Blogcritics Author: temporal

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

President Bush's Impending Announcement on Iraq: A Preemptive Analysis

temporal — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:55:02 EST

In a widely leaked/anticipated announcement to be made from the White House, President George W. Bush will again be playing the Emperor who had no clothes.Announcing an increase of approximately 21,000 more American troops in Iraq, he will tear to shreds the remnants of the Rumsfeld Doctrine which the fired Secretary wanted to leave as his Pentagon legacy. Recall the RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) - less soldiers, better equipment that might ostensibly be translated into a leaner, meaner fighting machine?Reverting to the Powell Doctrine he will also reply to James Bakers’ Iraq Study Group Report (also known as Baker-Hamilton Commission.) thus reinforcing the lingering neoconzix influence in his lame duck Presidency. It is suggested that he preferred to listen to Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute and his plan, titled Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq.Look out for the following from the President’s speech this evening:* Train and transfer power (and more blame) to the Iraqi soldiers. Let them patrol and let Iraqis kill each other (No the report never said this in as many words - my conjecture.)* Assign more US Troops in key Baghdad Area. On US Networks, at least the Baghdad area should appear less violent. Embed US troops with Iraqis. Let us show them Iraqis how violence can be curbed.* Dangle re-establishment of ‘security’ to be followed by economic development and reconstruction of the infrastructure that we destroyed in the first place (no, the report made no such admission, again my conjecture.)This lame duck President is ‘under the influence’ – not of alcohol which he has reputedly quit – but under the influence of unabated bad advice from the neoconzix. His lack of common sense, his ignorance of ground realities, his ignorance of geopolitics is of imbecilic proportions.Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty non-signatory Israel has leaked Plans for a Nuclear Attack on Iran aimed at NNPT signatory Iran’s uranium enrichment plants, citing them as a threat to Israel’s survival. President Ahmadinejad is shouting about wiping away Israel.President Bush has already ordered the USS John C. Stennis strike group into the Persian Gulf with nuclear armed missiles and minesweepers. The connection between aiding Israel in its quest and overcoming the possible blockade of the Persian Gulf by Iran is obvious. The Persian Gulf is the oil bloodline for nearly 35% of world oil shipments.Instead of acting as an statesman and calming the turmoil in our world, this puppet President is lobbing incendiary bombs in an already volatile region of the world. If he is allowed to get away with this scheme he will ensure a bloody heritage not only for today’s young GIs but also for the incoming administration.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Subduing Narcissism

temporal — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:26:10 EST

Why is there so much antipathy around? Most of it begins with I and then overwhelms the sea of mine and an exclusive ours.I hate spinach, mom. Fine, don't eat it. I hate the school tie, mom. Well, take it off immediately after the school is over. I hate this, I hate that. Fine, fine. Somewhere between the dusk of adolescence and the dawn of youth, the animus gets directed towards the ubiquitous terrain.Who is that guy hanging around with her? Did that person make a rude gesture? The directives from the school board make no sense. Idiots. Our politicians are potatoes. Or worse, jellyfish. Them damn (fill in your favourite group here.)From the antagonism directed at immediate authority figures, this segues to a loathing of distant authority figures that are only seen on the idiot tube. These foreign people and their leaders become the discarded tins in their path. Next, their aversion is directed to people - unmet, unseen, unknown.A contemporaneous growth in angst, perhaps lingering subterraneanly, rises now against the demi-gods of institutions, cities, societies, and the whole universe. In this merry-go-round they learn to detest themselves. In extreme cases this manifests in mayhem and self-destruction. Innocent bystanders become captives and end up as collateral damage, and along with the perpetrators exit the stage horizontally. This me-first selfishness is a manifestation of the growth of narcissism encouraged and bred by our self-absorbed and consuming times. I, me, mine - alone, aloof, removed from others under the garb of individuality. This preponderance of individualism at the expense of moderation and collectivism turns a stream of dislikes into rivers of vainglorious pomposity and unbridled antagonism.Which one is better - narcissism or altruism? Rhetoric aside, when narcissism is expressed in regional, national, and international spheres it segues into an irreversible harbinger of animosity.This is relevant for the holiday season. With merrymaking and celebrating our bounties, the wishes for peace and prosperity ring hollow when thoughts, smiles, and wishes betray the actions. The skating on thin ice continues.Be safe. Stay Alive and healthy. Together!

