Convicted For Death - Dowry

This is sad (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/85-yr-old-woman-gets-life-for-bride-burning/articleshow/10538703.cms).

Jokes To Lighten Your Day

I came across this http://www.studynoteswiki.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=54&func=view&catid=163&id=9464 today.

For People from the middle east: http://www.citehr.com/328449-subject-coca-cola-salesman-saudi-arabia.html.

Another one about a grill: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jokes/read/81788531/.

Poor Man Has An Unhappy Marriage

A friend gave me this story (http://www.itimes.com/public/users/7cz2s0u9sbkfv9sl05qbtq58z/blog/The-web-of-matrimony).

How bad it must have been for the man. Poor guy.

Social Networking And Recruitment

This is an interesting article (http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=863923184&ids=0PdzgVdPgVdjwIcPgTd3kSdjoUb3gUcjcOejcSe2MOcPsTcjkRdzwIcj0Pd3kMdjoU&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=02Kl1DBwk9BkY1) on how recruiters use social networking sites. While we may have heard of posting inappropriate stuff on Facebook can harm a person, this article explains how recruiters also use social networking sites create a positive impression.

Wonder how true the data in the article is though. 

Strong Man And Woman

This is a very interesting article I read on strong men and women http://drwill911.blogspot.com/2011/01/can-real-man-love-strong-woman.html. Dont forget to read the comments at the of the article in the link above. One of them is beautiful. 

Also read the comment by Gary in http://fodder4thinking.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/can-a-real-man-love-a-strong-woman/ (the story is the same).

Father's Wife Is No Good

I loved this http://fodder4thinking.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/i-want-my-own-wife/.

Tenets Of Islam

Today I came across a site http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/204/?gclid=CL6b9JKI_qsCFcEc6wodZDTMkg. The content in the home page interested me. So I clicked on the chat link and spoke to an advisor. Here is the transcript of my brief conversation.

Please wait for a site adviser to respond.

You are now chatting with 'Advisor'

Advisor: Hello. Welcome to our live chat.

Advisor: How can I assist you today?

you: just happened to come across this site. I was curious

Advisor: Welcome to the site!

you: :) thanks

Advisor: You are welcome!

you: should man have good character ?

Advisor: yes

Advisor: Are you a born Muslim, a convert, or a non-Muslim?

you: does it matter

you: I have 2 mins. after which I have to go.

Advisor: No problem!

you: :)

you: can a person from other religion not have good character?

Advisor: anyone even an atheist can have a good character,, but the point is, only believers are those who will be rewarded in the Hereafter

you: the site seems to imply that only muslims have character and true

you: hmmm

you: does God belong to Islam? or what about other religions who have a God? how does one say "The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)?

Advisor: the true God is in Islam only

you: hmm

Advisor: hindus have many gods

you: what is the basis for saying that?

Advisor: but they are false ones

Advisor: There are several ways to look at the proofs of Islam, for example: Scientific proofs in the Quran, scientific proofs in the hadith, prophesies in previous scripture of Muhammad, miracles and prophecies made by Muhammad, the wisdom behind the permissible and the prohibitions in Islam, the wisdom in the laws and penal code system of Islam, and the simple logic that there has to be One God who is the Creator of the universe.

you: ok

you: thanks.

you: nice talking to you. I have to go now.

Advisor: You are welcome!

While I can perhaps understand, though not agree with, how someone is protective of their religion, how does one think God (which is religion agnostic) only exists in their religion? How does one think everyone else (who doesn't belong to their religion) is wrong and/or needs to be destroyed?

Now I have to recount what a friend of mine told me about what she heard in an Islamic discourse she attended. Housewives and mothers were exhorted to send the menfolk in their family for Jihad. Now, who is the Jihad against: Against anyone who is non Muslim.

If you think that this discourse was conducted in Pakistan or in some Islamic country you would be wrong. It was right here in the middle of India.

I have a friend from Israel who is a Jew. She espouses similar views about God and Judaism being the true faith, mercifully she doesn't talk support Jihad.

What has gone wrong with men? Why do we need our religion to be the best? Do we become a good person because our religion is good? Are we and our religion synonymous?

I Am Proud Of Air India

I am proud of Air India for the 1st time http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Baby-born-onboard-Delhi-Toronto-flight/articleshow/10457396.cms

If You Have 5 Days In Delhi

If you have 5 days in Delhi then this is what you need to read. http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/itinerary-delhi-184704949.html

Death Row

This is a lovely one on execution http://www.santabanta.com/jokes.asp?catid=10724

Lagniappe: http://www.funtoosh.com/jokes/personality/1423

On education: http://www.funtoosh.com/jokes/personality/1445.

GodSon

Here is a lovely picture http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=228624803864025&set=a.222658381127334.55604.222490634477442&type=1&ref=nf.

Float On The Water

This article (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/life/article2554661.ece) on travel is about Jordan. A place that I would love to visit :). 

Pot Calling The Kettle Black

This is update on Jayalalitha's disproportionate assets case and Harischandra Karunanidhi's views: (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/jayalalithaa-reaches-bangalore-court-142684).

Obstetrics Explained

I loved this video https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=137219199633357 which a friend shared with me.

Visit Bhutan

Nice article about visiting Bhutan http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/Bhutan-is-truly-destination-happiness/articleshow/8636133.cms.

Another one here.

Anonymous Posts Designed To Malign

This is a story (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Woman-CEO-maligns-female-colleague-on-Net-detained/articleshow/10381833.cms) of a woman who wrote anonymously about her colleague because of envy.

A View On The Financial Markets

This is a lovely one. http://www.fropki.com/current-situation-stock-markets-vt45879.html.

