They say every cloud has a silver lining.
What is the silver lining in the Mumbai attack
For one, I hope it makes the politicians act in a responsible manner, which will benefit the nation, instead of playing vote bank politics.
For, I warn, the next time this type of incident occurs, politicians will be lynched on sight like dacoits caught by the vigilante groups in villages and the security forces will push them in the forefront to face the terrorists bullets and not sit in the comfort of their suites using their lap-tops to plan poll campaign, or make speeches of Zero Tolerance.
However, I see a another benefit.
The England cricket team has left India in the middle of the series.
I hope this will be a sign to reduce the amount of cricket in the sub-continent.
The BCCI and ICC are milking a cash cow so excessively that it has destroyed my interest in the game.
I hope now we have a non-cricketing holiday.
I know my views will not go down well with everybody, but there it is.
Radheshyam
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Mumbai Terror - Pakistan Direct involvment
This is to open the eyes of those who advocate peace with our neighbours, specifically Pakistan.
The ISI, through Lashkar were intrinsically in involved the action which took place in Mumbai.
If oil and water could mix, Pakistan could live peacefully with India.
If our governement had any sense, it would stop all contacts with Pakistan.
All bus service / train service or air service should be stopped.
All trade should be stopped.
There is no point is just sending the army at the boarder as the BJP had done and calling it back after some time.
We cannot go to war unless they mount it.And if they mount it, we should give them a fitting response and take and keeps Lahore and adjoining areas.
The oil pipe line from Iran through Pakistan should be scrapped.
No cricket or cultural exchanges and inviting their artistes to India.
If Mulayum Singh or Amar Singh object, they should be
exported to live in Pakistan.
This matter is too serious for a "zero tolerance" incompetent government,
and some strong army general should take over.
By the way, how many zeros does it take to make a figure "zero"
I ask this question in all seriousness as again on 29.11.08 at the the highest decision making body in the congress, the CWC passed a resolution "zero tolerance" towards terrorism was the only answer. The committee urged Manmohan Singh to give "a fitting and hard-hitting reply" to terrorists who dared to challenge the nation's sovereignty.
Mr Singh is waiting for Sonia Gandhi to help him draft the "fitting reply"
Radheshyam
NEW DELHI: The gang of terrorists who wreaked mayhem in Mumbai for three days were made to believe by their Lashkar bosses that they were not being sent on a suicide mission and that they would be coming back alive.
In a sensational disclosure made by Ajmal, the jihadi nabbed alive by Mumbai cops, the group had planned to sail out on Thursday. Their recruiters had even charted out the return route for them and stored it on the GPS device, which they had used to navigate their way to the Mumbai shoreline.
This suggests that the terrorists were willing to undertake a mission which they knew would be very risky, but not necessarily suicidal.
Sources said that the bait of safe return must have been used by the recruiters to convince the wavering among the group to join the audacious plot against Mumbai.
Ajmal made another important disclosure: that all terrorists were trained in marine warfare along with the special course Daura-e-Shifa conducted by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in what at once transforms the nature of the planning from a routine terror strike and into a specialized raid by commandos.
Battle-hardened ATS officials are surprised by the details of the training the terrorists were put through before being despatched for the macabre mission. This was very different from a terrorist attack, and amounted to an offensive from the seam, said a source.
Ajmal has revealed the name of his fellow jihadis all Pakistani citizens as Abu Ali, Fahad, Omar, Shoaib, Umer, Abu Akasha, Ismail, Abdul Rahman (Bara) and Abdul Rahman (Chhota).
The account of Ajmal also strengthens the doubt of the complicity of powerful elements in the Pakistani establishment. According to him, the group set off on November 21 from an isolated creek near Karachi without the deadly cargo of arms and ammunition they were to use against the innocents in Mumbai. The group received arms and ammunition on board a large Pakistani vessel which picked them up the following day. The vessel, whose ownership is now the subject of an international probe, had four Pakistanis apart from the crew.
A day later, they came across an Indian-owned trawler, Kuber, which was promptly commandeered on the seas. Four of the fishermen who were on the trawler were killed, but its skipper, or tandel in fishermen lingo, Amarjit Singh, was forced to proceed towards India. Amarjit was killed the next day, and Ismail the terrorist who was killed at Girgaum Chowpaty took the wheel.
A trained sailor, Ismail used the GPS to reach Mumbai coast on November 26. The group, however, slowed down its advance as they had reached during the day time while the landing was planned after dusk. The group shifted to inflatable boats, before disembarking at Badhwar Park in Cuffe Parade.
From there, they mandated to kill indiscriminately, particularly white foreign tourists, and spare Muslims split up into five batches. Two of them Ismail and Ajmal took a taxi to Victoria Terminus. Three other batches of two each headed for Oberoi Hotel, Cafe Leopold and Nariman House. The remaining four went to Taj Hotel.
He may have been motivated enough to kill innocents indiscriminately. In police custody, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the terrorist who was caught alive by
the Mumbai police at Girgaum Chowpaty, has been forthcoming with details about the attack on Mumbai and his accomplices, all suspected Lashkar operatives from Pakistan.
Kasab, who sustained minor injuries in the police firing that killed his partner Abu Ismail (25) on Wednesday night, was produced before the Esplanade Metropolitan Magistrate on Friday. The magistrate remanded him to police custody till December 8. Incidentally, Kasab and Ismail were the two who gunned down ATS chief Hemant Karkare, additional CP Ashok Kamthe and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.
Kasab told the police that he and 9 others got off a vessel about 10 nautical miles from Mumbai and shifted to two boats hijacked from fishermen.
One source in ATS familiar with the details of the interrogation quoted him saying that in all 16 fidayeens came to Mumbai on Wednesday. A native of Faridkot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), 21-year-old Kasab told police they had done a reccee of Mumbai few months ago. He said he had come along with eight of the operatives to Mumbai as students and lived in a rented room at Colaba market, a stone's throw away from Nariman House.
The ISI, through Lashkar were intrinsically in involved the action which took place in Mumbai.
If oil and water could mix, Pakistan could live peacefully with India.
If our governement had any sense, it would stop all contacts with Pakistan.
All bus service / train service or air service should be stopped.
All trade should be stopped.
There is no point is just sending the army at the boarder as the BJP had done and calling it back after some time.
We cannot go to war unless they mount it.And if they mount it, we should give them a fitting response and take and keeps Lahore and adjoining areas.
The oil pipe line from Iran through Pakistan should be scrapped.
No cricket or cultural exchanges and inviting their artistes to India.
If Mulayum Singh or Amar Singh object, they should be
exported to live in Pakistan.
This matter is too serious for a "zero tolerance" incompetent government,
and some strong army general should take over.
By the way, how many zeros does it take to make a figure "zero"
I ask this question in all seriousness as again on 29.11.08 at the the highest decision making body in the congress, the CWC passed a resolution "zero tolerance" towards terrorism was the only answer. The committee urged Manmohan Singh to give "a fitting and hard-hitting reply" to terrorists who dared to challenge the nation's sovereignty.
Mr Singh is waiting for Sonia Gandhi to help him draft the "fitting reply"
Radheshyam
NEW DELHI: The gang of terrorists who wreaked mayhem in Mumbai for three days were made to believe by their Lashkar bosses that they were not being sent on a suicide mission and that they would be coming back alive.
In a sensational disclosure made by Ajmal, the jihadi nabbed alive by Mumbai cops, the group had planned to sail out on Thursday. Their recruiters had even charted out the return route for them and stored it on the GPS device, which they had used to navigate their way to the Mumbai shoreline.
This suggests that the terrorists were willing to undertake a mission which they knew would be very risky, but not necessarily suicidal.
Sources said that the bait of safe return must have been used by the recruiters to convince the wavering among the group to join the audacious plot against Mumbai.
Ajmal made another important disclosure: that all terrorists were trained in marine warfare along with the special course Daura-e-Shifa conducted by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in what at once transforms the nature of the planning from a routine terror strike and into a specialized raid by commandos.
Battle-hardened ATS officials are surprised by the details of the training the terrorists were put through before being despatched for the macabre mission. This was very different from a terrorist attack, and amounted to an offensive from the seam, said a source.
Ajmal has revealed the name of his fellow jihadis all Pakistani citizens as Abu Ali, Fahad, Omar, Shoaib, Umer, Abu Akasha, Ismail, Abdul Rahman (Bara) and Abdul Rahman (Chhota).
The account of Ajmal also strengthens the doubt of the complicity of powerful elements in the Pakistani establishment. According to him, the group set off on November 21 from an isolated creek near Karachi without the deadly cargo of arms and ammunition they were to use against the innocents in Mumbai. The group received arms and ammunition on board a large Pakistani vessel which picked them up the following day. The vessel, whose ownership is now the subject of an international probe, had four Pakistanis apart from the crew.
A day later, they came across an Indian-owned trawler, Kuber, which was promptly commandeered on the seas. Four of the fishermen who were on the trawler were killed, but its skipper, or tandel in fishermen lingo, Amarjit Singh, was forced to proceed towards India. Amarjit was killed the next day, and Ismail the terrorist who was killed at Girgaum Chowpaty took the wheel.
A trained sailor, Ismail used the GPS to reach Mumbai coast on November 26. The group, however, slowed down its advance as they had reached during the day time while the landing was planned after dusk. The group shifted to inflatable boats, before disembarking at Badhwar Park in Cuffe Parade.
From there, they mandated to kill indiscriminately, particularly white foreign tourists, and spare Muslims split up into five batches. Two of them Ismail and Ajmal took a taxi to Victoria Terminus. Three other batches of two each headed for Oberoi Hotel, Cafe Leopold and Nariman House. The remaining four went to Taj Hotel.
He may have been motivated enough to kill innocents indiscriminately. In police custody, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the terrorist who was caught alive by
the Mumbai police at Girgaum Chowpaty, has been forthcoming with details about the attack on Mumbai and his accomplices, all suspected Lashkar operatives from Pakistan.
Kasab, who sustained minor injuries in the police firing that killed his partner Abu Ismail (25) on Wednesday night, was produced before the Esplanade Metropolitan Magistrate on Friday. The magistrate remanded him to police custody till December 8. Incidentally, Kasab and Ismail were the two who gunned down ATS chief Hemant Karkare, additional CP Ashok Kamthe and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.
Kasab told the police that he and 9 others got off a vessel about 10 nautical miles from Mumbai and shifted to two boats hijacked from fishermen.
One source in ATS familiar with the details of the interrogation quoted him saying that in all 16 fidayeens came to Mumbai on Wednesday. A native of Faridkot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), 21-year-old Kasab told police they had done a reccee of Mumbai few months ago. He said he had come along with eight of the operatives to Mumbai as students and lived in a rented room at Colaba market, a stone's throw away from Nariman House.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Msgs from Old Boys 48
Msg from Ranjan Guha
Hello Friends,
Additional Centenary DVD’s as well as the replacements of the defective DVD’s are expected this week-end. I shall inform you as soon as these arrive and also inform you how and from where you can collect these replacements / new DVD’s.
However, Kurseong has informed me that the DVD’s had been tested before they were sent to Kolkata and hence they have expressed surprise that Kolkata is reporting defective DVD’s.
So friends, please check your defective DVD’s once again making sure that you are playing the DVD on a DVD player and not a CD player. Please also remember that if you are not satisfied with the overall contents of the DVD or the way and manner in which the DVD has been prepared, please remember that this does not qualify a DVD as being defective.
We appeal to all to keep in mind that Kurseong / Darjeeling / Siliguri is not technically as advanced as say Kolkata or Delhi or Mumbai etc. and moreover they have many other handicaps and lack technically advanced infrastructure, which we, city folks lucky to have access to. Kurseong has tied to make the best of a handicapped situation and we should all salute them for that and not crip and complain. Surely we did not expect Kurseong / the organizers of the Centenary Celebrations to ‘import’ a professional videographer from Kolkata or Delhi who may have produced a far better and more presentable DVD.
Therefore, friends, please claim a replacement ONLY if your copy of the DVD is technically defective and not because you may be dis-satisfied with the quality of the recording / contents.
Another bit of information ……… Are you guys aware that one of our school-mates (from Kolkata) has donated a Huge Challenge Shield to the School during the Centenary Celebrations last November ? SURPRISED ? Well. I too heard about it only the other day and I was taken-a-back and dismayed that this did not get reported nor did we get to see the CHALLENGE SHIELD. It is sad that this CHALLENGE SHIELD did not find a place, or even a mention, during the presentation ceremony in the study-hall or in front of the box-room. The presentation ceremony in front of the box-room (was exclusively for teachers and staff but surely a few minutes could have been squeezed in during the ceremony (official or un-official) on the stage in the study-hall
Reportedly, there were other donations from the Sikkim boys as well as from the Kathmandu (Nepal) boys who had driven down all the way from Kathmandu with a huge BELL for the school.
The Sikkim boys had gifted a beautiful wooden (hand-crafted) podium which lay under the main staircase
Both these above gifts too went unreported and unseen
Since I had the privilege and was lucky to have seen both these gifts, I am reporting these to you
We have already initiated moves to get a photograph and other details of this CHLLENGE SHIELD which we plan to put on the public domain along with the name of the donor.
We regret to inform you that after discussions, we have decided to forget the picnic this year, for various reasons, and instead have another get-together in December and we have already started making preparations for the same. We hope to have more school mates attending this get-together, along with their families.
On behalf of all Ex-Goethalites, we have already conveyed our appreciation to the Indian Navy for their deft handling of the pirate situation. This operation was launched by the Western Naval Command but Admiral Nirmal Verma has accepted our appreciation and thanked his school-mates for the same.
Take Care and Keep Smiling.
Ranjan
23.11.2008
Joke sent by Thondup
Chacha kyu pareshan ho???
Chacha, " Abb kya kahoon, Sabse bada beta Stock broker hai, Doosra beta Jet Airways mai Pilot hai, teesra aur sabse pada-likha beta Software Engineer hai. Mera sabse chota beta ek pan-wala hai, bass abb wohi ghar chala raha hai...!!! "
Translation:
"Uncle, why are you worried?"
Uncle, "What should I say son. My eldest son is a stock-broker, the second is a pilot in Jet Airways, the third and the most educated is a software engineer. My youngest son is a pan-walla, he is now taking care of the family expenses"
Hello Friends,
Additional Centenary DVD’s as well as the replacements of the defective DVD’s are expected this week-end. I shall inform you as soon as these arrive and also inform you how and from where you can collect these replacements / new DVD’s.
However, Kurseong has informed me that the DVD’s had been tested before they were sent to Kolkata and hence they have expressed surprise that Kolkata is reporting defective DVD’s.
So friends, please check your defective DVD’s once again making sure that you are playing the DVD on a DVD player and not a CD player. Please also remember that if you are not satisfied with the overall contents of the DVD or the way and manner in which the DVD has been prepared, please remember that this does not qualify a DVD as being defective.
We appeal to all to keep in mind that Kurseong / Darjeeling / Siliguri is not technically as advanced as say Kolkata or Delhi or Mumbai etc. and moreover they have many other handicaps and lack technically advanced infrastructure, which we, city folks lucky to have access to. Kurseong has tied to make the best of a handicapped situation and we should all salute them for that and not crip and complain. Surely we did not expect Kurseong / the organizers of the Centenary Celebrations to ‘import’ a professional videographer from Kolkata or Delhi who may have produced a far better and more presentable DVD.
Therefore, friends, please claim a replacement ONLY if your copy of the DVD is technically defective and not because you may be dis-satisfied with the quality of the recording / contents.
Another bit of information ……… Are you guys aware that one of our school-mates (from Kolkata) has donated a Huge Challenge Shield to the School during the Centenary Celebrations last November ? SURPRISED ? Well. I too heard about it only the other day and I was taken-a-back and dismayed that this did not get reported nor did we get to see the CHALLENGE SHIELD. It is sad that this CHALLENGE SHIELD did not find a place, or even a mention, during the presentation ceremony in the study-hall or in front of the box-room. The presentation ceremony in front of the box-room (was exclusively for teachers and staff but surely a few minutes could have been squeezed in during the ceremony (official or un-official) on the stage in the study-hall
Reportedly, there were other donations from the Sikkim boys as well as from the Kathmandu (Nepal) boys who had driven down all the way from Kathmandu with a huge BELL for the school.
The Sikkim boys had gifted a beautiful wooden (hand-crafted) podium which lay under the main staircase
Both these above gifts too went unreported and unseen
Since I had the privilege and was lucky to have seen both these gifts, I am reporting these to you
We have already initiated moves to get a photograph and other details of this CHLLENGE SHIELD which we plan to put on the public domain along with the name of the donor.
We regret to inform you that after discussions, we have decided to forget the picnic this year, for various reasons, and instead have another get-together in December and we have already started making preparations for the same. We hope to have more school mates attending this get-together, along with their families.
On behalf of all Ex-Goethalites, we have already conveyed our appreciation to the Indian Navy for their deft handling of the pirate situation. This operation was launched by the Western Naval Command but Admiral Nirmal Verma has accepted our appreciation and thanked his school-mates for the same.
Take Care and Keep Smiling.
Ranjan
23.11.2008
Joke sent by Thondup
Chacha kyu pareshan ho???
Chacha, " Abb kya kahoon, Sabse bada beta Stock broker hai, Doosra beta Jet Airways mai Pilot hai, teesra aur sabse pada-likha beta Software Engineer hai. Mera sabse chota beta ek pan-wala hai, bass abb wohi ghar chala raha hai...!!! "
Translation:
"Uncle, why are you worried?"
