Will ethics and morality keep us from scientific advancement?
The prolem with ethics and moraliy is the fact that they are too stringent. Wouldn't life be a lot simpler without such unnecessary and unwanted blinders? In the study of Psychology, ethics is a major concern. How far can human experimentation proceed? Can the Fritzl family be studied for a "Nature v. Nurture" argument? Can the argument be, that considering they have already been through so much, there is no point in putting someone else through all that in order to study them and they should therefore be kept in a glass cage for a couple of years? Maybe they are used to it already. Maybe, their sacrifice will provide groundbreaking insight into the human mind. Is scientific advancement for the many superior to the rights and dignities of a few?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
One Monday We Killed Them All
Author: John D. MacDonald.
Book starts off brilliantly giving an amazing insight into the life of an honest policeman and the prison system. Makes one wonder, think and contemplate how judges who sentence people live with themselves. Especially, if there is a little evidence he missed out and ruined someone's life in the process. The book gets tiring in the middle and turns into a Clancy at the end. On the whole, very disappointing. Was hoping for a lot more, at least it should've kept up the pace and toned down on the James Bond/Rambo action sequences.
Started with Henry Cecil's first book. The Painswick Line. Brilliant thus far. Hope it keeps up. Will write about it when I'm done.
Book starts off brilliantly giving an amazing insight into the life of an honest policeman and the prison system. Makes one wonder, think and contemplate how judges who sentence people live with themselves. Especially, if there is a little evidence he missed out and ruined someone's life in the process. The book gets tiring in the middle and turns into a Clancy at the end. On the whole, very disappointing. Was hoping for a lot more, at least it should've kept up the pace and toned down on the James Bond/Rambo action sequences.
Started with Henry Cecil's first book. The Painswick Line. Brilliant thus far. Hope it keeps up. Will write about it when I'm done.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Farenheit 451
4 damn years.
It had been 4 years since I read a book that wasn a Kolfer, a Rowling, a text book or a book for some course. It seems I picked the perfect book to read considering this. A book about books being burnt. About books being destroyed as they made people think and therefore, unhappy. A book about making life so fast that there was no time to think. About making sure the television (or parlour walls) allowed no scope to think or discuss anything important.
This book is not only thought provoking, but very deep and profound in its message. Other than its obvious relevance to censorship, it also deals with the politics of dissent, where anyone who owned books was arrested, people who thought were ostracised and people who went into the why rather than the how of things were sent to psychiatrists. It explains how one person is never important. It's always about groups. One person can only make a difference when he has others following him in his mission. The fact that change is inevitable. The fact that no autocracy can ever last. There is always a reaction to every action.
The english used in this book may get tiring at times, but the thought provoking bits keep you wondering for hours after. This book talks of the difficulty of dealing with the unmoving cattle of the majority. The majority that watches as the minority is slaughtered.
What is even more interesting is the afterword written by the author. He says his books and plays often get requests to be re written keeping some minority interests in mind. He rejects all these requests. he says, "If Mormons do not like my plays, let them write their own. If the Irish hate my Dublin stories, let them rent type writers. If teachers and grammar school editors find my jawbreaker sentences mushmilk their teeth, let them eat stale cake dunked in weak tea of their ownn ungodly manufacture."
Essentially, everyone has a right to speech. If u have a problem with what I say, respond. Start your own blog. Stand up for yourself. Dont go crying to mama (or the faculty as the case may be).
This book is a must read. It deals with all aspects of life, freedom and liberty. One can draw innumerable allusions to present day life, with life becoming so fast that most interaction happens on gtalk than in person, with life becoming so fast that people are full of themselves and have no time to open up to other ideas, with life becoming so dull that the only excitement one gets is from watching movies instead of reading, inter personal interaction and most importantly, thinking for oneself. The book essentially deals with this in great detail. The power of thought. The power of memory. The power of knowledge. The book talks about two essential requirements. 1)Quality of information, 2) leisure to digest it. The first is not necessarily from books. It can be from a teacher (not the ones we have at the law school), a movie, anything. But what's more important is time given to difest it. Without this time, we see that little knowledge is a dangerous thing. As is evident in this book.
