iPad Vs Netbook..Which one is right for me?

      I wanted to buy a Netbook early this year for use in school and also when I travelled. But decided to wait for iPad to come out, before I made a decision. I have to be really careful with this. iPad is a bit pricy. I don't want an expensive gadget that is of no use to me esp. when I already have - iMac, iPhone, Kindle , Sony laptop and not to mention two work laptops. Are you wondering, why I need a netbook? Well, so am I! In my defense, I really can't use my work laptop at school , Sony laptop is taking it's last breath, iMac is not portable, can't do my work with iPhone or the Kindle. So , I need a tablet. To decide which one, I sought cnet's help. They didn't disappoint. After reading the forum here (one of the post is pasted below), I decided. And the winner is ..NETBOOK! Well I like apple products in general but iPad ,hmmm.. i'm on the fence - What is it's value?

I have pasted the one I found helpful here for a quick read from the cnet forum. You can find a lot more information here

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iPad vs.Netbook
by waytron - 4/1/10 3:39 AM In reply to: Is the Apple iPad or Netbook right for me? by Lee Koo (ADMIN) 


Making the choice between an iPad and a netbook is really more difficult than it would first appear and it really depends on exactly how you need to use the device. First, you should think of the iPad as simply a large version of the iTouch and think of the Netbook as simply a smaller version of a laptop with less power and no DVD/CD drive. You mentioned that you were interested in receiving emails and surfing the web while traveling or away on vacation. Well, in the most basic form, this can be accomplished on just about any device that you can purchase these days including most cell phones. However, there are several factors that can dictate as to whether or not a device such as an iPad, Netbook or even a smartphone is sufficient or pretty much worthless. The exact type of emails that you receive as well as the kind of responses that you need to write can often make using a small device or even a larger touch device like the iPad somewhat of a pain in the neck to use. If most of your incoming emails are brief and only require simple responses such as a YES or NO than just about any device will do just fine. But if you are receiving emails with 25 page attachments that need to be reviewed and your responses are written in paragraphs or even pages of text, than these devices can be close to useless. So, the questions you want to ask yourself are:

1. Do I ever need to print from this device? Since there are no USB ports and no print drivers that I know of (at least at the moment), you may not be able to connect your iPad up to a printer.

2. How much storage do I really need? The basic iPad comes with 16GB of storage and you can get up to 64GB, for a price. Most Netbooks come with a minimum 160GB hard drive. For those of you who use your laptop or netbook as a storage device to off-load photos from your camera while traveling, keep in mind the limited storage on the iPad as well as NO USB port. 

3. Do I need a Built-in Camera? The iPad does not come with a camera and no USB port to add one so don't plan to use Skype or any other video chat to call back home to see the kids.

4. Do I need a USB port? The iPad does not have any USB ports so you will not be able to plug in any of your normal accessories such as a printer, Flash drive or other devices.

5. Do any of the Websites that I frequent require Adobe Flash? For some reason Apple has chosen to not include Adobe Flash player with the iPad so many website that require Flash will not display properly.

6. Do I need any specific software applications? Make sure that you do not need any specific software application that may not run on the iPad or a netbook.

7. Will I be accessing my company VPN? If you access your company network, you need to check with your company IT department to make sure the device can be used with there system.

8. Do I need a real Keyboard? I don't know about you, but I need a real keyboard. You can probably tell by the length of my posts here on this site that I am not going to be typing my responses on a virtual keyboard. All netbooks have a regular keyboard. You can get an external keyboard for the iPad but that kind of defeats the purpose and is just one more thing to carry.

9. How much do I really want to spend? The basic iPad starts at $499 with only 16GB of storage. If you want more storage and maybe 3G coverage you can expect to pay up to $800. Add to that the add-on keyboard, Carrying case and Apple Care and you are over $1000. You can get a decent netbook with 160GB hard drive for under $300.

10. Do I need to remote into my home or office computer? If you use Windows Remote Desktop to access your home or office computer, you will not be able to do this on the iPad. Double check other remote access methods such as gotomypc or logmein to make sure they will work on the device that you choose.

11. Do I need a stylus or a mouse or is my finger ok? The iPad can only be used with your finger, this can be a problem if you need to perform any detailed work that would normally be performed with a Stylus or mouse. Also, keep in mind that the iPad may not work if you are wearing gloves.

12. Do I need to transfer data between devices? Since there is no USB port on the iPad, you will not be able to use your flash drive to transfer data to or from your iPad. You could still email stuff to yourself to be picked up on another computer. You can purchase a SD card reader for the iPad.

