water as the cliche goes is the liquid on which future wars will be fought.
here are some fantastic stories on how some people and groups will not be part of this war:
1. Community based - the 'cave-man' method of water storing. more on that here.
2. Institutions - College proves how financially attractive saving water is.
3. Individuals - no more dependence on external water supply.
4. government - the belgaum municipality shows how it is done 'well'.
5. cities - chennai after 4 years of compulsory rain water harvesting.
shree padre is a star on this firmament of water reporting.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
turnstiles afire
92% of all registered voters exercised their franchise in the recent assembly elections.
in tripura.
it was 58% in the 2004 LS election for all india (and 67% in tripura)
it was 60% in the 1999 LS election for all india (and 68% in tripura)
it was 79% in the 2003 tripura assembly elections.
data is given in the rediff report.
now whoever wins this time will have a true majority and not a wishy-washy 'majority of polled votes'.
awesome rocking tripuraah.
in tripura.
it was 58% in the 2004 LS election for all india (and 67% in tripura)
it was 60% in the 1999 LS election for all india (and 68% in tripura)
it was 79% in the 2003 tripura assembly elections.
data is given in the rediff report.
now whoever wins this time will have a true majority and not a wishy-washy 'majority of polled votes'.
awesome rocking tripuraah.
Friday, February 22, 2008
obama sin laden
screams hillary as the race for the US presidential election heats up.
i think it qualifies for the headline of the year.
i think it qualifies for the headline of the year.
binayak sen
Binayak Sen is a real hero. He is been tagged as a Naxal/Maoist by the Chattisgarh government and is in jail for over 9 months now. it is a gross travesty of justice and with all available information, it is very clearly a human rights violation.
I have just read and signed the online petition:
"Release of Dr. Binayak Sen, Vice President National PUCL, from imprisonment"
hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/Binayak/
I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself.
Best wishes,
csm
I have just read and signed the online petition:
"Release of Dr. Binayak Sen, Vice President National PUCL, from imprisonment"
hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com
I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself.
Best wishes,
csm
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
WTF of the day
from today's TOI-page 13.
the report is on some drunk youth groping a foreign visitor at Gandhi ashram in Ahmedabad.
sacrilege really, undeniably, undoubtedly, but TOI's understanding comes out superbly in saying that...
the report is on some drunk youth groping a foreign visitor at Gandhi ashram in Ahmedabad.
sacrilege really, undeniably, undoubtedly, but TOI's understanding comes out superbly in saying that...
Keeping in mind the sanctity of the place, no police complaint was lodged and the youth was set free after a thrashing because even the victim vanished after the incident. (emphasis mine)Language experts may argue that the 'sanctity of the place' clause and the 'thrashing' part are different parts of the same sentence, but i think not.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
baba amte
a simple genius has left us... a legacy of love and affection, a packed warehouse of courage and dedication, an encyclopedia in falling and rising, a memory of million life-lessons.
his life story is available here.
anandwan i have to go to.
old reports from the field are here and here.
this story of baba's episode with gandhi at sewagram will remain with me all my life.
his life story is available here.
anandwan i have to go to.
old reports from the field are here and here.
this story of baba's episode with gandhi at sewagram will remain with me all my life.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
F.R.I.E.N.D.S
this where csm comes from.
an iconic sitcom revolving around the lives of 6 people.
while being funny and gag-filled, it makes me ask these questions.
1. why do we need friends?
2. do friends have shelf life/pot life?
3. how to make friendship last?
typically, at various stages in our life (school, neighbours, college/s, office/s), we have different bunches of pals.
rare specimens last across the stages.
one rare specimen in my life is 'dog'.
interestingly we are 'dog' to each other. that makes names etc redundant.
we have been friends for around 12 years - thats more than 33% of our lives.
our very first encounter was at the college extension counter - while we were opening our bank accounts.
when he called a kitten, which had strayed between our legs, a 'sonofabitch', i knew that dog was 'happening'.
whats keeps the dogs going:
1. at a fundamental level, we have similar traits, thoughts and decision making process
2. non-negative judgmental in general and more so in the crisis periods.
