** Rajini in US chocolates **

After Japan, its now US that Rajini has invaded with his fame !! M&M chocolates are bringing out choclolates with Rajini's image imprinted on it. Read more on that and watch the trailer of Rajini's forthcoming movie "Kuselan" in the link below.

Kuselan Trailer

** Bomb Blasts **

Today (25 Jul 08), there were as many as 7 bomb blasts in Bangalore, India. On the first account, hands of LeT and SIMI are suspected. All the bomb blasts that happened today are of low intensity - nevertheless, reminds us of the harsh reality of the threats that our nation faces. Politicians are busy saving their chairs and police folks are even busier, pleasing their bosses. America invades nations when terrorists attack them; Israel bombs them; India - well, we are the preachers of peace - we release terrorists from prisons !!

** Beach Volley Ball **

The glamorous game, Beach Volley Ball championship was successfully conducted in Elliot's beach, Chennai. All the newspapers, in the name of news, gave huge publicity to the event by publishing sexy photos - some, even above the Headlines (Head Photo!!) - on the first page !! I was only surprised that the event was conducted, as planned, without any resistance from the so called 'moral policers' !! Well, if it interests you, the Indian girls team skipped playing in bikinis and wore the normal sports wear (shorts and T-shirts). ;)

** Yarchagumba **

No, its not the name of a Rishi !! Its the name of a fungus that grows on a caterpillar and is found in Himalayan states. Whats the speciality?? Its a performance enhancer !! Importantly, Chinese know about this. The secret to spate of medals by Chinese in the previous episode of olympics is attributed to this. With Olympics approaching, Yarchagumba is again in demand. Can u guess what the cost would be...... imagine as high as you can..... well, I am sure your guess must have fallen short by a huge margin... earlier, it is said, that it did cost around Rs 4 to 5 lakh per kg and with the olympics approaching, now, its somewhere around Rs 7 to 10 lakh per Kg !! Click on the link below to read more on Yarchagumba...

YARCHAGUMBA

** Linux **

Fedora Core 9 - with all the latest updates is available at the following link.

http://spins.fedoraunity.org/unity/torrent-files-fedora-9-20080718-re-spin/Fedora-Unity-20080718-9-i386-DVD.torrent/at_download/file

Its a huge file of around 3.58 GB. Go, get it, if you wish to have the latest.

** New Vikatan **

Ananda Vikatan, since last week, has changed shape, form and also the numbers. Now, we get 2 Vikatans. All I would say is that it is a big big farce !! One Vikatan will have all its old articles re-published and the second one, in the name of youth and freshness, is even more horrible in its content and in styling. Nevertheless, I continue to subscribe !!

** Democracy at its best **

Members of Parliament, who have been convicted by the courts and jailed for murders/looting/kidnapping/etc will now decide the fate of our Government. Tough bargaining (money deals / ministerial posts) have already started (or finished?) !! When persons like the cunning Dewa Gowda says that he is still undecided, its anyone's guess on what would make him decide to vote in Govt's favour. So is the case with every MP who decides to 'support the Nuclear deal' and 'vote in favour of the Govt' !! We, the citizens of this Nation, have matured and seen enough to belive and understand the 'principles' of our 'dirty politics' !! Manmohan Singh should better resign before the confidence vote than accepting to every demand of rogue MPs and Dewa Gowdas.

** Tirupathi **

Yesterday (14 Jul 08), I went to Tirupathi for the first time (not counting the one when my father carried me to the temple when I was a baby)!! I walked from 'Tirupathi' (Kheezh Tirupathi) to the Temple ('Thirumala'). I walked for 3 hrs non-stop, climbing the hill and across the stretch, which is about 11 kms in total. Since it was a sudden plan, I had not booked my tickets - both for the journey and for the 'darshan'. There are too many buses to Tirupathi from Chennai and the journey was comfortable and the 'Padha Yatra' was good too. We had to go through the 'free darshan' Q and I had to wait for - believe me - five and half hours for the one minute darshan of 'Perumal'. Here, I have to appreciate the wonderful arrangements that Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) had made for the devotees. The long wait period was not difficult at all. We were accommodated in well laid out cells - which is being opened on 'first occupied first open' basis. The 'cells' have huge plasma TVs where the tamil version of Mahabaratha is being screened all the time (good that we dont have the telugu version yet!). The only area where the TTD can improve upon is in displaying 'better and organised' display/sign boards. There are quite a lot of such boards - but, for a first timer, you have to keep enquiring people about the way, procedure etc (there are 'information centres' though). But since I prefer to find my way without having to ask anyone - I found the facility inadequate. With lakhs of devotees thronging the temple every day, that sure is one area that TTD should need to take care of - both at the Tirupath and at the Thirumala (the terms used to locals to refer to, what we call, as Keezh Tirupathi and the temple on the hill respectively).