Uncle, "What should I say son. My eldest son is a stock-broker, the second is a pilot in Jet Airways, the third and the most educated is a software engineer. My youngest son is a pan-walla, he is now taking care of the family expenses"
Raj Thackeray - the imbecile, contd
I am not hearing even a whimper from Raj Thackeray.
He is probably hiding like a mouse under some table praying to the devil.
He couldn't possibly pray to God for a person who believes in God would not have riled against the Northeners, who happen to be his brother Indians.
Has he counted the number of North Indians who are in the NSG presently fighting the terrorists?
The so-called Maratha police force, of whom he seems to be so proud of, has been an utter failure.
Radheshyam
He is probably hiding like a mouse under some table praying to the devil.
He couldn't possibly pray to God for a person who believes in God would not have riled against the Northeners, who happen to be his brother Indians.
Has he counted the number of North Indians who are in the NSG presently fighting the terrorists?
The so-called Maratha police force, of whom he seems to be so proud of, has been an utter failure.
Radheshyam
Blamegame Started
It has taken just one day for our politicians to recover from the shock.
They are back to their old game of blame-passing.
Oh! How I wish our Indian Army took a leaf from their counterparts in Bangla Desh and jailed all politicians of all parties and people connected with them.
Better still, they should all be horded on a ship on the Arabian Sea and shot and thrown into the sea.
At least, then their ghosts would prevent any more attacks from the Arabian Sea.
Radheshyam
New Delhi, Nov. 28: The Congress today lashed out at L.K. Advani, whose party has turned the attack on Mumbai into an election ad campaign in Delhi.
The BJP put out newspaper ads with a slogan on a drop of blood calling the government “unwilling and incapable”. It ends with a call to vote for the party.
Tomorrow is polling day in Delhi.
Science and technology minister Kapil Sibal, speaking for the Congress, accused Advani and his party of using a “human tragedy” for “political opportunism”.
“Is it the time for blame game?” Sibal asked.
“We stood with the government when Akshardham was attacked,” he reminded the BJP.
The BJP was in power at the Centre and in Gujarat when the Akshardham temple was attacked by militants.
“The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi have made strange and unusual statements that lack not just maturity, but national commitment,” Sibal said. “Desire for position should not be above national interest.”
Advani had yesterday criticised the Maharashtra government for failing to gather intelligence to foil the attacks. Modi said today the Prime Minister’s address to the nation was “disappointing”.
“Unfortunately, this human tragedy has been turned into a political opportunity to attack the government by the Opposition,” Sibal said.
Admitting that the UPA government had not foreseen such a massive terrorist attack, Sibal repeated this was not the time for a blame game. “We never imagined that this sort of infiltration will take place in such a meticulous fashion. There must be accountability at all levels,” he said. “Who did it? Whose conspiracy? Whether there is a big conspiracy behind it? What is the motive? It will be revealed only after the investigation.”
The Congress leader added: “I’m not in a position to say who is behind it. We must deal with it. Security of the people must be the top agenda of all the political parties.”
Congress leaders also questioned Modi’s announcement that his government would give Rs 1 crore for the family of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who till the other day was under attack from the BJP, led by Advani, for the Malegaon blast probe.
Senior party leader M. Veerappa Moily said Modi had promised Rs 50,000 to two security personnel injured in the Akshardham attack of 2002 and Rs 10 lakh to a commando seriously injured, but had not given them the money even six years later, adds PTI.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari added that Modi, who said today he had warned the Centre against the use of the sea route by militants, would have a lot to answer for if reports of the boats used by the Mumbai attackers being hijacked from Porbandar are found true.
Tewari claimed that the Centre had earmarked funds for coastal policing but the Gujarat government did not provide the manpower.
They are back to their old game of blame-passing.
Oh! How I wish our Indian Army took a leaf from their counterparts in Bangla Desh and jailed all politicians of all parties and people connected with them.
Better still, they should all be horded on a ship on the Arabian Sea and shot and thrown into the sea.
At least, then their ghosts would prevent any more attacks from the Arabian Sea.
Radheshyam
New Delhi, Nov. 28: The Congress today lashed out at L.K. Advani, whose party has turned the attack on Mumbai into an election ad campaign in Delhi.
The BJP put out newspaper ads with a slogan on a drop of blood calling the government “unwilling and incapable”. It ends with a call to vote for the party.
Tomorrow is polling day in Delhi.
Science and technology minister Kapil Sibal, speaking for the Congress, accused Advani and his party of using a “human tragedy” for “political opportunism”.
“Is it the time for blame game?” Sibal asked.
“We stood with the government when Akshardham was attacked,” he reminded the BJP.
The BJP was in power at the Centre and in Gujarat when the Akshardham temple was attacked by militants.
“The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi have made strange and unusual statements that lack not just maturity, but national commitment,” Sibal said. “Desire for position should not be above national interest.”
Advani had yesterday criticised the Maharashtra government for failing to gather intelligence to foil the attacks. Modi said today the Prime Minister’s address to the nation was “disappointing”.
“Unfortunately, this human tragedy has been turned into a political opportunity to attack the government by the Opposition,” Sibal said.
Admitting that the UPA government had not foreseen such a massive terrorist attack, Sibal repeated this was not the time for a blame game. “We never imagined that this sort of infiltration will take place in such a meticulous fashion. There must be accountability at all levels,” he said. “Who did it? Whose conspiracy? Whether there is a big conspiracy behind it? What is the motive? It will be revealed only after the investigation.”
The Congress leader added: “I’m not in a position to say who is behind it. We must deal with it. Security of the people must be the top agenda of all the political parties.”
Congress leaders also questioned Modi’s announcement that his government would give Rs 1 crore for the family of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who till the other day was under attack from the BJP, led by Advani, for the Malegaon blast probe.
Senior party leader M. Veerappa Moily said Modi had promised Rs 50,000 to two security personnel injured in the Akshardham attack of 2002 and Rs 10 lakh to a commando seriously injured, but had not given them the money even six years later, adds PTI.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari added that Modi, who said today he had warned the Centre against the use of the sea route by militants, would have a lot to answer for if reports of the boats used by the Mumbai attackers being hijacked from Porbandar are found true.
Tewari claimed that the Centre had earmarked funds for coastal policing but the Gujarat government did not provide the manpower.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Terrorism in Mumbai
As at 11.00 pm, on 28.11.2008, the Trident Hotel has been brought under control by ridding all terrorists.So far 150 people have been killed.
If anyone has benefitted from this tragedy, it is the media.
The media is having a great time giving a ball by ball description of events.
Like vultures who swoop down on corpses the media descend on any calamaty.
Even now they boast of giving exclusive pictures and interviews.
It is good for their TRP.
For a change, the police have kept these vultures at bay.
The matter was too serious to give iterviews and claim credit.
Battles are still being fought in the Trident Hotel and the jewish House in Mariman Point.
What a nation we are and what a cypher we have for a prime minister.
Is this what he means by zero tolerance?
A whole nation of 1200 crores has been brought to its knees by a handful of terrorists.
The article below, from the Business Line explains why we find ourselves in this situation.
See the diiference in our reaction to that of the USA afer 9/11
Radheshyam
India in a state of war!
B. S. Raghavan
In a sense, India has got what it was asking for. Whatever else its record on other counts, insofar as terrorism is concerned, the widespread perception is that the present UPA Government was slack in devising and putting into effect stern measures to leave no one in any doubt that there will be no compromise with terror. In a soft state which India is increasingly proving itself to be, perceptions sometimes count far more than arguments refuting them.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is now and then in the habit of talking about zero tolerance but that never perceptibly translated itself into policy and action.
On the contrary, his Government has given every handle to the accusation that it was soft-pedalling action against terror. It was also seen as being reluctant to let investigative agencies and the police perform their duties and pursue the leads and clues fearlessly and independently without regard to political or party considerations.
Some sections of the media and the intelligentsia also, under a mistaken notion of upholding secularism, had been constantly sniping at the police, security and investigative agencies which, as a consequence, began taking to the path of least trouble and controversy to save their skin.
Further, the solicitude for civil liberties and religious and sectarian susceptibilities of the political establishment in power and the libertarian-minded intelligentsia and the media had come in the way of enacting tough, terrorist-proof legislation (for a quick trial analogous to a court-martial, embodying some of the salutary provisions of the Patriot Act of the US) and its enforcement by a central organisation for coordinated investigation and maintenance of security.
Remember, even though the federal principle is strongly built into the US Constitution and the States enjoy all the powers not specifically vested in the federal government and even have their own separate citizenship, they have willingly come together in enacting the Patriot Act and establishing the federal umbrella Department of Homeland Security to fight terror.
If such a course was possible in the US, there is no reason for the Centre in India to drag its feet on the plea of objections by the States in a matter like the extirpation of terrorism by not only being determined and effective, but also manifestly appearing to be so.
Finally, the rampant practice of minorityism of whatever kind by governments and political parties has been the cause of untold havoc, whether in dealing with illegal immigrants or implementing the Constitutional provision for a Common Civil Code.
The law should be the same for all classes and sections of the population, without any leeway for discrimination for or against any of them. In short,
India should quickly morph itself into a hard state where anyone attempting to imperil its stability and security will come to instant grief.
If anyone has benefitted from this tragedy, it is the media.
The media is having a great time giving a ball by ball description of events.
Like vultures who swoop down on corpses the media descend on any calamaty.
Even now they boast of giving exclusive pictures and interviews.
It is good for their TRP.
For a change, the police have kept these vultures at bay.
The matter was too serious to give iterviews and claim credit.
Battles are still being fought in the Trident Hotel and the jewish House in Mariman Point.
What a nation we are and what a cypher we have for a prime minister.
Is this what he means by zero tolerance?
A whole nation of 1200 crores has been brought to its knees by a handful of terrorists.
The article below, from the Business Line explains why we find ourselves in this situation.
See the diiference in our reaction to that of the USA afer 9/11
Radheshyam
India in a state of war!
B. S. Raghavan
In a sense, India has got what it was asking for. Whatever else its record on other counts, insofar as terrorism is concerned, the widespread perception is that the present UPA Government was slack in devising and putting into effect stern measures to leave no one in any doubt that there will be no compromise with terror. In a soft state which India is increasingly proving itself to be, perceptions sometimes count far more than arguments refuting them.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is now and then in the habit of talking about zero tolerance but that never perceptibly translated itself into policy and action.
On the contrary, his Government has given every handle to the accusation that it was soft-pedalling action against terror. It was also seen as being reluctant to let investigative agencies and the police perform their duties and pursue the leads and clues fearlessly and independently without regard to political or party considerations.
Some sections of the media and the intelligentsia also, under a mistaken notion of upholding secularism, had been constantly sniping at the police, security and investigative agencies which, as a consequence, began taking to the path of least trouble and controversy to save their skin.
Further, the solicitude for civil liberties and religious and sectarian susceptibilities of the political establishment in power and the libertarian-minded intelligentsia and the media had come in the way of enacting tough, terrorist-proof legislation (for a quick trial analogous to a court-martial, embodying some of the salutary provisions of the Patriot Act of the US) and its enforcement by a central organisation for coordinated investigation and maintenance of security.
Remember, even though the federal principle is strongly built into the US Constitution and the States enjoy all the powers not specifically vested in the federal government and even have their own separate citizenship, they have willingly come together in enacting the Patriot Act and establishing the federal umbrella Department of Homeland Security to fight terror.
If such a course was possible in the US, there is no reason for the Centre in India to drag its feet on the plea of objections by the States in a matter like the extirpation of terrorism by not only being determined and effective, but also manifestly appearing to be so.
Finally, the rampant practice of minorityism of whatever kind by governments and political parties has been the cause of untold havoc, whether in dealing with illegal immigrants or implementing the Constitutional provision for a Common Civil Code.
The law should be the same for all classes and sections of the population, without any leeway for discrimination for or against any of them. In short,
India should quickly morph itself into a hard state where anyone attempting to imperil its stability and security will come to instant grief.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
ICICI Bank - Crooks ? (2)
ICICI Bank seems to be getting into the news for all the wrong reasons.
You boys must be wondering why I am so much after ICICI Bank.
Well, it is because it is one of the leading banks in India who are trying to inculcate the American vice of "Spend NOW and Pay Later"
This principle is very foreign to us Indians who believe in "spreading our legs according to the blanket"
I am emphasising on these type of articles so that our boys do not develop those habits which have destroyed so many American banks recently.
Radheshyam
Cops blame probe delay on dual complaints
A STAFF REPORTER "The Telegraph"
Police claim action against the loan recovery agents who had assaulted Pradip Sureka and taken away his car has been delayed by a procedural hassle caused by two complaints on the same incident.
Sureka, a 52-year-old businessman, had first gone to Behala police station and filed a general diary. After getting his car back from the Upper Wood Street branch of ICICI Bank, he went to Shakespeare Sarani police station to file a complaint about harassment, damage to the vehicle and theft of certain articles that were inside it.
“There can’t be two parallel cases on the same incident. Shakespeare Sarani police station has already drawn up a case and started probing it. We can take up the case only if a court orders us to do so,” said Sunil Kumar Chaudhary, the additional police superintendent of South 24-Parganas. “By the time we could conduct an inquiry, a case had been lodged with Calcutta police.”
The incident occurred on November 21, when Sureka and his son Pranay were leaving their Behala home for work. Four youths stopped them, snatched the keys and assaulted them before driving off in the Ford Ikon.
“They beat me up saying I had not been paying the EMIs for the Rs 4.5-lakh car loan I had taken from ICICI bank. The court document they flung on my face was in the name of Chanda Prasad but the car number mentioned alongside was the same as that of my vehicle. I knew the bank had made a mistake,” Sureka said.
The mistake was confirmed when father and son reached the Upper Wood Street branch of ICICI Bank but officials there allegedly misbehaved with them.
Sureka said he would file a case in the Alipore criminal court on Thursday. Around 50 people, including employees of other banks, staged a demonstration outside the Upper Wood Street branch on Wednesday.
You boys must be wondering why I am so much after ICICI Bank.
Well, it is because it is one of the leading banks in India who are trying to inculcate the American vice of "Spend NOW and Pay Later"
This principle is very foreign to us Indians who believe in "spreading our legs according to the blanket"
I am emphasising on these type of articles so that our boys do not develop those habits which have destroyed so many American banks recently.
Radheshyam
Cops blame probe delay on dual complaints
A STAFF REPORTER "The Telegraph"
Police claim action against the loan recovery agents who had assaulted Pradip Sureka and taken away his car has been delayed by a procedural hassle caused by two complaints on the same incident.
Sureka, a 52-year-old businessman, had first gone to Behala police station and filed a general diary. After getting his car back from the Upper Wood Street branch of ICICI Bank, he went to Shakespeare Sarani police station to file a complaint about harassment, damage to the vehicle and theft of certain articles that were inside it.
“There can’t be two parallel cases on the same incident. Shakespeare Sarani police station has already drawn up a case and started probing it. We can take up the case only if a court orders us to do so,” said Sunil Kumar Chaudhary, the additional police superintendent of South 24-Parganas. “By the time we could conduct an inquiry, a case had been lodged with Calcutta police.”
The incident occurred on November 21, when Sureka and his son Pranay were leaving their Behala home for work. Four youths stopped them, snatched the keys and assaulted them before driving off in the Ford Ikon.
“They beat me up saying I had not been paying the EMIs for the Rs 4.5-lakh car loan I had taken from ICICI bank. The court document they flung on my face was in the name of Chanda Prasad but the car number mentioned alongside was the same as that of my vehicle. I knew the bank had made a mistake,” Sureka said.
The mistake was confirmed when father and son reached the Upper Wood Street branch of ICICI Bank but officials there allegedly misbehaved with them.
Sureka said he would file a case in the Alipore criminal court on Thursday. Around 50 people, including employees of other banks, staged a demonstration outside the Upper Wood Street branch on Wednesday.
War on Mumbai
From "The Telegraph"
War on Mumbai Foreigners hostage, ATS chief killed- Gunmen storm 5-star hotels in chain strikes, 80 feared dead
Mumbai, Nov. 26: Gunmen attacked Mumbai’s landmark luxury hotels, its most famous railway station and at least five other places tonight, killing at least 80 people and taking several hostage.
At least 40 people, including several foreigners, have been taken hostage in the Oberoi at Nariman Point. Four bodies were taken out of the hotel at 2am.
Armed with an AK-47 gun and a rifle, two militants dressed in jeans and T-shirt barged into the restaurant of the Taj Hotel near Gateway of India tonight and looked for American and British passport holders and herded some of them to the hotel roof
The terrorists took 15 people, half of them foreigners, hostage at the Taj, one of the hostages who managed to escape said.
Two youths in their 20s came to the restaurant, Rakesh Patel, a businessman from London who lives in Hong Kong, said.
“The two young boys came to the restaurant and took us upstairs. We were taken to the 18th floor from where we escaped,” he said.
Replying to a question, Patel said the terrorists wanted to know if any of the hostages was carrying American or British passports.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victioria Terminus, the main railway station in Mumbai, and the popular Leopold’s restaurant also came under attack.
Among the dead are some of the most high-profile officers at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. The dead include Hemant Karkare, the anti-terror squad chief, and Vijay Salaskar, an encounter specialist in the squad.
