Nuclear deal...finally some light in this room..

Finally I read something worthwhile in the paper!

1- Bashing the Left for its opposition to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal has, indeed, become the flavour of the month.

I agree.. since none of the papers gave a favourable article and they were very keen in publishing polls showing that more than 95% of the Indians are for the nuclear deal. They never asked for my opinion!

2- B Raman, a former senior officer of India’s intelligence apparatus, slanderously wrote on this page (The Manchurian candidates, August 21) that the Left’s campaign against India’s nuclear deal is “driven by China’s concerns”.

I don’t agree with this.. of course they share the same ideologies but when it comes to policies I trust the communists more. I can use many examples from my own state Kerala, although we use every opportunity to batter them, deep in our hearts we know that the most honest and able leaders came from the communist party.

3- In 2006, 3.9 gw of nuclear power was generated, 3 per cent of India’s total power generation. In the most optimistic scenario, after the operationalisation of this deal, this would grow, at best, to 20 gw by 2016, or just over 6 per cent of the projected generation.

So what are we giving up for this increase in 6%? When the facts are thus.....

4- Further, is nuclear power cost-effective? On the contrary, it is the most expensive option. As compared to coal, it would be one-and-a-half times more expensive. Compared with gas, it is twice as expensive. So is the case with hydro-electricity. Given the abundance of coal reserves in India, the Planning Commission estimates that thermal energy would dominate power generation in India. As far as hydro-electricity is concerned, given the potential of nearly 150 gw, only 33 gw has been installed as of 2006. In addition, over 55,000 MW could be imported from Nepal and Bhutan. The tapping of such huge hydro-potential will not only augment our energy capacities at half the cost of nuclear energy, but will also tame these rivers, which regularly consume the lives of thousands. This year’s floods according to the United Nations, are ‘unprecedented’ in human memory.

Yes, there is more to this wonderful deal..

5- Huge commercial orders running into thousands of crores of rupees for the purchase of nuclear reactors would be placed on the US. The profit bonanza to multinational corporations is there for all to see with the attendant benefits to sections of corporate India. Recollect that for more than three decades the West has not installed new nuclear power reactors.

And..

6-Apart from drawing India into the US strategic military alliances in the region like the forthcoming joint military exercises with the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore, and the effort at pressurising India’s foreign policy positions, this deal does not even guarantee full and complete access to civilian nuclear technology as assured by the Prime Minister in the Rajya Sabha. In fact, the 123 agreement forbids the transfer of dual-use technologies.

Thank you Mr. Sitaram Yechury… I see some light in this room now…

Water

We have heard a lot about water and it's wonderful benefits to our health. We are asked to drink minimum 8 glasses of water in a day and to start the day with a glass of water.

Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

but this is the frist time I am reading about cold water!

But it makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.
Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Anyway I am sure most of us dont relish a glass of hot water after our meal but I have seen many who prefer hot water.


Indications You Need More Water
One of the main causes of constipation is insufficient water. You can use this as an indicator: if you have two or three soft, easy bowel movements a day you are unlikely to be dehydrated. There are other dietary factors involved, but water is cardinal.

Poor skin accompanies both constipation and dehydration and is a clear indicator.

Tiredness and sluggishness when there is no other apparent cause.

Thirst.

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Nearly every healthy adult can consider the following:

Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
Hydrate before, during and after exercise.
Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings

A Happy Onam to the Mallus all over the world

Celebrated Onam yesterday by having a great Sadhya from Shaab Beach Restaurant. Managed to get out of the office around 1:30 PM. Hubby’s brother and family was also there.



There were 24 items including the pickles and the usual, Sambar, Parippu, Thoran, Kalan, More, Engi Curry, Payasam etc. I hope I havent left some mallus drooling!

Watched the Onam celebrations in the capital city being aired through Asianet. Took me back to the good old days when we used to spend our Onam vacation with our grandparents at Trivandrum. Since the roads near Kowdiar would be crowded, a bunch of us (cousins) used to walk and try to get a good place to watch the floats on the first day. The imagination and creativity were great. The jostling crowd would wait until the last float pass them.



