Global Giving - "E-Bay of Development"http://www.globalgiving.com/ac/browse.html
Development Gateway's dgCommunities - "Google for Development" http://topics.developmentgateway.org/
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Political Chaos
Media coverage in Bangladesh has improved significantly in the last couple of years. The past few days we accessed NTV on the web and watched the political chaos unfold right in front of our eyes. Mob violence.....rioting.....people pelting stones at the police and the police throwing even bigger rocks back at them. The NTV correspondent stood in the middle of this mayhem and reported the incidents with perplexing composure. Bullets were being fired and political opponents were engaged in street clashes just a few feet away from him, but the nonchalant reporter made it look like it was just a movie set.
A fragile peace has been established after the controversial nominee, backed by the ruling party to head up the interim government, stepped down. The current President, Iajuddin, volunteered to fill the position since there were no other takers. So now we have a 70 year-old man with heart-ailment, trying to fend off bitter political rivals, prevent a political debacle and ensure free and fair elections in 3 month's time. When quizzed by reporters he said "Pray for me."
Media coverage in Bangladesh has improved significantly in the last couple of years. The past few days we accessed NTV on the web and watched the political chaos unfold right in front of our eyes. Mob violence.....rioting.....people pelting stones at the police and the police throwing even bigger rocks back at them. The NTV correspondent stood in the middle of this mayhem and reported the incidents with perplexing composure. Bullets were being fired and political opponents were engaged in street clashes just a few feet away from him, but the nonchalant reporter made it look like it was just a movie set.A fragile peace has been established after the controversial nominee, backed by the ruling party to head up the interim government, stepped down. The current President, Iajuddin, volunteered to fill the position since there were no other takers. So now we have a 70 year-old man with heart-ailment, trying to fend off bitter political rivals, prevent a political debacle and ensure free and fair elections in 3 month's time. When quizzed by reporters he said "Pray for me."
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Black and White 
My neighbor throws her arms up in the air in feigned exasperation and exclaims "I can't believe there's apartheid in my own home!" She has two cats - a furry white one and an elegant black one. Her mother unabashedly gives preferential treatment to the white cat. Hence the apartheid remark.....
My neighbor throws her arms up in the air in feigned exasperation and exclaims "I can't believe there's apartheid in my own home!" She has two cats - a furry white one and an elegant black one. Her mother unabashedly gives preferential treatment to the white cat. Hence the apartheid remark.....
Shopping in the 21st Century
A friend's birthday is inching closer and I was surfing the net trying to find the ideal gift. I love shopping on worldstock.com. It's a segment of the mega online-store, overstock.com, and features products from disadvantaged artisan communities. 60-70% of the revenues generated from sales go back to the artisans. My purchasing decision is not just based on the "feel-good" factor. The products available on worldstock.com are quite exquisite and being able to shop from the comfort of my couch makes the whole experience effortless.
But today the site pulled a boo-boo on me. Here's the error message I got:
A friend's birthday is inching closer and I was surfing the net trying to find the ideal gift. I love shopping on worldstock.com. It's a segment of the mega online-store, overstock.com, and features products from disadvantaged artisan communities. 60-70% of the revenues generated from sales go back to the artisans. My purchasing decision is not just based on the "feel-good" factor. The products available on worldstock.com are quite exquisite and being able to shop from the comfort of my couch makes the whole experience effortless.
But today the site pulled a boo-boo on me. Here's the error message I got:
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
A Giant Step Backward for HumankindThe US approved a space policy that asserts that it has the right to block access to space for countries/groups that it deems hostile. It also puts a hold on proposals to ban the use of weapons in space.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6063926.stm
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Quote of the Day
I braved the bad weather this afternoon to attend a symposium. Although the speaker was a luminary in his field, the talk was mind-numbing. The articulate moderator was the saving grace. As I was weaving my way through the crowd at the end of the session, I overheard the moderator talking to a companion - "The more I get immersed in the bureaucracy of international organizations, the more I believe in dictartorship." That's an interesting statement coming from a high-ranking World Bank official!
