Scuba Dooba Do

This is damn cool, this is something that I never even dreamt of doing in my life.Last week, I did deep sea diving(DSD) level-1 in Tioman Islands, Malaysia.I cannot describe the experience in words nor have the pics done justice to what I saw. 

Click on the pics which will take you to my flickr, where I have written comments too, also view the slide show (which I have also put up on my blog).

Tioman has crystal clear water, something that I have never seen before. We also ended up doing snorkeling in the clear waters, it feels as if someone has put you into a big aquarium, beautiful corals and fishes, what an experience!!I don't have the pics to prove that though.

Malaysia is a beautiful country.If any of you guys are planning a trip to South-East Asia, do cover Malaysia, it has loads to offer, and yes do go to Tioman.Let me add that it is amazingly cheap, so don't worry about the costs.To put things in perspective, Tioman is cheaper than Bangalore,India.

The whole experience was truly surreal.

I will share more pics of Tioman soon.

 

www.flickr.com

Scuba Dooba Do

Strike-Throughs in Blogger

 To create strikethroughs in blogger, download Windows Live writer, it also comes as a part of windows live essentials (set of tools which also includes messenger).

Its a nice tool, and I have been using it since more than a month now.

You can insert tables, size up your pics, save a local copy of your post, post draft to blog, directly publish post to your blog,use bullets, numbering, check word count, and ofcourse create strikethroughs, and all this in the same environment as your live blog.Other features are for you to figure out.

Its free, so you might wanna try it out, specially those who are longing to use ‘strikethroughs’ in your blog.

IDEAS : Nandan Nilekani

I agree with with everything in here.

The ‘anti-technology’ that Indians were, the ‘anti-English’ Indians were,‘anti-computers’ Indians were,primary education, people being assets, everything.Brilliant!

I certainly acknowledge the role played by Dr Manmohan Singh, P.Chidambaram, Narasimha Rao, in 1991 in achieving all these ‘Ideas’.

   

                                 

I first saw this video on TED, but the blogger doesn’t allow you to embed videos from TED I guess ( May be because they are flash videos), so I had to search the video from YouTube, download it, then convert it to MP4 and then upload it here.

If someone has any clues regarding how to embed a video from TED/You Tube, please let me know.

 

After this, I read Nita’s post here.

One of the comments said

“Our media is obssessed with the rise of middle class and put no light on the growing wide gap of income between rich and poor. Lack of attention to agriculture sector by educated class is the root cause of poverty problem in our country.It is said in your previous article that trade is better than aid. Subsidies on fertilizers and seeds are not reaching to the farmer directly. When loan are sanctioned to farmers , the banks and brokers are ready to take huge bribe before crediting the loan to uneducated and poor farmers. 
Isn’t it sad that one-fourth of the world’s farming population — 600 million farmers are on the mercy of monsoon than a good irrigation system. Since 1997, more than 1.80 lakh farmers have committed suicide. The tragedy is that even this human sacrifice, massive from any political standards anywhere in the world, has failed to shift the national focus on the plight of farmers.India is the ungrateful nation be in a hurry to dump its farmers, the real backbone of the economy for implementing world bank policies.And still we ignore fundamental flaw in our development pattern.”

Then, I was like…Hmm..Guess ‘Nilekani was being over-optimistic’ with the whole thing. I mean, we still have socialists who believe that the basic purpose of an industry is not to make profit but to employ huge number of people, not realizing that it doesn’t do any good to either parties involved, and I was left disappointed.

Myself, being capitalist to the core, tried to do some arguing.I said

“The problem with socialism is that it sounds good only on paper, and history has proved it.

History is an interesting subject indeed because it tells you about your mistakes, but clearly some of us are still to learn from our mistakes.

Stressing on the same line again –>

We were so concerned about distribution of wealth that we forgot about actually creating it. 

This is what Indian did till 1990, achieving nothing. Why would you wanna go back on the same track again??”

 

The reply that I got was

“Unequal distribution of Economic Freedom is at the basis of India’s uneven development. The reason is simple, the areas in which the middle and upper classes make their living have seen the highest degree of liberalization, while the areas in which the poor earn their livelihood have seen the fewest reforms.All the countries today shouting for open economy had developed in the past either due to imperialism and protected economy. How can you measure the ‘comparative advantage’ of a commodity which is highly subsidized with an output that does not receive even a fraction of the subsidies received in the US? Today production is don for the consumption of masses, not by the masses.This has lead to current crisis. And the country whose 90% of GDP is consumed in loans(Sources:Business India 5,October 2008) ,you are following the same path.Today we are growing due to bliss of outsourcing but soon this job will also go to small countries like South Africa and Vietnam etc less developed countries. Creation of wealth and progress can only be maintained by manufacturing sector and self sufficiency in the agriculture sector is required for supporting such huge population.Example, For creation of wealth in future, we need to transfer Infy &Wipro into product based software companies like Adobe,Google and Microsoft.Do you want always profit to be privatized and losses to shared by your tax.”

