What is Happening?

Keeping my Promise

2008-12-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

I promised at the start of 2006 that I will be back..... and now is the time to redeem my pledge. Thus yesterday night when the whole world slept I awoke .... ok enough of the histronics. In case you are wondering where I was - THIS

I will be back in the New Year

2006-01-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends - I was away from blogging all of a sudden for the past 4 -5 months because I had to prepare for my CPA exams.

I will be back in this year.....

Thanks.

Shekhar Kapoor to Cindy Sheehan

2005-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

This is an open letter by Shekhar Kapoor on behalf of an Iraqi Mother (fictional I believe) to Cindy Sheehan.....

Presents one valid side of the story but the ending sounds a bit revengeful...what do you say?

Death Ends Fun review now available

2005-09-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Indi Blog review now has a Review on Death Ends Fun and an interview with Dilip D'Souza. Check it out if you have time

Been Away from the Blogging World

2005-09-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

Been busy though there is so much to blog about !!

The Blog Review of "Death Ends Fun" should be posted sometime this week on Indi Blog Review.

Funniest Religious Joke

2005-09-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Relgious Joke (just because everyone is cribbing about religion on their blogs :-)

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the
edge, about to jump.

I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it."

"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.

"Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Are you religious?"

He said, "Yes."I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

"Christian.""Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

"Protestant.""Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?""Baptist."

"Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the
Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God.""Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or
are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God.""Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church
of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of
1915?"

He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."

I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.

Read here for the Top 10 Funniest Religious Jokes and I am sure you will go "sheeesh" on the Most Offensive Joke at the same site...

chaayneese - or not?

2005-09-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Read this from Rashmi - ABCD

I had been to NY and NJ a couple of weeks back I enjoyed the best "Indian Chinese" (a different cuisine altogether as explained in the post above) over there.

Those who plan to go to NJ should surely try out two places which are a must visit for an Indian Chinese Cuisine Lover. The Places are "Moghul Express" and "Nan King".

Opportunity Cost? What is the confusion?

2005-09-07T02:02:00.000-07:00

The latest debate on the economic front.

Well nothing to do with the economics but a lot to do with the economists. An interesting one anyways….

Here is the gist as given by Alex Tabarrok on Marginal Revolutions:
You won a free ticket to see an Eric Clapton concert (which has no resale value). Bob Dylan is performing on the same night and is your next-best alternative activity. Tickets to see Dylan cost $40. On any given day, you would be willing to pay up to $50 to see Dylan. Assume there are no other costs of seeing either performer. Based on this information, what is the opportunity cost of seeing Eric Clapton?

(a) $0, (b) $10, (c) $40, or (d) $50.

I have a hard time believing that this is possible but 78 percent of the economists
gave the wrong answer! This is not a hard question. There is no trick. Opportunity cost is central to economics, the people asked were among the best economists in the world, a large majority of them have taught intro econ and yet the correct answer was the least popular.

You can read the whole study here and a related NY Times article here

The answer obviously is $10.

The difference in the “perceived value” of the Dylan Concert ($50) and the actual cost of the ticket ($40).

If I try to explain this in simple terms, I would get the ticket at $40 anyways when I am ready to dole out $50 so I am losing out on the $10 (virtual) profit that I could have “enjoyed” by going to the Dylan concert instead of the Eric Clapton one.

Disclaimers – I may not be as good as Michael in explaining complex Economics in a simple way and personally though, I prefer Eric Clapton – but I do not have the “free” ticket.

I got the answer right, and before you think that I am posting this just to boast about it, let me say a modest “NO”

Now if you got the answer wrong AND you prize your “Economics degree”, or consider “economics” to be your “cuppa tea”, or just want to rant out; read this counter post on the same Marginal Revolutions. And if I have not confused you enough, go to the comments section of the same post.

I do not agree with the counter Post simply because I think the Net v/s Gross argument does not hold true in this case. The problem clearly states that “ there are no other costs” thus I think the debate is nullified. If this is the “LAST” Dylan concert on the Earth and your “perceived value” is still $50 then the $50 opportunity cost is true, but else not.

