tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296020062011-07-29T05:47:28.145+05:30Between the sane and the insane, mind has put up a swingDreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.comBlogger2231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-67260912596351746852010-04-01T12:11:00.000+05:302010-04-01T12:13:11.335+05:30

Historic day today with the Right to Education becoming a fundamental Right. Its a beginning that will fructify when that right also translated into quality eduction.Why don't we begin by setting up 2 schools 1 exclusively for Schedule Tribes and 2nd exclusively for scheduled castes. Not more than 2 to begin with for reasons of funding and also as a proof of concept. Doing it for scheduled tribes

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-56012880147531944222010-03-08T13:45:00.000+05:302010-03-08T13:47:06.901+05:30

Indian parliament starts the process of reserving 33% seats to women in parliament today. I think its a fair step though I do think the bill could have been structured better.My main grouse which I share with many others is against the bill is the concept of rotating seats. As columnists have pointed out it shortchanges the electorate. With the seats being rotated there is not much incentive for

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-80069783113678718972010-03-08T12:31:00.000+05:302010-03-08T13:52:34.249+05:30

The other day We went to Lifestyles in Kalyani nagar to pick up some stuff. While there shareek-e-hyat decided to catch a movie at Meriplex across the street. So we picked up tickets for a 430 show and headed to crossword to browse through books while waiting for the movie time.Around 420 just when we reach the counter to pay for selected books, suddenly security comes in and asks everyone to

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-57589344102525420822009-12-11T15:03:00.002+05:302009-12-11T15:11:07.729+05:30

Interesting that it took so long to finally junk calorie intake as the poverty estimation tool. Even if one take mere food as an indicator I wonder if the calorie intake took into account nutritional needs like proportion of protein/carbs/minerals/vitamins etc.I think putting things like Education, access to health-care in ambit of calculating poverty is a step in right direction. After all these

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-92031803763660658212009-12-03T13:01:00.003+05:302009-12-03T13:15:48.297+05:30

I usually enjoy our neighbour's newspapers. Some to keep track of what is happening next door, sometimes for entertainment - that comes from wild 'facts' quoted by writers who lament why no one else quotes those 'facts', and sometimes well because there are good writers.Read this piece in Dawn a newspaper and a writer that I usually enjoy. But then suddenly you come across a comment like "It

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-52671844646420360082009-10-21T13:08:00.000+05:302009-10-21T13:10:06.907+05:30

Just where is NHRC when you need it?

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-51711709418694743562009-08-27T16:40:00.001+05:302009-08-27T16:41:48.846+05:30

And you thought that train stations were boring? Check this out.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-82287309361448499172009-08-21T15:40:00.001+05:302009-08-21T15:41:56.395+05:30

The idea of Ugandan Memory books covered on BBC news.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-76564593923663604272009-08-20T12:18:00.004+05:302009-08-20T12:38:04.691+05:30

Jinnah continues to haunt an Indian political party. First it was Advani of BJP who hailed Jinnah as a secular leader (which he was - staunchly secular till maybe his demand for Pakistan which came in much later in his long political career). Now it is Jaswant Singh of the same party who reasons in a book why Jinnah was secular.Both these are important points for us to understand. For Pakistan to

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-19970330260228110582009-08-11T13:11:00.002+05:302009-08-11T13:18:44.983+05:30

I came to Pune from Mumbai morning 8 and the bus normally full of passengers had quite a few seats. It might be the time of day, 8 am bus on a Tuesday morning might not work for the usual office goers who want to be at it by 10 but a suspicious lack of coughing sneezing in the bus is its own story. The expressway was practically deserted save the container trucks and an occasional car or a bus,

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-25976841257438632962009-07-31T14:15:00.001+05:302009-07-31T14:17:28.592+05:30

Ever wonder why is it that in-spite of blocking cookies and disabling javascript, many sites still manage to give ads that seem to reflect your browsing history?Well there is more to history than browser cookies (and browsing history saved in browser is often more valuable to a data mining site than mere cookies so clear it often). One leading culprit is 'flash cookies' or Local Shared Objects

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-62713934965746616412009-06-04T11:22:00.001+05:302009-06-04T11:23:52.798+05:30

Most of us who live a war only from a distance don't really realize what it means to live under the shadows of guns. No wonder some of most war hating people I have met have been armed forces (Indian) guys.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-53889229661185135222009-05-21T23:26:00.002+05:302009-05-21T23:31:21.324+05:30

Sometimes a crank/or a tacky genius if you willgoes bonkers and hammers out of tilla review/a poem or the usual chill pillthat becomes a cry- usually happy, sometimes chillsells a million - not that it makes sense but still.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-60023300150912691892009-05-16T20:25:00.001+05:302009-05-16T20:26:24.312+05:30

Search for Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal, totally hilarious

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-24754835350709655372009-05-13T16:09:00.002+05:302009-05-13T16:13:57.052+05:30

"I'm a very visual person, I just can't see."

