ISI Strikes again at those who can't fight back!!!

ISI has struck again, this time it is against a civilian and that too a woman. Sunanda Pushkar wife of Congress minister Shashi Tharoor was found dead in a hotel room in New Delhi yesterday morning. As described in media reports, the death has taken place under "Mysterious circumstances" and all fingers are pointing at the husband Shashi Tharoor who, it seems has not had luck with matrimony. Pushkar was his third wife per media reports.


According to media reports, it seems like Tharoor had already had enough with the third wife and is actively pursuing a fourth - this time he is allegedly sleeping with the enemy. Reports are rife that Tharoor has an active liaison with a particular Pakistani Journalist. It is important to note that the late Pushkar had accused the Pakistani media person to be an ISI agent and the reason she was with Tharoor was to get inside info to supply to her bosses. Now not long after the accusation Pushkar has been killed.

The sudden turn of events, make it seem quite obvious that there is a foreign hand, particularly ISI agents and/ or other Pakistan affiliated terrorists. Pakistan is known to use covert and below the belt techniques to attack its arch enemy - India. This is just another way to further infiltrate the already compromised Central government of India.

It is unfortunate that most media outlets don't see it this way. Of course the ruling Congress government doesn't want to even think about this death or the ramifications it has on the future of our country. They are busy in creating a drama about their chosen prime ministerial candidate.

Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways

While I am in India, Mexico City commuters are going New York style - commuting the subway without pants. It is kinda hilarious think if this were to repeat in India... particularly in conservative regions. Some people would hail this as a step towards greater freedom, others would say it is just plain foolish. Conservatives would seethe and gnash their teeth in anger at the amount of westernization that has taken over this ancient society. Alas... only problem is that, it is not gonna happen anytime soon here in India.       

Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways | Watch the video - Screen India http://in.screen.yahoo.com/pantless-commuters-hit-mexico-city-180502333.html Watch the video Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways on Yahoo Screen. Intrepid Metro passengers in Mexico City took to the rails sans pants for the ubiquitous "No Pants Subway Ride." Elly Park reports. Read the full story

 

             

In India - Lots of changes but things remain the same...

I am in India after several months... nearly two and a half years. I see lots of changes in terms of high rise buildings, slightly better roads, etc. Then the rest remain unchanged. Chaotic driving, people's attitudes, obsession with cricket and Bollywood, etc. It is business as usual. Lack of personal space is something that is so common in India that nobody seems to be even aware of the concept of space. Anyway I am here for a specific purpose for a specific period of time - short. Though I would like to stay longer, it is practically not possible this time. We shall see how the rest of the week progresses.

High Demand of Stuff used to get High

Colorado the first state in the US to make Marijuana legal is experincing a huge influx of weed seekers. They come in droves to stores that are stocking their shelves high with the magic herb that promises people bliss, even if it is temporary. This is probably the most expensive crop a farmer could grow - $400 an ounce (30 gm). Great profitability considering that some of these plants can be grown in garbage. The profits are only going to grow - looking at the line of customers the business is going to increase.
Bring on the good times for consumers and there are no prizes to guess who is laughing all the way to the bank!!!

Objects of Desire

This 2014 model from Kawasaki is definitely one of them. Read about it online on yahoo news and this machine is something one would love to own and enjoy. Of course for those that are not into crotch rockets, the motorcycle manufacturer is offering a series of cruisers.
On a side note this motorcycle's mufflers definitely look like the design copied from Yamaha's VMax. Let us see when this hits the road and how consumers feel about it. For now I am definitely in love with this motorcycle.

Happy New Year 2014

Marketing Motorcycles to Women

Business are created to grow the investment of their principals and grow profits. It is quite common to see businesses to use various tactics to increase revenue by improving sales. The recent economic downturn in the US has made it highly difficult for lifestyle companies to peddle their products.

The manufacturer of the iconic motorcycle Harley Davidson experienced the brunt of the flagging economy in the form of downward spiral of their revenues. During and after the recent downturn multiple research reports pointed to the fact that most of the people who lost jobs and livelihoods were men. Some researchers went as far as to suggest that it was a "Man-cession" and not a "Recession".
 
Anyway,  Harley Davidson has now evolved a unique strategy to target those who kept their jobs and hence money during the downturn and are now ready to indulge in their desires - Women. Recently the motorcycle manufacturer commissioned a research study that quite expectedly proved that "Women who ride motorcycles are more confident, happier, and extremely satisfied with their appearance" when compared to their non-riding counterparts.
 
Indeed a nice sales pitch,  I would say to push the sales of the motorcycle and entice more women to join the groups of motorcycle riders that dot American highways.
 
Will it Succeed  ? Only time will tell!!!