BTW – People named Amit are generally smart – You see this Amit got it right as well.

My sixth sense tells me that I need to turn off the comments on this one, but then wasn’t it I who begged for them in the first place.

From the Horse's mouth

2005-09-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here it is ... the "Guruspeak" or should I say "Guruvaani" ...... your comments are welcome.. I will post my thoughts later

Katrina - The good stories

2005-09-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

There have been many a stories on the net about lack of humanity, but NY girl proves that it is otherwise as well.

Read for the compilation here and if you have a suggestion let her know

May the spirit stay alive and may GOD help all those who require it

Talveen Singh ...

2005-09-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Read this and let me know what you say. I am confused... what is the point?

Indian Team pulls out ....

2005-09-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

India wins. You say, it was against a trimmed down Zim so it is not a big news.

I agree but....

... as usual India managed to get itself into a mess and thanks to a timely (long due) surge by Yuvraj and Dhoni that they managed to pull itself out.

I hope this show of resillience will help us in the Finals..

Second Review on Indi Blog Review

2005-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

The Second review in the Indi Blog Review series has now been posted. It features "Happenings of the Heart" - a blog by Josephine Fernandes

World of Sport

2005-09-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Should we be happier about Sania storming into US Open Round 4 or India finally registering a 'credible' win?

Ofcourse we should be happeir about Sania, cause what she acheives today is History in the Making, she gives hope to many..... unlike the cricket victory which is not so special as Shane Bond was missing....

At least I am, are you?

Indi Blog Review begins

2005-08-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Check out the first Bloggerview on Nerve Endings Firing Away (A blog by Patrix)

Others are in the pipeline. I plan to put up one every week.

@mit is back...

2005-08-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a week long vacation in NY, Niagara and Toronto. A vacation from everything (even blogging - on rerequest from my wife). All pending projects in blogging will begin from tomorrow.... ciao

Update on Indi Blog Review.

2005-08-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am being dragged to NY and Toronto over the next week and thus the launch of Indi Blog Review has been delayed.

I appreciate all the support that I have received from you all. Thanks for that. I hope this will be a good initiative.

The Following blog reviews AS WELL AS blogger interviews are coming up (not in any specific order):

Nerve Endings Firing Away- by Patrix
Balancing Life - by Sunil Laxman
IndianWriting - by Uma
The Examined Life - Ravikiran Rao
India Uncut - Amit Varma
Happenings of the Heart - Josephine Fernandes
News in Limerick - by Aparna
Death Ends Fun - Dilip D'souza
Beautiful Life - Vasanthi Emmanuel
A walk in the clouds - Megha M
A time to reflect - Charu

--- and few others are in the pipeline and currently being contacted.

Tune in later to find out more and keep the suggestions flowing because this is still WIP.

- cross posted on Indi Blog Review

Indi blog review

2005-08-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

What is Indi Blog Review?

The several posts by Michael, Vikram, Deepak and Dina on the Most Popular Blogs (or the worst as per Sibyl), set me thinking on what I like / dislike about a particular blog.

I visit a lot of blogs which I like and generally bloghop from there based on the blog roll / favorite blog links of those bloggers. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and sometimes disappointed. Some good or even great blogs do not get the right exposure or audience whereas there are other not so good ones which get a lot of hits.

I thought why not use my blog to voice my views and promote some of the blogs that I visit. Hence this attempt is to write about and promote all the blogs that I read.

Then there are other blogs which are anyways well settled and popular that they do not require my secondment. I have always wondered what these bloggers think about blogging and any advice that they may have to others. Some of these popular / well established bloggers have written about these things as well. I want to provide an insight into the minds and thoughts of the well established bloggers about blogging. This will be done via an interview with the blogger.

