The Mangalore Pub Incident and Reactions
Background information on this incident is available here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Mangalore_pub_attackVideos are available aplenty in YouTube. Lets keep aside the fact where this happened and think about what happened. A bunch of guys ruthlessly slapping girls and winding them down on floor. Question : Is this is how they uphold the culture of India?
Now lets bring the fact where it happened. It happened in a pub where allegedly girls where consuming alcohol and dancing with boys. Mmmmm...whats wrong? I don't see anything illegal. Last time I checked India was a democratic country governed by the constitution for rights and IPC for legal issues. Neither of'em are laid based on a CULTURE nor they impose any on them.
Interesting fact is that those guys who attacked the pub where clad in denim, cargos and t-shirts. I don't see how that is adherence to "the culture" and going to pubs is not.
An intersting reaction to the incident is Pink Chuddy Campaign :http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/
I said interesting. But that was a little extra forward.
Posted by Basil at 4:24 PM | 0 comments read on
A Nasty Op-Ed Column Entry in WSJ
AJefferey Scott Shapiro in an op end in WSJ writes :"The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have"
I doubt from which univerese he is writing this.
He is calling 76% of americans, who disapprove Bush, weak and arrogant? Thats something close to being stupid.
Spending 11 billion every month in a failing war against humanity, throwing three countries to hands of muslim radicals, almost green lighting israel for an attack on Iran, acting blind to the real problems of the third world countries..... I can list a dozen more examples why this person is a the most disliked person to hold the highest post in America.
What is he tryin to prove by comparing Bush to Truman? World War II was the bloodiest phase in modern history and approving that was nothing short of disgraceful. Equally disgraceful is the three failing wars america is fighting today. America is much more than Bush. The 76% americans who diapprove Bush today arent " arrogant, and weak", but are people who are ready to e upto the realty.
Posted by Basil at 9:42 PM | 0 comments read on
Obama
A defining moment in the history.
This is a country that turned around itself from obvious racial acts to sublime racial feelings. I do not see a single african american in my office which houses 3000 employees. I do not see a single african american in the train I take everyday to office, which ferries employees of hi tech companies. Equality is more of a superficial exhibitionism, rather than a realty. Its eloquently announced and limited to public advertisements where every other model is an african american, because there are laws that goversns it. But they are just exhibits to conceal the inequality and racism in this country.
With this being the reality, what Obama has achieved is tremendous.
Inspiring Victory
The joy and excitement among non whites was contentous. There were african americans in tears all over the audience Obama addressed to, there were african americans, overcome with joy, unable to speak, in televisions. What it showers is an unseen confidence to non whites, to re live that American Dream, to pursue the hopes for a better life, an air of confidence that assures anything is achievable, a spirit to take up the challenges for a better world.
But, Did anything change?
Everything was in Obama's favour. There was a tremendous anti - Bush feeling around and democrat campaign and the media together turned it into an anti republican, anti McCain feeling. McCain campaign wsa less about why he should be the president than why Obama shouldnt be. He never could present a case to the voters why he should be elected. Adding this to a general feeling for a change(Indiana and N Carolina being a THE BEST examples) in hopes of a better financial condition gave america the new president.
Only 38% of the white population voted for Obama, what else could be a better symbol of an unchanged america? There wasnt a sea of change, as oppsed what those sensationalist reporters or jourlists are telling us.
We need a Visionary in Obama
Yes. We need a visionary. What he has been bestowed is an opportunity to bring about changes, economic and social, that will permanantly change people lives. There is a lot to do. The speech that he gave yesterday wasn't typical of a politician. In debates he resembled an analytic human being. He should continue to be so. And be a visionary to bring about changes, an intellectual when attempts the problems of the world, philosophical to heal the historical wounds of this world.
Let's wish him all the success.
Posted by Basil at 8:35 PM | 0 comments read on
If YOU lost money in this financial turmoil, WHO pocketed it?
Coming Soon!!!!
Posted by Basil at 10:44 PM | 2 comments read on
Tips for Survival #1 - Beef Roast,Kerala Style
Here is a recipie for you to try if there are no Kairali or Kalpaka or Kalavara or any fancy named Kerala restaurants near by. Here is list of thing yo u need :
- Beef- As much as yo want
- Beef Masala - Will depend of the qty of beef
- Chilli powder - Will depend on qty of beef and your taste
- Onion - I don't know yet. I took half of an avg sized onion for 1/4 kg beef
- Salt
- Pepper
Experienced cooks out there will try to confuse you with so many other items, but trust me, you get decent beef roast with above items.
Step 1:
Cut beef into pieces of size you think is apporpriate. Wash it thoroughly to remove blood on the meat.
Mix clean beef pieces with beef masala, chilli powder and salt. Wipe a little masala off that meat and check if it taste ok. Your will know if it taste ok.
Cook in a presser cooker(if you have one) or use whatever you have in your kitchen with atleast three times water. Cook till beef is edible. Take a piece in between, try to crush that using your fingers and you will know if it is cooked.
