Sunday, February 26, 2006
Me lookey
I have been going through the Telugu matrimonial section lately at the behest of my parents. I have hardly paid attention to this new net-matrimonial phenomenon in the past but it has been a very interesting experience. The number of posts online surprised me and even more surprising was the fact that most of them had pictures attached. The description columns (of the girl’s personality and the kind of guy she wants) were the best part of browsing through the post (Although I liked the pictures, maybe because I’m more of a picture guy- DUH! Me can’t read).
Some of the descriptions were so brilliantly simple that I instantly fell in love with them. Most likely than not these girls had excellent and sensible idea of what their guy should be. Well some of them were quite submissive (I know the bra-burners are up in arms) and hey show me a person who does not want to be served and I’ll say I’m sorry.
There were a number of posts that were outrageous too and here goes.
A girl says “I’m very liberal and open minded. Seeking a like minded person who gives me respect and loves me. I’m very fair/ beautiful.”
My take: First and foremost the guy will not marry you unless he loves (At least likes) you. Hence you don’t have to reiterate the fact, secondly since you claim that you are liberal what makes you think that fair is beautiful? I just don’t see the connection between the two.
Girl or Girl’s parents seeking a boy who “Must reside in U.S.A. AP.hd in Engineering or any other field or M,S. from best college from U.S.& working in a leading organization Or a doctor who is doing residency or complets & works in a best hospital. ”
I hate to do this but “reality check” sistah, you ain’t Beyonce. This is the only thing that was given in the description, so the girl does not care if the guy were to be dick head or a Ted Kaczynski (He had a degree from Harvard). What is with these people.
There were a number of other restrictions like the guy has to be between 5’9” and 5’11”, living in Hyderabad, working for a Major MNC making at least 6 Lakhs p.a. etc..
I started calculating the probabilities and gave up in between but it must be pretty low, anyways the whole point of this write up is………… well there is no point to it, I thought it was funny. There are number of people who think otherwise but fortunately for me, I need not stick to an arranged marriage not do I have worry that never being able to find a girl (I have all my bases covered)
Peace
Some of the descriptions were so brilliantly simple that I instantly fell in love with them. Most likely than not these girls had excellent and sensible idea of what their guy should be. Well some of them were quite submissive (I know the bra-burners are up in arms) and hey show me a person who does not want to be served and I’ll say I’m sorry.
There were a number of posts that were outrageous too and here goes.
A girl says “I’m very liberal and open minded. Seeking a like minded person who gives me respect and loves me. I’m very fair/ beautiful.”
My take: First and foremost the guy will not marry you unless he loves (At least likes) you. Hence you don’t have to reiterate the fact, secondly since you claim that you are liberal what makes you think that fair is beautiful? I just don’t see the connection between the two.
Girl or Girl’s parents seeking a boy who “Must reside in U.S.A. AP.hd in Engineering or any other field or M,S. from best college from U.S.& working in a leading organization Or a doctor who is doing residency or complets & works in a best hospital. ”
I hate to do this but “reality check” sistah, you ain’t Beyonce. This is the only thing that was given in the description, so the girl does not care if the guy were to be dick head or a Ted Kaczynski (He had a degree from Harvard). What is with these people.
There were a number of other restrictions like the guy has to be between 5’9” and 5’11”, living in Hyderabad, working for a Major MNC making at least 6 Lakhs p.a. etc..
I started calculating the probabilities and gave up in between but it must be pretty low, anyways the whole point of this write up is………… well there is no point to it, I thought it was funny. There are number of people who think otherwise but fortunately for me, I need not stick to an arranged marriage not do I have worry that never being able to find a girl (I have all my bases covered)
Peace
Friday, February 24, 2006
Dr. Brilliant - A man who defines his name
In a world driven by financial success and physical beauty, Dr Larry Brilliant stands out as the one of the few that has defied the norms. Dr. Brilliant is the director of google.org, the charity wing of Google Inc. It is sad that I did not notice him till he started working with Google. Dr. Brilliant has had a fascinating life through the 60's to date, working to eradicate small pox, discovering religion and oh yeah leading a multi million dollar software company.
Clicking on the title link will take you to an article about him. Please take the time to read about him because it is the least bit we as citizens of planet earth can do. Moreover he is a pretty cool dude too - hung out with the Beatles, chilled with Dalai Lama, walked into the UN with hippy hair etc..
Peace
Why Atlas Shrugged is good "fiction only"
For the past month or two, I have been arguing that Rand's derivation of oughts, if consistently applied, leads to conclusions that few Objectivists would accept, and that Objectivists should therefore reexamine its logic with a more critical eye. That discussion seems to have died down at this point. The purpose of this post is to attack Rand's argument from the other end--by going back to the beginning and seeing what is wrong with it. My source is the version of the argument provided in Galt's speech.
1. Existence as the value sought by living things:
"There is only one fundamental alternative in the universe: existence or non-existence--and it pertains to a single class of entities: to living organisms. ... But a plant has no choice of action; ... : it acts automatically to further its life, it cannot act for its own destruction.
An animal ... . But so long as it lives, ... it is unable to ignore its own good, unable to decide to choose the evil and act as its own destroyer."
The claim here, quite clearly, is that living things other than human beings automatically act for their own survival. That claim is false. A male mantis, for example, mates, even though the final step of the process consists of being eaten by the female. Female mammals get pregnant, even though (especially in species where the male does not help support female and offspring) doing so substantially reduces their chances of survival. If one is going to ascribe values to non-human living things, the purpose of those values, on both empirical and theoretical grounds, is not survival but reproductive success.
Of course, survival is usually a means to reproductive success, so most living things most of the time are trying to survive. But a living being that put survival above everything else would not reproduce, so its descendants wouldn't be around for Rand to use as evidence in deriving oughts.
Some philosophies, I suppose, could dismiss all of this as irrelevant to metaphysical argument. But Objectivism claims to base its conclusions on the facts of reality--and the "fact" with which Rand starts her argument is false.
2. Life or death as the fundamental value choice:
"Since life requires a specific course of action, any other course will destroy it. A being who does not hold his own life as the motive and goal of his actions, is acting on the motive and standard of death."
Consider someone following a value other than Rand's--a utilitarian, say, or a nationalist. His life is not the motive and goal of his actions, but it is usually a means to the achievement of his goal. If he isn't alive, he can't have utility himself, nor can he act to increase the utility of others--and similarly if his goal is the triumph of his nation. So such people usually take the actions required by their own survival. But their life is not their goal, as becomes apparent when they have an opportunity to achieve their goal at the cost of their life--assassinate Hitler, say, with the knowledge that they will die in the process.
The first sentence quoted above is false. It is not true that there is a specific course of action required for life and any other course will destroy it. There are a great many different courses of action, which preserve life with varying degrees of success. Rand's statement, taken literally, is contradicted by the facts of reality. If such people were acting on the motive and standard of death they would commit suicide at the first convenient opportunity, and there would be nobody but Objectivists left. That hasn't happened.
A more charitable interpretation is that Rand means that if you do not take your life as your goal, you are choosing a little death--a slightly higher probability of death, a somewhat shorter life expectancy. That is a true statement, but the equivalent is equally true for any value one might propose. The utilitarian could argue that a non-utilitarian, by not acting in the way that maximizes human happiness, is choosing a little misery. A utilitarian Galt could go on to assert that "A being who does not hold the happiness of all men as the motive and goal of his actions, is acting on the motive and standard of human misery." His argument would be as good--which is to say as bad--as Rand's.
3. The shift from life to life as man qua man:
"Man's life is the standard of morality, but your life is its purpose. If existence on earth is your goal, you must choose your actions and values by the standard of that which is proper to man--for the purpose of preserving, fulfilling and enjoying the irreplaceable value which is your life."
(this passage actually precedes the one I quoted just above, but is relevant to the next point I want to make)
This seems fairly clear. My life is the purpose of my morality, and the reason that I must choose a certain sort of morality is that that sort of morality is the best way of preserving, fulfilling and enjoying my life. The only puzzle is where "fulfilling and enjoying" come from, given that the previous step hinged on the choice of existence or non-existence. By the logic so far, "fulfilling and enjoying" belong in the argument only as means to the goal of preserving.
This is the point where the argument I introduced a month or so back takes off from. "Your life" means what it says, so if I can show that your physical survival is enhanced by an act then, according to the argument up to this point, you should do it. A means cannot trump the end it is a means to.
"No, you do not have to live as a man ... . But you cannot live as anything else--and the alternative is ... the state of a thing unfit for existence, no longer human and less than animal, a thing that knows nothing but pain and drags itself through its span of years in the agony of unthinking self-destruction."
At this point, Rand is using passionate oratory to obscure a shift in the argument. She is claiming that someone who lives a full lifespan "in the agony of unthinking self-destruction" isn't really acting for his life. But the fact that he lives a full span of life is evidence that he is not in fact destroying himself. Somehow, something extra has been slipped into the argument, to convert "life" into "the kind of life Rand thinks you should live," where the latter is not deducible from the former.
4. The shift from surviving by reason to Objectivist ethics:
"Honesty is the recognition of the fact that the unreal is unreal and can have no value, that neither love nor fame nor cash is a value if obtained by fraud--that an attempt to gain a value by deceiving the mind of others is an act of raising your victims to a position higher than reality, where you become a pawn of their blindness, a slave of their non-thinking and their evasions, while their intelligence, their rationality, become the enemies you have to dread and flee ... ."
According to Rand, values are things you act to get and keep; in that sense cash obtained by fraud is obviously a value for some people. If we interpret "value" in this passage as meaning "value for your life," hence "value of the sort Rand is arguing you should seek," it is still puzzling. Money obtained by fraud will pay for just as much food or medical service as money obtained honestly.
The rest of the quoted passage is a highly colored exposition of a true point--that if you defraud people, you have to worry about being detected. The problem is that Rand is drawing an absolute conclusion that her argument does not justify. Different opportunities to defraud people have different risks of detection, and victims vary in their ability to retaliate against fraud if they detect it. So the implication of the argument is not that one should always be honest, but that one should be prudent in one's dishonesty--which is not, of course, the result Rand wants.
"To interpose the threat of physical destruction between a man and his perception of reality, is to negate and paralyze his means of survival; to force him to act against his own judgement, is like forcing him to act against his own sight. Whoever, to whatever purpose or extent, initiates the use of force, is a killer acting on the premise of death ... .