I went out and bought myself a translated copy of Mein Kampf today. I'm sick and tired of the inefficient democracy and the incessant fence sitting. Something needs to be done, and soon. I guess I'll read 1984 online before moving onto Mein Kampf. Reading is something that one should never give up. No matter what. I must thank my brother pestering me to read Dune (which I will soon), Chand Bibi and her "Look at me, I read all the time" and of course Tiny and the incessant insults. But I assume they were all catalysts and would like to believe I would have rekindled the habit all by myself.
I also like to believe the world revolves around me.
It had been 4 years since I read a book that wasn a Kolfer, a Rowling, a text book or a book for some course. It seems I picked the perfect book to read considering this. A book about books being burnt. About books being destroyed as they made people think and therefore, unhappy. A book about making life so fast that there was no time to think. About making sure the television (or parlour walls) allowed no scope to think or discuss anything important.
This book is not only thought provoking, but very deep and profound in its message. Other than its obvious relevance to censorship, it also deals with the politics of dissent, where anyone who owned books was arrested, people who thought were ostracised and people who went into the why rather than the how of things were sent to psychiatrists. It explains how one person is never important. It's always about groups. One person can only make a difference when he has others following him in his mission. The fact that change is inevitable. The fact that no autocracy can ever last. There is always a reaction to every action.
The english used in this book may get tiring at times, but the thought provoking bits keep you wondering for hours after. This book talks of the difficulty of dealing with the unmoving cattle of the majority. The majority that watches as the minority is slaughtered.
What is even more interesting is the afterword written by the author. He says his books and plays often get requests to be re written keeping some minority interests in mind. He rejects all these requests. he says, "If Mormons do not like my plays, let them write their own. If the Irish hate my Dublin stories, let them rent type writers. If teachers and grammar school editors find my jawbreaker sentences mushmilk their teeth, let them eat stale cake dunked in weak tea of their ownn ungodly manufacture."
Essentially, everyone has a right to speech. If u have a problem with what I say, respond. Start your own blog. Stand up for yourself. Dont go crying to mama (or the faculty as the case may be).
This book is a must read. It deals with all aspects of life, freedom and liberty. One can draw innumerable allusions to present day life, with life becoming so fast that most interaction happens on gtalk than in person, with life becoming so fast that people are full of themselves and have no time to open up to other ideas, with life becoming so dull that the only excitement one gets is from watching movies instead of reading, inter personal interaction and most importantly, thinking for oneself. The book essentially deals with this in great detail. The power of thought. The power of memory. The power of knowledge. The book talks about two essential requirements. 1)Quality of information, 2) leisure to digest it. The first is not necessarily from books. It can be from a teacher (not the ones we have at the law school), a movie, anything. But what's more important is time given to difest it. Without this time, we see that little knowledge is a dangerous thing. As is evident in this book.
I went out and bought myself a translated copy of Mein Kampf today. I'm sick and tired of the inefficient democracy and the incessant fence sitting. Something needs to be done, and soon. I guess I'll read 1984 online before moving onto Mein Kampf. Reading is something that one should never give up. No matter what. I must thank my brother pestering me to read Dune (which I will soon), Chand Bibi and her "Look at me, I read all the time" and of course Tiny and the incessant insults. But I assume they were all catalysts and would like to believe I would have rekindled the habit all by myself.
I also like to believe the world revolves around me.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bangkok
As I was sifting through the old files on my computer, I came across two notepad files which dealt with my two day experience in Bangkok recently. I suppose I always intended to put it up here, but never actually found the time and inclination to do so. Until now, that is.
There's actually no free Wireless Internet access from the Bangalore International Airport. I remember it was at the Bombay Airport. The only access here is through a ridiculuously expensive TATA Indicom WIFI connection. So there go my plans of killing the 2 hrs I have to sit in the airport, online. I am actually typing this on notepad and will upload it when i get an internet connection.
