Tsunami and Indo-US relations

When the Congress Govt. with Communist support came into power in India there was a fear that the relations that the previous NDA Govt. had built with United States and Israel would erode. But on the contrary, the relation seems to be going fine, even though many of us don’t like the kid glove treatment that the General across the border is getting.

What does all this mean geopolitically? First, there is the fact that the left-of-center Congress Party-led government willingly worked with the United States in responding to the tsunami. In the past, such a regime would have gone to great lengths to torpedo any American effort to provide relief in the region. For example, when a massive cyclone hit Bangladesh in 1991, leaving extensive devastation in its wake, India expressed misgivings about the U.S. response, which was called “Operation Sea Angel.” These anxieties, a product of the cold-war years, have steadily dissipated over the past decade, replaced by a willingness to work with, and even court, the United States on a range of issues, from anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean to jointly confronting terrorism. Indeed, the growing scope of military-to-military contacts between the two countries over the past several years (a centerpiece of the new Indo-U.S. relationship) made it possible for the two states to play a leading and coordinated role in post-tsunami relief. To be sure, the countries remain at odds over certain issues, such as India’s ties to Iran and the brutal regime in Myanmar. But the signs point in a positive direction. For example, in a sharp departure from the past, the ongoing U.S. military presence in Sri Lanka to provide humanitarian assistance has not elicited any visceral, reflexive comments from New Delhi officialdom. The latent suspicion of all American initiatives in the region that until recently preoccupied India’s foreign policy elite now appears to be in steady decline. [Assist Leader via Dan Drezner]

After the nuclear tests, there was a series of discussions between India and United States in which both the nations understood each other more clearly. During the Kargil crisis, United States sided with India, much to the surprise of New Delhi, according to Strobe Talbott.
But one of the important reasons for the removal of suspicion is improved trade relations between the two countries and India was one of the three countries which supported Bush’s re-election.

Meditation and hypertension

Recently there was a finding that meditation caused a increase in high frequency brain activity as well as a change in the brain structure. Now here are some studies from the Bay Area which shows some positive changes in practictioners of Transcendental meditation.

Of the three groups that participated in the study, meditation practitioners witnessed the reduction of 6 millimeters in diastolic pressure and a 3-millimeter drop in systolic blood-pressure readings.
There was also a 23 percent reduction in that group in the use of antihypertensive medications used to treat the disease.
Staggers said meditation has shown promise in helping reduce the symptoms of numerous physical and mental ailments, including asthma, depression, anxiety, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. He also said the technique can be an effective tool in the fight against drug dependency and addiction.[Good marks on relaxing for health]

Road Shows

When I used to live in Los Angeles, the evening news used to filled with stories of high speed car chases and shootings on the freeways. Compared to L.A, Silicon Valley is a sleepy place filled with immigrant geeks. Since these geeks cannot behave as characters in Jerry Bruckheimer movie, like L.A residents, they make up for it in various innovative ways on the freeways.

I work with the woman caught using the breast pump while driving down the freeway (she once told me what a great idea this was so she could multitask on her way to work, etc). I showed her your article and she was highly embarrassed. She never thought that someone would actually be looking at her while she was doing the pumping down the freeway (of course, driving so much slower usually welcomes dirty looks and gawking). Judging from her humiliation, I guess that her days of multitasking while driving are over.[Drivers give new meaning to the words ‘road show’]

I have seen people reading newspapers and shaving while driving, but looks like that is nothing.

Movie Reviews #7

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle: Asians Rock! If Americans can do gross stuff in American Pie, so can Asians. Harold is a Korean Investment Banker and Kumar is an Indian, who set out to get some White Castle Burgers after getting high. During the night they encounter so many wierd characters and do such wierd stuff. Very funny. Sepia Mutiny writes that a sequel might be on the way.
Papparazi: Revenge dramas always hold your attention and this one is no different. A famous film actor and his family is harassed by the papparazi and when the family gets hurt by them, the actor decides to take things into his own hands and give the papparazi a taste of their own medicine. This movie had my attention till the end.
The Making of the Mahatma: A young M K Gandhi arrived in South Africa to spend a month for a petty case and ended up staying there for almost 21 years. In those 21 years, many incidents such as racism and the plight of indentured Indians moved him so much that he started fighting for their rights. It was there that he first tried passive resistance to win rights for Indians. This movie also goes into his troubled relations with his son, the fights he had with Kasturba over his idealistic views as well as his attempts to resist conversion attempts by Christian pastors. This movie made by Shyam Benegal stars Rajit Kapur as Gandhji and Pallavi Joshi as Kastuba. Excellent movie.
Mystic River: A tragic tale with a gripping narration. As actor/directors like Dev Anand seem to be losing their sanity with old age, Clint Eastwood seems to be getting better and better with each movie. This movie also has wonderful perfomances by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.
The Village: M. Night Shyamalan’s torture movie. I got bored and slept off before the end.

WSF and Hizballah

Remember the World Social Forum folks who assembled in India last year to whine and dine about everything in the world, but mainly against America ? This year, the same folks are meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil to continue whining. The speeches last year did not have any effect on the masses, so the WSF folks have decided to take it up a notch and work alongwith – Hizballah

Hizballah was described at the conference as

Geeksta Rap

Move over Gangsta, its time for Geeksta rap. When it comes to cultural activities most Indians in the Bay Area stick to the traditional art forms from the motherland. But here is someone different.

