Archive for September, 2008
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
Playing is an activity long forgotten by the current child generation of India. Yep, seeing kids play just like that is such a rare sight that now schools have started celebrating ‘Play Days’ only to encourage little pranksters to get back to their default settings and play!
But hey, no kid is willing to do that. Kyonki TV hai na? The growing influence of the idiot box on the progenies has been ignored for a long time by parents and the harm will be serious. Blame it on the work lives of the progenitors that they rely on leaving their kids with a TV program rather than a babysitter (who they always fear to be a paedophile). Or maybe it is the space crunch? Insufficient number of parks? Or perhaps, the kids are now just too lazy to stretch those muscles.
The lack of outdoor activity is leading to social, psychological and physiological problems in children. They are unable to pay complete attention, the flitting focus changes like the channels on the idiot box. Temper tantrums and eating troubles are also seen.
My personal problem is – Kids are not behaving like kids anymore; running around, going wild and having fun. Can anyone tell me where exactly is the play?
Via ibnlive
Tags: Children, Education, Health, idiot box, India, Indian society, kids, play, Sports, TV
Posted in Children, Education, Health, India, Indian society, Sports | No Comments »
Friday, September 26th, 2008
If you had been wondering from where all the heroin of the world comes, it must not be too difficult to guess. It’s from the most troubled nation on earth, Afghanistan. The country depends literally on the money that comes from the sale of homegrown opium and poppy and also the derivatives like heroin and morphine. These narcotics make way to Western Europe through the neighboring Tajikistan.
Just 13 hours ago, many afghan smugglers were killed in a shootout in Tajikistan when they were caught red handed smuggling heroin into Tajikistan’s borders. These drugs after reaching France, Germany and elsewhere, are sold at exorbitant prices. What I fear is that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan has actually encouraged the Afghan opium farmers to grow more as lawlessness has increased many folds after the Americans have entered.
Only through proper negotiations with the U.N. and afghan government can the drug route and trade be blocked. I wonder how things will go in the near future. Though listening to the news of the smugglers being shot dead isn’t a very pleasant one, it may just have the right thing to do, for the Tajik forces, whose land is being used as a transit for drug delivery to Europe.
Via: AfghanConflictMonitor
Tags: Afghan Smugglers, Afghanistan, Controversy, drugs, Europe, Heroin, Justice, Law, Media, Narcotics, Opium, Politics, Tajikistan, U.S, war
Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, Environment, Injustice, Justice, Marriages, Media, Movie, News, Religion, Sports, Technology, Television, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, September 26th, 2008
To the laughter of many, Tokyo Mango reports that new train stations in Japan have suicide prevention platforms. Yep, 5-foot walls barricade the entire platform with doors that only open when the train has safely stopped.
Well for that uninformed amusement let me tell you that jumping in front of a moving train is a common suicide method in Japan. The commuters in this Asian country are never too surprised when a fast train stops suddenly throwing everyone off balance only to save the old woman (there are many young ones too) lying on the tracks to die.
I’m sure many of you feel that how can this 5-foot wall structure be preventive to suicide. You will be surprised to know that no Japanese will ever hop over one. Simply because they are very ‘propah’ (ya ya, it’s not just the British alone). It will be below their dignity to make a public spectacle of themselves (at least, till they are alive).
Reports say that Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world. In 2005, 32550 people killed themselves. There is no single factor held responsible. Many say it is the dwindling economy, some religious belief while a few even say that Japanese are egoists, they can’t tolerate even the tiniest of stain on their personal honour.
Via boingboing
Tags: barricade, highest, Japan, rate, station, suicide, tokyo mango, train, wall, World
Posted in News, World | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Like my many friends, I worry a lot about not having a bulky body and being thin. Most young men and adolescent boys strive to achieve the six-pack abs and bulging biceps and workout hard in gyms and fitness centers. I know people who have consumed so much of protein that their kidneys failed and even had to be hospitalized. What has been touted as a disorder found among only women, eating disorders are increasingly wreaking havoc on men and their physical and mental health.
The pressure to grow bigger and more muscular has made guys consume abnormally large quantities of protein, which causes in renal failure. However, the society still has not recognized this is a problem and has been dismissing it as a fad. In my opinion, media plays a major role in shaping our self-image and how we value our bodies, regardless of our age or gender. Eating disorders are prevalent among men and women of all ages equally. In fact, among men it is far more dangerous as the sufferers do not approach doctors nor do their family members realize it is a psychological disorder, which needs medical attention.
