There are quite a few trading strategies out there. There are two I'd like to talk about.
The first is about trying to look for stocks that are relatively small, fundamentally strong, very under-priced and have not yet been spotted by the Wall Street eagles. This, at least theoretically should yield hundreds of percentage point returns over a few years.
While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this strategy, it usually does not work. How many spotted Walmart in late 1960s, or Genentech in 1980? Very few. Even Warren Buffett did not. If you think you can be one of those who can spot these gems amongst the millions out there who trade in stocks, then you're looking at a probablilty of 1 in millions. I think its practically zero. Unless you're a big time risk taker, penny stocks would almost never be a good idea to invest in.
In the other fundamental strategy, you look for fundamentally good stocks, fair or somewhat underpriced (though "underpriced" is not absolutely necessary), that have an upward momentum, and find good entry and exit points, and most importantly, don't expect hundreds of percentage points returns in just a few years time. You don't sleep over your stocks but ride on the momentum and sell them. Timing and speed become your best friends.
While this second strategy never gives astronomical returns, it is more possible, probable and practical. Think about it.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
Why Intel and AMD should do well in 2007
Recently the semiconductor technology industry has seen a fair bit of downturn. In fact, in 2006 the PHLX Semiconductor index lost 5% while NASDAQ gained 8%. Partly it was because of the inventory glut, and partly because of the reduced sales worldwide of computer equipment, because of corporates waiting for Windows Vista.
The two main players - Intel and AMD suffered. Intel dropped 20% in the year. AMD suffered even more - dropping about 37% in the year.
Fundamentally there's nothing wrong with either Intel or AMD. AMD was always tight on financial controls. Intel corrected itself in 2006, by means of restructuring and reducing workforce.
And because of the reasons mentioned above, the valuations of Intel and AMD appear very good at this moment.
AMD at 20.35 is trading at just about 47% of its 2006 high. It has a very good EPS of 1.01 and a very healthy P/E ratio of 20.03. The funnel of AMD includes Barcelona, that is a true quad-core processor that is useful for gamers and high end servers market. While gamers don't necessarily comprise a huge market, the high end servers is a niche market that provides higher margins, and thus provides a good incentive for chip manufacturers to enter this market. The gains from ATI acquisition should also appear in 2007. If the lawsuit against Intel's monopolistic practices goes in its favor, AMD should gain market share from Intel.
Intel, at 20.25 is trading at 76% of its 2006 high. With an EPS of 1.01 and a healthy P/E ratio of 20.03 (exactly the same as AMD), its valuations appear very interesting. With the restructuring, Intel is likely to improve its earnings. And with a very successful Core Duo and Core 2 Duo range of processors, it is likely to maintain its market position for the desktop and mobile processor segment.
The downside to this optimism about the chip stocks is if Windows Vista doesn't play out the way it is widely expected to. If Vista does not succeed, the demand for new equipment would essentially stagnate, and that should hurt both Intel and AMD.
The only fear that AMD and Intel have is from each other. In a competitive chip market Intel and AMD will live as long as they let the others live.
The two main players - Intel and AMD suffered. Intel dropped 20% in the year. AMD suffered even more - dropping about 37% in the year.
Fundamentally there's nothing wrong with either Intel or AMD. AMD was always tight on financial controls. Intel corrected itself in 2006, by means of restructuring and reducing workforce.
And because of the reasons mentioned above, the valuations of Intel and AMD appear very good at this moment.
AMD at 20.35 is trading at just about 47% of its 2006 high. It has a very good EPS of 1.01 and a very healthy P/E ratio of 20.03. The funnel of AMD includes Barcelona, that is a true quad-core processor that is useful for gamers and high end servers market. While gamers don't necessarily comprise a huge market, the high end servers is a niche market that provides higher margins, and thus provides a good incentive for chip manufacturers to enter this market. The gains from ATI acquisition should also appear in 2007. If the lawsuit against Intel's monopolistic practices goes in its favor, AMD should gain market share from Intel.
Intel, at 20.25 is trading at 76% of its 2006 high. With an EPS of 1.01 and a healthy P/E ratio of 20.03 (exactly the same as AMD), its valuations appear very interesting. With the restructuring, Intel is likely to improve its earnings. And with a very successful Core Duo and Core 2 Duo range of processors, it is likely to maintain its market position for the desktop and mobile processor segment.
The downside to this optimism about the chip stocks is if Windows Vista doesn't play out the way it is widely expected to. If Vista does not succeed, the demand for new equipment would essentially stagnate, and that should hurt both Intel and AMD.
The only fear that AMD and Intel have is from each other. In a competitive chip market Intel and AMD will live as long as they let the others live.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Dhoom 2 aka Doom 2
Its a movie that has so many flaws, that you start to believe that it is an amateurish movie, of course until you have a closer look at the cast. (And yes, read this list after you've watched the movie - if you're sure of watching the movie, that is).
1. The thief never gets shot while he is being dragged by the train, and the security officer is taking shots at him.
2. The thief is being dragged by this train, and suddenly he jumps back on top of the train, hitting the security officer.
3. If the thief was trying to write an "A" across the world by the locations of his heists, why on earth was he going back to Junagarh after Mumbai?
4. What sewer lid was that got corroded within seconds? (Cast Iron lids don't corrode) And why did none of the police officers try to follow him? And how did he fly out of a sewer lid on he road a few seconds later? Did he get sufficient time to change his dress? Is he doing a Krrish again here?
5. Was the security blind that they could not see a 4"x6" Remote Controlled car moving right under their feet? Or were they all looking at the ceiling? And even when the RC dished out a 2' long arm to pick up the diamond (who keeps a diamond without enclosures anyway?). And how come the blind securitywallas didn't notice someone looking alternately at the controller and the car repeatedly?
6. How come the sharpshooter policewoman who had been tracking this thief for 2 years suddenly disappear from the movie when push came to shove?
7. How did the Snowhite's dwarfs reduce their height by a full 2 feet?
8. How did the thief fall hundreds of feet into water when "shot" repeatedly by his accomplice and survive?
To be fair, Hrithik Roshan brings good acting and some good stunts to the table. Abhishek Bachchan looks grumpy throughout the movie. Bipasha makes a quick entry and then fades away just as fast. Aditya Chopra is in the movie to provide an occassional laugh, and he does his job fairly.
If you don't mind the glaring technical flaws, well, you may just try your luck in the Cinema. You may just like it.
Else just stay way from it.
1. The thief never gets shot while he is being dragged by the train, and the security officer is taking shots at him.
2. The thief is being dragged by this train, and suddenly he jumps back on top of the train, hitting the security officer.
3. If the thief was trying to write an "A" across the world by the locations of his heists, why on earth was he going back to Junagarh after Mumbai?
4. What sewer lid was that got corroded within seconds? (Cast Iron lids don't corrode) And why did none of the police officers try to follow him? And how did he fly out of a sewer lid on he road a few seconds later? Did he get sufficient time to change his dress? Is he doing a Krrish again here?
5. Was the security blind that they could not see a 4"x6" Remote Controlled car moving right under their feet? Or were they all looking at the ceiling? And even when the RC dished out a 2' long arm to pick up the diamond (who keeps a diamond without enclosures anyway?). And how come the blind securitywallas didn't notice someone looking alternately at the controller and the car repeatedly?
6. How come the sharpshooter policewoman who had been tracking this thief for 2 years suddenly disappear from the movie when push came to shove?
