http://heretica.blog.co.uk/This blog is intended to carry my feelings as they are without dissipation or toning down.en-UKMokoFeed10http://heretica.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/aa/fe1f3ca57b09617c024229f96144c7_160x200.jpghttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/18/obama-in-china-7407620/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2009-11-18:/2009/11/18/obama-in-china-7407620/Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:22:16 +0100 <p>US president Obama's recent visit to China raises more questions than answers. His assigning of greater role to China in facilitating peace in south Asia is tantamount to offering the judge's job to the accused.</p> <p>It is well known fact that China harbours malice towards India and has done every possible thing to harm India's interests. Be it gifting 50 kg of highly enriched uranium to Pakistan or unnecessarily claiming Arunachal Pradesh or setting up " string of pearls " in the Indian Ocean or taking building projects in PoK or clandestinely arming the Maoists or trying to thwart the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal ; China has always been wary of India.</p> <p>It is sad that the new Nobel peace laureate has preferred to kowtow before the dragon while turning a blind eye towards China's role in proliferating nuclear weapons technology to Pakistan. Also, this champion of human rights has chosen to subtly hinted towards freedom of expression rather than sending strong signal over the carnage in Tibet.</p> <p>All in all, Obama rhetoric appears to be hollow words rather than and displaying any audacity in action. On the other hand, George W. Bush was all messed and unruly in this rhetoric but his beans were in right place. Bush knew what was needed to be done and made no noise while ensuring that was done. A few of his decisions like the invasion of Iraq were based on flimsy ground cannot be defended. But he made no bones while ensuring the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was ratified by the congress before he vacated the president's office.</p> <p>His and Condoleeza Rice's contribution to taking the Indo-US relations to a higher lever cannot ever be forgotten </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/18/obama-in-china-7407620/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/18/obama-in-china-7407620/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/oath-taking-in-hindi-7337357/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/2009/11/09/oath-taking-in-hindi-7337357/Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:32:57 +0100 <p>The news headline of today is the beating up of Abu Azmi when he was trying to take the oath as Member of Legislative Assembly. While it must be admitted that the MNS MLAs did the right thing in objecting to the oath-taking in Hindi , I must say that they overdid it. It appears that it will cost them 4 years of suspension. This will mean serious injustice to the voters who voted for them. Their leaders has promised active opposition. But any suspension will mean the voters will be deprived of their right of opposing the government through their representatives. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/oath-taking-in-hindi-7337357/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/oath-taking-in-hindi-7337357/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393285/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-12-17:/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393285/Sat, 17 Dec 2005 08:49:32 +0100 <p>It is quite some time since I posted a blog here last. Now that I have a PC at my home I hope to blog more often. My spanish tutions are going on well. Just learned a new tense called Preterito Perfecto. Still a lot remains to be learned ,practiced and perfected.<br> I will not be able to attend the lessons next week due to obligations. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393285/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393285/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393279/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-12-17:/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393279/Sat, 17 Dec 2005 08:45:01 +0100 <p>Its been quite some time since I made an entry here . Now that i H </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393279/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393279/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393280/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-12-17:/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393280/Sat, 17 Dec 2005 08:45:01 +0100 <p>Its been quite some time since I made an entry here . Now that i H </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393280/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/i_am_back~393280/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/09/06/spanish_continued~165368/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-09-06:/2005/09/06/spanish_continued~165368/Tue, 06 Sep 2005 14:33:35 +0200 <p>It has been a month since the lessons in espanol began. It sure is interesting to learn a foreign language. However, it is tough to pick up the threads if one misses a class or two. Well, I have missed three in a month. It makes me feel kind of guilty whenever I miss one. The attendance is thinning but there are some dedicated students too. Most of the sincere ones are girls. I guess senora Perez Garcia considers me a sincere student because I was the only student till date to inform her that I will be missing the next class.<br> The festa is coming up. The welcome party or whatever one calls it is organised on the 16th of this month. Today itself I confirmed my attendance at the festa. It seems I am already a member of PUSA - Pune University Spanish Association. We are also preparing to sing a song at the festa- Un rayo de sol. However, being as non-music ( is there any word for that a la Muggle? ) as one can possibly be I find it pretty tough to put the words into a melody.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/09/06/spanish_continued~165368/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>spanishhttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/09/06/spanish_continued~165368/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/17/after_six_lessons_in_spanish/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-08-17:/2005/08/17/after_six_lessons_in_spanish/Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:22:41 +0200 <p>I attend the Spanish class thrice a week- Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday. Two hours every alternate day. The class commences at eight-thirty and ends at ten-thirty.</p> <p>Senora Ana Maria, who teaches us, seems to be worried now as the number of students attending dropped to twenty six from forty-one in the first class. Yesterday she enquired us whether we were scared of her or what is it that is scaring us students. I do not find the language scary at all. