The Italian bubbly

Prosecco and its rivals. Read about what you will probably sip over the next 3 days.

Does history really repeat itself?

Looks like it, just read this.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everybody the best of times in the days and the year ahead.

New post

Tangentopoli Rosso!

A collection of recent corruption scandals in Italy. This time from the Left of the political spectrum.

Le veline and le letterine!

The New Yorker magazine takes a look at the current government in Rome and how much of it is an extension of popular TV.

दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी!

If you were asked to invest in a company called 'Buco Nero' (black hole in Italian), what would your response be? Mighty suspicious. Unless you were the grand-daddy of investment like Citigroup.

An excerpt from Time magazine, 4 years ago:

As Parmalat expanded globally in the '90s, so did its network of bankers and financial advisers. Ferraris (Parmalat CFO) was one of them. For Citigroup, Ferraris scored what were seen as two coups: an early version of the securitization program — by which the company's receivables were packaged as debt instruments and sold to investors — and a retainer to advise Parmalat in the acquisition of Beatrice Foods in Canada, a transaction valued at $310 million. Ferraris also laid the groundwork for a complex financing scheme through a Delaware company called Buconero, the Italian for "black hole," which Citigroup set up for Parmalat in 1999। Buconero loaned a total of $137 million to a Swiss subsidiary of Parmalat that then distributed the money to other Parmalat companies. Buconero received a guaranteed return of almost 6%, plus a total of about $7 million in fees for Citigroup.

Yesterday, Parmalat founder Callisto Tanzi was sentenced to 10 years in prison for this securities scandal of 2004-05 in the iconic milk company that he founded and built. It remains to be seen if he actually steps into prison.

Action items

For a start, the Governmant of India has introduced legislation to modify terror laws and create a national investigation agency. The news channels, on the other hand have come up with a code of conduct during violent crises. The key issue, as always, is enforcement. How will it work on the ground and how long will it take to train and equip the police in every part of the country?

Update: As expected, Amnesty International objects to the proposed laws as being too draconian.

GM crops - to be or not to be

This is about an argument that has been running for nearly two decades now. What are the real pros and cons of genetically modified crops? Are they good or bad for India and its farmers? Do they produce allergens? The Health minister is set against and the Science and Technology minister is all for it. अब आगे!

What are you cooking today?

Have you got today's dinner menu approved by the others in your apartment block? Here's why you should consider it:

Italy: Cooking odours give integration a bad smell

Rome, 15 Dec. (AKI) - Pungent Middle Eastern and eastern cooking odours are now the most frequent cause of quarrels between immigrants and their Italian neighbours, according to a new survey by the National Association of Apartment Building Administrators (Anami). A total 27 percent of quarrels in the country's apartment buildings now arise over cooking smells and the number of disputes is growing, the survey found. The majority of complaints are over the spicy aromas from curries made by Asian immigrants from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.Chinese and North African dishes produce the second largest number of complaints, according to the survey."These are not just based on skin colour, but represent a serious albeit grotesque problem," said Anami president Giuseppe Bica."If the reek of frying garlic and chili pepper used to make Italian dishes or the odour of broccoli is accepted within apartment buildings, why not the smell of chicken curry?"He said a distinction needed to be made between the daily cooking smells of households, and the more pervasive and constant odours from restaurant and takeaway kitchens.Italian law makes this distinction, Bica said. "Immigration is a reality in Italy and daily life needs to take account of this."

387 in the 4th innings

There were plenty of doubts voiced about the necessity of England's Test tour at this time. Cricket can never be a total healer but a record cricket win guided by the country's favorite Mumbaikar can surely put a smile back on many faces. The news channels finally have something fresh and exciting for another cycle.

November is not September!

Arundhati Roy, in Outlook, looks at all the elephants in the room, in the light of 26/11 in her usual ballistic style. Deserves a read in full, whether you agree or not.

The Tiber in spate

The sight of the Tevere or Tiber in full spate in Rome is a rare sight. But the incessant rain of the last few days filled the river to the brim and flooded the northern parts of Rome. Here is how it looked this morning at the Ponte Palatino and the Isola Tiberina. Notice banks where people usually walked or biked are completely submerged and so are parts of the Isola.

The obstinacy of the BBC

Two weeks have passed since the Mumbai attacks, metres of footage have been shown on TV and reams of evidence published, yet for the BBC, the terrorists are still 'suspected militants'! Presumably, when the sole surviving terrorist is tried and sentenced by the law, he will be know as the 'convicted suspected gunman'. But, of course, the 7/7 attacks in London were by bombers and terrorists.

