Do we need a kira?

Ah, this isn't usually what I post in Cataract, but I just decided that in the event of the assassination of a noted Pakistani politician, I would just post it here. Firstly, this is NOT a politically directed blog, as I have zero aptitude for politics. Secondly, kira is a fictitious character from Death Note, a famous japanese anime, that is based on the manga of similar name. I was suggested to watch this anime by a friend of mine. And it is the most brilliant thing I have ever seen.

So, while to understand the full meaning of my blog, you might want to actually see death note, I will brief you about it. Death Note is actually a notebuc, which belongs to a Death god or shinigami. The person whose name is written in the note, dies. There are many other rules to use the note. Bored, a shinigami drops the death note on earth, just for fun. It is discovered by Light Yagami, a brilliant, perfect, all rounder high school student. Now, Light is an extremely intelligent ( to the point of being brilliant) guy with a strong sense of justice. Some among us will understand what I am saying. When we see something happen, some of us are afraid, others wary, and then there are those who feel a burning rage and a need to do something. The last category is where Light belongs. So, upon finding the Death Note, he sees it as an opportunity to rid the world of all evils and create a just and kind society. A new world whose God he would be.

Great intentions, terrible means. Light starts murdering criminals relentlessly. His sense of justice intact, he still comes to the notice of the interpol, because, well, if suddenly, 100's of criminals started dying of a heart attack, it would. The best detective on the planet decides to hunt down the person behind all these killings, Light, who has come to be known as kira, because of the Japanese pronounciation of the word, "killer". The anime is a saga of the good against the good and a man who in the name of justice becomes the most terrible mass murderer world has known, while at the same time, destroying most of the criminal population and lessening the crime rate by 70% and bringing the world many steps closer to world peace.

The series is brilliant, but that isn't the point. I was wondering, that while I was watching the series, I wondered how terrible it would be if someone like Light existed. Or rather, something like the Death Note existed. Of course it has the ultimate power. I mean, look at the news everyday! There are people dying or being treated unjustly, there's so much sufferring and anger. No street is safe and many a times you wonder what we have done to live in an age where there is so mucb fear. I dont mean to sound dramatic, its not that we feel like this always, but yes, considerable efforts are being taken that we do. And when you see all this, one does wonder, would the world actually be better off with a kira?

Everytime, either a political leader gets assassinated or worse, there's a terror attack. Terror attacks actually, have become so common now, that we view them like we view everyday theivery. In a world where even the justice system is struggling with the idea of justice and more people are convinced about the non existance of God than his existence, is there really a need for kira? A force that can see nothing but justice? Of course, Light Yagami, being human, actually succumbs to his fears and kills all people good standing in his way too. He does it, because of the eventuality that he will be caught if he doesn't, but once he does it, it starts becoming easy to use and throw human life, which I believe is the primary reason why Capital punishment is still widely debated. True, some people are better off dead, but should this mean that we devalue human life?

kira does what everyone of us has wished in our life. Everytime he sees injustice happening, he kills the criminal responsible. May it be a sex offender or a world class criminal, no one is above kira's judgement. So much so, that one wishes they were kira, simply because he can actually put to action what most of us only feel... to create a world where innocence can prevail and where justice will prevail.

True, we should move at it and we are. We might have even come quite far, considering that we arent as barbaric anymore. Yet, in this era, as in every other, the people rooting for justice seem to be loosing. When do we see it happening? And even if it does, does this stop the happening of any other injustice? How many times have thiefs and rapists been convicted? Still more pop up every day. Theifs, might be desperate. rapists, should just be hanged. At whatever rate we might be moving, how do we know if we are moving at all or that injustice has simply aquired a new face? How and how fast can we create a world where we can walk without fear of being killed for no reason, or loosing someone we hold dear? Or where we have the right to live our own life. there are still countries ravaged by war and political unstability. While I am not sure exactly what nature of stability politicians themselves induce, it must still be scary to live in a place where its more out in the open and clear. Are we simply living in a hoax, where the feel good factor is but an eyewash?

Here is what I think about the situation. First, my prayers for the people of Pakistan. I hope that they be healed of the mental torture that such a situation much have brought.

And about the Death Note... I don't know. I want to say, that frankly speaking, such a power is useless. To kill is a crime. It devalues human life. And it will claim the kira too. As Light says, " if kira wins, he is the face of justice; if he looses, he is just a criminal". Also, we are still not sure about the definitions of right and wrong. To pass a judgement so absolute in this scenario is impossible. We are either too confused a society or still too immature as people. Who decides who is a criminal? Its easier in cases like murder for land or rape or dacoity. But then, in many of these cases, the criminals go scott free. The judiciary fails to do justice where the results are most clear. Yet, it is difficult to pass judgement so easily and that's a fact. If it weren't I would probably root for a kira. Because honestly, the day one can prove without a figment of doubt that a person is better off dead, he probably is. But killing is an act of outrage, and however correct it might seem, it isnt right. Also, I believe that such changes that a kira can bring might be very short lived and will cause as much damage as good, meaning, we will simply move from one evil to another. And the world has witnessed this countless amount of time.

But sitting here, if I ask myself honestly, I seriously don't know the answer to this question. The fact is, I wish that people would just be more honest and just. It is important to value these two values. It is ok if you haven't helped a single man but yourself in your life till you havent ever hurt any. It is all right if you swear and watch porn and drink. But injustice is NOT ok.

