Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Bradley Manning leak
FWIW, Cryptome at least explains how part of the Wikileaks exposures occurred, it would seem through shoddy D.O.D. work.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Russian subs stalk Trident in echo of Cold War
Russian submarines are hunting down British Vanguard boats in a return to Cold War tactics not seen for 25 years, Navy chiefs have warned.
And the Russian bombers have certianly been testing NATO defences around the UK for some time now.
IMO: However, a recent Cryptome document suggests that Obama is becoming more right wing than G.W. Bush, and that Western intelligence is ill informed and not up to date. The Russians have always behaved apparently reasonably well towards India, whilst just recently, Private Eye reported the current pilfering of $2 billion by the ill-run, incompetent and corrupt UK from India, reported here earlier. And in Pakistan, for those not keen on Al Quaeda, the Sufi Zadari may still be the best choice for all as ruler. Reasonably Al Quaeda do not regrard Sufis as 'regular Muslims' and the historical fact was certainly that Sufis were forced to become Muslims when they are actually Sufis.
And the Russian bombers have certianly been testing NATO defences around the UK for some time now.
IMO: However, a recent Cryptome document suggests that Obama is becoming more right wing than G.W. Bush, and that Western intelligence is ill informed and not up to date. The Russians have always behaved apparently reasonably well towards India, whilst just recently, Private Eye reported the current pilfering of $2 billion by the ill-run, incompetent and corrupt UK from India, reported here earlier. And in Pakistan, for those not keen on Al Quaeda, the Sufi Zadari may still be the best choice for all as ruler. Reasonably Al Quaeda do not regrard Sufis as 'regular Muslims' and the historical fact was certainly that Sufis were forced to become Muslims when they are actually Sufis.
Scientists create 'dry water'
Some say this is 'weird'. In fact the water consists of tiny water droplets surrounded by a sandy silica coating. Useful for catalysis and maybe for absorbing carbon dioxide.
IMO: For some, the concept could certainly have a weird mental effect. The 'weirdness' is another phenomenon than simple disgust at normal press explanations of scientific discoveries and is far older than that. Interesting psychologically, but I will not go into details now. Mainly, however, people seem to be becoming inured - for good or bad - to such press headlines intended to become eye-catching. It seems to be becoming simply like the radio 'shock-jocks' which are seemingly used a a catharsis and for less worthy reasons by religious enthusiasts and other minor deviates from present norms in Western society.
IMO: For some, the concept could certainly have a weird mental effect. The 'weirdness' is another phenomenon than simple disgust at normal press explanations of scientific discoveries and is far older than that. Interesting psychologically, but I will not go into details now. Mainly, however, people seem to be becoming inured - for good or bad - to such press headlines intended to become eye-catching. It seems to be becoming simply like the radio 'shock-jocks' which are seemingly used a a catharsis and for less worthy reasons by religious enthusiasts and other minor deviates from present norms in Western society.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Open Government in the UK
Demos recommends lessons on conspiracy theories and online sources like blogs, Wikipedia and newspapers for secondary school students that focused on digital literacy and 'counter knowledge'.
"More needs to be done in schools to teach young people digital literacy, such as being taught to tell the difference between propaganda and honest and accurate reporting," argues the think tank.
Jamie Bartlett, an extremism expert at Demos, said: "The more open the government is, the harder it is for extremist groups to make stories out of silence.
IMO: Much of the Demos recommendations seem to make a lot of sense. Unfortunately some so-called 'conspiracy theories' are simple fact and it will help if people can distinguish and understand the difference. So many sources like Fox News and hopefully to a lesser extent Sky News sometimes totally misreport, simply to lead to personal financial profits for groups like the Murdoch group and it will help ordinary people to find out the facts - and in the long run it can only help the news media too. It may mean that sources like Glenn Beck and some University (extremist) Muslim groups can be placed more easily, also.
"More needs to be done in schools to teach young people digital literacy, such as being taught to tell the difference between propaganda and honest and accurate reporting," argues the think tank.
Jamie Bartlett, an extremism expert at Demos, said: "The more open the government is, the harder it is for extremist groups to make stories out of silence.
IMO: Much of the Demos recommendations seem to make a lot of sense. Unfortunately some so-called 'conspiracy theories' are simple fact and it will help if people can distinguish and understand the difference. So many sources like Fox News and hopefully to a lesser extent Sky News sometimes totally misreport, simply to lead to personal financial profits for groups like the Murdoch group and it will help ordinary people to find out the facts - and in the long run it can only help the news media too. It may mean that sources like Glenn Beck and some University (extremist) Muslim groups can be placed more easily, also.
Interesting point about set theory
Picture a set of measure zero, and picture a set with empty interior.
IMO: To me, these two differ in terms of mental image, FWIW. Shows how "mental images" can differ for different individuals at the very least. Indeed one could probably make a lot of philosophical and psychological points about consciousness etc on the matter. Reading the n-category cafe, “measure zero” is different from “empty interior”—even for compact sets—precisely because Lebesgue measurability is different from Jordan measurability
Fidel Castro claims Osama bin Laden is a US spy
According to the UK Guardian newspaper, former Cuban president says the 9/11 mastermind is in the pay of the CIA and cites WikiLeaks as his source.
Apparently the Guardian then tries to laugh it off, but do not link to Wikileaks. Wikipedia actually uses the UK Guardian itself as one of its sources .
IMO: A better source in the Wikipedia article may be Larry King.
"Bandar bin Sultan: This is ironic. In the mid-'80s, if you remember, we and the United - Saudi Arabia and the United States were supporting the Mujahideen to liberate Afghanistan from the Soviets. He [Osama bin Laden] came to thank me for my efforts to bring the Americans, our friends, to help us against the atheists, he said the communists. Isn't it ironic?
Larry King: How ironic. In other words, he came to thank you for helping bring America to help him.
Bandar bin Sultan: Right".
Apparently the Guardian then tries to laugh it off, but do not link to Wikileaks. Wikipedia actually uses the UK Guardian itself as one of its sources .
IMO: A better source in the Wikipedia article may be Larry King.
"Bandar bin Sultan: This is ironic. In the mid-'80s, if you remember, we and the United - Saudi Arabia and the United States were supporting the Mujahideen to liberate Afghanistan from the Soviets. He [Osama bin Laden] came to thank me for my efforts to bring the Americans, our friends, to help us against the atheists, he said the communists. Isn't it ironic?
Larry King: How ironic. In other words, he came to thank you for helping bring America to help him.
Bandar bin Sultan: Right".
Azad shot at point-blank range, claims report
Tmes of India now says : "Three leading forensic medicine and wound ballistic experts, who were given copies of Azad's post-mortem report without revealing the identity of the deceased, have come to the conclusion that the victim was shot from a distance of 7.5 cms or even less," the Outlook said in a press release. The post-mortem findings do not tie up with the police version that the Maoist ideologue was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the police atop a hill, it said.
IMO: Didi had said: "The way Azad was killed was not right and .. asked for a probe into his death. I feel the way Azad was killed is not correct. Swami Agnivesh had made him agree to hold talks (with the government). What happened was not correct".
IMO: Didi had said: "The way Azad was killed was not right and .. asked for a probe into his death. I feel the way Azad was killed is not correct. Swami Agnivesh had made him agree to hold talks (with the government). What happened was not correct".
Worries about Nick Clegg
The deputy prime minister has expressed his shock at the actions of a woman who dumped a cat in a bin. Mr. Clegg had said "To see the reaction to that extraordinary clip of the lady putting the cat into the bin - quite rightly people don't understand how that could possibly happen."
IMO: Is this the right man to decide whether the UK requires Trident ? He cannot even understand a cat. It seems details of what is to be done, are to be kept secret till the 'government' decide what to do about Trident. It seems to me that the matter is quite a complex one - nuclear deterrence, for example, can take many forms and is not just the economics of refurbishing old submarines. Also, sadly, there are nowadays far cheaper and more lethal means of defence than Trident. Every UK Government so far has kept Trident as is, whatever the reasons and whatever its earlier pledges to voters. I find it hard to imagine that all these people have suddenly lost their principles on election. We are never told the facts and I wonder why not. I certainly don't know what should be done as we do not have the facts. As for Mary Bale, as I have already said, she is easy enough to understand, but it seems possible that Governments who neither 'understand' nor attempt to stop or remedy serious bank defaults are not running defense satisfactorarily if they cannot understand such actions as hers, and even worse, assume nobody else can either. I am not about to say something extreme like "We need our own Assange" but I really would think that more adequate and sensible public information is desirable. We have been virtually dragooned into a EU that most voters do not want. That is not to take sides on the matter. What we certainly do need is a more effective democracy and Clegg does not even seem to give more than token support to a mild proposal like AV.