My attempt is to centralize all of the above and go a step forward by providing my views on the blog (not the blogger)

Last but not the least, I am no expert on blogging and our views may not match, but I am trying to go a step ahead of the blog roll and provide some more info on the Blogs that I read.

About the HOW and WHAT part of this . Read all about it at the new Indi Blog review Blog and do leave your comments there.

Blog Reviews or Interviews?

2005-08-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Starting this week I wish to review / introduce / interview / present a blog each week.... more about how and why later....

Plannign to call it "Bloggerview"? Does it sound okay?

Basic Idea is to provide thoughts about the blogs that I read and what I feel about them
In case of famous blogs, will try to get an interview with them if possible and provide an insight into what they feel about blogging

Some Truths or Some Myths?

2005-08-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

Democracy is the best form of cultured socitey.

If so, why do I sometimes feel

that my country requires a dictator?

Majority should rule.

If so, why do I feel something is wrong when

a majority ethnic group decides to clean off a minority

Education makes you smarter

If so, why do I feel that the illeterate people sometimes

show more wisdom

What did you say honey?

2005-08-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

The Issue on Hand

Setting: Living room
@mit watching the TV on the couch munching on pop corn( Sports Channel. Minnesota Vikings v/s GB Packers. 4th Quarter. Vikings need a touchdown and all hopes on Dante)

My wife in the kitchen, cleaning up.

My wife(lovingly) Can you clear the trash honey?

@mit munching on pop corn...munch munch

My wife (a bit irritated): are you listening?

@mit biting the nails now cause it the the 3rd down and 10

My wife (shouting at the top of her voice): shut the damn TV. Clear the trash

@mit still biting on his nails and praying to all GODS that Dante does it.

My Wife standing next to me and still shouting: CLEAR THE TRASH

My Wife (shaking me, taking the remote and shutiing the TV) : Are you even here?

@mit: What are you doing? Can't you see....

My Wife: Can't you listen, I am shouting for last few minutes. You never listen to what I say.
You need to check your ears.

@mit catches the feeble shouts of his neighbors shouting because of the touchdown and starts dancing.

My Wife (sobbing now): you cannot even hear me but you can listen to the neighbors TV and the score... My god ... what happened to you...

I always knew nothing was wrong with me

Cause: Men process female voice differently (I do it even better)

Moon and Monk...

2005-08-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Drink this or go here

Jagdish Tytler (Hitler) resigns...Yeh dil maange more

2005-08-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

Flashing News - After hours of squirming and standing alone, Jagdish Hitler (ooops Tytler) resigns as a minister.

Now we all can breathe easily ... at least you all can... not me.

Mr. Minister (former) your resignation is the least that the Govt can do, but we want more. Yeh Dil Maange lot more.

Resignation as a Minister, Resignation as a MP, Arrest, Trial, Verdict, Hangman....Justice!

That is what we want.

So until that happens I will not breathe easily and will not let you too...

BTW - Mr. PM - You admit it is a national shame - so let us kick the ones who brought this on us. And if you have time please convey my message to your colleagues in and out of the parliament

I am sorry

2005-08-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am sorry.

I should have been a bit more considerate.

I could surely empathize more with you. You could not tell me what the problem was, but it was my duty to find it out. You depend on me to take care of you and I was irresponsible yesterday.

It is not your fault that you were not keeping well... it is not your fault that you could not tell me so....it was not your fault that you were cranky, incoherent, messy and so worked up.... it is not your fault that you are teething ........ it is not your fault that you are just 17 months old

I am sorry Sai. I love you and I am sure you do too....

TOI Where art thou?

2005-08-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Cross posted on TOI - where art thou?

I remember my school days when our English teacher egged us to read the English newspaper aloud everyday in order to improve our diction and clear our speech. I urged my dad to subscribe to the best Englsih daily (We had subscribed to a vernacular daily because my mother preferred it). He promptly asked our "Paperwallah" to give the Times of India to us. My dad, I remember, told me that it was the best English daily in circuit. --- Read more at TOI - where art thou?