It is the law of nature, a rule we must abide by. Otherwise, the world might not have seen a kira yet, but we have seen quite many who come close. Dictators and extremists, people who started out as champions of justice. If as individuals we don't value justice, then we have already failed. Ignorance and avoidance, laziness and wariness are all as much responsible for injustice because when we stop caring injustice can prevail with ease.

I believe that more efforts should be made to understand the true nature of good and evil, instead of sticking to the old definitions. We must pursue truth and accept the good and the bad within us, YES there is a bad within all of us. That's a point death note conveys too. As people who can be true to themselves and be just, who can conquer the evil within them, I do believe that civilization can move forward.

But that is all I know. And I believe in acting on what I know rather than doing something reckless.... anyways, its something to think about. Burn them grey cells and more importantly, seriously reevaluate what we are doing and where we are going as humans.

And the anime communicates that the world is better off without a kira. It is a personal recommendation. See it! however you can. its a masterpeice.

VIEW FROM BRITAIN

The following article appeared in the Times of India today. It had me in splits really, as usually the articles about India authored by foriegn writer's tend to be politically correct and saturated with cultural and spiritual mentions. Rarely have I come across something that is so evident to anyone who might visit India, but is ignored because of the fear of being politically incorrect. I am copy pasting the article from the website. It is a copyrighted material of TOI i assume.... here it is:

The difference between the perceptions of India, of those who live there and those who live in the West is fascinating. Having just spent two months in India one was struck by how much more negative many Indian citizens were about the state of their country than people and the media in England, where i'm from, are. In England, India is seen as a booming giant in terms of economic and geopolitical clout. The poverty suffered by many is reported less in the media than its BPO businesses. India's economic growth pushes its success stories towards the forefront of public consciousness, particularly with the Tatas' takeover of Corus, formerly the state-run British Steel. This summer alone there has been a BBC season of programmes focusing on India and Pakistan and a highly publicised three-month 'India Now' festival in London. This superpower-in-waiting is even seen by some as threatening. Just as America's public fear of losing global economic pre-eminence to the Japanese in the 1980s infected the public discourse, in England now, the fear of job outsourcing to India means that at times India is seen as a danger to the ordinary Brit's economic well-being. I was often faced with the opposite view in India. When one enunciated to a friend this mixture of excitement and fear at India's growth so prevalent in England, he could only reply "Well, it's good you came here to see that this talk is all hype". He then proceeded to tell me in detail the problems faced by India: unmanaged urban growth, deep-rooted corruption, crushing poverty, rampant disease and awful public services. The most troubling aspect he saw were the fissures in Indian society. Similarly, one was struck by the desire of so many in the Indian middle class to leave India. America in particular is seen as a land of milk and honey, where good jobs awaited if only one could get the visa. I met a young boy, less than 10, whose face lit up at the mention of America, despite having never been there. He explained to me how wonderful America is; wide-eyed he told me that even the streets were clean in America! This at a time when many of my English friends feel India is the place to move to!



Now, I remember meeting a Scottish woman once and indulging in an extended chat with her about 'the way things are' and to my surprise, this well travelled lady told me how she found Indian's to be straight forward. Another aquaintance of mine, an Indian was extremely critical. But the lady continued to elaborate as to how the people in Europe tend to be shrewd and go about in circles. The fact is, Indian' aren't much different. Hypocrisy is becoming a national trait, and to a huge extent, people are not very complimentary and don't acknowledge kindness that easily. It was really weird, to stand there and see a person from a first world country, who had travelled extensively, complan about how things were in her land, even as we complained about how things are in ours.

Yet, after that discussion, it wasn't the comparative superiority of the countries that I learnt; it was the fact that in some weird, convoluted way, we all tend to behave in the same way. Sure, the sultural identity changes many things, but grass always seems greener on the other side, and any country can be best enjoyed with the attitude of a traveller, and not a citizen. A citizen expects too much, does too less, and is basically confused as to why he must align his identity with that of his country.

I ask you this, when you were born, a part of you was already wired in your genetic make, a part you gathered, and some you might have just conjured up. But was that the basis on which you were assigned your country of birth? It can be extremely difficult for the young to identify with rigid principles set in stone for someone's convenience. And of course, we aren't submissive. But in all 21 years of my life, despite what I have heard, I have rarely seen people who are comfortable with their place of birth. Those who were, were so involved in their family life, I can assure you that if you airlifted them with their loved ones and dropped them off in Antarctica, they would become patriotic towards that humungous mass of ice and water. Either the people are feircly patriotic, to the point that you wonder if the patriotism is there to simple mask their hatred for the land; or they are feircly unpatriotic. In both cases, they are prejudiced and either defend every even visible gaffe's, or critisize something genuinely good about the place.

The biggest example might be Bollywood. Yes, it pains me to see that this industry that spits out 400 movies a year, is one of India's major mascot for the outside world. For one, business acumen apart, the creative content of all the movies made here might be one fourth of what an artist living in the bacwaters of amazon would manage. While there have been genuine and really thoughtful movies, they are overhyped. Because, you see, when you are accustomed to seeing thrash being spurted out every week, even a remotely genuine work of art baffles you. But for most part, I refrain from watching Bollywood movies, because even a mentally imbalanced individual will find them disturbing. And many Indians, will probably skin me, just for saying this.

