[Read the full article at Tehelka.]

Scoopit!

The world is facing the worst economic crisis since 1933. The regime talks about the need for a mini-budget in December. The picture revealed by the PREFU is appalling. Clark talks about the need for careful stewardship. Cullen talks about the need for prudential management and control of spending.

Today in this story on the NZ Herald site Clark promises a universal student allowance by 2012, costing $210 million per annum when fully implemented.

Was this spend allowed for in the PREFU?

This is a outright bribe by Labour to a segment of the electorate.

This is not a prudent use of money.

This probably will be paid for by borrowing, or from the ill-gotten gains generated by the ETS, or by rescinding tax cuts in the December economic statement.

Why trust Labour to manage the economy when they commit to yet another lot of poor quality spending.

Clark said:-

the policy would assist Labour's goal of creating a "knowledge-led society".

Given the fact they have done bugger all regarding this in the last 9 years, Adam says this is just a cynical election bribe which another segment of society will end up paying for.

Adam doubts if there is any evidence at all that interest free loans and allowances such as this create a knowledge led society. The USA is widely seen as an innovative society yet does not indulge in this type of spend.

Spend, spend, spend with our money and not a care for reality. A disgusting performance by Clark.

So here's how that turned out. First, how it looked on television:

And then, how it was in reality, from several angles (more after the jump):

I'm sure it's just the acoustics, but isn't it kind of interesting how the hatred seems to increase as the shots move further and further up? Just something that stuck out to me, along with how much it apparently sucks to be popular these days.

Oh, and if anyone cares (for personal reasons I prefer to pretend that this and any other sporting event that started after 7 PM on Saturday night never happened), the Rangers won 4-3.

I have no car at night. I rarely leave the comforts of my home to the point that if my couch started to smell like three-day-old cat pee, I wouldn't notice. And we don't even have a cat.

But there was this one-time event going on downtown today that I wanted to at least awkwardly gawk at from the barricaded perimeter. Dave had to work. I know about, ohhh, rounded to the nearest five -- yeah, zero -- other people I could call, so I decided to suck it up and try it solo.

I took my high-maintenance, moody -- whoops! I meant sensitive -- child downtown. Alone.

Normal mothers would have said that sentence with the same gusto had they, you know, sucked the venom from a poisonous snake out of their dying child's arm. While riding a unicycle. But I'm not your average mother. I'm the bad mother who thought taking her baby downtown might be fun.

Music! Sunshine! Almost 80-degree day! Crowds! Yes. YES! I'm sure I was thinking that all her experience with me, alone, would have prepared her for a loud festival-type crowd.

You see where this is going: We walked just far enough into the festival not to be confused with a casual, uninterested observer -- I mean, I'd made the commitment to walk to the center of the square. Well. That and there were no graduated inclines for me to confidently handle with a stroller, until I was already in the center.

I spotted a few people I knew (whew) and we said hi. Then the local band did that initial "check, check" thing aaaaaand Alice lost it.

The circle I was standing in got noticeably smaller. It was just me and this kid. The bad mother who wanted to be with people for once in her damn life, and this bawling kid. Sigh. I WORE A CLEAN SHIRT AND DID MY HAIR, ALICE, PLEASE.

In conclusion, I carried a crying baby while pushing the stroller dejectedly all the way back to the car.

I'd be cool about it and say "yeah, I went but she didn't like it so we left." But really, I was embarrassed and alone. Duh, God, of course she'd cry. Of course I should've just stayed home til she was a little older. Of course. Of course.

Sigh. OK. I feel better now.

A delegation of social activists, intellectuals and journalists visited in the riot affected area of Dhule and distributed some food packages among victims and needy people. Appeal for restoration of peace was also made during the visit of relief camps and affected areas. Delegation was met with district collector and other government officials too, and submitted the grievances of people regarding the relief work.

Failure of district administration was also exposed during the riots. After the listening to victim’s delegation reached on the conclusion, it could have been avoided if timely intervention was done by administration. People were complaining that administration was informed earlier about the ongoing activities of communal forces but they have ignored and handled it casually. The provocative activities of Hindu Raksha Samiti, a newly formed organization by Hindu fundamentalists including Bajarang Dal and VHP, were being continued since one month spreading out hatred against other religions especially Muslims, simultaneously, at other side anger and sensation for retaliation was also visible among Muslims. But administration was failed to make any precautionary majors to prevent it.

However, the reason behind these riots was very cynical. The activists of Hindu Raksha Samiti have got irritated when a poster abusing Muslims for terrorism was removed by a young boy from the wall. They have taken it account as assault on Hindu pride. They have gathered at same place and started shouting slogan and throughing stones on mosque situated nearby at the place of occurrence. A group of Muslim youths were also responded in the same manner.  We came to know after the interaction with victims that a mob of Hindu Raksha Samiti armed with weapons have marched in the city especially in Muslim areas and started looting, firing and burning houses and shops. Ten people were killed and more than three hundred injured. About one thousand houses were burnt including six hundred huts of slum dweller. Rickshaw pullers, rag-pickers, laborers, small shop keepers, like down-trodden people are now, forced to reside in relief camps, while their houses are either demolished or burnt. The expected loss of property is more than hundred crores, which is to be calculated yet for measuring exact loss.
 
Riot was started on 5th of October and after 5 days of burning city it is now under control but still tense. Poor people of both communities are living under threat and facing sever food crisis & lack of basic facilities.
 
