed Apr 27 20:10:31 2005.

This is creepy!!!

A New Jersey based NRI, Dipak Desai, has been missing from his relative’s home for the past three days under mysterious circumstances......his brother-in-law could not find him in his bed and noticed drops of blood on the staircase. Desai’s chappals were found lying near the gate.

Right Here

Swami Ranganathananda passes away

Click Here.
From: Badri on Wed Apr 27 20:17:39 2005.

Alas! Swami Ranganathananda was a wonderful personality! May his soul find the merger he always advoated.
From: a.ratchasi on Wed Apr 27 21:09:47 2005.

blahblah wrote:

I heard that this woman has a history of suinf restaurants-Is it rue?

Yeah, blahblah!!
Well, at least that's what being reported!
From: Surya on Sat Apr 30 19:49:03 2005.

I feel so safe with Indian Police sometimes.

Constable Simon Koli Assaults Pregnant Woman on Train.
From: lordstanher on Sun May 1 11:20:47 2005.

blahblah wrote:

Have you all heard about an incident where an 16 year old girl was raped by a drunk cop in Marine Drive Police Chowky,Mumbai? .

Hi blah (& everyone else)......good to be back w/ y'all again!
Neways, blah, I'm afraid I didn't hear abt this incident u mention (yet) but I read this incident in Deccan Chronicle (AP newspaper) on 22 Apr. abt a 16 year old girl in Hyd. who was raped at her home by her own father & brother!!
It says the incident unfortunately didn't come to light until the girl got five months pregnant as a result of the rape and confided in her grandmother......but luckily the girl's mother was bold enuff to confront the father after knowing the truth, and lodged a complaint against him & the son at a local Police stn......to reveal an even more shocking truth- turns out tat 8 yrs before, this man had raped even his elder daughter who ultimately hanged herself!!
D@mn! this is pathetic! I donno wat to say.....
From: krishnan on Mon May 2 14:33:16 2005.

India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands officials investigate tsunami compensation as low as two rupees.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4505745.stm
From: nirosha sen on Mon May 2 23:46:48 2005.

Well, Vivek Oberoi has finally admitted on a recent TV interview, that he intends to wed, my girl, Aish!!

After a courtship of 21/2 years, the couple are finally making their way to the altar!! I wish them every happiness, Pa!!

From: Badri on Mon May 2 23:54:25 2005.

Well, Vivek Oberoi has finally admitted on a recent TV interview, that he intends to wed, my girl, Aish!! Very Happy

After a courtship of 21/2 years, the couple are finally making their way to the altar!! I wish them every happiness, Pa!! Very Happy

Vivek Oberio has admitted...and I am sure, so have more than 1 million other men...has Aish acknowledged it as well?

From: a.ratchasi on Tue May 3 1:10:53 2005.

The world has become a freak zone!
[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050503/ap_on_fe_st/sweden_animal_abuse/nc:757;_ylt=AosBL9.4fBdJKP_pgxbrCr8SH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl]
Sexually Abused Animals [/url]
From: Roshan on Tue May 3 1:38:57 2005.

That's pathetic !!

From: Surya on Wed May 4 17:49:50 2005.

a.ratchasi wrote:

The world has become a freak zone!
[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050503/ap_on_fe_st/sweden_animal_abuse/nc:757;_ylt=AosBL9.4fBdJKP_pgxbrCr8SH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl]
Sexually Abused Animals [/url]

That IS pathetic. First women, then children, now animals!??!? Where the hell is the world heading!??!?!

From: nirosha sen on Wed May 4 23:04:43 2005.

Oh Boy!! Looks like ABC network, did go thru with their expose on the American Idol judge, Paula Abdul's little fling with Corey Clark after all!!!

Man, why was she so stupid, Pa???? Was she expecting moral integrity from that scum-bag???? Didn't she realise that fraternising in any organisation is a big NO-NO????!!!
From: scorpio on Thu May 5 0:53:56 2005.

Husband challenges wife's right to abortion
May 05, 2005 01:06 IST

A man has moved the Allahabad High Court challenging his wife's right to abortion on the grounds of being physically unfit to deliver a baby.

He argued that his consent should be taken before any move by her in this regard.

The petitioner, Rajiv Nandi, filed a petition in the Lucknow bench of the High Court on Tuesday pleading that the consent of the father should be taken before termination of pregnancy by the mother under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971.

Nandi, who got married in November last year, challenged certain sections of the Act which empowers the wife to go for abortion if she is not medically fit to deliver the baby.

Nandi's wife is expecting and she wanted to get her pregnancy terminated.

He said the concept of fatherhood was similar to the concept of motherhood and the consent of the father must be made mandatory.

"The moment a woman conceives, the right of the father begins," said the petitioner, adding it would amount to violation of Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty) of the Constitution if the wife went ahead with abortion.

The petitioner has sought a direction from the court to the state and the Union governments to instruct all hospitals within their limits not to permit termination of pregnancy by his wife.

Nandi's lawyer Chandra Bhusan Pandey said the termination of pregnancy as such is prohibited under IPC and is alllowed only on medical grounds.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Thursday.
Source-Rediff

Interesting case, I agree with Mr Nandi in this regard.
From: nirosha sen on Thu May 5 0:59:18 2005.

In this case, yes, I do agree the petitioner does have grounds Pa!! But nevertheless, I somehow feel it should be left in a grey area at the disposal of the courts.

Such petitions are still based on archaic thinking and leaves the situation wide open for all sorts of abuse of women's rights, Pa!! More so in a male dominated society like India!!

Anyways, even in permissive societies of the West, they're grappling with these choices, so what more conservative Asians!!
From: scorpio on Thu May 5 1:07:35 2005.

Niro,
I agree with yr concern on abusing women's rights. We still do not know the full story behind the case. With Indian law allowing termination of pregnancy only on medical grounds, if the husband has taken to the court challenging his wife's decision, I think he should be pretty much sure that something more than being merely unfit to deliver is in the brewing. I haven't come across such a case earlier, hence I thought I'd post it here. Hope it doesn't open a can of worms, though!
From: NM on Sat May 7 4:32:22 2005.

Dear friends,
Heard about the meningitis outbreak in the north. How's the situation in the south?

Take care, all.
From: Shekhar on Sat May 7 6:09:38 2005.

NM wrote:

Dear friends,
Heard about the meningitis outbreak in the north. How's the situation in the south?

Take care, all.

Meningitis is 'Brain fever'. North or south, women don't need to worry!!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sat May 7 6:25:08 2005.

A 'brainy' man chasing the 'brainless' section of the species!

From: Bad Boy on Sat May 7 10:00:42 2005.

Shekhar wrote:

NM wrote:

Dear friends,
Heard about the meningitis outbreak in the north. How's the situation in the south?

Take care, all.

Meningitis is 'Brain fever'. North or south, women don't need to worry!! Laughing

But meningitis need to worry about them!

From: Surya on Sat May 7 14:44:29 2005.

In a major leap for India's nuclear research, scientists in Kolkata have reached the advanced stage of constructing a superconducting cyclotron that could break the monopoly of the West in the field.

Indian scientists set to break West's nuke monopoly

From: NM on Sun May 8 21:39:07 2005.

Shekhar wrote:

NM wrote:

Dear friends,
Heard about the meningitis outbreak in the north. How's the situation in the south?

Take care, all.

Meningitis is 'Brain fever'. North or south, women don't need to worry!! Laughing

Waah!!! Didn't know just that one sentence can bring about this!!

Shekhar !!

Madam PP.....

...you said it !!!

From: Badri on Wed May 11 21:13:28 2005.

Here's a funny news item! And so closely related to Querida in more ways than one, to say nothing of her Driving Lessons!!!

TORONTO - A truck hauling 2,000 cases of beer flipped over and unleashed a sea of suds onto Canada's busiest highway on Wednesday, in a scene that could have been lifted from the Canadian cliche handbook.

The early morning accident brought rush hour traffic to a standstill on highway 401 in north Toronto, as rescuers worked to free a woman trapped in the small car that collided with the tractor trailer.

"Believe it or not with this crushed car, the young lady driving it is going to be okay," Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Cam Wooley told CP24 news.

"We've got sand down now absorbing the beer," he added.

Guess that is taking Driving Under the Influence to new levels, what?
From: nirosha sen on Thu May 12 6:21:12 2005.

Sounds like a scene from the movie, The Blob, Pa!!

At least she had a nice beer bath, suds and all!!
From: Badri on Thu May 12 19:24:40 2005.

Now, that makes me wonder, Niro!

Do any beauty therapies speak of beer bath for better skin???
From: Querida on Fri May 13 15:02:37 2005.

hahah very funny Badri this is for the seagulls post i posted isn't it?
anyways hard to believe people were more concerned about not being able to drink any of the beer (supposedly a life-time supply...enough to last 84 years if you drink a six pack a week) all of it even in the good condition was to be disposed of...i don't know what's the big deal with beer anyways..
From: Surya on Fri May 13 18:26:07 2005.

sbadri99 wrote:

Now, that makes me wonder, Niro!

Do any beauty therapies speak of beer bath for better skin???

That was nice!! 8)
From: gaddeswarup on Sun May 15 6:37:56 2005.

In the list of Intel ISEF Awards for the year 2005:
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/results/grnd2005.asp
there are many Indian names but most of them are in USA.
Swarup
From: Querida on Mon May 16 12:01:51 2005.

wow very very impressive and all from highschool students...thanx for the news gaddeswarup
From: Surya on Mon May 16 14:51:18 2005.

Bush Urges Development of Alternate Fuels

Click Here

Right!!! Because he's running out of countries to wage war against!

But hope they do find Alternate feul, or else we're screwd.
From: gaddeswarup on Tue May 17 6:52:42 2005.

This is not from papers today and may not be really new, but I found it only today. You can use:
http://uk.multimap.com/
to locate places in India up to Taluk level and some nearby villages. I apologize if many of you have seen this already. Regards,
Swarup
From: NM on Wed May 18 21:17:26 2005.

Dedicated to the ladies of the hub...

Harvard to boost women scientists

Harvard University is to spend $50m (�27m) on women scientists over the next decade after its president sparked anger by questioning their aptitude.

Lawrence Summers said the money would be used to reform the way women in engineering and science are treated.
The recommendations came from two task forces set up by Dr Summers at the height of anger over his comments in January, for which he has apologised.

He suggested women had less "intrinsic aptitude" than men for science. The recommendations include appointing a senior vice provost to promote diversity and faculty development, as well as mentoring, child care and late-night transport. Dr Summer's office said reforms would be made for women "at every point along the pipeline", from undergraduates to faculty ranks.
"Universities like Harvard were designed a long time ago, in many respects, by men for men," he told a news conference.
"To fully succeed on these issues we're going to have to address issues of culture."
Confidence vote Dr Summers sparked fury when he suggested at a seminar in January that one reason men outperformed women in maths and science was genetics, not just experience. Several guests walked out of the conference after hearing the comments.
Dr Summers said later that the shortage of senior female academics was partly caused by child-minding duties, which restricted working hours. He lost a confidence vote by the university's Faculty of Arts and Science but, as the body has no power to punish him, he did not resign.

Harvard's governing body, to whom he answers, has expressed its support of him.

Apologising repeatedly for his remarks, Dr Summers set up the two task forces - one to focus on women at Harvard, and one considering women in science in general.
From: Surya on Mon May 23 23:13:49 2005.

A MUST READ!!

Valamburi John's article about his expierence when visiting the late Paramachariyar, (Shankarachariyar) Fabulous!!! Very Touching!!

Shakti Vikatan.
Article title: Kadavul Ippadi-than Irrupar Yendrean.
www.vikatan.com

From: P_R on Mon May 23 23:56:24 2005.

NM wrote:

Dedicated to the ladies of the hub... Wink

Harvard to boost women scientists

Harvard University is to spend $50m (�27m) on women scientists over the next decade after its president sparked anger by questioning their aptitude.

Lawrence Summers said the money would be used to reform the way women in engineering and science are treated.
The recommendations came from two task forces set up by Dr Summers at the height of anger over his comments in January, for which he has apologised.

He suggested women had less "intrinsic aptitude" than men for science. The recommendations include appointing a senior vice provost to promote diversity and faculty development, as well as mentoring, child care and late-night transport. Dr Summer's office said reforms would be made for women "at every point along the pipeline", from undergraduates to faculty ranks.
"Universities like Harvard were designed a long time ago, in many respects, by men for men," he told a news conference.
"To fully succeed on these issues we're going to have to address issues of culture."
Confidence vote Dr Summers sparked fury when he suggested at a seminar in January that one reason men outperformed women in maths and science was genetics, not just experience. Several guests walked out of the conference after hearing the comments.
Dr Summers said later that the shortage of senior female academics was partly caused by child-minding duties, which restricted working hours. He lost a confidence vote by the university's Faculty of Arts and Science but, as the body has no power to punish him, he did not resign.

Harvard's governing body, to whom he answers, has expressed its support of him.

Apologising repeatedly for his remarks, Dr Summers set up the two task forces - one to focus on women at Harvard, and one considering women in science in general.

I'm guessing there is some misunderstanding here. Larry Summers is an intellectual of the highest order and it would be very surprising (and unlikely) that he'd've made such sweeping statements. This is from an explanatory speech:
It is after all not the case that the role of women in science is the only example of a group that is significantly underrepresented in an important activity and whose underrepresentation contributes to a shortage of role models for others who are considering being in that group. To take a set of diverse examples, the data will, I am confident, reveal that Catholics are substantially underrepresented in investment banking, which is an enormously high-paying profession in our society; that white men are very substantially underrepresented in the National Basketball Association; and that Jews are very substantially underrepresented in farming and in agriculture. These are all phenomena in which one observes underrepresentation, and I think it's important to try to think systematically and clinically about the reasons for underrepresentation.
Here's the link: http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/nber.html

From: NM on Tue May 24 0:11:40 2005.

PR - certainly there's no mistake here. I'll provide you the link when i've re-located it By the way, no one's perfect. Even someone of highest do make mistakes. Perhaps this was 'slip of his tounge?
From: lordstanher on Wed May 25 1:33:44 2005.

Indian IQ a threat to US students! (Deccan Chronicle)

Silicon Valley: Hi-tech cos. r concerned tat there won't be enough skilled workers, going by the shrinking no. of US comp. sci. students. New enorlments in comp. sci. and engg. programmes hav dropped for 4 successive years, acc. to a study.
The trend is largely attributed to the dot com bust and outsourcing to countries like India & China.
From: nirosha sen on Thu May 26 0:09:59 2005.

Sunil Dutt has passed away at the age of 75 due to a heart attack!! He had been reportedly unwell for 4 days before succumbing to death.

May his soul rest in peace!! I'll always remember him best as Birju in Mother India!

From: lordstanher on Thu May 26 3:58:19 2005.

Sunil Dutt has passed away at the age of 75 due to a heart attack!! He had been reportedly unwell for 4 days before succumbing to death.
May his soul rest in peace!! I'll always remember him best as Birju in Mother India! Crying or Very sad

IMO, in his youth he was even better-looking than his son Sanjay Dutt.

From: Querida on Mon Jun 6 15:41:58 2005.

June 02, 2005

(BANG) - Beyonce Knowles has been banned by her personal trainer from eating chicken curries.

The enforcement comes after the singer's Indian food obsession spun out of control six months ago when she reportedly had the calorie-laden dish couriered 3,000 miles from London to New York.

The singer has also been told not to secretly gorge herself at curry houses.

Beyonc said: "When I first went to Britain I had a curry and it was unbelievably delicious. It was really, really good. I've been hooked ever since!"

(All i can say is her career would really be stewing if she had come to India)
From: Surya on Mon Jun 6 18:29:48 2005.

Kind of a really scary picture.

Marina Beach, during Tsunami If u had been to the Marina Beach many times, u would see how powerful it is.

From: sonu gopi on Mon Jun 6 22:23:48 2005.

IMO, in his youth he was even better-looking than his son Sanjay Dutt.

Till todate I enjoy the movie �Mother India� - it�s truly a masterpiece and its melodious songs still haunting!

Nargis was the soul and body of that movie. She lost her battle against cancer in 1981. You see Nargis in her son Sanjay�s eyes who is only a crude image of his famous mum.

***********
Sonu Gopi

From: hehehewalrus on Mon Jun 6 23:32:59 2005.

heya sonugopi
From: dev on Mon Jun 6 23:35:52 2005.

Surya wrote:

Kind of a really scary picture.

Marina Beach, during Tsunami If u had been to the Marina Beach many times, u would see how powerful it is.

Very scary indeed...
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Jun 7 10:18:36 2005.

From �The Times of India�:

News under a colourful photograph:
�A woman puts vermillion on a female frog as it is married off to a male frog at Khochakandar village in West Bengal on Sunday. Villagers in the eastern part of the country believe that a frog marriage ensures a good monsoon.�

�ب�� ب�� ¡��
�Ũ�� Ũ�� Ҿ��
�ս�� Ũ�� Ţ�� ǡ�
�է�� á�� ɾ��
From: Surya on Tue Jun 7 20:32:27 2005.

Hey Guys,
Found this on the net. It's pretty cool. It's basically on Chennai. A nice read.

Under the Fire Star.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Jun 9 0:55:42 2005.

From �Times of India�:

�An Australian woman was found to be carrying 51 live tropical fish after customs officials were alerted by �flipping� noises coming from beneath her skirt as she arrived at Melbourne airport. On closer inspection, officers discovered the woman had strapped on an apron of plastic water-filled bags containing fish�The 43-year-old woman arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Singapore last Friday. Customs are still trying to determine what type of fish she brought into the country and have not yet charged her with an offence�A search of the woman�s home in Melbourne found another five fish.�

Quite fishy! An eely hobby! An eerie subject for some enterprising novelist or a film maker! A theme with scope for vast imagination from diamond smuggling to genetic engineering research. Even more unimaginable horror, perhaps!
From: j.chenkalvarayan on Thu Jun 9 4:07:43 2005.

from " the hindu"

Priest who packs a punch
Ever heard of a priest practising karate? If not, read on

Seshadri puts troublemakers in their place. Once, he sent a tipsy trio sprawling into a gutter with a full-fisted punch, a side-chop and an elbow-thump. Another day, he took a knife-brandishing thief on; beat the daylights out of him before having him handcuffed by the police. On both occasions, a crowd gathered around Seshadri and watched the one-sided fight with open-mouthed wonder. Why wouldn't they? For, how often does a temple priest go about beating up miscreants?

Chief archakar

The Good Samaritan is chief archakar at the Ashtalakshmi temple in Besant Nagar and also a third dan black belt karate expert. Two years ago, he attained celebrity status of sorts when the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam sought his expertise to train young priests at the mountain shrine in the martial art. This was in anticipation of terror attacks. As the deal, for some reason, did not come through, Seshadri continued his carefully-structured life in Besant Nagar, which includes rising with the lark for kata practice with the aid of steel and wooden weapons such as nin-chuk, sai and torfa.

Practises daily

However, passionate devotion to karate has not blinded him to popular perceptions. "A karate priest is an oddity." Having been ridiculed many a time, he knows this only too well. So everyday, Seshadri practises under the cover of darkness, winding up before sunrise and every month takes off for a week to Mayiladuthurai for intensive training under the watchful eye of coach Dayalan. Troublemakers don't turn up everyday, then why such gut wrenching practice? To win tournaments. His best - securing first position in the Super Senior Kata event at the All India Karate Open Tournament - 2004.

From the days when he watched Bruce Lee's films with his mouth a perfect `O', interest in karate has grown into a passion. His 12-year-old son Sriram has inherited this, for he already has a brown belt. Seshadri's four-year-old daughter Aishwarya is likely to follow suit. For now, the priest coaches her in general gymnastics.

The man is planning to play coach outside his house as well. A centre that trains both mind and body - through slokas, yoga, karate and judo - is on the cards
From: lordstanher on Thu Jun 9 5:41:01 2005.

Wow! Tat sounds like quite a Superman pujari!
From: Surya on Thu Jun 9 15:22:04 2005.

I read this today. Who remembers the controvercy with Mumbhai Express, and Chandramukhi. Some politicians said that the word Express isn't tamiz, and Chandramukhi isn't tamiz, etc so the names should be changed! Many idiotic things like this have been going on with some Tamiz extreamists.

Jeyakanthan, one of the best tamiz writer that exist has supposedly addresed this issue lately! He said this, which caused a lot of controvery among the "tamiz" extreamists! (Jeyakanthan probably knows more about tamiz than these half ticketed extreamists)

These are words of the great tamiz writer Jeyakanthan:

"Tamiziliye mattum pesavendum, tamiziliye mattum ezhuithe vendum, tamiziliye mattum peyar veika vendum endru koorum tamiz ?"aringyargal"? thangalaye nakki kollum Naigal Poleve." This was just outrageous folks!!!!!!
From: Surya on Thu Jun 16 14:25:48 2005.

Actress Mayuri found dead in Chennai.

Here's a pic of Mayuri. Mayuri

[url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=48954&headline='Even~Sonia~can't~save~Cong~from~disaster'] Even Sonia Can't Save Congress From Disaster! [/url]
From: NOV on Tue Jun 21 22:15:57 2005.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/6/22/nation/11279824&sec=nation

The most stupid act!
Committed by Metti Oli fan!
From: nirosha sen on Wed Jun 22 8:09:41 2005.

incredible Pa!!
From: stranger on Fri Jun 24 9:31:41 2005.

Spurs wrecked the pistons in the 7th game and recaptured the nba title!

Spurs: 81

pistons: 74
From: svasu_ani on Fri Jun 24 12:26:18 2005.

HIV+ couple marry in Chennai

Two HIV positive persons got married in Chennai on Friday in order to spread the message that people with AIDS can get married and lead a normal life.

This morning, under the aegis of a non-governmental organisation, South Indian Positive Network, Radhakrishnan, 32, a mechanical engineer and Elizabeth, 26, a widow, entered into wedlock in a simple ceremony at the NGO's office at suburban Paravellore. Elizabeth was married to a lorry driver, who died after being afflicted with AIDS several months ago.

SIPN Project coordinator M Elango told PTI that Radhakrishnan and Elizabeth had met each other in April at a function in the city and they met again at a training camp at Andipatti.

Radhakrishnan now works as a social worker at 'Kancheepuram Positive Network' among HIV positive persons and Elizabeth is a SIPN employee, Elango said.

"Being HIV+ does not mean we are not entitled to our desires. We also have dreams and aspirations," Elizabeth said.

Elango said SIPN had conducted seven such marriages in the past.

"Our message is to create a clear awareness that HIV positive people can also lead a normal life. Our role is to identify positive people and promote family support," he said.
From: NOV on Sun Jun 26 21:32:14 2005.

Metti Oli strkes again!
this time in Malaysia

Man breaks TV to get wife�s attention: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/6/27/nation/11327402&sec=nation
From: Surya on Mon Jun 27 14:40:40 2005.

stranger wrote:

Spurs wrecked the pistons in the 7th game and recaptured the nba title!

Spurs: 81

pistons: 74

Damn the Spurs!!! Damn Tim Duncan!!

Klansmen's request for a new trial denied!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050627/ap_on_re_us/civil_rights_killings;_ylt=AvOvw.1CEN.ss8QL003P3xCs0NUE

I say execute him!!
From: stranger on Mon Jun 27 14:45:50 2005.

Tim Duncan and Mark Duncan are same??

What is your point, surya?
From: Surya on Mon Jun 27 14:54:03 2005.

What? .....NO!!!!!

I don't like the Spurs, I don't like Tim Duncan, because he is the best player on the team.

Now Mark Duncan, is an attorney. What I said about Tim Duncan has nothing to do with Mark Duncan. I think the Klansman should be executed! That is a strange coincidence!
From: NM on Mon Jun 27 21:56:44 2005.

NOV wrote:

Metti Oli strkes again!
this time in Malaysia

Man breaks TV to get wife�s attention: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/6/27/nation/11327402&sec=nation
Hmm!! What can we say!

From: Shekhar on Tue Jun 28 0:47:45 2005.

NM wrote:

Metti Oli strkes again!
this time in Malaysia

Man breaks TV to get wife�s attention: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/6/27/nation/11327402&sec=nation

Hmm!! What can we say! Rolling Eyes

Idiot! He should have just switched it off!!

From: NM on Tue Jun 28 0:57:55 2005.

Shekhar wrote:

Idiot! He should have just switched it off!!
u're rite' shekhar! that's the right word!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Jun 28 1:57:44 2005.

That must have been tried & failed eariler, worse followed by wrestling matches or blonks
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Jun 28 2:00:21 2005.

Just my guess seeing the worldwide witchcraft(www!) of mega serials
From: NM on Tue Jun 28 2:00:25 2005.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

That must have been tried & failed eariler, worse followed by wrestling matches or blonks
Oh madam!! must you remind us of the blonks?? Now that the icon is available, there seems to be no opportunity to use that!!
From: Surya on Tue Jun 28 17:20:21 2005.

Ok, Usually men don't break TVs. Since a good number of them are addicted to it. But if a woman actually forced a man to this extent........WOW!
From: svasu_ani on Tue Jun 28 18:02:35 2005.

One killed in Juhu beach stampede

For the last three days, the Juhu beach in Mumbai has been witnessing a massive rush of people.

Hoping to lay their hands on the diamonds, they have been sifting through the sands at the beach.

But all they have found so far are polished stones. However, undeterred the crowds continue to pour in even as one person was killed in a stampede caused by the huge crowds.

"I've been searching since 4 am in the morning. I have found 270 diamonds so far," said Jayaraj.

The police say they have sent out several notices warning people not to venture out onto the beach, especially during the high tide.

"These are just plain stones and people are believing it to be diamonds. We urge the people not to go to the beach," said Amitabh Gupta, DCP, Zone 9.

The police are trying to investigate where the stones came from and how they ended up being strewn across the beach.
From: svasu_ani on Wed Jun 29 12:00:04 2005.

Fake diamond rush at Juhu beach continues

The police resorted to a lathicharge to drive away fortune hunters at Juhu beach, which saw huge crowds coming in search of the elusive diamond.

It's a rush that shows no sign of dying down. Although not a single diamond has been found in the last three days, only polished stones which many believe are the real thing.

''I am hoping to find a stone too. And when I do, I will sell it and buy a bungalow. People here are saying that these are real, but mediapersons are saying these are fake. Who do we believe?'' says Ameer, student.

Quick buck

Those who have found the stones are trying to make a quick buck by selling them at exorbitant rates. But the jewellers aren't buying.

''These are not real diamonds. They are American diamonds also called Zircons. People have been coming to sell them to us since Friday, but they are not worth a lot. They can sell them from Rs 10 a carat to Rs 35 a carat,'' says Dilip Soni, Owner, Deepika Jewellers.

The police are still clueless about how these stones found their way to the beach and are sending out repeated warnings to the public telling them to stay away, especially during the high tide.

While the initial gold rush was in Caloifornia, Mumbai witnessed its own rush over the last couple of days. Not a gold rush but a diamond rush actually.

But after one person died looking for these polished stones the police is now not taking any chances and is keeping all treasure hunters at bay.
From: Querida on Tue Jul 5 23:35:38 2005.

Two planets get Tamil names

Indo-Asian News Service

With two planets being named Senthalir and Sharanya after them, two girls from Tamil Nadu have certainly reached for the stars!

Minor planet 17,091 is Senthalir and minor planet 17,092 is Sharanya - named after the girls from Coimbatore district. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has given two of its space finds - by the MIT LINEAR programme - the names of the finalists at the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in, Cleveland, Ohio.

S. Sharanya and P. Senthalir were then Class 11 students at the Avila Convent in Coimbatore, India. Competing in the science fair, they presented a thesis that the "neem (margossa)" extract could suppress branching in eucalyptus.

The team of two won the Fourth Grand Award in the international section of the competition that year. Their guide was M. Paramathma, head of the tree-breeding department at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Today Sharanya is a student at the Coimbatore Institute of Technology and Senthalir a student of IT at the Kumaraguru College of Technology.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we think that planets will be named after us," the two say, delighted that Mars rocks will have Indian names too.

Even as scientists give rocks on the red planet Indian names, these two young women have theirs already up in the galaxy.
From: ssanjinika on Fri Jul 8 11:23:27 2005.

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka wants to crush its illegal firearms trade to curb its murder rate, so on Friday it did just that -- sending two bulldozers rolling over 32,000 rusty shot guns, rifles and handguns to drive its point home.

The arms, harvested from a firearms amnesty, a Marxist insurrection in the 1970s and 1980s, two decades of civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels and from crime gangs, were mostly beyond repair, and had been sitting in police and army stores for years.

"(Each year) 1,400 homicides are committed using mostly illicit arms," said Tilak Ranavirajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order, as soldiers laid out the dilapidated arms at a ceremony in the capital's Independence Square, a day before the international day against illegal arms.

"We are destroying these arms in public to create a public opinion," he added, saying a government firearms amnesty was still in effect. "We want to give people another chance. If they hand over these weapons, we will not prosecute them."
From: svasu_ani on Sat Jul 16 23:52:45 2005.

Woman Gives Birth to Two Sets of Twins

TRENTON, N.J. - LeAnn and Stephen Beloyan struggled for more than a decade to start a family. Then just weeks into LeAnn's pregnancy, they discovered they were having not one, but two sets of identical twins.

"We were elated and overwhelmed, and concerned about how we were going to handle all this," Stephen Beloyan, 39, said Saturday, when two of the babies were expected to go home.

Lauren, Sarah, Benjamin and Samuel each were born a minute apart on June 7 by Caesarean section at Capital Health System's Mercer Campus.

Eight weeks early but otherwise healthy, the newborns weighed from slightly more than 2 pounds to 3 pounds.

"It's been an exciting process and a long process. We're grateful for the attention. We want our kids to know how special and how rare they are," said LeAnn Beloyan, 37, who was put on bed rest 21 weeks into her pregnancy and was admitted to the hospital a few weeks before she gave birth.

Lauren and Benjamin � slightly bigger than their siblings � were expected to go home Saturday. Sarah and Samuel had some minor complications from the premature birth. But doctors say they are growing and are expected to likewise go home soon.

"The prognosis for all the babies is good," said Dr. Naheed Abedin, one of the family's neonatologists.

The Beloyans struggled for 12 years to have children. They turned to in vitro fertilization in May 2004, which increases the odds of multiple births since more than one embryo is often implanted to improve the chances of conceiving.

According doctors at Capital Health System, the odds of having two sets of identical twins from the same pregnancy are anywhere from 1 in 8 million to 1 in 25 million.
From: nirosha sen on Sun Jul 17 0:53:35 2005.

2 sets of twins??? I wonder why couldn't they just call them quadruplets?????
From: rajraj on Sun Jul 17 1:02:50 2005.

Nirosha: I think they meant 'two sets of identical twins' in the heading ! They say that later.
From: RR on Sun Jul 17 1:48:02 2005.

Australian pro Joseph Hachem wins World Series of Poker in theatrical finish

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The sun set, the sun rose and still they played, caution trumping bravery, adrenaline fighting off fatigue, rare moments of drama breaking through the tedium, the chip lead shifting for nearly 14 hours at the 36th World Series of Poker - the longest final table in tournament history for the richest prize.

Nine players had started Friday afternoon, the survivors among the 5,619, who entered the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold 'em tournament last week, and only two remained Saturday morning - Australian chiropractor-turned-pro Joseph Hachem and American amateur Steven Dannenmann in the first World Series for both of them.

At 6:44 a.m., on their sixth head-to-head duel and the 232nd hand of the night, Hachem claimed the fortune and the priceless championship bracelet when his seven-high straight beat Dannenmann's pair of aces.

The first Australian to win the poker World Series, Hachem hugged Dannenmann, then wrapped himself in an Australian flag while his many compatriots and fellow poker players in the room chanted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" as they had through the night.

Little known before now, the 39-year-old Hachem realized immediately that his life would never be the same.

"A million dollars changes my life, let alone this. It changes everything," said Hachem, a native of Lebanon who moved to Australia with his family in 1972. He gave up a 13-year chiropractic career three years ago to play poker for a living and vowed now to succeed last year's champion, Greg Raymer, as a worthy ambassador for the game.

He pulled out his cellphone to call his wife in Melbourne and spoke to her briefly, he said, "just before she fainted."
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Jul 18 2:42:22 2005.

From:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4685645.stm

�Computers donated from the developed world are both fuelling and feeding an appetite for computers in Africa where a new machine could cost more than a year's wages.�

The agency doing the work is:
http://www.computer-aid.org/home.htm

I am sure that there are similar organizations for INDIA in some areas. fPerhaps people could consider similar possibilities in other areas.
Swarup
From: svasu_ani on Tue Jul 19 10:30:46 2005.

Flavonoids can lower blood pressure, researchers say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Dark chocolate can not only soothe your soul but can lower blood pressure too, researchers reported Monday.

The study, published by the American Heart Association, joins a growing body of research that show compounds found in chocolate called flavonoids can help the blood vessels work more smoothly, perhaps reducing the risk of heart disease.

"Previous studies suggest flavonoid-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine and chocolate, might offer cardiovascular benefits, but this is one of the first clinical trials to look specifically at dark chocolate's effect on lowering blood pressure among people with hypertension," said Jeffrey Blumberg of Tufts University in Boston, who led the study.

"This study is not about eating more chocolate," Blumberg added. "It suggests that cocoa flavonoids appear to have benefits on vascular function and glucose sensitivity."

Scientists are far from being able to make specific recommendations for patients based on their research on chocolate, and nutritionists have urged people to be cautious because chocolate is high in fat, sugar and calories.

Blumberg and colleagues at the University of L'Aquila in Italy studied 10 men and 10 women with high blood pressure.

For 15 days, half ate a daily 3.5 ounce (100 gram) bar of specially formulated, flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, while the other half ate the same amount of white chocolate.

Then each group "crossed over" and ate the other chocolate.

"White chocolate, which has no flavonoids, was the perfect control food because it contains all the other ingredients and calories found in dark chocolate," Blumberg said.

"It's important to note that the dark chocolate we used had a high level of flavonoids, giving it a slightly bittersweet taste. Most Americans eat milk chocolate, which has a low amount of these compounds."

Writing in the journal Hypertension, Blumberg's team said when the volunteers ate the special dark chocolate, they had a 12 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and a 9 mm Hg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) on average.

Blood pressure did not change when the volunteers ate white chocolate.

"This is not only a statistically significant effect, but it's also a clinically meaningful decline," Blumberg said. "This is the kind of reduction in blood pressure often found with other healthful dietary interventions."

Eating dark chocolate also seemed to improve how the body used insulin, and reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol by about 10 percent on average.

"The findings do not suggest that people with high blood pressure should eat lots of dark chocolate in lieu of other important blood pressure-reduction methods, such as medication and exercise," Blumberg said. "Rather, we are identifying specific flavonoids that can have a benefit on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity."
From: rami on Wed Jul 20 2:53:22 2005.

Students use SMS to cheat in exam

Tuesday, July 19, 2005 (New Delhi):

Mobile technology seems to be the latest tool for cheating in examinations.

While investigating a paper leak at a prestigious engineering college, the CBI found that the answers were leaked to 21 students through text messages.

The incident became public after Delhi University officials realized that 21 candidates had identical marks in their physics, chemistry and mathematics papers, for the Delhi College of Engineering entrance exam.

The CBI rounded up the suspects today, which included former students and employees of the college, for questioning.

The investigating agency has now registered a case of corruption against them.

Ingenious method

The main accused in the scam is a former DCE student of the 2003 batch, who charged each student Rs 4 lakh.

He would provide the correct answers through a special cellphone SIM card, which he gave to all 21 boys and instructed them to activate it only during the examination.

One hour into the exam, he SMSed all the answers for the multiple choice question paper.

Those students who couldn't smuggle in their cellphones were helped out by of men delivering water to students in the examination hall.

The suspect, who works with a private company has gone missing.
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Jul 21 20:27:12 2005.

The following article by Amrit Dhillon in The Age, Melbourne says that there will be lot of job opprtunities for foreigners ( and I assme for Indians with foreign training and NRI children) in India:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/time-to-curry-favour-with-the-rivals/2005/07/21/1121539096898.html

Enjoy.
Swarup
From: Surya on Sat Jul 30 16:09:21 2005.

Sonia watches Indira's videos to copy her mannerisms!!

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=75389&headline=Sonia~watched~Indira's~videos~to~copy~her~mannerisms

Encounter ends, 2 militants shot dead.

Saddam comes to blows!
From: nirosha sen on Sat Jul 30 22:00:48 2005.

Boy Surya, reading the above piece is dejavu for me, Pa!!

Coz, right now we too are undergoing a similar proposal by the majority sons of the soil, to eradicate poverty!! That too for a 2nd cycle of a programme gone so awry, that it's akin to flogging a dead-horse!!

An affirmative action programme that had simply contributed to the elevation of 80% of a majority race here to middle-class and upper levels and still there's no satisfaction!! Sigh..........
From: stranger on Mon Aug 8 17:30:11 2005.

Peter Jennings Dies at 67

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1015438&page=1
From: nirosha sen on Tue Aug 9 4:40:08 2005.

were you a fan of his, stranger???? Sorry abt it! Yeah, read it in the papers that he died of lung cancer!!

Although anyone outside CNN or the BBC, is not largely known to audiences on our side!
From: stranger on Wed Aug 10 13:18:41 2005.

yes, I did like him. He was indeed very good, aunty!

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

Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" is being filmed now with Tom Hanks as hero!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/
From: svasu_ani on Wed Aug 10 13:45:06 2005.

Man Dies After Playing Computer Games For 49 Hours

SEOUL, South Korea -- For some people, playing video games can be addictive, and police in South Korea said that may have cost a man his life.

Police said a 28-year-old man collapsed at an Internet cafe and died after playing the battle simulation game Starcraft non-stop for 49 hours. They said he'd barely eaten anything while he was glued to the keyboard.

Doctors think the man might have had a heart attack.

Police said he was fired from his job last month because he kept missing work to play computer games.
From: Querida on Fri Aug 12 0:54:59 2005.

a whole new meaning to dressing up your dinner
check it out:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1417224.html

this isn't just fluff! more at:

http://www.chickenssuit.com/english/the_story/
From: Thiru on Fri Aug 12 8:56:34 2005.

Sambar under scanner in US

Sanchita Sharma

New Delhi, August 12, 2005
After the red chilli scare that had people shunning Indian curry in the UK, it is the sambar powder that has now come under the food safety scanner � this time in the US.

Indian-made sambar powder was found to have high levels of lead, which can lower IQ, result in stunting and cause kidney damage in children.

Health journal Paediatrics reported that children from two families who frequently used spices bought in India and the Republic of Georgia suffered from severe lead poisoning. Apart from the seven children � aged between 2 and 17 � their parents, from India, too were affected.

When high levels of lead were detected in the children�s bodies, their homes were inspected and the investigators zeroed in on the spices.

The spices found to be highly contaminated were sambar powder (kozhambu) purchased from India and zaffron (kharchos suneli) and swanuri marili from Georgia.

The spices were bought abroad, said the report, as those sold in the US are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and therefore should not contain any lead. While the study cautioned people who use spices bought outside the country regularly, it said travellers and those who have casual exposures to the spices were not at risk.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, meanwhile, is in the process of setting up a National Drugs Authority to enforce international regulatory food and drugs standards in India. �Safety standards of food products and alternative drugs sold in India have to be better enforced, and we are setting up the National Drugs Authority to look into safety issues and take penal action against defaulting manufacturers,� said Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
From: svasu_ani on Fri Aug 12 11:10:57 2005.

Pothys makes world's longest saree
Chennai, Aug 12: The world's longest saree has been produced by Chennai-based Pothys and this has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records, says S Ramesh, the managing partner of the textile house.

Dedicating the silk saree to Mother India, Ramesh said the saree is a symbol of patriotism and national integration and as a mark of respect to the freedom fighters. "This is indeed a great day in the annals of Pothys. I am happy to announce that Pothys has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest saree ever made. In fact, this saree has several other distinctions as well." The 1,276-foot saree depicts the history of India during the last five millennia.

A communication from the GWR dated July 12, 2005 says: "Congratulations. Your record has been accepted as an official Guinness World Record."

This silk saree has paintings depicting the history of India from the Mohanjadaro-Harappa period to the freedom struggle concluding with the country's Independence. It traces the history of India from Mohanjadaro-Harappa, Rama Era, Krishna Era, Buddha, Mahavira, Maurya, Chera, Chola, Pandiyas, Rajputs, Moghuls down to the country's freedom struggle. The saree has intricately woven with original gold zari and depicts exquisite monuments of India including the Parliament building, Taj Mahal, Charminar, the Qutub Minar, Thanjavur Temple, Amritsar Golden Temple and the Egmore Church, among others.

It also contains paintings of dance and music performances and other aspects of social and cultural life of the people belonging to this period. The saree also has hand-paintings of folk, miniatures of the important events in the country and portraits of Bharath Mata, Mahatma Gandhi, Tiruvalluvar, Swami Vivekananda and the globe.

The saree has been produced in a single piece measuring 1,276 feet in length and four feet in width. The saree was woven by three master weavers, six weavers and nine painters, all belonging to Pothys.

This unusual creation, which is a result of original designing and painstaking hard work, is indeed a remarkable milestone in the annals of the country's rich handloom industry.

Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala formally launched the saree at a simple function in the Raj Bhavan, Chennai, recently. The Governor praised the efforts that have gone into the making of the saree and lauded the distinction.

Pothys has already received the ISO 9001 - International Standard for quality. "We have also won two awards from the Government of India - the National Award for Master Weavers and the Silk Mark Distinction. A survey conducted by a local TV channel and an international consultancy firm found Pothys as the most popular silk showroom in Chennai", Ramesh added.

Pothys, which had its origin 90 years back in Srivilliputhur, has four centres in Tamil Nadu.

Ramesh said the concept of making the world's longest saree first emerged a year ago, and ever since work had been going on quietly. "For a year, we have been working on this at Arni as the required weavers and designers are available there", Rmaesh said, adding that the saree would be available for public viewing for a month, after which it would be taken round educational institutions to inculcate a feeling of patriotism and national integration among the student community.

The saree weighs 40 kg and has a large chunk of zari, costing the firm Rs 22 lakh in all. Ramesh said, "We at Pothys are planning to use the designs of the excellent oil paintings depicting important events in the country's history, in the Pallus (Mundhanai) of a new set of sarees that will hit the market soon. We are sure the Pallus with the ingenious designs will stir the market."
From: stranger on Fri Aug 12 12:06:51 2005.

Manirathnam to direct Hollywood film?

http://thatstamil.indiainfo.com/specials/cinema/specials/maniratnam.html
From: a.ratchasi on Tue Aug 16 4:02:06 2005.

For Niro:
The Queen of Bollywood
The Leading Lady
From: nirosha sen on Tue Aug 16 5:54:16 2005.

Why, thank you, girl!! Yeah, nice to see Ash being feted by the cineworld at large!

But honestly, I don't buy that line, that says, "my characters have always stood for something", Pa!! She's done some pretty crappy movies that never held my attention long enough except to marvel at her beauty!!

However, in Devdas, she took my breath away even if she had not spoken a word!! The scenes were hilarious and ludicrous in the beginning of the show, but as it progressed, there was beautiful chemistry between her and Shahrukh!! And who could forget that last scene, with that long train of a pallu as she raced to the gate to see her dying Devdas???? Sigh......absolutely beautiful!!!

Thanks for the site again, Ratchasi!

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Aug 16 6:01:26 2005.

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

Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" is being filmed now with Tom Hanks as hero!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/

yes, I did like him. He was indeed very good, aunty! Smile

That was an excellent novel 8)

From: Surya on Thu Aug 18 19:20:17 2005.

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

Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" is being filmed now with Tom Hanks as hero!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/

yes, I did like him. He was indeed very good, aunty! Smile

Nun prays in protest at "Da Vinci Code" film

From: nirosha sen on Mon Aug 22 6:41:26 2005.

Matha Amritanandamayi or better known to her followers as simply, Amma, was threatened with a knife by a man who stood barely 3 meters away!!

However, he was apprehended by other devotees in time and held captive for the police to arrest. The incident took place last Sunday, in Vallikavu Ashram, Kollam, Kerala, where Amma resides and meets her devotees.

From: Surya on Fri Aug 26 14:30:47 2005.

Matha Amritanandamayi or better known to her followers as simply, Amma, was threatened with a knife by a man who stood barely 3 meters away!!

However, he was apprehended by other devotees in time and held captive for the police to arrest. The incident took place last Sunday, in Vallikavu Ashram, Kollam, Kerala, where Amma resides and meets her devotees.

Yes, he later on claimed that he wasn't going to harm her, he was a devotee himself, he ran through the aisle simply to talk to her, and since everyone tried to stop him, he pulled the knife to try and defend himself.

Why do I have a hard time buying it?

His family later claimed that he had gone Loco en la Cabeza a few months ago.

From: lordstanher on Fri Aug 26 14:49:52 2005.

Sorry for the belated reply to this but I seldom visit this thread nowadays.......
Very amazing to know abt the longest Saree! I was really touched from the article abt it that the Saree still is considered a symbol of 'Mother India'.......
I hope this inculcates the patriotism & nationalism tat its manufacturers aimed at!
One thing tho- 'wonder who's going to wear it, considering its sooooooo long?!
From: Surya on Fri Aug 26 17:38:29 2005.

lordstanher wrote:

One thing tho- 'wonder who's going to wear it, considering its sooooooo long?!

They need someone with chubs to wear something that huge.

Possible Cadidates.

J. Jeyalalitha. (Elections are right around the corner ya know? )

And then the Aunties from the excruciatingly painful tele serials offered by our beloved Sun TV.

Sarika
Latha
Kushboo
Sulakshana

I'm sure I'm leaving out some 500,000,000 odd pounds on this.

Picked up form the papers today:

Sita Suyamvaram in Chennai
Chennai the Least Polluted City!!

I miss Chennai.
From: lordstanher on Sat Aug 27 4:56:58 2005.

Surya wrote:

They need someone with chubs to wear something that huge.

Possible Cadidates.

J. Jeyalalitha. (Elections are right around the corner ya know? )

True But I thot JJ's party lost to DMK in the last elections already??

Surya wrote:

And then the Aunties from the excruciatingly painful tele serials offered by our beloved Sun TV.

Sarika

Um.....u mean Sarita, who acts as Tamarai in 'Selvi' teleserial......?
She's acted in many Telugu films of the '70s/80s as well......

Surya wrote:

I miss Chennai.

Oh, is tat where ur originally from??

>>>>>>>>>PS- Apologies for this brief digression!
From: Surya on Sat Aug 27 17:59:02 2005.

Quote:

True But I thot JJ's party lost to DMK in the last elections already??

The LS elections yes. Miserably!!!! But State Elections are right around the corner.

Yeah, Saritha aka the Thamarai in Coma.

Quote:

Oh, is tat where ur originally from??

My family is originally from Sri Rangham. But I lived in Chennai for most of my "India" Life.

PS: I thought u might like to know, I was watching this documentary last night called "Return to Kandahar." It was about this afghan woman who had settled in Canada, but went back to track down her best friend who she hadn't heard of for 4 years. It dipicted the horrible life led by those ppl due to the extreamists, and somehow they have leant to like it. Anywayz, she went to this movie theater in Kabul, and there was a AB movie playing (IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN!!!!!! ), and she said that her favorite actor as a young girl was Amitabh Bachan! I was shocked!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sun Aug 28 1:25:13 2005.

From today�s �Hindustan Times�:

Cancer suit against big chips

Potato chips and French fries could soon come with a warning label in California if the state�s top attorney prevails in a lawsuit filed on Friday against nine fast food chains and snack-food makers.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer asked for a court order requiring McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy�s, Frito Lay and other companies to warn consumers that their fries and chips may contain acrylamide, a chemical the state says causes cancer.

Acrylamide, a byproduct of chemicals and high heat, has been found at low levels in several foods. The lawsuit focuses on French fries and chips because they have more acrylamide than other foods, according to the attorney general�s office.
From: NOV on Tue Sep 6 0:19:40 2005.

A BACHELOR from Tamil Nadu and staunch supporter of
Congress has willed his estate worth Rs50mil (RM4.3mil)
to the ruling party of India, Malaysia Nanban
reported.

S.S. Thirumoorthy who is in his late 40s and lives in
Kovai has supported the Congress Party for the past 30
years.

He wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about his
intention, saying that he had faith in and loved the
party and being a bachelor without an heir he wanted to
bequeath his money to the party.

From: Sandeep on Tue Sep 6 4:18:42 2005.

A BACHELOR from Tamil Nadu and staunch supporter of
Congress has willed his estate worth Rs50mil (RM4.3mil)
to the ruling party of India, Malaysia Nanban
reported.

S.S. Thirumoorthy who is in his late 40s and lives in
Kovai has supported the Congress Party for the past 30
years.

He wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about his
intention, saying that he had faith in and loved the
party and being a bachelor without an heir he wanted to
bequeath his money to the party.

And we thought all fools got married.

From: Surya on Tue Sep 6 20:00:14 2005.

He's probably hoping to join the party sooner of later.
From: NOV on Tue Sep 6 21:47:00 2005.

White Cobra coils around Amman Statue

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/9/7/nation/11968422&sec=nation

Wednesday September 7, 2005
King Cobra charms thousands
BY FREDERICK FERNANDEZ AND KHAW CHIA HUI

PUCHONG: Thousands thronged a humble-looking temple here after a five-metre long King Cobra, which appears to be albino and had coiled itself around the Amman deity at its main altar since Monday, became the talk of the town.

The rare spectacle has attracted both the curious and the pious to the 123-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman temple. The people were there not only to catch a glimpse of the snake, but also to offer prayers and �for good luck�.

The multiracial visitors comprised housewives, young girls and office workers, among others.

Some of the devotees offered milk, egg, flowers and even cash after catching a glimpse of the snake and performing prayers at the temple.

Tamilselvai Murugaian, 40, said she decided to have a look at the snake as news about it was �hard to believe� initially.

�I've been here three times since Monday night. I saw its face and I believe I will have some good luck,� she said.

Karen Toh said she rushed to the temple when she heard about the snake from a friend.

�It�s not every day that one gets to see something like this,� said the 52-year-old, who was accompanied by her mother and sister.

K. Shanmuganathan believed that the presence of the King Cobra was a sacred event.

�I personally believe that the snake was heading for the Sri Nageswari deity statue but ended up around the Amman deity statue by chance and decided to remain there to show its usits shakti (powers) and remind us to remain steadfast in our faith,� he said.

M. Gopal, from Rawang, said some of the people were teary-eyed after viewing the snake.

�This is expected as the King Cobra, and this being a rare one, is depicted as a powerful animal in Hindu scriptures.

�Its presence in a place like this, which is surrounded by concrete jungle, highways and vehicles, is probably a wake-up call for many devotees,� said Gopal.

Goh Khoon Leong, a furniture shop owner and a Hindu, said:

�I didn�t believe it at first but when I saw it, I believe there is something spiritual about its unexpected presence at this temple.�

Sorna Kumari, a Form Five student from Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, said she took a taxi with two of her classmates to catch a glimpse of the snake.

�My friends and I felt it was a worthwhile trip. We took the opportunity to pray that we will all get through our SPM examination.

�We also placed three bottles of milk as offering,� she said.
From: Surya on Wed Sep 7 20:02:29 2005.

That's amazing!!!

Quote:

�I didn�t believe it at first but when I saw it, I believe there is something spiritual about its unexpected presence at this temple.�

Interesting! Should visit next time.
From: Sandeep on Thu Sep 8 1:27:00 2005.

Wonderful the way God works.

No magic, no miracle, a very simple act to strengthen the faith of his followers. 8)

I assume thats GOD's WAY
From: nirosha sen on Thu Sep 8 9:48:39 2005.

From CNN :-

Yahoo Inc. based in Hong Kong, is under fire from French group - Reporters without Border - that information provided by Yahoo on e-mail sent by a Chinese journo. had helped to convict and jail him in China!!

Obviously, to please and cosy upto authorities in Beijing, personal information had been provided to Chinese police!!

Looks like Yahoo has now become Snitch and thrown all ethics of non-involvement to the wind!!
From: nirosha sen on Thu Sep 8 9:52:07 2005.

As for the albino snake - It has left on its own at abt 7.45 pm last night (Wednesday), and was last seen slithering into some thick undergrowth in the temple perimeter.

It was said to have had a crowd of 30,000 curious on-lookers who left milk and eggs at the temple sanctum doorway!!

From: Sandeep on Thu Sep 8 22:33:27 2005.

From CNN :-

Yahoo Inc. based in Hong Kong, is under fire from French group - Reporters without Border - that information provided by Yahoo on e-mail sent by a Chinese journo. had helped to convict and jail him in China!!

Obviously, to please and cosy upto authorities in Beijing, personal information had been provided to Chinese police!!

Looks like Yahoo has now become Snitch and thrown all ethics of non-involvement to the wind!! Sad

Privacy laws are not powerful in many countries. Govt can force companies, even banks, through legal means to give information in name of national security or anti-terrorism. His is the norm in democratic countries so what to say about dictatorial china.

From: Sandeep on Thu Sep 8 22:36:37 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

As for the albino snake !!

Is that snake an albino , because from the image that snake as colored strips. Albinos will not have colour pigments if I am true.

For Instance White Tigers are not albinos for the same reason. so say, the wild life experts.

From: gaddeswarup on Thu Sep 8 23:05:53 2005.

Nirosha Sen wrote:

Quote:

Yahoo Inc. based in Hong Kong, is under fire from French group - Reporters without Border - that information provided by Yahoo on e-mail sent by a Chinese journo. had helped to convict and jail him in China!!

I posted some time ago "Yahoo Web Beacons". Apparently, Yohoo keeps track of which sites you visit.
Swarup

From: nirosha sen on Thu Sep 8 23:11:28 2005.

Please enlighten further Swarup? What do you mean by keeping track and for whom?????? This is all most disturbing, Pa!!
From: Sandeep on Thu Sep 8 23:22:50 2005.

Many websites uses Web beacons (electronic file that allows a web site to count users who have visited that page or to access certain cookies). Even our forum hub uses it (or similar) so that you dont have to login each time.

Yahoo privacy policy says

Within Yahoo network
1) Yahoo! uses web beacons within the Yahoo! network of web sites in order to count users and to recognize users by accessing Yahoo! cookies.
2) Being able to access Yahoo! cookies allows us to personalize your experience when you visit Yahoo! web sites that are located both on and off of the yahoo.com domain. For example, Yahoo! GeoCities pages are mostly located on the geocities.com domain.

Outside Yahoo network
1) Yahoo! uses web beacons to conduct research on behalf of certain partners on their web sites and also for auditing purposes.
2)Information recorded through these web beacons is used to report aggregate information about Yahoo! users to our partners. This aggregate information may include demographic and usage information. No personally identifiable information about you is shared with partners from this research.

This is done not just by yahoo but by most major websites companies.

Legaly the user should be informed of this and there sshould be an option to opt-out of it.

Yahoo provides both in their Yahoo Privacy Webpage BUT
1) Who knows about all this
2) The opt out is applied on the browser so if you use a different computer/browser you are still not opted out.
From: Sandeep on Thu Sep 8 23:34:46 2005.

Its a totally wrong belief that Internet gives you anonymity.

For ordinary people like you and me YES it gives anonimity. But Govts, Investigative agencies and anyone with enough resources can trace each one of us.

This week only an Engineer was traced and arrested for sending anonymous mails to molest a lady subordinate.

Police where able to trace the IP address of the Internet Cafe and his office computer he used for these perposed. All they had where the emails he had send.
From: nirosha sen on Fri Sep 9 2:43:38 2005.

Thanks for the infor. Sandeep! Though, my disquiet isn't any calmer by that revelation!!

With regards to the snake : M'sian zoo officials say that all those eggs left behind by the onlookers, a few thousand of it, may not be of any use for the snake after all!! Apparently, King cobras do not eat eggs, but they do help themselves liquid egg contents from open receptacles!!

Meanwhile, now that the snake had left the temple premises, officials say they will use the milk left by devotees for temple abishegam (ablution) of the deities but the eggs look like will soon just rot away, after being left at a designated spot for some time!!

Yes, you guys are right!! The serpent is not an albino but a white one with a silvery irridescence to it!! Zoo officials also said, that it could have been a female which might have lost its natural habitat, and looking for a place to roost!!
From: Cinefan on Fri Sep 9 7:20:21 2005.

Hey Sandeep,
You were in Bangalore right,when did you shift to Singapore??
From: Querida on Fri Sep 9 16:41:03 2005.

Hi Sandeep! Long time no hubbing?
anyways yeah you're right about white "ghost tigers" they are albino...
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Sep 9 18:57:45 2005.

Nirosha Sen asked about how Yahoo tries to keep track of the sites we visit. I posted this some time ago. I recd. it from a friend . I did not bother to change my settings since I am 64 and decided that I do not care if somebody tries to keep track of me. Here it is again.

Yahoo Web Beacons

Yahoo is now using something called "Web Beacons" to track Yahoo Group users around the net and see what you're doing and where you are going similar to cookies. Yahoo is recording every website and every group you visit. Take a look at their updated privacy statement:
http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy
About half-way down the page, in the section on cookies, you will see a link that says web beacons. Click on the phrase web beacons. That will bring you to a paragraph entitled "Outside the Yahoo Network."
In this section you'll see a little "click here to opt out" link that will
let you "opt-out" of their new method of snooping. Once you have clicked that link, you are exempted. Notice the "Success" message on the top of the next page. Be careful because on that page there is a "Cancel Opt-out" button that, if clicked, will *undo*! * the opt-out.
Feel free to forward this to other groups.
From: nirosha sen on Fri Sep 9 20:42:28 2005.

Thanks a lot Swarup!! Appreciate that much needed tip!!

Although, for some reason the Doubting Thomas in me thinks that if you did opt out, doesn't that like draw attention to yourself?????? I mean instead of letting you off the hook, doesn't it make them more determined and curious abt us, which might invite more probing, albeit unwanted?????

From: rajraj on Sat Sep 10 0:28:40 2005.

Appreciate that much needed tip!!

Although, for some reason the Doubting Thomas in me thinks that if you did opt out, doesn't that like draw attention to yourself?????? I mean instead of letting you off the hook, doesn't it make them more determined and curious abt us, which might invite more probing, albeit unwanted????? Shocked

Thanks a lot Swarup!! Very Happy

No Nirosha! US laws require that you should be given the option about protecting your privacy. This applies to banks and credit card issuers also. There is also a law to protect you against unwanted phone calls by marketing firms and others selling things.

From: Sandeep on Sun Sep 11 23:55:13 2005.

Cinefan wrote:

Hey Sandeep,
You were in Bangalore right,when did you shift to Singapore??

Yes Yes I am based in Bangalore but keep traveling. Now I am in Singapore from last 2 months plan to be here for some more time.

From: Sandeep on Mon Sep 12 0:00:04 2005.

Why Nirosha, you seem to have lot of secrets

Thanks a lot Swarup!! Very Happy

Cool down Pa!

From: nirosha sen on Mon Sep 12 0:47:25 2005.

Fear Pa, fear!!

We can all be pissed off enough abt the state of affairs in either our individual lands or elsewhere, but to think that internet providers like Yahoo is playing Gestapo, is truly scary, don't you think?????
From: NOV on Mon Sep 12 21:46:34 2005.

INUPAMULA (NALGONDA DT): An octogenarian, who was to be cremated in a couple of hours, `comes back to life and claims that he had been sent back to earth from Yamapuri following the orders of Yamadharmaraja, the king of the hell.'

"He (Yama) was sporting a large moustache with curly ends but had a bald head. He rebuked the two soldiers, who mistakenly took me to hell. They dropped me at my home by a magic scooter,'' Malla Reddy, the old man, told The Hindu on Thursday.

According to Kamalamma, Mr. Reddy's wife, she found him in comatose in the early hours of July 8. A couple of villagers checked his pulse and breathing and declared him dead.

The body was placed on paddy straws and a light was lit at his head as part of the funeral procedure. Mr. Reddy's two sons were informed of the `demise' of their father and the message was sent to their near and dear. As it was raining, the cremation got delayed.

After 20 hours of his `death,' Mr. Reddy woke up shocking and surprising the grieving relatives. Then he narrated how he was taken to hell by two soldiers clad in knickers and his interaction with Yama. "The hall in which he (Yama) sat was full of shelves and long ledgers. He took one of the books and pulled up the soldiers for bringing the wrong person. He ordered them to drop me at my home," says Mr. Reddy.

Villagers not surprised

Villagers express no doubts over Mr. Reddy's version as he is known for his honesty. However, Muvva Rama Rao of Jana Vignana Vedika contends that elderly persons come back to life after being comatose for eight to 10 hours.

I would suggest Mr. Reddy to stop watching movies like Yemanukku Yeman and Harry Potter (magic scooter!) for a while.
From: lordstanher on Tue Sep 13 0:12:12 2005.

Hmmm......quite an interesting bit of news from AP for a change!

NOV wrote:

I would suggest Mr. Reddy to stop watching movies like Yemanukku Yeman and Harry Potter (magic scooter!) for a while.

Um......actually since Mr. Reddy is obv. a telugu guy, I'd suggest he stop watching movies like Yama Gola (a popular '70s telugu movie).......
From: NOV on Tue Sep 13 3:48:52 2005.

Indians top the list of the 2,555 suicide victims annually nationwide in Malaysia, followed by the Chinese and Malays.

There were 21.1 suicides per 100,000 Indians, 8.6 per 100,000 Chinese and 2.6 per 100,000 Malays.
From: nirosha sen on Wed Sep 14 0:47:46 2005.

Depressing and true abt M'sia, folks!!

2 Singaporean bloggers have been charged under the Seditions Act, for making racist comments against others in their Blogs. This makes it the 1st of its kind to date.

As usual it raises the question of how much is one allowed to stretch the parameters of freedom in Cyberspace!!!!
From: RR on Wed Sep 14 2:46:55 2005.

Niro, this is not new in Singapore. Early this year, two singaporeans (studing abroad) got severe treatments for making one abusive statement on a goverment personnel.

Guys, watch your words here. You may be the next.
From: NOV on Wed Sep 14 2:53:31 2005.

I think you need to delve deeper into this issue.

One lady had written to the newspapers about travelling in taxis with dogs. Her lament was that the dogs leave behind mess not fit for humans to travel later. She also happens to be a Muslim.

Taking this up in his blog, one of the guys who was a pet shop owner, wrote disparaging remarks about Muslims. I think this was utterly uncalled for and punishment, at least in this case, is well-deserved.
From: Sandeep on Wed Sep 14 4:42:48 2005.

Who will determine the fine line between "Freedom of Speech" and abuse/sedition/...

The fact remains that whatever you say some others will not like it. In case of some topics it may hurt sentiments.

If its the Govt then forget it. Internet will soon become like what print and tv media is today around the world.
From: NOV on Wed Sep 14 21:52:54 2005.

LONDON: A young Malaysian PhD student has achieved a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence which can lead to the creation of "thinking robots" in five to 10 years. After three years of research, Dr M. Sethuraman, 26, has developed an evolutionary technique which has been hailed by the Robert Gordon University as of "world significance."

For his effort, the Klang-born son of a shopkeeper will be conferred a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence in July by the university in Aberdeen, Scotland � its first Malaysian student to receive such an honour.

Dr Sethuraman said his ultimate goal was to create a robot that could "think, feel and behave like a human being."
"I can see that in five to 10 years, intelligent artificial species such as those seen in I.Robot, Terminator and Data from Star Trek will become a part of everyday life."

"Once you reach that level, anything is possible. That's what I call real intelligence," he said in an exclusive interview.

Dr Sethuraman said his research was based on an evolutionary process that allowed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) � a microchip modelled on the human brain � to evolve in a modular fashion until real intelligence emerged.

"Just like human beings, we can adapt to different environments. Until today, there is no technology to mimic this," he said, referring to the evolution of man and animals in a changing environment.

Dr Sethuraman, who has a First Class Honours degree in electronics and Communication Engineering and a Master's in Philosophy, is confident the technology to create "thinking robots" could be out within 10 years, depending on research funding. Dr Sethuraman, who has won numerous awards and presented his research at international conferences, thanked the university and his supervisor, Dr Christopher MacLeod for his work.

"I also wish to dedicate my success to my mother (M. Ramayee) whose sacrifices has made it possible," he said. When Dr Sethuraman was 12, his father died, leaving his mother to struggle to run a sundry store to support him and his younger brother, M. Valliapan, 24, who is due to study at the International
Medical University in September.

Dr MacLeod described Dr Sethuraman as his group's best PhD student.
From: RR on Wed Sep 14 22:46:20 2005.

Congrats to Sethuraman & Malaysia, but IMHO 'thinking robots in 5-10 years' is a wild imagination. I would like to know how they qualify that statement. I would think Evloutionary modular NN's is just too far away from these dreams.
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Sep 15 2:13:10 2005.

I found the idea of the thesis interesting and followed it up a bit; just references (I do not have any expertise in this area). There is a discussion on this topic in:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/mindx/frame.html?main=/mindx/show_thread.php?rootID%3D36277

and the following URL has Sethuraman's photograph and links to his papers and thesis.

http://www.terminatorfiles.com/?id=1737&arch=1

swarup
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Sep 15 2:17:17 2005.

Oops. I gave the wrong URL for the thesis. The correct one is:
http://www.rgu.ac.uk/eng/compint/page.cfm?pge=12909
Some of his earlier papers:
References:

1. S Muthuraman, G Maxwell, C MacLeod, The Evolution of Modular Artificial Neural Networks for Legged Robot Control, Artificial Neural Networks and Neural Information Processing, Springer(LNCS 2714), Berlin, ISBN 3-540-40408-2, 2003, p488 - 495.
2. S Muthuraman, C MacLeod, G Maxwell, The development of modular evolutionary networks for quadrupedal locomotion, Proceedings of the 7th IASTED International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing, Banff Canada, 2003, p268 - 273.��
3. S Muthuraman, The Evolution of Modular Artificial Neural Networks, PhD thesis, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, 2005.
4. Evolution by devolved action: towards the evolution of systems, C MacLeod, D McMinn et al, In appendix B of D McMinn. Using Evolutionary Artificial Neural Networks to design hierarchical animat nervous systems, PhD Thesis, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. 2002.

But there are more links in the URL.
Swarup
From: nirosha sen on Thu Sep 15 2:39:51 2005.

Congratulations to Dr Sethu ! Although it all honesty I would like to think his success is largely due to his mother's perseverance and his own determination.

Sadly, I doubt if he could have got due recognition in his own country!!
From: RR on Thu Sep 15 3:38:15 2005.

Swarup,
Thanks for the KurzweilAI link. One poster put in succintly: It looks like a case of the media getting hold of something and hyping it. De Garis was doing this kind of stuff with "gen-nets" in the early 1990s, and similar work was also done at Sussex university at that time. It's > 10 years now, what's the progress?

From: gaddeswarup on Thu Sep 15 4:08:34 2005.

RR wrote:

Quote:

Thanks for the KurzweilAI link. One poster put in succintly: It looks like a case of the media getting hold of something and hyping it. De Garis was doing this kind of stuff with "gen-nets" in the early 1990s, and similar work was also done at Sussex university at that time. It's > 10 years now, what's the progress?

May be; I am not sure. I think that quite a few advances came from several different sources and sometimes cumulative. One has to just think of Special Theory of Relativity and Raman Affect. Perhaps one of these people will succeed in making it more affective. I think Sethuraman's effort is part of a process. If not him, somebody else may push it further. But it is good know that somebody of Indian origin, with the encouragement of his mother is doing dood work. I agree that there is no need for too much hype.
Regards,
swarup

From: svasu_ani on Fri Sep 16 0:21:40 2005.

Alaska zoo gets elephant treadmill

The world's first elephant treadmill reaches speeds of up to eight miles-per-hour.

Anchorage zookeepers are installing a 16,000-pound treadmill to keep an isolated elephant from getting fat during the long, cold Alaskan winters.

The 20-foot-long treadmill was designed specifically for Maggie, a 23-year-old female African elephant that has become the subject of a national debate over the proper care for captive pachyderms.

"It looks just like a big people treadmill," said Patrick Lampi, assistant director of the Alaska Zoo.

Because this is the first treadmill ever built for an elephant, zoo officials and an Idaho company studied mining equipment and treadmills used for race horses and racing camels, Lampi said.

Zookeepers said Zimbabwe-born Maggie would start using the treadmill in about two months.

The zoo is remodeling her indoor and outdoor spaces, making both about twice as large as before and adding a sandy area. In addition, the floor has been heated and the zoo is evaluating ways to make it softer, Lampi said.

Critics from Anchorage and around the nation have urged the zoo to send Maggie to an elephant sanctuary in a warmer climate and away from the near-Arctic zoo.

Elephants, particularly females, are herd creatures and need company, critics have said. But Maggie's companion, an Asian elephant named Annabelle, died in 1997.

Maggie's weight-loss program started more than a year ago, Lampi said, "She was slightly heavy for an elephant."

With diet modifications and new exercise inducements, such as hiding food in baskets and other sites that require some work to reach, Maggie has slimmed down a bit and is now believed to weigh a little over 8,000 pounds.