The whole Trivandrum used to be on the road. We would then visit “Kannkakunnu” palace which is the happening place for everything. There would be cultural programs and food festivals. The best I liked was the Book Stalls. I never bought much, but walking among thousands of books was a pleasure in itself.

Cowards!

There is no other word to call these heartless creatures who kill innocent people. Did they kill the person they wanted? Are they closer to their objectives? Of course not! They dont know what they want since they dont have a mind of their own. Just like how you train a dog to pick a stick these people are brainwashed (do they have brains?) and ordered to kill innocents. They would kill their own parents and siblings, since they have lost whatever humanity they ever had. They are mere zombies who gave up their conscience.

My heart goes to all those who are left behind with just memories of whom they loved.

To those who were taken away from our midst for no fault of theirs.

Let us also remember Iraq where this has become a routine. When cowards strikes your homeland it pains you, while for the Iraqis, it has become a part of their daily lives. Isnt the world too silent on this?

Paper thin batteries

Here comes the ultra-thin and flexible quick charging batteries named ORB, for Organic Radical Battery.

Facts:

1- They can be recharged in about 30 seconds.
2- The organic radical materials inside the battery are in an "electrolyte-permeated gel state," which is supposedly about halfway between a solid and a liquid. This helps ions make a smooth move (no, the other one), reducing resistance, allowing the batteries to charge faster.
3- 1 square centimeter will give you about 1 miliwatt hour.
4- It can one day be used in IC cards, RFID tags, electronic paper, wearable computers, and other such technologies stepping up to the plate in the coming decade.
5- You can stack one sheet on top of another to boost the power output.
6- The device can function in temperatures of 300 degrees Fahrenheit and down to 100 below zero.
7- The paper could also be molded into different shapes, such as a car door, which would enable important new engineering innovations.

And now a team of six Indian-American researchers has developed a paper-thin battery that can use human blood or sweat to power itself.

The team, led by noted nanotechnologist Pulickel Ajayan of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), has developed a battery, which could easily be mistaken for a simple sheet of black paper.

Besides, it is lightweight, ultra thin, completely flexible, and geared towards meeting trickiest designs and energy requirements, the INDOlink web site said.

click to read further

No Barking blease!

“No Barking Please”

Don’t’ be surprised if you see this sign in front of the parking lots in the Arab world. Arabic as you may know does not have the letter “P” in their alphabet and hence most Arabs will not recognize this word in English. Hence for them, the letter “P” and “B” are the same. Anyway I am not going into Arabic today.

In Kuwait most of the residential areas meant for the expatriates are not planned well and hence a parking space is the most coveted object for a resident. One may try to get out from work early if possible to grab the same. This is understandable. But there are some who take it beyond that. They park their cars in the space meant for 2 cars and hence reserve the same for the next person. Love for your neighbour in action! Indians are the most law abiding once they get out of their own country and hence most keep quiet even if they have to park their cars in no man’s land far away. They think that fighting for their rights is not a part of their culture and hence tolerance and patience reach 100%.

There is one neighbour in our apartment who reserves his space for his loving son too. On Thursday this same person parked his Pajero in such a way that 2 cars could have easily parked on either side. Hubby lost his patience and asked this guy to move his Pajero and pat came the reply. “This is a public place and I shall park the way I want”. Of course the conversation did continue further. Then my hubby decided that the best public place would be behind his Pajero and there he parked his own car. Friday morning came, and our Bible thumping neighbour had to fulfill his Christian duties and attend Church. Instead of asking us, he had to wake up his loving neighbour and maneuver the Pajero out with great difficulty. I guess there are some who begs to be treated thus! It is pure selfishness and arrogance in action and I am sure his son has also learned these valuable lessons.

Trafficking for another reason..

Women in India are now being trafficked for baby boys! says UN...

Punjab and Haryana continue to exploit the girl child. A new United Nations report released on Wednesday reveals that girls and women are not only trafficked to these two states to improve the skewed sex ratio but also, and mainly, to bear male children. Once they give birth to a boy, they are usually sexually exploited and either abandoned or passed on to another man.