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-79928367539027723772009-04-16T15:36:00.001+05:302009-04-16T15:38:42.562+05:30

There is a little bit of Pune in Essex.BTW I agree with the retired police officer - the solution to a menace is a lot bigger menace especially to cyclists and bikers.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-361607671370290272009-04-07T16:38:00.003+05:302009-04-07T16:48:39.218+05:30

I came across this piece in Outlook reviewing a book on Shri Aurobindo and I realized that I have no real context to judge the book or the review for authenticity!It is quite a shame that whole generations of Indians have grown up without knowing anything about India. Except for some kings of ancient India and smattering of Medieval India - mostly limited to Mughal empire and few notables like

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-39391856742984794042009-04-07T11:40:00.002+05:302009-04-07T11:48:22.353+05:30

It is somewhat of a wonder why India fails to win in international sports. Lot of factors are blamed from a lack of sporting culture, to politicians holding all sports bodies memberships to lack of sporting facilities to parental attitudes. These are all valid reasons but are they all? I think it also has a lot to do with our nutritional status. Reports all over indicate that Indian kids as a

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-53861681217078180302009-03-24T18:06:00.002+05:302009-03-24T18:08:32.280+05:30

I never thought that shortage of over priced sugar syrup can be such a national emergency!

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-16670548002133119172009-03-12T13:08:00.001+05:302009-03-12T13:09:28.720+05:30

So this might explain why India's population is so high and still growing!

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-68723707442918317442009-03-04T12:29:00.004+05:302009-03-04T12:54:20.223+05:30

My impression of Pakistani civil society is mostly of a society in denial and worst actually sympathetic to militants. Witness Imran Khan and so many other politicians who one would have expected to be liberals who actually support Jihadists overtly. That does not take away the fact that there are voices of dissent who see this as in fact a fight between obscurantism and liberal ethos, between

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-12325180917336936712009-03-03T22:37:00.004+05:302009-03-03T22:45:12.965+05:30

Another horror story coming in from Pakistan. While some comments on telly were somber, at least 1 gentleman from establishment was blaming India stating something on the lines of "they are showing us what you can do in Mumbai we can do in here" (more here). I'd say an interesting though inadvertent admission they did something in Mumbai.Even some comments from Pakistan on this attack from civil

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-2911935426282438192009-02-20T18:03:00.002+05:302009-02-20T18:06:11.534+05:30

fool: ameer hone ka brilliant idea aaya hai, ultimate adventure trips agency proprietor: UnFortune's fool Totally risky tour to Pakistan sympathetic ear: totally flop idea who will come? fool: well people hang upside down on free fall trains for kicks sympathetic ear: yes but then they are responsible for their own deaths fool: and that when they know that statically its safer than going to

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-71442658289292166392009-02-19T20:13:00.004+05:302009-02-19T20:18:55.416+05:30

The mystery of Ireland's worst driver screams BBC. I wonder how many times this happen in India? Maybe not, since when have police simply noted a driver's address to send the parking fine? Here we usually pay it upfront, discount if you don't demand a receipt : )

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-31852505054304616852009-02-03T17:06:00.002+05:302009-02-03T17:08:46.088+05:30

Its been a slow day as you can make out. So here I stumble onto this short brilliant piece. Have fun reading :)

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-46357223226004330862009-02-03T16:18:00.002+05:302009-02-03T16:22:03.864+05:30

Something to cheer up a dreary day. The raw emotions of a flier on a Mumbai London Virgin flight when the man met the food. The sort of criticism that feels like being hit on the head with a slice of lemon wrapped in a gold brick. Apparently Sir Branson phoned up the guy and offered him to be the food taster/selector for Virgin for a month! Hand it to these British for their sense of humour.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-31857648086007508542009-01-16T19:23:00.004+05:302009-01-16T19:26:56.739+05:30

Hudson Miracle is a happy ending to a trying situation. An ordinary flight 'might' be a piece of cake for a well trained pilot with computers doing a lot of work, its the out of ordinary that requires exceptional skills and training. I am reminded of earlier stories I read that illustrates how its also a matter of mind and skill.One story I am reminded off was where one of the wheels on a plane

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-22286850270248289272009-01-16T17:35:00.004+05:302009-01-16T17:45:05.972+05:30

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-86270704465542833412009-01-12T17:58:00.002+05:302009-01-12T18:06:56.682+05:30

Is it just me or have you too noticed a sudden increase in the number of beggars? The cake was when I was eating in "BreadTalk" at Hiranandani Mumbai. Someone pokes me in the arm and there is a beggar! Bang in the middle of the resturant. The Iranian family next to me guiltily gave the juice that the little kid of 5 years had ordered to him. The restuarant waiters took almost 3-4 minutes to come