The global CEO of a consumer goods giant and 150 of its employees attending a seminar are said to be in one of the two hotels. Encounters between suspected militants and commandos were going on till late into the night, police said
The police asked people to stay off the roads following reports that a group of terrorists had been going around the city in a vehicle snatched from security forces.
Two terrorists were gunned down by the police in Girgaum while they were on the run in a Skoda. The two were shot dead after the vehicle was intercepted by police following a chase. They may have been involved in the terror attack in the Oberoi, the police said.
Suhel Seth, The Telegraph columnist and adman, had checked into the Taj but was at a wedding when the attack began. “The hotel sent a text message warning us about the ongoing trouble. So I shifted to another hotel, though my clothes and bags are still at the Taj,” Seth said tonight.
PTI said three Taj employees were gunned down in the hotel. At 1am, a huge explosion, said to be a grenade blast, was heard from the terrace. The roof and the top floor of the hotel were on fire.
Maharashtra DGP A.N. Roy said the attack in “at least seven places” was a “terror strike.”
A British politician was among guests trapped in their hotels. Sajjad Karim, a Conservative politician, told The Times, London, by mobile phone from a barricaded basement room that he and others had fled from machine-gun fire.
“I was in the lobby of the hotel when gunmen came in and people started running,” he said. “Some of us split one way and some another. A gunman just stood there spraying bullets around, right next to me. I managed to turn away and I ran into the hotel kitchen and then we were shunted into a restaurant in the basement.
“We are now in the dark in this room and we’ve barricaded all the doors.”
Karim is part of a delegation of European politicians visiting Mumbai ahead of the forthcoming EU-India summit.
“The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed,” Roy said.
“It was really scary. It was like the sound of loud crackers, not one but several, we just ran out of there,” said Janice Sequeira, a tourist who had been at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
At the Oberoi at Nariman Point, police officer P.I. Patil said shots had been fired inside and the hotel had been cordoned off. The lobby of the hotel was on fire.
Leopold’s restaurant was riddled with bullet holes and there were blood stains on the floor and shoes left by fleeing customers.
Some militants entered the passenger hall of the railway station and opened fire and threw grenades, Mumbai general railway police commissioner A.K. Sharma said.
The terror strike began around 10pm at the railway station. Ten people were killed on the premises of the station alone.
Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, the police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in Vile Parle.
The 54-year-old Karkare, who was probing the Malegaon blast case, was killed when he was leading an operation at the Taj. The 1982 batch IPS officer had returned to his state cadre after serving seven years in Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Austria.
Salaskar and another IPS officer, Ashok Marutirao Kamte, were killed while fighting terrorists at Metro Cinema.
Where the terrorists struck
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Two militants with assault rifles open fire. At least 10 killed and 30 injured
The Taj: Two armed men take people hostage at premier hotel opposite Gateway of India
The Oberoi: Two men armed with grenades attack hotel on Marine Drive. At least 3 grenade explosions inside hotel
Gateway of India: A bag and a boat anchored being probed
Café Leopold, Colaba: Two men fire at prominent pub frequented by
foreigners
Cama Hospital & GT Hospital: Firing reported from the public hospitals near CST station
Vile Parle: Massive blast in a taxi on the highway leading to Mumbai airport. Vehicle destroyed
Dockyard Road, Mazgaon: Blast reported in a taxi close to the Mazgaon docks
Napean Sea Road: Two explosions in home to Mumbai’s richest
Metro Adlabs, Bombay Hospital: A multiplex and a hospital in south Mumbai. Armed men on foot open fire, at least two explosions heard
As per last count, over a hundred people have died.
Unfortunately, no politician has lost his life.
The above is another example of what Quota Politics does to a nation.
The Congress, SP, BSP,Communists are just interested in appeasing the minorities.
In India, even when terrorists or their abettors are caught they cannot be hanged as these political parties want to free him so that they can continue with their good work. Afzal Beg is a living example.
The BJP is just interested in minority bashing and constructing temples at historical sites when the need of the hour is to improve the security of the nation.
They too have governments in a number of states. How have they improved the security in states ruled by them?
First of all citizens of India should compulsorily have photographic I=Cards with finger prints which they should carry with them at all times.This should be a time bound programme and should be completed within 6 months.
I agree, it will be expensive but if we are to protect our nation, this has to be done.How they are going to finance it is for the government to work out.
All government employees have just been given a substantial wage increase, so they should be asked to give free service.
This is the age of digital cameras and lap-tops and so concerned people should go house to house and provide the I-cards, on the spot.
No politicians should be involved as they will again cause corruption by issuing I-Cards only to their supporters, as the CPM is habituated in doing.
Thereafter, any person travelling by Air / Ship / Rail which require any reservation should be asked to produce these I- Cards.
Every now and then road blocks should be set up and every person passing by should be asked to produce his I-Cards.
All house owners / tenants should ensure that everybody living in their premises has a I-Card.
If anybody comes to live without I-Cards, the local police should be informed.
Curfew should be declared in entire areas and house to house search should be made to ensure that all persons living in those areas have I-Cards.
If anybody is found without I-card, the house-owner/tenants should be suitably punished.
Fast track courts which sit daily should be appointed to try those involved in terrorism.
Those involved should be tried an conviction dome within 6 months.
Persons convicted should not have recourse of appeal to higher courts or the President.
They should be hanged after procuring all information from them.
All these rules should be applicable to all, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, without exception.
Radheshyam
War on Mumbai Foreigners hostage, ATS chief killed- Gunmen storm 5-star hotels in chain strikes, 80 feared dead
Mumbai, Nov. 26: Gunmen attacked Mumbai’s landmark luxury hotels, its most famous railway station and at least five other places tonight, killing at least 80 people and taking several hostage.
At least 40 people, including several foreigners, have been taken hostage in the Oberoi at Nariman Point. Four bodies were taken out of the hotel at 2am.
Armed with an AK-47 gun and a rifle, two militants dressed in jeans and T-shirt barged into the restaurant of the Taj Hotel near Gateway of India tonight and looked for American and British passport holders and herded some of them to the hotel roof
The terrorists took 15 people, half of them foreigners, hostage at the Taj, one of the hostages who managed to escape said.
Two youths in their 20s came to the restaurant, Rakesh Patel, a businessman from London who lives in Hong Kong, said.
“The two young boys came to the restaurant and took us upstairs. We were taken to the 18th floor from where we escaped,” he said.
Replying to a question, Patel said the terrorists wanted to know if any of the hostages was carrying American or British passports.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victioria Terminus, the main railway station in Mumbai, and the popular Leopold’s restaurant also came under attack.
Among the dead are some of the most high-profile officers at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. The dead include Hemant Karkare, the anti-terror squad chief, and Vijay Salaskar, an encounter specialist in the squad.
The global CEO of a consumer goods giant and 150 of its employees attending a seminar are said to be in one of the two hotels. Encounters between suspected militants and commandos were going on till late into the night, police said
The police asked people to stay off the roads following reports that a group of terrorists had been going around the city in a vehicle snatched from security forces.
Two terrorists were gunned down by the police in Girgaum while they were on the run in a Skoda. The two were shot dead after the vehicle was intercepted by police following a chase. They may have been involved in the terror attack in the Oberoi, the police said.
Suhel Seth, The Telegraph columnist and adman, had checked into the Taj but was at a wedding when the attack began. “The hotel sent a text message warning us about the ongoing trouble. So I shifted to another hotel, though my clothes and bags are still at the Taj,” Seth said tonight.
PTI said three Taj employees were gunned down in the hotel. At 1am, a huge explosion, said to be a grenade blast, was heard from the terrace. The roof and the top floor of the hotel were on fire.
Maharashtra DGP A.N. Roy said the attack in “at least seven places” was a “terror strike.”
A British politician was among guests trapped in their hotels. Sajjad Karim, a Conservative politician, told The Times, London, by mobile phone from a barricaded basement room that he and others had fled from machine-gun fire.
“I was in the lobby of the hotel when gunmen came in and people started running,” he said. “Some of us split one way and some another. A gunman just stood there spraying bullets around, right next to me. I managed to turn away and I ran into the hotel kitchen and then we were shunted into a restaurant in the basement.
“We are now in the dark in this room and we’ve barricaded all the doors.”
Karim is part of a delegation of European politicians visiting Mumbai ahead of the forthcoming EU-India summit.
“The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed,” Roy said.
“It was really scary. It was like the sound of loud crackers, not one but several, we just ran out of there,” said Janice Sequeira, a tourist who had been at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
At the Oberoi at Nariman Point, police officer P.I. Patil said shots had been fired inside and the hotel had been cordoned off. The lobby of the hotel was on fire.
Leopold’s restaurant was riddled with bullet holes and there were blood stains on the floor and shoes left by fleeing customers.
Some militants entered the passenger hall of the railway station and opened fire and threw grenades, Mumbai general railway police commissioner A.K. Sharma said.
The terror strike began around 10pm at the railway station. Ten people were killed on the premises of the station alone.
Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, the police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in Vile Parle.
The 54-year-old Karkare, who was probing the Malegaon blast case, was killed when he was leading an operation at the Taj. The 1982 batch IPS officer had returned to his state cadre after serving seven years in Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Austria.
Salaskar and another IPS officer, Ashok Marutirao Kamte, were killed while fighting terrorists at Metro Cinema.
Where the terrorists struck
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Two militants with assault rifles open fire. At least 10 killed and 30 injured
The Taj: Two armed men take people hostage at premier hotel opposite Gateway of India
The Oberoi: Two men armed with grenades attack hotel on Marine Drive. At least 3 grenade explosions inside hotel
Gateway of India: A bag and a boat anchored being probed
Café Leopold, Colaba: Two men fire at prominent pub frequented by
foreigners
Cama Hospital & GT Hospital: Firing reported from the public hospitals near CST station
Vile Parle: Massive blast in a taxi on the highway leading to Mumbai airport. Vehicle destroyed
Dockyard Road, Mazgaon: Blast reported in a taxi close to the Mazgaon docks
Napean Sea Road: Two explosions in home to Mumbai’s richest
Metro Adlabs, Bombay Hospital: A multiplex and a hospital in south Mumbai. Armed men on foot open fire, at least two explosions heard
As per last count, over a hundred people have died.
Unfortunately, no politician has lost his life.
The above is another example of what Quota Politics does to a nation.
The Congress, SP, BSP,Communists are just interested in appeasing the minorities.
In India, even when terrorists or their abettors are caught they cannot be hanged as these political parties want to free him so that they can continue with their good work. Afzal Beg is a living example.
The BJP is just interested in minority bashing and constructing temples at historical sites when the need of the hour is to improve the security of the nation.
They too have governments in a number of states. How have they improved the security in states ruled by them?
First of all citizens of India should compulsorily have photographic I=Cards with finger prints which they should carry with them at all times.This should be a time bound programme and should be completed within 6 months.
I agree, it will be expensive but if we are to protect our nation, this has to be done.How they are going to finance it is for the government to work out.
All government employees have just been given a substantial wage increase, so they should be asked to give free service.
This is the age of digital cameras and lap-tops and so concerned people should go house to house and provide the I-cards, on the spot.
No politicians should be involved as they will again cause corruption by issuing I-Cards only to their supporters, as the CPM is habituated in doing.
Thereafter, any person travelling by Air / Ship / Rail which require any reservation should be asked to produce these I- Cards.
Every now and then road blocks should be set up and every person passing by should be asked to produce his I-Cards.
All house owners / tenants should ensure that everybody living in their premises has a I-Card.
If anybody comes to live without I-Cards, the local police should be informed.
Curfew should be declared in entire areas and house to house search should be made to ensure that all persons living in those areas have I-Cards.
If anybody is found without I-card, the house-owner/tenants should be suitably punished.
Fast track courts which sit daily should be appointed to try those involved in terrorism.
Those involved should be tried an conviction dome within 6 months.
Persons convicted should not have recourse of appeal to higher courts or the President.
They should be hanged after procuring all information from them.
All these rules should be applicable to all, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, without exception.
Radheshyam
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
ICICI Bank - Crooks ?
Some time back, I had said that ICICI Bank are a bunch of crooks.
They try to cheat you by fine printing of clauses in documents which you are unable to read even with a high powered magnifying glass and with which they then catch your throat.
Here is an example of how even after you have repaid your loan, they send toughs to harass you just in case you may have lax in keeping your documents.
This was not a mistake.
They have done it intentionally just in case Subhashis may not have kept his papers properly.>
A businessman fed up of being harassed by debt collectors because of a wrong entry in his loan repayment record held three of them hostage until the bank clarified in writing that he wasn’t a defaulter.
Subhashis Chatterjee, 35, told Metro after the six-hour drama on Tuesday evening that he decided to take the “extreme step” after several intimidating calls from a loan recovery agency hired by ICICI Bank.
“The callers claimed that I hadn’t paid my personal loan EMI for March 2007, along with some extra charges for defaulting on repayment. I told them that I had documents to prove them wrong but they wouldn’t listen,” he said.
Subhashis, a resident of Sarojini Pally in Barasat, had taken a personal loan of Rs 50,000 from ICICI Bank in January last year to expand his air-conditioning and fridge repairing business. The EMI was fixed at Rs 2,406 for 36 months.
The businessman, who had opted for electronic clearance instead of giving post-dated cheques, defaulted on the second EMI because of insufficient funds in his account. “The bank sent a collection agent to my home a few days later and I paid the EMI in cash,” he said.
Subhashis thought the matter was settled but a representative of the bank called two months later to say that he had “missed” the EMI for March. When he went to the Gurusaday Road branch of ICICI Bank to enquire why he was being harassed, it turned out that the culprit was the collection agent.
“The loan account number he wrote in the receipt was not mine. The bank rectified the error and assured me that I would not receive any more calls,” Subhashis recalled.
But an official of ICICI Bank called Subhashis again a few days later and requested him to visit the branch for a “clarification”. On reaching the Gurusaday Road branch, he was asked to speak to a bank official in New Delhi over phone. “I had to repeat what I had said earlier, after which the official said there would be no more confusion.”
Subhashis continued paying his EMIs — 21 out of 36 till this month — and forgot about the dispute until a collection agent called on October 17 and said he owed the bank an extra Rs 4,300, payable immediately. Another caller said the outstanding amount was Rs 1,906.
More calls followed over the next few days, some of them allegedly threatening ones. “A couple of callers even abused my family members,” Subhashis said.
After consulting some friends, he decided to teach them a lesson. When a collection agent called on Monday, Subhashis asked him to come to his residence on Tuesday and take the “outstanding amount” in cash.
The collector arrived at Subhashis’s home around noon and immediately wrote a receipt. Subhashis showed him his bank statement and the receipt for the March ’07 EMI that he paid in cash but the collector wasn’t convinced. “You can call the police or go to court but I won’t leave without the payment,” Subhashis quoted him as saying.
Subhashis and his friends, who had arrived by then, took the collector to a room and asked him to call his senior. When two more representatives of the bank, one of them a supervisor, arrived an hour later, they were asked to speak to the bank and ask for the complete repayment statement.
The trio were allowed to go only after a bank statement was emailed to the supervisor and he took a printout from a nearby cyber café to give Subhashis.
A spokesman for ICICI Bank admitted that Subhashis had been unnecessarily harassed but said his method of getting justice was illegal. “We could have lodged a police complaint but didn’t do so because he apologised for holding our men hostage.”
They try to cheat you by fine printing of clauses in documents which you are unable to read even with a high powered magnifying glass and with which they then catch your throat.
Here is an example of how even after you have repaid your loan, they send toughs to harass you just in case you may have lax in keeping your documents.
This was not a mistake.
They have done it intentionally just in case Subhashis may not have kept his papers properly.>
A businessman fed up of being harassed by debt collectors because of a wrong entry in his loan repayment record held three of them hostage until the bank clarified in writing that he wasn’t a defaulter.
Subhashis Chatterjee, 35, told Metro after the six-hour drama on Tuesday evening that he decided to take the “extreme step” after several intimidating calls from a loan recovery agency hired by ICICI Bank.
“The callers claimed that I hadn’t paid my personal loan EMI for March 2007, along with some extra charges for defaulting on repayment. I told them that I had documents to prove them wrong but they wouldn’t listen,” he said.
Subhashis, a resident of Sarojini Pally in Barasat, had taken a personal loan of Rs 50,000 from ICICI Bank in January last year to expand his air-conditioning and fridge repairing business. The EMI was fixed at Rs 2,406 for 36 months.
The businessman, who had opted for electronic clearance instead of giving post-dated cheques, defaulted on the second EMI because of insufficient funds in his account. “The bank sent a collection agent to my home a few days later and I paid the EMI in cash,” he said.
Subhashis thought the matter was settled but a representative of the bank called two months later to say that he had “missed” the EMI for March. When he went to the Gurusaday Road branch of ICICI Bank to enquire why he was being harassed, it turned out that the culprit was the collection agent.
“The loan account number he wrote in the receipt was not mine. The bank rectified the error and assured me that I would not receive any more calls,” Subhashis recalled.
But an official of ICICI Bank called Subhashis again a few days later and requested him to visit the branch for a “clarification”. On reaching the Gurusaday Road branch, he was asked to speak to a bank official in New Delhi over phone. “I had to repeat what I had said earlier, after which the official said there would be no more confusion.”
Subhashis continued paying his EMIs — 21 out of 36 till this month — and forgot about the dispute until a collection agent called on October 17 and said he owed the bank an extra Rs 4,300, payable immediately. Another caller said the outstanding amount was Rs 1,906.