So far, it was believed that poor women from Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, were being trafficked to Punjab and Haryana to fill in the shortage of women for marriage. Now, the study conducted by the UNDP reveals that women are mostly trafficked to bear male children. “The woman is either abandoned or passed on to another man after the birth of the male child,” the study — covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal — says.

Mother Teresa - Food for thought

There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers."

There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family.

Find them.

Love them.

Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.

Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.

Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.

The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are. Poverty for us is a freedom. It is not mortification, a penance.

It is joyful freedom. There is no television here, no this, no that. But we are perfectly happy.

Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.

A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.

Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and joy.

I heard the call to give up all and follow Christ into the slums to serve Him among the poorest of the poor. It was an order.
I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them.

When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her.
It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.

You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing.
Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little
child, you receive me.

Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.

If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.

Another land grabbing thwarted!

Ministers from every political party visit Gulf and if you think their agenda is only to meet their faithful followers, you are wrong. The ministers in power know how easily they can use the government machinery to grab the government land and transfer it to the NRIs who can afford them. Recently in the news is the Kerala Public Works minister – T. U. Kuruvilla.
Kerala businessman K.G. Abraham, who is based in Kuwait, Wednesday accused the state's Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla of cheating him in a land transfer deal. The minister denied the charge.
He is accused of taking 6 crores in return for land in Munnar to construct a resort. But before the land could be transferred, the deal was brought up to the notice of the public and now they are all in a fix. I doubt if this NRI will get his money back. This is a painful lesson for NRIs who want to invest back home. It is always better if they invest their money in the right way. Let them not run after the Ministers, but then without the support of these so called “representative of the people” nothing can happen.

Like Kerala even Goa has started its fight against land grabbers. Recently the famous Singer and musician Remo Fernandes has refused to accept a state award instituted by the Goa government’s art and culture department.


“I refuse this state award or reward as a sign of protest against the government of Goa as well as the opposition, both full of ministers and politicians involved in large-scale attempted rape and sale of Goa through the infamous Regional Plan 2011, either actively or through their inaction,” he said the letter.

I guess this is the only way in a democratic set up. The people have to stand up and fight.

The nuclear deal… can someone switch on the lights please….

The nuclear deal between Indian and US has come to a stand still since the Left and BJP are crying foul. Now it was Mr. Vajpayee ( I respect this man a lot) during the time of the BJP rule who started the discussion on this deal. The Left, as we all know were always opposed to anything that has an American tag and would prefer goodies coming from their like minded friends in China or Russia. But we very well know that Russia refused nuclear fuel on some petty reasons and China is now very happy that this deal is not going through.

There are many, both in India and America who are not happy with this deal. The Americans still don’t trust India and feels that India may use the technology and fuel for its military purpose.

India would want to develop a nuclear weapon, specially since its neighbour Pakistan has not stopped going in this direction but the world should keep in mind that India has always been a responsible country with a vibrant democracy.

But now that the deal has come to a stand still and if the Left and BJP has any reasons for their stance, can they please explain the pros and cons? Of course there has to be a “give and take” attitude in every deal, but can we know what we are giving up. Can someone explain this is plain English. And if the Left wants to oppose, can they give an alternative to India’s need for energy? Ok, there is Iran, but how viable is this when the pipe lines are going through Pakistan?

It is not that I do not trust Mr.Manmohan Singh, but please throw some light.

Idiot Box is being appreciated!

Is TV empowering women in rural India? Yes.. this is what research says.

We see many of the women folks addicted to the TV and the household chores are adjusted around this idiot box. Even prayer time has been shifted so that the serials are not missed. We see them cry, laugh, pray while watching these dramas. Telephone calls and visitors are seen as intruders during this time. And when one visits them, the TV is still there and one is lucky if one gets a cup of tea or a full statement from the host!

But now as per the research, TV is empowering the rural women. It is found that:

1- Girls between the ages of 6 and 10 were 8 percent more likely to go to school
2- The share preferring sons fell 20 percentage points with the arrival of cable, compared with a 12 percent decline overall (this is what I liked most). I guess they found that the girls are after all not that bad!
3- For women under the age of 35, average number of births fell annually by more than half.
4- Women’s autonomy has increased. (Men take care!)
5- Average number of situations in which women said that wife beating is acceptable fell by about 10 percent ( I cant believe there are still women in this century who thinks like this!)

