Kapil Sibal : An Idiot?

Union communications and IT minister Kapil Sibal's demand from social network sites, like Facebook and Google, to prescreen user content from India and remove disparaging, inflammatory or defamatory content before it goes online has received bitter criticism on the social networking site Twitter.

Kafila.org has started a campaign asking people to write 'Kapil Sibal' is an idiot' on their Facebook status message, to use the hashtag #IdiotKapilSibal on Twitter and write a blog post with titles censorship, Internet censorship in India, Kapil Sibal and  #IdiotKapilSibal.

SOME RESPONSES to Mr. Sibal

@over_rated retweeted, "The next task Kapil Sibal is going to undertake is to enumerate the grammatical errors in a Chetan Bhagat 'novel.'"

"Dare to think beyond Arindam Chaudhuri: Kapil Sibal," tweeted @fakingnews. @Joydas Joy wrote, "Kapil Sibal Asks Google, Facebook to Scan User Content" - "Google, Facebook asks Kapil Sibal to Scan Brains."

RT @Dosabandit Hey Kapil Sibal, why this kolaveri da? Take it easy macha! Chumma don't get angry, grow up. RT @BDUTT @PankajPachauri @sardesairajdeep @rahulkanwal “@agenthunt: Kapil Sibal thinks the Internet is like NDTV and can be controlled”

The company representatives are believed to have told Sibal his demand was impossible, given the volume of user-generated content from India, and that they cannot be responsible for determining what is and is not defamatory or disparaging. They also said the demand could be implemented only if there was a clear law.

Facebook in a statement says, "We want Facebook to be a place where people can discuss things freely, while respecting the rights and feelings of others, which is why we have already have policies and on-site features in place that enable people to report abusive content. We will remove any content that violates our terms, which are designed to keep material that is hateful, threatening, incites violence or contains nudity off the service. We recognize the government's interest in minimising the amount of abusive content that is available online and will continue to engage with the Indian authorities as they debate this important issue".

Medianama has a detailed analysis that tries to reason with the unreasonable Mr Sibal. Nikhil Pahwa notes:

The Indian government needs to have a more realistic approach to the Internet.

We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again – there is a dangerous trend that has emerged over the last year and a half, of the Indian government trying to monitor, identify and block digital (online and mobile) communications, and increasingly there is paranoia over their lack of control over the digital space. [Link]

This comes in such times when Anna & Co. used social media extensively during its anti-graft corruption. Anna Hazare's anti-graft campaign was a big hit on the Internet with anti-government protests trending on Facebook an Twitter.

What do you think is government trying to do? Do you think it is necessary to impose censorship on internet? Is the generation of internet users this immature that they need to be controlled by a government that itself is struggling to bring petrol prices down from 64rs a litre.

Petrol in Delhi is priced at Rs 63.70 a litre, while the same in the USA is priced at Rs 42.82 per litre.

The price in India is more than any of its neighbours -- Pakistan (Rs 41.81 a litre), Sri Lanka (Rs 50.30 per litre), Bangladesh (Rs 44.80 a litre).

Is this a direct assault on Right to Freedom of Speech? Give your opinion, in the comment box below.

Thirteen Commandments!

1. Speak less.
2. Laugh more.
3. Meditate daily.
4. Study more.
5. Learn a new skill.
6. Learn a new language.
7. Create a better body.
8. Help people without expectation.
9. Abstain excuses and laziness.
10. Abjure getting attached to people.
11. Abnegate initiating conversations.
12. Restrict online socialism.
13. Stay unoccupied whenever possible.

I don't say life will be good or even better if you follow these, but certainly it'll be interesting.

Rubik's Cube

Okay, so i found this friend of mine can really solve the Rubik's cube, and there on i went on a mission myself to learn how to solve it.
Wait, what is "Rubik's cube"?

