More pain

If you think what we are seeing in the US is painful enough,
spare a thought for Europe.

I strongly suspect that the EU will cease to have one unified
Currency, the Euro over the next 3 to 5 years... for all you know you
may see the Franc, the Lira and the Mark back in vogue.

Reason? The Eurozone has many Eastern European countries which are on
the verge of soverign default. Iceland has already defaulted and is a
basket case.Ukraine is on the verge of it. A few Baltic nations too..

Not to forget the "strong" currency areas like Portugal and Italy. The
Italian Lira was akin to the Indonesian Rupiah in value before it got
"value added" through the "Euro"ization exercise.

At that time, the calcluation of the "developed" Euro zone countries
was that they would get a new "local" market to export their wares
without much trade barriers, and would get cheap "sweatshops" to
manufacture things for their consumption.


That same calculation has now turned topsy turvy. What were considered
as assets are now fast becoming liabilities, in the sense that the
rich nations within EU will now have to carry the "baggage" of the
poorer cousins. Financial survival or filial love? Who will win? Take
your pick!!!

State Bank of USA

Guys, Citibank is on the verge of becoming a Penny Stock ( frequently described as any stock with market value less than a dollar). Bank of America is following suit fast.
When Citigroup was formed about a decade ago, I remember the then chariman " admitting" on TV that he felt like a hero.
Now Uncle Sam, by buying close to 40% of Citibank's equity, is converting this Wall Street icon into THE STATE BANK OF USA!!! I wonder who ever created the USP for Citi " The Citi Never Sleeps"!! How ever can they?
The Popeye-biceps of Wall Street suddenly seem to have gone weak. The latest GDP drop by -6.2% is precipitous, and outright scary. Everyone, including die-hard optimists have conceded that this is the worst recession they are witnessing after the Great Depression. The only question now remaining is - is this going to be worse than the 1930s?
At this rate, you will soon see Navarthna Pubic Sector Undertakings (PUSs) in the USA - Citi, Bank of America, Freddie Mac, Fannie May, Bear Stearns, AIG, IndyMac.... at this rate, Navarathnas will make way for Sahasra ratnas .... except that the price of ratnas by then would ahve crashed, hehe!!
Stalin surely must be turning in his grave!!!

The meaning of Kamakshi

I was listening to Devi Mahatmiyam, rendered by Challakere Brothers online today. In my opinion, Challakere Brothers have the best diction of Sanskrit. The way the pronounced the words really impressed me.

During the course of it, one of the words that they pronounced so beautifully was KAMA-KSHI (Kamakshi). I deliberately put in an eipen in between, for, the brothers give a neat pause between those two syllables KAMA and Kshi. And this set my whole thought process going on why that long pause...   I realized the importance of understanding the meaning of every word, including names that appear in stotrams, instantly... and set about wondering what made them pause.

On the face of it, Kamakshi is one of the many names of Devi or Shakthi in Devi Mahatmiyam, a rendering apparently made with the objective of cooling down the Mother after She quelled Mahishasura, the demon who was wrecking havoc on earth.

The tendency for almost all of us when we recite to listen to Pujas and stotrams is that we focus on the words superficially, since 99% of us either don't know the meaning for most of those "exotic" words or don't bother to  find out - including Yours Truly. However, Challkere Brothers, with their Akshara Shuddham ( clarity of pronunciation) made me stop, for once, and dig this one out... and let me share this with you, on what I see. I don't claim to be any sort of expert on this, but strongly feel that this word is most often misconstrued, often with salacious intent. 

Cursory look into any book with names of Babies - it is very fashionable to find the most exotic name for your child now a days, and these books or online baby name websites come in handy-  tells me that "Kamakshi" means one with voluptuous eyes . 

Want proof? Here is a sample .   http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Kamakshi.html

Others are more benign - "One with loving eyes" ...   basis for this? - Kama ( Loving) Akshi ( Eyes).

