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Information Technology Amendment Act 2009

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:16:11 -0600

Cyber law of India is contained in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000). The same has been amended by the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008 (IT Act 2008).

However, due to lack of insight and good provisions it has been criticized by many cyber law observers. In fact, Praveen Dalal, Managing Partner of Perry4Law and the leading Techno-Legal Expert of India has also criticized it on many counts.

Realising the urgency of the situation, union minister for law and justice M Veerappa Moily has also in the past said that the government would bring in amendments to Information Technology and Extradition Act to make them more effective in tackling cyber crime.

It seems that now even the IT Industry has shown its consent and approval for the suggestions of Praveen Dalal regarding bringing suitable amendments in the IT Act 2000. Recently, a national conference on the theme of ‘Information Management, Computing and Security’ (IMCS’09) was organized. Speaking on this occasion, A.N. Shastry, Associate Vice President, Infosys said that the IT Act passed by the Indian government in the year 2000 needs to be revised.

It is surprising that despite so many protests and objections, the government of India gave a green signal to the IT Act 2008. It is high time to amend the IT Act 2000 and this time properly and effectively. There is no scope for making the IT Act 2000 a weak and impotent piece of legislation when it come to cyber crimes as has been done by the IT Act 2008.

Calling for the HouseBoss in redux

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:13:25 -0600

The Legendary iconic image of a lady in a blue uniform with a red polka dot bandana showing "WE CAN DO IT" attitude has transformed "baking cookies ladies" into a career pursuer women.

Our feminist foremother believed we could have it all. We could earn the loving wives, caring mothers and kick-arse bosses titles.

They promise women power through work, equality through economic equity, and put an end to the traditional idea of male as a breadwinner.

For a while, it really did sail smoothly. They seem as if they had it all. But the truth is do they really have it all?

Women often think that working outside the house is a nirvana. They have been influenced by the media to fantasize the Sex And the City drive to put career and friendship first but stable relationship last.

Well, the choice is yours, but when children arrive, the ideal dream of beautiful and successful life will soon be vanished.

The idea of wife supporting husband as the princpal earner is not just some patriarchal bargain. In fact, it is a practical of labour.

How can a family with two people working properly nurture their children?

But times are changing now. There is a shift from the societies to pull women from a 'career pursuer' back into the 'modest housewives'.

New studies recently shows that there are less women at the highest levels of the major professions but there are increasing numbers of women say they would rather stay at home than work.

One of the world leading examples that ire the feminists' ideology is Michelle Obama. She is the First Lady to devote herself to her two beloved young daughters and husband who is the first black president of the United States.

Michelle Obama graduated from prestigious university like Princeton and Harvad. Plus, she had a great career that every women dream of. But, for the frist time in her life, she decides to step off from her priceless career.

It is not an easy decision for her to make to just leave her career behind and being homebound and neither do professional women with families too.

What's wrong with women stepping off from their career and put family first? Being a housewife is not a bad option after all. Being a good wife is about being a true equal partner in a family project.

Equal status for women does not always have to be related to equal privileges and equal values throughout the patriarchy society but is about being a great compromiser wita a good team work effort in a family.

It means giving advice, having opinion respected and having shared values and a shared moral outlook.

Groucho Marx has cleverly quote "Behind every succesful man is a woman, behind her is his wife."

In anyway, this quotation can't go wrong, so ladies! Put your hands up! You deserve it, and the quote absolutely belongs to you.

Buidling a decent family is not an easy way out. It takes a massive foundation of love, trust and responsibilities to produce one.

Children, especially need parents as a vital role for the development of their souls. There is no point of earning huge amount of cash but when it comes to children, they know nothing about them.

Parent's can't just provide a substitue guardian like a nanny for their children to be taken care of. The amount of dignity that nanny provides can never be replaced from their own parents.

What children will be in the future depends from the early childhood education provided by their parents.

At the end of the day, family is the most important thing, nothing else matters.

States Announce Increases In College Tuition Rates

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:06:04 -0600

Incredible though it may seem, even after the massive amounts of "stimulus" monies that were supposedly earmarked for higher education at state and public universities throughout the nation, a great many are now announcing that they will be raising the costs of tuition (which was one of those "hooks" designed to manipulate the public pulse once again in order to further devalue our dollar and encourage more and more foreign ownership of American assets at this point).

I don't believe there was any "payback" or "loan" terms attached to those monies, if I am not mistaken. So the colleges which are already receiving funds from the state citizens through both property taxes and sales taxes apparently are going to hit up the state citizens once again for more and more bite of their hard earned cash.

The costs now for most four year public universities rivals that of most privately supported ones at this point in our history. In fact, the costs have almost exceeded those bogus CPI figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor by about 10 times their actual reporting figures and the true costs.

Of course, those figures are about as accurate as the bookkeeping and sums that were missing and have been unaccounted for by AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

They bear no true relevance to the cost of living in this country whatsoever, and as one who worked within the corporate law area for many years also know that they are kept artificially low because most union contracts (and divorce decrees also) are based upon those figures for annual "salary" or child support costs.

