You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2011.
The tiger population in India has risen by more than 20 per cent in the last three years. As per the tiger census released on Monday the estimated population of the big cat in India stands at 1,706 up from 1,411 in 2007.
Someone’s humping.
A jeans-clad sarpanch with an MBA degree; a girl.
John McWhorter writes Are curse words becoming more common? and notes how language is evolving:
In the same way, in a lifetime we cannot easily see that what start as colorful meanings inevitably go beige. Language is all about creeping numbness, jokes wearing thin, feeling devolving into gesture. Terrible once meant truly horrific.
Well put.
The range of words we use is shifting so I tend to normalize superlatives when I hear them. Good no longer means what good once meant. Okay is now good. Good is now great. Great is now mind-blowing. Mind-blowing is mind-f*cking-blowing brilliant!
At the same time, all of them are awesome.
Link via The Atlantic.
Libya sided with Sri Lanka not too long ago at the U.N. when Sri Lanka was purging LTTE and few other Tamils on the side. Sri Lanka has been kind enough to reciprocate with its own gesture: Stomping on Obama’s effigy for the united operation against Gaddafi.
The photographs struck me because Sri Lankan Muslims were protesting. Being in the minority like their fellow Tamils, I’d think that they wouldn’t be fanboys of their government.
Dilbert creator Scott Adams was trending on Twitter yesterday for the wrong reasons — that is how I know about this controversy. He wrote a blog post that was widely derided for being misogynist; feminist blogs jumped on it. Scott replied in the comments section of one such post. Today, he wrote another post explaining himself.
Read all the entries. Make up your mind. I’ve tried to remain objective in writing about it so you are not biased.
*****
Equal rights and discrimination are topics that shouldn’t need debate: any progressive society must have no discrimination. I agree with a majority of feminists on all issues. But I’m wary of feminists who consider misandry as the answer to misogyny.
I believe that intent, and not content alone, matters while labeling something sexist (or racist, for that matter). A few days ago, I was called a sexist for saying, “It is harder for women to travel alone in India than it is for men”. Therefore, as a rule of thumb I stay away from feminists although I have nothing against a majority of them.
There are those who have different ideas than mine and there are those are just prejudiced. I welcome discussion with the former and I stay away from the latter — it is the path of least resistance and most learning.
*****
Scott Adams is an intelligent person who deserves being read. I loved this excerpt from his latest post:
But I do think people benefit by exposure to ideas that are different from whatever they are hearing, even when the ideas are worse. That’s my niche: something different. That approach springs from my observation that brains are like investment portfolios, where diversification is generally a good strategy. I’m not trying to move you to my point of view; I’m trying to add diversity to your portfolio of thoughts. In the short term, I hope it’s stimulating enough to be entertaining. Long term, the best ideas probably come from people who have the broadest exposure to different views.
This is part of the reason why I blog. I don’t think I can make a convincing argument for or against issues in one blogpost. I’m certain we don’t all agree on issues like suicide, cannibalism, incest or bestiality. However, you are exposed to ideas that are different, uncomfortable or just contrarian. It expands your scope and by virtue of feedback, mine.
******
Back to the controversy, I don’t think Scott is a misogynist. In fact, I didn’t conclude anything after reading his original post. It took me many minutes to just comprehend what he was trying to say through his analogies.
If you concluded otherwise, to each his own I say.
Sarah Palin (on being asked if there was something India might have gotten right in the recent past that America hasn’t): Liberty, self-reliance and free markets.
I think folks are harsh on Sarah Palin at times and we ought to cut her some slack. However — and sadly — these thoughts disappear when I hear her speak. Anyone who puts India, liberty and free markets in the same sentence cannot be right.
If you don’t believe me, try registering a company that is into printing funny images of Ram or Muhammad or Jesus or Guru Gobind Singh or Mahavir.
Link via The Atlantic.
The moral of the story: You could either take extreme mountaineering lessons and risk your life in avalanches to climb Mt. Everest .. or wait for a few decades and stroll up in tennis shoes.
I’m certain you have seen this news go viral:
Only good-looking cops for World Cup final.
Great viral headline; not exactly what was said.
[He has decided to have only well-mannered and presentable cops on security duty on the D-day, said police sources. Policemen who are in the habit of chewing gutkha or tobacco will be ruled out.]
[He had also pointed out that several foreigners are expected to come for the match, and so the image of the city police has to be taken care of.]
[The commissioner has asked all deputy commissioners to choose tall, well-built and slim policemen for the bandobast duty. They should look healthy and be seen as competent. There is a tendency among our policemen to behave rudely at times. However, this is going to be an international event, and so the city police should look good and behave well.]
[The commissioner said that our policemen should look smart, young and energetic. They should be able to communicate well with people, including foreigners.]
[the commissioner has strictly prohibited overweight and tobacco-chewing policemen from World Cup duty.]
[Foreigners will be required to walk to the stadium, as vehicles will not be allowed close to the venue. As a result, we have chosen these men especially to guide spectators to the stadium.]
Can’t disagree with any of it. In fact, these criteria ought to be in the recruitment process.
A study finds that religion might be going extinct.
I bet God didn’t see that one coming.