The (im)maturity of the free market

A casual search of any news website suggests at least 100 articles on job cuts over the last 3 months. While this may seem logical in times of a recession, how will it help emerging out of it? As more people lose their steady income, their spending will be drastically cut. That in turn will further exacerbate the downturn leading to more businesses laying off or folding up. Where does that end? In that context, perhaps, bail outs such as the one for Wall Street and that being approved for GM, Ford and Chrysler (primarily to contain job losses) do make sense, Considering that these decisions are being taken by the most conservative (laissez faire) of American administrations, this may well be the New Deal of the 21st century.

Do we need this Test series?

The England Test cricket team is back in India after great persuasion. But frankly, do we Indians need a cricket tour, by anyone for that matter, at this time? Police and security forces will have to be mobilized (300 commandos, 1000 policemen!!!) just for cricketers' protection while that of ordinary citizens remains compromised. Of course, the fans will get even more shabbier treatment in the name of security. We could have done without this tour, much as England's decision deserves applause. It is a needless diversion when real serious issues have to be tackled.

Cricket, Inequity and Obama

Ian Chappell, former Aussie cricket captain and journalist, comments upon the post-Mumbai situation in world cricket. He sums the cricket world's dependence on India's huge market and the consequences as :

'Test cricket is shaping up as a mirror image of an Indian society that is often described as being made up of the have lots and the have nots.'

'The one big difference between the world situation and that of cricket is the lack of any leader with the potential and charisma of an Obama looming on the horizon in cricket.'

Perhaps, this is the moment to re-organize the lopsided priorities of all cricket playing nations who cannot manage a sport played by less than a dozen nations at the highest level.

From Minnesota to Jaisalmer

If there is one area where India does way better than even the world's most powerful country, it is counting votes. There are elections virtually every year (including 5 state assembly polls in the last 10 days) but thanks to vote machine technology, the results are out barely in a few hours. The same will happen on Monday when the next set of results come in. This in a country with big diversity in terrain, education, language and its people. Contrast this with the situation in two single seat congressional elections in the USA:

'Franken Camp's Claim: The Hand Count Is Over -- And We're Up By Four Votes!' and 'Ballot ruling favors Stivers'.

Can someone help!?

While trying to figure that out, go through Jaisalmer.

America's most important ally

Christopher Hitchens, famous agnostic, author of a highly critical book on Mother Teresa, comes out in support of Mumbai.

Acqua alta

Venice was deluged by sea water as the levels rose to their highest in more than 20 years. Take a look at the pictures and if any of you did visit La Serenissima during these days, hope you are dry!

To do list

A national security expert has listed 26 action items. All of them deal with issues within the country and the complexity of policing and securing it. A good place to start and if the Prime Minister's announcement of stationing a battalion of NSG commandos in the 5 major cities is followed up with immediate action, one item can be ticked off right away. 'Mumbai 26/11' should be treated as 'New York 11/9' and the response should be equally bold and decisive.

The plot

Magazines and news channels are already beginning to piece the conspiracy that led to the carnage in Mumbai. Read, it will keep the blood boiling. The Home Minister has resigned. The country needs the right people at the right place.

Question time

Hostage crisis over, time for straightforward questions:

1. Is Mumbai so unimportant that a NSG squad cannot be posted there permanently?

2. Is there no repository office where defence forces can get access to maps and layouts of buildings such as the Taj hotel instead of having to go in there and find their way amidst a shower of bullets and grenades?

3. Do situations like these have to wait for state Cabinet meetings to sit in emergency sessions and then call in commandos while people are getting killed all that time?

4. Is there a list of soft targets for each city or do bloggers need to supply that?

5. External forces may have planned this attack but is there recognition that more may be in the offing and measures -laws,arms,intelligence- have to put be put in place now and not after a parliamentary committee submits a report?

Cyberworld on Mumbai

There is more in the globosphere on Mumbai. As the nightmare shows signs of ending, can the authorities move on matters of policy and enforcement?A strong anti-terror law, more equipment and training for security personnel and 'Intelligence' collection that means precisely what it is. If the present UPA government could do this before its term ends, it will be remembered in history, else it may just become history.