Which explains also why there are so many single women on welfare when their increases for the costs for the care and education of even one child exceeds those support checks (even at public schools which now surprise parents with the costs for $200 calculators and computers once they reach high school).

Hit a mom with a $200 bill who is receiving $500 per month for child support and over a third is gone to your local Comp USA store.

The quality of our education now is more directed in most areas due to also federal agendas in turning out "science based technology" majors, and it appears even a Harvard education isn't worth the sheepskin it is printed on since it is clear that most of the law schools also are teaching "foreign" and international law as binding in this country.

Such as that which is "regulated" by the American Bar Association, a British carryover actually that only came into power over the legal education in America at the start of last century.

And have "regressively" started reinstituting "global" primarily British and "government as sovereign" law now through the graduates in their curriculum and then issued court decisions ever since all the way up to many recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

Many of whom's undergraduate educations were either at Cambridge in Great Britain for their undergraduate course study, or graduated from East Coast "Ivy League" schools that have switched from teaching our Constitution and true Constitutional law based on res ipsa loquitor (the Constitution as it is written and was "intended" by those founders absent lawful and legal amendments per the 9th and 10th) to British based "monarchial" type law with the federal government somehow "sovereign" over both the states, and the citizens rather than merely a "shell" with enumerated powers and duties.

It would appear those Moms that are now home schooling certainly know what they are doing, and have seen that the best education actually is one in which a child's natural interests are pursued rather than governmental agendas.

And quite unbelievable, actually, the nerve of some of these state legislatures and universities with such announcements.

The President of Arizona State University, for instance, now earns over $700,000 per year PLUS benefits that are quite generous in their provision given the state of Arizona's economic situation due to our open borders and "outsourcing "global" and regional employers - which even though the perks aren't quite as good, and our President and Congressional members clearly way overpaid for what they are actually worth at this point, is more than the salary of the President of the United States and exceeds that CPI by about 500 percent or more, actually.

With the recuiting that most of these publicly funded unversities do out of the country actually to foreigners for those extra "out of state" tuition rates (really, out of the States), it would seem that the costs for state residents would be going down and they would at the very least be getting a break in their child's further education as the ones bearing the burden really of its existence.

In fact, Arizona has a Constitutional provision that any and all higher education would remain as "free as possible."

And at over now $7,000 per semester for just tuition alone, $14,000 per year is quite a chunk even for those Joe the Plumbers making less than $50,000 per year - which is actually more than the median wage in this country.

Not having to take a second mortgage out on their now depressed homes in order to afford to send their child for his four year bachelor's degree.

Those banks and European bankers are sure bankrupt with all this American debt they are creating for the "global" market and their own wealth and prosperity, it would appear - now quite blatantly at the American people's expense both in lives, and livelihoods.

And then after that expensive graduation party, watch him wait tables for the global visitors that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce agendas in their "See America" programs have also made sure they have a steady and cheap labor force continuing for generations to come to entertain them, including some of those potential terrorists, because all those "science based" technology jobs are going to the foreigners.

Oh, this little blurb had to do with the University of California and was actually reported by the AP underneath an article about the two year old in Mississippi that helped her mother give birth. Under the REALLY big news.

The AP it appears, is now hiring many of either those foreign British based journalists, or has been bought out by the National Enquirer (I believe which is also owned by the British media consortium now buying up much of the U.S. media and internet based news sources).

How Did Pakistan Militant Fazalullah Escape to Afghanistan?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:41:25 -0600

“In time of war the loudest patriots are the greatest profiteers.” (AUGUST BEBEL)

The Pakistan Army concluded its Operation Rah e Rast against Tehrik e Taliban Swat in earlier June this year and destroyed the TTP's infrastructure and Command and Control system in Swat, Shangla, Dir and Malakand. During the operation, the army captured or killed the majority of TTP Swat Main leadership which including Shah Doran, Commander Qassab and Muslim Khan. Unfortunately Amir TTP Swat was able to slip away to Afghanistan.

Yesterday Abdul Hai Kakar of BBC broke the story that he was contacted by Molvi Fazalullah, Amir of TTP Swat from Afghan Number. According to Abdul Hai Kakar he clearly recognized Fazalullah’s Voice

"I have reached Afghanistan safely," Maulana Fazlullah told BBC Urdu.

"We are soon going to launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat."

The voice was recognizably Maulana Fazalullah’s - he has a very distinct way of pronouncing words.

I have spoken to him on several occasions and met him twice.

Maulana Fazalullah was calling from an Afghan number and sounded in good spirits when he called on Monday.

According to Abdul Hai Kakar, Fazalullah told him that he was in mountains and that was the reason for bad signals. Hai said in Express News’s program Centre stage with Fahd Hussain” that he tried many time to re contact him on the number but due to bad signals he failed. He also said that he had met Fazalullah many times and he is 100 % sure that the man was Fazalullah and the number on CLI was that of an Afghan cellular company.

On 31st October I wrote in my essay War on Terror, What's going on? I wrote about reports coming from Nuristan Province of Afghanistan, where Afghan Taliban Commander Zai ur Rehman is in full control after the withdrawal of American forces. Zia ur Rehman is also inviting Taliban from Mohmand, Bajor and Swat to take refuge in his area.