IMO: Is this the right man to decide whether the UK requires Trident ? He cannot even understand a cat. It seems details of what is to be done, are to be kept secret till the 'government' decide what to do about Trident. It seems to me that the matter is quite a complex one - nuclear deterrence, for example, can take many forms and is not just the economics of refurbishing old submarines. Also, sadly, there are nowadays far cheaper and more lethal means of defence than Trident. Every UK Government so far has kept Trident as is, whatever the reasons and whatever its earlier pledges to voters. I find it hard to imagine that all these people have suddenly lost their principles on election. We are never told the facts and I wonder why not. I certainly don't know what should be done as we do not have the facts. As for Mary Bale, as I have already said, she is easy enough to understand, but it seems possible that Governments who neither 'understand' nor attempt to stop or remedy serious bank defaults are not running defense satisfactorarily if they cannot understand such actions as hers, and even worse, assume nobody else can either. I am not about to say something extreme like "We need our own Assange" but I really would think that more adequate and sensible public information is desirable. We have been virtually dragooned into a EU that most voters do not want. That is not to take sides on the matter. What we certainly do need is a more effective democracy and Clegg does not even seem to give more than token support to a mild proposal like AV.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cat dumped in wheelie bin
The Manns found the trapped four-year-old cat when they heard her cries on Sunday morning.
They thought Lola must have been dumped in the bin by drunken yobs.
But when they looked through their CCTV footage, they were shocked to discover it was a middle-aged woman.
IMO: This story has had a lot of coverage in the UK. Probably because of cognitive dissonance and other such factors which mean UK people prefer to big themselves up and often do not want to realise how nasty they are. When they see their blatant evil face to face, it can come as a shock. She actually sounds typical of middle aged women in the UK, who are old enough to know better but go on behaving like drunken yobs. There are some just like that in my own street and I am sure they will wind up in hell for eternity. I would give the drug barons more chance of going to heaven than those wretched debauched old women, and that is virtually no chance. Naturally she now gets protection by the local 'Neasden-style' police. I would give a humble earthworm more credence and value than her, but she has now exposed herself to attack by other yobs effectively just like her. Oh, for Sri Ram Sena in London ! They would simply beat her up and throw her in the street I expect, which is what she deserves but doubtless this would force us all to hear her whinging.
They thought Lola must have been dumped in the bin by drunken yobs.
But when they looked through their CCTV footage, they were shocked to discover it was a middle-aged woman.
IMO: This story has had a lot of coverage in the UK. Probably because of cognitive dissonance and other such factors which mean UK people prefer to big themselves up and often do not want to realise how nasty they are. When they see their blatant evil face to face, it can come as a shock. She actually sounds typical of middle aged women in the UK, who are old enough to know better but go on behaving like drunken yobs. There are some just like that in my own street and I am sure they will wind up in hell for eternity. I would give the drug barons more chance of going to heaven than those wretched debauched old women, and that is virtually no chance. Naturally she now gets protection by the local 'Neasden-style' police. I would give a humble earthworm more credence and value than her, but she has now exposed herself to attack by other yobs effectively just like her. Oh, for Sri Ram Sena in London ! They would simply beat her up and throw her in the street I expect, which is what she deserves but doubtless this would force us all to hear her whinging.
Monday, August 23, 2010
P300 waves correlate with terrorist attack
A team at Northwestern University has developed a new test which they claim if employed for a real-world scenario - like an imminent terrorist attack - could enable the police to confirm details about an attack, like date, location, and even weapons. The P300 brain waves were measured by electrodes attached to the scalp of the make-believe "persons of interest" in the laboratory.
"Without any prior knowledge of the planned crime in our mock terrorism scenarios, we were able to identify 10 out of 12 terrorists and, among them, 20 out of 30 crime-related details," researcher Rosenfeld said.
IMO: Interesting, and seems to work for a few students but will it be reliable overall ? There seems to be no obvious reason other than technical, individual and situational problems why it should not work. Maybe UK could try it on the Continuity IRA before they try to bomb the Tories.
"Without any prior knowledge of the planned crime in our mock terrorism scenarios, we were able to identify 10 out of 12 terrorists and, among them, 20 out of 30 crime-related details," researcher Rosenfeld said.
IMO: Interesting, and seems to work for a few students but will it be reliable overall ? There seems to be no obvious reason other than technical, individual and situational problems why it should not work. Maybe UK could try it on the Continuity IRA before they try to bomb the Tories.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Gurinder Chadha
Apparently Gurinder Chadha is a Sikh film writer whose latest film is to be a life of Lord Mountbatten. Her earlier films "Bend it like Beckham" and "Its a Wonderful Afterlife" must have essentially used familiar (Southall) background. The first of these two of her films is well known, the second seems to have turned into a sort of Ealing Comedy style film where a Southall widow tries to marry off her fat daughter and of course kills suitors who do not agree to marry her. The spirits then return to life to haunt her. This seems to be a variation on a fairly common Bollywood theme, and must be at least more amusing than the continual retread "Harry Potter" films which so bedevil airline passengers.
It seems that she can hardly help to keep a jokey style from her films, and it is not difficult to see how, bearing in mind that she is a Southall Sikh, such a style can also arise in a film about Indian partition, perhaps not quite intentionally. However she apparently comes from Nairobi, Kenya and then Southall, England and thus does not have an Indian background. It is perhaps too caustic to suggest that the historic "Battle of Southall" might have been a more appropriate topic for her to try and I suppose we can only hope that the hold that comedy seems to have over her triumphs. This film could be a masterpiece but could also lead to unfavorable reviews and be immensely politically slanted.
It seems that she can hardly help to keep a jokey style from her films, and it is not difficult to see how, bearing in mind that she is a Southall Sikh, such a style can also arise in a film about Indian partition, perhaps not quite intentionally. However she apparently comes from Nairobi, Kenya and then Southall, England and thus does not have an Indian background. It is perhaps too caustic to suggest that the historic "Battle of Southall" might have been a more appropriate topic for her to try and I suppose we can only hope that the hold that comedy seems to have over her triumphs. This film could be a masterpiece but could also lead to unfavorable reviews and be immensely politically slanted.
India's flood aid offer to Pak a 'tremendous gesture': US
WASHINGTON: Describing as a "tremendous gesture" India's aid offer for Pakistani flood victims, the US has said it was "gratified" by Islamabad's decision to accept USD 5 million in assistance extended by its neighbour.
"It was a tremendous gesture by India offering assistance to Pakistan and we are gratified that Pakistan has decided to accept that offer," State Department spokesman, P J Crowley, told reporters last evening.
IMO: Pleased to see there is at least some common sense left in the world.
"It was a tremendous gesture by India offering assistance to Pakistan and we are gratified that Pakistan has decided to accept that offer," State Department spokesman, P J Crowley, told reporters last evening.
IMO: Pleased to see there is at least some common sense left in the world.
Julia Gillard : "I'm a ten pound Pom". Kath or Kim ?
As indeed is Tony Abbott. Bizarre.
IMO: It would probably be unkind to say 'and ten pounds is more than either of them are worth". But as a regular born actual Australian myself, who has not been there a lot recently and prefers India to either Australia or the UK, the impression left is that they are a pair of rather elderly 'Kath and Kim' type characters. Possibly they are better than that, but the overabundance in Australia of 'Kath and Kim' types and even worse, reverse stereotypes, does not actually make me shun the 'sunburnt country' I love but does not encourage me to return ever again. Many people seem to think it hardly matters which PM Australia eventually gets, but I never dreamt that one could consider wishing to have Kevin Rudd back. Why not offer the PM job to Rupert Murdoch and be done with it, he probably wouldn't accept it anyway. I never thought of Australians as mindless lost puppy dogs like the BBC seems to do, but with either of those two as PM they certainly need a lead.
IMO: It would probably be unkind to say 'and ten pounds is more than either of them are worth". But as a regular born actual Australian myself, who has not been there a lot recently and prefers India to either Australia or the UK, the impression left is that they are a pair of rather elderly 'Kath and Kim' type characters. Possibly they are better than that, but the overabundance in Australia of 'Kath and Kim' types and even worse, reverse stereotypes, does not actually make me shun the 'sunburnt country' I love but does not encourage me to return ever again. Many people seem to think it hardly matters which PM Australia eventually gets, but I never dreamt that one could consider wishing to have Kevin Rudd back. Why not offer the PM job to Rupert Murdoch and be done with it, he probably wouldn't accept it anyway. I never thought of Australians as mindless lost puppy dogs like the BBC seems to do, but with either of those two as PM they certainly need a lead.
