Favourite quotes

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity!!! 

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me - they're cramming for their final exam. 

Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that. (ROFL)

And the best one:-

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. 

 - George Carlin

A few more, 

What's the use of happiness? It can't buy you money. 

 - Henry Youngman

'Peak blogging year'

And just as I posted the previous entry, I realised that this year has been the peak blogging year of my very young blogging career and this month with 15 posts has been peak blogging month. However I wish to clarify that the use of the word 'peak' in no way suggests that my blogging will go into a terminal decline. I will keep blogging from wherever I am, whatever the circumstances might be!!!

Analysis of the attacks

This interview of Mr. Bernard Haykel appeared on Rediff on December 26, 2008. Mr. Haykel is professor of Near Eastern Studies at the Princeton University.

This is his blog which I find to be interesting.

This is another site - MiddleEastDesk where you can find articles by him.

The Legend that is K. Subrahmanyam

This post appeared on rediff in honour of this brilliant strategist and bureaucrat.

These are two of his interviews which I believe were very enlightening to me

1. Dated, February 28, 2000 - "It's the cabinet and succesive PMs who are responsible"
2. Dated, August 7, 2000 - "Our ruling elite is totally indifferent to national security"
   

How India should respond to Mumbai Terror

This is a series of articles appeared in rediff on the current situation troubling Indian diplomats. Sheela Bhatt of rediff has done a good job speaking to former bureaucrats and diplomats and this effort has helped people like me to understand the nuances of the diplomatic methods that governments employ. 

First is this article by Mr. Brajesh Mishra. Brijesh Mishra is a former National Security Advisor who was a close associate of former Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Second article is by former foreign secretary Mr. Kanwal Sibal.

The third one is by Mr. Naresh Chandra who was India's former ambassador to Washington and an eminent diplomat. 

The latest article by former bureaucrat, K Subrahmanyam is I feel the best of the series. Mr. Subrahmanyam has chaired the Kargil review comittee and was the convener of the NSCAB.

How India avoided the crisis

Although India is still feeling the heat of the economic slowdown, it hasnt been as badly affected as the US and other western countries have - points out American business journalist and author Mr. Joseph Nocera or Joe Nocera as he is popularly known in his collumn 'Talking Business' in The New York Times dated December 19, 2008.

This is his blog.

Myths from Mumbai

This article by Mr. Arvind Panagariya appeared in The Indian Express on December 16, 2008. I totally agree with what he has argued in the article and recommend it as a must read.

News, Views and Analysis

Lead by Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai, IBN is one of the rare responsible news agencies in India. Mr Sardesai's blog is an interesting read too.

Barkha Dutt at her best

I am a huge fan of this lady Barkha Dutt. This program was aired on December 15, 2008 on NDTV India.

Anatomy of Anger

Movies

Saw 2 movies today.

1. The Kingdom - Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner. Awesome movie. About how innocent American ARAMCO employees living in Saudi Arabia are killed in a terrorist attack and how a team of FBI agents led by Jamie Foxx goes about the investigations in Saudi along with help from a local Saudi cop. They face everything; political red-tape, anti-Americanism, combat and kidnapping and an attempt to beheading of a colleague. In the end, they bring the old wily mastermind of the attacks to justice. Foxx is awesome as always. 
2. Blood Diamond - The touching story of how war is fuelled in the interior parts of Africa so that Diamonds can be made cheaply. Story of a father Djimon Hounsou who attempts to rescue his son who is being used as a rebel soldier. Story of a journalist Jennifer Connelly who wants to show the world the bloody trail of the diamond that sits crowned on their fingers. And the story of a diamond smuggler Di Capriowho has to save his life admist all the civil war.

Made my day!!!!

Covert

I am a huge fan of Mr. M J Akbar ever since I had started reading the Asian Age, which was in the year 2003. This one's headed by him. Hope to have a great time reading it.

12 steps to shock and awe Pakistan's economy

Rediff:- 

R Vaidyanathan

Rediff

8 things India Inc, govt must do against Pakistan

Bombay

Bombay is beautiful, not for its buildings for most of them hide squalor, poverty and dirt; not for its wealth for most of it is derived from the blood of the masses; but for its world-renowned generosity. Bombay’s charity has covered a multitude of her sins. She has enabled India to keep her promises. —Mahatma Gandhi

In honour of Late Mr. Tukaram Ombale

This one's on rediff by Mr. TVR Shenoy. Very good article.

Salute to the brave constables of DB Marg police station.

Iss Baar Nahin

A Poem by notred lyricist Mr. Prasoon Joshi on the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008.

Is baar nahin

Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

... Prasoon Joshi

The New York Times Opinion of the Mumbai Attacks

The Editorial - dated November 30, 2008.

The Op-Ed page - William Kristol - dated December 1, 2008.