I braved the bad weather this afternoon to attend a symposium. Although the speaker was a luminary in his field, the talk was mind-numbing. The articulate moderator was the saving grace. As I was weaving my way through the crowd at the end of the session, I overheard the moderator talking to a companion - "The more I get immersed in the bureaucracy of international organizations, the more I believe in dictartorship." That's an interesting statement coming from a high-ranking World Bank official!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Mirror Mirror on the Wall..... Who's the Most Unphotogenic of Them All
I don't photograph particularly well but looking at these two unfortunate creatures gives me solace. Both would have benefited from a kinder face and softer features.
When my friend and I were at the Vatican, we saw a plethora of souveniers containing pictures of the Pope hugging babies. If it were John Paul, the images would have evoked compassion and tenderness. Pope Benedict on the other hand, looked like he was trying to bite their heads off. So my natural reaction was dread, followed by guilt for thinking he looks scary and then back to dread when I realized I am surely going to hell for harboring such impure thoughts.
"O Lord, if there is a Lord.... Save my soul, if there is a soul."
I don't photograph particularly well but looking at these two unfortunate creatures gives me solace. Both would have benefited from a kinder face and softer features.
When my friend and I were at the Vatican, we saw a plethora of souveniers containing pictures of the Pope hugging babies. If it were John Paul, the images would have evoked compassion and tenderness. Pope Benedict on the other hand, looked like he was trying to bite their heads off. So my natural reaction was dread, followed by guilt for thinking he looks scary and then back to dread when I realized I am surely going to hell for harboring such impure thoughts.
"O Lord, if there is a Lord.... Save my soul, if there is a soul."
Friday, October 06, 2006
Kangaroo in Austria?
Vienna's souvenier stores are stacked with T-shirts and caps with the words "No Kangaroos in Austria" printed on them. This is not intended to offend Australians in particular but rather a broader attempt to educate ignorant tourists.
Here's a news story that contradicts the kangaroo slogan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4813976.stm
Enchanting Vienna
Vienna was definitely the highlight of my whirlwind 2 week, 6 country trip. I am terrified of heights but a tour of Vienna is not complete without hopping on the gaint Prater ferris wheel. As we remained suspended in air, 200 feet above the sprawling urban landmass, I summoned all my inner strength to keep myself from digging my claws into my friend's arm. The view from cloud nine was breath-taking. But like all good things in life, this too was transient.
Vienna was definitely the highlight of my whirlwind 2 week, 6 country trip. I am terrified of heights but a tour of Vienna is not complete without hopping on the gaint Prater ferris wheel. As we remained suspended in air, 200 feet above the sprawling urban landmass, I summoned all my inner strength to keep myself from digging my claws into my friend's arm. The view from cloud nine was breath-taking. But like all good things in life, this too was transient.
The Art of Eating Cake
It is another beautiful day in Vienna. We find ourselves in a business lunch with a peculiar duo - an endearing Polish man with a delightful sense of humor and a nonchalant Tunisian with a poetic tinge. The Tunisian man tells us that he has laid Vienna at our feet. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows we see the cityscape gleaming in the autumn sun. This is unusually good weather for this time of year and in that moment global warming seems to be a blessing.
As the men load up on caffeine, I give in to temptation and order a chocolate cake. It sits in front of me looking more like a piece of art than food meant for consumption. I feel guilty at first but it's too delectable. So I devour most of it. The Tunisian man looks at the plate with the half-eaten cake and says "You started off with Dali and ended up with Picasso."
It is another beautiful day in Vienna. We find ourselves in a business lunch with a peculiar duo - an endearing Polish man with a delightful sense of humor and a nonchalant Tunisian with a poetic tinge. The Tunisian man tells us that he has laid Vienna at our feet. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows we see the cityscape gleaming in the autumn sun. This is unusually good weather for this time of year and in that moment global warming seems to be a blessing.
As the men load up on caffeine, I give in to temptation and order a chocolate cake. It sits in front of me looking more like a piece of art than food meant for consumption. I feel guilty at first but it's too delectable. So I devour most of it. The Tunisian man looks at the plate with the half-eaten cake and says "You started off with Dali and ended up with Picasso."
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