You see, even if Bollywood is a huge wad of thrash, its Indian and one must love it! The movies might be terrible, and the actors pure bags of bones and flesh staring at you from the screen, but its Indian! How can you not love something that's Indian???!!!!! Or, even if it's a great movie, it has been done in Hollywood. Oh, and then there's the Indian hypocrisy. Aishwarya Rai or some other female gets the part of a prop in a Z grade Hollywood movie, and suddenly she has a part African part British part I invented this in my teeny weeny head accent, and people are everything but worshipping her!!! And they all do it to represent India to the ignorant 'firangs' [ at the risk of sounding racist, whites are the only alpha race in our species it seems, and every different coloured individual out there seems to try and please this gruop]. I will mention that there ARE and ALWAYS will be exceptions. People who are above all this immature insecurities. Yet, this happens, and its a wee bit pathetic.

We are at a stage where all of us are coping up with the huge cultural shock internet has granted us. And from what I have seen, we all have our silly idiosynchranacies, that are quite similar. [yes, i have been exposed to E! News more than once]. Grass ALWAYS seems to be greener on the other side, and even if we stare at a mirror, we will obsess about the right side is left side difference rather than seeing the bigger picture.

But hopefully, one day people might understand, that at the end of the day, despite the culture, race, caste, gender or country we belong to, we are just that; people.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS- how media became a spoil sport

Ok, this isnt a spoiler thread. I am not someone who will give away info. As such I am not against people who divulge the plot to people who are looking for the info. But what i saw today is the most pathetic form of journalism I have ever seen! So theres this daily in our city called The Hitvada. Its a Nagpur (India), paper. And right on the font page in block letters in the curent news strip, they have printed the answer to the big question. Does Harry stay alive or die? !!!!! I wont give the answer, as I am not a looser like these sensationalists. Now, I did everything I could to inform those people who were really looking forward to, or had bought the Harry Potter book!But those who couldnt care less just told me, they have done a service for people who now wont have to spend so much money in buying another Potter.

Really?First off, even the thought of saving money is laughable. Second, what about the people who had waited for so long for the book???!!! If you really wanted to do serive to all the poor children, why not print the book yourselves and sell it for minimum prices? Or buy them and distribute them for free. We all know how much media makes by selling thrash news about celebrities! wouldnt hurt to give back would it? There are people I know, and have seen, who have waited for this book for long! They were soo excited about their first copy! And now they will read the ending screaming from the newspaper! Right, its not a matter of national or international importance. I myself have been wary of the extra hype that the media has been creating over Harry Potter. But then, thats all that media does these days, hype inconsequential things. Harry Potter at least stands for great story telling and will always remain the book that bought reading back on the map! To do this with the final edition seems lame to me!

Am i really overreacting on this? Think about it this way, it isnt about Harry Potter. Its about the act of spilling the beans on people who were excited about this. For them, it was something to look forward to, something to enjoy. And this is nothing but disrespect for these people! I seriosuly hope these paper people pay for it. They are not only ridiculous, but bombastically stupid t have done something like this. As if media needed more evidence to prove that it clearly isnt living upto its job decription.

LIVE EARTH CONCERTS

Ok, I really think these were an amazing gestures. But I have to say something to the organizers. PLEASE, NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO HAVE IT, KEEP IT IN ALL OF THE BRIC NATIONS. This isnt a shout out or anything, please understand that bric nations will be front runners in terms of consumtion and their population is HUGE! They will aquire the habits that lead to global warming partly, and these Live Earth concerts will raise popular awareness. So if the organizers ever come across this....... Please understand that it was silly to not to hold it in India... Come on, lets stop taking baby steps on this one..... PLEASE! enough said.

EDUCATION AND STUDENTS

THIS IS A CURRENT ISSUE FOR ME AT LEAST, AND ONE THAT WE ALL SEEM TO HAVE A CATARACT ON.

Ok, so I am a student and I feel that that qualifies me for stating my opinion on this matter. Now out of the safety valve of a graduate degree, I am coming to terms with the world outside and I feel angered. And i feel that most of my education was probably my doing! We all talk about education. Hell, it is a sull fledged industry that is booming by the day. Soon, there will be a university on every block, and they will start awarding degree's for common sense (which is good), to how to walk like a winner! Every course we want, every thing we desire, is supposedly just a mouse click away. Most would say that this is probably the best age to be born for a student. This, after all, is the age of education. The age of opportunities and the age of enlightenment. Or is it?

Everywhere I go, i see more and more confusion. Its silly to limit yourself and its fatal to be confused. The cost for knowledge (yes, theres a price to pay), is sky high, and you are promised all kind of electronic vibes and devices that apparently will merge with your brainwaves, the way they increase the price of the course. Then, theres the society aspect. Till school, we ARE our marksheets, and after school, we become our degree certificate. So there is always the preffered and the deffered. And in a way, they arent really wrong. Landing on the wrong side of the economy is a mistake we pay for. But tell me, where in all this, did we EVER talk about education? Where are we talking about WHY we need education? Sure, we need it so that we can sustain ourselves. Invest in our future earning capacity. But apart from that, why do we need education? Is it to get a fancy tag and social acceptance? Is it to make a gateway into a foriegn locale? Why do we spend a major part of our young lives behind the books, knowing very well that we will land in that place for sure once we are old and physically useless?

The ideal response to this would be, self development. We want to develop intellectually, understand the world and of course leanr something that can feed us, and maybe help buy that Mercedes. But mostly, we study, to sculpture our personality and character, to become the kind of independant individuals that are the foundation of any civilized society, the kind of people that the builders of the modern day society had in mind when they crafted these idealistic tenets of civilization. And, to realize the potential that comes with being a human. We study, because thats what humans do. Thats how ou species survives and prospers.

