No, I am not going to address any issue here. Just read the following article in National Geographic Magazine. If anyone ever wants to hear a moderate Muslim speaking out, please read it. I agree with every word/letter/punctuation of this interview.
Enough said.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
"Numbers in My Life"
Some numbers in my life. If anyone who stumbles upon this entry has something similar, please include a comment.
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in 2000. Total score: 920.
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam in 2002. Total score: 920.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2003. Total score: 1330.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in 2006. Total score: 1330.
Coincidence? Perhaps once too many.
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in 2000. Total score: 920.
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam in 2002. Total score: 920.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2003. Total score: 1330.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in 2006. Total score: 1330.
Coincidence? Perhaps once too many.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
"Life Expectancy"
In a recent invitation, heard a doctor say that every human offspring borns with 100 years of "life". Anyone who dies before 100 years has committed some kind of "suicide". Interesting, I thought.
Monday, August 21, 2006
"Disaster Relief: Katrina to Hezballah"
I was within 90 miles of both the Category-5 hurricanes last season. Katrina was 90 miles west of us, while Rita was 90 miles east. I felt the part of the force of a hurricane on both occassions. I have been to New Orleans a few times since the landfall. The city was a wreck. A complete, hopeless wreck.
Just when I was almost certain that no other city/country could have the misfortune similar to that of the "Big Easy", there was Lebanon! In this case, it was man-made, was spread over an entire country (not just a city), and did not allow the population any chance to withdraw or evacuate (unlike New Orleans which had 36 hours of counter-flow evacuation through major highways).
All of it is past now. Time has taken its course, and it is time alone that will re-instate the balance. Events belong to time, but the response to those is what we -- the human beings -- own. It is in response that we earn our worth as the best creation. It is in response that some cement themselves as heroes while other wither away. Consider the following irony.
Heard on CNN couple of nights before: every house which has been bombed will get double sets of furnitures and every suffered family will get $12,000 in cash. All from Hezballah, and all of it has been arranged even before the aid workers have reached the refugees.
Heard on NPR last evening: after almost a complete year, cadaver-dogs are finding dead bodies in New Orleans. Let us also remember the disasterous response from FEMA and the mere $3500 that the people of New Orleans had received. Many of the homeless are not getting re-building assistance due to lack of "flood-insurance".
America has hundreds of pro-people programs at home, but is disliked by all. Hezballah was the reason a country has been reduced to rubble, yet they are the heroes! I guess it's all about speding the right amount at the right time.
The pro-freedom are hated for putting insurance companies above their own people. The pro-hate maniacs are still "heroes".
Seleucus!!
Just when I was almost certain that no other city/country could have the misfortune similar to that of the "Big Easy", there was Lebanon! In this case, it was man-made, was spread over an entire country (not just a city), and did not allow the population any chance to withdraw or evacuate (unlike New Orleans which had 36 hours of counter-flow evacuation through major highways).
All of it is past now. Time has taken its course, and it is time alone that will re-instate the balance. Events belong to time, but the response to those is what we -- the human beings -- own. It is in response that we earn our worth as the best creation. It is in response that some cement themselves as heroes while other wither away. Consider the following irony.
Heard on CNN couple of nights before: every house which has been bombed will get double sets of furnitures and every suffered family will get $12,000 in cash. All from Hezballah, and all of it has been arranged even before the aid workers have reached the refugees.
Heard on NPR last evening: after almost a complete year, cadaver-dogs are finding dead bodies in New Orleans. Let us also remember the disasterous response from FEMA and the mere $3500 that the people of New Orleans had received. Many of the homeless are not getting re-building assistance due to lack of "flood-insurance".
America has hundreds of pro-people programs at home, but is disliked by all. Hezballah was the reason a country has been reduced to rubble, yet they are the heroes! I guess it's all about speding the right amount at the right time.
The pro-freedom are hated for putting insurance companies above their own people. The pro-hate maniacs are still "heroes".
Seleucus!!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
'BUET & Lebanon'
[Recently in BUET: A student-protest to postpone the finals by a week was met with police-force. Some students attacked the teachers' quarters during the riot.]
The situation in BUET is similar to that in Lebanon.
The analogy might seem far-fetched to some, but it carries a similar message.
Cause-and-effect is a part of life, not an option or privilege. We see that here, too. True solution to any problem requires us to step back and identify the original incident that started the ripple-effect.
In case of Lebanon, it was the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. It was a wrong, profane act. It deserved repremand and retalliation. Israel had the right to pursue aggressive tactics. It was OK as long as they took out selective targets.
However, continued rape and pillage of a country for three weeks, killing civilians including one-day old boys, etc are wrong. It is wrong because the "effect" is very DISPROPORTIONATE compared to the "cause". An Israeli life has its value, but so does a Lebanese life. Nothing justifies putting 350+ Lebanese lives beneath one Isreali life.
It's kind of same in BUET now. Whatever the cause, the final "effect" turned out to be violent attacks on teachers and their FAMILIES. However it is you have been wronged, my dear friends, that is the point where you lost the right to be on the receiving end of sympathy.
Nothing justifies it. Absolutely nothing. Just like nothing can justify Israel's offensive at the moment.
The situation in BUET is similar to that in Lebanon.
The analogy might seem far-fetched to some, but it carries a similar message.
Cause-and-effect is a part of life, not an option or privilege. We see that here, too. True solution to any problem requires us to step back and identify the original incident that started the ripple-effect.
In case of Lebanon, it was the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. It was a wrong, profane act. It deserved repremand and retalliation. Israel had the right to pursue aggressive tactics. It was OK as long as they took out selective targets.
However, continued rape and pillage of a country for three weeks, killing civilians including one-day old boys, etc are wrong. It is wrong because the "effect" is very DISPROPORTIONATE compared to the "cause". An Israeli life has its value, but so does a Lebanese life. Nothing justifies putting 350+ Lebanese lives beneath one Isreali life.
It's kind of same in BUET now. Whatever the cause, the final "effect" turned out to be violent attacks on teachers and their FAMILIES. However it is you have been wronged, my dear friends, that is the point where you lost the right to be on the receiving end of sympathy.
Nothing justifies it. Absolutely nothing. Just like nothing can justify Israel's offensive at the moment.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Harry Potter: Doom Factor
Liked this article on MSNBC. Discusses the "doom factor" of various Harry Potter characters.
"Talking about Laying odds in the Harry Potter dead pool - BOOKS - MSNBC.com"
Quote
Laying odds in the Harry Potter dead pool - BOOKS - MSNBC.com
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
"Britania... oops! Germania!!"
Read a very interesting short-article on BBC. It refers to a research suggesting apartheid in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon era. It explain the dominance of German gene and linguistic elements in Britain. Intersting. Click here.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Fourth of July Fireworks
My second viewing of the Fourth of July Fireworks here in Baton Rouge. We got a lot closer to the river this time around. The early-morning rain took care of the mosquitos that vamped us last year. My brother was eager to try out his new digital camera (Nikon L4). And we all were in desperate need for some 'distraction'.Everything worked out for the best. Here are some of the snaps from tonight's fireworks. It was said in CNN that 91.1% Americans watch the fireworks *live*. Isn't it totally worth it?
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