Rather than explaining that The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik and a classic Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers, among six solid colors (traditionally white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow) A pivot mechanism enables each face to turn independently, thus mixing up the colors. For the puzzle to be solved, each face must be a solid color.
I would rather let you see the picture and know what it is...:P

So, you had the "Aha! Oh so this is it." moment.

A Rubik's Cube

Looking at this, now you too would want to know how to solve it.
So here i come to your rescue, there are a various things that we would need on the mission:

1. Time: About 15-25 hours of practice would be required to solve the Rubik's cube.
2. Interest : I can take horse to the pond, but can't force it to drink the water. Enough said.
3. An algorithm : You can find one here.Solving Rubik's Cube
4. Most importantly a Rubik's Cube.

P.S. - I was able to solve one-third of the cube(as per the guide) in just 3 hours of diligent practice. So, if you work at it you might be able to solve it after 12 hours of practice, even if it takes longer, once you get it it's worth all the effort.

Just for reference this is how a solved cube looks like :

There you go, happy cubing! :) :)

To my very special friend!

A gift to me, you are thee,
The existence made me wait and wait,
Tested me through the thick and thin,
Seduced to learn and grow,

Evolve till, i needed nothing anymore,
when all my needs evaporated,
when i became a cup overflowing,
with love, happiness, joy and laughter,

When i came to know my path,
When i knew what i am to do,
and when nothing could distract me, divert me, from my path,

Then the existence gave unto me, the gift that is you,
And i am so glad that you happened so late,

Thank you for being there with me,
Thank you for always being around,
Thank you for being such an awesome friend,

thank you to my beautiful friend, you are so amazing!
<3 <3 <3 :) :) :-* :-*

How NOT to be Depressed #2

This is the second post in line. For the First post. Go to.

How NOT to be depressed 

First of all, I am really sorry for being late with this post, So, finally here it is, Ways to counter-attack Depression and live happily!! 

First of all, let’s start with a little bit of theory. There are 2 basic channels of energy in your body, these are called, ida and pingla. Keep your index finger under the nose, and gently blow air out, you will find the flow of air to be dense from one nostril as compared to another. Each nostril represents one channel of energy, the left one representing feminine(ida) and right one representing masculine(pingla). Usually your energy is flowing in either ida or pingla channels, though it is not harmful in normal circumstances, but when you are low and are vulnerable to depression, if somehow you can balance your energy or life force and cause it to flow in both of these channels, you automagically become unstressed, and a sense of calm, a sense of peace starts to overtake you.

 Now, the big question how to cause a balance in the flow energy?

There are several ways to do this, all of them pretty simple, but you should not overlook the power of simplicity, these methods might be simple but they are darn effective and powerful.

So here is the first one, Alternate nostril breathing aka Anulom-vilom pranayama!

Here is how you do it:

1. Close your eyes and relax. Sit in this position for a couple of minutes till you settle down.
2. Close your right nostril with your right thumb
3. Breath in from your left nostril. Hold the breath for a couple of seconds.
4. Open right nostril and close left nostril with middle and ring finger
5. Breath out from right nostril.
6. Breathe in from right nostril, close the right nostril
7. Open left nostril and breathe out.
8. Repeat again, steps 1 through 7.

You can practice this pranayama for bout 5-6 minutes per day.

It is important that you breathe deep into your lungs and not into the stomach. Most elements that absorb oxygen are in your lungs.

The Second one is even simpler, rigorous physical exercise spanning over 5-10 minutes. This could range anywhere from push-ups to brisk walking or running.

The way to check if the flow of energy is the same keep your index finger under the nose, blow some air out gently, you will now find that the air flow is equal from both the nostrils, and now notice the state of your mind, a sense serenity and peace is what is predominant in your mind.

Good Luck! Do drop by the comments telling your experiences!

The Incident!

Okay, so I have had a great day at the college and after the class got over I was enjoying a round of table tennis, I looked at time, 4:26PM, it said.

So, I pounced on my bag hung it on my shoulders and starting running down the stairs.

I bumped into a cab mate of mine (Dikshit), we decided to eat something and we marched straight to Dominos at the H-block of the college.

