42 Quirks

Good old days, eh?I had decided not to post any Cricket-related items on this blog. But, this was just too hard to resist for me. Patriotism and all that, or maybe, a flicker of hope.

Does anybody have the email addresses of our heroes abroad? I am seriously thinking of forwarding this… At least it is better than the crappy forwards that people keep sending…

Pop Quiz: What, according to you is the most appropriate song for this clip?

Note:This does NOT mean I will be yelling “Hoo-haa, India” any time soon… Or any time later even.

Dina Mehta and other Indian Bloggers are reporting the apparent clampdown of the Indian Government on 12 ‘radical’ websites. Notable among these being Blogger - the popular blog provider for India.

Yes, you read the last one right.

Blogger can no longer be accessed through certain Indian ISPs. The Indian Govt. has painstakingly put together a list of sites, running into twenty-two pages, that must be blocked by all Indian ISPs. Blogger’s one of them.

I am speechless. There are so many things, I want to say, but don’t know where to start.

Shivam Vij, tried to contact the authorities seeking a clarification about the issue. He was was made to (virtually) run from pillar to post, and ended up with a curt, “What’s your problem? Someone must have blocked some site. So?” Typical.

A few national dailies took it up and reported it. Hindustan Times and Indian Express each had a story to tell, but it was more of a report than a story. The Times of India (link not up yet), too had it’s own take on the entire affair. Notice the absolutely moderate, even submissive tone of the reports. It is as if they are trying to distance themselves from the entire fiasco.

Ok, I agree, some of the websites in the list might be classified as fanatic to the extreme. There might even be some Bloggers with extreme religious views. But a blanket ban? Why would anybody want to censor this blog? It’s stupid.

A few years ago, Yahoo! Groups was blocked because they found a few subversive groups using the tool to convey messages to each other. The same blanket ban was enforced even then.

Even if we assume that the websites are guilty of propagating theories and sentiments detrimental to the national interest. Wouldn’t it make much more sense if the owners of these websites were called in for questioning under the same clause? A blanket ban only serves to inconvenience everyone, while helping none.

The dilemma is simple: How far can you stretch the right to express your opinions?

Have the conversations gone a bit too far this time?

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Censorship, Religion

powered by performancing firefox

Dina Mehta has just posted something that will hearten every Indian…

The Hindu quotes:

Union Minister for Science, Technology and Ocean Development Kapil
Sibal on Monday launched the Natural Disaster Information System
(NDIS), a first of its kind pilot project aimed at alerting people
about any impending natural disaster.

This project is currently under private-public partnership by the Technology Development Council (TDC) and Bangalore-based Geneva Software Technologies.

The NDIS will communicate alerts over mobile fones and specially setup Wireless PA systems in - get a load of this - less than ONE minute…

Now, if only these people had the good sense to bring something like this into action a little earlier - like a few years. But, I guess, what they say is right, better late than never.

Rest in peace, folks. Be assured, that if this pilot kicks off and kicks off well, your kids and grandkids won’t have to see the days you had to… Our deepest and fondest thoughts are with you. R.I.P

Note to self:
Keep your cellfone full of juice and dough. I wouldn’t want to miss a call like that one anyday.

Thanx Dina!! via 14donline.net

Technorati Tags: NDIS, India, Disaster, pilot, alerts