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-62959771815708785482009-01-10T00:42:00.002+05:302009-01-10T00:57:54.411+05:30

Something just doesn't square up in the Satyam saga. Raju's letter to SEBI mentioned figures to the rough tune of declared profits like 5400 crore and of this 5100cr is inflated. So that means actual profits are like 300 cr over a turnover of like 8000 cr. How is that possible and especially over a period of years?My early days in IT while I was pretty much the end of food chain even then I had

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-71902290826498820992009-01-08T19:30:00.002+05:302009-01-09T00:05:46.572+05:30

Spent an interesting day reading some Pakistani newspapers. I usually find the Dawn pretty good and even at times pretty unbiased at least to the extent that they report what Indian media might be saying. However a quick perusal of the letters in the Statesman Pakistan was instructive. Except for one letter that probably came in during Mumbai attack that asked India not to finger point but work

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-338507040791757132008-12-31T15:22:00.002+05:302008-12-31T15:28:09.733+05:30

I am saddened that in their zeal to show their patriotism, some parties and many people have forced lawyers not to take on the cases of Kasab. Infact many bar associations have been guilty of such misplaced enthusiasm. If memory serves me right after the Nithari case too, UP bar association passed a resolution asking lawyers not to defend the accused.A cardinal principal of rule of law is that

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-52302105387957969582008-11-27T10:15:00.005+05:302008-11-28T10:59:34.071+05:30

Yet another attack more vicious than before in Mumbai and we will hear the same platitudes. While the brave policemen are dying why don't we prosecute that clown who goes as our home minister for criminal dereliction of duty?Its time the President sacks this government for failing to execute its prime duty of protecting the life and liberty of citizens. Heads of IB chief and those responsible for

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-72923512928411839062008-10-15T19:40:00.000+05:302008-10-15T19:42:12.286+05:30

These reality shows it seems are more about race to bottom rather than finding real talent. What happens in most of these is that participants gang up to eliminate the good contestants earlier so that they get rid of potential threats soon. In shows like MTV roadies the participants keep telling the camera how they will vote out people not from their city and those that are strong. So the quality

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-92215249842726374112008-10-07T18:15:00.002+05:302008-10-07T18:19:40.107+05:30

How long before wallets exit from our lives? A modern mobile can scan visiting cards, make micro payments, keep notes, store pictures. Cash does have benefits of anonymity but soon there may be services that can make anonymous micro payments?Then why will we need wallets?

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-20017644543487185102008-10-07T18:10:00.002+05:302008-10-07T18:14:38.432+05:30

सुट्टे पे ban लग् गयाकोने पे बैठा पनवाडी lower middle class से गरीब हो गयाps: its bad to smoke, for your health and for those nearby.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-11717513062156409372008-09-24T12:49:00.000+05:302008-09-24T12:52:30.972+05:30

I have been thinking about the great game being played in Asia (Yeah Yeah I know I have too much time on hand!). The ascendancy of China to a regional and global power status and India's potential to be one. No wonder the US offered India a strategic alignment deal and a civilian nuclear deal. All the protestations to the contrary make no mistake, US and India and strategically aligning and it

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-10543270327507290322008-09-12T15:08:00.003+05:302008-09-12T15:21:16.330+05:30

Passing away of Ahmed Faraz has taken away one of finest masters of Urdu poetry of our times. Pakistan will also mourn the loss who like Faiz also championed the cause of their own political ideology often at odds with the oppressive political order.There are so few of the great Urdu poets left that one at times despair of the cause. The great subcontinent tradition of social and romance poetry

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-41271835958927445902008-09-10T11:17:00.005+05:302008-09-10T15:35:15.877+05:30

What an interesting week this. First Wired reports that scientists are on the verge of creating a new life form synthetically. There have been earlier attempts but they used some existing cell as the base machinery. This seems to be completely synthetic.Then the big one. LHC goes live today. Not the big bang that its expected to perform but the first scaled down run to test systems happen today (

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-38104407821398824042008-08-28T21:46:00.001+05:302008-08-28T21:49:05.421+05:30

While searching for something came across this page on BBC Radio. Read the CLASSIC PRESS CUTTINGS section. Have a cheery day or night

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-28332352975168760012008-08-07T17:40:00.003+05:302008-08-07T17:46:08.793+05:30

Synaesthesia - where the senses mix so you might end up hearing a picture or seeing a sound(read the BBC article here)? Remarkable thing if only moviedom could harness it. Imagine a drug or a method that causes this temporary condition for say a couple of hours while u watch a movie (or play a game). Each of us will then sample the movie the way (s)he wants it. And no lousy audio systems to mess

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-6745085948321772272008-07-24T10:12:00.005+05:302008-09-17T19:00:23.885+05:30