7. How did the Snowhite's dwarfs reduce their height by a full 2 feet?
8. How did the thief fall hundreds of feet into water when "shot" repeatedly by his accomplice and survive?
To be fair, Hrithik Roshan brings good acting and some good stunts to the table. Abhishek Bachchan looks grumpy throughout the movie. Bipasha makes a quick entry and then fades away just as fast. Aditya Chopra is in the movie to provide an occassional laugh, and he does his job fairly.
If you don't mind the glaring technical flaws, well, you may just try your luck in the Cinema. You may just like it.
Else just stay way from it.
Why AajTak sucks
1. It shows more ads than news. On top of it, the quality of its ads (Pataka 502 tea, Lux Cozi undershirts, Kamdhenu TMT bars etc is downright pathetic, to say the least).
2. It repeats its content so often, that it hurts.
3. Today it covered Amitabh/Amar Singh/Abhishek/Aishwarya visit to Varanasi for a full 3 hours. It was mighty painful - India had lost just hours ago to SA, and I wanted to get a detailed coverage on that. Instead, all AajTak was showing interviews with Pandits, and its own speculations on who looked happy, who looked coy, and whatever that implied. Damned. Why don't you call yourself Aaj Tak Tabloid TV. And you kept covering that for 3 hours. Hell, had all of India been watching the TV at that time, you'd have wasted 3 billion hours of people's time.
4. Prabhu Chawla sucks big time in "Seedhi Baat". Instead of sounding an authoritative journalist and asking penetrating questions, he appears to be appeasing the guests, and begging them for some answers. Duh. Take some inspiration from Karan Thapar and Shekhar Gupta.
If someday you feel that you've been healthy and cheerful for too long, just watch Aaj Tak.
And for those, who're thinking of subscribing to Aajtak (International programming), consider yourself warned.
2. It repeats its content so often, that it hurts.
3. Today it covered Amitabh/Amar Singh/Abhishek/Aishwarya visit to Varanasi for a full 3 hours. It was mighty painful - India had lost just hours ago to SA, and I wanted to get a detailed coverage on that. Instead, all AajTak was showing interviews with Pandits, and its own speculations on who looked happy, who looked coy, and whatever that implied. Damned. Why don't you call yourself Aaj Tak Tabloid TV. And you kept covering that for 3 hours. Hell, had all of India been watching the TV at that time, you'd have wasted 3 billion hours of people's time.
4. Prabhu Chawla sucks big time in "Seedhi Baat". Instead of sounding an authoritative journalist and asking penetrating questions, he appears to be appeasing the guests, and begging them for some answers. Duh. Take some inspiration from Karan Thapar and Shekhar Gupta.
If someday you feel that you've been healthy and cheerful for too long, just watch Aaj Tak.
And for those, who're thinking of subscribing to Aajtak (International programming), consider yourself warned.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Why comparisons between India and China are absurd?
I am sick of all these articles that have been emanating from Indians worldwide for so many years: How Indian Tiger will tame the Chinese Dragon. In my opinion, these opinions are based far less on reality than wishful thinking on the part of Indians.
Chinese are building 108 new airports between 2004 and 2008, including the world's largest, Beijing international Airport, designed by Foster and Partners. On the other extreme, Indian airports are filthy, ill-equipped and swarming with touts. Indians are resisting tooth-and-nail any improvement to their airports, that are worse than many developed countries' train stations.
Chinese population is stabilizing, with the population growth rate as low as 0.59% (estimated, CIA WorldFactbook). Agreed, that a lot of coercion has gone behind the fulfillment of the Chinese objective of a stable population. But all this is now beginning to yield fruit. While with a stabilizing population promises that the fruits of Chinese prosperity would be more tangible to its people, India is consistently losing the fruits of its boom to ever-burgeoning population, which, even now grows at 1.38% (estimated, CIA WorldFactbook).
China has averaged growth of 10% over last 2 decade. Not only has China outpaced India in the rate of growth for each of these 20 years, it had a far bigger GDP compared to India to begin with. You do the math.
The proponents of the Tiger overtaking Dragon often point out that India is a democracy, and that would eventually turn out to be better for India, and investments would pour into India because the investors would see India as a better investment option. This has not happened in the last 15 years, and I still don't see it coming. China attracted an FDI of 40 billion in 2000, while India managed 3.1 billion. (Some Indians point out to differences in computation of FDI, that adjusted China's FDI to 20 billion, and increase Indian FDI to 8 billion. That still leaves China's FDI 2.5 times that of India). Chinese administration has its own flaws, freedom being the topmost casualty, but the world's largest democracy is also fairly feeble. Regional and ethnic strife, and religious issues are extremely disruptive to the business climate (an ample example, why Bihar, one of the most natural resources rich state attracts hardly any industry). Every new administration reverses the decisions made by the previous one, or orders enquiries - not very conducive to creating a good investment friendly environment - as Enron would readily testify. In comparison, with the exception of Tiananmen Square, China has experienced a good deal of peace and tranquility.
While China's share in the World Trade is roughly 6%, India's is less than 1%. Chinese GDP is more than twice that of India's. China's literacy rate is 91%, compared to 60% of India. And everyone knows what literacy means in India.
While China is going around, signing contracts with nations around the world, assuring itself of energy supplies for the years to come, regardless of the regimes, India, is taking the high road (of not dealing with questionable regimes), and missing the bus.
The recent growth rate of 8.1% in the second quarter of 2006 for India (S&P estimates a growth rate of 7.6% for the year) might not really be a sign of things to come, or a source of optimism, but maybe just be cyclical. This is buttressed by the fact that in 2006, the developing world (including Sub-Saharan Africa) has averaged a growth rate of 4.8% and China has averaged 11.1% for this quarter (and the World Bank estimates a growth of 10.4% in 2006). Even Pakistan has managed a growth rate higher than India.
Finally, while China has developed its economy in a planned way, creating linkages between its manufacturing, service and agriculture sectors, Indian economic development is more haphazard. Hardly a million Indians work in the IT and ITES (IT Enabled Services) sector. This constitutes less than a quarter of a percent of Indian workforce, and its contribution to economy is less than 10%. In addition, a lot of ITES is back office and call center work, that produces no intellectual capital, and is prone to moving elsewhere for precisely the same reason it moved here. Indeed, Chinese are learning English in a big way, and believe it or not, competition is going to threaten this one biggest bastion of Indian industry.
The difference between Chinese and Indian growth is that while Chinese growth has been FDI-dependent, Indian has been more organic, and intrinsic. That has led to many more entrepreneurial ventures in India, compared to China. Many more Indian companies are listed in the Fortune 500 list, compared to those from mainland China.
The huge monetary inflows have caused the banks to give out non recoverable loans, and the NPAs of banks in China may be as large as 50%. At some time these would have to be written off. At that time the investment in more productive area would take a hit. While India also has large NPAs, at 15%, they are significantly lower than China's.
Chinese growth has been because of the government, and Indian has been inspite of it. Till the Indian government changes for the better, or the Chinese government changes for the worse, don't expect miracles to happen. And till that happens, all the pipe dreams of India overtaking China are well...just pipe dreams.
Chinese are building 108 new airports between 2004 and 2008, including the world's largest, Beijing international Airport, designed by Foster and Partners. On the other extreme, Indian airports are filthy, ill-equipped and swarming with touts. Indians are resisting tooth-and-nail any improvement to their airports, that are worse than many developed countries' train stations.
