Alabama 3 - Woke Up This Morning - Spoken intro

One of my all time favourite bits.

ID15

Mr. Brown: happy indepenece day
Mr. White: likewise
Mr. Brown: indian independence just cost me 20 cents
Mr. White: likewise

Procrastination: 100+ Reasons You Shouldn’t Be Reading This

1) I will write later

Quit Whining, you sound like a sissy girl...

"Race is involved in these attacks, but it's also about classic masculinity and working-class guys trying to prove their worth by picking on a group that is marginalised," he said.

I am not surprised by this Australian's quote, after all, only the manly guys get the girls...

This comes soon after the authorities said that the attacks are not racist

Maybe the "curry niggers" should just pack and leave, not just the students but also all of them who are "stealing" Australian jobs. After all, casteist Indians are a thousand times worse than the average fun-loving Australian, and they are not the only group to be bashed -- let them just shut up and sit in the corner.

Everybody is only worried that the more the worms come out of the wood, more they will lose of the $15 Billion (and more).

Disclaimer: Indians are not exactly saints...

WTF quote of the day

"No matter how big an Aussie player in IPL team is, he should removed and told that it is impossible to keep him in the team till the blood of innocent Indians is shed on his country's soil," Thackeray said.

This coming out of the mouth of the same senile Bal Thackeray, whose goons attacked innocent coconut sellers in Marine Drive, and in Girgaum Chowpatty; the same Bal Thackeray who wanted every muslim dead during the Bombay riots; the same geezer who lauded the terrorist who killed MK Gandhi, saying he was a "great leader"!! What about the innocent Indians - Malayalees, Tamils, Muslims, Biharis, etc, attacked by his trusted rowdies? Should Maharashtrians stay out of IPL too?

Rediff about a "Desi"

Rediff has an article about "Ramit Sethi," an American of Indian Origin, who has a written a finance self-help book. Supposedly a best seller, one part of his interview that caught my attention was

In general, we Americans are not very savvy about personal finance at all.

WE AMERICANS?

He goes on to say

There are reasons for that. The first thing we can blame is our education system. We are not taught about personal finance in schools, and even if we are, these are old boring classes with boring topics.

If that's what he has to say about American education, what will he say about Indian education, which is focussed only on memorizing whole paragraphs and vomiting it all over the answer paper?

Not even one word related to India, he has uttered in his interview, and this was published in "Indians Abroad" magazine!!

Firefox incompatible government websites

I've been having trouble using Firefox with many government websites, the last being the official site of the Indian Railways.

I can open the website, however when I try to check the ticket status,


It seems to process properly,


Oh, it makes me wonder if I visited some other website by mistake..


No, it leads to the same page as before!!

Tanishq gold scheme

I got a brochure from the Tanishq showroom near my house, which said about a gold savings/purchase scheme, and said that was the best savings scheme available.

The scheme is, pay Rs. 500 a month for 11 months, the 12th month is free and Tanishq pays a bonus of Rs. 300. So, by paying Rs. 5500 over 11 months, you can purchase Rs. 6300 worth of gold at the end of the year. This seemed too good to be true.

I thought, what if I purchased Rs. 5500 worth of gold now, and see how much I get at the end of the year?

Let's assume the gold price today is Rs. 1500 (yesterday, it was Rs. 1480), and I buy exactly how much I can purchase for Rs. 5500 or 6300. I also assume a 10% increase in gold price the next year (actual increase from last year was 4.5%) and over 5 years, gold price will increase a modest 1.5 times (over the last 5 years it was 1.46 times)

Increase Gold Price Wastage Purchase Price Purchased Gold (g) Sold @ T5 Profit @ T5 Outright – Tanishq scheme
T0 1500 15.00% 1725 5500 3.19 13152.17 7652.17 256.52
T0 1500 15.00% 1725 6300 3.65 15065.22 8765.22 1369.57
T1 10.00% 1650 15.00% 1897.5 6300 3.32 13695.65 7395.65
T5 150.00% 4125

There is no option of buying gold coins, the item with the minimum wastage.

This option is available in UTI Gold ETFs, which I assume, going for the SIP plan, if that exists for gold ETF. UTI roughly traces the day's gold price.

