Light from Darkness...

I am just reproducing a nice message I received:

'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy .' 'And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.'
Also ......
' If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .'
'If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation .. You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.'
'If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare .'
'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.'
Ok, what now? How can I start?
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are!

The Real Media Advisor!

Harish Khare, the Media advisor for the Prime Minister has called the Congress  a party with a 'status quoist air' and it did not believe in convictions.Its only conviction was to win the elections. He also named three leaders of yester years including Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who according to him, were defeated by their own party.

Well. This is nothing extra ordinary about any political party in the country but what makes it significant is that Khare is the Media advisor to the Prime Minister. Having said all this, Khare also issues a 'clarification' by saying that he was actually talking about 'Stability'. Only he must know better...

Something is showing the big dents in this Administration these days.Leaders of the same party are busy in slinging mud at each other.  Law and Order,CWG,J&K,Inflation...there is no area which appears to be anywhere near some statesmanship. I am happy that the people are in with a clear opportunity to see the state of affairs. The Media Advisor has for once stopped advising and got into the real act-of demonstrating the state of affairs in this Administration for the people to judge by themselves! For once, we have a real Media Advisor!

~~~***~~~

All in the game!

Real problems for 'Real Housewives' of D.C

Well. The 'Marquee Blog' of CNN had a nice article on reality shows and real problems. The show seems to be talking about several problems involving raising a loan for a dream home,a different house warming ceremony and biometric locks, problems with kids etc.

The creative click here is basically the place where everything actually happens-the home and the people who are passionately glued to it. If one looks at the economic policies through a lens and gradually takes away the lens from there only to focus on the place where these may not be discussed but their immediate social and economic effects find a demonstration.

The RBI in India has raised the interest rates on loans to fight a rather intriguing inflation rate while food inflation has perplexed many a thinker (10.5%). This is something like the temperature of a patient not receding in spite of several antibiotics and treatment based on several investigation reports. If one visits a typical Indian home these days where some one is trying to buy a new item or simple vegetables, the 'real' problems are already there!

In essentials, reality shows turn real when there is a clever (but not crafted) link between those governing and those who are governed. One needs a clear understanding of policies and frameworks.

All in the game

CAG,PAC and Mr. Moily-difficult to digest!

The Union Law Minister has expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). According to him,had this office intervened at the appropriate time,many scams and scandals could have been prevented.

Now this requires some thought about the very nature of the functioning of this body. Most of its activities are carried out after the events past. The objections are classified according to their gravity and perhaps the gravest goes upto the PAC (Public Accounts Committee). This calls for an introspection into what the governments do or do not do about the PAC's criticisms. We shall explore some instances...

Some time ago, the PAC pulled up the Railway Board for unjustified investments to the tune of 30000 crores. This figure went up year after year and one finds no reply from any Railway Minister when the annual Railway Budget is presented. The white paper presented raised several questions on Laloo's manouvering with what he called as 'surplus'.

Based on a Report on the Indian Railways submitted by the CAG during 2007, the PAC tabled its Report in Parliament which stated that the carrying capacity of wagons should not be augmented without conducting a thorough, scientific and feasibility study since there were several instances of rail fractures, weld fractures and defects in wagons and locos. It criticised the policy of 'incurring long term damage to Railway Infrastructure for some short term gains in freight earnings.'

There was also a mention of motor cars being erroneously included in the category of 'essential commodities'!

Returning to the subject, scams and scandals aside, the issue here is the increasing number of accidents owing to this sheer lack of perspective on part of the government. This instance is glaringly connecting the lives of millions of passengers who board the trains with the belief that all is well!

Mr. Moily, a Minister representing the government therefore has no business to talk like this about the institution of the CAG. The Honourable Minister of Law needs to spell the word 'Justice' before publicly commenting upon the functioning of the CAG.

Reality-just a concept?

There has been some discussion on what Stephen Hawking has said about Reality-'There is no picture or theory-independent concept of Reality'.

Well. This book ,'The Grand Design' co-authored by him with Leonard Mlodinow is quite fascinating. The thin air between Reality and the concept of Reality is what is Reality all about!

Eckhart Tolle would say this-Become at ease with the state of 'not knowing'. This takes you beyond mind because the mind is always trying to conclude and interpret.It is afraid of not knowing. So, when you can be at ease with not knowing,you have already gone beyond the mind. A deeper knowing that is non -conceptual then arises out of that state...

If 'modelling' is one kind of theoritizing, let's look at one concept. An existing mountain appears inside a dream. What is Reality? The mountain or the Dream? Now look at this. We are already thinking into the idea of a dream being a reality!