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Know What I'm Sayin'?

temporal — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:50:32 EST

"Be sincere; be brief; be seated." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt "Good things, when short, are twice as good." - Graci�n "A short saying often contains much wisdom." - Sophocles "Brevity is a great charm of eloquence." - Cicero "Brevity is the soul of lingerie." - Dorothy Parker These quotes reflect on the writer's mind-set. What is it with some people and their speech? Know what I'm sayin'? As communicative beings, we grow and use communicative skills to convey our hunger, anger, and love. From the infant's first lungful cry to the animal grunts in the bedroom, the distance is not all that arduous.In a foreign land we can still communicate hunger even if we don't know the language. In restaurants I have used primitive sign language to order food. In meetings, we use non-verbal language.The majority of the time we use words to communicate our thoughts -- structured or broken -- depending on the company. Both are okay with me, but what irritates me at times is when certain words or phrases are abused. Know what I'm sayin'?As readers we come across words that send us scurrying to the padded room. The pharmaceutical companies that make drugs for ulcers and blood pressure must have invested in programs that enhance abuse of the written language.As if that is not enough, we increasingly hear these abuses in conversations and on radio and television. It is discomforting enough when teens tell their parents "You don't know nothin' dad," but when a grown man interjects "Know what I'm sayin'?" after every second simple sentence, I feel like introducing the speaker to the greasy side of a wrought iron pan. Everyday verbal communication includes colloquialisms, slang, jargon, and idiom. The time when hunter-gatherers made do with grins and grunts is past; though I wonder sometimes. The use of expletives in everyday usage alarms me, as I explained in Duck, Man Duck! Would I prefer to be rained with 'know what am sayin'" or with a plethora of expletives that tell me and others to go forth and make love? Neither. I'd rather be uncommunicative. Perhaps at some chance encounter, I may garner courage to tell someone who wants to know if I understand what he is saying with "I do, but do you?"

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Another Bid For Peace in the Middle East: An Enemy of My Enemy....

temporal — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 01:34:28 EDT

Israel 'holds secret Saudi talks' Israeli officials are saying that Israel has held 'secret talks' with Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has held an unprecedented meeting with a senior member of the Saudi royal family, "I did not meet the Saudi king and I did not meet with any element that should have caused a media sensation," said Ehud Olmert according to a statement published by Yediot's website, reports Haaretz.com.Like most things that occur in secrecy shrouded Middle East, the news of a meeting between Ehud Olmert and Saudi officials began in denial.So he did meet someone. When? And what transpired?About twelve days ago, Haaretz reported Olmert met Prince Bander. The prince has positioned himself as Secretary General of the Saudi National Security Council. Until last year Prince Bander was one of the longest serving Saudi Ambassador in Washington D.C. He was a beltway insider for close to twenty two years: a confidante of Presidents and Senators and Congressmen.The only other person King Abdullah could have trusted with this task would have been Prince Faisal al Saud, the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister. Then the ironic twist of history would come have come full circle. The other Prince Faisal got along famously with Chaim Weizmann in 1919. Both shared a disdain for the Palestinians.Why this sudden re-emergence of the Abdullah Peace Plan, first promoted in 2002?One word answer, Lebanon!The Lebanese excursion has wounded Ehud Olmert badly. His credibility took a big hit. The Hezbollah resistance has made the Saudis uncomfortable too. They do not like Iran’s increasing influence in the region. There are other factors playing here too.The Arab Peace InitiativeAt the Beirut Summit of the Arab League on Mar 28, 2002, then Crown Prince, now King Abdullah, published this peace plan with the unanimous consent of all members of the League.It called for the recognition of State of Israel and establishment of cordial relations with it by all Arab States. In return, State of Israel will withdraw its forces to pre 1967 borders and recognize the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. Text of Document hereThe turbulence in the Middle East overtook the good intents of this Plan. While this was a first step in the direction of a comprehensive and long term peace in this region it purposefully left out issues to be settled later.Some of the major issues it did not address:* The role of USA, the UN and other world Agencies as a guarantor* The border and militarization of the State of Palestine* Return of the Jewish and Palestinian Diaspora* Prisoner exchange* Distribution of water resourcesBy guaranteeing recognition and peaceful coexistence this peace Initiative went a long way in addressing modern Israel’s perennial insecurity: that of her lack of strategic depth. Abdullah rightly regarded this as a first step. Comprehensive peace would follow.With the amount of hostility and suspicion generated between Israel and her neighbors since 1948, it is not illogical to understand that Israeli politicians would extract airtight guarantees from the rest of the world also. Enter the US, the UN, NATO perhaps, Japan, Russia, India. One big obstacle to peace in the region would be big business. If there is peace, Ike’s ‘military-industrial-complex’ would lose. Also, not to be overlooked are people who do not want peace. This includes hard liners, both Israeli and Palestinian, as well as those in neighboring Arab countries and Iran.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Some More Names II