However, anorexia nervosa has fueled enough awareness campaigns and hence families do know if a girl has been starving herself. In a guy’s case, he would eat abnormally large quantities and still remain thin and in a quest to grow bigger, he would fall seriously sick. The media, the society and the peer groups in general have wreaked havoc on susceptible minds.
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Via: GordonMoyes
Tags: anorexia, Athletics, Eating Disorders, Men, Muscles, Physical Appearance
Posted in Controversy, Food, Gender, Health, Media, Sex, Sports, Uncategorized, World | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
There has been a lot of discussion about men going bald and losing charm. However, if there is a standing example to the fact that hair really doesn’t matter as long as someone is really capable of attracting attention through other ways, it has to be Fran Healy from the Scottish alternative rock band Travis. The man behind singles like ‘Why does it always rain on me’, ‘Sing’, and many others, has publicly stated that he doesn’t worry about getting old or not looking as great as he used to.
Well, I couldn’t agree more with such great music he and the guys make and also his deep blue eyes. I just wish Travis’ new album ‘Ode to J. Smith’ gets released soon and we can listen to what is being called the greatest alternative rock album to be released in 2008. The album has already received critical acclaim and a favorable critical mood.
For now, I would say baldness or any other matter really doesn’t matter as long as a man remains committed to his true mission and talents, be it music or politics or sports. Showbiz unfortunately has concentrated more upon a celebrity’s looks rather than the talent behind what makes him or her a celebrity.
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Via: GodsInTheTVZine
Tags: Baldness, Celebrities, Fran Healy, Male Pattern Baldness, Ode to J. Smith, Physical Beauty, Travis
Posted in Art, Celebrities, Controversy, Entertainment, Fashion, Gender, Health, Media, Movie, News, Sex, Television, World | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
The Bombay High Court is furious at the Maharashtra government. Justice J.N. Patel publicly reprimanded the Deshmukh sarkar for not taking adequate actions against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. The world has been hearing of Thackeray’s escapades of regional discrimination in the state. And it’s the same thing on everyone’s mind – why are the authorities not doing anything about it?
After the MNS activists vandalised shops without a Marathi name, complaints were registered by the frightened shopkeepers. The police booked a case against many vandalisers but not Thackeray. In such a scenario, Patel expressed his disappointment in the law protectors and enforcers; because of them the law system of our country has been put in a negative light.
As per Patel, if the authorities don’t take strict action against the miscreants, people will think that there are some who are untouchable by the law. The police is hardly controlling the chaos and the politicos are deliberately ignoring the issue. This may encourage anti-social elements to create more damage.
Via hindu
Tags: authorities, bombay, court, deshmukh, Government, high, justice j.n. patel, Law, mns, police, raj thackeray
Posted in Controversy, Democracy, Government, India, Indian society, Law, News, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Robert Mugabe has been one of the most enigmatic and disastrous leaders to ever walk this planet. White farmers have been ousted from their land and have been subjected to heinous treatments under a lawless government. The fact that Mugabe still is in power and that the power sharing business has no value is a matter of great concern to me. What I refuse to accept is that a white man can be killed because his ancestors were bad to the black.
What we are seeing right now is a reverse racism where white people have been subjected to racial attacks in Zimbabwe and South Africa. In fact, many Southern African leaders have supported white killings and many have been killed too. Of course all these incidents are seldom reported because of the so called ‘white man’s guilt’. The guilty must definitely be brought to justice and handed over to law. But the farcical nature of the entire issue is that there is neither any law nor any justice.
I would like to ask the readers which court of justice could try and hang Mugabe and his cronies or the political but terrorist-like Zanu PF that is in fact behind President Robert Mugabe! This is shocking and unacceptable that we continue to watch such incidents take place in a modern and developed society.