13. Do I need a CD or DVD drive? Neither the iPad nor the Netbook comes with a CD/DVD drive built-in. You can purchase a separate External USB DVD/CD drive for a Netbook if you want to pay a video or need to install a program. Since there is no USB drive on the iPad, you will be out of luck, at least for the time being.

14. Battery Life – For me, battery life is a key feature. There is nothing worse that being on the road looking for a place to plug in your portable computer. Apple claims, I think 10 hours, as do some Netbooks. I know my ASUS netbook claims 9 ½ hours but if I have Bluetooth as well as Wireless turned ON, the battery life is greatly reduced. Most netbooks have a battery that is user replaceable so that you can carry a spare with you for those really long trips. The iPads battery is not user replaceable.

Don't get me wrong, there is no question the iPad is a COOL device and I will probably purchase one just for the fun of it. I do find it interesting that everyone seems to think that just because Apple is coming out with the iPad that this is a totally new concept. I have been working with Motion Touch Tablet PC's for over 6 years now. Would I take an iPad with me when I travel? Probably, but for the moment I will not leave without my netbook and blackberry too. One other note, if you end up purchasing a Netbook, spend the extra $30 to upgrade the memory from 1GB to 2GB.

Dana
Wayland Computer

 Pasted from <http://forums.cnet.com/5208-19686_102-0.html?messageID=3279035&tag=forums06;posts>


  

Our responsibilities are straightforward - but hardly simple

I came across this letter from Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder Environmental Working Group (ewg.org). This is exactly how I feel about my 3 year old! Well, the responsibilities are a tall order for any parent. You can find the letter in their 2008 annual report here. The same is pasted below

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Watching a toddler take command of his world is magical. And humbling. As I observe my 17-month-old scramble and squeal through his daily agenda, I realize Cal is teaching me a lot more than I’m ever going to teach him.

Yank pots and pans out of kitchen cabinet with a clamor: check!

Grab dirt out of houseplant and sprinkle over rug: on it!

Chase a panicked Bennie the Cat scampering down the hallway: done!

In tough times, our kids remind us to take stock, keep what matters and forget about the rest. They don’t need a lot of complicated or expensive stuff. Is there really anything better than leaping into a pile of leaves or watching a bug or making a cave out of a big box?

They expect us to take care of the basics. Clean air and water, healthy food, safe homes, schools and playgrounds and an unclouded future.

Our responsibilities are straightforward – but hardly simple. Only by working very hard and working together can we hope to rid our water and food of pesticides, pollutants and industrial chemicals, find household goods free of invisible synthetics and conserve our countryside, rivers and streams and energy sources.

I’m proud to say that with your support, despite political adversity and lean economic times, Environmental Working Group has made great strides towards those goals in 2008. In 2009 and the years to come, we’re compiling even more impressive accomplishments.

When you’re looking for a good value and some serious game-changing strategies, I hope you’ll think about EWG. We’re staying lean, playing smart and aim to do nothing less than amazing work in the public interest.

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Money and the Mind

“The mere presence of money changes people” -- We all know that , right!

The feeling of self sufficiency that comes from money desensitizes people and disconnects them from civic participation. Why? Well.. they are so focused on their own goals.

Food for thought. You can find the article here

Salmon: Farmed or Wild!?

My family loves Salmon! It used to be on our menu almost every day (Omega 3 fatty acids..good for heart!). Until recently, when salmon became scarce, the price went up and the quality degraded, it became a weekly thing. Now, it looks like it might be on our menu once a month or perhaps even less frequent. Why?

Anyone who reads or listens to news ( in the US , esp. California), would have heard about Persistence Organic Pollutants(POP) . A familiar POP is DDT, which is now banned in most countries. Long story short, POP are chemicals, (mostly) manmade and can cause cancer. They can also damage the nervous and immune system, cause reproductive disorders. Exposure to unborn child can cause irreversible reduction in IQ, reduced attention span, increased antisocial behavior, reduced immune system as indicated here.

POP are a problem because they are Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT). So, even if it is banned, the concentration in the environment is not on the decline because of it persistence (the problem we face with DDT). See Wikipedia here for more information about POP.

How do salmon consumers get exposed to it?

The fish feed is concentrated fat and proteins extracted from fish trawled from the bottom of the ocean. The trawled fish absorbs POP from the contaminated sediments and food as indicated here, which is then stored in the body fat (POP are Lipophiliac). Since the fish feed is concentrated fat from trawled fish, the fattened farmed salmon contains more POP than a lean non-farmed salmon might contain by consuming food in the open waters.

