The credit crisis – A programmer’s two bits

With all the different takes on the crisis, it wasn’t going to be long before a programmer stood up and summarized his overall contribution to the debacle we find ourselves in today.
Michael Osinski, once a programmer on Wall St, now an oyster farmer in Long Island, gives us his story in the New York [...]

The best Raj Kapoor movie, but it’s not by Raj Kapoor

In 1988, a doyen of Bollywood, Raj Kapoor passed away. Doordarshan TV, on the same evening itself, broadcast one of his movies on national television as a tribute.
One would have expected to see a Raj Kapoor signature film such as Awaara, Barsaat , Shree 420 or perhaps even his own personal opus Mera Naam [...]

The life of a saint revered in India, but not known outside

A documentary was made recently on Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi, the 68th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi was highly revered in India, especially in the south. He lived a hundred years and his life was a shining example of renunciation, humility and sagacity. He was not very well known internationally compared to sages such [...]

The Big Takeover – hard hitting Rolling Stone article on bailouts, AIG etc.

There’s a fascinating article in Rolling Stone magazine by Matt Taibi that’s been getting some attention recently.
It’s an in-depth read on the players, the beneficiaries, the losers, the corruption and the cronyism that’s pretty much in the open ever since the financial crisis blew the curtains off. While the article does rival a good [...]

The Onion’s latest policy analysis on Fritolaysia and Snakistan

Pundemonium at The Onion – America’s Finest News Source

Fritolaysia Cuts Off Chiplomatic Relations With Snakistan

Jet Blue reaches out to CEOs

In light of the recent development of CEOs having to give up their private jets, Jet Blue has come up with a campaign to attract CEOs to the pleasure of flying with “regular” folk on Jet Blue.
Here is the link to a 3 part video series that is deliciously tongue-in-cheek.
Welcome Bigwigs
The next questions are:
Will the [...]

Israel arms maker’s bollywood video

Last month at a trade fair called Aero India 2009, organized by India’s Ministry of Defence, an Israeli arms maker, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, brought along the marketing video embedded above, which one defense analyst described this way:
The video is a Bollywood-style dance number featuring Israeli artists in full Bollywood costume [...]

Sehwag – Quote du jour

Quote of the day from Sehwag on his batting philosophy after he hit the fastest century by an Indian in ODIs.
“The ball is supposed to live outside the boundary, send it there.”
Full article on Cricinfo: It’s very tough for NZ bowlers to stop me – Sehwag
The whirlwind innings on you tube. Ok so [...]

Super Brain Yoga (We called it punishment in India)

I got this in an email today. Turns out what used to be a punishment for some of us when we were growing up, and for other south Indians (including my mother) a practice of Ganesh puja while facing south (Pillayar Toppukarnam), is actually beneficial for the development of our brains. [...]

The Capitol Steps

I’m just back from watching a fabulous show called the Capitol Steps . Started by a group of ex-Senate staffers, the wit, humor and song parodies are side splitting at times. Here’s an excerpt of a piece on George Bush’s legacy.

And here’s a song on Obama and Hillary (with Bill in [...]