More calls followed over the next few days, some of them allegedly threatening ones. “A couple of callers even abused my family members,” Subhashis said.
After consulting some friends, he decided to teach them a lesson. When a collection agent called on Monday, Subhashis asked him to come to his residence on Tuesday and take the “outstanding amount” in cash.
The collector arrived at Subhashis’s home around noon and immediately wrote a receipt. Subhashis showed him his bank statement and the receipt for the March ’07 EMI that he paid in cash but the collector wasn’t convinced. “You can call the police or go to court but I won’t leave without the payment,” Subhashis quoted him as saying.
Subhashis and his friends, who had arrived by then, took the collector to a room and asked him to call his senior. When two more representatives of the bank, one of them a supervisor, arrived an hour later, they were asked to speak to the bank and ask for the complete repayment statement.
The trio were allowed to go only after a bank statement was emailed to the supervisor and he took a printout from a nearby cyber café to give Subhashis.
A spokesman for ICICI Bank admitted that Subhashis had been unnecessarily harassed but said his method of getting justice was illegal. “We could have lodged a police complaint but didn’t do so because he apologised for holding our men hostage.”
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Health Tips
These useful Do's and Don'ts have been sent by Partha Sengupta.
Very useful and you should follow them.
1) Don't eat kurkure because it contains high amount of plastic if you don't believe burn kurkure n u can see plastic melting. News report from Times of India
2) Avoid these tablets they are very dangerous
* D-cold
* Vicks action- 500
* Actified
* Coldarin
* Cosome
* Nice
* Nimulid
* Cetrizet-D
They contain Phenyl- Propanol -Amide PPA..Which Causes strokes, and these tablets are banned in U.S.
3) Cotton Ear Buds... (Must read it)
Please do not show sympathy to people selling buds on roadside or at Signals...... Just wanted to warn you people not to buy those packs of ear buds you get at the roadside. It's made from cotton that has already been used in hospitals. They take all the dirty, blood and pus filled cotton, wash it, bleach it and use it to make ear buds. So, unless you want to become the first person in the world to get Herpes Zoster Oticus (a viral infection of the inner, middle, and external ear) of the ear and that too from a cotton bud, DON'T BUY THEM!
4) Don't eat Mentos before or after drinking Coke or Pepsi coz the person will die immediately as the mixture becomes cyanide..
5) Don't put your mobile closer to your ears until the recipient answers, Because directly after dialing, the mobile phone would use it's maximum signaling power, which is: 2watts = 33dbi. Please Be Careful. Please use left ear while using cell (mobile), because if you use the right one it may affect brain directly. This has been confirmed by Apollo medical team.
Very useful and you should follow them.
1) Don't eat kurkure because it contains high amount of plastic if you don't believe burn kurkure n u can see plastic melting. News report from Times of India
2) Avoid these tablets they are very dangerous
* D-cold
* Vicks action- 500
* Actified
* Coldarin
* Cosome
* Nice
* Nimulid
* Cetrizet-D
They contain Phenyl- Propanol -Amide PPA..Which Causes strokes, and these tablets are banned in U.S.
3) Cotton Ear Buds... (Must read it)
Please do not show sympathy to people selling buds on roadside or at Signals...... Just wanted to warn you people not to buy those packs of ear buds you get at the roadside. It's made from cotton that has already been used in hospitals. They take all the dirty, blood and pus filled cotton, wash it, bleach it and use it to make ear buds. So, unless you want to become the first person in the world to get Herpes Zoster Oticus (a viral infection of the inner, middle, and external ear) of the ear and that too from a cotton bud, DON'T BUY THEM!
4) Don't eat Mentos before or after drinking Coke or Pepsi coz the person will die immediately as the mixture becomes cyanide..
5) Don't put your mobile closer to your ears until the recipient answers, Because directly after dialing, the mobile phone would use it's maximum signaling power, which is: 2watts = 33dbi. Please Be Careful. Please use left ear while using cell (mobile), because if you use the right one it may affect brain directly. This has been confirmed by Apollo medical team.
Melamine - Warning
I have received this from Keith Hayward for passing on to all our boys.
Hello Radheshyam,I received this Email from a childhood friend of mine(Arlene Barber Nee.Blanche)who still lives in Hastings Kolkata,three houses away from where I was Born&Lived!If you have the time,it is a 'MUST READ'.Bye for now,Keith.
This makes very interesting reading. If you have not seen it before, don’t skip it, especially read the info re.Barcodes and how to find out where it is made.
Certainly worth printing off and retaining for reference!.
This has been in the news recently and the following is an explanation on the
effects of "Melamine". Be sure to read the bar code contents at the end...
Subject: MELAMINE (The last part concerns us all)
China milk poisoning incidents make everyone afraid to look at the daily news report.
Everyday, the reports are changing. No one can clearly tell us what to eat and not to
eat.
1.What really is poisoned milk?
It is the milk powder mixed with 'MELAMINE'
What is Melamine use for?
It is an industrial chemical used in the production of melawares.
It is also used in home decoration. 'US resistant board'
Do you understand? Melamine is use in industrial production & it cannot be eaten.
2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And Melamine has the same protein that contains 'NITROGEN' Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is
cheaper than milk so it lowers capitalization.
It can give the business man more profit!
Below are its properties.
Melamine; doesn't it look like milk?
It doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.
3.When was it discovered
Year 2007, US
Cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.
Starting 2008, In China ,an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones.
August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine
Sept.2008, New Zealand gov't ask China to check this problem
Sept.21, 2008 lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine
4.What happens when Melamine is digested?
Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stones blocking the tubes.
Pain will be eminent and person cannot urinate.Kidney will then swell.
Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause irreversible kidney damage.
It can lead to loss of kidney function and will require kidney dialysis or lead to
death because of uremia.
What is dialysis?
In fact, it should be called 'blood washing'; it is filtering all of the body's
blood into the machine and then go back to the body.
The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.
A small hole is required in the arm to insert the sub-dialysis catheter.
Why is it more serious in babies?
Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.
China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalized
It does not matter how much a human being took Melamine.
The important point is 'It cannot be EATEN!'
5.What are the foods to be avoided?
Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided.
Remember: Foods with creamer or milk should be avoided..
6.What do we do next?
Avoid the above foods for at least six months.
If you have snack bar, restaurant or coffee shops, stop selling dairy products for
the meantime.
If you have infants at home, change to mother's milk or find other substitutes.
Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of milk
poisoning.
The whole world is scared of China made 'black hearted goods'.
Can you differentiate which one is made in the USA, Philippines, Taiwan or China?
Let me tell you how... the first 3 digits of the bar rcode is the country code wherein the product was made.
Sample all barcodes that start with 690.691.692 until 695 are all MADE IN CHINA.
471 is Made in Taiwan
This is our human right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.
Nowadays,Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products 'made in china', so they don't show from which country it is made.
However,you may now refer to the barcode, remember if the first 3 digits is 690-695 then it is Made in China.
00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Lienchtenstein
628 ~ Saudi-Arabien
629~ United Arab Emirates
740 ~ 745 -Central America
All 480 Codes are Made in the Philippines.
Please inform your family and friends for them to be aware.
Hello Radheshyam,I received this Email from a childhood friend of mine(Arlene Barber Nee.Blanche)who still lives in Hastings Kolkata,three houses away from where I was Born&Lived!If you have the time,it is a 'MUST READ'.Bye for now,Keith.
This makes very interesting reading. If you have not seen it before, don’t skip it, especially read the info re.Barcodes and how to find out where it is made.
Certainly worth printing off and retaining for reference!.
This has been in the news recently and the following is an explanation on the
effects of "Melamine". Be sure to read the bar code contents at the end...
Subject: MELAMINE (The last part concerns us all)
China milk poisoning incidents make everyone afraid to look at the daily news report.
Everyday, the reports are changing. No one can clearly tell us what to eat and not to
eat.
1.What really is poisoned milk?
It is the milk powder mixed with 'MELAMINE'
What is Melamine use for?
It is an industrial chemical used in the production of melawares.
It is also used in home decoration. 'US resistant board'
Do you understand? Melamine is use in industrial production & it cannot be eaten.
2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And Melamine has the same protein that contains 'NITROGEN' Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is
cheaper than milk so it lowers capitalization.
It can give the business man more profit!
Below are its properties.
Melamine; doesn't it look like milk?
It doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.
3.When was it discovered
Year 2007, US
Cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.
Starting 2008, In China ,an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones.
August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine
Sept.2008, New Zealand gov't ask China to check this problem
Sept.21, 2008 lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine
4.What happens when Melamine is digested?
Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stones blocking the tubes.
Pain will be eminent and person cannot urinate.Kidney will then swell.
Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause irreversible kidney damage.
It can lead to loss of kidney function and will require kidney dialysis or lead to
death because of uremia.
What is dialysis?
In fact, it should be called 'blood washing'; it is filtering all of the body's
blood into the machine and then go back to the body.
The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.
A small hole is required in the arm to insert the sub-dialysis catheter.
Why is it more serious in babies?
Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.
China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalized
It does not matter how much a human being took Melamine.
The important point is 'It cannot be EATEN!'
5.What are the foods to be avoided?
Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided.
Remember: Foods with creamer or milk should be avoided..
6.What do we do next?
Avoid the above foods for at least six months.
If you have snack bar, restaurant or coffee shops, stop selling dairy products for
the meantime.
If you have infants at home, change to mother's milk or find other substitutes.
Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of milk
poisoning.
The whole world is scared of China made 'black hearted goods'.
Can you differentiate which one is made in the USA, Philippines, Taiwan or China?
Let me tell you how... the first 3 digits of the bar rcode is the country code wherein the product was made.
Sample all barcodes that start with 690.691.692 until 695 are all MADE IN CHINA.
471 is Made in Taiwan
This is our human right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.
Nowadays,Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products 'made in china', so they don't show from which country it is made.
However,you may now refer to the barcode, remember if the first 3 digits is 690-695 then it is Made in China.
00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Lienchtenstein
628 ~ Saudi-Arabien
629~ United Arab Emirates
740 ~ 745 -Central America
All 480 Codes are Made in the Philippines.
Please inform your family and friends for them to be aware.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Messages from Old Boys 47
Msg from Viraj Thacker
Dear Mr. Sharma and Mr. Lobo,
Just came across the message of Oct 27th (re: Darj. schools) and their involvement in our blog; sorry for this very late response (I do not check my g-mail account very often!).
Yes, it would be nice to link other schools especially during these very troubled times in the district……sorry state of affairs, I might say.
On a brighter note, I was sent the following on St. Paul’s (captured on You-Tube “Down Memory Lane” in 2 parts). Quite well done I thought and it is sure to evoke some good nostalgia!
http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Videos/Film-on-St-Pauls-School.html
http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Videos/Film-on-St-Pauls-School-II.html
To keep with the Darj Dist nostalgia, I have attached a recent shot of my boys (one cannot miss the Sixth Former’s OPA Boating Jacket – I’ve kept mine intact all these years!) – one tries to pass the traditions on to the third generation!!
Warmest Regards & Best Wishes!
Viraj.
Msg from Avijit Roy
Hi Radheyshyam,
Thanks for your updates and this is to inform you that they are entertaining to say the least. I would, however, request you to post the photos that you had taken on the Alumni get-together that we had on 09/11/2008 at The International Club. Surprisingly I have not been able to view them and would love to.
In the meantime, we would love to have your active participation in the formation of the Kolkata Chapter of GMS Alumni/Association and in this regard would request you to make yourself available for some meets that we may have to call for discussions etc.
I am sure that you would also love to participate to make this a reality.
Thanks and Regards,
Avijit Roy.
GMS-1969.
Hello Avijit,
I had posted all the photographs on our blog the very same night I took the photographs.
If you go to our blog and click on the link http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/ you will see the photographs and many more articles.
For sending them them by e mail I have to see what is the file size and then if it is excessive, the computer hangs. Hence I have found it more convenient to put it on our blog.
If you have problems accessing the blog, I'll send you the photographs by mail.
Do let me know when the meetings occur, I would love to come.
I am normally free on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Only let us not make it Kolkata vs Delhi.
We are all Goethalites.
Wherever one is located, he should attend the meetings of that chapter.
I am trying to unite all of us.
Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Toronto have their chapters.
Bangalore and other cities in Australia like Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney should also have their chapters so that they can meet and exchange info.
Cheers,
Radheshyam
From Lalit Narayan
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor."
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
Jamie Bulger
For His Memory
Do you remember February 1993 in England , when a
Young boy of 3 was taken from a Liverpool shopping
Centre by two 10-year-old boys?
Jamie Bulger walked away from his mother for only
A second, Jon Venables took his hand and led him out
Of the mall with his friend Robert Thompson. They took
Jamie on a walk for over 2 and a half miles, along the
Way stopping every now and again to
Torture the poor little boy who was crying
Constantly for his mummy.
Finally they stopped at a railway track where they
Brutally kicked him, threw stones at him, rubbed paint
In his eyes, pushed batteries up his anus and cut his
Fingers off with scissors. Other mutilations were
Inflicted but not reported in the press.
N.B. :- Remember, a 3year old cannot possibly
Defend themselves against a 10 year old, let alone of 2 them.
What these two boys did was so horrendous that
Jamie's mother was forbidden to identify his body.
They then left his beaten small body on railway
Tracks so a train could run him over to hide the mess
They had created. These two boys, even being boys,
Understood what they did was wrong, hence trying to
Make it look like an accident.
This week Lady Justice Butler-Sloss has awarded
The two boys ( now men ), anonymity for the rest of
Their lives when they leave custody with new
Identities. They will also leave custody early only
Serving just over half of their sentence.
They are being relocated to Australia to live out
The rest of their lives. They disgustingly and
Violently took Jamie's life away and in return they
Each get a new life!
Please.... . If you feel as strongly as we do, (
And if you haven't already signed this petition ) that
This is a grave Miscarriage of justice - Hit the
Forward button and add your name at the end, and send
It to everyone you can !
If you are the 700th person to sign, please
Forward this e-mail to: cust.ser.cs@gtnet.gov.uk
And mark it for the attention to Lady Justice Butler-Sloss.
Then continue on until it hits 1400, before you
Email her the list again.
There is power in numbers & these petitions do help.
Maybe it'll prevent another child from a violent
Death & maybe it'll get greater, more appropriate
Convictions for these criminals.whatever their age.
Please take a few seconds to forward it to your
Mail list & don't forget to add your name to the list.
Thank you.
I had received the above in an email with request to pass it on.
Although I feel very strongly against any form of crime, especially against children, I am of the opinion that the Judge in question, Lady Justice Butler-Sloss, had done the correct thing.
Although, I feel very sorry for the parents of Jamie and am shocked at the depravity of the two boys, I feel that capital punishment is not fit for this.
The boys who committed the crime are very young and we do not know what was in their minds when they committed the crime.
We cannot create life, so we do not have the authority to snuff our life, unless we are sure the snuffing out would be for the good of the larger society.
By sending away the two culprits to live away for the rest of their lives in anonymity is a good punishment.
Radheshyam
Friday, November 21, 2008
Big three Auto Makers with Begging Bowl
My article today is about all the present day Nero's. While their country or companies burn, they play the harp, as if they are least affected.
My present company is a case in point.
Until a few years ago when our present management took over, it was run by the Khaitan's of Williamson Macgor.
They are known as the tea kings and we were very small in their overall set-up.
We used to run at a perpetual loss and every now and then our top people used to go with a begging bowl to them and get some dole and our company used to run.
But these same people used to fly in executive class and stay at five star hotels. Nothing less would satisfy their egos.
The company could go to hell for all they cared.
Fortunately, the present maanagement who are related to the Khaitans agreed to take over when the Khaitan's attempt to sell the company failed.
Nobody wanted to buy it.
The present mangement turned around the company by just controlling expenses and we are now running at a profit.
I read during those times, when Infosys was minting money, their MD Mr Narayan Murthy used to travel by Economy class.
In times of difficulty, unless the top mangement leads the way, in cutting expenses, how can any company survive.
Radheshyam
From "The Telegraph"
Washington, Nov. 20: As many as 24 non-stop flights fly daily from Detroit to the Washington area. Richard Wagoner, Alan Mulally and Robert Nardelli, the chief executives of the Big Three automakers, probably should have taken one of them.
Instead, the titans of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler opted to fly their company jets to the US capital for their hearings before the Senate and House — an ill-timed display of corporate excess for a trio of executives begging for an additional $25 billion from the public trough this week.
“There’s a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington DC and people coming off them with tin cups in their hands,” Representative Gary L. Ackerman advised the pampered executives at a hearing yesterday. “It’s almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high-hat and tuxedo…. I mean, couldn’t you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here?”
The Big Three said nothing, which prompted Representative Brad Sherman to rub it in. “I’m going to ask the three executives here to raise their hand if they flew here commercial,” he said. All still at the witness table.
“Second,” he continued, “I’m going to ask you to raise your hand if you’re planning to sell your jet… and fly back commercial.” More stillness.
“Let the record show no hands went up,” Sherman grandstanded.
By now, the men were probably wishing they had driven — as other members of the House Financial Services Committee weren’t done riding the CEOs over their jets. “You travelled in a private jet?” Representative Nydia M. Velázquez contributed.
Representative Patrick T. McHenry felt the need to say that “I’m not an opponent of private flights by any means, but the fact that you flew in on your own private jet at tens of thousands of dollars of cost just for you to make your way to Washington is a bit arrogant before you ask the taxpayers for money”.