Friday, August 20, 2010
P=NP? redux
A lot of people now think Vinay Deolalikar has not solved this problem, and indeed Scott Aaronson apparently literally bet his house last week — $200,000 — that the Deolalikar paper would be proved incorrect.
IMO: I definitely would not 'bet the farm' either way and do not gamble myself anyway. Aaronson often seems to talk like that, and I trust his comments are simply usual press exaggeration since while he is a very smart guy, he really and truly is sometimes wrong, not unusual in this advanced stuff. I simply hope Deolalikar is right, it would suit me but no more than that.
IMO: I definitely would not 'bet the farm' either way and do not gamble myself anyway. Aaronson often seems to talk like that, and I trust his comments are simply usual press exaggeration since while he is a very smart guy, he really and truly is sometimes wrong, not unusual in this advanced stuff. I simply hope Deolalikar is right, it would suit me but no more than that.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Lockerbie bomber could live until 2017, say doctors
Ashour Shamis, editor of the Akhbar Libya website, said yesterday: ‘I have been told by someone reliable that a medical source in Tripoli says Megrahi could live for up to seven years. They are looking after him very well. He has 24-hour care in his home and wherever he goes he has doctors with him.’
Former Labour MP Tam Dalyell said he wrote a letter of congratulations to Megrahi. ‘I’m certain that Megrahi is an innocent man.he said. ‘I’m pleased he was released.’
IMO: At least the Libyans help their own people. In the UK, serious important useful people like important scientists are persecuted and/or left to die in bad circumstances. And if you are a poor OAP, the present government seem to be pressing you to die quickly. Disgraceful and sometimes contrary to usual human rights legislation. If elderly, try not to give in to these worthless criminal government jobsworth bastards without a struggle. In London people like MPs and their business cronies all sometimes seem to be simply trying to pay off their illegal narcotics suppliers and so forth, I believe there have been over 800 serious narcotics raids in London alone recently.
Former Labour MP Tam Dalyell said he wrote a letter of congratulations to Megrahi. ‘I’m certain that Megrahi is an innocent man.he said. ‘I’m pleased he was released.’
IMO: At least the Libyans help their own people. In the UK, serious important useful people like important scientists are persecuted and/or left to die in bad circumstances. And if you are a poor OAP, the present government seem to be pressing you to die quickly. Disgraceful and sometimes contrary to usual human rights legislation. If elderly, try not to give in to these worthless criminal government jobsworth bastards without a struggle. In London people like MPs and their business cronies all sometimes seem to be simply trying to pay off their illegal narcotics suppliers and so forth, I believe there have been over 800 serious narcotics raids in London alone recently.
Fox attacked for donation
FOX News is under attack from Democrats over $US1 million ($A1.1 million) donated by the network's parent company to the Republican Governors Association.
And as might be expected, the UK Guardian tries to do a thoughtful commentary on the matter.
IMO: Guardian commnetary not too bad, but I take a slightly different view. Rupert is simply after making money, as with the UK Times paywall. And it is all a bit tricky. In essence, the Times paywall is kind of the reverse of the Ted Turner/Gennifer Flowers situation. Murdoch was using a money-making method there, just as Turner did but in the opposite way. It is a trap for young players who think the matter is as simple as setting up a paywall, or not. Fox News is obviously total crap anway, I gave one instance earlier in this blog and there are many others., Murdoch is siding quite frankly with one party over the other, and doing it in a way that lets him ignore the campaign finance limits in effect for individual candidates. But it is a bit more complicated than that. We seem to be getting near some kind of media tipping point, and Murdoch is taking an enclosure rather than a disclosure viewpoint. It could well be best to legislate against the fellow, even to force him to face a court. I'm far from sure. He apparently still has US citizenship primarily for tax reasons, and there are plenty of levers there. There has got to be money in supporting a ridiculous party like the republicans, though.
And as might be expected, the UK Guardian tries to do a thoughtful commentary on the matter.
IMO: Guardian commnetary not too bad, but I take a slightly different view. Rupert is simply after making money, as with the UK Times paywall. And it is all a bit tricky. In essence, the Times paywall is kind of the reverse of the Ted Turner/Gennifer Flowers situation. Murdoch was using a money-making method there, just as Turner did but in the opposite way. It is a trap for young players who think the matter is as simple as setting up a paywall, or not. Fox News is obviously total crap anway, I gave one instance earlier in this blog and there are many others., Murdoch is siding quite frankly with one party over the other, and doing it in a way that lets him ignore the campaign finance limits in effect for individual candidates. But it is a bit more complicated than that. We seem to be getting near some kind of media tipping point, and Murdoch is taking an enclosure rather than a disclosure viewpoint. It could well be best to legislate against the fellow, even to force him to face a court. I'm far from sure. He apparently still has US citizenship primarily for tax reasons, and there are plenty of levers there. There has got to be money in supporting a ridiculous party like the republicans, though.
UKIP
Guido was kind enough to blog for us the current UKIP leadership race figures at this URL.
IMO: I would vote for Farage, if he is well enough to stand. He sounds as if his health may not recover sufficiently from the plane crash, the pilot certainly still not being recovered. Moncton seems to be a global warming sceptic and thus would not get my vote as global warming is well proven, and for other reasons such as the fact that others will share this view. Andreasen is obviously a nice choice as she knows EU corruption very much at first hand, and she is maybe the one to vote for, if Farage does not stand. But lets see.
IMO: I would vote for Farage, if he is well enough to stand. He sounds as if his health may not recover sufficiently from the plane crash, the pilot certainly still not being recovered. Moncton seems to be a global warming sceptic and thus would not get my vote as global warming is well proven, and for other reasons such as the fact that others will share this view. Andreasen is obviously a nice choice as she knows EU corruption very much at first hand, and she is maybe the one to vote for, if Farage does not stand. But lets see.
Pakistan aid
Human Rights activist Ansar Burney has urged the Pakistan government to accept the donation offered by India for the flood relief work “in the greater interest of peace and love.” On the one hand the Pakistan administration are begging the world for help and accepting all donations and on the other they are not accepting a donation of “love and peace” from India, Mr. Burney has said.
IMO: This seems to be a serious worry. I have found many Pakistanis to be helpful and friendly but the present administration and any likely political administration seems to be in it for the money, which seems to mean anti-India agression and killing. Why ? Simply for money and criminal activities. People like Dawood Ibrahim and Headley find sanctuary in Pakistan, while because of maladministration and corruption, honest Pakistanis suffer and die. If things do not improve, Pakistan will become as corrupt as the UK which just lives off foreigners. I have to say that if I were a Pakistani living in the UK, my first thought might be to join the Taliban because of treatment in the UK which is no longer the 'little England' of the TV show but practically 'little WW2 Nazi Germany' . India sees that Pakistanis are just the same people as Indians and simply wants to help them. So possibly Zardari is simply Cameron's 'Brokeback Mountain' buddy and both are in it for the money and do not care how many Pakis die. India copes with similar flooding on its own but the corrupt Paki regime put the money that could have saved Pakis into their own pockets. But I would advise against joining the Taliban, perhaps in the 1880s they also were freedom fighters for the subcontinent but today they are just the pals of some fat greedy oil sheiks and corrupt Americans, and decadent UK politicians. Trust Human Rights agencies not the Paki government.
IMO: This seems to be a serious worry. I have found many Pakistanis to be helpful and friendly but the present administration and any likely political administration seems to be in it for the money, which seems to mean anti-India agression and killing. Why ? Simply for money and criminal activities. People like Dawood Ibrahim and Headley find sanctuary in Pakistan, while because of maladministration and corruption, honest Pakistanis suffer and die. If things do not improve, Pakistan will become as corrupt as the UK which just lives off foreigners. I have to say that if I were a Pakistani living in the UK, my first thought might be to join the Taliban because of treatment in the UK which is no longer the 'little England' of the TV show but practically 'little WW2 Nazi Germany' . India sees that Pakistanis are just the same people as Indians and simply wants to help them. So possibly Zardari is simply Cameron's 'Brokeback Mountain' buddy and both are in it for the money and do not care how many Pakis die. India copes with similar flooding on its own but the corrupt Paki regime put the money that could have saved Pakis into their own pockets. But I would advise against joining the Taliban, perhaps in the 1880s they also were freedom fighters for the subcontinent but today they are just the pals of some fat greedy oil sheiks and corrupt Americans, and decadent UK politicians. Trust Human Rights agencies not the Paki government.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Mrs Miliband backs Diane Abbott
The mother of David and Ed Miliband is backing Diane Abbott in the Labour leadership contest.