"We estimate that she lost maybe 1,000 pounds," Lampi said.
From: stranger on Fri Sep 16 13:47:29 2005.

Vioxx Recall and Side Effects of Vioxx

On September 30, 2004, the international prescription drug company Merck announced the recall of its arthritis and pain medication Rofecoxib, sold under the brand name Vioxx, because a study showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

* The study that led to the recall of Vioxx showed that patients regularly taking Vioxx faced twice the risk of a heart attack compared to patients not taking Vioxx. Vioxx users with a history of cardiovascular issues were at a five-fold increased risk.

2005 Vioxx Update

* On February 18, 2005, a federal drug advisory panel unanimously agreed that the painkiller Vioxx manufactured by Merck can cause heart problems, but voted 17 to 15 to recommend that the drug return to the market, accompanied by strong warnings of the risks for patients. The Food and Drug Administration is not obliged to accept the panel's recommendations.

* On August 19, 2005, a jury awarded $253.4 million in damages to Carol Ernst, whose husband died in 2001 of heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, after taking Vioxx for around eight months. It was the first wrongful death lawsuit against Merck over Vioxx.

* The legal claims made by Lieff Cabraser and our co-counsel on behalf of patients prescribed Vioxx who suffered heart attacks or strokes focus on Merck's failure to give patients the strong warnings and Merck's decision to mass-market to millions of consumers a drug that should have been taken only after careful, individualized consideration by physicians of fully-disclosed risks.
From: nirosha sen on Tue Sep 20 6:43:18 2005.

Simon Wiesanthal dies.

A man who spent the better part of his life, first as concentration camp survivor of the Holocaust, and then tracking down Nazi war criminals, died at the age of 96 in Vienna, Austria.

His one regret he had said, was not bringing Josef Mengele, to justice.
From: stranger on Thu Oct 6 12:05:15 2005.

2 Americans, French split chemistry Nobel

STOCKHOM, Sweden, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded Wednesday to a French scientist and two Americans for their work in the synthetically creating molecules.

Yves Chauvin, 74, from the Institut Fran莽ais du P茅trole in Rueil-Malmaison, Robert Grubbs, 63, from California's Caltech and Richard Schrock, 60, at MIT in Massachusetts will share the $1.3 million, or 10 million kronor prize equally.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm praised the trio's achievement in the "development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis," The Local newspaper said.
From: NOV on Thu Oct 6 20:46:32 2005.

Four-year-old memorises and recites ancient verses

BY NELSON BENJAMIN

JOHOR BARU: While most four-year-olds are struggling to memorise nursery rhymes, T. Rishivarma has effortlessly memorised verses from the Thirukkural, an ancient Tamil book on good conduct written in a poetic form, and cheerfully recites them.

What makes this achievement even more astounding is that he has yet to learn how to read and write.

He memorised the verses just by listening as his mother reads them to him.

Besides being able to recite more than 30 Thirukkural verses, Rishivarma is also able to recite proverbs and answer general knowledge questions.

Mother K. Kamachee, 35, said she started teaching her son verses from the Thirukkural, proverbs and general knowledge when he was three years old.

�I read him the verses and proverbs so that he can recite them at our annual family gathering during Deepavali in Sitiawan, Perak.

�Our family of eight siblings gets together and the children perform by singing, doing sketches or showcasing some talent.

�I wanted my son to present something different,� said the primary school teacher from SJK (T) Jalan Tajul, Kota Tinggi.

A visiting friend from India who heard about Rishivarma�s performance at the family gathering felt that the boy�s achievement was exceptional, and said that �few people are able to memorise the Thirukkural.�

Unknown to the parents, the friend contacted the Indian president�s secretariat.

On Sept 9, Kamachee and her husband, S. Tamilselvam, 43, who works as a hotel supervisor in Singapore, were stunned to get a letter from Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam addressed to Rishivarma.

Abdul Kalam, who is also a Tamil literature scholar apart from being his country�s former top scientist, had sent a handwritten letter of appreciation to Rishivarma advising the boy to study hard and be successful in life.

�We are so touched,� Kamachee said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/10/7/nation/12243251&sec=nation
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Oct 7 10:06:53 2005.

I recd. this from my daughter yesterday saying that "if a chimpcan quit, so can you". From:
http://theage.com.au/news/world/chinas-smoking-chimp-quits/2005/10/05/1128191785911.html

"ZOOKEEPERS in China have stopped giving cigarettes to a chimpanzee and are using food and music to distract her from a 16-year nicotine habit.

Ai Ai, a 26-year-old chimpanzee in the Qinling Safari Park in Shaanxi province, began scavenging cigarette butts left by visitors in the late 1980s after her first mate, Jian Jian, died, the China Daily said yesterday.

Zookeepers eventually began giving Ai Ai cigarettes and lighting them. She smoked between eight and 10 a day before zookeepers decided in August to help her quit.

The paper said Ai Ai smoked more when she was lonely or depressed, including after the death of one of her two children in the mid-1990s and the death of her second mate in 1997.

Meat dumplings, music and walks have been used to distract Ai Ai from her cravings.

"In the first few days, she squealed for cigarettes every now and then, but as her life became more colourful, she gradually forgot about them," a zoo employee said.

A zookeeper has also been putting his Walkman headphones on Ai Ai and exposing her to pop music to keep her mind off cigarettes."
From: nirosha sen on Sat Oct 8 7:59:23 2005.

Earthquake hits north of Islamabad today!! Richter scale is suppose to have recorded a 7.8 reading. Abt 1.000 have been feared dead so far. Worst hit areas include Pakistani Kashmir.

Some tremors have also been felt in New Delhi, forcing hundreds of residents to flee high rise buildings! No news on Indian casualties yet.
From: dev on Mon Oct 10 0:25:23 2005.

Shocking Brutality at Bangalore Railway Station

A fwd mail I received...

Hi!

I would like to bring to notice a certain injustice that I have subjected to at the Bangalore Railway Station (Majestic). On September 30 (Friday), 2005, I had been to the station to see off my fiance and her mother. They took the Karnataka Express (Train #2627) to Jhansi at 6:30 pm.

On my way out I was asked to present my platform ticket by a rai! lway official. On producing the same, the TT turned around and told me "What if I say that you haven't given me the ticket?" Before I could react, he along with his colleague pushed me into the adjacent enquiry cabin and physically manhandled me. I was slapped several times, my spectacles were grabbed and deliberately crushed by foot, and my phone was flung away from me. The RPF comprising of one RPF and four constables, appeared on the scene. The surrounding public was whisked away. None of the railway police officials cared to listen to me and they started hitting me indiscriminately with lathis. They dragged me out, and all the 4 constables continued hitting me with lathis from Platform 1 to Platform 3/5, till we reached the station master's cabin. Racist abuses and threats were made on the way. At the station master's cabin, I was told that I have been charged with a non-bailable offence and would be behind bars for 15 days.

Not for a single moment was I allowed to speak. All of a sudden a stranger came to the scene and he claimed that he was there to help me. Having lost all my physical strength and mental senses, I was happy to see some sort of help. He, claiming to be V Srinivas from Infosys, talked to the officials and the railway police in Kannada. He told me that the only way I was to get out was if I was willing to pay my way through. Being in no state to make a rational choice, I gave him my ATM card and pin. He took one of the RPF chaps along with him and said he would clear the matter. He returned some time later saying that everything was okay now.

I was asked to sign a statement which said that I hit the police and TT in a drunken state. I refused. Finally, they pressurized me to write that I did not produce a platform ticket when asked. ! I wrote the same and then V Srinivas took me out of the station. He joined me in an auto and took me to the ICICI ATM at Anand Rao circle. He withdrew Rs. 15000 from my ATM and got back. he took the cash under the pretext that while helping me he had left his wallet in the train he had left behind and that he would return the same through his ICICI Internet account. Having broken down mentally I did not realise that I was being cheated. He then took me to a Samsung showroom and tried purchasing a cellphone worth Rs. 18500 with my card. It was only then that I realised what was happening. I grabbed my card back, caught him by the collar, snatched my cash that lay in his pocket, and got into a running auto.

I have now realized that all of this was a plan. There is a strong nexus between the railway officials, the railway police and the fraudster. The railway officials identify! a victim who they think is well-to-do, the RPF beat that individual till he has no physical or mental well-being. Then this fraud chap comes on to the scene, takes advantage of the situation, and takes all your cash away. Also, this series of events generally occurs on the last day of the month as they know that the salary gets credited on this day. (This strikes me now because the self-proclaimed Infy employee, V Srinivas, clearly asked me whether I had received my salary. He said that he just wanted to find out if there was cash enough to tackle the case.)

Now three days hence, I have tried to run from pillar to post. I have been forced to miss office hours in my effort to get justice. But I don't want to give up the fight midway. If any of you are in the media, or have friends/relatives who are in the industry, I'd like to speak with them about this in greater detail. I can be r! eached on 09886179319 or 08030933067. I believe it would catalyze my efforts.

Also, please pass this email to all the people who reside in Bangalore, so that they don't fall into the same trap.

Regards,
Nimish V Adani
IIML Batch of 2003
ITBHU Batch of 2001
From: nirosha sen on Mon Oct 10 1:13:33 2005.

This sounds so incredible, Pa!!!! Has this person ever attempted to highlight his problem to the Press at least????? Why only forwarded e-mail, Dev???

In a country with a free-wheeling press, surely it won't take long before justice is sought if not actually served?????

What do you think, Dev???? Think this case, sounds bona-fide enough????
From: dev on Mon Oct 10 1:30:16 2005.

Yes,that has been done... One of his friend has forwarded this mail to the editor of EENADU y'day... I don't have any updates after that...
He is seeking help from anyone with contacts in media to as that will probably ensure speedy justice and also help in bringing culprits to books. Anyone with willingness to help can reach him at 9886179319 or 30933067.
From: Sandeep on Mon Oct 10 2:12:55 2005.

The incident has been informed to Times Of India, Deccan herald and The Hindu

TOI has published it - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1253489.cms
From: dev on Mon Oct 10 2:19:17 2005.

That is great...Let's see what action is being taken...
From: Sandeep on Mon Oct 10 2:38:35 2005.

His blog about the incident. As he says its becoming "a wild fire".

Lets wait and see if any action is taken

http://sbcbrutes.blogspot.com/
From: nirosha sen on Mon Oct 10 5:41:42 2005.

Further to this, he should petition the govt. for action on the culprits. Indian Railways has its own Minister, doesn't it???? He should surely inform them of the matter too.

What if this incident had happened to poor, unknowing non-Indian travellers???? If you ask me, the foreign press too should be informed. Like the CNN and BBC. Anything to keep the world informed of the brutalities. That too, while the case is still fresh!!!!

From: Sandeep on Mon Oct 10 6:01:59 2005.

Further to this, he should petition the govt. for action on the culprits. Indian Railways has its own Minister, doesn't it???? He should surely inform them of the matter too.

If you read his blog he is meeting with DIG of office at the railway
station for enquiry. Since he has the resources (education, money and internet) hope he will get justice.

What if this incident had happened to poor, unknowing non-Indian travellers????

This guy was chosen because he seemed to be financially healthy. Crime against the young who have become well to do thanks to the new economy have been on the rise in resent times. Police had sometime back requested the IT professionals not to ware company ID outside the office to avoid attacks.

In a country where money is synonymous with evil, people having it are not seen with much empathy

From: dev on Mon Oct 10 8:14:23 2005.

eventhough this issue is gaining much attention, I am still skeptical of the action that will be taken... The max that they'll do is suspend the culprits for a few days/months & a case will be filed... God only knows when they will be convicted...

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Oct 10 8:29:47 2005.

eventhough this issue is gaining much attention, I am still skeptical of the action that will be taken... The max that they'll do is suspend the culprits for a few days/months & a case will be filed... God only knows when they will be convicted... Evil or Very Mad

Boss, Indian Law has a very very big hole through which u can drive an aeroplane... Maximum those guys will be suspended...Money will play .. And everything will be normal very soon....Shame on us

From: dev on Mon Oct 10 9:09:32 2005.

Yep... That's true...
From: nirosha sen on Mon Oct 10 10:01:02 2005.

The least this case could produce is enough awareness to the general masses on the state of affairs of Railways officials themselves. The are nothing more than thugs in uniforms!!!!

I somehow reckon that TV stations in India could play a larger role in implicating thuggery like this by conducting talk shows and interviews with the man on the street, etc to raise awareness on how deep this problem goes!! Somehow the visual media has a larger impact to elicit sympathy from the public, I reckon!!

To non-Indians wishing to visit India, this does not augur well each time we step into a railway station, Pa!!
From: Badri on Thu Oct 13 2:57:39 2005.

An American woman gave birth to her 16th child on Tuesday! And what's more, they are ready for more too!

Read about it here
From: dev on Thu Oct 13 3:13:18 2005.

& she is only 39...
From: dev on Fri Oct 14 0:31:06 2005.

An interesting article to help U become an 'automatic' millionaire... http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/millionaire/1150
From: Surya on Mon Oct 24 16:05:21 2005.

Tamil Nadu Floods.

Death toll rises to 37!

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IE920051024105712&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&CHENNAI:~Evacuations,~rescue~operations,~deluges~on~roads,~traffic~disruptions,~train~diversions,~swelling~rivers~and~brimming~dams~were~some~of~the~vignettes~of~flood~situation...
From: nirosha sen on Tue Oct 25 2:27:08 2005.

Civil rights pioneer, Rosa Parks dies at 92, on Monday evening (US time)!

A fine lady in the mould of many of our freedom fighters from around the world!
From: Sandeep on Tue Oct 25 2:39:56 2005.

nirosha sen wrote:

Civil rights pioneer, Rosa Parks dies at 92, on Monday evening (US time)!

A fine lady in the mould of many of our freedom fighters from around the world!

On Dec 1, 1955 an unknown seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. The woman was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance, but her lonely act of defiance began a movement that ended legal segregation in America.

Her act sparked a citywide boycott of the bus system by blacks that lasted more than a year. The boycott raised an unknown clergyman named Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence and resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation on city buses.

Rosa Parks cis alled the "mother of the civil rights movement in US"
From: rajraj on Mon Oct 31 11:16:24 2005.

P.Leela, considered to be the first female playback singer, passed away.

May her soul rest in peace.

http://www.newstodaynet.com/31oct/ld4.htm
From: Cindy on Fri Nov 4 23:42:08 2005.

This is indeed a good story... fantastic!

http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=1&cat2=24&newsid=190566&RF=DefaultMain
From: lordstanher on Sat Nov 5 0:01:18 2005.

Cindy wrote:

This is indeed a good story... fantastic!

http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=1&cat2=24&newsid=190566&RF=DefaultMain

Yea, I read it in our local paper (Deccan Chronicle) this morning! I was going to copy it here.......
I really appreciate the guts tat wife had! Shame on tat husband tho.....
From: nirosha sen on Sat Nov 5 2:13:05 2005.

Ah.....sweet poetic justice indeed!! Just like Jagathambal too, with a piece of burning fire-wood, this time!!
From: Sandeep on Wed Nov 9 5:29:26 2005.

K. R. Narayanan former President of India during 1997-2002 passed away today.
From: Sandeep on Wed Nov 9 5:59:03 2005.

Kocheril Raman Narayanan (b. at Uzhavoor in Kottayam, Kerala, 27 October 1920), known as K. R. Narayanan, was the tenth President of the Indian Republic. He is the only Dalit (and also, the only Malayali) to have held the Presidency. He is considered to have been a remarkably independent and assertive President who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of the highest constitutional office. He often described himself as a `Citizen President' and a `Working President' during his tenure (while taking care to distance himself from the role of an executive President); other Presidents have treated the office to be largely a ceremonial one.

Education

He walked to school for about 15 kilometres daily through paddy fields, and was often unable to pay the fees. Lacking money to buy books, his elder brother K. R. Neelakantan, who was suffering from asthma and thus confined to his home, used to borrow books from other students, copy them down, and give them to Narayanan.

He matriculated from St. Mary's High School, Kuravilangad. He completed his intermediate at C. M. S. College, Kottayam, aided by a merit scholarship. He later obtained his M. A. in English literature from the University of Travancore, standing first in the university

Narayanan then studied political science under Harold Laski at the London School of Economics. He obtained the honours degree of B.Sc. (Economics) with a specialisation in political science, helped by a scholarship from J. R. D. Tata.

Career

Post independence he returned to India and joined IFS after special recommendation from Mr. Nehru. He worked as a diplomat in the embassies at Rangoon, Tokyo, Hanoi, Canberra, and London. He was the Indian ambassador to Thailand, Turkey, and China (1st ambassador after 1962 Indo-Sino war) and US. He later taught at the Delhi School of Economics, and was secretary to the ministry of external affairs. He retired in 1978.

Politics

Entered politics at the request of Indira Gandhi and won 3 successive general elections to the Lok Sabha. He was Minister of state in the Union cabinet under Rajiv Gandhi, holding the portfolios of planning, external affairs and science & technology. Later was elected unanimously as the Vice-President of India. On 17 July 1997, K. R. Narayanan was elected to the Presidency of India defeating opponent T.N.Seshan (who had support of RSS (not BJP) and Shiva sena).

High points of presidency

1) Narayanan became the first President (and Usha, the foremost First Lady) to vote (on 16 February 1998), queueing up at a polling booth with other citizens; he insisted on casting his vote, in spite of the departure from precedent being pointed out to him.

2) President Narayanan introduced the important practice of explaining to the nation (by means of Rashtrapati Bhavan communiques) the thinking that led to the various decisions he took while exercising his discretionary powers; this has led to openness and transparency in the functioning of the President.

3) President Narayanan set a new precedent concerning the appointment of a Prime minister: if no party or pre-election coalition had a majority, then a person would be appointed Prime minister only if he was able to convince the President (through letters of support from allied parties) of his ability to secure the confidence of the house.

4) Federalism and the rights of state governments. Twice send back cabinet recommentation for presidents rule in states (BJP Govt from UP and Rabri Govt from bihar). These remain the only occasions when a President urged such a reconsideration, and have set an important precedent concerning federalism and the rights of state governments.
From: nirosha sen on Thu Nov 10 3:00:46 2005.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

Someone once told me, when he was unable to pay his fees, he would sit outside in the corridor of his class-room and follow his lessons, conducted by the teacher indoors!!

What a inspirational gentlemen he is, to my own kids!!
From: sivajayan on Thu Nov 10 6:59:31 2005.

Atleast two souls remember that "dalit" President. Hats off to those two!

He was not Mahaathma but a great soul too to achieve that what he has achieved in a world where "watchers" dominate the others. May his soul RIP and my deepest sympathy to Indian Nation.

From: gaddeswarup on Thu Nov 10 7:29:53 2005.

Nirosha Sen said:

Quote:

Someone once told me, when he was unable to pay his fees, he would sit outside in the corridor of his class-room and follow his lessons, conducted by the teacher indoors!!

What a inspirational gentlemen he is, to my own kids!!

There is a similar story in:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4421632.stm
"Though often unable to pay his school fees, he matriculated with the help of his brother, who borrowed and copied text books for him."
swarup

From: Sudhaama on Thu Nov 10 9:51:22 2005.

Yes.. No doubt Mr. Narayanan is UNFORGETABLE mainly by the dint of his EMULATIVE Life-approach,

.. Self-gained Knowledge and Status...

... as well as a Model-Human for the Global Mankind.

... one of the immortal Gems of India.

Further to the beautiful postings of my friends hereabove ... I add ...

(1) Irrespective of other considerations or factors... he deserved the highest post of the Nation as the First-citizen... President... by way of his rich personal potentialities on Educaional- Qualifications, Typical-Career- Experience.... and above all an IMPECCABLE Gentleman of Clean Track- Record all through his Life.

(2) Even after entering Politics... by standing for the election for Congress party MP at Othappalam and functioning as that Party Minister ... he was totally Non-Political by his bent of mind and Outlook..

(3) He was WELL-BALANCED in mind... that he never developed within himself, any sort of Consequential Wrath on his oppressors...

... even though natural for any INNOCENT VICTIM on such miserable and INHUMAN plight ...

(4) However he well- gained the respect and affection from one and all around... irrespective of Political or Sectarian affiliations.

I am anxious to know... as per his Will... the Final-Rites are to be performed by one Missionary Saints of Kerala..

Is it the NARAYANA-GURU MISSION... whose main objective is Equanimity of Society with more Emphasis on Uplift of the Down- trodden in the Devotional lines.?

... Or any other.? I will be thankful if anybody can through light.
From: j.chenkalvarayan on Thu Nov 10 11:07:43 2005.

U.S used white phosphorous against iraqi civilians,charges italian tv.

"burned bodies . burned children and burned women. white phosphorous kills indiscriminately.its a cloud that within 150 metres of impact will disperse and will burn every human being or animal"

-hindu

comments invited.
From: Sudhaama on Thu Nov 10 11:36:35 2005.

INCREDIBLE ... Baseless and Willful Allegation just to defame USA.,

America has never been so INHUMAN... or Tyrannical

Even when and if some such offensive warfare had been indulged.... another section of the American Military commanders used to object and seriously criticise as well as report to their Government.

So no such a matter of serious concern of ETHICS... can be a concealed secret either for the American Govt nor for the Public even.

... failing which the American people themselves have made a big Hue and Cry as an Upsurge.

Being a Democratic country... the Opposition parties are quite alert to pinpoint and highlight openly on even a smallest lacunae or Violation.

Further the Press here... VERY DYNAMIC and Poignant enough to make the widest publicity possible.
.
Can you recollect... the History of Vietnam War?

Just One Photo of a small Girl naked... crying with the backdrop of American Bombardment on North Vietnam...

.... made a HEAVY UPROAR ... in the Senate and other Govt Forums...

... as well as a BIG-NEWS for the American people all over the Country then...

Which SINGLE EPISODE ... eventually lead into the American Withdrawal of War in Vietnanam.

Even though the affected Victim... was... NOT AN AMERICAN..!!

Basicaly American people are more HUMANE... than any other today.

We see in normal life... Thief used to make a Big Cry...and Report PUBLICLY AND VOCIFEROUSLY

.. that all others are Thieves except him.!!

From: sivajayan on Thu Nov 10 11:39:53 2005.

j.chenkalvarayan wrote:

U.S used white phosphorous against iraqi civilians,charges italian tv.

"burned bodies . burned children and burned women. white phosphorous kills indiscriminately.its a cloud that within 150 metres of impact will disperse and will burn every human being or animal"

-hindu

comments invited.

As US is the Land of the Free they are free to do anything!

It is also the land of evils. Sorry, eagles!

From: lordstanher on Thu Nov 10 13:28:22 2005.

j.chenkalvarayan wrote:

"burned bodies . burned children and burned women. white phosphorous kills indiscriminately.its a cloud that within 150 metres of impact will disperse and will burn every human being or animal"

Um......altho this may sound like a digression, I can't help mentioning this- this jus reminded me of 'The Hound of Baskerville' (Sherlock Holmes novel!) where its mentioned tat the Hound in question had its face painted w/ white Phosphorous (to look ghostly), which when coming into contact w/ Atmospheric air, starts burning.....but the Hound never died bcos of burns from the Phosphorous (gets shot dead by Sherlock).......so did the US army (if they really did it) use sum similar chemical, wrongly thot to be phosphorus.......?

From: nirosha sen on Thu Nov 10 19:05:47 2005.

What the US army does in the throes of war, is anybody's guess, Pa!! But I've given up long ago to make any sense of war or their tactics on civilians anymore!!

I'm sure what we see on TV and the results of all those numerous cagey responses to protect civilians, is little more than a lame excuse to cover up more diabolical intentions!!

Truth is but a stranger in circumstances like this!!

From: gaddeswarup on Thu Nov 10 22:02:56 2005.

Nirosha Sen wrote:

Quote:

What the US army does in the throes of war, is anybody's guess, Pa!! But I've given up long ago to make any sense of war or their tactics on civilians anymore!!

I'm sure what we see on TV and the results of all those numerous cagey responses to protect civilians, is little more than a lame excuse to cover up more diabolical intentions!!

Truth is but a stranger in circumstances like this!!

Not only US, but it seems that one cannot trust many newspapers and TV anymore. Recntly, I was passing through New Delhi and came across an article by Arthur C. Clarke in the tenth anniversary issue of OUTLOOK. He recommends blogs and Wikipedia. I do not have the URL, but here are some words of wisdomfrom the old man:
From Arthur C. Clarke's : "Arise, citizen Journalist".
"Before the printing press was invented, all news was local and there
were few gatekeepers controlling its flow. Having evolved highly
centralized systems of medis for half a millineium, we are now
returning to the second era of mass media - in the true sense of the
term. Blogs, wikis and citizen journalism are all signs of things to
come.
This has far reaching consequences. For one thing, it allows far
higher levels of inreractivity and audience engagement that has not
been possible in newspapers, radio and television. Even more
importantly, the web provides a platform for small-time companies,
organizations and indinviduals to disseminate ideas, analyses and
view points to a potentially global audience.... it has already
triggered the end of absolute power enjoyed by press barons and
gatekeeper editors.
Nowhere is the breach more apparent than in the remarkably swift rise
of bloggers.... The blogging community has refused to accept the
news 'agenda' as determined by the mainstream media. As Nausghton
says "This has been increasingly evident since 9/11 as the
established US media have dumbed down their discussion of issues
surrounding security, civil liberties and Bush's policy towards Iraq.
It would not be much of an exaggeration to say that ( with a few
honourable exceptions ) most of the serious discussion of these
issues in the US at the moment is happenning in weblogs and not in
the 'official' media." "

About Wikipedia:
"There is no guarantee, of course, that citizen journalism will be
free of biases. But as wiki- another new tool of the web - has
proved, the simultaneous partcipation of many can be a good self-
correcting mechanism. For example, there were initial fears that the
Wikipedia - the free, online encyclopedia developed by thouseands of
contributors worldwide - might peddle half-truths and untruths.
Studies have shown how acuracy and moderation are quickly restored
even whwn an occasional extremist entry is attempted".

Good luck.
Swarup

From: Sandeep on Thu Nov 10 22:58:05 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
From: Sandeep on Thu Nov 10 23:15:57 2005.

A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said earlier on Tuesday he did not recall white phosphorus being used in Falluja

- Why he is saying did not recall using instead of did not use.

The U.S. Marines in Baghdad described white phosphorus as a "conventional munition" used primarily for smoke screens and target marking. It denied using it against civilians.

- So US army has white phosphorus in Iraq and they consider it conventional munition instead of biological

The use of incendiary weapons against civilians has been banned by the Geneva Convention since 1980. The US did not sign the relevant protocol to the convention, a U.N. official in New York

Many western medias had reported that White phosphorous was used in Iraq.

Please note the latest report was by Italian Govt owned media agency. Italy itslef has 3000 troops in Iraq.

The report along with video is available at http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/body.asp (note its Italian-Be careful if you are using google for translation )
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Nov 13 3:55:17 2005.

Tamilnadu: best place to do business in India, says the following report:
http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/nov/12guest2.htm
Swarup
From: lordstanher on Sun Nov 13 10:32:08 2005.

Yup, I'd suspected tat the gas allegedly used by the US was not Phosphorus! tks to Sherlock Holmes!!
From: RR on Sun Nov 13 11:20:59 2005.

Management guru Drucker dead
Visionary and pioneer who promoted the study of management dead at 95.
November 12, 2005: 5:27 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Peter Drucker, one of the world's foremost management theorists, died on Friday morning of natural causes at his home in Claremont, California, a Claremont Graduate University spokesman said. He was 95.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/12/news/newsmakers/drucker.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest
From: gaddeswarup on Tue Nov 15 19:53:38 2005.

This is not from today's newspapers. I have not been reading main stream newspapers for a while. suddenly, one of my daughters came back from US with a few newspapers and magazines. I find that some of the commentators are more critical of reporting in the west. Perhaps, it is not happenning to the same extent in India but with campaigns like 'India Shining' we may not be too far off. In any case, I found the following article interesting and am enclosing a few lines from it:

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,1124237-1,00.html

"Thus Caddell gave a name�the Permanent Campaign�to a political mind-set that had been developing since the beginning of the television age. It has proved a radical change in the nature of the presidency. Every President since Lyndon Johnson has run his Administration from a political consultant's eye view. Untold millions have been spent on polling and focus groups. Dick Morris even asked voters where Bill Clinton should go on vacation. The pressure to "win" the daily news cycle�to control the news�has overwhelmed the more reflective, statesmanlike aspects of the office.

An overcaffeinated and underdiscerning press has become complicit in the horse-race presidency. New policies are analyzed politically rather than for what they are intended to achieve. Success is measured in days and weeks�in polling blips�rather than months or years. This has been a terrible thing: Presidents need to be thinking past the horizon, as Jimmy Carter belatedly proved. Some of his best decisions�a strict monetary policy to combat inflation, a vigorous arms buildup against the Soviet threat�bore fruit years after he left office and were credited to his successor, Ronald Reagan. But then, Carter was among the worst recent Presidents as a Permanent Campaigner.

George W. Bush may be the very best. Indeed, his Administration represents the final, squalid perfection of the Permanent Campaign: a White House where almost every move is tactical, a matter of momentary politics, even decisions that involve life and death and war. That is what the Scooter Libby indictment is really all about.

It is about trying to spin a war. "
From: a.ratchasi on Tue Nov 15 22:11:16 2005.

Quake and tsunami predicted in S'pore & M'sia
From: Sandeep on Tue Nov 15 22:16:25 2005.

ASH IN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

US print media

Ash on "america" cover
http://s4.imagesubmit.com/america.bmp

Ash on "Times" cover
http://s5.imagesubmit.com/times.bmp

French print media

Ash on "L'Express" cover
http://s4.imagesubmit.com/french.bmp

Ash on "Cosmopolitan" French edition cover
http://s3.imagesubmit.com/frenchcosmopolitan.bmp

UK print media

Ash on "Culture" cover
http://s5.imagesubmit.com/culture.bmp

Ash on "Hello" cover
http://s4.imagesubmit.com/697942_hello.bmp

Russian print media

Ash on "TB PK" (TV Park) cover
http://s5.imagesubmit.com/russian.bmp

Italian print media

Ash on "Soprattutto" cover
http://s4.imagesubmit.com/italian.bmp

Chinese print media

Ash on "Beijing Review" cover
http://s5.imagesubmit.com/beijingreview.bmp

ENJOY!!!
From: Sandeep on Tue Nov 15 22:27:57 2005.

a.ratchasi wrote:

Quake and tsunami predicted in S'pore & M'sia (Dec 05 to Jan 06)

Seems like it is time to leave Singapore

My office is sea viewing; GOD
From: a.ratchasi on Tue Nov 15 23:02:29 2005.

RR wrote:

Management guru Drucker dead
Visionary and pioneer who promoted the study of management dead at 95.

May the guru of modern management rest in peace.
From: dev on Tue Nov 15 23:34:12 2005.

a.ratchasi wrote:

Quake and tsunami predicted in S'pore & M'sia (Dec 05 to Jan 06)

Read this a few months back... but what is that dec 05 to jan 06 in the brackets???!!!... Have they predicted it to happn during dec05-jan 06???...

From: a.ratchasi on Wed Nov 16 0:25:20 2005.

Quake and tsunami predicted in S'pore & M'sia

a.ratchasi wrote:

Read this a few months back... but what is that dec 05 to jan 06 in the brackets???!!!... Have they predicted it to happn during dec05-jan 06???...

I will remove the time frame as it was mentioned nowhere in the article. Though the mail from which I had received it was headlined as such.

From: malsi on Wed Nov 16 7:28:58 2005.

oh..actually i too heard the same thing..hv to be prepared for anything worse..at anytime...
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Nov 17 17:27:52 2005.

Please check:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/companies-open-path-to-customer-innovation/2005/11/17/1132016925872.html

Companies open path to customer innovation
Organisations are going to those they serve in the quest for ideas for new products, writes Joshua Gans, professor of management (information economics) at Melbourne Business School and associate director of the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia.
From: Sudhaama on Fri Nov 18 8:47:58 2005.

PRESENT CONSTANT MILITARY THREATS to India :-- PAKISTAN and CHINA

Says Mr. S P Tyagi Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200511181765.htm

Under this Context, India's Southern border has become
more vulnerable,..

.. because Mr Rajapakse, the new forthcoming President
of Srilanka.. as announced today, is

... A COMMUNIST by approach and SUPPORT.
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Nov 19 5:36:31 2005.

I noticed this article by P. Sainath only today:
http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/nov/psa-krn.htm
It has a link to 2000 Presidential Address By K.R. Narayanan.
It seems that Sainath was a student activist during Narayanan's term as Vice-Chancellor of JNU. I found the article as well as the address moving.
Swarup

From: Lambretta on Sat Nov 19 8:25:38 2005.

PRESENT CONSTANT MILITARY THREATS to India :-- PAKISTAN and CHINA
Says Mr. S P Tyagi Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200511181765.htm
Under this Context, India's Southern border has become
more vulnerable,..
.. because Mr Rajapakse, the new forthcoming President
of Srilanka.. as announced today, is
... A COMMUNIST by approach and SUPPORT.

China considered a security and defence threat to India??

I guess tat means Indian govt. shud stop the imports of goods from China, which started recently......!

From: S.Balaji on Sat Nov 19 8:43:07 2005.

I guess tat means Indian govt. shud stop the imports of goods from China, which started recently......!

China considered a security and defence threat to India?? Shocked

Lamby...

The China threat ....not now...its there for years.......this was highlighted by George Fernandez when he was the Defence Minister and he got the stick from all the opposition party..for having uttered a truth !!
The reason is simple...India and China are virtually at same levels when it comes to military power ( may be in terms of infantry... China may be superior )....and both are competing on the economic front as well...and its natural that China is a major threat....

However, IMO...Pakistan is no match for India on military front...... its just pure enemity since independence and for having lost many wars with us.... Sheer size difference between pak and India matters....

We cannot stop the import of goods from any country as we are bound by GATT rules....and all the countries will have to follow a uniform code ..this is part of the globalisation process..

From: * on Sat Nov 19 12:38:52 2005.

Under this Context, India's Southern border has become
more vulnerable,..
.. because Mr Rajapakse, the new forthcoming President
of Srilanka.. as announced today, is
... A COMMUNIST by approach and SUPPORT.

Ridiculous!

As it is, Sri Lanka are totally destroyed by LTTE tigers and over 35% of their spending is going to the Eelam War. In the recent elections in SL, the LTTE controlled Jaffna had voter turnout of 0.014% which is lowest in history. SL Army cant even step into the northern parts of their own country! Since Rajapakshe is closed to talks with the LTTE, there is every chance of the beginning of Eelam War Phase 4.

Most cyber wars start from thoughtless comments like these

From: Sudhaama on Sat Nov 19 14:45:57 2005.

My Dear *

On my Comments .. (based on the past Historical emanations out of tiny sparks) You Counter-comment as THOUGHTLESS COMMENTS ... is funny.

I wish my Fear or Doubt become False and Untrue by Reality in future.

But my dear Friend, do you remember one Mr. Shang kai Shek, the then President of China ... possessing insignificant quantum of Military might of his own... compared to a huge might of the then BUDDING Communist- China.... was boldly challenging his Enemy... even after repeated retreats and losing almost all his Land to the upsurge of Revolutionary Army of Communists... finally confined miserably to a small piece of land, Formosa.. still named as China in those days ... leaving the major part of the same erstwhile Composite Nation.. under the control of communists, but not allowed to be named or recognised so...in the UNO then?

Do you know why that Tiny Sparrow was bold enough to Confront a huge Counter-might Lion?

Only because of the Support of USA at his back.... Finally all fissled out Why.?

Ultimately, Formosa-China has been recrhistened with another name...THAIWAN..!

.. by Transferring the name of China... to the Communist- occupied major areas. .. which UNO recognised suibsequently.

For all these processes India strongly supported Communist China.. during Nehru era.

This is just One example out of several past episodes of History..for similar Outcome.

Weakness of one Country used to be exploited by some other Nation out of Self-centered motive.

Even in case of India, we have several such examples...

...History Repeats.

From: * on Sat Nov 19 18:30:33 2005.

Mr.Sudhama
Pls dont give lecture on China.

You said Sri Lanka is a threat.

Please justify how SL has the means to do it(without pulling China into this).
From: Sudhaama on Sat Nov 19 18:50:38 2005.

* wrote:

Mr.Sudhama
Pls dont give lecture on China.

You said Sri Lanka is a threat.

Please justify how SL has the means to do it
(without pulling China into this).

Mr. *

Please go through my posting once again... Where
have I said that Srilanka is a Threat to India?..

The main concern here is Pakistan and China.
I had only said that the Southern border of India has
become more vulnerable... by the political development
in Srilanka.

To concur with me or not, is left to you and others...
It is my Opinion... I may be Wrong ... in others Views.

Even though I can further too justify on my clear stand,
I don't want to elaborate more on it, because it is a
dellcate topic.

Let us all wish... the current friendly approach of
Pakistan and China towards India, more Closer than ever....

.. so advance further as to culminate in the Unity and
Peace of all concerned,

... ensuring the Overall Prosperity of India along with
its FRIENDLY Neighbours.

From: * on Sun Nov 20 15:43:13 2005.

India's Southern border has become
more vulnerable,..

.. because Mr Rajapakse, the new forthcoming President
of Srilanka.. as announced today, is

... A COMMUNIST by approach and SUPPORT.

Dear Mr.Sudhama,
Your thoughtless statement is becoming more and more funny. Please read this quote:

"We know the closeness of India to the JVP and the Rajapakse camps and the assistance they have received in the past. Therefore, India playing a bigger role in Sri Lankan affairs is to be expected. And this role will not be confined to propping up the country economically, but politically too."

http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=3597&SID=133

From: Sandeep on Sun Nov 20 22:07:47 2005.

I just hope India doesnot get involved in Sri Lanka politically. Do we want to burn our hands again. I would say India should mind its own business.

The threat from China and Pakistan is real. What India needs to do is continuesly improve our missile launch capability and ensure that we are able to hit any place in China (particularly Beijing and Shanghai). India is said to have the capability to create a min 100 nukes. So peace will be the only option for India, China and Pakistan.

Economically china is far ahead of India (GDP more that double). Hence we have to be more aggresive in our economic areas. GATT and WTO agreements have enough options to protect national interests as was clear during the Pharmasuetical patent debate. Only thing is will power of our leader and the abillity of Indians to pursuade and support the right (beneficial) decisions of various entities.
From: Sudhaama on Sun Nov 20 23:22:48 2005.

Unlike the past blunder of Rajiv-Gandhi of creating Enmity with Tamilians of Srilanka ... to mean political partisan-support,... which for India being a foreign nation with ancestral links with that neighbour was HIGHLY UNFAIR in the interests of both the countries.

Tamil-Ealam's Grievance is genuine and those innocent victims are struggling for HUMANE- JUSTICE... irrespective of LTTE or any such Violent or Non-Violent forces fighting for its justifiable cause. .

It is a long-pending locking-horns which can be amicably settled only by an alien force...by PEACEFUL APPROACH.. on which India is best Qualified to be a Mediator..

In my opinion, India should become more intensively friendly with Srilanka, by involving voluntarily through Non-Violent measures... which must be easily possible ... both being of such an innate Heritage common as well as interlinked....

Better than Norway... who has emulated India... which is lagging behind. in its duties morally and also retrograde in its own interests

People of both the countries can live in peace INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY

.. as also advance forward. objectively. and Unitedly..

.. ONLY by the dint of such a Renaissance of Human-Moral Values.
From: Sandeep on Tue Nov 22 21:59:23 2005.

Abducted Indian shot dead: Taliban

NEW DELHI: A Taliban spokesman claimed on Tuesday that Indian national Maniappan R Kutty, who was kidnapped on Saturday was killed on Tuesday evening. Kutty was "shot dead on orders of the Taliban counsel at 6 pm."

The Taliban had demanded that India�s Border Roads Organisation should exit from Afghanistan by Tuesday. According to Indian officials, there has been no official confirmation from the Afghanistan government to this effect.

Kutty leaves behind his parents and two very young sons. He was the sole earning member in his family.

On Monday, the Indian government had asked for assistance from the US in Afghanistan to help rescue Kutty. In Kabul, Indian ambassador met US ambassador Ronald Neumann to see if US troops working in that region could be of any help.
From: ssanjinika on Wed Nov 23 14:13:59 2005.

From Yahoo News:
It can happen only in NYC!!!

NEW YORK - It was one of those "only in New York" moments: Two coffins, laid out in the middle of Times Square in a cold rain, with the naked bodies of a man and a woman in them � talking.

Their message was: Some clothes sold in America are made with fur that comes from animals allegedly tortured in China.

"Animals are skinned alive in China, because it's cheaper than to kill them humanely," said Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, opening her eyes as she shivered in a black cardboard coffin, with a cold wind blowing the rain through the square.

Her body painted a deathly gray and strewn with flowers, she lay under a sign that read: "Fur is Dead."

The Tuesday protest at the "Crossroads of the World" was promoted as an eBay auction lot that attracted donors who "bid" $43,000.

Another banner bore a grisly photo of what PETA protesters said was a raccoon dog � a fox-like mammal � that had been skinned alive.

Michael McGraw, a PETA spokesman, also asserted that millions of dogs and cats in China are used for their fur, which is then sold as fur from sheared coyote, beaver, mink and other animals.

PETA is distributing video footage shot by Swiss documentary filmmaker Mark Rissi that the group says shows fur farmers in China's Hebei province swinging foxes by their hind legs and smashing their heads into the ground, breaking their necks.

PETA, based in Norfolk, Va., plans a series of protests around the world beginning with "Fur Free Friday" � coinciding with Friday after Thanksgiving, which generally is considered the busiest U.S. shopping day of the year.

In the 25 years since PETA was founded in Newkirk's Maryland home, the organization says it has grown to include 850,000 members and supporters and about 200 employees with offices in Great Britain, India, Germany, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
From: NOV on Wed Nov 23 22:03:49 2005.

Priya does well despite odds

BY R. S.N. MURALI

SEREMBAN: She walks 15km to school from her squatter house, sometimes without having had any food.

But 12-year-old R. Priya Ranjini overcame these hurdles to score seven As in her UPSR examination recently.

Priya's achievement is all the more commendable as she had to miss almost two months of school – in August and September – to look after her four other siblings when her mother came down with typhoid and was admitted to the Seremban Hospital.

“It was difficult to miss school as I was eager to do well in the UPSR exam,” said Priya, when met at her squatter home at Kampung Pasir in Rasah here where she lives with her parents and three younger brothers and a sister.

The Sekolah Wawasan Seremban 2 student said she sometimes had to study under the lamp-post outside her house as it was too crammed inside.

“I will not let being poor affect my studies. I want to do well in my studies so that I will be able to help my family live a better life.

“I want to be a doctor one day and will strive to achieve my dream even if I have to face many obstacles.

“I also hope the example I set will spur my brothers and sister to also want to do well in their studies and succeed in life,” she added.

Priya’s 36-year-old father R. Muthusamy works for an undertaker and is only paid if there is a funeral, while her mother N. Sumathi, 33, is a cleaner and earns about RM250 a month.

Because of this, it is not uncommon for Priya to go to school without food or pocket money.

Sumathi said she was proud of her daughter's UPSR results.

“Priya burned the midnight oil, staying up late every day to catch up on the lessons she had missed. I am indeed proud of her,” she added.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/11/23/nation/12672906&sec=nation
From: Lambretta on Thu Nov 24 23:08:44 2005.

HC comes to Kushboo's rescue

Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, Nov. 24: The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the state director-general of police, A.X. Alexander to ensure that demonstartions of the kind that took place in recent weeks across Tamil Nadu against actors Kushboo & Suhasini did not recur.
The court order provides much-needed relief for the two beleaguered women as the PMK-DPI activists continued to target them with street demonstrations and petitions in courts across TN.
The division bench directed the DGP to submit a report detailing the steps taken by the police against those who had held demonstrations against the two women. The DGP was also asked to reply to the representation given by an advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam, convenor of the Association of Indian Lawyers Against Corruption and Oppression, complaining about violent demonstrations against the actors.
Not getting any response from the DGP, the lawyer filed a public interest litigation case in the HC, which caused this judicial intervention to cap the controversy that appeared to be going out of control.
From: nirosha sen on Fri Nov 25 7:45:10 2005.

Nov - With all due to respect to the journalist concerned, I must say, I'm rather sceptical of the 15 km walk, Pa!!

Child may have gone to school with empty stomach, but Tamil schools do offer RMT food programme, which offers a well-balanced meal with milk.

I wonder if the journo. concerned had merely sensationalised the news piece, to wring out a few tears from readers?????
From: Bebeto on Sun Nov 27 7:10:20 2005.

Walking 15 Km?

Average speed of man 6 KmpH. She is spending atleast 5 hours a day just for walking?

From: Sudhaama on Sun Nov 27 17:28:49 2005.

India's Southern border has become
more vulnerable,..

.. because Mr Rajapakse, the new forthcoming President
of Srilanka.. as announced today, is

... A COMMUNIST by approach and SUPPORT.

Please see this latest news.... which is self-explanatory.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/28/stories/2005112813940100.htm

From: * on Sun Nov 27 20:40:59 2005.

Sudhaama wrote:

Please see this latest news.... which is self-explanatory.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/28/stories/2005112813940100.htm

Adha vidunga anna. I heard the whole speech itself through audio!!

Neenga kudutha link-layo Prabhavoda speechlayo INDIA pathi mentioney illaye. so whats ur point?

Strange that The Hindu the known Eelam basher and Chandrika admirer, has a picture of him.

From: Sudhaama on Sun Nov 27 23:09:14 2005.

Please see this latest news.... which is self-explanatory.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/28/stories/2005112813940100.htm

Neenga kudutha link-layo Prabhavoda speechlayo INDIA pathi mentioney illaye. so whats ur point?.

Here the only point I wanted to highlight is...on the present relations between the new President of Srilanka and LTTE...

.. Quite contrary to your earlier picturisation .. as if both of them are friendly behind the curtain, as a matter of understanding, on the eve of Presidential election.

So, such a new turn of political development in Srilanka...

... with a Communistic-minded President ( a Sweet news for India's Probable Enemy).

....not having a clear plan of amicable settlement on its core issues...

.. especially on the shattered life of minority Tamilians, the innocent Victims there...

.. uncared by those duly committed for.. since several decades... still miserably continues with no palpable ray of hope..

Such an unhealthy trend, may affect not only internally within that Island Nation on the whole,..

.. but also the Tamilian- Mother- Neighbour India... strategically also.

Revolutionary Kannakis are not born.... but made.

From: * on Mon Nov 28 0:55:24 2005.

india = democracy
pakistan = democracy

hence india = pakistan = friends

Subramanian Swamy range-ku summa kalakareenga
From: Sandeep on Mon Nov 28 0:57:43 2005.

* wrote:

india = democracy
pakistan = democracy

hence india = pakistan = friends

Wrong answer

Second statement wrong and hence final answer wrong
From: * on Mon Nov 28 1:13:15 2005.

Dont care what Pak is and what it does.

I am only questioning Sudama's laughable theory which says China will be chummy with SL coz they are communist and possibly sail over the LTTE dominated north and Palk Strait and attack India.
Or if the threat to the south is by Pakistan and China circling around the Arabian Sea and Bay of B respectively and entering india from there
From: Bebeto on Mon Nov 28 6:34:53 2005.

India, an atomic power is scared of an island Tiger. Shame on you people.

Before you call "Honourable" Mahinda Rajapakse a communist the sun will rise in the west and set in east. There is no communism in SL, either with or without JVP the nationalists. Was Kerala a threat to the Indian Union?

I also don't think that LTTE will ever cross the palkstrait to attack India or Tamil Nadu. And Pirabaharan is also not Rama and India did not kidnap any Seetha.

Tamils in SL are fighting and fought without India though my personal preference is different. I don't want a fight there because Singhala are a mixed folk (very much tamil blood in there) and their language is mixed too.

For Pirabaharan's speech:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=16429
From: j.chenkalvarayan on Mon Nov 28 9:44:17 2005.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/nov/28rashmi.htm

and also this

http://manjunathshanmugam.blogspot.com/

From: Bebeto on Mon Nov 28 12:10:40 2005.

It is a long-pending locking-horns which can be amicably settled only by an alien force...by PEACEFUL APPROACH.. on which India is best Qualified to be a Mediator..

In my opinion, India should become more intensively friendly with Srilanka, by involving voluntarily through Non-Violent measures... which must be easily possible ... both being of such an innate Heritage common as well as interlinked....

muthaltharam vAngina adi paththAthA sudhaama aiyA? LTTE pUnaiyilai, athu puli aiyA, puli. Mani katta muyaRcikka vENdAm thayavuceithu.

From: j.chenkalvarayan on Mon Nov 28 12:14:01 2005.

neenga pulina naanga singam. singathukiita yarum eppavum motha mudiyathu. puliyavathu yanai avathu.
From: j.chenkalvarayan on Mon Nov 28 13:04:24 2005.

i did not mean to hurt anybody here with my previous post.i am a tamizhan too . but india cannot and should not interfere in this issue. may be as a peace broker only after both the sides agree. remember india is a sovereign state . so it won't interfere in any other country's internal affairs though the cause is noble. sad state of affairs . even bangladesh refugees who moved over and are still creeping into india enjoy as much status as any other indian citizen. but even in their own lands where they have been living for many centuries since time immemorial srilankan tamils are meted out second class treatment.this is worse than apartheid.

From: Bebeto on Mon Nov 28 13:21:48 2005.

j.chenkalvarayan wrote:

i did not mean to hurt anybody here with my previous post.i am a tamizhan too . but india cannot and should not interfere in this issue. may be as a peace broker only after both the sides agree. remember india is a sovereign state . so it won't interfere in any other country's internal affairs though the cause is noble. sad state of affairs . even bangladesh refugees who moved over and are still creeping into india enjoy as much status as any other indian citizen. but even in their own lands where they have been living for many centuries since time immemorial srilankan tamils are meted out second class treatment.this is worse than apartheid. Evil or Very Mad

From my point of view you don't have to worry about your comment and it is not at all abusive. Further more double LOLs indicate that.

I do understand the "second class treatment" by the Indian side after Rajivs blow up. But these people did not commit that crime. The problem is time is passing by and still there is no solution in this SL Tamil-Singhala matter.

And don't forget one thing:
The "Indian" Tamils = Upcountry (tea estate) Tamils were second class Tamils for SL Tamils and they treated them like that for a very long time until the Tigers put an end to it. Thank Pirabaharan for that.

From: dev on Wed Nov 30 3:23:05 2005.

Girl dies in peanut butter kiss
From: Sandeep on Wed Nov 30 4:50:41 2005.

dev wrote:

Girl dies in peanut butter kiss

So one more question before you start a relation. What all allergies you have ?
From: blahblah on Wed Nov 30 7:55:20 2005.

dev wrote:

Girl dies in peanut butter kiss

15 years? Good example for youngsters-that's the age for peanuts,not for kiss!

From: Roshan on Wed Nov 30 11:57:09 2005.

bebeto wrote:

And don't forget one thing:
The "Indian" Tamils = Upcountry (tea estate) Tamils were second class Tamils for SL Tamils and they treated them like that for a very long time until the Tigers put an end to it. Thank Pirabaharan for that.

What do I call this - Rubbish , Utter Ignorance or Blind Devotion?? Until this moment the hill country Indian origins are considered as third class citizens by the so called Nothern Tamils and their attitude would never change. ( I am not saying SL Tamils because SL Tamils consists of vast range of communities who have totally different culture and attitudes as compared to the Nothern Tamils). Pirabakaran has nothing to do with the hill country Tanils and had never done anything to uplift the life of those people. Arumugam Thondaman - who reperesents the Indian hill country Tamils - hardly gives a damn to Pirabakaran. The Indian hill country people will just follow what Arumugam says and will never follow Pirabakaran or the Nothern Tamils or try to adopt their attitude, culture or values.

From: NM on Wed Nov 30 19:25:33 2005.

Sandeep - good comments

Blahblah - miss yr bunny!
From: NM on Wed Nov 30 19:32:39 2005.

News on the Australian Drug-trafficker doomed to hang in Singapore tomorrow (2nd Dec). My heart goes to the poor mum!

Last-ditch meeting sought for Nguyen
Lawyers for Nguyen Tuong Van have asked for a last minute meeting with the Singapore government in a final effort to save the Australian from the gallows.

Nguyen's two Australian lawyers Lex Lasry, QC, and Julian McMahon have asked to see government representatives today in a bid to stop Nguyen's execution at dawn local time (9am AEDT) on Friday.
Mr Lasry today said he was yet to hear if Singapore would grant the meeting.

"We will endeavour to put a final case to the Singapore government today, if they'll see us. We've made that request," he told ABC radio from Singapore.

"I think it's perhaps unlikely that they'll see us.

"We want them to understand that we say this is a breach of international human rights law.

"This is a significant injustice coupled of course with the fact that our client will die by hanging, which is a grotesque way to kill someone."

Mr Lasry admitted his client had almost no chance of a last-minute reprieve, and said the 25-year-old was "ready to die".

"We cling to some extent to the hope that Singapore will see sense and see the injustice this case is actually perpetrating but I think the prospect of that is very, very low - almost non-existent," Mr Lasry said.

Mr Lasry said he would push for an answer as soon as possible about whether Nguyen's mother Kim would be allowed to hug her son before he is executed.

Physical contact is banned for death row prisoners under Singapore law, but Kim Nguyen has asked the city-state to make an exception.

"Ordinary humanity and decency would require that she have a chance to have physical contact with Van," Mr Lasry said.

"We hope that will happen but we have to wait and see how that develops.

"She'll be spending time with him this afternoon, and other friends of his, and us as well."

Mr Lasry said Nguyen was holding up well as he prepared for death.

"He's a remarkable young man," Mr Lasry said.

"He's in very good shape emotionally, physically, spiritually, and his courage and his fortitude through all this, particularly in the last few weeks, makes our role much easier and ... his main concern is for those around him.

"He has little concern for himself. He has a great insight into his situation and he is, in fact, ready to die."
From: Sandeep on Wed Nov 30 21:27:05 2005.

I am sure and hope Singapore dont fall under pressure. A criminal should be punished based on his crime and not based on his family details. There a lot for countries like India to learn from Singapore.

Good going Singapore.
From: NOV on Wed Nov 30 21:57:34 2005.

Singapore's decision to execute Nguyen Tuong Van for drug trafficking is correct and responsible.

ALTHOUGH opinions in Australia are not unanimous, many Australians strongly oppose Singapore's decision not to commute the death sentence on Mr Nguyen Tuong Van for drug trafficking. I respect these views, which spring from a deep sense of human compassion. However, the outcry has also made it difficult to separate fact from fiction.

Fiction No. 1: Singapore has breached international law. There is no international agreement to abolish the death penalty. Capital punishment remains part of the criminal justice systems of 76 countries, including in the United States, where it is practised in 38 states. We respect Australia's sovereign choice not to have capital punishment. We hope Australia will likewise respect Singapore's sovereign choice to impose the death penalty for the most serious crimes, including drug trafficking. The overwhelming majority of Singaporeans support this.

Fiction No. 2: The death penalty has not deterred drug trafficking. This logic is flawed. The death penalty has not completely eliminated drug trafficking, but it has certainly deterred drug trafficking. Since the introduction of tough anti-drug laws in the mid-1970s, drug trafficking and drug abuse in Singapore have come down significantly. Potential traffickers know that, once arrested, they face the full weight of the law.

Fiction No. 3: Mr Nguyen is an unsuspecting victim Mr Nguyen may not be a hardened criminal, but he is not an unsuspecting victim either. He knew what he was doing and the penalty if he was caught. Had he succeeded, he would have made a lot of money. If we let off a convicted courier because of age, financial difficulties or distressed family background, it will only make it easier for drug traffickers to recruit more "mules", with the assurance that they will escape the death penalty.

Fiction No 4: The punishment does not fit crime. Mr Nguyen was caught with 396 grams of pure heroin, enough for 26,000 "hits", with a street value of more than $A1 million. Yes, he was transiting Singapore, and not smuggling drugs into the country, but Singapore simply cannot afford to allow itself to become a transit hub for illicit drugs in the region.

Fiction No. 5: Mr Nguyen can testify against Mr Bigs. All drug syndicates assume that some of their couriers will get caught. They never let the couriers know enough to incriminate themselves. The information that Mr Nguyen provided to the Singapore authorities was of limited value, and was, in fact, intended to mislead and delay the investigation.

Fiction No. 6: Singapore connives with drug lords. This is an old falsehood propagated by Dr Chee Soon Juan (Singapore opposition leader). He has alleged that the Singapore Government had invested in projects in Myanmar (Burma) that supported the drug trade. When this first surfaced in 1996, the Singapore Government explained that its investment in the Myanmar Fund was completely open and above board. The fund held straightforward commercial investments in hotels and companies. Other investors in the fund included Coutts & Co, an old British bank, and the Swiss Bank Corporation. The Singapore Government offered to set up a commission of inquiry so Dr Chee could produce evidence to prove his wild allegations. Unfortunately, Dr Chee never took up the offer.

Fiction No. 7: Singapore has treated Australia with contempt. Singapore highly values good relations with Australia and with Australian leaders. We share a common belief in the sanctity of the law. The Singapore cabinet deliberated at length on Mr Nguyen's clemency petition. It considered all relevant factors, including Mr Nguyen's personal circumstances, and the many public and private appeals from Australian leaders. Unfortunately, finally the cabinet decided that it could not justify making an exception for Mr Nguyen. It had to treat Mr Nguyen consistently with similar past cases, and apply the law equally to Singaporeans and foreigners.

Singapore's leaders have taken pains to explain our decision to Australian leaders, both in writing and in person. Singapore's Foreign Minister had also informed Foreign Minister Alexander Downer confidentially in advance of when the family would be notified of the execution date, and explained to Mr Downer that that the family should be the first to learn of the execution date. So when Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, met Prime Minister John Howard in Busan, he could not inform Mr Howard of the execution date either. Mr Lee did not know that the letter of notification had by mistake already been delivered to Mrs Kim Nguyen, one day early. Once Mr Lee discovered what had happened, he promptly apologised to Mr Howard.

Australians who oppose the death sentence on Mr Nguyen will not agree with everything I have said. But I hope they will accept that the Singapore Government has a responsibility to protect the many lives that would otherwise be blighted and destroyed by the drug syndicates, and to prevent Singapore from becoming a conduit for illicit drugs in the region. We are all touched by the pain and anguish of Mr Nguyen's mother, but if we waver in our firm position against drug trafficking, many more families will be shattered.

Joseph K. H. Koh is Singapore high commissioner in Australia.
From: dev on Wed Nov 30 22:03:39 2005.

blahblah wrote:

dev wrote:

Girl dies in peanut butter kiss

15 years? Good example for youngsters-that's the age for peanuts,not for kiss!
From: dev on Wed Nov 30 22:04:51 2005.

Sandeep wrote:

A criminal should be punished based on his crime and not based on his family details.

Well said...

From: Bebeto on Thu Dec 1 9:23:55 2005.

Roshan wrote:

bebeto wrote:

This was what an upcountry tamil (nuwara elliya) told me as he was working here when the expo 2000 in Hannover occured as I had him with me for meals a couple of times. Anyway this was also the same I heard from Jaffna in the spring this year. But I can not say if it is write or wrong by personal experiences, sorry.

But I do know that the estate workers were treatet like the third or even worse from my time until 1978 in SL atleast in Jaffna. The northies even thought that they speak the better Tamil of all.

That I say this does not represent my pesonal views and attitudes. And you, Roshan know this very well.

From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 1 10:58:18 2005.

//Digression//

blahblah wrote:

dev wrote:

Girl dies in peanut butter kiss

15 years? Good example for youngsters-that's the age for peanuts,not for kiss!

True but unfortunately not the common state of affairs.
An incident last week got a lot of attention from the US media..an 18 yr old boy shoot and killed the parents of his 14 yr old girlfriend and then the couple "ran off " to start life in a new state.All this bcause the parents of the girl thought him too old to date their girl.
This incident happened where the people are very conservative.The children out here are home schooled and the parents are hardworking christians who pray everyday and go to church every sunday.Their children even attend sunday school.
Personally I feel that incidents such as this happen soley because the culture here is to allow kids to start dating at such an young age.On the other hand the situation is so out of hand that if the parents try to put a stop the "dating culture" they are usually shot/beaten/pushed from the stairs etc etc.Its actually pretty scary!
From: sabari on Thu Dec 1 11:13:43 2005.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=83054

public morality????? sounds like a good joke to me

From: Lambretta on Thu Dec 1 11:16:14 2005.

This incident happened where the people are very conservative.The children out here are home schooled and the parents are hardworking christians who pray everyday and go to church every sunday.Their children even attend sunday school.

Ur talking abt the US??!!

I mean there r ppl. who r still like this out there, even today??!

Quote:

Personally I feel that incidents such as this happen soley because the culture here is to allow kids to start dating at such an young age.

True........I used to see this serial called "Small wonder" on cable TV 10+ yrs ago.......it showed the leading kid (11 yrs old or so) falling for a girl in his school & going out on dating/getting dumped etc......! Also I think one reason tat parents encourage such 'active' interaction w/ opposite sex for their kids is bcos they fear tat the kids wud turn homos......my mum once stayed @ this American lady's house in the US for a while, many yrs ago......she once asked the lady how parents in the US cud allow their kids to go around dating etc......to which the lady answered "I'm just glad tat my son's not gay.....I think tat wud've been worse!"........

Quote:

On the other hand the situation is so out of hand that if the parents try to put a stop the "dating culture" they are usually shot/beaten/pushed from the stairs etc etc.Its actually pretty scary!

It sure must be.......and yea I guess its too late in those countries for parents to suddenly put a stop to this kinda "culture" in the short-range, considering how strong a foothold things like these hav gained over the gens......and unless I'm mistaken the situation will be the same here in India too in a couple of decades......unless parents see the danger signs b4hand & act early.......a stitch in time saves nine.......?
Yea I know how parents here appear to be relatively strict & conservative abt their kids' issues but I can say tat its not entirely so in reality, even here......considering how today's parnets r caught up in wordly goals & unable to devote time emotionally for their kids (who r equally caught up in the rat-race type education!).....esp. in the cities......!

From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Dec 1 11:53:13 2005.

"and unless I'm mistaken the situation will be the same here in India too in a couple of decades......unless parents see the danger signs b4hand & act early.......a stitch in time saves nine.......? "

Lambretta, what can we hope for with the Satanic preachers of the "new culture" in our midst hailing from the "show" business(pun intended) who are lucky to draw international favour too!

From: Lambretta on Thu Dec 1 11:58:55 2005.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

Lambretta, what can we hope for with the Satanic preachers of the "new culture" in our midst hailing from the "show" business(pun intended) who are lucky to draw international favour too!

Bitterly true......! A pity to note wat kind of role models the present day society has chosen.......!

From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 1 12:11:16 2005.

Digression cont...

Lambretta wrote:

Ur talking abt the US??!! I mean there r ppl. who r still like this out there, even today??!

Ohh yes there are!!US from what Ive seen is a nation of contrasts. you have "so called modern people" who dont believe in religion,dont believe in marriage,see nothing wrong in having multiple partners etc etc while there are the citizens of this other nation for whom marriage is for life whose children are brought up to belive only in the church and are really conservative ..there r also other sections of society who dont believe in anything "modern" in their terms..not even in electricity and running water.They are the Amish who belive the best way to live is to live life as it was lived in 1800s.They even have their own laws.They dont mingle with the common people and live on farms deep and do things the way they were done 100-200 yrs ago.Not much is know about this community.(ive seen them..they even wear clothes out of that century!!).Finally there are a lot of people whose lives and culture is very similer to ours.Which frowns upon intercaste relationships...gets together for all festivals..places family above everything else etc etc.
Its too vast a nation..and its really unfair to just group everyone into this one section shown on TV!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Dec 1 12:14:13 2005.

But the global impact of "this one section shown on TV" is calamitously great!
From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 1 12:15:22 2005.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

But the global impact of "this one section shown on TV" is calamitously great!

Unfourtunately soo true !!

From: Lambretta on Thu Dec 1 12:21:42 2005.

Digression cont...
there r also other sections of society who dont believe in anything "modern" in their terms..not even in electricity and running water.They are the Amish who belive the best way to live is to live life as it was lived in 1800s.

Yes, I read abt them in a Stephen king novel......they even drive only horse drawn buggies, not cars (which is one thing I don't appreciate- they cud atleast hav old cars!) as they believe tat nething tat moves "on its own" is the work of Satan!

Quote:

Finally there are a lot of people whose lives and culture is very similer to ours.Which frowns upon intercaste relationships...gets together for all festivals..places family above everything else etc etc.

Intercaste?? Among Americans??

Or do u mean the US settled Indians (whose children r ABCDs)??

Quote:

Its too vast a nation..and its really unfair to just group everyone into this one section shown on TV!

Well apologies if I sounded like I was generalising......but then, IMHO wat is shown on TV abt the US is wat the 'general' pic. looks like rite?

I mean, how many times do they show the religious conservatives or the Amish as part of the US? Even on visiting the US/meeting yanks, wat one is more likely to get exposed to is the 'general' American life tat most of us know abt......u know.....um, do u get wat I trying to say?!

From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 1 13:22:40 2005.

Yea..I meant inter caste..u know catholics,protestants,lutherians,presybetarian etc etc .
From: sabari on Thu Dec 1 13:37:37 2005.

correct me if im wrong but catholics,protestants,lutherians,presybetarian etc etc are not castes they different sects of same faith like iyer n iyengar...both are brahmins
From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 1 14:12:55 2005.

I dont know...I was thinking these were different castes under the bigger Christianity religion :p.Now that uve asked this question Im not sure anymore .
From: sabari on Thu Dec 1 16:06:58 2005.

well dont be not sure...because they are not castes....as far as i know caste system exists only in our country..i might be wrong...but back to the points they are different sects of the same faith not castes...but u were correct in one aspect that some conservative christians do not encourage their children to have relationships with neone from the other sect....but its very few

From: * on Fri Dec 2 0:04:29 2005.

Bebeto wrote:

But I do know that the estate workers were treatet like the third or even worse from my time until 1978 in SL atleast in Jaffna. The northies even thought that they speak the better Tamil of all.

Much like our tamil nadu dialects, SL tamil has its own dialects among the natives of Jaffna, Vanni and Batticaloa. As far the caste equations among tamils, its not just between SL and Indian tamils, even within SL tamils there is very strong caste-consciousness...I have noticed this coming into the picture even among the dating lives of expatriate sri lankan tamils. It is sad that even despite having a common enemy, sri lankan tamils are not able to eliminate this factor.

Bebeto, Roshan
Can you pls shed more light on the status of the Hill Country tamils as of today? I was going through a site(SL govt run) which tried to make some anti-LTTE propaganda over the recent shooting of a jaffna professor - the site was pointing to caste equations and even claims that upto 15% of the LTTE are the hill country tamils, who are brainwashed and conscripted as easy targets. (Sounded like the British divide-and-rule policy to me)

I am curious how this is possible since the life of the hill country tamils is shaped around the Sinhala central districts and they are even closer to the Sinhala culture than the Northern Sri Lankan tamils.

Can you give some information about the demographics of the tamils living in North and North-East, especially the ones recruited by the LTTE?
Also, what percentage of the tamils around Kandy, Anuradhapura are Sri lankan and indian?

From: Bebeto on Fri Dec 2 8:41:50 2005.

But I do know that the estate workers were treatet like the third or even worse from my time until 1978 in SL atleast in Jaffna. The northies even thought that they speak the better Tamil of all.

Bebeto wrote:

I am really sorry *.
As I have said I am out of Jaffna from 1978 and if you believe or not I am not a right Tamil due to my past. If a cat has to live among dogs then the cat remains the cat but she thinks as a dog. This is what happened to me.

Regarding the killing of the school principals I can only say that the Kopay guy was not klilled by LTTE but the Central College principal. He was already a tiger target for years. the Latter was killed to punish the govt side for the killing of the former. I only know that this central college guy had blood on his fingers, a lot of students were handed over to the police and military and were tortured.

Regarding caste problems I can only say that it does not matter what you are, who you are and where you are they all want to know where you are from.

One incident happened end of February 05 in SL when I was in Mullaithivu because of Tsunami relief.

I was in a tuc tuc (or trishaw) heading towards Mullaithivu and there was a check point near by. I got off from the vechicle and the Tiger police was asking who, where, what. Beside him sitting a man in his 30's I guess. He looked like a civilian but I don't know if he really is/was. He asked me where I am from - it was very obvious that I was not a native. I said Germany. But that was not enough for him.
He asked: ungada Ur enga?
me: yAzhpANam
he: yAzhpANam eNdA evvidam
me: town
he: town eNdA enganeikka
me: thambi, ethukkAka intha kELvikaL ellAm?
he: illaiyungO, nAnum yazhpAnam thAn. adhuthAn ...
me: nIr oru uniformai pOttukkondu vanthu ennai kELum. nAn umakku pathil solkirEn. Uniform pOtta AL pakkaththila irukkiRAr, ennaippaRRi oru kELvi kEkkEla. nAn kozumpu eNdu solliyirunthAl nIr enna seithiruppIr.
he: aNNan, thayavu....
me: Kazuthai than vElaiyai pArkka vENdum, nAi nAyaipola nadakka vEndum, nAn solrathu puriyuthA, puriyumA?

and turned back to the police man. He handed over my passport with a pleasant smile and I asked him if I was right. He shook his head like the Indians do ( they shake an eight, we in Europe up and down for yes and left to right for no) and wished me a nice time in Mullaithivu.

