De Akker - The Oak tree

De Akker – This is the second oldest pub in South Africa and I have been there many times. It is very special because of its oldness. You may call it kind of mature pub.

You will meet a lot of peculiar people here, including me. Some people come to study the nature of other people. I find it interesting to be with these people and make them the subject of my study!

Many people who come there just to get drunk and to get hooked up with somebody. I go there for the same reason as well! ;)

People come with friends or meet friends there and have fun time. People come to listen to music. Men come to check women and vice-versa.

I go there because I don’t have much to do on weekends and the time ticks faster over there.

I can read books at home. But reading people is very nice and especially when they are under the influence of alcohol.

I have met Indians who have settled here long ago, Americans, Pakistanis, Swiss people on holiday, Germans, and yes, lot of local people - white, black, colored etc.

It is interesting. When I was in India I never used to go to a pub/bar alone. It was always with friends. And I had never experienced this sort of thing where you meet strangers.

There are many ways to get into conversations. Men will be waiting for some female to take out her cigarette, so that they can light the cigarette and strike a conversation as well. It is usually the fastest and the most alert who wins in the end. Darwin’s theory holds good here as well.

Or, if you have a cigarette you can go looking for a girl with a lighter!

Another thing to be taken care of when you are looking for men/women is to know your probability in the crowd and also to be able to estimate somebody else’s. If you know your probability, then its relatively easy, than shooting everywhere.

For ex, when I am in a white crowd, my probability will immediately go down when they see that I am an Indian. But it will shoot up if I go to some other pub where there are more colored people. Again it is Darwin’s natural selection.

Well, that will do for this post. I will come with more specific cases later!!

Facebook mania! ?

Some interesting stats on facebook:

1. Microsoft has invested $240m (£117m) in social networking site Facebook in exchange for a 1.6% share of the company. That puts a value of $15bn (£7.3bn) on a firm that has only been in existence three and a half years.
2. According to a report, 233 million hours of work are lost each month in the UK due to staff looking at social networks. Advertisers can now target people when at their desks.
3. The network has gone viral in the last 12 months, with more than 50 million users worldwide and a user base that is growing faster than great rival MySpace. According to Facebook, it adds 200,000 new users each day.
4. The average user spends 3.5 hours a month on Facebook - more than the average user on rival MySpace - which is increasingly attractive to advertisers.
5. Workers who spend time on sites such as Facebook could be costing firms over £130m a day.

wow!! check out this link for more!

random quote

When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion!! - Robert M.Pirsig

Indian politicians extraordinary: Yale

I cant stop laughing after reading this article. Intelligent!? I don't know. But i can say that they are clever. Thats why they are in politics.

Another excerpt from the article:

"Indian politicians are extraordinarily intelligent, extraordinarily passionate about India's advancement and extraordinarily committed to helping the nation and its people"

For god's sake!!
Everybody in India knows that people enter into politics because of one of the following reasons:

1. he/she is too rich and cant move his/her ass to do any other work and never learned to do that as well. And as they are rich its easy to get into politics. And, once they get into politics, they know that they can get back whatever money they had invested. They also see that politics can be entertaining.

2. One should really dig out our politician's academic records. It will be an interesting study. Because, am sure most of them wouldn't have a decent degree. Even if they have one, most probably it will be a fake one. Yes, with the kind of education they have, they cant get into any private sector organization. They can get a govt job by pulling some strings and boot-licking. But as they are clever they see that being IN the govt will be a better option than working FOR the govt!

3. Most of them would have committed serious crimes and politics would be definitely a safe-haven. Being on the other side of the law will definitely make a difference. One can buy judges, witnesses, change the constitution and what not. And some people will even run the govt from jail, like it happened in Bihar some time back. And if you are a bandit its even easier to get into politics. Because you have already gained a lot of popularity. If you cook up a cock and bull story and get public sympathy then the people will easily vote for you. And parties will be eager to get you into your fold. They know that they have a winner!!

There may be some exceptions to this like our own PM, but , on an average these reasons will hold true.

Another excerpt:

"This is an exceptional group of individuals. They are alert, engaged, smart, and passionate. My one surprise was how connected they were to business and management. Some run newspapers, some run hotels. So they understand not just the political environment but also some of the management challenges as well"

People at Yale should realize that being in power and running businesses will be extremely easy. power will provide all the lubricant needed to run the business smoothly. You can get grants, evade taxes without being noticed, suppress opponents and do a lot of other things which will keep the business in pink health.

Please do read the article. I am sure you will burst out laughing.

Divide and rule!

The TN gov has carved out a 3.5% out of the existing 30 % reservation for Backward Classes for Muslims and Christians who are already listed in the category. Politicians!! given a chance they will go to the extent of creating village-based, lane-based, person-based reservations, just for votes. I really cant see India without reservations in the near/far-future. Its a dream.

It was also funny to see the Supreme court's reaction:

The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the increasing number of castes on the backward classes list for quotas in jobs and educational institutions.

“Is there a list of total number of castes?” asked a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. “It is strange that when we do not have an outer limit we are adding more castes to the list.”

The court’s observation came during hearing on a petition filed by anti-quota activists.

“India is shining but backwardness is increasing rapidly with the number of backward castes,” he said.

Sethusamudram

The VHP has called for a nationwide road blockade protesting the construction of the bridge between India and Srilanka, apparently giving the reason that it will destroy the existing bridge below the sea which was built by Lord Sri Ram. Mythology is fine. But people shouldn't be so idiotic as to be doing something like this. Anything like this can happen only in India!!

Do you have anything else that your wife doesn't use?

The wife came home from work early and found her husband in their bedroom making love to a very attractive young woman.

Understandably, she was somewhat upset. "You are a disrespectful pig!" she cried. "How dare you do this to me - a faithful wife, the mother of your children! I'm leaving you. I want a divorce straight away!"

Her husband replied, "Hang on just a minute luv, I can explain what happened."

"You can try", she sobbed, "but they'll be the last words you'll say to me!"

And the husband began - "Well, I was getting into the car to drive home and this young lady here asked me for a lift. She looked so down and out and defenseless; that I took pity on her and let her into the car.

I noticed that she was very thin, not well dressed and very dirty. She told me that she hadn't eaten for three days! So, in my compassion, I brought her home and warmed up the soup I made for you last night, the soup that you wouldn't eat because you're afraid you'll put on weight. The poor thing devoured three bowls in moments.

Since she needed a good clean-up I suggested a shower, and while she was doing that I noticed her clothes were dirty and full of holes so I threw them away. Then, as she needed clothes, I gave her the designer jeans that you have had for a few years, but don't use because you say they are too tight. I also gave her he underwear that was your anniversary present, which you don't use because I don't have good taste.

I found the sexy blouse my sister gave you for Christmas that you don't use just to annoy her, and I also donated those boots you bought at the expensive boutique and don't use because someone at work has the same pair."

Then he took a quick breath and pressed on - "She was so grateful for my understanding and help and as I walked her to the door she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said:

"Please ... Do you have anything else that your wife doesn't use?"