Another opportunity lost

Centre to review security for upcoming sports events

It is shameful for a country like India to spend money on hosting lavish, decadent entertainment spectacles. Give a pretext of attacks, it would just be prudent to call off the event and cut one's losses. The funds can be diverted to help the dying farmers who cannot find adequate funds to grow crops to feed the pot bellied politicians.

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Real Heroes - B. Pathak

Rahul's poster woman gets Rs 30 lakh help

As far as media channels og, India has a surfeit of them. But, none of them seem to show any sense of social responsibility. Sticking to major towns and filmstars and politicians, media channels have failed to shed light in the those areas of the country where it is needed the most - till some disaster prompts them to temporarily shift their gaze from the decadent events they never tire of covering.

B. Pathak is one man I would like to see on TV everyday. His every move, every like and dislike, probed and dissected by  news reporters. The parties he attends, his daily routine, how he runs his biz, what he  eats, which books he reads, which dresses he prefers, what his family consists of, what are his plans for India, what do his detractors and supporters think of him.  In short every irrelevant detail that moronic media channels routinely report about filmstars and politicians.

There is a reason for the need to bask heroes like Pathak with media light. It is to encourage more like him to do good. It is to give hope to people who already are doing good but being constrained by lack of awareness and support. It is also to encourage people who would like to wade into this social activity but are being held back by the seeming abyss of ignorance and poverty that this step  necessarily entails.

With a govt that has continuously failed to deliver any relief to the majority to the population, it is inane to look up to them to deliver. Barring policy making, and maintaining law and order, everything else needs to be done by the citizens. As already stated, I am surprised that the Maoists did not take up vioent means for over 60 years. There is no greater testament of the Indian inertia. How long can  one remain frustrated before the urge to explode takes over?

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Interesting link

Lack of morning light keeping teenagers up at night

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Experts in favour of starting 4-yr rural medicine degree - India - The Times of India

Experts in favour of starting 4-yr rural medicine degree - India - The Times of India

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Rare positive stat

India churns out a third of world's engineers

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While hundreds dies shivering....

3 crores in 2 months for Rajiv Gandhi ads

Yes, I am sure there is no better way to remember an ex PM than to wonder how many lives could have been saved with the money used to splash his picture all over the country.

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interesting link

Brain responses during anesthesia mimic those during natural deep sleep

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Interesting link

Researchers find leukemia cells metabolize fat to avoid cell death | Eureka! Science News

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Rare event

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Haldiram owner guilty

Probably the case was widely followed in W. Bengal, but the coverage does not mention it. In any case, a 'fast track" court that takes 4 years to conclude a case is normal; but, rare indeed, is the rich being unable to bend the rules to his advantage.

It seems to be becoming a norm, that the powerful only get their comeuppance if the media intervenes and highlights the case, and in other cases the meek merely lose their trust in the system.

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Good idea

On Sibal table, SAT-type test for college admissions

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Interesting link

Mount Sinai finds prenatal exposure to certain chemicals affects childhood neurodevelopment

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Urgently needs to be applied here as well

2010 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index reveals ways to enhance teens' interest in STEM

"The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam initiative is one way teens can get direct access to hands-on learning and STEM professionals. InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems."

This is something that I have strong views on. It is so much easier for people, not just kids, to showcase their artisitic talents (however insignificant) for a large audience thanks to the many channels beaming this form of competitions.
Not one channel has shown spine to use the same method to encourage and highlight the other, more socially relevant, skills of the people. I think the Kerala govt, has taken a step in the right direction in this regard by having a dedicated channels for more serious educational pursuits - but no competitions. Kerala also has the ignominy of having a govt that spends public funds to host a state wide artisitic competition for students, where the results are worth a lot of marks! Any one excelling in dance is given additional marks in exams and some preference in the selection tests. No wonder there is a rush among students to hone their artistic skills. No science fest on a similar scale is conducted.

As PM, I indend to bring atleast a level field. Where in channels that run entertainment shows will be forced to host tech shows for the same time.

Voting through SMS is an untapped resource of finance generation for entrepreneurs and tech inclined people with a good idea. It is easy to imagine the show, where in people pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, and the viewers SMS their support, a portion of the SMS revenue being handed over directly to the competitor.

Even schools should be encouraged to bring the real world problems and solution finding into the classroom, with students bringing up the best solution or an idea to one is handed rewards and special status in competitive exams.

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Interesting link

Stem cell breakthrough: Bone marrow cells are the answer

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Standing tall

Army chief overruled by Antony: Court martial aide

If only politicians would seek similar firmness when dealing with their peer.

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Interesting link

Severe complications of diabetes higher in depressed patients

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Interesting link

Mount Sinai finds prenatal exposure to certain chemicals affects childhood neurodevelopment

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Interesting link

'Overweight' adults age 70 or older are less likely to die over a 10-year period

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Interesting link

'Overweight' adults age 70 or older are less likely to die over a 10-year period

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Et tu, The Army ?

Sukna land scam: Lt-Gen 'advised' to take a break


The civilian world is full of  instances where the perpetrators get away with a slap on the wrist. But, one would have expected the Army to have stricter procedures.

Considering that the rot was detected right at the top, allowing the corrupt to take a break without hauling him over the coals sends a wrong message. Now, as in civilian offices, the punishment doesn't seem like a deterrent for others who would like to follow.

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Interesting link

Self-control is contagious, study finds

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interesting link

Study finds cellphone use may fend off effects of Alzheimer's disease

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The soft target

Terror threat to 10 scientists: Govt

An eye opener. National personnel assets also need protection like politicians.

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Interesting link

The earlier to bed, healthier the head

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Interesting link

The earlier to bed, healthier the head

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