From: ssanjinika on Fri Dec 2 10:01:00 2005.

Continuing on the Nguyen story

A touch of love before hanging Aussie
Russell Robinson
02dec05

A HEARTBROKEN Kim Nguyen left Changi Prison in tears last night after seeing her son for the last time before he was to be hanged.
Photo gallery

She was allowed to hold his hand briefly during the six-hour visit, but Singapore officials refused to let her hug him.
Her son Nguyen Tuong Van, sentenced to death for trafficking heroin, was served his last meal as his mother was driven away in a state of collapse.

Lawyer Lex Lasry's wife Liz cradled Mrs Nguyen's head in the back seat.

Nguyen's twin brother Khoa walked to his waiting car unassisted and showing little emotion.

Friends Kelly Ng and Bronwyn Lew broke down and were helped away by Mr Lasry and fellow lawyer Julian McMahon.

Prison officials stood by and respectfully saw the party to their cars.

As the cars left, they passed workers busily erecting satellite dishes for reports of Nguyen's execution at dawn today.

Nguyen's family, supporters and the Australian Government had begged Singapore to allow Mrs Nguyen to hug her son one last time.

A plea by Prime Minister John Howard was the key to the last-minute compromise in which she was able to hold his hand.

Singapore normally bans physical contact for death row inmates, saying such encounters can be traumatic and likely to destabilise the prisoners.

But Singapore said it had made an exception for Nguyen after a personal plea by Mr Howard to his counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, at the recent Commonwealth leaders' conference in Malta.

"After considering the request carefully, especially the personal request of John Howard and the advice of the Prisons Department, the Singapore Government has agreed on an exception basis to allow limited physical contact," it said.

"They will be allowed to hold hands."

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said Singapore's concession was better than nothing. "It'll perhaps be very meagre compensation � of course it will be � but it will be nice that they can touch each other," he said.

M. Ravi, a human rights lawyer who campaigned to save Nguyen, said it was abominable that Mrs Nguyen was not allowed to hug her son.

"I am lost for words," he said. "How can you just restrict it to the hand and not have bodily contact?"

Mr Lasry and Mr McMahon, who said goodbye to Nguyen earlier in the day, said their final visit was unforgettable.

"It's the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my career," Mr Lasry said.

Mr McMahon was overcome with emotion.

"He is completely rehabilitated, completely reformed, completely focused on doing what is good and now they are going to kill him," he said.

After his final farewells, Nguyen was to be served a last meal � provided at a cost of just $8.

Prison chaplain Father Gregoire Van Giang was expected to spend the night with him.

Handcuffed, Nguyen was to take the short walk from his cell to the gallows, where the trapdoor was to spring open at 6am (9am Melbourne time).

Even on the last day of his life, desperate attempts were made to halt the execution.

Mr Lasry and his fellow lawyers sought a meeting with the Singapore Government, but the bid fell on deaf ears.

In Melbourne, lawyer Brian Walters issued a private prosecution against Nguyen in the hope it could allow Australia to seek his extradition.

He charged Nguyen with two counts of conspiring to import heroin, with a summons to Melbourne Magistrates' Court on February 2.

But the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions said there was insufficient material and the request would not be passed on to the Federal Government.

Anti-hanging protesters planned a secret vigil near Changi Prison overnight.

In Melbourne, about 300 people holding candles walked from Federation Square to the Queen Victoria Gardens in an Amnesty International vigil.

"I just can't believe it is going to happen in this day and age," said a man who gave his name as Tom. "It seems barbaric."

A woman who gave her name as Kate said she felt for Mrs Nguyen. "It's his mum I feel sorry for, she seems so sad," she said.

Heres the link for the story
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17431049%255E661,00.html

Now it seems barbaric to me
From: Lambretta on Fri Dec 2 13:29:52 2005.

Actually this wud sound a bit late for this thread as its not picked from the paper TODAY.......nevertheless, I found this really unbelievable!

"HIV+ couples have healthy babies

VIZAG CHRONICLE, Thurs. 1 Dec. 2005: According to Dr. Evita Fernandez, new drugs have made it possible for HIV+ couples to start families, but they must be under the care of a specialist. The medication is called Anti Retroviral Therapy (ARV). It is a combination of drugs and must be only administered under proper medication.
Dr. Fernandez says that even couples where both partners are HIV +ve can plan a baby. In this case their viral count should be brought down and the CD4 (immunity factor) in the blood must be constantly monitored. Another mdeical development is tat pregnant mothers can be administered w/ zidovudine (ZDV), an anti-retroviral drug during the 2nd & 3rd trimesters. A 'C' section is advised and the mother should abstain from breast-feeding the baby to ensure the virus isn't passed on.
For couples for whom ZDV is too costly, there is another option, a drug called NRV, which is given to the mother during labour, about 4 hrs from before delivery. This can reduce the chance of infection by abt 50%. The newborn should also be given a NRV shot within 72 hrs of birth to prevent transmission of the virus."
From: Surya on Fri Dec 2 23:44:51 2005.

Forty-Five Connecticut Courthouses Evacuated Due to Bomb Threats.
Friday, December 02, 2005

HARTFORD, Conn. � Forty-five state courthouses across Connecticut were evacuated Friday because of a bomb threat, after the governor's office received a number of ominous phone calls. Bomb squads were activated and trials were suddenly put on hold.

Connecticut state police said several calls were phoned in Friday morning to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's constituent office. The first one, which came in at approximately 9:30 a.m. and was answered by a Rell staffer, was a non-specified bomb threat against a state judicial courthouse, according to police and the governor's office.

Additional threats were made shortly thereafter against judicial courthouses and state facilities, police said.

In response, state police evacuated all of the state's 45 judicial court buildings and were searching them Friday. Connecticut's judicial branch has 83 facilities; 45 include courtrooms.

"All we know right now is there was a bomb threat," said Wayne Sandford, deputy homeland security commissioner. "We're trying to get information on it as we speak."

A U.S. official familiar with the situation told FOX News that the calls included threats of bombs going off at 2 p.m. EST. Two o'clock came and went without reported incident Friday.
The official told FOX the calls were likely put in by the same person, though that wasn't known for sure. Police were trying to track down whether the threats were credible and who made them.

A counterterrorism official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, told The Associated Press that the caller threatened to detonate bombs at 2 p.m. at state courthouses in New London, Danielson, Danbury, Middletown, Manchester and New Britain.

Courthouses in Waterbury, New Haven, New London, Danielson, Bridgeport, Hartford and Rockville were evacuated.

Local and state police bomb squads were notified about 11:30 a.m. that state police were requesting a sweep of state courthouses.

The bomb threat and subsequent evacuations abruptly interrupted trials while sending judges, lawyers and people with routine court business into the streets.

"They were very nonchalant, very smooth," said Madeline Hunt, who was in the Hartford Superior Court building attending her son's court appearance. "'OK,' they said. 'Everyone's got to leave.' There was no panic, no nothing."

U.S. Marshal John Bardelli said bomb squads were sweeping federal courts in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford but those courthouses remained open.

Gary Dorsey, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshal in Connecticut, told FOX News that the marshal service took steps to verify there was no need to close any federal courthouses in the state � so no federal buildings were shut down nor were any under threat. Only state courthouses were closed as a result of the calls, he said.

The threat prompted a criminal investigation by the Connecticut State Police Detectives.

Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly said he was in Rockville Superior Court when it was evacuated and he got word that the Waterbury courthouse had been evacuated as well.

Defense attorney William Gerace was in the Danielson Superior Court for pretrial conferences when it was evacuated.

"At first they told us we'd be back in momentarily," he said. "Then we heard a rumor there was a bomb threat. I started looking at my clients suspiciously, but they all swore they didn't do it. We all stood around outside in the cold for an hour and a half."

FOX News' Catherine Donaldson-Evans, Catherine Herridge and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[/tscii]
From: * on Sun Dec 4 17:29:59 2005.

Brutal punishment: 7 school kids' palms burnt

A correspondent | December 03, 2005 18:58 IST
Last Updated: December 03, 2005 15:17 IST

In a shocking incident, seven students of a government school in Kayalpattinam, in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, suffered burn injuries due to the brutal punishment handed out to them by the school principal.

The incident occurred when 35 students of standard V were forced to keep their palms on a burning candle after they were suspected of having stolen money.

On Thursday, Usha Parvathy, a teacher at the school, complained that Rs 200 had been stolen from her purse while she had left in the classroom to visit the toilet. She alleged that one of students had pilfered the money.

When the matter was brought to the notice of the principal, Vasantha, she decided to punish the entire class to find the 'thief' and recover the money.

She made all the students in the classroom keep their hands on a burning candle and promise that they had not taken the money. In the process, seven of the 10-year-olds burnt their palms.

When nothing was recovered from the children, a search was conducted in the school's premises and the money was found near the toilet.

Later that day, the students informed their parents about the inhuman punishment and a complaint was registered at the Armugneri police station the following day against the principal, who is now absconding.

District Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumar Agarwal and District Collector Chandrasekhar have promised severe action against the culprit.

Meanwhile, the education department has swung into action and suspended the principal.
From: Nerd on Sun Dec 4 19:17:42 2005.

What the ...
From: Surya on Sun Dec 4 20:20:16 2005.

Don't they have Child Abuse laws in India?

I remember when I was in like 3rd grade, my last year in india, I was in St German's School in Bangalore. The Principal, we used to call him 'Father' used to walk around with a cane up his sleve, and if anyone was misbehaving (Fighting, foul lang, etc) he'd take that cane out and start hitting them. It didn't bother me much then, but after living here for awhile I've wondered...Isn't that Child Abuse?? Not to mention burning their palms off!!
From: Sandeep on Sun Dec 4 22:27:15 2005.

Reminds me of an incident when I was in 6th, the principal punished me for not being in the class room though there was no teacher for that period (not that i was miss behaving i was just roaming around). He smacked a double sided trash on my ears and trust me I saw stars. Had I been not lucky both my ear drums would have broken.

Not that it was the only punishment I have received but it was the only one which I cannot laugh at even now and given a chance will like to pay back.
From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 5 0:18:02 2005.

I had a terrible time when I was in 4th class @ Jodhpur (Raj.)......we had this class teacher who was a real terror! My 1st experience as her victim was in the beginning of our acad. year one day in Maths period (she used to take nearly all our subjects) she caught me writing w/ a pencil tat wasn't sharpened properly (my sharpener was broken & nobody I asked tat day lent me theirs!)......she jus snatched the pencil from me, grabbed my right hand & began whacking my knuckles w/ it! Altho I pulled my hand away b4 she cud go on......
It was only after the beating tat she listened to my explanation & then ordered sumone to lend me their sharpener......then the boy next to me (who'd earlier refused! ) lent me his obediently.......was more angry w/ him tat day than w/ the teacher tho!
And Sandeep, even I had an experience in 6th like urs .......this was in hyd. & I was new to the school then......again it was w/ a Maths teacher......we had geometry & the line I was drawing wasn't exactly perpendicular.......she noticed it & began scolding me abt it....then suddenly even as I was correcting it, she began slapping me around the face, which totally shocked me!
When I went home, I still had her finger-marks on my cheeks & they looked swollen! But I told my mother all abt it & she came w/ me to the school the next day & fired tat teacher openly, taking the matter to the school Director! She refused to leave until the teacher apologised for her action......this was apparently the 1st time a parent had taken up this issue w/ the school.......they usually weren't known to bother abt the punishments their kids rec'd......it did bring abt a change in tat teacher atleast......she turned much kinder towards us since then.
From: ssanjinika on Mon Dec 5 9:54:45 2005.

to your mom Lamby.

I remember being in school and in our school harsh punishment was "frowned upon" so most teachers refrained from hitting/slapping the students.We were made to stand on one side and for those select few who were really naughty were asked to kneel down.For those incorrigible ones ..well they usually got a smack in their foot(actually it was just above their ankles where it doesnt hurt much coz it has just muscle)with the flat side of a ruler.
Looking at yours and sandeeps exp..I should say I had an easy deal.
From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 5 11:17:05 2005.

Tks SS!
And quite astonished to hear abt the "easy deal" u had at ur school! Considering tat this was much b4 physical punishments became forbidden in schools! Now I really envy u (apart from the fact abt ur parents' Herald! )
Punishments of this type sound like a reasonably fair measure to me tho.....rather than the "spare the rod & spoil the child" principle......altho in many cases (as in mine) bare hands cud cause as much pain as a rod!

From: Surya on Mon Dec 5 17:54:12 2005.

Reminds me of an incident when I was in 6th, the principal punished me for not being in the class room though there was no teacher for that period (not that i was miss behaving i was just roaming around). He smacked a double sided trash on my ears and trust me I saw stars. Had I been not lucky both my ear drums would have broken.

Not that it was the only punishment I have received but it was the only one which I cannot laugh at even now and given a chance will like to pay back.

What pissed me off is that when I got into fights @ SGHS in Bangalore, they didn't care who provoked it etc. There was this fellow called Mr. Saranraj I think, I forget his name, but he used to pull on my sideburns everytime I got into a fight. He'd do it once, then again, then again, slap, then pull again and again, and ask me to go to my seat. I can only recall like 4 incidents.But it hurt like hell back then!!!! I remember my 3rd std teacher breaking a ruler on one of the kids. Now it makes me wonder if these things are personal frustrations that are taken out on students.

Lord Machi!!

to ur mom too!!

Quote:

But I told my mother all abt it & she came w/ me to the school the next day & fired tat teacher openly, taking the matter to the school Director! She refused to leave until the teacher apologised for her action

You are quite lucky too!! My parents never interfered with the punishments etc that I got in school. Infact, on the first days of school, my dad would meet the teachers, and ask them to not show any mercy on me!!

Sanjinika,

Did u go to an all girls school or something?

Anyone remember the beating with the sharp side of the ruler on ur knuckles?

PS: We should start a thread on this!!

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 5 18:07:51 2005.

hohoho! Let me share my school experience then..

My nightmare was Esther mam! She was in her 35's at that time with a plump figure...Her way of punishment was very rude...When there was no teacher to take classes she will appoint the class leader to "Mind"(famous word during the school time) the class..My class leader was a girl,her target always on boyz..esp me She wrote my name everytime(Eventhough i didn opn my mouth)..Without listening to my explanation Esther mam will make me, to stand on the bench..she will beat me with wooden scale until it gets broken.Like you Lamb..one day i told this to my ma..she became very angry and she fired at Esther mam like anything on the very next day and reported to the school principal.Next day they changed my section from A to B ..there i got very very sweet mam called Shanthi Mam ..very caring
From: Sandeep on Mon Dec 5 21:12:55 2005.

Beckham wrote:

girl,her target always on boyz..esp me She wrote my name everytime(Eventhough i didn opn my mouth).

Have you every thought about it. Why she enjoyed writing you name. May be because you never 'opened your mouth' to talk to her
From: Querida on Mon Dec 5 22:00:16 2005.

Sandeep i do remember a thread on bullying...and this certainly is bullying and perverse abuse of authority...
From: dev on Mon Dec 5 22:37:52 2005.

Beckham, ur experience with Esther mam is saddening... Wonder how they can expect kids to sit quiet for an hr... they r not Buddhas afterall!!!... Most of our teacher-less hours were spent in the playground... We were lucky that way...

I'm reminded of this teacher Miss.Margret... It was when I was in 4th std... She had to leave the school (I guess she was getting married & moving to another place) & that was her last day at school... So she let us free & we were conversing with her... Suddenly she said that her wish is to give the whole class a canning before she left... & she did that as well... Didn't pain much but wonder what kind of a wish it was...

From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 5 22:52:54 2005.

to ur mom too!!.........My parents never interfered with the punishments etc that I got in school. Infact, on the first days of school, my dad would meet the teachers, and ask them to not show any mercy on me!! Crying or Very sad

Lord Machi!! Clap

Tks Machi!

Aw man.......tats like really a wrong thing to encourage!

I'd read an article abt school punishments in our paper a few yrs ago & it mentioned incidents where the parents scold & even hit the child in front of the teachers & encourage them to punish the child in watever way possible!

Quote:

You had sideburns in 3rd grade itself??!

Were they allowed in ur school in the 1st place?!
Tat reminds me, when I was in Inter 1st yr (= 11th std.)......our college had classrooms on either side of a corridor......so if one class was noisy it'd disturb the ones across.....we had Sanskrit class one day but the lecturer was absent so it was getting really noisy........then this English lecturer called Mr. Adams, who was teaching in the opp. class, walked into our class & asked us quietly "r yall students?"......sumone cheekily replied "no", we cudn't tell who......he suddenly walked upto this guy w/ specs, asking him to take off his specs & slapped him hard, left & right tat knocked the guy backwards! He then grabbed him by the collar & pushed him out of the class, w/out bothering to hear him.....It later turned out tat he was not the culprit who said "no".....he just grinned when the culprit said tat so Adams thot it was him! But no-one was able to find out who it really was! But I cudn't forgive Adams, who din't even care tat he'd punished an innocent guy!

Quote:

Now it makes me wonder if these things are personal frustrations that are taken out on students. Rolling Eyes

Yea I thot so too.......esp. in case of the lady teachers who were like tat.......who knows, maybe they had really nasty wife-beating husbands, so they'd take their vengeance on males out on less powerful/inferior males?!

And puleeeeeeez, no need to mention the knuckle-beatings w/ the side of the rulers! Still gives me the shivers tat does!

Quote:

PS: We should start a thread on this!! Very Happy

Yea, i think so too....turnin into another digression!

From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 5 23:01:16 2005.

Beckham wrote:

Like you Lamb..one day i told this to my ma..she became very angry and she fired at Esther mam like anything on the very next day and reported to the school principal.Next day they changed my section from A to B ..there i got very very sweet mam called Shanthi Mam ..very caring Smile

Sri,

to ur mom too mate!

*digrsn* Oh, and this is my supposedly last request not to call my ID by the 1st 4 letters....

As I said, Lamby is acceptable!
*end digrsn*

From: Sandeep on Mon Dec 5 23:14:07 2005.

The link you gave reminded me of my Fathers scooter, oh i used to love it so much.
From: dev on Mon Dec 5 23:15:14 2005.

Lamby, is that ur lamby???!!!...
From: Nerd on Mon Dec 5 23:16:35 2005.

Quote:

not to call my ID by the 1st 4 letters....

I told you long back
From: Sandeep on Mon Dec 5 23:23:34 2005.

Ok back to the Picks of the Day

India mulls proposal to lower marriageable age for men

The government has said it is considering a proposal to determine a "common age" of 18 years for both men and women to be legally eligible to get married. This would imply lowering the age of consent for men from 21 to 18.

The government move comes close on the heels of a Delhi high court judgment that the 'age of consent' is 16 years, an order which had sparked controversy. The HC order had held that a marriage where the girl was over 15 could be considered valid if she were seen to have consented to the union. The Delhi HC had upheld that the Hindu Marriage Act recognises a marriage between two Hindus if the girl is more than 15 years old but below 18. According to the Indian Penal Code, sex with a minor is seen as statutory rape and a criminal offence. The IPC, Muslim and Hindu laws recognise marriageable age at 15, while under the Child Marriage Act it is 18 years.

The govt plans to remove these discrepancies in law
From: Sandeep on Mon Dec 5 23:55:22 2005.

Tourism in India.

Biggest travellers
Tourists from Karnataka - 6.1 million
Tourists from Tamil Nadu - 3.7 million
Tourists from Maharashtrians and Bengalis - 2.9 million each
Tourists from Gujarat - 2.8 million

Category
Leisure travel or holidaying - 6%
Religious travel - 13.8%
But rest are all social travel - 58.9%

Most popular destinations for religious or leisure travel in the country (except social travel), 8 of the top 10 were pilgrim centres. Bangalore/ Mysore and Delhi being the only non pilgrim toppers.

I am sure BlahBlah will have some more indept analysis on this.
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 1:06:09 2005.

Sandeep wrote:

The link you gave reminded me of my Fathers scooter, oh i used to love it so much.

*DIGRESSION ON*
Oh......interesting to know tat ur folks had one! Congrats! Ur another one in my "to be envied" list!
'wish my father had one of these too......he cud've even bought it brand new back then! Pity he disliked scooters!
Btw Sandeep, if u loved ur father's scooter so much, y did u let him sell it at all???!! Or were u too young to've made him listen to u?!
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 1:12:38 2005.

dev wrote:

Lamby, is that ur lamby???!!!...

If it were mine, I assure u I wud've maintained it MUCH better than it looks in tat pic.!!
I actually found it in this website at Lambretta scooters......its got loads of pics. inc. many of those in India.....this one actually happens to be owned by a grocer......location seems to be in Chandigarh (going by the no. atleast).......
Altho I did want to buy a Lamby........cudn't find ne good ones around plus I needed a 2-wheeler for daily use so I bought an '85 Vijai Super (equally good IMO!) instead!
No, I'm not tat fussy abt mileage as I currently don't hav to travel too much everyday!

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 1:16:22 2005.

Ok back to the Picks of the Day

India mulls proposal to lower marriageable age for men

The government has said it is considering a proposal to determine a "common age" of 18 years for both men and women to be legally eligible to get married. This would imply lowering the age of consent for men from 21 to 18.

How do they expect an 18 yr old guy to support himself/his spouse??

Unless perhaps, u keep call centre employees or guys w/ family businesses in mind!

From: Sandeep on Tue Dec 6 1:30:43 2005.

Lambretta wrote:

Btw Sandeep, if u loved ur father's scooter so much, y did u let him sell it at all???!! Or were u too young to've made him listen to u?!

He didn't. He passed away during my childhood. Later my elder brother learned driving on it. IT taught me driving too. So you can imagine how attached we where to that Lamby.

But we couldnt use it for daily needs and lack of use was effecting the engine. So we sold it. Well sold only the vehicles not the memories. It still remains in my image of our complete family.
From: dev on Tue Dec 6 1:33:35 2005.

My FIL still has a lamby... not coz he loves it but he's sentimentally attached to it... I guess it was the first scooter he bought...

Dad too had a lambretta but sold it long back to a mechanic... When I went to India last june, I saw the mechanic still riding it... Brought back sweet old memories... Dad used to allow us to paint our names on his lamby... One side of the lamby had my name & the other side had my brother's name... I still have a pic of mine posing on the lambretta...

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 1:40:05 2005.

*DIGRESSION ON*

He didn't. He passed away during my childhood.

Oh..sorry to hear tat.

Quote:

Later my elder brother learned driving on it. IT taught me driving too. So you can imagine how attached we where to that Lamby. But we couldnt use it for daily needs and lack of use was effecting the engine. So we sold it. Well sold only the vehicles not the memories. It still remains in my image of our complete family.

I can sure understand ur attachment......I doubt if I'll ever want to part w/ my scooter as I learnt driving on it too, this year!
Um.....btw, was urs the same colour as the one in my link?
Also ne pics. u hav of it?

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 1:51:59 2005.

*DIGRESSION ON*

My FIL still has a lamby... not coz he loves it but he's sentimentally attached to it... I guess it was the first scooter he bought...

Yea I find tat most ppl. in India who hav old vehicles for yrs together hav them not bcos they like tat particular model (unlike me) but bcos of sum sentimental reason, like their 1st vehicle or they bought it brand new or sumthing........
I think even the previous owner of my scooter had it all these yrs for tat reason.......

Quote:

Dad too had a lambretta but sold it long back to a mechanic... When I went to India last june, I saw the mechanic still riding it... Brought back sweet old memories... Dad used to allow us to paint our names on his lamby... One side of the lamby had my name & the other side had my brother's name... I still have a pic of mine posing on the lambretta... Very Happy

Btw, may I ask if ur dad's was Lambretta or Lamby (as the one in the pic.)...?? The latter succeeded the Lambretta in the '70s, w/ only cosmetic changes......
And yea, if this digression is going too far, do PM me abt this!

From: Sandeep on Tue Dec 6 2:04:42 2005.

No pictures on hand may be my mother has. But yes it was the same colour - light blue dark blue combination but we maintained it much better than the one in the picture.
From: dev on Tue Dec 6 2:23:28 2005.

The one my FIl had is this... Just realised that it's a lambretta & not a lamby...
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://qingy.sourceforge.net/images/lambretta.jpg&imgrefurl=http://qingy.sourceforge.net/themes.php&h=768&w=1024&sz=105&tbnid=oljEA4bBPSkJ:&tbnh=112&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlambretta%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D&oi=imagesr&start=2

& the one my dad had was a lambretta... like the grey one... I don't know the model & stuff...
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/4744/lambretta.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Italy/Basilicata/photo41813.htm&h=600&w=800&sz=192&tbnid=-bA3lWC6-U0J:&tbnh=106&tbnw=142&hl=en&start=43&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Blambretta%2Bpictures%26start%3D40%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26hs%3DfYV%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 3:57:46 2005.

No pictures on hand may be my mother has. But yes it was the same colour - light blue dark blue combination but we maintained it much better than the one in the picture.

Wow! Tat must'e been a really nice colour combination!

One of our photo albums has an old colour pic. of our ex-house at Hyd. when built in 1978, w/ a lambretta of the same colour combo parked outside........as a kid I'd 1st thot it was my father's until my parents said it was the photographer's!

The one my FIl had is this... Just realised that it's a lambretta & not a lamby...
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://qingy.sourceforge.net/images/lambretta.jpg&imgrefurl=http://qingy.sourceforge.net/themes.php&h=768&w=1024&sz=105&tbnid=oljEA4bBPSkJ:&tbnh=112&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlambretta%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D&oi=imagesr&start=2

Wow! If it was exactly like the one in this pic., then its a very rare, early model (circa late '50s!)........I've seen just one like this over here, owned/maintained by a mechanic (who's not selling it!).......
Tks for ur replies guys!

From: dev on Tue Dec 6 4:41:07 2005.

Lamby,

I'm not very sure abt my FIL's model as I used to see it very rare... But it was something like the one in the pic... I can chk with my husband if U want...
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 8:47:04 2005.

dev wrote:

I can chk with my husband if U want...

Waat..........Ur a lady??!!!

Oh my Gaaaaawd.........it never occured to me........I mean........I've apparently taken ur ID for granted all along...........

Sorry I included u in the "guys" category!
From: dev on Tue Dec 6 9:23:54 2005.

Lamby,

... No probs... U r not the only one to have thought so...

But, how did u miss my avatar???...
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 9:26:44 2005.

*DIGRESSION ON*
Um......I cudn't really tell by ur avataar....cos I've seen a guy in this Hub in another thread (forgot his username) who has an avataar similar to urs.....
And yea, ur link to cricket also had me mistaken all along!

From: ssanjinika on Tue Dec 6 9:49:56 2005.

Awww shucks.. thats really too bad.But I bet they thought they'll make matters worse by interfering which is what a lot of parents think.
On the other hand my mom who is a teacher by the way says that a lot of parents who come in to complain ,complain about every small punishment given to the students..its gone to such an extent that the children just dont listen to their teachers because they know that they wont be punished..and if they are they have their parents to come and fight(literally) with the teachers.

surya wrote:

Sanjinika, Smile

Did u go to an all girls school or something? Very Happy

Noooooooooo..I studied in a co-education convent run by patrician brothers. Theres a general opinion that all girls convents run by nuns are hmmm..not what you'd call an easy environment to study in :p.

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 11:34:57 2005.

On the other hand my mom who is a teacher by the way says that a lot of parents who come in to complain ,complain about every small punishment given to the students..its gone to such an extent that the children just dont listen to their teachers because they know that they wont be punished..and if they are they have their parents to come and fight(literally) with the teachers.

Tat reminds me.......sumone'd mentioned in another thread (A shame I think) earlier this yr abt this incident @ a school in Madras where a 6th/7th std. boy didn't do his HW so his teacher (who was only 22!) asked him to stand outside the class.......and he then committed suicide by jumping over the balcony (from the 2nd/3rd flr) of the bldg........& I think due to the parents' pressure, the teacher was arrested in the end!

No idea wat hap'd after tat........but then, how wud she be responsible for wat he did??

And besides, standing outside the class isn't as painful as getting beatings/kneeling down........in fact a friend of mine who in school w/ me said tat if only he'd been a bit bolder, he wud've taken the oppurtunity to go roaming around the school block until the end of the period (assuming the Director/Principal wasn't on their rounds!)

From: ssanjinika on Tue Dec 6 12:05:18 2005.

So true Lamby!! I read abt this incident too.
Infact after reading about that I told my mom to refrain from giving students even the smallest punishment.Its ok if the students dont study or are naughty.Ofcourse thats not the best of attitudes but hey..for me my mom is more important than her students.As for her..well she dosent exactly listen to me in this matter(in fact in quite a few other things too ) but the good thing is she never hits the children.She usually asks them to write imposition or something like that...in extreme cases she marches the child to the principals office.
From: stranger on Tue Dec 6 12:41:48 2005.

Singapore Hangs Australian Drug Smuggler

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, Associated Press Writer
Fri Dec 2,12:30 PM ET

SINGAPORE - Singapore executed an Australian heroin trafficker on Friday despite a warning by Australia's prime minister that the hanging would sour relations between their countries.

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The case has caused an outcry in Australia where opponents of the execution held vigils in cities around the country, with bells and gongs sounding 25 times at the hour of Nguyen's execution.

"I just think it's barbaric, it's wrong, it's disturbing," said Elizabeth Welch, a 54-year-old counselor at a vigil in Sydney.

Vietnam-born Tuong Van Nguyen, 25, was hanged before dawn despite numerous appeals from Australian leaders for his life to be spared. He received a mandatory death sentence after he was caught with 14 ounces of heroin at the city-state's Changi Airport in 2002, en route from Cambodia to Australia.

Nguyen's death came amid fresh debate about capital punishment in the United States, where North Carolina's governor denied clemency to a man who killed his wife and father-in-law. Kenneth Lee Boyd was executed by lethal injection early Friday in the 1,000th execution in the United States since the death penalty resumed in 1977.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his government would not take diplomatic action against Singapore. But he said the execution will affect relations "on a people-to-people, population-to-population basis."

Dressed in black, a dozen friends and supporters stood outside the maximum-security Changi Prison hours before the 6 a.m. hanging. Candles and handwritten notes containing sympathetic messages and calls for an end to Singapore's death penalty were placed outside the prison gates.

Nguyen's twin brother, Nguyen Khoa, entered the prison compound, but did not attend the execution. As he left, he hugged a prison officer and shook the hand of another. Nguyen Tuong Van had said he was trafficking heroin to help pay off his twin's debts.

Singapore says its tough laws and penalties for drug trafficking are an effective deterrent against a crime that ruins lives, and that foreigners and Singaporeans must be treated alike. It said Nguyen's appeals for clemency were carefully considered.

"We take a very serious view of drug trafficking � the penalty is death," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday during a visit to Germany.

Nguyen was caught with more than 26 times the 0.53 ounces of heroin that draws a mandatory death penalty. The Home Affairs Ministry statement said the amount was enough to supply 26,000 doses of heroin, and had a street value of nearly $800,000.

Australia scrapped the death penalty in 1973 and hanged its last criminal in 1967, while Singapore has executed more than 100 people for drug-related offenses since 1999.

According to local media, Singapore has granted clemency to six inmates on death row � all Singaporeans � since independence in 1965.

A private Mass was held for Nguyen at a chapel on the grounds of a Roman Catholic convent. He was to be buried in Melbourne.

Physical contact between Nguyen and visitors had been barred in past days. But one of his Australian lawyers, Julian McMahon, said Nguyen's mother, Kim, had been allowed to hold her son's hand and touch his face during her last visit on Thursday.

"That was a great comfort to her," McMahon said.

Nguyen's supporters outside the prison included Gopalan and Krishnan Murugesu, teenage twin brothers whose father, Shanmugam, was executed in May after he was caught with 2.2 pounds of marijuana on Aug. 29, 2003, as he returned from Malaysia by motorcycle.

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Dec 6 13:08:26 2005.

As I said, Lamby is acceptable!
*end digrsn*

Beckham wrote:

Sri,

to ur mom too mate! Very Happy

*digrsn* Oh, and this is my supposedly last request not to call my ID by the 1st 4 letters.... Banging Head

Lamb is nice man.... There was an English cricketer with that name Alan Lamb...You don like it...

But i like it Lamb!

From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 6 22:55:08 2005.

Beckham wrote:

Lamb is nice man.... There was an English cricketer with that name Alan Lamb...You don like it... But i like it Lamb!

So keen to dig ur own grave, Becks??!!!
U don't want me to emulate stranger now (as in the "Moderators" thread)

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Dec 7 9:00:39 2005.

Lamb is nice man.... There was an English cricketer with that name Alan Lamb...You don like it... Confused

Beckham wrote:

But i like it Lamb!

So keen to dig ur own grave, Becks??!!! Evil or Very Mad

U don't want me to emulate stranger now (as in the "Moderators" thread) Hammer

Lamby i thought u r a bit cool personality...I m sorry

Just for fun i said... Anyways gudbye!

From: Bebeto on Wed Dec 7 9:37:26 2005.

Singapore Hangs Australian Drug Smuggler

Nguyen's supporters outside the prison included Gopalan and Krishnan Murugesu, teenage twin brothers whose father, Shanmugam, was executed in May after he was caught with 2.2 pounds of marijuana on Aug. 29, 2003, as he returned from Malaysia by motorcycle.

The thing I don't understand is that Nguyen was on his way to Australia and he was not entering Malaysia! International Airports are regarded as Noman's land. For example if you are travelling with an Indian Aircraft or Pakistani vessel then you are on Indian territory in the case of the airliner and on Pakistani soil if by ship.

Incase of Shanmugam Murugesu the matter is different as he was travelling overland.

What happened to that 2.2 pounds of Ganja? I would have been flying for quite a long while all day and all night with this amount. The worth of it here about 5500,- Euro.

What do you thing my avatar shows? My bderoom: in front a TV, to my right my selfmade futton bed (Japanese kind flat bed) and to my left in the corner my guitar and I am flying too.

But now I am back on the ground.

From: Lambretta on Wed Dec 7 10:03:59 2005.

Beckham wrote:

Lamby i thought u r a bit cool personality...I m sorry
Just for fun i said... Anyways gudbye!

*DIGRESSION ON* (hopefully for the last time!)
Becks.......macha, its ok! I guess I'd overreacted but....its jus tat I can be reeeeeeally touchy when it comes to old cars/bikes, can't stand it when neone makes fun of them.......so I jus felt tat way abt u "modifying" the name of my fav. scooter!
Its bad enuff tat most of our ppl. dismiss these as junk nowadays, when a couple of decades ago, these were the main (if not only) vehicles they used to depend on!
So I thot u were having a go at the "Lambretta" name for the same reason........!
Neways, peace now!
*DIGRESSION OFF*

From: Lambretta on Wed Dec 7 10:11:55 2005.

Bebeto wrote:

Wat I find surprising abt Singapore laws is tat they hav death penalty for drug trafficking.........but for more serious crimes like rape etc. its caning on the backside + life imprisonment!

From: stranger on Wed Dec 7 10:33:59 2005.

Quote:

Wat I find surprising abt Singapore laws is tat they hav death penalty for drug trafficking.........but for more serious crimes like rape etc. its caning on the backside + life imprisonment!

Well, drug is a dirty business!

Innocent kids have been abused by some punks.

The only way to eradicate that is severe punishment but I am not sure they deserve death penalty.

Well if you cant live without drug dealing, move to some south-american nation, where there may not be a death penalty for drug-dealing. Singapore is not the place to fool around.

I believe, there is a debate going on in Canada about "making mirijuana a "legal drug".

Shanmugam would be living now if he dealt with marijuana in Canada or south-america instead of singapore

From: Lambretta on Wed Dec 7 10:48:43 2005.

Well, drug is a dirty business!
Innocent kids have been abused by some punks.
The only way to eradicate that is severe punishment but I am not sure they deserve death penalty.
Well if you cant live without drug dealing, move to some south-american nation, where there may not be a death penalty for drug-dealing. Singapore is not the place to fool around.
I believe, there is a debate going on in Canada about "making mirijuana a "legal drug".
Shanmugam would be living now if he dealt with marijuana in Canada or south-america instead of singapore

Yes, its true tat drug consumption hav led to very ugly crimes (in many cases they were evn used on unsuspecting ppl.!).....was jus saying tat there r (IMO) equally/more horrible crimes as I'd mentioned tat deserve more than a caning/imprisonment........
Back in Sing. my friend once told me abt this TV serial based on real-life incidents, where a sex racketeer from TN gets caught in Sing. (by his own wife) for dealing in this trade (alongw/ a friend), back in 1986.......and altho proved guilty on all counts, all tat they got was a caning + 12 yrs imprisonment acc. to the law then (altho I heard it was now made to life-imprisonment)!

From: ssanjinika on Wed Dec 7 12:13:41 2005.

The question once again arises
"Is the crime serious enough to warrant capital punishment?"
Which crime is serious enough??How do we define a serious crime.Is drug trafficking a more serious crime because it affects more no of people at a time than say the rape and murder of a 6 yr old child ?
IMHO we should be wondering if capital punishment is the way togo.I agree when I read about the kidnapping of a small child or the brutal murder of a 16 yr old by a maiac I too am all for capital punishment..but on the other hand..they person is DEAD!!How is he going to contemplate the crime he committed?Is he/she going to suffer for it?
I dont think these are questions answered easily.when I read about the Nyaguen punishment I wondered if the punishment warranted the crime but when I read about the death by leathal injection punishment of the another criminal(forgot his name) here in the US I must say for a min I thought "Good! The guy deserved to die! "(He shot and killed his ex wife and her father in a fit of anger in front of his two small children.He would have shot them too had they not run out of the house).I guess familes affected by drugs would have felt the same way about Nyaguen.
From: Surya on Fri Dec 9 14:46:20 2005.

Now digressing back to the purpose of the thread:

Deccan Chronical.

Congress used Muslims: MIM

Hyderabad, Dec. 8: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Thursday said the Muslims were doing worse under the Congress government. They were better off under the BJP regime. He reeled out statistics to show that Muslims had not benefited from welfare measures.

Participating in the short discussion on minorities welfare and Muslims reservations in the State Assembly, Mr Owaisi said the Congress had made several promises in its manifesto for the 2004 Assembly elections only to garner Muslims� votes but had ignored them after coming to power. The budgetary allocation for minorities welfare had been reduced from Rs 62 crores during the Telugu Desam regime to less than Rs 50 crores.

The Minorities Welfare Corporation had targeted to spend Rs 26 crores but had not released even Rs 26 lakhs so far. A recent bankers� committee meeting had been told that less than one per cent of the Muslim beneficiaries had been given loans by the Minorities Welfare Corporation in seven months, he said.

Quoting extensively from official records, Mr Owaisi said that loans, grants, scholarships and welfare schemes including housing and land distribution were not reaching the Muslims. The government had remained silent when Wakf properties were being encroached upon. �The Muslims suffered the maximum during the Congress regimes in the last 50 years. How long are we going to be used as a vote bank?� he questioned.

On Muslim reservations, Mr Owaisi asked why the government could not provide adequate data to the High Court. �The data collected during the Telugu Desam regime under Velugu and multi-purpose household survey was not used to explain the social status of Muslims, while the data from the same records was used to get permissions for irrigation projects. The Act on reservations was not done in a foolproof manner and the advocate-general failed miserably in presenting the case before the court,� he said.

He demanded that the Assembly summon the AG and seek his explanation. �If Muslims do not get reservation based on their backwardness, then nobody should get the quota. Till the Supreme Court gives the consent, the government should stop all the recruitments. If you continue to cheat the Muslims, you will have to incur their wrath,� he said.
From: Sandeep on Sun Dec 11 22:13:25 2005.

Surya,

What you think of Sudarshans call for each hindu family to have 3 children to compete the increase in muslims. He also called for better mother/child care to reduce mortality among Hindus.

I am all for the second one but first one ? I dont think the country should get into this Gompetition.
From: Sandeep on Sun Dec 11 22:20:33 2005.

RSS Chief wants 17 kids per Hindu
NEW DELHI, NOV 17 (PTI)

Expressing serious concern over the country's changing demographic profile, RSS Chief K S Sudarshan today asked Hindus to produce not less than three children and called for an end to the majority-minority concept.

"Don't get into the trap of two child or one child norm. If you go by the one child norm, in the next 120 years, there won't be any successors in your family. You should not have less than three children and if you have more, the merrier it is", he said after releasing a publication 'Religious Demography of India 2001' brought out by the Centre for Policy Studies here.

Lesser children, he said, would create demographic imbalance.

Dismissing concerns that population growth could result in unemployment, he said people should look at self-employment as an option and not depend on jobs.

Pooh-poohing the Church's demand for reservation for Dalit Christians, he alleged they were passing on the buck to the government to divert attention from the growing demand from the converts for a say in Church affairs.

Seeking a ban on divorce among Muslims through triple 'Talaq', he said "you cannot push the women into the streets like that. Every marriage and divorce should be registered. There should be a uniform civil code and modernisation of Muslim education".

He, however, conceded Muslims were among the "poorest and most uneducated" people in the country.
From: Lambretta on Sun Dec 11 23:00:51 2005.

Sandeep wrote:

Dismissing concerns that population growth could result in unemployment, he said people should look at self-employment as an option and not depend on jobs.

Yea rite, if only he came to know certain kinds of "self-employment" tat many ppl. in our country r currently upto!
From: nirosha sen on Mon Dec 12 6:11:15 2005.

I certainly feel that 3 kids per couple is an ideal number that wouldn't necessarily burst any family at the seams, Pa!! Perhaps if there are more it would certainly be a strain.

I've noticed this much abt kids: the fewer there are the less are they willing to share! Selfishness comes naturally to such kids as they grow into adulthood as well!!

From: stranger on Mon Dec 12 10:48:09 2005.

* I've noticed this much abt kids: the fewer there are the less are they willing to share!

* Selfishness comes naturally to such kids as they grow into adulthood as well!!

What is wrong in being selfish?!

Are you not selfish?!

I thought every human being is selfish.

Anyway, when India has such an exploding population, it would not be a bad idea to have one highly selfish kid instead of having three broad-minded kids.

From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 12 11:24:42 2005.

stranger wrote:

Anyway, when India has such an exploding population, it would not be a bad idea to have one highly selfish kid instead of having three broad-minded kids.

Um....wat r the odds of ALL or 2/3 kids being broad-minded?? Its poss' tat all of them cud be selfish & indifferent.......?
From: nirosha sen on Tue Dec 13 1:56:47 2005.

I was referring to the common perception of kids being brought up in small, nuclear families. Perhaps, it's the availability of material comfort and less sharing that turns many of today's kids selfish and unrelenting! I do see it in my own kids too!

Kids who grew up in larger families have no choice but share everything they have with their siblings and that generally makes them less demanding and more charitable to others.

Also the older kids tend to have more responsibility to care for their siblings which in turn develops good leadership qualities!

Ask those who grew up in larger families, at least!
From: Sandeep on Tue Dec 13 4:13:01 2005.

But with 100+ billion population none of these can be seen as a reason for having more babies.

Population needs to be controled and still more it needs to be reduced. I would just hope this generation would become sooo selfish to share with their own kids and so decide not to have any.

Unless you have a real urge to have a child dont have one. If you really have an urge have one but PLEASE stop at it.
From: Sandeep on Wed Dec 14 22:40:25 2005.

Women are 6 per cent of India's workforce

NEW DELHI: If you thought women's lot was getting better at the workplace, here's something to chew on.

Women make up only 6 per cent of India�s workforce and the numbers only get more skewed as you look up the corporate ladder.

There are only 4 per cent women at the senior management level and almost none at all in the leadership role.

These and more was revealed in the first-of-its-kind study by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on women empowerment in the workplace.

The study, which spanned 149 companies, threw up many startling facts. For instance, the study reveals that instances of women leaving an organisation was a lowly 7 per cent against the whopping 59 per cent for men.

Yet, only 45 per cent women reached the junior management level, while only 2 per cent became senior managers. Surprisingly enough, recruitment of women employees is at par with the men in most companies.

So why do so few women reach the top? According to Anu Aga, director, Thermax, and chairperson of CII�s national committee on women empowerment, it's not just plain discrimination.

"A majority leave the job. One of the biggest factors listed by our respondents was family � reasons like relocation because of spouse�s transfer, pregnancy or marriage," she said.

Not that discrimination doesn't exist. Organisations accepted that women were not preferred for specific departments.

A staggering 75 per cent didn�t want women in production functions, while 24 per cent felt sales was not women's forte.

And while the reasons for this ranged from security concerns to company policy, the most revealing one was HR�s conception that women were just not competent enough.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation is the lack of a sexual harassment policy in most companies
From: rajraj on Thu Dec 15 18:52:50 2005.

About education and giving back to society (from The Hindu):
http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/16/stories/2005121603571200.htm
From: blahblah on Sat Dec 17 4:01:23 2005.

A woman call centre worker was raped and murdered by the company driver in Bangalore,which has shocked the city and raised questions about the safety of women employees working in BPOs,specially in night shifts:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1575119,0006.htm
From: Surya on Sat Dec 17 5:42:41 2005.

[ Friday, December 16, 2005 11:59:23 amINDIATIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament were on Friday abruptly adjourned around 11:45 am and all members were evacuated following a bomb threat in the building.

The security alert was sounded after the US Consulate received an e-mail threatening a bomb blast at 11:46 am in the Parliament building. The consulate forwarded the e-mail to the Indian security agencies.

Soon after the alert was received, the Prime Minister, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and other VVIPs were escorted out, according to a private TV news channel.

MPs present in both Houses were asked to vacate the complex and the Prime Minister was sent to the South Block office. The parliament Watch and Ward staff quickly ensured that the visitors and Press galleries were evacuated.

The security agencies had not found any explosive material till 12:30 pm.

The bomb threat on the Parliament building comes just three days after the fourth anniversary of the December 13 attack on the Parliament.

Security agencies, fire brigade and the police are conducting a search of the premises and security around the building has been tightened. Sniffer dogs have also been employed to detect the presence of any explosives.

Meanwhile, both Houses of Parliament will re-assemble at 3 pm
From: Shakthiprabha. on Sat Dec 17 8:43:23 2005.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1335337.cms

And we thought CALLCENTRE jobs are so safe for ladies, cause REPUTED COMPANY picks and drops them!!
From: dev on Sat Dec 17 13:22:18 2005.

Hmmm... that's very sad... The worst part is the reason given by that guy for involving in such an act...

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=84118&headline=Bangalore~BPO~staffer~raped,~murdered
From: Shakthiprabha. on Sat Dec 17 13:54:05 2005.

I dont get right words to condemn that SEXSTARVED animal.

This incident i dunno why, has thoroughly SHAKEN me.

I feel very very sad for that girl. Yes, LOOK AT THE REAWSON HE GAVE............

The more I think about it, EXTREMELY annoyed and painful I feel.
From: dev on Sat Dec 17 14:34:46 2005.

I'm puzzled at one thing... had he been so very starved, he could've very well availed the services of a sex worker... Y this innocent lady!!!... I cannot think of anything less than capital punishment for this 'animal'...
From: Surya on Sat Dec 17 15:00:21 2005.

E-mail originated in TN, tremor felt in Delhi.

Delhi Police and intelligence agencies have cracked the origin of the bomb hoax e-mail that effectively emptied Parliament on Friday morning. The e-mail received by intelligence agencies threatened an attack on American consulates and Parliament at 11.46 am.

As soon as the House was informed of the threat, members were rushed out. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who was meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was hurried out by NSG as was Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. A siren was sounded and bomb detection and bomb disposal squads moved in with sniffer dogs straining at their leash.
MPs were shifted to the Parliament Library at Balyogi auditorium. All roads leading to Parliament House and nearby North and South Blocks, housing the offices of the Prime Minister and key ministries of Defence, Home and Finance were sealed. Only when Home Minister Shivraj Patil sounded the all clear, did MPs reassemble at Parliament at 3 pm.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the bomb hoax originated in Thirunavelli near Chennai from e-mail account inshallah@ sify.com. It was sent to New Delhi from where it was forwarded to the US Embassy. Sources told The Pioneer that the servers of all Internet service providers were checked to identify the source of the e-mail.
Cyber experts of law enforcing agencies have identified the server codes and are now in possession of the hard copy retrieved from the server. The Special Cell of Delhi Police has registered a case under section 121A of the IPC and sections 18/20 under the Unlawful Activities Act.
The chilling e-mail sent to the US consulate at Chennai went like this: "Today there will be a bomb blast in the Parliament and US Consulates in India at 11.46 am. If you can stop, try and stop. Cut relations with the USA. Long live Osama bin Laden Asadhullah Alkalifs."

Officials of the US Consulate at Chennai immediately got in touch with Tamil Nadu Police and also with their embassy at New Delhi. Tamil Nadu Police in turn informed Delhi Police about the e-mail. The US Embassy also contacted Delhi Police.
Since Parliament was in session with the Prime Minister and a host of other dignitaries present in the Parliament premises, Delhi Police, Intelligence Bureau and the watch and ward security of Parliament House pooled their resources and began the search for the bomb. Explosives experts of National Security Guards (NSG) and the Bomb Disposal Squad combed every nook and corner of the imposing Parliament House building.

MPs, staff and journalists were evacuated after Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairman adjourned the Houses. Union Home Secretary VK Duggal said,"The e-mail originated from Chennai. We are in possession of all the details. We know how it started and from where it started. The investigation has been handed over to Special Cell. We have been able to trace the source of the e-mail. As of now, the agencies are having all the details."

The agencies are trying to ascertain the motive behind this e-mail. "We are certainly ruling out any threat. Parliament has been attacked before. Threats of this nature are routinely received by intelligence agencies. It is too early to judge the motive. It is also being investigated in the light of the coming Republic Day celebrations. Delhi Police and all the agencies have been put on a high alert," the Home Secretary said.
From: goodsense on Sat Dec 17 16:57:14 2005.

For these problems and similar ones around the world today, they say Canada seems to be the safest country (in addition to being the cleanest), but God knows what's around the corner

From: Shakthiprabha. on Sun Dec 18 2:02:32 2005.

I'm puzzled at one thing... had he been so very starved, he could've very well availed the services of a sex worker... Y this innocent lady!!!... I cannot think of anything less than capital punishment for this 'animal'...

He could have availed. God knows why he did not.

Such incidents happen because of MOMENTARY lust. But then again, news says, he tried trapping 2 more HP employees, thankfully both refused to come. This woman(pratibha) was the sad victim.

I believe he had broken down when he revealed the reason

I cant think of anythign LESS THAN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TOO. The protest goign on for the same and they want him KILLED.

I remember watching a hindi movie (dimple kapadia) where she plays the cop who punishes any men who misuses his manhood. She severs their manhood with no sympathy at all.

I WISH SOMETHING like that need also to be done to such animals, so that these pigs would commit suicide themselves.

From: ssanjinika on Mon Dec 19 11:50:42 2005.

These are the times when I feel capital punishment is TOTALLY JUSTIFIED.Then again maybbe he should rot in jail for 2 consecutive lifetimes with just the basic amenities without any chance of parole!!Lets see what he does when he has no means of having SEX!

Anyways here is another senseless incident.ITs pathetic and is not the first time its happened.Our people seem to keep doing the same thing again and again.

42 people killed in chennai stampede.
CHENNAI: Forty-two persons were trampled to death and 37 seriously injured in a stampede at a flood relief centre in south Chennai in the early hours of Sunday. This was the second stampede in two months at a Chennai flood relief centre.

For the full story click on the following link.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/19/stories/2005121912500100.htm

From: Shakthiprabha. on Mon Dec 19 15:12:55 2005.

I head that ssajinika. Sad indeed.
From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 20 11:45:07 2005.

Perhaps the audience here has already.........been there........done that, but, for my satisfaction.........

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2226/stories/20051230003103300.htm

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20051226&fname=Pakistan+%28F%29&sid=1

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/16rajeev.htm

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/15ram.htm
From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 20 12:45:45 2005.

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/mazdak.htm

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/20051203.htm
From: Surya on Tue Dec 20 20:54:50 2005.

-deleted-

Moderator's Note: Stay away from controversial topics or risk being banned!
From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 20 22:42:40 2005.

dear moderators i understand the need to maintain a certain level of decorum in any debate, but the compelete deletion of any reference to religion eliminates the very topic of healthy debate.

could you atleast please consider devoting a section to discuss politics, for otherwise that too would need to fit into this Misc section, which, in your own words is a catch-all forum.

thanks
ram
From: Sandeep on Tue Dec 20 23:10:36 2005.

Surya wrote:

-deleted-

Moderator's Note: Stay away from controversial topics or risk being banned!

Hey moderator you forgot to delete his Signature.

From: Surya on Tue Dec 20 23:22:08 2005.

ramraghav wrote:

dear moderators i understand the need to maintain a certain level of decorum in any debate, but the compelete deletion of any reference to religion eliminates the very topic of healthy debate.

could you atleast please consider devoting a section to discuss politics, for otherwise that too would need to fit into this Misc section, which, in your own words is a catch-all forum.

thanks
ram

yes please!!! Atleast!

From: NOV on Tue Dec 20 23:29:22 2005.

ramraghav

Religion - from the historical perspective - is being discussed widely in the History and Culture forum. See here for the do's and dont's: http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=3719

However, we will not allow any religion comparing, bashing or propagation. We realise that all sides do not feel that we are being fair to thier side. Therefore we are comfortable with the knowledge that we are indeed neutral.

As for politics, we cannot allow The Hub to face any legal issues, both in India and outside, and so we have decided to stay away from that, at least for the time being.
From: NOV on Tue Dec 20 23:35:58 2005.

Sandeep wrote:

Hey moderator you forgot to delete his Signature.
Personally Sandeep, I am against any public display of religion in the forum. But we do not have any hard and fast rule on this matter yet, and have been tolerant of inoffensive stuff.
From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 20 23:41:47 2005.

dear NOV, in all fairness, any meaningful discussion of current affairs would be incomplete without an understanding of the politco-religious situation it is based on. so does this mean that current affairs too would be subject to proscription from the hub?
thanks
ram
From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 21 13:21:44 2005.

I had this posted as a seperate thread, but yesterday's conversations have made me think that it is perhaps more relevant to have this here. It is a long read (and maybe boring too), but please do take the time to give it a glance. Thanks.

For some time now, it has been realized by the Indian English language media that the insistent and persistent chiding and castigation of the religiously correct Right earns for itself valuable brownie points with the politically correct Left. For its part, the politically correct Left provides the said media with canon fodder to feed the demands of the growing �educated� urban elite that it (the media) has nurtured and sustained. In this game of high political and cultural stakes, the religiously correct Right is left to wield the only weapon in its armory namely the projection of its perspective through the Indian local language media. And, since the socialist Nehruvian Stalinist structure of envisioned education has ensured the production of an English educated elite distinct from a non-English educated non-elite, what we are left to face today is the definitive and debilitating disconnect between the urban �secular� quasi-Leftist and the rural/quasi-urban �communal� quasi-Rightist.

A direct consequence of this disconnect is the recent spate of perceived �fascist� attacks on the democratic right of freedom of speech and expression that were purportedly in response to the violation of cultural mores by a religiously insensitive section of society. In this game of hide and seek it is difficult to clearly identify the aggressor and the aggrieved as such, and far more so to predict the nature of the final outcome of the said game. Being an English educated urban elite myself, I have subscribed to, and consequently have been made servile to, the perspective of the English language media which, needless to say, has projected the said game as an attack on the very institution of Indian democracy, and has qualified the outcome, whatever it may be, as the definitive direction of the progression/regression of Indian society. It is only after a careful perusal of the local media and a cautious analysis of the situation (as I see it perceived by the warring factions) that I have been able to formulate for myself an alternative perspective of reality.

The bones chosen to pick by, and the consequent doomsday predictions of, the Left- leaning English media are centered around the perceived notion that the said game marks the beginning of the founding of an Indian Taliban, which intends to stifle, suppress and eventually eliminate any opposition it may face from the budding class of the �socially emancipated� urbanite. This Taliban, we are told, seeks to provide �convenient� interpretations and monitor violations of self-authorized social mores, and to decide on and dispense of �appropriate� punishments to the violators of the said mores, thereby ultimately leading to the establishment of an oppressive Indian Theocracy. On the path to this Theocratic State, we are warned, will lie the corpse of Indian Democracy, and the unchecked growth of these �fascist� forces will certainly throw us back to the medieval times of feudalistic living.

Whether it is for reasons of principles or politics, the Indian English media has always found it appealing to glamorize the concepts of egalitarianism in religion and society, and warp and project them as concepts of perpetual minority appeasement, the consequences of which are now being realized, experienced and regretted by a section of the educated (as against �educated�) populace. In other words, this persistent minority-appeasement and consequent majority-bashing has created a pseudo-egalitarian Indian society, which is afraid, and often ashamed, to forcefully articulate its perspective on issues of importance concerning the behavioral habits of the said society, and over patterns of growth (or is it decadence?) that it is being subject to. Of course, the tiny minority of this social majority that does dare to present an alternative perspective of perceived reality, is immediately labeled, condemned and relegated as �regressive fascists�, and the remainder of the educated populace (an uncomfortable majority of which belongs to the English educated urban elite), which has by now been made servile to the Leftist perspective, either remains passive spectators of the game or becomes active collaborators of the quasi-leftist faction.

If you were to agree with the above analysis of contemporary Indian society, it would not be difficult to further agree that the stifling, suppressive and regressive Taliban that we are now witnessing is driven more by a misguided sense of pseudo-egalitarianism than that of a religious theocracy. Getting back to the basics on the issues of free speech and expression, what is now obvious is that in all their fervor to forcefully present their viewpoint on these perceived fascist attacks, the quasi-Leftists have perhaps (purposely?) overlooked the rather inconvenient fact that the fundamental right of free speech and expression is subject to the rider that the said right does not intervene in, or cause mental or physical harm to holders of equal rights of a truly egalitarian Indian citizenry. The express availability of a packed auditorium, a seat on the podium and a fodder-hungry media does not automatically authorize the projection of personal opinion as educated judgment, especially when the said opinion is of a debatable nature.

While debating issues of social morality, it is important to realize that the excessive �emancipation� of society is just as unwelcome as is excessive repression. One example that quickly springs to my mind is the decline and disintegration of the Roman empire due to widespread religious indifference, cultural corruption and moral decay. Once the epitome of social equality and order, and scientific and cultural advancement, the mighty Roman empire gradually weakened and disintegrated due to the continued unchecked spiral of increasingly materialistic living and its consequent debauchery and moral decay. And Rome does not stand as a solitary example of the fall of nation due to cultural decline, for the Roman experience was only an emulation of similar happenings in Greece, Egypt and Carthage, and was itself to be later emulated by France, Spain and Venice, and to a lesser extent, by contemporary Europe and America.

A careful analysis reveals that the culprit in each of these cases is the boisterous proclamation of misguided opinion by the morally degraded section of society, and the successful cloaking of the said opinion as �educated� awakening and social �emancipation�, and the subsequent State sponsored indifference and non-enforcement of corrective action. Given that its citizenry, reveling in a debauched and corrupt environment, can not and will not contribute to the cultural, technological or military sustenance of the nation, it then becomes the duty of the State to take cognizance of the situation and propose and implement corrective measures, however draconian they may be perceived to be. A State that fails to do the aforementioned can be considered to have failed in its solemn duty, and, needless to say, a failed State seldom enjoys the luxury of continued existence.

While it may be too strong to yet say that Indian society is defintively heading the Taliban or the Roman way, it is important that the educated populace remains vigilant to any possible hijack of the social agenda by either of the two extreme vocalists, for while we would definitely not want (or need) to be paraded around by self-proclaimed keepers of moral justice and encourage sowing the seeds of a patriarchal society, we would equally not want (or need) our nation to walk the Roman road either, would we?

Ram
From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 21 13:25:36 2005.

If you have had the time to read through the above post, you will understand that it primarily intends to convey the following:
1. The Indian media, much like the American media, is inherently biased.
2. This biased media has played a significantly role in nurturing concepts of pseudo-secularism and pseudo-egalitarianism. This effect is most visible in the English educated sections of society.
3. Left unchecked, these public misconceptions and ignorance can and will lead to debilitating social and political consequences.
4. A most urgent need for Indian society today is to provide and encourage neutral platforms for informed debates on issues of social significance such as linguistics, religion and culture and the political consequences thereof.
Forums such as this serve as a convenient field to articulate ones views on subjects (benign as well as controversial), and the continued forced abortion of such debates will only lead to magnification of such issues without providing any collective thought to come up with solutions of the same.

I understand that the moderators are more knowledgeable and experienced in such issues than I will ever be, but I sincerely request them to consider my perspective on this matter.

Thank you
Ram
From: stranger on Wed Dec 21 14:26:01 2005.

Quote:

1. The Indian media, much like the American media, is inherently biased.

Tell me a media which is NOT BIASED in this EARTH!

Thank you!
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Dec 21 14:33:03 2005.

stranger wrote:

Quote:

1. The Indian media, much like the American media, is inherently biased.

Tell me a media which is NOT BIASED in this EARTH!

Thank you!

Doordharshan
From: stranger on Wed Dec 21 14:35:58 2005.

Let us wait for Mr.Ram's response!
From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 21 15:04:42 2005.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20051221&fname=paromita&sid=1

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20051221&fname=bengal&sid=1&pn=1

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20051212&fname=Manipur+(F)&sid=1

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/20bspec.htm
From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 21 15:14:45 2005.

Hi Stranger
It is difficult to classify any media outlet as purely biased or unbiased. I believe that the basic reason for the prejudiced reporting is that these outlets are unable to delineate between news and opinion.

If a media outlet claims to be a news reporting portal, it should strictly abide by its claim i.e. report the news and allow the readers to form their opinions. Instead, what we see in India is that "news" outlets freely mix fact with opinion with the result that what we are served is only a version of reality as seen from the presenters perspective.

And, unfortunately, like I said in the essay, almost the entire English media is united in presenting a Leftist perspective of reality.

I do not have a quick-fix solution for this problem, but what I personally do is that I read thoroughly multiple Tamil as well as English newspapers and journals. Each report, presented by a different person, will contain the true news plus random musings. Logic dictates that by comparing these multiple perspectives, one can filter out undesirable garbage and obtain a reasonably correct picture of the truth.

Hope this helps
Ram
From: stranger on Wed Dec 21 15:47:33 2005.

Quote:

And, unfortunately, like I said in the essay, almost the entire English media is united in presenting a Leftist perspective of reality.

Are you watching SUN network or JEYA tv ?

They are nothing to with any English media but 100 times worse than any English or American media!
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Dec 21 15:54:43 2005.

And i couldnt digest these channels said by Stranger played a worse role in this recent storm which attacked Tamizhnadu.

Ram these are the medias which can almost acheive your satisfaction

1. Dhinamani
2. Doordharshan News
3. Raj News (But they have stopped)
From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 21 16:05:19 2005.

Thanks Beckham...........I'm already one of the regulars at Dinamani's website. I live in New York and so dont have access to Raj News. As for Doordarshan, I treat it like The Hindu: good, but to be treated with caution.
By now, you must have guessed that I also regularly read Frontline, Outlook and the Indian Express. I believe India Today too is reasonable, but I have never subscribed to it (its not free ))
One place I stay away from is the Times of India..........I think its more of a sleaze paper than a newspaper. Hindustan Times is no better, except for their Lankan desk.
Probably the most reasonable among the English outlets is Rediff, which is a news portal not a news paper, but still derives its sources from PTI.
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Dec 21 20:45:33 2005.

Ramraghav,
Very interesting posts and questions though I do not think that I agree with your long analysis. First a query: Are your posts on 20th December with various URLs meant to indicate the difficulties in choosing which reports to take seriously? There are a couple of articles in the recent New York Review of Books about the problems with news:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18516
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18555
Anyway, as others indicated, this type od discussions seem to lead to difficulties but I feel that you are raising some very pertinent and difficult questions which may need prolonged discussions. Perhaps one way to continue is to start your own blog and give the address in sites like this. I will be happy to participate. Regards,
swarup
From: ramraghav on Thu Dec 22 12:30:52 2005.

Hi Swarup
Excellent links, very informative and very interesting. Thanks! Now, if only someone would run a similar analysis in India we would all know what is the level of Leftist penetration in our media.

As for the blog, I believe it requires a lot of committment to make it reach a wide audience. Of course once a blog is up and running, it does draw a loyal audience..........but the problem is getting it up, running and getting people to participate. Maybe if you have (or know someone who has) a relevant blog, please do let me know, I'll be happy to participate too. Or maybe some joint venture would work! Think about it.

Btw, which part of the analysis did u not agree with (or rather which part did u agree with)?

And, those posts on Dec 20 were just links to what I thought were interesting issues.......not particularly meant to show media bias.
Ram
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Dec 22 17:41:30 2005.

Ramraghav,
I just started a blog : http://gaddeswarup.blogspot.com
and the latest message gives the URLs you gave and queries about them. I must add even though I am very interested in these topics, it is poverty in the midst of affluence that bothers me. I have been trying to learn a bit of economics, first through non-technical books like "The end of Poverty" by Jefrey Sachs, "Economics Explained" by R.Heilbronner and L. Thurow, 'The Nature and Logic of Capitalism" by R.Heilbronner, etc. I plan to write reviews of these books and learn through comments by others. It is a long range project and hopefully in a couple of years, I will have a better understanding. Regards,
swarup
From: ramraghav on Thu Dec 22 21:16:16 2005.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/21bspec.htm

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/22bspec.htm

http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20051222&fname=ajai&sid=1&pn=1
From: ramraghav on Thu Dec 22 21:23:18 2005.

Remember the 'emanicipation' I was talking about............here are a couple of cases in point:

http://hindustantimes.com/news/7242_1579551,00180007.htm

http://www.ashleymadison.com/
From: ramraghav on Fri Dec 23 11:21:39 2005.

http://ramananda.rediffblogs.com/
From: Surya on Fri Dec 23 19:03:36 2005.

* http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1344246.cms?headline=Sexy~Laden:~Osama~hides~for~cover!

Sexy Laden! Osama Hides for Cover!!

Her uncle is the world�s most wanted man and a byword for zealotry. Which makes these poses by Osama bin Laden�s niece either very brave or extremely foolish.

Wafah Dufour, 26, is seen sprawled on a bed � in lingerie, a feather boa and high heels. She stretches out her long limbs and throws back her hair in an attitude seemingly calculated to outrage Islamic traditionalists.

The former law student, a would-be pop singer, is also seen in a flowing dress with a guitar on her legs and, perhaps most provocative of all, pouting in a bubble bath.

New York-based Wafah, who adopted her mother�s maiden name after the September 11 attacks directed by Bin Laden, is the daughter of his half-brother Yeslam. She has already risked Osama�s wrath by declaring her ambitions to launch a pop career.
But that was nothing compared with her decision to appear in a photo-shoot for the January edition of American GQ magazine.

Wafah estimates she has 200 cousins. Her father and Osama are two of 54 children fathered by Mohammed Bin Laden, a Saudi whose construction companies have changed the face of West Asia.
She says she has never met Osama, who is currently believed to be holed up somewhere on the Afghan-Pak border with a �13-million price on his head. He has close ties to Afghanistan�s Taliban, which compelled women to wear the head-to-toe burqa. Those not clothed according to the rules could be whipped and beaten.

At the time of the September 11, 2001, attacks Wafah was attending Columbia Law School in New York. But on the day of the terror attacks in New York and Washington, DC, she was visiting her mother in Switzerland and recalls hearing the news. She said: "They were starting to say Bin Laden did this, Bin Laden did that and I was so numb because I couldn�t even believe what was happening in New York. It was my home."

Click on the Link to see "Sizzling" pics of the SEXY LADEN! There's a new one on every page.
From: Lambretta on Fri Dec 23 22:19:50 2005.

Machi,
Tat was really amusing man! Hope she never comes across OBL.......!
Incidentally, she looks like a '70s hippie in the 2nd page pic. (w/ the guitar)......!
From: anjali_s on Fri Dec 23 23:08:46 2005.

is it okay to post some of the quotes from the times column?
From: Surya on Fri Dec 23 23:52:07 2005.

Lambretta wrote:

Machi,
Tat was really amusing man! Hope she never comes across OBL.......!
Incidentally, she looks like a '70s hippie in the 2nd page pic. (w/ the guitar)......!

I'd really like to know what her old uncle would think of her!?
From: ramraghav on Sat Dec 24 0:11:01 2005.

anjali_s wrote:

is it okay to post some of the quotes from the times column?

sure go ahead
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Dec 24 18:52:01 2005.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/23/business/wbmarket24.php
Any chance for chennai or Bengaluru or Hyderabad? Mumbai and Delhi are touted as the possibilities.
Swarup
From: ramraghav on Mon Dec 26 0:40:47 2005.

http://www.newindpress.com/column/News.asp?Topic=-97&Title=S%2EGurumurthy&ID=IE620051123095622&nDate=11/24/2005&Sub=&Cat=&
From: ramraghav on Mon Dec 26 0:44:21 2005.

http://news.indiainfo.com/columns/guru/101005moral-amoral-policing.html
From: Sandeep on Mon Dec 26 3:25:07 2005.