temporal — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:25:38 EDT

So many names,there is barely roomon the walls of the heart,from The Names, by Billy Collinsin some more names, billy i wrote:am movedyou have a way with wordswhy is your world so confined to the US, and some countries across the big pond?****five years sincethe exclamations came downand the survivors made peace the innocent continue to suffer from ripple lashesthe evil twins throw barbs milk the towers, we survive, paypray and whine - lucky we areremoving shoes, emptying pocketsmillions fare worse death, poverty - living misery while culprits debate for eversurveys, polls supportsix billion viewsour world has changed...there is more suspicionfear, mistrust - phobias rulekillings and bombings galorein the name of righteousnessand we're ever more suspicious of neighbours, the unabated legacyof the exclamation's dissolution

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Malegaon Blasts Rock India: Dozens Killed and Injured

temporal — Fri, 8 Sep 2006 13:55:26 EDT

Following Friday prayers, about 35 people have died and over 150 are injured in two separate bomb blasts, before they could atone for their sins and pray for their good fortune in the coming year.The blasts occurred in a mosque attached to a graveyard (BaDa Qabrastan) and in a crowded market (Mushaira Market) in Malegaon, about 280 km north east of Mumbai. Malegaon has a population of about 700,000, of which, about two thirds are Muslims.The blasts occurred after Friday prayer at around 1.50 p.m. on the eve of Shab e Barat.The Muslims of the subcontinent consider Shab e Barat as a special occasion to pray for the departed and for their good fate and fortune in the coming year. There is no mention in the Qur'an of this practice and the Hadiths quoted by Tirmidhi for celebrating Shab e Barat are not considered very authentic by most religious interpreters. State Police Chief P. S. Pasricha said curfew has been imposed in the town and New Delhi has dispatched 3000 paramilitary forces to maintain peace. So far, no group has taken responsibility for the blastAs happens after every terrorist act, New Delhi has been placed on high alert. Only a few days earlier Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned that terror groups could target religious and economic targets in the country and had asked the state governments to beef up security. "I am shocked and saddened by the brutal terrorist bombings that killed innocent civilians outside a mosque in Malegaon today. There can be no justification of such a heinous act," U.S. ambassador to India David C. Mulford said.Here is a chronology of major attacks in India since 2001.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Bugti Checkmated In Balochistan