The delegation was constantly mindful of the actual fear among locals, their isolation and the intense terror they had developed after communal frenzy. We were informed that several children in the households were facing trauma-induced depression and have to receive medical care. We also came to know, the children had missed their all-important books and reading materials because of burning. The children are fearful of any kind of sound or noise expecting that it might be gunshots or any other fire material. The psyche of these young children has been seriously scarred by the fear that anyone could become the target of these anti-social elements. Rumors are making fake stories. Earlier, they have made rumors that few Hindu women were kidnapped by Muslim youths and tried to intensifying communal tension in nearby rural areas. Sakari, Mukti, savda, Burhanpur, Nihadud were affected badly after Dhule riots, people have lost their lives and houses. Unfortunately, the media, with the exception of a few reports in a few dailies, has more or less demonized the Muslims as a community.
 
We should remember the fact that Dhule city is having a strong tradition of unity and harmony, but it is being ruptured by communal forces, after 40 years. At the time of Babari Masjid demolition, Bombay riots and Gujarat massacre Dhule was able to keep itself calm and quite.
 
Delegation was led by Com Ambarish Rai, Pratibha Shinde, Prof. Shekhar Sonalkar, Adv. N.D. Suryavansi, Farookh Shekh, Vasanti Dighe, Atiq, Khalil Deshmukh and others.
Delegation has demanded for judicial inquiry, compensation for loss, rehabilitation for displaced and ban for activities of communal forces and punishment for culprits. 
 
Friends, they are trying to expand it in other part of Maharastra as well as across the country to polarize the Hindu votes for coming elections. To fulfill their wasted interest they are targeting not only Muslims but Christians, too. Orissa, Karnatka and Madhya Pradesh are the living example for barbaric attack on Christians, in recent days. We have to bring ourselves together and combat these divisive forces to make India free from communal divisions.

"]It is requested to all of you please do help for the sufferers of Dhule riots. 
 
We are trying to make a comprehensive and detail report for the same, soon.
 
 
Regards,

Ambarish Rai, President
Pratibha Shinde, General Secretary
Lok Sangharsh Morcha
Contact: loksamanway at yahoo dot co dot uk

2. Do they really think no one remembers that this was Heath Ledger's breakout role?

3. How is this show going to be interesting? Apparently the show is going to be set during the Stratford sister's high school years, but... didn't the movie take place during Kat's senior year with her going to Sarah Lawrence at the end?

4. If they introduce Heath Ledger's character into the show, who can they possibly cast? Who would want the role? Morbid!

5. Will the show continue with the whole Shakespearean theme of the movie?

6. Is this show supposed to be a drama or a comedy?

7. Will Letters to Cleo sing the theme song?

8. Does the fake pregnancy belly make a cameo appearance? As well as Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gabrielle Union, and Julia Stiles?

9. Why do I even care about this?

10. What night is this going to air? My DVR is overloaded as it is.

I filed a BBB complaint. Per my original BBB complaint, Champions said for damages I had to file the appropriate insurance claim, I did that, and now they won't pay. Best case, Champions pays me the $485.00. Worst case, they still don't pay me, they have another unresolved complaint on their BBB file, and then I proceed to Small Claims Court.

I really don't know what Riki is thinking. For the relative small payment of my $485.00 insurance claim she could have had me off her back for good. She could have had all my blog entries retracted. And yet she wanted to play these ridiculous games with me-- all to keep $485.00 in her pocket.

But hey, if they are that determined to keep my money, more power to them. I'll happily post my story in every corner of the internet for millions of people to read.

Back story: A few months ago an insurance company (that is contracted by Champions Movers) ruled Champions owed me 485 dollars for damages. I contacted the company and they "claim" to have a new owner- RIKI LEPORI. She said she had been wanting to talk to me and asked if I would take down my negative reviews if she helped me with my claim, and I said sure, we could talk about that if I (A) got my money and (B) she proved previous onwnership was no longer involved.

That was two months ago and I finally got tired of this shit business giving me the run around. I talked to RIKI LEPORI on the phone and she asked me to e-mail her what we talked about. Below is the un-editted correspondence for your enjoyment. I think you'll see what a nightmare Champions Movers is to work with (still). Even after they break all your stuff, and you try to collect what they owe you contractually (as our original contract gives me $0.60/pound insurance), they refuse. Stay Classy, Champions- you crook bastards.

On with the show....

Riki-

Pending, clause one (1), the payment of the full $485.00 from Champions Movers, and pending, clause two (2), sufficient, independent documentation that Mr. Kadesh (nor his associates, business partners, family members, previous owners or employees, etc) are, as of now, no longer involved in any capacity with Champions Movers, then pursuant to these requirements I will issue retractions for those statements made regarding my move with Champions Movers (as owned by Mr. Kadesh) in October of 2007.

The terms of clause two (2), contained within this e-mail, however, can not and will not be enacted or considered prior to fulfillment of clause one (1)- full payment of $485.00 from Champions Movers. Failure of payment shall deem this e-mail null and void in all capacities.

Sincerely,
Thomas Nikl

-

no, what I'm asking is the in simple way to remove all bad reviews on champions movers and never again post them any where. that you will not ever take further actions against champions movers.

-

Riki-

I will do nothing until I have received the check for $485.00 in regards to my insurance claim. Please let me know when it's in the mail so I can watch for it.

Thank you,
Thomas

-

I want u to fax me a letter sigh by you that after you receive that amount you never will put any review on champions moves. or tack any further  Actions.

-

Riki-

I have tried my best to be cooperative, patient, and accommodating. But this is getting ridiculous. The terms of my insurance claim are independent of any offers I make regarding taking down negative reviews. I have offered to try and help you with the negative reviews if, and only if, you send me the insurance payment.