I will write this as and when i can depending on where i go and if there is anything worth writing about.
Day 1: Its 2035 hrs and I cant wait for my flight at 2245. Somehow as of now I dont feel as exhilerated as I normally used to while sitting in the International Waiting Terminal. (Maybe I have just added in the exhileration to my memories and they did not really ever exist.) Why do I come so early to the airport? Its something my family has done for ages. I just stick to the plan! I see absolutely no popint in coming here and waiting. A little later wouldn really result in my killing someone or my missing the flight. MENTAL NOTE - 2 hrs in advance will do henceforth. :)
Anyway, heres THE plan. I am headed to Bangkok. :)
I will stay 2 days there and hopefully get to see a lotta stuff. No actual plan for once I get there. That I shall formulate only after reaching. I just hope I dont miss out on anything. After that I head to LA on a 14 and half hour non stop flight. It seems kinda scary. 14 and a half hrs. No wonder this airline (THAI) is so cheap.
I then stay the night at LA and leave on another flight the next evening. So thats the plan. I finished typing this pretty early. ITs only 2043 now. DAMN. Guess I'll just ve to "read" after all.
Day 1 (contd)
So here I sit at the Suvarnabhumi airport waiting (as usual) for my travel agent rep to come and pick me up. Its now 545. Hes expected at 6. So no cause for worry yet. Thai Airways. What can i say? Its probably the sickest airline I have ever travelled in. I would compare he experience to my experience with Air Deccan. Except that was one hour. This happened to 3 and a half. The next one is 14 and a half. My god. I wonder how torturuous that would be.
By the time I boarded (and I was one of the first), there was abolutely no place to keep by cabin baggage. This added to my long list of woes as i had to keep the huge bag near my foot throughout. The food came out pretty late around 35 mins after take off. The food trays were not cleared till 30 mins before landing. So I could not sleep the entire journey. The tray being out behind me I could not put my seat back. The person next to me seemed to have no issues though. He slept like a bloody log. Had to pry his eyes open whenever I needed to go to the loo.
The food itself! I was provided Indian Veg instead of Jain veg food (YES! I am finicky abt my food). The food was terrible. All I could eat was bun and butter. They were out of tomato juice as well. The flight on the whole was terrible. There was no personal entertainment either. I was stuck watching the big screen in front. Putting all this together, it left me in a terrible state. As I sit in the airport and wait, I cannot help but dread the next flight tomo evening. However, not letting that disturb me, I look forward to a brilliant time at Bangkok. Quite unexpectedly, there is no Free Wi Fi here either. So Bangalore's not so bad after all. The airport itself is huge and very very impressive. It is built beautifully and seems quite empty. Probably cos its not even 6 yet.
I shall continue with this probably in 2 days time as i dont expect time to type while here. I shall upload it the minute I get free Wi Fi. Anywhere.
Day 2 and 3
I could write abt all i saw in Bangkok but theres really no point. It is pretty much like going to Chennai. The only highlight was, however, my visit to Khao San Road on Day 3. I chked out of my hotel arnd 1215 and then went out and caught a tuk tuk (much like an auto, only a lot more spacious and better looking) to khao san road. As is usual with all "auto" drivers, he started me off at 200 B. I did not even see a meter in these tuk tuks. No idea where theyre supposed to be. Anyway, i offered him 25 B where he had quoted 200. He made a face after which I was sure he would just unload me and tell me to get lost. Instead, he was adamant and said 120 B.
For some reason, I felt I shouldn pay anymore than 100 B for this. I have no idea how much it actually is. So I told him I cannot give him anymore than 50 B cos the hotel ppl told me not to pay more than 50. So he said 100, I said 70. Finally I agreed to pay 80 B. The guy started at 200 so i guess i did ok (im trying to console myself. Leave me alone).
The road itself is brilliant. Its closed to traffic pretty much (except for the odd tuk tuk) and people get to walk happily. Right out in the open they were selling pirated software, games, absolutely anything u wanted was available here. A little further and there were boards advertising sale of student cards, press cards, driving licenses and diplomas from a list of colleges. I was intrigued to say the least. After a little T- Shirt shopping, I decided to head back as I had my pick up from the hotel to the airport at 4. It was then 245.