Stop when water has boiled off except a little which you need to spread the beef in a frying pan.
Take onion(big), sliced equally and add this to hot oil in frying pan. If you feel that the masal on the cooked beef is not enough, put some masala also to this oil and stir it till onion is soft and yellow. Bring the beef with little gravy it has to this frying pan and stir it till it look and taste good. Adding pepper, garlic/ginger paste to will make it more enjoyable.
You have your beef roast ready!!!!
Let me know if you have any better ideas to make a beef recipies with little resources and with little time spent in front of stove.
Posted by Basil at 12:09 AM | 1 comments read on
Presidential Election and Sarah Palin
Its all about election here these days. CNN talks about it 24x7, citizen(well, around 40% of them) talks about it when they have to kill and its hard not to be part of it. Here, they have an excellent stage for the candidates to debate(less literally) in an open forum about their policies and views. This is an excellant method of exposing candidates to the voters where kavalaprasangal(political meetings on makeshift stages in and around cities, towns and villages) are difficult to orgnise and difficult to attract audience.I believe Obama is going to be aclear winner this time if nothing like scary, unholy Bradly Effect plays its dark role. But its very interesting how elections campaigns are a enterprise here in America(and in India too, except that no open figures are available). Obama raised 150 million dollors last month for his campaign. That is by far the largent amount collected by anybody till now. It was from around 63,000 donators. And his counterpart could manage a little over 100 million. When asked with questions on this campaign spendings they budge saying Campaigns are always an expensive affair. Aren't they?(Yes they are).
Thats clearly a reason why I believe there are no good options in politics. There are bad options and worse options. Its tough to believe Coroprations would have put money in candidates kitty without foreseeing a favourable amendment in the law, or a rebate favouring the produce of their company(solar cells for an example).
Its interesting that this country give out license to lobbysts in Washington. Sounds like State Govt licensing prostitutes. Incidently, son of Obama's running mate Biden's elder son is a "Registered" lobbyst. What do they do? They make sure the interest of the coroporations they represent are protected through new federal laws, amendments. And 'Fed' favours/spends more money for products/services of their comapnies.
If there is anything that makes this election run funy, then that is Sarah Palin. It was a shock to see her Pregnant 17 year old kid accompanying her on her campaign rallies. They say, Conservatives are impressed with her belief in God and the "way" she is raising her family. I have no clue why McCain and his party made this utter foolishness of choosing a VP candiate?
The problem is she is so inexperienced, untactful(which all of'em except Biden are) and lack bare minimum information and knowledge to hold the post of President if something goes bad with McCain. Here is interesting live clipping from one of her intervies in the early days of the campaigns. First lady appearing the video is spoofng Sarah's interview and second one is the original. After this, she has never ever spoken to another journalist/reporter, hasnt uttered a word that was not there in the written note given to her by her Campain strategist and has done everything she could to make sure McCain loose this election.
Its a rare occassion where the artist imitate the real life person,repeating the very same words she said in her very same mannerisms and still be so funny(as commented by the hosts). Here is what she says :
"alternatively what the bailout does is help who are concerned about the health care reforms that is needed to help to shoot up our economy..ah..huh..oh..its gotta be all about job creation too"
I can't digest what those spokespersons come on tv and say about Sarah Palin - "She has invigorated the base". Haah! Then, a better choice would have been a hooter girl if that was the purpose - invigorating the party's base.
What can be a better proof for her lack of capability than the interview above? All that she does these days is - Shamelessly annouce Obama "pals away with terrorist". The fact is that the terrorist reffered here was a radical group's leader when Obama was 8 years old. She in her robo calls(are the pre recorded messages- like the caller tune calls) in her own words say " our opponents do talk a lot, and listen less". How funnier it can get when this is a robo call which cant listen?
I will keep updating this space with interesting points from US Election till November 4th. You don't need comedy central there days. Like our asianet news, CNN and MSNBC is getting funnier everyday beyond comarison , with candidates, analysts, spokespersons and aritst playing their roles par excellence.
Here are two more videos if you enjoyed the previous video. Sarah on Foriegn policy and Russia- a country ,which according to her, share border with USA, suggested in her previous adventure with a interviewer. She said she can see Russia from her house!!!!. Must have a hubble telescope installed at a few hundres feets at her home.
Here is another video. The future VP of USA cant name a newspaper/magazine she reads.
In her Vice Presidential debate, two things that stood out was her high praises for McCain repeatedly calling him a maverick which has been paraodied across the media. Also she (extra) dramatically quotes Reagon and other great men of this country. Here is a spoof of that video.
Here is how a hunter, hockey mom from Alaska "push that up" in Saturday Night Live. This is the real Sarah, on dance floor for ya -
.
Going forward, what can we expect on the weekend before November 4th - a pole dance, may be!!
Posted by Basil at 9:45 PM | 0 comments read on
Test
They arent letting me preview my blog without this. Go, show me your black @$$$$, you nasty blog!
Posted by Basil at 9:24 PM | 0 comments read on
