New Media Vs The Old Media

When you want to search the web, what comes to mind first: Google of course. The king of internet search is in a fight with Rupert Murdoch: The Man Who Owns the News.

On Point, the radio talk show had a interesting discussion on the clash between old way of delivering news, print and paper style, and the new way of delivering e-news.

You can listen to the show at Google Vs Murdoch

How Many Houses Could a Flood Victim buy for 1.7 Crorers?

In this day when austerity is the buzz word, information obtained from the RTI reveals that the honorable chief minister of Karnataka has spent about 1.7 Crorers to renovate his official residence. This on a house he will stay in for another three years, if the Reddy brothers dont have their way.

While the honorable CM continues to enjoy the perks of his job, or whatever is left of it, people in the state affected by the worst flood in years have lost their lively hood, and places they used to call home.



This begs the questions: Had the money been spent on providing relief to families (like the one shown above) who have lost everything, "How many modest livable houses could be built for the same 1.7 Crorers?"

Picture courtesy Churumuri

Will There be a Lotus Bloom in South India?

The crisis of power and control within the first ever southern state government headed by The Party With a Difference seems to have been averted; at-least for a while. But compromise resolution to the crisis may have come at a cost.

Two excellent editorials, one in the The Hindu and the other in the Indian Express highlight the lack of a strong party leadership, and how for short term gains,"The Party with a Difference" may have crushed the "Lotus" before it could get a good root on the southern ground.

Random Musings of Today

I dont know about you, but thats a lot of snacks for five people. With all the sugar intake, these people must be working 24/7 I would think...

With digital memory becoming so prevalent and cheap, who needs the brain

Is it enough if you become a naturalized citizen of the United States to qualify as an American in the eyes of the few. You can ask Meb Keflezighi, the first American to win the NY Marathon since 1982.

This essay for Outlook India magazine by author and activist Arundhati Roy, asks one simple question: "What is the price of progress and development?"

Celebrating Holloween - Republican Style

Picture obtained from Crooks and Liars

Bonuses!!!

Main Street America is still in the grips of the worst recession since the 1930's. Unemployment is close to 10% and health care costs are shooting through the roof. Most people will see marginal if any increase in their pay checks, that is if they are lucky enough to have a job.

But if you are from Wall Street, the Mecca of global finance, thats a different story. People here will not only see an increase in salary, but can expect a big fat bonus come year end, whether the company that they work for is in business or not.

So why is that, people who brought the world to the brink of financial oblivion are still getting paid outrageous amounts so that they can keep doing more of the same.

Daniel Gross in his column for Slate magazine tries to explain.

"Just as Tiger Woods was placed on this earth to whack the dickens out of dimpled balls, Wall Streeters were placed on this planet to dispense and receive bonuses."

So if you are from Main Street and still have a job, keep you chin up and head back to work. After all you have to pay your taxes so that Wall Street can pay its bonuses.

So Much for Austerity

The central government's austerity drive doesn't seemed to have filtered down. At least in the states which have the opposition BJP in power.

According to the BJP spokesperson,

"The timing of the austerity drive was suspect. It is an election gimmick. The prime minister has said the worst of the economic crisis is over, then where's the need for austerity now? It's all cosmetic. They will go back to their usual ways once the state elections are over."

This is the same BJP whose government in Karnataka spent Rs 1 Cr on a single cabinet meeting. Out of One Crore spent, about 28 Lakhs was spent on flowers alone. I don't know about you, but that's a whole lot of flowers.