Chinese population is stabilizing, with the population growth rate as low as 0.59% (estimated, CIA WorldFactbook). Agreed, that a lot of coercion has gone behind the fulfillment of the Chinese objective of a stable population. But all this is now beginning to yield fruit. While with a stabilizing population promises that the fruits of Chinese prosperity would be more tangible to its people, India is consistently losing the fruits of its boom to ever-burgeoning population, which, even now grows at 1.38% (estimated, CIA WorldFactbook).
China has averaged growth of 10% over last 2 decade. Not only has China outpaced India in the rate of growth for each of these 20 years, it had a far bigger GDP compared to India to begin with. You do the math.
The proponents of the Tiger overtaking Dragon often point out that India is a democracy, and that would eventually turn out to be better for India, and investments would pour into India because the investors would see India as a better investment option. This has not happened in the last 15 years, and I still don't see it coming. China attracted an FDI of 40 billion in 2000, while India managed 3.1 billion. (Some Indians point out to differences in computation of FDI, that adjusted China's FDI to 20 billion, and increase Indian FDI to 8 billion. That still leaves China's FDI 2.5 times that of India). Chinese administration has its own flaws, freedom being the topmost casualty, but the world's largest democracy is also fairly feeble. Regional and ethnic strife, and religious issues are extremely disruptive to the business climate (an ample example, why Bihar, one of the most natural resources rich state attracts hardly any industry). Every new administration reverses the decisions made by the previous one, or orders enquiries - not very conducive to creating a good investment friendly environment - as Enron would readily testify. In comparison, with the exception of Tiananmen Square, China has experienced a good deal of peace and tranquility.
While China's share in the World Trade is roughly 6%, India's is less than 1%. Chinese GDP is more than twice that of India's. China's literacy rate is 91%, compared to 60% of India. And everyone knows what literacy means in India.
While China is going around, signing contracts with nations around the world, assuring itself of energy supplies for the years to come, regardless of the regimes, India, is taking the high road (of not dealing with questionable regimes), and missing the bus.
The recent growth rate of 8.1% in the second quarter of 2006 for India (S&P estimates a growth rate of 7.6% for the year) might not really be a sign of things to come, or a source of optimism, but maybe just be cyclical. This is buttressed by the fact that in 2006, the developing world (including Sub-Saharan Africa) has averaged a growth rate of 4.8% and China has averaged 11.1% for this quarter (and the World Bank estimates a growth of 10.4% in 2006). Even Pakistan has managed a growth rate higher than India.
Finally, while China has developed its economy in a planned way, creating linkages between its manufacturing, service and agriculture sectors, Indian economic development is more haphazard. Hardly a million Indians work in the IT and ITES (IT Enabled Services) sector. This constitutes less than a quarter of a percent of Indian workforce, and its contribution to economy is less than 10%. In addition, a lot of ITES is back office and call center work, that produces no intellectual capital, and is prone to moving elsewhere for precisely the same reason it moved here. Indeed, Chinese are learning English in a big way, and believe it or not, competition is going to threaten this one biggest bastion of Indian industry.
The difference between Chinese and Indian growth is that while Chinese growth has been FDI-dependent, Indian has been more organic, and intrinsic. That has led to many more entrepreneurial ventures in India, compared to China. Many more Indian companies are listed in the Fortune 500 list, compared to those from mainland China.
The huge monetary inflows have caused the banks to give out non recoverable loans, and the NPAs of banks in China may be as large as 50%. At some time these would have to be written off. At that time the investment in more productive area would take a hit. While India also has large NPAs, at 15%, they are significantly lower than China's.
Chinese growth has been because of the government, and Indian has been inspite of it. Till the Indian government changes for the better, or the Chinese government changes for the worse, don't expect miracles to happen. And till that happens, all the pipe dreams of India overtaking China are well...just pipe dreams.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
What's happened to the famed Indian Cricket team?
The short answer - they've been shown their correct position.
While I never had any doubts that the perceptions of the Indian Cricket team were spindoctored to suit the needs of the Chappell-More-Pawar (CMP) cartel, now it has become more than clear that Indian tigers were tigers in India. Outside the subcontinent, they became meek cats, and got their ass whipped repeatedly.
The experimentation with position rotation has failed repeatedly - but a stubborn Chappell is persisting with it because he can't be seen in public acknowledging his mistakes.
The extraordinay trust reposed in Sehwag, Pathan and Kaif has backfired. India has repeatedly lost matches, and they've not returned to form. If lack of form was the reason for dropping Ganguly, then keeping these three can never be justified.
The team has not learnt to be professional like the Australians. When the wickets are falling around you, you should not be chicken and throw your wicket away - as the team still does. They never know when to pace the innings and when to chase with singles.
What was the use of the parachute training and the millitary training in Bangalore? Was it another attempt to hoodwink people into believing that Chappell has tricks up his sleeve that would change the face of Indian Cricket? (Yes they have - for the worse).
Why're people like Ganguly and Zaheer being kept out? Why the vendetta being allowed to influence the team selections?
Indians never ask tough questions - because if they did, and demanded results, Chappell, who has an extremely dismal record before coming to coach India would have already been on the flight back to Australia.
While I never had any doubts that the perceptions of the Indian Cricket team were spindoctored to suit the needs of the Chappell-More-Pawar (CMP) cartel, now it has become more than clear that Indian tigers were tigers in India. Outside the subcontinent, they became meek cats, and got their ass whipped repeatedly.
The experimentation with position rotation has failed repeatedly - but a stubborn Chappell is persisting with it because he can't be seen in public acknowledging his mistakes.
The extraordinay trust reposed in Sehwag, Pathan and Kaif has backfired. India has repeatedly lost matches, and they've not returned to form. If lack of form was the reason for dropping Ganguly, then keeping these three can never be justified.
The team has not learnt to be professional like the Australians. When the wickets are falling around you, you should not be chicken and throw your wicket away - as the team still does. They never know when to pace the innings and when to chase with singles.
What was the use of the parachute training and the millitary training in Bangalore? Was it another attempt to hoodwink people into believing that Chappell has tricks up his sleeve that would change the face of Indian Cricket? (Yes they have - for the worse).
Why're people like Ganguly and Zaheer being kept out? Why the vendetta being allowed to influence the team selections?
Indians never ask tough questions - because if they did, and demanded results, Chappell, who has an extremely dismal record before coming to coach India would have already been on the flight back to Australia.
The new comedian on the block : Arun Lal
Watching cricket these days is more for comedy's sake than for the game itself. The reason - Arun Lal - the commentator.
In the last game against West Indies, he was referring to some "ridge" on the pitch which was causing the Indian batsmen to get out cheaply (?). And he kept mentioning it over and over again till Tony Craig snapped "Wait a minute. A ridge is convex, this is concave. This is simply a depression". To this, pat came the reply from Arun Lal "You're absolutely right. This is a depression".
In the last game against Australia, he used these words repeatedly : "purchase", "as far as India is concerned", and "relish". I doubt the correctness of sentenses like "he is getting purchase from the wicket". Arun Lal used them with impunity. Of course you can use the other 2 words/phrases (concerned and relish), but abuse is more like what happened with Arun Lal.
With an overall average of < 10 runs per innings in ODIs, he was never one of the greats of the game. For this reason, Arun Lal doesnt add value - he just speaks what he sees - as mechanically as a news reader.
Why do I think he's still getting the contracts to comment in the matches? Probably because the foreigners like to be paid in dollars(gets multiplied by 45), while Arun Lal relishes payments in Indian Rupees. And also because a certain Mr Sidhu is busy with The Great Indian Laughter Challange.