Long live the idiot box!

The in-famous mallu

A mallu is the short form provided to the in-famous Malayalee by a non-mallu. If there is one species that has been to every corner of the world then it has to be a “Mallu”.. “Ayyo, ellada spacil ehtiyittilla” That is true. The mallu is yet to reach the space but even that is going to be invaded by the mallu. Santhosh Jacob is all set to fly the Virgin Galactic, the space tourism enterprise under the stewardship of Richard Bronson, who controls the Virgin brand for a mid-2008 journey. I heard there has been a snag in this trip but if it takes off it, yes the mallu has been on space too. Now the Mallu has many distinctive characteristics,
1- He works diligently only when he is out of Kerala (aka malluland, GOC). He can easily adjust to any work environment so different from his own idyllic settings.
2- But in mallu land one can find him under the tamarind tree, or in the daily rally organized by the various political parties or he could be in one of the tea shops devouring the daily newspaper along with his cup of tea.
2- He is well versed with all the current happenings in his state and all over the world, after all he comes from a 100% literacy state.
3- But the 100% literacy comes with a price – this has been the reason for the lazy, critical and no care attitude of the majority of the mallus in the state. An investor in mallu land should have all the Gods behind him if he is ever to succeed. A mallu will find ways and means to strangle him.

Anyway let me stop here. Though a proud mallu, I cannot help but relate to most of these facts forwarded by my mangi friend Danny. Hubby had a great time reading it out to all of us. Thank you Danny! We did have a good laugh.

I am sure the same was compiled by a mallu and not a non-mallu.

If you can fit four passengers in the front seat of an Ambassador taxi, while in the back there are eight passengers and two children with their heads stuck out of the window, chances are, you are a Mallu going to attend your cousin's wedding.



If you can run, ride a 100 cc motorbike without wearing a helmet, and play football all while wearing a lungi tied halfmast, Malayali status!


If your late father left you a part of an old house as your inheritance, and you turned it into a "chaya kada" (tea shop),yes.... you're a Malayali !


If you have more than 5 relatives working in the Gelf, you are a Big Time Malayali !


If you have the words "Chinchu Mol + Jinchu Mon" written on the rear window of your Omni car, yes...... you are a Malaayli.


If you refer to your husband as kettiyon; ithiyan, pillerude appan, guess what? You're a Central Travancore Syrian Christian Malayali.


If you have a Tamilian parked in front of your house every Sunday, ironing your clothes, chances are a you are a Middle Class Malayali. If you have more than three trade unions at your place of work, then ask no further...... you are indeed a Malayali.


If you have voted into power a Chief Minister who has not passed the 4th grade then ask no further, YOU ARE A MALAYALI.

If you have at least two relatives working in the US in the health servises sector , Yes.... Malayali!


If you religiously buy a lottery ticket every week, then you're in the Malayali Zone!


If you constantly refer to banana as "benana" or pizza as "pissa" you are a Malayali..


If you use coconut oil instead of refined vegetable oil and can't figure out why people in your family have congenital heart problems, you could be a Malayali. (THIS WILL NOT STOP ME FROM USING THE COCONUT OIL!)

If you are going out to see a movie at the local theatre with your wifey wearing all the gold jewellry gifted to her by her parents, you are a newly married Malayali..


If you and your wife and three children dress up in your Sunday best and go out to have biriyani at Kayikka's on a 100 cc Bajaj mobike, you are an upwardly mobile Malayali from Cochin.


If your idea of haute cuisine is kappa and meen curry (tapioca & fish curry), then yes.... you are a Malayali..


If you have beef puttu for breakfast, beef olathiathu for lunch, and beef curry with "porotta" for dinner, yeah, definitely Malalyali.


If your name is Wilson, and your wife's name is Baby, and you name your daughter Wilby, have no doubts at all, you are a standard Syrian Christian Malayali from Chengannur !


If most of the houses on your block are painted puke yellow, fluorescent green, and bright pink, definitely Malappuram Malayali working in the Gelf.