On the face of it, looks convincing , especially putting in the context of the trio of Kamakshi, Meeakshi ( one with beautiful eyes like fish)  and Visaalakshi ( one with large, beautful eyes) .  Doesn't it? 

This is where I believe we need to delve a little deeper. Put the story (Puraanam) of Kamakshi in perspective and see what it could really mean.

I look at splitting the word Kamakshi slightly differently. Kaama+kshi=Kaamaakshi . Again, I am no expert in Sanskrit, but I believe this is yet another way to look at it. The letter kshi (root, as it is called in Sanskrit) has several meanings, one of which is " to master or to conquer" . ( The word KsheeNam means to be weak, just as an illustration). So, to me, Kamakshi means one who is the master of desires or emotions. Beware that Kama does not merely mean "lust" or "sex" - that is a narrow definition. Kama is a word that encompasses a variety of feelings , including desire, love ( as in compassion), or plain lust...  in short, any sort of emotion . Hindu Dharma traditionally prescribes that one of the ways to Moksham ( or becoming one with Brahmam or that Supreme Force)  is through control of emotions and senses. Hence, to me, Kamakshi really means "one who helps the individual proceed towards moksham by controlling Kama). 

This is where I believe we need to delve a little deeper. Put the story (Puraanam) of Kamakshi in perspective and see what it could really mean.

 Well, consider the following:

1. The statue of Kamakshi Amman in Kanchi has a rope, a goad or a lance, flower and sugarcane in each of Her four hands. ( Pasam, Ankusham, Pushpam and Baanam... as in Soundarya Lahari's stanza " Paasankusha Pushpabaana hasthe... Jagadheka Matah" ).  What do these signify? To me, they appear to repsent those things that bind one to the world ( by worldly pleasures) . The fact that She has them fimly under control signifies that She would facilitate the Devotee to keep them under control as well.

2. Puja in the temple is performed NOT to the Murthi of Kamkshi directly, but to the Yantram in front. To me, this signifies that the individual focuses on the Yantra towards attaining Mukthi, by giving up all emotions ( the Yantram can be construed as something like a whirlpool or a centrifuge). 

3. It is believed that Adi Shankara did just that - depending on whom you ask- He attained Jeeva Samadhi ( without a trace of his physical body) after sustained penance right there in front of the Yantram. Some say he attained Samadhi in Kedarnath. But there is no proff for either of these claims, but folklore in Kanchipuram surely has this going.

4. According to Shaivaites, there are Pancha Mukthi Sthalams of which Kanchipuram is one

 The Pancha Mukti Sthalas (Places of liberation) are:  * Birth Mukti of Tiruvaarur - if one is born in Tiruvarur, he/she automatically attains Mukti  * Thought Mukti of Tiruvannamalai - if one thinks of Tiruvannamalai, one attains Mukti.  * Residence Mukti in Kanchi - if one lives in Kanchi, he/she attains Mukti.  * Death Mukti in Kasi - if one dies in Kasi, he/she attains Mukti. 

* Sight Mukti in Chidambaram - if one gets Dharshan of the Siva in Chidambaram, he/she gets Mukti.   

Nett of it, Kamakshi can superficially mean one with beautiful, loving eyes, one who is compassionate towards Her devotees etc... but to me, it also means someone who will help the Devotee to give up Kama en-route to Moksham.

This is only my postulation.

Believe it or not

This article has been written in Spe 08....  and now gold is back above $1000 an ounce!!!