To force a man to drop his own mind and to accept your will as a substitute, with a gun ... is to attempt to exist in defiance of reality."
Using force against someone reduces his ability to use his reason to preserve his life. Reality implies that the victim is less likely to have a long and healthy life. But the coercer is not trying to defy that reality--his objective is not his victim's life but his own.
I have pointed out what appear to me to be gaping holes in the chain of reasoning by which Rand starts with the facts of reality and ends with a specific set of ethical prescriptions banning force or fraud. I await responses from those who believe that Rand's argument is correct. I am not, for the moment, interested in the broader question of whether there is some other way of accomplishing what she claims to accomplish--deriving oughts from the nature of reality.
1. Existence as the value sought by living things:
"There is only one fundamental alternative in the universe: existence or non-existence--and it pertains to a single class of entities: to living organisms. ... But a plant has no choice of action; ... : it acts automatically to further its life, it cannot act for its own destruction.
An animal ... . But so long as it lives, ... it is unable to ignore its own good, unable to decide to choose the evil and act as its own destroyer."
The claim here, quite clearly, is that living things other than human beings automatically act for their own survival. That claim is false. A male mantis, for example, mates, even though the final step of the process consists of being eaten by the female. Female mammals get pregnant, even though (especially in species where the male does not help support female and offspring) doing so substantially reduces their chances of survival. If one is going to ascribe values to non-human living things, the purpose of those values, on both empirical and theoretical grounds, is not survival but reproductive success.
Of course, survival is usually a means to reproductive success, so most living things most of the time are trying to survive. But a living being that put survival above everything else would not reproduce, so its descendants wouldn't be around for Rand to use as evidence in deriving oughts.
Some philosophies, I suppose, could dismiss all of this as irrelevant to metaphysical argument. But Objectivism claims to base its conclusions on the facts of reality--and the "fact" with which Rand starts her argument is false.
2. Life or death as the fundamental value choice:
"Since life requires a specific course of action, any other course will destroy it. A being who does not hold his own life as the motive and goal of his actions, is acting on the motive and standard of death."
Consider someone following a value other than Rand's--a utilitarian, say, or a nationalist. His life is not the motive and goal of his actions, but it is usually a means to the achievement of his goal. If he isn't alive, he can't have utility himself, nor can he act to increase the utility of others--and similarly if his goal is the triumph of his nation. So such people usually take the actions required by their own survival. But their life is not their goal, as becomes apparent when they have an opportunity to achieve their goal at the cost of their life--assassinate Hitler, say, with the knowledge that they will die in the process.
The first sentence quoted above is false. It is not true that there is a specific course of action required for life and any other course will destroy it. There are a great many different courses of action, which preserve life with varying degrees of success. Rand's statement, taken literally, is contradicted by the facts of reality. If such people were acting on the motive and standard of death they would commit suicide at the first convenient opportunity, and there would be nobody but Objectivists left. That hasn't happened.
A more charitable interpretation is that Rand means that if you do not take your life as your goal, you are choosing a little death--a slightly higher probability of death, a somewhat shorter life expectancy. That is a true statement, but the equivalent is equally true for any value one might propose. The utilitarian could argue that a non-utilitarian, by not acting in the way that maximizes human happiness, is choosing a little misery. A utilitarian Galt could go on to assert that "A being who does not hold the happiness of all men as the motive and goal of his actions, is acting on the motive and standard of human misery." His argument would be as good--which is to say as bad--as Rand's.
3. The shift from life to life as man qua man:
"Man's life is the standard of morality, but your life is its purpose. If existence on earth is your goal, you must choose your actions and values by the standard of that which is proper to man--for the purpose of preserving, fulfilling and enjoying the irreplaceable value which is your life."
(this passage actually precedes the one I quoted just above, but is relevant to the next point I want to make)
This seems fairly clear. My life is the purpose of my morality, and the reason that I must choose a certain sort of morality is that that sort of morality is the best way of preserving, fulfilling and enjoying my life. The only puzzle is where "fulfilling and enjoying" come from, given that the previous step hinged on the choice of existence or non-existence. By the logic so far, "fulfilling and enjoying" belong in the argument only as means to the goal of preserving.
This is the point where the argument I introduced a month or so back takes off from. "Your life" means what it says, so if I can show that your physical survival is enhanced by an act then, according to the argument up to this point, you should do it. A means cannot trump the end it is a means to.
"No, you do not have to live as a man ... . But you cannot live as anything else--and the alternative is ... the state of a thing unfit for existence, no longer human and less than animal, a thing that knows nothing but pain and drags itself through its span of years in the agony of unthinking self-destruction."
At this point, Rand is using passionate oratory to obscure a shift in the argument. She is claiming that someone who lives a full lifespan "in the agony of unthinking self-destruction" isn't really acting for his life. But the fact that he lives a full span of life is evidence that he is not in fact destroying himself. Somehow, something extra has been slipped into the argument, to convert "life" into "the kind of life Rand thinks you should live," where the latter is not deducible from the former.
4. The shift from surviving by reason to Objectivist ethics:
"Honesty is the recognition of the fact that the unreal is unreal and can have no value, that neither love nor fame nor cash is a value if obtained by fraud--that an attempt to gain a value by deceiving the mind of others is an act of raising your victims to a position higher than reality, where you become a pawn of their blindness, a slave of their non-thinking and their evasions, while their intelligence, their rationality, become the enemies you have to dread and flee ... ."
According to Rand, values are things you act to get and keep; in that sense cash obtained by fraud is obviously a value for some people. If we interpret "value" in this passage as meaning "value for your life," hence "value of the sort Rand is arguing you should seek," it is still puzzling. Money obtained by fraud will pay for just as much food or medical service as money obtained honestly.
The rest of the quoted passage is a highly colored exposition of a true point--that if you defraud people, you have to worry about being detected. The problem is that Rand is drawing an absolute conclusion that her argument does not justify. Different opportunities to defraud people have different risks of detection, and victims vary in their ability to retaliate against fraud if they detect it. So the implication of the argument is not that one should always be honest, but that one should be prudent in one's dishonesty--which is not, of course, the result Rand wants.
"To interpose the threat of physical destruction between a man and his perception of reality, is to negate and paralyze his means of survival; to force him to act against his own judgement, is like forcing him to act against his own sight. Whoever, to whatever purpose or extent, initiates the use of force, is a killer acting on the premise of death ... .
To force a man to drop his own mind and to accept your will as a substitute, with a gun ... is to attempt to exist in defiance of reality."
Using force against someone reduces his ability to use his reason to preserve his life. Reality implies that the victim is less likely to have a long and healthy life. But the coercer is not trying to defy that reality--his objective is not his victim's life but his own.
I have pointed out what appear to me to be gaping holes in the chain of reasoning by which Rand starts with the facts of reality and ends with a specific set of ethical prescriptions banning force or fraud. I await responses from those who believe that Rand's argument is correct. I am not, for the moment, interested in the broader question of whether there is some other way of accomplishing what she claims to accomplish--deriving oughts from the nature of reality.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Vodun In Benin
These days Africa is pre-dominantly Christian and Moslem. Apparently these religions did not spread to this region because of migrants but were forcefully pushed upon them. The missionaries have to be careful when they talk about introducing religion to this part of the world, since Africa has had religion even before the rest of the world had any sort of civilization. I want to highlight the persistence of one nation that was determined to keep its unique culture in spite of tremendous external pressures: Benin.
A majority of the Benian population follows the Vodun religion. This is a form of paganism but has a monotheistic approach. They believe in one god, who created the universe but the same time worship all natural elements.
You can get more information about Vodun (Their primary god is Mawu) on this site http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/zinzindohoue.htm
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
Mrs Emilie Schenkl Bose
I have this new found fascination for Emilie Schenkl Bose, wife of Netaji (Subash Chandra Bose). She was born in Austria and they were married in Bad Gastien, Austria in December 1937. They had a daughter Anita in November 1942. It is surprising that this was not taught to us in history or I have a bad memory. Either case I think it would be fascinating to read about Netaji’s stay in Europe.
Here are some of Emilie Schenkl’s pictures.
Here are some of Emilie Schenkl’s pictures.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Do you know your preferences
This test was designed at Harvard university to identify the inclination of people on various subjects. They have a load of documents that address accuracy issues but explanation was pretty unique. Try it out.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Google Fight
If you are sitting around at work with nothing else to do this is an enterprising way of entertaining yourself. Googling your name is outdated; now you can fight other people. Fun thing to do for a few minutes. Unfortunately algorithm not given.
Peace
Peace
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Supposed to be the Big Daddy of all medical search engines
This search engine was developed by a couple of Indians and is supposed to read through all the contents of a page and display it in an organized format. For example if you search for Piles the page will display results for Piles in the following format:
What is Piles (122 results)
Advanced Piles (91 Results)
Piles support groups (Not supposed to be funny - 67 results)
It is limited to medical searches right and hopefully will expand in the future. There is a dumbass article in the "Times of India" which misleads the reader hence please make it a point to disregard the information.
Peace
What is Piles (122 results)
Advanced Piles (91 Results)
Piles support groups (Not supposed to be funny - 67 results)
It is limited to medical searches right and hopefully will expand in the future. There is a dumbass article in the "Times of India" which misleads the reader hence please make it a point to disregard the information.
Peace
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Italain PM - No sex before elections
Those crazy Italians---. I'm sure the pope will approve of this.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Sick of Solitaire and Crosswords
I got hooked onto sudoku last year and have been playing it ever since. Very interesting game, try it out.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Light at the end of the Tunnel for Indian politics
I have been a stickler for education and educated people in politics. I think "Paritrana" led by Rajpurohit would define the future politics of India. I cannot predict the level of success that this party would achieve but it would definitely alter the path of present day Indian politics. The skeptics might think "well why would these guys be any different" and my rebuttal is that they are not 85 and know that they will have to stay at least partly true to progress of the country to get re-elected. More over I sincerely believe that their education will push them towards being progressive and productive (Atleast they can sign unlike Rabri Devi). Finally I think there is minimal risk involved in trying out these guys because they cannot do anything that will worsen the situation in our country.
