Punch the keys

So the talks stall again.... I first came to know of the Lokpal and the Anna Hazare movement from all the tweets and link sharing going on in twitter and Facebook. The online community was backing it up to the hilt and it was great. So I did the least I could and signed up a petition and shared links etc. But then after a couple of days, I realized I knew close to nothing about what all this hue and cry was all about. From the social networking sites to the media all were talking of Anna Hazare and the Janpal bill. It was a cause for the nation and I actually didn't know a thing about what exactly the bill proposed or what it would do except that "remove corruption by punishing the corrupt", which sounded great to me. Come on, who wouldn't support or want that? I have made fun of people in other countries who don't have a clue why their government does some things but supported them anyways, and here I was sitting and supporting a movement, when I had no clu...

Here is a video of Mr. George Galloway and his view of the 19 March 2011 attack on Libya.  A nice name, Operation odyssey dawn, has been given to the military action so that the media can write nice stories and have good material presented to its readers.

I read this great news about the Medical Council of India deciding to include topics of medical professionalism such as Ethics etc in the course curriculum. This is a welcome move, given the number of cases that come up in the news paper about malpractices in the medical profession. I would say all professional courses should have such kind of topics taught. Although it is definitely up to each individual to practice what they have learned, either in school or in their own homes, it does not help that these topics are totally avoided in the mainstream of education. Topics on ethics, time management, stress management are topics which would be helpful in any professional's life. As it is today, these topics are all swept under the carpet. Is it a cultural thing? Or is India just late into creating genuine professionals via its education system? Whatever it be, we must get started somewhere. I am afraid very few rotten scoundrels are enough to spoil a majority of the nice folks ...

One of my favorite on screen characters is that of Captain Jack Sparrow essayed by Johnny Depp. He is such a natural at it that you don't see the actor at all in the movie. Anyways, today he was in the news for having dropped by at a school near the place where he was shooting. The story has it that he went to the school because he had received a letter from a girl asking his(Captain Jack's) help in a mutiny! And voila, he appears at school in full costume. Thats one wish granted :) More about it at -  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11498980  

Today the cabinet of India made up its mind on the symbol that would represent the Rupee. Detailed information on this can be found at the site link  India picks symbol to rival the €£¥$ . So many associated stuff would be needed to be done with regard to this.. Wow! the enormity of it is super. Right from getting this print on the notes and coins, to getting a new key on the keyboard. Operating systems and other softwares would need to support the new character and hardwares where the printer is dependent on this too would need to be adjusted. It is sure to take time to be absorbed into mainstream usage. Maybe I can start of by practicing to write (or is it draw?) the symbol properly. A new character is introduced! Picture courtesy: from http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2010/07/15/62286/

I came across this article today Corrie was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to protect Palestinian homes. Her family has been met with hostility while pursuing a civil suit after calling the investigation a 'whitewash.'  source - http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-israel-corrie-lawsuit30-2010mar30,0,3914948.story I remembered getting forwards about this incident and this being on the forefront of the international news for some time. But didn't know that this was still on until I read the article. During a search over the net , I came across various articles on Rachel, including ones that call this case does not tell the truth. Amazing how everything is twisted till anyone trying to follow it later is thrown off track by all sorts of material on the net. Hope there is some outcome from all this for the sake of her family.

All telecoms companies and internet service providers will be required by law to keep a record of every customer’s personal communications, showing who they have contacted, when and where, as well as the websites they have visited. ...... They will not require the permission of a judge or a magistrate to obtain the information, but simply the authorisation of a senior police officer or the equivalent of a deputy head of department at a local authority. Read more here ... State to 'spy' on every phone call, email and web search This is indeed going to be interesting to see how this item works out. I had thought that they already had mechanisms like this in place. If not completely like the news details, at least there are enough measures to find out enough about someone's criminal activity. Having systems like the one described is only going to be used to target the general public than the minority who indulge in unscrupulous activity.

The Hindu : International : Israel depriving Palestinians of water, says Amnesty It says that Israel uses more than 80 per cent of water drawn from the aquifer and while the Jewish state has other water sources, the aquifer is the West Bank’s sole supply of water. As a result, the 450,000 Israelis who live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem use more water than the 2.3 million Palestinian residents, said Amnesty. Update: Used BlogThis on Wednesday, but forgot to hit the publish button.

It almost feels like Déjà vu! I lose count on how many times I have come across the debate on forums, mail chains, bulletin boards and of course in groups of people, when ever there is an "Indian" being awarded or recognized. That guy may not have stepped on Indian soil at all, but that does not stop us from arguing if he/she is an Indian or not and to claim the prize as our own! The latest set of debate was triggered when the Nobel price for Chemistry was awarded to Venkatraman Ramakrishnan. I seriously do not understand the urge that people have to say be proud because they are Indian. I mean, I am proud enough about other things that India is about. I am ashamed at some things like corruption and all. But what do they mean to say there is something wrong if I don't feel proud that Swaraj Paul or Zubin Meheta or Laxhmi Mittal is of Indian Origin. Heck! I am not even thinking in that angle. We have a local language paper, Malayalam Manorama, which is known to search ...

Can you believe that? China has objections over India's Prime Minister visiting one of India's states. Well, China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China and India has no right being there. Seems we needed to remind China that is not the case Arunachal an integral part of India: Nirupama Rao . They call it disputed area. Whats the dispute? Don't they have enough land? Do the people of Arunachal want to join China? China waited till the eve of the elections to cry out loud. So the people of the land themselves have given a kind of verdict. There was a huge turnout in the elections ‘Vote for India’ rebuff to China . Also read On day China cribs, 72% vote in Arunachal They are also issuing different kinds of visas for residents of Kashmir and Arunachal?  India objects to China’s separate visa for Kashmiris

The Obama and Nobel prize scene just does not leave me. I am compelled to read the numerous articles on this topic which I find quite interesting. It is interesting because, Most of the comments on twitter and other sites/blogs(including me) say that he did not deserve it yet. He would have been in office barely for 3 weeks when the nomination deadline would have closed. So how did he get into the list of nominees anyway? He could not have done any peace work by then! It gets more interesting because, the world leaders who are opposed to the US of A have applauded the award. Americans(basically who did not vote for him and his political opponents) are voicing their opinion against it as if it were his fault that he got awarded. This article gives a view of the committee members view on why they chose Obama for the peace price - Nobel jury speaks out in defense of Obama prize "Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the deve...

Obama emails Delhi lawyer, a Harvard classmate, about Nobel - ET Cetera-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times : "'This morning, Michelle (wife) and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. '...To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honoured by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace,' Obama wrote in the email to Singh." He must be a very down to earth person, but still the committee was not correct to award him. Yet.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Pakistan match fixing is denied : A committee of Pakistan's parliament has summoned the country's cricket captain, coach and manager to discuss new match fixing allegations. "'The nation wants to know how the team lost to Australia,' Jamshed Khan Dasti, chairman of the parliamentary committee, told the BBC. Pakistani cricket has recently been free of match fixing claims He argued that Pakistan deliberately lost in the last group match to prevent India from reaching the semi-finals. Mr Dasti's committee has summoned coach Intikhab Alam, captain Younis Khan and Pakistan Cricket Board champion Ijaz Butt to a meeting on 13 October to clarify the allegations." You have got to be kidding me!!! Aren't there other things in Pakistan that need to be fixed!

A very nice article on how even pilgrimages are not given their due respect. May God give these "leaders" wisdom and understanding. The Hindu : Open Page : Haj hijacked