In the last game against West Indies, he was referring to some "ridge" on the pitch which was causing the Indian batsmen to get out cheaply (?). And he kept mentioning it over and over again till Tony Craig snapped "Wait a minute. A ridge is convex, this is concave. This is simply a depression". To this, pat came the reply from Arun Lal "You're absolutely right. This is a depression".
In the last game against Australia, he used these words repeatedly : "purchase", "as far as India is concerned", and "relish". I doubt the correctness of sentenses like "he is getting purchase from the wicket". Arun Lal used them with impunity. Of course you can use the other 2 words/phrases (concerned and relish), but abuse is more like what happened with Arun Lal.
With an overall average of < 10 runs per innings in ODIs, he was never one of the greats of the game. For this reason, Arun Lal doesnt add value - he just speaks what he sees - as mechanically as a news reader.
Why do I think he's still getting the contracts to comment in the matches? Probably because the foreigners like to be paid in dollars(gets multiplied by 45), while Arun Lal relishes payments in Indian Rupees. And also because a certain Mr Sidhu is busy with The Great Indian Laughter Challange.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
GMAT !!
After getting 750 in GMAT and 118 in ToEFL (not bad, eh?) I thought I just as well might do my bit to help those who're walking in the same shoes I walked in some time ago.
Check out http://www.mbacountry.com and let me know what you think. Leave answers for those who seek them, ask questions if you need to know, and yeah, leave feedback for me. Spread the word if you like what you see. And well, if you don't like what you see, still spread the word - you never know who might !!
Check out http://www.mbacountry.com and let me know what you think. Leave answers for those who seek them, ask questions if you need to know, and yeah, leave feedback for me. Spread the word if you like what you see. And well, if you don't like what you see, still spread the word - you never know who might !!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Right Brain Left Brain
Today I had an interesting discussion with Prakash (I think he almost always has interesting stuff to talk about - when he is really in the mood to talk).
The left brain is the analytical center of our brain. It processes the logical and numerical parts of our perceptions and thoughts. On the other hand, the right brain is the overall perception center of our brain - it does not break things down into smaller components, but tries to understand the overall, bigger picture.
At first it is a little difficult to figure out why would someone not be interested into breaking down a picture into smaller components, and would want to see a bigger picture (that might not even make a lot of sense). I might be able to provide an example, thought it might be quite wrong - Two Hydrogen atoms, combine with one of Oxygen to create a molecule of water. The properties are drastically different. This shows that aggregates can not always represent the properties of the constituents.
Prakash mentioned that if someone shows us a picture and asks us to draw it, if we use our left brain, we would see the picture and draw the picture as we see it and not how it really is. This is profound, because this implies that if I see a garden and I recognise flower A and flower B, when I draw it back, I draw flower A and flower B as I have always known them to look like, and not as I saw them.
Interesting.
One way of force-using our right brain would be to put the picture upside-down so that our left-brain can't recognise the broken down parts. If we redraw that upside-down picture, we would need to repeatedly look at the original picture, because the left brain has failed to break it up into recognisable forms.
In other words, your right brain is working.
The left brain is the analytical center of our brain. It processes the logical and numerical parts of our perceptions and thoughts. On the other hand, the right brain is the overall perception center of our brain - it does not break things down into smaller components, but tries to understand the overall, bigger picture.
At first it is a little difficult to figure out why would someone not be interested into breaking down a picture into smaller components, and would want to see a bigger picture (that might not even make a lot of sense). I might be able to provide an example, thought it might be quite wrong - Two Hydrogen atoms, combine with one of Oxygen to create a molecule of water. The properties are drastically different. This shows that aggregates can not always represent the properties of the constituents.
Prakash mentioned that if someone shows us a picture and asks us to draw it, if we use our left brain, we would see the picture and draw the picture as we see it and not how it really is. This is profound, because this implies that if I see a garden and I recognise flower A and flower B, when I draw it back, I draw flower A and flower B as I have always known them to look like, and not as I saw them.
Interesting.
One way of force-using our right brain would be to put the picture upside-down so that our left-brain can't recognise the broken down parts. If we redraw that upside-down picture, we would need to repeatedly look at the original picture, because the left brain has failed to break it up into recognisable forms.
In other words, your right brain is working.
Back to square one
Well, I am back.
It has happened so many times. I come back, only to vanish again. Possibly because I am lazy. I think I just need to kickstart my life. I waste time, and so whatever I can do possibly, I don't (notice it is don't and not can't).
Anyway, what I think I need is a bit of creativity, intersting stuff to do, and a kick to get kickstarted.
Here's wishing me a long long journey indeed.
It has happened so many times. I come back, only to vanish again. Possibly because I am lazy. I think I just need to kickstart my life. I waste time, and so whatever I can do possibly, I don't (notice it is don't and not can't).
Anyway, what I think I need is a bit of creativity, intersting stuff to do, and a kick to get kickstarted.
Here's wishing me a long long journey indeed.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Reservations in India
India just took a step backwards. The Americans, the Chinese and other competitors can take a sigh of relief. The government announced that it would implement another 27% reservations in educational institutes from the academic session commencing June 2007. This country cannot remain competitive anymore.
The reservations, or quotas, as they're popularly referred to in India, have always been a hotly debated topic. The Indian version of Affirmative Action, they were initiated in the 1950s to help the "oppressed castes" to come up to speed. Originally meant to be implemented for a period of 10 years, they've gone from strength to strength, not only managing to be in existance for about 50 years, but also increasing from 22.5% to now almost 50%.
This affirmative action comes at a tremendous cost though. The cost of denying admission to thousands of extremely deserving students from the "upper castes" who fail to make it to the Institutes they want to go to, because their seats are handed over to someone from the "lower caste". And the cost of decrease in the Nation's productivity.
Naturally, reservations have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the upper castes, who have endured them for 2 generations now. Worse, the beneficiaries of the reservations are mostly the rich in the lower castes. To add insult to the injury, many of them are second or third generation beneficiaries of the reservations.
Many students from the lower castes, are not capable of making full use of the reservations, and take the convoluted (and consequently longer) path to graduate, sometimes failing multiple times. The build-up of resentment also causes them to be looked down upon by the students from the upper castes. All this causes many to drop out of the very Institutes for which another meritorious student was denied entry.
In an opportunity-strapped nation like India, where extreme competition exists for getting admission into choicest Institutes, the reservations are resented by the upper castes who view them as a wrong to correct another wrong.
Solutions to problems cannot be found at the same level at which the problems arose. The government, oblivious of its responsibilities plays vote-bank politics and closes its eyes on the reality.
Till the government does not see the upper castes as a vote bank, I am afraid, the upper castes are going to be treated as lower castes in this country.
The reservations, or quotas, as they're popularly referred to in India, have always been a hotly debated topic. The Indian version of Affirmative Action, they were initiated in the 1950s to help the "oppressed castes" to come up to speed. Originally meant to be implemented for a period of 10 years, they've gone from strength to strength, not only managing to be in existance for about 50 years, but also increasing from 22.5% to now almost 50%.
This affirmative action comes at a tremendous cost though. The cost of denying admission to thousands of extremely deserving students from the "upper castes" who fail to make it to the Institutes they want to go to, because their seats are handed over to someone from the "lower caste". And the cost of decrease in the Nation's productivity.
Naturally, reservations have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the upper castes, who have endured them for 2 generations now. Worse, the beneficiaries of the reservations are mostly the rich in the lower castes. To add insult to the injury, many of them are second or third generation beneficiaries of the reservations.