Peace
PS: For those of you who feel that India’s progress has been up to par and I have been overly critical of our leaders - You are sadly mistaken, India with it's vast resources should have been at the top of the world. India's recent economic success is the result of extra-ordinary hard work and dedication by (Indian) Gen Xer's.
Peace
PS: For those of you who feel that India’s progress has been up to par and I have been overly critical of our leaders - You are sadly mistaken, India with it's vast resources should have been at the top of the world. India's recent economic success is the result of extra-ordinary hard work and dedication by (Indian) Gen Xer's.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Osama is happy to be in the no.1 spot
Mr. Bin Laden let a sigh of relief in his isolated and under-decorated Tora Bora cave as soon as his agent Muhammad Al Tikriti Al Bulbul Al Dickhead informed him about the shift in rankings. Mr. Bin Laden had not been doing well lately with the arrival of naturals like Katrina and Tsunami. He has held a relative sway in the notorious world rankings fending off mild competition from Mr. Kim Jong Il (For his actions and treatment of people in North Korea), Mr. Zarqawi (For his terrorist actions), Mr. Pat Robertson (For his stupidity) and Mr. Simon Colwell (For being himself).
Mr. Laden quoted to the Al-Jazeera reporter that he was happy and that it was because of Allah that he was able to retain this title also adding that there was a Jewish conspiracy. When asked why and where the conspiracy was Mr. Bin Laden declined to comment and wanted to end the interview with a threat that "United States will pay if it does not withdraw from Iraq". When Osama was told that the Americans were paying a very heavy price to stay in Iraq and trying to improve the situation he reacted angrily that he does not want Western Values in the pure Moslem world.
The reporter wanted to continue his interview but he was interrupted by Mr. Bin Laden's agent who wanted to let Osama know that his new 11 year old bride is ready to be deflowered. Osama looked at his Rolex and almost jumped out of his seat and quickly popped a few Viagra’s before slipping into inner cave room. Osama's agent refused to comment but categorically stated that although there have been rumors that Osama's power has dwindled tremendously he still can generate interest through audio threats and vague references. When asked about career alternatives, Mr.Bin Ladens agent said that Osama might be interested in joining either the Dixie Chicks (He has experience in audio recording) or take a position with Halliburton (especially marketing) so that he can use his past contacts.
Peace
Mr. Laden quoted to the Al-Jazeera reporter that he was happy and that it was because of Allah that he was able to retain this title also adding that there was a Jewish conspiracy. When asked why and where the conspiracy was Mr. Bin Laden declined to comment and wanted to end the interview with a threat that "United States will pay if it does not withdraw from Iraq". When Osama was told that the Americans were paying a very heavy price to stay in Iraq and trying to improve the situation he reacted angrily that he does not want Western Values in the pure Moslem world.
The reporter wanted to continue his interview but he was interrupted by Mr. Bin Laden's agent who wanted to let Osama know that his new 11 year old bride is ready to be deflowered. Osama looked at his Rolex and almost jumped out of his seat and quickly popped a few Viagra’s before slipping into inner cave room. Osama's agent refused to comment but categorically stated that although there have been rumors that Osama's power has dwindled tremendously he still can generate interest through audio threats and vague references. When asked about career alternatives, Mr.Bin Ladens agent said that Osama might be interested in joining either the Dixie Chicks (He has experience in audio recording) or take a position with Halliburton (especially marketing) so that he can use his past contacts.
Peace
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Think it through, the male female ratio in India
I think most newspapers like sensationalism and don't think through the whole process. They are taking the statiscal data and interpreting results but none of them have give thought as to why this is happening? Fundamentally there was a population boom and resources were scarce. Hence children soon became a means of income and male children were preferred over female children as they were better suited for physical labor. Now most of these dumb ass newspapers have presented the data and a million other opinions but none to solve the actual problem. Preaching morality and equality will not help these people because hunger supersedes everything. These people need help with employment, feeding their kids and education. Well most of the activists don't want to deal with the ground reality, they just want to argue about the consequences of the situation in an upscale coffee shop. Oh by the way I'm waiting for the bra burners to jump on this, conduct rallies and demand justice for women (Oops a small paradox, the mother is equally responsible for the abortion). I'm sure such practices will be condemned by most politicians too but unfortunately most of people who are doing this cannot hear you (apparently there are people out there who don't have radio's) and even if they get the message they don't really give a shit because "you don't know what they went through and are going through".
Peace
Peace
Friday, January 06, 2006
Welcome to the land of amazingly stupid
What is wrong with Pat Robertson? Can’t he for once shut up or say something logical. I understand that it is his trademark behavior but he is crossing over to the land of amazingly stupid. Well President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would welcome him to the band. (For further details http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/14/iran.israel/)
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A Different Perspective
I consider myself to be in the IT industry although I hardly contribute to its progress. I have been hanging out with a lot of IT professionals lately and hence thought it would be justified to write about a few of their opinions about various issues:
WBA (Web logic Admin) enters the apartment gingerly on a Friday night and sees WMA (Web methods Admin), VBP (VB Programmer),BB (Bench Boy), DBA (Database Admin) and WBA2 hanging out.
WBA2 to WBA: What kaka, why so late?
WBA: Too much work and the dicks assigned tickets right at 4:45.
WBA2: I thought Jason was working late today, why didn’t they assign the tickets to him?
WBA: Eeh! He hardly knows anything; I guess he was hired because of affirmative action.
WBA to BB: What’s up?
BB: Two bed rooms and a bathroom.
WBA: Joke aa!!!
BB: Yuppers like my interview
DBA: Avunu kaka what happened?
BB: In simple terms – middle man interview, tell no communication skills, I tell I can program, she tell I need talking, programming not important.
WMA: I think she was right being able to speak well in English is a key part of the job.
BB: But I’m a programmer and isn’t that what I should be focusing on.
WMA: But what about communicating your thoughts and ideas?
BB: English is not the only language in the world is it?
WMA: Well we are in the US
VBP: What about rest of the world isn’t English being imposed on everybody?
WBA2: That is true
WBA: If you guys feel so strongly about this issue why come to this country and speak in English?
VBP: You are taking an extreme stance but we are merely questioning the concept of adapting English as a common language. We are willing to work with the system but we think would it not be advisable to adapt Chinese as “The business language” since it is spoken by the most number of people in the world?
WMA: But English is already established.
BB: All good things have to begin somewhere.
WBA: But don’t you think the change process would face huge obstacles?
DBA: Well at least the ASEAN block can have a different common language right and that would be a decent start.
WMA: I have my doubts about the applicability.
WBA: What about Telugu?
BB: Sounds great
VBP: It will be worse than before none of us can speak decent Telugu, it is a matter of shame but the absolute truth.
WBA2: That is true, we are not good at anything and that is why we are in the IT industry.
WBA (Web logic Admin) enters the apartment gingerly on a Friday night and sees WMA (Web methods Admin), VBP (VB Programmer),BB (Bench Boy), DBA (Database Admin) and WBA2 hanging out.
WBA2 to WBA: What kaka, why so late?
WBA: Too much work and the dicks assigned tickets right at 4:45.
WBA2: I thought Jason was working late today, why didn’t they assign the tickets to him?
WBA: Eeh! He hardly knows anything; I guess he was hired because of affirmative action.
WBA to BB: What’s up?
BB: Two bed rooms and a bathroom.
WBA: Joke aa!!!
BB: Yuppers like my interview
DBA: Avunu kaka what happened?
BB: In simple terms – middle man interview, tell no communication skills, I tell I can program, she tell I need talking, programming not important.
WMA: I think she was right being able to speak well in English is a key part of the job.
BB: But I’m a programmer and isn’t that what I should be focusing on.
WMA: But what about communicating your thoughts and ideas?
BB: English is not the only language in the world is it?
WMA: Well we are in the US
VBP: What about rest of the world isn’t English being imposed on everybody?
WBA2: That is true
WBA: If you guys feel so strongly about this issue why come to this country and speak in English?
VBP: You are taking an extreme stance but we are merely questioning the concept of adapting English as a common language. We are willing to work with the system but we think would it not be advisable to adapt Chinese as “The business language” since it is spoken by the most number of people in the world?
WMA: But English is already established.
BB: All good things have to begin somewhere.
WBA: But don’t you think the change process would face huge obstacles?
DBA: Well at least the ASEAN block can have a different common language right and that would be a decent start.
WMA: I have my doubts about the applicability.
WBA: What about Telugu?
BB: Sounds great
VBP: It will be worse than before none of us can speak decent Telugu, it is a matter of shame but the absolute truth.
WBA2: That is true, we are not good at anything and that is why we are in the IT industry.
10,000 visits and still dragging along!!!
I almost failed to notice that my blog has had more than 10,000 visits and a lot more page views since I have started blogging. Thank you readers for your patronage and please feel free to comment on any topic and if you feel like contributing I can set you up as a co-blogger.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
And you think you are stereotyped
Well they claim that they are always stereotyped but hey the rest of the world might be right. No you wouldn't give it to us, well at least partly right. No you think we are khafirs and will burn in hell well we think that your thought process is acceptable but the bad part is you fucked with a crazy texan.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
World's Best Hotels
World’s best hotels as per Travel & Leisure
01. Four Seasons Resort Bali, Bali, Indonesia
02. Singita Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa
03. Oberoi Raj Vilas, Jaipur, India
04. Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
05. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims, France
06. The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand
07. Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
08. Four Seasons Resort Jimbran Bay, Bali, Indonesia
09. Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
10. Four Season Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
01. Four Seasons Resort Bali, Bali, Indonesia
02. Singita Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa
03. Oberoi Raj Vilas, Jaipur, India
04. Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
05. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims, France
06. The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand
07. Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
08. Four Seasons Resort Jimbran Bay, Bali, Indonesia
09. Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
10. Four Season Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
Thursday, December 22, 2005
What would you pay for a safety pin
I cannot believe that they are charging $53 for a safety pin. I understand some people want to be prudes but there is a limit and the people buying this pin are plain out nuts. That is what I spent per week on food and I thought I was wasteful.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Gandhi - A Different Perspective.
