Monday, August 30, 2010

Neighbour

You've got to feel for this nation. From hope to despair, in the same newspaper and within 24 hours. They just can't catch a break. For a change there's some positive coverage in the western press and then it all goes back to being more of the same.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Ode to the solitary man - Eddie Vedder

Society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me


Sunday, August 15, 2010

About time to 'think the unthinkable'

The Great Depression put paid to the Prohibition; the Great Recession might well do the same to the War on Drugs. Finally it comes down to the money, the state would rather have the taxes than the jail time served. When serving politicians are talking about legalisation there's only one way this can go. Glad to see there's some practicality and realism behind the thinking, which makes it more likely that this will come to pass.

In the words of Vicente Fox "Legalisation does not mean that drugs are good…rather we have to see it as a strategy to strike and break the economic structure that allows mafias to generate huge profits in their business, which in turn serve to corrupt and to increase their power"

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Not exactly a Roman Holiday

Maureen Dowd writes on her experiences as a tourist in the forbidding desert kingdom. This is perfect reading as a pick-me-up whenever one feels depressed, knowing that an entire nation is living in the 8th century. I wonder, if the Saudis didn't have oil would we even know or care what they got up to?

Monday, August 09, 2010

Can we give them some vouchers, please?

Over 60 years after independence, and around 20 years since we gave up the socialist pretence and undertook market reforms there are still those who are 'suspicious of market solutions'. Get rid of the ration card, which ties the poor to the availability of stock in the Public Distribution System. Instead if they're able to use vouchers or food coupons to get what they want and from where they want it, you can bet your bottom dollar that the private sector will turn up to provide the services they need.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Dirty looking stones

Apparently, Naomi Campbell doesn't know her diamonds.

And of course, she doesn't keep the gift for herself, rather the stones are passed on to a friend so as to auction them off and raise money for charity. Intelligence and generosity, that must be why she's popular.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Friar Tuck was right

And it appears he wasn't alone. This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption. Let us give praise to our maker and glory to his bounty by learning about... BEER.

In the heart of India, the 18th century

and of course, how could you keep Arundhati Roy away? Nevertheless, it shouldn't detract from the fact that this is a disgrace. How is it possible that the state can't address the concerns of these citizens? Or track down and eliminate a renegade outfit that's not savvy enough to qualify as a rebellion? Plus where are these clueless agitators getting funding / equipment from? It's not like the poor they claim to represent will be able to pitch in with funds.

The Berlin Wall was brought down over 20 years ago, Russia and China have embraced and developed their own brand of capitalism. Yet our JNU educated commies still call themselves Leninists, Marxists and Maoists. Even the original reds would be laughing at this. These situations are gravy and fodder for these believers in a dead ideology. At least denying them an opportunity to pontificate should be a good enough reason to deliver some development. Also, how long before our friendly neighbours start funding / training the disgruntled forest folk.

We need to make sure we stop running people of their lands, rather get them electricity, roads, railways, schools, medical clinics. Recruit, train, equip and pay the local police well. Then we'll see how many vote commie or pick up a gun with the aim to cause disintegrate the Indian state.