Left Front chairman in West Bengal and Politburo member Biman Bose on the Somnath Chatterjee controversy as quoted in Indian Express" He was following the Indian Constitution but we have to follow the party Constitution.” (link). So the Party Constitution is in conflict with Indian Constitution? And for members Indian Constitution does not matter if the Party lays a path in conflict? Interesting

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-25890451049285526272008-07-23T14:47:00.002+05:302008-07-23T14:51:08.014+05:30

The prices of potatoes and onions may be rising but hey the MPs are coming cheap! I mean a mere crore to save a government? Its shocking I tell ya. Never have we sunk so low.Now all we need to do is to include bribe rates in computing the rate of inflation. Its an essential commodity for most indians (for 'gifting'). These falling corruption rates will get the inflation rate down and generally

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-90087660750788967312008-07-22T11:51:00.007+05:302008-07-30T17:04:02.091+05:30

Zimbabwe introduces a 100 billion dollar bill! Hard to imagine that. Why not simply re-designate the 1 dollar bill to be equivalent to 100 billion dollar and save some paper? Given that the new bill will not even buy a loaf of bread it really makes me think how do business decide on price. If the 'official' inflation at 2.2 million percent is anything to go by, what you charge today will be too

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-10216336606632346102008-07-22T11:22:00.003+05:302008-07-22T12:22:14.235+05:30

The farce being played out over the Indo-US nuclear deal while having huge entertainment value, is also instructive in its causes. The primary reasons I think on this is Congress's political incompetence matched by monumental hubris with another that we'll also discuss.Hubris because as far as I can see, I saw no real effort in Congress trying to reach out to opposition (SP leaders even said it

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-15753181461755206792008-07-21T22:46:00.004+05:302008-07-21T22:54:04.331+05:30

I wonder if BJP might secretly be wishing for the Congress to win the confidence vote? That ways they will not have to make good their promise to 'renegotiate' the nuclear deal with USA. At the same time they can claim to have fought the deal if anything goes wrong in future!PS: Amar Singh says SP now supports Congress on the nuclear deal since the deal is in national interest. He also says that

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-89011225939394977352008-06-16T11:49:00.003+05:302008-06-16T11:57:49.270+05:30

Its amazing the amount of violence devotees happily inflict on other devotees pushing and punching, jumping over ropes delaying those who actually wait in queue to get a darshan of someone who preached love and devotion!PS: Those planning to go to Shirdi from Pune, the most convenient route is to follow the Yerwada road (if coming from Boatclub, get down the bridge and take a right. Just follow

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-22486465433449938152008-06-12T17:46:00.002+05:302008-06-12T17:48:37.167+05:30

So if you buy some fresh veggies and find insects, larvae etc alive on some, is it a good sign? A sign that its not doused in Pesticide?

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-14190700149589110282008-06-11T11:42:00.002+05:302008-06-11T11:49:19.608+05:30

NYTimes has a report about an impending auction of some artifacts of science history. How I wish one of our Indian agencies/corporate buys up some of these and makes a science museum. Its such a pity that the land that gave the world such wonders of science like the decimal system, the zero, had plastic surgery during the time of Sushruta in 6th century BC does not have a decent science museum

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-59241266132604003772008-05-27T10:44:00.002+05:302008-05-27T10:48:52.614+05:30

Came across this speech at NYTimes blogs. A brain scientist gets a brain strokes, recovers and talks about it. One of the points she mentioned was that with her controlling the body part of brain shutting down she had almost a euphoric sensation for a while. She is detached from her own body- viewing it as some separate machine.I've always wondered what do these yogis, mystics talk about when

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-33155002190357738292008-05-16T10:25:00.005+05:302008-05-16T10:40:49.658+05:30

Jaipur was hit by serial blasts. An event that would have shook the nation wildly but for the fact that its become a regular occurring event. All politicians are playing the blame game. States blame center, center blames states, BJP blames Congress, Congress blames BJP and people will die on.Meanwhile our VIPs will continue playing the give me more security game. The status of a VIP is rated by

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-28657561998683886542008-05-13T11:03:00.002+05:302008-05-13T11:06:39.177+05:30

Manohar Joshi, the ex Lok Sabha Speaker in an interview post his book "1B" launch mentions that often passengers were too scared to talk to him when they realized that they were sitting next to a Shiv Sena MP. An MP (speaker of House of representatives no less) is feared because of which party he belongs to and that party is a registered political party! Speaks volumes about how our democracy has

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-33031340591940875382008-04-23T10:58:00.003+05:302008-05-16T10:47:03.233+05:30

I have now replaced almost all incandescent lights with CFLs. Did you know there are yellow CFLs too, a bit more expensive but if like me you like the soft yellow lights, they are great. Hopefully LEDs will become cheaper soon when I'll move to LED lights. What many of us don't realize is the CFLs contain mercury and such rather dangerous elements (do you know that mercury is dangerous for health

