Bhutto Assassination

She lived and died by the Gun. The Frankenstein she helped create - Fundamentalist radical Islamic Jihad in Kashmir & Taliban in Afghanistan for her own political gain has finally consumed her.

The selfish, corrupt style of politics she practiced meant she couldn't have had a heir apparent or a proper succession plan. Like most charismatic, shortsighted leaders she leaves behind a much more dangerous world, and a vacuum unlikely to be filled in near future.

Pakistani Army is responsible for everything that is wrong with Pakistan and to an extent even the whole world. It is time to liquidate them & that failed notion of a country bread for single purpose of bleeding India through a thousand cuts.

Her life will be a testament to the proverb: You reap what you sow.

Movie: The Golden Compass

- Majesterium is the Church.
- Intercision is inquisition & all other atrocities carried out by Church or in name of the Pope.
- Battle for freewill and scientific inquiry against ignorance & total control is renaissance.
- The Golden Compass represents likes of Galileo, Newton etc who seek and speak the objective truth.

I now understand why the ultra right wing neo-con fundamentalists are so against this movie.

Shame: US Military Aid to Pakistan

What kind of army will put itself at the service another sovereign power, claim to be "ally" and then claim reimbursements for its "services".

The word is mercenary. The worst kind of scum. That too inflating the "bills" ... Oh my God what a shame. It is a SHAME. On one hand Pervez claims he runs a very professional, motivated, disciplined army. One other hand he claims he doesnt have money to conduct basic military campaign even a 2 bit army can run.

This article in New York Times lays it thread bare. I quote:

the military carefully checked whether Pakistan carried out the operations it claimed and typically approved only 80 to 90 percent of each invoice.

THEY DON'T APPROVE? Getting reimbursed is shameful enough, they reject your bills - absolute humiliation. Pakistani Army: You call yourself a proud force? Shame Shame Shame.

I wonder if United States is creating another monster out of Pakistan just as it created Taliban. Only this time it is not a pack of rag tag goat heads, but a nuclear armed, delusional, corrupt force.

I feel bad for Pakistani people - their military has kept them fooled for better part of last century about an non-existent India threat. I feel bad for Americans, who are being taken for a ride by an incompetent, self serving foreign army. Most of all I fear what India might have to deal with in coming decades, once United States turns its back on the region as it has so often done.

Movie: Charlie wilsons war

Movie itself is very well made, mostly accurate. Full of bluntness and sarcasm. Loved this movie. Best movie of 2007.

Seeds of 9/11 were sown in that fateful decade. Especially loved the part where Zia demands all "help" should be routed through Pakistan - thus creating the 10 headed monster that is Taliban and Al Qadea.

Party

I guess I have written something like this before. But still ... these parties!!

I went to one yesterday, as soon as I entered the room I saw a sea of dull faces busy doing something. And one of the organizer girls came by said "Haiii" - the usual American greeting as if you are the only person they wanted to see.

As soon as she left I ran out of that place ... got confronted today by another one. Boo!

We had an after office drinking session today and I got invited to 2 more parties ... worst - I cannot run out them ...

We were having a nice discussion on Steel industry strikes, Bob told me USS was on strike in 1980 - the year his second son (and I) was born, how difficult it was for him & his family to live after taking the pay cut ... and how for first 25 years of his career with USS, he was literally hanging by a thread to his job.

Brian told me he was a strike child ... born 1961, during another massive USS strike when he father was out of job. So no childhood photos, even the photos he has are with cloths with many patches ... (originally his brother's clothes). Whoever thinks Americans had it easy is probably wrong !!!

Both of them said they will vote for any democrat this time, fed up with repubs ...

I think after work drink sessions are good. :)

Movie: I am legend

I am dud ...

7 things

Tagged by EU, the doctor: Here it goes

I like surprising people ... i try to make it appear like sudden move ... even things which i do after lot of planning. i like watching that surprise on their faces.

I often contradict myself, but all are true. :)

I like climbing move than descending.

I love taking photos of friends when they dont expect/are not looking.

I have never felt home sick. And I have stayed away

I can spend a life time reading history.

I can't sleep during daytime.

I am helpless, pissed off, upset, angry. planning planning planning so help me God.
God. Help me. Please.

Libraries & burning them

Destroying a library somehow remains in public consciousness more than any thing else. I am not really sure why. They are remembered even more than the death toll in war/conflicts/riots.

Nalanda – burning this library by Taliban’s ancestors is recounted in countless books and folklore. Surely that invasion must have resulted in a large death toll. No one will tell you how many people died. They will tell you how many days the library kept burning.

Louvain library, Belgium – destruction of this library during the First World War by Germans became a rallying point among allies and galvanizing public opinion against Germans.

Jaffna public library – Burning of this library by the Sinhala police in June 1981 ultimately resulted in creation of LTTE - the struggle went from Gandhian style peaceful movement to a ruthless military campaign ... and shows no signs of stopping

There is pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea and the music in its roar
I love not woman the less, but Nature more.

Apologies to Lord Byron for altering this wonderful poem. Rest of this poem can be found here.

The movie Into the wild starts with this slide. Loved it.

Movies

Watched Into the wild yesterday night. Went for a late night show (after a long time). We were alone in the hall. Just 2 of us. Very creepy it was. Loved the movie & the story.

Watched the following at NYC:
Micheal Clayton: Boo ! Attempt to capitalize on Clooney image. Juvenile ending.
Bee movie: Right, it is for kids.
beowulf: Crap.
American gangster: Nice. As far as a true story can go.

Weight

I have gained 10 kilos in 10 months.

I used to have mowgli's law: I can neither gain nor lose weight.

Have to stop Qdoba & cheese filled burritos.