USA trounces Brazil to win (hypothetical) World Cup

USA proved yet again that they are the number one nation in the world, and this time not for military prowess against mighty nations like Afghanistan. They have defeated Brazil in the hypothetical final of the World Cup 2010.

Although they didn’t exactly beat Brazil, they almost did it. In fact, they would have surely destroyed Brazil had they reached the final, which they didn't, since they were slightly defeated in the second round itself. In fact, their marginal loss in the final, by not qualifying for the inconsequential semi-final, was solely due to the official distraction of the World Cup, the vuvuzelas, and Americans suffered more misery from these horns rather than from Ghana, some third-world nation which does not even have soccer balls, much less stadiums, while America has got all the best balls in the world.

But since they are America, they are still No. 1. From soccer to war to obesity to obscenity, America rules the world.

Reading Between the Lines - 21 - Legitimate occupation

The Hindu, 30-06-2010: India has legitimate interest in Afghanistan: Petraeus

P's C: India has legitimate interest in Afghanistan, unlike us. But then, you know, with nearly $1 trillion in mineral deposits, it doesn't hurt to occupy this third-world country, as long as the greater good of the vast majority of impoverished Americans is taken into account. Like the other time, when we discovered that Iraq had 10% of the world's reserves, and so we decided to... you know, discover imaginable WMDs and... kinda secure that place for the future generations of America: Petraeus

Mario Mazzoleni - former Priest and subsequent Heathen

I had been searching for the last sentence of this paragraph for a very long time, and I found it today. But since this sentence concludes a very controversial paragraph of a final testament of a highly controversial Catholic Priest, I thought I might as well reproduce the para in its entirety.

"The Divine Presence of Sai Baba is, without a doubt, the most important occurrence in the cosmos for thousands of years, and I am happy to have sacrificed my entire career, my reputation, and my life itself, in this cause. This event induces me to express even more strongly the feeling of gratitude that I have towards my parents, whom now I am able to see once more, and whom the Divine Compassion was pleased to spare the great pain of seeing their son, the priest, rejected and condemned by that same institution which had welcomed him as its minister. What that human condemnation took away from me was infinitely less than what I gained - by knowing Sai Baba, and by consecrating all my energies to Him. I am saddened by the thought that some people may have suffered because of my faith, and I humbly beg forgiveness of all those who may have been scandalised by my words or by my actions."

I know how some people might read this, but once you find your Path, you find yourself astonishingly alone, and the clearer you (want to) see your Path, the more you are willing to travel alone. Nobody takes his label(s) with him to the after-life.

Along those very lines, Mario also wrote to the Vatican (reproduced in part):

Between the two alternatives I am offered, either being exiled from the institution of Church, or else being exiled from my conscience, I cannot and will not select the latter. Institutions do not accompany anyone beyond the grave.

Reading Between the Lines - 20 - Saina? You mean Sania?!

The Hindu, 30-06-2010: Saina accorded rousing reception

Saina Nehwal accorded surprising reception given that she is not Sania Malik, Bipasha Basu

or Sonia Gandhi,- oh no... wait a minute, she is not even a cricketer!

Reading Between the Lines - 19 - Clarity of confession

Telegraph, 29-06-2010: Julia Gillard, the new Australian prime minister, has said that she does not believe in God, but has "great respect for religion".

P's C: I know you might be confused, but it's very simple. It's like: I don't believe in murder,

but I have great respect for murderers. I don't believe in terrorism, but I have great respect for terrorists.

Also-ran Cup

Did you know that with all the soccer hoopla ringing out loud, we forgot to note that Indian performers actually defeated Sri Lankan cricketers to lift a meaningless trophy in an insignificant competition. Yes, we have done it. And since this is over, ex-stage entertainers like Yuvraj Singh return to the squad to play ('play' as in 'drama') it out in a test series.

With 500 million men, India has taken sports entertainment to the next low level.

Terrorism of Truth

The way the five Americans in Pakistan were sentenced to ten years on terrorism charges, and the diametrically opposite manner in which Pakistan is going about the Mumbai terrorism case, one can assume this much:

Hypocrisy in individuals is condemnable, but in nations, it even seems advisable.

However, no political system or nation outlives the usefulness of its ideology, if there is no innate goodness in the driving principle. Liberty is selfish, religion is divisive. Sanathana Dharma is neither.

Changing your mother

Of late, I have been out of touch with virtual reality. But Nikki Haley's victory has helped me break free of my shackles. Why her? She has won as the Rep. nominee for governor in S. Carolina. But what's the problem here?

She exemplifies a trend, which is also dotted by Bobby Jindal. The Republican party likes Christian Republicans, if not just Caucasian Christian Republicans. So, what do would-be politicians do? They become Christian not for Christ's sake.

Moot point: Changing religion to suit your political aspirations is like changing your mother to the suit your wife's inclinations.

Absolute Reality

I just came across this brilliant one-liner from the most brilliant piece of humanity, Einstein:

People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.