After ordering the Pizza and the garlic bread (yummmmy ! :P), our evil eyes started scanning the place for an empty table, to our delight, we managed to find one, I threw my bag on the table, and surprise surprise !! we had a table but no chairs to sit on, so while I was carefully guarding the empty table we had invaded, my friend went on to look for vacant chairs like a hungry coyote, he found a pair of them and brought them along.

Dating advice by 10 year old Alec Greven!

Alec Greven is a New York Times bestselling child self-help author. Alec Greven's first book, How to Talk to Girls, started as an elementary school project and ended up on the New York Times' best sellers list. He wrote the book after observing boys in the playground and their mistakes when talking to girls.

Tip #1 Facts of Life
If you fall in love with a girl and she ditches you just have to get over it and try to move
on
Tip #2 Crushes
Crushes are kinda like a good thing and a bad thing.  They kinda go up and down like
the stock market. The main thing is you have to control your hyperness. Cut down on
your sugar if you have to because unless a girl is hyper and that is pretty rare, you won’t
get a good start.

Four Summers Ago!

Four Summers back, I tried to change my being for a woman.

I tried that so much, that today I looked back and forgot who I was,

I did a million things, and a few more to make her realize,

That I was the one, she probably dreamed about.

Four Summers back I did a few things that define me now,

I became a recluse and a weird being too,

In that weirdity I found my uniqueness,

Though I could not be with you, still,

I Thank You.

For Four Summers back, it was you,

Who inspired me to; find something that was hidden in me,

And I left for the journey to look into me,

To be a better me, just for you.

Four Summers back, it gets kind of hazy,

When I remember that time, all I can get,

Is a decision that I made, that I’ll make you happy,

And I’ll be happy too.

Four Summers back, I still remember,

It was me, who decided to be alone,

Regretting the decision I made,

See what happened to me, I am still alone.

Four Summers hence, I want to be happy,

I want to live a life where, I would not be alone.

I would not be alone.

Four Summers hence, I wish to be with her,

I see me with my beloved, happy and grateful.

I see my friends and family all around me.

Four Summers hence, I see a life,

I had dreamed of, Four summers Before…

62 Ways to make 2011 your best year ever. Courtesy: Robin Sharma

1. Remember that leadership isn’t about your position. It’s about your influence.
2. Get fit like a pro athlete
3. Lift people up versus tearing people down
4. Protect your good name. An impeccable reputation takes a lifetime to build. And 60 seconds to lose
5. Surround yourself with positive, ethical people who are committed to excellence
6. Remember that even a 1% daily innovation rate amounts to at least a 100% rate of innovation in 100 days
7. Believe in your dreams (even when others laugh at them)
8. Measure your success, not by your net worth but by your self worth (and how happy you feel)
9. Take an intelligent risk every 24 hours. No try-No Win.
10. Read “Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist”
11. Watch “Man on Wire”
12. Regardless of your title at work, be a team builder.
13. Remember that business is all about relationships and human connections
14. Say “please” more
15. Say “thank you” more
16. Know your Big 5: the five things that need to happen by the end of this year for you to feel it’s been your best year yet
17. Read your Big 5 every morning while the rest of the world is asleep
18. Read “As You Think”. At least twice this year.
19. Be willing to fail. It’s the price of greatness
20. Focus less on making money and more on creating value
21. Spend less, save more
22. Leave everything you touch better than you found it
23. Be the most positive person in every room you’re in
24. Run your own race
24. Stay true to your deepest values and best ideals
25. Write a handwritten thank you note to a customer/friend/loved one every day
26. When you travel, send love letters to your kids on hotel stationary. In time, they’ll have a rich collection to remember your travels by
27. Read “Atlas Shrugged”
28. Be a problem solver versus a trouble maker
29. Rather than doing many things at mediocrity do just a few things-but at mastery
30. Honor your parents
31. Commit to doing great work-whether anyone notices it or not. It’s one of life’s best sources of happiness.
32. Give more than you receive (another of the truths of happiness)
33. Have your 1/3/5/10/25 years goals recorded on paper and review them weekly
34. Be patient. Slow and steady wins the race. The only reason businesses that went from zero to a billion in a year or two get featured in magazines is because 99% of businesses require a lot more time to win
34. Under promise and then over deliver
35. See part of your job as “a developer of people” (whether you work in the boardroom or the mail room)
36. Wear your heart on your sleeve. When people see you’re real, they’ll fall in love with you
37. Be authentic versus plastic
38. Read “The Alchemist”
39. Remember that life wants you to win. So get out of your own way
40. Consider that behind every fear lives your next level of growth (and power)
41. Eat less food
42. Drink more water
43. Rest when you need to
44. Read “SUCCESS” magazine
45. Write your eulogy and then live your life backwards
46. Demand the best from yourself
47. Remember that the more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand
48. See everything that happens to you as an opportunity to grow (and therefore, as a precious gift)
49. Be obsessed with learning and self-development
50. Become comfortable alone (you are the only person you get to be with your whole life)