As i decided very reluctantly that it was time to leave, I started looking out for tuk tuks. Instead I was pulled aside by a "bike taxi" man. I then haggled with him over the price and finally agreed at 100 B. But I had no clue where my hotel and I had left all papers pertaining to the airport in my bag back at the hotel. I somehow found my tour iterinary and got the bike taxi man to call me tour operator to find the address of the hotel. So then I was off. Ripping on a Yamaha (god knws wat model - I dont really care). He said his name was "CHUCK-IT" (at least thats wat i heard).
After i told him i was 19, he started trying really really really hard to be a pimp. He said, while taking one hand off the bike to better illustrate, "Thailand great place for young boy. Lots to do. Can do everything. Fucking Wucking and all." As intrigued as i was by this man, I had no interest, inclination or time to see a hooker. So I said no thanks. But as can be expected he did not give up. He pulled out a pamphlet from his pocket which read "Embassy" which had photos of lots of gals and was some kinda flyer. Still I did not wish to make this man think my curousity was interest so i just said i was not interested. Being persistent beyond this, was not expected. He said "Thai girl, good humping (taking both hands off the bike very briefly to make me understand). Only 1 hour. U not miss flight. On the way. U young boy. University student. U can tell all frnds that u fuck THAI girl."
As brilliant as that marketing might have been to any other person, i was unmoved. So i just said no again. After that to the airport was dull, considering I got no action after all. I was told in the airport that the flight was delayed till 11. I could crib a lot abt wat happened at the airport, the terrible economy class treatment I received, the number of lounges I was turned out of and about how I ended up spending 4 hours in an empty air conditioned pub where I got them to change the music to soft rock, but am not in the mood. Also, my flight's boarding soon.
There's actually no free Wireless Internet access from the Bangalore International Airport. I remember it was at the Bombay Airport. The only access here is through a ridiculuously expensive TATA Indicom WIFI connection. So there go my plans of killing the 2 hrs I have to sit in the airport, online. I am actually typing this on notepad and will upload it when i get an internet connection.
I will write this as and when i can depending on where i go and if there is anything worth writing about.
Day 1: Its 2035 hrs and I cant wait for my flight at 2245. Somehow as of now I dont feel as exhilerated as I normally used to while sitting in the International Waiting Terminal. (Maybe I have just added in the exhileration to my memories and they did not really ever exist.) Why do I come so early to the airport? Its something my family has done for ages. I just stick to the plan! I see absolutely no popint in coming here and waiting. A little later wouldn really result in my killing someone or my missing the flight. MENTAL NOTE - 2 hrs in advance will do henceforth. :)
Anyway, heres THE plan. I am headed to Bangkok. :)
I will stay 2 days there and hopefully get to see a lotta stuff. No actual plan for once I get there. That I shall formulate only after reaching. I just hope I dont miss out on anything. After that I head to LA on a 14 and half hour non stop flight. It seems kinda scary. 14 and a half hrs. No wonder this airline (THAI) is so cheap.
I then stay the night at LA and leave on another flight the next evening. So thats the plan. I finished typing this pretty early. ITs only 2043 now. DAMN. Guess I'll just ve to "read" after all.
Day 1 (contd)
So here I sit at the Suvarnabhumi airport waiting (as usual) for my travel agent rep to come and pick me up. Its now 545. Hes expected at 6. So no cause for worry yet. Thai Airways. What can i say? Its probably the sickest airline I have ever travelled in. I would compare he experience to my experience with Air Deccan. Except that was one hour. This happened to 3 and a half. The next one is 14 and a half. My god. I wonder how torturuous that would be.
By the time I boarded (and I was one of the first), there was abolutely no place to keep by cabin baggage. This added to my long list of woes as i had to keep the huge bag near my foot throughout. The food came out pretty late around 35 mins after take off. The food trays were not cleared till 30 mins before landing. So I could not sleep the entire journey. The tray being out behind me I could not put my seat back. The person next to me seemed to have no issues though. He slept like a bloody log. Had to pry his eyes open whenever I needed to go to the loo.