Many students from the lower castes, are not capable of making full use of the reservations, and take the convoluted (and consequently longer) path to graduate, sometimes failing multiple times. The build-up of resentment also causes them to be looked down upon by the students from the upper castes. All this causes many to drop out of the very Institutes for which another meritorious student was denied entry.
In an opportunity-strapped nation like India, where extreme competition exists for getting admission into choicest Institutes, the reservations are resented by the upper castes who view them as a wrong to correct another wrong.
Solutions to problems cannot be found at the same level at which the problems arose. The government, oblivious of its responsibilities plays vote-bank politics and closes its eyes on the reality.
Till the government does not see the upper castes as a vote bank, I am afraid, the upper castes are going to be treated as lower castes in this country.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Quota in Cricket
I didn't write it. Its racist. It clubs everyone together in one group. I think its unfair. But I think its funny, and it does drive home the point that bothers me and many others. So lets roll.
I think we should have job reservations in all the fields. I completely support the PM and all the politicians for promoting this. Let's start the reservation with our cricket team. We should have 10 percent reservation for muslims. 30 percent for OBC, SC/ST like that. Cricket rules should be modified accordingly. The boundary circle should be reduced for an SC/ST player. The four hit by an OBC player should be considered as a six and a six hit by a OBC player should be counted as 8 runs. An OBC player scoring 60 runs should be declared as a century.
We should influence ICC and make rules so that the pace bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar should not bowl fast balls to our OBC player. Bowlers should bowl maximum speed of 80 kilometer per hour to an OBC player. Any delivery above this speed should be made illegal.
Also we should have reservation in Olympics. In the 100 meters race, an OBC player should be given a gold medal if he runs 80 meters.
There can be reservation in Government jobs also. Let's recruit SC/ST and OBC pilots for aircrafts which are carrying the ministers and politicians (that can really help
the country).
Ensure that only SC/ST and OBC doctors do the operations for the ministers and other politicians. (Another way of saving the country)
I think we should have job reservations in all the fields. I completely support the PM and all the politicians for promoting this. Let's start the reservation with our cricket team. We should have 10 percent reservation for muslims. 30 percent for OBC, SC/ST like that. Cricket rules should be modified accordingly. The boundary circle should be reduced for an SC/ST player. The four hit by an OBC player should be considered as a six and a six hit by a OBC player should be counted as 8 runs. An OBC player scoring 60 runs should be declared as a century.
We should influence ICC and make rules so that the pace bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar should not bowl fast balls to our OBC player. Bowlers should bowl maximum speed of 80 kilometer per hour to an OBC player. Any delivery above this speed should be made illegal.
Also we should have reservation in Olympics. In the 100 meters race, an OBC player should be given a gold medal if he runs 80 meters.
There can be reservation in Government jobs also. Let's recruit SC/ST and OBC pilots for aircrafts which are carrying the ministers and politicians (that can really help
the country).
Ensure that only SC/ST and OBC doctors do the operations for the ministers and other politicians. (Another way of saving the country)
Friday, April 21, 2006
An Oil Obsessed Nation
Americans are an oil obsessed nation. Why, this nation consumes 3 times more oil than China (when its population is less than a fourth of China's) it consumes about 12 times more oil per capita than China.
Its time for Americans to realize that their lifestyles can be supported no more. And they better learn to live like others in the world. Use smaller cars. Give up on SUVs. Carpool. Vacations are NOT for driving long distances. Learn to use public transport. And instead of exhorting their government to do something about high oil prices, exhost them to invest in public transport infrastructure. (Well, their government is doing all it can already - they're drawing oil from Iraq, they've good ties with Saudi Arabia, to guarantee steady supply of oil. More than that, they'd have to go into Iran, Venezuela and Nigeria!!).
Its time for Americans to realize that their lifestyles can be supported no more. And they better learn to live like others in the world. Use smaller cars. Give up on SUVs. Carpool. Vacations are NOT for driving long distances. Learn to use public transport. And instead of exhorting their government to do something about high oil prices, exhost them to invest in public transport infrastructure. (Well, their government is doing all it can already - they're drawing oil from Iraq, they've good ties with Saudi Arabia, to guarantee steady supply of oil. More than that, they'd have to go into Iran, Venezuela and Nigeria!!).
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Resurgent India Cricket
In the recent days, I've had a lot of discussion with my friends about what they call a "resurgent Indian cricket". My would-be-brother-in-law even called it "a resurgence because of removal of negative influence that was Ganguly".
Of course my opinion is different.
I don't think there's any resurgence in Indian Cricket. Anyone who has been watching these matches (instead of just listening to the commentary, or following it on cricinfo) would concur on a few observations here (because seeing the quality of Indian batting and bowling is different from just knowing the statistics and that they won). Sri Lanka came in this tournament in a bad form and injuries to key players like Jayasuriya. You could see them literally throwing their wickets away. I can not imagine anyone giving a lollypop return catch on the first ball to Sehwag, who is by no means a big turner of the ball. And what can explain Ajit Agarkar, who has always been clobbered around the ground by every major team in the world ending up with 5 wicket hauls in this series? Even some mediocre bowling by the Indians has been rewarded in this series. Clearly, the Sri Lankans were completely outclassed, but not because Indians were playing outstanding, but because they all happened to be out of form.
Some people ask me. How can an entire team go out of form at the same time? I ask them. How can an entire team find form at the same time? (Yes, I remember the thing about "the negative influence that was India").
In addition, I don't think Indians have been stretched to the limits in this tour. So the point about Dravid proving his captaincy skills and Chappel proving his coaching skills doesn't arise. In the India tour of Sri Lanka, Dravid was the Captain, and Chappel was the Coach, yet we beat SL and lost to NZ. What's it different now that we are going ga-ga over? We then beat SL in their own backyard, and we still beat SL in our own backyard. So what's the big deal?
Now the acid test. I think South Africa is a team in fair form at the moment. They have had a run of successes in recent past. Of course playing on Indian pitches would be difficult for them, but I think in the past they've had a decent run on Indian pitches. Lets see how Indian team deals with them. Also remember that NZ got the better of India in the India tour of SL, and SA got the better of NZ in the recent times. So though cricket is no mathematics, India would do well to note that now they're going to face a real enemy. Not a team that's struggling to stand on its feet at the moment.
I am writing this a couple of hours before the first match between India and South Africa. Of course if India wins the series, I must eat crow. But if my thoughts and precedents are anything to go by, I'd remain a vegetarian :)
Of course my opinion is different.
I don't think there's any resurgence in Indian Cricket. Anyone who has been watching these matches (instead of just listening to the commentary, or following it on cricinfo) would concur on a few observations here (because seeing the quality of Indian batting and bowling is different from just knowing the statistics and that they won). Sri Lanka came in this tournament in a bad form and injuries to key players like Jayasuriya. You could see them literally throwing their wickets away. I can not imagine anyone giving a lollypop return catch on the first ball to Sehwag, who is by no means a big turner of the ball. And what can explain Ajit Agarkar, who has always been clobbered around the ground by every major team in the world ending up with 5 wicket hauls in this series? Even some mediocre bowling by the Indians has been rewarded in this series. Clearly, the Sri Lankans were completely outclassed, but not because Indians were playing outstanding, but because they all happened to be out of form.
Some people ask me. How can an entire team go out of form at the same time? I ask them. How can an entire team find form at the same time? (Yes, I remember the thing about "the negative influence that was India").