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/17/after_six_lessons_in_spanish/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/17/after_six_lessons_in_spanish/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons_1/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-08-09:/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons_1/Tue, 09 Aug 2005 11:53:09 +0200 <p>I have contemplating learning some foreign language since time immortal. I had ,in fact, started taking lessons in French during my college days. But that was an informal effort because I was not going to get any certificate for it.<br> My efforts to espouse Francais ended prematurely as the vacation between two terms ended.</p> <p>It has been over ten years since then. So when I saw University of Pune advertising foreign language courses I decided to give it a go. On offer were Russian, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. I decided to apply for Spanish because of following reasons:<br> 1.) Russian appears to be of no practical or commercial use any more.<br> 2.) Plethora of schools as well as other institutes offer German language so little point in learning a language too many people know.<br> 3.) Above reason also applies for Japanese.<br> 4.) French appears to be a sonorous language to me but the pronunciations get my goat.</p> <p>That leaves only Spanish . Spanish language is being taught only for the past few years. So, very few speakers of the language in this part . Also, Spanish is widely spoken in many parts of the world other than Spain.</p> <p>I will appraise about by progress in the language in the blogs to come. Till then, so long! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons_1/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>spanishhttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons_1/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-08-09:/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons/Tue, 09 Aug 2005 11:52:33 +0200 <p>I have contemplating learning some foreign language since time immortal. I had ,in fact, started taking lessons in French during my college vacation. But that was an informal effort because I was not going to get any certificate for it.<br> My efforts to espouse Francais ended prematurely as the vacation between two terms ended.</p> <p>It has been over ten years since then. So when I saw University of Pune advertising foreign language courses I decided to give it a go. On offer were Russian, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. I decided to apply for Spanish because of following reasons:<br> 1.) Russian appears to be of no practical or commercial use any more.<br> 2.) Plethora of schools as well as other institutes offer German language so little point in learning a language too many people know.<br> 3.) Above reason also applies for Japanese.<br> 4.) French appears to be a sonorous language to me but the pronunciations get my goat.</p> <p>That leaves only Spanish . Spanish language is being taught only for the past few years. So, very few speakers of the language in this part . Also, Spanish is widely spoken in many parts of the world other than Spain.</p> <p>I will appraise about by progress in the language in the blogs to come. Till then, so long! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>spanishhttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/my_spanish_lessons/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/27/monsoon_in_pune/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-06-27:/2005/06/27/monsoon_in_pune/Mon, 27 Jun 2005 13:34:12 +0200 <p>Its been raining almost without a break during the last two days. The sky is overcast and Sun not seen. the temperature has dropped to comfortable levels though not cold yet. </p> <p>The roads are wet and all potholes filled . I am not particularly fond of the rains but one needs them dearly. The power crisis may become less acute if the dams filup quickly. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/27/monsoon_in_pune/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/27/monsoon_in_pune/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/17/monsoon/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-06-17:/2005/06/17/monsoon/Fri, 17 Jun 2005 08:58:03 +0200 <p>It is seventeenth of June and the monsoon has yet to arrive here. It is expected to hit these parts on the seventh of June. I am not particularly fond of rains in cities;they disrupt life and drench you. But one does need decent rains as it is good for the economy. Anyway, it is not as hot as it was about ten days back, so the monsoon may be round the corner. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/17/monsoon/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/17/monsoon/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/01/conscience/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-06-01:/2005/06/01/conscience/Wed, 01 Jun 2005 07:50:43 +0200 <p>What ideals do you hold high in your life? What are the principles that you hold close to your heart and regard as inviolable? How devoted are you to these principles? From whom did you pick these ideals? </p> <p>More often than not ,these principles are imbibed on your mind by those close to you since your childhood. These principles guide one when making key decisions in life. Also, the precepts that are paved by these principles are a great succour when facing difficult times<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> .</p> <p>However, have you really scrutinised how dedicated the ones you pick these principles from are to these ideals? If you are really unbiased and have consience to examine the ones close to you without any parti pris ,you will realise that the ones you hold in high estemm have themselves faltered on the principle they have taught you<img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0">. </p> <p>It is really painful to realise that those whom you regarded as heroes are humans afterall. It is even more excruciating to learn that they are unaware of their shortcomings. </p> <p>Then, it turns out to be a big ordeal to be balanced in your own conduct and let not your relations be hampered by your judgment. At the same time one has to charter his or her own way without being influenced by anything other than one's own conscience. What say?