According to Asia times correspondent Syed Saleem Shahzad

In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, a militant linked to Rehman said that now that they had control of Nuristan, the militants are "marching towards Mohmand and Bajor to help their fellow Taliban fighting against Pakistani troops", referring to two tribal agencies across the border.

According to report filed by BBC Urdu’s Abdul Hai Kakar it is now being confirmed that if at all report is true then Fazalullah is in Nuristan which has mountainous terrain. The same province where US troops left in such Hurry that

A US-based website, the Long War Journal, has documented in detail [1] that the Taliban are openly and unchallenged governing the province. The report cited al-Jazeera footage that showed the Taliban had also appointed a governor, Dost Muhammad. According to the footage, the Taliban had US arms, which they had seized from abandoned American bases. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization confirmed that the arms showed in the footage belonged to US forces.

Coming back to Nuristan where TTP Militants are regrouping and finding sanctuary with Afghan Taliban, first we have to find out what kind of Taliban dwell in Nuristan and Northern Part of NWFP province of Pakistan.

Nuristan has always been Strong hold of Salfi militants. During Afghan Soviets war. Majority of Arabs were based in this area. Zai ur Rehman himself according to Asia Times correspondent Syed Saleem Shahzad.

Zia ur, in his early thirties, was raised in the camps of Arab militants, who instilled in him the passion to fight against the Americans - not only in Afghanistan, but across the globe.

Mixture of Salfism and Deobandism gave rise to PUNJPIRI Ideology. Panjpiri Taliban is a cult of Taliban. Most Taliban from Bajor and Swat belong to this school of thought. This school of Thought originated from Nuristan Province of Afghanistan. A Cleric from Afghanistan brought this ideology to Panjpir Swabi. Panjpiries, although call themselves Deo-bandi Sunnies but in practice are more strict then Salfies. Most Taliban who came back to Pakistan from Afghanistan after US invasion belonged to this school of thought. Molvi Faqir Muhammad renamed his area as Panjpir to show his respect to the madrassa and school. Faqir Muhammad and Fazalullah and their men in Swat and Bajor are all Punjpiries.

US withdrawal and current emerging situation raises many serious questions about the American game in the region. US withdrew from Nuristan--- it is understandable due to their less number---but they left their arms and ammo behind! It’s some thing un-digestible. US army is one brave professional army. There are two possible scenarios which can answer why they left their weapons behind.

· They were desperate to leave their bases and were afraid of Taliban

· They intentionally left their weapons to be used by Taliban, who they knew are ideologically closer to TTP Swat, Bajor and Mohmand. Hence allowing Pakistani Taliban to re group and train their new cadre and also creating pressure on Pakistan and creating excuse to pressurize and Black mail Pakistan to gain American strategic interests. Which are de nucleaize Pakistan and make it US dependent?

There are couple of evidence and Published reports in foreign as well as Pakistani media which supports second hypothesis. I will only give three examples and will leave on readers to decide them selves’ what’s happening.

Pakistan Army Started operation Rah e Nijat against TTP Head Quarter South Waziristan Agency to eliminate—capture or kill TTP leadership and base. Around Two Division army started the operation Rah e Nijat Phase 2 on 17th Oct 2009 with support of Pakistan Air Force and Gunship helicopters. It was moral duty of US to seal Pakistan Afghan Border on the opposite side of NWA and SWA. After all Pakistan is ally of US in war against terror ---- but what American and Nato did---- in words of Qudssia Akhlaque

ISLAMABAD: The US-led Nato forces vacated more than half a dozen key security checkposts on the Afghan side of the Pak-Afghan border just ahead of the major Pakistan Army ground offensive (code named: Rahe Nijaat) against Taliban-led militants in the volatile tribal area of South Waziristan, it is learnt.
It is feared that the American decision will facilitate Afghan Taliban in crossing over to Pakistan and support militants in striking back at the Pakistani security forces in the troubled tribal area.

Sources close to the NWFP government and military strategists involved in the planning of S Waziristan operation told The News over the weekend that the Americans vacated eight security checkposts on the Afghan side of the border just five days before the Army operation. Four of these close to South Waziristan including one each at Zambali and at Nurkha, and four in the north in the area of Nuristan where American forces recently came under violent attacks by the militants.

Latest reports indicate that the Americans have also removed some posts close to North Waziristan, which could encourage even more Afghan Taliban fighters to cross over to the Pakistan side. This has raised many eye brows in government and military circles with points being made about “conflicting interests” and dubious American designs.

Interestingly immediately after the start of Operation Rah e Nijat reports started coming that an identified Helicopters landed SWA before 17th Oct and heli lifted the militant leadership and took it to Afghanistan.

Islamabad: Mysterious airlifting of some Taliban elements from areas of Pakistan-Afghanistan border linking Waziristan have been reported by several sources and fears are growing that anti-Pakistan TTP terrorists are also being rescued by their “foreign allies” from across the border.