Teacher Ordered to Remove Bindi

Bhopal

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

A teacher of school, who had resigned for not being allowed to wear bindi joined back on Tuesday. She did so after the school director, Anil Martin, gave a written declaration as to no such policy would be adopted again.

The teacher had lodged a complaint at Govindpura police station that she forced to wipe the bindi by the school authority on Monday. It was also alleged that when she declined to accept their demand, she was compelled to resign.

According to Govindpura police station SHO Salim Khan, Anil Martin the director of St Johns School, on Tuesday, submitted a written declaration in the police station. The school authority assured of not indulging in any activity that would hurt any sentiments of the teachers of the school in the coming days.

Jyoti Sahastrabudhe, the teacher, on Monday complained that Anil Martin told her not to wear bindi in the school. Mr Martin was determined to wipe the bindi off from the forehead of the teacher.
When the teacher did not agree to this, Mr Martin told that she should resign from the school.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/displayit1.asp?pathit=/archives2/dec2105/bhopal/bhopal13.txt
From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 26 10:41:49 2005.

ramraghav wrote:

http://news.indiainfo.com/columns/guru/101005moral-amoral-policing.html

Thot-provoking yet depressing! This part esp. reeks of irony:
Even as the liberals were defending the actress' right to call for pre-marital sex, they must have been mighty pleased to know that a condom vending machine has been installed in a quiet corner of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University to help young students to live a modern life!

Wow....... & I didn't see/hear of one even in Singapore, which is far more "modern" (in terms of this issue!)
So does this count for India's development?? Not just coke but condom vending machines (albeit in "quiet corners") tat too in Univ. campuses! Hmm....wat next, inflatable m*sturbation dolls from ur local grocery/fancy store??
From: schnappi on Mon Dec 26 10:51:41 2005.

If University is not the place to learn....

When i was in Jaffna early 2005, I heard that there are a lot of abortions taking place among the students. It is better to have condom automats rather than soaring abortions. The question is only who give them the money for the condom automats!
From: Lambretta on Mon Dec 26 10:56:56 2005.

schnappi wrote:

The question is only who give them the money for the condom automats!

Never mind who gives them the money for those, they obv. make a lot of money from those, whoever they r!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Mon Dec 26 11:29:00 2005.

http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=5448&start=0
My opinion on this "Shame" is here!
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Dec 26 16:59:06 2005.

An NRi (almost) is voted as sexiest man alive:
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE420051226025042&Page=4&Title=Features+%2D+People+%26+Lifestyle&Topic=0&?headline=NRI~voted~'Sexiest~Man~Alive'
From: ramraghav on Mon Dec 26 18:27:02 2005.

http://outlookindia.com/fullprint.asp?choice=2&fodname=20051224&fname=smruti&sid=1

Its not so much the obligatory, psuedo-patriotic, socialist rantings (from a Maharashtrian herself) that bother me as this observation:

"It�s no accident that Marathi-medium schools run by the civic corporation are shutting down fast while English medium schools are being opened. It�s also no accident that cinema theatres that showed Marathi films exclusively, even those in the Maharashtrian-dominated areas, have all shut shop with the last of them becoming history this year. It�s not surely an accident that Marathi literature, poetry and theatre have only seen a slump in the last few decades."

With Oriya, Gujarati and Marathi dying, the question is 'Who next'? Kannada?

Do the natives of these lands even realize (and acknowledge) what is happening around them, much less make the effort to take corrective action?

From: Surya on Mon Dec 26 19:59:40 2005.

http://news.indiainfo.com/columns/guru/101005moral-amoral-policing.html

ramraghav wrote:

Thot-provoking yet depressing! This part esp. reeks of irony:
Even as the liberals were defending the actress' right to call for pre-marital sex, they must have been mighty pleased to know that a condom vending machine has been installed in a quiet corner of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University to help young students to live a modern life!

Wow....... Shocked

& I didn't see/hear of one even in Singapore, which is far more "modern" (in terms of this issue!)
So does this count for India's development?? Not just coke but condom vending machines (albeit in "quiet corners") tat too in Univ. campuses! Hmm....wat next, inflatable m*sturbation dolls from ur local grocery/fancy store?? Rolling Eyes

Forget Singapore machi! I didn't even see that @ UC Davis where I went here in California!

Quote:

help young students to live a modern life!

From: ramraghav on Mon Dec 26 21:53:08 2005.

So this is how Nehruvian democracy works!! We vote to get our nation dismembered.........wow what a deal!!!
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060109&fname=Manipur+%28F%29&sid=1

And here are our favourite commies with their bag of tricks
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=100728
From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 27 0:12:13 2005.

http://www.asianage.com/viewarticle.asp?newsid=199887
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 27 10:56:09 2005.

Surya wrote:

Forget Singapore machi! I didn't even see that @ UC Davis where I went here in California!

Really??.......I'm surprised to hear tat! Or r californians actually a tad conservative??!
I first heard abt them when I was in Sing., it seems they r common in Austrylia......
Tat reminds me- u know abt 'Cosmopolitan' magazine?? Its now available in book-stalls in the Railway Station here at VIZAG (which isn't even one of the 'level 1' cities!), even much more commonly available than car mags. like Autocar India, over here!
Most surprising thing is I was told this mag's been banned since 2 decades in Singapore (which is by & large evn more "cosmopolitan" than India) & even sum parts of Australia (where it originates from), like Melbourne.....amazing to know the kind of things in which our nation's getting ahead of the West/Westernized nations!!
From: ssanjinika on Tue Dec 27 11:03:18 2005.

True Lamby..its like we want to show the world how "westernized" we are that we'r going overboard and are becoming more "westernized" than the western countries themselves..

*Phew* that was like sprouting a tongue twister
From: Lambretta on Tue Dec 27 11:11:13 2005.

ssanjinika wrote:

True Lamby..its like we want to show the world how "westernized" we are that we'r going overboard and are becoming more "westernized" than the western countries themselves..

Hmm......tat sounds like a very dangerous trend now doesn't it??
Wat really frustrates me is y can't we "become more westernized than western countries" in USEFUL/SENSIBLE issues tat wud be BENEFICIAL in the true sense??!!
For eg. the road on the way to the school I work at is under sum construction.......full of potholes & broken across in many places (bcos of all the b***** digging they r doing! )......by the time I got back home today, the front suspension of my scooter (no need to say which one!) began squeaking like a mouse w/ stomach cramps! Imagine how many vehciles face damage everyday thanx to our horrible roads!
Y cudn't we learn abt things (like good roads in this case) from the West if we MUST copy them??!!

From: Surya on Tue Dec 27 20:04:21 2005.

Forget Singapore machi! I didn't even see that @ UC Davis where I went here in California! Shocked

Really??.......I'm surprised to hear tat! Confused

Or r californians actually a tad conservative??! Razz

I first heard abt them when I was in Sing., it seems they r common in Austrylia......
Tat reminds me- u know abt 'Cosmopolitan' magazine?? Its now available in book-stalls in the Railway Station here at VIZAG (which isn't even one of the 'level 1' cities!), even much more commonly available than car mags. like Autocar India, over here! Shocked

Most surprising thing is I was told this mag's been banned since 2 decades in Singapore (which is by & large evn more "cosmopolitan" than India) & even sum parts of Australia (where it originates from), like Melbourne.....amazing to know the kind of things in which our nation's getting ahead of the West/Westernized nations!! Rolling Eyes

Actually, Cali is one of the more Liberal states in the Nation.

Cosmo?

I googled on Jan's issue of the mag, and this is one of the big things going on.

"Guy with his Shirt Off: Rate January's Hot Half Naked Hunk!!!! Is he a 10????....????....???"

Other Things:

Rate this week's scorching sex position: Stand and Deliver!

Girl on Top
Nine pleasure-maxing positions that'll boost your bliss. Blah Blah BLah!

There is literally nothing else in the magazine other than things pertaining to sex!!!

Here is a 'thought provoking' cover of an issue that features sexy transexuals!!

Cover

Now that is Great Content for Desi Girls to read on their Spare Time!! Banging Head

Forget Reading, this is just the mag to sell on the streets!! Evil or Very Mad

It's a matter of Culture! And how we are flushing it down the toilet! Evil or Very Mad

What's next??? Glamour?? Playboy?? Penthouse?? Banging Head

From: ramraghav on Tue Dec 27 20:43:43 2005.

the biggest bane of a doctrinally tolerant religion is passivity

http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/books/demogislam/index.htm

http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/books/demogislam/appendix.html
From: Sandeep on Tue Dec 27 23:27:41 2005.

In western countries you dont have to look in Toilet for Condom, there will a good collection in their pockets. And the reasons for condoms in mens toilet in India is because people are still ashamed to buy it from store. I have notices that in many Indian super markets, where condoms are sold, they are always kept where the cashier has visibility.

As for cosmopitan/auto drive etc in smaller towns thats because these magazines have started Indian editions.

As for as the bad influence of western countries, well the fight is on. But the western effect is largely extragerated because most of the media are metro orianted (for the metros, by the metros and of the metros). For them even one customer from a smaller town is only additional business.
From: Surya on Tue Dec 27 23:59:50 2005.

DMDK Supremo Vijayakanth Attacked by Pesants!

This is what has happened!!

*The DMDK (VJK's Party) Representative of that area was ALMOST BEATEN TO DEATH!!

*The Goons tried to KILL Vijayakanth!

*VJK zoomed out of there with his car.

*More Goons blocked the road with a Tractor and tried to stop him. But LUCKILY he escaped for his life!

*Everyone else who came there representing his party was BEATEN to BITS!!

*Everything that had the words DMDK or Vijayakanth on it was either BROKEN, or BURNT.

*The DMDK Representative is fighting for his life!

Source: Dinathanthi.

AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE BY FRUSTRATED PESANTS?? YEAH RIGHT! I THINK THE 3 POSSIBLE NUTLESS, ENUCH CULPRITS ARE CLEAR HERE!

I'm not a fan of VJK in Politics anymore. I stopped supporting him after the Kushboo incident. If he didn't have the balls to support his fellow actors, then there is no way in hell, he is gonna have the balls to reform Tamil Nadu!

But this is what Democracy is as practiced in India! Long Live Democracy!! Namma Naadu Uruptudom!! Sickening!!

From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 28 0:03:21 2005.

I'm not a fan of VJK in Politics anymore. I stopped supporting him after the Kushboo incident. If he didn't have the balls to support his fellow actors, then there is no way in hell, he is gonna have the balls to reform Tamil Nadu!

so u r disappointed he failed to encourage moral degeneracy?

From: Surya on Wed Dec 28 0:05:35 2005.

ramraghav wrote:

so u r disappointed he failed to encourage moral degeneracy?

I don't think what Kushboo said was Moral Degeneracy to begin with. What she said was completly twisted, and turned into a completly different comment.

More on this: Kushboo thread in Tam Films section.

From: ramraghav on Wed Dec 28 0:34:08 2005.

http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/
http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/statement.pdf
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Dec 28 17:10:43 2005.

From:http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.deccan.com/home/homedetails.asp
Seventy-three-year-old Indian national Mudumbai Seshachalu Narasimhan was among the winners of the prestigious King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) for mathematics.
Mr Narasimhan will share the 750,000 Saudi riyal prize money with British mathematician Simon Kirwan Donaldson. His share will come to a healthy Rs 50 lakhs. The winners were announced at an impressive ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday night.

Mr Narasimhan and Mr Donaldson were recognised for their seminal contributions to theories that have
strengthened the links between mathematics and physics. Mr Narasimhan is known the world over for his contributions to the fields of algebraic and differential geometry."
A personal note: MSN was my thesis advisor. Since I started working in areas that he did not specialize in he just encouraged me with friendly chats and beer on Saturdays. He grew up in Madanapalle. His wife Sakuntala Narasimhan studied in Andhra University, is a fine musician and writer. Both MSN and I were students of Fr. C. Racine in Loyola college, Madras (Chennai).
Swarup
Born in Tamil Nadu�s Thandarai village, Mr Narasimhan worked for more than 25 years as professor of mathematics at Mumbai�s Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He is currently an honorary fellow there. He did his BA (Hons) at Chennai and attained his doctorate from Bombay University. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1990 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, UK, in 1996.
From: Surya on Wed Dec 28 17:35:04 2005.

Delhi IIT professor killed in IISc campus shootout

Wednesday, 28 December , 2005, 22:21

Bangalore: A professor of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, was killed and three others were injured when unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately inside the prestigious Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The police identified the deceased as M C Puri and those injured as Dr Pankaj Gupta, Dr Sangeeta and one Mr Patel.

According to police, four to five persons came in a white Ambassador car inside the campus of the Institute and opened fire from automatic weapons outside the J N Tata auditorium, where an international conference was on, at around 5 pm IST.

The injured were admitted to M S Ramaiah hospital.

Police have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt for the assailants who fled the scene.

The Institute is on the hit list of terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Asked if it was a terrorist attack, Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh said "we can�t say anything at this stage."

He said it appeared that an automatic weapon was used in the shooting. "There is no information on how they came and who they were."

Police were combing the entire Institute complex to ensure that there were no explosives left by the gunmen.

One car parked inside the complex was hit by a bullet.
From: stranger on Wed Dec 28 18:54:13 2005.

This is really bad.

Never happened anything like this in the history of "Tata Institute"

There is going to be lot of "heat" generated from this! And the consequence of this is going to be bad in Bangalore!
From: Surya on Wed Dec 28 19:44:36 2005.

Who ever is responcible for this is gonna have their balls cracked!
From: ssanjinika on Thu Dec 29 9:16:10 2005.

Now they are targeting educational institutions???!!!!
From: ramraghav on Thu Dec 29 10:03:13 2005.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/CSM/story?id=1443717
From: Surya on Fri Dec 30 20:21:26 2005.

ssanjinika wrote:

Now they are targeting educational institutions???!!!!

Because they couldn't stop India from excelling in Education dispite all the terrorism.
From: ramraghav on Wed Jan 4 22:28:51 2006.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/04raman.htm
http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/02flip.htm
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Jan 5 3:25:17 2006.

Pl. check
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEL20060104045332&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&?headline=TN~on~China's~intellectual~map
for an interaction between China and TN.
swarup
From: Sandeep on Fri Jan 6 1:14:49 2006.

Now, Americans will learn Hindi for 'security' purposes

WASHINGTON: The world is truly becoming a global village as Indian and all things Indian continue to rule. Awed by India�s growing prowess, the US administration has identified Hindi as one of the "critical need" foreign languages that Americans should learn to further strengthen national security and prosperity in the 21st century.

While launching the National Security Language Initiative programme (NSLI), US President George W Bush is expected to request $114 million in funding for 2007.

"The NSLI will dramatically increase the number of Americans learning critical need foreign languages such as Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Farsi and others through new and expanded programmes from kindergarten through university and into the workforce," the US State Department said in a fact sheet.

The US administration noted that an important component of national security in the post 9/11 period is the ability to engage foreign governments and peoples, especially in critical regions, to encourage reform, promote understanding and convey respect for other cultures.

"To do this, we must be able to communicate in other languages, a challenge for which we are unprepared," it said.

Under the direction of the President, the Secretaries of State, Defence and Education along with the National Director of Intelligence have developed a comprehensive plan that will see an expansion in foreign language education, starting at the kindergarten levels and through formal schooling and into the workforce with job opportunities and incentives for graduates of these language programmes.

From: Lambretta on Fri Jan 6 2:09:00 2006.

WASHINGTON: The world is truly becoming a global village as Indian and all things Indian continue to rule.

Rule?? Not (yet) in the US! Funny how they cud say tat in the US where Indians r still seen mostly as "cheap & good" labour......
And "all things Indian" don't seem to rule nemore in India itself! Infact they r yet to catch up w/ all things Chinese in the US.......!

Quote:

the US administration has identified Hindi as one of the "critical need" foreign languages that Americans should learn to further strengthen national security and prosperity in the 21st century........."The NSLI will dramatically increase the number of Americans learning critical need foreign languages such as Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Farsi and others through new and expanded programmes

Ohh.....so Hindi is jus ONE of the languages to be learnt......not THE only language!

Quote:

Under the direction of the President, the Secretaries of State, Defence and Education along with the National Director of Intelligence have developed a comprehensive plan that will see an expansion in foreign language education, starting at the kindergarten levels and through formal schooling and into the workforce with job opportunities and incentives for graduates of these language programmes.

Looks like job oppurtunities & incentives for Hindi teachers all over India, who're now gonna start thronging to the states just as Maths teachers from India hav done!

From: VK Narayanan on Fri Jan 6 3:56:30 2006.

Quote:

Looks like job oppurtunities & incentives for Hindi teachers all over India, who're now gonna start thronging to the states just as Maths teachers from India hav done!
Not only in the states, all over middle-east as well. There are so many opportunities lying abroad for the uninformed unemployed most talented Indian friends. Do we have a board discussing about placements and opportunities? I think it would definitely help many such people. Cheers!
From: Lambretta on Fri Jan 6 4:06:21 2006.

VK Narayanan wrote:

Not only in the states, all over middle-east as well. There are so many opportunities lying abroad for the uninformed unemployed most talented Indian friends.

So y did the NDA say tat India's shining?? 'shud've said India's draining! Draining itself of all talented/fit ppl. (not all unemployed either) who cud've otherwise done as much for India!

From: VK Narayanan on Fri Jan 6 7:28:54 2006.

Quote:

So y did the NDA say tat India's shining?? 'shud've said India's draining! Draining itself of all talented/fit ppl. (not all unemployed either) who cud've otherwise done as much for India!

Well said Labretta! I personally feel it was quite a brain enrichment for me working abroad, would not have learned so many things if I would have been in India for the past 3 years. Anywayz, settling in homeland and doing something for our country and countrymen in all possible ways is a distant dream for me. Quite nostalgic!

From: Lambretta on Fri Jan 6 9:58:51 2006.

VK Narayanan wrote:

I personally eel it was quite a brain enrichment for me working abroad, would not have learned so many things if I would have been in India for the past 3 years.

U mean u learned desi cuisine after going abroad?
Checked out ur website btw, nice recipes u got there!

Quote:

Anywayz, settling in homeland and doing something for our country and countrymen in all possible ways is a distant dream for me.

Yea many more hungry mouths to feed here w/ ur wonderful cusine rite? (kidding!)

From: VK Narayanan on Fri Jan 6 12:38:06 2006.

I personally eel it was quite a brain enrichment for me working abroad, would not have learned so many things if I would have been in India for the past 3 years.

VK Narayanan wrote:

U mean u learned desi cuisine after going abroad? Wink

Checked out ur website btw, nice recipes u got there! Smile

Quote:

Anywayz, settling in homeland and doing something for our country and countrymen in all possible ways is a distant dream for me.

Yea many more hungry mouths to feed here w/ ur wonderful cusine rite? (kidding!) Wink

Thank you my friend for your kind words.

Oh no Lambretta... cooking for others has been my passion for almost 19 years now

but man... for now that is not my full time job. You are partially right, I may make it my full time career shortly, will definitely let you know if at all my restaurant is coming up somewhere.

From: ramraghav on Sat Jan 7 1:17:21 2006.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85431
http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060106&fname=daniellak&sid=1
http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/06rajeev.htm
From: ramraghav on Sat Jan 7 19:42:21 2006.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85517
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=karlekar%2Fkarlekar65%2Etxt&writer=karlekar
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=john%2Fjohn82%2Etxt&writer=john
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=parthasarathy%2Fparthasarathy93%2Etxt&writer=parthasarathy
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Jan 8 19:27:04 2006.

Indian parents bank cord blood:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D00F42F8-7C77-4D4E-BEA3-8E5E5227D021.htm
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sun Jan 8 22:51:00 2006.

I have already mentioned this in my "issue" thread!
From: Sandeep on Tue Jan 10 22:45:15 2006.

The karaoke way to full literacy

HYDERABAD: Ever wondered why the film songs shown on Doordarshan's Chitrahaar and Rangoli have Hindi subtitles?

The subtitling is part of a joint initiative by Doordarshan and an NGO to boost literacy, particularly in the rural areas. Initiated by IIM-Ahmedabad professor and Stanford University fellow Brij Kothari, the subtitles is funded by the World Bank.

Kothari says film songs are a great way of boosting literacy. "Most of the neo or early literates probably know only how to sign their names. To make them fully functional literates, we need a medium in which they have interest. We found that in film songs on DD," .

According to the don, there are about 300 million illiterates in India in addition to 400 million semi or early literates, as he calls them. There�s no better medium to reach them than Doordarshan, he says. Kothari says the process works over three to five years.

"The early literate will try reading the lyric in sync with his favourite song. In about three years, he is likely to pick up the habit of reading a newspaper. That will lead to full literacy."

For best results, he says, the subtitles should be in the same language as the song. The subtitling started in September 2002 and was tested by ORG a year later. The boost in full-literacy rates was very encouraging, and the initiative attracted the funding attention of Google Foundation.

Buoyed by the study, Prof Kothari and his team of 15 subtitling professionals are planning to increase the number of subtitled programmes to 10 per week and spread the concept to Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Oriya.

The subtitling project has turned the don, a professor of development communication, into a literacy evangelist. He was to take the idea to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and even encourage Bollywood to subtitle all its songs at source.
From: ramraghav on Wed Jan 11 0:11:59 2006.

Bang on target!
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060110&fname=kpsgill&sid=1
From: ramraghav on Wed Jan 11 23:50:45 2006.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story2%2Etxt&counter_img=2
From: ramraghav on Sat Jan 14 23:08:02 2006.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85933
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85951
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=83734
From: ramraghav on Sun Jan 15 17:47:48 2006.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060123&fname=Cover+Story&sid=1
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060123&fname=Cover+Story&sid=2
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060112&fname=anand&sid=1
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Jan 15 18:35:48 2006.

Januray 14 issue of Frontline has a short tribute to Professor Emeneau by Professor Bhadriraju krishnamurthi: http://www.flonnet.com/fl2301/stories/20060127001008000.htm
This issue also has several articles on terrorism in India.
swarup
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Jan 15 19:39:49 2006.

This is not meant to offend anybody but it seems to support my belief that mature women make better administrators than men:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1686984,00.html
From: stranger on Mon Jan 16 14:25:53 2006.

Cops: Teens killed homeless man

Two teens were charged with beating two homeless men in Fort Lauderdale and killing one of them.

Police believe the teens were also involved in a third attack.By ASHLEY FANTZ, SHANNON PEASE, AND WANDA J. DeMARZOafantz@MiamiHerald.comTheir faces were caught on surveillance tape and splashed across the country for the past three days -- young men engaged in the revolting act of beating a homeless man who rolled around defenseless on the ground. Police said they beat another homeless man that night, killing him, and may have been involved in another beating.
On Sunday, two teens who the police said were the culprits -- Thomas S. Daugherty, 17, and Brian A. Hooks, 18, both of Plantation -- turned themselves in around 9:45 a.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Police station. They were escorted by family members, who, along with their lawyers, negotiated the teens' surrender.
''They were quiet,'' said Fort Lauderdale police Capt. Michael Gregory.
''They didn't seem to be anything other than what you'd expect teenagers like them to be,'' said Gregory. ``There's nothing that immediately alarms you, that there was suspicious behavior going on.''
Hooks, who graduated from South Plantation High School last year, played on the school's varsity roller hockey team. He was a busboy at a popular Davie eatery. The teens lived close to each other in a leafy, upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood.
Since the videotape of one of the beatings hit television Thursday night, the suspects had little chance of escaping detection. By the next day, high-school students in Plantation were whispering the names of Daugherty and Hooks and posting them on a website dedicated to street racing. Young people who know the two gave statements to police.
Police say the teens beat Norris Gaynor to death. The 45-year-old homeless man was attacked in Esplanade Park across from the Broward Performing Arts Center around 2 a.m. Thursday.
The teens were also charged with aggravated battery in connection with the 1 a.m. videotaped attack of Jacques Pierre, 58, who had been sleeping on a bench outside the downtown Fort Lauderdale campus of Florida Atlantic University, 111 E. Las Olas Blvd.
''Everyone saw the footage. It affected everyone in their own way,'' said Gregory, noting that authorities received more than 100 tips that led to the teenagers' apprehension. ``Every resource we had available was brought to bear in this case.''
OTHER ATTACK
Police believe the teens were involved in another attack about an hour after Gaynor. Raymond Perez, 49, was jumped and beaten outside Church-by-the-Sea just off the 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale, but the teens have not been charged in that incident and the investigation is ongoing.
It was possible that the attacks could be considered hate crimes under federal law, Gregory said, but the teens have not been charged with a hate crime. Police are still trying to determine a motive.
On Sunday night, Perez and Pierre remained in fair condition at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
Meanwhile, police are looking for two other teenagers they believe were involved in the crimes, said Gregory, and are investigating additional attacks on the city's homeless.
Daugherty and Hooks have no prior criminal record, he said. The teens did not offer any statements and have hired attorneys, police said.
On Saturday search warrants were executed at Daugherty and Hooks' homes in a neighborhood near South Plantation High School.
Crime-scene investigators were seen carrying a baseball bat from Hooks' house on Southwest 57th Avenue, and brown bags from Daugherty's home on Southwest 18th Street.
NEIGHBOR SAW VIDEO
Hooks' next-door neighbor, Jay Clapper, said he saw the surveillance video several times on the television news and recognized Hooks.
''It sure looked like him,'' Clapper said.
Police say that Hooks and Daugherty may have fled to Indiana or Tennessee -- records indicate one of the teens may have relatives in those states.
Hooks is being held in the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale and Daugherty is in the Broward Juvenile Assessment Center. The Broward State Attorney's Office will determine whether Daugherty will face adult criminal charges.
Hooks' former classmate, Derek Magill, said he was shocked when he heard the news of the arrests.
''I didn't think he would do something like that,'' Magill said.
Magill said he and Hooks went to school together for many years and played on the South Plantation High School varsity roller-hockey team. They also started a fishing club at the school, Magill said, but it never took off.
''He was a really outgoing guy, one of the best guys on the hockey team,'' Magill said. He and Hooks lost touch after graduation last year, but he did see the teen a couple of weeks ago from a distance while Magill visited a friend across a canal from Hooks' parents' house. He said they had a brief, casual conversation across the waterway.
Magill also said Hooks had worked in Davie as a busboy at Lefty's Tavern & Grill on State Road 84 in Davie. A manager at the business declined to comment. Other acquaintances said Hooks went to a lot of parties, had a wide circle of friends, and was part of the ''in'' crowd.
Several classmates, who didn't want to be named, said they never heard Hooks targeting one particular group, discussing violence or acting violently. Several classmates said that while Hooks had grown apart from school friends, especially since graduation, he still was popular.
''He was never aggressive in hockey or anything like that -- never got into fights. It totally shocked us,'' said Raquel Fontana, the mother of a student who played hockey with Hooks. Fontana said Hooks' family supported him and was often at his hockey games cheering for him.
WEBSITE
A website for people who like to soup up their cars and race them was abuzz with messages on Sunday from teenagers who claimed to know both the boys. Most of the messages expressed disgust for the beatings.
Several messages said the homeless beatings were similar to the scene in the movie A Clockwork Orange in which a band of merciless thugs bludgeon a homeless man for kicks.
Herald staff writer Jennifer Lebovich contributed to this report.
From: goodsense on Mon Jan 16 14:42:31 2006.

Part of todays' headline in the front page of Toronto Start, Ontario Canada, con't on page A12:

"India woos expatriates with new form of dual citizenship"

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1137365412890&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home
From: Surya on Fri Jan 20 1:17:47 2006.

BIN LANDEN OFFERS "LONG TERM" TRUCE ::: US REJECTS IT!

CIA officials believe an audiotaped message threatening the United States is from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who warns that plans for terror attacks are under way -- and also offers a "long-term truce." White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: "We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business." U.S. officials said the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI plan to send out a bulletin to state and local law enforcement urging vigilance in the wake of the new tape.

FULL STORY @ http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/19/binladen.tape/index.html

-CNN.
From: Sandeep on Fri Jan 20 1:48:19 2006.

Great news!!!

Inspite of all the big talk in the latest tape, it clearly shows that 'they' are feeling the heat and it is burning their ass.

"We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business."
From: Surya on Sat Jan 21 3:44:39 2006.

That's the US! U never hear India saying these strong things! They're always what we in tamil call, Vazha vazha, kozha kozha!
From: Surya on Sat Jan 21 19:44:53 2006.

Jaya tables bill, Karuna kin TV will be worst hit

Chennai, Jan. 21: In a move that seriously threatens the monopoly of DMK president M. Karunanidhi?s family over the cable TV network in Tamil Nadu, the Jayalalithaa government on Saturday introduced a bill in the state Assembly to take over cable TV networks, including multi-service operators and optical transport systems.

Though the bill targets the two major multi-service operators (MSOs) in the state, it is Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), owned by the family of Union communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, a grandnephew of Mr Karunanidhi, which is likely to be hit hardest as it currently controls the entire cable distribution in Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore besides 85 per cent of the operations in Chennai.

Apart from the obvious loss of huge revenue for the Sun Network, run by Mr Maran?s brother Kalanidhi Maran, the SCV takeover could mean drastic clipping of the Sun News network and thereby the loss of the most potent propaganda machinery for the DMK during the coming state elections.

Mr Karunanidhi and Mr Dayanidhi Maran rushed to petition governor Surjit Singh Barnala, urging him not to give his assent to the bill once it was passed in the Assembly. The passing of the bill is a mere formality considering the huge majority that the ruling AIADMK enjoys in the House. The DMK chief also held an urgent meeting of senior party leaders to discuss the crisis.

UPA colleague and commerce minister Kamal Nath, on a visit to Chennai, disapproved of the bill and said ?any act which sends a wrong signal to foreign investors would hurt the state?. Besides, the involvement of the state in the business of television and liquor ?means moving in the reverse direction?, he said.

The entire Opposition, barring the BJP, was absent when the bill was tabled by law minister D. Jayakumar as they had announced boycott of the first day of the debate on the state?s interim budget alleging that adequate time was not given to study the budget papers.

?The bill seeks to acquire, transfer and take over administration of cable TV networks, including multi-service operators and optical transport systems. It aims to take over the assets and services of both SCV and the Raheja-owned Hathway.

The names of the two companies have been listed under Schedule II of the bill. Justifying the bill, the government said it had received ?numerous representations complaining about the lack of proper cable network facilities, the unsatisfactory manner of provision of facilities, collection of excessive and prohibitive charges with package channels being provided under heavy payment, disrupting proper telecast of certain channels, selective blurring of telecasts of certain channels, and threats and coercion often being resorted to by distributors and operators in the process of exhibition of telecasts.?
From: Surya on Sat Jan 28 15:06:41 2006.

Karnataka chief minister resigns
The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Karnataka, Dharam Singh, has resigned after 10 days of political upheaval in the state.

The move paves the way for India's main opposition party, the BJP, to become part of a governing coalition in the state for the first time.

The political upheavals were triggered by a split in the Janata Dal (Secular) party, part of the current coalition.

Mr Singh, of the Congress party, gave his resignation to the state governor.

The BBC's Sunil Raman in the state capital, Bangalore, says the governor is expected to ask HD Kumaraswamy to form the next government.

It was Mr Kumaraswamy who led the split in the Janata Dal (Secular) Party.

Mr Singh and other members of the Congress party spent much of Friday trying to woo the defectors back into the governing coalition but failed.

Mr Kumaraswamy says the coalition of his defectors and the BJP party can muster 130 of the 224 legislators in the state assembly.
From: Sandeep on Sun Jan 29 4:31:08 2006.

I wonder what their polices are going to be.
Would they go the "Krishna" way of promoting Bangalore
or
the "Gowda" way of rural growth at the cost of Bangalore.

Anyway one more BJP flag, inspite of all the infighting.
From: Surya on Mon Jan 30 21:09:57 2006.

Well...It's still Gowda's Party JD.....so they might still take the rural road....but then again, never know...
From: Lambretta on Mon Jan 30 23:48:47 2006.

Sandeep wrote:

Would they go the "Krishna" way of promoting Bangalore

Which makes me ask- were all the pubs n clubs over there promoted during the "Krishna way"??
From: Sandeep on Tue Jan 31 4:49:05 2006.

I think pub culture was there even before Krishna. Something bangalore was famous for.

But now with the new regulations pub culture has become a joke. The new generation has lots of money but fewer outlets. Very dangerous.
From: Lambretta on Tue Jan 31 5:00:11 2006.

Sandeep wrote:

I think pub culture was there even before Krishna. Something bangalore was famous for.

Hmm....really?? I thot it was famous for only gardens & tat the pub cult began only in the last 5 yrs......

Quote:

But now with the new regulations pub culture has become a joke.

My impression was tat in our country (not jus Bangalore) its usually the regulations tat become a joke!

Quote:

The new generation has lots of money but fewer outlets. Very dangerous.

Yea, I think I know wat u mean.....sounds all too sad!
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Feb 1 16:50:25 2006.

A glimmer of hope:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/01/education/01educ.html
From: rajraj on Wed Feb 1 22:01:16 2006.

Coretta King, widow of Rev. Martin Luther King paases away.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200601311968.htm
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Feb 8 0:27:27 2006.

http://www.fdimagazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1489/ASIAN_CITIES___REGION

ASIAN REGION OF THE FUTURE:

Winner: Tamil Nadu, India

Competition was closer and the playing field more level in the regions section of fDi�s contest, with the Indian state of Tamil Nadu edging ahead of Australia�s New South Wales to claim the title Asian Region of the Future 2005/06. Tamil Nadu took first place in the all-important category of best FDI potential.

As investors such as Ford, Hyundai, Nokia and, most recently, BMW have discovered to their delight, Tamil Nadu has managed to avoid or mitigate problems that dog other locations in India, such as infrastructure and energy failings. Through pro-active and business friendly government policies, the state has harmonious industrial relations, a matured business culture and abundant skilled manpower.

Things should only get better: several new fly-overs and by-passes are under construction that will ease traffic congestion in heaving Chennai, and an �IT Expressway� project will widen the main access road to that city�s thriving software cluster. This hints at Tamil Nadu�s real secret weapon: Chennai�s IT corridor employs nearly 50,000 people, and this number is set to increase to as much as 90,000 when some of the major IT companies investing there get their operations up and running.
From: Lambretta on Wed Feb 8 13:56:26 2006.

India's most famous artist has apologized for representing the country as a nude goddess in a painting.
Kiran Chaube
Feb. 8, 2006

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/6884.asp

It is wrong to humiliate any nation, regional community, religion or culture.
Maqbool Fida Hussain, India's best known contemporary artist, promised to withdraw his painting portraying a nude "Mother India" from a charity auction to be held later Wednesday in New Delhi.

Hussain's apology follows protests by several Hindu groups objecting to the painting and to earlier works by the artist portraying nude Hindu goddesses.

India is often depicted as a "mother goddess" and is widely revered and worshipped in the popular arts, folklore and literature.

Hussain had offered the painting to a charity group which is holding an auction of works by leading artists to collect funds for survivors of a massive earthquake that devastated parts of Kashmir last year.
Sharan Apparao, curator of the auction house, said she had received many phone calls from protesters demanding the painting be withdrawn from the auction.
"Some of them were saying ''Remove the nude painting. Why is mother India being shown nude?''" PTI quoted her as saying.

At least two hardline Hindu groups, the Hindu Public Awakening Committee and the World Hindu Council, registered police complaints against Hussain in the western Indian city of Bombay, accusing the 90-year-old painter of hurting their religious sentiments.
They spurned Hussain's apology, saying he had offended Hindus earlier too by portraying Hindu goddesses in the nude. "Hussain has been doing this for the last so many years and every time he apologizes and goes scot-free," the news agency quoted Venkatesh Abdev, a World Hindu Council official, as saying.

There were huge protests in Bombay and other parts of India in 1996 after Hussain painted the Hindu goddesses Saraswati, Durga and Draupadi in the nude. His home in Bombay was ransacked by angry Hindu protesters.
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Feb 13 21:15:43 2006.

Indo-US nuclear deal falling apart? Pl. check:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/13/opinion/edchell.php
From: ssanjinika on Wed Feb 15 13:13:04 2006.

One of the most bizzare things Ive read
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11300541/site/newsweek/
From: ssanjinika on Wed Feb 15 14:19:01 2006.

http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=education&slug=Maharashtra+says+no+to+sex+education&id=84811&callid=1
From: Lambretta on Thu Feb 16 11:30:31 2006.

ssanjinika wrote:

http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=education&slug=Maharashtra+says+no+to+sex+education&id=84811&callid=1

Well, maybe the schools/parents r afraid tat many of their kids wud take it tat practical knowledge r needed for this subject & there wud be too many cases like the Delhi school girl incident in future!
From: Lambretta on Thu Feb 16 11:39:22 2006.

Volkswagen car unit for Vizag.

German auto major to sign MoU with Andhra Pradesh next month.

AP edition of The Hindu:
HYDERABAD: The wait seems to be finally over. Volkswagen, the German auto major, will be inking a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Government next month.

Draft memo ready

Highly placed sources in the Government told The Hindu on Wednesday that the draft MoU was ready and a team of Volkswagen company officials from Germany would arrive here next month to complete the formalities. Volkswagen is planning to set up a plant at a cost of Rs. 5,400 crores to manufacture cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the port city of Visakhapatnam, which it wants to develop into a regional hub for its activities. Controversy marred the Volkswagen deal last year when the Government transferred an amount of Rs. 11.67 crores as an advance payment to Vashistha Wahan (VW), which styled itself as a special purpose vehicle, at the instance of then Indian representative of the company, Helmuth Schuster.

However, it turned out that this money was not transferred to Volkswagen and the Rajasekhara Reddy Government handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough inquiry into the whole transaction, particularly the role of Mr. Schuster and his companions. Amid accusations by the Telugu Desam Party and other political parties, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy stripped Botsa Satyanarayana of the Major Industries portfolio and shifted him to Marketing.

The Volkswagen later offered back the Rs.11.67 crores "owning up moral responsibility" for the irregularities, but the Government refused to accept it insisting that the company go ahead with the proposal of establishing the unit at Visakhapatnam. The absence of a MoU was considered as one of the causes leading to the scandal.

Groundwork

Sources explained that much groundwork had to be done before the MoU was signed. The application of Volkswagen had to be processed by the Finance, Law, Planning and Industries Departments before finally reaching the Chief Minister's desk. From there it would go to the Cabinet for approval. The MoU is signed at this juncture stipulating the share and equity arrangements.

From: ssanjinika on Thu Feb 16 12:24:37 2006.

http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=education&slug=Maharashtra+says+no+to+sex+education&id=84811&callid=1

Well, maybe the schools/parents r afraid tat many of their kids wud take it tat practical knowledge r needed for this subject & there wud be too many cases like the Delhi school girl incident in future!

I thought the stress should be on "DONT DO IT" coz these(AIDS,STDs etc etc) are the reasons!!
If these kids dont know about all these ill effects of sex,wont it encourage them to do it?

From: Lambretta on Thu Feb 16 13:15:57 2006.

ssanjinika wrote:

I thought the stress should be on "DONT DO IT" coz these(AIDS,STDs etc etc) are the reasons!!

Yes even I thot so......but from wat I've herd abt AIDS awareness talks/campaings is tat they emphasise on safe sex as well? 'cos
otherwise how come so many parents/teachers happend to be against it?
Or perhaps they'd opt to exclude tat for school syllabus atleast & focus primarily on the "Don't do it"....If so then I guess its good to
introduce it......

Quote:

If these kids dont know about all these ill effects of sex,wont it encourage them to do it?

Tats also true, as the saying goes- curiosity killed the cat!
So neways, as long as the focus in their syllabus is on saying no to it at the 'curiosity' stage (@ their age) there shudn't be ne potential harm in teaching the subject.
From: ssanjinika on Thu Feb 16 13:25:10 2006.

Right!! My point exactly .
From: Sandeep on Thu Feb 16 21:43:49 2006.

So Sex education should teach you "Sex is bad", "Sex is evil".

Becoz you cannot teach anyone, "sex is good for us grown ups but not for you kids".
From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 1:24:19 2006.

Sandeep wrote:

So Sex education should teach you "Sex is bad", "Sex is evil".

Becoz you cannot teach anyone, "sex is good for us grown ups but not for you kids".

Trouble is, do adolescents really accept tat they r kids??
From: Sandeep on Fri Feb 17 1:27:57 2006.

No even Kids dont accept that they are kids and want to drink tea like their father instead of milk.

Thats precisely the reason why "sex is good for us grown ups but not for you kids" message will not work.

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 1:44:55 2006.

No even Kids dont accept that they are kids and want to drink tea like their father instead of milk.

Thats precisely the reason why "sex is good for us grown ups but not for you kids" message will not work.

Yup, and also considerin tat ppl. who primarily hav it r nearly all grown-ups (truck drivers etc.)......
So, as SS also said, from the AIDS/STD point of view they wud intend to emphasise on the 'say NO to it' bit, rite?

From: pavalamani pragasam on Fri Feb 17 2:40:14 2006.

In our teen years in our convent school nuns took weekly moral science classes. We even had printed book prescribed for the class. From easy Aesop type moral stories the content grew serious as we grew up reaching in high school to the secrets of unique physical development as a flower blooming to maturity. Both the chaste beauty & the wonderful purpose of Nature were explained in ever so subtle, but clear terms that we gained a deep respect for our body. Are today's teachers trained, dedicated to that degree? The crude propaganda for safe sex blaring in the MEDIA makes parents, understandably, scared/suspicious of unrefined, dangerous teaching techniques. My deduction!
From: dev on Fri Feb 17 5:18:55 2006.

PP mam,

I too had moral science lessons when in school... It was when we were around the 8th grade, we started learning abt those that U've mentioned... I also remember having a seminar on it... I still believe moral science classes are more effective than the recently buzz 'sex edu'.... Though we used to say that it's an added burden when they didn't add the marks we scored in moral science to the progress report, now I know how valuble those lessons are...
From: pavalamani pragasam on Fri Feb 17 5:26:56 2006.

Thanx, dev! How I wish the education board seriously thinks about adding the valuable moral science class in its curriculum & prevent the youth from making a mess of their lives!
From: Sandeep on Fri Feb 17 5:47:52 2006.

Well I agree Moral science is required and can contribute largely to the development of children into socially contributing adults. But sex education is not about morals its about "What is Sex ?"

Sex education is not only about AIDS. AIDS has only increased its relevance.

I have a question for all of you to be answered in your mind. How did you all come to know about sex ?

Where should the young generation learn about sex ? Are our parents ready to sit with their child and explain the intricacies of sex.

Or should they learn from cheap sex books, blue film and imaginative sex stories from friends.

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 6:25:43 2006.

I too had moral science lessons when in school... It was when we were around the 8th grade, we started learning abt those that U've mentioned... I also remember having a seminar on it... I still believe moral science classes are more effective than the recently buzz 'sex edu'.... Though we used to say that it's an added burden when they didn't add the marks we scored in moral science to the progress report, now I know how valuble those lessons are...

True Dev.....btw, u just reminded me- I was going to ask!

Is moral science as a subject still taught in current day school syllabus curriculums?? If so upto wat class?
I rem. we had it only upto 7th class when i was in school.....I donno if most schools'd still bother to hav it around now tat they've introduced various additional subjects like environmental science (atleast in AP), & more recently stress management, as I read in the article SS showed, besides of course computers......enough to make school bags heavier! Also given the fact tat education has become so much object oriented, teaching u only wat u can get paid for doing in life!

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 6:36:16 2006.

Well I agree Moral science is required and can contribute largely to the development of children into socially contributing adults. But sex education is not about morals its about "What is Sex ?"
Sex education is not only about AIDS. AIDS has only increased its relevance.
I have a question for all of you to be answered in your mind. How did you all come to know about sex ?
Where should the young generation learn about sex ? Are our parents ready to sit with their child and explain the intricacies of sex.
Or should they learn from cheap sex books, blue film and imaginative sex stories from friends.

Sandeep, u 2 hav a point....the trouble is not only bcos of Media influence, but the education system in our country has remained by & large unchanged, in the sense, many private schools may be focussing on providing better infrastructure/facilties, encouraging extra-curricular activities which is all fine, but none of the 'best' schools even cud be able to provide character/moral education tat is along our cultural lines!
Bcos they jus donno how to go abt it themselves, caught in the same rut tat had originally been started by the British, who'd implemented this system just for making professionals who cud work for them, so tats wat the 'modern' education (basically everywhere in thw world!) emphasises on- make qualified/competent professionals by teaching them only wat they r goin2 get paid for (& wat u get paid for!)
As Swami Vivekananda pointed out (100 odd yrs ago itself!), the education we receive now is only making us a race of dyspeptics, working like machines merely, and living a jelly-fish existance!

From: dev on Fri Feb 17 8:11:44 2006.

Lambretta wrote:

True Dev.....btw, u just reminded me- I was going to ask!
Is moral science as a subject still taught in current day school syllabus curriculums?? If so upto wat class?

Convent schools still teach it as a mandatory subject, I believe... Atleast, the school in which I learnt still teaches it until std 9... In std 10, they have classes only twice a week... In pvt school, I've not heard of such a subj being taught... Being a teacher means much more than teaching the subject... they play a big role in molding the kids... but I don't really know how many teachers realise this or has the passion towards their job...
From: pavalamani pragasam on Fri Feb 17 9:23:21 2006.

How did the older generations know about sex & procreation? Is it a knowledge acquired through "teaching"? Jolly good comedy we had in old movies of how "innocent" brides & sometimes even grooms learnt the lesson. In the old generations mothers expected the daughters to learn it from their husbands! First hand information is best! How the boys learn it, GOK! In short there was thrill around the subject, rare or unheard of were AIDS! Perhaps people married early too, before they became too curious. The taboo on the subject kept the secret sacred & great. What science lessons, biology & the rest the older generations learnt in colleges with delicate handling by mature professors are now taught to kids! They learn so many things so early making learning a dry & mechanical process!!! Hence all the freakish developments, precosity, too early cloying of life in general!

True, we have to accomodate ourselves to the fast pace of present day life. That must be done without forgetting the nature of impressionable, adventurous, reckless, daring, overconfident adolescence. A subject to be dealt with sympathetic understanding of the age & inexperience of the kids. No use to being just "practical" in our approach of educating the children. It is like handling a double edged sword. Atmost care & shrewdness needed to ensure a happy future for the children. Abstinence must be stressed, its importance for a fulfilled, meaningful life, its value in building us into dignified, worthy adults can never be under estimated. Lastly, we must warn our children that fire burns. Do we watch with folded hands allowing them to find that out for themselves?

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 10:04:03 2006.

Convent schools still teach it as a mandatory subject, I believe... Atleast, the school in which I learnt still teaches it until std 9... In std 10, they have classes only twice a week... In pvt school, I've not heard of such a subj being taught...

Um....I thot convents/missionaries come under pvt. schools? ie, not run by the Govt.......

Neways, I studied in a pvt. school (non convent) & we did hav it til 7th class.....but of course the level of moral teaching & the influence they hav on 7th class students wud prob. not last upto the level of 10th students.....it wud be good if they'd continued it, provided they found competent teachers of course.
Luckily for us, in 7th we had a very nice teacher, an elderly Tamil lady, who treated us more like her own children/grandchildren than as students! Whenshe taught us it wudn't feel like we were learning a subject, it was like an elder giving us advice abt real life from their own life experience! Pity we hav hardly ne teachers like her!

Quote:

Being a teacher means much more than teaching the subject... they play a big role in molding the kids... but I don't really know how many teachers realise this or has the passion towards their job...

To be honest neither do I! Infact teaching hardly has the kind of committment from the teacher's side (in many cases) today.....considering tat there is so much temptation for getting jobs w/ higher pay/status etc.....teaching has also become commercialised; u pay me this much for teaching this subject, I'll teach watever u pay me for!
Today pvt. schools boast of 'modern' teaching methods using computers in the class etc. but the real essence of teaching is nearly totally lost!
I used to work part-time at a reputed school here & I'd sumtimes watch how the teachers there go on abt their jobs......I may sound cynical but I found most of them jus didn't hav the kind of image their role shud generate....they rather had the look of 'ordinary' individuals going out shopping/on an errand rather than coming to teach!

From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 10:04:57 2006.

Well I agree Moral science is required and can contribute largely to the development of children into socially contributing adults. But sex education is not about morals its about "What is Sex ?"

Yes Sex Education is about answering all kind of questions about sex.It is in my opinion still the best way to combat the wrong ideas about the subject.

Sex education is not only about AIDS. AIDS has only increased its relevance.

Yes AIDS has increased its relevance... 10fold.India unofficially is the country with the largest AIDS population.We think "oh that happens only to truck drivers and people who live in slums"I ask you how long will that take to affect our children if they DONT KNOW what the hoopla is about.Sex is everywhere in todays world.Its shown on TV ,films ,music videos,audios.The kids of today see all this and think they know everything unfortunately they dont.Without proper education they just have knowledge which is either incomplete or not correct.

I have a question for all of you to be answered in your mind. How did you all come to know about sex ?

I learnt during SE classes.We had that in my school.11th and 12th to be exact.We had a trained teacher to teach us about it..rather tell us about the good and bad aspects of sex.We learned about everythign from safe sex to pregnancy (AIDS was not that prevalent then).
Finally ,its nice to think about those good old innocent days when things were much simpler.But we have to understand even if we want to hold on to that period,we cant.The world is moving and its moving fast.We cant stop progress and all this unfortunately is the side effect of progress.Children are no longer the shy innocent beings of yesteryears who were willing listen when their parents told them wait till you are married.These days the kids will just turn around and say "whats it to you?This is my personal matter.You pls dont interfere".When this is the attitude,we just have to change our perceptions ,stop wishing to turn back time and equip them for their future.

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 10:06:27 2006.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

Abstinence must be stressed, its importance for a fulfilled, meaningful life, its value in building us into dignified, worthy adults can never be under estimated.

Exactly! If at all those sex education classes r to be implemented, they MUST emphasise on this!

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 10:10:17 2006.

Just curious- did ur teacher also emphasise on the "DON'T do it" bit as well during the course of teaching the subject? Consideirng tat u'd said tat shud be the main intention of implementing this as a subject?
No offence!

From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 10:21:30 2006.

That doubt never did arise in our minds Lamby.We knew one DIDNT do That till one was married.Its now that the youngsters seem to think its OK to do what ever they want and dont think of the serious repercussions their actions could have

From: Lambretta on Fri Feb 17 10:25:11 2006.

Oh c'mon......how much older r ppl. of ur & my age than the youth of today??

Or has the scenario really changed so much since ur/my gen. finished schooling, as I often suspect??!

If so, tat doesn;t sound good!

From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 10:29:55 2006.

I wonder about that myself .Has India changed that much in the past 10 years or so is the question I ask myself almost everyday!!!Unfortunately it looks like it has and it seems like Ive slept through most of the change

From: great on Fri Feb 17 10:59:19 2006.

.Has India changed that much in the past 10 years or so is the question I ask myself almost everyday!!!Unfortunately it looks like it has and it seems like Ive slept through most of the change Sad

I wonder about that myself Sad

same dialogue

From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 11:01:58 2006.

Amma naan kuda adhu than nenaichen post pannadhu-kku aparam
From: great on Fri Feb 17 11:14:32 2006.

ssanjinika wrote:

Amma naan kuda adhu than nenaichen post pannadhu-kku aparam

India has changed alot ss
From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 11:16:22 2006.

Yup ..guess it has.Seems like a lot more since Im not watching it happen in front of my eyes .
From: great on Fri Feb 17 11:17:02 2006.

hope u have seen cable guy
From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 11:31:48 2006.

No I havent watched it..thought it wasnt a good movie..mybbe we should coninue about the movie in the hollywood thread

Now if you meant the real live cable fellow who gives cable connection - harummph.Ofcourse I have.That progress happened when I was a kid .

From: dev on Fri Feb 17 11:33:52 2006.

Acyually, I wanted to type 'other pvt schools'(meaning non-convent pvt schools)... Guess my mind is occupied with lots of things today... making lots of mistakes today...in the hub & otehrwise...

Um....I thot convents/missionaries come under pvt. schools? ie, not run by the Govt....... Confused

From: great on Fri Feb 17 11:57:08 2006.

No I havent watched it..thought it wasnt a good movie..mybbe we should coninue about the movie in the hollywood thread Laughing

Now if you meant the real live cable fellow who gives cable connection - harummph.Ofcourse I have.That progress happened when I was a kid Smile

hmmmmmmmmmm i meant you should have live coverage on INDIA

From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 17 12:56:27 2006.

oopssssss.......
:
But do I want to?The way the world is going I prefer being the cat and closing my eyes .
From: rajraj on Fri Feb 17 13:42:25 2006.

About charitable contributions to colleges and universities in the US:

http://www.cae.org/content/pdf/VSE2005SurveyPRwithTables.pdf

Now, you know why the universites in the US attract the best from all over the world. You also get an idea of the values of the American public. Contrast this to the values of the public in India and the shameless self-financing colleges. There are no capitation fees in US colleges. Seats can not be bought for students without merit. Which college (first rate or third rate) a student can get into depends on his/her merit. The brightest who are poor get almost free education funded by the universities.

Something to think about!
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Feb 17 18:27:17 2006.

Rajraj,
I think that there are lot of donations for development in India but much of it may be going to different types of development. Last tear, I was in the village Karamchedu in Guntur District and found that a couple of NRI doctors have given two crores of rupees for developmement projects in the village (and 20 crores over all to A.P). In one of the villages where my father worked, my brother built a library and we have helped in building an old peoples home.There are many programmes about miday meals for children and the donations seem to be at the level of basic needs. But a lot of money also seems to be going to building temples.
In a recent issue of Economic and
Political Weekly (http://www.epw.org.in/showIndex.php,
May 7th), I found the following surprising (to me)
statistics in an artcle by S.S.Srivatsava and Rajesh
Tandon.
They have five criteria to define a NPO and estimate
that there are about 1.2 million NPO organizations
which involve 19.2 million people. Compared to this,
the Cenral Government emplyees numbered 3.3 million in
2000. Of the NPOs 26.5 % are religion based, 21.5% for
community and social services, 20.4 percent for
education, 18% for sports and culture and 6.65 for
health, About three fourths of the institutions
employed one or no paid workers.
A staggering 85% of the workers are volunteers. In
1999-2000, the sector raised an amount equivalent to
7.7% of total central government expenditure. About
7.4% of the income came from foreign sources (the rest from private donations), about 30% from from grants. A surprising 51% is self
generated through sales of goods and services and the
rest from donations with in India. It seems that the
voluntary force essentially drove the sector. Given
the magnitude of the sector, the authors point out
that the desirability of a consistent public policy
and the development and enforcecement of codes of
conduct by NPOs.
More details and comparisons with other countries can
be found in the article by Srivatsava and Tandon.
Swarup
From: rajraj on Fri Feb 17 18:50:34 2006.

Swarup,
My interest was in universities receiving donations from the public. That is miniscule in India. People in India have been donating to worthy causes . But, it does not compare well with the US. I can provide you with charitable contribution patterns published by the internal revenue service ( income tax dept of US ). A few of my friends were VCs of some universities. Their lament was about the dependence on the government for funds. That has a serious impact on the autonomy universities are supposed to have. If the public and alumni donated generously things will be different.
The Indians in US are not known for charitable contributions. This was voiced by some prominent Indians recently. They will give to temples bu not to the colleges attended by their children. One of my friends took his son on a campus visit to one of the Ivy League universities. When he met the dean of students, the dean blurted out: ' You Indians want the best for your kids. But, you never give anything back' ! It has not changed much. Sad !
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Feb 17 19:38:19 2006.

raj,
I wonder whether there is any study of these patterns. Offhand, I see a few possible reasons. I think that NRI Indians donate quite a bit but it may be to causes back in India, though there was recent case of an Indian couple in Florida funding of the order of 40 millions to a reserch institute associated with one of the universities. Back in India, the universities used to more amorphous; for example at one time Madras University catered to students from Visakhapatnam to Kanyakumari. So, there might have not been clear identities and affiliations for the alumini. There seem to differences in British and American Universities as well. I think that Cambridge has lot of old property, some in central London which has become very valuable. I do not know. My impression is that in India, education is generally considered a goverment business and the tradtion of private universities partly funded by alumini has not been there. Just thinking aloud. Would like to know more.
swarup
From: rajraj on Fri Feb 17 19:56:51 2006.

Swarup,
I can ask the universities attended by my children for data on contributions by ethnic groups. Or, I can go through the donor list I get every year from four universities and collect data based on ethnicity of donors. Here is one example where I was involved and had personal experience. My eldest son attended the University of California, Berkeley. He took Tamil and we got to know the Tamil instructors. One of the professors wanted to make sure that the university continued to fund Tamil studies even after he retired. The university agreed with the condition that they find an endowment of $400K. I think there were 50000 Tamils in US at that time. If on the average, a Tamil gave $10 each they could have collected the amount in no time. But, it took about four years with a large donation by an industrialist. I think, California alone had 5000 Tamils then. $100 each would have met the goal in a short time.
In the first year they collected about $120K.
The endowment was for a Tamil chair and there is one now.

What does $100 mean? Dinner for four in a good restaurant. The rest is left to you!

People must be willing to give something back to the society they live in.

Even state funded universities like the UC,Berkeley actively seek contributions from alumni,parents and others. There is no reason why universities like the University of Madras can not do the same.
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Feb 17 21:07:47 2006.

Raj,
I agree. we have a duty to contribute to societies that we live in. There is also the problem of divided loyalties. I can say a couple of things from my own experience. I did my Ph.D. in India and basically I felt that I was a product of government funded education. When I retired and finally had a bit of money to contribute, my first impulse was to contribute a bit in India. I was also a bit turned off by how money minded and less academic universities have become here. But that is no excuse. I should also contribute by criticism and money to causes here. There are so many different levels of experience, interaction and politics it is difficult to find a balance. Thanks for the inputs.
Swarup
From: Lambretta on Sat Feb 18 2:52:59 2006.

Rajraj, Swarup garu,
I agree w/ ur points on how Individuals shud contribute even to state funded education in our coutnry.
In fact in India too, there r cases where elite Individuals contribute financially to colleges/univs. But the trouble arises when/if these ppl. take it to their own advantage! Ther r cases wher the kids of rich/elite individuals who donate money to colleges misuse their name to gain a monopoly or an upper hand in the same institutions, encouraging student politics, rowdism etc. within the colleges & remain virtually unstoppable even by the management (or even by the law)!
I've herd abt sum colleges tat refuse to accpet donations/ne contributions from individuals for this reason......
Whereas this can't be thot of happening in institutions abroad.
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Feb 19 17:10:41 2006.

Manual on marriages to NRIs:
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1629705,0008.htm?headline=Manual~on~how~to~stay~away~from~NRI~knots
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Feb 20 20:28:41 2006.

Interview with Raghuram Rajan, chief Economist of IMF:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=88291&pn=0
A short bigraphy of Raghuram Rajan can be found at:
http://www.namasthenri.com/nrioftheweek/rajan.htm
From: rajraj on Tue Feb 21 11:59:16 2006.

Tower of Babel in Lok sabha:

International Mother Language Day in India's Lok sabha:

http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=13859
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Feb 22 16:36:40 2006.

Retired husband syndrome? Pl. check:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4741018.stm
From: pavalamani pragasam on Wed Feb 22 23:18:45 2006.

The news about retired husband syndrome is funny & also eyeopening!
From: Badri on Wed Feb 22 23:31:03 2006.

Oh I have seen quite a few wives regret their husbands retire after just a year of the man staying at home.

And I am afraid there is nothing to say in defence of the man!
From: Sandeep on Wed Feb 22 23:36:46 2006.

sbadri99 wrote:

And I am afraid there is nothing to say in defence of the man!

There is no defence for the man who gave his whole youth working like an Ass.

There is no defence for the man who in a single day becomes Old and "useless" for the society. We know he is not useless, but what thoughts does retirement bring to once mind.

There is no defence for the man who wakes up one fine morning and realized he has no where to go and nothing to do.
From: goodsense on Wed Feb 22 23:43:29 2006.

But Sandeep, people plan their retirement. They just don't wake up to it. Are ypu speaking of the ones who make no plans, if so whose fault is it?
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Feb 23 0:31:02 2006.

The latest TV ad for HDFC retirement plans is very lovely: a grandfather living with his son's family, pampering his grandson buying him the gift the boy wanted from his own income; enjoy life with dear ones without being an encumbrance. Adapt to pastimes suited to vast time at hand & declining physical vigour. Yes, a well planned retirement IS bliss! Actually more time, leisure for entertainments, tours together for the couple.
From: Sandeep on Thu Feb 23 0:40:43 2006.

goodsense wrote:

But Sandeep, people plan their retirement. They just don't wake up to it. Are you speaking of the ones who make no plans, if so whose fault is it?

I agree that retirement is not a one day thing, but how ever you plan when the real thing comes its hard. I am NOT talking about financial security.

In fact people look forward to retirement and a leisure life but even then there is a lot of mental trauma that one goes through which needs a lot of understanding form the family.

You must be knowing about postpartum depression and then the monthly recurrence which make women edgy. Aren't all these planed and regular

From: Badri on Thu Feb 23 1:06:13 2006.

There is no defence for the man who gave his whole youth working like an Ass.

There is no defence for the man who in a single day becomes Old and "useless" for the society. We know he is not useless, but what thoughts does retirement bring to once mind.

There is no defence for the man who wakes up one fine morning and realized he has no where to go and nothing to do.

sbadri99 wrote:

And I am afraid there is nothing to say in defence of the man! Confused

No no Sandeep, you caught the wrong end of the joke. Men, when they have nothing to do, are insufferable. I can only pity my wife when I am due for retirement!

From: rajraj on Thu Feb 23 1:12:28 2006.

Badri: You better start planning for your retirement now so that she knows what you are up to!
In this country many corporations tell people about what to do after retirement. One corporation has asked retirees to teach math/science in high schools. Some pay retirees to obtain new skills to lead a useful life. Some retirees do things they had no time to do while being employed.
From: Sandeep on Thu Feb 23 1:29:17 2006.

sbadri99 wrote:

Men, when they have nothing to do, are insufferable.

Yes they get irritating and I was mentioning the reasons why they become so and why they require compassion and understanding.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Feb 23 2:21:17 2006.

Many men don't "grow up", it is true! Anyway the best course of action for those around the retirees is to draw up strategies to tackle the tantrums of this second childhood!!!(esp. in India where no brilliant options like in abroad are available)
From: Sudhaama on Thu Feb 23 6:39:20 2006.

RETIREMENT from EMPLOYMENT MEANT CONTENTMENT... in SERVING AS SUBORDINATE

There is a vast difference between the US and Indian Concepts on one's Retirement from Employment.

Age of Retirement in India is 55 to 58 in general.... In some Private Companies they extend year after year upto 60.

.... whereas in the Western countries especially the US... the Retirement Age is between 65 to 69.

On Retirement, Indians outlook in general is Self-decrial or Auto-condemnation that he is no more FIT for Employment or Monetary-Earning and that it is a Negative-reminder on his last breathe.... Fast-approacing.

I am wondering... why many Retired Senior-Citizens in India are getting more sickly.... and die INCREDIBLY soon afer Retirement!! ...Because of PSYCHOSOMANTIC DISEASES?

Why should anybody retire totally..... idling at home, if he has at least the minimum physical ability to make the best use of his Vast Knowledge and rare wealth of Experience?

It is the best opportunity to open another door of independant service of one's own choice and liking.... as a Consultant, Business-partner, Part-time employee with different Employers, Writing Articles and Books, Put forth to shape on his Hobby to the best interest of the seekers, Teacher or Lecturer or any Freelancer Service and such other avenues.

I am seeing in US.... some Indian-parents (becoming the dependants of their Children-citizens) after retirement from Employment in India.... are making the best use of their time at US.... on the above lines. By teaching Classical-Music, or Indian Languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi or Telugu language to US born Indians, they not only make good earning but also lead an independant and happy life even in their Eightees.

Emulating this healthy Example.... some Indians too have started the same or similar professions like beauticians, part-time tuitions etc... in India reciprocating to the field-demands there.

It is not necessary anymore for Indians to brood over the past indulging in Self-pity.... passing their idle-time in Old-age Homes.

Let Indians learn fast to become Positive-thinkers and lead an independant ROYAL-LIFE OF SELF-ESTEEM..

... by means of Advance-Planning... at least from now on.
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Feb 23 17:10:29 2006.

Why do doctors so often get it wrong? Pl. check:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/22/business/22leonhardt.html?incamp=article_popular
It says that in USA
"With all the tools available to modern medicine � the blood tests and M.R.I.'s and endoscopes � you might think that misdiagnosis has become a rare thing. But you would be wrong. Studies of autopsies have shown that doctors seriously misdiagnose fatal illnesses about 20 percent of the time. So millions of patients are being treated for the wrong disease.

As shocking as that is, the more astonishing fact may be that the rate has not really changed since the 1930's. "No improvement!" was how an article in the normally exclamation-free Journal of the American Medical Association summarized the situation. "
I wonder about the situation in India.
Swarup
From: ssanjinika on Fri Feb 24 13:13:26 2006.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060224/od_nm/bodies_dc;_ylt=Aj7VekRgdDj.EvASPo0Thw_tiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
What else are they going to steal

From: RP on Sat Feb 25 9:45:31 2006.

Why do doctors so often get it wrong? Pl. check:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/22/business/22leonhardt.html?incamp=article_popular
It says that in USA
"With all the tools available to modern medicine — the blood tests and M.R.I.'s and endoscopes — you might think that misdiagnosis has become a rare thing. But you would be wrong. Studies of autopsies have shown that doctors seriously misdiagnose fatal illnesses about 20 percent of the time. So millions of patients are being treated for the wrong disease.

As shocking as that is, the more astonishing fact may be that the rate has not really changed since the 1930's. "No improvement!" was how an article in the normally exclamation-free Journal of the American Medical Association summarized the situation. "
I wonder about the situation in India.
Swarup

Well.....I feel the rate of medical errors has definitely come down and there is still scope for improvement.......but why should only mistakes made by doctors

(unintentionally.i.e,)become news.Mistakes are made by all professions be it a engineer,enterpreneur,politician,industrialist........

From: Sudhaama on Sun Feb 26 0:12:07 2006.

RP wrote:

Why do doctors so often get it wrong? Pl. check:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/22/business/22leonhardt.html?incamp=article_popular
It says that in USA
"With all the tools available to modern medicine � the blood tests and M.R.I.'s and endoscopes � you might think that misdiagnosis has become a rare thing. But you would be wrong. Studies of autopsies have shown that doctors seriously misdiagnose fatal illnesses about 20 percent of the time. So millions of patients are being treated for the wrong disease.

As shocking as that is, the more astonishing fact may be that the rate has not really changed since the 1930's. "No improvement!" was how an article in the normally exclamation-free Journal of the American Medical Association summarized the situation. "
I wonder about the situation in India.
Swarup

Well.....I feel the rate of medical errors has definitely come down and there is still scope for improvement.......but why should only mistakes made by doctors Sad

(unintentionally.i.e,)become news.Mistakes are made by all professions be it a engineer,enterpreneur,politician,industrialist........

Unlike other professionals quoted above only the Doctor is called a NOBLE-PROFESSION....

... The costliest and INVALUABLE in Life is Human-life.... on which THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE....

...NOR CONSOLATION.... NOR EVEN THE LEAST EXCUSE.... Such so called silly mistakes, are not Mistakes... but BLUNDERS Unpardonable

Doctors on whom the Patient entirely depends and trusts... must under all any circumstance be RADICALLY LOYAL ensuring NOBLETY unlike other professionals...

...Now-a-days medical failures are mostly due to the Individual's DOCTOR'S NEGLIGENCE coupled with LACK OF NOBLETY....

BUT COMMERCIAL-MINDEDNESS... in the present days.... far contrary to the previous decades

Medical-profession is NO MORE NOBLE .... BUT A MONETARY BUSINESS.

From: RP on Sun Feb 26 2:04:45 2006.

Unlike other professionals quoted above only the Doctor is called a NOBLE-PROFESSION....

... The costliest and INVALUABLE in Life is Human-life.... on which THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE....

...NOR CONSOLATION.... NOR EVEN THE LEAST EXCUSE.... Such so called silly mistakes, are not Mistakes... but BLUNDERS Unpardonable

Doctors on whom the Patient entirely depends and trusts... must under all any circumstance be RADICALLY LOYAL ensuring NOBLETY unlike other professionals...

...Now-a-days medical failures are mostly due to the Individual's DOCTOR'S NEGLIGENCE coupled with LACK OF NOBLETY....

BUT COMMERCIAL-MINDEDNESS... in the present days.... far contrary to the previous decades

Medical-profession is NO MORE NOBLE .... BUT A MONETARY BUSINESS.[/quote]

I agree that NEGLIGENCE Is not pardonable for a doctor..........but what about the negligence of an engineer when the bridge he makes of poor cement quality collapses killing people,......an politician who issues licences which results in death of people due to illegal arrack.......or of the army personal in whose shoot out innocent civilians can get killed.
these are few examples..........mistakes occur in all profession but the medical profession is only highlighted?????????
From: Lambretta on Sun Feb 26 2:33:51 2006.