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-33285345658011794572008-04-18T14:32:00.003+05:302008-04-18T14:36:11.002+05:30

I often keep searching for Hindi magazines to read. As it happens Pune does not really have good outlets keeping Hindi books barring the occasional Premchand, lot less magazines. So the only option is to search online. I came across this very well written piece that talked about the current state of Hindi Publishing. It is indeed sad. I remember the time I was still a middle school boy, there

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-54187681115602947212008-04-17T14:53:00.003+05:302008-04-18T11:26:48.658+05:30

Since the theme this month seems to be ads, a few more thoughts have to be foisted here. First that IPL and more so KolKatta Knight Riders (KKR). There ads are more ubiquitous than stink in a roadways loo. You can have 10 min of peaceful channel flipping without running into these days. I suspect if the IT department were to investigate the costs incurred on ads, we may be able to avoid personal

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-31834688426831513692008-04-15T14:52:00.004+05:302008-04-15T15:25:13.427+05:30

The old timers got many things right. I came across this - an impromptu abuse session in a paper today. Abuse as an art form! Come to think of it why not. In colleges there used to be "creative abuse" contests which were well very creative at times.Satire as an effective form of commentary on social conditions or happenings has been in existence for long. But "abuse" as a commentary on social

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-12295880369902011262008-04-14T11:46:00.002+05:302008-04-14T14:48:05.165+05:30

There is a recent report of an MP involved in some controversy in delaying an aircraft. What I find interesting is that the said member of Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Indian Parliament) is apparently an NRI based in Dubai.Isnt it an eligibility criteria that the candidate for a RS seat be a 'resident' of the state? How is a non resident Indian a member of a house of parliament meant only for

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-83248535576477670562008-04-04T11:34:00.001+05:302008-04-04T11:37:48.635+05:30

The future is advertising? Going by the almost universal demand on everything on internet being free,- just look at emails/chat etc, it stands to reason that ad supported free sites will only go on. Now there are paid sites that also use ads, and some of them pretty obtrusively too and they are tolerated. I foresee eventually every other site will have heavy ads. But lots of ads itself does not

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-82071245274491238352008-04-02T11:58:00.001+05:302008-04-02T11:59:37.315+05:30

India does have a delicate balancing act in the whole Tibetan - China issue that is right now taking the world's center stage. While justice demands that we strongly oppose the cultural annihilation of Tibet being conducted by China, real politic demands that the government conducts itself with India's best interest in mind and not being guided by emotions.That said as a genuine democracy India

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-41811675242051810832008-04-02T11:27:00.003+05:302008-04-02T17:34:54.450+05:30

Judging from what the fine intelligent patriotic intellectuals in our left politics (and across the globe) say about communism being the best politico-economics system that really fosters equality and liberates mankind from tyranny, I wonder why all communist countries so heavily repress their own people?And to those who counter this by saying that no they don't its merely the pro capitalist

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-55580506801214537772008-03-31T17:09:00.001+05:302008-03-31T17:11:22.471+05:30

Some of my earlier posts may indicate my distress at the dynastic politics. Now Now I am not changing my attitude here. Dynasties especially in politics which is all about power are especially bad since they embody essentially the earlier dynastic monarchy principles.Dynastic tendencies are apparent in so many other spheres. Privately held companies often suffer from a "business in family"

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-16187771841700196082008-03-27T16:59:00.002+05:302008-03-27T17:59:56.836+05:30

Read about this interesting proposal in Outlook India. I have been wondering about the same issue for some time now. Based on my own experience of trying to hire software engineers I can say most colleges including some of the very popular Engineering colleges in the country are totally clueless about teaching real skills. Most guys can't think of solving simple problems, while they may

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-74650723497812768422008-02-14T11:54:00.002+05:302008-02-14T16:18:01.624+05:30

My maternal grandfather, a M.Sc in chemistry in times when someone who passed 10th class in India was considered highly educated, did not join the industry as some hotshot. While manufacturing ink and chalk to sustain family, fought the British masters for Indian independence, went to jail, hid leaders at his places during times of British crackdown and then when Independence was achieved, gave

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-77391435045479848372008-01-07T17:12:00.001+05:302008-01-07T17:15:29.072+05:30

The Times of India has this excellent piece by S A Aiyar that one must read and understand. To all those troubled by the fact that sometimes very illiberal parties get voted by educated people even is because the others are equally illiberal in India.When the choice is between a murderer and a rapist who do you think has committed a 'lessor' crime?