In addition, I don't think Indians have been stretched to the limits in this tour. So the point about Dravid proving his captaincy skills and Chappel proving his coaching skills doesn't arise. In the India tour of Sri Lanka, Dravid was the Captain, and Chappel was the Coach, yet we beat SL and lost to NZ. What's it different now that we are going ga-ga over? We then beat SL in their own backyard, and we still beat SL in our own backyard. So what's the big deal?
Now the acid test. I think South Africa is a team in fair form at the moment. They have had a run of successes in recent past. Of course playing on Indian pitches would be difficult for them, but I think in the past they've had a decent run on Indian pitches. Lets see how Indian team deals with them. Also remember that NZ got the better of India in the India tour of SL, and SA got the better of NZ in the recent times. So though cricket is no mathematics, India would do well to note that now they're going to face a real enemy. Not a team that's struggling to stand on its feet at the moment.
I am writing this a couple of hours before the first match between India and South Africa. Of course if India wins the series, I must eat crow. But if my thoughts and precedents are anything to go by, I'd remain a vegetarian :)
Monday, November 14, 2005
The drama that is India
I thought this happened only in the movies. But Bihar proved me wrong. The very movie-like incidents in which a whole city was beseiged by Maoists who entered a jail, shot dead the jail warden, rescued their comerades and shot dead their opponents were a case in the point.
It also speaks volumes about the authority's complicity in the entire matter. I refuse to believe that such a large operation, involving hundreds of men, was carried out in utter secrecy and the intelligence did not know about it. Also, it is utter callousness on the part of the government to leave a city so woefully unmanned and vulnerable. The Election Commission has to own up part of the blame, if it "forces" administration to deploy a rather large chunk of its forces on election duty, Maybe getting a greater chunk of forces on election duty from outside the state is the solution. But whatever it is, it is a management failure, rather than anything else.
As has happened so many times in the past, this incident would soon be forgotten, the records remaining only in the memories of the people who've lost their near and dear ones, and some old dusty files in some government offices.
Solutions? Although I can come up with a zillion solutions, by this time I've become so hopeless and pessimistic towards India, that I don't think any of it would ever be implemented.
India, and Bihar in particular is on its way to the same fate as Tom Cruise's sungasses in Mission Impossible - "This device will self destruct in 5 seconds".
It also speaks volumes about the authority's complicity in the entire matter. I refuse to believe that such a large operation, involving hundreds of men, was carried out in utter secrecy and the intelligence did not know about it. Also, it is utter callousness on the part of the government to leave a city so woefully unmanned and vulnerable. The Election Commission has to own up part of the blame, if it "forces" administration to deploy a rather large chunk of its forces on election duty, Maybe getting a greater chunk of forces on election duty from outside the state is the solution. But whatever it is, it is a management failure, rather than anything else.
As has happened so many times in the past, this incident would soon be forgotten, the records remaining only in the memories of the people who've lost their near and dear ones, and some old dusty files in some government offices.
Solutions? Although I can come up with a zillion solutions, by this time I've become so hopeless and pessimistic towards India, that I don't think any of it would ever be implemented.
India, and Bihar in particular is on its way to the same fate as Tom Cruise's sungasses in Mission Impossible - "This device will self destruct in 5 seconds".
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
New Orleans Vs Mumbai
I recently received a forwarded email from a fellow Indian friend. I must admit that at the first glance it made a pretty interesting reading. but a little critical analysis showed that it was one of those mails that was supposed to tell everyone that Indians are the best in the world ...
Inches of rain in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina....18.
Inches of rain in Mumbai ........................................................37.1
>> Rain wrecked havoc in Mumbai, but in New Orleans it was high winds, reaching 184 mph (281kmph), more than the rain. We also ignore the fact that even with low rains, a low lying New Orleans which is actually ~6 ft under sea level would naturally be worse-hit compared to Mumbai, which for most part is 30 to 50 ft above sea level. Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina to know more about the hurricane.
Population of New Orleans ................................... 484, 674
Population of Mumbai ........................................... 12, 622, 500
>> I don't see any correlation between population of the city and the magnitude of the tragedy.
Deaths in New Orleans within 48 hours of Katrina ............... 100
Deaths in Mumbai within 48 hours of rain .............................. 37
>> This is shooting in the dark. Even now no one really knows how many people died in Katrina, but the latest figures are ~900. How could someone figure out 100 died within 48 hours of Katrina is a mystery to me. And in India, we know the official toll is always grossly under-reported. However look at this - the toll in Mumbai was 1000+.
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/03rain3.htm
However, if you want to look at gross figures, compared to ~900 dead in New Orleans, within about 15 days, about 140 people had died in Mumbai and Thane because of rain-related ailments. (There goes the argument about good management by government).
Number of people to be evacuated in New Orleans ......... Entire City
Number of people evacuated in Mumbai ............................ 10,000
>> Well, an entire city needs to be evacuated if it lies under sea level, and if the water would not go for the next 3 months and when most of the city's structures have been destroyed. This just proves the gross magnitude of the tragedy. Would Mumbai have survived a flooding for 3 months? Besides, even if 10,000 were evacuated in Mumbai, 90,000 were evacuated in
Cases of shooting in New Orleans ........................... Countless
Cases of shooting in Mumbai ................................... None
>> I dont know much to comment on this. Mumbai DOES stand out on this point. Americans aren't used to despair as Indians are. Isolation, hunger, desperation and fear of death can drive them to insanity faster than Indians.
Status 48 hours later ....... New Orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricity.
Status 48 hours later ........ Mumbai is back on its feet and is business as usual.
>> Those who think Mumbai is Business as usual would do well to read these links
http://in.rediff.com/news/mumrain05.htm. A tragedy of 1000+ lives and 5000 crores worth of loss can never mean business as usual in 2 days.
I am surprised how people can make comparisons at human tragedies and engage in a game of one-upmanship. They are so hungry for heroes that they would not stop at anything.
At least dont forward such mails - they make Indians look like a bunch of mean, selfish and heartless guys.
Yes, one thing that pinched me is that the US contributed only $100,000 towards relief in Mumbai. But then Indians contributed nothing towards Katrina (not that I know of). I would like to read some citation if India contributed something.
Inches of rain in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina....18.
Inches of rain in Mumbai ........................................................37.1
>> Rain wrecked havoc in Mumbai, but in New Orleans it was high winds, reaching 184 mph (281kmph), more than the rain. We also ignore the fact that even with low rains, a low lying New Orleans which is actually ~6 ft under sea level would naturally be worse-hit compared to Mumbai, which for most part is 30 to 50 ft above sea level. Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina to know more about the hurricane.
Population of New Orleans ................................... 484, 674
Population of Mumbai ........................................... 12, 622, 500
>> I don't see any correlation between population of the city and the magnitude of the tragedy.
Deaths in New Orleans within 48 hours of Katrina ............... 100
Deaths in Mumbai within 48 hours of rain .............................. 37
>> This is shooting in the dark. Even now no one really knows how many people died in Katrina, but the latest figures are ~900. How could someone figure out 100 died within 48 hours of Katrina is a mystery to me. And in India, we know the official toll is always grossly under-reported. However look at this - the toll in Mumbai was 1000+.
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/03rain3.htm
However, if you want to look at gross figures, compared to ~900 dead in New Orleans, within about 15 days, about 140 people had died in Mumbai and Thane because of rain-related ailments. (There goes the argument about good management by government).