RP,
I think wat Mr. Sudhaama meant was tat Medical Profession has (supposedly) the most 'noble' image comp'd w/ the others mentioned here as its closest to humanity, as a Doctor's 1st & foremost duty to save life, save ppl. from perishing (as long as ist in their hands, tat is!)......
Whereas the other professions don't really save lives:
Engineers- they jus provide u amenities for living in an environment....the bldg./bridge cud collapse & kill u even in other circumstances, not being his fault, so it wudn't be in his hands to save ur life.
Army- they do defend us but their responsibility is not limited to jus lives of the ppl. but aspects related to the entire nation, inc. the security, infrastructure, resources etc.....
Politician- Well, to be honest, I donno wat exactly to say in this regard! But again, directly saving lives in an emergency is not a top priority in this profession.
From: RP on Sun Feb 26 10:00:18 2006.

Medical Profession and saving lives are a duty and negligence cannot be pardoned ..........but as the medical field has grown and misdiagnosis(I STRESS UNINTENTIONALLY) does not amount to negligence.....be it by MRI or Endoscopy.....or blood tests.

It is easy to go back to autopsies and say XYZ was wrongly diagnosed..............

ANY MISTAKE DONE INTENTIONALLY with a COMMERCIAL VIEW POINT is Unpardonable..........
From: ssanjinika on Mon Feb 27 14:57:01 2006.

Intresting article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11571348/site/newsweek/
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Feb 27 17:16:36 2006.

Quote:

Intresting article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11571348/site/newsweek/

There is also an encouraging insider story in the occasional papers of CASI:

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/casi/publications/papers_chrono_1.htm

Sunil Bharti Mittal recounts his experiences and at the same time surveys Indian economic development from Nehru days. He seems feel that the development is sustainable.
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Mar 3 23:26:33 2006.

Mira Nair's new film 'The Namesake" will come out in May:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18303073%255E16947,00.html
From: Querida on Sun Mar 5 22:15:07 2006.

there's has to be something very wrong with you if you can do this to your children...or any child:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060303/apparent_murdersuicide_060303/20060303?hub=Canada
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Mar 7 1:22:17 2006.

From today�s �Times of India�:
Mom.kids have different DNA

London. Thousands of criminal conviiictions could be thrown into doubt after a mother was told her DNA does not match those of her kids.
Lydia Fairchild, 26, has two sons and a daughter- all through natural births. But when she had a DNA test to prove her entitlement to state benefits she was told she could not be their mother.

What makes her case extraordinary is that checks were carried out on her third child within minutes of his birth. Further tests on her wider family revealed that Fairchild had been carrying two separate strands of DNA. The first, dominant, strand showed up in her blood. The second, lesser, strand was found in her organs and was passed to her children.
Some 15% of the world�s population carry more than one set of genes, experts warned on Sunday night.

The Fairchild case was scheduled to be screened on Channel Five in the UK. It could be seized on by defence lawyers across the world as potential proof that the �unique� genetic fingerprint may not provide such clear-cut evidence as previously thought.

�.Experts now believe that Fairchild is what is known as a �human chimera�. Tests of her wider family showed her children were a match with their grandmother. Chimeras occur when two embryos in the womb fuse at the stage when they are just balls of cells. The cells continue to develop into a healthy baby, even though they are genetically mixed.
From: ssanjinika on Tue Mar 7 15:47:50 2006.

A step in the rite direction?

http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/03/stories/2006030315510300.htm
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Mar 11 23:46:35 2006.

Interesting aricle: "You are 35 and experienced. Let us face it, you are useless":
http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story/0,,1729173,00.html
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sun Mar 12 3:17:04 2006.

This aspect of today's capitalist economics engendering such a sense of uselessness is tragic. Then added are woes of old age because of increased longevity/life span. Some comforting news about it in today's Hindustan Times:

India's first reasearch paper on seniors

Tina Ambani's Harmony Initiative released the first reasearch paper on aging in the cuntry on Saturday.
The monograph, "Ageing in India in the 21st century:A research agenda", highlights programmes that will make families more elder-friendly.
Ambani said, "One in every 10 senior citizens in the world is in India. We have 80 million senior citizens and by 2020 this will grow to 137 million."
Inspired by Harmony's work, state minister ofsocial justice Chandrakant Handore said,"I will look into the creation of a law by which old parents' will be able to claim a share in the son's business like his widow."
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Mar 12 19:05:09 2006.

New science of history?
Pl. check:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/12/news/genes.php
Which seems to remind one of some of the ideas of Richard Putnam ('social capital') and Peter Turchin ('asabiya').
From: pooja.shankar on Mon Mar 13 1:46:47 2006.

FROM " KHALEEJ TIMES " , where i work
( jus a free lancer ..)

TOO MUCH OF MONEY ...DUNT KNOW WHAT TO DO

well this is what the people of the neighbouring arabian countries would say , coz .. the emirate of dubai is planning to give the city " an archeological touCH"
Dubai is know more for its fabulous MODERN ARCHITECTURE .... which has come about in less than 4 decades ... Most of the buildings are atleast 10 to 12 stories and there are many with 30 + ...
Each having its own unique shape and look from outside and amazing interiors too ........

Dubai ...is better known as "trade city" rather than for oil ..like the other middle east countries

But tourism in dubai boomed after the advent of the "DSF" dubai shopping festival. ...year by year the number of tourists to dubai ..come particularly for the DSF....so much so that the place where it is held is called as GLOBAL VILLAGE ...
but with the increasing number of visitors ... GLOBAL VILLAGE exists throughout the year now .... and DSF is just a special "bash" that comes once a year ........ Global village has many other "subsidairies " like the "knowledge village " , "ice village" , "hobbies village " , etc ..

Now DUBAI is ready for something more ...
they are planning to build the likes of "ancient cities" in the dubai ...for exanple ..the "pharoahs' palaces " and " mesopotamian " and "maya" cultures ...tradional architects from the respective countries will be asked to design and direct the multimillion projects ...

But what is even thrilling ..is the " ICE DOME "
giving the "switzerland" effect to an arabian desert ....HOWZDAT!!!!

the "ice dome" is a fully airconditioned building ...
packed with artificial ice ...where visitors can ski , and play other "ice -sports " like ice hockey ........
and play with snowballs

GUESS THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING ....
i don't have to tell ....jus imagine ....big enuf ..for people to ski !!!!
From: NOV on Mon Mar 13 23:20:42 2006.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/14/nation/13656217&sec=nation
Upset girl falls from building

KANGAR: Amid the excitement of getting the SPM results, teachers and students of the SMK Perlis here were stunned when they heard that an 18-year-old girl had fallen three floors from the
school building.

M. Valsala Menon suffered injuries to her arms and her tongue was severed.

The school authorities called an ambulance, which rushed her to the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital after the 10.30am incident yesterday.
Her condition was reported to be stable.

A close friend, S. Kalaiselvi, said she had gone to Valsala's home in Taman Kemajuan to give her a lift to school on her motorcycle about an hour earlier.

She said Valsala looked upset when she saw her results.

"I knew she did not do well in two or three subjects. I told her to stay awhile at the canteen while I went to collect my school-leaving certificate," Kalaiselvi said.

"When I returned, she was missing. I quickly called other friends to look for her and I went round to search on my motorcycle.

"When I was at the back gate, I saw Valsala at the edge of a corridor on the third floor. Moments later she fell."

Valsala's father Moorgan Menon, 45, a bus conductor, said that before the incident his daughter had been worried about how she would fare in the SPM.

"We had been telling her not to worry about the results," he said, adding that he has yet to see her results.

Contacted in Kuala Lumpur and told about the incident, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein appeared upset.
"Why? Why?" he asked.
"All parents, teachers and students must learn from this," he told The Star.
From: Lambretta on Mon Mar 13 23:24:26 2006.

NOV wrote:

"All parents, teachers and students must learn from this," he told The Star.

Um....learn wat? wen he doesnt know why it hap'd....
From: NOV on Mon Mar 13 23:51:11 2006.

learn not to pressure the children, I suppose...
From: Badri on Mon Mar 13 23:54:34 2006.

But that doesnt seem to make sense here, NOV! The father says

Quote:

"We had been telling her not to worry about the results," he said, adding that he has yet to see her results.

Clearly, they haven't been pressurizing the child! What if the child itself set high expectations for herself, and having failed, resorted to such a step? After all, if she is old enough to take such a decision, we can't apportion all blame to teachers and parents!
From: Querida on Tue Mar 14 0:07:42 2006.

True Badri, but who is going to admit pressuring their child...maybe they did and didn't notice the impact it had on her...but it's not their whole responsibility either...she IS mature enough to decide...what a tragedy..
From: NOV on Tue Mar 14 0:12:28 2006.

actually our education system is screwed up....
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Mar 14 0:22:40 2006.

Cowardice, escapism! Result already expected as revealed in the confession to the friend. Too many distractions during academic career. Not bold enough to face the consequences. A syndrome of the century. No use blaming parents & teachers for the foolishness of self-willed, immature teens of our times!
From: dev on Tue Mar 14 0:38:38 2006.

Not everyone are same/equally talented... It's natural that the less talented pressurises oneself and/or pressurized by parents/teacher/society by comparing them to the better ones... Some are born with lots of confidence & some are less confident than the others... so they might need special attention/support even from early years... when they don't get the required support, they grow up to be less confident, with low self-esteem etc...It's a combination of many factors & noone can be blamed in isolation...

PP mam, it's disheartening to see such harsh words aimed towards the youngsters... Distractions needn't be the only reason for not preforming well... She might have been a dull student right from start... We don't really know what her situation was... so, better not to spell out such comments...
From: Badri on Tue Mar 14 0:44:00 2006.

I am afraid PP's strictures go too far!

The girl in question cannot be expected to take all blame either!!!!

All I have reasonably said is that parents and teachers may not have to bear all the blame, but that doesn't fully exonerate them.

I must also say that they do have a share.

They are to be blamed inasmuch as they have failed to impart to this child is a sense of proportion and self-confidence.

They are to be blamed inasmuch as they have failed to teach her that who she is is more important than what circumstances find her in.
From: goodsense on Tue Mar 14 0:56:20 2006.

"They are to be blamed inasmuch as they have failed to teach her that who she is is more important than what circumstances find her in."

Well said Badri
From: dev on Tue Mar 14 1:02:15 2006.

sbadri99 wrote:

They are to be blamed inasmuch as they have failed to teach her that who she is is more important than what circumstances find her in.

yeah...this is exactly what I had to say...
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Mar 14 3:38:21 2006.

Even after seeing blatant lack of respect for parental care & guidance, seeing nonchalance right under your nose, chances of excluding carelessness, spirit of rebellion, failure to perform seem high! BUT, I am willing to give the benefit of doubt. Somehow chicken-hearted people never attract me. Sorry for SOUNDING rude. INTENTIONS are always GOOD. Nowadays parents are becoming a wronged tribe than a wronging one! Easy to speak about parents responsibilities, hard to expect the same from the wards? Who wants to see all efforts of raising a kid go waste?
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Mar 14 4:09:50 2006.

We cant come to a conclusion or we cant discuss just by reading the news.Actual scenario might be different.Her father that Conductor might be a rude person(Who knows??) She might got scared to tell her results to her parents.

PP Mam,Sorry to say put yourself in her age and experience.Maturity differs from age to age!! What kind of maturity you expect from that little girl.Her brought up may be very worst.

So to find a solution..
Parents are the biggest strength of a kid.They should encourage their kids properly.Noway they should beat or scold rudely if he/she is not a bright one.Rather they should smartly handle their small buds ..by encouraging,creating interest on their subjects and not forcing anything on them.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Mar 14 9:12:26 2006.

How many conjectures, criticisms, conclusions, condemnations consequent of a freak incident!!!
From: Shakthiprabha. on Tue Mar 14 9:28:20 2006.

I saw a flash news in some tamizh news channel,

that due to the fear of HUMAN BOMB, kerala temples are guarded with care. (its the hot news of evening dinathanthi.)

anyone to share more? How true is this news?

whats the basis?
From: dev on Tue Mar 14 9:44:08 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Maturity differs from age to age!! What kind of maturity you expect from that little girl.Her brought up may be very worst.

True... Childhood is all abt innocence...teenage is all abt immaturity...Only then do humans mature... This is the rule of nature... though the innocence & maturity is appreciated & admired, the immaturity that comes in the middle is seldom understood/handled in the right sense...
From: RP on Tue Mar 14 13:07:26 2006.

BIRD FLU STRIKES BACK..............................Does that mean death to more birds again???
Are not humans selfish?
From: rocketboy on Tue Mar 14 22:37:42 2006.

very interesting article:

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/14msg1.htm
From: NOV on Tue Mar 14 23:04:54 2006.

There is a nice end to the story of the girl who jumped off the school when she failed to get good grades....

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20060315074019/Article/index_html

Severely hurt, but alive
By Lee Keng Fatt

KANGAR, Tues.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She had wanted to be a nurse, but her dreams crumbled when she received her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results. She had failed.

Embarrassed as well as disheartened, she had hurried up to the third floor of her school and leapt off to end her life.

However, the 18-year-old daughter of a bus conductor here remains in the intensive care unit at Tuanku Fauziah hospital with multiple fractures. Doctors who operated on her are optimistic that she will recover.

The State Government has also offered to help her pursue nursing as a career. "I am happy that she has a burning desire to be a nurse. I will help her realise it," said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, after meeting the girl�s father at the hospital.

The father said she had been talking about a career in nursing "even before she sat for her SPM examinations last year".

He regretted not going with his youngest daughter to collect her results yesterday morning.

"I wanted to take her to school but I could not get leave," he said. "Such misfortune would not have happened had I been with my daughter at the school."
From: RP on Wed Mar 15 5:32:57 2006.

rocketboy wrote:

very interesting article:

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/14msg1.htm

I'm for Vegetarianism.......but I guess its a personal choice!!
From: Lambretta on Wed Mar 15 11:48:01 2006.

RP wrote:

rocketboy wrote:

very interesting article:

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/14msg1.htm

I'm for Vegetarianism.......but I guess its a personal choice!!

But going by wher the study has been conducted as ment'd in the article, how wud this be considered practical for ppl. in coutnries wher veg'nism has practically been unknown, except for salads/boiled vegetables.... (Indian food hasnt become so 'common' over ther as yet, still perceived as just curry & tat too the 'commercial' overspiced fare they normally serve in restaurants! )
From: rajraj on Thu Mar 16 22:15:53 2006.

Microsoft in Madras:

http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/17/stories/2006031709680100.htm
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Mar 17 0:35:59 2006.

From:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,1732926,00.html
"Tamil Nadu, which I visited last month, is the first Indian state where more people live in towns than in the countryside."
Is this true?
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Mar 19 17:33:08 2006.

Business opportunity: "Offshore maths tutoring":
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/indian-call-centres--american-students--offshore-maths-tutoring/2006/03/19/1142703218230.html

From: Lambretta on Sun Mar 19 23:32:05 2006.

Business opportunity: "Offshore maths tutoring":
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/indian-call-centres--american-students--offshore-maths-tutoring/2006/03/19/1142703218230.html

I've read this b4 in our local paper last year......

It may sound like a possible oppurtunity for Maths graduates in India but on the downside it cud also eventually set a drawback for schools/colleges in India tat may hardly hav ne proper Maths teachers to teach for them in future.....? This is one thing tat the ppl./govt. shud be conscious of......
'cudnt help having this concern even tho Maths/most Maths teachers wer almost always my nemesis at school!

From: gaddeswarup on Mon Mar 20 5:05:57 2006.

Quote:

It may sound like a possible oppurtunity for Maths graduates in India but on the downside it cud also eventually set a drawback for schools/colleges in India tat may hardly hav ne proper Maths teachers to teach for them in future.....? This is one thing tat the ppl./govt. shud be conscious of...

May be it could bring some new inputs and professionalism to tutoring. what do you think?
Swarup

From: Lambretta on Mon Mar 20 11:58:22 2006.

gaddeswarup wrote:

May be it could bring some new inputs and professionalism to tutoring. what do you think?
Swarup

Swarup garu, I for one dont really know wat to think.....!
I m practically hopeless as far as professionalism in teaching in our country is concerned! Gone r the days wen teachers of ne level wer considered epitomes of values & for moulding the younger gens.!
Tat this essence of teaching has been lost in present day teaching/edu. system is evident in the way today's gen. r turning out.......churning out more intellectually & professionally competent individuals who r otoh more or less living robots, hollow in morality/character & outwardly materialistic in ther outlook is nothing to beam w/ pride abt!
As for "new inputs", I can imagine tat w/ the real essence of education nearly dead, it wud hardly make ne signif. difference just if our ppl. know how to teach a student over a computer, except maybe tat individuals who gain this exposure cud eventually boast of having "international level teaching abilities/skills" & thus even make oppurtunities for themselves in "advanced" commercial edu. institutions tat r looking for similar qualities!
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Mar 20 16:00:42 2006.

Lamretta,
This seems to be a problem in several countries. A few weeks ago, I came across the name of Robert Putnam, who studied these problems in Italy and USA. Apparently, there is famous article and later book by him "Bowling alone' about the decrease of 'social capital'. I have not read these books yet. Can somebody comment on these?
Swarup
From: Thiru on Mon Mar 20 19:18:25 2006.

1,500 Venezuelans pose nude in public

Associated Press | Monday, 20 March , 2006, 18:50
More than 1,500 Venezuelans shed their clothes on a main city avenue Sunday to pose for American photographer Spencer Tunick, forming a human mosaic in front of a national symbol: a statue of independence hero Simon Bolivar.

As Tunick shouted commands through a megaphone, nude people of every shape, size and skin tone gathered on the avenue and stairs in front of the statue just before dawn. "There are some people over there with clothes, get them out of there!" said Tunick, an artist from Brooklyn, N.Y., who has been documenting groups of nude people in public places around the world since 1992.

For the volunteers, being part of Tunick's art meant letting go of inhibitions and enduring a two-hour series of sometimes uncomfortable positions on the pavement. Harold Velasquez, a thin 23-year-old university student, said he was nervous before the 4:30 a.m. event but felt free while posing. "I put the lightest clothes I had on this morning because I knew I wouldn't have them on for long," a smiling Velasquez said. "There were good vibrations, a good positive energy among all the people involved. I felt liberated." The nude subjects posed standing, lying down and on their knees as the warm Caribbean sun emerged on the eastern horizon.

Occasional cheers and movements in the enthusiastic crowd made shooting tough at times, Tunick said. "It was difficult to work because the people were so exuberant, so it took a little bit longer, but I got what I wanted," he said after the session.

"The body represents beauty, love and peace. There was a lot of beauty and energy in the people today." Tunick took photographs from opposing angles, using buildings with large outside columns as a backdrop on one side and a fork in the wide, palm tree-lined avenue on the other.

The artist, who has been arrested multiple times while shooting in the United States, said he was happy to have darker-skinned subjects. Most Venezuelans are considered mestizo, a mix of Spanish, African and indigenous bloodlines that gives many a brown skin tone. "I want people of color to pose and come out and participate in my work, so I was very lucky," the artist said.

Tunick said each volunteer will receive a print of the installation. "I'm not going to tell my mother about this until I receive the print," said Josefa Maria Briceno, a 35-year-old surgeon who posed despite having second thoughts. "She's going to think I'm crazy."
From: NOV on Tue Mar 21 2:38:11 2006.

old story, but shocking nonetheless

http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13697450
From: dev on Tue Mar 21 3:03:34 2006.

but where will the kids find their motherly care & support now???!!!... A blind descision, I would say...
From: rocketboy on Tue Mar 21 4:27:59 2006.

NOV wrote:

old story, but shocking nonetheless

http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13697450

so sad

A MOTHER'S LOVE

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~
From: Thiru on Tue Mar 21 7:50:11 2006.

MIG crashes, killing pilot, in Rajasthan

March 21, 2006 17:32 IST

An Indian Air Force aircraft of the MIG series crashed in the district on Tuesday evening, killing its pilot, police said.

The aircraft, which took off from Uttarlai airbase on a regular sortie, crashed at Kanod village, about 40 kms from the town, Superintendent of Police Umesh Chand Dutta told PTI over phone.

"The crash occured at around 4 p.m. The details are yet to be received," Dutta said.
From: dev on Tue Mar 21 22:30:20 2006.

From an article in cricinfo.com...

Expectation, expectation, expectation

Tim de Lisle

March 21, 2006

There's a new book making a splash in which a Los Angeles columnist, Norah Vincent, disguises herself as a man, goes on dates with women, and writes about her experiences. She ends up surprising herself by feeling sympathy for poor old modern man. "The pressure to be a world-bestriding colossus is an immensely heavy burden to bear," she decides, before summing up her life as a man in three words, or rather one: "Expectation, expectation, expectation."

And the writer continues his views abt cricket...
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/241484.html
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Mar 27 17:46:57 2006.

From http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/27/opinion/edmartin.php

Asked how he intends to spend his remaining political capital, the president said that he would not be undertaking any major new initiatives in the next two years. "Let's face it," said Bush. "Anything I tried to do now would just need to be fixed up by some future president anyway. I think it's best for the nation if I just do nothing."
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Mar 27 18:26:01 2006.

n case people take the above statement too seriously, I think that it is a satirical take off on another statement of Bush that it is up to future presidents to end the US military presence in Iraq.
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Mar 27 18:54:47 2006.

Sorry; too many posts today. I admired Sunita Narain's work on water management See (http://www.cseindia.org/) and am pleased to see that her work in cleaning up Delhi is also noticed:
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14170616&headline='Time'~commends~Sunita~Narain,~Bhure~Lal
From: rocketboy on Thu Mar 30 16:27:15 2006.

http://notanobserver.rediffiland.com//scripts/xanadu_diary_view.php?postId=1143394268
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Mar 30 22:43:25 2006.

Very old news! What the woman needed in the first place was counselling & not a child. Nothing to appreciate in such a slightly mentally unstable person! A freak!
From: rajraj on Fri Mar 31 11:23:11 2006.

Harvard welcomes the 'less privileged' :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1472043.cms

How many of the colleges in India follow Harvard or any other university in the US?

From: rocketboy on Sat Apr 1 12:26:30 2006.

Harvard welcomes the 'less privileged' :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1472043.cms

How many of the colleges in India follow Harvard or any other university in the US?

but look at what the iims are doing .

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/01iim3.htm

their intention is very clear. they don't want students from modest background to join these premier institutions. Twisted Evil

From: goodsense on Sat Apr 1 13:34:53 2006.

This is a special scholarship programme of the Indian Government for children of the Diaspora
Saturday, April 1st 2006

Dear Editor,

I refer to the 'letters to the editor' from Mr Vidyaratha Kissoon and Mr Roger Moore which appeared in the Stabroek News of 28th and 30th March 2006 respectively.

The Government of India attaches great significance to its relations with the Indian Diaspora numbering approximately 25 million persons in 110 different countries. A high level committee on the Indian Diaspora was set up in August 2000 with the objective of making an in depth study of the problems and difficulties, the hopes and expectations of the overseas Indian communities. The committee, in its report, noted that the single refrain of a cross-section of overseas Indians was for a mechanism that obviates the need for them to deal with a multiplicity of organisations and departments in their interaction with India.

The Committee also recommended the development of special programmes, both at school and at university levels, to cater to the needs of various age groups in all segments of the Diaspora. Against this background, the Government of India decided to set up an independent ministry to address the concerns of the Indian Diaspora. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) was thus created in September 2004.

Acting on the recommendations of the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, the Government of India also decided to celebrate Indian Diaspora Day (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas) on the 9th January every year, in recognition and appreciation of the constructive, economic and philanthropic role played by the Indian Diaspora. January 9 has been chosen because it was on this day Mahatma Gandhi, an Overseas Indian in South Africa for almost 2 decades, returned to India in 1915. The celebration of Indian Diaspora Day (IDD) provides an opportunity for the Indian Diaspora to interact with the senior political leadership of India including the Prime Minister and other senior bureaucrats dealing with the Diaspora. The First IDD was celebrated in January 2003 and the latest in January 2006.
During the celebration of one of the previous IDDs, members of the Indian Diaspora proposed a scholarship programme for children of the Diaspora to study in the higher and technical institutions in India. The Government of India, in response to a long standing demand of the Indian Diaspora, decided to introduce a scholarship programme for children of the Diaspora with effect from this year, with the objective of making available India's highly developed educational system to children of the Indian Diaspora (Persons of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indians) living in major diasporic countries worldwide including Guyana. Under this scheme, international air travel, part of the tuition fees and other expenses in India are required to be borne by the candidates.

Apart from this scheme, a friendly country like Guyana is also covered by other scholarship schemes (like the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC), the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme (CSS), the General Cultural Scholarship School (GCSS), etc. of the Government of India under which this Mission normally sends more than 50 scholars a year from Guyana to study in various civil and technical establishments in India. I wish to strongly emphasise, that these scholarships are open to all Guyanese irrespective of their ethnicity. One of the unique features of these schemes is that all expenditure including the cost of international air travel is provided by the Government of India. The arrangements of selecting candidates under these schemes are co-ordinated by the Ministry of Public Service of the Government of Guyana. It has been the endeavour of this Mission to help Guyanese irrespective of their ethnic background to study/undergo training in the higher technical institutions in India in the true spirit of South-South co-operation and our endeavour will continue in the future as well.

I have intentionally deliberated upon the policy of the Government of India towards the Indian Diaspora in this letter, so that this matter is clarified once and for all and this Mission's efforts in promoting its relations with the Indian Diaspora in Guyana may not be seen in isolation, but as a part of the Government of India's overall policy to promote the welfare and address the concerns of the Indian Diaspora.

Yours faithfully,
M.C. Singhania,
First Secretary (Information)
High Commission of India
Georgetown, Guyana

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_letters?id=50034975
From: rocketboy on Mon Apr 3 9:45:16 2006.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/03/stories/2006040303411300.htm
From: rocketboy on Mon Apr 3 15:33:28 2006.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/03/stories/2006040309320500.htm

all this talk of indian economy booming is a farce. what an irony ? people who toil very hard to raise crops and harvest it earn very less when compared to guys who sit idly in air conditioned rooms doing nothing but simply staring at junks of code. People living in the cities get richer and richer while the actual benefits of technological development hardly reaches the country side . The rift between the rich and poor is becoming wider and wider. The poor farmers are always at the mercy of the money lenders. .Something need to be done. maybe adoption of a socialist regime like the erstwhile ussr. That would only spell doom.

"India lives in its villages" - Mahatma Gandhi

From: gaddeswarup on Mon Apr 3 17:33:40 2006.

rocketboy wrote:

Quote:

all this talk of indian economy booming is a farce. what an irony ? people who toil very hard to raise crops and harvest it earn very less when compared to guys who sit idly in air conditioned rooms doing nothing but simply staring at junks of code. People living in the cities get richer and richer while the actual benefits of technological development hardly reaches the country side . The rift between the rich and poor is becoming wider and wider. The poor farmers are always at the mercy of the money lenders. .Something need to be done. maybe adoption of a socialist regime like the erstwhile ussr. That would only spell doom.

I have been trying to understand these problems; cannot say that I understand them. Here is some information that I collected. The first is an article by Mishra at the end of last year. One of the points is that the agricultural economy contributes only 25 percent of the GDP eventhough 75 percent depend on it for livelihood;
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=9368
Sainath, a reporter for Hindu has been writing for a few years on farmers' suicides and water problems. The following article has links to his earlier articles:
http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/mar/agr-smrrises.htm
An address by Dr.Syed S. Hamid, a member of the Indian Planning Commission:
http://www.irma.ac.in/convocation/guest.html
The following is a report by a committee authorized by the state govt. of A.P.
http://www.macroscan.com/pol/apr05/pol070405Andhra_Pradesh.htm
Many of these indicate part of the problems stem from globalization and the governments are not moving fast enough to help the underrepresented in the power structures. These problems seem to be present in other countries too, for example Australia:
http://www.rense.com/general66/dro.htm
There may not be simple solutions but many local solutions and a gradual adjustments to new economic realities with the government taking more sympathetic stand. I recently read a book "The Company of Strangers: a natural history of economic life" by Paul Seabright. He worked in Tamilnadu for an year and visited again and talks about two small places about 12 kilometers from each other, Kovilur and Manipuram (imaginary names). Manipuram is bustling place in the Cauvery delta and cannot get enough workers during some seasons. kovilur is a small hamlet of undernourished people with arid ;and and little work. Only a few who can afford a bicycle can go to Manipuram and can make enough money to get buy. I do not understand why somebody cannot organize a truck to move people from similar hamlets during the seasons when there is work. Some of these problems may be solvable with minor investments and initiative. but in the long run, perhaps lot of the people may have to shift to different professions and local industies and these have to be studied carefully by people familiar with the local situations as well as global economy. There seem to be some suggestions from world bank (despite some disasters in the past) and some suggestions from Jeffrey Sachs in "The end of Poverty".
Swarup

From: gaddeswarup on Tue Apr 4 18:20:17 2006.

Interesting article:
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/04/04/indian_islamic_schools_offer_lesson_in_harmony/
From: rajraj on Tue Apr 4 19:10:39 2006.

Here is an article about the current generation:

http://www.hindu.com/op/2006/03/26/stories/2006032600441800.htm
From: dev on Tue Apr 4 22:26:43 2006.

rajraj wrote:

Here is an article about the current generation:

http://www.hindu.com/op/2006/03/26/stories/2006032600441800.htm
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Apr 4 23:10:25 2006.
From: bingleguy on Tue Apr 4 23:43:50 2006.

wat to say abt this ?
From: pavalamani pragasam on Tue Apr 4 23:46:54 2006.

onnum solla mudiyaamalthaan azuthirukkiROm!
From: bingleguy on Tue Apr 4 23:54:40 2006.

I still have a small que on this

" Somewhere along the line, young people have started to mistake bad manners for confidence"

Today technology is improving n things change quite fast ... n the same ppl who are sitting across n taking the interview, do they really switch off their mobile phones !?
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Apr 5 0:22:10 2006.

Reminded of a quotation of Plato (Socrates?):
"To these, said I, such trifles do add up: the teacher, in such a case, fears his pupils and fawns upon them, while pupils have in low esteem their teachers as well as their overseers; and, overall, the young copy the elders and contend hotly with them in words and in deeds, while the elders, lowering themselves to the level of the young, sate themselves with pleasantries [563b] and wit, mimicking the young in order not to look unpleasant and despotic.'
From http://plato-dialogues.org/faq/faq003.htm
From: a.ratchasi on Wed Apr 5 1:35:12 2006.

Swarup, how true!!
From: bingleguy on Wed Apr 5 1:41:31 2006.

As can be seen from the context, the criticism of Plato doesn't target youth alone, but the whole society, young and old, men and women, citizens and foreigners, masters and slaves, all the way down to animals, when too much freedom is left to all.

A point to be well noted from Plato FAQ

From: Sudhaama on Wed Apr 5 10:55:17 2006.

Reminded of a quotation of Plato (Socrates?):
"To these, said I, such trifles do add up: the teacher, in such a case, fears his pupils and fawns upon them, while pupils have in low esteem their teachers as well as their overseers; and, overall, the young copy the elders and contend hotly with them in words and in deeds, while the elders, lowering themselves to the level of the young, sate themselves with pleasantries [563b] and wit, mimicking the young in order not to look unpleasant and despotic.'
From http://plato-dialogues.org/faq/faq003.htm

Well-said Mr gaddeswarup... by APT-QUOTATION of Plato's unparallel Human-Counsel of Universal concern ever-applicable.

We don't know what is good for our health... so we consult a Medical-Consultant about OUR OWN PHYSIQUE... Not only for Remedy, but also for Preventive-treatments.

Similarly we consult a Lawyer... on OUR OWN PROPERTY-AFFAIRS... as well as on PERSONAL-AFFAIRS TOO... in case of disputes...What for?.

... If we TAKE FREEDOM AT OUR OWN WILL... without consulting or honouring the relevant Expert-Counsellors intended for our own Life-interests.... What will happen?

Same Negative approach of Over-freedom is carried-over...since the Sense and Spirit of Freedom is WRONGLY UNDERSTOOD AND EXPLOITED.... by some of the contemporary Society...

...taking to an extreme step to make such SELF-DEGRADATION as Lawful which pursuit is GRAVE SUICIDAL ...

... NOT ONLY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CONCERNED but also for the present and the posterity of Mankind

At least let the Individuals REALISE DULY WELL IN ADVANCE...

Stitch in Time saves Nine in future..

From: rajraj on Sat Apr 8 0:37:34 2006.

About H1-B visa:

http://boldfish.ieee.org:80/u/2539/124445
From: swathy on Wed Apr 12 5:32:17 2006.

Kannada film actor Raj Kumar passes away

Kannada film actor Raj Kumar passes away
Kannada film star and Dada Saheb Phalke award winner Dr Raj Kumar, 77, passed away at the M S Ramaiah Hospital in Bangalore at 2 pm this afternoon due to cardiac arrest.

http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr122006/update.asp
From: Sudhaama on Wed Apr 19 7:08:32 2006.

Let the ...NEPAL King and the People... learn Lessons..

.. from the past History of Tibet and China.

People want Liberty from Monarchy... for the sake of their Advancement.

King is adamant on his Sovereign Rights......by Dynastic-Ownership of his Kingdom

.Solution.... REVOLUTION?....or.....EVOLUTION?

http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/19/stories/2006041917400100.htm
From: rocketboy on Fri Apr 21 8:01:41 2006.

there is more to it than what meets the eyes. Its not the politicians who are going to win in the ensuing revolution. Their names are already tainted . Its the maoists guerillas who'll seize the power. That will lead to instability in the region. It'll be a shot in the arm for other guerillas waging wars in different parts of inida like the ULFA. quite a complicated situation.
From: rocketboy on Fri Apr 21 8:24:42 2006.

actually there is a reason why these terrorist organisations like ulfa bodo have cropped up. the north east indians are not treated on par with the rest of the indians. In delhi north east students (especially girls ) are mocked at and there have been some stray cases of them getting raped. I did the grave mistake of walking up to two mizoram students and asking if they are from korea. . The indian govt doesn't do much to develop these states. can't balme the govt. the topography is such that you can't set up huge industries over there. Also population is less , so less contribution to the vote bank. I sympathize with them.
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Apr 22 1:41:12 2006.

Ratan Tata on business responsibilities;
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=124500&headline=Ratan~Tata~predicts~a~revolution~in~India?
From: rocketboy on Sat Apr 22 8:38:58 2006.

the tatas spend a lot of money on social upliftment programmes -infact more than any other business groups.

some of their social ventures aimed at helping the needy:

1. Sathi( society for assisting children in difficult situations) which helps get lost and runaway children safely back to their homes.

2.JSS ( Jan swasthya sahyog) an organisation of healthcare professionals which focusses on malaria, tuberculosis control in rural areas.

3.Tata Bp Solar which has provided lighting systems to many villages without electricity especially in ladakh and leh .

4.NJMS ( NAV Jagrat Manav Sangh ) an organisation which identifies and treats leprosy patients.

5.TSRDS ( Tata Steel rural development society ) which aims at helping rural communities.

6. principal contributor to banyan , an organisation based in chennai and works for the welfare of mentally destitute women.

and many many more.
From: rajraj on Fri Apr 28 11:37:48 2006.

kaavya viswanathan, a Harvard student , admits to copying:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512948

Harvard student plagiarizing? Must be the effect of grade inflation!

Her book is being withdrawn from stores!
From: Lambretta on Sun Apr 30 6:14:57 2006.

Talibans murder engineer from Hyd.

Not exactly picked from the papers but happened to see the news today abt an engineer from Hyderabad who was working in Afghanistan, Kasula Suryanarayana; he was initially abducted by Taliban on Friday & was then killed by them today while he reportedly tried to flee from their captivity!
News of his initial abduction by Taliban on Friday, 29th April:
http://www.andhranews.net/state/2006/April/29-Suryanarayana-Tabliban-Abduction.asp

Suryanarayana, 40, was working in Zabul province in Afghanistan. He was kidnapped by the Taliban as their plan to force all Indians to leave Afghanistan within 24 hrs....turns out tat the Indian embassy had provided security to all Indian personnel working in Afghanistan, but he happened to be on duty without security that day.
The Indian embassy in Afghanistan hav claimed to hav got a headless body, confirmed to be his!
Suryanarayana is survived by his parents, wife & 3 children....they were reported to hav gone to seek help from the CM on the day they got the news of his abduction, but wer turned away by the security at the CM's residence, being told to hav an appointment on Sunday.
Following his death today, the PM & CM hav announced "financial support" for said deceased's family.
This is the 2nd known murder of an Indian employee in Afghanistan by the Taliban after the murder of an employee from Kerala last year based on a similar motive of theirs!
From: Hulkster on Sun Apr 30 6:31:34 2006.

This just shows how fundamentalists can do such things...when hindus destroyed anybody except hindus in gujarat in the name of hindtuva...this taliban people are killing anybody except muslims in the name of fundamental islam....even if you kill them all....the destruction they have left is something that cannot be etched away from memory...everyone in the world should stand up against such fundamentalism...sigh i just do not know what else is going to happen if authorities keep on being quiet.
From: rajraj on Sun Apr 30 12:48:13 2006.

J.K.Galbraith, US ambassador to India under J.F.Kennedy, is dead.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5372103
From: goodsense on Sun Apr 30 15:04:53 2006.

Lamby,

I think here is the same story, only that it's more detailed.

http://www.jahajeedesi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2039
From: goodsense on Sun Apr 30 21:38:30 2006.

Sorry, didn't see your link when I said, "more detailed".

My link is a bit slow.
From: S.Balaji on Wed May 3 8:51:57 2006.

BJP's top ranked leader Pramod Mahajan passed away today .....
He was shot at by his own brother......
the reasons are being probed .........

One of the second generation leaders....

was emerging very strongly .......

was Communications minister during the previous BJP regime....

A capable man....

sad .... we have lost one more decent politicians
From: narayanan on Wed May 3 9:20:11 2006.

4 year old runs 65 Kms
From: Lambretta on Wed May 3 15:16:10 2006.

goodsense wrote:

Sorry, didn't see your link when I said, "more detailed".

My link is a bit slow.

Its ok...nvr mind!
But neways, herez a rather unpleasant twist to the story of this man!
turns out tat the slain engineer happens to hav a 2nd wife, whom he'd married secretly against the wishes of her family.....she came forward w/ her "daughter" & stated her "identity" jus b4 his funeral, claiming rights to the compensation tat the Co. he'd worked for, declared for him.
Sadly, Suryanarayana's "1st" wife cudnt bear the news & consumed a container of "harpic" toilet cleaning liquid in a bid to commit suicide & was thereafter admitted to hospital.....still said to be serious!

http://www.andhranews.net/state/2006/May/2-Slain-Engineer-Suryanarayana-cremated.asp

I however, hav doubts abt the truth in the statements of the "2nd wife", ie. whether she was really married to him or even knew him at all........cudnt it be a ploy on her part to get a part of the compensation from the Co.?

From: ssanjinika on Wed May 3 15:25:22 2006.

kaavya viswanathan, a Harvard student , admits to copying:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512948

Harvard student plagiarizing? Must be the effect of grade inflation! Sad

Her book is being withdrawn from stores!

I so hoped it was just coincidence!

From: dsath on Wed May 3 15:57:04 2006.

Me too.
From: gaddeswarup on Wed May 3 17:57:43 2006.

Americans continue to surprise me. In the early 80s, I was teaching in Texas and according to a poll, 25 perecent of the high school students did noy know where Mexico was. Now this:
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/ap_060502_geography.html
From: narayanan on Wed May 3 20:50:47 2006.

SS,
I think there were too many paragraphs to just call it a coincidence. Thats why there's so much controversy surrounding it. Intentional or not, her career as a writer is screwed
~~~~
swarup,
Thats the way it is in US, one section knows too much(to the extent of knowing the eatouts in CHennai), the other section knows too less (not even the biggest town in their state)
From: narayanan on Thu May 4 23:20:51 2006.

Super paati
From: narayanan on Fri May 5 8:32:48 2006.

Legendary composer Naushad passed away
From: Hulkster on Fri May 5 8:42:15 2006.

Naushad Ali...i do not know much about him but i believe he was one of the composer who was original and had a knack of producing brilliant tunes for his songs...he along with SD burman rocked hindi film music at one time...my deepest condolences to this great musician.

From: kannannn on Fri May 5 9:27:56 2006.

Americans continue to surprise me. In the early 80s, I was teaching in Texas and according to a poll, 25 perecent of the high school students did noy know where Mexico was. Now this:
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/ap_060502_geography.html

I remember an episode of 'Friends', where the challenge is to name all 50 states of the union. When Ross names Utah as one of the states, Joey says: "Man, you cannot just come up with names like that!". Though that was meant to be funny, it pretty much reflected the GK of the lay man.

From: ssanjinika on Fri May 5 9:35:21 2006.

Kannann its not true just for Americans.I met this Indian girl who was studying in an university here(and NO she did not grow up here).She was born and brought up in India and somehow got into an university here.This chick thought the entire south India was just one state Madras The northies refer to the southies commonly as Madrasis and hence the entire south India should just be one state called Madras was her thought.We after all have only 29(hope the no is rite..didnt they add 3 more states recently?)states.
From: kannannn on Fri May 5 9:43:02 2006.

sanjinika, yes, i can understand that. Most North Indians are blissfully ignorant of the south. In fact, for them the southern language means only tamil. But can't blame them, can we? My fiance, who is a Marati, gets upset when South Indians add Maharasthra to North India and say that Marati is similar to Hindi. One interesting challenge we had in school was to name all the north-eastern states with their capitals from memory. Not to mention, most of us fared badly.
PS: the no. of states is 28.
From: ssanjinika on Fri May 5 9:55:23 2006.

Exactly Kannann.
My point was that geographical knowledge or the lack of ,is not unqiue to the US alone.
From: Shakthiprabha. on Fri May 5 10:07:01 2006.

Naushad was an excellent composer. I am fond of too many of his compositions.
yet another great soul to pass away.
My prayers for his soul.

From: rocketboy on Fri May 5 10:47:31 2006.

sanjinika, yes, i can understand that. Most North Indians are blissfully ignorant of the south. In fact, for them the southern language means only tamil. But can't blame them, can we? My fiance, who is a Marati, gets upset when South Indians add Maharasthra to North India and say that Marati is similar to Hindi. One interesting challenge we had in school was to name all the north-eastern states with their capitals from memory. Not to mention, most of us fared badly.
PS: the no. of states is 28.

Not only that they can't differentiate between between different south indian languages. tamil,telugu , malayalam, kannadam make no difference to them. Sometimes I tease my north Indian hindi speaking friends by intentionally making some weird sound combinations of some of the words they use in day to day life. ( for example "are yaar" ) Thinking that they are making fun of tamil most of the time they end up distorting telugu words.

From: kannannn on Fri May 5 10:55:57 2006.

ssanjinika wrote:

Exactly Kannann.
My point was that geographical knowledge or the lack of ,is not unqiue to the US alone.

Agreed. On a more general note, it is not only local geography, but world knowledge too. Compared to their European counterparts they are more insulated from world affairs and have this attitude of 'who cares what happens elsewhere?!'. In fact, I think they are happy to live in their cocoon of imagined self-sufficient world that is USA. I have often wondered: why do call their championship series in baseball 'World Series'?!
From: narayanan on Fri May 5 10:57:43 2006.

rocket,
actually languages is something really difficult to find out. I would identify Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada (by visiting BLR freq), Hindi or Gujrathi (atleast by Kemcho )

How would I be able to differentiate between Assamese or Oriya which I dont know anything about ?

Geographically even I dont know much about the which is where of North East Indian states

From: rajraj on Fri May 5 11:08:08 2006.

Kannann its not true just for Americans.I met this Indian girl who was studying in an university here(and NO she did not grow up here).She was born and brought up in India and somehow got into an university here.This chick thought the entire south India was just one state Madras Rolling Eyes

The northies refer to the southies commonly as Madrasis and hence the entire south India should just be one state called Madras was her thought.We after all have only 29(hope the no is rite..didnt they add 3 more states recently?)states.

sanjinika: The old Madras province comprised most of the south except for the princely states like Mysore,Travancore,Hyderabad etc. That was why people from the south were called 'Madrasis'. That still continues!

These days you will find a lot of Indian students in US universities after their high school in India.

From: rocketboy on Fri May 5 11:20:31 2006.

narayanan wrote:

rocket,
actually languages is something really difficult to find out. I would identify Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada (by visiting BLR freq), Hindi or Gujrathi (atleast by Kemcho Wink

)

How would I be able to differentiate between Assamese or Oriya which I dont know anything about ?

Geographically even I dont know much about the which is where of North East Indian states Rolling Eyes

Agreed. Yeah you have a very valid point . I am able to differeniate between marathi,bengali,oriya. Its not difficult. If you keep listening you'll be able to distinguish . I am not talking of people who are exposed to tamil,telugu for the first time. They watch telugu, tamil movies occasionally.They should atleast know that people down south speak different languages. Thats my point.

From: gaddeswarup on Fri May 5 11:23:20 2006.

My impression about the use of 'madrasis' is similar to that of Rajraj. I wonder whether there is an increase in relative ignorance because of too much information and too much demand on modern lives. I remember when I was growing up in the coastal Andhra villages (several villages because my father was tranferred often) in the forties and fifties, villagers used to listen to the radio and discuss global politics knowledgeably (so it seemed to me those days) sitting on the 'racchabanda' or some similar place. The trouble with American ignorance is that USA is too powerful and many leaders also seem ignorant.
From: narayanan on Fri May 5 11:28:17 2006.

Quote:

They should atleast know that people down south speak different languages. Thats my point.

There are people who dont know that

As you say one should have some experience hearing the languages long enough to identify them.

From: narayanan on Fri May 5 11:34:29 2006.

Quote:

I wonder whether there is an increase in relative ignorance because of too much information and too much demand on modern lives.

Quote:

The trouble with American ignorance is that USA is too powerful and many leaders also seem ignorant.

I dint quite get this

Quote:

I was growing up in the coastal Andhra villages (several villages because my father was tranferred often) in the forties and fifties, villagers used to listen to the radio and discuss global politics knowledgeably

well thats just one part of the population right ? there still exist a set of people who arent inclined to learn about the world outside.

From: kannannn on Fri May 5 11:37:02 2006.

rocketboy wrote:

They watch telugu, tamil movies occasionally.They should atleast know that people down south speak different languages. Thats my point.

I can vouch for their ignorance in this case. One of my friends was asked to report for his job in Trivandrum and asked me to teach the language they speak in Trivandrum. He was very careful not to name the language out of fear that he may be wrong.

From: ssanjinika on Fri May 5 11:39:41 2006.

Exactly Kannann.
My point was that geographical knowledge or the lack of ,is not unqiue to the US alone.

Agreed. On a more general note, it is not only local geography, but world knowledge too. Compared to their European counterparts they are more insulated from world affairs and have this attitude of 'who cares what happens elsewhere?!'. In fact, I think they are happy to live in their cocoon of imagined self-sufficient world that is USA. I have often wondered: why do call their championship series in baseball 'World Series'?!

Question that has been raised on either Mike and Mike in the morning or PTI in the evening

All of us do wonder

From: gaddeswarup on Fri May 5 14:56:43 2006.

Narayanan,
Sorry for an incoherent post; it came from some thing that I have been wondering about. In a couple of days, I will post a longer write up (possibly even more incoherent) in my blog under the title "Tunnel vision". Any comments are welcome.
From: narayanan on Sat May 6 21:24:21 2006.

MS to acquire Yahoo ?
~~~~~
Swarup,
could you give me the link for the blog. I dont see it in your sig/profile.
From: rajraj on Sun May 7 12:37:13 2006.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=67281

A liitle too late ?
From: narayanan on Sun May 7 12:50:55 2006.

rajraj wrote:

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=67281

A liitle too late ?

Raj,
Many already know it. There was even a joke about American students' performance in Math and Science when Thomas Friedman took that Discovery Channel documentary on outsourcing.

In one of the courses I attended the instructor remarked at one particularly lethargic student 'if you continue to be like this, you would be in Bangalore eating samosas' (I dont remember the exact dialogue, its almost 3 years).
From: Lambretta on Sun May 7 13:09:44 2006.

Raj, Narayan, sorry if I differ, or if I'm being cynical.....but on a bilateral analysis, is this sumthing for us Indians to be proud of or to worry abt ourselves?
We may feel encouraged by the fact tat the US is dependant on us & tat their own ppl. vs ours r turning out to be profesionally unreliable/incompetent.....but in the process we tend to overlook how much we'd also be potentially losing out w/ this trend of more skilled Indians being in demand abroad....the main impact of course being the slow but steady brain drain in our own country while we (society as well as govt.) apparently live within the 'aura' (for lack of a better term!) of 'making' a Super power 'depend' on us academically/intellectually!
First it was doctors utilising their competency for developed countries, then IT profnls. now even teachers r joining the bandwagon....!
So we need to rethink.......how much longer shud this trend of the Super powers/"1st world" 'depending' on our ppl. continue in future?
From: rajraj on Sun May 7 14:23:19 2006.

Lambretta,Narayanan:

Don't underestimate the Americans! Remember when Kennedy became president in 1961, he wanted to send a man to the moon by the end of that decade because USSR had already launched Sputnik. That (Apollo 11) became a reality in 1969 when Nixon was president. They will pour money into education to get what they want. Now, it is cheap labor. But, the labor rate in India will go up. In the US there will be a backlash against Indian workers ( hope that does not happen). Already, some corporations are funding math/science education in high schools. One of the reasons given for Sputnik surprise was the state of science education. That changed in the 60s with federal funding for universities.
I don't think we should be proud what is happening, because most of the IT professionals are underemployed and underutilized. But, they are here for the money and American life! I met a lot of them in the last five or ten years. I used to ask them whether they were doing anything creative or pushing the state of the art. The answer invariably was a 'no'. Of course, there are exceptions. If you want to blame it on something/somebody, blame it on the school/university system in India. That needs a drastic overhaul! Remember the Japanese who were considered to be good in making cheap toys! They now compete 'head on' with the US and Europe, and have taken over some of the products/technologies completely.

India needs a vision!
From: rajraj on Sun May 7 15:39:09 2006.

A more complete report of the speech by Bush:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/008200605080141.htm

From: kannannn on Sun May 7 17:31:47 2006.

Lambretta,Narayanan:

Don't underestimate the Americans! Remember when Kennedy became president in 1961, he wanted to send a man to the moon by the end of that decade because USSR had already launched Sputnik. That (Apollo 11) became a reality in 1969 when Nixon was president. They will pour money into education to get what they want.

Absolutely! I remember Feynman's recollection in one his books (was it 'Surely you're joking...' or 'What do you care...'? - I can't recall), where he explains the deep impact the Sputnik launch had on the US educational system. Science and Math education were drastically restructured, with much effort going into cultivating students' interest in the subjects.

Now, it is cheap labor. But, the labor rate in India will go up. In the US there will be a backlash against Indian workers ( hope that does not happen). Already, some corporations are funding math/science education in high schools.

Yes, the rise of labor rate is unavoidable. But I doubt if that will happen in the near future, given the high percentage of young labor in our population. In fact, with systematic focus on developing our educational system, we could turn over population to our advantage.

I don't think we should be proud what is happening, because most of the IT professionals are underemployed and underutilized.

It's not only IT. The tech sector in India is basically confined to testing and processing of already developed tools. Innovation is not on the agenda of most multi-national tech companies. That is the sad truth!

One of the reasons for the high success of American companies is that the researchers in universities are encouraged to market their ideas and inventions. Most companies are born out of university campuses. Our students, on the other hand, are content on serving them.

From: gaddeswarup on Sun May 7 21:11:25 2006.

Praise for Steve Waugh's autobiography in The guardian today:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1769737,00.html
From: rajraj on Tue May 9 2:49:49 2006.

About music education in schools:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/009200605091040.htm
From: rocketboy on Tue May 9 3:43:46 2006.

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/may/09sld1.htm

wow . great news indeed,
From: Lambretta on Tue May 9 4:15:14 2006.

rocketboy wrote:

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/may/09sld1.htm

wow . great news indeed,

Um...for whom? India or the US (wich she is representing)....?

From: rocketboy on Tue May 9 4:41:43 2006.

it's not for us it's not for India . it's for the lady.

I have kalpana's photo stuck near my study table. I'll soon add this lady's photo too.

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/may/09sld1.htm

wow . great news indeed, Thumbs Up!

Um...for whom? India or the US (wich she is representing)....? Confused

From: rocketboy on Fri May 12 0:20:49 2006.

http://sonic200.com/others/tuongphan.htm
From: Lambretta on Fri May 12 4:24:17 2006.

rocketboy wrote:

http://sonic200.com/others/tuongphan.htm

Very touching/thot-provoking, RB!
From: ssanjinika on Fri May 12 13:17:41 2006.

On a lighter note...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_fe_st/selling_new_zealand;_ylt=An4YpwdDwo5agfZyyDFV9cztiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
From: rami on Tue May 16 5:57:26 2006.

Lok Paritran Splits

http://www.deccan.com/chennaichronicle/City/CityNews.asp#%E2%80%98Reformist%E2%80%99%20Lok%20Paritran%20party%20splits
From: kannannn on Tue May 16 12:09:42 2006.

BBC interviews a cab driver, mistaking him to be a computer expert, on a high court verdict involving Apple Computers and a music company.
The news link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2178097,00.html

and the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdyYe7sDlhA&search=apple%20taxi

Watch his expression as he initially tries to protest, but then decides to play along.
From: ssanjinika on Tue May 16 12:14:40 2006.

Must have been so embarassing for the expert

From: kannannn on Tue May 16 12:25:50 2006.

Yes

. To quote the report:

Quote:

Mr Kewney, meanwhile, was still waiting in reception when he saw the taxi driver being introduced under his name...

...He was amused at first, but realised that anyone watching would think he knew next to nothing about Apple Computer, online music or The Beatles.

When the driver was asked how the interview went, he replied: �Well, it was OK, but I was a bit rushed.�

From: Nakeeran on Sat May 20 3:38:52 2006.

Not a heathy sign :

C.N.R. Rao, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Council, will soon present to the Prime Minister the "facts" of how science was being neglected in the country and how research establishments such as the Indian Institute of Technology were being converted into ordinary engineering colleges.

``I will have a special meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the next few days and caution the Government that if this was the trend, there would be no science left in the country," he said speaking to The Hindu during his visit to the Central Electrochemical Research Institute here on Friday.

Dr. Rao, who is also Chairman of the IITs, expressed concern that the facts were glaring to show how science establishments/scientists and laboratories did not get the deserved attention.

Look at science with sympathy

He urged the Government and the Prime Minister to ``look at science with sympathy and take new initiatives to promote science and research.''

According to him, the trend was becoming so pathetic that lot of colleges had to close down science departments in several cities including Bangalore and there was absolutely no encouragement to students to take up science subjects.

Stating that the full council meeting would also be held to highlight the situation, Dr. Rao lamented that no faculty recruitment was made despite shortage of manpower in the IITs.

Also, they were becoming engineering colleges due to the dilution in approach to science since concentration these days was on consultancy activity and management programmes.

``In our country IITs have lost out and what we (scientists) require is good moral and monetary support for research," Dr. Rao said.

``If the country were to progress science is essential."

He said the time had come for waging a "war" to protect science and scientific establishments and it was left to Governments to understand the logistics or else the country would not have any reputed name in science.

He delivered the first Faraday Lecture at the CECRI on the ``science for our future and personal reflections on five decades of research.''
From: nms on Tue May 23 4:42:37 2006.

Every Year when +2 & SSLC results are released ,we come to know about a few with guts,determination ,hard work & success.
i found these two this year...

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/05/23/handi.html

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/05/23/plustwo.html

From: Lambretta on Tue May 23 5:23:47 2006.

nms wrote:

Every Year when +2 & SSLC results are released ,we come to know about a few with guts,determination ,hard work & success.
i found these two this year...

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/05/23/handi.html

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/05/23/plustwo.html

Um....NMS, altho I cant read tamil fonts, I noticed in the 1st link the girl in the pic. very much has both her hands intact......?

Or perhaps its a photo taken much earlier.....?

From: nms on Tue May 23 5:37:00 2006.

Um....NMS, altho I cant read tamil fonts, I noticed in the 1st link the girl in the pic. very much has both her hands intact......? Confused

nms wrote:

Or perhaps its a photo taken much earlier.....?

Lamby..watch it clearly..they r artificial limbs..

From: Nakeeran on Fri May 26 7:07:13 2006.

The good old Enron issue !

HOUSTON: Former Enron Corporation chiefs Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were convicted on Thursday of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud in one of the biggest business scandals in U.S. history.

The verdict put the blame for the 2001 demise of the high-profile energy trader, once the nation's seventh-largest company, squarely on its top two executives. It came in the sixth day of deliberations following a federal criminal trial that lasted nearly four months.

Mr. Lay was also convicted of bank fraud and making false statements to banks in a separate, non-jury trial before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake related to Mr. Lay's personal banking.

The conviction was a major win for the Government, serving almost as a bookend to an era that has seen prosecutors win convictions against executives from WorldCom Inc. to Adelphia Communications Corp. and homemaking maven Martha Stewart. The public outrage over the string of corporate scandals led Congress to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, designed to make company executives more accountable.

Enron's demise alone took with it more than $60 billion (euro47 billion) in market value, almost $2.1 billion (euro1.65 billion) in pension plans and 5,600 jobs.

Mr. Lay, the Enron founder was convicted on all six counts against him in the corporate trial. Former chief executive Skilling was convicted on 19 of the 28 counts, including one count of insider trading, and acquitted on the remaining nine.

``Obviously, I'm disappointed,'' Mr. Skilling told reporters outside the courthouse. ``But that's the way the system works.'' Mr. Skilling's lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, said the verdict ``doesn't change our view of what happened at Enron ... or Jeffrey Skilling's innocence.''

Mr. Lake ordered Mr. Lay to stay in the courthouse until his passport was surrendered and until the conclusion of a bond hearing. He told jurors, ``you have reflected on this evidence for the last few days and reached a very thorough verdict, and I thank you.'' He set sentencing for Sept. 11. The charges for which Mr. Lay was convicted carry a maximum penalty in prison of 45 years in the corporate trial and 120 years in the personal banking trial. The charges for which Mr. Skilling was convicted carry a maximum penalty of 185 years in prison.

Jurors found through their verdict that both men had repeatedly lied to cover a vast web of unsustainable accounting tricks and failing ventures at Enron. The panel rejected Mr. Skilling's insistence that no fraud occurred at Enron other than that committed by a few executives skimming millions in secret side deals, and that bad press and poor market confidence combined to sink the company. � AP
From: Lambretta on Fri May 26 13:52:08 2006.

nms wrote:

Lamby..watch it clearly..they r artificial limbs..

Oh yea, jus did......sorry I didnt realise it then!
Nevertheless, its really commendable the way she manages to move on despite such a tragedy!
Tat reminds me- jus attended a music concert here last Sunday, performed by this visually impaired orchestra troup from Madras who'd actually performed in a song in the film "Autograph"!
It was amazing how well they cud sing/play so many diff. songs despite their handicap (inc. the orchestra director!)

From: ssanjinika on Fri May 26 14:19:11 2006.

Lamby..watch it clearly..they r artificial limbs.. Sad

nms wrote:

Oh yea, jus did......sorry I didnt realise it then! Embarassed

Nevertheless, its really commendable the way she manages to move on despite such a tragedy!
Tat reminds me- jus attended a music concert here last Sunday, performed by this visually impaired orchestra troup from Madras who'd actually performed in a song in the film "Autograph"!
It was amazing how well they cud sing/play so many diff. songs despite their handicap (inc. the orchestra director!)

Yea..They used to perform in our school functions quite regularly.They are amazing!!They seem to have the other senses enhanced.

From: great on Sat May 27 14:28:18 2006.

3,000 dead in Indonesia quake

May 27, 2006 14:29 IST
Last Updated: May 27, 2006 22:10 IST

A powerful earthquake flattened buildings in central Indonesia on Saturday, killing at least 3,000 people and injuring thousands more in the country's worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 5.54 am local time near the ancient city of Yogyakarta as many people slept, causing death and damage in many nearby towns.

Sixteen hours after the quake struck, the number of dead stood at 3,068, Social Affairs Ministry official Sopar Jaya
said adding, that two-thirds of the fatalities occurred in devastated Bantul.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the army to help evacuate victims and arrived in densely populated Central Java province on Saturday afternoon with a team of Cabinet ministers to oversee rescue operations.
From: ssanjinika on Wed May 31 13:55:48 2006.

sad state of affairs

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13049521/
From: ramky on Wed May 31 23:45:25 2006.

ssanjinika wrote:

sad state of affairs

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13049521/

yes it is sad. a slightly better news is that, according to a report by an agency monitoring aids in india, the number of hiv+ persons in tamil nadu has decreased from last year. but it still leads as the state with the maximum aids infected persons.
From: nms on Thu Jun 1 1:07:45 2006.

A GOOD NEWS NOW.......

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=129095
From: rocketboy on Wed Jun 7 0:12:19 2006.

http://www.thehindu.com/mag/2006/06/04/stories/2006060400330400.htm
From: Surya on Thu Jun 8 22:07:45 2006.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Betrayal inside his al Qaeda in Iraq terror group led to success in a painstaking U.S.-led operation to kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Al Qaeda Operative Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi is Dead.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/08/iraq.al.zarqawi/index.html

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

The United States Of America Rocks In So Many Ways!
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Jun 12 16:47:26 2006.

From: http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14225468&headline=Rural~India~more~industrious~than~urban

Rural India more industrious than urban
Monday, 12 June , 2006, 15:47
New Delhi: Rural India is far more enterprising than urban areas, as it accounts for 61.3 per cent of the country's industrial units compared to just 38.7 per cent in towns and cities, says the Economic Census 2005.

The census document, released today, notes that Tamil Nadu was top in terms of states with highest number of industrial units - 44.5 lakh, while Maharashtra was the largest employer with 1.18 crore jobs. |The great Indian realty show|

Gujarat, supposed to be an economically advanced state, is conspicuously missing from the list of toppers in the Census. | Go to Sify Business Home page |

Even in average annual growth in employment, rural areas fared better than urban areas with 3.33 per cent and 1.68 per cent, respectively. The share of urban and rural area in total employment is 49 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively.

"We have collected data from the largest number of enterprises and contacted 21.1 crore households," G K Vasan, Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation said while releasing the Census document. The previous economic Census was conducted in 1998.

He said unlike previous Census, the fifth Census would have a directory of enterprises employing 10 workers or more to help undertake detailed surveys in respect of services sector, which contributes 54 per cent to GDP.

As per the provisional results (the final results would come by December), there are 42.12 million enterprises engaged in different economic activities other than crop production and plantation.

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal together account for 50 per cent of the total enterprises in the country.
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Jun 12 16:53:30 2006.

Gandhi a budhist? Pl. check:
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7752_1718475,004100180006.htm?headline=Bapu~was~a~Buddhist
From: Nakeeran on Thu Jun 15 4:08:52 2006.

Over 60 dead, more than 40 hurt in claymore blast in Sri Lanka
V.S. Sambandan
Colombo, June. 15 At least 60 civilians were killed and over 40 others injured in a powerful claymore blast, which hit a passenger bus, triggered by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka�s north-central Anuradhapura district on Thursday morning, a Government spokesman said. Those killed include women, children and members of the clergy.
The powerful claymore blast was triggered around 7.40 a.m. This is the biggest civilian target by the LTTE since the signing of the February 2002 ceasefire agreement.
Evil design of terrorists
The Sri Lankan Government called the killings the evil design of terrorists to provoke a backlash. It appealed for restraint. It also said the blast bore the hallmark of LTTE.
"There is no iota of doubt that it is the LTTE. It's a barbaric act of terrorism," it said, urging international community to extend cooperation to it at this crucial time.
From: Nakeeran on Thu Jun 15 4:10:14 2006.

HYDERABAD: An engineering student from the city died under suspicious circumstances at his apartment complex at Lafayette, Louisiana in United States, on June 9 even as his parents back home cried foul, alleging that it was a murder.

Ajmaluddin Mohammed, 23, pursuing his MS from Louisiana University, was reported to have been drowned in a swimming pool in the apartment minutes after he spoke to his mother Asima Afzal on Internet voice chatting.

"My son called me at 1.45 p.m. (IST) and told me about the preparations he was making for completion of his semester. He suddenly said he would continue chatting later as someone rang the doorbell.

That was the last I heard from him," the desolate mother said at her Humayunnagar residence here on Wednesday. Within a few hours, the family came to know that Ajmaluddin was no more.

`Clear case of murder'

Ajmaluddin, who finished his computer sciences engineering from Deccan Engineering College, Dar-Us-Salam, was to have celebrated his birthday on Wednesday.

"It's a clear case of murder. Why will my son go for swimming when he does not know swimming at all, and that too in the wee hours? We suspect he was pushed into the pool and killed," Asima said.

Ajmaluddin's father Mohammed Afzaluddin, Mandal Revenue Inspector in Malkajgiri Municipality, alleged that some known persons to his son could have eliminated him.

He said his son's friends-- Abdur Rehman, Zaki, Mansur and Lee-- had fled the apartment after the incident.

"We do not know much about them except that my son used to talk about them. In fact, he had shifted to this apartment only a fortnight ago," he said.

To seek US intervention

Afzaluddin said he would seek the intervention of the US Consulate in India and Chief Minister Y. S Rajasekhara Reddy to get to the crux of the matter.

"Though we have lost our son, no student from India should meet such a tragic end," he said, and added that his last rites were performed in US itself with the help of some relatives.

Ajmaluddin secured a student visa on June 29, 2005, and left on August 13.
From: dsath on Thu Jun 15 10:04:35 2006.

http://www.msn.co.uk/news/six_steps_to_happiness/

Do read the 2nd page, it may bring a smile
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Jun 15 18:09:00 2006.

dsath wrote:

http://www.msn.co.uk/news/six_steps_to_happiness/

Do read the 2nd page, it may bring a smile

While I was reading the secong page, the above automatically came up. Is it a sign of some thing? I was not planning to respond but was vaguely thinking of Robert Putnam's "Better Together" which I read a few months ago.
Swarup
From: Braandan on Sun Jun 18 21:10:43 2006.

On Nakeeran's posting.
Atleast this is the second instance in my personal knowledge. There was a death in the same way of a student from Coimbatore (Tatabad) about 5 years ago. Swimming pool etc, the same style.
From: kannannn on Wed Jun 21 19:41:48 2006.

The world seems to be hooked onto India. And one more to add to the increasing number of positive reports on India. We are featured in the cover story of the latest issue of 'Time'.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1205374,00.html
From: gaddeswarup on Tue Jun 27 2:23:30 2006.

World Cup Game Theory:
http://www.slate.com/id/2144182/
From: Braandan on Wed Jun 28 4:02:26 2006.

The Slate article on game theory application to penalty kicks was good!
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Jun 29 20:18:32 2006.

In Blair's country;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1808193,00.html
From: temporary sori-Observer on Sun Jul 2 11:01:40 2006.

Katasraj Shiva temple where the Pandavas stayed during their exile and the sacred pond in that temple will be renovated by Paakiyar.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=306161&sid=SAS

��á� ��¢��, �� Ȣ, �񧾡�ȡ �� Ȣ� �� ɢ� �� ! �� Ȣ ��þ�� Ȣ�� .
From: RR on Mon Jul 3 6:28:00 2006.

Diet coke + Mentos => Geyser!

http://www.eepybird.com/
From: rajraj on Mon Jul 3 9:49:10 2006.

Success stories from the land of opportunities:

http://parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_07-02-2006/AImmigrant
From: Surya on Fri Jul 7 18:41:02 2006.

College principal beaten up by students

Friday, 07 July , 2006, 15:03

Jaunpur (UP): A college principal was beaten up by students and their guardians in the district for allegedly extorting money from them, police said on Friday.

Shriram Yadav, principal of Bahudhandi Inter College under Machhali Shehar police station had been demanding money from students for admission despite requests by guardians and students not to do the same, they said.

Piqued by his behaviour, the students and their parents beat him up on Thursday and the matter was settled after the intervention of police, they added.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Jul 7 20:51:52 2006.

Some good news from Pakistan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5159556.stm
From: Lambretta on Sat Jul 8 3:41:54 2006.

rajraj wrote:

Success stories from the land of opportunities:

http://parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_07-02-2006/AImmigrant

How long until I can find a similar link, except tat the country talked abt in the link wud be India?
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Jul 8 5:10:49 2006.

Lamretta,
Pl. check http://alternativeperspective.blogspot.com/
"Making a difference:.." for different type of inspiring stories from India. The stories are heartbreaking though.
See also the one on "Proper English..."
swarup
From: rajraj on Sat Jul 8 13:35:31 2006.

15 ideas to recharge America:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13117432/site/newsweek/page=8

This article along with others in that issue of Newsweek tell you about what the leaders in the US think about retaining their leadership( dominance?). They are not going to sit and watch their country become second rate!