In the reality of relativity, there is no East and West, and Western physics and Eastern philosophy are one and the same.

Call to Alms: Nothing is garbage

Dear anybody who reads this blog:

If you are from the UAE, kindly let me know if you have any unwanted household/electronic items, childrens' toys, accessories, novels, show-case items, etc. A group of people will sell these items in garage sales, and the proceeds will go to fund dialysis sessions for kidney patients in six hospitals in Kerala.

If you have childrens' books and used clothes (for both adults and children, and which are in washed/pressed condition), these are also acceptable. These will be delivered straight to an orphanage in Kerala which also shelters mentally challenged children.

Please note that I can come to pick it from your premises. If you have anything to donate, kindly email me at praveen dot prabhakaran at gmail dot com

“One Man’s trash can always be another man’s treasure.”

Charitable institutions run on your gratitude. Only a constant connection with the less fortunate will offer you a constant sense of gratitude.

BP: Beyond Profits

The Hindu, 09-06-2010: BP: will donate oil spill revenue to Gulf wildlife fund

P's C: I shed a tear of joy when I read this. These are the corporations that have set the benchmark for philanthropy. While small businesses are making money out there in the most unethical manner possible, here is one behemoth who is setting the standards for responsible exploitation, I mean business.

Just look at the numbers, and you'll agree with me. We have around 10-20000 barrels per day spewing out, and BP collecting around 1000 barrels per day as of yesterday. With oil averaging at USD 80 a barrel last quarter, BP will be donating a massive USD 80,000 per day. How many companies do we know that are this generous? Very few. The only other companies that come to mind are Shell and Philip Morris.

An irrelevant footnote to the above would be that BP's turnover in 2009 was only USD 246,000,000,000, or and insignificant USD 673,900,000 per day, of which a mind-blowing 0.01% for the relatives of oil-drowned wildlife.

I don't know why I am saying this, but if you need to be part of legalized crime, be an oil company.

SABN Classic - 04 - Heartless Heads

SABN Speaketh:

The Head will never find any reason for doing good to others. The Heart will do good to others without finding any reason!

Blowing your fuse at the slightest...

I have not-accidentally stumbled upon yet another profoundly offensive truth:

The citizens of Trichur citizenry have to have the shortest fuse in all of Kerala.

It's like this. Our scriptures state that food is of three types: sathwic, tamasic and rajasic. As you would know, the best is sathwic, and the absolute worst is rajasic. Chilli and anything with chilli are for sure rajasic. Rajasic food makes you, of course, angry and aggressive.

That was the premise. Now, the district which consumes the maximum amount of chilli in Kerala is undoubtedly, Trichur. We add chilli to just about anything we take in. And in doubles. So, it must mean that people in Trichur are the most rajasic in all of Kerala (remember, Trivandrum is not a part of Kerala). And which means, they will get angry even before I end this sentence. And, I have read that anger is the worst manifestation of ego. Which means that people in Trichur are the most, ah well, never mind.

Why worry when I am comfy?

From what I hear, my ex-Wing has decided to stop the Employment Seva for the sake of reorganization. I guess it was not worth it. But what if I were a jobless man right now, and on my last legs? Would any job-lead not drive me?

The path to success should be rode on with gratitude. Gratitude in speech is a politician's promise.

Rewiring to recycle

Coinciding with the World Environmental Day, June 5th 2010, was a statistic I read today that 96% of household waste in Sweden is recycled as material or as energy. Place a dot between the 9 and the 6 and we are in the UAE.

Being way bottom is actually good, as you don't have to fall any further. But seriously, how does one start in a country that knows not the concept of reuse, as this is a third-world term, and not one associated with oil-affluence?

One starts with one person. Just like all revolutions start with one person's evolution. EEG seems to be doing a great job in this respect and I think our organization should be proud of supporting them. However, external support is secondary. How can we help in a less recognized, but actually more effective manner?

Turn vegetarian, and if you live alone, turn vegan.

Spelling our blood

Out of the past 11 years, 7 Indian Americans have won the spelling bee contest. Many of them went to the IV league universities after that, which means if you spell right, you are IV smart.

But, I really don't know. What I figured out from the GMAT was that the GMAT tests just one thing: how good you are at taking the GMAT. Some of the smartest people I have known have been at sea when it comes to English. Our inane passion for the English language, has been at the tragic expense of our mothertongue. I, for one, live a life so culturally impoverished that I will take my embarrassment to my grave. Having failed to learn Malayalam (the only palindrome) during my formative years, I am always forced to switch to English to convey anything meaningful. But the Generation (Why) will do anything and everything to flaunt their English range at no given opportunity, while simultaneously tucking in our Indian heritage under the carpet of self-inflicted shame. Every time I go to Bangalore, I sense this sentiment. The yearning for the American passport, the retching in tavern fashion, the mini-skirting of Indian dressing, et al. This overwhelming identity crisis has hit even Kerala, where people were, hitherto, only foolish enough to be Communist. You go to Cochin, and they respond in English, although they still sneeze in Malayalam.