If you tie a towel around your head and burst into a raucous rendition of the song "Kuttanadn Punjayile" (the traditional boat race jingle) after having three glasses of toddy, then you are a hardcore Malayali.

If you call appetizers served with alcoholic beverages as "touchings", then you are one helluva Malayali.

If the local toddy shop owner knows you by your pet name and you call him "Porinju Chetta" then you are true Malayali.



If you're sick and your wifey rubs "Bicks" into your nostrils and gives you "kurumulaku rasam" (pepper rasam) with chakkara (jaggery) -grandma's recipe- to help relieve your 'symbtoms',damn!! You are a Malayali.


IF YOU DON'T NEED ANY EXPLANATIONS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE, YOU KNOW THAT YOU
ARE THE REAL McCOY, A BLUE BLOOD MALAYALI. LAAL SALAAM RED SALUTE) !


All meant in fun - don't get "SIMBLY AGITATED" ! Just pass it on, so yet another Malayali can have a laugh too!!!

Parampara Mixes

I have been thinking of mentioning this in my Blog from the day I started blogging!

Parampara mixes are great and I have tried most of their "Ready to Cook" mixes. Good for bachelors and busy housewives (me of course!)

Butter Chicken
Chhole Gravy
Chicken Biryani
Chicken Gravy
Chicken Hyderabadi
Chicken Kolhapuri
Chicken Sukha
Egg Gravy
Moghlai Chicken Gravy
Mutton Gravy
Nawabi Chicken
Pav Bhaji
Tandoor Chicken

I have listed only those that I have tried and I vouch for their authenticity and quality.

There is not much hazzles, just clean the chicken (for chicken recipes), add the mix and cook it!

Can we have an easier method?

And to the world we still cooked our meal!

You can try them for parties and never tell a soul!

This vacation I took a few mixes home and found that it is available everywhere.

Sister Abhaya - Finally

Finally a break through they say: after 15 long years..

Narco findings

Narco analysis tests were conducted on Sister Seffy and sister Sherly, nuns and batchmates of Abhaya and two priests - father Jose Puthrukayil, who taught Malayalam at St Pius convent and father Thomas Kottoor, a psychology professor and Diocesan of the Knanaya Catholic Church.

A former police official VV Augustine, who investigated the murder and closed it as a case of suicide, also underwent a brain mapping earlier.
Sources said that these tests, which were conducted last week at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Bangalore, have helped the CBI team achieve a certain breakthrough.

The findings are that the members of the clergy as well as the police official were in the know of the murder. Sources add that the tests revealed that one priest was present at the murder site and the other was in the know, but not present.

Cracking down

Sources also indicated that the CBI will either make arrests or bring the case up for hearing before Onam or within the next two weeks.

For the first time, Sister Abhaya’s father also seemed optimistic about justice being served. “I feel this time, the CBI will succeed in nailing the culprits We are living on the hope that the case will finally be solved and those behind the murder are identified,” said Thomas Mathai, father of the deceased nun.

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

The tainted CBI can now relax a bit.. but there are still more unsolved cases to be solved and they should act irrespective of Community or political pressures.

Brilliant

MBA-grad mints money from garbage management

Prerna Uppal / CNN-IBN



Published on Thursday , August 16, 2007 at 13:02 in Nation section

Tags: Noida, Garbage


New Delhi: Manik Thapar, an MBA graduate turned his business into a mission and vice-versa.


"When I was studying in the US people used to ask me how could I live in a dirty country. That's when I decided that I need to clean up,” says Thapar.

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

This is what I call people with brains plus committment and he has put to use his talents in the right place too. Our country begs for such innovative ideas and recently in Kerala the a whole city had to be shut down since waste could not be removed. The place designated for dumping was in dispute.

Congratulations Mr. Manik Thapar

Iraq

Don’t know why I keep ending up with subjects so unpopular, especially since I should be blogging to fame. I guess I cannot stop myself, something compels me to write, even though I know that world wide web is teeming with similar reports, mostly first hand.

Yesterday the toll in Iraq was above 200. It was not 1 nor 2 nor 10 but more than 200 innocent civilians were killed.