The below stated are not my views but I do agree with some of the commentary.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 in a stately and handsome three-storied home in Porbandar, grandson of the chief administrator of the small Princely State in coastal Gujarat. Acknowledging that he was born into a family of politicians, always involved in secret alliances and mutual promotions, in one letter, he wrote: "I knew then, and know better now, that much of my father's time was taken up in mere intrigue." In another letter to his nephew, Chaganlal, he acknowledged the notoriety of his political family: "...that is, we are known to belong to a band of robbers". It is to Gandhi's credit that he saw his family for what it was, and attempted to transcend it's narrow Modh Bania outlook; but often, subconsciously learned behavior dies hard. The tendency towards backroom wheeling and dealing did not entirely escape Gandhi himself as he rose to become the Indian National Congress's most influential political leader. (See Collected Works, vol. 24, p.170, vol. 12, p.381)
Although most biographies of Gandhi focus on Gandhi's political career after he returned from England in early 1915, and begin with his involvement in the Civil Disobedience Movement from the early 1920s, it is important to note that Gandhi arrived on the National Scene rather late, and in the first half of his political life was considerably beholden to the Raj. At a time when literacy in British India was barely 8%, Gandhi enjoyed the rare option of studying in Britain and spent the years 1888-1893 in London before taking employment in South Africa. Although Gandhi became politically active in South Africa, and led 'Satyagrahas' against unjust laws, Gandhi was hardly yet an anti-imperialist radical or revolutionary. In fact, in 1914, he was still very much in awe of the British empire, and Martin Green in his biography of Gandhi describes his state of mind as follows: "When Gandhi left South Africa, he still believed in the British empire. though tentatively. "Though Empires have gone and fallen, this empire may perhaps be an exception....it is an empire not founded on material but on spiritual foundations....the British constitution. Tear away those ideals and you tear away my loyalty to the British constitution; keep those ideals and I am ever a bondsman"." (See Martin Green, Gandhi: Voice of a New Age Revolutionary, p. 208)
It is especially notable that at the age of 45, Gandhi saw in the British empire a "spiritual foundation" - a sentiment many in the Indian Freedom Movement would have found astounding, even nauseating. As early as 1884, the most advanced Indian intellectuals were already quite clear that British rule in India was built on a foundation of economic pillage and plunder - and was devoid of any high social or moral purpose. "Nadir Shah looted the country only once. But the British loot us every day. Every year wealth to the tune of 4.5 million dollar is being drained out, sucking our very blood. Britain should immediately quit India.'' So wrote the Sindh Times on May 20, 1884, a year before the Indian National Congress was born and 58 years before the ''Quit India'' movement of 1942 was launched.
But in 1914 Gandhi was quite far removed from the most radical elements of the Indian Freedom Movement. In 1913, poor emigrant farmers from the Punjab in California launched the Ghadar Party and released their manifesto calling for complete independence from British Rule. Several years earlier, before his internment, Tilak had cogently described the Indian condition under British colonial occupation as being utterly ruinous and degrading. Tilak, Ajit Singh, Chidambaram Pillai and their associates in the National Movement saw few redeeming qualities in the British dispensation, and saw colonial rule as being entirely inimical to India's progress, asserting that the contradictions between the British oppressors and the Indian people were completely irreconcilable.
Although Gandhi was critical of specific aspects of colonial rule, in 1914, his general outlook towards the British was more akin to that of the loyalist Princes than the most advanced of India's national leaders. Particularly onerous was his support of the British during World War I. Even as the Ghadar Party correctly saw in WWI a great opportunity for India to deepen its opposition to the British, and liberate itself from the colonial yoke, Gandhi instead tried to mobilize Indians on behalf of the British war effort. Although many biographers of Gandhi have studiously omitted making any mention of such dishonorable aspects of Gandhi's political life, Martin Green makes a brief reference to Gandhi's attitude towards WWI when he was in England: "To return to London in wartime: Gandhi quickly raised his ambulance corps amongst the Indians in England. As before, he had offered his volunteers for any kind of military duty, but the authorities preferred medical workers". Martin Green also observes: "Many of his friends did not approve the project. Olive Schreiner, who was in London, wrote him that she was struck to the heart with sorrow to hear that he had offered to serve the English government in this evil war - this wicked cause". (See Martin Green, Gandhi: Voice of a New Age Revolutionary, p. 247)
Gandhi's ideas on non-violence did not then extend to the British Imperial War, and upon his return to India in 1915 attempted to recruit Indians for the British War effort. Gandhi's position echoed that of the Maharajas, many of whom (like the Maharaja of Bikaner) played a pivotal role in supporting the British, both in terms of propaganda and providing troops. Gandhi's attitude towards the empire emerges quite clearly from this statement of Martin Green: "Gandhi himself had twice volunteered for service in this war, in France and in Mesopotamia, because he had convinced himself that he owed the empire that sacrifice in return for it's military protection." (See Martin Green, Gandhi: Voice of a New Age Revolutionary, p. 267)
Gandhi's role in championing the British War effort did not however go unchallenged. At a time when Gandhi was still addressing "War Recruitment Melas'', Dr. Tuljaram Khilnani of Nawabshah publicly campaigned against War Loan Bonds. When Gandhi sought election to the AICC from Bombay PCC, the delegate from Sindh opposed his election in view of his support to the British war effort. The Ghadar Party was especially acerbic in it's criticism of Gandhi and other such political leaders in the Congress who had not yet been able to sever their umbilical chord to the British Raj.
But even as Gandhi was able to justify in his mind support for the imperial war, his attitude towards the revolt of Chauri Chaura (1921) brought about a very different and very harsh assessment. Labeling it a crime, he wrote thus: "God has been abundantly kind to me. He has warned me the third time that there is not yet in India that truthful and non-violent atmosphere which and which alone can justify mass disobedience....which means gentle, truthful, humble, knowing, never criminal and hateful. He warned me in 1919 when the Rowlatt Act agitation was started. Ahmedabad, Viramgam, and Kheda erred. Amritsar and Kasur erred. I retraced my steps, called it a Himalayan miscalculation, humbled myself before God and man, and stopped not merely mass civil disobedience but even my own which I knew to be civil and non-violent" . (See Collected Works, vol. 22, p.415-21)
Gandhi's Chauri Chaura decision created deep consternation in Congress circles. Subhash Chandra Bose wrote: "To sound the order of retreat just when public enthusiasm was reaching the boiling point was nothing short of a national calamity. The principal lieutenants of the Mahatma, Deshbandhu Das, Pandit Motilal Nehru and Lala Lajpat Rai, who were all in prison, shared the popular resentment. I was with the Deshbandu at the time, and I could see that he was beside himself with anger and sorrow." (quoted from The Indian Struggle, p.90)
To describe Gandhi's decision as a "national calamity" was indeed right on the mark. To lay such stress on non-violence - that too only three years after he had been encouraging Indians to enroll in the British Army was not only shocking, it showed little sympathy towards the Indian masses who against all odds had become energized against their alien oppressors.
For Gandhi to demand of the poor, downtrodden, and bitterly exploited Indian masses to first demonstrate their unmistakable commitment to non-violence before their struggle could receive with Gandhi's approval (just a few years after he had unapologetically defended an imperial war) was simply unconscionable. Clearly, Gandhi had one standard for the Indian masses, and quite another for the nation's colonial overlords. But this was not to be the first occasion for Gandhi to engage in such tactical and ideological hypocrisy.
Although Gandhi's defenders may disagree, not only were Gandhi's ideas on non-violence applied very selectively, they were hardly the most appropriate for India's situation. At no time was the British military presence in India so overwhelming that it could not have been challenged by widespread resistance from the Indian masses. Had Gandhi not called for a retreat after Chauri Chaura, it is likely that incidents such as Chauri Chaura would have occurred with much greater regularity - even increasing in frequency and intensity. This would have inevitably put tremendous pressure on the British to cut short their stay. As it is, British administrators were constrained to send back British troops as soon as possible, because many clamored to return after serving for a few years in India. Had India become too difficult to control, mutinies and dissension in the royal armies would have occurred more often, and the British would have had to cut and run, probably much sooner than in 1947.
Some critics saw in Gandhi's Chauri Chaura turnaround as indicative of his deep fear and distrust of the Indian masses - that Gandhi feared the spontaneous energy of the poor and the downtrodden more than the injustice of British rule. Certainly, the conservatism of Gandhi's tactics lends credence to such views. As late as 1928, Gandhi resisted Nehru and Bose, and campaigned for the rejection of a resolution calling for complete independence at the session of the Indian National Congress. And unlike other leaders in the freedom struggle, Gandhi often entertained false hopes about the British. In a 1930 letter, Motilal Nehru chided Gandhi for resting his hopes on the Labor Government and the sincerity of the Viceroy.
In much of Motilal Nehru's correspondence with his son, (and with others in the Congress), there are expressions of frustration with Gandhi's tendency towards moderation and compromise with the British authorities and his reluctance to broaden and accelerate the civil disobedience movement. There are also references in Motilal Nehru's letters to how large contributions from the Birlas were enabling certain political cliques (led by Madan Mohan Malviya - a close confidante of Gandhi) to "capture" the Congress. That Gandhi was close to the Birlas is now widely acknowledged, and it is not unlikely that his conservatism was either encouraged by them, or may have been coincidental but was compatible with their desire for restrained and moderate resistance to the British.
Motilal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose both complained of Gandhi's tendency to ignore party resolutions when they went against his wishes, and to work with cliques rather than consult and cooperate with all party members. In a letter dated March 28, 1939, from Manbhum, Bihar - Bose complained bitterly to Nehru of Gandhi's quiet campaign of non-cooperation with him. Bose had just won the Presidency of the Indian National Congress, defeating Gandhi's chosen nominee, Dr Pattabhi. At first, Gandhi had tried to talk Bose out of running for the post, and tried to work out a backroom deal for Dr Pattabhi's ascension (as he had done on many earlier occasions). But Bose was determined to seek the mandate of Congress activists, and won by a handsome margin in an election where the official machinery of the Congress had put all its weight behind Gandhi's hand-picked nominee.
Bose's historic election signified the mood of the Indian masses, who were becoming increasingly impatient with Gandhi's tepid nationalism. Bose had always strived to accelerate the freedom struggle, and the mass of Congress Party workers appreciated his sincerity and unswerving commitment to the national cause. In many ways, he was the best person to lead the Congress, with intellect and vision that exceeded Gandhi.