IMO: Mrs. Miliband should know. Abbott seems to be honest unlike the other candidates and could be a leader the country might never need to be ashamed of, again unlike most politicians. Diane Abbott does not approve of wars which can be reasonably avoided and disapproves of torture, in practice again apparently unlike the other candidates.
IMO: Mrs. Miliband should know. Abbott seems to be honest unlike the other candidates and could be a leader the country might never need to be ashamed of, again unlike most politicians. Diane Abbott does not approve of wars which can be reasonably avoided and disapproves of torture, in practice again apparently unlike the other candidates.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Alastair Darling (apparently) says
“By failing to talk openly about the deficit, and our tough plans to halve it within four years, we vacated the crucial space to make the case for the positive role government can play. You will only convince people you’ve got the answers if they believe you know what the question is in the first place. You can’t have political credibility without economic credibility.”
This seems to mean that with proper leadership, a Labor vote would have meant carrying out the less toxic of Osborne's plans.
IMO: I have some doubts as to whether Osborne will do more than self-serving so-called "cuts". eg. he can 'privatise' (government) accountants and some are already drinking themselves to death at the prospect. My brief impression is that he will 'cut', but not effectively. Of the two parties, Labor and Tory, Labor with a decent yet still roughly Fabian leader could have been best. We may never know as that possibility seems unlikely. Diane Abbott with very strong effective technical backup was probably best choice.
This seems to mean that with proper leadership, a Labor vote would have meant carrying out the less toxic of Osborne's plans.
IMO: I have some doubts as to whether Osborne will do more than self-serving so-called "cuts". eg. he can 'privatise' (government) accountants and some are already drinking themselves to death at the prospect. My brief impression is that he will 'cut', but not effectively. Of the two parties, Labor and Tory, Labor with a decent yet still roughly Fabian leader could have been best. We may never know as that possibility seems unlikely. Diane Abbott with very strong effective technical backup was probably best choice.
Pakistan's ISI now claim they believe Militants, not India, are the greatest threat to national security
"The assessment, a regular review of national security, allocates a two-thirds likelihood of a major threat to the state coming from militants rather than from India or elsewhere. It is the first time since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947 that India hasn't been viewed as the top threat.
In the words of Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, the report is nothing short of "earth-shattering." To be clear, the ISI's findings aren't yet supported among members of the Pakistani military, or in the higher reaches of government. But keep your eye on this."
IMO: ISI probably have to say this as otherwise they would not be able to get so much foreign aid, which still probably goes into their pockets or to kill Indians. I bet Adolf Hitler is turning in his grave not to have had the chances ISI has. Whilst perhaps we can only expect many hick countries like Australia to behave foolishly - remember Cambodia ? - some Pakis are nice people and any genuine help to the sick and dying but decent can of course be approved of.
In the words of Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, the report is nothing short of "earth-shattering." To be clear, the ISI's findings aren't yet supported among members of the Pakistani military, or in the higher reaches of government. But keep your eye on this."
IMO: ISI probably have to say this as otherwise they would not be able to get so much foreign aid, which still probably goes into their pockets or to kill Indians. I bet Adolf Hitler is turning in his grave not to have had the chances ISI has. Whilst perhaps we can only expect many hick countries like Australia to behave foolishly - remember Cambodia ? - some Pakis are nice people and any genuine help to the sick and dying but decent can of course be approved of.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Blair's recent donation
A fairly balanced article on the matter appears at this URL.
IMO: At bottom I see someone posing as a poet, but showing at least - whether poetically or not - the deeply British properties of a typical UK politician, i.e. ignorance and incompetence. It is all a pity, and of course it is quite understandable though perhaps regrettable that the UK is becoming regarded by foreign people as a kind of museum - the typical US word being "quaint". Which museum ? Well I usually say the UK reminds me of Kolkata Museum, circa 1975. I must say I always preferred the rat garden in the Maidan to the the Kolkata Museum. I wonder how Blair's donation affects his tax status.
IMO: At bottom I see someone posing as a poet, but showing at least - whether poetically or not - the deeply British properties of a typical UK politician, i.e. ignorance and incompetence. It is all a pity, and of course it is quite understandable though perhaps regrettable that the UK is becoming regarded by foreign people as a kind of museum - the typical US word being "quaint". Which museum ? Well I usually say the UK reminds me of Kolkata Museum, circa 1975. I must say I always preferred the rat garden in the Maidan to the the Kolkata Museum. I wonder how Blair's donation affects his tax status.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Gillard and Abbott
I'm not impressed by either, from what I read. Neither seem to be within a mile of say Bob Menzies or Ben Chifley.
There is a rather polemical and not entirely sound review of the matter in this URL, and this may roughly sum up things as they are. I am particularly worried about the (probably correct) comment that "Both seem content for Australia to continue to be a client of innovation in other societies, rather than an originator of new technology and processes by which it might thus gain new sources of national wealth."
I also believe that climate change should be taken more seriously, Australia is in a fine position to become a leader in that field - this could bring in prestige and money.
And nonsense like Gillard's expensive desire to have 'school chaplains' at great expense and little use as stated, leaves me totally surprised and even a lttle worried.
There is a rather polemical and not entirely sound review of the matter in this URL, and this may roughly sum up things as they are. I am particularly worried about the (probably correct) comment that "Both seem content for Australia to continue to be a client of innovation in other societies, rather than an originator of new technology and processes by which it might thus gain new sources of national wealth."
I also believe that climate change should be taken more seriously, Australia is in a fine position to become a leader in that field - this could bring in prestige and money.
And nonsense like Gillard's expensive desire to have 'school chaplains' at great expense and little use as stated, leaves me totally surprised and even a lttle worried.
Atheism may soon become extinct.
This could be something for Dawkins and his supporters to ponder on, for many reasons. Facts seem to be given by Eric Kauffman in his latest book "Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the 21st Century". I believe he has understated his case.
The book can be bought from usual sources and there is a reasonable long review at this URL. It is claimed that a lot of Kauffmann's stuff can be downloaded for free at Birkbeck College website, and it is probably passably good. Kauffman also has his own site, apparently with videos etc.
Examples given in the book include the Hutterites in the USA, numbers having risen from 400 in 1900 to 50,000 today.
INO: There will also eventually - just about in our time - be more Muslims than Jews in the USA, so perhaps President Obama is optimistic about the long term future of the Democrats when he allows the large mosque near the 9/11 site. Maybe too, we need more campaigners for the religion of 'atheism' or 'Dawkinseism" to ensure that survives. If global warming gets us all, perhaps that is the best answer.
The book can be bought from usual sources and there is a reasonable long review at this URL. It is claimed that a lot of Kauffmann's stuff can be downloaded for free at Birkbeck College website, and it is probably passably good. Kauffman also has his own site, apparently with videos etc.
Examples given in the book include the Hutterites in the USA, numbers having risen from 400 in 1900 to 50,000 today.
INO: There will also eventually - just about in our time - be more Muslims than Jews in the USA, so perhaps President Obama is optimistic about the long term future of the Democrats when he allows the large mosque near the 9/11 site. Maybe too, we need more campaigners for the religion of 'atheism' or 'Dawkinseism" to ensure that survives. If global warming gets us all, perhaps that is the best answer.
Pakistan
According to the "Hindu" newspaper, India has now pledged $5 million in aid. AFAIK this is so far more than anywhere else other than USA.
IMO: The thanks India gets is Pakistani rockets fired at Indian cities, also bombs and other ISI sabotage, like the recent Pune attacks and the Taj Mahal hotel attack. As I have said, if you do send aid only send it to person who actually needs it as directly as you can, and not through some government agency. Even then there is some risk of diversion or confiscation. Sending aid to Pakistan at the moment can be a bit like the UK sending aid to Nazi Germany in the middle of World War 2.
IMO: The thanks India gets is Pakistani rockets fired at Indian cities, also bombs and other ISI sabotage, like the recent Pune attacks and the Taj Mahal hotel attack. As I have said, if you do send aid only send it to person who actually needs it as directly as you can, and not through some government agency. Even then there is some risk of diversion or confiscation. Sending aid to Pakistan at the moment can be a bit like the UK sending aid to Nazi Germany in the middle of World War 2.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
BBC propaganda again, it seems
BBC say "India has rejected a claim by British scientists that a new superbug, resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics, has entered UK from India." Now there are headings like 'Lancet doesn’t publish rubbish, threat is real'. As you might guess, all this has led to a lot of complaints.