Number of people to be evacuated in New Orleans ......... Entire City
Number of people evacuated in Mumbai ............................ 10,000
>> Well, an entire city needs to be evacuated if it lies under sea level, and if the water would not go for the next 3 months and when most of the city's structures have been destroyed. This just proves the gross magnitude of the tragedy. Would Mumbai have survived a flooding for 3 months? Besides, even if 10,000 were evacuated in Mumbai, 90,000 were evacuated in
Cases of shooting in New Orleans ........................... Countless
Cases of shooting in Mumbai ................................... None
>> I dont know much to comment on this. Mumbai DOES stand out on this point. Americans aren't used to despair as Indians are. Isolation, hunger, desperation and fear of death can drive them to insanity faster than Indians.
Status 48 hours later ....... New Orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricity.
Status 48 hours later ........ Mumbai is back on its feet and is business as usual.
>> Those who think Mumbai is Business as usual would do well to read these links
http://in.rediff.com/news/mumrain05.htm. A tragedy of 1000+ lives and 5000 crores worth of loss can never mean business as usual in 2 days.
I am surprised how people can make comparisons at human tragedies and engage in a game of one-upmanship. They are so hungry for heroes that they would not stop at anything.
At least dont forward such mails - they make Indians look like a bunch of mean, selfish and heartless guys.
Yes, one thing that pinched me is that the US contributed only $100,000 towards relief in Mumbai. But then Indians contributed nothing towards Katrina (not that I know of). I would like to read some citation if India contributed something.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
The Art of Cooking for Bachelors - I
Over the last few years, I've discovered many ways of cooking food that is nutritious, healthy and fast (or easy) to cook.
But please remember "faster, easier, better, choose any two". You can't have your cake and eat it too.
The First Principle of cooking:
"Cook in a pressure cooker wherever possible."
Here's why.
1. It cooks faster.
2. Retains aroma.
3. The food is more nutritious (usually) than its counterpart cooked in open utensils.
The Tao of Pressure Cooking:
1. When trying to cook food, let it heat up till the boiling point without the whistle on the vent. Put the whistle on the vent when the steam just starts to escape. (This creates an environment inside of water vapor, instead of air, and it cooks faster coz water vapor has a greater specific heat)
2. Most food items don't require 3-4 whistles. Heat only upto the point that the whistle might blow up. Switch it off, and let it cool down on its own. The steam trapped inside would cook the food over the next 10-12 minutes.
The Zen of seasoning:
1. Do not prepare seasoning after boiling lentils, and add to it. Do it at the time of boiling. Fry ingredients like jeera, chopped onions and diced tomatoes in the pressure cooker, then add the bulk of lentils, water and bring to boil. Add the spices, stir well, and close the lid.
In the "conventional" cooking, they boil lentils separately, and then add seasoning to it later. They create the seasoning by heating together ingredients like oil, jeera (cumin seeds), chopped onion, some spices and then add this to the boiled lentils later. They love the aroma this generates. However, the aroma in spices comes from "essential oils", which vaporize at relatively lower temperatures. When you expose them to an open environment and heat them, you have effectively vaporized the oils before adding the seasoning to the lentils. The place for the aroma is the food, not the kitchen.
This is a Control-A Control-C Control-V of what I posted for my friend Somik at http colon slash slash www dot stanford dot edu slash tilde somik slash bachelorCooking dot html.
But please remember "faster, easier, better, choose any two". You can't have your cake and eat it too.
The First Principle of cooking:
"Cook in a pressure cooker wherever possible."
Here's why.
1. It cooks faster.
2. Retains aroma.
3. The food is more nutritious (usually) than its counterpart cooked in open utensils.
The Tao of Pressure Cooking:
1. When trying to cook food, let it heat up till the boiling point without the whistle on the vent. Put the whistle on the vent when the steam just starts to escape. (This creates an environment inside of water vapor, instead of air, and it cooks faster coz water vapor has a greater specific heat)
2. Most food items don't require 3-4 whistles. Heat only upto the point that the whistle might blow up. Switch it off, and let it cool down on its own. The steam trapped inside would cook the food over the next 10-12 minutes.
The Zen of seasoning:
1. Do not prepare seasoning after boiling lentils, and add to it. Do it at the time of boiling. Fry ingredients like jeera, chopped onions and diced tomatoes in the pressure cooker, then add the bulk of lentils, water and bring to boil. Add the spices, stir well, and close the lid.
In the "conventional" cooking, they boil lentils separately, and then add seasoning to it later. They create the seasoning by heating together ingredients like oil, jeera (cumin seeds), chopped onion, some spices and then add this to the boiled lentils later. They love the aroma this generates. However, the aroma in spices comes from "essential oils", which vaporize at relatively lower temperatures. When you expose them to an open environment and heat them, you have effectively vaporized the oils before adding the seasoning to the lentils. The place for the aroma is the food, not the kitchen.
This is a Control-A Control-C Control-V of what I posted for my friend Somik at http colon slash slash www dot stanford dot edu slash tilde somik slash bachelorCooking dot html.
Friday, July 15, 2005
The Tapes !!
With all this brouhaha over the Salman-Ash tapes, there are some things that hit me in between the eyes:
1. Ash knew that their conversation was tapped, and warned Salman against "spilling beans" . Does this means she knew about Salman's undeworld links? If she did, and she did not disclose this to the police, is this not betrayal of the country? In all cases, she did come to know of this after Salman told her. Should she not have reported it then? I am not sure about India, but in US, its the duty of anyone to report a crime, failing which is a culpable crime.
2. Even now Ash is maintaining a "dignified" silence. Is this not aiding and abetting the "crime"?
3. If Ash could listen to the words used in the conversation, it just goes on to show that the freedom of the women in India is a sham and Indian women still listen to horrible abuses from men without complaining. If someone who represents the next generation of India women is like this, just go on to think about the common populace.
4. With the veracity of the tapes still in question, the Mumbai film industry is trooping in to support Salman. What the heck? If the tapes are true, and if Salman is indeed guilty, then these people who earn millions from the Indian junta are supporting a criminal and a traiter. This makes them traiters themselves. Why should we watch their movies? Why should we support them?
Of course Salman is a brat, a criminal, but to be fair to him, he should not be tried in a people's court. Let the facts come out in public. Let there be a proper investigation. Let him be tried in a court of law. Do not proclaim him guilty untill proved innocent.
1. Ash knew that their conversation was tapped, and warned Salman against "spilling beans" . Does this means she knew about Salman's undeworld links? If she did, and she did not disclose this to the police, is this not betrayal of the country? In all cases, she did come to know of this after Salman told her. Should she not have reported it then? I am not sure about India, but in US, its the duty of anyone to report a crime, failing which is a culpable crime.
2. Even now Ash is maintaining a "dignified" silence. Is this not aiding and abetting the "crime"?
3. If Ash could listen to the words used in the conversation, it just goes on to show that the freedom of the women in India is a sham and Indian women still listen to horrible abuses from men without complaining. If someone who represents the next generation of India women is like this, just go on to think about the common populace.
4. With the veracity of the tapes still in question, the Mumbai film industry is trooping in to support Salman. What the heck? If the tapes are true, and if Salman is indeed guilty, then these people who earn millions from the Indian junta are supporting a criminal and a traiter. This makes them traiters themselves. Why should we watch their movies? Why should we support them?
Of course Salman is a brat, a criminal, but to be fair to him, he should not be tried in a people's court. Let the facts come out in public. Let there be a proper investigation. Let him be tried in a court of law. Do not proclaim him guilty untill proved innocent.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
The London Blasts
Heard about the London blasts today. It was the terrorists' way of saying "it ain't over yet", in response to the Coalition's "you asked for it". Indeed a pretty tragic incident by Western standards. In India, we go through incidents like these pretty routinely.