51. Smile. It’s a stunningly effective way to win in business and life
52. Reflect on the shortness of life
53. Be bold when it comes to your dreams but gentle with those you love
54. Remember that success is dangerous because it can kill drive/innovation/passion and going the extra mile. Be successful yet stay hungry
55. Read “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”
56. Be of deep value to this world
57. Own beautiful things but don’t let them own you
58. Use excellent words.
59. Laugh more.
60. Don’t complain, gossip or be negative.
61. Plan as if you’ll live forever but live as if you’ll die tomorrow.
62. Feel free to pass these lessons on to those you want to help.

Law of Attraction for Beginners – What is the LOA?

The best way to describe the Law of Attraction for beginners is that no matter what they are, your dominant thoughts and feelings will find a way to manifest in your life.  Simply put, what you think about most – you will get. Leading on naturally from that, you will become whatever you believe you will become. Essentially, you will live the life that you predict you will live. The Law of Attraction suggests that whatever we make the effort to think about, we will manifest. Want to be rich? Want to lose weight? Want to get your dream job? Then simply think about it – with feeling – and you will get it.
By extension – if you’re fat, lazy, depressed and poor – it’s down to your thoughts and beliefs. Pretty harsh ay!
Skeptical? I don’t blame you. It’s a bit mad, isn’t it?! It’s a bit mad – BUT – if there is even a little bit of truth in it, this is a pretty powerful concept to experiment with.
 It’s worth asking yourself the following question, as you might be surprised to see that you are already invoking the Law of Attraction without knowing it:
 Given my beliefs about myself, and what I think about most of the time, am I really that surprised with my life – my career, relationships and finances?
For most people, the answer is no! As such, if you’re already getting what you expect to get - maybe it’s not that much of a stretch to believe that if you change your expectations, you will get more of what you want.
The new-age reasoning behind the Law of Attraction is that all thoughts are energy – and that each thought and feeling has its own vibrational frequency.
This means that each thought has a unique blueprint – a little like a snowflake.Every time we send one of these snowflakes out into the universe, it is received as an intention. The universe then goes about manifesting this intention into our lives.
 The way it seems to do this is through synchronicities – which are coincidences that defy rational explanation – and also chance encounters with contacts, and new ideas.
 LOA advocates say that the Law also invokes the principle of magnetism, suggesting that our thoughts and feelings are like magnets – so, whatever we put out, we magnetically attract back to us. Think about closing a big deal? You get the big deal!!

So, what is the one thing that you want to manifest into your life within next 3 months?

Share it below in the comments section :P

Screeching of a seeker.

It's been a while,
and the tears have all dried,
i wish i still could breakdown,
i wish i still could die,

i shouldn't have probed into reality,
for the truth i came to know,
has value no more than cow dung,
i probed into reality to find the treasure,
i dreamed of becoming an emperor,
but not this way,
not all alone!