It was a display of stone-cold tone-deafness by the automaker chiefs. In their telling, they have no responsibility for the auto industry’s current mess. The US Congress has at most two days remaining in its post-election session. Without a deal in that time, any bailout is likely to have to wait until the Barack Obama administration takes over in January.
Threatening America with economic Armageddon if the automakers are not given government aid, the Big Three chiefs spent much of the session declaring what a fine job they’ve been doing in Detroit.
“Chrysler really is the quintessential American car company!” Chrysler’s Nardelli boasted.
“We have products that are winning car and truck of the year regularly,” General Motors’ Wagoner proclaimed.
“We are equal to or better than Honda and Toyota,” Ford’s Mulally added. “Every new vehicle that we make, whether it’s small, medium or large, is best in fuel efficiency. The given is safety. And we have more, at Ford, more five-star quality and safety ratings than any other automobile.”
Committee chairman Barney Frank cut him off. “Thank you, Mr. –”.
“And the best value!” Mulally blurted out.
“Commercials can go later,” the chairman proposed.
They would have to go later, because it seemed everybody had a car story to tell.
One Congressman spoke of his Jeep. “It probably has about 150,000 miles on it, and it’s still running doggone well.” Another invoked his Jeep Cherokee: “Small problem with the back hatch staying open; we can talk about that afterwards.”
Lawmakers from Detroit, where the Big Three are based, made passionate arguments that the carmakers had already done what “they possibly can to restructure and become globally competitive”.
But the executives were not helping their own case. When a Congressman tried to find out when GM would run out of cash, Wagoner hemmed and hawed until the lawmaker protested that “I don’t quite understand what the hell you just told me”.
When another lawmaker asked about GM’s outlook for the quarter, Wagoner informed him that “we dont provide financial guidance in earnings”.
So it was hard to feel sorry for the executives when Representative Peter Roskam, late in the hearing, reminded them again that “the symbolism of the private jet is difficult”, and mischievously asked the witnesses whether, in another symbolic gesture, they would be willing to work for $1 a year, as Nardelli has offered to do.
“I don’t have a position on that today,” demurred Wagoner (2007 total compensation: $15.7 million).
“I understand the intent, but I think where we are is okay,” said Mulally ($21.7 million).
“I’m asking about you,” Roskam pressed.
“I think I’m okay where I am,” Mulally said.
And don’t even think about asking him to fly commercial.
LOS ANGELES TIMES-WASHINGTON POST NEWS SERVICE
My present company is a case in point.
Until a few years ago when our present management took over, it was run by the Khaitan's of Williamson Macgor.
They are known as the tea kings and we were very small in their overall set-up.
We used to run at a perpetual loss and every now and then our top people used to go with a begging bowl to them and get some dole and our company used to run.
But these same people used to fly in executive class and stay at five star hotels. Nothing less would satisfy their egos.
The company could go to hell for all they cared.
Fortunately, the present maanagement who are related to the Khaitans agreed to take over when the Khaitan's attempt to sell the company failed.
Nobody wanted to buy it.
The present mangement turned around the company by just controlling expenses and we are now running at a profit.
I read during those times, when Infosys was minting money, their MD Mr Narayan Murthy used to travel by Economy class.
In times of difficulty, unless the top mangement leads the way, in cutting expenses, how can any company survive.
Radheshyam
From "The Telegraph"
Washington, Nov. 20: As many as 24 non-stop flights fly daily from Detroit to the Washington area. Richard Wagoner, Alan Mulally and Robert Nardelli, the chief executives of the Big Three automakers, probably should have taken one of them.
Instead, the titans of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler opted to fly their company jets to the US capital for their hearings before the Senate and House — an ill-timed display of corporate excess for a trio of executives begging for an additional $25 billion from the public trough this week.
“There’s a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington DC and people coming off them with tin cups in their hands,” Representative Gary L. Ackerman advised the pampered executives at a hearing yesterday. “It’s almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high-hat and tuxedo…. I mean, couldn’t you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here?”
The Big Three said nothing, which prompted Representative Brad Sherman to rub it in. “I’m going to ask the three executives here to raise their hand if they flew here commercial,” he said. All still at the witness table.
“Second,” he continued, “I’m going to ask you to raise your hand if you’re planning to sell your jet… and fly back commercial.” More stillness.
“Let the record show no hands went up,” Sherman grandstanded.
By now, the men were probably wishing they had driven — as other members of the House Financial Services Committee weren’t done riding the CEOs over their jets. “You travelled in a private jet?” Representative Nydia M. Velázquez contributed.
Representative Patrick T. McHenry felt the need to say that “I’m not an opponent of private flights by any means, but the fact that you flew in on your own private jet at tens of thousands of dollars of cost just for you to make your way to Washington is a bit arrogant before you ask the taxpayers for money”.
It was a display of stone-cold tone-deafness by the automaker chiefs. In their telling, they have no responsibility for the auto industry’s current mess. The US Congress has at most two days remaining in its post-election session. Without a deal in that time, any bailout is likely to have to wait until the Barack Obama administration takes over in January.
Threatening America with economic Armageddon if the automakers are not given government aid, the Big Three chiefs spent much of the session declaring what a fine job they’ve been doing in Detroit.
“Chrysler really is the quintessential American car company!” Chrysler’s Nardelli boasted.
“We have products that are winning car and truck of the year regularly,” General Motors’ Wagoner proclaimed.
“We are equal to or better than Honda and Toyota,” Ford’s Mulally added. “Every new vehicle that we make, whether it’s small, medium or large, is best in fuel efficiency. The given is safety. And we have more, at Ford, more five-star quality and safety ratings than any other automobile.”
Committee chairman Barney Frank cut him off. “Thank you, Mr. –”.
“And the best value!” Mulally blurted out.
“Commercials can go later,” the chairman proposed.
They would have to go later, because it seemed everybody had a car story to tell.
One Congressman spoke of his Jeep. “It probably has about 150,000 miles on it, and it’s still running doggone well.” Another invoked his Jeep Cherokee: “Small problem with the back hatch staying open; we can talk about that afterwards.”
Lawmakers from Detroit, where the Big Three are based, made passionate arguments that the carmakers had already done what “they possibly can to restructure and become globally competitive”.
But the executives were not helping their own case. When a Congressman tried to find out when GM would run out of cash, Wagoner hemmed and hawed until the lawmaker protested that “I don’t quite understand what the hell you just told me”.
When another lawmaker asked about GM’s outlook for the quarter, Wagoner informed him that “we dont provide financial guidance in earnings”.
So it was hard to feel sorry for the executives when Representative Peter Roskam, late in the hearing, reminded them again that “the symbolism of the private jet is difficult”, and mischievously asked the witnesses whether, in another symbolic gesture, they would be willing to work for $1 a year, as Nardelli has offered to do.
“I don’t have a position on that today,” demurred Wagoner (2007 total compensation: $15.7 million).
“I understand the intent, but I think where we are is okay,” said Mulally ($21.7 million).
“I’m asking about you,” Roskam pressed.
“I think I’m okay where I am,” Mulally said.
And don’t even think about asking him to fly commercial.
LOS ANGELES TIMES-WASHINGTON POST NEWS SERVICE
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Bravo Indian Navy
It is not always that I get to commend the Indian Government for its action.
I have got the opportunity today.
I and I am sure many of you must have been surprised at the bravado of these pirates on the high seas who were looting ships at will in this modern era where every action is available by everybody to see on Google maps.
I am sure the action by the Indian Governement will put a stop to the piracy.
But this action was easy as the thieves wee external.
But what about the thieves sitting in the government, the politicians and criminals.
When will the government take action against them.
THAT WILL BE THE DAY WHEN I WILL REALLY PRAISE THE GOVERNMENT.
Radheshyam
Taken from "The Telegraph"
Nov. 19: The Indian naval headquarters has been decisively unshackled in conducting global operations with the destruction of a “mother vessel” of pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday.
INS Tabar’s operation came nine years after the Indian Navy flexed its muscles in international waters by seizing a Japanese-owned freighter, the Alondra Rainbow, from Indonesian pirates.
For nearly five years now, caution and discretion at the external affairs ministry — tacitly encouraged by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) — have constrained naval headquarters from exercising what it sees as the Indian Navy’s rightful role on the high seas as an emerging power and the largest neighbourhood force with legitimate interests in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
With the public outcry over Indian hostages seized by Somali pirates, the navy yesterday overcame long-standing political objections against the use of force in international waters and engaging “enemies” far away from home in co-operation with multinational forces. On November 11, Tabar had tested waters by saving an Indian vessel, but no pirate ship was destroyed then.
A senior naval officer said on condition of anonymity that pressure for action to protect Indian hostages from pirates was similar to that on the government to act after an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in 1999.
The destruction of the pirate vessel will, therefore, be a turning point in the years-long quest at Naval Headquarters to become part of a multinational co-operative security framework in a region which is vital for India’s maritime security, he predicted.
“It is encouraging that the Government of India is looking at the Gulf and Somali waters from a security perspective, but more needs to be done,” said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, author of two books on India’s sea power and maritime security, now a senior fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
Roy-Chaudhury, who was in the national security council secretariat when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, said “more” that is crying to be done includes institutionalising Indian naval patrols in trouble spots such as the Gulf of Aden and keeping regular contact with ships of other nations through upgraded communications.
Strategic experts are unanimous that yesterday’s action will mean a higher profile for the navy, which hitherto won international praise for disaster relief and management with other nations, such as during the Asian tsunami in December 2004.
It has not yet won accolades for armed action far away from its coast, although the rescue of the Alondra Rainbow from Indonesian pirates was a factor in convincing the Japanese to start a security co-operation dialogue — including naval co-operation — with India shortly thereafter.
At the US department of defence here, officials who are aware of tensions between naval headquarters in New Delhi and the external affairs ministry, were smiling in the knowledge that the trigger which set off yesterday’s action has the potential to change the course of defence relations between and among nations.
The Pentagon has been lobbying in New Delhi for five years for India to join the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction globally.The Indian Navy’s leadership has tilted towards joining the PSI in internal discussions in South Block, but political correctness has cast a veto over a decision in favour of the initiative.In the US Navy, there is immense interest in analysing yesterday’s action because Tabar is Russian-built. It is also the first vessel in the Talwar class — modified Krivak III class Russian frigate — to be armed with supersonic BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles.
I have got the opportunity today.
I and I am sure many of you must have been surprised at the bravado of these pirates on the high seas who were looting ships at will in this modern era where every action is available by everybody to see on Google maps.
I am sure the action by the Indian Governement will put a stop to the piracy.
But this action was easy as the thieves wee external.
But what about the thieves sitting in the government, the politicians and criminals.
When will the government take action against them.
THAT WILL BE THE DAY WHEN I WILL REALLY PRAISE THE GOVERNMENT.
Radheshyam
Taken from "The Telegraph"
Nov. 19: The Indian naval headquarters has been decisively unshackled in conducting global operations with the destruction of a “mother vessel” of pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday.
INS Tabar’s operation came nine years after the Indian Navy flexed its muscles in international waters by seizing a Japanese-owned freighter, the Alondra Rainbow, from Indonesian pirates.
For nearly five years now, caution and discretion at the external affairs ministry — tacitly encouraged by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) — have constrained naval headquarters from exercising what it sees as the Indian Navy’s rightful role on the high seas as an emerging power and the largest neighbourhood force with legitimate interests in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
With the public outcry over Indian hostages seized by Somali pirates, the navy yesterday overcame long-standing political objections against the use of force in international waters and engaging “enemies” far away from home in co-operation with multinational forces. On November 11, Tabar had tested waters by saving an Indian vessel, but no pirate ship was destroyed then.
A senior naval officer said on condition of anonymity that pressure for action to protect Indian hostages from pirates was similar to that on the government to act after an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in 1999.
The destruction of the pirate vessel will, therefore, be a turning point in the years-long quest at Naval Headquarters to become part of a multinational co-operative security framework in a region which is vital for India’s maritime security, he predicted.
“It is encouraging that the Government of India is looking at the Gulf and Somali waters from a security perspective, but more needs to be done,” said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, author of two books on India’s sea power and maritime security, now a senior fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
Roy-Chaudhury, who was in the national security council secretariat when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, said “more” that is crying to be done includes institutionalising Indian naval patrols in trouble spots such as the Gulf of Aden and keeping regular contact with ships of other nations through upgraded communications.
Strategic experts are unanimous that yesterday’s action will mean a higher profile for the navy, which hitherto won international praise for disaster relief and management with other nations, such as during the Asian tsunami in December 2004.
It has not yet won accolades for armed action far away from its coast, although the rescue of the Alondra Rainbow from Indonesian pirates was a factor in convincing the Japanese to start a security co-operation dialogue — including naval co-operation — with India shortly thereafter.
At the US department of defence here, officials who are aware of tensions between naval headquarters in New Delhi and the external affairs ministry, were smiling in the knowledge that the trigger which set off yesterday’s action has the potential to change the course of defence relations between and among nations.
The Pentagon has been lobbying in New Delhi for five years for India to join the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction globally.The Indian Navy’s leadership has tilted towards joining the PSI in internal discussions in South Block, but political correctness has cast a veto over a decision in favour of the initiative.In the US Navy, there is immense interest in analysing yesterday’s action because Tabar is Russian-built. It is also the first vessel in the Talwar class — modified Krivak III class Russian frigate — to be armed with supersonic BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Knight saving a lady in distress
I am normally so critical of politicians, not expecting any good from them, that when anything good is said about a politician, I take it with a pinch of salt.
I suppose, we cannot call the person about whom this tale is a politician. If he was, he would not have acted like he did. He would first see if TV camera's were on while doing the act.
Partha Sengupta has sent this story.
Radheshyam
Oct 05, 2008
The Norwegian newspaper VG has reported a truly amazing story about a newly-wed trying to get to Norway to be with her husband, and the stranger who helped pay an unexpected luggage surcharge. The blog 'Leisha's Random Thoughts' has translated the story.
It was 1988, and Mary Andersen was at the Miami airport checking in for a long flight to Norway to be with her husband when the airline representative informed her that she wouldn't be able to check her luggage without paying a 100 dollars surcharge:
When it was finally Mary's turn, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You'll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.
As tears streamed down her face, she heard a 'gentle and friendly voice' behind her saying, 'That's okay, I'll pay for her.'
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.
Who was the man?
Barack Obama.
Twenty years later, she is thrilled that the friendly stranger at the airport may be the next President and has voted for him already and donated 100 dollars to his campaign:
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
Mary even convinced her parents to vote for him:
In the spring of 2006 Mary's parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
And Obama replied:
In a letter to Mary's parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped 'United States Senate,
Washington DC', Barack Obama writes:
'I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me
of what happened at Miami airport. I'm happy I could help back then, and I'm delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes.
Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States Senator'.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.
Mary says that when her friends and associates talk about the election, especially when race relations is the heated subject, she relates the story of the k ind man who helped out a stranger-in-need over twenty years ago, years before he had even thought about running for high office.
Truly a wonderful story, and something that needs to be passed along in the maelstorm of fear-and-smear politics we are being subjected to right now.
UPDATE: Thanks for the recommends, folks! Also, remember this was 1988, when 100 dollars was quite a bit of money, compared to today's value.
I suppose, we cannot call the person about whom this tale is a politician. If he was, he would not have acted like he did. He would first see if TV camera's were on while doing the act.
Partha Sengupta has sent this story.
Radheshyam
Oct 05, 2008
The Norwegian newspaper VG has reported a truly amazing story about a newly-wed trying to get to Norway to be with her husband, and the stranger who helped pay an unexpected luggage surcharge. The blog 'Leisha's Random Thoughts' has translated the story.
It was 1988, and Mary Andersen was at the Miami airport checking in for a long flight to Norway to be with her husband when the airline representative informed her that she wouldn't be able to check her luggage without paying a 100 dollars surcharge:
When it was finally Mary's turn, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You'll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.
As tears streamed down her face, she heard a 'gentle and friendly voice' behind her saying, 'That's okay, I'll pay for her.'
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.
Who was the man?
Barack Obama.
Twenty years later, she is thrilled that the friendly stranger at the airport may be the next President and has voted for him already and donated 100 dollars to his campaign:
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
Mary even convinced her parents to vote for him:
In the spring of 2006 Mary's parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
And Obama replied:
In a letter to Mary's parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped 'United States Senate,
Washington DC', Barack Obama writes:
'I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me
of what happened at Miami airport. I'm happy I could help back then, and I'm delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes.
Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States Senator'.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.
Mary says that when her friends and associates talk about the election, especially when race relations is the heated subject, she relates the story of the k ind man who helped out a stranger-in-need over twenty years ago, years before he had even thought about running for high office.
Truly a wonderful story, and something that needs to be passed along in the maelstorm of fear-and-smear politics we are being subjected to right now.
UPDATE: Thanks for the recommends, folks! Also, remember this was 1988, when 100 dollars was quite a bit of money, compared to today's value.
What Toyota knows that GM doesnt?
Captalism or Communism?
This argument has been going on since the beginning of the last century.
It seemed that the final nail had been hammered in the coffin of communism with the disintegration of the Soviet empire.
Well the communist ideology has fought back with the disintegration of capitalist structure in USA, the home of capitalism.
The government there is now taking everything under its wing.
Neither communists nor capritalism is good or bad.
It is the people who propogate it who are bad.
Finally you have to make your people happy.