When I receive that payment I will begin taking down negative reviews but I will not send you anything signed or otherwise until then.

Since you have decided to make this difficult for me for the last two months, I have decided, and my lawyer agreed, that if I do not receive the $485.00 for the insurance claim by Wednesday, October 8th, 2008, that I will forgo communication with you and take this matter to small claims court. I will also re-engage all the government agencies I had previously been working with to let them know how your insurance claim process works. But most importantly, I will begin writing review after review online detailing how difficult this insurance claim process has been and what its results were. I will dedicate another year of my life to spreading the word about this experience trying to collect an insurance claim from your company.

I am tired of going in circles with you, and I feel I have been exceedingly patient in waiting two months, but also exceedingly generous in offering to take down negative reviews IF, and ONLY IF, you send me the insurance payment-- as me taking down any reviews is NOT a legal stipulation within the insurance claim settlement, but an offer on my behalf to help us BOTH close this matter.

Personally, I would love to get my $485.00, remove some negative reviews to help you out, never talk to Champions Movers again, and let you build your business without ever having to think of me again. This is, without a doubt, your one opportunity to get me to go away. But rest assured, should you chose to continue these games, I've got the energy and motivation to continue this until the end of time if necessary.

At this point the decision is entirely up to you. Please let me know of your intentions.

Fondest Regards,
Thomas Nikl

(** IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED BY CHAMPIONS MOVERS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT TKN.MOVINGADVICE@GMAIL.COM **)

Conversions. Images of Muslim hordes waving their fierce banners, sweeping across the North Indian plains; images of sly Christian missionaries swindling innocent tribals and dalits with food and education and social status, into accepting an alien god. The liberal Hindu, who would never dream of converting anybody to Hinduism, shrinks at these images.

Aditya has drawn our attention to Ambedkar's clear-eyed insight into why Hinduism is not a proselytizing religion. Can you convert a non-Hindu into a Brahmin? Nope.

These reflections were prompted by a priceless news item carried by today’s edition of South Asia Citizens Wire, compiled and sent out for over a decade now by the indefatigable Harsh Kapoor. In The Telegraph (Kolkata), Tapas Chakraborty reports that “A Durga on an elephant, the Bahujan Samaj Party symbol, rather than a lion has shocked devotees in Jaunpur town and triggered a court case.” The Phool Wali Gali Puja's chief organizer, it turns out, is BSP leader, Dinesh Tandon. Nothing short of blasphemy, fumed a Congress worker, and a lawyer has moved a petition in a magistrate’s court alleging the Puja organisers had hurt Hindu sentiments. The court, finding itself with time on its hands and running short of more serious cases to pursue, has acted with commendable swiftness and directed the police to  register a case and probe the incident.

The chief patron of the puja, Mahendra Sonkar, justified the choice of vahan on the grounds that according to the Hindu almanac, the goddess is supposed to arrive this year on an elephant, symbolizing good rain and prosperity. From his name, I assume he is a Dalit, which would explain why the reporter sought a second opinion from a  Sanskrit scholar of Varanasi no less, bearing the equally revealing name of Satish Pandey.

Pandeyji emphatically rejected this  argument. “The basic deity of Durga is not to be interfered with,” he said. “She should be on a lion in keeping with mythology, since this image is embedded in the minds of devotees. It is outrageous to see Durga  on an elephant.”

What is it that is outrageous exactly? The image of the goddess riding an elephant, or the fact that the elephant is the symbol of the BSP, a party led by a Dalit woman, and which explicitly speaks for Dalits?

I thought I would check out Mahendra Sonkar's claim myself, and found a site called Amma's.com, which has "An answer for everything". In the religion section, someone had indeed asked the question "How is Goddess Durga coming and going this sharadh navrathri i.e. on elephant or boat or other vahan". Clearly, practising Hindus know that Durga travels on different kinds of vahanas in different years. Among the replies, there are three that are interesting.

One corroborates Mahendra Sonkar's understanding, that this year she comes on an elephant symbolizing plenty, and leaves on a palki, symbolizing destruction. Another response directs the reader to a site indiadivine.org, which says "Durga's mode of journey to the earth is detailed in scriptures. The modes, an elephant, a horse, palanquin, boat all signify luck or omen which influence the life on earth. The elephant signifies prosperity and good harvest while journey on a horse back indicates drought, a palanquin spells wide spread epidemic and the boat suggests flood and misery. " Again, all these modes are perfectly in keeping with Hindu scriptures, and there is an appropriate one for each year. Moreover, clearly, the vehicle she travels on has deep significance for what the year will bring.

The third response comes from a different kind of Hinduism altogether - "Whose doubt is this? And what exactly in the mind of questioner? Where from she is coming and where she is expected to go? Is it to the same place from where she came? unless such queries are answered, no point in discussing such baseless questions. Please try to understand and come out of such illusions. She is all pervading and ever existing."

Neither of the sites I link to above are run by soulless atheists and agnostics such as may be presumed to run kafila.  They are believing Hindus, with different kinds of responses arising from their beliefs. And one thing is absolutely clear - the goddess on an elephant is perfectly in keeping with "Hindu beliefs".

But now there is a court-directed police case against the organizers looking into whether "Hindu" sentiments have been hurt...What are they really afraid of?

Before we answer that question, let us return to our liberal Hindu, and her impeccably modernist assertion that conversion as a spiritual act is justifiable, but not if it is by fraud and coercion.

What constitutes fraud and coercion? Nobody seems to claim that Christian missionaries actually use physical force to convert (that is the prerogative of the goons of Bajrang Dal). And if conversion “by the sword” had ever been a widespread practice in India, Muslims would not be a mere 12 per cent of the population, and Christians less than 3 percent, after centuries of rule.