The average level of PCBs (a POP, banned in the US since 1977) in farmed salmon is 0.027 ppm (parts per million) much higher than the non farmed salmon. According to a report by Environmental working group (EWG), farm raised salmon have 16 times the PCBs found in wild salmon. Per EPA recommendation, fish with PCB levels between 0.024 - 0.048 ppm should be eaten 8 oz a month. (see here )

More reasons to avoid farmed salmon from Monterey Bay Aquarium's sea food watch :

• Waste from most salmon farms is released directly into the ocean.
  
• Parasites and diseases from farmed salmon can spread to wild fish swimming near the farms.
  
• Salmon farmers may use pesticides and antibiotics to control outbreaks of disease among the fish. When consumers eat this fish, the residues from the chemicals may affect their health or interfere with medicines they're taking.
  
• It takes three pounds of wild fish to grow one pound of farmed salmon. As a result, farming salmon actually uses more fish than it produces, which puts more pressure on wild populations.

New study has found that POP in humans cause resistance to insulin, which is a precursor to diabetes.

Listen to this story on NPR's living on earth here

Ask whether the salmon is wild or farmed before buying. If farmed eat once a month or even less. Broil or grill the salmon, as it takes out the fat. If pregnant or of reproductive age, just stay away from farmed salmon. Eat walnuts for Omega 3 fatty acids.

If you are not convinced and have time on your hands to do a little research you can start here

• Scientific Literature review can be found here
  
• Watch BBC's documentary 'Warnings from the wild, The price of Salmon' (Unfortunately, it's not on Netflix)
  
• Some info on Green peace website here

Goodguide.com - Empowering consumers

If you are in the bay area and haven’t heard of goodguide.com, then you aren’t keeping up with the news. Goodguide.com is a tool that enables consumers to be responsible consumers! They provide ratings based on health, environmental and social impacts of a product.You can look up the product on the web or real time while shopping using their new, free iphone app (one more reason to get that iphone!)

The ingredients of products on the shelves have become increasing complex and obscure. We often hear about carcinogens found in toys, Nike using child labor, genetically modified foods, pesticide contamination, additives, preservatives, sodium, cholesterol, transfat, various chemicals.. Not to mention, all the green washing out there. It is quiet confusing , time consuming and frustrating to find the right product. Goodguide.com has eased that pain quite a bit, I have to say. I started looking up some of the cereals, frozen foods that I buy and for the most part, I was choosing the wrong product. If I picked the one with high fiber, it also comes with high sugar plus not to mention the environmental practices of the company, good lord!

I have a toddler..What snacks should I stay away from? Check here. My son regularly eats atleast 3 of them on the list. Well, Not anymore!

Did you know that many of the chemicals used in the personal care products have not been tested for their effects on human health? Read here

Is Santa bringing toxic toys this year? Read here

Find out the top ten chemicals to avoid in the baby care products here

If you use Google reader – this is one that you would want to subscribe to – closest thing there is – to protect your family and shop responsibly

Denmark - the model country

Thomas Friedman’s OP-ED column – Copenhagen That Matters

Be sure to read the comments as well

Vehement passion - Infant India

"When I grow up I want to be a doctor for Infant India ", says the 14 year old HIV positive . Read the story here. Ordinary people making positive impact. Putting social interest ahead of self interest. Ordinary, are they?....Perhaps NOT. Extraordinary..absolutely so!

India's water woes

India has experienced the worst drought in 36 years. Long before these articles starting appearing in Wall street journal and Economist, I knew from conversations with my colleagues whose family members were agrarians in India, that this year was particularly bad and that there has been a rise in farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh.

Monsoons to blame, for sure. But is that the only contributor? 1.2 billion people live on agriculture of which, 450 million depend on monsoons. If these numbers from WallStreet and Economist are right, then what about the other 750 million, who are also facing the same crisis? As mentioned in the Economist, the grim truth is 'India's
bad water management practices'.

Water wars between Karnataka and Tamil is as bitter as bitter gourd itself. Farmers are usually up in arms over the Kaveri water every year.(This might be an understatement) I'm not following that crisis this year, but I can very well imagine, having lived in Bangalore for some time. It seems like we are very much heading into a period where ' water is oil', at rocket speed.

I have been hearing about the woes of California farmers and I sympathize with them. California is in it's 12th year of drought. But when you read about farmers, close to home, I empathize. It makes my stomach churn.