The unexplained movements of “un-marked” helicopters and aircraft have been reported since last few days along Pak-Afghan border and one source claimed that they were being transported to the Eastern Afghanistan.

Pakistan Army’s Ex Chief General Mirza Aslam Baig also claimed the same in programs in ARY and few other channels. Another reputed Daily also reported that

Some experts believe that secret allies of friendly-Talibans took the action in order to secure the militants from an assault in South Waziristan by Pakistani Armed Forces while others believe the secret evacuation was part of a larger deal between some Western States and “good Taliban.”

The airlifting and evacuation of TTP leaders from South Waziristan coincided with a report by foreign news media or a similar mysterious evacuation of “militants” from South Afghanistan to North Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and few other Important Afghan officials have accused that

President Karzai suggested the reports of helicopters delivering terrorists to north Afghanistan were true, saying, “We have received reliable reports from our intelligence service. We have received reliable reports from our people, and today I received a report that these efforts [to transfer Taliban fighters] are also being made mysteriously in the northwest. The issue of helicopters has also been proved. We do not make any more comments now and investigations are under way to see to whom and to which foreign country these helicopters belong” (Tolo TV, October 11). According to Karzai, the “unknown” helicopters had been taking Taliban fighters to Baghlan, Kunduz and Samangan provinces in northern Afghanistan. The president’s remarks were quickly followed by a call from the Lower House speaker, Muhammad Yunis Qanuni, for a government debate on the issue. “When the president of Afghanistan, as the first man of the country, is raising a fact and a problem, then it shows that the problem is important and serious.” According to Takhar MP Habiba Danesh, the helicopter airlifts were already underway before the elections (Tolo TV [Kabul], October 13; Ferghana.ru, October 12; Hasht-e Sobh [Kabul], October 13). (Terrorism Monitor Volume: 7 Issue: 33)

Now when Fazalullah has Him self contacted BBC from Afghanistan, and we know that Provinces of Nuristan and kunar are under occupation of Takfiri Panjpiri Taliban. We also know that US has Vacated its posts and although their was a very tight blockade around NWA and SWA but still Militants managed to escape.

We also Know Pakistan has sacrificed more then NATO Soldiers combined and that instead of talking Pakistan has given results, Majority of Pakistanies like me are asking questions who is sincere and who is just playing games.

I will finish this essay on this beautiful quote of GEORGE WASHINGTON

“I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward”.

Tsering Tsomo Challenges GroundReport on Dalai Lama Envoy

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:02:17 -0600

Dear readers,

Mr. Tsering Tsomo has complained to this reporter regarding the publication of a story named “Dalai Lama’s envoy Thinley Gyatso at Sino-Nepal border?", saying this is false. He has stated in his mail that no meeting between Paras and anybody called ‘envoy’ has taken place in Mustang. Besides, Mr. Tsomo also states that Mr. Thinley Gyatso is not the representative of Dalai Lama.

This reporter based the story mainly on a Nepali website as indicated in the story itself. The reporter does not have any intention to harm the sentiment of Tibetans. Other parts in the story are widely exposed and undenied, e.g. visit of US, Indian and European ambassadors to the same sensitive spot.

However, bringing any sensitive issue into public discourse for verification is sometimes opted due to remote geography and concealment of information.

Finally, information recipients (i.e. readers or users themselves) in public and citizen journalism become the key forces to examine published reports through global interactive communication processes.

It would be worth noting that many national and international players have been struggling to give their own shape to Nepal’s volatile situation in which certain national sovereignty-related issues are debatable and worth hearing publicly for further verification and clarification.

The fundamental essence of the news story was to stimulate interest in the issue of threat to Nepal’s national independence, sovereignty and geopolitical existence.

Workshop on human rights held at Arkari valley

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:53:41 -0600

Human Rights demanded providing of civic amenities to residents of Arkari.

CHITRAL: A one day awareness raising workshop on human rights was held
at Arkari valley the most remote, backward and non accessible locality
of Chitral organized by Legal Awareness Program for Human Rghts (LAPH)
funded by Trocaire in collaboration with Khair Andeesh welfare Society
Arkari. Niaz Ali Shah Chairman Board of Director LAPH was chief guest
on the occasion while the ceremony was presided over by Zar Khan
teacher retired and notable person of the valley. The workshop was
started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. Mis Fauzia Monitoring
and Evaluation Officer LAPH briefed the participant's about aim and
objectives of the organization working for protection of human cum
women rights. Niaz Ali Shah highlighted achievement of LAPH with
introducing its history. He said that it came into being in 1998 by
some volunteers of the area. He said that LAPH providing free legal
assistance to needy, deserving and helpless women of Chitral besides
it we also supporting poor students (female) to continue their
education at college level as well as rehabilitating of widow women of
Chitral he added. He said that we raising awareness regarding basic,
fundamental and human rights through seminars, workshops and training
among different segment of the society as well as also arranging
workshops for police force and government official to sensitize them
about women rights. Women rights are exploiting by domestic practices
and other tactics he added.