Month Amount Price Units purchased
T0 500 1500 0.33
T1 500 1513.5 0.33
T2 500 1527.12 0.33
T3 500 1540.87 0.32
T4 500 1554.73 0.32
T5 500 1568.73 0.32
T6 500 1582.84 0.32
T7 500 1597.09 0.31
T8 500 1611.46 0.31
T9 500 1625.97 0.31
T10 500 1640.6 0.3

5500 3.51
Average purchase price 1568.1
T5 After 5 years 4125 14468.18
Profit 8968.18


A Bank FD (6.5% ROI, Rs. 5500 for 5 years)
Principal 5500
RoI 6.50%
Duration 5
Amount 7592.31
Profit 2092.31

Thus, Tanishq doesn't seem to offer me the best savings plan as it claims in its brochure. Outright purchase is more profitable than going for this dubious "best savings scheme".

This scheme is definitely not geared towards anyone from middle-middle class or below, since gold is always sold at a premium over the other shops. They wouldn't purchase here in the first place, and they definitely would be prudent enough to see through the smoke.

Some Nice Songs

From one and a half decades back... I feel so old...

Ye teri aankhen juki juki - Fareb



Chappa Chappa - Maachis

Returning to India

In the last few months, I have seen many of those "onsite" guys coming back to the home office, and a sudden spurt in the number of "US return" people flaunting their designer sunglasses, "original" nike shoes, and the costliest car in the block. News websites say they return mainly due to "sentimental" reasons, decreasing wage gaps, and other BS reasons. I talked to many of them. Initially they gave the same kind of reasons - being close to family; came here for a vacation, will go back there after taking care of this problem project here; etc. Prodding further, or making them speak their mind, the real reason seems to be the IT companies recalling them, either due to project cancellation, or cost cutting over there, "resource rotation", and mainly the expiry of their visas. Even some greencard holders have returned - that was due to losing their jobs (and their sponsors). While it is a face-saving way to hide the real reason, why do those newspapers and websites give a phony reason?

To all those supporting LTTE

To all those morons supporting LTTE and quoting from its propaganda website, those who want India to send troops to "save Tamils", THIS is what LTTE thinks about India. The above picture shows Indians killed by the same Tamils India supposedly went to protect.



We don't want a repeat of the above scenes.



This is how our former PM was treated , first by the Sinhalese, we all know how the LTTE handled him...


Sri Lankan Tamils lost their cause when they, the LTTE, and the Sri Lankan government hounded IPKF out of their country. All those people empathising for their "Tamil Berthers", why don't they sympathise for the lesser "tamil berthers", the dalits of this state? Caste affinity makes some politicians (Thevars, Vanniars, and Gounders) vociferously support Prabhakaran (Karaiyar) and the majority Sri Lankan Tamils (Vanniars, Vellalars), and the "enemies" of this caste (Pariahs) shamelessly toe their lines even while they are weighed down their whole lives here, and their equivalents in Sri Lanka (Rodiyas) live a life as bad or worse than the untouchables in India. Politicians make strange bedfellows!!

Why don't these politicians talk about
1) the bigotry against Muslims
2) the increasing violence against Christians
3) the atrocities against dalits
4) the exploitation of tribals

I would say, that's because they have more in common with those people (caste) than with these people!!

A Diamond is forever, a mere piece of overpriced carbon

There are carbon forms and compounds much more precious than diamonds. If there is one industry that I would like to see go down during this recession, it is the diamond industry...

“If you don’t support the price,” Andrei V. Polyakov, a spokesman for Alrosa, said, “a diamond becomes a mere piece of carbon"

Tata Apartments - Nano or No-No

The project is over-over-hyped for 3 reasons

1) 100 kilometres away from the city, 50 kilometres away from the nearest suburban train terminus, 80 kilometres away from the centre of the city

2) with an average car speed of 40 kmph till Virar, and 20 kmph from Virar will have a 3.5 hour commute each way -- 7 hours wasted just on the roads. That's a whole work day!!

3) So far away from the city, and still someone has to shell out 1500 per sq. ft. -- for a 250 sq. ft. apartment?

No one in their right minds should go for that.



In the picture, the red marker is Boisar, where the project is to come up, and Mumbai is far far away!!

On the other hand, had they come up with the same apartments atleast within Virar limits, then it would've been a good option. Or, if the apartments were not directed towards those people who commute to Mumbai everyday, it would have been much better. Why centre everything in India around Mumbai and Delhi?

And the media (including websites) shamelessly think this is a great idea!!

I Hope...

I Hope Samata Party loses so badly in the elections, that they won't thinking of contesting elections again.

We opposed the goons of Raj Thackeray - he was fighting the correct evil, but not in the correct way.

Idiotic quotes by a moron standing for elections in Mumbai

"We will definitely make an effort to emulate Chennai and Saudi Arabia's systems of purifying sea water and making it fit to drink." -- Not sooner, he also said "Machines create loss of jobs". How is he going to achieve this -- by manually making people from Bihar move all over the coast to purify sea water?