Yet, what part of education involves this? Or rather what part of education that you pay for? For one, all the places that come REMOTELY close to providing students with this kind of an environment where students are given a chance to broaden their vision and perspective, have rigid entry requirements and demand that you be nothing short of a genius. Oh, and that does NOT mean that you should actually be a genius. Just one on the academic records. That, or have highly specific preferrably marketable and understandable skills. Like being a compuet prodigy or tennis prodigy is any day better than being just smart. And i have no offense to that. But tell me, if I am your articulate, already perfected, well proven genius, then WHAT THE HELL DO I NEED AN EDUCATION FOR? Sure, my already accomplished self will find contacts and accliam and moolah in your premise, and all i probably had to do was sit hard and study and get a pretty marksheet. But tell me, what part of that required me to be a genius, or even intelligent. I just had to be smart enough to blind myself and just mug up. which is a very important quality in this world, but not necessarily one that these places of education claim to look for.

Educational Institutions are the alma maters for those who wish to know, who SEEK to know. It doesnt require you to have a pretty profile and/or a lot of money. It takes raw talent, and burning desire, two things that they are least interested in. I spent so much time enquiring about universities left right centre, and the one thing that i got to hear was, see, you have talent, but its raw. They need you to have already developed it. I could have agreed to this excuse had it been a future employer or company. I mean of course they want sculptures and not just clay! The companies, businesses and employers are like art galleries. They display the sculptures, no clay. But the educational institutions were supposed to be the sculptors, not the middle men who milk the sculpture and the gallery people! Why do all big institutes look for flashy marksheets, great extra curriculars and loads of moolah only? I mean, agreed they are an easy way of knowing that the student may have talent. But tell me, does it ever occur to them, that a Mark sheet isnt a verdit on the childs intellect, just on his current devotion to the studies. By current devotion to studies I mean, how high they rank in his priorities. If i am probably someone going through some personal issues, scoring straight A's wont exactly be on my agenda. Also, it isnt necessary that ALL students from EVERY part of the planet will have the opportunity to develop themselves completely. HELL, THATS WHY WE ARE COMING TO YOU! And, if my parents already have a truck load of money, why the hell will i waste my time beyond a bachelors degree sitting in a University. God knows that we learn a lot more by travelling and working than we ever can by sitting in a classroom.

What you do get out of current education system though, is friends for a lifetime, and understanding of how people and world function and if you are a management or technical graduate, then a skill to live a life of luxury. Of course this statement is subject to conditions and exceptions. But apart from the technical part of it, where did these alma maters help us? Also, I know from experiance, that a book can be as good or better a teacher, and are way more cheap. So if it really is about making a sound business decision, go for the book.

I am not against education. I think we all need education. But education isnt about teaching us to think like Einstein, or giving us a ground to parade ou own skills. Its the one opportunity we get to actually grow and develop ourselves. And there is no bigger deed than that. I dont believe that there are humans who are not interested in self appreciation. We are all constantly trying to live an image we create in our minds as to who we should be. Every kid is born with curiosity, sharpness and a certain ability to understand. We are all born equals and the primary reason why most parents then send their kids to school is in hopes that theur child will develop upon this ability. Then why, after landing in an institute for education, do we become the good, mediocre and dumb students. Why after graduating from the higher halls of learning do we become a success or a failure? And why, after leaving them entirely, we actually start from where we had left as toddlers? Is it all just nature and evolution at play? Or did somewhere, education just really went wrong????

CELEBRITIES AND CAUSES

Ok, so Amitabh Bacchan just made an announcement about global warming, and its good that this cause has, "reached" India. This is of course crucial, as India, one of the top three developing nations, with a mammoth population, is one of those nations that would soon join the consumerist ecological imbalance causing nation. The countries, on the threshold of development are the ones where changes in big measure can be taken place. For one, the citizens are in the process of aquiring the wasteful habits, as opposed to their developed counterparts, who have lived that lifestyle for some time now. This means that, they are more likely to be able to devise a lifestyle that is more informed. Another, is of course, the population of India. its the second largest in terms of population and so, its crucial that measures to develop a more informed and concsious lifestyle are taken here. As India joining the bandwagon would mean that there are probably twice as many people involved in environmental degradation as ever before. Indians know that the law and order situation is rather non stringent here, though with development, thats changing for the good. (and to think people consistenyl just hate on capitalism, blindly condemning it, while benefitting from the goodies and jobs it throws in there kitties).

Anyways, why would the title of this write be celebrities and causes, if all I am talking about is global warming and India? I will tell you. Three odd years back, just as six odd years back, global warming was still happening, though not the kind of subject that would get anyone any footage or attention. I remember trying to send out fliers online to my friends, requesting them to join the cause, and i got nothing but disinterest and apathy. Apart from a few celebs, prominantly Leonardo di Caprio, there werent any interested in voicing concern about it. Come on, these people are your idols right? But forget vision, they dont even have common sense to figure out that our reckless behaviour will cost us, and that with the useless media coverage they get for changing their hair colour, they could probably raise awareness about that? No, they supported cancer then. Some because they had seen its horrors in close terms, others simply because by then it became a well publisized cause. You see, the people whose every word you hang on, are nothing but working actors or musicians, or Paris Hiltons, meaning jobless famous people. It doesnt make them lesser, but the fact is that most of them are probably there, not because they should be, but because they can fool naive people in to making them reach there.