temporal — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:41:59 EDT

In the dangerous game being played between the Baloch tribals and the Pakistan Army, Nawab Akbar Bugti, 79, was reported killed by an Air Force missile. Bugti, as he was generally known, was a tribal chieftain of the Bugti tribe in Balochistan.Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is sparsely populated, and has major gas and mineral resources. Pakistan has also developed a strategic warm water port at Gwadar with the help of Chinese that sits atop the Straits of Hormuz. Bugti was reputed to be a backer of and a spokesperson for the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). It is reported that BLA chief Balach Marri was also killed with Bugti. At its web site, the BLA speaks of the inequality and sufferings at the hands of "Pakistan and its tyrant Punjabi institutions." The same sentiments are echoed by another site, BalochWana, representing the Baloch Youth, which goes on to call Balochistan "Pakistan occupied country."BLA and other guerrilla groups seeking justice in Balochistan have been actively involved in blowing up natural gas pipelines, refineries, train lines, electricity grids, service facilities, and government installations not only in Balochistan but increasingly in other provinces of Pakistan to press for their demands. The Pakistani Army is strained and stretched in fighting terrorists and Taliban supporters in the North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan and in trying to curb ethnic and religious violence in its major cities of Karachi, Sind and Lahore, Punjab. And with India, it has a festering dispute in Kashmir. ***Nawab Bugti belonged to one of the three main tribes of Balochistan. Educated at Acheson College, Lahore and at Oxford, he was once a part of the Pakistan Administration in the 50s and 60s. In the 90s he was in the vanguard confronting the Pakistam Administration and the Army, both as an eloquent elder statesman and as a warlord with his own missile-equipped army.Along with Khair Bux Marri and Ataullah Mengal, the other two prominent and powerful Baloch Sardars, he was a constant thorn in the Pakistan Army's designs.According to journalist and author Ahmed Rashid, the manner in which Bugti was killed does not serve the Pakistani Government. It was portraying Bugti as an "anti-government renegade" and warlord. Instead Nawab Bugti will end up as a "martyred hero" not only for Baloch Nationalists but also other minority groups and nationalists who complain of the Pakistan Army's high handedness.Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has said the death of Bugti is a "black day" in the history of Pakistant, and that "the blood would continue to flow from his wound for a long time."Following the announcement of Bugti's death the government moved quickly to impose a 24 hour curfew in Quetta, Balochistan's main city. Thousands ignored the curfew and demonstrated against the government as reported in the Washington Post today.There are reports of widespread rioting that have also spread to Karachi, Pakistan's main city.***Since independence in 1947, the federal government has been hampered in its efforts to impose federal laws over extended areas of its border in the west and north-west of the country. In the provinces where it had ostensibly more support, it has tended to neglect popular opinion and showed a readiness to accommodate the powerful zamindars (landlords with vast holdings lording over peasants) and regional power lords such as Jamiat e Ulema e Islam (JUI) a fundamentalist group in Balochistan and NWFP and Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM), ruled by Altaf Hussain from self-imposed exile in London. The leaders of the two main opposition political parties in Pakistan the Muslim League and the People's Party also live in exile. (Both face corruption and abuse of power charges while in power in the 90s.)It belies President Musharraf's much publicized stand of enlightened moderation.The Bush Administration considers Pakistan as a front-line ally in the fight against terrorism. But historically, despite all the talk about democracy and reforms, almost all previous administrations have shown a preference to deal with dictators and autocrats rather than democratic leadership in the the third world. The Bush Administration is no exception to this.President Musharraf's term as President expires next year. He is reported to have indicated a willingness to stand for another term. And to be successful, he needs the support of the same religious parties that are anathema to the Bush Administration. The President walks a tight rope. Internationally he has succeeded in playing a secular moderate leader. But nationally, he needs the support of the fundamentalist parties. This dichotomy is overlooked by the Bush Administration much to the chagrin of political parties in Pakistan and by her neighbor, India. The Indians allege that the army is not doing enough to curb terrorism and its breeding grounds.With this killing, President Musharraf may have been sending signals to nationalist movements within Pakistan and to neighbouring India and Afghanistan whom it holds responsible for funding, arming, and training Baloch guerrillas. It should be noted here that India and Afghanistan in turn accuse Pakistan, and its notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of fomenting and supporting rebels in their countries. All countries named here deny these charges.The moderate majority thinks President Musharraf's flip-flops over major problems and issues facing the country and appeases the fundamentalist parties. They cite his indecisiveness over Hudood Ordinance as an indicator of his lack of resolve to right a wrong and accuse him of giving in to the fundamentalists. The ex-commando is known to lead his country into and out of messes of his and his army's creation. Time will tell if and how he will extricate them both this time.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: A Saint With Warts