He also vomited, "And we are not saying that English shouldn't be taught in schools -- we are only saying that all government work should take place in our national language, Hindi." Bollocks to that. Hindi should be banned anywhere outside BIMARU states.

Continuing his verbal diarrhoea, he said "But if we computerise things in the villages also, people won't have any work." What he meant was, he won't be able to fill more people from his state as pan-Indian clerks.

I hope someone throws one truck-load of shoes at each of these guys guys, along with the truck. Or, make that two.

What the great UP-wallah Nehru wanted, these guys are trying to achieve.

Tamils??

While the should've-retired-by-now Thief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been flipping and flopping over the "Tamil Cause", the only Tamilian in the Sri Lankan cricket team is "happy to be among wickets," captaining Chennai Super Kings.

Why are those protesting in Europe simply termed as Tamils? Just because they speak the same language?? Going by the same logic, there are no Americans or Australians, only English, and no Austrians, only Germans.

Mobile Penetration - what changed in 4 months?

December 2008, Delhi supposedly joined the "elite" club of cities with more than 1 mobile phone for each person. Source: Economic Times. Chennai was not even mentioned as passing gas.
April 2009, it is 0.83 mobile phones per person. Chennai is "lauded" as the "topper", with 1.11 mobile phones per person. Source: Rediff.

What happened in these 4 months, that brought about this change - did those multi-phoned Delhi dudes move to the stagnant backwaters of Chennai?

Fish Fry

Seer fish slices - ½ kg ~ 6 slices
turmeric powder – 1tsp
red chilly powder – 3 tsp
coriander powder – 1 tsp (optional, increase chilly powder and pepper powder by 1/2 tsp each)
Pepper powder – 2 tsp
table salt – 2 tsp
water – as much as required
juice of 1 big lime

Mix all the powders together in a small bowl with salt, little water and the lime juice. Smear both sides of fish slices with a slightly thick layer, and let it soak for 30 minutes. Pour a little oil in a frying pan, and place the fish slices, two at a time. Turn every two minutes. Fish is done when it starts smelling nice, usually 12-14 minutes in total, per slice.

Goes well with beer, whisky.

Chanakya's quotes - relevent even today!!

If Chanakya lived today, people will just deride him as pessimistic, crooked, wily, etc.

A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are victimized first. --applies even outside politics. Look at road accidents, majority of the people killed were just following the law when some duffer drove either drunk or rashly or both.

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth. --What will proponents of the "unsinkable ship" say?? There's a reason why USA is best friends with Pakistan ;-) and why Thirumavalavan is friends with Ramadas?

As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

Once you start a working on something,don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction. --so does the stench of corruption in India.

A man is great by deeds, not by birth. --!!!

Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends. --advice to all dads, old and new.

Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

Conduct certificate to join orkut community?

If someone wants to join a government job, they must produce 2 conduct certificates - from school/college, from an "outstanding citizen", from previous/current employers.

Saw this in an orkut community -- "Indian Politics"

To become a member, show evidence of your conduct in debates by e-mailing the URLs of threads of other Orkut communities that you are a part of to

Hmm...

Cost of green

I had been thinking a lot about installing a solar water heater for two reasons - decreasing my electricity bill, and to make use of the 10 hours-a-day sunshine here. I called up the dealer of a famous solar water heater manufacturer and found out it was not worth buying a solar water heater at all!
1. I can't have hot water whenever I want, even during the day time. I was supposed to let the sun "boil" the water for a whole day and I can use the water heated today only the next day.
2. The cost is prohibitive - Rs. 20,000 + taxes + installation charges + "misc. expenses". The cost of an instant water heater is Rs. 4000, and the annual electric bill (all the appliances) is only another Rs. 4000. So, if I get this installed, it will take me 4 more years to break even.
3. I can't install it in my flat as the heater has to be placed only on the open terrace.

Why go through all this trouble if I have to lose all the convenience??

Yahoo Messenger Spam

I've been having this problem for the last few days - with spam messages coming from my contacts. The case used to be that I got lots of spam messages from people I've never known, nowadays, these messages seem to come from people in my contact list!!

The messages come with the audible Ping, which till now I've understood to be followed by an urgent message by my friends...

Mutiny

1971: India helps Bangladesh free itself from brutal Pakistan.
2001: Bangladesh returns the favour - sending back the mutilated bodies of BSF soldiers tied up like they were game gathered by the maharaja's hunting party.
(Image from Sify)
2009: Bangladesh Rifles in the news again
(Image from BBC)

The number of dead bodies in the grave could rise as the search continued, fire service operations chief Sheikh Mohammad Shahjalal said.
“It’s beyond comprehension how one human could have done this to another. They not only shot them dead but some bodies were badly mutilated with bayonets,” he said.