It makes me think if there is something I can do to alleviate there pain.

"We are running out of time"

  This article in Yale e360 ,is an interesting read. It talks about safe operating zone for humans and how we have crossed them in three out nine instances

“..if we keep pushing the planet this way, we will cause sudden, irreversible damage to the systems that made human civilization possible in the first place. …..journal Nature, Rockstrom and 27 of his fellow environmental scientists argue that we have to conceive of many tipping points at once. They propose that humans must keep the planet in what they call a “safe operating space,” inside of which we can thrive. If we push past the boundaries of that space — by wiping out biodiversity, for example, or diverting too much of the world’s freshwater — we risk catastrophe”

 

Without  GPS ..whew!!

 

“Unfortunately, the authors of the Nature paper maintain, we’ve already started pushing out beyond these boundaries…..“We’re sitting on top of a mesa right now, and we’re driving  around, but we don’t have our lights on and we don’t even have a map,” says Jonathan Foley, a co-author of the new study and the director of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. “That’s a dangerous way to move around.”

     

Optimism!?  Some people keep saying that.  I’m no expert, but as I understand it, Chlorofluorocarbons was a mole while CO₂ is this big mountain  of a problem!  I personally cannot understand how people can be optimistic with the success of Montreal protocol. CO₂ is a whole other beast challenging international relationship management to the core! This is unlike any challenge mankind has seen before! I don’t feel optimistic at all. (We’ll see  what happens in Copenhagen)

 

“While the paper makes for a sobering read, its authors think we should also find some cause for optimism in it. Humanity nearly crossed another threshold by destroying the ozone layer with chlorofluorocarbons. But we recognized the crisis in time and banned chlorofluorocarbons, allowing the ozone layer to slowly recover..”

 

In another article, Greenland ice sheet and the Antarctica are melting faster than expected,  as published  in Nature journal.  As reported by e360,   it is now clear to scientists that a self feeding phenomenon has begun

 

  “confirm concerns among some climate scientists that the accelerating rate of ice sheet melting has become a self-feeding phenomenon — essentially, the more the ice melts, the more the water near the ice sheets causes more melting. “The question is how far will it run?” said Hamish Pritchard of the British Antarctic Survey and lead author of the study”

 

I wonder how close this gets us to the climate change threshold?

 

   “It’s more widespread than we previously thought” says Hamish Pritchard.  My thoughts exactly!

 

 

 

 

Newsweek: We are all Hindus

 

 

The Newsweek article here  says that a recent poll showed that conceptually, atleast, Americans are slowly becoming like Hindus.

 

It says  ‘A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur'an is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal ‘.  Hindu myself, I wonder why Hindus hate Muslims!? Well, I don’t believe the ‘many paths to god’ thing (I’m sure majority of the Hindus don’t either).   The way I have been thought to live my life as a Hindu is ‘It is Bhagwan Krishna…or  you are automatically en-route to Narak (hell)’

 

In my mind, the Americans are becoming like Hindus, NOT by believing that there are many paths to god or spirituality, but by having a common enemy ‘Muslims’

 

The day to day practices of a Hindu and the scripture is worlds apart!  Instead of saying ‘A Hindu believes’, the author should have said ‘Hindus are supposed to believe (but majority of them don’t)….”

 

 

 

Aziz Premji Foundation's Aziz Premji University - First Private University filling the gap in education!

 

   NCERT (National council for education research and Training) came up with the National Curriculum framework (NCF) (The Framework PDF posted on the website in English, just has Table of contents!) in 2005. This student centered NCF framework which advocated new pedagogic methods has recognized the importance of ‘Quality’ teachers & makes suggestions on Teacher education & training. Recognition of importance of teachers is a step forward and NCF needs to do little more than making mere suggestions, say critics.  NCF will NOT be a success until the teacher education and skill development is enabled. Read the ‘Few Chapters Short’ which talks about this

    Looks like Aziz Premji has stepped in to fill the gap. The first private university’s focus is Teacher education and Training.  The government in principle has given clearance say the article here

 

The Yodeler Article I authored!

    Finally, here it goes. This is the article I worked on in January/February for Sierra club’s yodeler. I attended the public meetings, collaborated with Jeff miller from Alameda Creek Alliance and Lech Naumovich of California Native Plant Society. It was a very good experience and a peek into how these organizations work!  Some really dedicated individuals making a difference at the grass roots level.

 

Value of Human Life and US EPA

 

What is the value of Human life?