From: Sudhaama on Sat Jul 8 16:18:33 2006.

15 ideas to recharge America:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13117432/site/newsweek/page=8

This article along with others in that issue of Newsweek tell you about what the leaders in the US think about retaining their leadership( dominance?). They are not going to sit and watch their country become second rate!

The Wise approach of USA, has to be understood in a HEALTHY SENSE ... and Not as Domination over others.

Rather it is the CONCEPT OF RACE.... in the Competitive Global arena.

Any Topper will never relish to step down as the Runner or Second to others...

Why America continues to be Ever-Great... is mainly because of such a CONSTANT SELF- ANALYSIS.... Introspection.!!!

From: rocketboy on Sun Jul 9 1:55:55 2006.

India 12th richest nation in the world.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/jul/08india.htm
From: rajraj on Sun Jul 9 10:52:36 2006.

Giving back to the society:

Newsweek Giving Back Awards:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13530551/site/newsweek/
From: svasu_ani on Tue Jul 11 11:33:46 2006.

70 killed in Mumbai train blasts

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/07/11/mumbai.blasts/index.html
From: Surya on Tue Jul 11 16:33:28 2006.

UPDATED!! 140 KILLED!! 300 SEVERLY INJURED!!

http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=70866&headline=Terror~strikes~Mumbai,~railways~stations~attacked

Peace Talks Will Still Resume!!!

Even though it doesn't seem to make a difference for the past oh how many years??

But Hey!! Does it matter if it works or not?! Peace Talks Will Resume With Pakistan!!

That makes me feel a WHOLE LOT BETTER!!
From: RR on Wed Jul 12 6:51:48 2006.

Scientists Question Nature's Fundamental Laws

Public confidence in the "constants" of nature may be at an all time low. Recent research has found evidence that the value of certain fundamental parameters, such as the speed of light or the invisible glue that holds nuclei together, may have been different in the past.

The observed differences are small-roughly a few parts in a million-but the implications are huge: The laws of physics would have to be rewritten, not to mention we might need to make room for six more spatial dimensions than the three that we are used to. More...
From: rajraj on Wed Jul 12 15:02:41 2006.

On H1-B visa:

http://bmsmail3.ieee.org:80/u/3443/135381
From: dsath on Thu Jul 13 7:35:47 2006.

Happiest place in the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5172254.stm
From: Surya on Fri Jul 14 16:31:27 2006.

Gandhi's Assasins taken to hospital

A couple convicted for killing former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi have been admitted to hospital in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The husband and wife have been on hunger strike since 26 June, because they want their 14-year-old daughter to be given a visa to enter India.

She lives in Sri Lanka and has rarely been able to see her parents since they were imprisoned in 1992.

Doctors in the town of Vellore say the couple's condition is stable.

The authorities say they have moved Nalini and Murugan to a government hospital as a precautionary measure.

Earlier, a leader of Tamil Nadu's MDMK party wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recommending that the visa be given to the teenager, who is being raised by her grandparents.

Nalini and Murugan were sentenced to death but Nalini's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2000 while Murugan's mercy petition is pending before the Indian president.

Mr Gandhi was opposition leader at the time of his death in 1991, and had been campaigning in Tamil Nadu in the run-up to a general election.

The attack has been blamed by India on a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber. The Tamil Tigers recently expressed "regret" for the killing.

Indian courts are still seeking Tamil Tiger leader Prabhakaran and rebel intelligence chief Pottu Amman in relation to the attack.

-BBC
From: rajraj on Sun Jul 16 10:58:20 2006.

Simple Health tips:

http://www.usaweekend.com/06_issues/060716/060716health_tips.html
From: rajraj on Sun Jul 16 16:04:23 2006.

On sleep deprivation and BPO workers:

http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14250671
From: ssanjinika on Fri Aug 4 13:44:41 2006.

And now we have transsexual birds!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/swedenanimaloffbeat;_ylt=AhWWY68EcsxhszmAivm_lKjtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-
From: gaddeswarup on Sat Aug 5 6:13:56 2006.

A gambling case before WTO:
ttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080301390_pf.html
From: rajraj on Sat Aug 5 16:46:36 2006.

Where is India going? Here is an article that gives you a clue!

http://www.hindu.com/op/2006/08/06/stories/2006080600371600.htm
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sat Aug 5 22:29:55 2006.

Eye-opening! Gentle satire!
From: rajraj on Sun Aug 6 18:40:38 2006.

Innovation :

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1761926,0008.htm

Interestingly he is going to work for IBM, not Microsoft!

His college waived his fees for all five years. How many engineering colleges do that?
From: gaddeswarup on Tue Aug 8 5:56:44 2006.

David Shulman bemoans the loss of multilingualism:
http://www.hindu.com/lr/2006/08/06/stories/2006080600160400.htm
From: gaddeswarup on Wed Aug 9 18:22:26 2006.

Indian wins digital literacy award:
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14267405&headline=Indian~wins~digital~literacy~award~in~US
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Aug 10 9:23:31 2006.

��Ţ�š��â� ��Ƣ��Φ�� , ��Ũ�� Ȣ�� .

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1841140,00.html
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Aug 10 18:11:22 2006.

��š� �� Ȣ�� Ҹ� �� Ţ¾�� ɢ�� Ȣ��. ��󨾨�� Ǣ, ��ʨ�� θ��á ��츢��?
From: Surya on Thu Aug 10 18:36:28 2006.

2 Lashkar terrorists held in New Delhi

August 11, 2006 01:25 IST

Delhi police on Thursday night foiled a possible terrorist plot to subvert Independence Day celebrations following the arrest of two Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists, including a Pakistani, near the New Delhi Railway station.

Anaz, hailing from Islamabad, and Abrar Ahmed, a resident of Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, were nabbed by Special Cell sleuths of the Delhi Police outside Ajmeri Gate terminal of the New Delhi Railway station.

The duo, who disembarked from the Swaraj Express at platform number eight of the crowded station, were about to get into an autorickshaw when they landed in police nets, Deputy Police Commissioner (Special Cell) Alok Kumar told PTI, adding that about two kg RDX and five detenators were seized from them.

The two militants, believed to be in mid-30s, were interrogated by a team of Special Cell officers to find out their motives and to get details about their contacts in the capital, which is in a state of high security alert in view of Independence Day.

Security has been tightened in the capital ahead of the national event and surprise searches in the walled city and adjoining areas have also been launched. A close watch is being kept on visitors to guest houses, hotels and other places in the capital to prevent any terrorist from taking shelter.
From: rajraj on Sun Aug 13 18:01:32 2006.

Vegetarian India?

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081403771200.htm
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Aug 14 6:44:36 2006.

From Asian Age:
US theatre group takes Tamil plays places 8/9/2006 10:40:29 PM
- By Chitra Mahesh

Chennai: In 2003, a group of theatre enthusiasts got together to take to shores beyond India, the tradition of Tamil theatre. They also wanted to find an outlet for many who wanted to satisfy their creative urge. Which is how Krea came about.

Started in the Bay Area, US, the group set forth to make it a strong movement by staging plays ranging from satires to socials, psychological thrillers to musical drama, comedy to serious ones that made people ruminate over issues.

Before they knew it, the group had made a mark in the cultural scene in the US. It also collaborated with Indian drama troupes and playwrights � Bombay Chanakya�s Niram Marum Nijangal, T.V. Varadharajen�s Kalakara Chandru Pramadham to name a few. While all that happened in the US, they also came down to Chennai to present Sruti Bhedham with a full US-based artistes troupe and found great appreciation here.

That was in July 2005.

Now they have come again with Kadavulin Kangal, a play that examines the moral ethical issues faced by people in the course of their lives. And the person behind this ambitious project is Dheepa Ramanujam, founder-director with a 10 years experience in acting and now in direction. Having acted in K. Balachander�s TV serials and on stage with Bombay Gnanam, Dheepa has also done professional courses on directing, stage management, acting and make-up from Ohlone College, US.

Talking to her about how she has come to make theatre so alive in the area she lives, she shares her experiences that have brought her to this point.

"It is always nice to do our plays here in Chennai," says Dheepa. "In the US, one such production costs us between $7,000 and $10,000. And in the Bay Area, everyone expects quality product. Because there is so much of dance, music and other allied arts going on all the time. Only if you are very good do you get an audience." In the face of such stiff competition they have to work very hard. Says Dheepa. "For this one day of performance, we work six months in advance. Rehearsals, practice and poof, before you know it is all over in just one performance. This really pains me. Whereas in Chennai, we can do at least four shows. Savour it, ensure that all our friends, families and others see it. There is so much satisfaction in all this." Dheepa didn�t start being part of theatre. A post-graduate in nutrition from the WCC, Chennai, Dheepa found her interest in it as she moved along with her husband to the United States. There she found that plays were being done and she was able to help them and give many creative ideas. Till such time she decided to get into it actively.

"I never knew I had the potential to direct plays. But once I did, I found that I also wanted to know more and that is when I took a course in theatre and its allied aspects. Then formed a group and here we are."

While they have been mostly working on Tamil plays, an English one is also getting ready. "It is coming up really well. Something anyone anywhere in the world can relate to."

Usually all the players are those who live in the US, but collaborative ventures allows for the group to take on local talent and create a synergy on the stage. For the play staged at Museum Theatre, artistes from different groups on Chennai were chosen. Says Dheepa, "We came in much earlier so that we could have at least three weeks of rehearsals."

Giving her complete support is her husband, who is incidentally also the playwright of Kadavulin Kangal. "Without him, I don�t think I can do all that I am doing now. He, too, is so interested in theatre and somehow seems the perfect complement for someone like me."

Dheepa would love to come to India at least once in six months and, "I hope I can bring my English play. And hopefully there is a full house for it."
From: rajraj on Fri Aug 18 16:29:18 2006.

America's Best Colleges by US News :

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php
From: rajraj on Sat Aug 19 12:19:05 2006.

Mathematics goes to a castle !

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/mathscience/2006-08-18-math-castle_x.htm?POE=TECISIVA

How many of the rich in India would do something like this to give an uplift for the sciences?
From: RP on Sat Aug 19 14:02:55 2006.

THE NEWS THAT THE SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IS TO BE RAISED WITH SPECIAL BENEFITS.......
THE OFFICE OF PROFIT BILL HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PREZ.....
ANY COMMENTS???????????
From: gaddeswarup on Sun Aug 20 17:31:52 2006.

Rajraj,
I met Brian Conrey long ago when he was an Asst. Professor in Oklahoma and since then met a few people who went to this institute. It seems to be developing well. In India one Mehta Institute started long ago in Allahabad with funding from Mehta ( I forget the initials). Now it is mainly govt. funded and the name changed to Harisch-Chandra Reserch Insitute. I think that a few other institutes in India started with private funding (foe example, I.I.Sc) but gradually became govt. funded institutes. But I do not any one which is funded on the same scale as Fry's institute.

From: nms on Mon Aug 21 2:10:08 2006.

RP wrote:

THE NEWS THAT THE SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IS TO BE RAISED WITH SPECIAL BENEFITS....... Banging Head

THE OFFICE OF PROFIT BILL HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PREZ..... Argh!

ANY COMMENTS???????????

Reg salary raise....continue BANGING....

As per the constitution,the President has to sign a bill if passed for the second time by the parliament (with or without any amendments).The president has limited powers here.
(Of course the PM too...as he is a puppet in the hands of Mrs.Rajiv.)
This event clearly shows the in-efficiency of Mr.manMohan & his team.
Manmohan is a good economist..but a poor Leader/Team leader.

From: temporary sori-Observer on Tue Aug 22 14:38:34 2006.

A 7 year old girl is fasting to bring rains.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/53000.php/Seven-year-old_Agra_girl_fasts_for_rains
From: Surya on Tue Aug 22 16:36:42 2006.

www. zeenews.com

BJP: Opponents of Vande Mataram should leave India.

New Delhi, Aug 20: BJP on Sunday condemned the refusal by some Muslim clerics to abide by a central directive on compulsory singing of `Vande Mataram` in schools on September 7 saying those who oppose the national song should "leave the country".

"Those who oppose our national song should better leave the country. Their opposition is a reflection of their separatist mindset," senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here.

"Every faith preaches patriotism. Those who are opposing singing of Vande Mataram in the name of Islam are going against the tenets of the faith," he said.

Citing religious reasons, some Muslim leaders have opposed the central directive to all schools to recite the first two stanzas of the national song at 11 am on September 7 to mark the centenary of its adoption.

"Reciting Vande Mataram is against the tenets of the Shariat (Islamic law)," Zafaryab Jilani, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said in Lucknow yesterday.

"There are some lines in Vande Mataram which go against our religion," he said.
From: kannannn on Tue Aug 22 18:47:49 2006.

I too had the opinion that everyone should sing Vande Mataram. But my friend put some sense into me. Her argument is, the imposition of Vande Mataram is similar to the imposition of Hindi. What right do we have to enforce Vande Mataram on Muslims, when we are against the enforcement of Hindi? After all, wasn't Hindi also imposed as a binding tool? So, are all Hindi protesters anti-nationals? As such, no one can impose any rule on anyone else. We are a democracy. Strange thing is, most Tamilians can't even sing Vande Mataram without mistakes and we certainly don't know the full meaning of the song.
From: Surya on Tue Aug 22 19:39:39 2006.

Quote:

the imposition of Vande Mataram is similar to the imposition of Hindi.

I don't see how that's similar...

What right do we have to impose vande matharam on muslims? Note that this isn't a musilm thing. It's an indian thing. not all muslims have gone against this, only a few selected anti-national enuches have opposed this.

Quote:

when we are against the enforcement of Hindi?

Just because the dravidian parites make it look so doesn't make all tamils anti-hindi. Infact, there is a rise in people who are learning hindi in TN.

Quote:

After all, wasn't Hindi also imposed as a binding tool?

My opinion is that hindi opposition is probably one of the stupidest things that our politicians can be proud of creating in tamil politics. It rivals other moronic tamil movements like "Name Movies Only In Tamil Or We Will Protest!! ARGH! WE LOVE TAMIL, THAT's WHY I'M A DOCTOR, AND MY DAUGHTER IS AN ENGLISH MAJOUR!"

Quote:

As such, no one can impose any rule on anyone else.

In that case why don't we let ppl who steal and murder run free? One should know where to draw the line. Vandhe Maatharam has been a symbol for India's Freedom Struggle, and almost as important as the National Anthem. Vande Maatharam has a great legacy. If these so called "Indians" don't want to respect that legacy, then like Mr.Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, they don't belong in our nation. Now this, what's next? Opposition to sing the National Anthem? Open Support For ISI and Lashkar E Thoiba?

From: Badri on Tue Aug 22 20:40:11 2006.

Quote:

I too had the opinion that everyone should sing Vande Mataram. But my friend put some sense into me. Her argument is, the imposition of Vande Mataram is similar to the imposition of Hindi. What right do we have to enforce Vande Mataram on Muslims, when we are against the enforcement of Hindi?

By that same token then, we cannot even impose the National Anthem on anyone!!! After all, isnt singing the National Anthem somwhat like imposing Bengali on everyone? Shouldnt we be opposing even that?

And what about Atheists? How can they be asked to sing of a Bharatha Bhagya Vidhatha, when they dont believe in that sort of a thing?

From: kannannn on Tue Aug 22 21:10:22 2006.

Surya and Badri, points well taken. Let me clear any misconceptions my post might have raised. My comparison of Hindi imposition with Vande Mataram imposition is only to show that patriotism and unity are expressed through different means. Even Rajaji was against the imposition of Hindi. Was he against the unity of our country? Learning Hindi, out of one's own volition and fighting against it's imposition are not mutually exclusive. How unpatriotic are Americans who display stars and stripes on their underwear? Muslim leaders have already clarified that they can even give their life for their nation, but can't equal the nation to god. I don't see how that is unpatriotic. How are muslim soldiers, who don't sing Vande Mataram unpatriotic? If I am uncomfortable with the National anthem, so be it. I may resort to other means to show my patriotism. That said, I don't see how singing the National Anthem is equivalent to the imposition of Bengali. If Bengali is taught by force, I would be the first to oppose it. But to sing the National Anthem, knowing what it means, is something different.
From: Surya on Wed Aug 23 17:12:37 2006.

Moderator wrote:

I am afraid I am going to have to delete this post. Surya, you may have taken it from a reliable source, however, it is capable of generating hate and is hence deleted.
From: kannannn on Wed Aug 23 18:10:36 2006.

Moderator wrote:

Deleted as it is no longer relevant, considering that the earlier post has been removed
From: RP on Thu Aug 24 0:18:19 2006.

If we require N-tests, we will have right to decide, says PM Brushing aside speculation that India had signed away its sovereign right over its strategic programme with the Indo-US nuclear agreement......
Comments???
I feel Indian is getting SOLD to the US!!
From: Sandeep on Thu Aug 24 1:22:50 2006.

If our PM keeps his word (said in paliament) then the deal is a good one. But going forward nuclear tests may become almost impossible because of geo-economic pressures. Then again we have already developed nuclear weapon technology to hold of any nation. Missile delivery is where furthur action is required.

Then about foriegn policy change, yes we are departing from the Moral High ground diplomacy, our contributions in NAM has helped gain India respect in International forum, but now its time to be more pragmatic and take decisions in India's interest (even if not 100% moral).
From: Lambretta on Fri Aug 25 14:35:21 2006.

RACISM OR ALERTNESS?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=401419&in_page_id=1770

The trouble in Malaga flared last Wednesday as two British citizens in their 20s waited in the departure lounge to board the pre-dawn flight and were heard talking what passengers took to be Arabic. Worries spread after a female passenger said she had heard something that alarmed her.
Passengers noticed that, despite the heat, the pair were wearing leather jackets and thick jumpers and were regularly checking their watches.
Initially, six passengers refused to board the flight. On board the aircraft, word reached one family. To the astonishment of cabin crew, they stood up and walked off, followed quickly by others.
The Monarch pilot - a highly experienced captain - accompanied by armed Civil Guard police and airport security staff, approached the two men and took their passports.
Half an hour later, police returned and escorted the two Asian passengers off the jet.

Soon afterwards, the aircraft was cleared while police did a thorough security sweep. Nothing was found and the plane took off - three hours late and without the two men on board.
Monarch arranged for them to spend the rest of the night in an airport hotel and flew them back to Manchester later on Wednesday.
College lecturer Jo Schofield, her husband Heath and daughters Emily, 15, and Isabel, 12, were caught up in the passenger mutiny.
Mrs Schofield, 38, said: "The plane was not yet full and it became apparent that people were refusing to board. In the gate waiting area, people had been talking about these two, who looked really suspicious with their heavy clothing, scruffy, rough, appearance and long hair.
"Some of the older children, who had seen the terror alert on television, were starting to mutter things like, 'Those two look like they're bombers.'
"Then a family stood up and walked off the aircraft. They were joined by others, about eight in all. We learned later that six or seven people had refused to get on the plane.
"There was no fuss or panic. People just calmly and quietly got off the plane. There were no racist taunts or any remarks directed at the men.
"It was an eerie scene, very quiet. The children were starting to ask what was going on. We tried to play it down."
Mr Schofield, 40, an area sales manager, said: "When the men were taken off they didn't argue or say a word. They just picked up their coats and obeyed the police. They seemed resigned to the fact they were under suspicion.
"The captain and crew were very apologetic when we were asked to evacuate the plane for the security search. But there was no dissent.
"While we were waiting, everyone agreed the men looked dodgy. Some passengers were very panicky and in tears. There was a lot of talking about terrorists."
Patrick Mercer, the Tory Homeland Security spokesman, said last night: "This is a victory for terrorists. These people on the flight have been terrorised into behaving irrationally.
"For those unfortunate two men to be victimised because of the colour of their skin is just nonsense."
Monarch said last night: "The captain was concerned about the security surrounding the two gentlemen on the aircraft and the decision was taken to remove them from the flight for further security checks.
"The two passengers offloaded from the flight were later cleared by airport security and rebooked to travel back to Manchester on a later flight."
A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Malaga said: "These men had aroused suspicion because of their appearance and the fact that they were speaking in a foreign language thought to be an Arabic language, and the pilot was refusing to take off until they were escorted off the plane.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Fri Aug 25 22:31:38 2006.

The newspapers allude to a paranoia of the white races about other races resulting in untold torture/ignominy/discrimination to the innocents among non-white races!

From: Sandeep on Sun Aug 27 23:33:45 2006.

Patrick Mercer, the Tory Homeland Security spokesman, said last night: "This is a victory for terrorists. These people on the flight have been terrorised into behaving irrationally.
"For those unfortunate two men to be victimised because of the colour of their skin is just nonsense."

That says it all.

From: Badri on Sun Aug 27 23:36:33 2006.

But better safe than sorry anyday! Unfortunately, this is the reality of the world today. A few delays, some little tension, yes - some embarrassment, maybe even a little humiliation for the 2 men in question - but better safe than sorry
From: kannannn on Mon Aug 28 11:19:12 2006.

A news channel carried an interview with the detainees and one of them said, "If these people are going to be scared so easily, they have a very tough life ahead..". They were very cool for their age and looked like they took the whole episode in their stride. The lesson I got was not to look at the watch often and not to bend down to tie my shoe laces. Boy, flight journey is going to get more difficult for us 'brown' people.
From: Surya on Fri Sep 1 16:21:34 2006.

New Delhi, September 1: Senior BJP leader L K Advani said there should be no compromise on the singing of Vande Mataram, an issue on which some party leaders have expressed reservations over making it compulsory in madarsas.

Advertisement
At the release of a book by party colleague Ram Naik, he endorsed the idea of singing it, saying it involved respect for a national symbol.

"There should be no compromising attitude on the national song," Advani said referring to the current controversy over its singing.

His comments came six days after party chief Rajnath Singh's announcement that the BJP would order compulsory singing of the national song in schools, if voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Singh's comments have triggered divergent reactions from within his party, with a section of it regarding the idea as impractical.

"Showing respect to national symbols cannot be made optional," Advani said.

The former BJP chief, who recalled that the national song was adopted by the Congress in 1907, insisted that the singing of the national song could afford no compromise in the light of cultural diversities and �fissiparous tendencies� in the country.

He recalled that the BJP had in 1992 successfully resisted opposition from MPs belonging to a particular community to a party move approved by a Parliamentary panel to begin sessions with singing of the national song.
From: Surya on Sat Sep 2 13:57:34 2006.

India Not Run By Shariyat! - Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

New Delhi, September 2: Faced with criticism from Darul Uloom over his remarks that those who oppose Vande Mataram should leave India, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi rejected it as an expression of separatist mindset.

"In my opinion, the clerics who regard Vande Mataram and its advocates as anti-Muslim are people of anti-national mindset," he said.

The Islamic seminary has flayed Naqvi for his remarks against Muslim clerics and advised Muslim parents not to send their children to schools enforcing the Vande Mataram directive on September 7.

"The Indian administration is governed not by Shariat but by a secular Constitution," Naqvi said in a statement.

"Fatwas by clerics of separatist mindset cannot weaken patriotism of crores of Muslims like me," Naqvi said. (YEAH!!!!!! )

Naqvi triggered a row with Muslim clerics opposed to compulsory singing of the national song on September 7 when he remarked that such people should rather leave India.

-The Indian Express.
From: Surya on Wed Sep 6 20:45:27 2006.

'Lagaan' chinkara shots trouble Aamir
Thursday September 7 2006 00:00 IST

IANS

AHMEDABAD: Bollywood star Aamir Khan may have to revisit the border district of Kutch in Gujarat, this time not for shooting but to answer the state forest department in connection with the 'illegal' filming of a chinkara deer in the film "Lagaan".

Aamir allegedly used a chinkara for shooting the movie in 2000 in Jam Kunaria village in Kutch, 375 km from here.

According to a forest department official, Khan and Reena, the executive producer of "Lagaan" and the actor's former wife replied to the notice issued last month and in return posed questions on issuance of the same.

"In their reply they inquired on what basis the notice had been issued to them. The film star is communicating through his advocate, but he will have to come here personally to get his statement recorded," the Conservator of Forest of Kutch Circle, R.L. Meena, told IANS.

"After getting reply of our earlier notice, we have issued another notice to the executive producer to make clarification on specific issues," he added.

In the second notice issued to the film producer this week, the forest department posed queries regarding the shooting of chinkara, a protected species, without permission, the place where it was shot and how come the animal was shown unconscious.

"If the animal was actually unconscious, they will have to explain how it became so. This is very serious," said Meena.

Since the case is grave, the department "won't act in a hurry and is careful before going further", he added.

The forest officials are planning to file a case against the filmstar along with Reena and his present wife Kiran Rao for violating the law by capturing footage of the animal without permission. Reena was the executive producer and Kiran Rao was the assistant director of the film.

According to a forest official, Aamir had asked for permission to shoot the animal, but the request was turned down. Still, when the film was exhibited, there was a shot of a chinkara.

The forest department had earlier reportedly carried some preliminary investigation and the matter was closed.

But the case reopened when an environment group, Gir Youth Nature Club, registered a complained in July this year, just after the state criminal investigation department was asked to re-investigate poaching charges levelled against another Bollywood star Salman Khan, eight years ago during the shooting of the film "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is it with this guy and Controversy? I ALMOST feel sorry for him.
From: rajraj on Thu Sep 7 12:52:39 2006.

NRI Abhijit Mahalanobis wins award:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_1788857,001600060001.htm
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Sep 7 15:26:10 2006.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6065062,00.html
From: Surya on Thu Sep 7 19:42:17 2006.

Indians celebrate national song

National song

Celebrations have been held across India to mark the centenary of the adoption of Vande Mataram as the country's national song.

Television channels beamed images of schoolchildren singing the song at the arranged time of 1100 (0530GMT).

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party started its national conclave with the song.

But several Muslim educational institutions boycotted the song, which has been at the centre of a row.

The controversy began last month after the central government said the song must be sung at all schools on its centenary.

'Against Islam'

After some Muslim groups said it was against Islam to sing it as it was a hymn to the Hindu Goddess Durga, the government backed down and made singing voluntary.

But the BJP insisted that the national song must be sung at all schools, including Islamic madrassas or religious seminaries.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram

Many Muslim groups subsequently called on members of their community not to sing the song or to keep their children away from school on the day.

And although some Muslim institutions boycotted the song, many Muslim schools across India participated in the celebrations. (HELL YEAH!!!!!!! )

The song was sung in educational institutions in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan - all ruled by the BJP.

But in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, none of the government ministers participated in the celebrations. (WHY?! Are they all Muslim?! If NOT then WHY?! Minority Appeaseing Nutless Enuches! Thalai Ezuthu da!! Namakkunu vanthu vaachirukaange paaru, Muthugu elumbu illatha naringe! ) Many minority educational institutions there also abstained from the celebrations.

The song, written by Bengali poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1876, was first sung at the Congress Party session in Varanasi in 1905.

Vande Mataram, which translates as "Mother, I bow to thee" or "hail to the mother", became the rallying cry for Indians fighting British colonial rule.

The song was tipped to be India's national anthem, but lost out to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's more secular Jana Gana Mana following opposition from Muslim groups.

But Vande Mataram is still regarded highly and the song is played in parliament at the beginning and end of each session.

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

BBC
From: Surya on Mon Sep 11 18:47:58 2006.

FRAME KUMAR...I MEAN PREM KUMAR, HAS BEEN BUSTED FOR TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE IN "HIS HOLYNESS" SHANKARACHARIYAR'S CASE IN A PATHETIC, LAUGHABLE, DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO CONVICT HIS HOLYNESS OF MURDER AND OTHER CHARGES!!

Apparently he advised Ravi Subramaniam the "Approver" to escape to Nepal.

Interesting. Isnt it Nepal where these police officials said Our Holiness will escape to if he was given bail ?

As Churchill famously said "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Deivam Nindru Kollum and it will definitely kill.

Rama Jeyam Sri Rama Jeyam. Ramanai Nambinal Yethu Bayam?

Source: Dinamani/Tamil Murasu

Jaya Jaya Shankara.
From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 13 11:14:21 2006.

Everyone salute this woman

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1971414.cms

HYDERABAD: Charity, they say, begins at home. For homeless beggar Lakshmamma, charity begins at heart. The frail, septuagenarian woman ekes out a living by seeking alms. But she has redefined philanthropy in her own way.

This beggar in a small, nondescript town of Devunikadapa in Andhra Pradesh has so far donated Rs 3.5 lakh to a local temple.

It was the money that she had earned over the last three decades through begging. The 75-year-old Lakshmamma has been seeking alms at the entrance of Venkateswara temple at Devunikadapa ever since her husband deserted her three decades ago.

She has saved every penny she received as alms from pilgrims and donated the amount for improving amenities for devotees thronging the temple.

The huge saving has been possible as she never spent a pie, not even on her food. She has been content with the 'prasadam' given to beggars regularly by the temple authorities so that her entire savings could be donated to the Lord.

The temple authorities said the money would be used for constructing a polished stone platform near the 'gaali gopuram,' erecting door frames at the main entrance, laying pipes for queue complex and fencing for a well on the temple premises.

Lakshmamma was an ordinary housewife in Kadiri in the neighbouring Anantapur district. Left to fend for herself after her husband deserted her, she took to begging near Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Kadiri.

She donated all her earnings to the temple and organised discourses on Ramayana.
From: rajraj on Thu Sep 14 16:00:46 2006.

Who needs Harvard?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1226150,00.html

Hope the NRI parents do not push their children hard!
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Sep 15 11:11:30 2006.

�� Ǣ� �� Ţ𼾡� ��Ǣ�� ġ��. �� ɢ�� 즸�� Ȣ쨸 Ţ��.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/15/worldupdates/2006-09-15T032522Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-267636-1&sec=Worldupdates
From: rajraj on Sun Sep 17 12:06:21 2006.

MIT dean on admission stress:

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap09-11-124706.asp?t=APNEW

Ulcers and anxiety for eighteen year olds?
From: kannannn on Mon Sep 18 6:58:30 2006.

Punjab seems to be the Usilampatti of the north in female infanticide and foeticide.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20060918051947&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0&
From: Braandan on Tue Sep 19 2:10:55 2006.

There is a news item on the demise of "M.Ct. Muthaih" a great philanthropist.

Can anybody tell me what does "M.Ct" stand for? Also some names in Tamilnadu start with "Rm" like "Rm Veerappan". I have never understood what they stand for?
From: rajraj on Tue Sep 19 9:38:37 2006.

Braandan: It is a custom in Chettinad area of Tamilnadu to shorten the Tamil initials into two letters. For example:

Rm = Rama -> Ramanathan
Sm = Soma -> Somasundaram
Nk = Naga -> Nagappan
Pl = Pazha-> Pazhaniappan

I think Ct stands for Chidambaram !
From: Surya on Tue Sep 19 16:50:08 2006.

Thai army chief leads coup while prime minister away!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

What happened to Democratic (Constitutional Monarchy) Thailand? Hopefully the US along with the UN will intervene?
From: temporary sori-Observer on Tue Sep 19 17:29:31 2006.

rajraj wrote:

I think Ct stands for Chidambaram !

Rajraj uncle,
cht-naa chettiyaar-aa irukkumnu ninaikkiREn.
From: Braandan on Tue Sep 19 17:41:44 2006.

Thanks for the info rajraj and TSO.
From: P_R on Tue Sep 19 17:45:01 2006.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

rajraj wrote:

I think Ct stands for Chidambaram !

Rajraj uncle,
cht-naa chettiyaar-aa irukkumnu ninaikkiREn.

No. He is right. Ct stands for Chidambaram. (seena-thaana in Tamil as in sirichu sirichu vandhaa )

From: Sandeep on Wed Sep 20 1:24:12 2006.

Thai army chief leads coup while prime minister away! OMG

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

What happened to Democratic (Constitutional Monarchy) Thailand? Hopefully the US along with the UN will intervene? Huh?!

Why is there OIL in Thailand.

From: Surya on Wed Sep 20 2:51:09 2006.

Well...it depends on how u look at it!!

If Thailand had oil is would be an added incentive..no doubt.

But the UN is supposed to act as "The World's Police" And the US is sort of "The Commissioner" of this Police Force. Which it has done a good job of.

Realistically, no matter if there was oil or not, Iran having Nuclear Weapons is a threat to the world, espicially with Islamic Radicalism being so strong there.

And the same goes for South Korea also.
From: Sandeep on Wed Sep 20 3:13:09 2006.

Well Thailand is not the only non-democratic country.

Our enemy Pakistan also had a coup, right?
Our friend Myanmar (Burma) has Military, right?
We know how well US is "helping" in Sudan (Darfur- 4 lakh people killed)

So US knows where to get involved and where not to.

I assume you ment North Korea. Regarding Iran, let them first finish with Iraq and Afganistan

From: dsath on Wed Sep 20 3:55:41 2006.

Thai army chief leads coup while prime minister away! OMG

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

What happened to Democratic (Constitutional Monarchy) Thailand? Hopefully the US along with the UN will intervene? Huh?!

Why is there OIL in Thailand. Laughing

Nope but the American's sure love the beach resorts in Thailand...

From: Surya on Wed Sep 20 4:13:29 2006.

Well Thailand is a bit important, because it's the only democratic (Constitutional Monarychy like the UK) in that region. It's kind of a symbol for that region, giving hope to the citizens of the other tyranical nations surrounding it (vietnam, Mayanmar etc). Because Thailand has also been under a military regime, and is not a democracy. So if it also becomes a military run regime, then that's just crushes hope, light etc.

Also, intervening with Thailand doesn't neccerily mean sending troops in there.

As Crusaders of Democracy, the US might intervene in the thailand issue. I say crusaders of democracy because it's us who have planted the seeds of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. (The plant will take a few years to sprout, and a few decades to grow into a tree just as any other plant)

Sudan: that was adressed today actually, where Pres. Bush termed it as cold blodded Genocide, and claimed that it should and will be taken care of.

Reg Iran: It's going to take another decade atleast in order for Iraq and Afghanistan to get stable, and for US's job to get FINISHED (if that ever happens. ) but that will not stop the US from sending it's troops in IRAN! The only way for the US to get that sort of Military Power (since there is already a shortage of US Troops) would be to join Isreal which is itching to go @ Iran! Or reinstate the Draft.

Also, going into Iran wouldn't be like Iraq. We would have full support from the UN if that arises, meaning all their military support etc. Doesn't seem like Pres. Bush is gonna back down for an sort of threats like the UK, Spain etc did!

As an American Citizen in his late teens, my age group would be the last they'd come to if the draft was reinstated. Hmm...I did take firearm training for 4 months this summer, so i guess I'll know something!
From: Surya on Wed Sep 20 17:34:01 2006.

Thai king 'endorses coup leader'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5365362.stm
From: Sandeep on Wed Sep 20 21:28:24 2006.

Yes,

Thakshin (ousted PM) is said to have displeased the highly regarded and head of the country the King. And many believe the Army's actions where guided by the King (i read in your report that army denied it). The army chief is close to the King also.

My colleague who returned from Bangkok things are quiet.

Hope the Army keeps its word and brings back democracy.
From: Sandeep on Sat Sep 23 2:09:39 2006.

NO CASH MEDICAL STORE TURNS 13

Source: Malayala Manorama

In the small town of Ponnani in Kerala, you will find a long queue of old men, women and children waiting with Doctors Prescription. At 9 in the morning a 60 year old man opens the store and gives medicines and in return he gets only frail but thankful smiles. He gives lakhs worth of medicine every day. He collects free Samples given to Doctors and distributes for free through his store.

Ponnani Konganam Veetil Aboobakar has been doing this on his own for 13 years now. In 1980 Muslim Service Society (MSS) started with the concept and gave the responsibility to Aboobackar. After 13 years following some disagreements with MSS he left the society but continued this free medicine distribution all on his own.

Every evening he rents a vehicle and travels collecting medicines. He has contacts with around 500 doctors hailing from the districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ottapalam, Palaghat, Kannur, Thrissur. All doctors know him and they keep sample ready for him.

Classification of collected medicine is done by Abbobacker himself who is only 10th grade educated. He buys Medical Journal and has good knowledge of even latest medicines.

Doctors send their poor patients to Aboobackers store. In case of shortage of regular medicines Aboobacker buys them from outside with help of some NGOs.

He has been awarded UNO certificate and Indian Medical Association (IMA) has recognised his contribution.
From: Surya on Sat Sep 23 15:24:08 2006.

Bush 'unaware' of Pakistan threat

US President George W Bush has said he was "taken aback" by allegations by Pakistan's president that the US threatened to bomb Pakistan in 2001.

In a joint press conference after the two leaders met at the White House, Mr Bush said the first he had heard of the issue was in the day's media reports.

Mr Bush and President Pervez Musharraf emphasised their trust in each other.

Gen Musharraf stressed the importance of the Palestinian issue, saying it was at the heart of terror and extremism.

In excepts from an interview with CBS released on Thursday, Gen Musharraf said the US had threatened to bomb Pakistan "back to the Stone Age" unless it joined the fight against al-Qaeda.

He said the warning had been delivered by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Pakistan's intelligence director.

Mr Armitage told the BBC he had told Gen Musharraf on Thursday: "I would never say that. I don't command aircraft and I didn't have the authorisation."

He confirmed he had held a conversation with the Pakistani general Mr Musharraf had sourced the comments to, but said had not threatened military action.

At the press conference, where Mr Bush spoke first, the US president said he knew of no such conversation.

In his response to a reporter's question on the subject, the Pakistani president said, to laughter, that he was "honour-bound" with his publisher not to discuss details of his autobiography due out next week.

Some analysts say the timing of his comments on CBS may be an attempt to generate interest in the book.

The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says that, in the CBS interview, Gen Musharraf was deliberately distancing himself from the White House in the face of intense pressure within Pakistan over his close ties to Washington.

Correspondents say the Pakistani leader's comments are likely to be believed by many people within Pakistan and increase anti-American feelings there.

Pakistan's support was considered crucial in the defeat of Afghanistan's Taleban government, which Pakistan had helped to bring to power.
From: rajraj on Sat Sep 23 17:09:33 2006.

Education for the elite?

Mission admission:

http://www.hindu.com/op/2006/09/24/stories/2006092400971600.htm
From: rajraj on Sun Sep 24 19:15:53 2006.

Hard disk drive is 50 years old !

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092505011100.htm

IBM sold its disk drive manufacturing to Hitachi a few years back!
From: temporary sori-Observer on Mon Sep 25 13:05:11 2006.

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/9bd292cf4d1f2332/
From: Surya on Mon Sep 25 15:35:29 2006.

'Natiya Peroli' passes away
IndiaGlitz [Monday, September 25, 2006]

Padmini, an actress of yesteryears who was paired with popular heroes like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Raj Kapoor, Prem Nazir and Dev Anand, died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Chennai on Sunday night.

The 74-year-old actress and dansuese is survived by a son, who is settled in the United States.

A classical dancer, Padmini started learning dance at an early age of four and came to film industry in 1949. She had paired with popular heroes like M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Prem Nazir, Raj Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand.

Leaving the film carreer after her marriage with Dr K T Ramachandran, she left for the United States, where she started the famous Padmini School of Fine Arts at New Jersey.

Born in Poojapura in Thiruvananthapuram on July 12, 1932, she along with her elder sister Lalitha and younger sister Ragini were called the 'Famous Travancore Sisters'.

Two of the trio died two years back. Her husband also passed away in 1981, after which she came back to India and started acting in Tamil films. Her role as a dancer in 'Thillana Mohanambal' pairing with Sivaji Ganesan, had won critical acclaim.

Even on Saturday last, she made a public appearance to participate in the film world felicitation to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Family sources said the funeral would take after the arrival of her son Anand from US.
From: Surya on Tue Sep 26 19:48:05 2006.

Saddam Hussien thrown Out For the 3rd Time

Saddam Hussein has been ejected from his trial in Baghdad for the third time in a week after defying instructions from the judge to be quiet.

The other six co-defendants were also ejected shortly afterwards following heated exchanges with the judge.

The trial later continued without the presence of the defendants or their lawyers, who are boycotting the trial.

The seven are accused of crimes against humanity in a 1980s offensive against the Kurds, and face the death penalty.

Saddam Hussein and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", are also accused of genocide.

Tens of thousands of people are known to have died in the Anfal military campaign.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5380520.stm

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

Will He NOT ADANGU-FY?!?!?!

From: alwarpet_andavan on Tue Sep 26 20:50:06 2006.

As Crusaders of Democracy, the US might intervene in the thailand issue. I say crusaders of democracy because it's us who have planted the seeds of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thumbs Up!

I disagree with you TOTALLY but thats a different issue. Suffice to say for now that this belief is not only unbelievably naive but inexcusable in light of the U.S cover being blown repeatedly.
Please dont mistake the premise to be the real objective

1st premise: Seek and destroy WMD
When that failed miserably when it was proved beyond any doubt that the WMD thing was a blatant lie, the 2nd premise used was that of democracy. The intent of using these premises is to mislead the public which would otherwise never approve of the unimaginable atrocities committed across the globe.
Why the hell was U.S so pally with Saddam Hussein for all the years he was in power? Infact, he was a very close friend of Uncle Sam even when he was gassing Kurds to death. What the hell did U.S do then??? Crusaders, murderes? - Yes but of democracy? - NO
Do you think Saudi Arabia is a democracy? Do you think Pinochet's regime was a democracy? Do you think Aristide was a dictator? Do you think Allende was a dictator? What about Guatemala? What about Nicaragua or Panama? Or what about namma Musharraf? Ivalavu yen Surya, when and why do you think the U.S entered WWII??? To rid the world of Hitler and the Nazi's?? Bullcrap. They did it only because their interests were being harmed by Germany and Japan.
Why do you think the U.S destroyed Vietnam and murdered the population??? Of course you would be believing the offcial U.S pretext of promoting democracy or such myths.
Real history is starkly different from what is projected by the American propaganda machine.

Disclaimer: Criticizing American foreign policy is NOT tantamount to hating America

From: alwarpet_andavan on Tue Sep 26 20:54:03 2006.

Forgot to add that the murder in Iraq already happened in lakhs as a result of the economic embargo (preventing even essentials like medicine) pursued by the Clinton regime. The embargo had no effect on Uncle Sam's old-pal Saddam Hussein but rather it had every possible disastrous effect on the people and the economy

From: alwarpet_andavan on Tue Sep 26 21:00:20 2006.

Realistically, no matter if there was oil or not, Iran having Nuclear Weapons is a threat to the world, espicially with Islamic Radicalism being so strong there.

And the same goes for South Korea also. Cool

The biggest threat to the world is posed by
1) U.S
2) Israel
I dont say it. History says it. The U.S has been involved with either wars or *interventions* or subversions of democracy in one country or the other since the World Wars.
Its strange that the country with the biggest nuclear arsenal, a country which has the worst record when it comes to preventive (unprovoked) military attacks, and the only country to have actually used a nuke (actually two) says Iran having that capability is a threat to the world. If Islamic radicalism is strong then so is Jewish radicalism (Israel) and Christian crusading and imperialistic fanaticism.

From: kannannn on Tue Sep 26 21:03:09 2006.

Reminds me of a presentation made by one of those ABCD at our Institute about how Israel and US face the same problems as India and how we should see US as our friend and support it's war on terror. Suffice to say that he couldn't answer the simple question of why US sent it's USS Enterprise for possible attack against India during the Bangladesh war. It all boils down to politics - US is as interested in democracy as they are about the poverty in Upper Volta.
From: Surya on Tue Sep 26 21:04:26 2006.

A-A,
I gotta go to Physics Class, But I'll post after I'm back. PS: I agree with 90% of ur statements!

I'll be bak.
From: NOV on Tue Sep 26 21:15:34 2006.

Cinema Becomes Reality

A 40-year old man, Ramesh from Mantin in Malaysia fell in love with his wife's sister and wanted to marry her. The father of seven, had given shelter to his wife's married sister, who was facing marital problems of her own. Soon Ramesh fell in love with her and approached his wife to discuss "matters."
Discussion (naturally) turned ugly and unable to bear the disappointment () Ramesh hanged himself!

- from Malaysia Nanban yesterday

p/s: why didn't the director think of this great ending instead?
From: alwarpet_andavan on Tue Sep 26 21:24:07 2006.

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/20060623.htm

Excerpts from the article:

In 2003 a reasonable proposal to this end was put forward by Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency: that all production and processing of weapon-usable material be under international control, with "assurance that legitimate would-be users could get their supplies". That should be the first step, he proposed, toward fully implementing the 1993 UN resolution for a fissile material cutoff treaty (or Fissban).
ElBaradei�s proposal has to date been accepted by only one state, to my knowledge: Iran, in February, in an interview with Ali Larijani, Iran�s chief nuclear negotiator. The Bush administration rejects a verifiable Fissban � and stands nearly alone. In November 2004 the UN committee on disarmament voted in favour of a verifiable Fissban. The vote was 147 to one (United States), with two abstentions: Israel and Britain. Last year a vote in the full General Assembly was 179 to two, Israel and Britain again abstaining. The United States was joined by Palau.
There are ways to mitigate and probably end these crises. The first is to call off the very credible US and Israeli threats that virtually urge Iran to develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent. A second step would be to join the rest of the world in accepting a verifiable Fissban treaty, as well as ElBaradei�s proposal, or something similar.
A third step would be to live up to article six of the NPT, which obligates the nuclear states to take "good-faith" efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, a binding legal obligation, as the world court determined. None of the nuclear states has lived up to that obligation, but the United States is far in the lead in violating it.

From: NM on Tue Sep 26 23:10:07 2006.

Cinema Becomes Reality

A 40-year old man, Ramesh from Mantin in Malaysia fell in love with his wife's sister and wanted to marry her. The father of seven, had given shelter to his wife's married sister, who was facing marital problems of her own. Soon Ramesh fell in love with her and approached his wife to discuss "matters."
Discussion (naturally) turned ugly and unable to bear the disappointment ( Rolling Eyes

) Ramesh hanged himself!

- from Malaysia Nanban yesterday

p/s: why didn't the director think of this great ending instead?

silly old fool! thinking of only himself and not his wife or seven children!!!! it irks me to think there are people out there such as this guy!

From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 2:56:02 2006.

Okay...

I'm not saying that the US is an angel.

Reg Iraq War:
There were no WMDs there, Bush knew it, and Saddam knew it. Bush went in there purely for OIL, from which him and his family ONLY benefitted. There is a popular misconception that the US is benefitting from Bush's greed for OIL. That's not true. The US has lost so much in this war, sometimes tears of anger roll down my cheek when I think about where George Bush has taken this great nation. And the majourity of the Americans DO NOT support it. Polls have showed that roughly only 35% of the americans support the war. But that's Bush! The sole intent of Iraq was to fill is already full pockets with more dollar bills. Would CLINTON (America's Best President to date, the economic growth that the coutry expierenced under Clinton was not expierenced under anyone else in the history of The United States) have waged war on Iraq this time? No! Some argue that he would've, but no, he wouldn't.

So we've Established the obvious, that the IRAQ war only happened for the selfish intentions of BUSH, and not America....

Even though Bush wasn't justified in his actions, even though the Iraq War, which I'm violently against cost us SO MUCH, it brought democracy to a totalitarian state. The price that was paid for that wasn't worth it, but the seed has been planted, it will take some time for the plant to grow. The reason I said "Crusaders of Democracy" is because no other nation has helped (it might have had selfish benefits also) Democracy to spread as much as The United States Of America.

Reg Afghanistan:
I strongly think that these nutless, backbone broken terrorists should face the same death that they gave to Daniel Pearl. The US is going to easy on the by giving the a fair freaggin trial! But anywayz, The war isn't over, these wars against terror are never over until every single cell is wiped out. I support the war on terror 100%. I'd be in the Marine Corps right now if it wastn' for my parents.

WWII,
America only got involved directly after Japan's Attack on Pearl Harbor.

AA wrote:

If Islamic radicalism is strong then so is Jewish radicalism (Israel) and Christian crusading and imperialistic fanaticism

Iran has OVERWHELMING support for radical islamic groups like Hezbollah and others!! The Prime Minister of Iran has just asked Iranian youth to radicalize even more for Islam!! Islamic fundamentalism tends to ignore borders, and effects areas outside of a nation!

I don't see how this comparison can hold water with Isreal (They don't poke back unless they're poked) or calling the US as Christian Crusaders, when Absolutley NONE of their wars have been fought on the basis of religion!

There is a HUGE difference between fighting a nation after waging war on them, and Attacking a city out of the blue, with no prior warning like they're uniks which is what these terrorists and fundamentalists are doing.

That QUALITY of fighting an enemy face to face or supporting an alli after war has been officially waged, gives Isreal and The US the right to have WMD than any of these nations who's majourity population supports islamic fundamentalism, and executes cowardly attacks on people who just went to work on one fine day.

One More Thing: America, Undoubtedly The Greatest Nation In The World, takes care of it's home (for the most part, BUSH is a Curse for America, 9-11 happened because of Bush's ignorance) and it's people which is a hell of a lot more than what can be said for some other nations including my motherland which still has not been able to get to the roots of cross-border terrorism.

1 Question that's probably off topic: If Mexico was Pakistan and the US was India, and cross border terrorism had just started, what would happen?

Exactly!!

From: dsath on Wed Sep 27 5:40:19 2006.

Even though Bush wasn't justified in his actions, even though the Iraq War, which I'm violently against cost us SO MUCH, it brought democracy to a totalitarian state. The price that was paid for that wasn't worth it, but the seed has been planted, it will take some time for the plant to grow.

Democracy to a totalitarian state!!!!! Iraq is on the fringe of civil war and with a bomb going off every day there is no chance for democracy. May be some one in the GREAT USA has to realize that democracy may not be the ultimate solution for all countries in the world. It not essential that what works for one country has to work for the other as well. All Bush has succeeded in doing is making Iraq another fertile breeding ground for terrorists.

Reg Afghanistan:
I strongly think that these nutless, backbone broken terrorists should face the same death that they gave to Daniel Pearl. The US is going to easy on the by giving the a fair freaggin trial! But anywayz, The war isn't over, these wars against terror are never over until every single cell is wiped out. I support the war on terror 100%. I'd be in the Marine Corps right now if it wastn' for my parents.

Afghanistan would not have happened if not for the American arming and aiding the local Afghan tribes with weapons to fight against the Soviets. Some 20 yrs back the Afghan women did not wear parda and were not bound at home, it was a very liberal Muslim country and the results of American pokiness is there for every one to see.

There is a HUGE difference between fighting a nation after waging war on them, and Attacking a city out of the blue, with no prior warning like they're uniks which is what these terrorists and fundamentalists are doing.

Yes there is. Hear it from the very experienced Palestinians.

That QUALITY of fighting an enemy face to face or supporting an alli after war has been officially waged, gives Isreal and The US the right to have WMD than any of these nations who's majourity population supports islamic fundamentalism, and executes cowardly attacks on people who just went to work on one fine day.

Very true. Again will that include the Palestinians who go to work in their farm only to see their olive orchards being bulldozed by the Israeli army.

From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 6:07:28 2006.

Quote:

Yes it is!

It was the stupidest decision to go to Iraq, the only person capable of this is the stupidest president the nation has ever seen: BUSH.

But now we're there, and we're not going to back out until it can stand on it's own feet....hopefully.

Also, Progress has never come easily.

Quote:

Then it would've been a bloodsucking Communist nation, which would've been equally bad, since islamic foot soldiers would've fought for it relentlessly, making it nothing more than a pile of dirt which is what it is now. Atleast now it's a democracy!

and will be able to get on it's own feet soon in the next 5 years with Pak's Help (whatever pak's help means. )

Also Present day Afghanistan is a result of the Spread of the Communist Virus..not the US's "helping" tendencies.

If the Virus didn't try to spread to begin with, we wouldn't have given a "helping hand."

Quote:

Very true. Again will that include the Palestinians who go to work in their farm only to see their olive orchards being bulldozed by the Israeli army.

Again, supporters of Extremist groups like Hamas. Not saying that they deserve it!

But then again, when a group like that comes to power in that sensitive region, it's the domino effect. And expecting the US to be quiet abt this is absurd!!

Going to bed, c ya guys later.

From: rajraj on Wed Sep 27 14:58:23 2006.

'.......creative minds were not opting for a career in basic sciences.....' - PM Manmohan Singh.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200609272134.htm

From: alwarpet_andavan on Wed Sep 27 16:58:15 2006.

Surya,

You've got a lot of *official* U.S propaganda taught to you!

The US has lost so much in this war, sometimes tears of anger roll down my cheek when I think about where George Bush has taken this great nation.

When you think about where GB has taken your great nation??????????? [More on the great nation shortly]
What about the genocide of Iraqi's???????? They are humans too, remember?

Would CLINTON (America's Best President to date, the economic growth that the coutry expierenced under Clinton was not expierenced under anyone else in the history of The United States) have waged war on Iraq this time? No! Some argue that he would've, but no, he wouldn't.

Clinton is no saint either. The embargo had already inflicted the killer blow on Iraq. And please do ask Clinton about the deliberate bombing of pharmaceutical in Sudan

So we've Established the obvious, that the IRAQ war only happened for the selfish intentions of BUSH, and not America....

Its not just Iraq, and its not just Bush. Looking at the REAL history of America would help. I would be glad to give pointers on that

The reason I said "Crusaders of Democracy" is because no other nation has helped (it might have had selfish benefits also) Democracy to spread as much as The United States Of America.

If bombing a population to smithereens is HELP, yeah Uncle Sam stands alone

Regarding the so-called "War on terror", please look up how many 9-11's the U.S has caused across the world. Well, there is a world outside the U.S map, you know.
And please define terror for me and verify whether the U.S actions in every continent in this world satisfies that definition or not.
Plus, who do you think raised the Taliban and Osama in the first place? Are you aware of the CIA and Pentagon reports which categorically declare that terror threats have INCREASED after the so-called war on terror??? Do you think the so-called objective has been achieved as a result of pulverising Afghanistan or taking them back to stone age? Do you know who is affected in the so-called war? Have you read any reports of *independent* media other than YOUR CNN/FOX etc?????

WWII,
America only got involved directly after Japan's Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor eppadi vandhadhu theriyuma???? Adhukku munnadi????

I don't see how this comparison can hold water with Isreal (They don't poke back unless they're poked)

This takes the cake!!!!
Please read your history [not the U.S version of history]
Heard about the Churchill influence, the Arab wars, Oslo deal or the Camp David fiasco or atleast Lebanon???
Please check out the Israeli thread in this same section [Especially an eye-opening video on the topic]

or calling the US as Christian Crusaders, when Absolutley NONE of their wars have been fought on the basis of religion! Confused

My reply to this will be too long but please do read the real history of your country and how the *great* nation was formed.
A good starting point would be "A Peoples History Of America" by Howard Zinn.
And thats just for starters....

Exactly, which is exactly what the U.S has been doing across the globe. My previous post listed only a few countries which were a victim of U.S terrorism

Check your history and facts. Period.

From: alwarpet_andavan on Wed Sep 27 17:00:53 2006.

And Surya,
You still havent been able to reply to any of my points about *democracy* and all.
A mere disclaimer saying "Yeah, the U.S is no angel", an answer doeth not maketh

From: alwarpet_andavan on Wed Sep 27 17:09:24 2006.

If the Virus didn't try to spread to begin with, we wouldn't have given a "helping hand." Razz

Who the hell is the U.S to decide what is good for some soveriegn state???

P.S: FYI, Cuba whic is your so-called 'blood-sucking' communist state, is doing well, thank you, inspite of Uncle Sam's repeatedly failed attempts to oust Castro. Keep trying!

Any idea about what the U.S is *doing* in Venezuela (Chavez) and Bolivia????

From: alwarpet_andavan on Wed Sep 27 17:13:42 2006.

dsath wrote:

Absolutely!
Also, thanks to Uncle Sam, Iraq saw the birth of suicide bombings, and Shia-Sunni riots never seen hitherto for centuries....
Also, Surya doesnt realize that elections happened in Iraq inspite of Uthe U.S and not because of them. Ask a certain Al sistani....
So much for democracy

From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 18:25:23 2006.

AA wrote:

When you think about where GB has taken your great nation???????????

Everyday, when the news shows how many Americans die in Iraq. And how the Iraq war hurts the American Economy.

Quote:

What about the genocide of Iraqi's???????? They are humans too, remember?

The American Media doesn't really focus on how many iraqies die due to Islamic Insurgency.
But it is a given, that ppl in die in war (unfortunate, that's why I don't support the Iraq War) and it bothers me MORE when my people die in it, which is natural.

Quote:

Clinton is no saint either. The embargo had already inflicted the killer blow on Iraq. And please do ask Clinton about the deliberate bombing of pharmaceutical in Sudan.

Of Course! Neither is any other political leader on the face of the earth! But he was a gazzilion times better than Bush who puts the lives of innocent Americans in Danger for his own persoanal benefits. And if every president or prime minister took care of his country like Clinton did (like I said, the US's Economy grew at the rabidly rapid pace which the world had never seen under Bill. ) the world would be a more different place.

Quote:

Regarding the so-called "War on terror", please look up how many 9-11's the U.S has caused across the world. Well, there is a world outside the U.S map, you know.

It isn't Iraq alone that increased the other 9-11's, the Afghan War and the US's Allies is what triggered the chain reaction of violent islamic terror. When looking @ it in that perspective, giving into terrorists by not attacking Afghanistan would've been worse than opening our borders and letting these foxes flow into our nation.

Quote:

And please define terror for me and verify whether the U.S actions in every continent in this world satisfies that definition or not.
Waging war makes a huge difference, the difference between WAR and Terrorism. Afghanistan and Iraq are Wars. 9-11 and the bombings of US Embasies is Terrorism.

Quote:

Plus, who do you think raised the Taliban and Osama in the first place?

The US, by supporting them during the Soviet Invasion. But...that doesn't put any sort of guilt on the US. They were just helping the people konwn as revolutionaries fighting for their nation.

Quote:

Are you aware of the CIA and Pentagon reports which categorically declare that terror threats have INCREASED after the so-called war on terror???

Of Course! If theres a gang whose members just hit people on the streets, and one person stands up to one of the members, then the threat posed to him is going to increse from one person to possible the whole gang. But doesn't mean he should just spend his life getting punched. America has stood up to Islamic Fundamentalism, there are threats, there are a lot more attempts to bring us, and our beliefs of freedom, liberty and democracy down, but that in no way means that we shouldn't stand up.

Quote:

Do you think the so-called objective has been achieved as a result of pulverising Afghanistan or taking them back to stone age?

They're no longer in power, which is always a good thing, but threat wise not really, but pulvirizing a plot of land already in the stone age was the right thing to do when it's leaders implemented 9-11. Also, thousands of Afghans are happy now that the taliban is gone. They're able to listen to Music, Shop Owners are allowed to run their shops, Women have more rights than they did before, clearly no even 5% of what they should have, but change is a slow process. Either way, Pre-Afghan War Afghanistan is a Million Times Worse then Post-Afghan War Afghanistan!

Quote:

Do you know who is affected in the so-called war?
Omar is Dead, Zarkhawi is dead, hundrends if not thousands of Militants have been wiped out, Bin Laden will be brought to justice if he doesn't die in the Afghan Caves, More Troops will be deployed to Afghanistan to Finish off the Taliban before they get more powerful....@ This point, that's all I care about when it comes to these islamic militants, as long as we are not effected by these rabid dogs anymore.

Quote:

Have you read any reports of *independent* media other than YOUR CNN/FOX etc?????

Hm..Fox = Conservative Mouthpiece. CNN = Independent! Unlike most of the other News Channels in COmmunist and Totalitarian States.

That's what I said. The US was involved before that, but not directly. And Boy! Was Pearl Harbor a Dumb Mistake for the Japanese!

I just hope Iraq doesn't become the US's Pearl Harbor. JK! It won't. The Election here next month will change a lot of things.

Quote:

My reply to this will be too long but please do read the real history of your country and how the *great* nation was formed.

This Great Nation was formed by people who were running from Religious Persecution! Agreed! But how long ago was that? Have there been any Religion Wars after that? How can it be called the Xtian Crusaders even if that was considered? Xtians were running away from Xtians...Most of America's wars after that has been mostly to stop the spread of Communism, which threatens the Capitalist Society of the US.

I thought I did....Bush didnt go into Iraq for WMD or Democracy, but for Oil....But now atleast, we're trying for democracy. (even if it's because we don't have a choice)

Quote:

P.S: FYI, Cuba whic is your so-called 'blood-sucking' communist state, is doing well, thank you, inspite of Uncle Sam's repeatedly failed attempts to oust Castro. Keep trying!

It is indeed very unfortunate that the US didn't suceed in Assasinating Castro

Strange how people are always quice to point the bad finger @ america, but no one here has bothered to say anything about the US's Generocity, and the good that it has brought to Afghanistan. Nallathukku Kaalam Illai.

Quote:

Surya doesnt realize that elections happened in Iraq inspite of Uthe U.S and not because of them. Ask a certain Al sistani....

He rejected a US plan allowing for the transfer of sovereignty to an unelected provisional government in June 2004. But Ayatollah Sistani did finally accept the recommendations of a UN mission which concluded that elections could not be held before the June 2004 power handover deadline.

Nothing happened ispite of the US, the US didn't have a problem with Iraq Elections as long as it followed the conditions provided by the UN.

It was the Islamic Militants who didn't want elections in Iraq.

Will read ur references....and the "Non-US Version of HIstroy" Whatever taht means.
From: Badri on Wed Sep 27 19:53:08 2006.

surya wrote:

Will read ur references....and the "Non-US Version of HIstroy" Whatever taht means.

Oh that is easy! See, the US version of History assumes that the United States of America = World.

Of late of course, it has been redefined to
USA + Allies = World.

The non-US version of History is based on a premise that there are more nations on this planet, besides the United States of America and her so-called allies!

Quite simple, no?
From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 20:05:03 2006.

Not True....

But i guess I can't be sure unless I read the refrences...
From: Badri on Wed Sep 27 20:11:34 2006.

Here's a bit in Today's papers!

INDONESIAN terror group Jemaah Islamiah is likely to expand and develop the capability for "mass casualty attacks", according to a US intelligence report, which also finds that the war on Iraq is breeding a new generation of terrorists.

So much for the "war on terror". It has only created more terror the world over! The world was definitely a safer place before the so-called war on terror! Now, the UK, Australia etc too are included! Indonesia is frighteningly close to Australia, and it is only after this Iraq war that these sympathy terror wave is beginning to emerge!

Thank you, you war-mongers of USA, for making the world worse than it was!

But then, as I said, US belives it is the world and hence if it is in danger, it will not rest until "yam petra terror, peruga ivvayagam!"
From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 20:27:25 2006.

UK has supported the US throughout this whole meaningless war since the beggining, the UK has given US Military Support in Iraq.

Actually u should thank Bush rather than the USA. USA would be like generalizing on all Americans and that's bad because not all Americans support the war! It's like saying all muslims are terrorists,
From: Badri on Wed Sep 27 20:30:49 2006.

Yes, you are right! I have edited my previous post!
From: Surya on Wed Sep 27 20:32:48 2006.

War-Mongers is much better! (In Other Worlds: Republicans! "I am a war President, I take Decisions in the Oval Office With War on my Mind!!" - George Bush ) Now Liberals Democrate Americans like me don't mind.

Although...War-Mongers of UK should also be added in it...
From: gaddeswarup on Fri Sep 29 3:05:22 2006.

Ruth Manorama wins Alternate Nobel:
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=34006
( The amount 273 million mentioned may be a mistake; it seems to be 273,000)

From: dsath on Fri Sep 29 3:39:15 2006.

Ruth Manorama wins Alternate Nobel:
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=34006
( The amount 273 million mentioned may be a mistake; it seems to be 273,000)

That is a very heart warming and encouraging news. This must be a booster to all the women based NGOs in the country.

From: dsath on Fri Sep 29 3:49:40 2006.

Regarding USA and its democracy spreading ways - I think they need to have a serious rethink on their policy.
They have failed miserably in Vietnam after years of war (its typically a case of David Vs Goliath) and they are/were trying in Cuba with no luck (may be with Fidel gone they might have a chance, but they are busy fighting the rest of the world that they might miss the chance to bring their glorious democracy to Cuba).
many more could be added to the list.....
Ah if you think that USA won the cold war against the Soviets think again. The Soviets destructed themselves with their policies and brought their own downfall.
My wonder why no one wants to educate the Chinese on democracy!!!!!!!!!
From: Surya on Fri Sep 29 20:22:03 2006.

One day we're the evil americans who bomb the whole world, and kill millions, and another we're the puny americans who can't win wars. Anywayz, Whatever. If You Say So!

reg china,
We're not really gonna gain anything by making them a democracy, neither are they, so why bother?

UN 'must drop' Darfur peace force
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5390974.stm
From: rajraj on Mon Oct 2 16:32:09 2006.

Outsourced tutoring:

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/inDepthNews/~3/29502979/newsarticle.aspx

British accent is gone! Welcome American accent!
From: Sinthiya on Mon Oct 2 22:39:24 2006.

... what else is left to outsource? ....
From: Nerd on Tue Oct 3 16:33:43 2006.

Man speaks Tamil at US airport, held
ibnlive.com
Posted Tuesday , October 03, 2006 at 17:55

LANGUAGE BARRIER: Passengers complained about a man after he started talking on his cell phone in Tamil.

New Delhi: In August, the UK Police managed to thwart a mid-air terror plot planned by al-Qaeda. The plan was to blow up Trans-atlantic flights with the use of liquid bombs.

The plot was successfully thwarted but the trouble has just begun for many passengers of foreign origin in US and UK.

According to www.seattlepi.nwsource.com, a 32-year-old Tamil speaking man was detained and questioned at the Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle -- all for talking on his cell phone in Tamil.

The man was simply talking about a sporting rivalry at his alma mater in Tamil, interspersed with some English, but at least one person thought he was suspicious and called the police.

The Port of Seattle dispatched its police officers to investigate the case, making the man miss his flight on Saturday. He was preparing to board an American Airlines flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

The airport spokesman later apologised saying that the incident was simply a misunderstanding and that there was a perfectly innocent explanation to everything.

The man, who later boarded another flight to Texas, reportedly assured authorities that he would refrain from speaking in a foreign language at airports in the future.

It is alarming that a language like Tamil, which is spoken widely in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore, is now being considered suspicious and innocent passengers are being harassed with increasing frequency.

In August this year, Mohammed Shafiq, a student from Hyderabad, was first detained as a suspect in the London terror plot for over four days, deported to Mumbai and then detained again when he landed at the Mumbai airport.
From: kannannn on Tue Oct 3 17:32:22 2006.

Nerd wrote:

The man, who later boarded another flight to Texas, reportedly assured authorities that he would refrain from speaking in a foreign language at airports in the future.

hmm.. the next thing you know passengers would be asked to refrain from talking in any language other than English. Unfortunately we can't demand the same from passengers in Indian airports.

That reminds me of the Brazilian judge who ordered all American visitors to Brazil to be finger-printed in retaliation to the American finger-printing policy.
From: dev on Tue Oct 3 22:27:52 2006.

Nerd wrote:

The man, who later boarded another flight to Texas, reportedly assured authorities that he would refrain from speaking in a foreign language at airports in the future.

Ithu ellam rombe too much-aa iruku...
From: Surya on Wed Oct 4 14:08:47 2006.

Masked gunmen kill Hamas member

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5405502.stm
From: Hulkster on Wed Oct 4 23:22:41 2006.

Surya wrote:

Masked gunmen kill Hamas member

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5405502.stm

This is sad indeed. People should understand violence only brings about more violence. It will not reform the people who give way to such violence. And death must be decided by GOD, not by another human. Till people try to reform these violence headed people this world will always be full of bloodshed
From: Sandeep on Thu Oct 5 4:40:12 2006.

The Americans seem to understand that. Bush administration is thinking of truce with Taliban
From: Surya on Sun Oct 8 13:29:00 2006.

Illegal cow slaughter root cause for Mangalore riots

10/6/2006 2:21:01 PM
Mangalore: Mangalore witnessed violent clashes and protests yesterday in the Bandh called by Hindu organisations in protest against the attack of Muslim mob on Hindus who questioned a cattle trailer.

The incident happened on Wednesday when a illegal cattle carrying lorry hit a Jeep. The Cattle lorry sped of without stopping in the area towards Muslim Dominated area in Kudroli. Those who went to chase the lorry where brutally attacked by the Muslim crowd in the area.

Violent clashes within both community was reported on Thursday and Today, Temples were attacked and many were admitted in Hospitals.

The root-cause of all mayhem witnessed in Mangalore and surrounding areas from Wednesday was traced again to illegal transportation of cattle by the Muslims to their slaughter houses.

For the Ramdan feasting lakhs of cows are slaughtered daily all over South India, especially in Kerala and Muslim dominated places in Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
From: alwarpet_andavan on Tue Oct 10 16:03:09 2006.