Battling Bombay

Television made for difficult viewing as the scale of the war on Mumbai became apparent. Security forces rescued hostages and had to clear hotel rooms one by one and a long night continues into the morning. Meanwhile, bloggers on the web and Twitter updated the world on their experiences. Could this be a double edged sword - is too much information getting out on TV channels and websites, news that they are better off not communicating?

Wake up at least now!

It is yesterday once more in Mumbai and India, but more brutal and more psychologically damaging than ever before. Where is the Intelligence, National Security or even a co-ordinated response to a deadly terrorist attack on a high risk location? This post sums up a Mumbaikar's utter frustration.

'The ‘spirit of the Mumbaikar’ meme be damned, the state needs to recognize this for what it is: helplessness. We go to work come hell or high water [where Bombay is concerned, hell and high water, literally so] because as long as we are alive [over 80 of our fellows, going about their usual business 12 hours ago, are no longer alive—spare them a thought, a prayer], there is nothing else to do; nothing else we can do.'

National security is not (only) about managing nuclear weapons. It is about managing our huge cities, controlling crime and vigilance. For a start, does the traffic cop or the constable at a railway station know what suspicious behaviour is? At least now, let us honour the innocents killed and get serious on security. Enough hubris about our economy and our talented people. Protect them.

Reporting

Shaping up!

Some recent headlines:

EU reshapes fruit , vegetable rules - Boston Globe

EU scraps regulations on forbidden fruit - Foodnavigator.com

EU relents and lets a banana be a banana - Intl.Herald Tribune

Bendy cucumbers make a comeback - The Scotsman

All these are about the recent decision by the EU to repeal shape regulations on 26 fruits and vegetables. In other words, forked carrots, curvy cucumbers and apples weighing less than 70g can now be sold. Every year, tons of produce is thrown as it does not measure up to the exacting standards of the EU. For instance, Class I cucumbers must "be reasonably well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of cucumber)". Thankfully, in these times of hardship, sense has prevailed.

Brain circulation

'Countries like India once fretted about a brain drain.We are learning now that brain circulation, may be more apt.'

So says this columnist in the New York Times, given the way how the Indian economy has begun integrating with the global one.

With Citibank now in line for a bailout, Friedman wryly hits home in his column:

'As one banker remarked to me: “We finally found the W.M.D.” They were buried in our own backyard — subprime mortgages and all the derivatives attached to them. '

Europeana - up yesterday and down today!

Europe's digital diary, Europeana, went online yesterday. It is a portal to search and browse the major art and culture collections. Unfortunately, as the site says today , its 'popularity has brought it down' and it needs tinkering to serve the millions of users it targeted. Did the developers under-estimate the sheer volume of interest the site would generate not just in Europe but across the world? In the meantime, the current site is in development mode and in English only. Bookmark it and check on it sometime later.

Battling piracy on the high seas

The recent hijacking of a oil super tanker by pirates of the coast of Somalia triggered off alarm bells for all traffic in that area. Yesterday, an Indian Navy ship sunk a pirate mother ship in the Gulf of Aden, an act that has elicited praise from all quarters. Alongwith its financial muscle, India has finally begun to flex its military strengths particularly in urgently required areas.

Another step forward for stem cells

Tuberculosis has been a scourge and continues to afflict people in the 21st century. Now comes this extraordinary report (news and science) of transplant of a stem-cell derived windpipe to a patient. This is yet another demonstration of how stem cell therapy could have a profound impact in human medicine.One of the big hopes that the scientific community has from the incoming President Obama is that he will remove obstacles to stem cell research in the USA. This report should bolster their chances.

Rip offs!

Whenever one travels to a new destination, rip offs are inevitable. But this one takes the cake or rather the samosa.

Misleading but good news!

On 14 November, line that appeared on the ticker of a cable news channel said 'Indian probe crashlands on the moon'. Turns out that it was a controlled plunge and landing of the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) on the lunar surface. The Indian moon mission is well and truly on its way. For more information visit the Chandrayaan website.

A big step forward

Researchers at Washington University have sequenced the DNA of a cancer patient and pinpointed the mutations or defects that contributed to the disease. It is a remarkable study that for the first time shows how genetics contributes to cancer. Fortunately, it raises the possibility of using this technique to develop a range of drugs to counter the disease.

The face on all newspapers today

Visit Newseum today and check out the frontpages of newspapers around the world.

Yes,we can!