 

I can probably reply to each and every sentence above with a one page article. But , I did not see any point in that, I mean, you can argue with Charakan ofcourse because he gives you logical points, but what can you say to above comment where each and every logic is so illogical??I did not bother to reply. I gave up! Remember in my ‘25 point someone’, how I said

“I am confrontational...but I really don't believe in confronting a Dumb person, I generally agree with Dumb people. I am serious!! you cannot convince someone who has no idea about a subject but still wants to speak about it.”

While I am not saying the guy is ‘dumb’, but he does seem to have no idea of what he is talking about.Not exactly that too.He does seem to know what he’s talking about, but his basics are all messed up, he has learnt his lessons precisely the way that he wasn’t supposed to. :(... ha!Never mind! Socialism is still haunting us.

Then came the election results, where ‘LEFT’ was LEFT out and marginalized  to 24 seats.I was again like…”Yea!! Not so bad for capitalism after all..Hope they completely disappear by next elections”.Whatever was the reason for their poor performance, the means need not justify the end always, right?..which reminds me of Lord Krishna..:-)!

ISRAEL V/S PALESTINE/HAMAS - Perspectives

 I am posting the discussion between me and Charakan on the ISRAEL-PALESTINE/HAMAS issue. I believe it is worth reading.

As it turns out, both of us hate HAMAS but I also Kinda took Israel’s side between ISRAEL-PALESTINE, but at the end of it, I guess I am pretty convinced that ISRAEL isn’t doing all that good in Palestine and we do need to see things beyond what ‘western’ media says.So I kinda stand confused on this issue now,I would love to see what you guys think..even if that involves changing my opinion.

It all started when I wrote the below paragraph in my last post

I was irritated when Israel was asked to stop their confrontation with HAMAS recently. For me, it was the same thing,, hello!! Israel did not call for it, they even gave up GAZA, hoping for peace, you freaking come and fire rockets at them, what do you expect back? I know that innocents get involved and loose their lives, but then there are innocents loosing their life on Israel’s side as well, right? A country has every right to protect its citizens.

His replies in blue.

Mine in Red.

I do not agree with you on Israel.May be you should read about the history of Arab-Israeli conflict in detail and come to a conclusion rather than depending on Western Mass Media.
few links from anti-zionist jewish websites which may help you
http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?ar=10&pg=4
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/101conflict.shtml
You can also read a recently published Book titled Broken Promises Broken Dreams by a Jewish doctor named Dr Alice Rothchild.

I will go through the link, but my point is, that time is over, now if you don't fire rockets at Israel, they ain't gonna simply attack you.The world has changed now. To stick to old causes and still develop suicide bombers is not justified anymore.Same is the case with LTTE,they came into being for a reason, but now they just kill innocents, like HAMAS does,,so I am pretty much not interested in what happened 30 years back and why they were formed, if you are killing innocents now, you will get what you deserve.

I cannot understand what you meant by World have changed.Nothing has changed for those in Gaza.Palestinians are facing an occupational force all these years.Even if 150 years pass occupation is occupation.
The attack on Gaza by Israel just before Obama's coronation was an election ploy.Israel had an election in February and the various Israeli Political Leaders involved wanted to depict themselves as more aggressive than the other at the expense of lives of about 1200 Palestinians. Go through those links when you get time.It may be interesting if you like history.

Well, our thinking is pretty much the opposite in that case, I really don't think ISRAEL will attack palestine NOW if HAMAS stop firing its rockets. If you remember just when ISRAEL declared ceasefire after a month long operation, HAMAS was still firing rockets.
I mean, I indict HAMAS for all the innocent lives that were lost and not ISRAEL. If they stop goading ISRAEL, I seriously doubt ISRAEL can do any damage to PALESTINE NOW ( And by now - what has changed is that countries need to justify their attack on someone, even US by the way ). If you don't give ISRAEL a reason to attack, it CANNOT and WILL NOT.
How come, you support my view on LTTE and Not on HAMAS? Even LTTE was formed for a noble cause by the way.

 

Chikki,you talk as if Israel and Palestine are 2 sovereign states. And you said Israel even gave up Gaza Strip as if Britain will say we even gave up India in 1947.Israel is a Nation created by Britain and US in West Asia on the Palestinian homeland. Main root of the problem is that.Israel still contorls all the routes to West Bank and Gaza and decides what happens there.The missile strike was against the Isreali blockade of the border crossings resulting in severe food shortage and economic hardships. I do not support Hamas which is an ultra extremist Islamist force.I support Fatah.Systematic undermining of the moderate and somewhat secular Fatah by US and Israel by sabotaging all peace deals signed by Arafat resulted in the rise of Hamas.Israel likes Hamas the same way hindutva forces likes jihadists.Both feed on each other. You can also read the open letter to Obama by Teachers of major universities of US in my blog about Palestine issue.

http://mytake-charakan.blogspot.com/2009/01/open-letter-to-obama-about-gaza.html

Sorry for the long comment.I am and I believe most freedom loving liberal people all over the World are emotional about this.