But Gandhi, along with Patel and Nehru formed a tactical block against Bose, and prevented him from functioning effectively as leader of India's preeminent national organization. In vain did Bose make his case with Nehru, who remained unmoved, and eventually, it led to Bose having to quit the Congress, and organize outside it's tedious confines.
One of the most problematical aspects of Gandhi's philosophical disposition was his emphasis on matters religious over practical. In a 1918 speech concerning India's future he espoused a position that truly secular Indians ought to find rather troubling: "I feel that India's mission is different from that of other countries, India is fitted for the religious supremacy of the world....India can conquer all by soul-force". (See Collected Works, vol. 14, p.53)
To this day, Western analysts continue to evaluate India as though its only contribution to world civilization is in matters of religious exotica and spirituality. And many Indians unquestioningly accept such one-sided formulations. But to pigeon-hole India as this exotic land - full of religious devotion and piety does great injustice not only to India's rich history of secular pursuits, but it also leaves many rational, scientific and technologically-oriented Indians bereft of any philosophical affirmation and intellectual leadership.
On more than one occasion, Gandhi would begin with statements such as "God has warned me", or "...spoken as such.....". Coming from any ordinary person, such claims would normally be viewed with great suspicion and skepticism because they can only be accepted on faith, never independently verified. In fact, any ordinary person who claimed as often to have a 'hotline' to 'God' might even be seen as a lunatic, as someone prone to hallucinations. But from Gandhi, such utterances were quietly tolerated or accepted.
That Gandhi espoused such religious-centric views is not surprising considering the milieu in which he was raised and educated. Most British-educated Indians were kept completely ignorant of India's rich history of rational thought and (pre-industrial) scientific endeavour. So it was inevitable that Indians would seek inspiration from religious texts - Hindus from the Gita, Muslims from the Quran, Sikhs from the Granth Sahib. But unlike Tilak who derived from the Gita, a call to action, a call to rise against injustice, Gandhi found in the Gita an appeal to pacifist idealism. In a world that was rife with violence, Gandhi's insistence on non-violent purity was, in practical terms, an exercise in infantile futility. Not only did it delay the onset of freedom, it led to particularly disastrous consequences during partition, and in Kashmir.
Whereas the Muslim League was armed, the Congress was not and entirely dependant on the British police and military apparatus. When the partition riots first began in West Punjab and East Bengal, the Congress had no means to defend the hapless victims. Being unable to prevent the slaughter and rape, or protect the stream of Hindu and Sikh refugees, it lost the moral authority to prevent a communal backlash in India. A similiar situation prevailed in Kashmir. The Muslim League sent in its armed hooligans even as Kashmir's most popular political party, the National Conference had decided to throw in its lot with secular India. In Baluchistan and the Frontier Province, majority sentiment was in favor of unity with India. Had the Congress been armed, it could have at least held out for for a better deal, and at least some of the horrors of partition may have been averted.
There were many other serious incongruities in Gandhi's world view. As one reads through Gandhi's letters and sundry writings, time and time again, he uses the term 'Dharma 'in the context of how Indians should behave vis-a-vis the British, and the term "right" in the context of what the British could do to their Indian subjects. In Gandhi's ethical framework, not only did the conquered have very limited rights, they were burdened with all types of duties under the rubric of 'Dharma '. Conquered Indians were repeatedly lectured on how they must be concerned with the highest morality when dealing with their British oppressors - even as the British conquerors were little restricted by any 'Dharmic' pressures, and enjoyed the ultimate authority to take away the life of Indians they chose to put on trial for 'sedition'.
In all other theories of democratic liberation, ethical and moral codes emanated from one essential principle - which is the fundamental right of enslaved people to be free from alien exploitation. But in Gandhi's moral framework, the need of the Indian masses to liberate themselves from a brutally unjust colonial occupation did not come first, it was subject to all kinds of one-sided conditionalities.
For instance, in the context of Bhagat Singh's hanging, even as Gandhi condemned the British government, he observed: "The government certainly had the right to hang these men. However, there are some rights which do credit to those who possess them only if they are enjoyed in name only." (See Collected Works, vol. 45, p.359-61, in Gujarati)
Whether Gandhi was confusing the term "right" with the term authority or might, or he actually granted the colonial government the "right" to execute Indian freedom fighters is hard to tell. But in general, it appears that Gandhi had not worked out in his mind the true essence of natural human rights, and desirable human duties in a civilized society. Nor had he come to realize that in any democratic dispensation, governments cannot be assigned any inherent rights, for they are only the proxies of the people who elect them, and they only have duties and obligations to ensure the rights of the people, and to prevent the exercise of those individual rights that might violate, restrict or inveigh on the rights of others.
In the context of Bhagat Singh, the British government was under no popular obligation to execute him. On the contrary, his actions had widespread support, and there were fervent appeals for the commutation of his sentence. In such a context, Gandhi could have only spoken of British authority - and that too a stolen and usurped authority to execute Bhagat Singh. Had he been truly moved against Bhagat Singh's death sentence, he would have spoken of how the British were able to execute him only because of their military might - that their action had no ethical or moral sanction.
A true revolutionary - (such as Bhagat Singh) would not have granted the exploitative colonial regime any "rights" whatsoever. In fact, it would have been the right of the Indian revolutionary to resist colonial rule by any means necessary. If Indians obeyed British orders, it was only out of practical necessity, out of an instinct to survive. But if some were prepared to risk their lives in confronting the British military occupation, it was their inalienable right to do so. Indians had duties and obligations towards each other, but none to the British occupiers and exploiters. From a revolutionary, moral, ethical, or national perspective, there was no necessity to grant the British colonial authorities any rights whatsoever, because their very presence was illegal and obtained without the democratic consent of the Indian masses. Indians, therefore, had no moral duty, or 'Dharma', obliging them towards obeying their orders, or respecting the lives of the Britishers who had occupied Indian territory by force.
But Gandhi was never completely able to overcome a deeply ingrained tendency towards tolerating or accepting the "rights" he saw intrinsically bound with authority figures. In the feudal order that Gandhi was born in, the masses had no inherent rights, only duties towards the sovereign. And Gandhi was never able to completely reject this iniquitous paradigm. He was never fully able to complete the transition to a democratic order in which citizens enjoyed inalienable rights in addition to bearing duties towards each other. He did not fathom that in a democratic society, the role of the state was to ensure the rights of the people, not to exercise any arbitrary hegemony over them. Moreover, in a democratic state, the masses could not be burdened with unnecessary duties, only those that obliged them to respect the rights of others, and required them to provide services in exchange for what they received from the state, or others in society.
While many of the qualities Gandhi sought to elicit from the masses were commendable and desirable qualities to strive for - one could not make such qualities conditions for granting the masses certain fundamental rights - such as freedom from hunger, homelessness and exploitation. And if the poor masses were enjoined to be more noble in character, then such requirements also had to be made mandatory for authority figures.
In these (and other such) ways, Gandhi's formulations were theoretically and practically inadequate.
While there will always be admirers of Gandhi, intimate contact with his record reveals him to be a seriously flawed leader, popular more due to the particular conditions and circumstances of colonial (or post-colonial) India (and his unwavering leadership during the Quit India Movement), rather than the visionary or enlightened nature of his general tactics and formulations. The India of the future might well need to look beyond the myth and mystique of "Mahatma Gandhi" if it hopes to build a more just and harmonious order.
The old farts are saints so they are preaching to us
This is another link (To read about the ban in Pune)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1930768.stm
This is what pisses me off about India. Who the fuck came up with “Operation Romeo”: So I cannot go to a park with my girlfriend or wife without risking police reprisal. Oh yeah the old rotten mother fucking politicians accept bribes and that is okay. They can molest young girls and that is okay too but the young people of the country cannot hold hands because we are insulting our culture. In the first place these old farts are the ones that drove us into poverty, lost wars, created religious divides and now they want to preach morality while spending (On themselves) our money. I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for my culture and my country but not for these people. I have always felt sad that I’m living away but I think these idiotic acts make me feel that I’m doing the right thing.
A lot people are blaming the police but I think they should be questioning the lawmakers. In the country of Kama Sutra displaying public affection should not even be an issue and Ashok Kolaskar shame on you, I think you are a bigoted dick head that suffers with Erectile dysfunction. You are an educator and supposed to be leading young students into the future and instead you are preaching like the pope. I hope the youngsters of India rise up against such outdated, bloated, selfish assholes and demand what we were promised FREEDOM.
PS: Sorry about the crude language and I have mailed a similar letter to the VC of Pune University Ashok Kolaskar.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1930768.stm
This is what pisses me off about India. Who the fuck came up with “Operation Romeo”: So I cannot go to a park with my girlfriend or wife without risking police reprisal. Oh yeah the old rotten mother fucking politicians accept bribes and that is okay. They can molest young girls and that is okay too but the young people of the country cannot hold hands because we are insulting our culture. In the first place these old farts are the ones that drove us into poverty, lost wars, created religious divides and now they want to preach morality while spending (On themselves) our money. I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for my culture and my country but not for these people. I have always felt sad that I’m living away but I think these idiotic acts make me feel that I’m doing the right thing.
A lot people are blaming the police but I think they should be questioning the lawmakers. In the country of Kama Sutra displaying public affection should not even be an issue and Ashok Kolaskar shame on you, I think you are a bigoted dick head that suffers with Erectile dysfunction. You are an educator and supposed to be leading young students into the future and instead you are preaching like the pope. I hope the youngsters of India rise up against such outdated, bloated, selfish assholes and demand what we were promised FREEDOM.
PS: Sorry about the crude language and I have mailed a similar letter to the VC of Pune University Ashok Kolaskar.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Worst Telugu Movies I have seen in the last 2 years
As the year is close to ending I figured I should jot a list of the worst telugu movies I have seen in the last couple of years.
The reason I'm publishing this list is that you can suggest these movies to people you don't like.
01. Aaruguru Pathivrathalu
02. Kunkuma
03. No- Yes it is a Telugu movie
04. Koduku
05. Aithe Enti - Not to be confused with Aithe
06. Enjoy
07. Avuna
08. Goa
09. Sambhu
10. Vendi Mabbulu
Peace
The reason I'm publishing this list is that you can suggest these movies to people you don't like.