Conversion by the sword in any case was not solely practised by "other communities". Writes Madhu Chandra, "...my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary. Ever since then, every Manipuri (Meitei) has Singh at the end of every name, although many youngsters are abandoning it by returning to indigenous Meitei religion. The casteism and untouchability emerged after migration of Hinduism to the Manipur society where caste or creed never existed earlier."

No, fraud and coercion refer, not to actual physical force, but, in the words of BJP’s last election manifesto, to “promises of social or economic benefits”, an interpretation you dont have to be BJP to endorse, alas. Dalits or tribals who convert to Christianity, Buddhism or Islam in the hope of, and lured by, economic benefits – jobs, schools, health facilities – and social benefits – dignity, self-respect – denied to them by the religion of their birth, are instances of fraudulent conversion.

The unquestioned foundation of the entire discussion is the assumption that converting from one religion to another is essentially wrong, an act requiring justification. Only "genuine" religious conversion is acceptable, understood to involve the spiritual transformation of an individual, on the basis of “knowledge”, both of the person’s “own” religion as well as of the one to which she converts. Such high standards of "informed choice" to apply, when one’s original religion is hardly the best illustration of “choice”- you’re born into it, right?

For the democratically-minded who buy the argument against “fraudulent” conversions from what I consider to be mistaken premises, here’s another thought. It is fundamentally anti-democratic to force people to retain any identity against their will, and especially one assumed by the very act of being born. Nationality, caste, religion or even sex. The possibility of change is central to democracy. We have no option but to respect a decision to change any identity for a perceived better future - whatever our opinion may be about whether that change will bring about the desired result. That’s the problem with democracy.

Of course, the real reason for the Hindu Right’s obsession with religious conversion has nothing to do with protecting the sanctity of religion. The creation of a birth-based political majority is crucial for the project of Hindutva and for its definition of Indian-ness. If “others” turn into the majority, the easy coinciding of Hindutva and the Nation falls apart. When Ambedkar decided to leave the Hindu fold along with large numbers of Dalits, who felt the most threatened? Not the orthodox Hindus, who thought it was good riddance. It was Savarkar and the modernist Hindutvavadis who reacted most sharply, understanding fully the importance of numbers for a modern politics of Hindutva. Hence their ever-increasing horror stories about galloping Muslim and Christian populations, for instance, the ICSSR-sponsored study on the decline in population of “Indian religionists”.

Recognizing this, it worries me that most democratic and secular arguments contesting this picture have restricted themselves to factual corrections and reinterpretation of data. Essentially they have been trapped into offering reassurances that there is no way Muslims and Christians will outnumber Hindus, ever. Surely we need to ask another, more aggressive question of our own instead - so what if Hindus become a minority one hundred years from now, or a decade from now, or a year from now? Surely the point is to ensure democratic institutions such that it will make no difference how large your community of birth is?

So what is the real fear?

Perhaps that the elephant is on the rampage, and might reach the Red Fort next Independence Day. And who knows, Ma Durga herself might be riding it...

Really? I can pay Sony for extra 'special' themes? Exactly what makes these themes worth opening my wallet?

'They have content offerings that range in type from NCAA College licenses to beauties on the beach to original cartoons and anime. These themes were created specifically for the PS3 and have special backgrounds, XMB icons and, in some cases, sounds.'

Someone should let Sony know that a simple Google Search for 'PS3 Themes' will turn up THOUSANDS of great PS3 themes, all available for FREE... and it will also turn up a post (on the Official Playstation Blog) describing where to find the tools, and how to create your own themes.

Please tell me consumers aren't this gullible.

**sigh** Who am I kidding?

Unbelievable. I awoke to the sound of my work pager going off at 6:00 am this morning. It was a local news station calling to get my agency's emergency response/action plan to a house in SW Portland that slid about 300 feet down the side of a hill at about 5:30 am this morning, ramming in to 3-4 other houses on the way. How would you like to wake up to your house physically sliding down a hill? Holy cats!

Click here or here to read more, see pictures and video. Luckily, it has been determined, thus far, that it was of no fault by my agency, so I'm off the hook for the time being as far as more media goes. Phew. This could have been a hell of a day otherwise!

We're not in Kansas anymore, Newman!

Peep the hot J-babe below. Hell, just to up the hit counter, click below to enlarge the picture of this hot Japanese babe in a bikini with big boobs.

Not bad, huh? You’d "hit it," as they say.

Her name is Saaya Irie.

Go ahead, pop it into Google and check out some of her other pics. You know you want to.

And then reflect on the fact that she is 14. And has been doing this since she was 11. Yup.

Her parents allow this. Her agent promotes this. And this whacked-out society not only tolerates it, it creates an entire niche market for it that says, "Dig underage girls? Not a problem, because, let's face it, they're hot. Now check this shit out!"

How does this make you feel?

Me, between this and the bullshit translation project I’ve been working on all weekend, I wouldn't mind smacking someone in the face. If only I knew who.

(p/s - Before anyone asks, I found out about Saaya when looking for a suitably seedy cover for my post on top five types of commuters that piss me off. I don't dig on pedo feel ya.)