[tscii]http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/10/08/stories/2006100800140500.htm

I was born in Nazareth, one of six sisters and a brother. Nazareth is a small, ancient town in Northern Israel with a predominantly Arab population. My mother is a schoolteacher and my father is a driver. I was 10 when the first Intifadah erupted in the West Bank and Gaza. That has been till now the greatest influence in my life. I was leading a normal life and suddenly I began to hear words like "Palestinian", "Israeli Arab", "conflicts". I saw military shooting, massacres on TV. In school the history of my people � the Palestinian Arabs � was not taught, our identities were hidden. Israel, we were taught, is the only democracy in West Asia. At the same time, the state was occupying another people � the Palestinians.
From: dsath on Fri Oct 13 5:14:36 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5409252.stm
From: ajithfederer on Sun Oct 15 15:14:06 2006.

Walmart pays 78 Million$ as penalty

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/uscompanyjusticelabor;_ylt=As4HjY3DbIYn94Eaqj2__EUDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhcmljNmVhBHNlYwNtcm5ld3M-
From: alwarpet_andavan on Mon Oct 16 15:16:01 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6050408.stm
From: Surya on Mon Oct 16 15:52:38 2006.

How about feeding ur ppl rather than Developing Nuclear Weapons N Korea?!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/16/nkorea.hunger.ap/index.html

On a Funnier Note:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6054208.stm
From: Nerd on Tue Oct 17 15:32:48 2006.

Don has SRK smoking. Give the film an A rating -- AnbumaNi ramadoss

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/don-lights-up-ramadoss-sees-a/24208-8.html
From: m_23_bayarea on Tue Oct 17 15:35:14 2006.

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!!
From: goodsense on Tue Oct 17 16:34:05 2006.

I almost wanted to put this in the joke section. Seriously as I started to read, I was expecting a good laugh at the end. But it's a real story. A calf born with two legs only. Never heard of this in my life. Is it a sign of the times? May be the lord is trying to say to us humans of today that we are not really better than certain lower class animals because we have two legs. Now such animals are starting to have two legs too. What next?
Wonder if this sign has any significance to the country in which the two legged calf was born.
_____________
Here is the story picked from a Guyanese newspaper:

A calf belonging to Ramlogan Singh, a cattle and poultry farmer of Jagdeo Street, Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was born on Saturday with only two legs.

The 70-year-old Singh, who was not at home at the time, said he was eagerly looking forward to the birth of the new calf but was sad when he learnt by telephone that the animal was born with only two legs.

"I was worried about it and ah hardly slept the night because ah mind the cow for so long," he said.

He said he was fortunate though that a young girl, Shelisha Khan, who lives nearby and loves to help him take care of the cow, was around to render assistance.

Khan said she found the calf in a drain and rushed to pull it out. When she realized that it had only two legs, she was so dumfounded, she actually went back into the drain in search of the other two.

The girl then milked the cow and bottle-fed the calf, which cannot stand up to feed.

Singh said when Khan contacted him to give him the news he did not believe her. "I thought she was joking so ah checked right away when ah reach home the night."

Singh has been a farmer for almost all his life and this is the first time he has experienced anything like this.

He recalls that the mother of the calf was born a twin over 12 years ago. This is the eighth calf for the cow.

Singh said usually, after the birth, he would take the cow away from her calves so she could graze. But this time the cow refuses to leave her calf.

This newspaper observed the cow licking her young about the body, especially the spot where the legs were supposed to be.

Singh said the calf attempts to stand and walk, but falls and ends up dragging to get around.

He plans to seek the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture on how to care for the calf, which was born with "good size and appears to be quite healthy."

In the meantime, he is thinking of creating a special "hammock" to balance the calf while it stands on its back legs to feed from the mother.
From: Surya on Tue Oct 17 17:22:09 2006.

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!!

I was under the impression that he already was...
From: m_23_bayarea on Tue Oct 17 17:23:34 2006.

Surya wrote:

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!!

I was under the impression that he already was...

Or maybe STONED pretty soon !!!

From: Surya on Tue Oct 17 17:32:16 2006.

goodsense wrote:

I almost wanted to put this in the joke section. Seriously as I started to read, I was expecting a good laugh at the end. But it's a real story. A calf born with two legs only. Never heard of this in my life. Is it a sign of the times? May be the lord is trying to say to us humans of today that we are not really better than certain lower class animals because we have two legs. Now such animals are starting to have two legs too. Shocked

What next?
Wink

Wonder if this sign has any significance to the country in which the two legged calf was born. Rolling Eyes

_____________
Here is the story picked from a Guyanese newspaper:

A calf belonging to Ramlogan Singh, a cattle and poultry farmer of Jagdeo Street, Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was born on Saturday with only two legs.

The 70-year-old Singh, who was not at home at the time, said he was eagerly looking forward to the birth of the new calf but was sad when he learnt by telephone that the animal was born with only two legs.

"I was worried about it and ah hardly slept the night because ah mind the cow for so long," he said.

He said he was fortunate though that a young girl, Shelisha Khan, who lives nearby and loves to help him take care of the cow, was around to render assistance.

Khan said she found the calf in a drain and rushed to pull it out. When she realized that it had only two legs, she was so dumfounded, she actually went back into the drain in search of the other two.

The girl then milked the cow and bottle-fed the calf, which cannot stand up to feed.

Singh said when Khan contacted him to give him the news he did not believe her. "I thought she was joking so ah checked right away when ah reach home the night."

Singh has been a farmer for almost all his life and this is the first time he has experienced anything like this.

He recalls that the mother of the calf was born a twin over 12 years ago. This is the eighth calf for the cow.

Singh said usually, after the birth, he would take the cow away from her calves so she could graze. But this time the cow refuses to leave her calf.

This newspaper observed the cow licking her young about the body, especially the spot where the legs were supposed to be.

Singh said the calf attempts to stand and walk, but falls and ends up dragging to get around.

He plans to seek the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture on how to care for the calf, which was born with "good size and appears to be quite healthy."

In the meantime, he is thinking of creating a special "hammock" to balance the calf while it stands on its back legs to feed from the mother.

From: Surya on Tue Oct 17 17:33:08 2006.

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Now that...would be something that I'd like to get on Camera...

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!! Laughing

I was under the impression that he already was... Huh?!

Or maybe STONED pretty soon !!! ROTFL

It's one of those...KODAK moments!!

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Oct 18 7:18:04 2006.

Nerd wrote:

Don has SRK smoking. Give the film an A rating -- AnbumaNi ramadoss

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/don-lights-up-ramadoss-sees-a/24208-8.html

What a !! These people doesn have backbone to ban Cigarettes,Pan Parag or Manikchand in India but what is the use of banning in movies .

That too these Pan Parags and Manickchand are main reasons for mouth cancer why they are still encouraged!!

Selfish Government
From: alwarpet_andavan on Wed Oct 18 15:04:23 2006.

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!!

PR Dasmunshi [I & B ministry] has categorically stated that just because there's a smoking scene, an 'A' certificate can't be given...

From: m_23_bayarea on Wed Oct 18 15:14:43 2006.

alwarpet_andavan wrote:

m_23_bayarea wrote:

Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss is gonna be LAUGHED at pretty soon in the North !!! Laughing

PR Dasmunshi [I & B ministry] has categorically stated that just because there's a smoking scene, an 'A' certificate can't be given...

EXCELLENT decision !!!

Otherwsie, Mr. Anbumani might have another dream tonight, and prolly say, all movies with hero and heroine involved in a duet song on a public road must be BANNED or something !!! Of course, you cant go around on the roads embracing or doin all the stuff they show in those duet songs !!!

From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Oct 19 23:32:55 2006.

Happy DeepavaLi to Hubbers!
Ensoy!!

Madhu aNNaa,
Happy DeepavaLi. I will change the avatar on Tuesday
From: dsath on Fri Oct 20 5:11:36 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6068244.stm
From: Surya on Sat Oct 21 22:18:03 2006.

N Korea is showing signs of desires to Live!
From: Braandan on Mon Oct 23 22:30:54 2006.

A low ranking soldier of the Indian army has been arrested for leaking confidential matter to Pakistan.. I am surprised.. I think he is just used as a scapegoat..his rank shows that he is not even a commissioned officer..if one reads the news item one might think that confidential papers are just kept open in desks and unlocked almirahs in the defense ministry of India. how can such a low ranking official get these information without the knowledge of higher officials who are the only ones who can access these info?
From: Braandan on Tue Oct 24 19:42:21 2006.

A K Antony is Defense Minister. Hope he does not wear 'Mundu' (dhoti) while visiting our service men at Leh or somewhere higher up in the Himalayas.. it would freeze his underparts!!

Jokes apart, he is one of the cleanest, zero-corrupt politicians of India.
From: ajithfederer on Wed Oct 25 13:48:16 2006.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSrPRZktHi.U&refer=home

GM rising back...........

From: kamalfan on Thu Oct 26 2:42:00 2006.

Braandan wrote:

A K Antony is Defense Minister. Hope he does not wear 'Mundu' (dhoti) while visiting our service men at Leh or somewhere higher up in the Himalayas.. it would freeze his underparts!!

Jokes apart, he is one of the cleanest, zero-corrupt politicians of India.

<Dig>
Braandan,
just noticed ur avatar... would youhappen to have some links on UG?
</Dig>

From: Braandan on Thu Oct 26 19:26:39 2006.

Kamalfan,
For your request on links to UG

Go from here to all the other links

http://thesageandthehousewife.blogspot.com/

Also

http://www.well.com/~jct/
you can download his biography (Mahesh Bhat)
From: rocketboy on Sun Oct 29 13:07:15 2006.

Oxford to set up centre in India

http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/oct/29oxford.htm
From: rocketboy on Sun Oct 29 13:58:15 2006.

ajithfederer wrote:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSrPRZktHi.U&refer=home

GM rising back...........

Just saw this. GM is a drowning ship. It has already lost its market in Asia to other big players like Toyota. But one can safely work in any of GM's research labs. Even if the company eventually decides to wind up its operations the employees continue to receive 90% of their last drawn salary. I don't know any other company which gives its employees such a lucrative option.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Sun Oct 29 19:51:05 2006.

Pakistani terrorist is a Mallu

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103004231200.htm
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Oct 30 11:23:34 2006.

A decade for a justice!!

http://www.ndtv.com/breakingnews/default.asp?refno=1030200683715PM
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Oct 31 6:56:58 2006.

Please Read it!!!

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103108270100.htm
From: Braandan on Tue Oct 31 20:03:14 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Please Read it!!!

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103108270100.htm

Sad to read.. but these guys qualify for Darwin awards..one more example that new software professionals are very bad in general knowledge.. your exhaust tube is underwater, can't you think that it cannot exhaust out anything at that time?
From: NOV on Thu Nov 2 11:06:50 2006.

Seems that salaries for top executives in India have gone beyond 7 digits and through the roof, according to a report in the Spore Straits Times today.

It highlighted people like:

>> Raghu Pillai (CEO of Reliance Industries) - annual salary: 45 million rupees (S$1.56 million)
>> George Zacharias (managing director of Yahoo India) - annual salary: 40 million rupees
>> Neeraj Swaroop (CEO of Standard Chartered Bank India) - annual salary: more than 40 million rupees
>> Raju Narisetti (Editor of a new English business daily published by Hindustan Times Media) - annual salary: more than 30 million rupees

And there are many more.

Stanton Chase International, a US consultancy firm, said that managers in India with 10-15 years experience receive at least 10 million rupees in annual salary - considerably more than US salaries of between US$100,000-150, 000.

Looks as if highly-paid executives are becoming more and more common in supposedly "socialist" India.

The report also mentioned that Infosys Technologies (one of the top Indian software companies) will spend US$100 million next year to hire and train 25,000 workers and college grads from around the world, including those from MIT and Harvard. And Tata Consultancy Services plans to hire 30,000 staff next year, including 1,000 from the US.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Nov 2 11:24:55 2006.

NOV,
��¡ ��ġ� ��Ţ�� Ţ��!
From: NOV on Thu Nov 2 11:32:27 2006.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

NOV,
��¡ ��ġ� ��Ţ�� Ţ��!
naangal ellaam meendum thaai mannukku thrumba nEram vandhuvittadhO ennavO

From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Nov 2 11:55:58 2006.

NOV,
��¡ ��ġ� ��Ţ�� Ţ��! FishGrin

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

naangal ellaam meendum thaai mannukku thrumba nEram vandhuvittadhO ennavO RedJump

�� ġ� �� 츢��ǡ?

�� ġ� ��ġ ��
�� Ţ�� ɡ�� !

(second)
http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/movie/T0000971.html

From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Nov 2 12:52:34 2006.

NOV wrote:

naangal ellaam meendum thaai mannukku thrumba nEram vandhuvittadhO ennavO

(last)
http://www.dishant.com/album/ar_-_vande_mataram.html
From: ajithfederer on Thu Nov 2 19:26:54 2006.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/061102/2kumar.htm
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Nov 3 14:24:25 2006.

en manaiviyai ennOdu irukka vidungaL enRu kaNavan kenji kEtta pOthum, naalu kuzhanthaikaL koNda thaayai oorai vittE virattiyadhu panchaayaththu!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/310264.cms
From: Surya on Sat Nov 4 19:09:48 2006.

Israel mounts air strikes in Gaza

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6115950.stm
From: NOV on Wed Nov 8 23:34:57 2006.

Boy, 12, found hanged after fight with sister
08 Nov 2006

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
KLANG: Thirteen-year- old Gowri sat in the corner of the house and wailed.
She looked frightened. Some of her relatives gave her cold stares.

All she did was admonish her 12-year-old brother for spilling water on the
porch and splashing it around. Several minutes later at 2pm, he was dead.

The boy, Dinesh Kumar, had used a veshti (a sarong-like white garment worn
by Indian men) to hang himself in the bathroom of his home in Taman Meru
Tiga yesterday.

After he ran upstairs, Dinesh's 10-year-old cousin Geeta Priya went to check
on him 15 minutes later and found the body.

"I thought he would come down after he calmed down. After I scolded him,
Dinesh slapped Geeta and ran upstairs. When I heard Geeta's screams, I went
upstairs and found his lifeless body.

"I ran to my neighbour's house. He came and cut the veshti and brought
Dinesh down. I never thought he would do this," a sobbing Gowri said.

His mother K. Logeswary, 34, was inconsolable and kept repeating "please
bring my son back" while his father A. Ravichantar, 35, was sobbing.

The children's uncle A. Thangaraja, 36, said the parents worked in a paint
factory here and were informed of the incident at 3pm.

He said Dinesh was religious and had always helped out in a nearby temple.
He had ambitions of becoming a priest.

"His dream was to buy a car and drive his parents through town," Thangaraja
added.
From: Badri on Wed Nov 8 23:47:11 2006.

Oh, I wish no one blames the poor girl for the boy's absolute imbecility!!!
From: NOV on Thu Nov 9 2:17:05 2006.

more importantly, the girl should not blame herself. wonder whats gonna happen to her.
From: rocketboy on Thu Nov 9 13:18:06 2006.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/nov/06phd.htm

Really a very unfortunate incident especially when we come to know he committed suicide due to depression.
From: rocketboy on Thu Nov 9 13:33:54 2006.

-*-
From: rocketboy on Thu Nov 9 13:34:26 2006.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/nov/09threat.htm
From: Badri on Thu Nov 9 20:33:26 2006.

It's official, Republicans concede defeat!
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/its-official-republicans-concede-defeat/2006/11/10/1162661861536.html
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Nov 9 21:55:11 2006.

��ɡ� ��ĺ�� þ�� Ӹ�� è��.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6131256.stm
From: Nerd on Fri Nov 10 14:03:31 2006.

Sachin in Time's 60 top Asians list

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/sachin-in-times-60-top-asians-list/21629-13.html
From: nilavupriyan on Fri Nov 10 14:10:38 2006.

Nerd wrote:

Sachin in Time's 60 top Asians list

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/sachin-in-times-60-top-asians-list/21629-13.html
From: rocketboy on Fri Nov 10 14:17:22 2006.

I find no mention of Abdul Kalam. What a shame
From: Surya on Fri Nov 17 19:37:38 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6154826.stm

Are These Supposed To Be British/European Body Guards?

If they're American...then I smell Somthing Fishy because I've lived here All My Life, and I haven't Heard ONE AMERICAN say "Bloddy" in all the years I've been here. Infact, Many americans don't even know the name bloddy It's just not in the culture to say Bloddy...

From: bulb_mani on Sat Nov 18 3:38:59 2006.

Quote:

Iraq invasion a 'disaster', admits Blair

Saturday, 18 November , 2006, 10:29

London: Admitting that the western forces have been powerless in containing the violence in Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the invasion had been "disastrous".

Challenged in an interview on Al-Jazeera's new English-language channel that the Western intervention in Iraq had "so far been pretty much of a disaster", Blair said: "It has." Blair admitted that western forces have been powerless to stop the violence, but stopped short of accepting the blame for plunging Iraq to the brink of civil war - blaming instead the insurgent uprising that has killed 125 British troops.

But his admission in the interview will be seen as an historic climb-down for Blair, who has always fought to put a positive gloss on often disastrous events.

Blair went on to say: "It has, but you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq? It is not difficult because of some accident in planning, but there is a deliberate strategy, Al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militia on the other, to create a situation in which the will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war."

According to a report in The Times, his frank remarks came on the day that one of his most loyal ministers was reported to have described the war as "his big mistake in foreign affairs".

Margaret Hodge was said to have accused Blair of espousing "moral imperialism", remarks that she denied through an aide but which were recalled by people who attended the private meeting at which she was alleged to have made them.

Blair was speaking to Sir David Frost on the first edition of his Frost Over the World programme on Al-Jazeera International, which was launched on Wednesday. His appearance is a boost for the network, which was once denounced as propaganda by Donald Rumsfeld, the former US Defence Secretary, and is perhaps best known in Britain for broadcasting tapes from Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.

After his apparent admission that the intervention had been a disaster, Blair insisted: "We are not walking away from Iraq. We will stay for as long as the government needs us to stay.”

"And the reason for that is that what is happening in Iraq, as in Afghanistan, as elsewhere in parts of the Middle East, is a struggle between the decent majority of people, who want to live in peace together, and those who have an extreme and perverted and warped view of Islam, who want to create war," he said.

"In those circumstances, our task has got to be to stand up for the moderates and the democrats against the extremists and the sectarians, Blair said adding that they are testing our will at the moment, and our will has not to be found wanting."

Repeating his appeal to Iran and Syria to work together for Middle East peace Blair rejected as absurd suggestions that his readiness to work with the two countries amounted to appeasement.

He said that he had a message for Tehran and Damascus: "If you are prepared to be part of the solution, there is a partnership available to you. But at the moment, and this is particularly so in respect of what Iran is doing in supporting terrorism throughout the Middle East and acting in breach of its nuclear weapons obligations, you are behaving in such a way that makes such a partnership impossible."

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14333295

Embarassed

From: Shakthiprabha. on Sun Nov 19 2:52:41 2006.

Tom cruise weds katie holmes

http://www.ndtvmovies.com/newstory.asp?section=Movies&id=5658
From: ajithfederer on Sun Nov 19 9:45:36 2006.

Shakthiprabha wrote:

Tom cruise weds katie holmes

http://www.ndtvmovies.com/newstory.asp?section=Movies&id=5658
From: NOV on Mon Nov 20 21:50:54 2006.

What is the world coming to?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/21/nation/16084813&sec=nation

In the printed version, the photos of the couple are splashed.

From: NM on Tue Nov 21 1:05:19 2006.

What is the world coming to?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/21/nation/16084813&sec=nation

In the printed version, the photos of the couple are splashed. Boo

ithellaam oru news!

From: Hulkster on Tue Nov 21 1:13:05 2006.

NM wrote:

What is the world coming to?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/21/nation/16084813&sec=nation

In the printed version, the photos of the couple are splashed. Boo

ithellaam oru news! Banging Head

Pakkathu veetu maanga thoppule maanga thengai mathiri irukku nu news kodukkuruthu vida ithu yevalavo betteru

Akka marumagal yeppadi irukaal...rombo computer use pennathaengo...radiation vayirai baathichi marumagalai affect pennidum...ozhunga restu yedukkura velaiyai paarunga

From: NM on Tue Nov 21 1:18:40 2006.

Hulkster wrote:

Pakkathu veetu maanga thoppule maanga thengai mathiri irukku nu news kodukkuruthu vida ithu yevalavo betteru No Teeth

Akka marumagal yeppadi irukaal...rombo computer use pennathaengo...radiation vayirai baathichi marumagalai affect pennidum...ozhunga restu yedukkura velaiyai paarunga Angry2

ennathu?? maanga thEngga maathiri irukunu oru seithiyaa??

marumagal nanna irukkaal........yaar intha hulk maama-nu adikkadi kEkkuraal...sari.....ippo namma chat stop pannlEna, mr mod vanthuviduvaar

From: Shakthiprabha. on Tue Nov 21 2:38:46 2006.

From: selvakumar on Tue Nov 21 4:31:20 2006.

What is the world coming to?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/21/nation/16084813&sec=nation

In the printed version, the photos of the couple are splashed. Boo

We should be atleast happy with the fact that someone like Hilary Clinton and her daugher will get affected because of these poor souls !

@ the lady for being so intelligent in counting (maths) > 31 times

@ the guy for being so mad that he forgot the count > more than 20 times

NOV, Great news

From: narayanan on Tue Nov 21 4:34:10 2006.

Quote:

Pakkathu veetu maanga thoppule maanga thengai mathiri irukku nu news kodukkuruthu vida ithu yevalavo betteru