But the fact remains that the superbug was in fact reported first NOT IN THE LANCET (which did in fact see the Indian result and mentioned it) but by the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai last year. The study was published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians in India (JAPI) in March 2010, with an accompanying editorial on the “worrisome” outcome calling for an end to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
IMO: As I have said before in this blog, UK hospitals are sometimes worse than disgustingly bad. On one occasion the filth in Charing Cross Hospital was so bad I was on the verge of vomiting. But I do think that whilst Indian hospitals often do not look too good on the outside, I have frequently found them much cleaner than UK ones on the inside, speaking just from the consumer side as a patient. One Indian hospital, not near where I reside in India, looked like a ruin falling down outside but was spotlessly clean with careful staff inside. UK hospitals are sometimes modern looking Seifert style buildings with excrement under the bed where the nurse cannot see it.
But the fact remains that the superbug was in fact reported first NOT IN THE LANCET (which did in fact see the Indian result and mentioned it) but by the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai last year. The study was published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians in India (JAPI) in March 2010, with an accompanying editorial on the “worrisome” outcome calling for an end to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
IMO: As I have said before in this blog, UK hospitals are sometimes worse than disgustingly bad. On one occasion the filth in Charing Cross Hospital was so bad I was on the verge of vomiting. But I do think that whilst Indian hospitals often do not look too good on the outside, I have frequently found them much cleaner than UK ones on the inside, speaking just from the consumer side as a patient. One Indian hospital, not near where I reside in India, looked like a ruin falling down outside but was spotlessly clean with careful staff inside. UK hospitals are sometimes modern looking Seifert style buildings with excrement under the bed where the nurse cannot see it.
Friday, August 13, 2010
India still debating whether to send aid to Pakistan
Pakistan's hapless millions prepare for another flood surge. India is debating whether to send flood relief to Pakistan and what form it should take.
As the Pakistan Daily Times says "Are Saudis, Iranis not Pakistan’s friends anymore?"
No, the Saudis and Iranis are not Pakistan's friends now and they never have been.
IMO: India wants to help, after all we are all Indians but at this moment in time obviously this is a problem, India has also had floods with nearly 1000 dead, and is very short of money. David Cameron for example swindled India of 2 billion dollars it is thought in the UK, presumably to please his vile friends not fit for the sewer. Also there is the genuine and worrying strategic problem of the India/Pakistan disputes which basically seem to have begun with the divide and rule policies of Lord Mountbatten. Speaking from the UK, my reaction would be that aid to Pakistan could likely be money wasted, due to regime corruption in Pakistan. The Queen of England apparently sent some money through the British Red Cross, which I have also found to be kindly, helpful, and reliable and very nice people. Better to go through the British Red Cross than the rip-off PM David Cameron - perhaps Cameron is not as bad as the Queen's uncle Dickie was, but doubtless bad enough - or not indeed any other political parties, and not through an imam-based appeal. And if India is to send any help it should make sure it goes directly to the affected people and not through any politicans's hands.
As the Pakistan Daily Times says "Are Saudis, Iranis not Pakistan’s friends anymore?"
No, the Saudis and Iranis are not Pakistan's friends now and they never have been.
IMO: India wants to help, after all we are all Indians but at this moment in time obviously this is a problem, India has also had floods with nearly 1000 dead, and is very short of money. David Cameron for example swindled India of 2 billion dollars it is thought in the UK, presumably to please his vile friends not fit for the sewer. Also there is the genuine and worrying strategic problem of the India/Pakistan disputes which basically seem to have begun with the divide and rule policies of Lord Mountbatten. Speaking from the UK, my reaction would be that aid to Pakistan could likely be money wasted, due to regime corruption in Pakistan. The Queen of England apparently sent some money through the British Red Cross, which I have also found to be kindly, helpful, and reliable and very nice people. Better to go through the British Red Cross than the rip-off PM David Cameron - perhaps Cameron is not as bad as the Queen's uncle Dickie was, but doubtless bad enough - or not indeed any other political parties, and not through an imam-based appeal. And if India is to send any help it should make sure it goes directly to the affected people and not through any politicans's hands.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Congratulations to BoingBoing, to its contributers, to Danger Room and to others
I pointed out that some relatively neutral third party should have collated the Wikileaks data in detail and related it to potential future events.
At last some basic open source attempt has been made to use the Wikileaks data. Simple diagrams here, but very much more can probably be done. A more detailed description is given here, but what is needed is a further turning of the situation to an event favorable to Afghanistan. Many valuable comments were made, here for example.
At last some basic open source attempt has been made to use the Wikileaks data. Simple diagrams here, but very much more can probably be done. A more detailed description is given here, but what is needed is a further turning of the situation to an event favorable to Afghanistan. Many valuable comments were made, here for example.
Anti-terrorist hotline ad banned for being 'offensive'
A radio advert urging listeners to report suspected terrorists has been banned by a watchdog for potentially offending law-abiding people for asking people to report untalkative, cash-using neighbors to authorities as potential terrorists. MP3 here, apparently the police are regularly trying to do similar ads and here is another.
IMO: Not only may such ads be counterproductive but they also could led to further police-inflicted deaths like Menendes and Tomlinson. Some of the police are almost certainly no smarter than listeners to the dodgy stations like Talksport. So many of the Brits seem to now have borderline personality disorder that the drug dens and unacceptable aggression by yobs in say, Munster Road Fulham or Fulham High Street are almost par for the course and very little useful action seems to be taken about them, although eventually at least two of the drug dens were closed, one being a large factory putting out high street value substances. Well congratulations to the police for that, but surely no harm in closed curtains or necessarily paying cash in such environments which used to be of a good class before some neighborhood scum moved in. In fact even the great Peregrine Worsthorne used to live around there.
IMO: Not only may such ads be counterproductive but they also could led to further police-inflicted deaths like Menendes and Tomlinson. Some of the police are almost certainly no smarter than listeners to the dodgy stations like Talksport. So many of the Brits seem to now have borderline personality disorder that the drug dens and unacceptable aggression by yobs in say, Munster Road Fulham or Fulham High Street are almost par for the course and very little useful action seems to be taken about them, although eventually at least two of the drug dens were closed, one being a large factory putting out high street value substances. Well congratulations to the police for that, but surely no harm in closed curtains or necessarily paying cash in such environments which used to be of a good class before some neighborhood scum moved in. In fact even the great Peregrine Worsthorne used to live around there.
For intellectuals, it's Mamata all the way
Swami Agnivesh said "Buddhababu it is time for you to go on vanwas (exile). The time has run out for you. The Left Front government has to go."
Medha Patkar said "Tribal land has to be restored to the tribals. Why should MNCs set up factories there? Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been playing the politics of bloodshed. In the name of development he has brought about destruction."
IMO: Mamata Banerjee has ensured that the people can now be talked to, impossible before in Lalgarh. Mamata's Monday rally at Lalgarh where she shared space with the PCPA leaders has rocked Parliament. Let us hope things have not been left too late. We cannot compare Mamata with such people as Bertrand Russell because unlike such well meaning people, Mamata is a supremely competent grass roots politican - not just a head in the air intellectual - and has stood up for Bengal and for India all her life. There is no direct comparison of Didi with Huey Long (Mamata always has been and remains, honest) but her methods have the fire and ability of Huey Long and the far reaching consequences. People forget today that Huey Long was an inspirational leader and was well on the way to being US President. Banerjee hopes to benefit the people of Bengal and I pray to the Lord Ganesh for her safety.
Medha Patkar said "Tribal land has to be restored to the tribals. Why should MNCs set up factories there? Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been playing the politics of bloodshed. In the name of development he has brought about destruction."
IMO: Mamata Banerjee has ensured that the people can now be talked to, impossible before in Lalgarh. Mamata's Monday rally at Lalgarh where she shared space with the PCPA leaders has rocked Parliament. Let us hope things have not been left too late. We cannot compare Mamata with such people as Bertrand Russell because unlike such well meaning people, Mamata is a supremely competent grass roots politican - not just a head in the air intellectual - and has stood up for Bengal and for India all her life. There is no direct comparison of Didi with Huey Long (Mamata always has been and remains, honest) but her methods have the fire and ability of Huey Long and the far reaching consequences. People forget today that Huey Long was an inspirational leader and was well on the way to being US President. Banerjee hopes to benefit the people of Bengal and I pray to the Lord Ganesh for her safety.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Indian scientist offers proof concerning P=NP question
The paper still needs to be published in a major refereed journal and then be generally accepted by the mathematical community within two years of publication and for Indian scientist Vinay Deolalikar to collect his Clay prize. PDF obtainable HERE . Easy summary here, too brief but with further leads. (BTW, P isn't NP).