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[This is the fuller version of an article published today in the Hindustan Times. This longer version is crossposted from the e-discussion group, Greenyouth. The specific article referred to - 'Bombs Defused in Newsrooms' was crossposted in Kafila ]

Since 14th September 2008, writing has become a laborious exercise for me. It was all of a sudden that words turned heavy, staring at my own convictions, political thinking and journalistic vigor. It was on a gloomy Sunday (the day after the bloody Saturday on which the life of twenty odd people had been taken away by some body called Indian Mujahideen)that things turned upside down. It's difficult to describe my terrible sense of shock when it came to my notice that a part of the email sent by perpetrators of the Delhi blasts laying claim to the deadly bombs on the day, had been written by me! It was lifted verbatim from a piece of mine ('Bombs defused in News rooms') which appeared in the media watchdog portal, The Hoot. Newspapers had given extensive quotes wondering at the 'journalistic character' and 'impeccable English' of those who prepared the mail. Even when everybody calls it plagiarism I was not spared because my name carries the identity of a community which is put in the dock for all that happens dreadfully around us. I wrote about what the media does, how it deals with the unending episodes of terror strikes juxtaposing with the violence by Hindu extremists and how flagrantly they fail in the 'balancing' act!

A published material is neither mine nor yours. Plagiarism in cyber space is not a rare phenomenon. There are limited options to check it. I am not very serious about plagiarism be cause I am skeptical about how far we are the masters of our own words. I personally believe that what I wrote is not only mine. It was reproduced by other websites and several bloggers .It is exciting to watch the cyber movement challenging the dogmatization of knowledge. I don't subscribe to the concept of copyright too. But I never thought of being caught up in a deep sense of anguish, terror and shock by some one else picking up my words for the manifestation of a heinous crime. It came to my notice that Sunday evening, while I was perusing Times of India looking for stories missed in the morning. One story on the terror e-mail had extensively  quoted the lifted portion from my article analyzing how the extremist forces make  a common cause with other victims of 'Sangh terror' -- Christians and Dalits. 'The idea of a broad coalition of all minorities and Dalits in a broad anti-Hindutva coalition is not new, but its use amid clear signs of unease within Muslims about the radicalisation of sections within it is immensely interesting." says The Times of India.

The Times' story prompted me to go online in search of the full text of the terror mail and shockingly I found more than a paragraph of my article had been copied and pasted. It's beyond words how I survived those moments of scare, insecurity and a deep sense of guilt. We were all 'alone' at home, in that entire residential area, nobody knows us. We all are living in this metro not knowing what kind of a life is there at the next door. I was in a state of numbness incapable of picking up the phone and calling somebody. My partner Rajeev did the same with a shivering heart. Our friends initially responded as if it is nothing but rather a minor crime of plagiarism that we need not worry about further. In fact as they explained later, they had been trying to shrug off the acerbic realization that what we call terrorism is some where very near our doorstep.

However their arrival at my place was followed by a call from Sevanti Ninan, the columnist who edits The Hoot. Even though it was not unexpected, I had felt a tremor while being informed of the enquiry by the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad about me. They contacted Sevanti and she told me that it was impossible to hold back whatever information they wanted about me. I too never wanted her to keep me in hiding. Why should I be? The life I lived was not a private affair at all. I had been constantly there in the public space with my stories, television appearances and interventions in social discourses. It was very much tangible when I was in Kerala, but living in a metro stricken with terror, it was altogether a different ball game. Here even my name matters. The heaviness of a Muslim name could make life miserable in Delhi. No matter whether you follow religion, religion will definitely follow you.

After a night of tossing and turning, one of our journalist friends took it on himself to unfold the tangle in which I had been caught up. Along with him I contacted the Defence Minister, met the MoS for External affairs and Home affairs. They, except the MoS for Home affairs, know me in person as I had been active in Malayalam language journalism for over a decade. They might be well aware that religious extremism will be the last thing I could be booked on! Our attempt was not to avoid an enquiry, but to ensure that I would not be targeted because of my name.

Even after a couple of weeks passed, I think I am not out of woods. I have been waiting for the boot steps at my door any time. My friends say the investigators might have been monitoring my cyber activities and telephone calls. It is hard to live knowing that you are under surveillance. For the last two weeks we had been in touch with several of the authorities to clarify my position on the whole episode. One of the top officials we met during the course of this, a gentleman who amazed us with his extremely polite manner, asked, So, you're a Muslim?"  I wanted to respond with a big  NO, and to shout from the roof top that I am agnostic, kept away from the clutches of religion even from my teens. But I couldn't. I gave him no answer. I was skeptical about the political correctness of such an answer through out my life. Am I doing wrong by turning my back on the millions of innocent people who follow religion, bearing the brunt of what ever have been done in the name of religion? My partner who is, by birth a Hindu had been cajoled to claim the same in front of that officer, in order to prove our secular credentials in a city where we are nothing more than names. It was for the first time, religion intruded into our life together. We had not hesitated even fraction of a second to leave the column for religion blank in the birth registration form when our son, Anpu, was born.

I was caught up again in another round of bewilderment, shock and grief next day when I went to meet Brinda Karat MP at AKG Bhavan with one of our journalist friends. While waiting in the reception, a heartbreaking cry fell upon my ears. Four or five women appeared at the door shouting and crying loudly. The whole scene rang no bell for me, but I saw Brinda rushing out, hugging those women and listening to them. Somebody told me that they are the remaining desperate souls from a family of which 9 people had been killed in the blast. Those women were lamenting their plight in which they had been forced to bribe even for a decent burial for their beloved ones. I was scared. I wish they would not see me! I was again blanketed by a terrible sense of distress. My vision was blurred off in tears; I couldn't speak a word, my voice strangled in my throat. In such moments of emotional turbulence the rationale of political thinking may not help.