Bonus joke to make your day: http://ricorant.blogspot.com/2011/10/joke-for-day.html

Kapil Sibal Strikes Again

I had earlier written about Kapil Sibal http://calmisc.blogspot.com/2011/05/kapil-sibal-india-einstein.html. I read today that he believes India needs 1000 more universities (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article2537790.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home).

That's terrific. Assuming conservatively that each university has 500 students that graduate each year, we will have about half a million more students passing out with undergraduate degrees.

And each of these universities will give employment to about 30 teaching staff, 40 administrative staff. And imagine the spend on land, buildings, computers and other infrastructure. That will give a boost to the economy. Some of the graduating students will return as faculty. Some will go on to do a master's degree or a doctorate and publish papers.

In terms of number of English speaking graduates India's rank might go higher.  It probably is already in the top 3 as I write now. And India, just as any other country, definitely needs top class minds who can make a difference.

Now the question is: What is the quality of the students that graduate from colleges / universities in India? What is the quality of teaching? Infrastructure? What is the crying need? More students? Or Better quality of students? Which issue is Mr Sibal addressing?

How fit are the students for consumption by the industry? Is the primary issue in India one of quantity or quality?

How will 1000 more universities solve the problem? instead of 600 million non- graduate morons we will have perhaps only 590 million of them, the other 10 million becoming morons with graduate degrees. And perhaps one of them may go on to become the Education Minister.

If instead we had the industry dictating what education should be like or at least strong participated in dictating the curriculum and trained the teachers, we could create better citizens and students.

Beer Makes You Smarter

This is a nice one. http://www.funtoosh.com/jokes/stupid/639

Nice Cake

A friend of mine baked this cake. Looks lovely.

Trekking Across Gobi Desert

Nice, isn't it? http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-achiever-sucheta-kadethankar-first-indian-to-cross-the-gobi-desert/20111007.htm

Virtual Reservation Printout Accepted in Indian Railways

A screenshot of the e-ticket as displayed in laptops or mobile devices will also be accepted in place of the printout of a ticket (https://www.irctc.co.in/VRM.htm). This is nice. 

Far better would be to not require even that. The ID proof should be sufficient. And a duplicate copy of the ID proof (not the original) should be made adequate. People don't always want to carry originals with them.

Hiring Of Expats In India To Increase

India is expected to hire more expats this year http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Booming-economy-India-Inc-expats-hiring-up-20-this-year/articleshow/10297215.cms.

Additional reading: http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2520814.ece. Hindi cinema is becoming popular and being taught at universities around the world. I have an Iranian friend who knows liked Sridevi in Nagina (I barely remember the movie), another in Poland whose knowledge of recent Hindi movies far surpasses mine. Another friend told me that Amitabh and SRK are very popular in Egypt. Same with a Russian friend.

Before we start thinking that these friends are Indians living abroad, let me assure that these are local people in the respective countries. 20 years back I was told that Raj Kapoor was very popular in Russia. And I had not come across any other people outside the Indian subcontinent having a liking for  Indian movies.

Its strange. From business to movies, India is making an impact on people abroad.

Tukaram Omble

Who is Tukaram Omble? http://www.mudraa.com/trading/103961/0/do-u-know-who-mrtukaram-omble-is-why-is-he-not-alive.html.

We Are Here To Help (Whom)

A cute article on customer friendliness of banks http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/Interpreting-banker-advice-yahoofinancein-3752453008.html.

First Jairam, Now Raghavan

I read this (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/b-s-raghavan/article2515346.ece?homepage=true). Nice. 

About BS Raghavan: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/b-s-raghavan/

Additional reading: http://calmisc.blogspot.com/2011/05/kapil-sibal-india-einstein.html

Job Satisfaction

We can sacrifice money if other things are good. http://www.funtoosh.com/jokes/office_humor/247.

A Jewish Blog

This (http://shomernegiah.blogspot.com/) is a very well written blog by a Jewish woman. I am not saying this because she has the same black and white color combination in the blog as I do.

Some times when one comes across a blog or an article one feels like getting to know the other person better. This is one such blog. As they say, the writing is straight from the heart, honest. I am quoting below from her FAQ.
"
(Comment from Reader:) I am sick of your whining. Get a life.

(Author's Repy:) Like I have said I do not walk around whining about being celibate in my real life. This blog is the only really open forum I have for whining. If it bothers you then you do not have to read it!

"

This made me roll in laughter. 

Steve Jobs Dies at 56

http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-Steve-Jobs-visionary-reuters-62760105.html.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/itslideshow/7312018.cms

Engineering And Bridges And Romans

I came across these two posts. http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/10-roman-engineering-tricks1.htm and http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/10-amazing-bridges.htm.

This post is dedicated to a man I admire but never got around to meeting.

Shangri La

A friend gave me this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4jZ1UFR_Wc). As a rule I dislike advertisements. 

This ad reminded me of some friends. Like Leeloo, Femmo and Guruji. Hmm.

Character Story

A friend gave me this story (http://tradeinniftyonly.blogspot.com/2011/10/he-needed-meand-i-stayed.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FuxfD+%28Just+Nifty%29).

Old Faces

My friend sent me this picture and I am gaga about it. Nanda, Waheeda, Helen and Sadhana from left to right. 

What is surprising in this is Sadhana. Her face is very long. Her hair on her forehead made the head smaller. If you compare her face with Waheeda's (the latter has a broad forehead), Sadhana still has a longer face. Maybe Sadhana used her hairstyle to smallen her face. 

Would never have recognized Sadhana now. What causes the younger Helen to look sleezy? Her mouth or her hair? 

No wonder women want to look younger. What else do they bring to the table, if not their attractiveness!!!