temporal — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:40:26 EDT

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Porbander, October 2, 1869 – New Delhi, January 30, 1948) may qualify as the most visible invisible Indian in India. His journey was an eclectic one, from founding father, to icon on the currency notes, to a figure relegated to the dusty bookshelves. He is remembered officially a few times a year, his portrait adorns government buildings, and his face is on the bills surreptitiously exchanged in payola daily.Other than that, Bapu's three principles of satyagraha, ahimsa and tapasiya are lost in the maze of hazy fog of an undisturbed past. Rama Luxmi wrote about the "frail, half-naked ascetic" who is the main attraction at an interactive multi-media museum in New Delhi. This is the same exhibition about which Desicritic Kim explored in a photo essay on May 27, 2006. Sacred World Foundation, the creators of this interactive museum, have this to say about the exhibits:A language… derived from classical symbols of the spinning wheel, turning of the prayer wheels, touching symbolic pillars, the act of hands touching sacred objects… the touching and rotating of prayer beads. These tradition-based interactions inspire a rich panorama… that allow people to access the multimedia imagery and multidimensional mind of Gandhiji.Gandhi's statues adorn London, Toronto, Winnipeg, San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Washington, DC, Pietermaritzburg, Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Canberra, Santiago de Chile, Mexico City, Port of Spain and San Fernando."Gandhiji's image has definitely changed since when I was growing up. Then he was a symbol of all that was good and pure, reflected in the oft-heard plaintive wail, Bapu kya ho gayaa tere desh ka (roughly translated -- what have they done to your country, oh father?). No doubt, this holier-than-thou image was attributable to decades of Congress rule and the accompanying whitewashing of history books.But some things endure -- his commitment to the truth at all costs, his brutal honesty, his devotion to his principles, and his undoubted contribution in securing the nation's independence. At the end of the day, despite the barbs and the derision heaped on him by no end of detractors, he remains a real man, the greatest to emerge from India and one of the world's most influential people. That, along with his face on every currency note printed in India, is his enduring legacy," wrote a writer friend from Banglore. Another friend echoed, "The world changed before he could achieve his goals. He allowed his personal feelings to cloud his better judgement, and used emotional appeal like few politicians to get his way, but he had the country's best interests at heart."Ironically, a man so revered world over is relegated to ceremonial platitudes in his own country. While some still hate him bitterly, the majority is ambivalent.One Indian mother says, "I read somewhere that Gandhi was irrelevant to today's India because today's India is very different from the India of fifty to hundred years ago. I would argue that historical figures never become irrelevant. Obviously his way of life, his thoughts and ideas, and the way he fashioned his revolt against British oppression had a positive impact on India's independence movement."Gandhi was a saint with blemishes and warts. That his legacy survives his eccentricities and human frailties is a tribute to his greatness. He has inspired an array of world leaders including the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.His dream of eradication of caste discrimination remains largely unfulfilled. One need only scan the matrimonial ads in Indian newspapers and websites for proof of this. Gandhi's other dream, freedom from the colonial yoke, is a reality. His India is racing to claim its rightful place among the First Nations of this world before the end of this century.The Washington Post article quoting Savita Singh, director of the Eternal Gandhi museum and memorial concludes: "Gandhi can be discovered in many ways, this is just one," she says. "What makes his message eternal are not these computers anyway."What the world needs today is more Gandhis and Mandelas. I hope this museum exhibit tours North America. And I hope it is opened by Nelson Mandela.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Breaking News: Mumbai Rocked By Seven Blasts