There is tons to read on the Web today after the epochal election of Barack Obama last night. Thomas Friedman puts it in his typical succint style:

'A civil war that, in many ways, began at Bull Run, Virginia, on July 21, 1861, ended 147 years later via a ballot box in the very same state.'

and then this interesting take on what many had feared but did not happen:

'........something of a “Buffett effect” that countered the supposed “Bradley effect” — white voters telling pollsters they’d vote for Obama but then voting for the white guy. The Buffett effect was just the opposite. It was white conservatives telling the guys in the men’s grill at the country club that they were voting for John McCain, but then quietly going into the booth and voting for Obama, even though they knew it would mean higher taxes.'

Lots to read here, here and here. Most of us will probably not visit these sites again till 2012!

How many ways can you follow an election?

One more day and a historic US election that has hogged headlines on every news channel, webpage and blog will be over. On this page, there is a load of links to follow through the night, state by state, county by county. Enjoy!

Looking for a painting?

Do you often have to hunt high and low for good art? Here is a new online gallery that promises authenticity and variety.

Tutti santi

Today is Halloween mostly celebrated in the USA and Canada. Despite its spooky and scary get up, it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day"which is now also known as All Saints' Day that falls on November 1. In Italy, it is a day for remembering those in the family who have pased away. Flowers and prayers are offered at their graves. A solemn and honourable custom.

Italy update

A snapshot of the possible consequences in Italy of the current financial crisis in this article from the New York Times.

No KLM to Hyderabad

As air travel begins to get affected by the global economic situation, KLM is suspending flights to Hyderabad from February 1,2009. The alternative carrier to take, as we posted a couple of months ago, is BA.

Happy Diwali

Diwali greetings to all. May there be happiness and prosperity for all. On a tastier note, a link to sweet recipes.

Vegetarian in Italy?

Among other things, Italian cuisine is lipsmacking and healthy. The abundant use of vegetables especially tomato and olive oil goes a long way in keeping away heart disease. No wonder, life expectancy is in the 80s. It is very easy to live a vegetarian life in Italy. There are numerous dishes suitable for vegetarians. Check this list out and especially, the long list of pastas. Happy eating!

Dhan Teras

The first day of Diwali starts with this day to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. As with most festivals, it has more than one legend or story behind its celebration.

Ballot crunching

As the US presidential election nears (actually, some states have already begun early polling to avoid long queues on November 4), the media is choked with poll predictions and percentages. If you want a detailed, blow by blow presentation fron with every poll analyzed from every angle, go here. If you prefer an easy simple map, stick to this portal.

Destination moon

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was succesfully launched for the 13th time in a row. It sent into space, India's first unmanned mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1. For more about the objectives of the mission including mapping Earth's only natural satellite, go here.

Mission to the moon

In less than 48 hours, India's first ever unmanned mission to the moon 'Chandrayaan' is set to take off. More details here.

How much more can you find in Rome?

Last week, workers working at the rugby stadium in Flaminio found a city of tombs. A separate dig a bit up north on the Via Flaminia revealed the tomb of Marcus Nonius Macrinus, considered to be the character that inspired the film "Gladiator". The buildings here are apparently well preserved because they were buried under mud deposited by the Tevere. Meanwhile, on the Palatine Hill, in the heart of ancient Rome, it is believed that the underground passageway recently found was where Emperor Caligula was murdered by his own guards. Rome continues to grow as a city - into the future and into the past!

Not a nice thing to know

Many of us who grew up in India in the 70s clearly remember the frequent crises in food production and supply. Much has changed in the country since then but hunger remains a serious problem. This report describes the alarming situation even in progressive states such as Gujarat and Karnataka. A reminder for World Food Day on what still lies at our doorstep.

Monezza a chi?

An article in the New York Times about the matter and anti-matter in Napoli - culture and the rubbish crisis.

A little bit of help from a Friend...

Scientific American gives an interesting take on the 2008 Nobel prize for Physics, awarded to the Japanese trio of Nambu,Kobayashi and Maskawa. Their work on matter and anti-matter shows that both are antagonistic and cancel out each other. But the universe has a wee bit more matter than anti-matter and that asymmetry is the reason we all exist! Did the Universe as a whole start on a credit line?!!!

First Indian female saint canonized by the Vatican

'Sister Alphonsa of Immaculate Conception ' from Kerala was canonized today in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. For her biography, read here and here to learn more about how a person is canonized.