It’s all because of Rajeev Bajaj, a 39-year-old chemical engineer from Fremont who is either going to become the def jammer of the science and technology domain or the poster boy for excruciatingly embarrassing nerdiness.
Bajaj recently spent $15,000 of his own money forming an independent record label and hiring musicians to perform four rap and hip-hop songs he wrote in praise of the engineering profession. He hopes his debut album, “Geek Rhythms,” will convince America that engineers indeed are cool.
The album consists of four songs: “Free Energy” is an electronica rap explaining chemical engineering principles; “Geek Dreams” glorifies engineers with a tune reminiscent of a cartoon soundtrack; “Enjoy The Ride” is a techno track about computer geeks (and the only song in which Bajaj joins in on vocals); and “Metamorphosis” is a high-energy, hip-hop look at the mastery of mechanical engineers.[Geeksta rap]

Who's the sponsor ?

The Pakistan Army has decided to go ahead with its plan to build a cantonment in Balochistan, not withstanding the grievances of the Balochis. A Jirga in Sindh has decided to murder the lady doctor who was raped in Balochistan by members of the Pakistani Army. But then you still need a foreign hand to justify all the violence in this exploited province.
GOP Bloggers think that, if there is foreign involvement, it has to be Iran, rather than India.

We know that Syria is supporting the terrorists in Iraq – we also know that the Iranians at least were doing the same; there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of recent Iranian involvement directly in the terrorism in Iraq. Syria has long been an ally of Iran and it stands to reason that a division of labor could have been created between them – the Syrians to keep us tied down in Iraq, while the Iranians seek to upset our applecart elsewhere. Causing an explosion of violence and/or a civil war in Pakistan would serve Iranian interests – it appears that the people of Balochistan have long-standing grievances with the Pakistani government and now that there is trouble brewing there, we can look to Iran as the potential instigator of the problem. [Iranian Mullahs Causing Trouble?]

Both Iran and Afghanistan have their own share of Balochis and any movement for Independence arising here will cause unrest in those two countries. Also with the proposed gas pipeline through the province benefitting both India and Iran, it would not make sense for those two countries to support the insurgency.

Wi-Fi everywhere

In California, to get an escape from the busy lives, people go to many of the wonderful State Parks for hiking, biking or camping. But what if someone wants to file his tax while he is in a state park ? Don’t worry, the State of California has signed a deal with SBC to provide wireless Internet access from areas that were till now called “wilderness”

The Internet access – provided through Wi-Fi technology – will be available mostly in central spots in the parks. The first access point became operational in a state park in San Diego last week; the other access points will be in place by May, in time for the summer camping, hiking and e-mailing season.
“If you wanted to, you could file your taxes from the beach,” said Clark Keslo, the chief information officer for the state of California. But he added, “I don’t recommend it. [Wireless Deal for California Parks]

Right now if I step out of my home, I can get a Wi-Fi connection from McDonalds, Starbucks or even the local public library. Even some local mom and pop cafes are offering Wi-Fi. The City of Cerritos is planning for a citywide Wi-Fi access. Soon, wherever you are in California, you should be able to receive all your important mails like

My Dear,
I am Mariam Abacha, widow to the former military head of state,late general Sani Abacha, who died suddenly as a result of cardiac arrest.
One early morning, I was called by my late husband General Sani Abacha who at that time was the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he took me around the apartment and showed me three metal boxes of money all in foreign currency.
My husband told me he was to use the money for the settlement of his personal royal guards on his self-succession bid and campaings.
Upon his tragic and unexpected death, the new civilian government has insisted on probing my family’s financial resources and has gazettedall our properties. Also, they recently seized all the family known funds abroad with the assistance of the British Government. It is only this money US$60,000,000.00 (sixty million us dollars only) he deposited with the security company vault at Togo (Lome) that they cannot trace because the funds were deposited as an (antiquity) African artwork from Nigeria art gallery, the family intends to use this money for investment purpose to enable the family to start life all over again.

Pop Quiz (3): Is Iran involved ?

Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf, the Balochistan chief minister:

Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf, the Balochistan chief minister, has said he could not rule out involvement of Iran, al-Qaeda or some foreign hand in the recent disturbances in the province. Talking to a private television, the chief minister said he suspected either Iran, al-Qaeda or foreign power or hardline religio-political groups opposed to the government’s policies could have been involved in the recent terrorist activities in Balochistan especially in Sui. [Balochistan CM suspects Iran may be behind disturbance]

Masood Khan, Foreign Office Spokesman:

Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan has ruled out Iran’s involvement in the current Balochistan mayhem, saying Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands and the country does not need foreign assistance in this regard.[Pak rules out Iran’s involvement in Balochistan mayhem]

Facing the challenge

Fighting globalization makes for a good political slogan, but smart politicians are the ones who know how to exploit globalization to uplift people out of poverty.

The Chief Minister said that developing countries have to face the twin challenge of adhering to the W.T.O.’s legal provisions and to secure a space for their products in the market. Referring to India’s wealth of knowledge the Chief Minister said that India might have lagged behind in the race of progress due to foreign invasions and political slavery but she has now joined the race with renewed resolve.
A number of countries have progressed well by importing Indian agricultural products, spices, and medicinal plants. Indians should learn to be proud of Swadeshi and evolve a system to ensure that poor population should benefit from globalization. For this, he said, India artisans, weavers and farmers should acquire excellence in marking of their products besides improving their quality to international standards. The state governments should play the role of facilitator in this, he added.[India capable to withstand challenge of globalization: Gaur]

Globalization forces changes on you and if you can adapt you can survive. But then anticipating this and preparing for it is half the job.