IMO: Perhaps the most important current problem in science and Deolalikar will get a million dollar prize just for starters. A rather negative result, but widely expected and of great value. It certainly fits in with my work.
IMO: Perhaps the most important current problem in science and Deolalikar will get a million dollar prize just for starters. A rather negative result, but widely expected and of great value. It certainly fits in with my work.
Ratzinger
A priest mentions a lot of people do not support Ratzinger and says many invitees (priests etc) to his UK meetings (sometimes 50%) refuse to go.
He gives a lot of reasons, some of which I summarise briefly, more details within this text. The details sound consistent and are apparently held by many others.
- Ratzinger is systematically demolishing Vatican II Council
- He supported every group of right wing nutcases within the Catholic Church including the objectionable Opus Dei and Legionaires of Christ, while at the same time attacking Catholic groups who were fighting for social justice and human rights across the globe.
- Any Catholic who is aware of what happened in Latin America in the seventies and eighties see Ratzinger as the enemy of justice.
- Ratzinger continues to not only harbour and give a place of prominence, to pedophiles.
- Ratzinger continues to surround himself with discredited characters.
- Ratzinger attempting to fast track sainthoods for now discredited Popes.
- Ratzinger welcomes holocaust deniers.
- Ratzinger welcomes mysogonist and homophobic married priests not really wanted by the Anglican Church
- Ratzinger attacks women in the Church.
IMO: I am not connected with these views or others but it puzzles me why Mr. Cameron, so happy to cut benefits and barely allowing school milk to the under 5s, will pay maybe 15 million pounds for for this guy to come to the UK. By the sound of it he might as well invite Osama bin Laden - possibly a good idea. Maybe Cameron is scared of high Tory supporters and is scared that more Tory misdeeds will emerge.
He gives a lot of reasons, some of which I summarise briefly, more details within this text. The details sound consistent and are apparently held by many others.
- Ratzinger is systematically demolishing Vatican II Council
- He supported every group of right wing nutcases within the Catholic Church including the objectionable Opus Dei and Legionaires of Christ, while at the same time attacking Catholic groups who were fighting for social justice and human rights across the globe.
- Any Catholic who is aware of what happened in Latin America in the seventies and eighties see Ratzinger as the enemy of justice.
- Ratzinger continues to not only harbour and give a place of prominence, to pedophiles.
- Ratzinger continues to surround himself with discredited characters.
- Ratzinger attempting to fast track sainthoods for now discredited Popes.
- Ratzinger welcomes holocaust deniers.
- Ratzinger welcomes mysogonist and homophobic married priests not really wanted by the Anglican Church
- Ratzinger attacks women in the Church.
IMO: I am not connected with these views or others but it puzzles me why Mr. Cameron, so happy to cut benefits and barely allowing school milk to the under 5s, will pay maybe 15 million pounds for for this guy to come to the UK. By the sound of it he might as well invite Osama bin Laden - possibly a good idea. Maybe Cameron is scared of high Tory supporters and is scared that more Tory misdeeds will emerge.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Afghanistan war gone to the dogs
US Navy SEAL special forces are to deploy heavily armoured bulletproof dogs equipped with infrared nightsight cameras and an "intruder communication system" able to penetrate concrete walls. These attack dogs can be deployed by helicopter or freefall parachute jump, even using oxygen breathing equipment if necessary.
IMO: They will even be able to eat the Taliban alive, like the Prophet was allegedly eaten by dogs, thus saving field rations.
Meanwhile the Daily Mail reports on Pakistan : "Here’s a typical example: Pakistani robber: ‘Give me all your money!’
Zardari: ‘Don’t you know who I am? I’m the president.’
Robber: ‘OK. Give me all my money.’
Such a quip illustrates perfectly how the Pakistani leader is viewed by his people: corrupt, venal and materialistic".
IMO: The Mail also suggests UK Prime Minister Cameron should count his fingers after shaking hands with Mr. Ten Percent (Zardari). But I had thought it was to be an honest meeting by the standards of those two, simply to decide on how the charity aid money for the Pakistani floods was to be split, probably 30% in Cameron's pocket and 70% in Zardari's pocket. Then they will be Brokeback Mountain cruising chums like Cameron and Clegg and no need to pay off film stars with blood diamonds.
IMO: They will even be able to eat the Taliban alive, like the Prophet was allegedly eaten by dogs, thus saving field rations.
Meanwhile the Daily Mail reports on Pakistan : "Here’s a typical example: Pakistani robber: ‘Give me all your money!’
Zardari: ‘Don’t you know who I am? I’m the president.’
Robber: ‘OK. Give me all my money.’
Such a quip illustrates perfectly how the Pakistani leader is viewed by his people: corrupt, venal and materialistic".
IMO: The Mail also suggests UK Prime Minister Cameron should count his fingers after shaking hands with Mr. Ten Percent (Zardari). But I had thought it was to be an honest meeting by the standards of those two, simply to decide on how the charity aid money for the Pakistani floods was to be split, probably 30% in Cameron's pocket and 70% in Zardari's pocket. Then they will be Brokeback Mountain cruising chums like Cameron and Clegg and no need to pay off film stars with blood diamonds.
Didi's current rally
LALGARH: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged Maoists to stop violence and hold talks with the government.
"Let the peace process start from today. Let Bengal show the way for entire India. Let violence and killings stop. If you have a problem with me, social activists Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh can take the lead. But let the negotiations start," Banerjee told a rally organised by her under the 'Santras Birodhi Manch' (anti-terror platform) here.
"I can promise that I will do whatever necessary for the development of Junglemahal where there is no road, electricity or schools or colleges. If necessary I can consider setting up a railway factory here," she said.
IMO: Sounds reasonable.
"Let the peace process start from today. Let Bengal show the way for entire India. Let violence and killings stop. If you have a problem with me, social activists Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh can take the lead. But let the negotiations start," Banerjee told a rally organised by her under the 'Santras Birodhi Manch' (anti-terror platform) here.
"I can promise that I will do whatever necessary for the development of Junglemahal where there is no road, electricity or schools or colleges. If necessary I can consider setting up a railway factory here," she said.
IMO: Sounds reasonable.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Swami Agnivesh welcomes Maoist support
Lalgarh, Aug 9 (IBNS) If the Maoists are supporting a democratic rally in Lalgarh there is nothing more welcoming than this, said social activist and politician Swami Agnivesh, who arrived here on Monday to participate in the anti-terror rally of Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
When he presented the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to Swami Agnivesh in 2004, India's Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh said, "There is no endeavour to enlarge social justice within the country and in the wider world in which he is not in the forefront, be it the ending of bonded labour and child labour of all kinds, or the enforcement of equal rights for women. He has been an eloquent champion of the poorer peoples rights in this age of rapid globalisation and also of environmental protection. But above all it is in the fight against religious fundamentalism and the growth of communal hatred that Swami Agnivesh has made his greatest contribution."
IMO: Hm...... Obviously social justice is a fine aim and we must hope that Didi's rally leads to useful results.
Swami Agnivesh , 70, said “If they (the Maoists) are supporting a democratic rally, nothing like this. They are coming half way. I welcome the process,” said the leader trying to persuade the Maoists to embrace the national mainstream. “I have said that things will not solve by bullets, but by talks. If violence continues the real issues will not come to the table.”
Swami Agnivesh said he was happy that even Maoist military strategist Kishenji supported the rally. “I am very keen that Kishanji and all followers come forward.”
Railway minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is holding her much-publicized rally in the Maoist hotbed of Lalgarh on Monday amid raging controversy over the support of the rebels to the gathering.
IMO: All this may at least help Trinamool Congress and help to put paid to the clunky CPI(M). A lot could be said about West Bengal at the moment, which I would find it hard to add to but as the saying goes, these are certainly interesting times in West Bengal. One could only wish the Taliban were as reasonable in Afghanistan.
When he presented the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to Swami Agnivesh in 2004, India's Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh said, "There is no endeavour to enlarge social justice within the country and in the wider world in which he is not in the forefront, be it the ending of bonded labour and child labour of all kinds, or the enforcement of equal rights for women. He has been an eloquent champion of the poorer peoples rights in this age of rapid globalisation and also of environmental protection. But above all it is in the fight against religious fundamentalism and the growth of communal hatred that Swami Agnivesh has made his greatest contribution."