The participants were given task to prepare presentation pointing out
problems and difficulties reflecting to inhabitants especially to
women folk of the valley in group working. Miss Laila Naz and Miss
Bibi Alam highlighted main problems, deprive ness and human rights
violation in their presentation. They said that the valley comprising
over 8000 population but there is no girls school, no college, no BHU,
no electricity in the entire valley. They said that main road of the
valley is in a very dilapidated condition and that is why that more
than 70 people were died in 15 road mishaps in a few years on this
road. They said that women folk of the area are totally deprived from
their basic and fundamental rights because there is no job
opportunities and other facility for them even they bring drinking
water from far away because the pipeline freeze due to chilly weather.
There is no playground in the area and that is why the young
generation is involving in social evils like drug addicting. There is
no opportunity for women folk to get vocational training or any other
skill capacity building to enable them to gain their livelihood with a
honor way. They said that the only dispensary of the area established
in 1964 but could not up-graded to Basic Health Unit. There is no
communication network and residents of the entire valley are totally
deprived from telephone facilities as a result they are badly
suffering to contact heir relatives in case of any emergency.

Syed Akram Shah member BoD stressed upon the participants to continue
their joint efforts for sustainable development of the area as well as
to highlight their problems through media.
He said that the government spent million of rupees but due to
dis-honesty of contractors the road is still in a very dangerous
condition. Zar Khan demanded for approval of special quota in
recruitment in border police force from this valley because it
adjacent to Afghanistan border but youth of this valley are totally
ignoring during recruitment in border police force. He thanked to LAPH
team who arranged this workshop in the valley because no one have
visited the area even District Nazim never came here in his 4 years
tenure. He criticized Works and Services department for no
construction of the road and 14 people were died in a fatal road
accident due to poor condition of the road but no compensation paid
to them. He said that it take 4 hours traveling from Chitral to
Arkari due to big ditches in the middle of road. He said residents of
the area have arranged of a micro hydro power station on self-help
basis. He said that students of this valley struck off their further
education after passing their matriculation examination due to no
educational institution of degree level in the valley. He strongly
criticized education department because of no girl's school in the
area. He said that no EDO has visited the area since last year. G.H.
Farooqi a local journalist sensitized the participants regarding
reflecting their problems through print and electronic media. A large
number of male and female attended the workshop. They were also hosted
lunch at end of the workshop.
G.H. Farooqi PO Box No. 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan phone No. 03025989602,
03469002167, 0943-302295, 414418
Email: gulhamad@gmail.com

The Market Is Speaking But Washington Is Tone Deaf

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:42:19 -0600

With once again all the political posturing by representatives of both the mainstream political global socialist parties in the U.S. who are clearly not at all the voice of their true constituents, the actual John Q. Public and citizens themselves other than select industry members involved, the passage by the House of Misrepresentatives of the lastest "taxation without representation" with respect to the Health Care Deform bill has been too incredible to believe.

The AMA and AARP who were fundamental in writing this massive legislation, along with the large corporate unions who also offer their own "supplemental" health care benefits and plans at retirement as the AARP does were brought in for backup.

AARP, however, although started as a "voice" for retirees and elderly Americans, is now primarily simply a trade association of corporations which market to senior citizens in this country, but specifically, of course, mentioned in order to share the spotlight with the "creators" during which time these representatives were otherwise occupied some additional American lives were lost both in Iraq and the U.S. directly tied to our continued foreign involvement now eight years post 9/11 in Iraq at some government buildings in Iraq, and a Texas U.S. military base here in the U.S.

It apparently didn't register with Congress that the fundamental beef of the American people with respect to health care and health insurance itself was the massive costs now involved for even a routine doctor's visit at this point, while also paying those outrages rates for insurance monthly also with co-pays and even basic catastrophic care costs which have escalated far in excess of the cost of living.

Which figures are fiction to begin with and compiled using funky and creative bookkeeping since most union contracts are tied in, of course, to those cost of living tables and figures kept by the U.S. Department of Labor which due to the costs now of further education now at over ten times that of the CPI just goes to show just how inaccurate those figures actually are.

It is not unheard of that an initial patient visit sometimes involving less than 30 minutes or in many cases even treatments now more and more being provided by support staff and paraprofessionals can exeed over $250 for a brief wellness check or athletic examination for sports involvement by our youth.

Unlike in the past, most lab tests are now done by outside laboratories who also separately bill most of those fees and costs, even routine urine specimens or routine blood tests.

The fact that there are so many in this country now without health insurance and the causes thereof have been well known to most state legislatures, and the federal government for many years. The costs of such plans, and the hassle then many times involving approvals for treatment, have turned the public off to the insurance industry in general.

Not to mention that there is little choice now in coverages due to the fact that so many states now are writing policies actually through legislation, rather than simply regulating the underwriters and these corporations insofar as their marketing and providing adequate redress for failures to provide as the "public" corporations most of these entities now are.

Most are not only publicly funded in grant monies and tax breaks for most of these clinics and larger medical facilities, but also sell shares of "stock" in American's health provision over the global marketplace and thus not private, but public corporations and "state actors" actually at this point for the federal and state governments themselves.

