the brook

In a startling discovery made by combining the latest artificial intelligence technology and data mining of health news sources, it has been shown that being charged with possession of assets disproportionate with one’s known sources of income is the leading cause of high blood pressure and coronary problems in India. See here for an example.

A high-level parliamentary committee has been formed to investigate such distressing cases and is widely expected to recommend that CBI teams start having emergency medical training and carrying defibrillators, and offer the accused a stiff drink while reading them their rights which include, ‘You have the right to go to hospital in case jail is a bit too harsh for you.’

The Economist explains that companies in America are being forced to go green because of the inevitability of carbon-trading systems: if they want to have a say in the carbon market, they need to be lobbying for emission controls. A quote that cracked me up:

As Mr Rogers explains: “There’s a saying in Washington: if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

And here’s another priceless jab from another article in the same survey:

There are lots of energy-efficiency regulations in place already, and they are being tightened. Incandescent light bulbs are the top target at the moment. Both the European Union and Australia said earlier this year that they are planning to ban them. But the man in the vanguard of this green revolution is Fidel Castro, who started phasing them out two years ago.

From a recent article about the Shilpa Shetty issue in the UK:

British celebrity culture is tolerant: ethnic minorities and homosexuals feature prominently. And it is democratic: no discernible talent is needed to enter the aristocracy of celebrity.

If there’s better way of targeting both democracy and aristocracy in such a compact fashion, I don’t know it.

So this is how liberty dies. Overnight.

Today, you’ve thrilled the world.

You’ve added battery life, capacity, movies and games to the iPod. So the teeming fans can waste their time in ever-more productive ways.

You’ve made the iPod nano go pink, and anyone with the remotest inkling of taste go pale. The girls will sigh, and the boys will cry.

You’ve made the iPod shuffle so tiny and cheap at $79… with a magnifying lens locator at an extra $99.

I sense a great disturbance in the Force. As if millions of credit cards cried out in joy – and were suddenly charged.

Thou art indeed a great, great company.

I have just one small, tiny request. Could I please, please, please, PLEASE have my promised Powerbook battery back from your service center?

An Indian student in an Armenian university recently fell from his dorm window and died, allegedly due to to negligence by emergency services and university administration – who prevented his friends from giving him first aid, asking them to wait until an ambulance arrived… which was 45 minutes later.

This has led to huge protests by Indian students both inside the university as well as outside (including at the Armenian parliament); though sadly enough there seems to be no support from the local students.

The spirit of these students is heartening. I wonder what could happen if students in India organized themselves like this.

Coverage and pictures on the Oneworld Multimedia blog as well The Instant Me.

A few Indian students have been taken in for questioning by police and have not been heard from for the past six hours. Later, the new Rector of Yerevan’s Medical University literally gave them “the finger” when they complained. Indian students are now demanding justice and the removal of the Rector from her position.

Thanks to Namit for bringing this to my attention.