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-37933936828240388412008-01-07T17:01:00.000+05:302008-01-15T14:38:49.281+05:30

The whole cricketing row is amusing and at the same time disheartening. This is what happens when sports folks become page3 'celebrity items' and 'socialites' (all politicians are) start running the show.To be honest if Bhajji really called Symonds a monkey, it was a monumentally stupid thing to do even if not intentionally malicious. As a page3 item boy Bhajji must have been aware of the rukus a

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-10219692777420030262007-12-27T16:48:00.000+05:302007-12-30T10:35:10.857+05:30

Just stumbled on Shiva's cosmic dance statue at CERN . An eloquent term that captures the mood of religion and science. While most religions have degenerated into a thought of clash with science, at a deeper philosophical level, spirituality is one of the paths to searching for truth, science in another. Alas religion is often a matter of faith that precludes a rational analysis.The most ancient

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-51008396517917742532007-12-06T14:58:00.000+05:302007-12-06T15:02:57.409+05:30

I read the Theory of Deconstruction by Jacques Derrida some years back. OK confession, I tried reading it but gave up after like 30/40 pages, philosophy is not my cup of tea. He made an interesting point that language is a barrier to communication. The rate at which we think is lot higher than what we talk and hence verbalizing slows it down. Which leads to the question, we think in language and

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-84190556468405145482007-11-21T16:16:00.000+05:302007-12-31T15:29:23.292+05:30

I've noticed a rather interesting lack of co-relation between cost and selling prices of stuff in our typical markets. Take the case of juice. One would assume that a firm selling packed normal juice will price it at some level, and the same firm takes normal juice, add some sugar to it and sells that too will price the 2nd one a bit higher due to added cost of sugar.That is at a logical guy

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-74885393853390666562007-11-12T11:09:00.000+05:302007-11-16T18:02:15.818+05:30

What a week. First we have the the party with less than 4% of popular votes holding up the nuclear deal, subverting critical reforms in pension, insurance sector in parliament, perpetuating violence on citizens of their own state (see Red cadres beat central forces ) for over 6 months now. Many peaceful protesters at Kolkata Film festivals were arrested, following which the 'intellectuals of the

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-21254788334401011782007-11-07T11:50:00.000+05:302007-11-07T11:53:50.525+05:30

"A crises is a terrible thing to waste". Pakistan as we all know is in deep crises. Reports indicate that the Pakistani army positions on Indian border is at its lowest level ever . Pakistan state is battling the hydra headed monster of fanaticism it so carefully cultivated as a matter of state and to an extent social policy, and from the looks of it, the fight is not very favorable to the state

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-34643005258764051212007-10-22T19:33:00.000+05:302007-10-23T09:45:53.534+05:30

You have served the country to the best of the abilities and I believe with its best interest at heart. Now that you know that something that you worked very hard for and know is in India's best interest, is being killed by ignorance, malice and incompetence. You also know that the same chance may never come again to allow gaining fuel, technology and strategic ties with those who matter.Then is

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-74170225359977127722007-10-21T10:30:00.000+05:302007-10-21T10:31:56.356+05:30

Buckling steel, sparks flying inches away from your face, countours of the road, maniac screaches of brake on wheels, the snap of muscles, rebounds of helmet off the road, horror on the face of the lady on sidewalk, dazzling circles of traffic lights.Moments away from death, you feel so alive.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-91390563304623702052007-10-18T14:13:00.000+05:302007-10-18T14:50:25.321+05:30

Recently watched a debate on CNN-IBN about effectiveness of government programs on the state of social sector in India. In the midst of all the usual politicians calling for caste based quotas in private sector, Industry complaining about governmental restrictions, government quoting %age increases in budget as proof of progress came something that I think is one step that can actually helpSunil

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-40277736746042532132007-10-09T12:12:00.000+05:302007-12-04T13:30:52.674+05:30

I wanted the sesquicentennial post to be some light/frothy piece but alas no inspiration. Meanwhile the theme of increasing violence as a social phenomena has been making rounds to TV too. CNN IBN recently did a feature called "Murdering Mahatma". Since its the month of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, I thought it appropriate to blog on the same.First I think the program got it wrong. While Gandhian

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-3756184867532829382007-09-24T14:00:00.000+05:302007-09-24T14:01:49.248+05:30

Another run of Indian Idols comes to an end with a victor crowned. While many lamented the rather limited talent of singers coming to the fore, this particular series will be known for another reason.For a change the 2 finalists were not from main stream India and seen by most - which is essentially the North/West and South of India. Rather both of them were from East - One from Darjeeling which

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-47443816313687452472007-09-21T17:13:00.000+05:302007-09-21T17:14:30.198+05:30

A friend answering a buzz on his mobileF:HelloStranger on the other end: Who are you?F: Whom have you called?S: My daughter gave me this as her number a week or so agoF: Well she gave you a wrong number, I've had it for ages.S: Can you hunt for her in Pune?Another that happened to me once.* Phone buzzing *Me: HelloS: Sir are you looking for a job changeM:Only if its good.S: Thank you.- end of

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-34190759095001581272007-09-20T17:40:00.000+05:302007-09-28T14:37:55.933+05:30