P.S. - I ended up in tears after writing this, i still have no idea why.

DK Bose!

The popular “Bhaag D.K Bose” has, as I see it struck a chord with youth of this country. Especially because it resembles popular phrases  like ‘Bhosdike’ and ‘Andhi Aayi’. But beyond the pun, the song has an inspirational tone too.
At some point in time every one will be criticized of being useless and good-for-nothing. But you can turn everything around to show the world one day who really you can be. On the whole hats of to lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya who mixed such a theme with some pun so that it would reach out to the youth and masses in general.

Daddy mujhse bola, Tu galti hai meri

Tujhpe Zindgani guilty hai meri
Saabun ki Shakal mein, beta tu toh nikla keval jhaag, jhaag jhaag…
Bhaag bhaag…
Bhaag bhaag…
Daddy said to me, “You’re my mistake”
My life is guilty of (having) you,
In the name of soap, you turned out to be just foam,
run run…
run run…

Oh my god lag gayi

Kya se kya hua
Dekha toh katora
Jhaanka toh kuaan

Piddi jaissa choohaa
Dum pakda toh nikla kala naag
Naag naag naag,
Bhaag…
Bhaag bhaag DK bose, DK bose, D K bose
bhaag bhaag DK “Bose dk” bhaag..

Oh my god, I was damned,
became what from what I was (so bad from so good)
looked like a bowl,
when peeked into, a well..

A tiny little mouse,
when caught the tail, turned out to be a black snake,
snake snake…
run run, DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose
run run DK Bose DK run..


Aandhi aayi aandhi aayi aandhi aayi..

Bhaag bhaag DK bose, D K bose, D K bose
Bhaag bhaag DK Bose DK bose
Aandhi Aayi hai…
storm’s come storm’s come storm’s come
run run, DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose
run run DK Bose DK run..
Storm has come..


Hum toh hai kabootar, Do pahiye ka ek scooter Zindagi

Jo Dhakelo toh Chale
Arre kismat ki hai kadki, Roti Kapda aur Ladki teeno hi
Paapad belo toh miley..
Yeh bheja garden hai, aur tension maali hai.. yeah..
Mann ka taanpoora, frustration me chhede ek hi Raag.. Raag Raag..
Bhaag…..
We’re pigeons, life’s a scooter with two wheels,
if you push, it moves (forward),
our luck is bad, food, cloth and girl all three (basic needs)
are achieved only when we work very hard
this mind is garden, and tension is the gardener,
the tanpoora (musical instrument) of heart, plays just one raaga in frustration,
run run….

Bhaag bhaag DK bose, DK bose, D K bose

bhaag bhaag DK Bose DK bhaag..
Hey Aandhi Aayi Hai Aandhi Aayi Hai


P.S. - I did not write this, copied it from an awesome blog.

Most Important People!

Note : The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.


Here’s A Little Quiz

You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
Just read the e-mail straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.






How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish..
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.





Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Did you find that easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials, the most money…or the most awards.

They simply are the ones who care the most.

How to NOT be Depressed

The reason of all suffering is just one; we want the circumstances to be different than what they are.

The point is not to ignore the problems in future, but to enjoy the moment that is in the present.

A Story...

A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him, “Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now.”

Heeding these words, the warrior became peaceful and fell asleep.

 

Ever wondered how much time and energy we let by ourselves, dwelling upon dire future we are getting into, imagining over and over again how bad a particular thing or a situation is going to get?

And more often than not, the future never turns out to be anywhere near as bad as we imagine it to be, we always are so negative about future that we forget to enjoy the moment at hand.

Hence, due to imagining and visualizing the negative stuff again and again we end up depressed, sad and low.

In the next post I’ll give a technique for those interested on how to focus easily on “Present”.

Do you know more about “How to be HAPPY?”

Chip in with your words of wisdom below in the comments, share personal experiences and things you do or techniques to remain in that “high” mode of life.

                                                                                                                                -Vb

Where were you when I was 16 and single?