Deal done and dusted

Amidst the credit crunch that dominates all headlines, India and the US have inked the nuclear deal. Till 2 months ago, it was the lead story on all conveyor belt news channels and encompassed among other things an acrimonious break up of the ruling political alliance and a tainted confidence vote in Parliament. Now, it is just another bit of 'also in the news' - a mushroom cloud transformed into a puff of dust!

Greetings to all

Best wishes to all on the occasion of Vijay Dashami (Dusshera) and Bijoya.

At last, climate change has a Cabinet post!

A year after the United Nations Climate Panel was awarded the Nobel peace prize,the British government became the first one to appoint a full time minister for climate change. According to the environmental group, Green Alliance,

'Hallelujah. A department of energy and climate change.'

In other words, a recognition that it is a global phenomenon that could have very serious repercussions (that could last longer than the current financial crisis). On the other hand, the world's biggest carbon emitter, USA, has two sketchy plans(1,2) both still in the Presidential campaign stage.

A Nobel for the fight against AIDS

Probably no disease in recent history has been covered in the news as widely as AIDS ever since the first reports in the early 80s. The alacrity with which scientists responded and pinpointed the offending virus as HIV in 1981 was rewarded by the Nobel foundation today. The French duo of Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier were the first to do so in Paris. They share the prize with Professor zur Hausen, of the University of Duesseldorf, who dared to challenge prevailing conventional wisdom and proved that that a papilloma virus infection caused cervical cancer. Both these discoveries led to the development of effective vaccines and medicines within 25 years, a pace without precedent in human history.

A eulogy for the Fab Five

Many believe that the upcoming India-Australia Test series is the last occasion to watch the Fab Five in the same team. This column by Rohit Brijnath on Cricinfo is perhaps the most elegant piece on the subject so far and deserves a full read.
'We met the Great One in 1989, when he introduced himself to us with high notes hit by bat and vocal chord. Then the rest came. In 1990, The Precise One, a scholarly warrior who unveiled his spinning craft with devotion; in 1992, The Defiant One, a steely, stylish man of amusing, aristocratic belligerence; in 1996, The Intense One, cricket's student who batted like a monk upholding a vow of discipline; and finally The Elegant One, who was a Japanese haiku master in a previous life.'

'I am less enamoured of world cricket these days. It is a noisy game, full of boastful official chatter, where manners on the field have become disposable, and Twenty20 threatens to derail everything else. The best love affairs, anyway, come in our youth, and these men I grew up with. Always I watched them. Now especially, even though occasionally it is painful to see them lurch and stagger, feet mixed up and bat late. But I have to watch. Because they're Great, Precise, Defiant, Intense, Elegant. Because soon enough, a few months, a year, whether they walk away or must be pushed, there will be an Indian team without the names Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman, Kumble. Imagine that? I'd rather not. '

Durga Puja in Rome 2

Id Mubarak

The place to be in these couple days would have to be Hyderabad - near the Charminar. Excellent kababs and all night रौनक with shops open throughout.

139 not out

One does not have to agree completely with the views and ideals of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. But one has to acknowledge his leadership and courage of conviction- qualities which stand out for any era and any generation.

Durga Puja in Rome

Land of stark contrasts

India and France signed a nuclear commerce agreement yesterday. Another step forward in international diplomacy. Sadly, while India's control over its nuclear programme is acknowledged, it is also recognized that Indians have no idea of crowd control. How else can anyone explain yet another temple stampede,this time in Jodhpur, right at the start of the festival season, the fourth major one this year to claim more than a 100 victims? Hundreds of small and big holy places are visited by millions of people everyday and yet there are no coherent public laws on crowd management. The next step up in the comity of nations will only come if such basic issues as public safety are addressed.

Festival season

Sharad Navratri has begun, so has Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year, Ramzan is ending and it will be Id-ul-Fitr in a couple of days - it is that time of the year when tradition, family and delicious food occupy prime space. We will keep you up to date with events/celebrations in the days to come.

A huge prime (no sub)!

For numbers enthusiasts, a big piece of news. The frontiers of prime number research have been pushed back even further. A new 13-million digit prime number has been found by researchers at University of California,Los Angeles. Apart from the sheer pleasure of the discovery, they are also in line for a $100,000 prize.