3. no expectations and no explanations (what also works is clearly stated expectations, but i find that a toughie)
4. a strong group of additional dosts
5. affinity to produce of breweries
if everyone had their one 'dog', world would be a much nicer place.
keep barking.
an iconic sitcom revolving around the lives of 6 people.
while being funny and gag-filled, it makes me ask these questions.
1. why do we need friends?
2. do friends have shelf life/pot life?
3. how to make friendship last?
typically, at various stages in our life (school, neighbours, college/s, office/s), we have different bunches of pals.
rare specimens last across the stages.
one rare specimen in my life is 'dog'.
interestingly we are 'dog' to each other. that makes names etc redundant.
we have been friends for around 12 years - thats more than 33% of our lives.
our very first encounter was at the college extension counter - while we were opening our bank accounts.
when he called a kitten, which had strayed between our legs, a 'sonofabitch', i knew that dog was 'happening'.
whats keeps the dogs going:
1. at a fundamental level, we have similar traits, thoughts and decision making process
2. non-negative judgmental in general and more so in the crisis periods.
3. no expectations and no explanations (what also works is clearly stated expectations, but i find that a toughie)
4. a strong group of additional dosts
5. affinity to produce of breweries
if everyone had their one 'dog', world would be a much nicer place.
keep barking.
what a funny Family!!
celebrations and special occasions are wonderful times for families.
and ever more wonderful times for family-behaviour analysts (FBAs).
and weddings are the high points in the lives of FBAs whence multiple families converge in a complete orgy of customs, egos, rituals and faux-fraternising/sororising.
dec 2-6th was the wedding period and it abounded in above.
of particular interest was the powerful presence of the senior-most/egoistical/anal/critical family member.
from her side, it was the eldest brother of the father-of-the-bride. he was hit by the csm charm offensive which permanently disabled his 'critique-al' thinking. historically this offensive was likened to the blitzkreig. last heard, he was making plans to build a temple in my honour!!
from my side, it was the senior-most of my maamis who eventually was anointed CKO (chief keeeda officer). her favoured technique was to question each action and throw doubts over its appropriateness, timing, function, sequence and how she does it differently.
but my in-laws played at a high level, super-traditional space and sucked the air from the CKO's sails.
the FBAs of the world would have been astonished and perplexed if they were in my vicinity over the dec 2-6 period.
the camaraderie was real and effusive and most importantly pleasant.
and ever more wonderful times for family-behaviour analysts (FBAs).
and weddings are the high points in the lives of FBAs whence multiple families converge in a complete orgy of customs, egos, rituals and faux-fraternising/sororising.
dec 2-6th was the wedding period and it abounded in above.
of particular interest was the powerful presence of the senior-most/egoistical/anal/critical family member.
from her side, it was the eldest brother of the father-of-the-bride. he was hit by the csm charm offensive which permanently disabled his 'critique-al' thinking. historically this offensive was likened to the blitzkreig. last heard, he was making plans to build a temple in my honour!!
from my side, it was the senior-most of my maamis who eventually was anointed CKO (chief keeeda officer). her favoured technique was to question each action and throw doubts over its appropriateness, timing, function, sequence and how she does it differently.
but my in-laws played at a high level, super-traditional space and sucked the air from the CKO's sails.
the FBAs of the world would have been astonished and perplexed if they were in my vicinity over the dec 2-6 period.
the camaraderie was real and effusive and most importantly pleasant.
Friday, February 01, 2008
'5 posts' tag
kenny has tagged me. relay tag on from ludwig.
seems to be a rage on the b-spot these days.
these chains bother me ..... or rather i dont bother with them.
was torn over making an exception, and i stitched myself back to my 'dont-bother' state.
but to be nice, i shall make 5 new posts over this weekend on those topics. cool.
seems to be a rage on the b-spot these days.
these chains bother me ..... or rather i dont bother with them.
was torn over making an exception, and i stitched myself back to my 'dont-bother' state.
but to be nice, i shall make 5 new posts over this weekend on those topics. cool.
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