Reading Imran Khan’s interview in the Newspaper, I found one statement of his particularly amusing

“Nobody was interested in me when I was 16 and single, When I was in a committed relationship, suddenly everyone wanted me. I was like “Great where were you when I was 16 and single!”

This has been the experience of not only me, but the zillions of young, single high schoolers and college freshmen, for all the time we were single, (apart from that girl who stalked you) no girl, I repeat none of the pretty, hot or the desirable girl would try to be interested in you even the tiniest of the bit, all they would do to you would be is the “Let’s be friends” or “We’re just friends” thing!

And then when you just get into your very first relationship, BAM! Suddenly you are being almost stalked by girls, as if all the other girls are conspiring against you, they just CAN NOT let you be alone when you want to, I mean why the hell it has to be like this.

So, to all the girls please understand the simple equation that would make everyone’s life much easier and happier.

Single girls = Single Guys

Single girls ≠ Committed Guys….please leave them alone, let them be happy do not cause break-ups.

I am not accusing anyone but simply stating the fact that this is so…

None (or lets say 95%) of the girls do this consciously for I suppose there is some subtle sort of attraction towards committed or married men and guys, for them being pre-selected by other women.

By the way, few months ago when I was in a relationship, I was literally being chased down by two of my lady-friends (no names sorry *privacy reasons you know). Then, due to some reasons when my relationship status changed to single back again, both of them seemed to back away as well.

I would like a Girl-opinion on this, why does it has to be this way, again saying this does not apply to 100% of you out there but pretty much happens to the majority.

Drop in your Comments below!

-Vb

Why Meditation And Orgasm Feel The Same To The Brain!! I bet you did not know this!

Did you know that according to your brain, there’s not much difference between meditation and an orgasm? Once again, science is catching up with what the spiritual masters have been telling us for, oh, millennium Yep, whether you’re meditating or having a nice, big ‘O’, you’re going to enjoy the benefits of things like: decreased sensations of pain, less body awareness and, best of all … silence of the monkey mind!
Spiritual teachers have been on to this for years, but research is now showing that orgasm and meditation create much the same effect in our brains.
According to a recent article in Scientific American, both meditation and orgasm decrease our sense of self-awareness. Bliss, says author Nadia Webb, whether through the experience of meditative contemplation or through the bodily experience of sex, “shares the diminution of self-awareness, alterations in bodily perception and decreased sense of pain.” In other words, both experiences lead to a temporary stoppage in the incessant flow of our internal commentary. Even if for only a few minutes, we are able to see ourselves as something other than the ego.
Mystics and gurus have long referred to the similarities between the two activities. Osho, the Indian spiritual teacher formerly known as Rajneesh, was famous for his acknowledgment of the mystical value of an orgasm. “The experience of orgasm itself is always nonsexual. Even though you have achieved it through sex, it itself has no sexuality in it,” he once said. “And my own understanding is that meditation has grown out of the experience of orgasm.”

 

A Little ‘Death’?

The French term for orgasm is “la petite mort” or “the little death,” in reference to the period of tranquility, crystalline awareness and transcendence experienced shortly after a peak sexual experience.
The esoteric Indian tradition of tantra purports to use sex as a way of eventually achieving enlightenment or total understanding of the universe. Still, orgasm is no replacement for meditation.

Same-Same … But Different

Meditation and orgasm light up different parts of the brain. Meditation, various studies have shown, lights up the left prefrontal cortex — an area associated with joy and happiness. But during an orgasm, the left cortex remains totally silent. Meditation has also been known to create lasting change in the brain through a thickening of the cortex.
What this perhaps means, in terms of strengthening our emotional wellness, is that while orgasm can make us hunger for the experience of sustained transcendence, meditation is the only path to actually achieving it.
So, finally something good about sex, something that almost everyone knew but now, the stamp of science on it, means sex is good for health both physical and spiritual health!
P.S. – Excess of anything is bad, always remember this.

-Vb