Yet, even if for trivial things like media bytes to cover their inconsequential life, if these people bring attention to something that should get a voice, I will always prefer that it happen than not. I would not take Sheryl Crow or for that matter anybody else's advice on these matter ( as remember there are professionals to give you those. An environmentalist will obviously know more than a singer, about environment. And would you rather that a dancer at your club design your house than an architect? till of course they possesed a gift for it and experiance in it.)
But they give the cause the media bytes. And media a better job than to hound celebrities or make mess out of trivial issues and try to act director instead of media. For this, I would rather that this happen. For the sad reality is that, most people will not listen to a cause till it isnt endorsed by someone famous. I dont get it? Most of these things are visible to common sense. Why would you trust someone's rambling over your minds voice? Or maybe, not everyones mind is focussed on living life completely. Ironic, yet possible.

But today, as i read the article about Amitabh Bachhan, the man people call God here in India, for reasons best known to them, and his voicing concern on global warming, my dad just chuckled and said, " they finally found another cause. All the scientists do the hardwork and these people take the credit and limelight." Its true. And its absurd. Of course, we assume that if its a celebrity voicing concern, the cause might be legitimate. As you know, there are many cheats out here, who find charity the easiest way to raise money. But the fact is that, in that search for legit, we are ignoring the true movers and shakers. In this world, where heroes are made by the media ( a sad degradation from the days when they were made so by their actions), its crucial that people start finding the hero within themselves. Also, I know that while there might be a possibility that there could actually be a stupid entity called masses, that basically just seem to crowd the planet, the fact is that most humans have a sense of discernment and basic intelligence. Which means that they probably might actually become cynical about these causes if they see another stupid celebrity dancing to the tunes of a new charity thats getting all attention. Many of you, have probably distastefully thrown an article about some celeb and his advice on GB or AIDS or any other thing for that matter. Or just laughed and ignored it. And that probably is a right thing to do.

But my advice would be simple. Forget the people raising this concern. The ones who truly care, are doing this because they wouldnt be able to sleep without sending out this message, and doing what they can. The people who take the action, the scientists, the researchers, the people who build this world, are the true heroes. It doesnt decrease the importance of the people who bring attention to this, and definitely not the media. But they hold a position thats theirs. Ultimately, it gives them very little credit for what they are doing, putting these celebrities on the pedestal they should be on. Also, a major part of the "attention" campaign is done by the media.

Lastly, if all this is too complicated, forget the junk and do what your common sense tells you is right. We are all a part of this planet and what kind of people would we be, if we didnt live our lives aware and determined. Whoever gets the credit, however wrongfully, the fact remains that there will be some the toil and work and others that bask in light. But only those who follow their heart and mind, will set this world in right.

Adios.

SHERLY CROW'S ENVIRONMENT ADVICE

so, i read recently, that Sheryl Crow has posted on her new blog that there should be a limit to the use of toilet paper in a bid to save the environment. while environment and its preservation is a cause i am passionate about, i see this as one of the most useless advices ever! sacrifice basic hygiene for um, saving trees? when you know that your co workers like Paris Hilton and all will make thei dogs write books that will be widely published by cutting these very tress???!!!!!! its rather stupid. while environment seems to be the new 'it' thing on the block, people are fast joining the bandwagon of people supporting this cause.

but in reality, none of them offer any advice on what an individual can do to curb global warming. political initiatives, though far more effective, are places where we will be wasting energy. politicians are usually too near sighted and contrived to come up with anything that has JUST good effects. its the people that you have to take a cause to. an individual is stronger than any ridculous system. all individuals is an undefeated entity. and this is what i wanted to do. i wanted to find out what a normal everyday doctor, day care worker, student or house maid could do to curb global warming. after all, they form a major chunk of the world population, not vain and stupid celebrities who prove time and again that you must have an IQ of below 100 to be famous, and waste their fame championing only those causes that involve visibly deformed little pitiable people.

in a world of nine billion people, time has come that we wake up. so i mailed every organization i could find on the internet, hoping that they would give me pointers on what non environmental activists could do to curb global warming on their part. i got no answer from all of them. like all charitable organizations, they want you money and signature on petitions, but will never tell you anything about the change you must make. ultimately, i used the one resource that is reliable, common sense. global warming is sue to high carbon content in atmosphere. while there is nothing i can advice about curbing the CFC's, as AC's and fridge are for our comfort, i do have some pointers, that i am aure can help, and be incorporated in our daily life. and we dont need to go back to stone ages, or compromise on basic hygeine for that. all of these and more, i put to practice in my daily life.

1) TRAVEL BY CYCLE WHENEVER YOU CAN:

now, use your common sense. if its 12 o clock and summer and you have temperatures above 30 degree celcius, or you are getting late for exams, you obviously wanna pick up that car or motorcycle. but there are so many places we travel by car that we dont need to. if its a class you gotta attend early in morning or sometime in evening, and if it isnt 40 kms away, then pick up that bicycle. something like back to school thing. you might say that your time would be wasted, but that is a lame and non existant excuse.

first off, how much time and money do you spend in gym subscription? or time in front of the television watching pure bullshit. or in front of the computer dating virtual strangers, thinking it makes up for not having a life out of cyber space? it takes 12 mins to travel 5 kms by a car, and 20 by cycle! just 8 mins for 5 kms. plus, you do something for your figure, that no gym can do. gym can give you legs like Gisele Bundchen.... thats a myth they sell their products by. and even if they do, you will have strech marks. cardio is by far the most effective form of exercise, and cycling possibly the only one that strengthens your joints and tones your legs. plus, it increases your stamina, which means you wont loose a race with your great grandfather ( i cant understand how teenagers dont die of embarassment out of that).

if you go in gruops, thats even better. also, use cycle for extremely short distances, like a quick ride to the grocery store on the next block. this one a deal, only an exceptionally dumb person will let pass.....