The Americans with their HIRE & FIRE system loses out to the people who care for there workers as this article shows.
Radheshyam
Do you know how many hourly jobs GM has laid off from 2006 to July 2008? Take a guess. How about 34,000? And now, they're talking about another 5,500 layoffs. And now they're asking you and your government for a bailout to end their troubled, outdated, low quality, wasteful production system. But, let's not focus on fixing GM's problems with an infusion of cash. There's something even deeper going on here that's really wrong.
OK, here's a better question. How many hourly jobs has Toyota's American production system laid off in the same time frame? Zero. That's right. ZERO. How? Isn't Toyota experiencing the same slow down in auto sales as GM is? Yes, it is. And yes, Toyota has halted production at its Texas and Indiana plants for the past 3 months. But the 4,500 people who work at those plants have not been laid off. What!?!?! How? Why?
The answer: Toyota has a special culture, deep-rooted values, and respect for their workforce. Toyota's tradition is to NOT lay off employees during hard times. This tradition hasn't really been put to the test until now. And Toyota has stuck to its guns and its values.
"This was the first chance we've really had to live out our values," says Latondra Newton, general manager of Toyota's Team Member Development Center in Erlanger, Ky. "We're not just keeping people on the payroll because we're nice. At the end of all this, our hope is that we'll end up with a more skilled North American workforce."
Interesting. But what does that last line mean? "At the end of all this, our hope is that we'll end up with a more skilled North American workforce." It means that while these employees were not manufacturing automobiles, they were in training. They were doing safety drills, participating in productivity improvement exercises, attending presentations on material handling and workplace hazards, taking diversity and ethics classes, attending maintenance education and taking a stream of online tests to measure and record their skill improvements. Toyota is shifted the Texas and Indiana workers temporarily to Toyota plants whose assembly lines were moving at full speed, such as the Camry assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. In addition to all of this, the workers also spent some time painting the plants and even helped build Habitat for Humanity homes. And they were getting paid.
Wow! So what is this costing Toyota? The estimate is at least $50 million dollars, plus the loss of revenue of shutting down production. Why is this value and tradition worth so much to Toyota? Why would they be willing to spend $50 million rather than lay people off? It's because Toyota believes that its people, yes, its PEOPLE are its greatest investment and its greatest asset. You hear so many companies say that, but would they really put their money where their mouths are when the rubber hits the road (no pun intended)? In Toyota's case, the answer is yes they would.
So what does Toyota get out of this? When, not if, the plants return to full production, Toyota will have well trained employees on the front line, ready and able to meet the demand for their vehicles. And not only will they be well trained, they'll be happy and motivated to work. Because Toyota is willing to go to the mat for their people, their people will be willing to do the same for Toyota.
The lesson here: Unlike their counterparts GM and Ford, Toyota has always taken a long-term strategic view about their employees. Toyota understands that laying off thousands of employees for slowdowns or plant retooling is counter productive. They wisely utilize the time to redistribute their workforce to understaffed plants, provide additional training for the new products, and leverage their workforce to speed the transition for newer products. Their philosophy has avoided labor disputes and staffing shortages. It has kept the company as a leader in quality and profitability over its shortsighted competitors.
So, the message for you in all of this: Really commit to upholding the value that your people, let me repeat that, your PEOPLE are your greatest asset. Treat them with respect and dignity. Do everything in your power and your imagination to keep them on the payroll during the rough times. If you don't, you may not find those people again on the upside of the downturn. And if you do, you'll have hyper-productive, motivated teams delivering quality because they're committed on a deeper level to your company.
Article source: http://edgehopper. com/what- toyota-knows- that-gm-doesnt
This argument has been going on since the beginning of the last century.
It seemed that the final nail had been hammered in the coffin of communism with the disintegration of the Soviet empire.
Well the communist ideology has fought back with the disintegration of capitalist structure in USA, the home of capitalism.
The government there is now taking everything under its wing.
Neither communists nor capritalism is good or bad.
It is the people who propogate it who are bad.
Finally you have to make your people happy.
The Americans with their HIRE & FIRE system loses out to the people who care for there workers as this article shows.
Radheshyam
Do you know how many hourly jobs GM has laid off from 2006 to July 2008? Take a guess. How about 34,000? And now, they're talking about another 5,500 layoffs. And now they're asking you and your government for a bailout to end their troubled, outdated, low quality, wasteful production system. But, let's not focus on fixing GM's problems with an infusion of cash. There's something even deeper going on here that's really wrong.
OK, here's a better question. How many hourly jobs has Toyota's American production system laid off in the same time frame? Zero. That's right. ZERO. How? Isn't Toyota experiencing the same slow down in auto sales as GM is? Yes, it is. And yes, Toyota has halted production at its Texas and Indiana plants for the past 3 months. But the 4,500 people who work at those plants have not been laid off. What!?!?! How? Why?
The answer: Toyota has a special culture, deep-rooted values, and respect for their workforce. Toyota's tradition is to NOT lay off employees during hard times. This tradition hasn't really been put to the test until now. And Toyota has stuck to its guns and its values.
"This was the first chance we've really had to live out our values," says Latondra Newton, general manager of Toyota's Team Member Development Center in Erlanger, Ky. "We're not just keeping people on the payroll because we're nice. At the end of all this, our hope is that we'll end up with a more skilled North American workforce."
Interesting. But what does that last line mean? "At the end of all this, our hope is that we'll end up with a more skilled North American workforce." It means that while these employees were not manufacturing automobiles, they were in training. They were doing safety drills, participating in productivity improvement exercises, attending presentations on material handling and workplace hazards, taking diversity and ethics classes, attending maintenance education and taking a stream of online tests to measure and record their skill improvements. Toyota is shifted the Texas and Indiana workers temporarily to Toyota plants whose assembly lines were moving at full speed, such as the Camry assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. In addition to all of this, the workers also spent some time painting the plants and even helped build Habitat for Humanity homes. And they were getting paid.
Wow! So what is this costing Toyota? The estimate is at least $50 million dollars, plus the loss of revenue of shutting down production. Why is this value and tradition worth so much to Toyota? Why would they be willing to spend $50 million rather than lay people off? It's because Toyota believes that its people, yes, its PEOPLE are its greatest investment and its greatest asset. You hear so many companies say that, but would they really put their money where their mouths are when the rubber hits the road (no pun intended)? In Toyota's case, the answer is yes they would.
So what does Toyota get out of this? When, not if, the plants return to full production, Toyota will have well trained employees on the front line, ready and able to meet the demand for their vehicles. And not only will they be well trained, they'll be happy and motivated to work. Because Toyota is willing to go to the mat for their people, their people will be willing to do the same for Toyota.
The lesson here: Unlike their counterparts GM and Ford, Toyota has always taken a long-term strategic view about their employees. Toyota understands that laying off thousands of employees for slowdowns or plant retooling is counter productive. They wisely utilize the time to redistribute their workforce to understaffed plants, provide additional training for the new products, and leverage their workforce to speed the transition for newer products. Their philosophy has avoided labor disputes and staffing shortages. It has kept the company as a leader in quality and profitability over its shortsighted competitors.
So, the message for you in all of this: Really commit to upholding the value that your people, let me repeat that, your PEOPLE are your greatest asset. Treat them with respect and dignity. Do everything in your power and your imagination to keep them on the payroll during the rough times. If you don't, you may not find those people again on the upside of the downturn. And if you do, you'll have hyper-productive, motivated teams delivering quality because they're committed on a deeper level to your company.
Article source: http://edgehopper. com/what- toyota-knows- that-gm-doesnt
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Phishing
I have informed a number of times earlier of people trying to enter your computer when you click on networking emails which come to you.
Here is an article which came in Business Line which explains it further.
Radheshyam
R. Savitha
Pune, Nov. 17 Online fraud is evolving. Phishing and pharming represent one of the organised and innovative technological crime waves faced by online businesses. Fraudsters have new tools at their disposal and are able to adapt more rapidly than ever.
Talking to Business Line, Mr Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Symantec India, noted that during October, it had observed 39 per cent phishing URLs generated using phishing toolkits. This is an increase of 97 per cent from September. More sophisticated automations have brought about the surge in toolkits attacks as well, he said.
He noted that phishers today use IP addresses as part of the host name instead of a domain name. This is a tactic used to hide the actual fake domain name that otherwise can be easily noticed.
Also, many banks use IP addresses in their Web site URLs. This makes it confusing for customers to distinguish a legitimate brand IP from a fake IP address. The financial sector remained the most vulnerable sector, with 87 per cent phishing URLs reported.
On the rise
A total of 1,098 phish sites were hosted in 70 countries, which accounts for an increase of around 141 per cent of IP attacks compared with the previous month. The rise in IP-based attacks were a part of the overall surge in phishing during the month.
.
Between the second half of 2006, when 13,353 phishing Web site hosts were detected, and the second half of 2007, Symantec observed a dramatic increase of 559 per cent in phishing Web site hosts.
“Talking about India specifically, in the last six months of 2007 we have observed 345 unique phishing URLs with IP addresses hosted in India,” he said.
Social network spoof
Commenting on the new areas that are the target segment, Mr Vishal noted that according to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report Volume XIII, majority of phished Web sites that were detected globally during the last six months spoofed social networking sites.
This is a sign of caution for India too, since according to a recent industry report, nearly 5-6 million Indians are actively involved in social networking and spend approximately 25-75 per cent of their time online in social networking activities. They can become easy preys to ‘abuse of trust’ tactics.
According to the Symantec report, social networking sites are easy for criminals to spoof and because social networking pages are generally trusted by users, phishing attacks mimicking them may be more successful.
Profiles on social networking sites often contain a significant amount of personal information about the user, spoofed social networking pages can include links to false download that require users to enter confidential information such as authentication information or credit card information that can subsequently be used for fraudulent purposes, he pointed out.
Here is an article which came in Business Line which explains it further.
Radheshyam
R. Savitha
Pune, Nov. 17 Online fraud is evolving. Phishing and pharming represent one of the organised and innovative technological crime waves faced by online businesses. Fraudsters have new tools at their disposal and are able to adapt more rapidly than ever.
Talking to Business Line, Mr Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Symantec India, noted that during October, it had observed 39 per cent phishing URLs generated using phishing toolkits. This is an increase of 97 per cent from September. More sophisticated automations have brought about the surge in toolkits attacks as well, he said.
He noted that phishers today use IP addresses as part of the host name instead of a domain name. This is a tactic used to hide the actual fake domain name that otherwise can be easily noticed.
Also, many banks use IP addresses in their Web site URLs. This makes it confusing for customers to distinguish a legitimate brand IP from a fake IP address. The financial sector remained the most vulnerable sector, with 87 per cent phishing URLs reported.
On the rise
A total of 1,098 phish sites were hosted in 70 countries, which accounts for an increase of around 141 per cent of IP attacks compared with the previous month. The rise in IP-based attacks were a part of the overall surge in phishing during the month.
.
Between the second half of 2006, when 13,353 phishing Web site hosts were detected, and the second half of 2007, Symantec observed a dramatic increase of 559 per cent in phishing Web site hosts.
“Talking about India specifically, in the last six months of 2007 we have observed 345 unique phishing URLs with IP addresses hosted in India,” he said.
Social network spoof
Commenting on the new areas that are the target segment, Mr Vishal noted that according to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report Volume XIII, majority of phished Web sites that were detected globally during the last six months spoofed social networking sites.
This is a sign of caution for India too, since according to a recent industry report, nearly 5-6 million Indians are actively involved in social networking and spend approximately 25-75 per cent of their time online in social networking activities. They can become easy preys to ‘abuse of trust’ tactics.
According to the Symantec report, social networking sites are easy for criminals to spoof and because social networking pages are generally trusted by users, phishing attacks mimicking them may be more successful.
Profiles on social networking sites often contain a significant amount of personal information about the user, spoofed social networking pages can include links to false download that require users to enter confidential information such as authentication information or credit card information that can subsequently be used for fraudulent purposes, he pointed out.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Obama, Post Election
We are always cursing our Indian democracy.
Some days back I had compared Obama's and Mccain's post election performance with our own poll candidates and of course our people came off worse.
Saibal Basu, 1982, compares the history of America, 230 years and ours 60 years, to give us a better perspective.
Radheshyam
Mr. Sharma
In response to your gushing admiration for the recent presidential U.S. election process, conspicuous with the absence of violence and mayhem followed by a graceful acknowledgement of defeat by Mr. McCain, I would like to bring to your attention a few facts of history.
It took the U.S. nearly 230 years to elect a black president in a country that on national average is nearly 20% black. Elected black representatives in both the U.S. Senate and House of Congress are also very sparse to non-existent. Also prior to this historic victory, Senator Barrack Obama was the only black Senator in the U.S. Senate. In India we have had minorities elected to the nation’s highest offices including that of President, Governor, Speaker of the Lok Sabha etc. There is also no doubt that had the U.S. economy not taken such a sudden downturn fuelling widespread anger against the current administration the election outcome could have been quite different. Bad economic news actually helped Obama. In bengali there is a saying which you may know – karo poush mash, karo sorbonash! Obviously Mr. Obama has reaped the harvest of discontent!
As far as poll violence is concerned, let us not forget that it was only a few decades ago that minorities (Native Americans, African Americans) had no voting rights even when they had sacrificed for the nation in wars. Non-Europeans could not acquire citizenship. In many parts of the U.S., more so in the south, voter intimidation, vandalizing homes and black churches, arson, physical violence, police brutality, dog bites etc. were just a few of the methods directed against minorities during polling. Also, let us not forget about the repressive poll tax which only the African Americans were required to pay from their already meager incomes. The state of Texas repealed the poll tax only in 1966!
As far as security is concerned, let there be no doubt about the elaborate security arrangements made for both the candidates and particularly for Mr. Obama. The security personnel are not dressed in battle fatigues or any distinctive colour (like the Black Cats) but in business suits are armed and carry advanced communication equipment. And most importantly the people seen shaking hands with either of the candidates have been prescreened by security. The apparent ease and coolness with which the candidates mingled with the public is all just show – it has all been pre-scripted and prescreened and hardly spontaneous as might appear.
I know that politics and political candidates in India leave much to be desired. However, let us not forget that India has been a modern independent nation for only 60 years. India embarked upon the democratic path through the exercise of universal adult franchise from its very first election – not in stages, not group by group, caste by caste, religion by religion as happened in the U.S. The country has stuck to this political framework (except for a few years during Mrs. Gandhi’s rule) in spite of many threats and challenges. India also happens to be located in an unstable geopolitical environment surrounded by non-democracies and ‘stuttering’ democracies or transitional democracies. India on the other hand, with its enormous diversity, burdening population, illiteracy, poverty etc. has not only left it’s democratic traditions intact but in fact strengthened and institutionalized that democratic framework. It is very easy for a wealthy nation to be democratic but much much harder for a poorer country to remain so.
Saibal BasuICSE - 1982
Some days back I had compared Obama's and Mccain's post election performance with our own poll candidates and of course our people came off worse.
Saibal Basu, 1982, compares the history of America, 230 years and ours 60 years, to give us a better perspective.
Radheshyam
Mr. Sharma
In response to your gushing admiration for the recent presidential U.S. election process, conspicuous with the absence of violence and mayhem followed by a graceful acknowledgement of defeat by Mr. McCain, I would like to bring to your attention a few facts of history.
It took the U.S. nearly 230 years to elect a black president in a country that on national average is nearly 20% black. Elected black representatives in both the U.S. Senate and House of Congress are also very sparse to non-existent. Also prior to this historic victory, Senator Barrack Obama was the only black Senator in the U.S. Senate. In India we have had minorities elected to the nation’s highest offices including that of President, Governor, Speaker of the Lok Sabha etc. There is also no doubt that had the U.S. economy not taken such a sudden downturn fuelling widespread anger against the current administration the election outcome could have been quite different. Bad economic news actually helped Obama. In bengali there is a saying which you may know – karo poush mash, karo sorbonash! Obviously Mr. Obama has reaped the harvest of discontent!
As far as poll violence is concerned, let us not forget that it was only a few decades ago that minorities (Native Americans, African Americans) had no voting rights even when they had sacrificed for the nation in wars. Non-Europeans could not acquire citizenship. In many parts of the U.S., more so in the south, voter intimidation, vandalizing homes and black churches, arson, physical violence, police brutality, dog bites etc. were just a few of the methods directed against minorities during polling. Also, let us not forget about the repressive poll tax which only the African Americans were required to pay from their already meager incomes. The state of Texas repealed the poll tax only in 1966!
As far as security is concerned, let there be no doubt about the elaborate security arrangements made for both the candidates and particularly for Mr. Obama. The security personnel are not dressed in battle fatigues or any distinctive colour (like the Black Cats) but in business suits are armed and carry advanced communication equipment. And most importantly the people seen shaking hands with either of the candidates have been prescreened by security. The apparent ease and coolness with which the candidates mingled with the public is all just show – it has all been pre-scripted and prescreened and hardly spontaneous as might appear.
I know that politics and political candidates in India leave much to be desired. However, let us not forget that India has been a modern independent nation for only 60 years. India embarked upon the democratic path through the exercise of universal adult franchise from its very first election – not in stages, not group by group, caste by caste, religion by religion as happened in the U.S. The country has stuck to this political framework (except for a few years during Mrs. Gandhi’s rule) in spite of many threats and challenges. India also happens to be located in an unstable geopolitical environment surrounded by non-democracies and ‘stuttering’ democracies or transitional democracies. India on the other hand, with its enormous diversity, burdening population, illiteracy, poverty etc. has not only left it’s democratic traditions intact but in fact strengthened and institutionalized that democratic framework. It is very easy for a wealthy nation to be democratic but much much harder for a poorer country to remain so.
