Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tripathi

Scissors and scared scholars

Is right. The more you fan the flames the more people are likely to be offended.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Shocking

HEADLEY--RANA: COVER-UP OF AN ICEBERG

Read bullets 8 and 9. Simply disgusting!

Hilarious piece

I sleep on Rahul’s charpoy. I am safe
By Deb. Simply awesome.

In the vicinity of -30F

Well, temperatures here are wavering between -15 and -35F for 3 days. I had to go in all 3 days. It is cold - i mean really cold. I feel hair in my nose freeze. I have never even worried much about many body parts freezing. Now i know what people talk about.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Any sensible person

Congratulations Sir
Should think exactly this way about Mr. Gandhi (the new prince). greatbong nails it!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

This article is an utter disgrace to journalism

The DNA staff's piece here

No doubt, the way BJP selected their President was poor; but at least there were multiple candidates that could have become the president. The congress on the other hand you need to be the son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter of the Gandhis. How is this even remotely same? Yes, RSS anointed the candidate - but that is not the same as a Gandhi taking leadership by birth. There is a zillion times magnitudes of difference. It is journalists like this that accord credibility to what Congress does by comparing to what BJP does. This is how the so called secualrists support their logic of supporting the Congress party. Unfortunatley most people in India see it that way. Until the magintudes of difference in how Congress and BJP operate is recognized people will never realize how ridiculous it is that a family has ruled the countryf or 80% of the time after indepdence. How can you even call that democracy! Now to compare a party that has selected a president through unanimous choice (Yaswant Sinha and Jethmaline (young) were contesting only Gadkari - once Gadkari was out they were no longer in the fray) with a party that has continuously chosen Gandhi/Nehru family member as President for nealy 50 years is true blasphemy and most importantly untrue! 

Who are we kidding?

The lonely superpower

We are sleeping for the last 9 years and the next year we will see politicians bend over backwards to make it appear that Pakistan is not the problem - Hindus are! Good luck India.

All the pseudo seculars

SHINDE;PREJUDICED & PARTISAN STEWARDSHIP OF MHA

Out there. Please realize the mistake of supporting the congress before it is too late. I am no fan of the functioning of BJP/RSS but to label the entire organizations as terrorists and the biggest threat we face is outright ridiculous. This coming from the home minister of India - in the light of recent skirmishes at the LOC is unfortunate.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Salil tripathi writes a muddled

The vibrant Gujarat myth

Piece on Modi. The piece reflects his antagonism to Modi rather than basing itself on facts. Weird, how smart get affected by their personal opinions. Nothing wrong with hating Modi. But i would rather have it stated upfront than using illogical pieces to make it appear as if s/he is bad without facts.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Heard of the origins of the gay movement in the US

Jeanne Manford a woman who was the co-founder of PFLAG passed away recently. Her story is one of courgae and love! Makes you feel happy such people do leave on this planet!

More on her here

Thursday, January 10, 2013

If only UPA government is sensible

Another quick fix tax solution

To listen to this.

Food for thought

Fruits of a regressive culture

Deb makes good points on how we glorified sexual harassing in our epics. The current apathy and idiocy has roots in our own culture. Why point fingers at the west where women are treated with more respect.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Friday, January 04, 2013

Who will protest against this?

While Nirbhaya's brutal gang-rape horrified the nation, the events that followed the crime revealed shocking callousness on the part of both citizens and the police.

Full article here

Change has to come from within

I hope every person reads this.

I feel embarassed reading this. It hurts to realize that I am part of such a regressive society. Police take their time to do their duty. People are scared to help. As the victim claims lighting candles and protesting is of no use when we are so morraly corrupt. I really hope the anger and disgust at the crime changes the younger generation to be more responsible human beings. as a society we cannot elimnate all jerks and animals. However, we still can be a better society that helps people in need and perform their duties. Until that day comes we can only long for it! The only way to honour her suffering worth it is to ensure no other human being has to endure such inhumane treatment. Again I feel stupid saying something can make her suffering worth it. Nothing can and nothing will. It is disgusting and I pray that no other person has to go through this!

Thursday, January 03, 2013

2012

Well another year, another annual roundup. This one will be short!

On the personal front there have been multiple milestones. The year marked an improvement in my long-distance relationship. We have altered our arrangment so that we are together at least 50% of the time with one another. This is a remarkably better arrangment than the past. The year marked the completion of one year. This year also marks the beginning of a home for us. We started buying furniture, TV and little things to set up our home. it was hectic but fun. 

In october, my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I still cant believe it. I am still waiitng to hold the id in my own hands. Another friend of mine also had a baby boy in December. Well, as promised in my last year post, we are moving into the kids phase from the parents phase!

A good friend of mine tied the knot. Well, he had three ceremonies and I was present for 2 of them and had a great time!

Travel this year has been hectic as usual bewteen Austin and Montreal. In addition, there was a trip to India, Wasgington DC, Maine (Bailey Island, Portland with friends), Sodu bay (with family), Tremblant (near Montreal), houston and Pittsburgh.

Added Monk, Friends to my sitcom repertoire. Started watching Sherlock!

On the social front, I have offcially entered the no time realm. I find it very hard to keep in touch with all the travelling (me or my wife) abd work commitments. I dont know if this is a phase or if it is going to be the future. But well, i will wait and see!

On the professional front, things have been mostly lousy! Well, the relationship fell apart. I worked hard to submit the paper and well, things went downhill because of some parallel work I undertook. There is only so much I can do! Then on the funding front I did not have much luck! Mostly unsuccesful grant applications tend to get you down for a reasonable amount of time. In terms of papers, it has been a decent year. I got my first papers without my advisor in this year. That is comforting to get some papers. TRB season was queite hectic and stressful. I will try not work so hard next july. Lets see!

Also, I found myself getting caught up in weird "professional" situations that pushed me to the limits. I would not want be part of such issues, but given how life works out I have to face some uncomfortable people and scenarios. I hope that thse will reduce with time!

Teaching went fine. I found myself having less time for my undergraduate classes compared to last year. But, the semester felt more stressful. I am actively working with multiple grad and undergrad students. The handling of students is another talent I am yet to master!

In cricket, Dravid and Laxman retired from tests, tendulkar from onedays. they will be missed. 

In Tennis, Federer has had a decent year, winning Wimbledon, silver in olympics, wrapping up the highest number of weeks at 1 record. All is good for the GOAT. 

As is evident, it has been a dull year!Hoping to spend more time in Montreal in 2013!

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Quite an interesting tidbit

See this quote from Sharda Ugra's piece
It lasted all of a few, fleeting minutes, in Jaipur. This was the match before the Gwalior 200 not out, the first of three 2010 ODIs against South Africa, who needed seven to win with two balls left. On the penultimate ball, Charl Langeveldt pulled one that travelled at speed past short fine leg. Tendulkar, on the boundary, ran full tilt towards the ball and flung himself, diving and sliding along the ground like he was 16, to get his hands on the ball. The batsmen had taken three and Tendulkar saved a single. India won that match by one run.
This is what astonishes me about the man. May be he froze himself at that age of 16!

Welcome to 2013

Happy New Year to one and all. I hope the new year will bring more joy and happiness to everyone!