THE GLITTERING GOLD & HINDU ASTROLOGY

SHANKAR G HEGDE 28 August 2008, 2:39 AM Usually astrologers having ethics avoid giving predictions related to speculation. I am writing this just to uphold the capacity of Hindu astrology & for the sake of national interest. Of-course I am not revealing the total technical secret. The Hindu New Year chart of Sarvadhari clearly reveals that the gold will be costlier in future. The reasons are, Sun the planet representing gold in mrityu bhaga & Jupiter in the eighth house which represent gold.  According to, "Brihat Samhita ", represents gold (chapter 41& shloka 2). All these calculations show thegold will be untouchable for poor or middle class people. According to some past data related to down fall of gold in international market we can observe the retrograde motion of Jupiter and the bad placement of the Sun from Aries and bad aspect of major malefic on Sun or Aries (12 Jan 2004 to Feb 2004, 1/12/04 to Jan2005, 15/May /2006 to 13/Jun/2006 which was the highest downfall during the recent history from 730 US $/Ounce to 560 US $ /Ounce. These documents are collected from one of the India's top commodity analyst who takes astrological guidelines from me.  Readers can visit the website www.safetradeadvisors.com. On 14th of July of this year onwards the shining of the gold is decreasing. But as earlier mentioned by me it makes difficult the common people to purchase gold, so the price of the gold should increase after 8th of September 2008, when Jupiter's retrograde motion willbecome direct. Chapter 42 and shloka 6 of the Brihat Samhita of Varaha Mihira clearly says the gold should be purchased when the Sun is in Leo and should be disposed only after 5 months, which will enable to gain much profit. According to me around Jan 2009 the price of the gold will be around Rs. 13500/10gm. Or more! So the profit will be around 25 to 30 % per year at the least. Which bank or the financial organization can give such big returns? Our honorable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, advises the opposition party members to change the astrologers. Of course they should! ..... But simultaneously he should realize that during the next elections his party will perform very badly. The renowned economy expert of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji should look into such beautiful authenticity of Hindu astrology. So many temples like Tirupati, Dharmasthala, Kollur Mookambika are having enough funds as bank balance (fixed deposits), which are billions of rupees. If the same money used to purchase the gold, they will bebenefited very much. I don't know about the money flowing into temples of north India. The order should be passed by the PM himself to purchase the gold with respect to the international market. But who will bell the cat? Written on 20/08/2008 at 10 P.M.

Casual sex

This article below clearly shows a society in decadence... not too distant in future, we will be living a jungle life, in a city or a town... when anyone can copulate with anyone else at any time and anywhere... the society is fast losing it's morals and control..

Casual about sex?

By Chelna Khatau, Team iDiva 19 Feb 09   

 

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Image courtesy: ©2009 Jupiterimages

The college grapevine is always buzzing with the stories of who's doing what, and with whom.

For most, it's just good fun. "Time pass," as teenage respondents to a survey described casual sex. After all, what's a little intimacy between buds, right?

Yet, when a recent study conducted by the Family Planning Association of India came out yesterday, it made people go bug-eyed with interest.

Studied activity

Varun Bhatnagar, 19, is very open to the idea of casual sex and has a very interesting reason for it. "Yep, I'd do it! Because it's healthy and a very different experience. It's also fun!" he says with a chuckle.

And a lot of teens would probably agree with him. According to the study, students who had sex with friends and others had risen to 16 per cent in 2008 up from 11 per cent in 2004. Also, in recent years 36 per cent of boys and 11 per cent of girls have admitted to being sexually active.

Are they worrying figures? Psychologist Shartia Shah thinks so. "The statistics are definitely distressing. I have kids, and I have parents coming to me with concerns that their kids are sexually active," she says.

Decoding the psyche of a teen, Dr Shah adds, "Teens have casual sex with their friends because they can relate better to people their own age. They feel they're forming a bond or connection with the other person. Such relationships can go from platonic to sexual or visa versa and there's at least a chance of intimacy her, which is missing when one goes to a commercial sex work."

Yet, Dr Raj Brahmbhatt, sexologist, isn't too worried about the numbers. "It's a trend, yes, but you can't generalise. The study just focuses on parts of Maharashtra and Mumbai. However, the study is definitely an eye opener, as classmates especially, are willing to participate in casual sex."

Alarm bells

But what's really got experts in a tizzy is that part of the report that indicates that sex is largely unprotected.