temporal — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 12:06:02 EDT

It has been reported by NDTV, and is now being reported by the New York Times and other news media, that a series of blasts have rocked Mumbai's commuter rail network. Most of the blasts occurred in first class compartments of trains full of commuters returning home. The first one was on train between Khar and Mahim. The second blast was on a train at the Mahim station, the third near Bhayandar station, the fourth at Jogeshwari and the fifth at Borivili.There are reports of two more blasts -- the sixth at Khar, and the seventh one has been reported from Matunga.The Western Lines have been closed down and the injured are being rushed to local hospitals. Seven blasts rocked suburban trains in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, Police Commissioner A N Roy has said. The police control room has reported that 104 passengers have been killed in the blasts, and 258 injured. PTI reports that the blasts took place in a span of 30 minutes in first class compartments of suburban trains.CNN reports that PM Manmohan Singh has called an emergency meeting of his ministers. Airports and other transportation hubs have been placed on high alert all over the country.This is reminiscent of the Bombay blasts of 1993, when thirteen bombs exploded all over the city, claiming over 250 lives.UPDATE:If any of our readers are looking for friends or relatives or for any other information in Mumbai, Mumbai Help can help you get you the information. Please visit and perhaps you could pitch in and help, too.In Bombay most phone lines are jammed. Getting in touch with anyone on a cell phone is close to impossible. Landlines are easier to get through. Following are some phone numbers of hospitals that the injured have been taken to. You can call these numbers for further details.Lists of InjuredWestern Railway Enquiry 131, (022) 2306 1763Mumbai Helpline (022) 2200 5388Cooper Hospital (022) 2620 7254, and 56Bhabha Hospital - Bandra (022) 2642 2775Hinduja Hospital (022) 2445 1515, 2445 2222Leelavati Hospital (022) 2643 8281Nanavati Hospital (022)Raheja Hospital (022) 2446 7569Sion Hospital (022) 2407 6380 / 2444 9161To send messages on TV News Channels:CNN IBN SMS "Mumbai" to 2622 followed by your messageOr call (0120)4341 895 http://www.ibnlive.comHeadlines Today HT Message your name to 2424NDTV SMS message to 6388Times Now SMS YOU Message at 8888For blood donationsSion Hospital needs 1600 bottles of blood.Holy Family Hospital on Hill Road, Bandra is running a donor's clinic.The chronology of the seven bomb blasts that ripped through the seven suburban trains at various stations during the peak hour on Tuesday evening is as follows:Khar -- 1824 hrsBandra -- 1824 hrsJogeshwari -- 1825 hrsMahim -- 1826 hrsMira Road -- 1829 hrsMatunga -- 1830 hrsBorivali -- 1835 hrs147 killed 439 injuredTrain services resume from Bandra to Andheri - Harbour and Churchgate to Bandra also Goregaon to Borivali and Vasai to BorivaliAdministration jammed the phone lines to prevent rumor mongers. Didn't realise they created more panic for 100 % of mobile-using Mumbai population who couldn't contact or be contacted by anyoneAll blasts in first class compartmentsParamilitary forces deployed at major airportsAll trains from Ahmendabad to Mumbai cancelled.Hospital Reports:Bhagwati Hospital, Borivili 24 dead 50 injuredSion Hospital, Sion 38 dead 40 injuredVN Desai Hospital, Santa Cruz 9 dead 32 injuredKEM Hospital, Parel 18 dead 50 injuredHinduja Hospital, Mahim 36 InjuredCooper Hospital, Vile Parle 26 dead 25 injuredBhabha Hospital, Bandra 22 dead 25 injuredMalika Hospital, Oshiwara 16 injuredNanavati Hospital, Vile Parle 2 DeadThanks to Aniruddha, Kim, Sujatha, Apollo and Sakhshi.

love people who are in awe of words. words are the sole arbiter and the final survivor. desicritic editor, slave and slave-driver.