Just surfing the internet today about the blasts, and saw some posts in indiatimes blog, where people say if this is religion, I think there should be no religion.
I just wanted to say, I couldn't disagree more.
Just because some Physicist made an atomic bomb doesn't mean there should be no Physics !! I see the generation-X making more comments like these. Partly because they don't know what religion teaches; and partly because they couldn't care less.
I find the basic idea that "absence of religion would mean people would not have reasons to kill each" other fairly ridiculous. This also assumes that only people of different religions kill each other. Well, I don't have statistics (but the statistically inclined can go ahead and do the number crunching) but just see the proportion of people of one religion killed by people of another religion (and that too because of religious hatred), in the total number of people killed.
In a world without religion, a human being is just another animal. What then, prevents someone from killing another human being for revenge, robbing, hatred, or even just pleasure as long as the culprit doesn't get caught?
My religion on the other hand tells me that God watches everything. That every human embodies God. That the good you do gets you Good Karma and the bad you do gets you Bad Karma. That no one can escape from the judgement handed out when they die. That even if someone has wronged you, you don't have to seek revenge, because God is the saviour of the poor and the week, and the wrongdoer would be punished by the God.
Are these not extremely beautiful thoughts? Even if there was no God, they are extremely effective religious chain of thoughts that keep people's beastly inclinations in check, and contribute to a non violent society?
How can someone then make such utterly irresponsible statements that they wish there were no religion? Most possibly they don't know what religion means.
Contrary to popular beliefs, the terrorism that exists today is not all religious terrorism. Kashmir is religious, but ULFA is not. Veerappan was not. MCC is not. Naxalite terrorism is not. Even the LTTE's brand of terror wasn't religious.
Any form or brand of terrorism or extremism requires some fundamentals, and the most important of them all is an idea of a group - something that its members can identify with. Religion is but only one of these identities. Region (like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Gorkhaland, Khalistan), Language (Tamil for LTTE), economic strata (Ranbir Sena, MCC, Naxalites) or even a political alignment (the MCC) can give an identity to a terrorist or extremist group.
If you ask me, whats the point I am trying to make here. My answer is I am not trying to make a point here. I am trying to tell that the point you are trying to make isnt exactly true. Because there's more to it than meets the eye.
Of course, coming to the issue of Islamic terrorism, it IS very much real. It just cannot be wished away. I speak from experience, as happened in India, with Sikhs - when people started to equate every sikh with terrorism, and Punjabis and Sikhs were seen with suspiscion. Unless the so-called moderate Muslims actively come forward and denounce the Islamic terrorists' activities, and distance themselves actively and publicly from the extremists, they are likely to be clubbed together with the extremists, and suffer the same fate as their other not-so-tolerant religionmen. It is time for the muslim world to realize that by allowing a bunch of idiots to hijack their religion, they're going to commit a blunder.
And then they'd be only themselves to blame.
Just surfing the internet today about the blasts, and saw some posts in indiatimes blog, where people say if this is religion, I think there should be no religion.
I just wanted to say, I couldn't disagree more.
Just because some Physicist made an atomic bomb doesn't mean there should be no Physics !! I see the generation-X making more comments like these. Partly because they don't know what religion teaches; and partly because they couldn't care less.
I find the basic idea that "absence of religion would mean people would not have reasons to kill each" other fairly ridiculous. This also assumes that only people of different religions kill each other. Well, I don't have statistics (but the statistically inclined can go ahead and do the number crunching) but just see the proportion of people of one religion killed by people of another religion (and that too because of religious hatred), in the total number of people killed.
In a world without religion, a human being is just another animal. What then, prevents someone from killing another human being for revenge, robbing, hatred, or even just pleasure as long as the culprit doesn't get caught?
My religion on the other hand tells me that God watches everything. That every human embodies God. That the good you do gets you Good Karma and the bad you do gets you Bad Karma. That no one can escape from the judgement handed out when they die. That even if someone has wronged you, you don't have to seek revenge, because God is the saviour of the poor and the week, and the wrongdoer would be punished by the God.
Are these not extremely beautiful thoughts? Even if there was no God, they are extremely effective religious chain of thoughts that keep people's beastly inclinations in check, and contribute to a non violent society?
How can someone then make such utterly irresponsible statements that they wish there were no religion? Most possibly they don't know what religion means.
Contrary to popular beliefs, the terrorism that exists today is not all religious terrorism. Kashmir is religious, but ULFA is not. Veerappan was not. MCC is not. Naxalite terrorism is not. Even the LTTE's brand of terror wasn't religious.
Any form or brand of terrorism or extremism requires some fundamentals, and the most important of them all is an idea of a group - something that its members can identify with. Religion is but only one of these identities. Region (like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Gorkhaland, Khalistan), Language (Tamil for LTTE), economic strata (Ranbir Sena, MCC, Naxalites) or even a political alignment (the MCC) can give an identity to a terrorist or extremist group.
If you ask me, whats the point I am trying to make here. My answer is I am not trying to make a point here. I am trying to tell that the point you are trying to make isnt exactly true. Because there's more to it than meets the eye.
Of course, coming to the issue of Islamic terrorism, it IS very much real. It just cannot be wished away. I speak from experience, as happened in India, with Sikhs - when people started to equate every sikh with terrorism, and Punjabis and Sikhs were seen with suspiscion. Unless the so-called moderate Muslims actively come forward and denounce the Islamic terrorists' activities, and distance themselves actively and publicly from the extremists, they are likely to be clubbed together with the extremists, and suffer the same fate as their other not-so-tolerant religionmen. It is time for the muslim world to realize that by allowing a bunch of idiots to hijack their religion, they're going to commit a blunder.
And then they'd be only themselves to blame.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Political stuntsmanship over destruction
It was reported recently that Ms Gandhi undertook a 1-day tour of Gujarat and slammed the government over flood relief.
Ms Gandhi, in all her political stuntmanship, does a great disservice to the people of Gujarat by demoralizing the state government machinery, and distracting the relief and aid being provided to the people in this hour of need.
Ms Gandhi realizes well that in a nation of poor people she would get votes by pretending to espouse the cause of the poor, as the Left have done for decades. And of course the result is for all to see.
It is impossible for Ms Gandhi not to know the state of the state. As such, she didnt need to do an arial survey just to be able to make trivial complaints about doles not being paid promptly at some places, and 3/4th of the state being under water.
Had she not wasted the resources on the airplane and the press conference, they could have been used for some more food packets dropping sorties.
It should also be investigated if only as an MP and a non-constitutional post of leader of the opposition was she entitled to use air force airplane.
Ms Gandhi, in all her political stuntmanship, does a great disservice to the people of Gujarat by demoralizing the state government machinery, and distracting the relief and aid being provided to the people in this hour of need.
Ms Gandhi realizes well that in a nation of poor people she would get votes by pretending to espouse the cause of the poor, as the Left have done for decades. And of course the result is for all to see.
It is impossible for Ms Gandhi not to know the state of the state. As such, she didnt need to do an arial survey just to be able to make trivial complaints about doles not being paid promptly at some places, and 3/4th of the state being under water.
Had she not wasted the resources on the airplane and the press conference, they could have been used for some more food packets dropping sorties.
It should also be investigated if only as an MP and a non-constitutional post of leader of the opposition was she entitled to use air force airplane.
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