Gaza was a territory won by Israel in a War in which it faced troops from almost 6-8 countries or say the whole Arab-world'.Can you beat that?Do you expect China to give 'Aksai Chin' back to India?
By the way, rockets are not aimed at Blockade alone. I have no idea how do I reply to this. I think HAMAS will be ashamed too when they hear this, I mean, even if they fired a rocket or two at blockade, you ofcourse know that even HAMAS claims responsibility of rockets they fire inside Israel, don't you??You do know they claim responsibility of the suicide attacks that happen inside Israel, right?

About your open letter to Obama?I don't see it eulogizing HAMAS, but I do see it criticizing ISRAEL.Interesting, you should probably read LTTE's history too, I am sure, you will start criticizing Sri Lanka.Allthough I must say I am a bit confused as you said you agree to my points about LTTE and Sri Lanka but not Hamas and Israel.
You talk about freedom?What about freedom of Israel to exist?Do you know HAMAS doesn't even recognize Israel??

Oh yea, I remember, you casually mentioned that you hate HAMAS too, then you should probably read my post again.Infact I wonder, what were we even debating then?I am not sure, what is the point that you wanna convey? Is it something like , you wanna say - you hate HAMAS and you hate Israel too??By the way you should also read how Jews residing in the Arab world were oppressed after the war.
I am against LTTE , I am against HAMAS, I am against any damn terrorist outfit, that kills innocents, that has no regard for human value, Ofcourse I support offensive against them, and that is why I was so pissed off when ISRAEL wasn't allowed to pursue its bombing of HAMAS targets, and that is why I get pissed off when I hear Tamils across the world sympathize with LTTE.

By the way , I stand by my point, I take HAMAS responsible for innocent lives lost in Gaza.

Chikki,you said,
Gaza was a territory won by Israel in a War in which it faced troops from almost 6-8 countries or say the whole Arab-world'Can you beat that?

Do you mean to say that if a foreign army invaded a part of country and established control then they have the legitimate right there for ever even if they withdraw? By that logic Germany which beat the Allies in World War 2 and occupied France and other European Countries should have all the rights there for ever? Will you call the French resistance movement terrorists then? In any resistance movement there will be extremists.Hamas is an extremist organisation whom I do not support.
Difference between the Srilankan Tamils cause and that of Palestenian cause is that Srilankan Tamils are facing discrimination in their homeland from a majority ruling class while Palestinians are facing Occupation by an invading force. Discrimination by a democratic ruling class is different from Occupation by another country.

Invading force'..?? Who wanted to capture Israel and who refused its existence??who wanted to invade Israel? Who massed up army along the border which led to war??Who wished that Israel should cease to exist?? Errr....Arabs..!!

Just because they Lost the war, and the opposite happened - Israel ended up capturing some of their territory, you can't cry foul now..That would be so lame..Why was a defeat not expected in the 1st place??why were the pros and cons not carefully weighed?
I believe Israel does better than Arabs would have done if god forbids the result would have been opposite. In 2004,Israel agreed to return land captured by them, if HAMAS stopped the violence. Unilateral disengagement from Gaza was a result of this.But what did HAMAS do??continued its violence and broke the peace accord. Why would a country not get pissed?Specially when it also HAS THE POWER TO GET PISSED!!

Chikki, Israel is a Nation created by Britain and US using their colonial power in West Asia on the Palestinian homeland. Do you agree?
Zionists are settler minorities who is trying to displace the majority Arabs from their home land. do you agree?
If a large group of ppl come to your native land and try to settle there and carve an exclusive settler only nation there will you welcome them or oppose them?
Above points are the root of the problem.Rest of the discussion depemds on how you answer the above questions.
If your answers are supporting Zionism then I will beg to disagree and stop this discussion because there is no point in continuing.

"Israel is a Nation created by Britain and US using their colonial power in West Asia on the Palestinian homeland."

Agreed! That happened after the holocaust.
And ofcourse you don't disagree with the fact that JEWS were not there before creation of ISRAEL, do you??
From what you have been writing, it looks like - even you don't recognize the right of 'ISRAEL to exist' which is very disturbing to me.

"Zionists are settler minorities who is trying to displace the majority Arabs from their home land. do you agree?"

I think its the opposite happening - Arabs just can't recognize the right of 'ISRAEL to be'. why can they 'Live and let live'??Why do they keep goading ISRAEL all the time?? and when ISRAEL retaliates, they start looking around the world for help. Wahhh!!

"If a large group of ppl come to your native land and try to settle there and carve an exclusive settler only nation there will you welcome them or oppose them"

First of all Israel is not on a 'conquering spree' and we are not living in an 'imperialist age'. ISRAEL is a NATION now . It is not practicing 'Slavery' either.
You attack ISRAEL, ISREAL doesn't attack you and take your land away!! It is even ready to give your land back. All it wants is peace which you can't seem to believe in because if peace prevails, you will obviously not have an agenda to live and you will become so Jobless!!

To all the ARABS -->
'LIVE AND LET LIVE' guys please. 2nd World war is over long back.A lot has changed, but please MOVE ON you guys!!

Ya, thats all! I hope you did not skip anything.;-)!Its an exhausting post again with more than 1800 words. These ‘55-ers’ are gonna hate me.

IHM – I remember the strikethrough post, I will do it I promise.:-).