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/01/conscience/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>consciencehttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/06/01/conscience/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/30/to_alibag_and_back/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-05-30:/2005/05/30/to_alibag_and_back/Mon, 30 May 2005 07:56:48 +0200 <p>On the 27th afternoon I decided that I will go to Alibag in the evening. However, since I had decided to go on my bike it would have been late by the time I reached there. Hence , I decided to start early on 28th (saturday). </p> <p>I started at six-thirty in the morning. One has to go to Lonavala on NH4 , from Lonavala it is Khandala . At Khandala the road melts into the expressway. One has to ride for about five kilometer before taking the Khopoli exit. From Khopoli exit it is the Khopoli town and thereafter one has to take the left turn at the Shil phata. There onwards it is about thirty kilometers run to Pen. This Khopoli-Pen section is really picturesque ,winding through hills and greenary . However, the road condition on this section was pretty bad the last time I had traversed on it. This time the road was better though still there remain some rough patches. At Pen one has to take the NH17 ( Mumbai-Goa highway). Keep travelling on NH17 upto Wadkhal where you take the right turn for Alibag.I reached Prashant's place at nine thirty. </p> <p>In the evening I went to the Alibag beach. It being Saturday evening, the beach was abuzz with people. The Alibag beach is not what it used to be when I was a kid. You don't get to see sparkling sand now. Also, you do not get to see much shells or sea creatures . The beach is home to over a dozen horse-cart owners who take some amount of money for a ride on the shore littered with horse dung among all kind of waste. </p> <p>As there is not much to see on the beach I got to my hobby of observing people. I enjoy watching unknown people without them or anyone else realising that I am watching them. I indeed takes some finesse to grasp the fine art of such stealth.</p> <p>Next day, we ( Prashant , Pritish and self ) were off to the Varsoli beach at four in the afternoon. I did not enter the water. It was high tide and the sea was swell with such gust to intimate you about the imminent monsoon.We returned home in about a hour and half. </p> <p>Today morning I got up at five finished the daily chores and started my return ride at six thirty.<br> I lost my way twice on the way back . I reached Chinchwad at nine forty five.</p> <p>During my two days at Alibag I dearly missed Smita and Achintya. Achintya would surely love to play with the waves on the beach. Next time I get an opportunity I will take both of them along. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/30/to_alibag_and_back/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>alibaghttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/30/to_alibag_and_back/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/27/settling/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-05-27:/2005/05/27/settling/Fri, 27 May 2005 11:04:59 +0200 <p>I have changed my job a few days back and I feel somewhat relaxed as the work has not started on all cylinders. </p> <p>For the past two days I am by myself as my family has gone to my in-laws'. I am thinking of going somewhere myself for the weekend. I have not decided anything about going anywhere yet. May go to Alibag to my brother's. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/27/settling/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/27/settling/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/13/lazying/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-05-13:/2005/05/13/lazying/Fri, 13 May 2005 07:33:48 +0200 <p>Today is an average day and I do not have much to do. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/13/lazying/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/13/lazying/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/12/deciding/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-05-12:/2005/05/12/deciding/Thu, 12 May 2005 08:05:41 +0200 <p>I have been waiting for the right things to happen. How many times has it happened that you let opportunities go by while expecting for better things to happen!</p> <p>What is the right waiting period? How long should one wait to take a decision this way or that?</p> <p>I think real good judgment and faith in god faith in god really helps me in decision process.</p> <p>Let me not downplay the faith part. I have been redeemed umpteen times from situations that seemed solution-less.There seemed to be no way out in some <strong>Devil's Alternative situation </strong>but some solution has cropped up. This has enhanced my faith in god.</p> <p>Good friends' counsel also helps one in taking decisions. However, one has to have the prudence to identify good friends and analyse their ability to provide give good advice. This is so because the simplest thing in world is to advise others because the one advising has nothing at stake. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/12/deciding/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>how-to-decide-http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/12/deciding/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/03/imagine/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-05-03:/2005/05/03/imagine/Tue, 03 May 2005 12:16:03 +0200 <p> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p>Imagine</p> <p>Imagine there's no heaven,<br> It's easy if you try,<br> No hell below us,<br> Above us only sky,<br> Imagine all the people<br> living for today...</p> <p>Imagine there's no countries,<br> It isnt hard to do,<br> Nothing to kill or die for,<br> No religion too,<br> Imagine all the people<br> living life in peace...</p> <p>Imagine no possesions,<br> I wonder if you can,<br> No need for greed or hunger,<br> A brotherhood of man,<br> Imagine all the people<br> Sharing all the world...</p> <p>You may say Im a dreamer,<br> but Im not the only one,<br> I hope some day you'll join us,<br> And the world will live as one. </p> <p>John Lennon </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/03/imagine/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/05/03/imagine/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/30/good_afternoon/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-04-30:/2005/04/30/good_afternoon/Sat, 30 Apr 2005 13:00:23 +0200 <p>Summer is peaking. It is very hot. Going out in the sun has become a real ordeal.There were some showers last week but it is very dry air now.</p> <p>I have some ulcers in my mouth . I am taking some medicines for it and hope to be well in a couple of days. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/30/good_afternoon/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/30/good_afternoon/#commentshttp://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/28/getting_started_1/tag:heretica.blog.co.uk,2005-04-28:/2005/04/28/getting_started_1/Thu, 28 Apr 2005 06:15:20 +0200 <p>This is my first day at blogging. I hope to be a good blogger as time passes by. But I guess it will take me time to get in to groove. It may be some time before I pick up the finer nuances of the art of blogging. </p> <p>Anyway, I am hopeful of that and look forward to having a good time blogging. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/28/getting_started_1/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://heretica.blog.co.uk/2005/04/28/getting_started_1/#comments