Prerna, a 19-year-old student from a suburban college, says she "knows a lot of people," who enjoy having 'friends with benefits'. "That's the big thing in college now. They like living on the edge."

But, she says, one of the biggest reasons her friends are comfortable with casual sex is because of the availability of emergency contraceptives and of course, The Pill.

But what about safe sex? To hear her tell it, her friends believe they're safe as long as they're on the Pill. But what almost everyone forgets is Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), which that can be very harmful.

"It's the most worrying part of the study. They don't realise that the morning pills that are advertised on TV are for emergency purposes only. They only protect against pregnancy. We need to make the kids understand that they need to protect themselves against diseases too," says Dr Brahmbhatt.

Brahmbhatt talks of a high percentage of teens contracting STDs and going to "shady places" to get abortions. "If abortions are not done right, they could end up scarring the girl for life."

He believes that the study gives us a good idea of the goings-on in a college kid's life and says the study should be used to educate them about the responsibility that comes with the act.

Freedom of speech

I am against taking any attacks personally on anyone anywhere. To me, it smacks of lack of basic humantarian decency. Democracy and freedom of speech, in my opinion, have their limits. One can have his right to expression as long as it does not hurt the sentiments of the others.

Below is a news from today's Economic Times, which talks about influential groups in the US vehemently protessting a "racist cartoon". Fair enough. 

But when a similar controversy erupted in Europe ( Denmark, Norway and a couple of other countries) about 2 years ago, when their newspapers depicted cartoons about the holy person of a particular religion ( we all know this, dont we?), that particular community erupted in protest, virtually across the world. The response of these western guardians of freedom of speech?  - " we have every right to express ourselves"...  

The current case at hand certainly smacks of double standards of the West.

My take on all this? Parody is OK, pun is fine, poking mildly is OK, but dont hit below the belt... that is plain indecent

Read on......

Monkey cartoon sparks racial row in US 19 Feb 2009, 1426 hrs IST, AGENCIES

NEW YORK: A New York Post cartoon that some have interpreted as comparing US President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police  More Pictures drew outrage from civil rights leaders and elected officials who said it echoed racist stereotypes of African-Americans as monkeys.  The cartoon in Wednesday's Post by Sean Delonas shows two police officers, one with a smoking gun, standing over the body of a bullet-riddled chimp. The caption reads: “They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”  The cartoon refers to a chimpanzee named Travis who was killed on Monday by police in Stamford, Connecticut, after it mauled a friend of its owner.  Some critics called the cartoon racist and said it trivialized a tragedy in which a woman was disfigured and a beloved chimpanzee killed. Others said the cartoon suggests that Obama should be assassinated. Many urged a boycott of the Post and the companies that advertise in it.  ``How could the Post let this cartoon pass as satire?'' said Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists. ``To compare the nation's first African-American commander in chief to a dead chimpanzee is nothing short of racist drivel.''  State Sen. Eric Adams called it a ``throwback to the days'' when black men were lynched.  The Rev. Al Sharpton, an influential civil rights leader, called the cartoon ``troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys.''  The cartoon set off a furious response against the Post. Its phones rang all day with angry callers. Protesters picketed the tabloid's Manhattan offices, demanding an apology and a boycott and chanting ``shut the Post down.''  Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post, defended the work. ``The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut,'' Allan said in a statement. ``It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.''  The cartoon drew hundreds of comments on the Internet including at the liberal Huffington Post, where columnist Sam Stein wrote: ``At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it. Most provocatively, it compares the president to a rabid chimp.''  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs declined comment. ``I have not seen the cartoon,'' he told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama returned to Washington from Arizona, where he announced his plan to deal with the foreclosure crisis. ``But I don't think it's altogether newsworthy reading the New York Post.''  It is not the first time that Delonas, the longtime cartoonist for the Post's famed Page Six, has raised eyebrows with a heavy-handed caricature.  An earlier Delonas cartoon made fun of Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills for having only one leg, and another compared gay people seeking marriage licenses to sheep lovers. In a cartoon last month, an enormous Jessica Simpson dumps boyfriend Tony Romo for Ronald McDonald, the mascot of McDonald's.