01. Aaruguru Pathivrathalu
02. Kunkuma
03. No- Yes it is a Telugu movie
04. Koduku
05. Aithe Enti - Not to be confused with Aithe
06. Enjoy
07. Avuna
08. Goa
09. Sambhu
10. Vendi Mabbulu
Peace
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Heart Broken
Whoever said that "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved" should reconsider.....
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Just a question
This is such a remarkable and consistent coincidence that we cannot ignore it. I think there is a familiar trend on the behavior of a certain group of people. I cannot conclude the behavior of any certain group but here is the ethnic breakdown of the population of Australia (I think Sydney is consistent with the national percentages in this regard). The Chinese, Lebanese, Indian and Vietnamese people are non-Caucasian. Why is that we hardly hear the Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese communities get involved in these issues?
Total population: 21 million
Australian: 6.7m (38.7%)
English: 6.4m (36.5%)
Irish: 1.9m (11%)
Italian: 800,000 (4.6%)
German: 742,000 (4.3%)
Chinese: 557,000 (3.2%)
Scottish: 540,000 (3.1%)
Greek: 376,000 (2.2%)
Dutch: 269,000 (1.5%)
Lebanese: 162,000 (0.9%)
Indian: 157,000 (0.9%)
Vietnamese: 157,000 (0.9%)
Polish: 151,000 (0.9%)
Peace
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Grandma Robin Hood dies
Ms. Bailey had a fascinating life. A moment of silence for the lady who made this world a lot more colorful.
Peace
Peace
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Godse's speech
Nathuram Godse's speech at trial
" On January 13, 1948, I learnt that Gandhiji had decided to go on fast unto death. The reason given was that he wanted an assurance of Hindu-Muslim Unity... But I and many others could easily see that the real motive... [was] to compel the Dominion Government to pay the sum of Rs 55 crores to
....In 1946 or thereabout, Muslim atrocities perpetrated on Hindus under the Government patronage of Surhawardy in Noakhali made our blood boil. Our shame and indignation knew no bounds when we saw that Gandhiji had come forward to shield that very Surhawardy and began to style him as 'Shaheed Saheb' - a martyr - even in his prayer meetings...
....Gandhiji's influence in the Congress first increased and then became supreme. His activities for public awakening were phenomenal in their intensity and were reinforced by the slogans of truth and non-violence which he ostentatiously paraded before the country... I could never conceive that an armed resistance to the aggressor is unjust...
... Ram killed Ravan in a tumultuous fight...
a violent pacifist who brought untold calamities on the country in the name of truth and nonviolence, while Rana Pratap, Shivaji and the Guru will remain enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen forever...
....By 1919, Gandhiji had become desperate in his endeavours to get the Muslims to trust him and went from one absurd promise to another... He backed the Khilafat movement in this country and was able to enlist the full support of the National Congress in that policy... very soon the Moplah Rebellion showed that the Muslims had not the slightest idea of national
unity... There followed a huge slaughter of Hindus... The British Government, entirely unmoved by the rebellion, suppressed it in a few months and left to Gandhiji the joy of his Hindu-Muslim Unity... British Imperialism emerged stronger, the Muslims became more fanatical, and the consequences were visited on the Hindus...
The accumulating provocation of 32 years, culminating in his last pro-Muslim fast, at last goaded me to the conclusion that the existence of Gandhiji should be brought to an end immediately... he developed a subjective mentality under which he alone was the final judge of what was right or wrong... Either Congress had to surrender its will to him and play second fiddle to all his eccentricity, whimsicality... or it had to carry on without him... He was the master brain guiding the civil disobedience
movement... The movement may succeed or fail; it may bring untold disasters and political reverses, but that could make no difference to the Mahatma's infallibility... These childish inanities and obstinacies, coupled with a most severe austerity of life, ceaseless work and lofty character, made Gandhiji formidable and irresistible... In a position of such absolute
irresponsibility, Gandhiji was guilty of blunder after blunder...
....The Mahatma even supported the separation of Sindh from the Bombay Presidency and threw the Hindus of Sindh to the communal wolves. Numerous riots took place in
....From August 1946 onwards, the private armies of the Muslim League began a massacre of the Hindus... Hindu blood began to flow from Bengal to
a part, the greater was Gandhi's infatuation for them...
....The Congress, which had boasted of its nationalism and socialism, secretly accepted Pakistan and abjectly surrendered to Jinnah.
....One of the conditions imposed by Gandhiji for his breaking of the fast unto death related to the mosques in Delhi occupied by Hindu refugees. But when Hindus in Pakistan were subjected to violent attacks he did not so much as utter a single word to protest and censure the Pakistan government...
Gandhi is being referred to as the Father of the Nation. But if that is so, he had failed his paternal duty inasmuch as he has acted very treacherously to the nation by his consenting to the partitioning of it... The people of this country were eager and vehement in their opposition to
....I shall be totally ruined, and the only thing I could expect from the people would be nothing but hatred... if I were to kill Gandhiji. But at the same time, I felt that Indian politics in the absence of Gandhiji would surely be proved practical, able to retaliate, and be powerful with armed forces. No doubt, my own future would be totally ruined, but the nation would be saved from the inroads of Pakistan...
....I do say that my shots were fired at the person whose policy and action had brought rack and ruin and destruction to millions of Hindus... There was no legal machinery by which such an offender could be brought to book, and for this reason I fired those fatal shots...
....I do not desire any mercy to be shown to me... I did fire shots at Gandhiji in open daylight. I did not make any attempt to run away; in fact I never entertained any idea of running away. I did not try to shoot myself... for, it was my ardent desire to give vent to my thoughts in an open Court. My confidence about the moral side of my action has not been shaken even by
the criticism leveled of against it on all sides. I have no doubt, honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof some day in future. "
Monday, November 28, 2005
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Dial a human
I don't have the link for this page but this was published by Seattle Times. The called a number of companies and compiled this table.
This information is based on a survey conducted by the Seattle Times. Unfortunately I lost the link for this page but I guess you can Google it.
Company/Company Web site
Phone number
How to reach a human
Minutes to reach a human
Notes
Banks
Bank of Americahttp://www.bankofamerica.com/
206-461-0800 or800-442-6680
Press 0 immediately.
1.5
KeyBankhttp://www.key.com/
800-539-2968
Remain on the line, press nothing.
1.5
US Bankhttp://www.usbank.com/
800-872-2657
Press 0. Ignore prompts through short menu of choices, then you're transferred to a representative.
2
Washington Mutualhttp://www.wamu.com/
800-788-7000
Press 0 immediately, then press 0 again.
1
Wells Fargohttp://www.wellsfargo.com/
800-869-3557
Press 0 immediately. Wait through prompt for account number.
1
Cellphone companies
Cingularhttp://www.cingular.com/
866-246-4852
Press 1, enter cellphone number or press 0 three times to be transferred to a representative.
2.5
Sprint Nextelhttp://www.sprint.com/
800-480-4727
After brief announcement in Spanish, press 1, then 2. Press 0 twice, then say "agent."
3
System warned that "time to reach a representative might be longer than usual" due to high call volumes. Predicted wait: Less than three minutes. Actual wait: one minute.
T-Mobilehttp://www.t-mobile.com/
800-866-2453
After announcements, press 2 for existing customers. Then say "representative."
4.5
Verizon Wirelesshttp://www.verizonwireless.com/
800-922-0204
Press 0 a total of four times, once after each prompt.
2
Credit/Financial Services
American Expresshttp://www.americanexpress.com/
800-528-4800
Press 0 a total of four times, once after each prompt. Ignore the "invalid entry" prompt.
2
Capital Onehttp://www.capitalone.com/
800-955-7070
Press 0 a total of three times, once after each prompt. Or simply wait through all the menu choices and press 0 at the end.
2
MasterCardhttp://www.mastercard.com/
800-622-7747
Press 1 for English, then press 0.
3.5
Safeco Insurancehttp://www.safeco.com/
800-332-3226
Press 1, press 1, press 0#. Pressing 0 alone automatically disconnects you.
2
Visahttp://www.visa.com/
800-847-2911
Press 0 three times, ignoring prompts that say it's an invalid option.
1
System warned of a high volume of calls, but a human answered in about a minute.
Government
King County District Courtwww.metrokc.gov/kcdc
206-205-9200
Press 6.
6.5
The county gets extra credit for publishing the phone shortcut on its Web site and apologizing in advance for the wait time.
State Department of Licensinghttp://www.wa.gov/dol
Call your local DOL office.
Press 1 after the announcement about the Web site, then stay on the line through a long menu to be transferred to a representative.
2
State Department of Labor and Industrieswww.wa.gov/lni
Call your local office.
Press 1, then 0.
0.5
Seattle Municipal Courtwww.seattle.gov/courts
206-684-5600
Press 1, then 0.
0.5
U.S. Passport Services Officetravel.state.gov
877-487-2778
When prompted to select English or another language, press nothing. The system assumes you have a rotary-dial phone and transfers you immediately to a representative.
1
Internet Service Providers
AOLhttp://www.aol.com/
800-827-6364
Press 0 a total of three times, once after each prompt, ignoring the automated voice promising that "it will be a lot faster if I can just keep asking you questions."
1.5
Points off for making it hard to find the customer-service phone number on the Web site.
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.net/
888-266-2278
Press 0 twice, after each time the system asks for your phone number. Press 1 for English. Then press 1 for English again. Press 1 again for existing customers. Press # twice when asked for your phone number.
2.5
Points off for not listing customer-service phone number on Web site.
EarthLinkhttp://www.earthlink.net/
888-327-8454
No easy escape from endless menu choices. It may be fastest to answer the annoying list of automated questions. For billing questions, press 2. For technical issues, press 4 and follow the prompts.
7
We were transferred to a system dead-end on the first attempt, cut off on the second attempt.
Phone
AT&Thttp://www.consumer.att.com/
800-222-0300
Press 1 for English, 0 each time you are prompted for your phone number, then say "agent" twice.
2
Qwesthttp://www.qwest.com/
800-244-1111
Say "representative" a total of five times, once after each prompt, or press # four times.
1.5
Retail products/services
Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/
206-266-2992; 800-201-7575
Press 0, then stay on the line through the menu listings.
0.5
Best Buyhttp://www.bestbuy.com/
888-237-8289
Press 1 a total of three times, once after each menu prompt, then press # six times, ignoring prompts for your order number and telephone number.