Especially with now all the privileges and immunities that have been given in the "hands off" approaches that have been historically given to these industries as somehow deemed "private contracts." Of course, many times without one of the parties having any real choice in either the terms, or the changes that are attached to these policies under annual "rider" changes.

Now that doctors can also charge for the time it takes to fill out these massive forms, in many cases, those costs too have caused the rise in premium rates and also those great seminars the AMA conducts in order to make sure that staff members are "selling" the practices of most of the medical professionals during their mandated professional continuing education classes.

Although the AMA, like the ABA, is supposedly a "regulatory" agency in and of itself, with now the number of foreign doctors practicing in this country at the present time, there is a large segment of the medical profession that has absolutely no regulation whatsoever through either professional association, or state or federal provision.

The costs were and are the problem, and the medical profession and health insurance special interest groups themselves have actually placed their fees and costs higher than the market can bear, and now Washington has not heard the voice of the people once again but instead is including still the unconstitutional mandatory provisions that all Americans must carry coverage by 2013 or be fined if in violation?

If you can't afford the insurance, just how are most going to afford these fines? Literaly thousands at this point have lost their homes, and with foreclosures and bankruptcies, or other bad credit marks now against them which will remain for five to ten years, I'm sure many Americans are asking the same questions I am.

It appears the only "details" that are yet to be ironed out in the Senate version now have to do with abortions and provision of health care for immigrants. Although due to current federal laws on the books, illegal immigrants are afforded health care costs and provision courtesy of the U.S. citizens in every state in the nation and have been receiving such benefits for well over ten years as this former Arizonan can attest.

As with most of the problems with the U.S. economy at the present time, it does appear that the market is speaking and has been loud and clear about the high cost of health care, as with the price now of U.S. automobiles equipped with expensive and repair prone computers driving them, and all these "gadgets" now that have made the costs of most durable goods, and services, far exceeding the wages of the average Americans - with many Americans caught in a Catch 22.

Damned if they do, and damned if they don't, with such loosey goosy legislation, and even automobile inspections now carried on in many states for American citizens forced to hang on to their tried and true gas guzzlers who, even with $4,000 "rebates" and ""cash for junkers" realize that such marketing ploys by Washington don't even cover the sales taxes and registration fees for a new automobile in this country.

Not to mention the increases in insurance for a new car versus an old junker.

The hat tricks and public posturing will not change the fact that Washington has once again created more future "criminals" who will have no choice but to "break the law," and/or eventually also lose their homes or be the source of another "new job creation" of Washington.

More bankruptcy judges and lawyers.

But then again, the private lawyers and staffs of those "misrepresentatives" also wrote this piece of ludicrous legislation.

It seems the largest job stimulus that has occurred for the last four presidencies has been that of the lawyers, politicians, and gadget industries while those not "scientifically" inclined now are waiting at the door of the soup kitchens.

If they aren't picked up for loitering or unlawful assembly by local authorities before the doors open so that the state governments can get their stimulus based on the head counts in the local county and state run facilities - even though more and more now are even "privatizing" the jails which were paid for by the citizeny in order to also shift the burdens of provision of sums meant for governmental purposes in order to gain more and more for discretionary spending for campaign contributors as their industry "stimulus," at the citizen's ultimate expense.

And it does appear that it is only in this generation that the word "homeless," unlike the World War II depression era victims of Wall Street and banker economic manipulation, has taken on a new definition.

"Homeless" means being nothing more than the "new" definition of "commerce" now as defined on the Hill.

The fact that this Administration and Congress now have even defined this "new" program as being one that would be "similar" to Medicare and yet give the private industries competition with the new government plan really said it all.

Federal government now is acting officially as U.S.A., Inc., and views the citizens as nothing more than a "commercial" interest of Uncle Sam himself. And Washington a "competitor" business interest to the private sector, which is no longer private whatsoever but public once those corporations 'go public' and become listed on the global market exchange.

The share holders and owners really at that point are the ratepayers and investors, not the "shell" of the corporation nor the Boards of Directors of these industries at all.

People are now commerce whose lives have just been "brokered" for the added tax revenue, or corporate investors capital gains. Just another new Washington/special interest joint venture ala General Motors.

Since that face saving 5% "surcharge" and tax on the wealthy is really quite a joke.

Since, of course, at now over $200-400 per hour in most parts of the country, it is the wealthy that have the money to hire the lawyers to find those loopholes they included within all the legalese.

Probably the same lawyers that wrote this massive bill with those loopholes built right in and so complex that Clarence Darrow would probably have a great deal of difficulty deciphering.

I wonder how many more federal district and U.S. Supreme Court justices have been budgeted in this new job "stimulus?"

It appears America's economic base is being shifted from manufacturing and agriculture to government, banking, computer and health care with eventually Hal from 2001 sitting in the Oval Office.

Don't laugh.

When was the last time you called your local IRS or government office and actually spoke to a person?

I wonder how they will be sworn in and given the oath of office?

The Terminator won in California based mostly on box office receipts, and didn't even need a screen test for those "Visit Callyfornia" ads which run every spring throughout the nation.