The world finished Saddam since he seemed to be the threat to the peace in Iraq but did he leave any clones? Or who is so adamant that peace should never prevail in Iraq. I am sure the Iraqis would love to lead a normal life, drilling the oil and using the money to send their kids to schools, have some decent food and so many other things which we are taking for granted.

I googled Iraq for news and I find news from year 1941.. and it all started with oil.

WAR IN IRAQ ENDS; Vital Oil Fields of Mosul Are Under Control of...
$4.95 - New York Times - Jun 2, 1941
LONDON, June 1 -- Hostilities ceased throughout IRAQ today as Emir Abdul Illah, ... a brief outline of the TERMS of the settlement of the Iraqi-British WAR ...
All 6 related - Related web pages


No 'Smoking Guns' So Far, UN Is Told; Blix Says Iraq Failed...
Pay-Per-View - Washington Post - ProQuest Archiver - Jan 10, 2003
still, the Bush administration seized on Blix's criticism of Iraq, ... "there Is still No evidence that Iraq has fundamentally changed its approach from one ...
How lack of a 'smoking gun' complicates... - Christian Science Monitor
All 149 related - Related web pages


FOXNews.com - Bush: US Will Not Abandon Iraq - Politics | Republican...
FOX News - Dec 1, 2005
Leaving Iraq "would vindicate The beheadings and suicide bombings and mass ... terrorists in Iraq share The same ideology as those responsible for The ...
Bush Presents Plan to Win Iraq War - Washington Post
Bush hails 'real progress' in Iraq - Guardian Unlimited
Newsweek - Financial Times - All 238 related - Related web pages


What caught my eyes was this in the news “Bush presents Plan to Win Iraq War”

Republicans, meanwhile, were supportive, saying Bush had pointed the way to victory. "The president clearly and concisely laid out a plan for success in Iraq," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
In his remarks, Bush continued to equate the war in Iraq with the nation's larger battle against terrorism. He acknowledged that those fighting the United States are largely Iraqi, but added that the most lethal among them are foreign fighters bent on targeting Americans everywhere.
"This is an enemy without conscience, and they cannot be appeased. If we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be idle," he said. "They would be plotting and killing Americans across the world and within our own borders."

Now Bush talks about winning the war.. for whom? Is it for the Americans or the Iraqis? I am sure the Iraqis would care a damn about the Americans if they are let alone to manage their affairs. Maybe they will choose another Saddam but if that is what they want let them. At least few lives will be lost. And now instead of oil the Iraqis (the men who are still left behind after the daily killings) are forced to sell their women:

Sex for survival
By: Afif Sarhan in Badhdad

When Rana Jalil, 38, lost her husband in an explosion in Baghdad last year, she could never have imagined becoming a prostitute in order to feed her:

click to read further


Has the whole world lost its conscience? Or are they waiting for a nuclear bomb to finish what is remaining? I guess that would have been better than this daily killings, at least for some of us our conscience would not be tugging us.

Happy Independance Day

60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60

HAPPY 60th INDEPENDANCE DAY to all my fellow citizens....

Tagged

Finally I have been tagged by my friend Chit-Chat

I have been asked to tag eight other bloggers too.

Rules for tagging :
*************************************************************
1. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.
2. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.
3. Players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged.
*************************************************************

Now here are some hard facts I try to ignore...

1. I love to play cards but I never get to play them.
2. When people compliment me I seldom believe them.
3. I love travelling and meeting new faces.
4. I never dreamt I would be blogging so freely.
5. I would still like to be a student.
6. Laziness is still in me and I better do something about it.
7. I am still not a patient person.. have to go a long way
8. The Almighty has been very generous to me

The people I Tag are:

1. Wisdom
2. KK
3. Addie
4. Lord Raj
5. Tameras
6. Abru
7. Loni
8. Mathew

More love and not less...

Let us face our problems with more love and not less love.

This was how Mr. William ended his interview on BBC this morning. Was listening to BBC radio while getting ready for work. He was talking about the controversial stem cell research and cloning.