2) TURN OFF THOSE LIGHTS WHEN U DONT NEED THEM

ok, this is an extremely common and annoying habit that even i used to have. it takes concsious action for a month and then you will be habituated. so, turn off the electricity when you dont need it!!!! DO IT!!! you dont need lights at 12 in the noon, or AC in temperate climate. and you know somwthing guys.... if global warming happens any faster, your body will have to acclimatize to much higher temperatures. and you will even get toasted every time you go out in sun. stay out of sun, and your skin will look like an old toilet paper twice used. so, it makes sense to turn them lights off. other thing is, use individual electronic devices. like, dont turn on your comupter just to listen to music. GET A FREAKING IPOD!!! trust me, you will save a lot more on electricity bills than you spend on that damn ipod. just by turning off computers when not actively using them, a normal working office can save 1000000 rs every year in electrcity bills. computers are amazing, but they consume too much electricity.

3) PAPER BAGS, AND DUSTBINS

in india, due to administractive apathy, people rarely use the dustbin. USE IT! or throw thrash in someone else's house, so they will come throw theirs in your house. then you will know what kind of a nuisance littering is. another thing is, please stop sticking plastic. i know its inconveniet, as platic is the most useful material ever invented. but i would take a new approach than the more impractical Ban Plastic one... CONSERVE PLASTIC. use your head, come up with ways to limit the plastic content of your house. use air tight containers as opposed to those million plastic bottles. when you stock water in plastic bottles, you might wanna know that a few good quality ones are better than a 100 odd ones. or just use your coke bottles. ( i know ppl still prefer them over cans). stocking a lot of plastic bottles means more bottles to clean, which if you are a lazy bum, you wont do. this is actually extremely unhyegenic, as even platic, with a little bit of dust ( and the elixir of life water stuck all over it), is a germinating ground. you could be drinking those bacterias and viruses!!!!!

also, recycle whenever you can. invest your money on things you can recycle. this will create a market for things that can be recycled and manufacturers wont have a choice but to recycle stuff. consumers control the market, not the other way round like its happening. so, RECYCLE!!!

oh, and if you recycle intra house, you might save money and space too. lots of it. take a sunday and just clean your house. look at the things you have that you dont even need!!!! you work your ass off on a college degree and job to earn money that you eventually spend on things you dont even need, that clutter up your lovely house, and frustrate you!!!!!! it doesnt make any sense. so till they make recycling bin as common as public toilets and dustbins...... RECYCLE, inter and intra house.

ok, this is all i have for now. if anyone else has any suggesstions, you are invited to add em on here. look at these.. they are beneficial not just for environment, but for you too. they dont require you to compromise or go back to stone ages or burn to death, all of which are likely to happen if we remain indifferent towards environment. all they require is for you to be proactive and use your head. if you cant do this, you definitely aint saving on any toilet paper either.

so GO GREEN!!!! its not an option, its a requirement!

ABHIASH- GOOLASH

so, the dream girl married the gods son and the whole media has been buzzing about it as if it were the nitty gritty of the india-US nuclear deal. the wedding garments, locations, guest list and other such things have been published and discussed to no end. i once read some opinion poll in a local newspaper where the people happily said that they were curious to know about the details of the biggest wedding of the decade (yeah right). it really made me wonder, as why DO we give a damn. i mean, we have all been blessed with a life of our own right? then why do people wake up every morning to hear about what lipstik aishwarya rai would be applying on her mehendi? i mean does it seriously matter? or do we seriously have so much free time in a world where everyones complaining about how they dont have time for relationships and friendships? also, after the UN report on global warming, would temperatures be discussed with as much detail? ' its 41 degree celcius today and the temperatures have been since rising.' would people put a timer on that? but most importantly, how much paper and electricity is wasted in covering such bullshit? i mean, its great that we have cyber space where no trees are being cut, and in a world facing global warming no less, to be covered with ridiculous stuff about star hook ups and weddings.

now, indian media is as original as they get. so when they saw the UK and US papparrazzi come up with innovative and highly amusing name such as brangelina and bennifer or what not, they put their copious amount of grey cells to work with coining a term for the indian couple. after car wrecks like ashishek (eeks), they finally found a much less pathetic and lot more ridiculous abhiash ( sounds like the name of a long extinct crustacean). then, they filled reams of pages with news of abhiash goin to temples, getting married, paying a visit to the loo. all for the entertainment of that ridiculous bunch of loosers that should be nuked; ' the masses'.

while i didnt follow it all, despite the fact that they made headlines in mainstream paper everyday, sidelining the nuke deal and the gunning down of people in Vtech, Nasa and Hyderabad, apart from other more relevant and consequential news, i do wanna ask this question to everyone who did follow it. do you really care for this much coverage to a stupid event? they got married, good for them. media always gives one iron clad excuse for earning money for covering events of no importance, that they print what people want to read and see. but do people really want this?