With California the major beneficiary of the "science based technology" contracts for the War in Iraq, I wonder what the budgets are for those tourism ads?

Mr. Obama reportedly has a Blackberry fetish, and the only television it appears anyone in this country is watching are amateur/professionally produced talent shows promoting text messaging votes for the Hals to crunch.

Depending on their programming.

And it appears that "programming" Americans to swallow this bill and negate the market surveys and this now new "taxation without representation" special interest welfare bill was behind most of those klieg lights last week vying for media attention in the wake of again another American victimization with civil unrest undertones due to the continuation of this now eight year ill defined Washington "job stimulus"venture which tragedically occurred at Fort Hood.

Although the market actually has also spoken loud and clear on that.

And from my personal experience since it does appear that AT&T and various other telecommunications companies have been given stimulus contracts and provided most state and federal legislators throughout the country their own Blackberries with text messaging, maybe they could use some of those profits to put in some additional towers outside the Northeast.

After all the coupons for those high tech digital cable boxes come in, of course, the paltry credit now all Americans face with having to now pay for the weather after having built all those towers were given, especially those in Middle America interested more in the farm reports than Entertainment Tonight, so that the HALS can now use them gratis instead.

Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Ruling on Divorce in Foreign Courts

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:11:46 -0600

Delivering a landmark ruling covering a grey area which remained untouched so long, the apex court on Friday, the 13^th November said that any marriage dissolved by a foreign court will be equally valid in India. It is well known that divorce is difficult to obtain in India than in most West and European countries. So long, divorce of Indians and NRIs were valid only if it was granted by any Indian court and any divorce granted by foreign court was subject to scrutiny and clearance by Indian Courts.

It has thus become easier for an NRI to get divorce in foreign country without appearing in Indian Courts or even in the absence of the one of the spouse in the foreign court in some cases. Therefore, for an NRI, it is easier now to get married with an Indian and get rid of the spouse (mostly wife) without much hassle.

The cause of the instant judgment was related to one Pashaura Singh of Punjab Province in India, who married NRI Kamaljeet Kaur already settled in Canada. After their marriage Pashaura too settled in Canada with his NRI wife. But as the marriage did not click, Pashaura got divorce from a British Columbian court in 2001 and remarried in India.

Kamaljeet’s brother filed a case of bigamy against Pashaura in Punjab and won the case in Punjab High Court.

Reversing the judgment, the apex court granted the divorce in favor Pashaura.

Fort Hood Spins Saturate Media

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:10:21 -0600

For Any And All American Conserve-atives (not the British variety ala Fox News):

In light of the upcoming funerals and media coverage of the loss of additional American lives in the wake of the Fort Hood incident in Texas this week, it appears now the media spins are getting wider, deeper and more and more furious by the day.

Since America's presence in the Middle East in some form or another has been a fact since that British "taking" of the land now comprising Israel prior to World War I in an agreement entered into between a British Lord of the Realm and a British banker zionist, America's continued loss of life on behalf of this foreign non-U.S. based accord is becoming greater and greater by the year.

And what has been interesting has been one fundamental question which the media has not in any significant manner raised during the past several days of the "analysis" that are being made on both liberally based and focused mainstream sources - funded by either the Republican Globalists or Democratic Globalists ala FOX and CNN.

Just why would an avowed pacifist and war protestor enlisted or continued serving in the U.S. military during the continuation of this war, which has now gone on for more than eight years after the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

Most enlistees, or even those career military officers - which is more likely since the accused is or was the base psychiatrist apparently - tours of duties come up for renewal in two to four year increments.

The outrage of the American people, and the clearly questionable now basis for our continued presence in that region has been a well known fact as based upon false intelligence for over five years at this point. And was, after all, the major focus of most of the liberals in their other extra-Constitutional positions who, however, were the major supporters of Mr. Obama in his run for the roses as the "change" candidate, after all. Although disagreement with the continuation of this war as not in any way at all based upon Constitutional provision, or the intent of the founders with respect to defensive wars as hoping this country would remain as neutral as possible in such events as the continued Middle East situation, is not a liberal position at all, but actually a conservative one.

Most of these so called "progressives" and "liberals" of course now have continued to be suspiciously silent, although Mr. Obama is clearly following the Bush agendas and agreements which were reached with the "new" Iraqi government in his last 100 days in office calling for the withdrawal of all American troops by 2011, coincidentally just prior to the new U.S. presidential election cycle.

So it will end just as politically as it began apparenlty - and not legally or Constitutionally brought or now ended in any manner whatsoever.

Now it is being reported the suspect will be tried in a military court, as deemed not an overt act of terrorism. And, of course, terrorism itself is a practice used by many in our media and also those now serving on the Hill against the American people now more so than even most of these branded extremist Iraqi groups - whose very existence and training were, after all, at the hands of the U.S. military to begin with.

The suspects now behavior prior to the incident is now uncovering some connections to spiritual leaders in this country and the Middle East.

But just how did most of these individuals, after all, be approved for immigration to this country I haven't a clue, although the suspect appears to be an American citizen by birth and not an immigrant or naturalized citizen.

