Saturday, March 28, 2009

Nothing is impossible ... then some things are!!!

Sure as I know anything, I know this: In a year or maybe ten, perhaps even on this very ground, they'll swing back to the belief that they can make people better; and I don't hold to that.
- Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity, 2005

Making things better after they have become worse is an innate desire of man, a remnant of discharging the white man's burden or Freudian guilt mechanism? Whatever that may be, but for sure this never has worked, neither in science fiction nor in real life. Lets just try not to spoil and if we do spoil, kindly leave the unspoiling to nature.




References:

Antarctic ocean test fails to get desired results

`Seeding the oceans with iron might not help to suck up carbon ...

Geo-engineering Who ate all the algae?





Thankless freeloaders ...

"There's one in every family, Sire ... actually two in mine" says Zazu (The Lion King, 1994). But its all galore in our economies, be it US or Indian. One refuses to reduce credit rates, others give bonuses. One could never do enough to please these Dalal Street / Wall St. Idiots!!! Neither their employees nor the government!!!


References:

Cabinet Secy to meet bankers in April for easing credit

Govt says interest rates must come down




Saturday, March 21, 2009

Do unto others as they do unto you!!!

No wonder Islam and Hindu fundamentalists too are on expansion spree. Takes two to tango. But in these modern times calling the other's beliefs witchcraft is nothing more than barbarism and nonsecular. Thus the Pope too should be hunted down like Osama bin Laden. After all justice is the measure that weighs all in the same way and cuts through all evil alike.




References:

Shun witchcraft, pope tells Angolan Catholics

Pope warns against witchcraft in Angola

Pope urges Angolans to convert; stampede kills 2




SEBI gone EXOTIC!!!

SEBI = Speculative Endeavors Broadening Initiative



Reference:

Now, exotic derivatives in the works

Friday, March 20, 2009

Second straw ...

Harder times push for harder crime zeal and the aspirations to become richer faster. Offshoring required just this additional jolt to shake the western faith in Indian credibility. As it is we have no data security law. And now this, immediately after U.S. protectionism, this seems the apt follow up on the road to doom!!!



References:

Credit card fraudster confronted

Credit card details on sale in India: Report

Indian call centre credit card 'scam' exposed


Thursday, March 19, 2009

Geographical Indications: A dead end for cheap, fake, predatory dumping?

At least GI products, especially food GIs can not be faked and dumped. They have to be bought from the real producer!!! eh!



Reference:

India may soon get Chinese nod for basmati exports

Return of what is not deserved!!!

Hope this is a beginning of a whole new area of corporate social responsibility, wherein, instead of shareholders determining bonuses, a government committee or external regulator would have the power to determine so. But it is not happening in the near future. Its just my wishful thinking. Since when did I start to think that the people had power with them; they wrote it off long time ago to the ones that earlier ruled them, and now purport to be elected, and continue to govern them!!!




Reference:

Edward Liddy asks AIG executives to repay bonuses



Complex Issue, misunderstood!!!

Only when the inflation is negative would prices start to drop. However, irresponsible press coverage says differently!!! Shows the depletion of responsible media and/or ignorance of holistic education at colleges of mass communication and journalism.




References:

Falling inflation does not mean falling prices



Monday, March 16, 2009

Make your pick: AIG Nero or Marie-Therese AIG!!!

& this happens each day in India and no one regulates, least of all even mentions it in the news!!!! Satyam is the mere tip of the iceberg. So complacent are we regarding our "plenty" that it would soon become scarce.


References:

Obama angered by AIG bonuses

AIG Faces Rising Tide of Public Anger Over Bonuses

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Who art thou lest a sinner, judge me not for I am like you!

Why was the Vatican silent when India went ahead with stem cell research. Why is it only interested in US posture on the issue?

They were the ones to accept the Earth was finally round in 2004!! Now will we have to wait for another 400 years for stem cell research to be approved. What a ball and chain at the heels of development!!


References:

Obama stem cell backlash

Vatican recants with a statue of Galileo -Times Online




Sunday, March 8, 2009

The world is not enough? ... or is it?

I say it is more than enough. What have we actually done for this earth that we now aim to head elsewhere at astronomical expenditures that could well be used for earth's betterment environmentally as well as socially. Otis - Gandhi belongings auction has shown this shameless dichotomy of thought and actions as no other event in history has ever spat in the face of so called torch bearers of progress. Governments are ready to spend crores of their currency on procuring what symbolizes progress and honor but actually is nothing more than vanity and in vain.

Gandhi would not have approved of such high price purchase of his belongings by the country he lived and died for when we see blatant socio-economic deprivation on the other side of the story. It is ANTI-GANDHIAN to purchase his belongings at an auction even by the richest Indian, the belongings of a man who lived simply and without wealth in a country that still is poor, no matter what its GDP or rate of growth is.

On the other hand NASA thinks it is doing good by spending trillions while US citizens suffer in the face of unemployment and burst of their economic powder-cake.

How different are we from the dark ages when Kings and Temples/Churches amassed wealth while the poor remained static. They too were the golden ages of their times as described by those rulers. Shame on us all who think we are progressing.



References:

Otis offers to donate more Gandhi items


Nasa probe to seek planets supporting life


US sheds 6,51000 jobs in Feb; jobless rate touch 25-yr high

US unemployment rate hits 8.1 percent

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Net Neutrality: A Clear & Present Danger ...

Absolute non-discrimination, is the demand by TRAI towards broadband users. There are some ISPs favoring their corporate clients to the detriment of end consumers. I surely have felt the discrimination when network speed ratios drop from 1:1 to 1:3 during peak hours.

As of now, TRAI has pronounced guidelines only on speed related net neutrality. However ,the day is not far when it would also have to dictate content neutrality guidelines as well.



References:

TRAI trying to empower broadband users in the country

Trai moves to ensure broadband speed

TRAI issues guidelines on broadband service