The moment you get to a song you really like, either the phone will ring or some urgent work land up.Finish the work and replay the song and 1. will happen againThe most diligence demanding mail clarifications always land up on Friday around 5.The only time in the day you'll open comic.com is the time the boss's boss decides to pay you a visit.Come out of the door in undies to drop the trash and

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-56800624566380976012007-09-19T13:48:00.000+05:302007-09-19T14:07:20.710+05:30

"a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. It makes unthinkable changes suddenly possible." from “For the Soul of Mankind” by "Melvyn Leffler" as reviewed in the Economist. What a beautiful way to sum it up.Indeed all this current fracas about the nuclear deal, the Adam's bridge (Ram Setu in popular lingo), the globalization issues, the mess in education sector. All these are an excellent opening to

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-14598594083227403382007-09-13T17:41:00.000+05:302007-09-20T18:24:51.136+05:30

Some string, a cardboard box, a ball, a puppyendless joy

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-69787112704612644072007-09-13T12:15:00.000+05:302007-09-13T12:18:10.915+05:30

Continuing from the last blog post idea, I feel one way to citizens feeling more empowered is to reduce the government arms to people contact. Remember its the attitudes which set the tone of the interaction and we are a nation have severe attitude problems.Recently I paid by municipal taxes thru an online bill pay facility of a bank. I never received the tax demand but thankfully Pune municipal

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-91960881745360411792007-09-13T11:43:00.000+05:302007-09-13T11:44:41.722+05:30

I have often wondered what makes us so full or road rage, so ready to slash and burn at the slightest opportunity when in a mob. The key thing is that we do so when we are in a group. While I have no answers I will make a guess!I think its the 'system'. It makes people feel so impotent in normal life that given an vent, they all erupt. Look at our government offices. A visit to any is a soul

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-22467237025825585852007-09-11T17:03:00.000+05:302007-09-12T17:34:01.690+05:30

Language as a weapon? of mass subjugation? Language is one of the crowing glory of human kind. A unifying force for communities, it also is one of the more divisive factors in our cultural life. Look at the French - English rivalry. or closer home the hostility to Hindi in south? Why does mere choice of language strike such emotional chords? Maybe it has to do with language being the ultimate

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-82379418455514250902007-09-05T15:44:00.000+05:302007-09-05T15:52:32.946+05:30

Just heard about this job application where the dude mentions - I wanna search for a girlfriend in ur country as a reason for applying to the job.Cool. Wonder how many such offbeat reasons can be quoted for applying.Common ones I can think of it -Commuting to this place is so much easier.Ah my favorite eating place is right across the street from youMmmm the receptionist! More esoteric ones could

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-10081078766468482472007-09-03T14:02:00.000+05:302007-09-03T19:41:36.155+05:30

Meetings, it almost enlightened me as to why the typical nerd was also supposed to be perpetually high on some or the other substance. How else could one survive the ordeal unless semi in Nirvana land?Given the rapid proliferation of these ways of mass discomfort - WMD in corporate culture we the sanity lovers need to come up with ways to hit back. Having been in places where sometimes meetings

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-74308727007119520112007-08-30T23:01:00.000+05:302007-09-20T12:11:31.415+05:30

I thought enough of nuclear energy discussion but then when an argument is being stopped by quoting motives, I got into a debate mode. My favorite handler of words Mr Sitaram Yechuri in his column in Hindustan Times gives his own views on how Lefts opposition is being decried not because of reasons but because of prejudice. Point taken, a rational debate should be based on reasons so lets take

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-29929274643960158662007-08-30T13:46:00.000+05:302007-08-30T17:47:52.292+05:30

Last few days were all full of angst at the politics happening. This week is for a change cool and Sunny. In keeping with the theme, here is another rather interesting item on ABC news chronicling the wills of the rich and vengeful. I even love the heading. Good read for a slow day.Sample a few gems of wills from the article:"To my son, I leave the pleasure of earning a living, which he had not

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-48520560592285456722007-08-29T16:25:00.000+05:302007-08-29T16:31:54.203+05:30

Chinese government bans reincarnations screamed a headline on MSNBC. Closer reading revealed that the law prohibits spirits from choosing a new body only if the spirit and bodies are both outside China!Talk about extraterritorial jurisdictions. This goes beyond even carnal world. Behind the farce is a serious issue of decimation of an entire civilization at the hands of totalitarian politics.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-38152528520906284202007-08-29T15:09:00.000+05:302007-08-29T15:14:23.182+05:30

Office tea ends up being like those girls next door or do I mean failed relationships?It is not as hot as u want not as delicious as u preferin short like an unfulfilled promise

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-20371824792019892922007-08-26T23:57:00.000+05:302007-08-27T00:09:03.471+05:30

Why do we so often take friends for granted? Often so times I have observed that friends ask us to do something and we refuse - sorry no time, nah not mood. Basically we can tell them what we really feel like.On the other hand same kind of questions coming from say colleagues, casual acquaintances, bosses, seniors and we play along, sometimes even enjoy doing it.So which is right? Being true to

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-12223931968163235412007-08-22T16:35:00.001+05:302008-04-21T10:42:08.307+05:30

Thanks to Mudit in Bus Yun Hi blog for giving me a link to that other master misguider Prakash Karat making some points on the Nuclear deal. As usual what he quotes and how he quotes are not the same things. Let us try and analyze the workings of this great patriot."Prior to the joint statement of July 2005, the UPA government signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement with the Untied States.