The food itself! I was provided Indian Veg instead of Jain veg food (YES! I am finicky abt my food). The food was terrible. All I could eat was bun and butter. They were out of tomato juice as well. The flight on the whole was terrible. There was no personal entertainment either. I was stuck watching the big screen in front. Putting all this together, it left me in a terrible state. As I sit in the airport and wait, I cannot help but dread the next flight tomo evening. However, not letting that disturb me, I look forward to a brilliant time at Bangkok. Quite unexpectedly, there is no Free Wi Fi here either. So Bangalore's not so bad after all. The airport itself is huge and very very impressive. It is built beautifully and seems quite empty. Probably cos its not even 6 yet.
I shall continue with this probably in 2 days time as i dont expect time to type while here. I shall upload it the minute I get free Wi Fi. Anywhere.
Day 2 and 3
I could write abt all i saw in Bangkok but theres really no point. It is pretty much like going to Chennai. The only highlight was, however, my visit to Khao San Road on Day 3. I chked out of my hotel arnd 1215 and then went out and caught a tuk tuk (much like an auto, only a lot more spacious and better looking) to khao san road. As is usual with all "auto" drivers, he started me off at 200 B. I did not even see a meter in these tuk tuks. No idea where theyre supposed to be. Anyway, i offered him 25 B where he had quoted 200. He made a face after which I was sure he would just unload me and tell me to get lost. Instead, he was adamant and said 120 B.
For some reason, I felt I shouldn pay anymore than 100 B for this. I have no idea how much it actually is. So I told him I cannot give him anymore than 50 B cos the hotel ppl told me not to pay more than 50. So he said 100, I said 70. Finally I agreed to pay 80 B. The guy started at 200 so i guess i did ok (im trying to console myself. Leave me alone).
The road itself is brilliant. Its closed to traffic pretty much (except for the odd tuk tuk) and people get to walk happily. Right out in the open they were selling pirated software, games, absolutely anything u wanted was available here. A little further and there were boards advertising sale of student cards, press cards, driving licenses and diplomas from a list of colleges. I was intrigued to say the least. After a little T- Shirt shopping, I decided to head back as I had my pick up from the hotel to the airport at 4. It was then 245.
As i decided very reluctantly that it was time to leave, I started looking out for tuk tuks. Instead I was pulled aside by a "bike taxi" man. I then haggled with him over the price and finally agreed at 100 B. But I had no clue where my hotel and I had left all papers pertaining to the airport in my bag back at the hotel. I somehow found my tour iterinary and got the bike taxi man to call me tour operator to find the address of the hotel. So then I was off. Ripping on a Yamaha (god knws wat model - I dont really care). He said his name was "CHUCK-IT" (at least thats wat i heard).
After i told him i was 19, he started trying really really really hard to be a pimp. He said, while taking one hand off the bike to better illustrate, "Thailand great place for young boy. Lots to do. Can do everything. Fucking Wucking and all." As intrigued as i was by this man, I had no interest, inclination or time to see a hooker. So I said no thanks. But as can be expected he did not give up. He pulled out a pamphlet from his pocket which read "Embassy" which had photos of lots of gals and was some kinda flyer. Still I did not wish to make this man think my curousity was interest so i just said i was not interested. Being persistent beyond this, was not expected. He said "Thai girl, good humping (taking both hands off the bike very briefly to make me understand). Only 1 hour. U not miss flight. On the way. U young boy. University student. U can tell all frnds that u fuck THAI girl."
As brilliant as that marketing might have been to any other person, i was unmoved. So i just said no again. After that to the airport was dull, considering I got no action after all. I was told in the airport that the flight was delayed till 11. I could crib a lot abt wat happened at the airport, the terrible economy class treatment I received, the number of lounges I was turned out of and about how I ended up spending 4 hours in an empty air conditioned pub where I got them to change the music to soft rock, but am not in the mood. Also, my flight's boarding soon.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Ode to thee
Cant figure out a name for the poem. Will name it after the person I decide to dedicate it to. It follows the Shakespearean Sonnet rhyme scheme. My shitty poetry always makes me smile.