TIPping point

Economists invariably use that phrase when describing a period, such as last two weeks in the financial sector, that causes decisive far-reaching changes. Could a similar similar situation be developing in science and technology? A report by the NGO, The Innovation Partnership (TIP)suggests that the patent system needs drastic overhaul. They argue that endless circles of patent protection have stifled innovation, sharing and co-operation. It has achieved the reverse of what it set out to do, namely, create novel products and services by assuring investors that strong intellectual property defences would protect thier investments. Instead, it has created isolated fortresses of patents that cannot be linked to develop new products such as cancer treatments.

Friend,guest,guide,invader

10 years ago, Google was founded in a garage in California. Today, it is most unlikely that you would browse the Web and not use a Google product or service on every visit. The rise of the company has been extraordinary - tomes of literature are available on this subject - and like all great businesses, it is based on the simplest of thoughts. The thirst for knowledge, the desire for information and the quickest way to find it drives every individual on the planet. What started as a simple Websearch tool has become a gargantuan network that many complain invades personal (and confidential) space. Perhaps it does. But think back and imagine if outstanding engineers like Visvesarayya or architects like Corbusier and Lutyens had Google maps at their disposal - the mind goggles!

The birds

Any casual observer in Rome would not have failed to notice the bird clouds at dusk especially over Termini. The short explanation for these formations is staying together to guard against predators. The real advantage these formations confer (given the steep drop in predator populations in our cities) is achieving cohesion when moving together. Have you ever been in a rally or a march where the crowd straggles and fails to keep together? That does not happen with the birds and they are in mid-air. For a layman's gist read here and you can find the full scientific article by researchers from CNR,Rome here.

If you want to know why predator numbers are down, this is the link to the 'State of the World's Birds Report' by BirdLife International. Sobering.

The end of ‘leave it to the markets’...

...in the words of a financial expert. I had blogged earlier about the return of समाजवाद – that is, the intervention of an avowedly pro-free market government when the situation requires. That was before the collapse of Lehman Bros. and Merrill Lynch. Since then the near total bailout of Wall Street institutions by the US government has only confirmed that thought. Thomas Friedman says it succintly in his NY Times column :

In sum, government’s job is to police that fine line between the necessary risk-taking that drives an innovation economy and crazy gambling with other people’s savings in ways that threaten us all.

The autumnal equinox

'An equinox in astronomy is the moment in time (not a whole day) when the centre of the sun can be observed to be directly above the Equator' according to the Wikipedia entry on this subject. Like with all celestial events, for mankind, the autumnal equinox tomorrow is associated with a range of festivals and fables. For geeks, it may cause temporary disruptions of your Internet conections!

Ecological Sunday in Chennai

Residents of Rome are familiar with the total pedestrianization of the centro especially in spring and summer. Now comes this initiative from the citizens of Chennai (Madras to those who still can't get over the name change) to reclaim space for the pedestrians of the city. The exponential growth in personal vehicles has made walking 'a hazardous activity' in many cities. Crossing the road anywhere, even at a zebra crossing, is risky. A bold step forward by the organizers of this event to focus attention on traffic and pollution.

Two contrasting timelines

On one hand, the credit crisis built up into a tsunami and swamped the big names in banking and investment. Billions of dollars have been lost, moved or injected as a result (all the figures here). Moves are afoot by the hour across the globe, to prop up the financial system.
In contrast, the saga of Alitalia continues as the latest buy out offer is withdrawn. The timeline started nearly two years ago and as yet there is no firm conclusion in sight. Evidence enough that even in a globalized integrated economy, similar events can still run at a different pace.

उधार की जिन्दगी!

झूठा झूठा मीठे बचन कहि रिन उधार लै
जाय लेत परम सुख ऊपजै लै
के दियो न जाय लै
के दियो न जाय ऊंच अरू नीच बतावै
रिन उधार की रीति माँगते मारन धावै
कह गिरधर कविराय रहै वो मन में रूठा
बहुत दिना होइ जायँ कहै तेरो कागद झूठा
—–गिरधर
The collapse of the US housing market introduced brought the word 'sub-prime' to the frontpage of every newspaper and website. The tumultous events of the last few days have affected thousands of people and have injected some more terminology in the public domain such as 'investment bank' and 'derivatives'. For a short glossary, read here . For details on the heart of the current crisis -living beyond one's means - an analysis by the Wall Street Journal. It is curiously similar to the words of Kavi Girdhar.

Lighten up -with odd book titles!

Humor may just be what is required in these gloomy market times. Earlier this year, Sir Salman Rushdie was awarded the Booker of Bookers for 'Midnight's Children'. This month, the Diagram of Diagrams, for the oddest book title in 30 years was announced and the winner is...