William B. Hurlbut is a physician and Consulting Professor in the Neuroscience Institute at Stanford, Stanford University Medical Center. Born in St. Helena, California, he grew up in Bronxville, New York. After receiving his undergraduate and medical training at Stanford, he completed postdoctoral studies in theology and medical ethics, studying with Robert Hamerton-Kelly, the Dean of the Chapel at Stanford, and subsequently with the Rev. Louis Bouyer of the Institut Catholique de Paris..

Dr. Hurlbut has come to national prominence for his advocacy of Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT), a scientific method of obtaining pluripotent stem cells without the creation and destruction of human embryos.

He was saying that while interviewing, 2/3 of the participants responded that they do not mind killing one baby to save another. Now William himself had to take a break from the medical school when a son with serious mental problems was born to him. This kind of emotional problems either takes a person closer to the Almighty for comfort or takes him to other means of comfort. William turned to the Almighty for answers he desperately sought by studying Theology. Being a scientist he could have put his heart and soul into further developing the stem cells harvested from Human embryos but instead developed an alternate method. He was saying that millions spent for research should not be used for feeding our vanity but for saving desperate lives. There are many medical conditions which is bearable and does not require massive funding, instead these funds can be used to save millions who are dying daily for want of medical attention.

He also talks about cloning.

If cloning were to be allowed imagine the scenario.. (my thoughts of course!)

1- Those much hated world leaders would never step down from power (they would be using all their power and money in creating a clone)
2- The gang leaders and underworld thugs would be inside and outside our jails.
3- The wanted criminals and terrorists will remain a threat forever.

It is very hard to like President Bush specially after the way he took the world into a new order of terrorism but I certainly agree with him on his stance on Stem cell research and cloning.

A Father's Prayer

Felt very tempted to copy this prayer......

A Father's Prayer


This is the best dowry of hopes, wishes and prayers I would be able to offer:

May God give you the grace of wit and wisdom to understand that rainbows are only the result of showers, dust, and hope.

May you always have joy in the morning and trust in the evening and may your sorrows be short and without scars.

May your lives have a spirit neither bent by belligerence nor broken by failure; may you simply love each other.

May you share with each other spring flowers, dirty dishes, music, rain, death, mushrooms, a measure of boredom, strawberries, and God.

May that God never make you immune to the wonderful afflictions of real love, making you instead farsighted to each other's faults, tongue-tied to criticism, and short of memory to petty hurts and slights.

May God provide the confidence and serenity that comes only from the assurance of each other's fidelity and the tolerance, as years go by, of wrinkles and gray hairs, short tempers, curlers, and Monday mornings.

May no one steal from you laughter at the top of the stairs or giggles and whispers in a dark room.

May you keep a hunger for each other, the appetite to taste tomorrow, and deep knowledge of and devotion to your past, heritage and families.

May you perpetuate trust, the radiation of vitality, kind answers to sharp questions and sharp humor to unkind attitudes.

May your fights be fierce and short, and may each truce be warm and long and held in each other's arms before the sun comes up.

May you walk with wise men, sing loud songs at late hours, share secrets, have healthy children, and provide smiles for lonesome strangers and prayers for those without hope.

May you never forget small things; smiles, birthdays, holding hands, family, old friends, the neglected, and the simplicity of saying please and thank you.

May you keep a warm, generous, and happy house where love is the insulation and God is present.

May your union bring a smile to the face of the Almighty and may his spirit live in your pots and pans, in your hope and aspirations.


- Author Unknown

The unwanted Girl Child

India is developing they say… at least it has the right not to be called a third world country.. or am I wrong?

Just because we have elected a female as our President has it in anyway uplifted the women. Is it not just an eye wash?

a. Female foetuses are still being killed
b. Dowry deaths still exists

The other day I read the news that bags of body parts belonging to female foetus were found dumped in a well. I waited for further news and hoped the media would keep up the tempo. But no.. it died a premature death by itself. Why is the whole country silent on this? How do they hope to produce sons without letting a girl live? Or have our great scientists come with some great plans which can do away with the mother and her womb? It is indeed sad to note that it is the educated lot who are doing this. Why? As a mother don’t they feel bad when their baby is crushed to death in the womb? Let us leave the uneducated for a moment and look at those educated couples who are now enjoying good jobs with high salaries. What prompts them to choose a boy over a girl? What are they being taught in classes? Where has it gone wrong?