Many of my friends who shared the sleepless nights with me thought of writing about the entire trauma of an identity and its subjectivity, but they were skeptical about the ramifications of such an act in my life. One of my friends sharing the deep anguish, posted in his blog, a single liner- Shiver, down the spine. No comments have been posted yet, because the readers of his blog are left with no other clue. Now I think it is high time to speak up. I don't want to grow a censor within me.

Don't beat around the bush when calling to get info/reaction/comment on "bad news."  Be straight with me and I'll be straight with you.  Perhaps we'll save some time and develop mutual respect as well.

Much has been written about Sarah Palin - especially since her somewhat surprising comments on a whole variety issues - most recently her interviews with Katie Couric of CBS news. You can access two parts here and here.  Much was also made of her famous "We can see Russia from Alaska" comment.

For those supporting Biden - obama's running mate - advice from the experts is "DO NOT BE SEXIST" ; for Palin supporters, the advice is much simpler "DO NOT PROMISE TO INVADE RUSSIA."  Much has been made of Palin's debating skills - her ability to disarm her opponents and wow her audience with her red well  cut suits.  As for biden, much has been made of the fact that he has been around since - like ever.

The debate shall be moderated by Gwen Iffill - a choice that Republicans are unhappy with because they say she is writing a book on black politicans. Good Golly Miss Molly - this is just not done.

So its 10 minutes to go for the debate ... hang in there folks - Vice Presidential action coming your way.......

UPDATE 1: So CNN has got these "testers" for the live audience - they are divided as "men" and "women"( how did they think of that?) who are chosen b/w republicans democrats and independents - and they have these really cool looking boxes with dials allowing them so respond instantly to the candidates - turning them lef tor right of centre - with corresponds to these lines that look like ecg monitors - and corresponds to positive and negative.  So we always know what the carefully selected "men" and "women" in the audience are thinking.  This is soo exciting .. oh my god oh my god .. be still my beating heart.

UPDATE 2100 hrs New York Time:  AND SO IT BEGINS - okay so topics - domestic and foreign policy matters - each candidate has 90 seconds to make comments followed by 2 minutes for witty interruptions.  The questions are SECRETS.......

So Palin in jet black not red- rather elegant i must say- Biden looks distinguished as well .. who says she's the only one with well cut suits... "Can I call you Joe?" she asks Biden....

Question 1" Biden first - Bailout - was it the worst of Washington or the best of Washington?

Joe (since we can call him Joe too) - Okay so bad economic policy no regulation wall street run wild yada yada yada .. it seems like both candidates have decided to follow from their running mates and not answer any questions - but just stay the course ....

Palin ( we wont call her Sarah): KID SOCCER GAME? Go to a kid soccer game and ask the people what they think of the economy ... thats what she said.... more importantly she says "We NEED REFORM - Just like McCain wants it .." oh so she claims that john McCain had warned this would happen. Country Firrst she says!

UPDATE 3 - 10 minutes on: Joe now brings up the fact that he's worked on violence against women .... wow he isnt sexist yet ... brings up the fact that McCain said that the fundamentals of the economy was strong .. which he did .."Does make John McCain a bad guy. Just Proves that he's out of touch."

Palin : "The American workforce is the greatest in the world." giggles in the audience - not in the studio at the party

Okay shes said it 10 minutes on she has said John McCain is a Maverick and that Joe Biden is OLD.

Ifill points out that no one answered the questions....

Sub prime crisis:

Palin blames greed corruption on wall street ... now shes asking American people - ie Joe Six pack and Hockey moms  - to say never again .!!! So shes said maverick, hockey mom and soccer mom in the first 10 minutes ..  whats she going to say now ? keep reading ...

UPDATE 4: So Biden - I am sorry - is just plain boring ...maybe he's trying to be statesman like - is bringing up the fact that McCain is a free market fanatic ... the ECG at the bottom says men support Biden .. the women are unsure about him .. but they seem to love Palin ....

Palin says "Darn Right we need tax cuts." Shes so southern  ... i think I'll just load up my pick up with a six pack of beer and pizza and pack my guns and vote republican ....

Palin is being rather restrained though .. both candidates have been prepped to "stay on the message"....

now Biden and Palin are quibbling about tax increases - who asked for more and when and why ...

Palin has flat out refused to answer questions stating "I might not answer the questions posed by Joe or the moderator - but I'm just going to talk straight to the American People." She natters on about her record in Alaska before the moderator cuts her off ... the audience is unimpressed ...

UPDATE 5: The audience is warming up to Joe - they seem to appreciate his understated polite self - Palin is coming across as combative  - her trademark snigger is back ... watch this space to see if it develops into a full grown sneer.

Palin on increasing taxes- "Patriotic is saying government your not the solution and much too often you are the problem" so get the government out of the way .. more free markets is what she wants .... "Consider healthcare being taken over by the government" she says sarcastically -" Do we want the government to run healthcare."

Biden is now bringing up his own working class routes - damn right - today's wall street journal says he's the least wealthy guy in the house ... He's pointing out that the McCain plan on healthcare actually taxes healthcare  which Biden claims will drop 20 million people .. he has called McCain's health care plan "The Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere" - nice sharp elbow there Joe.

I was wrong .. I'm sorry - the indicator says that the women are more pro Joe than the men are - got the color mixed .. sorry yaar ... the men are in green - the women in orange ....

Palin brings in the energy plan - and claims Obama supports big oil - Biden gives her a winning smile .. Palin now claims to be anti-big oil .. she's talking about Alaska again ... god help us ...

UPDATE 6: Palin admits "There isn't a whole lot that I have promised except for doing the best for American people." Her policy portfolio runneth over ...

Biden runs a dangerous line- he admits that Palin's policy with oil companies in Alaska has worked - but it might work out cos in the last debate, the "American people" actually gave credit to Obama for acknowledging McCain's record.