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-81042880665703523482007-08-20T16:11:00.000+05:302007-09-03T11:07:41.941+05:30

Amidst all the gloom of the party with less than 5% of popular vote trying to set country's agenda and the stock market worries comes some good news.Mayawati, the Chief Minister of UP - our most populous state makes some steps towards privatization in agriculture. Essentially she is going to allow private parties (above a certain net worth ) to directly buy from the farmers should the farmer wish

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-9087727391016659002007-08-18T22:49:00.000+05:302007-08-24T12:41:10.811+05:30

What a comedy over the Nuke deal! For once MM showed spine and said take the deal or withdraw support. Three cheers to Dr for finally choosing national interest over politics.Left meanwhile makes its issue clear. They claim its both the deal and the strategic tie up with the USA that they resent. Strategic tie up with a 'democratic' sole super power is bad? lets face it, we've been beggars most

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-58944473091292039872007-08-06T18:14:00.000+05:302007-09-13T11:42:49.121+05:30

The key to success is ...temptationMoney can buy most things but not happiness ... say those who don't really know how to spend moneyYou can be anybody if you try hard ... thanks but I'm happy being meThere are some things money can't buy, for everything else there is ... dadWhen sh@#t hits the fan, its time to ... run outIf you never succeed in first attempt... charge your patients before the

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-30368074545837435552007-07-25T13:50:00.000+05:302007-07-25T15:57:18.094+05:30

I once read - I think it was in the Art of War by Sun Tzu- that it takes a 100 villagers to support 1 army man in war. Our armed forces are in similar quandary. The money just can't keep up with expenses. Most of the money goes in supporting salaries and pensions leaving rather little for modernization. There is already a lot of debate on how much money is wasted in hiring people for non

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-72077654554861951352007-07-20T15:30:00.000+05:302007-07-20T17:11:56.348+05:30

Abbot: A guest here had a query on how he can reconcile his quest for corporate glory with his deep religious moorings? Monk: Master is the two related?A: Child how many years have the major religions you know of thriving?M: Master most of them for 1000 years or more!A: How many firms you know of that are even 200 years old?M: *thinking*M: Not any master though there are some - a bank here, a

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-78641449116237978352007-07-20T15:21:00.000+05:302007-07-20T16:35:12.687+05:30

This 'lie' word in English is kinky.same word for lie - (veracity un-inclined) and lie (merely inclined). If I tell someone the only place I lie is in bed they give all sorts of mischievous winks while i wonder why do they find it funny?

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-65972979064901959992007-07-17T12:23:00.000+05:302007-07-20T16:15:41.464+05:30

I somehow have this notion that religion in particular and a lot of philosophy in general is trying to find out what is death and what happens to us when it happens. There is this whole new arena opening up as a result of medical researches and as already been seen a lot of it is challenging our beliefs in life, soul and so on. Newsweek has this interesting article on reviving the dead. The

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-73988644194254178772007-07-12T14:48:00.000+05:302007-07-12T14:50:55.858+05:30

We often said fondly to our friends abroad should talks come to terror attacks how India while being one of the biggest sufferers does not contribute to the poor of people carrying out this shame across the globe.Last week truth or change hit home. Among the perpetrators of failed attempts in UK, a few Indians were at forefront it seems. While lets not presume the guilt till the courts hold them

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-87032119601019663192007-07-09T16:24:00.000+05:302007-07-09T16:44:29.894+05:30

Tavleen Singh In Indian Express makes an interesting point Why didn't PM lose sleep over 7/11?The fact of the matter is that we Indian simply cannot overcome our lust for petty gains over longer term good. Its a story repeated time after time. Any outrageous act (not just terrorism, it can be local rivalry, political point scoring, regionalism in cricket team selection of all things, and its the

DreamCatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624001139524427573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29602006.post-50182401667937843382007-07-05T12:17:00.000+05:302007-07-05T13:51:06.817+05:30

The other day while having lunch in cafeteria conversation turned to traditional food dishes.There was a time when this girl had sipped fresh froth of vats cooking jaggery sometime mixing it with fresh 'imli". The gentleman on left was lamenting those barley concoctions that villages once used to cement social ties.I remember there used to be those bonfires at my place where we kids would

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