Why the urge of every Indian to renounce the Indian in him/her? The British were good at two things,- enslaving us physically, and disrobing us psychologically. A body dies with death, but a cultural leftover leaves a very long hangover.

We are still not free to be Indian again.

The Kremlin of misconceptions

Outside the real Kremlin.

Despite all the aura and history associated with the seat of the Soviet government, the Kremlin is much smaller than you would assume. Just like the Mona Lisa is much smaller than it seems to be in pictures.

And it seems that, there are many kremlins in Russia. In fact, the Kremlin that the world knows is the one referred to in Russia, and is more of a figure of speech. It actually refers to any fortress or castle in Russia.

Finally, like ironies, which seem to so banal now that they can't be called ironies anymore, what we see currently of the fortress and structures was built, ironically, by Italians, not Russians.

Beautiful still, and not crazy.

The Red Square

The Red Square, in the nature of squares like the famous Times and our local Nasser, is anything but square. And like the Times one, and unlike your local Nasser, this is huge.

The whole Red Square complex, along with the Kremlin

on one side, and one humongous building on the other long side, is a massive cobblestoned ground. It actually served as a market place, and as an area for official ceremonies. Outside where I am standing is exactly where the Russian President might be residing if he had been in Russia.

Now, as the final irony from my Russian trip, the name Red Square does not refer to the colour of the bricks of the fortress. Nor does it connote the Communist link of this country. Rather, the word comes from a meaning of red in Russia to denote something 'beautiful'.

Beautiful it truly is. And like all things Russian, truly big as well.

St. Peterscool

Outside the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is an interesting city. The Venice of the North, or Petrograd or Leningrad or Piter depending on who was/is referring to it, is the second largest city of Russia, the largest by cool factor, the poshest by style factor, and the northernmost in the world for cities having over 1 million people. It is also the erstwhile capital of the Russian Empire.

This beautiful structure, outside which I am standing just for being photographed standing outside, was built on the very spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Alexander II was actually a noble king, who ultimately paid a price for being good.

He was the one who abolished the serf (enslavement of Russian farmers, just like you still see in modern-day Bihar) system, among other reforms that he initiated. He was finally assassinated by revolutionaries, who actually got an opportunity to even think only because he had allowed them to. And Just like Jesus, who paid with his life for the good of man, this king too paid similarly. But then, the Emperor at least got a cool church made in his honour.

As an irony, despite the church’s very Russian style, its principle architect, was not even Russian.

Mother Russia

Made a trip to Russia last week. However, given the geographical, cultural and historical size of the country, my trip was the knowledge equivalent of dipping one's hands in the water to gauge the depth of the ocean.

Having said that, the short stays were stays, no doubt. This is a vastly different country than what one from Dubai is led to believe. This might be Communist, but then, the only flavour of Communism comes from the buildings. The public buildings of both St. Petersburg and Moscow are largely plain, and without any balconies. They look like huge, long, windowed walls, rather than facades,- too plain and foreboding to be capitalist. But then, the feeling of Communism ends there. And, to note, the older structures carry a prestige, heritage and legacy unto their own, and seem too W. European to be Russian. To put things in perspective, the only way you would guess you were in Moscow and not in Milano would be from the road signs. Otherwise, everything seems perfectly W. European. And just like in Milano, no one will speak English for sure.

Both cities seem to be thriving capitalist hotbeds. All the visible signs of flourishing capitalism are there for view,- the Bentleys, the poverty, the high-rises, the high-end clothing stores, et al. By the way, Russia and India shared a lot of camaraderie during the 60s till the late 90s. I guess it peaked during the 'Mera Naam Joker' period. In fact, I got a pleasant surprise when one of the hotel channels showed the Raj Kapoor-Madhubala 'Chori Chori' movie dubbed in Russian. Also, made me realize that some foreigners actually like Hindi movies, in spite of the fact that most Hindi movies are like Telugu and Kannada movies, also, less ridiculous.

Another possible product of the India-Russia bha-bhai culture of the 70s is evident on the roads. Take the power of European cards, the speed unlimits of American freeways and the road manners of Indian drivers, and behold, you are driving in Russia. Also, for the former Communist HQ of the world, Russians are delightfully superstitious. My hotel did not have a 13th floor, and this seems very common here.

Finally, Russia is also noteworthy for me for a different reason. This is the first trip where I have had the tragedy to be body scanned at the airport. However, my first experience in St. Petersburg happened so fast, that I forgot to be embarrassed. And only then did it strike me why most staff at the airport were female.

Great going, Mother Russia!

Painless suffering

Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (courtesy of SABN, and at only timely) :

Pleasure is only an interval between two pains. Pain is inevitable in life- It is Suffering that is optional.

Out of touch (with reality)

I have been out of touch of late, as there have been incidents that cannot be reproduced here for the time-being, considering the condition that some of the readers of this blog are in right now. But let's just say that God's plan is always for the good.

I am reproducing here a touching poem by Annie Johnson Flint, and it seems just apposite.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.