IMO: Hm...... Obviously social justice is a fine aim and we must hope that Didi's rally leads to useful results.
Swami Agnivesh , 70, said “If they (the Maoists) are supporting a democratic rally, nothing like this. They are coming half way. I welcome the process,” said the leader trying to persuade the Maoists to embrace the national mainstream. “I have said that things will not solve by bullets, but by talks. If violence continues the real issues will not come to the table.”
Swami Agnivesh said he was happy that even Maoist military strategist Kishenji supported the rally. “I am very keen that Kishanji and all followers come forward.”
Railway minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is holding her much-publicized rally in the Maoist hotbed of Lalgarh on Monday amid raging controversy over the support of the rebels to the gathering.
IMO: All this may at least help Trinamool Congress and help to put paid to the clunky CPI(M). A lot could be said about West Bengal at the moment, which I would find it hard to add to but as the saying goes, these are certainly interesting times in West Bengal. One could only wish the Taliban were as reasonable in Afghanistan.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Gillard says burquas should be removed in court
Prime Minister said she thought it was one of the "limited" instances when it should be removed. "I worked as a lawyer for eight years, I ran a lot of cases, I interviewed a lot of clients, having done that it can be very difficult to tell whether or not people are telling you the truth," she said. "The essence of giving witness evidence is the court is making a determination over whether or not someone is telling the truth, that is always hard to do, I think it would be impossible to do if you couldn't see someone's face."
Abbott also finds burqua "confronting" - and would very much wish that fewer Australians would choose it.
France's lower house voted overwhelmingly to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public.
IMO: I do not know yet whether mirror neurons and such like will help in legal decisions, but suspect Gillard is wrong. France, reasonably, has long and often bad memories of Islam and indeed of Rome. Sticking a bag over a woman's head because of some religious policy seems plain sick to me in the 21st century, and it was long rumoured than many who do so, are plain old or ugly, or have financial motives. Really it seems a pity that Western nations should need to kowtow to such old principles, far from universal even in Islam or Catholicism, and certainly centuries away from modern realities of life.
Abbott also finds burqua "confronting" - and would very much wish that fewer Australians would choose it.
France's lower house voted overwhelmingly to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public.
IMO: I do not know yet whether mirror neurons and such like will help in legal decisions, but suspect Gillard is wrong. France, reasonably, has long and often bad memories of Islam and indeed of Rome. Sticking a bag over a woman's head because of some religious policy seems plain sick to me in the 21st century, and it was long rumoured than many who do so, are plain old or ugly, or have financial motives. Really it seems a pity that Western nations should need to kowtow to such old principles, far from universal even in Islam or Catholicism, and certainly centuries away from modern realities of life.
Delhi now uses Facebook to catch scofflaw drivers
The traffic police started a Facebook page two months ago, and almost immediately residents became digital informants, posting photos of their fellow drivers violating traffic laws.
Using the pictures, the Delhi Traffic Police have issued 665 tickets, using the license plate numbers shown in the photos to track vehicle owners, said the city’s joint commissioner of traffic, Satyendra Garg.
IMO: So in India, social networking is filling a clearly useful role.
Using the pictures, the Delhi Traffic Police have issued 665 tickets, using the license plate numbers shown in the photos to track vehicle owners, said the city’s joint commissioner of traffic, Satyendra Garg.
IMO: So in India, social networking is filling a clearly useful role.
Ridiculous UK media hoaxed again
During the recent election, the U.K. government promised a vote on overturning 2004's ban on fox-hunting, the psychopathic British bloodsport whereby foxes are ripped to shreds by dogs after being chased to exhaustion. Newspapers there have relentlessly worked the controversy, most lately as a media hysteria around the alleged danger that foxes present to humans.
To prove that the "idiotic" British press will sensationalize anything fed to it on the matter without any fact-checking, two pranksters faked a deliberately ridiculous 'Urban Fox Hunt' and put the video on the Internet. It worked so well that their scalps included not just tabloids, but also the Guardian, the Times and the BBC.
One of the pranksters told the Guardian: "We wanted to create something that would be so ridiculous that in any other area it would be immediately dismissed as a spoof, but that news outlets desperate to continue the media narrative against foxes would leap on without any thought as to its authenticity."
To prove that the "idiotic" British press will sensationalize anything fed to it on the matter without any fact-checking, two pranksters faked a deliberately ridiculous 'Urban Fox Hunt' and put the video on the Internet. It worked so well that their scalps included not just tabloids, but also the Guardian, the Times and the BBC.
One of the pranksters told the Guardian: "We wanted to create something that would be so ridiculous that in any other area it would be immediately dismissed as a spoof, but that news outlets desperate to continue the media narrative against foxes would leap on without any thought as to its authenticity."
IMO: Still, not as bad as "Fox News" in the USA.
Gloom and Doom again
An "ice island" four times larger than Manhattan has separated from the Petermann Glacier in Greenland. The new ice island has an area of at least 100 square miles and a thickness up to half the height of the Empire State Building.
The ice is a shelf which was helping to hold back the glacier, slowing down calving. Now the shelf has detached itself, the weight of it holding back the glacier has been removed and the glacier will dump ice at a faster rate into the ocean. Like many other glaciers, that will add to the rate of rise in sea levels.
IMO: We may have "Waterworld" before we expected, if this goes on a lot. I blame USA and China, though at least some Chinese leaders seem to be becoming more aware of the evils of capitalism (and indeed alcohol). Sigh ... it seems to me that some (relatively) very quick and easy fixes to global warming are still not being applied.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Hiroshima
America united with Japan on Hiroshima day, to remember victims of the world’s first atomic bomb, and this is of course reasonable, humane and sensible per se.
IMO: The Hiroshima nuclear bomb may have been the best thing that has ever happened to Japan. I should not even need to explain why, but I deplore the current attempted falsification of history by the so-called UK "papers of record". These press lackeys sound worse than the allegorical 'Neasden Police' of Private Eye.
IMO: The Hiroshima nuclear bomb may have been the best thing that has ever happened to Japan. I should not even need to explain why, but I deplore the current attempted falsification of history by the so-called UK "papers of record". These press lackeys sound worse than the allegorical 'Neasden Police' of Private Eye.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
With his odd bon mots, has Cameron jumped the shark ?
Or in other words, has Cameron nuked the fridge for the "moat and duckpond" condemn crew ?
Opposition politicians Thursday accused Prime Minister David Cameron of mistakenly suggesting that Iran is in possession of a nuclear weapon.
IMO: Iran probably does not have a nuclear weapon, but Russia seems already concerned about the fate of its S300s, possibly obtained from Belarus, which Iran might use to defend itself against a possibly pre-emptive strike. The Iran situation is delicate, particularly after the assassination attempts on its leader and these assassination attempts may well really be internally based as they are probably the wrong red rag to the bull in this case, being even too gross for the CIA.
Opposition politicians Thursday accused Prime Minister David Cameron of mistakenly suggesting that Iran is in possession of a nuclear weapon.
IMO: Iran probably does not have a nuclear weapon, but Russia seems already concerned about the fate of its S300s, possibly obtained from Belarus, which Iran might use to defend itself against a possibly pre-emptive strike. The Iran situation is delicate, particularly after the assassination attempts on its leader and these assassination attempts may well really be internally based as they are probably the wrong red rag to the bull in this case, being even too gross for the CIA.
Cameron's "moat and duckpond" party makes profit for Vodafone UK
According to "Private Eye" 1268 for 6th August, 2010 , page 6 ("Vodafone a Friend"), the Cameron mission to India has already made Vodafone $2 billion. This is by avoiding Indian capital gains tax, clearly due to be paid by Vodafone and the subject of a court battle where Vodafone was trying to avoid paying taxes due to the Indian authorities. This sum is about 5 times the total amount of "aid" the UK nominally pays to India.
This seems to be only the tip of the iceberg of Britain's nefarious activities in India, but one hopes that the Indian authorities have done the best they can.
IMO: Indians of the old school normally see the UK as their former colonial oppressors who are still eager to live off the Indian poor. To me this behaviour by the British seems disgraceful.
This seems to be only the tip of the iceberg of Britain's nefarious activities in India, but one hopes that the Indian authorities have done the best they can.
IMO: Indians of the old school normally see the UK as their former colonial oppressors who are still eager to live off the Indian poor. To me this behaviour by the British seems disgraceful.