Pictures, theories, realities...it's a life-system. Hawking's explanation is straight and absolute-...in some cases, individual objects don't even have an independent existence but rather exist only as a part of an ensemble of many. A fish existing inside water draws life from oxygen inside water...where is it's life energy? inside water?, inside the oxygen drawn from water? inside the life sustaining mechanism perfected inside the environment? Now life turns conceptual!

But which one preceded? the life supporting system or the concept of life?

Absolute Truth-'Pragnyanam Brahma' is beyond conceptual thought.Perception is a modelled thought process. Srikrishna states in the Gita, ' The problem is with Drishti (viewpoint) and not with the Srishti (Creation)'

Doctors and doctorates

The word 'doctor' does apply to both-one from the Medical Profession and also for the learned Academician, a doctorate of letters.

Originally, the word 'doctor' signified the teaching profession. I am told that thisis pure latin and comes from the word 'doceo' or 'doctus' which means 'teach'. Perhaps the word 'doctrine' also takes root from this. The word 'doctor' came to be associated with the Medical Profession only during the Medieval Ages. How and why is something which I would like to know...

Theology and Hawking

 Well. According to Stephen Hawking, Universes will create themselves from nothing and this is owing to gravity and the quantum theory and there is no need for God to intervene. He does say that God may exist but the subject involving the creation of the Universe is no longer in the domain of religion.(See Hawking's new book 'The Grand Design').

Whether God talked about religion is a moot point. What he is supposed to have said may just be part of religion!Of course, Srirama, the Hindu God and Srikrishna did speak about Dharma and several others in other religions...

Returning to the subject,a stray thought on this could be that if gravity is all about it, who is infusing gravity and rendering the process of quantum energies effective goes beyond logic. The endless, the infinite etc. are ideas endlessly fascinating and in some echelons, contemplating upon them as phenomena of God has been as creative and effective as the principles and processes within Science as such. The inference from research into Physics does not warrant a discussion on whether God has a role in it or not. Life, light, nature and sustenance of the phenomena themselves constitute a clear context for a spiritual exploration...

The Isaavasyopanishat spells out...'Poornamadah poornamidam poornaat...' signifying that everything evolves from nothing etc. This is what Hawking states after so much,yet, creditable study indeed.

All said and done,God is 'sui generis'-self generating! Other things remaining equal, Hawking's findings form only a part of so much around and in being ecstatic over mathematical certainties in one's findings during just one life time,there is no direct instance for bringing infinitesimal aspects and matters rooted in one's conscience and subjects of experience into misplaced focus which would only confuse the people at large.

The believers perhaps have to explain only God while the non believers have to explain everything else in the Universe. It's a huge gap and the ideal task would be to enjoy the beauty and symmetry around within this miniscule of a lifetime rather than trying to draw controversies!

Symbiosis driven by simple self interest

The Harvard University of Arts and Sciences has published quite a remarkable paper on the natural phenomenon involving self interest amongst individuals rather than punishments and rewards in achieving a symbiosis in organizational behaviour.

This is quite a 'symbiosis' between Biologists and Economists in what they call 'mutualism'. The Partner Fidelity Feedback holds that symbionts evolved to help heir hosts because a healthy host automatically feeds back benefits to the symbionts.

Soyabean plants direct food and oxygen only to root nodules colonised by nitrogen fixing bacteria and kill of nodules with unhelpful bacteria. However, this is as yet unclear about why this actually occurs. When one looks at organizational behaviour, economic theories would suggest that performance based remunerations and career advancements based on value additions would perhaps be a natural symbiotic phenomenon but weeding out the non performers may not be as natural. But the idea is interesting. The performers and non performers would keep moving to relocating themselves into various economic spheres to suit their skills and self interests. The economic system itself perhaps needs to present a larger symbiotic model...

Egg to embryo...

The Australian lizard has made a transition from laying eggs to producing live births according to the 'National Geographic'. According to statistics, around 100 reptile lineages have carried out this shift in the past 100 years and 20% of living snakes and lizards give birth to live young only.

Please visit

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100901-science-animals-evolution-australia-lizard-skink-live-birth-eggs/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100901-science-animals-evolution-australia-lizard-skink-live-birth-eggs/

Twitter saves a life!

what appeared to be an entirely hollywood scheme is after all a real story of life and death!

Japanese journalist Kosuke Tsuneoka was abducted in Afghanistan and struggled for five months before he arrived safely on September 6th. The Taliban abductors were Techonology savvy to the pleaseant surprise of the journalist. He converted the Taliban captors to Twitter and used it as a nexus to inform the world that he was alive!

Social networking has come of age!

Four generations and one workplace

One interesting article in the 'Economic Times' today is about the generation gap and the nuances in a work place. This appealed to me because youngsters have increased in number and simultaneously,we have the older generation participating in several activities quite actively in fact. (This article is by Omkar Sapre of the ET Bureau). If one looked at the demographics of the world, other than Asia, the world is actually greying. It's a grey new world!

Well. The veterans are seen tightening their belts and acquiring some new skills about the Internet. I have an old friend and writer who now writes in his blog and does all the technical things by himself. But the key to a real team work lies in perhaps the kind of reciprocity which is yet to seep in all kinds of spheres of economic activity.

The demographic divisions of generations is quite interesting as well. There are the traditionalists born after 1950, the Baby boomers born after 1960, Gen-xers (post 1970) and the Millennials (post 1980).