Via: TimesOnline
Tags: Massacres, Racism, Robert Mugabe, White Farmers, White Massacres, Zanu PF
Posted in Controversy, Democracy, Government, Injustice, Journalism, Justice, Law, Media, News, Politics, Uncategorized, World | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
It’s more than shocking when I read Maati Saari’s merciless psychedelic killing spree that took ten of his classmates’ lives and also his own post the massacre. The most horrible part of the whole scene was when he put them on fir post the massacre. The victims have been left beyond recognition due to the results of the severe burns received by the corpses. What dumbfounded me the most is the bold step that he took by uploading a video on YouTube, which shows him shooting at a range. The question is, why couldn’t the Law react to this illegal video on time? Reports validate that this particular video was posted on Finnish social networking site and with circulation it had reached the YouTube.
It seems to me that the Law is washing its hands off and not taking the charged completely on its own, obviously for political issues. But who will control this killing spree which is reported to occur frequently especially in educational institutes. It’s a tough nut to crack, as nothing seems to be conspicuous. Nobody has the precise clues as to why this heinous crime is committed by the school and college students. What stimulates these youngsters to take themselves into this scandalous crime should be the Law’s concern. This merciless crime should be nipped in the bud not by the Law alone but collectively which involves all the citizens.
Educational institutes are no more safe. Acquiring education has equally become as dangerous as facing a troop of army in the battlefield. Who will save the innocent people now? Whose fault is it that the innocent lives have been taken forcefully. Maati Saari killed his ten classmates but who will control this insane crime? How many more Maati Saari are people going to withstand? Acting upon this serious issue at once will perchance ameliorate the safety of the innocent people. It’s time to wake up and be harsh on the concerned people who are responsible for this kind of an unforgiving crime. One must obliterate this crime forever. Can a one person alone do this? Possibly not, so join your hands together and allow no more such a crime to be registered in the history.
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Via: TimesOnline
Tags: crime, Finland, Finnish Gunman, Firearms, Gun Laws, Massacre, School Shootings
Posted in Controversy, Democracy, Education, Gender, Government, Injustice, Internet, Journalism, Justice, Law, Media, News, Politics, Religion, Television, Uncategorized, World | No Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Backpackers are the soft targets for the notorious and merciless thieves in Southeast Asian cities especially in Phnom Penh. It surprises me to know that the thieves have obliterated the conventional way of bag snatching and they have adapted the unconventional art of bag snatching, like comfortably knocking off the victims while they are on a motorbike ride. This sends the warning bell to the Backpackers who are already alienated by the locals.
The precautionary measures taken by the Backpackers by carrying their bags in the front and stretching a helping arm around their bags simply do not seem to be of any help when these thieves outsmart them completely. If you thought, you could take care of yourself without facing any problems, you could yet once again be proven wrong for the these thieves are well equipped with weapons which could do you harm any moment.
So, the trick is to be on a high alert and walk in groups in the streets and not alone. It shocks me to learn that the crime rate has risen in Phnom due to the deterioration of its economy. Survival of the fittest has once again come into practice literally. You must be smart enough to brave the animal instincts of those thieves who may hack you off any moment. So, arm yourself with high alerts and a defending weapon perhaps.
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Via: GadLing
Tags: Backpackers, Cambodia, crime, Phnom Penh, Robbery, Thieves, tourists
Posted in Controversy, Democracy, Gender, Government, Injustice, Journalism, Justice, Law, Media, News, Politics, Travel, World | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
After facing intense rounds of filthy mudslinging at the hands of Bengal (or should I say Mamta Bannerjee?), Tata Motors finally gave in to the demands. It is ready to move out of the state and take its much-awaited small car ‘Nano’ to more welcome pastures. Now that one party (one that could have brought about a change in the state’s economy) has forfeited, the question remains to be seen is that will industrialisation in Bengal be able to recover? We are aware how religiously it is pursuing investors, so will the Tata pullout send across negative vibes?
The whole situation was made just so complicated (thank god, it did not end like Nandigram) with meaningless netagiri. Now, the 1000 acres land vacated by Tata is rendered useless even for farming. Any scope for jobs and development in the area is nothing but a haze.
Yes, petty politics led to this downward movement of Bengal’s developing future. And they were saying it was a fight between industrialisation and agriculture! A sad situation indeed, but I’m sure Bengal shall recover and hopefully will not kick out any possible means of prosperity.
Tags: agriculture, bengal, industrialisation, mamta bannerjee, nano, Politics, protest, tata
Posted in Brands, Business, Controversy, Democracy, India, Indian society, News, Politics | No Comments »