Oft had I, these songs heard,
The wisdom of which I could not tell.
Ere you, my life a surd,
Unravelled by thee, as I fell.
Tried have I, many a time,
But failed always, until now.
My life thus far, worth not a dime,
And all of a sudden, I own the Dow.
Up the mountains and into the sea,
Through the darkness and the light.
It is with you I wish to be,
and seek to spend the waking night.
In my presence, yet out of my sight,
For you shall I wait, and wait with all my might.
Oft had I, these songs heard,
The wisdom of which I could not tell.
Ere you, my life a surd,
Unravelled by thee, as I fell.
Tried have I, many a time,
But failed always, until now.
My life thus far, worth not a dime,
And all of a sudden, I own the Dow.
Up the mountains and into the sea,
Through the darkness and the light.
It is with you I wish to be,
and seek to spend the waking night.
In my presence, yet out of my sight,
For you shall I wait, and wait with all my might.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Tagged (wonder who started this)
Tagged by Chand Bibi. Sometimes she cant make it on her own.
Last movie seen in a theatre:
Iron Man: Caught the late show 2 days ago. What a wasteful expenditure. Crossing Nagarbhavi Main Road gives a better thrill.
What book are you reading?
Psychology and Law by Bartol and Bartol.
Favourite board game:
Ah... The last one I played was abrubtly stopped when my dog decided to pee in the middle of the board. Have stayed away from board games since.
Favourite magazine:
Cosmo, without a doubt.
Favourite smells:
The rain, the beach and the person who tagged me.
Favourite sound:
My voice.
Worst feeling in the world?
Being ignored. Esp when my dog's angry.
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
"I think I can afford to miss this class"
Favourite fast food place:
Adigas.
Future child’s name:
Kiran, regardless of the gender (I think parents who name their kids Kiran really hate their kids).
Finish this statement, “If I had a lot of money I’d…”
travel with Chand Bibi.
Do you drive fast?
Of course not. Speed thrills, but kills.
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Depends on who's asking.
Storms - Cool or Scary?
Neither. Actually, both.
Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Stay away from all vegetables. They're evil.
If you could dye your hair any colour, what would be your choice?
The colours on my blog.
Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in:
Bangalore, State College (PA), Tempe (AZ), London, Rome, Paris, Cairo, Bangkok (one night) and Athens. As far as I can remember.
Favourite sports to watch:
Hmm. Is it a sport? I havn played or watched in almost a year. How sad. (and frustrating?)
One nice thing about the person who sent this to you:
She gets flustered when she's hit on. Intelligent, otherwise.
What’s under your bed?
My bucket. My phone, most nights.
Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Absolutely. Only way to live.
Morning person or night owl?
Sometime mid evening, 10 o clock-ish, when I'm wide awake and fresh.
Over easy or sunny side up?
? I'm vegetarian. Killing animals is bad. Onions are cruel. They also put dirty thoughts in your head.
Favourite place to relax:
Beach. Or high up on a hill. Depends on who I'm with.
Favourite pie:
Chocolate, if theres one like that (Thought American was too cliched).
Favourite ice cream flavour:
Black currant with chocolate chip.
You pass this tag to –
Bones and her boyfriend.
Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?
Bones' boyfriend. Which will prompt Bones to do it as well. Bones, being the pricey person she is, needs two tags and her boyfriend to take notice.
Last movie seen in a theatre:
Iron Man: Caught the late show 2 days ago. What a wasteful expenditure. Crossing Nagarbhavi Main Road gives a better thrill.
What book are you reading?
Psychology and Law by Bartol and Bartol.
Favourite board game:
Ah... The last one I played was abrubtly stopped when my dog decided to pee in the middle of the board. Have stayed away from board games since.
