1. Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton.
It's elections in the US today. Will it be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton who's gonna be the next President? The long wait is going to be over soon.
Anyone of them can make it but the fundamentals won't change, can't change. The new incumbent will be bound by the traditional positions that the country has been following, be it in terms of foreign policy, fiscal and economic policies and the general attitude of the American public, the election rhetoric of the individuals notwithstanding.
Donald Trump is a rank outsider, in that he wasn't a politician till he put his hat in the ring. From that perspective, he could bring in new initiatives and formulate policies by thinking out of the box! In the process, he could turn out to be the unexpected statesman. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is the first female contender for the post and perhaps, her win can bring about a change in thinking, the world over, in providing a tempered leadership sans male chauvinism!
On a personal level, I'd like Donald Trump to win because it's gonna be a change. While saying this I must reiterate that I do not know anything more about him other than what the media has projected him to be, especially after he won his party's nomination.
2. 'Darkness at noon in New Delhi.
Delhi has been in the grips of the bad effects of pollution over the last week. The cold weather has added to the woes. It's a testimony to the fact that 'protecting the environment' is mere lip service paid by the political class and the government - which is its extension - to a serious problem. In these days of modernity and galloping technology, the protection of the environment is an important aspect and if we do not do anything we'll be letting down the younger generation by handing over a problem ridden world, unfit to live.
And mind you, let not the blame for the present state be dumped on Arvind Kejriwal and his government - no, I ain't his supporter nor am I his party loyalist. It is the result of faulty decisions over the years, made with recklessness to satisfy the vote banks, with scant respect to environment safety!
Having talked about the problem, what are the remedial measures? Let me cite a few which should be carried out forthwith, without fear or favour:-
(a) Do not allow any vehicle, that are pollutants, to ply on the roads. Emphasise on the use of the
public transportation system to the extent feasible and to share private vehicles.
(b) Do not allow burning of waste/dry grass. If it's absolutely necessary, have them collected and
burnt only, after the current phase of pollution has passed, in phases.
(c) Lock out industrial/manufacturing units that contribute to pollution. Have them brought under
the 'green protocol'.
(d) And most importantly, provide as many masks as possible to the citizens along with air
purifiers at acceptable rates without letting vendors to take advantage of the situation!
3. Putting restrictions on the media.
An inter-ministerial committee's order of a day's ban on the broadcast of NDTV India and News Time Assam - on 09 Nov - portends unhealthy trends which must be cancelled forthwith. Let there be no ego trips on that.
If the government had felt that there has been a breach of faith by the channels in broadcasting news contents - harmful to national interests or for whatever reasons - the matter should have been referred to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority(NBSA), an independent self regulatory body of the of the National Broadcasters Association(NBA).
Tailpiece.
(a) A quiet day otherwise. Radhan chettan's reports are yet to arrive and therefore, it was another day of uneasy wait!
(b) Today's the 5th remembrance day of Santhan Kochachhan. A fantastic soul with whom I'd a good rapport and we're partners in the game of 28 in cards. He was too good and together we were formidable. Missing your presence, kochachha.
It's elections in the US today. Will it be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton who's gonna be the next President? The long wait is going to be over soon.
Anyone of them can make it but the fundamentals won't change, can't change. The new incumbent will be bound by the traditional positions that the country has been following, be it in terms of foreign policy, fiscal and economic policies and the general attitude of the American public, the election rhetoric of the individuals notwithstanding.
Donald Trump is a rank outsider, in that he wasn't a politician till he put his hat in the ring. From that perspective, he could bring in new initiatives and formulate policies by thinking out of the box! In the process, he could turn out to be the unexpected statesman. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is the first female contender for the post and perhaps, her win can bring about a change in thinking, the world over, in providing a tempered leadership sans male chauvinism!
On a personal level, I'd like Donald Trump to win because it's gonna be a change. While saying this I must reiterate that I do not know anything more about him other than what the media has projected him to be, especially after he won his party's nomination.
2. 'Darkness at noon in New Delhi.
Delhi has been in the grips of the bad effects of pollution over the last week. The cold weather has added to the woes. It's a testimony to the fact that 'protecting the environment' is mere lip service paid by the political class and the government - which is its extension - to a serious problem. In these days of modernity and galloping technology, the protection of the environment is an important aspect and if we do not do anything we'll be letting down the younger generation by handing over a problem ridden world, unfit to live.
And mind you, let not the blame for the present state be dumped on Arvind Kejriwal and his government - no, I ain't his supporter nor am I his party loyalist. It is the result of faulty decisions over the years, made with recklessness to satisfy the vote banks, with scant respect to environment safety!
Having talked about the problem, what are the remedial measures? Let me cite a few which should be carried out forthwith, without fear or favour:-
(a) Do not allow any vehicle, that are pollutants, to ply on the roads. Emphasise on the use of the
public transportation system to the extent feasible and to share private vehicles.
(b) Do not allow burning of waste/dry grass. If it's absolutely necessary, have them collected and
burnt only, after the current phase of pollution has passed, in phases.
(c) Lock out industrial/manufacturing units that contribute to pollution. Have them brought under
the 'green protocol'.
(d) And most importantly, provide as many masks as possible to the citizens along with air
purifiers at acceptable rates without letting vendors to take advantage of the situation!
3. Putting restrictions on the media.
An inter-ministerial committee's order of a day's ban on the broadcast of NDTV India and News Time Assam - on 09 Nov - portends unhealthy trends which must be cancelled forthwith. Let there be no ego trips on that.
If the government had felt that there has been a breach of faith by the channels in broadcasting news contents - harmful to national interests or for whatever reasons - the matter should have been referred to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority(NBSA), an independent self regulatory body of the of the National Broadcasters Association(NBA).
Tailpiece.
(a) A quiet day otherwise. Radhan chettan's reports are yet to arrive and therefore, it was another day of uneasy wait!
(b) Today's the 5th remembrance day of Santhan Kochachhan. A fantastic soul with whom I'd a good rapport and we're partners in the game of 28 in cards. He was too good and together we were formidable. Missing your presence, kochachha.
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