appadi ellam news vandhucha enna illa neenga appadi oru analogy solreengala ?
~~~~~~~

Quote:

NOV, Great news
From: dev on Tue Nov 21 5:05:21 2006.

Ithu ellam oru news.... Ithuku 'great news-nu oru paaratu verai...
From: selvakumar on Tue Nov 21 5:53:37 2006.

dev wrote:

Ithu ellam oru news.... Ithuku 'great news-nu oru paaratu verai...

That was a great news indeed !
From: Hulkster on Tue Nov 21 7:31:59 2006.

narayanan wrote:

appadi ellam news vandhucha enna illa neenga appadi oru analogy solreengala ?

Analogy pa...anaal appadi oru news varuthukkum periya vaaippu irukku
From: Shakthiprabha. on Tue Nov 21 7:51:26 2006.

selvakumar wrote:

@ the lady for being so intelligent in counting (maths) > 31 times @ the guy for being so mad that he forgot the count > more than 20 times
NOV, Great news

this is not maths...

ITS PSYCOLOGY
From: selvakumar on Tue Nov 21 9:16:15 2006.

Shakthiprabha wrote:

this is not maths...
ITS PSYCOLOGY

Anyway, FULL CREDIT goes to the lady for being expert in both the fields !
From: goodsense on Tue Nov 21 21:23:27 2006.

In the olden days, when a man promises to marry a woman, the parents, rest of family and even the community are witnesses. Such promises are no longer binding in most modern societies. On the contrary, another old rule applies � promises are made to be broken.

Here, it�s the woman�s word against the man�s. There are no witnesses, no promissory letter as in the old days. And if there was a promissory letter or witnesses, there is nothing to suggest that a sexual relationship prior to marriage was a condition to bind the man or the woman to a marriage. The number of times they had sexual intercourse has no significance of the intention of either and moreover, the woman would have difficulties proving it. Recording it serves as little proof. Who knows � may be she made it up to blackmail the man for some other reason where his intention was well known to her. No one knows.

There is that moral issue - to stop the man from running away cause she will be left in shame etc. But again, this will not hold based on the above and who wants to hold a man in such a way? Her moral values would not have much count in the legal battle and the question is � if she is so concerned about moral values, why get involved and so many encounters over a three year period? Why love took precedence over moral value and he didn't marry her after the first or second year, why did she think he would in the third? Is it because she suddenly realize that he is planning to marry another woman that she started a fit? She may have had sex with him cause she loves him, but he did not had it with her because he loves her. For the man, sex is not love and that is OK. The situation is quite embarassing for both of them just the same.

For similar reasons, the woman would have difficulties proving deception. In her case, there is no proof that there was a promise to marry and that it was on condition of sexual intercourse or that the man promised to marry another woman while making this woman believes that he would marry her. She may have grounds on assault where he admitted and humiliation since it was in a public place. No doubt it would matter if the judge believes her � truth can come out when we speak. This may be her only stronghold.

I am appalled to see that a woman by right has to tell her would-be husband about her background before marriage even when she is not yet sure if he would marry her. What about the man?

They have both consented, but the man is saying he did it because she wanted it. What about him? And if it is true that she wanted it, didn't he realize that she perhaps did out of love and that she may have expectations? And it's OK for him to tell his future wife, children and society that he did it cause she wanted it.

More and more women are learning the games of men � sex and no love and move on to someone else. It�s frightening. It�s all because of experiences like the woman in question here. This is probably the only way forward to eradicate such problems than a resolution in Court. We are slowing moving away from male domination and the time is coming when women will rule and these issues like those facing this woman, would not be issues. Women will learn that they don�t have to wait or rely on the love of men, wait for a man to make her happy, buy her roses or worry about what the society or world thinks if she had sex with a man before or after marriage etc. Men have been doing it for decades and are not condemned � they are credited instead of debited for it.

I am afraid, this woman may have to face some tough realities, but whatever it is, I hope she is not condemned, but get the support she needs.

If the society keep promoting and accepting that it is OK, for a man to fool around before he marries and do so with one woman and marry another, while it's the opposite for the woman, then these problems will peresist I am afraid. May be this case would set some example in particular when considering the age of the man and woman in all the cirsumstances.

It will be interesting to see the verdict.
From: goodsense on Tue Nov 21 22:27:19 2006.

When I say a woman would not have to worry about what the society or world thinks if she had sex with a man before or after marriage etc. when women start to rule, I really meant mutual respect between men and women for whom they are and what they do with proper justification. It shouldn't be respect for a man only with no justification after skipping over the woman as it still is today. We are far from achieving such equality and some may even see it as immorality on the part of the woman.

I always think of it this way. Who should decide and in whose interest? It was always the men who decided and in their own interest and they would like to keep it that way. I am sorry, but this is the truth.
Of course I would like to see both men and women staying pure until marriage, but how many men does?

Even if that woman is successful in Court, she would have a stigma attached to her.

The other day a chinese girl was complaining to me that many Chinese men are having extra-marrital affairs and it's so easy for a man to find another woman if and when his wife dies. She wonders if her husband is doing it. This is not only prevalent in that community these days.

For all these reasons, some of us can see that we are better off staying single. I am sorry NOV, but this is what I think the world is coming to.
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Nov 21 23:04:59 2006.

Doctors or(are) Yama?

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103117010400.htm
From: NOV on Thu Nov 23 4:49:40 2006.

"I dont give a damn who you are. Tie that thaali now!"

KLANG: It could have been a scene out of a Tamil movie.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/National/20061123093547/Article/index_html

From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Nov 23 10:37:57 2006.

KLANG: It could have been a scene out of a Tamil movie.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/National/20061123093547/Article/index_html

"I dont give a damn who you are. Tie that thaali now!" Shocked

Ennai oru dharam kEkkaame
AambaLayaa chEndhu ellaam mudivu paNNitteeha.
Aaththaannu oruththi irunthirundhaa ippidi nadanthirukkumaa?
PombaLe illaatha veedille?
KEppaarille. Adhaan ippidi cheerazhichchup putteeha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSkprlG1yBM

From: Shakthiprabha. on Fri Nov 24 5:32:37 2006.
From: vramesh on Sat Nov 25 0:25:19 2006.

Godman rapes housewife and victim's husband driven out of village from protesting

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20061123083749&Title=Nation&Topic=0&
From: Hulkster on Sat Nov 25 0:44:30 2006.

vramesh wrote:

Godman rapes housewife and victim's husband driven out of village from protesting

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20061123083749&Title=Nation&Topic=0&

The exploitation of women and the backwardness of their beliefs just makes us wonder whether we really understand the meaning of moving forward....all these developig countries should make a effort to wipe out such laws everywhere before focussing on practical development.
From: rajraj on Tue Nov 28 17:14:17 2006.

............Web proves to be online ego monster.................

" There is something about the web that brings out the ego monster in everybody".

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/008200611282221.htm
From: rocketboy on Mon Dec 4 13:04:34 2006.

Sunita Williams all set for space mission

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/04sunita.htm

We are proud of you
From: RP on Wed Dec 6 0:49:04 2006.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Shibu_Soren_gets_life_sentence/articleshow
From: rocketboy on Thu Dec 7 15:01:59 2006.

The Hindu carried an article ,a kind of informal conversation with Romulus Whitaker two days ago. For the uninitiated, Romulus is one well known wild life conservationist in India . He is the founder/director of Sanke Park, Chennai and is currently associated with the Madras Crocodile Bank. This guy has spent nearly 50 years in India(New York born) but his work has not been not appreciated to a great extent .He feels the current framework will not go a long way in protecting our precious fauna. It makes some sad reading because I still remember when I was a child my house used to be besieged by sparrows. Its been nearly four or five years since I spotted one. Where have all the sparrows gone ?What have we done ? I miss their chirpy noice and Romulus' indignation just adds to my misery.
From: Surya on Thu Dec 7 20:10:35 2006.

Periyar DK Mobs Target Brahmins In Metur - 6 Brahmins Endure Major Damage And Are Being Treated At The Local Hospitale. ONE OF THEM IS A 70 YEAR OLD WORKER @ A FACTORY! MURUGAN TEMPLE GETS RAZED, AND GOD'S STATUE GETS DESTROYED. THE PRIEST AND THE PRIEST'S SON WERE ALSO ATTACKED! - Dinamalar.
From: Surya on Thu Dec 7 20:27:49 2006.

On a Less Disgusting Note:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6219314.stm
From: RP on Sun Dec 10 0:47:29 2006.

Singling out minority welfare, PM says plans for marginalised need first claim on resources

www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/18277.html
From: Nayagan on Sun Dec 10 10:20:11 2006.

Surya, Is there a link for the Dk story?

being poor and a brahmin in TN is bound to get you in trouble.
Didn't karunannidhi make a statement against brahminism recently.
I saw it on TV but no print media carried the story.
From: alwarpet_andavan on Mon Dec 11 5:42:21 2006.

[quote="Surya"]Periyar DK Mobs Target Brahmins In Metur - 6 Brahmins Endure Major Damage And Are Being Treated At The Local Hospitale. ONE OF THEM IS A 70 YEAR OLD WORKER @ A FACTORY! MURUGAN TEMPLE GETS RAZED, AND GOD'S STATUE GETS DESTROYED. THE PRIEST AND THE PRIEST'S SON WERE ALSO ATTACKED! - Dinamalar.

Do these jokers have the guts to attack a community which can hit back??? No way....

By the way Metur??? I thought the only incident was in Ayodhya Mandapam in West Mambalam, Chennai....
From: Surya on Mon Dec 11 16:00:00 2006.

.....Deleted....
From: rajraj on Mon Dec 11 16:04:41 2006.

Surya: No politics here! Remember, you were warned with appropriate action!

Surya wrote:

deleted...
From: rajraj on Mon Dec 11 16:22:33 2006.

Religion/caste related and potentially offensive topics are strictly taboo.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Sat Dec 16 2:37:53 2006.

Vadanaattil RaavaNanukkOr kOyil

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1869956,0006.htm
From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 2:45:27 2006.

Received this by mail:

Shanthi, asian game medal holder fails gender test [TIS]

This is shameful for Indian sports. Indian athlete Santhi Soundarajan, who won the women's 800 metres silver medal in the 15th Asian Games is to be stripped of the medal, as she has reportedly failed a gender test conducted at the games.

Sources revealed that Shanthi had been picked up for a test at the Games, after a fellow athlete doubted her credentials as a woman and lodged a complaint to the Games officials.

Shanthi had picked up the silver clocking 2 minutes, 3.16 seconds behind Mariam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain. Shanthi who hails from a poor family in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, was to be felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government for her feat.

From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 2:46:31 2006.

Received this by mail:

Shanthi, asian game medal holder fails gender test [TIS]

This is shameful for Indian sports. Indian athlete Santhi Soundarajan, who won the women's 800 metres silver medal in the 15th Asian Games is to be stripped of the medal, as she has reportedly failed a gender test conducted at the games.

Sources revealed that Shanthi had been picked up for a test at the Games, after a fellow athlete doubted her credentials as a woman and lodged a complaint to the Games officials.

Shanthi had picked up the silver clocking 2 minutes, 3.16 seconds behind Mariam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain. Shanthi who hails from a poor family in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, was to be felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government for her feat.

Gender Test aa?

From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 2:46:34 2006.

[tscii]
UNESCO suspends Chandrika

Complaints of human rights violations

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga' s appointment as a Consultant for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for South Asia has been suspended by the world body due to complaints over violations of human rights and press focus.

"This issue is now under review," Muriel de Pierrebourg, spokesperson for UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura confirmed to The Sunday Times last night. She made the comments from the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

A letter Mr Matsuura sent to Ms. Kumaratunga' s London address states that these accusations against her "could undermine the objectives" of UNESCO. In that he asked her to change her arrangements concerning her plans to visit Asia. It had been sent from New York where he was attending the launch of Global Monitoring Report on EFA at the time.

He said her assignment on behalf of UNESCO, had come to the attention of various human rights watch groups and she had been the subject of "very harsh criticism and press focus."Ms Kumaratunga who ended her second term in November last year, soon after Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as President, lobbied strongly for the UNESCO assignment. This was through United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who relinquishes office on January 1 next year.

Press reports also stated that she sought and obtained the support of French President Jacques Chirac for this job. After the appointment was made, Ms Kumaratunga declared that she had expressly sought to leave out Sri Lanka and deal only with other South Asian countries.

"Given the sensitivity of your mission with its subject area," Director General Matsuura has said, "I am concerned that the perceptions held by these human rights groups could undermine the objectives of a future relationship and your generous desire to further the work of UNESCO in South Asia in a mutually beneficial way."

Mr. Matsuura has told Ms Kumaratunga, "In the light of these developments; I must also re-examine the proposed arrangement with you; however, I will revert to you as soon as possible on the outcome of this reconsideration. "

He has apologised for the "inconvenience, which he has said is "beyond our control."
According to the Director General's spokesperson last night, the matter is still under review.
Mr. Matsuura has added: "I am very mindful of your continued commitment to education for all and your desire to assist the region of South Asia and so I ask your understanding of this unexpected development and the need to ensure that UNESCO's ability to advocate on behalf of these goals remains paramount."

Last week, Ms. Kumaratunga visited her former electorate of Attanagalla and told Sri Lanka Freedom Party workers there that astrologically it was good for her in April, and that she would return to active politics by then.

The former President�s office spokesman, Piyasena Dissanayake, denied any personal knowledge of the UNESCO intimation to Ms. Kumaratunga.

He provided to The Sunday Times the contact details of Ms. Kumaratunga�s office. When the newspaper contacted officials in her office for a comment from Ms. Kumaratunga, they assured they would convey the message to her. However, there was no response from her.

source: http://www.sundayti mes.lk/061217/ News/n118. html
From: dev on Mon Dec 18 5:21:47 2006.

NOV wrote:

Received this by mail:

Shanthi, asian game medal holder fails gender test [TIS]

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 5:25:14 2006.

Too much where is the proof?

From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 5:34:32 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Too much where is the proof?
what can I do to show the proof?

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/94179.php/Asiad-silver-medallist-Santhi-Soundarajan-fails-gender-test
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 5:47:33 2006.

Hmmm! lets wait for the confirmation..you know its very hard to digest this news
From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 21:35:13 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Hmmm! lets wait for the confirmation..you know its very hard to digest this news

It has been reported in all the dailies in Melbourne as well. Besides, they also said Shanti had previously failed the test once before

The Hindu has also reported it

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/18/stories/2006121809971900.htm

Besides, The Indian Athletics Federation (AFI) is planning to set up a panel, possibly of medical experts, to inquire into the issue of woman athlete S Santhi's gender controversy, according to AFI secretary Lalit Bhanot
From: kannannn on Mon Dec 18 21:55:59 2006.

There was a similar case a few years ago, when an Indian athelete commited suicide after repeated taunts from her team mates over her gender. It's really sad that these people aren't able to showcase their talents.

From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 22:02:15 2006.

What are you trying to say? Are they sure of who they say they are? Maybe I am missing some major point here, but how difficult is it to establish the gender of a person, with reasonable accuracy?

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 22:06:09 2006.

same thing should not happen again, media will react like a monster now and will magnify the issue! Its the duty of Government to melt down the problem,she is from village and it is understandable how people will react for this.

kannann,

true

From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 22:23:08 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Does anyone apart from me believe there could be deliberate deception involved?

kannann,

true Sad

From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 22:29:03 2006.

Badri wrote:

Does anyone apart from me believe there could be deliberate deception involved?

count me in.

its all over our newspapers here too.
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 22:34:04 2006.

i don think that a female from a south indian village is this much courageous to participate in the game by hiding the fact. count me also badri-na ... this is a stupid politics!!
From: rajesh_genial on Mon Dec 18 22:35:48 2006.

NOV wrote:

Badri wrote:

Does anyone apart from me believe there could be deliberate deception involved?

count me in.

its all over our newspapers here too.

digression:
ive sent u a pm

why dont these asian games federation chec all these details before the event for all participants

medal kuduthutu then results announce pandradhu ...they must do all these things before the event itsef....

is it difficult
From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 22:36:18 2006.

NOV wrote:

Badri wrote:

Does anyone apart from me believe there could be deliberate deception involved?

count me in.

its all over our newspapers here too.

And maybe people in India are more interested in protecting Santhi, but it is a highly embarrassing situation here in Melbourne. Everybody had the paper in their hands last evening on the train, and were casting curious glances at the Indians in the train, after reading about the article.

If there is deliberate deception involved, no quarter should be shown to Santhi, or all the other people behind in this shameful incident that has cast a blemish on Indian Sports.

If a person fails a Dope test, it still only culpates the concerned indvidual but such a thing holds the entire commitee and therefore the country at shame!!

From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 22:57:39 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

i don think that a female from a south indian village is this much courageous to participate in the game by hiding the fact. count me also badri-na ... this is a stupid politics!!

i think you are in the opposite camp sridhar.

badri and I believe that there was a deliberate attempt to cheat.

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 23:03:28 2006.

Oh ok... I am still in support to that poor female??!! Do you really think that a girl from a village can think like this and participate...Yosinga konjam!
From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 23:07:22 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Oh ok... I am still in support to that poor female??!! Do you really think that a girl from a village can think like this and participate...Yosinga konjam!

Sridhar, whatever it is, Santhi must have agreed to play the role in the deception (if it is deception indeed)

We dont know what the circumstances may be, but for now, what h/she did is definitely wrong
From: NOV on Mon Dec 18 23:07:47 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Do you really think that a girl from a village can think like this and participate...Yosinga konjam!
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 23:12:28 2006.

Badri-na,

Imo we cant come to a conclusion just like that! I think she is innocent!
From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 23:15:26 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

Badri-na,

Imo we cant come to a conclusion just like that! I think she is innocent!

Agreed we cant come to a conclusion till the facts are clearly known. Maybe somebody put Santhi up to it and instigated it. We dont know.

But I am only thinking of the disgrace and the shame to our nation!

From: dev on Mon Dec 18 23:17:54 2006.

Badri wrote:

What are you trying to say? Are they sure of who they say they are? Maybe I am missing some major point here, but how difficult is it to establish the gender of a person, with reasonable accuracy?

Athu thaan enakkum puriyalai!!!... ennatha test pannuraangalo ennavo ponga...

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Dec 18 23:18:08 2006.

true if the case is true she should count the bar but if the case failed who will equalise the embarrassment and shame faced by her?
From: Badri on Mon Dec 18 23:23:34 2006.

Dev wrote:

ennatha test pannuraangalo ennavo ponga..
From: NOV on Tue Dec 19 0:04:39 2006.

dev wrote:

Athu thaan enakkum puriyalai!!!... ennatha test pannuraangalo ennavo ponga...

indha latchanaththula sanguine sridhar asked ME for the proof yesterday!
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Dec 19 0:10:34 2006.

ada raama! nethu neenga post panninadhu email from your friend-nu soneenga,so i asked a proper news link as a proof...
From: rajraj on Tue Dec 19 0:33:40 2006.

FYI:
It has been there for more than 30 years!

http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/OlympicGenderTesting.html

From: dev on Tue Dec 19 0:40:17 2006.

Athu thaan enakkum puriyalai!!!... ennatha test pannuraangalo ennavo ponga... Mad

indha latchanaththula sanguine sridhar asked ME for the proof yesterday! Embarassed

From: dev on Tue Dec 19 0:41:19 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

ada raama! nethu neenga post panninadhu email from your friend-nu soneenga,so i asked a proper news link as a proof...

Ketkiratha theliva ketka kudathaa,Sridhar...
From: kannannn on Tue Dec 19 12:23:04 2006.

NOV and Badri, I think you are missing the point here. Failing a gender test doesn't necessarily mean she is a 'man'. It just means there are gender abnormalities. She has more male traits than others. The link Badri gave, clearly says: "A medical expert familiar with the rules and regulations of the international sports bodies said on Sunday that an athlete who failed a gender test could seek a review by an expert panel after two years following a surgery and hormone therapy and such an athlete, if cleared, could start competing again."

rajraj's link also says: "In point-of-fact, genuine imposters have not been uncovered; however, gender verification procedures have resulted in substantial harm to a number of unassailable
women athletes born with relatively rare genetic abnormalities that affect development of the gonads or the expression of secondary sexual characteristics"

Idhethaan naanum solren. There have been precedents in Indian sports. Why jump the gun here and accuse her of deception.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Tue Dec 19 12:51:23 2006.

Kannannn Sir solRathu sari thaan. Ithellaam avvaLavu easy-aa kaNdu pidikka koodiyathu ille. Athanaal thaan iththanai test, review ellaam vechurukkanga. Sanguine Shri is right. I dont think Shanti has deceived.

Adamant-aa Shanti nadai pOttaa
Thadai pOda neenga Governmentaa?
Thadaa!

(fourth)
http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/movie/T0000060.html
From: rocketboy on Tue Dec 19 14:08:43 2006.

One thing to note down is she has not cheated anyone by abusing performance enhancing drugs. How can she be held responsible for nature's quirk and mind you she did not get up from bed one fine morning and went on to win the silver medal . She would have competed at various level(district,state,national) before representing the nation. If at all someone is to be blamed then it should be the authorities who failed to notice the difference. I think putting the blame squarely on her is premature. Anyways IMO there were many athletes before who would have failed the test had it been properly enforced. Flo jo (Florence Griffith Joyner) for one .
From: Badri on Tue Dec 19 19:09:58 2006.

While that is true, what about all the other female participants? How would they feel? Whether Santhi deliberatley deceived or not, how would all those other runners feel when they come to know that the person who beat them probably had more strength/stamina than they did, for whatever reasons?
From: NOV on Tue Dec 19 20:31:08 2006.

TSO, what can I say

kaalam kalikaalam aagippOchchudaa
computer kadavulaaga maarippOchchudaa
aambalaiye theriyaama kozhandha porakkudhu
pombalainga sErndhu inga kudumbam nadakkudhu
dabbu mattum vechchirundhaa pOdhum
neenga thappu gippu senjaalum niyaayam
poyyum saththiyam seyyum indha bhoomi eppadi uyyum
idha paakka paakka manushan konda bakthi koraiyudhu
vinai theerkka vandha saami kooda aaththil karaiyudhu
mahaa ganapathi

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Dec 20 0:38:23 2006.

One thing to note down is she has not cheated anyone by abusing performance enhancing drugs. How can she be held responsible for nature's quirk and mind you she did not get up from bed one fine morning and went on to win the silver medal . She would have competed at various level(district,state,national) before representing the nation. If at all someone is to be blamed then it should be the authorities who failed to notice the difference. I think putting the blame squarely on her is premature. Anyways IMO there were many athletes before who would have failed the test had it been properly enforced. Flo jo (Florence Griffith Joyner) for one .

very true!!

From: Badri on Wed Dec 20 0:45:05 2006.

Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

she did not get up from bed one fine morning and went on to win the silver medal . She would have competed at various level(district,state,national) before representing the nation.

very true!! Clap

Which only means all those people in the district, state and national levels who lost would also be angry that it was an uneven and unfair match!!!

From: narayanan on Wed Dec 20 2:48:14 2006.

I have one utter basic question here: This gender testing is around for 40 years. Deliberate deception or not, if it is done anyway, why not do it on all particapants and disallow them from participating at the first place ? Atleast it would save them from the international shame if they are genuinely born with gender abnormalities. If I remember right, wass'nt the person on which 'Boys Dont Cry' was based, a person similar to Santhi ?
From: kannannn on Wed Dec 20 11:50:50 2006.

Badri wrote:

Which only means all those people in the district, state and national levels who lost would also be angry that it was an uneven and unfair match!!!

It doesn't necessarily mean that Shanti naturally had more strength than other female competetors. rajraj's link says that many intersex people have partial or complete androgen resistance, which means they are also resistant to the strength promoting qualities of testosterone. In the article Gender verification of female athletes, the authors argue that "women with intersex conditions exhibit no differences in biophysical and anatomic scales relevant to sports performance outside the range of possibility for XX female athletes".

ABC sport says: "Soundarajan, 25, had cleared the gender test at the Asian track and field championships in the South Korean city of Incheon last year, where she won the silver in the 800m."
I wonder what the parameters of the tests are!!

narayanan wrote:

If I remember right, wass'nt the person on which 'Boys Dont Cry' was based, a person similar to Santhi ?

No. Teena Brandon had Gender Identity Disorder. Though she was born female, she identified herself with members of the opposite sex. That is different.

From: Badri on Wed Dec 20 18:30:45 2006.

narayanan wrote:

I have one utter basic question here: This gender testing is around for 40 years. Deliberate deception or not, if it is done anyway, why not do it on all particapants and disallow them from participating at the first place ? Atleast it would save them from the international shame if they are genuinely born with gender abnormalities. If I remember right, wass'nt the person on which 'Boys Dont Cry' was based, a person similar to Santhi ?

From: NOV on Thu Dec 21 4:47:03 2006.

[tscii]ATHLETICS: NEW DELHI: Santhi stripped
http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Wednesday/Sports/20061220104654/Article/index_html

Indian athlete Santhi Soundarajan was officially stripped of her Asian Games silver medal yesterday for what the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said was a �Games rule violation�.

Indian officials had said on Monday that Santhi, who won the women�s 800m silver at Doha, had failed a gender verification test carried out by the OCA�s medical committee.

The OCA, however, sought to be more discreet and wrote to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that Santhi had been �disqualified as per the recommendations of the medical committee on a Games rule violation�.

Viktoriya Yalovtseva of Kazakhstan, who won the 800m bronze, will now be awarded the silver medal and fourth-placed Zamira Amirova of Uzbekistan the bronze.

The event was won by Maryam Jussuf Jamal of Bahrain.

The gender verification test, which is not mandatory but carried out if officials want it or a rival protests, was done soon after Santhi finished second in the 800m on Dec 9.

She was withdrawn from the 1,500m and sent home once the initial report was handed over to Indian Games officials, an Athletics Federation of India (AFI) source had said on Monday.

Even as the OCA discreetly avoided any mention of a failed sex test to prevent embarrassment and mental agony to the athlete, Indian sports officials were not socaring.

Manmohan Singh, who heads the IOA�s medical unit, had told reporters on Monday: �Santhi was subjected to a gender test in Doha and we have received the report which says she failed the test.

The 25-year-old Santhi, whose parents are brick-kiln workers, hails from the village of Kathakkurichi in Pudukkottai district of the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Santhi had cleared the gender test at the Asian track and field championships in the South Korean city of Incheon last year where she won the silver in the 800m.

A media report said Santhi had been refused employment in the Indian railways last year because its medical panel �was not satisfied about her gender�.

This was the second controversy to hit the Indian track and field team within a month.

Female shot putter Seema Antil was withdrawn from the Asian Games after she failed a pre-competition dope test.
From: dev on Thu Dec 21 6:18:05 2006.

NOV wrote:

A media report said Santhi had been refused employment in the Indian railways last year because its medical panel �was not satisfied about her gender�.

But ithu ellam aniyaayam... jobs should be based on one's talents... The govt should take some steps to recognise pople with such disorders(!!!) as a diff category & have some quotas or whatever(atleast until the quota system is in exitance) to aid their wellbeing... Govt jobslaye avungalai ippadi ignore pannurathai allow panna kudatu... Afterall, they too are humans...
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Dec 21 22:59:03 2006.

Quote:

Santhi had cleared the gender test at the Asian track and field championships in the South Korean city of Incheon last year where she won the silver in the 800m.

so tests are uneven? when she can clear the tests last year..why not this year
From: temporary sori-Observer on Sat Dec 23 10:50:35 2006.

Malaysia-vil kadum veLLam. 90000 pEr baathikkap pattanar

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200612211321.htm
From: temporary sori-Observer on Mon Dec 25 11:58:06 2006.

There were so many posts about Shanti but noone posted anything about the floods. ungaLai purinjukkavE mudiayaleppa
From: rocketboy on Mon Dec 25 13:22:18 2006.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

There were so many posts about Shanti but noone posted anything about the floods. ungaLai purinjukkavE mudiayaleppa

Ayya TSO avarkale enakku Indiala enna nadakuthu, TNla enna nadakuthu, ulakathula nadakarthu Indiava eppadi paathikkum , ithulathan athikama gavanam . Malaysiala enna nadanthathu endru enakku munnare therinthirunthaal ingae athai patri ezhuthirippen.

Its a very unfortunate incident . My heart felt condolences to the bereaved families and also people who lost their properties. Lets all pray that such an incident should never occur in the future.

From: saradha_prakash on Tue Dec 26 3:15:20 2006.

A media report said Santhi had been refused employment in the Indian railways last year because its medical panel �was not satisfied about her gender�.

But ithu ellam aniyaayam... jobs should be based on one's talents... The govt should take some steps to recognise pople with such disorders(!!!) as a diff category & have some quotas or whatever(atleast until the quota system is in exitance) to aid their wellbeing... Govt jobslaye avungalai ippadi ignore pannurathai allow panna kudatu... Evil or Very Mad

Afterall, they too are humans...

You are correct. As long as they are the citizens of India, they have their rights to get it and to show their performances, unless they are mentally dis-order or physically handicapped to do that job.

From: rocketboy on Tue Dec 26 11:58:19 2006.

Prayers mark tsunami anniversary

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/26tsunami3.htm
From: NOV on Tue Dec 26 21:09:30 2006.

Miracle Tsunami Baby

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/27/nation/16418518&sec=nation
From: NOV on Wed Dec 27 22:25:47 2006.

Some people may have difficulty in surfing, especially Yahoo and other websites....

"Local access to Internet services and websites hosted overseas came to a practical standstill after international links were disrupted by the earthquake that struck southern Taiwan on Tuesday night. "

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/28/nation/16426778&sec=nation&focus=1

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 2 1:49:34 2007.

regarding shanthi, i read in anandha vikatan that it is actually an ugly politics, tricked on the poor girl by a famous keralite sportsman(dunno the name) by which 4th place keralite girl can get the bronze, tamilnadu top athlete Annavi and one more athlete from tamil nadu agreed the same...

their views in this issues are the replica of what rocketboy said earlier

Quote:

From: Nerd on Wed Jan 3 15:12:46 2007.

Girl molested | Mumbai cops late
Raksha Shetty
CNN-IBN
Posted Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 08:09
Updated Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 23:49

Mumbai: A New Year event at Mumbai's most famous landmark, the Gateway of India, is making news after it went horribly sour. Drunk revellers stripped and molested a woman in public view, as her friend watched helplessly.

On New Year's eve, almost 1,500 men, many of them boisterous, had gathered at the Gateway of India to watch the fireworks. Also present there was one young woman with a male friend.

Just a few minutes before midnight struck on December 31, the crowd worked itself up into a frenzy.

Shadab Khan, a photographer with a local Mumbai daily, Mid-Day, was covering the event from a temporary police watchtower.

The photographs he took, he says, have shaken his faith in the city he has lived in all his life.

"They were a couple and people were trying to misbehave with them. I shot that picture," says he.

Khan recalls from memory that the couple was surrounded by around 70 men, who tore apart the woman's clothes, while her friend tried to protect her - in vain.

The horror continued for almost 10 minutes. The woman - still unidentified - was screaming the whole time.

"The woman was yelling but at that time, the rest of the people were also screaming because the New Year was just a few minutes away so her voice got drowned in the crowd," says Shadab Khan.

After Mid-Day published the photographs, police say they're taking action, but the couple can't be traced; they fled the scene soon after, and have not lodged a police complaint.

Says DCP, Zone I, Brijesh, "We request the victims to come to the police and lodge a complaint. We are going to take very strict steps regarding this and we are trying to identify all the people in the photo."

This latest incident poses new questions on the safety of women in Mumbai city and even though proof of the incident is plain and available to them, the police say that lack of information is their biggest challenge in making any arrest.

________________

Barbarians
From: Nakeeran on Thu Jan 4 6:19:17 2007.

Ancient Vishnu Idol in Russia !! In an old village !

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ancient_Vishnu_idol_found_in_Russia/articleshow/1046928.cms

Anybody can post about the ancient history of Russia ?
From: thimuru on Thu Jan 4 6:43:08 2007.

MUMBAI...the least safety city it seems..

gundas,idiots..
From: rocketboy on Thu Jan 4 13:31:49 2007.

Delhi is the worst city . Never been to Bombay. So can't comment.
From: thimuru on Fri Jan 5 1:01:50 2007.

rocketboy wrote:

Delhi is the worst city . Never been to Bombay. So can't comment.

our capital.....a small city compared to others...where PM and PRESIDENT stay!

eksi
From: rajraj on Fri Jan 5 18:32:32 2007.

Hero of Harlem

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070104.wsubwayhero0104/BNStory/International
From: rocketboy on Mon Jan 8 12:21:08 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/jul/31single.htm

I found this interesting.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Jan 12 13:07:24 2007.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/101797.php/New-middle-school-curriculum-in-Pak-to-include-chapters-on-Hinduism

��Ţ� �â�� , ��, �� Ȣ� Ţ�� Φ�� ɢ� �� ʦ��. �� Ȣ �ո��á ��츢��?

�â�� Curriculum
From: NOV on Mon Jan 15 23:42:40 2007.

[tscii]From New Straits Times

(Malaysian Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in a message in conjunction with the harvest festival, said it would be called the National Ponggal Celebration from next year.

"I am pleased to announce this year that Ponggal celebrations are being organised in most universities across Malaysia," the prime minister said.

The prime minister added that it was a positive step towards introducing the younger generation of Malaysians to each other�s culture and traditions.

"Giving thanks for a good harvest is, in fact, a cultural practice which many of us have in common and can indeed serve as a further reminder that there is much that is shared by Malaysians of all races."

Abdullah congratulated the organising committee for successfully marking this special time of the year.

"I do hope that all of us will be blessed with a bountiful harvest in various shapes and forms in the year ahead."

Ponggal, where Hindus pray to the Sun God for a good harvest, is celebrated in the second week of January when the harvest season begins in India.

Ponggal, a Tamil word, refers to the moment when rice cooked in milk and brown sugar boils over to symbolise prosperity.

Celebration organising chairman P. Kamalanathan thanked the prime minister for his support.
NST

*********

PUTRAJAYA: Tourists were given a sample of the country's diverse cultures at
KLIA yesterday with a celebration of Ponggal.

A kolam (rice drawing) with the words Visit Malaysia Year 2007 was created
on the floor of Kuala Lumpur International Airport's international arrival
and departure hall. The Menara Kuala Lumpur cultural troupe entertained on a
small stage decorated with sugar cane, flowers and coconut leaves.

Visitors were given Indian sweets and other gifts, as well as a leaflet
explaining the Indian harvest festival.

Organising chairman P. Kamalanathan of M.I. Fest Management said: "This is
the first such event we have organised and we are happy Malaysia Airports
and KLIA have given us their support and assistance to ensure its success."

He believes KLIA may be the first airport in the world to celebrate Ponggal.
From: Badri on Wed Jan 17 0:08:49 2007.

Brisbane welcomes Bollywood stars

The Brisbane City Council will begin laying down the red carpet today as Bollywood comes to town.

Mumbai's A-list are in Brisbane to film a feature called Hey Baby and will be using St Stephen's Cathedral and the Exchange Hotel as locations.

Parts of Charlotte and Market Street will be closed from 7:00pm to 5:00am AEST for three nights.

Deputy Mayor David Hinchliffe says the small disruption will be worthwhile.

"Bollywood is a billion dollar global industry, it's certainly put film-making in India on the map globally," he said.

"It's good for local economy in terms of hotels and hospitality, but it's also very good for promotion of Brisbane."
From: NOV on Mon Jan 22 9:34:31 2007.

The news was spreading like wild fire all over Malaysia and Singapore. This Singapore Hubber called me and frantically told me to light a lamp outside my house on a tray of rice with tumeric.

I and she got p##ed off.
Turned on the TV, and the chat on Sun Music was mostly on the same issue! something's bad gonna happen!

and today's papers, put a rest to it...

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/National/20070122083648/Article/local1_html
From: NOV on Mon Jan 22 9:41:20 2007.

Now, this is a piece of news that should make us proud....

117-year-old temple scores a first with ISO 9001 cert

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/National/20070122083854/Article/index_html
From: rajraj on Fri Jan 26 0:22:56 2007.

Bush wants more 'Indian scientists' in the US.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200701260921.htm

Why only H1-B visas? Why not more green cards?
From: Lambretta on Sun Jan 28 10:06:01 2007.

How long until India can incessantly issue sumthing similar to H1-B Visas/Green cards to citizens from other countries??
From: podalangai on Tue Jan 30 17:15:00 2007.

The United Nations has recently deployed its first-ever contingent of women peacekeepers. This contingent has been deployed as part of its peacekeeping force in Liberia, which is recovering from a 14 year civil war. The force consists of 100 police women will train the local police force and carry out security duty during the forthcoming elections.

Guess where this historic contingent comes from? Not Scandinavia, not Europe, not the US... but India!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6314263.stm
From: NOV on Tue Jan 30 21:41:25 2007.

Largest Hindu Congregation outside India begins!

Devotees throng Batu Caves as they fulfil vows made to Lord Muruga. They walk barefooted under a blistering sun, indifferent to the grime and dirt on the road as they bear milk pots, careful not to spill a drop. Thaipusam has begun.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/31/central/16717449&sec=central

Gallery: http://gallery.thestar.com.my/default.asp?id=664
From: Surya on Tue Jan 30 21:51:27 2007.

Wow! Thanks for that news bit NOV!
From: NOV on Tue Jan 30 21:51:39 2007.

[tscii]KUALA LUMPUR: It will be an unusual sight to see two mat sallehs (white men) carrying the kavadi at the Thaipusam festival tomorrow.

But Carl Vedivella Belle from Australia and Rainer Krieg of Germany have been doing it for years.

This year is different for the two friends, who lost contact with each other for 12 years, as they prepare to carry the kavadi together for the first time.

more....: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20070131083337/Article/local1_html

"It was there that I finished my thesis entitled �Thaipusam in Malaysia: A Hindu Festival Misunderstood?� for my doctorate in Hindu Religion."

Belle has carried the kavadi 15 times since 1982 and described the experience as "very spiritually transforming".

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20070131074337/Article/index_html
From: Selvan on Thu Feb 1 0:31:11 2007.

Bishop Tutu a living Gandhian: PM

http://content.msn.co.in/News/National/NationalIANS_010207_0834
From: crazy on Thu Feb 1 15:42:15 2007.

Thaipoosam patthi padikkalaam endraal "page not found-nu" varuthu anyway saw Malaysian Tamils celebrating thaipoosamon on the travel channel
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Feb 1 18:04:24 2007.

Peter Roebuck discusses some national characteristicsin sports:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/columns/broken-england-served-by-few-players/2007/02/02/1169919475395.html
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Feb 1 18:04:45 2007.

Peter Roebuck discusses some national characteristicsin sports:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/columns/broken-england-served-by-few-players/2007/02/02/1169919475395.html
From: Surya on Thu Feb 8 15:38:12 2007.

African HIV vaccine trial launch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6342575.stm

WHOOT WHOOT! Hopein for the best!
From: crazy on Thu Feb 8 15:45:16 2007.

Surya wrote:

African HIV vaccine trial launch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6342575.stm

WHOOT WHOOT! Hopein for the best!

yeah......great job.

read some hours ago.....................
From: rajraj on Thu Feb 8 22:54:03 2007.

Harvard revises curriculum:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17028380/

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200702090310.htm

When will the universities in India revise theirs?
From: NOV on Thu Feb 8 23:59:46 2007.

when will this ever end?

Siblings face religious dilemma
MALACCA: Two siblings are in a dilemma as their birth certificates state they are Muslims
while their MyKad identifies them as Hindu. Full Story ...

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20070209091012/Article/local1_html
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Feb 9 0:09:31 2007.

NOV,

I read that a chinese man who found out that was handed over to the wrong family at birth, by the hospital wanted to convert back to Budhdhism but according to Malaysian law he can be put in jail
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Feb 9 0:16:41 2007.

I also read that the Malaysian Govt did not give the body of a dead man to his Hindu family because he had converted
From: NOV on Fri Feb 9 2:52:17 2007.

TSO, I dont see any reason to grin for these political issues.
From: crazy on Fri Feb 9 13:18:48 2007.
From: Surya on Fri Feb 9 17:50:55 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

I also read that the Malaysian Govt did not give the body of a dead man to his Hindu family because he had converted

It isn't surpricing coming from the Malaysian Govt.

crazy wrote:

U might find this to be interesting crazy. The Malaysian Govt's Actions on a Different Issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CokBLWLL7qY&eurl=
From: crazy on Sat Feb 10 3:44:08 2007.

Surya wrote:

crazy wrote:

U might find this to be interesting crazy. The Malaysian Govt's Actions on a Different Issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CokBLWLL7qY&eurl=

ayyo aandava

it is not interesting, but irritating
From: temporary sori-Observer on Sat Feb 10 18:28:20 2007.

NOV wrote:

TSO, I dont see any reason to grin for these political issues.

NOV,
�� â�͸��. ��š�� ¢�� ׸�� emoticon.
Malaysia is supposed to be a democratic country but it is becoming like Saudi Arabia. Malaysia is giving the image of a modern country while it is commiting ethnic targeting. When such dark, underground motives of villains are exposed, is used.
These muttaaL thanamaana acts by Malaysian Govt deserve ��쨸 ��ġ� �� â�� about its democracy.
While conversions are allowed in free countries, in some counties they are punished with imprisonment , caning , and lashing .This inequality is also shown by the emoticon
From: NOV on Sun Feb 11 2:41:17 2007.

Yes TSO, but on the other extreme we also have the largest Hindu congregation outside India during thaipoosam, which is a public holiday. this includes a ratha oorvalam which actually brings the capital city to a standstill.

incidentally pongal is now a national festival and deepavali besides being a public holiday, also has the government spending millions to host a mega open house complete with cultural shows and food in abundance, complete free for 100s of thousands of its citizens.

so, shall we collectively
From: Lambretta on Sun Feb 11 11:17:58 2007.

Surya wrote:

U might find this to be interesting crazy. The Malaysian Govt's Actions on a Different Issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CokBLWLL7qY&eurl=

Ada paavigala!!!

them!!!
From: Surya on Mon Feb 12 21:25:16 2007.

Crazy and Lamby,
yes...

TSO,

Anywayz,
Check this out.

Zimbabwe inflation nears 1,600%

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6354783.stm
From: rocketboy on Tue Feb 13 11:20:27 2007.

Delhi the crime capital

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/13delhi.htm
From: rocketboy on Tue Feb 20 23:50:45 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/20boat.htm

Boat capsizes in Kerala. 15 childern among 18 dead.
From: NOV on Mon Feb 26 2:16:26 2007.

clash of cultures?

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/National/20070225094817/Article/index_html
From: Nayagan on Tue Feb 27 13:04:32 2007.

Shocking!!
2000 Tamil gang murders in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6380817.stm
From: rocketboy on Tue Feb 27 13:42:49 2007.

Nayagan wrote:

Shocking!!
2000 Tamil gang murders in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6380817.stm

Ada paavigala Tamizhanoda peraya kedureengada.Ivangala ellam yaaru Tamilnu sonnathu. Speaking Tamil alone does not entitle one to have that name .What the hell is wrong with these people. Why can't they shun violence and lead a normal life. This is a classic case where political instability in a region acts as a catalyst in spurring youth to take to the path of violence. Sathiyama UK , Toronto intha pakkamae etti paaka matten.
From: crazy on Tue Feb 27 15:38:26 2007.

Nayagan wrote:

Shocking!!
2000 Tamil gang murders in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6380817.stm

I read something similar to this 3-4 yrs back
From: podalangai on Wed Feb 28 9:46:55 2007.

Nayagan wrote:

Shocking!!
2000 Tamil gang murders in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6380817.stm

Actually, if you read the body of the article it says that there were ten murders since 2000. That is the correct number. The caption on the photo is just another example of the BBC's sloppy editing in its website (they make mistakes of this type very often).
From: Sudhaama on Wed Feb 28 11:30:45 2007.

.
.Latest Archeological Discovery.! Holy BIBLE DISPUTED.!!

Jesus RESURRECTION TRUE?..

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/28/stories/2007022815262400.htm

.
From: podalangai on Wed Feb 28 12:17:27 2007.

The Hindu wrote:

The team carried out DNA sampling on matter remaining in the two boxes and claim it supports the contention that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were man and wife.

This sounds extremely odd. How on earth can testing mitochondrial DNA show that two people were man and wife?
From: temporary sori-Observer on Wed Feb 28 12:51:09 2007.

podalangai wrote:

This sounds extremely odd. How on earth can testing mitochondrial DNA show that two people were man and wife?

�� ǡ, �� ǡ
�� Чš, �� Чš?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKn_rRY9Yr4
From: podalangai on Wed Feb 28 12:57:39 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

அத்தை மகளோ, மாமன் மகளோ
சொந்தம் எதுவோ, பந்தம் எதுவோ?
From: temporary sori-Observer on Wed Feb 28 18:28:16 2007.

podalangai wrote:

TSO wrote:

அத்தை மகளோ, மாமன் மகளோ
சொந்தம் எதுவோ, பந்தம் எதுவோ?
From: temporary sori-Observer on Thu Mar 1 10:39:11 2007.

isaikku thadai

http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070301/41581.htm
From: dev on Fri Mar 2 6:59:28 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

isaikku thadai

http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070301/41581.htm
From: podalangai on Fri Mar 2 10:15:56 2007.

Poor Sufi Muslims. They can't even worship now.
From: temporary sori-Observer on Fri Mar 2 13:08:49 2007.

TSO wrote:

isaikku thadai

http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070301/41581.htm

��š ��, �� .
�� á�, �� .
š�� ¡�.

(�� 󾾡�� ?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYS5hUy9Ug
From: podalangai on Fri Mar 2 20:02:17 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

isaikku thadai

http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070301/41581.htm

Incidentally, why are you associating your suggested Pandiyakkodi with such things?
From: pavalamani pragasam on Mon Mar 5 23:29:42 2007.

Many points to ponder about, to take note of, in the last bit of the summing up of the front page news item in today's 'The Hindu':

Rave party,revellers, drugs, and aftermath

Pune:Seven of the people 280 people arrested during a pre-dawn raid on a rave party on the outskirts of Pune by the Pune rural police were sent to police custody until March 9.

* * *

Among the items recovered at the party spot were 2.5 kg of marijuana(ganja), 100 grams of hashish(charas), seven bottles of of phenylfine hydrochloride, 15 boxes of beer, 17 cheelams, cigarettes and condoms, all valued around Rs. 5 lakh. The police also seized a Dolby Music system, 45 four wheelers, and 29 two-wheelers.
The invitations for the Holi-turned-horror-party were sent via SMS, e-mails, messages on Orkut and a website www.isratrance.com which from February 27 was promoting the rave party.
From: crazy on Tue Mar 6 3:46:52 2007.
From: podalangai on Tue Mar 6 9:21:14 2007.

The BBC conducts a periodic poll where 28,000 people in 27 countries are asked to rate a dozen countries in terms of whether they have a positive or negative influence. In the latest poll, India's standing has improved considerably:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6421597.stm
From: Hulkster on Tue Mar 6 9:30:30 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

isaikku thadai

http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070301/41581.htm

They are seriously turning into a joke...just for the sake of removing themselves from the modern world it is today they are even going against normal human lifestyles...why dunt these people fightback and protest against this comedians instead of protesting for islamisation?

For the second news...can anyone explain to me what is the purpose of phenylfide hydrochloride?
From: kannannn on Tue Mar 6 13:01:16 2007.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/ap_on_re_eu/war_objector

"A U.S. Army medic who jumped out a window of his base housing and fled to California to avoid a redeployment to Iraq was convicted of desertion Tuesday at a court-martial.. Spc. Agustin Aguayo, 35, refused to return to Iraq because he believes war is immoral "
True bravery!!
From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 8 17:36:45 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/08gates.htm
From: Surya on Thu Mar 8 18:00:29 2007.

Democrats set Iraq pull-out plans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6432541.stm
From: Querida on Mon Mar 12 19:29:31 2007.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - One of India's top engineering schools has restricted Internet access in its hostels, saying addiction to surfing, gaming and blogging was affecting students' performance, making them reclusive and even suicidal.

Authorities at the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai said students had stopped socializing and many were late for morning classes or slept through them.

"Now, a student doesn't even know who lives two doors away from him because he is so busy on the Internet," said Prakash Gopalan, dean of student affairs.

"The old hostel culture of camaraderie and socializing among students is gone. This is not healthy in our opinion."

IIT-Mumbai, with about 5,000 students, is one of seven IITs across India which are considered to be among the finest engineering schools in the world. They are also a talent pool for global technology giants.

But their exacting curriculum, tough competition and reclusive campus lifestyle have taken a toll on students.

Depression and dysfunctional lifestyles are known to be common among IIT students, and at least nine have committed suicide in the past five years. IIT-Mumbai has seen two suicides in two years and several attempts.

Students have unlimited free Internet access in their hostel rooms to help them in their studies, but many also use it to surf, chat, download movies and music, blog and for gaming.

Starting Monday, Internet access will be barred between 11 p.m. and 12.30 p.m. at IIT-Mumbai's 13 hostels to encourage students to sleep early and to try and force them out of their "shells," Gopalan said.

"There has been a decline in academic performance and also participation in sporting, cultural and social activities has gone down," he said.

But the move has not gone down well with students who say they hate their lives being regulated.

"Now they will say we need to listen to a lullaby to go to sleep," said Rajiv, an electronics student who gave only one name.

Student anger has also spilled on to several blogs run by IIT alumni where bloggers say "the birth of the virtual world had led to the death of the real selves," but add that they resent regulation of students' activities.

Gopalan said authorities at the other IITs were considering a similar curb in their hostels.

courtesy of http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070312/tecnology/net_india_internet_curb_dc
From: Surya on Thu Mar 15 15:37:22 2007.

Q,

Check this out guys:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6455307.stm

Daniel Pearl.
From: Querida on Thu Mar 15 16:03:45 2007.
From: crazy on Thu Mar 15 16:13:11 2007.
From: Querida on Thu Mar 15 16:15:16 2007.

i know Crazy it's pathetic how much violence a human inflicts upon another human...
From: crazy on Thu Mar 15 16:17:11 2007.

we live in a pathetic world, so naanum pathetic icons'a podren
From: Querida on Thu Mar 15 16:19:45 2007.

aaah yes that is why i rewrote my response.....hypocrites....
From: crazy on Thu Mar 15 16:20:56 2007.

Querida wrote:

aaah yes that is why i rewrote my response.....hypocrites....

i rewrote mine too
From: Surya on Thu Mar 15 16:28:10 2007.

Querida wrote:

i know Crazy it's pathetic how much violence a human inflicts upon another human...

R u talking abt Pearl's Murder or this moron's execution?
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Mar 15 17:16:25 2007.

Sriperumbudur: India's Answer to Shenzhen?
See Andy Mukherjee's article in Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mukherjee&sid=a6k7fYiGdysQ
See also http://neweconomist.blogs.com/
From: Jabroni on Fri Mar 16 12:20:17 2007.

Querida wrote:

i know Crazy it's pathetic how much violence a human inflicts upon another human...

also the latest suffering inflicted upon zimbabweans by mugabe
From: rajraj on Fri Mar 16 15:24:20 2007.

Dharavi shines?

http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/slumtours.html

Hope they give the promised 80% to charity!
From: Querida on Fri Mar 16 19:13:04 2007.

Well Rajraj i hope so too....there's something really sickeningly voyeuristic about this plan...i mean you are sightseeing the consequences of poverty. I am not suggesting to ignore or dismiss these slums but to make profit from it is
From: rajraj on Mon Mar 19 22:18:55 2007.

Backus, inventor of the programming language FORTRAN, passes away.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/obituaries/20cnd-backus.html

I wonder how many of the hubbers know FORTRAN ?
From: Badri on Mon Mar 19 22:29:01 2007.

rajraj wrote:

Dharavi shines?

http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/slumtours.html

Hope they give the promised 80% to charity!

Hmm I suppose it is no different from tours they have to visit Indian reservations in the US or Aboriginal villages in Australia but somehow as Q says the whole idea of commercializing it seems a bit sickening!

As Raj says if 80% of the money goes back to the slums it will improve things a bit, but then again, there will be the issue of distribution of the wealth!

Well it sure is a funny world we live in!
From: crazy on Tue Mar 20 1:51:22 2007.

rajraj wrote:

I wonder how many of the hubbers know FORTRAN ?

enakku theriyaathu
From: Surya on Tue Mar 20 17:06:06 2007.

Wow!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/baghdad_navigator/
From: Lambretta on Tue Mar 20 22:57:28 2007.

crazy wrote:

rajraj wrote:

I wonder how many of the hubbers know FORTRAN ?

enakku theriyaathu

All I know is it stands for FORUMLA TRANSACTION....rem. learning this in my Dip. in Comp. Sci....uh, I think its used by accountants?

From: Sudhaama on Wed Mar 21 0:11:08 2007.

crazy wrote:

All I know is it stands for FORUMLA TRANSACTION....rem. learning this in my Dip. in Comp. Sci....uh, I think its used by accountants? Confused

I wonder how many of the hubbers know FORTRAN ? Smile

enakku theriyaathu Smile

FORTRAN is used for Technical Subjects... like Engineering & Technology.

From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Mar 21 2:52:56 2007.

FORTRON - I studied this when I was in UG-First year. Madras University

But it is really an interesting language, all mathematics and logical stuffs can be executed through this. I remember i wrote code for Regression, Simson 1\3rd rule ( ) etc.,
From: gaddeswarup on Thu Mar 22 1:08:16 2007.

More on Dharavi:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070321/wl_csm/omumbai
From: rocketboy on Thu Mar 22 14:56:09 2007.

Rehabilitation before displacement.
Atlast no more Nandigram or Sardar Sarovar Dam incidents.

The Central govt sees the state govts as mere facilitators and will no longer allow them to have a direct hand in dealings like demarcating lands for SEZs once an ammendment to the land acquisition act is passed.

People now will be able to directly sell the land to the concerned company.
From: Surya on Fri Mar 23 15:05:46 2007.

http://www.arab7.com/show/linkredirect.php?linkid=123

ewww......:puke: :barf: :throw-up:
From: crazy on Fri Mar 23 16:43:16 2007.

surya.........yen idha inga post panninga :uve:
From: rocketboy on Sat Mar 24 11:14:52 2007.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7286/575
From: crazy on Sat Mar 24 11:54:08 2007.
From: crazy on Tue Mar 27 14:18:06 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6498215.stm

Semi identical twins?!
From: ajithfederer on Tue Mar 27 22:53:46 2007.

balaji sampath

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/25321/tns-non-returning-indians-return.html
From: ajithfederer on Wed Mar 28 22:57:55 2007.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Scrap_cap_on_H1-B_visas_Gates_tells_US_lawmakers/articleshow/1738526.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/H1-B_quota_likely_to_fill_up_in_just_15_days_this_year/articleshow/1541032.cms
From: gaddeswarup on Mon Apr 9 5:31:29 2007.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2007/
"Jeffrey Sachs argues that the world faces challenges on an unprecedented scale - the destruction of the planet through global warming, terrorism, extreme poverty, disease and bad governance. Discover more and about the solutions he offers. "
The first lecture is on 11th April.
From http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/02/news/climate.php
Excerpt:
"In almost every instance, the people most at risk from climate change live in countries that have contributed least to the atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to the recent warming of the planet.

Those most vulnerable countries also tend to be the poorest. And the countries that face the least harm - and are best equipped to deal with the harm they do face - tend to be the richest."
From: podalangai on Thu Apr 12 13:06:04 2007.

Photos from the festival of Hinglaj Mata, celebrated by Pakistani Hindus at a temple in Balochistan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/south_asia_hindus_in_pakistan/html/1.stm
From: crazy on Fri Apr 13 14:21:07 2007.

Eeshwara...................

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6546479.stm
From: kb on Mon Apr 16 15:59:25 2007.

around 30 dead and 29 injured in the most deadly bloody biggest mass killing at Virginia tech University,blacksburg..
From: Nerd on Mon Apr 16 16:10:59 2007.

Atrocious Fortunately looks like the Indian students are safe.
From: ajithfederer on Mon Apr 16 16:30:18 2007.
From: kb on Mon Apr 16 16:39:32 2007.

it is suspected that the gunner was asian 20 male
From: rami on Tue Apr 17 2:55:05 2007.

11 People lose their lives because of Drivers carelessness !

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070008905
From: rami on Tue Apr 17 3:03:55 2007.

Indian professor killed, student missing in Virginia shootout http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/17school1.htm
From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Apr 17 7:35:07 2007.

rami wrote:

11 People lose their lives because of Drivers carelessness !

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070008905

Yes similar kind of accident happened in the same area around 6 months back (Share Auto). This time a van. Drivers should be disciplined . The worst part is that all the 20 inside the van knew that train was going to hit them as it was nearing.No time to jump out from the van.

Kodumayilum Kodumai namma saagaporom-nu therinju saavuradhu thaan Kanna moodittu ellarukkum license kodutha ippadi thaan nadakkum!

From: thamiz on Tue Apr 17 12:48:16 2007.

Quote:

Authorities ID gunman in Va. Tech rampage
Student�s writings raised red flags; 33 killed, 12 stable in hospitals

Virginia Tech
Cho Seung-Hui, who immigrated to the United States at age 8 in 1992, lived in Centreville, Va., a suburb of Washington.
View related photos

Video: Massacre at Virginia Tech
� Sights and sounds of the massacre
April 17: Searing images from a day that an entire community, campus and country will never forget.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

� Face of a killer
� Timeline of shootings at Virginia Tech
� First on the scene
� College president discusses massacre
� Witnesses tell of Virginia shootings
� Their sisters were massacre victims
� Never forgotten

Slide show

� Massacre
See images from the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.

NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 2 minutes ago
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A 23-year-old senior from South Korea whose creative writing was so disturbing that he was referred to the school�s counseling service was behind the massacre of at least 30 people locked inside a university classroom building in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history, the university said Tuesday.

Ballistics tests also found that one of the guns used in that attack was also used in a shooting two hours earlier at a dormitory that left two people dead at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State Police said.

Police identified the shooter as Cho Seung-Hui (pronounced Choh Suhng-whee), of Centreville, Va., who was a senior in the English Department at Virginia Tech. Cho, a resident alien who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1992, lived on campus in Harper Residence Hall.

The bloodbath ended with Cho�s suicide, bringing the death toll from two separate shootings � first at the dormitory, then in a classroom building � to 33 and stamping the campus in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains with unspeakable tragedy.

�He was a loner�
Professor Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of the university�s English department, said she did not personally know the gunman. But she said she spoke with Lucinda Roy, the department�s director of creative writing, who had Cho in one of her classes and described him as �troubled.�

�There was some concern about him,� Rude told The Associated Press. �Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it�s creative or if they�re describing things, if they�re imagining things or just how real it might be. But we�re all alert to not ignore things ike this.�

She said Cho was referred to the counseling service, but she said she did not know when or what the outcome was. Rude refused to release any of his writings or his grades, citing privacy laws.

NBC News� Pete Williams reported that police had found a note in which Cho listed �random grievances,� but few other details were immediately available. That seemed in keeping for a young man who apparently left little impression in the Virginia Tech community.

�He was a loner, and we�re having difficulty finding information about him,� said Larry Hincker, the university�s associate vice president for community relations.

Cho�s fellow residents of Harper Hall said few people knew the gunman, who kept to himself.

�He can�t have been an outgoing kind of person,� Meredith Daly, 19, of Danville, Va., told MSNBC.com�s Bill Dedman.

Students live six to a suite, said Stephen Scott, a freshman engineering student from Marlton, N.J., and do not necessarily know other residents.

Scott said police and FBI agents went through the dorm Monday night showing a picture of Cho and trying to find anybody who recognized or knew him. He did not know whether they were successful.

In Centreville, where Cho�s family lived in an off-white, two-story townhouse, people who knew Cho concurred that he kept to himself.

�He was very quiet, always by himself,� said Abdul Shash, a neighbor. Shash said Cho spent a lot of his free time playing basketball and would not respond if someone greeted him. He described the family as quiet.

South Korea�s Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences, saying that there was no known motive for the shootings and that South Korea hoped the tragedy would not �stir up racial prejudice or confrontation.�

Ballistics evidence points to student
Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information had not been officially announced, said Cho�s fingerprints were found on the two guns used in the shootings. The serial numbers had been filed off, the officials said.

Law enforcement officials told Williams that Cho was carrying a backpack that contained receipts for the purchase of a Glock 9mm pistol in March. As a permanent legal resident, Cho was eligible to buy a handgun unless he had been convicted of any felony criminal charges.

Cho renewed his green card in late 2003 and would have undergone a background check at that time, immigration officials told NBC affiliate WSLS-TV of Roanoke. If a criminal record had showed up then, officials would have denied the renewal, they said.

Col. Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said it was reasonable to assume that Cho was the shooter in both attacks but that the link was yet definitive.

�There�s no evidence of any accomplice at either event, but we�re exploring the possibility,� he said.

At least 26 people were taken to hospitals after the second attack, some of them seriously injured. Twelve students remained in hospitals in stable condition Tuesday, and most were expected to be released soon, NBC News� Michelle Kosinski reported from Montgomery Regional Medical Center.

Bush to attend service
State, local and federal investigators spent the night collecting, processing and analyzing evidence from within Norris Hall, which housed engineering classes, offices and laboratories. The deceased were recovered from at least four classrooms on the second floor and a stairwell. Cho was discovered in a classroom among the victims.

All of the deceased were transported to the medical examiner�s office in Roanoke for examination and identification. The names of the deceased students and faculty will be released once all of the victims are positively identified and their families are notified.

President Bush planned to attend a memorial service Tuesday afternoon at the university, the White House said, and Gov. Timothy Kaine was flying back to Virginia from Tokyo for the 2 p.m. convocation.

From: crazy on Tue Apr 17 13:10:07 2007.
From: Lambretta on Tue Apr 17 13:11:36 2007.

crazy wrote:

Eeshwara...................

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6546479.stm

A quote from the abovementioned article:

"Mr Cooper, who says he has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder, likes to wear a sari and be addressed as a woman."

Aha, now tats interesting!! So this is gonna be the new fate for Sarees now tat women in our country who like them r decreasing (JK!)
From: crazy on Tue Apr 17 13:14:29 2007.

lamby
From: Lambretta on Tue Apr 17 13:16:33 2007.

crazy wrote:

lamby

better not make this a chat thread......

From: Badri on Wed Apr 18 0:55:53 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6546479.stm

crazy wrote:

Eeshwara................... Banging Head

A quote from the abovementioned article:

"Mr Cooper, who says he has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder, likes to wear a sari and be addressed as a woman."

Aha, now tats interesting!! So this is gonna be the new fate for Sarees now tat women in our country who like them r decreasing (JK!) Rolling Eyes

Yes but the thought that struck me was how marvelous that there is actually even a temple and a goddess for the eunuchs!!! Despite how narrow our outlook can be with respect to some of these deviances our society is still so accepting of everything that even a transgender person can fit in so well... somewhere!!!

From: Lambretta on Thu Apr 19 0:49:04 2007.

Badri wrote:

I thought it was a known fact that enuchs have their own Goddess, Bahuchara mata.....I read it in the paper (in the days when I used to read them regularly) years ago......that was when there was also a Hindi film 'Tamanna' based on the life of a hijra released....
Neways, the ironic thing here is that this guy is not really a transgender but is said to be suffering from a 'gender identity crisis', wich is a psychological state & thus needs psych. help rather than conversion into an enuch...

From: selvakumar on Thu Apr 19 10:21:12 2007.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/First-ever_sex_theme_park_in_UK/articleshow/1922680.cms
From: rocketboy on Thu Apr 19 13:07:24 2007.

I watched a program on Vijay Tv which focussed on 'dynamic' marriages .
This is a new trend that is becoming popular in TN . The interesting rather revolting uniqueness of these marriages is that people hug the bridegroom / bride at will. No holds barred . It was totally disgusting to see the bridegroom hug women other than his wife. I mean how could these women hug someone other than their husbands . This applies to the groom as well. The main propagandist/advocate behind this so called revolutionary idea is a Tamil writer Snehan . And he justifies everything in the name of women emancipation, true love and blah blah . Totally gibberish . Ippadi ellam nadakuthu namba naatla
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Apr 19 13:16:34 2007.

ithu mattumaa? global culture effect- our conservative norms are thrown to the winds! During prize awarding ceremonies & miscellaneous public functions on stage & TV girls & women think it the fashion to shake hands with the men presiding instead of our good old of custom of vanakkam with folded hands. Here starts the evil of erasing all gender differences in the western style. By drawing a clear line of how intimate a person get with them women can maintain their dignity & avoid making themselves cheap, exploitable.
From: maithree on Thu Apr 19 14:44:41 2007.

selvakumar wrote:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/First-ever_sex_theme_park_in_UK/articleshow/1922680.cms

A Spankometer?!
From: pavalamani pragasam on Thu Apr 19 21:58:45 2007.

selvakumar wrote:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/First-ever_sex_theme_park_in_UK/articleshow/1922680.cms
From: Lambretta on Fri Apr 20 1:44:16 2007.

selvakumar wrote:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/First-ever_sex_theme_park_in_UK/articleshow/1922680.cms

-same here-

And imagine the amount of money they'd have spent on creating this 'sex-theme whatever park!
From: Ravi Krishnan on Fri Apr 20 5:11:21 2007.

Keats said "Rose is a rose is a rose"
That applies to Indian culture, too. It is so sublime beautiful that it evokes wonder and respect among non Indians. Unfortunately, some Indians do not seem to appreciate this and ape the culture and lifestyle of others that is abhorrent to the very fibre of our society. And these people claim they are modern and progressive which is a shame. If this is allowed to continue, then the roots of Indian civilization will one day vanish. We should never, ever allow this to happen.
From: thimuru on Fri Apr 20 5:26:24 2007.

selvakumar wrote:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/First-ever_sex_theme_park_in_UK/articleshow/1922680.cms

endha ooru?
From: goodsense on Sun Apr 22 11:49:13 2007.

Aishwarya Rai to tour Guyana later this year

http://members.lycos.co.uk/mohdasgar/Aish-wedding.htm

From: dev on Sun Apr 22 12:04:51 2007.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

ithu mattumaa? global culture effect- our conservative norms are thrown to the winds! During prize awarding ceremonies & miscellaneous public functions on stage & TV girls & women think it the fashion to shake hands with the men presiding instead of our good old of custom of vanakkam with folded hands. Here starts the evil of erasing all gender differences in the western style.

I don't see anything wrong in women shaking hands with men...

From: Lambretta on Sun Apr 22 13:04:49 2007.

dev wrote:

I don't see anything wrong in women shaking hands with men...

Well, in theory maybe nothin wrong....depending on the kinda man.....I've seen some men take advantage of this otherwise harmless gesture by holding the woman's hand too tight or a little long in theirs, sumtimes even cupping them in both their hands, the women not being able to retaliate despite feeling uncomfy w. it!
In tat case, better to avoid handshakes.....unless ur abs. comfy/familiar w/ the man in question....
From: crazy on Sun Apr 22 13:07:37 2007.

why handshake when we can simply fold our hands and say vanakkam

way to avoid touching their dirty hands or other way
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sun Apr 22 13:11:48 2007.

Heartening to hear words, Crazy!
From: Lambretta on Sun Apr 22 13:11:57 2007.

@ Crazy

From: goodsense on Sun Apr 22 13:13:54 2007.

Quote:

In the course of my work I met one guy from Chennai. I was surprised when he said that when travelling on the bus, men and women are not allowed to sit next to each other. Otherwise, it will be like one party or both claiming something. Here, when we travel in public transit, the opposite sex sit next to each other without thinking or feeling anything of it.

From: Lambretta on Sun Apr 22 13:20:57 2007.

goodsense wrote:

In the course of my work I met one guy from Chennai. He said on the bus, men and women are not allowed to sit next to each other. Otherwise, it will be like one party or both claiming something. Here when we travel in public transit, the opposite sex sit next to each other without thinking or feeling anything of it.

Hi GS! How u doing?

Hmm...yes, I've seen ppl. of opp. sex (in sum cases even Indians) sit side by side in travel & neither feeling uncomfy in ne way when I was in Sing.

From: goodsense on Sun Apr 22 13:29:03 2007.

I am doing fine Lamby.

*DGR.

Any way that poor soul went back to Chennai-India. He said he couldn't live without his father's love and without giving love to his father. I wished him well. I guess he was too lonely here.
From: pavalamani pragasam on Sun Apr 22 13:42:59 2007.

In India too in many states gender discrimination in bus seats is done away with. Global culture pervades, sends its tentacles into every nook & corner of our lives. We are losing our precious sensitivty to certain very fine values. A hefty price for advancement! Personal opinion.

From: dev on Sun Apr 22 21:47:38 2007.

I don't see anything wrong in women shaking hands with men... Huh?!

Well, in theory maybe nothin wrong....depending on the kinda man.....I've seen some men take advantage of this otherwise harmless gesture by holding the woman's hand too tight or a little long in theirs, sumtimes even cupping them in both their hands, the women not being able to retaliate despite feeling uncomfy w. it! Embarassed

In tat case, better to avoid handshakes.....unless ur abs. comfy/familiar w/ the man in question....

True...In such uncomfy situation, U can also say an 'excuse me' & relieve ur hands & act as if checking ur mobile phone or something...

And to me,I consider it to be a great plus if I can get an early hint of the kind of person he is from a handshake...

From: Lambretta on Sun Apr 22 23:51:07 2007.

True...In such uncomfy situation, U can also say an 'excuse me' & relieve ur hands & act as if checking ur mobile phone or something... Wink

And to me,I consider it to be a great plus if I can get an early hint of the kind of person he is from a handshake... Wink

True dev....but then again, not all wud be as sharp as u to get a hint, early or otherwise..

From: pavalamani pragasam on Mon Apr 23 0:24:33 2007.

There are 3 choices, 1. varumun kaappathu( guarding before danger comes), 2. varumpOthu kaappathu(guarding when danger arrives) & 3. vanthapinnum kaakkaathathu(failing to guard even after danger comes). The first, obviously, is the wisest choice!
From: goodsense on Mon Apr 23 0:49:14 2007.

Sometimes, no matter how much you guard, danger still comes and the kind that you least expect. Even with some experience, guarding is not always a guarantee. There are certain experiences that we still lack and for the ones we already have, someone more experienced, is able to work around it.

From: dev on Mon Apr 23 3:26:55 2007.

pavalamani pragasam wrote:

There are 3 choices, 1. varumun kaappathu( guarding before danger comes), 2. varumpOthu kaappathu(guarding when danger arrives) & 3. vanthapinnum kaakkaathathu(failing to guard even after danger comes). The first, obviously, is the wisest choice!

Maybe... Eventhough I don't initiate a handshake in most cases, I find it rude to ignore when a person extends his hands to say hello...

From: dev on Mon Apr 23 3:28:01 2007.

goodsense wrote:

Sometimes, no matter how much you guard, danger still comes and the kind that you least expect. Even with some experience, guarding is not always a guarantee. There are certain experiences that we still lack and for the ones we already have, someone more experienced, is able to work around it.

From: Anoushka on Mon Apr 23 5:59:51 2007.

*Indian priests administer polio drops as blessings *

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070418/hl_nm/india_polio_priests_dc_1

Wed Apr 18, 2007

PATNA, India (Reuters) - Hindu priests are blessing children with polio drops instead of traditional holy water, sweets or fruits to help eradicate the crippling disease in an eastern Indian state, an official said on Wednesday.

Impoverished Bihar is one of several states where polio cases have been reported, and last year more than 650 cases were reported across the country.

"We are keen to wipe out polio and we thought involving temple priests would be a good idea as people trust and listen to them," said Gopal Krishna, a senior Bihar health official.

Tens of millions of people in Hindu-majority India visit temples and accept holy water, fruits or sweets from priests after prayers.

Health officials in Bihar have trained hundreds of priests to give polio drops to immunize children, Krishna said.

The state had stepped up the immunization drive after 11 polio cases were reported in children this year, he said.

Polio can cause permanent paralysis in children and is found in India, Nigeria,

"I was very surprised when the priest put polio drops into the mouths of several children, including my son, as god's blessings," said Sunita Devi, a resident of Patna, the state capital. "But we trust the priest as he can do us no harm."

From: NOV on Tue Apr 24 9:49:57 2007.

sad, very sad. Crying or Very sad

The Associated Press wrote:

Malaysia's Islamic officials seize baby from mother who sought a Hindu life

The Associated Press
Published: April 6, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Islamic authorities took away the baby of a Muslim woman who is living as a Hindu in defiance of the law in the latest case of religious conflict straining ties in multiethnic Malaysia, officials said Friday.

Revathi Masoosai's 15-month-old daughter was taken by the Islamic Religious Department in southern Malacca state on March 26 and handed to Revathi's Muslim mother, said department enforcement officer Mohamad Imran Ahmad.

"The baby's grandmother has custody of her for now," Mohamad Imran told The Associated Press.

Revathi, an ethnic Indian, is being held in a rehabilitation center run by Islamic authorities for her religious transgression. The baby was with Revathi's husband when she was seized. He has filed a police complaint, but it was not clear if he plans to take the case to court.

Meanwhile, the baby will stay with her grandmother. "When the baby's mother is released, she can try to regain custody if she wants to," said Mohamad Imran without elaborating.

The case, which was made public by the opposition Democratic Action Party on Thursday, highlights an increasing number of spats affecting the religious and family rights of the ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities.

Indians, who form about 8 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, are mostly Hindus while some are Christians, Muslims and Sikhs.

Activists say a string of recent disputes have ended in favor of Muslims - who comprise nearly 60 percent of the population - and strained ethnic relations in this multicultural nation, which has enjoyed racial peace for nearly four decades.

Revathi, 29, was born to Indian Muslim parents who gave her a Muslim name, Siti Fatimah. However, Revathi claims she was raised as a Hindu by her grandmother and changed her name in 2001, said Chong Eng, an opposition member of Parliament.

Revathi married Suresh Veerappan in 2004 according to Hindu rites. The marriage has not been legally registered because Suresh would have had to convert to Islam first.

Revathi's official identification documents state she is Muslim because Malaysians who are born as Muslims cannot legally convert.

The Islamic Religious Department apparently learned of Revathi's case after she gave birth. Revathi was detained in January and taken to a rehabilitation center in central Malaysia where she is expected to be held until at least mid-April to undergo religious counseling, Chong said.

"Separating mother and child ... is inhuman," Chong said in a statement.

A custody battle would be complicated because Islamic officials and Revathi's mother would likely seek to try the case in Islamic Shariah court, which handles religious, family and personal law disputes involving Muslims.

Non-Muslims turn to civil courts to settle these issues. But the secular courts have generally avoided taking a position in such disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims, leaving it to the Shariah system, where verdicts have often favored Muslims.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

Revathi Masoosai/Siti Fatimah's 100-day detention for Islamic rehabilitation which ends today has been extended by the Malacca Syariah Court for another 80 days.

Revathi's husband, Suresh Veerapan was informed by Malacca Syariah Court officials that her detention at the Faith Rehabilitation Centre in Ulu Yam has been extended by 80 days.

When Suresh Veerapan asked for the reasons, an official told him "she did not cooperate during the 100-day stay" which ended today.

His demand for a copy of the court order on the extension was denied. Revathi was not brought to the Malacca court from Ulu Yam in Selangor. Dozens of relatives were waiting to see her.

Revathi, who suffers from asthma, had told her husband last week that she was not taken to a doctor although she was sick.

It is sad and tragic that this heart-rending tale of the father, mother and baby girl being forcibly separated into three different locations by law and religion had not been resolved today, despite a memorandum by DAP MPs to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week.

From: NOV on Tue Apr 24 9:57:37 2007.

Al Jazeera has a story to tell: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/359FEFEA-AF20-4221-8799-47D5547645D7.htm
From: goodsense on Thu Apr 26 7:19:23 2007.

Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle (third from left) presenting a cheque for $200,000 to Dr Budhendra Doobay, Chairman of the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization...

http://www.indocaribbeanworld.com/main.htm

From: crazy on Thu Apr 26 12:51:11 2007.

Malaysia's Islamic officials seize baby from mother who sought a Hindu life

Revathi Masoosai's 15-month-old daughter was taken by the Islamic Religious Department in southern Malacca state on March 26 and handed to Revathi's Muslim mother, said department enforcement officer Mohamad Imran Ahmad.

Revathi, an ethnic Indian, is being held in a rehabilitation center run by Islamic authorities for her religious transgression. The baby was with Revathi's husband when she was seized. He has filed a police complaint, but it was not clear if he plans to take the case to court.

Revathi, 29, was born to Indian Muslim parents who gave her a Muslim name, Siti Fatimah. However, Revathi claims she was raised as a Hindu by her grandmother and changed her name in 2001, said Chong Eng, an opposition member of Parliament.

Revathi married Suresh Veerappan in 2004 according to Hindu rites. The marriage has not been legally registered because Suresh would have had to convert to Islam first.

Revathi's official identification documents state she is Muslim because Malaysians who are born as Muslims cannot legally convert.

The Associated Press wrote:

yenna desamo?! hm....

From: temporary sori-Observer on Wed May 2 22:48:14 2007.

crazy wrote:

yenna desamo?! hm....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070430/ap_on_sc/malaysia_muslim_astronaut_1
From: P_R on Wed May 2 22:54:07 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070430/ap_on_sc/malaysia_muslim_astronaut_1

This is my favourite

The guideline booklet wrote:

The astronaut must be dressed decently whenever in public view
er.... isn't there like no-one in space ?
From: NOV on Wed May 2 23:15:13 2007.

big brother is watching
From: crazy on Thu May 3 2:36:25 2007.

temporary sori-Observer wrote:

crazy wrote:

yenna desamo?! hm....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070430/ap_on_sc/malaysia_muslim_astronaut_1

Ada Eeeshwara.......is Malaysia/ Malaysian this much strict following Islam

Prabhu Ram

From: NOV on Thu May 3 21:36:34 2007.

The drama continues....

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/4/courts/17628878&sec=courts

The Star wrote:

Friday May 4, 2007

Rubber tapper wins custody

By DHARMENDER SINGH

SHAH ALAM: Rubber tapper P. Marimuthu won custody of his six children at the High Court here yesterday, after his Muslim wife agreed to allow him to raise them as Hindus.

His wife, Raimah Bibi Noordin, claimed in an affidavit that she was born as a Muslim and wished to continue professing the faith.

She added, however, she had no objection to hand over her children � whose religion is stated as Hindu in their birth certificates � to be raised by their father, a Hindu.

Raimah will continue to live separately at her house in Bandar Utama Batang Kali but will have full access to the children, aged five to 12.

Marimuthu, 44, filed an application last month claiming the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) had forcibly taken his wife and the children from their home in Kampung Baru Tambahan, Ulu Yam Lama on the morning of April 2.

He alleged the officers did not give any reason why Raimah and the children were being detained.

Also, he added, the officers did not serve any detention order to his wife or children.

Marimuthu further claimed that the officers threatened to arrest him and charge him with khalwat (close proximity) if he attempted to stop them.

After the incident, he lodged a report at the Ulu Yam Baru police station.

His lawyer, Karpal Singh, told the court that a settlement had been reached between the couple and a habeas corpus application was being withdrawn.

Raimah, who came to court in a baju kurung and scarf, was seen weeping as she confirmed her decision before judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam.

State legal adviser Datuk Zauyah Be Loth Khan, representing JAIS, told the court that the department had not detained Raimah.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Karpal Singh said he met Raimah at his office on Wednesday and received her affidavit on handing over the custody of the children.

He said the case set a precedence, where custody of children could be given to a non-Muslim spouse.

�The couple will remain married as Marimuthu does not wish to divorce her but they will live separately,� he said.

From: joe on Thu May 3 21:44:46 2007.

Relegious fanatism
From: NOV on Thu May 3 21:49:53 2007.

actually it is more using-religion-for-political-gains.
From: joe on Thu May 3 21:52:48 2007.

NOV wrote:

actually it is more using-religion-for-political-gains.

Unmai..Mathamum arasiyalum kalakkum pothu kandippaga nanmai viLaya povathillai.
From: gaddeswarup on Sun May 6 20:00:56 2007.

Some libraries in Southern Tamilnadu:
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/04/29/stories/2007042900140400.htm
Excerpt:"Today, the Pennington Library, with its 40,000 books in English, Tamil and Sanskrit (a very special collection) and its scores of journals, draws hundreds every day to borrow books, use the reading room, or study in the special nook with its considerable material for the competitive exams. I, however, was interested in its old books collection and was disappointed that it was so small. But there was in it, among a few score books, a first edition of Thurston's classic Castes and Tribes of South India and a complete set of the Penny Encyclopaedia published in 1833. When Abdul Kalam, then Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister, visited the library in 2000, he spent a lot of time with these encyclopaedias, I was proudly told. What, however, was a pleasant surprise is that the library has a complete, well-bound set of Government Gazettes from 1952. That's something unlikely to be found in too many other places in the State."
(via Uma http://indianwriting.blogsome.com/)

From: NOV on Sun May 6 22:41:36 2007.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/7/nation/17650719&sec=nation

makkal Osai wrote:

Usage of Tamil language fast declining

IN a special report, Makkal Osai, said that according to Unesco, Tamil
language usage was declining throughout the world.

The reasons cited were modernisation, changes in culture and the
influence of Western ideas.

There was also no motivation or research done to promote the wider
usage of Tamil worldwide.

The report said that there were about 12.3 million Tamils in the world
and only 7.4 million used Tamil. The rest did not know how to read,
write or even speak Tamil.

A survey conducted by Unesco in 2000 revealed that 1.7 million had no
knowledge of Tamil and this figure will go up by 3.2% in the next six
years.

The report attributed the decline to parents not encouraging their
children to use Tamil. It also said that many schools in South India,
where Tamil is predominantly spoken, were now giving more importance
to English.

M. Ravindran, secretary of the Johor Silambam Association said that
parents in Malaysia should be encouraged to enrol children in Tamil
schools if the language was to be passed on to the next generation.

Tamil researcher Dr Purushothaman said that Tamil organisations should
organise awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of Tamil so
that Tamils could take pride in their own language.

From: crazy on Mon May 7 1:15:28 2007.

From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 1:23:59 2007.

crazy wrote:

Sharia law, appadi than irrukum...

The Associated Press wrote:

yenna desamo?! hm.... Sad

Indialiyum siolla per sharia law vennumgranaga kodduthralama??

From: crazy on Mon May 7 1:31:59 2007.

India'la Sharia law
From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 1:32:36 2007.

NOV wrote:

actually it is more using-religion-for-political-gains.

Hmmm...
From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 1:33:24 2007.

crazy wrote:

India'la Sharia law
From: Hulkster on Mon May 7 6:33:28 2007.

If Malaysian Authorities are already thinking of separating babies from families using religion then i guess Malaysia is well on its way to become the next islamic republic...and all that after its advertisement as a moderate and equality-for-all country .....come on Malaysians fight this paradox before it eats you all up

From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 8:27:21 2007.

Hulkster wrote:

If Malaysian Authorities are already thinking of separating babies from families using religion then i guess Malaysia is well on its way to become the next islamic republic...and all that after its advertisement as a moderate and equality-for-all country Mad

.....come on Malaysians fight this paradox before it eats you all up

I hope Malaysians wake up to this impending danger.

From: goodsense on Mon May 7 17:14:43 2007.

Quote:

I hope Malaysians wake up to this impending danger.

May be the only way forward, is to form an Alliance with Hindus from other countries. India might be the best choice being so close. But, the smaller countries of the Indian diaspora with large numbers of Hindus or even with Hindu minorities might be a good choice.
From: joe on Mon May 7 21:10:45 2007.

Hulkster wrote:

i guess Malaysia is well on its way to become the next islamic republic...

I thought Malaysia is already a official islamic state. ..NOV,can you confirm?
From: NOV on Mon May 7 21:23:07 2007.

no Joe, it is a secular state. constitution is supreme.
at this stage we need very stable minds. emotions will get us nowhere. many people have already migrated. others are observing closely.

as far as India help is concerned, it is quite laughable. i would advise india to first help its citizens here who are in dire straits.
its dowright amazing how the indian lower class labour are mistreated by thier employers here - mostly of malaysian indian origin too.

hope you guys know of Ganesh of Chennai who was tortured to death by a animal couple just a few days ago.
From: NOV on Mon May 7 21:27:38 2007.

and just to give a balanced view, chitra pournami festival was widely celebrated all over malaysia with street processions and chariots - with no objections from any party.

of course, you already know that the largest Murugan statue in the world is in Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur. BC btw attracts the largest Hindu congregation in the world outside India, every thaipoosam.
From: NOV on Mon May 7 21:32:53 2007.

The Ganesh tragedy:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/6/nation/17648575&sec=nation

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/4/courts/17626251&sec=courts

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/30/focus/17589179&sec=focus

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/30/focus/17589149&sec=focus

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/4/courts/17626251&sec=courts
From: Hulkster on Mon May 7 21:37:27 2007.

NOV sir...some of my malaysian friends are telling me that the most of the malays are actually awakening and they want out of islam...is that true?

I also feel that these incidents are caused by the islamic authorities rather than the government so if the government can control these barbaric-minded authorities it should be alright i guess
From: NOV on Mon May 7 22:04:17 2007.

1. not true. most malay muslims are content with the way things are. majority of them are comfortable with their religion and do not see other religions as threats.
it is politics that is rearing its ugly head, using religion to canvass for support.

2. not all authorities. only some vested parties. govt fears losing support from majority and therefore is reluctant to take sides.
From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 23:18:03 2007.

Here is an interesting article on Malaysia:

http://www.news.faithfreedom.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1246

From: c4ramesh on Mon May 7 23:23:12 2007.

no Joe, it is a secular state. constitution is supreme.
at this stage we need very stable minds. emotions will get us nowhere. many people have already migrated. others are observing closely.

But the constitution seems to be the problem.

Article 11 of the country's constitution states that anyone can follow any religion of their choosing, but in 1988, this was undermined. An amendment (1A) was made to Article 121, which stated that the civil courts have no jurisdiction over "any matter" which falls under the jurisdiction of the Islamic Courts.

http://www.news.faithfreedom.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1246

Cloud u verify this?

From: NOV on Mon May 7 23:49:29 2007.

nothing to verify there.
this indeed is the crux of the problem.

when there were rounds of intellectual discussions held, evsted groups protested and disrupted the discussions.
the PM then called for a halt to such open discussions.

right now, all parties are waiting....

From: c4ramesh on Tue May 8 0:02:04 2007.

nothing to verify there.
this indeed is the crux of the problem.

when there were rounds of intellectual discussions held, evsted groups protested and disrupted the discussions.
the PM then called for a halt to such open discussions.

right now, all parties are waiting....

Hope they make a good decision, I read this article. It changed my view of Malaysia completely.
Crying or Very sad

From: c4ramesh on Tue May 8 0:14:45 2007.

I am not sure whether NOV can access the site, I heard that this site is blocked in Malaysia?

From: crazy on Tue May 8 1:14:57 2007.

joe wrote:

Hulkster wrote:

i guess Malaysia is well on its way to become the next islamic republic...

I thought Malaysia is already a official islamic state. Rolling Eyes

..NOV,can you confirm?

I also thought Malaysia was an official Islamic state

From: joe on Tue May 8 2:18:14 2007.

as far as India help is concerned, it is quite laughable. i would advise india to first help its citizens here who are in dire straits.
its dowright amazing how the indian lower class labour are mistreated by thier employers here - mostly of malaysian indian origin too.

Absolutely true!

Pathetic conditions of Indian High commission all around the world ..They are not to protect the Indian nationals ,but operating as a commision agents ,woking only to collect money for VISA ,Birth certificate and all stupid endorsements ..Even Bangaladesh high commisions doing better job in taking care of their nationals compare to indian ..So much for so-called 'VALLARASU'.

From: NOV on Tue May 8 4:19:27 2007.

c4ramesh wrote:

I am not sure whether NOV can access the site, I heard that this site is blocked in Malaysia?

another urban legend. not only did i read, I also fwded to my friends.
From: NOV on Tue May 8 4:22:26 2007.

joe, I agree with you.
even recently when there were some problems for indian citizens, they slept on the corridors of the IHC and were left without food, until some local NGOs took them in and assisted them.

and then there was the news of the software engineers in brickfields who were mass arrested and treated like dogs.

in all such cases IHC did not lift a finger to help...

nenju porukkuthillaiyE...

From: c4ramesh on Tue May 8 7:01:53 2007.

I am not sure whether NOV can access the site, I heard that this site is blocked in Malaysia? Shocked

c4ramesh wrote:

another urban legend. not only did i read, I also fwded to my friends. Razz

I got this info from a fellow Malaysian hubber.

From: podalangai on Wed May 9 15:12:06 2007.

1. not true. most malay muslims are content with the way things are. majority of them are comfortable with their religion and do not see other religions as threats.
it is politics that is rearing its ugly head, using religion to canvass for support.

2. not all authorities. only some vested parties. govt fears losing support from majority and therefore is reluctant to take sides.

NOV, what is your opinion of this analysis:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4749379.stm

From: NOV on Wed May 9 22:06:30 2007.

podalangai, what can I say? it is but one view of the prism.
From: NOV on Wed May 9 22:56:08 2007.

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man who went on a wild spending spree
after doctors said he only had a short time to live wants
compensation because the diagnosis was wrong and he is now healthy --
but broke.

John Brandrick, 62, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years
ago and told that he would probably die within a year.

He quit his job, sold or gave away nearly all his possessions,
stopped paying his mortgage and spent his savings dining out and
going on holiday.

Brandrick was left with little more than the black suit, white shirt
and red tie that he had planned to be buried in when it emerged a
year later that his suspected "tumor" was no more than a non-life
threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

"When they tell you you've got a limited time and everything, you do
enjoy life," Brandrick, from Cornwall in the west of England, told
Sky television.

"I'm really pleased that I've got a second chance in life... but if
you haven't got no money after all this, which is my fault -- I
spent it all -- they should pay something back."

If he can't get compensation, he is considering selling his house or
suing the hospital that diagnosed him. The hospital has said that
while it sympathizes with Brandrick, a review of his case showed no
different diagnosis would have been made.
From: podalangai on Thu May 10 3:37:18 2007.

NOV wrote:

podalangai, what can I say? it is but one view of the prism.

I would be very interested in hearing your view. I used to live in Indonesia, and it seemed to me similar things were happening there, but I did not really spend a very long time there and things always seem different when one is an expatriate.
From: dsath on Mon May 14 6:02:48 2007.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1667358.ece
Read it yesterday and found the online version today
From: podalangai on Mon May 14 7:44:58 2007.

All are equal before God

TIRUCHI: It is a long-cherished dream for R. Karthikeyan (22) of Aeriyoor in Pennagaram taluk. Although he wanted to become an `archakar,' it could not materialise as he was from Scheduled Caste. With the doors now open through `Anaivarum archakar agalam' scheme introduced by the State Government, the youth has grabbed the opportunity to join `Vaishnavite archakar' training programme.

Distributing the training materials that included books and dhotis to the students to mark the inaugural of the training, Sri Ranganarayana Jeer of Srirangam said that it was only true service which was dear to God above caste based barriers. The scheme, he hoped, would prove to be a prospective career for many youths in future.

Full story at http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/13/stories/2007051315360300.htm
From: rocketboy on Mon May 14 9:05:20 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14kalam1.htm

Kalam chosen for King Charles II medal.

Kalam Ayya,

Elimayum Iraimayum Ivai Irandum
Onrai (Unnai) Kurikkum Iru Chorkal

From: c4ramesh on Mon May 14 9:06:24 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14kalam1.htm

Kalam chosen for King Charles II medal.

Kalam Ayya,

Elimayum Iraimayum Ivai Irandum
Onrai (Unnai) Kurikkum Iru Chorkal

From: maithree on Mon May 14 11:16:36 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14kalam1.htm

Kalam chosen for King Charles II medal.

Kalam Ayya,

Elimayum Iraimayum Ivai Irandum
Onrai (Unnai) Kurikkum Iru Chorkal

From: maithree on Mon May 14 11:16:59 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6652765.stm
From: rocketboy on Mon May 14 14:22:23 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14bus.htm

20 die in Gujarat CNG bus catches fire after a collision with a chemical tanker.
From: Badri on Mon May 14 21:21:12 2007.

rocketboy wrote:

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14bus.htm

20 die in Gujarat CNG bus catches fire after a collision with a chemical tanker.

Saw this news on the Hindu too. But why this focus on CNG? The way all headlines shout CNG bus, it looks like that is why the bus caught fire - bcos it is CNG.

From: NOV on Mon May 14 22:24:30 2007.

[tscii]
�Pokkiri� film controversy ends with assurance from school principal that the violent film will not be shown to non-Malay primary school students and admitting that its screening was a mistake

______________
Media Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang
_________________

(Parliament, Thursday) : The �Pokkiri� film controversy ends with the assurance by the principal of the SK Taman Hi-Tech, Kulim that the film which parents complained of being one of �violence and sensuality� and unsuitable for Primary One pupils would not be shown to non-Malay primary school students and admitting that its screening was a mistake.

Ten days ago, I blogged as well as raised in Parliament the complaint from Vimaleson Gunaratnam, a parent of a seven-year-old pupil at SK Taman Hi-Tech, Kulim that non-Malay students in the school were separated from Malay students for the whole morning session until recess time for two consecutive days and shown a Tamil movie, Pokkiri, which is full of violence and sensuality.

He sent a letter of protest to the school principal as he was particularly incensed that the movie Pokkiri, (translated the meaning is �Thug�) starred by Vijay, is shown in school when he would not allow such a movie at home.

Several parents of pupils in the school have written to my blog in support of Vimaleson�s complaint.

Yesterday, I received through my blog an email from Vimaleson informing me that the �Pokkiri� film controversy has ended with an assurance from the principal of the school that the violent film will not be shown to non-Malay primary school pupils and admitting that its screening was a mistake.

This is Vimaleson�s email:

Quote:

I thank you for all the support given. Some of the parents and I met the school authorities on Sunday and here is there outcome.

As expected the PIBG YDP did not attend the meeting, although earlier he personally told me he will.
The HM agreed that the movie is not suitable to be shown in school. He trully regretted it happened.
The HM said the movie was brought by a Standard 5 student and played by the teachers. How weird?????????

HM questioned why he was not contacted before escalating.
Reply given- the email was sent on this issue but no response for 4 days. Email sent on another issue but no response for more than 1 month. So it was perceived that the school not interested in replying. Reasonable opportunity given to school, but they did not use it.

HM said that he didn�t know there was an email, but the PK Academic admitted reading and didn�t bother to tell the HM.

The PK Academic was harping on the matter that it was shown only on 1 day. But it doesn�t matter, even for 1 hour the movie must not be shown in school. The movie is rated as 18SG, therefore not meant for primary school kids. It is a violation of Copyright Act, the movie is for home viewing only.

Agreement achieved in summary:
The school must respond all forms of communication, including emails,, within 1 working day.
The school will make a written reply on this issue.
The school will not show movies in schools.
A proper program need to be made if no classes is conducted on certain times. Watching movies or placing the students in library is not a solution.

Dear bloggers,
I would like to thank you too.

I applaud Vimaleson for his public-spiritedness and the support he had received from other like-minded parents from his school which enabled the Pokkiri controversy to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. It is also a demonstration that parents cared enough about their children�s education and upbringing in school as to take a keen interest as to what is going on in school � a most commendable attitude which should be emulated by every parent in the country.

Let Vimaleson also be an example to all Malaysians that they must speak up when there is anything wrong or amiss in order to rectify them instead of suffering in silence.

http://www.dapmalaysia.org/english/2007/may07/lks/lks4289.htm

From: gaddeswarup on Tue May 15 7:19:35 2007.

Saw this in another group blog. It may be old news.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pmadurai/message/3011
Excerpt:
Since the present Government assumed office in May last year,
copyrights of the works of 17 doyens of Tamil language including

* Parithimar Kalaignar alias Surya Narayana Sastriar,
* Pulavar Kulanthai, (Author of Ravana Kaviyam)
* Ma.Po.Si, (Silambu Chelvar Ma.Po.Sivagnanam)
* Pulavar Ka. Govindan,
* T.P.Meenakshi Sundaranar, (Tho.Po.Mi)
* T.N.Kumarasamy,
* Ka.Su.Pillai,
* T.Ja.Ranganathan (T.Ja.Ra.),
* Narayana Duraikannan,
* M.Rajamanickanar, and
* Sakthi Vai.Govindan

were purchased and put in the public domain.

Legal heirs of the scholars had been paid Rs.1.29 crore.

In the budget presented last month, the State Government
announced that the copyrights of the works of more scholars
would be purchased.

* Singaravelar,
* Kirupananda Variar,
* Kunrakudi Adigalar,
* K.A.P.Viswananatham , (Ki.Aa.Pae)
* Ki.Va.Jagannathan, (Ki.Va.Ja)
* Avvai Duraiswamy Pillai,**
* A.S.Gnanasambandam, (Aa.Sa.Gna)
* Tirukkural Munuswami,
* Suradha, {Vuvamai Kavingar (Su)bbu(ra)thina(dha)san}
* Saavi (S.Viswanathan) and
* Deepam Na. Parthasarathy (Na.Pa)

were among the writers.

From: rocketboy on Tue May 15 11:00:46 2007.

Badri wrote:

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/14bus.htm

20 die in Gujarat Sad

CNG bus catches fire after a collision with a chemical tanker.

Saw this news on the Hindu too. But why this focus on CNG? The way all headlines shout CNG bus, it looks like that is why the bus caught fire - bcos it is CNG.

Generally in CNG buses the cylinders(tanks) used for storing the compressed gas are mounted on the top of the bus. I think that makes it more vulnerable . Also natural gas is more inflammable.

From: maithree on Thu May 17 15:16:56 2007.

POLLUTION!

*The move follows a recent report which said that some 70% of people in the city suffer from respiratory disorders.

*Ailments include lung cancer, breathing difficulties and asthma, the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) study said.

*One of its key findings was a direct link between air pollution among the 18 million people of Calcutta and the high incidence of lung cancer.

*Only 10% of Calcutta's 1.5m vehicles have converted to green fuels - and only 20% of those have taken an emission test in the last two years.

*"This is a killer but the government is doing nothing to check it," alleged Mr Dutta.

Now this is Scary!
The area around Calcutta is covered in smog!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42873000/jpg/_42873815_nasapic.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6665803.stm

DO SOMETHING ABT THIS INDIAN GOVT!!!! Pretty soon all of India is going to get unfit to live in!
From: NOV on Thu May 17 20:52:50 2007.

An Indian woman travelling on Malaysia Airlines was arrested for threatening to hijack the plane she was travelling in.

Apparently she had requested for her two young children to be shown the cockpit. But when her request was turned down, she made that threat.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/18/nation/17764137&sec=nation

From: joe on Thu May 17 22:08:47 2007.

An Indian woman travelling on Malaysia Airlines was arrested for threatening to hijack the plane she was travelling in.

Apparently she had requested for her two young children to be shown the cockpit. But when her request was turned down, she made that threat.

Laughing

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/18/nation/17764137&sec=nation

Nall veLai ..valiLiya tea kudikka nalla kadaiya paathu nirunthunga-nnu adam pidikkama irunthathe

From: crazy on Fri May 18 2:03:05 2007.

From: maithree on Fri May 18 13:51:36 2007.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/18/nation/17764137&sec=nation

From: temporary sori-Observer on Sat May 19 10:34:03 2007.

�� ȢŢ�. ��  ��Ţ�.

��ɢ�� Ȣ�� ھ� ��â쨸 Ţ��!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6638552,00.html
From: crazy on Sat May 19 11:34:46 2007.
From: NOV on Sun May 20 23:11:59 2007.

Conference on Siddhar principles to see big turnout

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/20070519072840/Article/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 delegates from around the world are expected
to attend an inaugural world conference here on Siddhar principles from May
25 to May 27.
The event, organised by non-profit organisation Sri Agastiar Nyaana Peedam
Malaysia, has attracted the participation of people from such countries as
India, Japan, Holland, South Africa, England and France.

"We hope to disseminate the principles of the Siddhars on how to develop the
inner qualities to achieve peace and improve the quality of life for all
human beings," said organising chairman Arul Selvar Abnaa Nagappen.

A Siddhar is someone who has attained enlightenment.

The Siddhars are sages who, through pithy sayings and aphorisms, talk about
living a good life and attaining enlightenment.
Their treatises and sayings also contain a wealth of information on health
and disease that has come to be known as Siddha Medicine.

Speakers include Thavayogi Thangarasu Adigalar, Siddhar Sri Kagapujandar
Dharmalinga Swamigal, Thavathiru Swami Onggara Nantha, Thavathiru Oooran
Adigalar, Prof Dr Aranggar Ramalinggam, Dr T. Ananthan and Prof Dr T. N.
Ganapathy.

The vice-chancellor of the Tajore Tamil University, Dr S. Subramaniam will
also attend.

Topics related to astronomy, philosophy of science, yoga, siddhar medicine
and spirituality will be discussed.

The conference will be officiated by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu
at 9am on May 25 at the Auditorium Perdana Siswa, University of Malaya.

The association can be contacted at www.agastiar.org.
From: Anoushka on Mon May 21 3:39:11 2007.

http://www.freshnews.in/it-happens-in-bihar-passengers-push-train-to-start-8432

It only happens only in Bihar... something to laugh about! I wouldn't be surprised if the Biharis are caught trying to start a plane by pushing it next

From: arunyss on Mon May 21 5:34:09 2007.

Anoushka wrote:

http://www.freshnews.in/it-happens-in-bihar-passengers-push-train-to-start-8432

It only happens only in Bihar... something to laugh about! Smile

I wouldn't be surprised if the Biharis are caught trying to start a plane by pushing it next Laughing

From: NOV on Mon May 21 23:47:53 2007.

[tscii]'May I open the aircraft door for some cool air?'

13 May, 2007 l 0052 hrs ISTlShobha John/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Sunday_Specials/Deep_
Focus/May_I_open_the_aircraft_door_for_some_cool_air/articleshow/2039278.cms

It's Bharat darshan out there on low-cost carriers (LCCs). Assorted accents, varied clothes and behaviour so peculiar that it leaves flight crew astonished, amused and alert. Not surprising, as many LCC passengers are befuddled and naive first-time fliers. And airlines are training cabin crew to handle them with sensitivity and concern.

The passenger, be he from Pathankot, Rajkot, Rajahmundry or Dimapur, is truly the king now, calling the shots in the air for his money's worth. For the first time, that small-time shop-keeper or primary school teacher or government servant realises the power of a Rs 99 ticket. It allows him to live his fantasy of flying that huge metallic bird that he's seen only from terra firma.

UNSAID FEARS
But along with this power comes nervousness and fear. "Will I be able to negotiate the intricacies of flying; are there actually toilets in the air; do I need to carry my paranthas and pickle...."

One air hostess smiles as she remembers a Gujarati couple struggling with a baby. When asked if they needed help, the father said in halting English, "Baby want to make water." It took the crew a while to figure out the baby wanted to use the loo.

Cabin crew can make out the first-time flier; 40% in the case of Air Deccan. "Their body language gives them away. They are nervous and fidgety and keep asking for directions," says Kiran Singh, GM, in-flight services, Spicejet.

Bruce Ashby, president and CEO, IndiGo, says, "In our classes, cabin crew is provided a series of role plays covering an array of passenger personalities: first-time fliers, parents with infants, elderly folk, etc."

In fact, the commercial staff of LCCs is always on the lookout for such passengers, most of whom don't know that they've to arrive at least an hour before departure. Some go to airport toilets and by the time they emerge, they've literally missed the bus, err...the plane.

An Air Deccan spokesman says, "We train our staff to be approachable and receptive. Approx. 30% of them are first-time fliers themselves from small towns such as Lucknow, Nagpur, Surat, Kalimpong, etc, and are therefore conversant in various vernacular languages." At IndiGo, says Ashby, approx. 70% cabin crew are freshers.

SOME GIVEAWAYS
Most first-timers are overwhelmed. Many are foxed by boarding cards and metal detectors; they forget to get tags for their hand baggage and feel cheated when food items are confiscated. "Security personnel often has to bear the brunt of their ire as some of them say sarcastically, 'Tum hi kha lo' (Eat it yourself)," says the security head of an airline.

Sure giveaways of a first-timer are attempts to knot the seat belt instead of buckling it, walking in the aisle during take-off and landing and asking for oxygen masks after the safety drill. "Some," says Ashby, "ask where microwaves and fridges are located, the age of the pilot and even try to open the cockpit door thinking it's the toilet."

After identifying them, Singh says, the staff chit-chats with them to allay their fears. One co-passenger of Ajay Singh, director, Spicejet, even asked him if he wasn't scared. Keeping a straight face, he replied, "No, you might be a first-time flier." No wonder Singh says,

"Though naive, what strikes us is their genuineness and innocence." Call these the add-ons of small-town living.

OLD HABITS
STOI asked cabin crew of LCCs to share interesting anecdotes of first-time fliers. One peculiarity is the tendency to grab seats as soon as they enter the plane. Old habits, learned on trains and buses, die hard, after all. As most LCCs have free seating, this can create some logjam! Most also prefer front row seats which have more leg room. But if a wheel-chair passenger comes, the ensuing war of words can wring out any cabin crew.

"Most often, other passengers have to intervene to try and talk sense into the irascible passenger," says an air hostess.

There are others who insist on sitting near emergency exits, against the rules. Any attempt to dislodge them is met with stiff resistance. As for sweet talk and cajoling, that's strictly for the birds! What works finally is an announcement by the pilot that the plane won't take off till the culprit sits elsewhere.

It's not uncommon for first-timers to look down from the sky and ask the crew, "Wo rui kya hai?" That isn't cotton, he's told, it's clouds. Others want to know why the plane is stationary and why matter outside isn't flying zip-zap. When told the plane is actually flying at 800 kmph, they're astonished.

One amused pilot remembers a passenger retorting, on being asked to board the airline bus, "Maine plane ka ticket liya hai, bus ka nahi. Main paidal chalunga," (I bought a plane ticket, not a bus one. I will walk). Some frugality, that. Another wanted his entire baggage in the cabin itself as the cargo section of a plane was a foreign concept for him.

Aircraft equipment gets the brunt of their naivete. Some try to open emergency exit handles � they feel hot inside and want cool air! Others wait outside the plane toilet as their wives are inside; who knows she might get locked inside. It's a different world up there. But for LCCs' cabin crew, it's just another day in the sky.
From: dsath on Wed May 23 6:36:57 2007.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1824283.ece
Evidence of water in Mars !!!!!!!
From: Chappani on Wed May 23 18:10:35 2007.

Are Pakistani people more intelligent than their Indian cousins?? are you interested to know, read this article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6681457.stm
From: c4ramesh on Wed May 23 22:08:37 2007.

Chappani wrote:

Are Pakistani people more intelligent than their Indian cousins?? are you interested to know, read this article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6681457.stm

Romobo budisalagathhan.
From: rocketboy on Thu May 24 23:56:53 2007.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/17inter.htm
From: Shakthiprabha. on Fri May 25 12:40:40 2007.

dsath wrote:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1824283.ece
Evidence of water in Mars !!!!!!!

wow...

Initially it was DOES MARS HAVE LIFE?

THEN it was WOULD MARS have life?

now its... MARS HAD LIFE...
From: Lambretta on Fri May 25 13:15:00 2007.

Shakthiprabha wrote:

wow...

Initially it was DOES MARS HAVE LIFE?

THEN it was WOULD MARS have life?

now its... MARS HAD LIFE...

Hmm......'hope tats not going to make them take to outsourcing jobs there!

From: dev on Sat May 26 5:25:21 2007.

Hmm......'hope tats not going to make them take to outsourcing jobs there! Razz

Shakthiprabha wrote:

wow...

Initially it was DOES MARS HAVE LIFE?

THEN it was WOULD MARS have life?

now its... MARS HAD LIFE...

Smile

From: crazy on Mon May 28 13:22:23 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6695695.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6683767.stm

eeshwara
From: thamiz on Mon May 28 19:01:49 2007.

http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/IndiasPromise_special/
From: nms on Tue May 29 4:24:08 2007.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/29/stories/2007052903842200.htm

Very Inspiring Story
Woman against the odds

Triple amputee to graduate from UCLA medical school

LOS ANGELES: A woman who lost both legs and an arm as a child is poised to become a doctor for children.

Kellie Lim, who became a triple amputee at age eight because of bacterial meningitis, is to graduate from the University of California Los Angeles medical school on Friday, and she plans to focus on childhood allergies and infectious disease.

The 26-year-old native of Michigan does not use a prosthetic arm and manages to perform most medical procedures � including giving injections and taking blood � with one arm. She walks on a pair of prosthetic legs.

"Just having that experience of being someone so sick and how devastating that can be � not just for me but for my family too � gives me a perspective that other people don't necessarily have."

Raised by a visually challenged mother, Ms. Lim went through years of wheelchairs and painful therapy after toxic shock from the meningitis claimed her limbs and three fingertips on her remaining hand.

Ms. Lim recently saw her childhood medical file, and learned that doctors had given her an 85 per cent chance of dying of the meningitis.

"I hate failing," she said. "It's one of those things that's so ingrained in me."
From: NOV on Wed May 30 4:32:52 2007.

[tscii]No joy for Lina Joy
May 30, 07 11:18am

Lina Joy�s long wait for her conversion to Christianity to be recognised by law is over - the Federal Court ruled today that she remains a Muslim and her religious status will not be removed from her identity card.

Delivering the judgment to a packed gallery this morning in Putrajaya, Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim ruled that jurisdiction remains with the Syariah court.
The chief justice stated that he concurred with the majority decision - Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff who was the last to read his judgment agreed with Ahmad Fairuz's findings.

Justice Richard Malanjun gave a dissenting judgment.
The case hinged on a decision by the National Registration Department not to remove the word �Islam� from Lina�s MyKad.

The department said it needed a syariah court order certifying her renouncement from Islam before it could make the change.

The three questions
Following this, Lina filed a suit against the NRD director-general, the government and the Federal Territory Religious Council in 2001.
After losing at both the High Court and Court of Appeal, the matter finally came to the Federal Court with these three questions:

1. Was the NRD entitled to require a person to produce a certificate or a declaration or an order from the syariah court before deleting �Islam� from his or her identity card;

2. Did the NRD correctly construe its powers under the National Registration Regulations 1990 when it imposed the above requirement, which is not expressly provided for in the regulations? ; and

3. Was the landmark case Soon Singh vs Perkim Kedah � which held that syariah courts have the authority over the civil courts to hear cases of Muslims renouncing Islam � correctly decided?

Delivering the much-awaited judgment today, Ahmad Fairuz and Alauddin answered in the positive to all these three questions.

Richard however disagreed, stating that the NRD had no statutory duty to decide on apostasy.
Ahmad Fairuz said the NRD, which is in charge of issuing identity cards, had the right to demand that a syariah court certify Lina's conversion.

"On the question that the National Registration Department has the right to demand a certification from the Islamic court that confirms the appellant's renunciation of Islam, my answer is that NRD has the right," he said.

"The appeal has been rejected with cause," he added.
Shouts of Allahuakbar
A large section of the 300-strong crowd waiting outside recited the tahlil or read the Quran while waiting for the decision.

When the news reached them, they shouted Allahuakbar - their reaction resounded through the Palace of Justice.
Born to Malay parents, Joy, 43, whose Muslim name was Azlina Jailani, converted to Christianity in 1998.

source: malaysiakini
From: NOV on Wed May 30 4:36:04 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6703155.stm

Malaysia rejects Christian appeal

Malaysia's highest court has rejected a Muslim convert's six-year battle to be legally recognised as a Christian.

A three-judge panel ruled that only the country's Sharia Court could let Azlina Jailani, now known as Lina Joy, remove the word Islam from her identity card.

Malaysia's constitution guarantees freedom of worship but says all ethnic Malays are Muslim. Under Sharia law, Muslims are not allowed to convert.

Ms Joy said she should not be bound by that law as she is no longer a Muslim.

Death threats

Malaysia's Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said the panel endorsed legal precedents giving Islamic Sharia courts jurisdiction over cases involving Muslims who want to convert.

About 200 protesters shouted "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is great) outside the court when the ruling was announced.

"You can't at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another," Ahmad Fairuz said.

Ms Joy's case has tested the limits of religious freedom in Malaysia.

She started attending church in 1990 and was baptised in 1998.

In 2000, Ms Joy, 42, went to the High Court after the National Registration Department refused to remove "Islam" from the religion column on her identity card. The court said it was a matter for Sharia courts. Tuesday's ruling marked the end of her final appeal.

Ms Joy has been disowned by her family and forced to quit her job. She went into hiding last year. A Muslim lawyer who supported her case received death threats.

Sharia courts decide on civil cases involving Malaysian Muslims - nearly 60% of the country's 26 million people - while ethnic minorities such as Chinese and Indians are governed by civil courts in the multi-racial country.
From: NOV on Wed May 30 4:39:56 2007.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070530/wl_sthasia_afp/indiatamillanguage

Tamil language wins official recognition

CHENNAI, India (AFP) - Tamil, one of India's ancient Dravidian languages, is to have its own government-funded institute, Tamil Nadu state's chief minister said.

The federal government has agreed to set up the International Institute of Classical Tamil Language in the state capital Chennai, where language politics have often boiled over.

M. Karunanidhi told reporters late Tuesday the government had also agreed to several more demands to promote Tamil, including setting up international Tamil prizes and awards for scholars and experts.

"These steps will ensure that Tamil gets its due recognition and incentives that have been available for North Indian languages," Karunanidhi said.

Federal government efforts to impose Hindi -- a north Indian language from the Indo-Aryan group -- in the Dravidian south sparked violence.

Madras state was created in 1956 along linguistic boundaries and renamed Tamil Nadu in 1965. Demand for equal status for Tamil with the national language Hindi is a common political slogan.

More than 62 million people live in Tamil Nadu and Tamil is also spoken in Sri Lanka and Indian communities spread through Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.

The Indian constitution recognises 18 official languages.
From: dsath on Wed May 30 6:35:09 2007.

Mock elections.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1856863.ece
From: selvakumar on Wed May 30 6:41:46 2007.

News in y'day's Dinakaran !

Indian govt is considering about allowing TV channels to telecast Adult oriented films ( p - o - r - n ) from 11pm to 4am !

S.J.SURYA - ushaaar !
From: Shakthiprabha. on Wed May 30 8:36:11 2007.

dsath wrote:

Mock elections.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1856863.ece

Should we say atleast its step 1 ?
From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 1 5:14:30 2007.

http://specials.rediff.com/getahead/2007/jun/01sld1.htm
From: podalangai on Tue Jun 5 8:01:43 2007.

In a path-breaking revelation, a young research scholar of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University has come out with recorded evidence linking Telugus and Israelis on the basis of Telugu words found in Hebrew literature. Ms. Samyuktha, who is doing her research on `Andhra Pradesh - The missing link - Tilmun language and Telugu', said a 1794 BC stone tablet established that the Sumerian-Assyrian culture had its roots in Andhra Pradesh.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/04/stories/2007060414170100.htm

Namma uruppadave maattom.

From: kannannn on Tue Jun 5 8:58:52 2007.

podalangai wrote:

In a path-breaking revelation, a young research scholar of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University has come out with recorded evidence linking Telugus and Israelis on the basis of Telugu words found in Hebrew literature. Ms. Samyuktha, who is doing her research on `Andhra Pradesh - The missing link - Tilmun language and Telugu', said a 1794 BC stone tablet established that the Sumerian-Assyrian culture had its roots in Andhra Pradesh.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/04/stories/2007060414170100.htm

Namma uruppadave maattom. Banging Head

Idhellam onnume illai. Andha ammaiyaroda matha ezhuthukkal padichirukkingala? She claims that Sumerians too came from Telugu land

. She is on the forefront for declaring Telugu as a classical language.

From: Sudhaama on Tue Jun 5 21:53:29 2007.

Idhellam onnume illai. Andha ammaiyaroda matha ezhuthukkal padichirukkingala? She claims that Sumerians too came from Telugu land Banging Head

podalangai wrote:

. She is on the forefront for declaring Telugu as a classical language.

If we note the ACHA-THELUGU.. the Root-form of Origin of Telugu...

..we can find the similarity of lot of Tamil-words with that Origin of Telugu.

Then does it mean... that Tamil is the Offshoot Language from Telugu?

Same Question came up with Kannada too... since the same case applies here too...

..since as of Telugu origin... the Kannada-origin form called Hale-Kannada also shows the similarity with Ancient Tamil.

Same is the case of the Root of Malayalam... called "Ezhuthachan Malayalam", the latest Dravidian Language

Finally the unbiased Scholars have affirmed that ..

Tamil is the ONLY CLASSICAL LANGUAGE of South India..

...out of which...UNDOUBTEDLY all the South-Indian Dravidian Languages have emerged.

However Karnataka and Andhra Politicians are trying to compete to claim that their Languages were of earlier Origin..

.. and of BETTER CLASSICAL Status than Tamil..

...Let us see how they claim!
.

From: podalangai on Wed Jun 6 7:58:28 2007.