Valentine's day

The frenzy about Valentine's Day in India is increasing with every year, especially in the big cities. At this rate, it is a matter of time before the village simpleton replaces his "Yasappaattu" with greeting cards- or so would the media have us believe. 

The most surprising aspect is that in the Western world, Valentine's Day sure is celebrated with gusto, but certainly the frenzy that you see in the India media is missing. We are almost made to believe that NOT giving a gift to your spousse or to your boyfriend or girlfriend is a crime under the Indian Penal Code!!! If you fail to recognize V Day, then you belong to the Neanderthal age... if you fail to produce that surprise gift to that target audience, then you are not part of this "in-thing" crowd... 

I do not want to get into the debate on whether all this hoopla is right or wrong. I personally feel it is absurd, but I guess that arguement can be reserved for a later date. But culturally speaking, Indians are NOT attuned to the concept of openly espousing their love for their "sweethearts" .... at least not in open public.. no wonder,  such acts as  V Day gestures in public are provoking a significant section of the public to revolt against this "invasive and undesirable" cultural practice.

To those who support this new "in thing" , let me pose this question - why do you need a new excuse to showcase your affection for your "partner"in public? Have you even bothered to find out the significance of our own age-old festivals, and celebrations, before deciding that they are irrelevant in today's "Netbook" world , or deciding in favour of this new "hep" thing call V Day?

If you have not even made an attept to find out about our own age-old culture, practices, traditions and festitivies before deciding to abandon them, then I am convinced that you have been brain-washed into believing that whatever comes from the West HAS to be good all the time, and whatever that is Desi, simply cannot be good at all for today's "modern" society.  This, to me, is  matter of shame, coming from a country that used to practice "Tharka Shastram"  and other democratic forms of open debate. It shows that Indians, in general, have stopped believing that they have a mind of their own.  No wonder one sees the degradation of the Indian society over time, morally.

And to those "self appointed" guardians of culture who claim that women doing this in public is unacceptable and that this invasion should be resisted at all costss and in all ways, even if it means taking the law into your own hands, pray, who gave you the authority to do so? What were you doing when your father abandoned the traditional "kudumi"in favour of a "modern" hair cut?  What were you doing when women started showing off their anaotomy in public, ableit in glimpese only, by making sure that not only their computers , but also their blouses have "Windows"? What were you doing when every man in the village deemed it a matter of status sympbol to have a battery of harems? Where were you, when politicians openly talk about an MP seat in terms of Return on Investments and payback period?  What were you doing, watching personal integrity of the average indivdual on the street vanish into thin air, much like the profits in Wall Street?  Who gave you the authority to decide what is right and what iss wrong, and worse, take the law into your own hands to enforce that?   You need to realize that every culture HAS to go through changes, some of which are welcome and some of which are not. A culture and society that does not morph over time is doomed to extinction. 

I am not, for a moment, asking everyone to accept EVERYTHING new that comes your way, and simply consign age-old practices to the dustbin without exploring and undersstanding them. The first and fremost is, try and understand the rationale behind every action and practice in vogue. Then debate what is relevant in today's context and what is not. And then implement the ones that you feel suit you and the society at large, over the future course. The final acceptability of this will of course, depend upon what the LARGER SOCIETY accepts and rejects.  Trying to impose your own views on the society by using the power of muscle is nothing short of hooligamism, and deserves to be outrightly rejected.

Baltic Dry Index

There has been a 150% increase in the BDI ovewr the last two months or so... does it mean that the Economies are reounding? I dont think so. To me, this looks more of a technical correction from the steep past int he preceeding months... the BDI had fallen to a 22 year low...

It is a matter of time before this consoldiates and resumes it's downward trend.

Clearly, we are nowhere near coming out of the woods