Who said donkey is a Dumb animal !!!

Recently I read about a sanctuary being run by a couple (John and Bob Harrision) in Haryana and since then anything related to donkeys catches my eye, so did this story shared on facebook. Mostly an object of rebuke and ridicule just read on to see how this story proves that the beast is anything but intelligent.  One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized

what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off! MORAL : Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Why Diwali is not raising my spirits?

Do you remember the famed "India Shining" Campaign of NDA - which led to its downfall and criticism but in hind sight economic indicators were not that grim at that time. The festival season is at its peak the shops (oh no malls) are bustling with people shopping. This left many wondering didn't someone say there was a recession? Well as everyone keeps saying there are 2 India-s and worst well to-do counterpart of India is surprisingly oblivious of the not so rosy India. When I say so its not the political class at whom I am waging my finger? Though they don't command much virtue but the so-called well off India too has a lot of answering to do. No no don't get me

wrong no-one is expecting you to go to the impoverished India and feed the teeming millions (though that would have been a nice gesture) but our complacency and indifference gives this defunct system and governments leeway to thrive on inefficiency. So much so that to a TV channels relentless focus on grim reality of "Encephalitis in UP Gorakhpur (UP)" the only urgency the national government showed was rush their Health Minister to UP. His proactive actions included-meeting more officials , setting up a panel and promising to meet UPA chair-person with a report. Wow in this manner it will surely be resolved? I mean did you hear of mobilization of extra doctors ? Or asking private health providers to dedicate 15% of their facilities to the people inflicted by this disease? This is the urgency for the Indian masses which our ministers show? Well did I hear UP was a VIP constituency which returned year after year UPA Chairperson and her son? Or isn't it Mayawati's Karma Bhoomi? Also I find the opposition BJP too muted in its attack - why dont they raise their pitch and additionally all political parties have their youth wings what are they doing? Well but we are the root of the problem- we are not alarmed when such things happen? Had there been a feeling of dismay, outcry from us-the government would have reacted at all levels. Why this lethargy in reaction and hence action? The only fast pace thing happening in India is at "Buddh Circuit" that too is a paradox isn't it? Taking place in the same UP where people are dying year after year of things which are preventable. The high-rises built by private builders are only thing growing/flourishing in this nation? On Saturday (22nd Oct 2011) the charges of 2G-Scam were framed - a hapless Karunanidhi came running to Delhi for his daughter - wasn't the "Janta" also like children to these politicians ideally - why not similar urgency is shown when there are Indians dying of hunger, disease , etc. Just compare this - a scam of 2000 crore to 175000 crore ( there is a dispute on the actual figure) and kids are dying of malnutrition . My Diwali happiness is robbed by these grim indicators and I don't have a split existence so I am at infinite unease and restlessness. I just keep pondering when will this situation improve, we are talking of Libya but I find many Gaddafi's here. One used to point at US , European nations for good governance but if I goes by current incidents "Occupy Wall Street" , the mess US banking sector is in ... where is hope - it seems greed and corruption has infested all. To add to that war and regime changes are smoke screens behind which all these governments are trying to hide their failures. I am an optimist but indifference to hardships faced by my fellow citizens is not my definition of optimism hence this time around my own philosophy of thinking positive is failing me ............... In case you want to know about Encephalitis situation in UP refer to:- http://www.deccanherald.com/content/199905/encephalitis-has-claimed-over-400.html http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-encephalitis-kills-6-more-death-toll-438/192943-3.html On Malnutrition:- http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maharashtra-hunger-kills-500-yearly-in-melghat/195228-3.html http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-04/india/28128570_1_malnutrition-integrated-child-development-scheme-maharashtra

Is the world slipping into an economic crisis?

Are we slipping into a crisis which is far bigger than the one which was called "first bubble burst"? You know rabbits have a tendency- when confronted with crisis they close their eyes thinking the danger will disappear as they reopen their eyes? Are we too falling into such a trap? We as a rule assume we are insulated from such evils or its not going to touch us?  Though one is aware of the common adage "being forewarned and prepared always helps". So have we even analysed this situation? One is receiving text messages  like - "Via SMS: 10 years ago America had steve jobs, Johny Cash, Bob Hope and now America has NO jobs NO cash NO hope"  about the state of american economy, not to mention the "protests at Wall Steers", I cannot help but think what is in store for future? No matter everyone may want to put up a brave face - but on ground at least the IT sector seems to be in for a major crisis - if it does not restructure its target client base , it has to shift focus from US/ Europe and turn towards other pastures. Though its easier said than done. I am dreading a time when inflation coupled with consequences of economic crisis will push us into times when we will be forced to shun the malls and go to public parks on weekends. Major corporate seem to be prepared for the situation with many shifting focus to Africa and Arab markets, but is the medium range - industry prepared for the windfall? 
Also I was reading about the top 10 indebted countries according to external debt, or the total public and private debt owed to non-residents repayable in foreign currency, goods or services, the list is as follows :-
1. United States of America - $148,253.1 million
2. European Union - $ 137,200 million.
3.United Kingdom - $89,810 million
4. Germany - $47,130 million
5. France - $46,980 million
6. Japan - $24,410 million.
7. Italy - $22,230 million
8. Spain - $21,660 million
9. Luxembourg - $18,920 million.
10. Belgium - $12,410 million
Well I am not a pessimist but look at the countries- if any of the top 5 countries tanks- we are in for serious trouble. Common apprehension being- that we expect these countries to bail us out while I think some them may well utilize some help this time around. My biggest fear the recession due to the faulty policies of these nations coupled with the lack of preparedness and corruption of hoarding money out of circulation will push us into a major -major crisis . Hence it is high time that the powers concerned stop all noise about clamping down the media, or going after annoying netizens ,or getting square with RTI activists or trying to fool public on mining scam - this time the government has to seriously put its act together and think smart along with all the parties concerned lest 2012 may spell doom for all of us..........