Saibal BasuICSE - 1982
Easy Eddie
Here are two inspirational stories which arrived in my morning mail from Prakash Bhartia.
What a beautiful way to start the day.
I wanted to share them with you immediately.
No matter how bad you are,
God will forgive you if you ask it with a genuine heart.
So, forgive them also who hurt you
Radheshyam
Two Stories BOTH TRUE - and worth reading!!!!
STORY NUMBER ONE
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed 'Easy Eddie.' He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al 'Scarface' Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street .. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
'The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.'
STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.
He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son.
What a beautiful way to start the day.
I wanted to share them with you immediately.
No matter how bad you are,
God will forgive you if you ask it with a genuine heart.
So, forgive them also who hurt you
Radheshyam
Two Stories BOTH TRUE - and worth reading!!!!
STORY NUMBER ONE
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed 'Easy Eddie.' He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al 'Scarface' Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street .. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
'The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.'
STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.
He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son.
Fire at Oakbridge, CA
We Indians know California as the land of CALTECH, the institute which is comparable to MIT in Engineering education, and Los Angeles and Hollywood where all the movies in USA are shot.
But California has more than its share of woes.
Being located on a earth fault, they are regularly battered with earthquakes.Being located near the Pacific Coast they are blown hot and cold by the winds and being a hot climate they have regular fires which cause huge devastation.
One just reads about these in the papers and is not affected unless someone near is caught in the the natuaral calamity.
A fire raging there since 14th November, caught one of our boys, Edwin Bernard.
I would say God was very kind to them and they escaped but many of their friends lost everything.
Here is his account of the incident.
Hello Radeshyam,
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/danny-rios-is-a.html
I wanted to share this link that provides text and videos of the
Sylmar Fire that started a few days ago on November 14, 2008,
a couple of miles to the East of where we live. The raging west
blowing winds, speeds of high as 70 mph quickly spread the
flames to where we live and beyond.
If you Google our address, 14053 Saddle Ridge Road, Sylmar,
CA 91342 and move the map to the right, you will see streets
next to Stetson Ranch. That is Oakridge Mobile Home Park where
500 out of the 612 homes were completely burnt to the ground.
At midnight, fire trucks and police cars stormed into our area to
prepare for the oncoming inferno and to warn all of us to leave
our homes immediately. We were directed to go to the local
evacuation center, the gym of Sylmar High School.
Before the fire reached our location it destroyed 500 homes in
Oakridge. The above links show several videos of the Sylmar
fire as well as other fires that are raging in the Los Angeles area.
We were very fortunate that the firemen were able to save the
200 homes in our area. When we returned we saw how close
we came to disaster. All the vegetation on the hillside next to
our homes as well as the surrounding vegetation were completely
burnt.
However, the homes across the street as well as those on either
side of ours suffered only minor fire damage such as singed parts
of the outside as well as burnt trees and bushes. Somehow our
home had no damage at all, except ash blown in through gaps
in the doors and the windows. We were lucky.
What we went through was nothing compared to the residents
of the Oakridge Park. Several of our friends have lost their homes.
Many residents are in the 80's and 90's and will have to start
all over again.
Living in California has several hazards such as earthquakes,
fires, floods and high winds. And these are just the natural ones!
We can say we survived the 1994 Northridge earthquake and
the 2008 Sylmar Fire. What can be next?
Keep up the good work in maintaining communications between
the Old GMS Boys. If you wish, please share this with them.
Cheers!
Edwin Bernard
Class of 1962 (almost! I left in 1961, a year before Certification)
P.S. We have 2 dogs and four cats and had to save them too!
But that's another story.
But California has more than its share of woes.
Being located on a earth fault, they are regularly battered with earthquakes.Being located near the Pacific Coast they are blown hot and cold by the winds and being a hot climate they have regular fires which cause huge devastation.
One just reads about these in the papers and is not affected unless someone near is caught in the the natuaral calamity.
A fire raging there since 14th November, caught one of our boys, Edwin Bernard.
I would say God was very kind to them and they escaped but many of their friends lost everything.
Here is his account of the incident.
Hello Radeshyam,
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/danny-rios-is-a.html
I wanted to share this link that provides text and videos of the
Sylmar Fire that started a few days ago on November 14, 2008,
a couple of miles to the East of where we live. The raging west
blowing winds, speeds of high as 70 mph quickly spread the
flames to where we live and beyond.
If you Google our address, 14053 Saddle Ridge Road, Sylmar,
CA 91342 and move the map to the right, you will see streets
next to Stetson Ranch. That is Oakridge Mobile Home Park where
500 out of the 612 homes were completely burnt to the ground.
At midnight, fire trucks and police cars stormed into our area to
prepare for the oncoming inferno and to warn all of us to leave
our homes immediately. We were directed to go to the local
evacuation center, the gym of Sylmar High School.
Before the fire reached our location it destroyed 500 homes in
Oakridge. The above links show several videos of the Sylmar
fire as well as other fires that are raging in the Los Angeles area.
We were very fortunate that the firemen were able to save the
200 homes in our area. When we returned we saw how close
we came to disaster. All the vegetation on the hillside next to
our homes as well as the surrounding vegetation were completely
burnt.
However, the homes across the street as well as those on either
side of ours suffered only minor fire damage such as singed parts
of the outside as well as burnt trees and bushes. Somehow our
home had no damage at all, except ash blown in through gaps
in the doors and the windows. We were lucky.
What we went through was nothing compared to the residents
of the Oakridge Park. Several of our friends have lost their homes.
Many residents are in the 80's and 90's and will have to start
all over again.
Living in California has several hazards such as earthquakes,
fires, floods and high winds. And these are just the natural ones!
We can say we survived the 1994 Northridge earthquake and
the 2008 Sylmar Fire. What can be next?
Keep up the good work in maintaining communications between
the Old GMS Boys. If you wish, please share this with them.
Cheers!
Edwin Bernard
Class of 1962 (almost! I left in 1961, a year before Certification)
P.S. We have 2 dogs and four cats and had to save them too!
But that's another story.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Centenary DVD
Although the DVD was bought last Sunday during our reunion,
I couldn't get the time to see it.
Today, I have seen it.
It is really nostalgic.
We have waited a whole year for it but the wait was worth it.
Congratulations to the Kurseong boys.
I have given in last week's message how anybody who wants it can procure it.
You will really enjoy the 1hr 45 mts, you watch it.
Radheshyam
The Dragon Awakens
Our sages say that when one is unhappy and disgruntled at his fate he should look at the people surrounding him who are worse off than him and thank God that He has given him so much.
When one is exhultant and happy and proud of his wealth and achievemnts, he should look round him at the people who are better off than him and thank God that He has given hin at least this much.
It gives us a more balanced perspective of our lives and makes us stoic. What we call remaining "sam", calm like the Pacific Ocean.
Last week we sent our first spaceship to the moon and only day before yesterday it crashlanded on the moon's surface, as per plans.
Lest our joys and pride goes out of hand, here is an article on China to bring us down to earth.Taken from http://www.humanevents.com/
China's Path to World Power
by Patrick J. Buchanan
For decades, before a heedless congregation, some of us have preached
the old Hamiltonian gospel.
Great nations do not have trade partners. They have trade competitors and rivals. Trade surpluses are superior to trade deficits. Tariffs onforeign goods are preferable to taxes on U.S. producers. Manufacturing, not finance, is the muscle of the nation.
Economic independence is vital to political independence.
Following Hamiltonian precepts, the United States grew from 13 rural and agricultural colonies into the greatest industrial power in all history, producing 42 percent of the world's manufactured goods. We were the awe and envy of mankind, the self-sufficient republic, maker of half of the armaments produced by all the nations in World War II.
That is the America we grew up in -- that has now vanished.
Chrysler, Ford, perhaps GM, may be dying. Manufacturing has sunk to 10 percent of U.S. employment, a level unseen since before the Civil War. Europeans and Asians are to assemble in Washington this week to impose upon the United States a New World Economic Order like the one we imposed on them at Bretton Woods in 1944.
Such are the fruits of free-trade ideology.
Across the Pacific, a nation that studied how America rose, and watched as America declined, chose a different path. China adopted and pursued a China First policy of economic nationalism.
In July, Charles McMillion of MBG Services testified to the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission on China's progress.
Beijing began its astonishing rise by devaluing its currency 45
percent in 1994, slashing the prices of exports in half and making imports twice as expensive. As America threw open her market and invited China to come in and capture it, China had erected a Great Wall around her own.
Results: China's worldwide trade surplus in manufactures, $31 billion in 2001, hit $401 billion in 2007, a 1,300 percent increase, and may reach $500 billion in 2008. China has shoved Germany aside to become the world's greatest exporter and now leads the world in the export of
manufactured goods to Japan and the European Union, as well as the United States.
While running trade deficits with Asian neighbors like Taiwan, to tie them politically to Beijing, China is running record trade surpluses with the European Union and the United States, making America and the West as dependent upon China for our manufactures as we are on OPEC for our oil.
Chinese auto production has quintupled since 2001. She now produces more cars than Germany and may exceed the United States in 2009. While Chinese auto exports are still heavily in parts, finished cars are coming soon to a dealer near you. The Chinese will likely run the sword through the last standing member of America's Big Three.
Before 2004, China's manufacturing trade surplus with America was largely in textiles and apparel. But, since then, China's rocketing trade surplus in electronics, computers and parts has far exceeded her surplus in textiles and apparel.
China's trade surplus in computers and components rose from $8.1 billion in 2001 to $73.5 billion in 2007. In cellular phones and parts, her worldwide trade surplus grew from $3 billion in 2003 to $50 billion in 2007, and may reach $60 billion by year's end.
China still imports commercial airliners. But she now has a large and growing trade surplus in airplane parts. This follows the pattern in textiles, computers and autos. First, the Chinese learn by assembling parts in factories in China. Then, China begins to produce the parts.
Then, China produces the finished products and goes out to capture the world market, while protecting her own by keeping her currency cheap.
On items the Commerce Department categorizes as advanced technology products, America began running a trade deficit for the first time early in the George W. Bush years. China now exports to us four times as much, in dollar value, in ATP items as we sell to Beijing.
As America mothballs the shuttle, relying on Russian rockets to get our astronauts back up to a space station we built, China is putting men into space and heading for the moon.
Since America ushered China into the World Trade Organization in 2002, Beijing's growth rate has been four times that of the United States, accelerating from an average 10 percent of gross domestic product to 12 percent in 2007.
With her immense trade surpluses, China's reserves have surged from $200 billion in 2002 to $2 trillion. Awash in dollars, Beijing now waits patiently, writes McMillion, to cherry-pick the crown jewels of America's industrial empire -- "patents, talents, natural resources, brands" -- at fire-sale prices in the global crash.
As America plunges into recession and our industry hollows out, while China is still growing at 9 percent, as the 20th century's greatest creditor nation now borrows from Beijing to pay for booster shots for its sick economy, may we hear once again the Bush-Clinton refrain about how the terrible danger we all face is from "protectionism."
When one is exhultant and happy and proud of his wealth and achievemnts, he should look round him at the people who are better off than him and thank God that He has given hin at least this much.
It gives us a more balanced perspective of our lives and makes us stoic. What we call remaining "sam", calm like the Pacific Ocean.
Last week we sent our first spaceship to the moon and only day before yesterday it crashlanded on the moon's surface, as per plans.
Lest our joys and pride goes out of hand, here is an article on China to bring us down to earth.Taken from http://www.humanevents.com/
China's Path to World Power
by Patrick J. Buchanan
For decades, before a heedless congregation, some of us have preached
the old Hamiltonian gospel.
Great nations do not have trade partners. They have trade competitors and rivals. Trade surpluses are superior to trade deficits. Tariffs onforeign goods are preferable to taxes on U.S. producers. Manufacturing, not finance, is the muscle of the nation.
Economic independence is vital to political independence.
Following Hamiltonian precepts, the United States grew from 13 rural and agricultural colonies into the greatest industrial power in all history, producing 42 percent of the world's manufactured goods. We were the awe and envy of mankind, the self-sufficient republic, maker of half of the armaments produced by all the nations in World War II.
That is the America we grew up in -- that has now vanished.
Chrysler, Ford, perhaps GM, may be dying. Manufacturing has sunk to 10 percent of U.S. employment, a level unseen since before the Civil War. Europeans and Asians are to assemble in Washington this week to impose upon the United States a New World Economic Order like the one we imposed on them at Bretton Woods in 1944.
Such are the fruits of free-trade ideology.
Across the Pacific, a nation that studied how America rose, and watched as America declined, chose a different path. China adopted and pursued a China First policy of economic nationalism.
In July, Charles McMillion of MBG Services testified to the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission on China's progress.
Beijing began its astonishing rise by devaluing its currency 45
percent in 1994, slashing the prices of exports in half and making imports twice as expensive. As America threw open her market and invited China to come in and capture it, China had erected a Great Wall around her own.
Results: China's worldwide trade surplus in manufactures, $31 billion in 2001, hit $401 billion in 2007, a 1,300 percent increase, and may reach $500 billion in 2008. China has shoved Germany aside to become the world's greatest exporter and now leads the world in the export of
manufactured goods to Japan and the European Union, as well as the United States.
While running trade deficits with Asian neighbors like Taiwan, to tie them politically to Beijing, China is running record trade surpluses with the European Union and the United States, making America and the West as dependent upon China for our manufactures as we are on OPEC for our oil.
Chinese auto production has quintupled since 2001. She now produces more cars than Germany and may exceed the United States in 2009. While Chinese auto exports are still heavily in parts, finished cars are coming soon to a dealer near you. The Chinese will likely run the sword through the last standing member of America's Big Three.
Before 2004, China's manufacturing trade surplus with America was largely in textiles and apparel. But, since then, China's rocketing trade surplus in electronics, computers and parts has far exceeded her surplus in textiles and apparel.
China's trade surplus in computers and components rose from $8.1 billion in 2001 to $73.5 billion in 2007. In cellular phones and parts, her worldwide trade surplus grew from $3 billion in 2003 to $50 billion in 2007, and may reach $60 billion by year's end.
China still imports commercial airliners. But she now has a large and growing trade surplus in airplane parts. This follows the pattern in textiles, computers and autos. First, the Chinese learn by assembling parts in factories in China. Then, China begins to produce the parts.
Then, China produces the finished products and goes out to capture the world market, while protecting her own by keeping her currency cheap.
On items the Commerce Department categorizes as advanced technology products, America began running a trade deficit for the first time early in the George W. Bush years. China now exports to us four times as much, in dollar value, in ATP items as we sell to Beijing.
As America mothballs the shuttle, relying on Russian rockets to get our astronauts back up to a space station we built, China is putting men into space and heading for the moon.
Since America ushered China into the World Trade Organization in 2002, Beijing's growth rate has been four times that of the United States, accelerating from an average 10 percent of gross domestic product to 12 percent in 2007.
With her immense trade surpluses, China's reserves have surged from $200 billion in 2002 to $2 trillion. Awash in dollars, Beijing now waits patiently, writes McMillion, to cherry-pick the crown jewels of America's industrial empire -- "patents, talents, natural resources, brands" -- at fire-sale prices in the global crash.
As America plunges into recession and our industry hollows out, while China is still growing at 9 percent, as the 20th century's greatest creditor nation now borrows from Beijing to pay for booster shots for its sick economy, may we hear once again the Bush-Clinton refrain about how the terrible danger we all face is from "protectionism."
PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT
Although I do not own a car the following advice would be helpful to all
car owners and they could pass it on to their friends
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents your Dr's office, the check- out girl at the market,
everyone you run across.
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying
to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.
The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound
until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.
Next time you come home for the night and you start
to put your keys away, think of this:
It's a security alarm system that you probably already
have and requires no installation. Test it.
It will go off from most everywhere inside your house
and will keep honking until your battery runs down
or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.
It works if you park in your driveway or garage
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break
into your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around...
After a few seconds all the neighborswill be looking out
their windows to see who is out there and sure
enough the criminal won't want that.
And remember to carry your keys
while walking to your car in a parking lot.
The alarm can work the same way there .....
This is something that should really be shared
with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a
sexual abuse crime
car owners and they could pass it on to their friends
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents your Dr's office, the check- out girl at the market,
everyone you run across.
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying
to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.
The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound
until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.
Next time you come home for the night and you start
to put your keys away, think of this:
It's a security alarm system that you probably already
have and requires no installation. Test it.
It will go off from most everywhere inside your house
and will keep honking until your battery runs down
or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.
It works if you park in your driveway or garage
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break
into your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around...
After a few seconds all the neighborswill be looking out
their windows to see who is out there and sure
enough the criminal won't want that.
And remember to carry your keys
while walking to your car in a parking lot.
The alarm can work the same way there .....
This is something that should really be shared
with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a
sexual abuse crime
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Msgs from Old Boys 46
Msg from Br. Manuel
Dear Radheshyam,
Thanks for all the updates you have been sending about Goethals. I am Br. Manuel presently the principal of Our Lady Of Salvation school in Mumbai. I had studied in Goethals in 1975 -76 when I was in Mount Carmel Kurseong. Br. Morrow was our principal when I was in school. I then went to St. Edmunds College in Shillong to complete my degree. From 1983-85 I spent three years teaching in Goethals. I taught class 7 when I was there.