  Priceless!

 

Well, not in the real world!

Cost Benefit analysis (CBA) has become an essential analysis framework for setting environmental standards and regulations. It requires a dollar value be assigned to human life. The value of a life is usually the price that others put, on an individual’s life. For Eg, I would pay my entire income to save my own life or of my husband or my son. The practice of putting dollar value on life has been practiced in courts.  Value of life estimates helps the juries to award compensations in death and injury cases.

 

Read this investigative article here on OMB watch from Associated Press (AP), on how EPA puts a price on human life and how it has shrunk.

 

Under the Clinton administration, human life was valued at $6.1 million/life, while Bush administration came up with a figure of $3.7 million for an individual younger than 70 yrs and  $2.3 million for individuals older than 70 [Obtained From here].  Smaller the monetary value of human life, lesser is the chances of environmental protection.

 

Time ran an interesting article valuing human lives internationally at $50,000. Read the complete article here

 

Washington post says here :

  ‘This value is routinely calculated by several agencies, each putting its own dollar figure on the worth of life -- not any particular person's life, just that of a generic American. The figure is then used to judge whether potentially lifesaving policy measures are really worth the cost.’

 

What do you think is the value of human life?

 

 

All-electric cars about to be resurrected

Check out this article in San Francisco Chronicle written by Micheal Taylor

 

“The all-electric car, which had a brief heyday less than a decade ago and then went the way of the dodo, killed off by the car    companies, is about to make a comeback”. More

 

 

Moral Obligations for Citizens

'America thinks of itself as a generous country, but is actually not', says Peter Singer. 'It is a wonderful myth'.  America is worst of all the industrial countries from the percentage of the income point of view. The countries that actually lead the way is Sweden and Norway

 

Peter Singer, Princeton university bioethicist appeared on Michael Krasny's Forum on NPR

 

He says

'Take the death of this small boy this morning, for example. The boy died of measles. We all know he could have been cured at the hospital. But the parents had no money and so the boy died a slow and painful death, not of measles but out of poverty'

 

People in developing and underdeveloped countries die of conditions that don't exist in the developed world. We have to make the people in the country real, put face on them.'

 

Go to lifeyoucansave.com  and find out how much percentage of your income should you donate to make a difference. While you are there, take a pledge!

 

Although hard cash is good, donations don't have to always be hard cash. Some of the everyday decisions and conscious choices have impact on state of affairs. Shop ethically i.e buying organic – maybe pricey – consider that your contribution towards protecting mother earth. More you support the organic movement the less negative impact on the environment. Buy in the local farmers market. Buy fair trade, where possible. Recycle and Reuse.

 

It's time we reconsider our consumption, our values and think about the people in need!

Social Entrepreneur, ecopreneur, philanthropreneurs..What!?

I came across the word ‘Triple bottom-line’ a couple years ago in the book ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things’ , which piqued my interest. This is a conscience-led capitalism which seeks to synergize Environmental Restoration, Social Justice and financial Sustainability, the book said (Sentence that I have used several times both in conversation and writing). Businesses should recognize that yes, we need to make profit but not at the expense of people or the planet. We need to balance the 3 E’s i.e. Economy, Equity and Ecology. Besides making profit, we should be committed to using business as a tool for social change. And such businessmen are not just entrepreneurs but ‘social entrepreneurs’

I have heard ‘ecopreneur’ too! It is a portmanteau of ‘Ecological’ and ‘entrepreneur’. An Ecoprenuer is an entrepreneur focused on eco-friendly (i.e ecologically friendly) issues and causes, while making money.

Just when I think, that’s about it, I come across the word philanthropreneurs! Apparently this is the model that Buffet and gates follow. Accumulate as much wealth from the capitalistic market and apply the dollars and the model for social causes.

Read this interesting article here, which says

‘Social enterprise is not a solution. It is an identifier. It enables people to define themselves as having priorities around ‘We’ the society as well as ‘Me’ the individual. Any organization that wants to attract the best and brightest from Generation Y needs to engage seriously in this balancing act. The great challenges of our times; climate change, peak oil, extreme poverty…, WILL NOT be solved with the capitalist model functioning as it is. New, Generation Y, additions to the workforce understand this fact.’

Well, it calms my nerves that charity and making money can go hand in hand. This is something that I have struggled with in my mind and is one reason why I am not in the non profit sector yet. If you want to make a difference, you want to be able to feed yourself too!