Internal Affair = International Politics

Japan and China have been having a little tussle over a few pieces of rock in the ocean. Of course other countries including the US are either too scared to interfere or just want to watch the fun as two major economies fight. Anyway it is interesting to see how a small action from a Japanese Prime Minister can evoke reactions from everyone.
 
Recently Japanese Prime Minister visited a Shinto Shrine in Tokyo. The shrine honors Japan's War Heroes. The PM visited the shrine for 15 minutes and paid his respects to those who laid down lives in defense of their nation. A gesture that is extended by every head of state, like Indian leaders visit the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, American Presidents visit the Arlington Memorial Cemetery, etc. 
 
I don't know why such a tiny incident has evoked the ire of both China and Korea who are denouncing the visit. The fact is that some of those buried in the shrine are international war criminals too. It doesn't matter what outsiders think of them, the rest of the people buried there are war heroes and nobody should stop anyone from paying respects to them.
 
It is amazing how China is trying to flex its muscle and control the world. Today they have gotten together with their small neighbor Korea to denounce Japan's action. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow they get together with England and denounce the actions of Indian Prime Minister when he/ she visits the Jallianwala Bagh.
 
Times are getting tougher and tougher internationally. I wonder if it getting closer to the next World War??

Psychology of Hoarding

I was reading an interesting article online on Slate and came across this quote about hoarding:

 

"People who hoard are often, intelligent, creative, and endlessly curious," Randy O. Frost, a leading researcher on hoarding.

 
I decided to post it on the blog because I wonder if it applied to politicians who hoard money and power. I talk about Indian politiicans because those are the ones I know better than any other nation's politicians. Coming to the point, politicians and business people in India excel at hoarding money. These people are probably best hoarders in the whole world. They are intelligent, no doubt, creative, no doubt... but when it comes to "endlessly curious" I start doubting.
 
I would also add couple of adjective qualifiers to these words so the people may be better described. For instance, politicians and business people in India are "wickedly intelligent" because they work only to make profit for themselves. Most business people I know are willing to work hard to make money but they toil harder to ensure that others don't make nearly as much. Same goes for politicians, they are willing work much harder to keep their positions than fulfil the promises made to voters.

Heights of Superstition in the First World

It is common for everyone in the world to dismiss people from India as people frought with superstition and blind beliefs. In India the so-called intellectuals always look up to western nations such as the US and awe at their progress and scientific temper. What these people don't seem to know or acknowledge that the west too is frought with its own superstitions. If I am to ever bring this up, America-apologetics will just brand me as a jealous third worlder who is trying to find fault with the glory of the west.
 
A recent newsreport I read on Yahoo makes me wonder about the amount of superstition that people in America hold. This report is about a highschool athlete in the state of Kentucky who walked out of a qualifying race just because she was assigned the bib number "666". The girl said that the number created conflict with her "Christian belief" and hence she would not run. This becomes national news which attracted over 20,000 comments from readers that are mostly supportive of the runner and critical of the race officials. Suggestions range from removing the number altogether from races to adding another number to this particular runner's bib.
 
In the same country when I say that I am vegetarian because of my religious beliefs people scoff at my faith and try to make jokes out of it. That is because even in India when I told people I am vegetarian, most people laugh at us and make jokes about being a closet meat eater, etc. How unfortunate!!!

Confusing Headlines

I was listening to NPR while driving to the railway station earlier this evening and one news item caught my attention and outrage. The headlines talked about how India had become the first Asian nation to launch a mission to Mars, but the rest of the story talked about the glories of China's space program. How absurd!
 
If NPR did want to talk about China's space program they could do that without mentioning anything about India. By saying that despite the fact that India has stellar achievements in space missions, the news reporter seemed to take the side of the China, the oppressive, communist regime which is attempting to steal resource-rich land, water, and other parts of neighboring nations.
 
Another blog post on NPRs website grudgingly praises India's mission to mars, whereas in reality the program should be praised as one that could serve as a model for the rest of the world.
 
Listening to these newsreports, reading the blogs, and just skimming the media makes me want to believe that the West indeed has an agenda against India.
 
 

Happy Diwali 2013

Diwali is almost over but hey... good things and good deeds can be done anytime. This image is courtesy of JK YOG, I just removed the name of their organization digitally and published it on my blog. No copyright infringement is intended.

If I were in India it would have been one pig fest eating till my stomach busts, sweets, savories, etc. But then I am in America and don't even know any Indian families that celebrate these festivals well enough that I get invited to their place. Anyway festivals or not life goes on...

Beliefs and Convictions - different strokes....

I saw this advertisement in the local papers. It is interesting how people like Jim and his group featured in the advertisement take pride in eroding the religious practices and cultural beliefs of community and create rifts in the nation in the name of god. Religion and god was never meant to create unrest, and conflict in a society, but modern religion, especially when it gets highly professionally organized seems to be doing exactly that.