Favourite magazine:
Cosmo, without a doubt.
Favourite smells:
The rain, the beach and the person who tagged me.
Favourite sound:
My voice.
Worst feeling in the world?
Being ignored. Esp when my dog's angry.
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
"I think I can afford to miss this class"
Favourite fast food place:
Adigas.
Future child’s name:
Kiran, regardless of the gender (I think parents who name their kids Kiran really hate their kids).
Finish this statement, “If I had a lot of money I’d…”
travel with Chand Bibi.
Do you drive fast?
Of course not. Speed thrills, but kills.
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Depends on who's asking.
Storms - Cool or Scary?
Neither. Actually, both.
Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Stay away from all vegetables. They're evil.
If you could dye your hair any colour, what would be your choice?
The colours on my blog.
Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in:
Bangalore, State College (PA), Tempe (AZ), London, Rome, Paris, Cairo, Bangkok (one night) and Athens. As far as I can remember.
Favourite sports to watch:
Hmm. Is it a sport? I havn played or watched in almost a year. How sad. (and frustrating?)
One nice thing about the person who sent this to you:
She gets flustered when she's hit on. Intelligent, otherwise.
What’s under your bed?
My bucket. My phone, most nights.
Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Absolutely. Only way to live.
Morning person or night owl?
Sometime mid evening, 10 o clock-ish, when I'm wide awake and fresh.
Over easy or sunny side up?
? I'm vegetarian. Killing animals is bad. Onions are cruel. They also put dirty thoughts in your head.
Favourite place to relax:
Beach. Or high up on a hill. Depends on who I'm with.
Favourite pie:
Chocolate, if theres one like that (Thought American was too cliched).
Favourite ice cream flavour:
Black currant with chocolate chip.
You pass this tag to –
Bones and her boyfriend.
Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?
Bones' boyfriend. Which will prompt Bones to do it as well. Bones, being the pricey person she is, needs two tags and her boyfriend to take notice.
A change of Heart
Three middle aged ladies just got to my gate to give me BJP printed information much like a voter ID, with everything but the picture. I mean, I already have a voter ID, but this would have made things so much easier to get it. Even if I did not have a voter ID, this could enable me to vote a lot easier and faster.
This is practically a master stroke as I see it. Almost every constituency has a BJP candidate and his picture at the bottom of the chit which houses all the necessary details to vote. I think I just decided to vote for BJP (considering Yeddy's a lingayat and all, I assume he's not like Modi).
But then again, maybe I shouldn't be so easily swayed just cos they had ONE good idea, which made things easier. Maybe what I should do is to vote for Congress. Corruption seems to be a small price to pay considering it's probably common to all three parties anyway. But if the JD(S) and Congress are together, then I'll be voting for treachery.
This is too much pressure on my shoulders. I'm just 19, damn it.
This is practically a master stroke as I see it. Almost every constituency has a BJP candidate and his picture at the bottom of the chit which houses all the necessary details to vote. I think I just decided to vote for BJP (considering Yeddy's a lingayat and all, I assume he's not like Modi).
But then again, maybe I shouldn't be so easily swayed just cos they had ONE good idea, which made things easier. Maybe what I should do is to vote for Congress. Corruption seems to be a small price to pay considering it's probably common to all three parties anyway. But if the JD(S) and Congress are together, then I'll be voting for treachery.
This is too much pressure on my shoulders. I'm just 19, damn it.
What happened to humour?
I think I'm turning Bihari. At least my sense of humour seems to have disappeared. I just hope my sex appeal dusn follow. The funniest jokes I have come up with lately:
Why is the law important? Because one can have just one father, but many fathers in law.
Where are you from? I am from the National Loss School.
Somebody save me. Please.
This actually reminds me of a time when I was at BASE. There was a stunningly accurate rumour about the funniest joke at NPS (National Public School - Very nerdy school, quite famous. Have their own entrance exam for +2).
Two atoms are walking down the road, when one of them turns and says to the other, "I think I just lost an electron". The other one asks, "Are you sure?"
So the first atom replies, "Yes, I'm positive".