"....Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers, Derek Willan's comprehensive record of a sector of Greece's postal routes, has been crowned the oddest book title of the past 30 years. Gary Leon Hill's People Who Don't Know They're Dead finished second and John Trimmer's guide to avoiding maritime mishaps, How to Avoid Huge Ships finished third.The vote to discover the oddest title of the past 30 years was run in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year. The prize was first conceived by The Diagram Group's Bruce Robertson as a way of avoiding boredom at the Frankfurt Book Fair."

For a complete list of annual prizewinning titles and how to get your hands on them, go here. If you have read any of them, please share your review!

Do we need a comma here, somewhere?

The Singur impasse, believe it or not, is stuck on the interpretation of the following sentence in the agreement between Mamtadi and the West Bengal government.

"....land to be provided to the maximum within the project area and the rest in adjacent areas as early as possible".

Mamtadi believes that it means that the "maximum amount" (400 acres by her demand) will be returned to the farmers. The government says it means "'maximum extent possible" and the exact area is yet to be defined. Read more about it here.
Can those who draft multilateral agreements help?

Blast from the past/ समाजवादी की वापसी

The grey haired generation (GenX, in Web language) among us will remember the halycon 70s when all banks in India were nationalized in one stroke. Over the last 6 months as the credit crunch assumed crisis proportions

• The UK government nationalized Northern Rock Bank
• The US Federal Reserve assisted the buy out of failing Bear Stearns by J. P. Morgan
• as well as the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America
• and propped up mortgage institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
• On a related note, the Italian government has left no stone unturned to save Alitalia.

More than 10 years ago, the dot.com collapse left investors and entrepeneurs with huge losses, but no government agency intervened. That it is doing so now indicates the gravity of the situation, probably for a huge number of people. Governments have to step in when crises go out of hand. So, were the critics of unbridled laissez faire capitalism correct? Aren't these acts of socialism, a much maligned word in a post-WTO world?

Kumbhkarna's slumber/ कुम्भकर्ण की नींद

Delhi,Varanasi,Mumbai,Hyderabad,Jaipur,Bangalore,Ahmedabad, Surat (as a warning) and today, Delhi again. The chain continues and the average hardworking Indian is reduced to think ' where next' in this series of macabre attacks. Every time there is a series of blasts, a terror group quickly claims responsibility. Sadly, the government neither accepts nor discharges its responsibility. The terror mongers have their plan all thought through. But the law enforcing authorities have none in reply.Till date, India has not been able to formulate a coherent response - political, economic, judicial or military- to the rising tide of homegrown terror. (In contrast, Italy has soldiers on the streets to fight crime). Will the country's security set up stop sleeping on the job at least now that it has struck Delhi's poshest shopping areas?

Before the Nano, there is ......

....the bicycle.It is heartening to note that this non-polluting, no-space occupying and healthy mode of personal transport is showing robust sales in India. This year in particular has been excellent according to this article. No, the reason is not high fuel prices or inflation but something in keeping with our electoral traditions. Read on.

9/11- In memoriam

The tragic events of this day 7 years ago in the USA marked the end of the laissez passe (let it pass) phase in modern history. Since then safety and security are the buzzwords in all aspects of life - shopping, travelling, jobs, cellphone conversations and even Internet browsing. Wars are being waged on terror and just like the rest of the world, India has had to face up to the reality. That of fighting an organized and unseen enemy. A lot of individual freedoms have been compromised in its wake. Whether these are justified or not is a debate that will continue. But for all of us who lived through that day watching in horror at the TV screens, no single event has changed our lives in the last 10 years as the 9/11 attacks have.

In search of the cosmic beginning

The world's most ambitious physics experiment begins today near Geneva, Switzerland. Using a 27km-long underground tunnel which houses the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), scientists will attempt to re-create the conditions of the Universe at its birth. The project has taken 30 years from conception to switch on and has cost $10 billion so far. Read more about its mindboggling size and complexity here.

Would you like to be the President?

If so, just follow this link (thanks to a friend) and get your electoral campaign off to a great start. Just shows the power of computing and the Internet. You might just be a click away from the Presidency.