Desicritics Editors' Picks - May 29- June 04

temporal — Thu, 8 Jun 2006 12:46:29 EDT

We are the new kid on the block, and are in the process of getting there. So far, we have put up three weeks of editor's picks. Notice the singular? Told you, we are getting there! So, yes this is subjective, though care has been taken. For instance, I refrained from selecting any article by the contributing editors. And there were a few good ones. Perhaps, as we make further headway, we will include them, too. Here are the links for the first three weeks' picks. Desicritics Editor's Picks - May 15-21 Desicritics Editor's Picks - May 08-14 Desicritics Editor's Picks - May 01-07 I have picked out some articles to highlight the past week. Nothing unusual in that. But what is unusual is that some of the writers have more than one entry. And two of them merited a third honorable mention. If you are a contributor and do not find yourself here, please do not be unduly bothered. This list is arbitrary and subjective. Each contributing writer to Desicritics is a special writer. And do not pay heed to rumors that praising certain poems by a small time poet would get you here.Any past writer who has been highlighted here can recommend one of their choice to me or one of the other editors to be included in the next selection. Your suggestions are welcome too, specially for book/movie/music reviews. Here are this week's selections: Raw Materials by Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa May 29, 2006 - kamla bhatt writes:A few months ago I met with Vijay and Rudresh in New York where we spoke about their upcoming album, what it was like growing up in the USA, and how they decided to make music their professional career. Both, Vijay and Rudresh had no role models when they made their choice to become musicians. Vijay in fact finished his PhD and then switched to become a jazz musician. Rudresh went to a music school and got his undergraduate and graduate degree in music.The Struggle with Web 2.0: You Are Not Alone... May 31, 2006 - kamla bhatt writes:Getting back to the struggle with these Web 2.0 applications here is what I have discovered in private conversations with fellow bloggers. They too go through similar experiences, but nobody talks about it. It is as though we have to suffer in silence and endure this whole Web 2.0 revolution that is unfolding. Creators of these wonderful tools and applications appear to forget that not everybody is a software engineer or a geek, and users do need a clear set of instructions. Many times the UI (User Interface) is so poorly designed that it makes it difficult to navigate. And, it seems like nobody is talking about it. Surely this whole thing is meant to be used by regular folks like us, users like us? If we don't let these folks know, who will? How will they know there is a bug here, and that this UI is not intuitive?And an honourable mention for this one also The Rahul Mahajan Case and Indian TV...But Who are the OBCs? May 29, 2006 - madhukar writes:It is surprising - or perhaps not so, given the "uneducated literacy" in the country - that a large number of people on either side of the reservation debate have little idea about the definition of OBCs.This results in, e.g., a false debate on whether the reservations should be based on "economic criteria" or "caste".Is there Merit in Reservations? May 30, 2006 - madhukar writes:Is there a merit in reservation? As many comments on the previous posts allege, the benefits of reservation are supposed to have been cornered by the "creamy layer" or by those who don't actually fit into the criteria of being "backward".On the other hand, a nation cannot develop on a sustainable basis, unless certain radical reforms are implemented to tackle the issues of social disparity and unequal opportunities. The arguments on both sides (pro- and anti-reservation), however, are largely based on ideological or anecdotal evidence. Fiction: Narendra Modi's Little Saffron Book May 29, 2006 - Mayank 'Austen' writes:Interview with the Saamna Newspaper (September 29, 2004). "Without preparedness, a communal riot is not a real pogrom and there can be no final solution either. Having grasped this point, it is good to remember that while making a list of Mians and their Begums in their across-the-'border' Pakistani mohallas, care must be taken to accomplish the task without attracting much notice. The dogs must not be warned of their terrible ends." And Now Mr. Narendra Modi In His Own Words May 30, 2006 - Mayank 'Austen' writes: "What should we do? Run relief camps for them? Do we want to open baby-producing centers? Hum paanch, humaare pachhees. [We five, our 25]" This remark was made by Mr. Modi in a speech during his very well received Gujarat Gaurav Yatra in 2002. He was referring to Muslims. According to Mr. Modi, riot-scarred people of the minority community, surviving in refugee camps, were busy having sex. Paanch, pachhees is Mr. Modi's pun on his version of an ideal Muslim family - one man with his 4 fertile wives.Reading Shakespeare In Urdu also merits an honourable mention.Sameer Patange: Master of Body Art May 30, 2006 - Sakshi Juneja writes:How important is the hygiene aspect before and after getting a tattoo? Hygiene is absolutely important before getting a tattoo, while getting a tattoo and after getting a tattoo. All the three aspects are very crucial. You have to see that it is done in a clean manner, it is kept clean after it's done and it's looked after as well. Things like cleaning it well after 3 hours of getting it done, keeping it away from water and dirt as much as possible, and using proper and good anti-septic ointment - all these factors play an important role in the end result of a tattoo. So one really needs to take good care of it by following simple basic hygiene steps. Badminton - A Dying Sport in India June 01, 2006 - Sakshi Juneja writes:Some facts about Badminton worth knowing: Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world. The game also dates back to ancient Greece and China as well, and was called battledore and shuttlecock. Badminton was originally played as a cooperative sport, where the goal was mainly to keep a rally going as long as possible. The shuttle-cock can travel off the racket at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles have been Olympic sports since 1992. More than 140 countries are now affiliated with the International Badminton Association. The use of goose feathers in shuttlecocks has been stopped by the Indian government and they have been replaced with light-weight plastic shuttles. Though in top-level matches, the originals are used. The game rules have changed this year - from a 15 point game, it's now a 21 point game. Points can be scored irrespective of who is serving.The Iraq War: The Haditha Massacre June 01, 2006 - Q Bit writes: It appears that the President has expressed his genuine concern. But given the record of his administration, in particular the reluctance to function within the laws and constitutional premises, and living in a heap of lies which grows every day, I am skeptical.Here's hoping President Bush will walk his talk this time, because it's never too late to do the right thing.The Slick Emotional Porn Genre Of Story Telling - Example - Raincoat June 04, 2006 - bevivekImagine the audience delight if in Raincoat, instead of giving the expected ill affordable gift, the girl decides the best gift is to put the man out of his misery, shoves the body in one of the wardrobes littering her house and thoughtfully uses the money in the man's raincoat to pay overdue rent and buy much needed provisions. Why, RG might start a new cinematic genre (well, at least in Tollywood).Check out Desicritics for a different view of the world, and some fine writers on all things South Asian, and with a global South Asian perspective.

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