Impossible to close Wikileaks down Icelandic Journalist says
Journalist Kristinn Hrafnsson is not impressed by Liz Cheney’s words on Fox that Icelandic authorities should close the web page and said
“Wikileaks has servers all over the world, mirroring each other so that technically it would be impossible for Icelandic authorities to close the web page.”
“The words of this good woman show complete ignorance about the subject and no doubt an equal ignorance on the area under discussion and the cause that Wikileaks is fighting for. That comes as no surprise given who her father is.” (Liz Cheney is former Vice-President’s Dick Cheney’s daughter.)
Hrafnsson continues that it is incredible to hear that superior officers in the US suggest that Julian Assange’s hands are bloody. It is only rumored that the publication of the documents has lead to the death of some of those named.
He continued: “The Times of London checked what had happened to the people named in the documents and found one dead guy. He had been dead two years and it is difficult to put his blood on the hands of Julian Assange or others at Wikileaks.”
IMO: Well on the positive side, Wikileaks seems to have shown that US policies must be improved but it seems to me that a clean and relatively bloodfree (at least to the West) positive result is obtainable and in the long run it might bring civilisation to Afghans, which is possibly going to be needed by them to exist at all in the modern world. Afghans should not allow the Taliban to take advantage of them, and we will all have to put up with Americans for some time longer, and that is probably the lesser of the two evils.
“Wikileaks has servers all over the world, mirroring each other so that technically it would be impossible for Icelandic authorities to close the web page.”
“The words of this good woman show complete ignorance about the subject and no doubt an equal ignorance on the area under discussion and the cause that Wikileaks is fighting for. That comes as no surprise given who her father is.” (Liz Cheney is former Vice-President’s Dick Cheney’s daughter.)
Hrafnsson continues that it is incredible to hear that superior officers in the US suggest that Julian Assange’s hands are bloody. It is only rumored that the publication of the documents has lead to the death of some of those named.
He continued: “The Times of London checked what had happened to the people named in the documents and found one dead guy. He had been dead two years and it is difficult to put his blood on the hands of Julian Assange or others at Wikileaks.”
IMO: Well on the positive side, Wikileaks seems to have shown that US policies must be improved but it seems to me that a clean and relatively bloodfree (at least to the West) positive result is obtainable and in the long run it might bring civilisation to Afghans, which is possibly going to be needed by them to exist at all in the modern world. Afghans should not allow the Taliban to take advantage of them, and we will all have to put up with Americans for some time longer, and that is probably the lesser of the two evils.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Zardari
And here's Mr. Zardari, having a drink before visiting Mr. Cameron at the cheap "Westminster pubs". He should fit in well with the Westminster boozers.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Pakistani British MPs slam Zardari visit
British MPs of Pakistani origin hit out at President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday, saying he should be back home sorting out the flooding disaster rather than launching his son's career.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the 21-year-old is the son of Zardari and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He is co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party alongside his father and has been studying at Britain's Oxford University.
"I'm not going to meet with the president because I believe that a head of state needs to be in his country of origin when there's a state of emergency," Lord Nazir Ahmed said.
Fellow Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said "The issue is the huge environmental catastrophe that's going on -- a lot of people are dying there."
Of course the two "moat and duckpond" MPs will attend. Will anyone ever vote Libdem again, in the UK they sure do not understand coalition politics.
IMO: Zardari warned today that the international community was "losing the war against the Taliban". No, the international community needs to use more robots and drones, which will still be going well after the Taliban are destroyed. The UK can help there - as I pointed out in the earlier blog entry they are at the forefront of the technology - but presumably should not waste decent materiel on doubtful countries like Pakistan or their friends the Taliban. One of the reasons the US nominally lost the Vietnam war was by allowing advanced weapons into enemy hands. Pakistan should not be helped in a way that will affect genuine operations. If I were a Pakistani I would sooner put up with floods than with their own wretched government, that is for sure.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the 21-year-old is the son of Zardari and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He is co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party alongside his father and has been studying at Britain's Oxford University.
"I'm not going to meet with the president because I believe that a head of state needs to be in his country of origin when there's a state of emergency," Lord Nazir Ahmed said.
Fellow Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said "The issue is the huge environmental catastrophe that's going on -- a lot of people are dying there."
Of course the two "moat and duckpond" MPs will attend. Will anyone ever vote Libdem again, in the UK they sure do not understand coalition politics.
IMO: Zardari warned today that the international community was "losing the war against the Taliban". No, the international community needs to use more robots and drones, which will still be going well after the Taliban are destroyed. The UK can help there - as I pointed out in the earlier blog entry they are at the forefront of the technology - but presumably should not waste decent materiel on doubtful countries like Pakistan or their friends the Taliban. One of the reasons the US nominally lost the Vietnam war was by allowing advanced weapons into enemy hands. Pakistan should not be helped in a way that will affect genuine operations. If I were a Pakistani I would sooner put up with floods than with their own wretched government, that is for sure.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Jail problem drinker MPs for 24 hours, says senior blogger
Kit Malthouse, the influential Conservative deputy mayor for London policing, is proposing that the government follow the example of a successful 24-hour scheme in South Dakota. "In the UK a similar scheme would be relatively easy to establish given our police structure. With a plethora of custody suites and prisons swift and certain incarceration could be achieved," Malthouse said today.
If Malthouse persists with his plan then senior blogger Paul Staines knows just the location to try out the new policy: a little upstream from City Hall, at a place where subsidised booze flows freely, disorder is common and employees are regularly drunk while at work. It’s hard to imagine that heavy-drinking MP’s would take kindly to being breathalysed.
Further, Staines recommends removing the alcohol subsidy in Westminster Parliament. MPs have no excuse for this subsidy and recent Parliamentary scenes of mass drunkeness hardly reflect well on Parliament.
IMO: Westminster Parliament is where the 'cuts' should be applied NOW. And since Staines himself was convicted of drunken driving in 2008, he clearly knows the score and is an authority to be respected, and - in this case - his advice should be taken before the country suffers dire consequences otherwise. We do not want this country to shame itself in front of leading Pakistanis. Admittedly Musheraff is believed to be a heavy drinker and Zardari has been seen to drink alcohol in public and this of course is haram (2:173 and 6:119 of the Holy Book apply in the circumstances outlined IMO).
If Malthouse persists with his plan then senior blogger Paul Staines knows just the location to try out the new policy: a little upstream from City Hall, at a place where subsidised booze flows freely, disorder is common and employees are regularly drunk while at work. It’s hard to imagine that heavy-drinking MP’s would take kindly to being breathalysed.
Further, Staines recommends removing the alcohol subsidy in Westminster Parliament. MPs have no excuse for this subsidy and recent Parliamentary scenes of mass drunkeness hardly reflect well on Parliament.
IMO: Westminster Parliament is where the 'cuts' should be applied NOW. And since Staines himself was convicted of drunken driving in 2008, he clearly knows the score and is an authority to be respected, and - in this case - his advice should be taken before the country suffers dire consequences otherwise. We do not want this country to shame itself in front of leading Pakistanis. Admittedly Musheraff is believed to be a heavy drinker and Zardari has been seen to drink alcohol in public and this of course is haram (2:173 and 6:119 of the Holy Book apply in the circumstances outlined IMO).
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Afghanistan possibilities
Topeka Capital-Journal sum it up nicely : "This is the realistic alternative: Win first, then negotiate".
It worked with Japan in WW2, and the Japanese are happy enough to be one of the world's leading nations instead of another Burma or North Korea. In fairness, Vietnam is probably OK but they had a sensible enough ally - China - and not the ridiculous Taliban who go around blowing up statues of the Buddha, who just might have disagreed with them many centuries ago.
IMO: Assange exposed a lot of facts, but these do not seem to lead to his apparently desired conclusions. As Cyptome founder Young seems to imply, Assange is smart but seems to have his head in the clouds. Robotics, drones, a reduction in corruption of Pakistan politicians, and a defense of the Afghan/Pakistan border using drones and robots are some factors that could help.
It worked with Japan in WW2, and the Japanese are happy enough to be one of the world's leading nations instead of another Burma or North Korea. In fairness, Vietnam is probably OK but they had a sensible enough ally - China - and not the ridiculous Taliban who go around blowing up statues of the Buddha, who just might have disagreed with them many centuries ago.
IMO: Assange exposed a lot of facts, but these do not seem to lead to his apparently desired conclusions. As Cyptome founder Young seems to imply, Assange is smart but seems to have his head in the clouds. Robotics, drones, a reduction in corruption of Pakistan politicians, and a defense of the Afghan/Pakistan border using drones and robots are some factors that could help.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