Why is the law important? Because one can have just one father, but many fathers in law.
Where are you from? I am from the National Loss School.
Somebody save me. Please.
This actually reminds me of a time when I was at BASE. There was a stunningly accurate rumour about the funniest joke at NPS (National Public School - Very nerdy school, quite famous. Have their own entrance exam for +2).
Two atoms are walking down the road, when one of them turns and says to the other, "I think I just lost an electron". The other one asks, "Are you sure?"
So the first atom replies, "Yes, I'm positive".
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Treachery, Corruption or Communalism?
With the upcoming Karnataka assembly election, a tough decision awaits the people. Three parties vie for power - JD (S) with Kumaraswamy and Gowda, BJP with Bookanakere Siddalingaswamy Yediyurappa and Congress with no leaders and the insufferable Krishna (who still awaits a ticket from Sonia Gandhi).
I even thought Presidential rule extended might do the city good. But, no. Its just the Congress ruling from the centre and collecting the proceeds there. So what exactly can we do? I, for one am voting for an independent. This way, I have done my duty as a citizen, while I would not have contributed to any of the vile motives of the three parties. Karnataka politics is truly a black mark on democracy. It shows that even when there is no booth capturing and rigging like in the North, democracy can be left useless when the only options you have are such. Maybe what we need is communism. The CPI should make a grand entry into Karnataka and behind it should follow, naxalites and other maoists. Karnataka can be the next Nepal. We can then secede to China (and live happily ever after).
Why on earth has politics reached such a pathetic stage all over India? I wonder at times whether it is at all worth studying law in a premier institute when you have to apply what is passed by an obviously incompetent legislature chasing its own ends. The legislature to be controlled on these political lines would mean the law would be reflective of their idiotic whims and fancies.
Today's Economic Times contains a full page interview of Yediyurappa. Among many other interesting things, he also says, "We have demonstrated that a BJP government would ensure social justice and equality to all." What the Economic Times forgot to ask him was whether his "all" included anyone but upper caste Hindu Brahmins. He even promised to give the Lokayukta more power to curb corruption. He went AS far as to say that his manifesto is "like our Gita, Quran and Bible". The headline was a quote from within the interview which reads "Gowda can't fool people again" (emphasis added).
My only hope is that the Economic Times will continue to interview more political leaders in the coming days. Among all the pathos, one can find a thin slice of entertainment. The last and final laugh before the world comes crashing down all around you.
This, is politics.
I even thought Presidential rule extended might do the city good. But, no. Its just the Congress ruling from the centre and collecting the proceeds there. So what exactly can we do? I, for one am voting for an independent. This way, I have done my duty as a citizen, while I would not have contributed to any of the vile motives of the three parties. Karnataka politics is truly a black mark on democracy. It shows that even when there is no booth capturing and rigging like in the North, democracy can be left useless when the only options you have are such. Maybe what we need is communism. The CPI should make a grand entry into Karnataka and behind it should follow, naxalites and other maoists. Karnataka can be the next Nepal. We can then secede to China (and live happily ever after).
Why on earth has politics reached such a pathetic stage all over India? I wonder at times whether it is at all worth studying law in a premier institute when you have to apply what is passed by an obviously incompetent legislature chasing its own ends. The legislature to be controlled on these political lines would mean the law would be reflective of their idiotic whims and fancies.
Today's Economic Times contains a full page interview of Yediyurappa. Among many other interesting things, he also says, "We have demonstrated that a BJP government would ensure social justice and equality to all." What the Economic Times forgot to ask him was whether his "all" included anyone but upper caste Hindu Brahmins. He even promised to give the Lokayukta more power to curb corruption. He went AS far as to say that his manifesto is "like our Gita, Quran and Bible". The headline was a quote from within the interview which reads "Gowda can't fool people again" (emphasis added).
My only hope is that the Economic Times will continue to interview more political leaders in the coming days. Among all the pathos, one can find a thin slice of entertainment. The last and final laugh before the world comes crashing down all around you.
This, is politics.
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