ask yourself, how many times have you said that you didnt have enough time to do what you wanted to do, pursue hobbies or be with people you cared about. so you dont have time to understand your daughters teenage crisis, but you have time to delve into the details of a strangers wedding? you dont have time to contribute to yourself, your world or your committments, but you have time to watch the exclusive coverage of the couple arriving and all that? you dont have time to read about and take steps to curb global warming, or attend meetings of such order, but have time to stand in front of the gates of the Bacchans like loosers and cry your heart out?

what kind of a ridiculous hypocrite/looser would you be if you did that? no offence, but the only thing i feel sorry for are the trees that were cut to spin this much yarn, the electricity lost in covering this event and the vision deprived and contrived media professionals who will now be rendered unemployed as abhiash have finall become man and wife.

around the world, we need to ask ourselves this. that are we really as depraved, and as free and our lives as uneventful to bother about stupid celebrity hook ups? what they eat, what they wear and all that crap? right, we all need a pass time. i mean terrorism and global warming are rather depressing topics to talk about, and for some reason, despite screaming about nationalism, the development of china, india and brazil, and the approaching of a globalized and new one world either doesnt interest many people, or doesnt fit in their limited cranial capacity ( or they like like to think it doesnt). but the coverage given to such things has become so ridiculous, that media has made a fool of itself.

the bringers of truth have become nothing short of monkeys dancing on any tune that plays around. now, if something doesnt get published as often, you can risk taking it seriously. beat it, we all need entertainment, but there is a difference between enjoying the lighter side of life, and turning life into a full blown circus that is inconsequential and stupid.

the question being asked today is, what will get mankind first, terrorism or global warming. ahh, it seems neither of these larger than life endings for us. we might probably die of stupidity.

i know this sounds too serious for something this flossy, but then anything that you wasted a percentage of your life speculating about, has to have importance..... think about it. at least then, we can use this media fiasco to gain some insight into the weird world of today.

KISS AND TELL

so, india has been on fire lately. why? richard gere pecked shilpa shetty and moral police is back in action. again. phew! i thought the poor folks would remain unemployed till another valentines day where they could harass the couples, while ignoring the copius amount of eve teasers that strut around for the rest of the year. after all, this is India, the land of great morals. our sentiments are made of thin sheet of glass, and completely disconnected from any sort of mental reasoning. mind, actually, is a vestigial organ out here.

because had mind been used in any of these cases, one would realize, that this was just a impromptu pecking and nothing abnormal for an american. actually, why american, dont the newspapers waste paper and print photo's of wannabe celebrities, pecking each other 3 nanometers away from their lips ( if that still counts as pecking and not kissing) all the time? where is the moral police then? or is it just that targetting Richard Gere will give them an international platform to parade their ignorance?

oh, i dont blame these people. they are acting like the responsible citizens of India, and raising their voice against breaching the cultural code in this country. the active participants of this largest democracy! we must applaud them. we indifferent youngsters should learn from them. i am just waiting for another celebrity to blow a french kiss. i am sure i might find my chance to serve my country when Johhny Depp arrives for the shooting of Shantaram. after all, this is what freedom of speech and action and democracy is all about. if you dont like something, cry foul, ask for an apology, and if the other person does not give in, threaten, beat up and burn. whatever it takes to get them to apologize for acting themselves!

but to these great protectors of culture and integrity of country, i ask you this. where are you hiding, when there are 7 hrs power cuts in vidarbha, band in the middle of the day. at a time when most students are having their exams, and temperatures are bordering 40 degree celcius and above? we pay the taxes. we have a moral right to the power and right to be provided basic necessities, right? isnt it immoral then, that under such inhuman circumstances, electricity is cut everyday! i dont care what problems power department is facing. when did thinking become an integral part of any action here?

i ask you, where were you hiding, when government imposed a overall 50% reservation for the minorities, that is surely going to deprive many talented students of opportunities, just because they belong to a certain caste? while the morality of this country is all up and high when they are taking channels like FTV and AXN off air for airing some vulgar footage, where are they hiding, when it comes to framing PG and U slots? vulgar songs from bollywood flicks are aired all day round on TV channels, even on cartoon network! so, little kids are exposed to this almost all the time. also, in india, no kid sleeps at a time decided by their parents.

look around yourself. this hypocricy is costing you and your so calles selective morals them most. people have all the time to raise their voices about trivial stupid issues, but the real ones are left ignored. forget global warming, forget terrorism, forget human rights violation. no, all we need is a peck on the cheek to raise voices and burn effigies. but when human life is being squeezed and taken away every moment, we lay here, unconcerned. no one will raise their voice and no one will pay attention.

to India, and to the world, as no culture seems immune to such stupidity, i just think its time we woke up and strated directing our efforts towards something that is actually of any consequence. wake up, before its too late.

to the moral police, by all means, find another hobby. the very actions that you blame for spoiling the so called moral fabric of this country, are given importance and impetus by people like you. in that effect, you are aiding them. however inconsequential they are.