I was very happy to be present for the centenary celebrations of GMS. I have visited the school a few times since I have left. It was lovely to have met a number of classmates and ex-students at the centenary. I have also been present at the get-togethers of the ex students in Mumbai. It was very encouraging to see so many from Goethals doing very well and settled in Mumbai. I am looking forward to the get=together on the 29th of November.
God Bless you,
Br. Manuel
9.11.2008
Msg from David Phillips
Hi Radheshyam,
In case I have never mentioned it before, always love receiving your reports on life in India especially where it concerns ex GMS, also good to see the the people from the other Hill schools can use it and maybe find some mates from their time back at their ‘Old Establishments’. Before I go, have got to ask you to pass onto any current Calcutta/Kolkutta established old GMS boys, if any of them can supply a recipee for an ‘Indian Bread’ that was hawked thoroug the city in the early hours before breakfast, the spelling I have may be inaccurate but the sound should be the same it was called ‘BARKULKHANI’? Todat no ex Cal person has been able to locate a recipee in any Indian cookbook to hand!
Keep up the wonderful news, regard and best wishes to you and all your readers.
Regards,
Dave Phillips
Batch 1954-1960
25, Hume Place ;Mt. Colah ;NSW 2079
Msg from Jimmy Keir
Dear All,
Do you know if there is a DVD available on the GMS Centenary celebrations? ?Some " Old Goats" are asking.
Will Sikkim, Nepal or Bhutan be putting on the next celebration? ?When?
Are there any improvements in the school as a result of our meeting with the Management?
Any info. would be appreciated.
Jimmy
Dear Ranjan,
There will be a good demand for the centenary CD, people have been regularly enquiring of it.
Could you arrange more of these?
Then in this Saturday's mail I could ask the people who want to send in their names.
We will send the CDs to one central place in each country.
Others could then collect from there
The logistics could be discussed.
Radheshyam
Boys, I have been informed by Ranjan that any body who wants the centenary CD should contact him . He is interacting with Kurseong to supply it to everybody who wants it,
Ranjan Guha Majumder
CE-163, Salt Lake,
Sector-1, Kolkata - 700 064
Phones : +91-33-23373569 & +91-3340047219
Mobiles : 9433381303 & 9433036869
Mail ID's : technog@airtelmail.in
ranjan.guha@yahoo.co.in
rgm@miscot.com
Msg from Pradeep Mohan
Dear Radheshyam
It was indeed a pleasure meeting you and your wife at the GMS meet.
I wish we can meet more often In future as and when possible.
It is only thru you that I could come In contact with
so many GMS boys and more so from my 1971 batch many of whom I met after 38 years.
I am indeed extremely grateful to you.
I request you to kindly send a copy of the photos taken by you at the meet and also let me know thecost which I have to reimburse and also the list of the boys who attended the meet.
I hope I am notputting too much of trouble on you and look forward to your weekly emails as usual.
regards
Pradeep Kumar Mohan
6b Saklat Place, 2nd floor,
Kolkata - 700 072, India
ph: +91 33 32522779
fax: +91 33 22127609
mob: +91 09339720748
EMAIL: pradeepkmohan@hotmail.com
Dear Pradeep,
Thanks for your mail.
It was very nice meeting you and all the other boys.
All the photographs I took have already been put on our blog http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/ I put them on the blog the same evening. If you click on the link you will go to the blog.
Do you still want me to send you the photographs or would you like to have them printed yourself? If so, let me know the # of the photograph.
The list, I will get from Ranjan and put it on my weekly mail on Saturday.
Then everybody can know.
We are planning a picnic soon, as Ranjan informs.
We shall meet then.
Cheers,
Radheshyam
Msg from Ashley Milne
Dear Mr Sharma,
My name is Ashley Milne, and I am an "old" ex - Goethalite. (1951 ) Matt Lobo forwarded my email address to you and you have kindly been sending me weekly news messages. I have received message No. 42 and No.44 but no signs of No. 43. I have received no others since then and I was wondering whether you have ceased sending these weekly messages as I am sure they must take a lot of your time. If you have forwarded these messages then I would imagine that my computer is on the blink, in which case I will have to get an expert to give it an overhaul, as I am just able to switch it on, type a few lines, send the email and then switch it off. My computer knowledge is very limited.
I look forward to hearing from and would offer my apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Best Regards,
Ashley Milne
Dear Ashley,
You are very much my senior. I joined in 1955.
It is good to write directly to you. Its always a pleasure to write to the "oldies"
I have your mail ID and have been sending out messages regularly to you too.
Msg upto 45 went out last week.
If any msg bounces more than two successive weeks then
I remove the address from my mailing list.
There has been no bounces from your mail box as I keep a record of all bounces.
The fault as you pointed out is probably in your computer.
There is nothing to be ashamed at lack of knowledge in any subject.
You can always learn.
I am lucky as I have my son who has taught me the basics.
Of course, I had to give him the scope to learn by buying a computer at home.
We all have to help each other in life, that is how the world moves on and God does what He wants. All through us.
Sometimes the mail box becomes full but then too the msg
bounces and informs that mail box is full.
I am resending the msg 43 and 45.
I hope you are accessing our blog also.
I have just come to know that boys are just reading the mails without accessing the blog. The blog complements the mails.
If you click on the link http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/
you will go directly to the blog.
You can then save the link in your "Favourites" or "Bookmark"
Warm regards
Radheshyam
Dear Radheshyam,
Very many thanks for your prompt reply and am delighted to receive the weekly message Nos 43 and 45. I can only assume that my computer must have had a " bad ", day because I now seem to be getting an awful lot of messages, mainly junk mail which thank goodness I do not see, as these are siphoned into my junk mail section and I delete them immediately. My only query is, that I exchange emails with a few ex- goethalites in Canada and Australia and I correspond with a couple of friends in England, yet I get emails from all over the world, in many languages offering me various services, which I have not requested. I just do not understand how these people have got hold of my email address. I am told by friends that there are a number of people, all over the world, who try out various combinations, in the hope that they strike lucky.
Yes, I do access the blog and I have read a lot of interesting stuff. The piece about the Gorkhaland is very interesting for the simple reason most of my education was in Kalimpong and Kurseong and I was also for a little while in Shillong. It seems that changes could be coming in the Darjeeling area, which no doubt would affect Kurseong, and my only is hope that GMS and the lads are not adversely affected. Did you say you started in GMS in 1955 ? When I was there ( makes me feel ancient ) Br.H.B.Dineen was headmaster and Br. T.P. Fitzpatrick ( who is now in Naini Tal ) was our class teacher and games master as well. Happy days.
Sorry to bore you with my reminiscing but I thank you once again for all your help and and sincerely hope and pray that things do improve.
Look after yourself and hope all the family are keeping well.
Warm regards,
Ashley.
Dear Ashley,
The useless mails you get are spams.
They are not always your fault.
They get your mail ID from your friends computer by putting malwares. I have explained that in one of our earlier postings.
Many times they send you a message as if it is coming from one of your friends when actually it doesn't come from your friend.
If you click the link it will enter your computer and farm all the mail ID's in you computer and send mails to the addresses as if it is coming from you.
Never, click any message inviting you to join any group.
Just delete those invitations.
If you want to confirm, send a mail to the friend asking him if he has sent an invitation. Most probably it will be NO.
I get these msgs from China and Korea.
Br. Dineen was there when I was there also. So was Br. Fitzpatrick.
He was the Principal when I joined Goethals in 1955.
We never got to confirm the tale that he had killed a goal keeper with his penalty kick and thereafter used to take left legged free kicks.
Yes, reminiscing is what we do in the reunions.
It is always a pleasure living in the past especially if it is pleasurable.
As time passes, we tend to forget the pains and remember only the pleasures.
Do look after yourself. And do pranayams. It will keep you in good health.
Warm regards
Radheshyam
Reply to SITUATIONS WANTED
Hello Radheshyam.....always a pleasure reading yr emails.
I have called Dwai and left him a message regarding a position with
Sunlife.
Thanks for the great work you do with keeping all ex Goats connected.
Shome Chaurasia
Senior Associate Manager
9050 Yonge Street, Suite 500
Richmond Hill
(905) 886-2200 ext 380
Dear Mr. Sharma,
Received your request and CVs. The kind of work applied for would certainly find a larger range of prospective employers in a large metro-areas of Canada and the US. Here in the Mid West and Iowa, businesses tend to be conservative and regional. However, I will try and circulate the CVs and if anything comes up, I will be glad to let you know.
Best to the family.
Viraj.
Dear Radheshyam,
Thanks for all the updates you have been sending about Goethals. I am Br. Manuel presently the principal of Our Lady Of Salvation school in Mumbai. I had studied in Goethals in 1975 -76 when I was in Mount Carmel Kurseong. Br. Morrow was our principal when I was in school. I then went to St. Edmunds College in Shillong to complete my degree. From 1983-85 I spent three years teaching in Goethals. I taught class 7 when I was there.
I was very happy to be present for the centenary celebrations of GMS. I have visited the school a few times since I have left. It was lovely to have met a number of classmates and ex-students at the centenary. I have also been present at the get-togethers of the ex students in Mumbai. It was very encouraging to see so many from Goethals doing very well and settled in Mumbai. I am looking forward to the get=together on the 29th of November.
God Bless you,
Br. Manuel
9.11.2008
Msg from David Phillips
Hi Radheshyam,
In case I have never mentioned it before, always love receiving your reports on life in India especially where it concerns ex GMS, also good to see the the people from the other Hill schools can use it and maybe find some mates from their time back at their ‘Old Establishments’. Before I go, have got to ask you to pass onto any current Calcutta/Kolkutta established old GMS boys, if any of them can supply a recipee for an ‘Indian Bread’ that was hawked thoroug the city in the early hours before breakfast, the spelling I have may be inaccurate but the sound should be the same it was called ‘BARKULKHANI’? Todat no ex Cal person has been able to locate a recipee in any Indian cookbook to hand!
Keep up the wonderful news, regard and best wishes to you and all your readers.
Regards,
Dave Phillips
Batch 1954-1960
25, Hume Place ;Mt. Colah ;NSW 2079
Msg from Jimmy Keir
Dear All,
Do you know if there is a DVD available on the GMS Centenary celebrations? ?Some " Old Goats" are asking.
Will Sikkim, Nepal or Bhutan be putting on the next celebration? ?When?
Are there any improvements in the school as a result of our meeting with the Management?
Any info. would be appreciated.
Jimmy
Dear Ranjan,
There will be a good demand for the centenary CD, people have been regularly enquiring of it.
Could you arrange more of these?
Then in this Saturday's mail I could ask the people who want to send in their names.
We will send the CDs to one central place in each country.
Others could then collect from there
The logistics could be discussed.
Radheshyam
Boys, I have been informed by Ranjan that any body who wants the centenary CD should contact him . He is interacting with Kurseong to supply it to everybody who wants it,
Ranjan Guha Majumder
CE-163, Salt Lake,
Sector-1, Kolkata - 700 064
Phones : +91-33-23373569 & +91-3340047219
Mobiles : 9433381303 & 9433036869
Mail ID's : technog@airtelmail.in
ranjan.guha@yahoo.co.in
rgm@miscot.com
Msg from Pradeep Mohan
Dear Radheshyam
It was indeed a pleasure meeting you and your wife at the GMS meet.
I wish we can meet more often In future as and when possible.
It is only thru you that I could come In contact with
so many GMS boys and more so from my 1971 batch many of whom I met after 38 years.
I am indeed extremely grateful to you.
I request you to kindly send a copy of the photos taken by you at the meet and also let me know thecost which I have to reimburse and also the list of the boys who attended the meet.
I hope I am notputting too much of trouble on you and look forward to your weekly emails as usual.
regards
Pradeep Kumar Mohan
6b Saklat Place, 2nd floor,
Kolkata - 700 072, India
ph: +91 33 32522779
fax: +91 33 22127609
mob: +91 09339720748
EMAIL: pradeepkmohan@hotmail.com
Dear Pradeep,
Thanks for your mail.
It was very nice meeting you and all the other boys.
All the photographs I took have already been put on our blog http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/ I put them on the blog the same evening. If you click on the link you will go to the blog.
Do you still want me to send you the photographs or would you like to have them printed yourself? If so, let me know the # of the photograph.
The list, I will get from Ranjan and put it on my weekly mail on Saturday.
Then everybody can know.
We are planning a picnic soon, as Ranjan informs.
We shall meet then.
Cheers,
Radheshyam
Msg from Ashley Milne
Dear Mr Sharma,
My name is Ashley Milne, and I am an "old" ex - Goethalite. (1951 ) Matt Lobo forwarded my email address to you and you have kindly been sending me weekly news messages. I have received message No. 42 and No.44 but no signs of No. 43. I have received no others since then and I was wondering whether you have ceased sending these weekly messages as I am sure they must take a lot of your time. If you have forwarded these messages then I would imagine that my computer is on the blink, in which case I will have to get an expert to give it an overhaul, as I am just able to switch it on, type a few lines, send the email and then switch it off. My computer knowledge is very limited.
I look forward to hearing from and would offer my apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Best Regards,
Ashley Milne
Dear Ashley,
You are very much my senior. I joined in 1955.
It is good to write directly to you. Its always a pleasure to write to the "oldies"
I have your mail ID and have been sending out messages regularly to you too.
Msg upto 45 went out last week.
If any msg bounces more than two successive weeks then
I remove the address from my mailing list.
There has been no bounces from your mail box as I keep a record of all bounces.
The fault as you pointed out is probably in your computer.
There is nothing to be ashamed at lack of knowledge in any subject.
You can always learn.
I am lucky as I have my son who has taught me the basics.
Of course, I had to give him the scope to learn by buying a computer at home.
We all have to help each other in life, that is how the world moves on and God does what He wants. All through us.
Sometimes the mail box becomes full but then too the msg
bounces and informs that mail box is full.
I am resending the msg 43 and 45.
I hope you are accessing our blog also.
I have just come to know that boys are just reading the mails without accessing the blog. The blog complements the mails.
If you click on the link http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/
you will go directly to the blog.
You can then save the link in your "Favourites" or "Bookmark"
Warm regards
Radheshyam
Dear Radheshyam,
Very many thanks for your prompt reply and am delighted to receive the weekly message Nos 43 and 45. I can only assume that my computer must have had a " bad ", day because I now seem to be getting an awful lot of messages, mainly junk mail which thank goodness I do not see, as these are siphoned into my junk mail section and I delete them immediately. My only query is, that I exchange emails with a few ex- goethalites in Canada and Australia and I correspond with a couple of friends in England, yet I get emails from all over the world, in many languages offering me various services, which I have not requested. I just do not understand how these people have got hold of my email address. I am told by friends that there are a number of people, all over the world, who try out various combinations, in the hope that they strike lucky.
Yes, I do access the blog and I have read a lot of interesting stuff. The piece about the Gorkhaland is very interesting for the simple reason most of my education was in Kalimpong and Kurseong and I was also for a little while in Shillong. It seems that changes could be coming in the Darjeeling area, which no doubt would affect Kurseong, and my only is hope that GMS and the lads are not adversely affected. Did you say you started in GMS in 1955 ? When I was there ( makes me feel ancient ) Br.H.B.Dineen was headmaster and Br. T.P. Fitzpatrick ( who is now in Naini Tal ) was our class teacher and games master as well. Happy days.
Sorry to bore you with my reminiscing but I thank you once again for all your help and and sincerely hope and pray that things do improve.
Look after yourself and hope all the family are keeping well.
Warm regards,
Ashley.
Dear Ashley,
The useless mails you get are spams.
They are not always your fault.
They get your mail ID from your friends computer by putting malwares. I have explained that in one of our earlier postings.
Many times they send you a message as if it is coming from one of your friends when actually it doesn't come from your friend.
If you click the link it will enter your computer and farm all the mail ID's in you computer and send mails to the addresses as if it is coming from you.
Never, click any message inviting you to join any group.
Just delete those invitations.
If you want to confirm, send a mail to the friend asking him if he has sent an invitation. Most probably it will be NO.
I get these msgs from China and Korea.
Br. Dineen was there when I was there also. So was Br. Fitzpatrick.
He was the Principal when I joined Goethals in 1955.
We never got to confirm the tale that he had killed a goal keeper with his penalty kick and thereafter used to take left legged free kicks.
Yes, reminiscing is what we do in the reunions.
It is always a pleasure living in the past especially if it is pleasurable.
As time passes, we tend to forget the pains and remember only the pleasures.
Do look after yourself. And do pranayams. It will keep you in good health.
Warm regards
Radheshyam
Reply to SITUATIONS WANTED
Hello Radheshyam.....always a pleasure reading yr emails.
I have called Dwai and left him a message regarding a position with
Sunlife.
Thanks for the great work you do with keeping all ex Goats connected.
Shome Chaurasia
Senior Associate Manager
9050 Yonge Street, Suite 500
Richmond Hill
(905) 886-2200 ext 380
Dear Mr. Sharma,
Received your request and CVs. The kind of work applied for would certainly find a larger range of prospective employers in a large metro-areas of Canada and the US. Here in the Mid West and Iowa, businesses tend to be conservative and regional. However, I will try and circulate the CVs and if anything comes up, I will be glad to let you know.
Best to the family.
Viraj.
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