I wonder why nobody in Bangladesh asked this question in 2001. Maybe they don't consider citizens of a "Hindu country" as humans?

It has been known for some time that Pakistan's ISI has had a free reign within Bangladesh for creating trouble in India. If it is proved that ISI (or some other Paki organization) is behind this mutiny, will Bangladesh kick ISI out of the country? Or, will it try to "forgive" this mutiny and show some other reason?

Economy

If there's anything I would like to see go down because of this bad economy, that would be Dubai and it's associated hype.

Then and Now

pre-1987: Ceylonese government creates an apartheid state, with Sinhalese only as full citizens. Contrary to widespread belief that Buddhists are peaceful dopes, Tamil Hindus and Muslims are massacred and maltreated throughout the country by them.

1987-1991: Civil war in Sri Lanka, government forces fought against LTTE. Tamil Politicians openly supported the resistance/separatists. Indian armed forces forced to intervene by Tamil and Union politicians. All organizations, except LTTE lay down weapons; LTTE calls IPKF the "Satanic Force", "get the hell out of our country!" LTTE and Sri Lanka got together to fight back IPKF. IPKF Withdraws after huge losses. An ex-Prime Minister assassinated by LTTE.

1991-1996: See-saw between LTTE (now the sole "representative" of Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil politicians' shrill voice is mostly muted due to aforementioned assassination.

1996-2005: See-saw between LTTE (now the sole "representative" of Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil politicians' shrill voice raising slowly. Tens of "sole voice of Tamil conscience" join hands, along with Dalit "leader" Thirumavalavan.

2005-mid 2008: Civil war in Sri Lanka, government forces fought against LTTE. Tamil Politicians openly support LTTE. LTTE wants India to intervene now and save their arse.

mid 2008-present: LTTE on verge of losing everything tries to whip up emotions comparing what happens in Israel/Palestine to this Civil War. Both are sad events, but LTTE is not truly concerned about the civilians, they just want to hold on to the power they have tasted, and not getting killed once they lose their status. In Tamil Nadu, anyone who criticizes LTTE or the "Tamil Cause" is immediately denounced and silenced ever since a guy burnt himself up.

Aruva Culture in London

A common complaint on rediff is tamils create problems wherever they go ... example vs. Karnataka, vs. Kerala, vs. AP, HINDRAF vs. Malaysia, Sri Lankan Tamils the world over, Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha, Vaiko, etc... Had this conversation today with some dost...

Dost: dei
<<a link he sent>>

Dost: read this
this happened just 1 mile from my place
day before

Manojar: oh
pathu poda...

Dost: yesss

Manojar: how is crime in london generally?

Dost: blacks and srilankans
thaaan problem

Dost: now aruvaaal culture also started

Manojar: ennathu???
aruva culture

Dost: yess
all our tamil guys only

Manojar: our tamil guys illa -

Dost: not lankans

Manojar: ltte tamil guys... ceylonese?
oh ok

Dost: tamils from tamil nadu
lot of illegal immigrants are there

Manojar: madurai tirunelveli thuthukudi guys ;-)

Dost: yesss
mostly from karaikudi
pattukottai

Dost: they come in tourist visa
Dost: over
stay
yes

Manojar: what abt u?

Dost: there are many agents
dei i am a proper resident with valid permit to stay
i am paying tax and filed tax also

My theory is, greater the Tamil Nationalism/Chauvinism of the people, greater their tendency to be violent and stupid. Just look at how peaceful the people in Madras are, compared to the people in south Tamil Nadu (also include Karunanithi, Jayalalitha, Vaiko, Ramadoss, Thirumavalavan, and many more). Also, peace is a relative term :D.

Chennai Metro

With the people signing the deal for Chennai Metro, many may expect it to be the greatest thing to happen here. However, will it go the way of the MRTS - be inaccessible and underutilized in the catchment area due to poor planning?

Previously by Manojar - Chennai Local Train map

Even the Metro is for the benefit of South Madras, and tries to include some areas of west Madras, let's see how it fares.

Local trains in Chennai

Totally vetti, so plotted the existing local train map for Chennai. See how much of the city is unrepresented here!!

7 not greater than 6?

I have been trying to help someone apply for a bank job. All the Indian banks use the same website for receiving applications. I get an error saying that IE Version 6 and above has to be used. I tried Firefox, and Chrome, and finally came to IE. Even when I have a higher version (version 7), I get the same error. What can be done? Wonder if anybody else get the same message.