Death of FriendFeed

There is a lots of heartburn in the Etherworld today.  Some are genuine, some just superficial.  But there is lots of disappointment.  The news is out -FriendFeed is selling itself to FaceBook.  It just does not make any sense.  People in general of the opinion that they were rivals, though the services differ slightly in their approach to gather their clientele.  In fact I enjoyed FriendFeed better than FaceBook.

Now, if the history is recanted,  the founders were a bunch of zealots. The guys were out of Google,  for the sake of money?  I do not think so.  But did they get it?

Louis Gray and Robert Scoble were part of its success story. FriendFeed was a successful service, I do not know how they could have monetized that idea, but it was a successful idea to gather a large followers.  But it went out with a loud bang.  It deserved it.

Anyway, everyone has a stomach and we can see the results.  Even the mighty will succumb.

Change in World Order

How can the world forget a man that introduced two Russian words – glasnost and  perestroika- that opened the gates for the great changes that took place in our world? The changes he wanted to make went out of his control, and a world as we knew completely changed.

In a recent interview Gorbachev admitted that he was willing to let Eastern Europe go its own way but he very much hoped the republics that formed the Soviet Union would stay united.  But it was not to be. The wave of change was so strong that it smothered one of the two superpowers of the world.  But one reminiscent of the changes, will surely remember that Russia was economically very weak at that time. It was defeated in Afghanistan. Lech Walesa was a thorn in Poland.  The policies of Communism were failing, unemployment and general gloom was the order of the day in Russia in those days.  Then finally it burst open. The American media was aesthetic about the victory in the Cold War, that socialism was down. Euphoria.

But today the world is looking at another upheaval.  The only superpower of the world is under pressure. Capitalistic institutions are crumbling. There is chipping of monolith by Muslim world. Lets see how it will adopt to it. There are some hard measures to take. There is no going back to the old ways. The disease of extreme self-confidence, excessive spending through borrowing, utter consumerism has to go. We have to find new models of development through the involvement of our friends and G20.  This global economic crisis has showed that super capitalism should be put on leash.

American Treasury has borrowed heavily from China and Japan. These are the two countries subscribed into American Government Bonds.  Any wrong step we take economically, these two countries will pull the rug at this difficult time. The dollar will bite the dust.

If we do not heed to this danger bell, we are closer to the dooms day.  The changes may wipe out our life style. Here is a word about Gorbachev – man who hated Capitalism became a symbol representing Capitalism.  (Refering to the advertisement above.)

World Leader

The whole world is reeling under economic downturn. The demand for goods and services has diminished, there are job loses and a grim future for millions of people all over the world. The major financial institutions are going under. But what caused this recession? What is the reason for this mess? Who is the major culprit of this economic upheaval?

I am not an economist nor do I have the capacity to understand this major problem of our world. But I regularly read the news papers, and they are the opinion forming media for me. And they tell me that Americans are very happy to borrow and spend, unlike Asians who generally earn and save. The conventional wisdom says, a nation or a man can not survive by borrowing over limit. Borrowing is referred as a thorn in the sides of man, hurting him always. He can find comfort only by removing this thorn, paying off his debt. This is the basic knowledge any person has. This is the knowledge handed down to man from generations. Then why did not the American’s understand this? Were they just reckless?

This recession also reminds us, how much the world depends on the American economy. If American economy goes into recession all the major countries of the world will have repercussions. All will be effected. America is the anchor for the world, to stabilise it economically.

Now, major economies of the world have come up with stimulus packages to revive their fortunes. Billions of dollars are given to the financial markets. But is this downturn only market driven? Almost all the stimulus is given to the financial institutions and poured into the Wall Street. I just wonder how effective it is. We have to just wait and see.

A beautiful animal

A beautiful animal, so docile it looks. Ferocity of this animal is unleashed when it hunts for prey. Beautiful creature.

Charles W. Freeman- Reset Button

“I’m in a position to redefine my life and to press the “reset button“, and you don’t get that very often,” an angry Charles W. Freeman said, as he withdrew his name from consideration to the position of Chairman of the National Intelligence Council.   As the Chairman of NIC he would have overseen the production of what are supposed to be policy-neutral intelligence assessments destined for the president’s desk. But, he volunteered to withdraw his name when his critics asked for Congressional investigation of his  “past and current activities on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

He is a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia under the first President Bush and he charged that he had been the victim of a concerted campaign by what he called “the Israel lobby.”

He has been credited with numerous anti Israeli utterances. On the Middle East, his critics said- Mr. Freeman’s views are “what you would expect in the Saudi Foreign Ministry,” rather than from someone who would become essentially the government’s top intelligence analyst.

On Tiananmen Square crackdown his views were more pronounced, he said it was not “acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government, however appealing to foreigners their propaganda may be.”

He has been credited with lopsided views on the countries that really matter to America today.  But he offers to be a turn-coat when he was presented with an opportunity to occupy an Intelligence position, that could put the reports directly on the desk of the President.  That is something incomprehensible to a layperson like me.  You cant change so suddenly, what you have acquired throughout your life.

Hillary Clinton, presented Russians with an option of “Reset Button”, it was accepted by the Russians.  A complete change in the foreign policy is possible on that front, as the people at the helm change. Reset and start with some freshness. But how can a person, whose views are shaped by his thinking throughout life, can change so suddenly?