I have found that projections and presentations along side technical advancements are the hallmark of the youngsters while the elders believe in being steady. Contrary to popular opinions, the youngsters will do well to observe the senior citizens when they communicate. There is a lot to be learnt-why and how to complete the sentence and wait for a response before one leaves the conversation, and if there is a case for a back reference, find out means to buy time and present the worthiness of doing so...

Above all, the presence of elderly statesmen implies an air of thorough going most conspicuous by its absence today in several organizations. If you are into business, there is always a point in sharing an experience. It's almost sharing a business...

Save 25% on ALL High School Online Foreign Language Programs: AP® Courses, Credit, Teacher Support

Lined up in colour...

Source: National Geographic

Strategic infrastructure

An article in the 'Indian Express' states that there could be 17 projects planned by China in the area of Gilgit and Baltisan.

Around 122 companies are active in Pakistan, POK and Gilgit. Mobile connectivity,Power Projects,Rail and Road...in one word, China is on its toes for infrastructure in this area. We will take a look at where the strategic investments and partnerships are on:

1. Upgradation of the Karakoram highway 2. Pakistan-China Rail Link 3. Jhelum Bridge 4. 5 Bailey bridges 5. Mining 6. Sust Dry Port 7. Setting up towers for mobile connectivity 8. Diamer Basha Dam 9. Magla Dam raising 10. Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project 11. Four other hydro power projects

Well. This is strategic co-operation. Full marks to China and Pakistan! Engage India in an aimless battle and perform a turn around by coming round its neck! Brilliant work really. India is yet to see light of reason. The key to several issues is 'strategic infrastructure' and the speed at which you deliver. The impact of economic development on the ethnicity and activity-camouflaged populace can be immense. Even in the event of a serious conflict, this would be central to taking strategic decisions. 

India has lost its battle if you look at it from this angle. Time defines and explains all opportunity costs!

The Bond exits...Sean Connery retires

Well. Sean Connery announced his retirement at 80. The greatest credit to him is the Royal Society of Chemistry is searching for his look alike for the kind of imposing figure at 80! There would be none either...not someone with his features but some one with that tremendous air about him. If Ian Fleming who changed worlds in 1964 were to be alive, perhaps he would have immortalized himself by recognizing his Bond and the bond viewers had with this remarkable artiste.

 

From being a Milk man to a body builder to what is actually known today, that's quite a legend. I call this a full life-complete commitment to parents and also to the family. His official website mentions these two tattoos!

I have had a particular liking for his supporting role in the movie 'The Untouchables'. This was one performance which brought him the Academy award for the best supporting role during 1988.

Almost all his movies have brought out the best out of the roles. Not an easy task this-jumping out of the flamboyance of a Bond and stepping into different roles and justifying the role in its true context. To my mind, a true artiste enlivens this bridge not by entirely transforming himself. Perhaps there is no need if one studies the characters as drawn from real life situations. You need a portrayal, not a painted portrait.

 

Thomas Sean Connery has these variegated parameters in his life as well. Born Scottish to a Catholic father of Irish descent and a Protestant mother,went into the Navy after being a milk man,was a lorry driver,a labourer ,an artiste's model and finally modelled the James Bond for others...

That's about crystallizing a complete life-you lead several within a single life and make them glitter from all angles. You do feel like beginning from any angle yet again. Perhaps at 80, Sean does really!

All in the game

All in the game

Urban (Non) Development Minister...

 

India's cities are amongst the most clumsy and lacking in infrastructure. As the urban population has been on the rise, the cost of Industrial growth has been adversely affecting the environment and a couple of seasonal and non seasonal rains are just enough to make life difficult in these cities. If you turn back and look at the flooding villages, the question which comes to your mind can be funny. If the rain has prevented you from going to your office owing to the disrupted traffic and the incessant rains in the city, the villages are shown in the TV as completely cut off from rest of the world. So what else is there to manage in the country?

The Indian capital has several cases of water logging,the Metro train stopping and breaking down at Connaught Place just as the number of trains were sought to be increased to cater to the Common Wealth Games. The city, flooded by the Yamuna is now getting spruced up...not for the CWG but for battling upsurge of epidemics.

Well. Mumbai, the commercial capital finds it very difficult to hang on if there are just a couple of rains. Bangalore literally has no roads. Another southern hub, Hyderabad has the residential areas placed higher than the roads and the roads are actually the storage areas of rain water and also the gutters. Imagine the plight of the people.

An article in the Economic Times calls our Urban Development Minister as Non Development Minister and rightly comments on the blame game-Raj Thackeray would call it an immigrant problem and the Kolkatans would call the Corporation as 'Chor-polation'.

The quality of work and the kind of professionalism which has been lacking for years is glaring in our faces. If newly laid road gives in in just six months,we know what we are talking about. Nation building takes off from real infrastructure building. If the planner understands the nation and makes the contractor understand the importance of nation building, some ingenuity would seep into this rather than corruption seeping into these activities like drainage water joining our drinking water pipe lines. We need to learn from China and Singapore. There is transfer of skills taking place from one part to the other and in India, we take pride in pulling down even good work done by others. It is the mindset which really matters...

All in the game...