Paens

It has been a good year for Indian sport. There was an encouraging show by athletes at the Beijing Olympics. India beat Sri Lanka on their home soil in an ODI series for the first time. This weekend, the battle-scarred veteran Leander Paes, won the US Open mixed doubles title with Cara Black of Zimbabwe. He and his Czech partner, Lukas Dlouhy, finished as runners-up in the men's doubles. A phenomenal performance by the Warrior.

IAEA/NSG clearance to India

The issue of a nuclear deal between India and the USA has raised a storm over the last few months. Yesterday, the two principal multilateral organizations (the IAEA and the NSG) ended more than 30 years of nuclear isolation and allowed India to resume trading in civilian nuclear energy. While the debate over the impact of this waiver ('clean or not') rages on,the least that India gains is a chair at the nuclear high table and the space to negotiate for energy technology. A great achievement, by any standard.

The noble profession

My favourite teacher in high school was a gentleman who gave weekly lectures on science outside the school curriculum. Astronomy and its immense sweep was one topic. Another was items of daily life such a the utility of torque in bicycles, the principle of priming in water pumps, the difference between AC /DC. He comes to mind often when I explain something similar to my son.
Today is Teacher's Day in India. It is a time to remember that much of India's current knowledge muscle and technical expertise-based economy owes a lot to millions of unsung teachers who educate generations of young people.
Do you want to post a memory about your teachers? Go ahead and do so.

Ganapati bappa morya!

On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi (3rd September), our greetings to all in the Indian community. Ganesha is probably India's favourite in the pantheon, for children and adults alike. The day also signals the start of the festival season.

Open thread 1: Rome schools

Many of you asked about schools and English medium education in Rome. Here is a link that summarily gives details about such schools in Rome.
http://www.romeschools.org/
- Does anyone want to start a discussion on this issue?
- Do you want to share your experiences?
- Which school would you unhesitatingly recommend to someone who has just arrived in
Rome?
Use the comments link below this post to communicate.

Our favourite sport in Italy

Did you know that cricket came to Italy as far back as 1793? This and some other interesting details about the sport in India in this article in The Guardian. Needless to say, expats from our sub-continent form the core of the cricketing revolution in the making.

BA to begin flights to Hyderabad

From December 2008. Read about it here. The flight from Hyderabad will connect 19 American cities from London.

बिहार में बाढ़

हर साल बिहार में बाढ़ आती है। पर इस बार, कुछ ज्यादा ही। इस के बारे में पढिये यहाँ पर।
A contrast from the previous post about the glowing economy.

India buzz

A recent collection of articles in the 'Economist', about the country, its economy and its challenges.

Trouble in Paradise

The situation in J & K is serious and that is an understatement. It concerns us all Indians, will yet another generation grow up under the shadow of the gun?

Janamashtami Greetings

On the occasion of Krishna Janamashtami, greetings to all.

Taste of India

A sumptious picture of India, link courtesy Churumuri blog.

Two weeks ago and now

Prior to the Olympics, Foreign Policy magazine, reviewed the worst ever Olympic countries with India leading that pack (followed by Israel, Venezuela and Taiwan). Now, economist Bibek Debroy comes up with an econometrics based analysis and prediction of India's performance. He expects the tally to double (3 going to 6) by 2020.

What next after Beijing?

Echoing thoughts about a post-Beijing 2008 sports plan, is this post here.

India's best ever Olympics

One bronze medal today. This one in the 66kg freestyle wrestling category by Sushil Kumar. A medal is assured in the 75kg boxing division, thanks to Vijender Kumar's entry into the semi-finals. This medal tally (in addition to Abhinav Bindra's gold) is India's best ever. Not good enough for a large population and huge economy like ours. But it is a start and this may just be the impetus Indian sports needs to start climbing the medal board from 2012.

Revamp in progress

This site is being restructured and re-designed. Thanks to all the Web tool designers who make life easy for still-wet-behind-the-ears bloggers.

India, 61

On the occasion of the 61st Independence Day tomorrow, we wish all Indians, wherever they may be, health and prosperity. Most people retire as they enter the 60s. India, as it happens, is just taking off.

First ever individual gold medal at the Olympics

11th August 2008 was a proud day for all Indians when Abhinav Bindra won the country's first individual gold medal in Olympic history at Beijing. It is a huge achievement and we sincerely hope that it is a sign of more to come.

Greetings everyone!

Greetings to all for the New Year and Republic Day.
Some of us had the chance to meet at the Indian Embassy on the occasion of 26th January and discuss about proposed activities in 2008. Watch this space.