Forcing his withdrawal is a real triumph to the right thinking people of America.

Limit Blogging

The foremost thing in blogging is catching readers attention. Most bloggers do this by captivating pictures and a dashing caption. But once reader starts reading, its the matter contained keeps him going. A recent study has revealed that the blog readers on an average read only about 360 words in a blog. The rest of it they just skip. Therefore, it is imperative to bloggers to keep their message real short and to the point.  In fact, this short messaging can be used quite effectively to divulge anything one want to.

The second important point made in this study is that the readers comprehend only about 60% of what is written, however simple it may be.

So blogger, be warned.

Tibet : Roof of without a Roof.

I feel at odd with myself, when I see Tibetan’s plight.  A proud people with their own history, and have every right to be a Nation.  But it is gobbled up by the Chinese.  The suppression of its people by the Chinese is lamentable.  But, Tibetans are friendless. A barren piece of land called Roof of the world.

Anniversary of Tibet resistance to China passed off without any untoward incidence. The Dalai Lama’s government in exile in India, showed some protests but largely ignored by the world media.  But within Tibet there was no resistance. The Chinese government is an expert in controlling its people with its might. The people do not have the right for legitimate protests. The Americans do not want to confront the Chinese in this matter. It looks like Americans will never confront Chinese. Chinese are politically strong, and financially getting on par with Americans.

The Tibetans will have to wait for a long time, or forever, to get justice. A dumb witness to the injustices in the world.

Implementation of Sharia

Sharia does not accept democracy as Islamic. Naturally, it is a philosophy that vests sovereignity in Allah and denies representative legislators their right to legislate for their fellow citizens, and vests all powers of interpretation of God’s word in the clergy will not subscribe to democracy. So where is the place for Sharia in a democratic world? Still, more and more Islamic countries are opting for Sharia.  Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, part of Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and latest is Pakistan.  All these countries say they have faith in democracy, but they want to be governed by Sharia.

In Pakistan, Taliban forced elected government to adopt Sharia in North Western part, Swat valley. Now the issue is whether Pakistan is a democracy or not.  Democratic Pakistan has given up its right to form legislation for a part of its dominion.  But the constitution of Pakistan forbids it to pass any laws that contravene the Shariat. Now, then adoption of Sharia proves that there are some laws that are not complying with Sharia and thereby they are unconstitutional.  Funny.

On the other part America wants to split Taliban into good Taliban and bad Taliban. America is openly admitting that it is loosing its war in Afghanistan, and want to lower its threshold for victory, and want to talk to so called good Taliban.  But solutions in Afghanistan are much more complicated than just talks with “good Taliban”.  The strategy is to break a part of Taliban and induce them into reconciliation with main stream. But it is easier said than done.  America has messed up its position in Iraq, and it will soon mess up in Afghanistan too.  The cost of this will reverberate on the whole world.

Thus the freeworld is surely on back foot.  The economy is down, and almost out.  It will take Herculean effrorts to bring it back on rails.  The war effort by Americans and allies in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the verge of failure.  The pressure to introduce Sharia is increasing.  When we dump democracy?

A sad Pakistan

I remember sometime back Imran Khan, an erstwhile cricket captain of Pakistan commenting that terrorists will never strike cricketers in Pakistan.  His logic, if they strike they will loose the support of the masses, and they will be pariahs in Pakistan.  But it has happened.  Cricketers are attacked, the sporting world is topsy turvy.  It brings back the memories of terrorist attacks in early 70’s by Palestinian Liberation Army on Israeli Olympic players in Munich.

India has always said that Pakistan is the hub of terrorism. Its has evolved as a factory to produce terrorists.  It not only encourages terrorism, but state has used it as a foreign relation strategy.  Pakistan has started exporting terrorists.  Jehadis from world over are coming to Pakistan to be trained.

The first reaction of Pakistan is to accuse India of being behind the attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team.  ”The evidence which we have got shows that these terrorists entered from across the border from India,” Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol, minister of state for shipping, told private Geo television.

“This was a conspiracy to defame Pakistan internationally.” “This incident took place in reaction to 26/11,” he said referring to the Mumbai attacks in November in which at least 170 people were killed. “It is a declaration of open war on Pakistan by India,” said the minister, who is not one of the government’s official spokesmen, but belongs to President Asif Ali Zardari’s party.

A misplaced political rejoinder to a terrorist activity.

Its an open secret that Israelis hunted down the perpetrators of Munich Massacre, settled in Europe under safe identities.  Now it is time that world community helps in tracking down these terrorists and punish them.  Pakistan can not handle its own problems.

Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent

Today, 25 February 09 is Ash Wednesday for the Christs Church. This is the first day of Lenten Fast.

The priest, minister, or the officiating layperson, marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sunset. This is symbolic of old custom of sprinkling ashes over ones head to signify repentance before God. The ashes used in this ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year, another important day in the Church’s calendar. The ashes are blessed, sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense.

The priest or minister chants one of the following when applying the ashes:

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. or

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. or

Repent, and hear the good news.

In the Roman Catholic Church, ashes, being sacramentals, may be given to any Christian as opposed to Catholic sacraments, which are generally reserved for church members, except in cases of grave necessity.  In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat and repentance. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent, as was the Church’s traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the Easter.

Generally, Ash Wednesday, begins a period of repentance and alms giving in the Catholic Church.