I think we need stricter and sterner rules. A couple who goes for abortion should be booked for murder. I welcome the idea of registration as soon as a child is conceived so that the birth can be recorded. At least it puts pressure on the couple. The state should find means to monitor every clinic and hospitals and the fees for scanning should be increased. In any case it is only rarely that a medical condition requires scanning (at least this is what I think) or the equipment should be made very costly so that only major hospitals can have the same. This will help monitoring easier. A special license should be given to doctors who are allowed to conduct abortions.

I still don’t know for what reasons abortion is required. There are many justifications – rape, unwanted pregnancy etc. etc. We end up aborting innocent babies for our faults, for our irresponsibility’s. If a child has been conceived, it has every right to live and it is up to every law in the country to ensure the life of the unborn.

Our Presidents don’t wield much power or they have no power at all. But this is the first time that we have a woman for a president. I hope she will at least do something on this major issue that is slowly dulling the conscience of the major lot. Please let the girl child live

Good To Great

I am reading the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and found it to be a great book.. simple but powerful truths unfolded. It talks about companies which transformed itself from good to great under the leadership of great guys who thought more about the company than themselves. They turned around companies along with other equally great team members.

While discussing on energy conservation and how countries should be doing more, one of my friend (Thank u Raj) commented thus..” sure having ur name in the history book is cool.. but (FOR SOME) leaving a legacy is not as lucrative as managing to squeeze out every penny from every resource u can n enjoy it during your life time .”

How true… this would be the case with most of us if we are given a chance to run a company. Our egos would carry us away and all that we do will be for ourselves alone.

This made me think about those who are leading the nations. If only we have visionary leaders who would think more about the country than themselves. One who would turn around the country from bad to good and good to great.

One who thinks for the future generation and select a team of equally great team members and one who would nurture a great successor too. There is so much a person can do if he thinks more about the nation than about himself.

Is this wishful thinking?

If you have time, please read his article on.....Best New Year's resolution? A 'stop doing' list

click

Iceland

Now why in the world am I writing about Iceland? This country has been in my mind since I read that Iceland is found to be best able to give citizens a long and happy life. Using carbon efficiency, life satisfaction and life expectancy, the European Happy Planet Index reveals for the first time the carbon efficiency with which 30 European nations produce long, happy lives for their citizens

Iceland, as you all may know is cold throughout the year and the highest air temperature recorded was 30.5°C (86.9°F) on 22 June 1939 at Teigarhorn on the southeastern coast.
As per CIA world fact book, literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Today, Iceland is a developed country, the world's fifth and second in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and human development respectively
Iceland is the fifth most productive country in the world based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity. It is also ranked second on the 2006 United Nations Human Development Index. Renewable energy in Iceland provides over 70% of the nation's primary energy[10] and the country expects to be energy-independent by 2050.

Energy dependant by 2050? Now which other so called biggest country can boast this? We predict that so and so country will grow by leaps and bounds but can it ever beat the record of Iceland?

Life satisfaction – now aren’t we all slogging just for this? So how did Iceland achieve this? What has it done specifically to make its citizen happy and satisfied with an unemployment rate of 1.3% (2006 est.) which is among the lowest in the European Economic Area.

I am not sure how. But this country can teach us a few things which we are refusing to acknowledge in this present rat race. Burning fossil fuels by tons and building high rise buildings can never give the citizens a happy and satisfied life.

Countries that have most closely followed the Anglo-Saxon, strongly market-led economic model show up as the least efficient. These findings question what the economy is there for. What is the point if we burn vast quantities of fossil fuels to make, buy and consume ever more stuff, without noticeably benefiting our well-being? We know that someone is just as likely to have high life satisfaction while living within their environmental means, as someone who recklessly over-consumes. So, what is preventing us from radically changing direction, and reaping the benefits? If Europe doesn't lead, India, China and Brazil will not follow," says Andrew Simms, nef's policy director and head of the climate change programme.

Click for further read.