** Best Airports **

See the links below to know about the best rated airports...

http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/07/14/airports-best-world-forbeslife-cx_rr_0714travel.html

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/14/airports-best-world-forbeslife-cx_rr_0714travel_slide_2.html?thisspeed=30000

Airports in Asia are at the top of the list. Hey.. are you looking for any Indian Airports?? Most of our 'modern' airports are under construction and wait till that is completed (he..he..he.. as like any Govt projects, it will never get completed and you can proudly keep boasting about the 'about to be best' Indian airports!

** SHAME !! **

The dust over the bomb blast in Indian Embassy in Kabul has settled. Four Indian lives were lost. I am not going to dwell into the 'Militancy' or the 'Politics' angle of this gory episode - but even more worse than that - our attitude in discriminating the dead - our own people. Amongst those four, most of us would remember two names - Mr Mehta and Mr Rao. Do, any of us, remember the names of other two individuals?? Most probably, we won't - because they were lower level soldiers and not 'Officers'. Their lives, after all, are not as worthy as those two 'Officers'. The names of those two soliders were not widely published or telecast. All the media (newspapers and TV channels included) flashed photos of those officers, their grieving family and everything related to them - but, did we hear anything about those soldiers?? I didnt. NOT A WORD !!! The were just 'two ITBP jawans' - nothing else. All the four of them were serving the role that our Nation wanted them to - then, why this discrimination?? This is not the first instance that such an episode is being enacted and not going to be the last too. Everyday, when we hear about our dead soldiers in J&K or anywhere else, due to whatever reason that may be, we always read it as " Major X, Captain Y and two 'jawans' ". Lower level soldiers are not even worth in being mentioned with their names. I dont blame the media - because that is how the PRO of the respective defence forces circulate the news. After all, "soldeirs" are cheaper commodity and are expendable.

** Indo-US Nuclear Deal **

I came across some very interesting stats about our Nuclear energy, budget allocation and some sinister plots. Read on.....

India generates a total of 1,26,839 MW electricity. Out of which, 66% is from Thermal, 26% by Hydro, 5% from Solar & Wind mills and 3% from Nuclear resources.

Govt spends about Rs.600 Crore for Solar & Wind mills (which produces 5% of our electrical energy). While, the expenditure is Rs 3,897 crore towards Nuclear plants which just meets 3% of our energy requirements. Even if the Govt spends the envisaged Rs 90,000 crore in the next 25 years, it would just meet 9% of our electrical energy requirement.

Well, I am not arguing against the Nuclear deal - but those do oppose, do have a point! Right??? Atleast the Govt provided statistics above may make it look so. But, yes, the 'Nuclear Weapon' aspect is not included in the above expenditure/benefit stats. Having said that, we also should accept that the 'waste disposal' and the 'high risk & aspects' are always a big pain when it comes to Nuclear plants.

There is another very interesting point that those who oppose the deal put forward - India is very rich in Thorium resources. India has the world's second largest Thorium resources (3 lakh tonnes), after only to Australia. At the present availability projections, it is possible to produce 35 Lakh MW of electricity from Thorium. We have the where-withal and technology to produce eletricity from Thorium. We only have to put the technology to practice to extract electricity from Thorium. If India goes ahead and implements the 'Electricity from Thorium' technology, say in next 25 or 35 years, we would ultimately become an electricity surplus nation. The present Nuclear deal, as plotted by the Americans, it is said, is to STOP India's indigineous growth.

Well... I am not a Nuclear scientist - but have only given some stats that I have read here and there.

** Indian Political Twists **

Two important political events in the last few days worth metion in this blog. Left withdraws support to the Congress Govt at the centre and here in Tamil Nadu, PMK has been thrown out of the coalition by the DMK regime. Both the Left and the PMK were a big pain to the Central and State Govts respectively. They did not allow the 'rulers' to have their way - be it some 'worthy/ambitious' plan or in 'corruption' as well. They were acting as a sort of safety valve in not letting anything get beyond what they thought as 'optimum' standard. But, people are not worried at all about the developments - Does that say something - both about the people and about the Government ??

** Oil Scarcity **

Petrol and Diesel getting rationed was not expected so soon, atleast I did not expect this to happen so soon. Long queues and the 'no stock' boards have been a common feature in the past one or two days in petrol bunks across Chennai and many other cities in India. I fear that this may become an order of the day. One more place where we have to stand in endless queue; one more chaos added to our already chaotic life. On one side, this huge population is what that inspired our economic growth and on the other side, as a common man in this hugely populated country, I have to be in long queues for everything - right from birth to death !! Hospitals, banks, courts, hotels - the long list is endless. Queue, Queue - everywhere !!