SUPREME COURT HAS BRAINS!!!!

so finally, not everyone in india has lost it. supreme court stayed the order for the 27% increase in reservation quota in higher educational institutions, which will, at least for now, prevent it from getting to the ridiculous figure of almost fifty percent reservations. i was so rooting for the person intelligent enough to separate the judiciary from the rest of the politics. in principle. i mean, the stay is completely rational. the supporters of the quota have been going on and on about the so called disparity and all that jazz. it makes perfect sense that they give the required evidence. till now, they have only be creating and acting out the drama. what about some factual and authentic information? if they are just in their cause and think that the situation is worth it to alienate a major chunk of young india, which will happen by the way, then go ahead. education is a big time market and i am sure that the ones who have talent will find their way, in india or outside. it might be, that these reservations become the biggest mistake any government ever committed.

but i was shocked to see that the government wants to take legal action!! against the supreme court!! like where? the international court or something? because out there, such stupidity wont even stand. last i heard, the legislature and judiciary were separate. and thank god for that, otherwise some of the mental retardation so common to politicians would have seeped in the justice granting systems of the worlds. so now government wants to take legal action against supreme court because it has told the government that they cant act like 5 year old delusioned kids and will have to proove their case before they start introducing quotas like maniacs????

thats amazing. makes complete sense too. i mean, i wonder why anyone with a strong case against them would do that. they would just go in the court armed with the arsenal of documents, and proove that they had been fighting for a good cause themselves.

personally, i think if vote bank politics and not rationality backs this decision of the government, they will pay, and pay dearly. most of the medicine students that i know, are preparing for USMLE or some other examination. students know that they have more chances of securing better educational opportunities outside of india than within it. also, if the other category ( the SC/ST of the 21st century) forms the major chunk of young india, then they might have as well started a campaign " others dont belong" or something. i think many students will feel the heat and feel like they dont belong. this is not the atmosphere they want for the india of tomorrow do they?

i dont know what will come out of it. i mean vetoing president is one thing, but acting smart with the supreme court. they might as well declare that democracy is a lie some people invented to keep the rational people in line as they were surely above aristocracy's binding slavery. and they might want to revamp their image as the biggest democracy in the world or whatever such thing the media created.

my only regret is, they didnt raise the reservations upto 90%. that way, i could see all this circus and fiasco in my lifetime.... and see them being put to justice for being so obtuse, and for not respecting their biggest resource, the young human resource. also, not realizing that this might actually create seeds of unrest and bring back the caste system that india had with such difficulty, finally removed. only this time, the bramhins, kshatriyas and viashyas will be the angry underdogs, and a copius amount of angry underdogs at that.

i am a student, an other category students like many of you out there. all i want to say to my peers, others or otherwise, is that merit, truth and hard work stand the test of time. will and conviction to do something is strong enough and that, human determination has the power to restructure this world. we have it already. seats or no seats, find your destiny and dont feel a need to indulge into something as petty and ridiculous as this battle for votes/justice for a case closed 200 yrs ago.

SANJAYA MALAKAR- the idol??!!!

so, i am not american, and i dont even watch american idol a lot. though the few times i do, i usually enjoy the quality of vocals. it is no where near the talent that Rockstar INXS ( in my opinion probably the best reality show in music) had, its pretty great. then i saw this kid, sanjaya malakar. i was like, they have an american indian on the show, thats different. but the moment he opened his mouth to sing, i was amazed. what was he doing in a singing competition. i mean not that i like the other performers, save probably Gina and melinda.. but this guy was bad! of course he wasd slaughtered by Simon. this was before the mohawk by the way. way before. and in like a few weeks, this kid is a star!

there are people raging on him, on how he shouldnt be there, and all that. Howard Stern is supporting him because he is the worst of all the idol finalists, and Simon Cowell threatened to leave the show if he wasnt removed from it!! i think a lot of people will start voting for him, just to see if Simon will keep his word! there are spoofs of sanjaya, fan sites of sanjaya, tweeny girlies crying their hearts out, and what not!!! hez even on wikipedia! i am amazed he hasnt become a topic of global discussion like shilpa shetty did a few months ago..honestly , i thought it was crazy he had even made it beyond the auditions, before i saw his audition tapes, which is probably his best performance.

so, when did a kid with long hair ( how can i not mention those), and a mediocre performance skill become a superstar? how, actually, is my question. why? its a singing contest, not a matter of national security. but since the priorities of this planet are a bit off key, i might as well give it its due. heres my take on the whole Sanjaya thing.

while i dont think he should be in the competition, while some better singers get voted off, i did find it amazing the kind of brickbats he has been handling. i mean how many 17 year olds get so badly slaughtered my media and judges and even people. its not much of a comfort to know that 10 yr old girls are crying out there for you. i am amazed he did not even cry once, or jump and rip off simons head or something. every week, he just stands there, and takes the brick bats like its normal everyday thing!!!!!! i mean, i wont be surprised if he gets votes proportionate to the criticism he faces. its not his mistake he is still there. i mean, i am sure the kid might have voted himself out.

or maybe not. not after the mohawk. seems he finally learnt the ropes of the game. they wont stop hating you? make em hate you more. so do i support sanjaya malakar? not really. i just hope that people who are voting for him out of kindness, or love for him, just vote him out. i mean, its just a mediocre singer who doesnt deserve to be on the show ( as if its been absolutely fai with its earlier decisions). its not like he will bomb the world or something. there are people protesting his stay, or making theories of how savvy he is. grow up. its not like he wants to stay there. he doesnt vote for himself, remember? and how the hell can a 17 year old plan to come to a show and become famous just by not responding to the barbed comments of the judges. of course, after the faux hawk... i think he might have gotten an idea that they wont stop blaming him for something he isnt responsible for, and jumping into the bandwagon that carried him till this level. and maybe, he will win the whole thing, beating some of the more deserving people, who by the way , did get noticed and will make it i am sure. or maybe, he will be voted out.

then again, if that happens, there might be nothing good to talk about for the coming few weeks till some other controversy strikes. what are we gonna do then? face global warming or some such depressing thing?

man, i started feeling i wanted to write, now i feel, i wasted cyber space. whatever, seriously, whatever.