Palin said "revelation" - will she say rapture next?

Now both candidates are rambling on about bi-partisanship .. vigilance and other boring stuff... come'on folks where's the action?

More waffle on the economy - neither side can say very much - cos both the democrats and republicans messed up ...

But Palin once more has declared her intention to not answer the question... choosing to  talk about energy and foreign countries instead of focusing on the economy.  Its a really interesting strategy to state "I want to return to my record on energy" when she has been asked about taxes.

OKAY CLIMATE CHANGE - its a big issue cos Palin has - in the past - refused to acknowledge that climate change is anthropogenic...

Palin: As the nations only arctic state - she concedes that its real - but says that its about cyclical seasonal changes  "I don't want to argue about the causes .. i want to argue about cleaning up the planet." She frankly sounds like and idiot on this.  She has a big problem with polar bears though - read about it here

Biden smartly points out that "you cant talk about solutions without going to the causes .. and it is clear that the causes ARE man made." One point to Biden.

Palin says "The Chant is drill baby drill and that's what we hear all across the country" she salivates as she talks about the billions of barrels of oil under Alaskan ice caps ... she just called Joe "Senator O Biden" ....

Biden says "look at my record" - "Look at my record" has to be the most over-used phrase so far .. its the easiest way to avoid any tough question....

okay a range of hot button issues:

Update: SAME SEX MARRIAGE

Palin - is against the redefinition of the "traditional definition of marriage" - but promises to be "tolerant" - her words folks - not mine .. she has also said in an interview - "one of my best friends is a lesbian ... she isn't my lesbian friend .. she is my best friend."

okay Biden says "We don't support "gay marriage" - we feel that that is left to the various faiths" - safe answer politically - but certainly not courageous ...

UPDATE: Iraq and the surge

They both have sons in Iraq - so they are level on that level ...

Palin: "We have got to win in Iraq" "The surge has worked" "grow the military" "We are closer and closer to victory." but no plan.

Biden - we need a timeline and shift the power to the Iraqis .. let the Iraqis take control .. for John McCain there is no end in sight "Fundamental difference ... we will end this war"

Palin: Your plan is a white flag of surrender .. that is not what the American troops in Iraq need to hear ....she claims Obama voted to cut funds to the troops - which is a half truth that the republicans have been peddling to anyone who would listen ... the truth is actually that both McCain and Obama vetoed a plan each - one that had a time line - which McCain vetoed - and one with a timeline - which Obama vetoed - Biden points that out ...

UPDATE: Who is more dangerous - Iran or Pakistan

a leading question that .. how about - who's more dangerous, America or America?

Biden is hawkish on Pakistan ... "thats where bin laden lives" he says "and we will go for him if we have in him in our sights."

Palin: Israel is in jeopardy ... she repeats ahmadinejads "stinking corpse" on Israel

"Dictators hate America and our freedoms" she says when asked if she will engage with Iran  ...puts in a bit of southernism - "you need your allies to back ye up there" ....

Biden - says we need to "talk, talk, talk" with the adversary -="look what bush did - after 5 years he finally sent a high ranking diplomat to talk to a high ranking diplomat of Iran"

John Mccain recently said he would nt sit down with the government of spain - they are our allies in Iraq - points out Biden .. the audience gets a laugh on that ... Palin looks somewhat embarrassed ...

UPDATE:

Plain "forge ahead" "McCain" "Maverick" "Change" "Respect" "Learn from mistakes" "Maverick"

Biden goes on the attack: "McCain's __________  policies are like Bushes", "McCain's __________  policies are like Bushes", "McCain's __________  policies are like Bushes", "McCain's __________  policies are like Bushes", "McCain's __________  policies are like Bushes" - fill in with healthcare foreign policy economy etc etc

hmm.. Palin pronounces nuclear a lot like an indian - Noo Ke ee Lear .. is how she says it .. sort of like what you would hear on the bus in saddi dilli - bhai humara noo kee lear plan mein kya ho raha hai ...

Palin on Afghanistan - yup - you got it ... "We are WINNING"

Biden comes up with figures - 3 weeks of iraq spending equals 6 and half years of spending in Afghanistan ... he pronounces nuclear - nuu clear ... makes it sound like a acne removal cream - its nuu and its clear ..

One hour on - Palin seems to have annoyed the audience somewhat .. Biden has refrained from being patronising ... half an hour more Joe - hang in there ... Palin is looking slightly flustered as well - is getting somewhat shrill .. the snigger i had pointed out earlier .. is now a half sneer ....

Palin hits back - points out that Biden supported the Iraq war and is now against it ... "America is craving straight talk" she says  ... caught him there - got to give her whats due ... the audience liked that .. she does well when she plays it straight ...

Biden is skating on thin ice on intervention .. he is a well known interventionist ... is talking the last line of the caught out politician - you guessed it "look at my record" he implores ... it appears you can at joebiden.com

Palin is really got him on the mat - "tomorrow morning we will know who said what." but bizarrely says "McCain knows how to win a war." How? Because he went to Vietnam? My sub-continental school taught me that the Americans lost that one ... but i guess they see it differently here ...

UPDATE Number whatever - I've lost track

Palin "Average working class folk in Wasilla ...Government just get out of the way.. and win the war"

Biden brings up the small town he went to - I've forgotten the wall - walk with me in my neighbour he challenges ... so we're playing "my town is more real than your town..."