India is already a disturbed place with almost 20% of the world's population in less than 5% of the world's land area the country is reeling under several problems. Converting people and creating new religious orders only lead to conflicts. I wonder when people will understand that one doesn't ascend to heaven by creating conflicts in nations.

One of my friends who had lived in Texas earlier had remarked to me that "Texas is like the buckle of the bible belt" and having lived here for over five years I would say I have been poked and pierced by the buckle several times.

Money and Happiness!

"Money can't buy happiness" goes the old adage. The modern alternative to that is "Those who say Money can't buy happiness, simply don't know where to shop". This is at least true for 99% of the world's sane, thinking and normal population. The remaining 1% belong to the old school and still think there is not enough money in this world to buy happiness. I have heard colleagues of mine say "This company can't pay me enough to come to work on a Sunday or holiday...." It simply goes to illustrate that they simply don't know the strength of the financial muslce an organization can flex.
My personal opinion, money can buy happiness, as long as the money is in your pocket. The minute it changes hands you lose both money and happiness. Food for thought!!!

Aruba - My Next Holiday Destination

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was scouting for a place to go which is accessible, fun, affordable, exotic, and most importantly year around I stumbled upon Aruba, an island destination that has everything one could dream of. Aruba, appropriately called "one happy island" offers amazing options for every kind of holiday seeker - the foodie, shopper, beach lover, adventurer, honeymooning couple, and anyone for that matter.

Aruba is a small enough that everything is within reach but large enough to give you the variety in landscape that is bound to enthrall and entice everyone. While Aruba offers something for everyone, I am sure your reasons for visiting or wanting to go there could be quite different from mine.

I am looking forward to Aruba travel simply because of the amazing outdoor activities and adventure sports that the island offers. The island has some of the most amazing geographical formations and landscapes in the world. A unique combination of mountains and oceans is what draws me to Aruba.

I can climb tall mountains and refresh myself in the azure waters and lounge around on the ivory beaches. I am looking forward to a soul-soothing experience while hiking through 20 plus miles of trails across the wilderness of the Arikok National Park.

Personally speaking I am a water baby. I simply feel at home in natural waters of the ocean and the fact that Aruba's beaches offer amazing swimming opportunities make me want to go there today. Not to mention that the rising waves entice me to rent a surfboard and fly across the ocean.

I personally believe Aruba is one location for everyone. For those who don't want to drive or rent a car the public bus service is convenient and inexpensive. There are a number of taxis available for those who want a little exclusivity and speed. If you do want to rent a car then there are number of advantages, parking is free through the island, driving is on the right side of the road and the best thing is that foreign and international licenses are accepted.

I rest my case here about wanting to visit Aruba this year. What is your case? How would you enjoy Aruba, let me know I would love to discuss further about holiday options, plans and activities that you plan to undertake in Aruba.

Texas Sunset

A typical Texas Fall Sunset. Photographed by a colleague of mine with a smart phone.

5 Foods Americans Eat that Are Banned Around the World - Yahoo News

Growing up in India I recall the huge furore about BVO or Brominated Vegetable Oil being used in soft drinks, chocolate, etc. Consumer groups hounded these corporations and the government to ban products using BVO and the campaign was quite successful back then in the 1980s. Now I hope the ban continues. I am shocked to know that American corporations continue to spew out products with BVO quite regularly and not to mention growth hormones which makes the children and adults here grow to gigantic proportions. Wonder how it would be in India with so many multinational brands fighting for their share of the billion plus market.

5 Foods Americans Eat that Are Banned Around the World | Shine Food - Yahoo Shine http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/5-foods-americans-eat-banned-around-world-161800329.html These common foods in America include ingredients that other countries ban Read the full story

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Would you let your Sister/ Daughter do this???

A strange practice indeed, sending young women to practice prostitution in the name of religion. I have heard of such practices being followed but not with this kind of lethal intention. I wonder who in their right minds would happily send their daughter/ sister/ wife etc to sleep with 100s of unknown men. I guess only those who are so brainwashed with fundamentalist ideology would do. The whole world stands up outraged when a rape happens in a third world country, but when women willingly go to sleep with Islamic fighters with the intentions of bearing children who would go on to become terrorists, they say it is a "Strange Practice". Mind you not "abominable" or "barbaric" or anything else, just "strange".

Tunisian Girls Are Coming Home Pregnant After Performing 'Sexual Jihad' In Syria - Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tunisian-girls-coming-home-pregnant-233735013.html A very strange practice. Read the full story

Medicine as an Art

Train Views

Views of Lewisville lake from the train as I ride to work daily.