I suspect this concept might take us one step further in understanding the ‘We’ and ‘Me’. Once we get that straight, it might be harder for us to be oblivious to the social issues around us.

Jim Hansen's Lecture in UC Berkeley

I had a great opportunity to attend a lecture by Jim Hansen, Director of NASA Goddard institute of space sciences. He was the one who alerted the public in 1988 about global warming.

The lecture was on ‘Threats to planet: Implications for Inter-generational justice and energy policies’. Jim Hansen did lack the energy and inspiration, when compared of Al Gore, but did get the message across. I say this because Jim Hansen’s is the first lecture I attended after Al gore’s in OCT. I still have some inspiration going on in me from that speech! Anyways, I have not seen or know another environmentalist who is such a strong advocator of Coal moratorium.

Here is the link to the Jim Hansen’s page and this presentation is similar to one he gave us.

Mustard Oil ban in India – An understanding for a common man

I have been influenced lately by Dr Vandhana Shiva’s Anti-globalization rhetoric. I came across ‘Mustard Oil ban in India’, while reading her ‘Stolen Harvest: Hijacking of the global food supply’ book. As the book just mentioned the incident without going into much detail, I ventured to do a little digging of my own.

India banned the sale of mustard oil in 1998 after deaths due to dropsy [contamination in the oil from argemone]. About 50+ people died and more than 2000 fell ill in Delhi. Read the clip here from down to earth, one of India’s leading environmental magazines.
India banned both loose and packed mustard oil and a month later raised the ban on PACKED mustard oil.

What was the impact of the ban, or a better question would be “Who won and who lost? “

Winners:

US agribusiness Corporation Monsanto who made money on the free GE Soybean imports

Entry of ITC into the mustard business in India

Losers:

Small mustard farmers

The domestic mustard oil industry

Indian Mustard oil consumers

The timing of the contamination has sparked of a conspiracy theory involving the multinationals. Click here for ‘The mustard oil conspiracy ‘by Vandana Shiva in the ecologist magazine. A must read to understand the incident full circle. The article did make me feel [and actually is the case] that the rich & powerful economies do treat developing economies as sink to the products [i.e GE soybeans] that nobody wants!

Finally, a piece if trivia, who do you think could possibly own the patent for mustard?
Hmmm…the answer is ‘Calgene’! Ooh..Not who you had in mind!
Yes, Calgene, owned by Mansanto, owns the patent for mustard. Unbelievable…believe it!

Also read this article from India Together on India’s edible oil imports and the WTO.

Why am I agnostic?

I grew up in a moderately conservative, god-fearing society. There are fewer chances of people being agnostic, in such a setting. So, how did I become agnostic? When did this process begin for me?

• When the believers visit Tirupathy/Shabarimalai, (Any temple): They bribe the temple personnel to see the Statue, bedecked with jewels, which they call “GOD”, quicker than any other, so they can get out of that madness as early as possible. Then put incredibly amount of money/wealth to the temple’s Hundi (Temple Donation), wherein they wouldn’t give a penny to the needy. Worst of all, them believing that, by doing so, their sin is washed away and they can start working on a fresh batch, which can be gotten rid off, in their next visit. (Yes guys,God is watching how much money you donate to the temple. The more you donate, the less full your pot of sin,is gonna be) “
• From my experience, “The most devout are the most presumptuous ” (Ring a bell!)
  

This put me on the road to atheism( I dont consider myself an atheist ,yet). I have explored many avenues since. During my exploration, I have met believers whose whole theory is just simply wrong. I don’t believe in God/Religion/Culture. I don’t celebrate any festivals or practice any rituals. It doesn’t make sense to me. What makes sense to me is to get involved in the community and work for the upliftment of the world we live in. What makes sense to me is to celebrate Diwali/Christmas/Ramdan by organizing a blood donation drive or cooking food for the homeless… What makes sense to me is to fight against, slavish obedience to a custom, culture or to the crowd” [Gora].

I believe in, as Douglas Adam says,” Justice and Fairplay”. (Read the interview, Link Via Arun). I have come to understand from my experience on this Earth so far, that I could lead a worthwhile life, without god/religion/caste/culture. Also read Madman's plight in dealing with these religious nuts.

Mukthar Mai : Pakistan's Gang Rape Victim

Mukthar Mai is an inspiration to women,who are physically abused,all over the world,to come forward and fight for their rights. It takes a lot of courage to do what she did. She deserves every ounce of respect by all individuals. She is "ABC's Person of the week" and was awarded "Glamour's, Bravest Women".