2.5
Press 0 twice, and the system hangs up on you after saying, "I'm sorry you're having problems."
Circuit Cityhttp://www.circuitcity.com/
800-843-2489
Press 0.
1.5
Costcohttp://www.costco.com/
800-220-6000
Press 0 twice, ignoring prompts that say it's an invalid option.
0.75
eBayhttp://www.ebay.com/
800-322-9266
Press 0 twice.
0.5
Macy'shttp://www.macys.com/
206-506-6000
Press 0 three times, ignoring prompts and the automated voice telling you it can't understand you.
0.5
Nordstromhttp://www.nordstrom.com/
888-282-6060
Direct to human.
0
Representative answered so fast the phone hadn't even rung yet.
The Seattle Timeshttp://www.seattletimes.com/
206-464-2121
Press 0.
1.5
Starbuckshttp://www.starbucks.com/
800-782-7282 (card services); 800-235-2883 (retail)
Press 0 (either phone number).
16.5
Cool hold music. They warn that they're experiencing a high volume of calls and encourage you to go to their Web site instead.
Ticketmasterhttp://www.ticketmaster.com/
206-628-0888
Press 2, then 6, then 2.
3.5
Ads and announcements can't be bypassed. Ticketmaster wins the "most annoying computer voice" award for the nasal fake-female who greets callers.
Technology
Applehttp://www.apple.com/
800-676-2775
Press 1 for English, 2 if you're an existing customer. Wait for the next menu to start, then choose 3, then 2 to talk to an agent.
6
Automated voice blames long hold times on the new iPod Nano.
Compaqwww.hp.com
800-752-0900 (general questions)
Say "connect."
1.5
Dellhttp://www.dell.com/
800-999-3355
To bypass each of five menus you have to get through to reach an agent, press 0 twice after each begins, then ask to be transferred to customer service.
1 if you skip the menus.
Microsofthttp://www.microsoft.com/
800-642-7676
Press 0 five times and ignore the automated warnings that your option is incorrect.
0.5
Travel
Alaska Airhttp://www.alaskaair.com/
800-252-7522
Press 3.
8
Pressing 0 reroutes you to the beginning of the menu.
America Westhttp://www.americawest.com/
800-363-2542
Press 2 for America West, then 2. Then press 0.
2.5
You start with US Airways system.
American Airlineshttp://www.aa.com/
800-433-7300
Press 0 twice. When the automated voice comes on, say "agent."
2.75
Before transferring you to an agent, they warn that they'll charge you an extra $8 service fee if you buy a ticket over the phone.
Amtrakhttp://www.amtrak.com/
800-872-7245
Don't try to outsmart the automated voice by staying silent. It's quicker to say "agent," then confirm by saying "yes."
1.5
Continentalhttp://www.continental.com/
800-523-3273
Press 0 two times.
12
Deltahttp://www.delta.com/
800-221-1212
Say "agent" twice after the introductory menu.
4
Expediahttp://www.expedia.com/
800-397-3342
Say "agent" twice.
0.5
Northwesthttp://www.nwa.com/
800-225-2525
Press 0.
2
Sea-Tac Airportwww.portseattle.org/seatac/
206-433-5388
Press 9.
1.5
Southwesthttp://www.southwest.com/
800-435-9792
Direct to agent.
0.25
Unitedhttp://www.united.com/
800-864-8331
Stay on the line to get the automated system. Say "agent," and then "yes." They'll ask you what kind of agent you want, and if you say "agent" again, you'll end up with a reservations agent.
16.5
US Airwayshttp://www.usairways.com/
800-363-2542
Press 1 for US Airways, then 2, then 0.
0.5
___________________________________________________________________
TV
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.com/
800-266-2278
Ignore requests to enter your phone number. Press 1 for English, then 1 for current customer. Ignore requests for your phone number again, and they'll transfer you to an agent. If you plug in your phone number, you'll end up at another menu.
2
Points off for not listing phone number on Web site.
DirecTVhttp://www.directv.com/
800-494-4388
Press 1 for English, 1 for existing customers. Ignore requests for your phone number. Press 0, then either press 3 twice or 4, 0, to get an agent.
2
If you don't choose a reason for your call, it hangs up on you.
Dish Networkhttp://www.dishnetwork.com/
888-284-7116
Press 1 for existing customers, then press 0 when prompted for your account or phone number.
1.75
It said the wait would be two minutes, but an agent picked up in about 30 seconds.
TiVohttp://www.tivo.com/
877-367-8486
Instead of choosing from the menu, say "agent." When the automated voice repeats the menu, say "agent" again and the voice will relent, saying, "OK, agent."
6
While you're waiting, recorded voices try to talk you out of it, telling you it would be "much faster" and "faster and more convenient" to go online.
Utilities
City of Seattle garbagewww.seattle.gov/util/services/garbage/
206-684-3000
Press 3, then 0.
0.75
Puget Sound Energyhttp://www.pse.com/
888-225-5773
Press 0.
0.5
Rabancohttp://www.rabanco.com/
206-332-7777
Press 1.
13.5
That's the phone number for Seattle. Other numbers are on their Web site.
Seattle City Lightwww.cityofseattle.net/light
206-684-3000
Press 0 four times.
0.75
Snohomish Co. PUDhttp://www.snopud.com/
425-783-1000
Press nothing. The system assumes you're using a rotary-dial phone and transfers you to an operator.
0.75
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.com/
800-266-2278
Ignore requests to enter your phone number. Press 1 for English, then 1 for current customer. Ignore requests for your phone number again, and they'll transfer you to an agent. If you plug in your phone number, you'll end up at another menu.
2
Points off for not listing phone number on Web site.
DirecTVhttp://www.directv.com/
800-494-4388
Press 1 for English, 1 for existing customers. Ignore requests for your phone number. Press 0, then either press 3 twice or 4, 0, to get an agent.
2
If you don't choose a reason for your call, it hangs up on you.
Dish Networkhttp://www.dishnetwork.com/
888-284-7116
Press 1 for existing customers, then press 0 when prompted for your account or phone number.
1.75
It said the wait would be two minutes, but an agent picked up in about 30 seconds.
TiVohttp://www.tivo.com/
877-367-8486
Instead of choosing from the menu, say "agent." When the automated voice repeats the menu, say "agent" again and the voice will relent, saying, "OK, agent."
6
While you're waiting, recorded voices try to talk you out of it, telling you it would be "much faster" and "faster and more convenient" to go online.
Utilities
City of Seattle garbagewww.seattle.gov/util/services/garbage/
206-684-3000
Press 3, then 0.
0.75
Puget Sound Energyhttp://www.pse.com/
888-225-5773
Press 0.
0.5
Rabancohttp://www.rabanco.com/
206-332-7777
Press 1.
13.5
That's the phone number for Seattle. Other numbers are on their Web site.
Seattle City Lightwww.cityofseattle.net/light
206-684-3000
Press 0 four times.
0.75
Snohomish Co. PUDhttp://www.snopud.com/
425-783-1000
Press nothing. The system assumes you're using a rotary-dial phone and transfers you to an operator.
0.75
Would you rather talk to these machines or Indians?
This information is based on a survey conducted by the Seattle Times. Unfortunately I lost the link for this page but I guess you can Google it.
Company/Company Web site
Phone number
How to reach a human
Minutes to reach a human
Notes
Banks
Bank of Americahttp://www.bankofamerica.com/
206-461-0800 or800-442-6680
Press 0 immediately.
1.5
KeyBankhttp://www.key.com/
800-539-2968
Remain on the line, press nothing.
1.5
US Bankhttp://www.usbank.com/
800-872-2657
Press 0. Ignore prompts through short menu of choices, then you're transferred to a representative.
2
Washington Mutualhttp://www.wamu.com/
800-788-7000
Press 0 immediately, then press 0 again.
1
Wells Fargohttp://www.wellsfargo.com/
800-869-3557
Press 0 immediately. Wait through prompt for account number.
1
Cellphone companies
Cingularhttp://www.cingular.com/
866-246-4852
Press 1, enter cellphone number or press 0 three times to be transferred to a representative.
2.5
Sprint Nextelhttp://www.sprint.com/
800-480-4727
After brief announcement in Spanish, press 1, then 2. Press 0 twice, then say "agent."
3
System warned that "time to reach a representative might be longer than usual" due to high call volumes. Predicted wait: Less than three minutes. Actual wait: one minute.
T-Mobilehttp://www.t-mobile.com/
800-866-2453
After announcements, press 2 for existing customers. Then say "representative."
4.5
Verizon Wirelesshttp://www.verizonwireless.com/
800-922-0204
Press 0 a total of four times, once after each prompt.
2
Credit/Financial Services
American Expresshttp://www.americanexpress.com/
800-528-4800
Press 0 a total of four times, once after each prompt. Ignore the "invalid entry" prompt.
2
Capital Onehttp://www.capitalone.com/
800-955-7070
Press 0 a total of three times, once after each prompt. Or simply wait through all the menu choices and press 0 at the end.
2
MasterCardhttp://www.mastercard.com/
800-622-7747
Press 1 for English, then press 0.
3.5
Safeco Insurancehttp://www.safeco.com/
800-332-3226
Press 1, press 1, press 0#. Pressing 0 alone automatically disconnects you.
2
Visahttp://www.visa.com/
800-847-2911
Press 0 three times, ignoring prompts that say it's an invalid option.
1
System warned of a high volume of calls, but a human answered in about a minute.
Government
King County District Courtwww.metrokc.gov/kcdc
206-205-9200
Press 6.
6.5
The county gets extra credit for publishing the phone shortcut on its Web site and apologizing in advance for the wait time.
State Department of Licensinghttp://www.wa.gov/dol
Call your local DOL office.
Press 1 after the announcement about the Web site, then stay on the line through a long menu to be transferred to a representative.
2
State Department of Labor and Industrieswww.wa.gov/lni
Call your local office.
Press 1, then 0.
0.5
Seattle Municipal Courtwww.seattle.gov/courts
206-684-5600
Press 1, then 0.
0.5
U.S. Passport Services Officetravel.state.gov
877-487-2778
When prompted to select English or another language, press nothing. The system assumes you have a rotary-dial phone and transfers you immediately to a representative.