Palin gets more southern "doggone there you go again Joe ... pointing fingers back again..." WHAT was that - I'm sorry folks .. I cant reproduce that .. its an hour and 13 minutes into the debate - so do look at it .. its on education ... its was the most blatant attempt at reaching out to the red necks . .. i sorry .. but i just cant reproduce it .. i;ll try and find the clip .. anyway .. moving on ...

Plain brings up special needs ... I cant wait to get there and work with ya on special needs she says of McCain ...

Biden - goes back to what "Barack" thinks .. some stuff on how he has a record of getting things done ...but basically waffle - he hasn't said anything at all in this question ... BORING .....

So I finally figured out - yes i am slow - i saw this coming - everyone did - but i didn't think it would be such a perfect fit - Biden steals McCain's lines and Palin steals Obama .. no wonder this debate is going no where ... MAVERICK ... it feels so good to say it I;m going to say it again - MAVERICK MAVERICK MAVERICK ... yeah DRILL BABY DRILL ... MAVERICK .... DRILLING MAVERICK ...

but hey spare a thought for the original maverick guys ...we dug up this photo from our archives

oops ... sorry folks - wrong photo - this is the one:

"Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous Vice President in the history of the united states," says Biden .."he should understand that." more bollocks on what the constitution says about the vice president ... but the audience likes it ....

Biden gives us an impassioned speech on his family - we love it

Palin falls back on her favourite phrase "MAVERICK" she says licking her lips ... MAVERICK she says again .. i swear ... she said it twice in 30 seconds ... "HE is the man we need to leave" she stumbles .. sorry "LEAD" she corrects  ... hahaha . .. she is rattled by Biden's speech on the family - it was a master piece .. actually sincere ... he's negated Palin's supermom card ...

Biden finally calls its - maverick - lets talk about it he says ... he has not been a maverick on healthcare on education or on tax cuts for middle class works .. he has not been a maverick on the war .. he has not been a maverick on anything that people talk about around the kitchen table .. he ricked that one .. good call Biden ...

Last question - give an example of bipartisan ship

Bollocks all around ... crappy boring speech ... they both want to bring both sides together ....boring boring .. Palin throws in a snide one about walk the walk as opposed to talk the talk ... she certainly doesn't sound bipartisan .. atleast Biden tried to sound bipartisan ...

Closing Statement

Plain first

Its an honour for me ..l great o meet you Joe ... i like to be able to answer these tough questions without the filter of the mainstream media - ya ya - just cos you fucked up in your interviews - we are going to fight for the middle class .... we are so blessed to live in America ... we need to fight for our freedom .... we have to fight for it - protect it and hand it to them so they can do the same .... or we will tell our children s children s about a time when America was free - what ?

Biden - last eight years - deep hole - economy - creditability - need for fundamental change ... we measure progress  whether or not they can pay the mortgage, send kids to school, healthcare , education .. dignity respect ... i must say Joe is really quite earthy - a good way to sandpaper out Obama's professorial air ....

Biden puts in his favourite line my father said "champ when you get knocked down .. you get up."

Thats it folks .. it comes to close - 2 more debates ....  goodnight everybody

Scoopit!

The Bank of New Zealand is changing it's image, new branding - it is now the BNZ. The new image seems like a very silly exercise to Adam.

The change is reported in the NZ Herald, Given the comment below, the NZ Herald does not appear overly impressed:-

The 150-year-old bank's logo is now simply the letters BNZ, in a blue, toothpaste style.

It would be fair to say that the new branding did not give Adam a buzz or feeling of WOW. Bland and un-inspiring was Adam's initial reaction.

Blair Vernon the BNZ manager of strategy and marketing said that in regard to the old branding:-

"The reality is the testing we have done suggested people didn't see it as reflective of the progressive, welcoming, warm friendly organisation we believe we are these days."

It's a bank, not your best buddy - what on earth do these people think they are. This logo does not say 'Trust me, I'm a sound secure, bank" - It says nothing, except I'm a silly squiggle on a blue background.

Adam cannot believe that this change will add value to the brand.

Unbelievably, people get paid for this stupid nonsense.

"OK!" Dave said.

"I had a dream that we had this kid who woke up at 12:30 for no reason and cried all night no matter what you and I did."

"What a nightmare," Dave said.

And yeah, that was real.

More on my bad mother status tomorrow ... She beckons again.

or

Have everyone's radios turned to Radio Irish Music for a week.

#8 Publish American History in graphic novel form

#9 Figure out what would be the best way to do Black Adder style humor with American history -- Tina Fey (or anyone else) welcome to this idea free of charge, although if you mess it up, I know nothing

#10 When the Large Hadron Collider recreates the universe, whoever gets to rebuild entertainment, leaves the original Get Smart alone, darn it. And a no remakes unless it adds something rule is instituted by unanimous vote, along with all of Newton's and Einstein's traditional ones. And people vote. And sleep. And individuals matter more than their demographic details. And 1984 isn't right outside your door or inside your computer.

#4: Randomly assign political parties to voters and

#5: make more of them(political parties); stick to the color theme -- blue, red, green -- who's for the Mauve or Indigo party -- there was just a mauve reference on Hannah Montana, I bet mauve's Q score's through the roof.

#6: Write fun Gilbert & Sullivan operetta crossed with Marx brothers movie for Jesse McCartney and Hilary Duff (last.fm dangerously disturbing influence) -- about warring bloggers, sure...it'll be so easy to get computers on stage/screen; typing is a riveting action -- time to break for...? well, not yet sleeping, maybe flipbooming or midi keyboarding...

Bad Idea #2: Everyday be (Like) Friday (cue Cure singing "Friday I'm in Love") and kindly, I'll allow you to pick your own mood, temperature and color.