1
Internet Service Providers
AOLhttp://www.aol.com/
800-827-6364
Press 0 a total of three times, once after each prompt, ignoring the automated voice promising that "it will be a lot faster if I can just keep asking you questions."
1.5
Points off for making it hard to find the customer-service phone number on the Web site.
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.net/
888-266-2278
Press 0 twice, after each time the system asks for your phone number. Press 1 for English. Then press 1 for English again. Press 1 again for existing customers. Press # twice when asked for your phone number.
2.5
Points off for not listing customer-service phone number on Web site.
EarthLinkhttp://www.earthlink.net/
888-327-8454
No easy escape from endless menu choices. It may be fastest to answer the annoying list of automated questions. For billing questions, press 2. For technical issues, press 4 and follow the prompts.
7
We were transferred to a system dead-end on the first attempt, cut off on the second attempt.
Phone
AT&Thttp://www.consumer.att.com/
800-222-0300
Press 1 for English, 0 each time you are prompted for your phone number, then say "agent" twice.
2
Qwesthttp://www.qwest.com/
800-244-1111
Say "representative" a total of five times, once after each prompt, or press # four times.
1.5
Retail products/services
Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/
206-266-2992; 800-201-7575
Press 0, then stay on the line through the menu listings.
0.5
Best Buyhttp://www.bestbuy.com/
888-237-8289
Press 1 a total of three times, once after each menu prompt, then press # six times, ignoring prompts for your order number and telephone number.
2.5
Press 0 twice, and the system hangs up on you after saying, "I'm sorry you're having problems."
Circuit Cityhttp://www.circuitcity.com/
800-843-2489
Press 0.
1.5
Costcohttp://www.costco.com/
800-220-6000
Press 0 twice, ignoring prompts that say it's an invalid option.
0.75
eBayhttp://www.ebay.com/
800-322-9266
Press 0 twice.
0.5
Macy'shttp://www.macys.com/
206-506-6000
Press 0 three times, ignoring prompts and the automated voice telling you it can't understand you.
0.5
Nordstromhttp://www.nordstrom.com/
888-282-6060
Direct to human.
0
Representative answered so fast the phone hadn't even rung yet.
The Seattle Timeshttp://www.seattletimes.com/
206-464-2121
Press 0.
1.5
Starbuckshttp://www.starbucks.com/
800-782-7282 (card services); 800-235-2883 (retail)
Press 0 (either phone number).
16.5
Cool hold music. They warn that they're experiencing a high volume of calls and encourage you to go to their Web site instead.
Ticketmasterhttp://www.ticketmaster.com/
206-628-0888
Press 2, then 6, then 2.
3.5
Ads and announcements can't be bypassed. Ticketmaster wins the "most annoying computer voice" award for the nasal fake-female who greets callers.
Technology
Applehttp://www.apple.com/
800-676-2775
Press 1 for English, 2 if you're an existing customer. Wait for the next menu to start, then choose 3, then 2 to talk to an agent.
6
Automated voice blames long hold times on the new iPod Nano.
Compaqwww.hp.com
800-752-0900 (general questions)
Say "connect."
1.5
Dellhttp://www.dell.com/
800-999-3355
To bypass each of five menus you have to get through to reach an agent, press 0 twice after each begins, then ask to be transferred to customer service.
1 if you skip the menus.
Microsofthttp://www.microsoft.com/
800-642-7676
Press 0 five times and ignore the automated warnings that your option is incorrect.
0.5
Travel
Alaska Airhttp://www.alaskaair.com/
800-252-7522
Press 3.
8
Pressing 0 reroutes you to the beginning of the menu.
America Westhttp://www.americawest.com/
800-363-2542
Press 2 for America West, then 2. Then press 0.
2.5
You start with US Airways system.
American Airlineshttp://www.aa.com/
800-433-7300
Press 0 twice. When the automated voice comes on, say "agent."
2.75
Before transferring you to an agent, they warn that they'll charge you an extra $8 service fee if you buy a ticket over the phone.
Amtrakhttp://www.amtrak.com/
800-872-7245
Don't try to outsmart the automated voice by staying silent. It's quicker to say "agent," then confirm by saying "yes."
1.5
Continentalhttp://www.continental.com/
800-523-3273
Press 0 two times.
12
Deltahttp://www.delta.com/
800-221-1212
Say "agent" twice after the introductory menu.
4
Expediahttp://www.expedia.com/
800-397-3342
Say "agent" twice.
0.5
Northwesthttp://www.nwa.com/
800-225-2525
Press 0.
2
Sea-Tac Airportwww.portseattle.org/seatac/
206-433-5388
Press 9.
1.5
Southwesthttp://www.southwest.com/
800-435-9792
Direct to agent.
0.25
Unitedhttp://www.united.com/
800-864-8331
Stay on the line to get the automated system. Say "agent," and then "yes." They'll ask you what kind of agent you want, and if you say "agent" again, you'll end up with a reservations agent.
16.5
US Airwayshttp://www.usairways.com/
800-363-2542
Press 1 for US Airways, then 2, then 0.
0.5
___________________________________________________________________
TV
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.com/
800-266-2278
Ignore requests to enter your phone number. Press 1 for English, then 1 for current customer. Ignore requests for your phone number again, and they'll transfer you to an agent. If you plug in your phone number, you'll end up at another menu.
2
Points off for not listing phone number on Web site.
DirecTVhttp://www.directv.com/
800-494-4388
Press 1 for English, 1 for existing customers. Ignore requests for your phone number. Press 0, then either press 3 twice or 4, 0, to get an agent.
2
If you don't choose a reason for your call, it hangs up on you.
Dish Networkhttp://www.dishnetwork.com/
888-284-7116
Press 1 for existing customers, then press 0 when prompted for your account or phone number.
1.75
It said the wait would be two minutes, but an agent picked up in about 30 seconds.
TiVohttp://www.tivo.com/
877-367-8486
Instead of choosing from the menu, say "agent." When the automated voice repeats the menu, say "agent" again and the voice will relent, saying, "OK, agent."
6
While you're waiting, recorded voices try to talk you out of it, telling you it would be "much faster" and "faster and more convenient" to go online.
Utilities
City of Seattle garbagewww.seattle.gov/util/services/garbage/
206-684-3000
Press 3, then 0.
0.75
Puget Sound Energyhttp://www.pse.com/
888-225-5773
Press 0.
0.5
Rabancohttp://www.rabanco.com/
206-332-7777
Press 1.
13.5
That's the phone number for Seattle. Other numbers are on their Web site.
Seattle City Lightwww.cityofseattle.net/light
206-684-3000
Press 0 four times.
0.75
Snohomish Co. PUDhttp://www.snopud.com/
425-783-1000
Press nothing. The system assumes you're using a rotary-dial phone and transfers you to an operator.
0.75
Comcasthttp://www.comcast.com/
800-266-2278
Ignore requests to enter your phone number. Press 1 for English, then 1 for current customer. Ignore requests for your phone number again, and they'll transfer you to an agent. If you plug in your phone number, you'll end up at another menu.
2
Points off for not listing phone number on Web site.
DirecTVhttp://www.directv.com/
800-494-4388
Press 1 for English, 1 for existing customers. Ignore requests for your phone number. Press 0, then either press 3 twice or 4, 0, to get an agent.
2
If you don't choose a reason for your call, it hangs up on you.
Dish Networkhttp://www.dishnetwork.com/
888-284-7116
Press 1 for existing customers, then press 0 when prompted for your account or phone number.
1.75
It said the wait would be two minutes, but an agent picked up in about 30 seconds.
TiVohttp://www.tivo.com/
877-367-8486
Instead of choosing from the menu, say "agent." When the automated voice repeats the menu, say "agent" again and the voice will relent, saying, "OK, agent."
6
While you're waiting, recorded voices try to talk you out of it, telling you it would be "much faster" and "faster and more convenient" to go online.
Utilities
City of Seattle garbagewww.seattle.gov/util/services/garbage/
206-684-3000
Press 3, then 0.
0.75
Puget Sound Energyhttp://www.pse.com/
888-225-5773
Press 0.
0.5
Rabancohttp://www.rabanco.com/
206-332-7777
Press 1.
13.5
That's the phone number for Seattle. Other numbers are on their Web site.
Seattle City Lightwww.cityofseattle.net/light
206-684-3000
Press 0 four times.
0.75
Snohomish Co. PUDhttp://www.snopud.com/
425-783-1000
Press nothing. The system assumes you're using a rotary-dial phone and transfers you to an operator.
0.75
Would you rather talk to these machines or Indians?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
CNN.com - American high schoolers receive help from India - Oct 26, 2005
I turned red with anger after I finished reading this article. After researching about "Growing Stars" and other similar companies I found out that a number of these etutors are also regular teachers. Namitha (The tutor) seems to be pretty understanding and considerate person. Now when I was in school (Which was not too long ago) my teachers were not so considerate or understanding and it was the same case with tuitions too. I know of a number of students who were not whacked but were also insulted. The worst part was that none of us were given a chance to justify our actions (Which by the way were acceptable most of the times). We were constantly put down and degraded by our teacher. At that point in time I thought it was their teaching methodology and compromised my way through school.
Now all of sudden we have the same teachers teaching rich American kids being all nice and cordial. So what was it that I or my peers did wrong? Being born in India? It is a sad story because the whole world admires our educational system and it's product but mind you there were a lot of sacrifices made on behalf of the students (Well not me but most of them). I think that one of the key reasons why Indian graduates are tremendously successful. The reason I'm making this point is because most of the credit goes to the educational institutions and the teachers but you know what it was the IIT kid who spent 18 hours a day for 4 years studying to become a marketable student. But hey! Who gives a shit the system works and it will keep functioning that way.
Peace
Now all of sudden we have the same teachers teaching rich American kids being all nice and cordial. So what was it that I or my peers did wrong? Being born in India? It is a sad story because the whole world admires our educational system and it's product but mind you there were a lot of sacrifices made on behalf of the students (Well not me but most of them). I think that one of the key reasons why Indian graduates are tremendously successful. The reason I'm making this point is because most of the credit goes to the educational institutions and the teachers but you know what it was the IIT kid who spent 18 hours a day for 4 years studying to become a marketable student. But hey! Who gives a shit the system works and it will keep functioning that way.
Peace
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