And at last count, over 80% of the American people are dissatisfied with our continued presence in this war now that the focus has shifted from the events surrounding what occurred those many years ago, to building up a U.S force and presence now in that region on behalf of Israel most of all once again.

And, of course, to fatten the bank books of the Wall Street financiers and those invested in the military industrial and manufacturing areas in this country. All those "science based" technology firms which this Administration and the last were feeding at the cost of American soldiers and families. Silicon Valley is bursting at the seams at this point, although California's governor whining about a shortfall.

Unbeliveable.

My heart goes out to the families of those affected, but it would appear that the perpetrators and blame that is shifting is being shifted from the true source of the cause of their actual losses.

And that is, once again, a foreign and military policy in this country that is centered not on national security whatsoever, but nation building and agressive and pre-emptive wars.

At the cost of the families of many Americans, not simply those that were and have been lost now in the past eight years - and a domestic security problem that has not been solved at all by the creation of that massive Department of Homeland Security.

Since that Department has decreased, rather than increased, its budgeting and funding for the measures needed to truly secure this country rather than giving monies to Mexico and Israel in the form of foreign aid for the Silcon Valley venture capitalists profits, many of whose investors are foreigners also, after all, with British and Middle Eastern investors.

Funds were once again cut for the needed border fencing and security, and instead this and the last Administration also expanded its Visa waiver and immigration policies ten fold since 9/11 occurred.

In fact, a better name for this agency at this point is the Department of Homeland Insecurity. With the running of their paid ads warning Americans to "have a plan" appearing to be the only real attempts to actually address the true defensive measures that would fundamentally secure this country from any such future incidents.

Such as reducing the number of airports and such available for those traveling to this country. As Ellis Island was in the past maybe having three or four points of entry, rather than affording foreign based and owned airlines, ships and other modes of travel access to the interior airports and such would and could reduce the threat of any further attacks.

British Airways was given a contract for service to Phoenix years ago, and there are many foreign owned airlines with such contracts throughout the nation at the present time.

It does appear that break downs in communications and also the shear number now of agencies involved in these domestic and foreign surveillance departments are having an adverse affect and not the solution, but part of the problem.

As it appears is becoming now clear in this incident, as it was in the original loss of lives on September 11th - since that also as blamed on a breakdown of communications between the FBI and DoD. Now we have the FBI, DoD and Homeland Security pointing fingers.

So just where is the change, except more of the same, and around another 50 more dead or wounded Americans?

Time Ticking for Copenhagen Summit

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:47:46 -0600

It’s less than five weeks for the crucial Copenhagen summit for climate change. It’s a deadline for a deal to stop the climate catastrophe. The issue involved is developing countries won't join in a climate deal unless rich countries, which created the climate crisis, pay to fix it.

The Copenhagen summit will have more than 100 world leaders, including US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. While the talk will be about the environment, the substance will be about money. Developing nations say that if rich nations want them to stop burning coal or cutting down forests, they should be willing to pay them.

The price tag of a fair, ambitious and binding global treaty is $150 billion a year in funding to help poorer countries to adapt and cut emissions. So far only a fraction of that is pledged by the developed country.

The finance ministers of the world’s 20 biggest economies are meeting prior to that to discuss these issues but its learnt the funding proposal isn’t even on the agenda for such meeting.

The Copenhagen summit could collapse without a funding plan as $150 billion a year is needed by 2020 to invest in low-carbon development and the green economies of the future

There’s no shortage of bold and practical ideas for how the funds could be raised. Experts suggest levies to close the tax-free loophole on aviation and shipping fuels or a charge on financial speculation could raise tens of billions each.

Activities are putting up ads and campaigns that Europe must raise their offer, and other rich countries need to join them. European Union must set a precedent by starting to put money on the table is said in the campaign.

However, so far the US has not pledged any funds to deal with climate issues. Although it’s going ahead to participate at the Copenhagen summit, but its still not clear how much funds it may pledge and on what conditions. Its learnt that US wants to put a rider for releasing the funds with which the developing countries are not so comfortable with. Its certain that if the US is not a party to the global treaty on climate change, the summit at Copenhagen would have no meaning.

As far as India’s stand on this issue is concerned its of the view that any attempt to address the problem of climate change must take into account the imperatives of poverty reduction and economic progress in developing countries and the responsibility of the developed countries.

New Delhi maintains that any long-term goal or conditionalities being set towards lessening the effects of climate change “should always take into account the centrality of the need of the developing countries in this regard.”

India's defiance on the issue of climate change came during U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's visit to India in July 2009, when India's environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, publicly asserted that "India's position is clear and categorical that New Delhi simply is not in a position to take any legally binding emissions reduction."

There is no doubt that the world is sitting on the climate catastrophe. If the world has to be saved from this imminent danger, a consensus has to evolve how to fund this problem in a comprehensive way.

To me the entire debate on climate change is going on the lines of Gandhian campaign in India. There is a total disconnect between what is being preached and practiced.

There is north and south divide on this issue. The rich countries want the developing countries to adopt austerities measure to help save the planet, while they may like to continue with their pace of life. They may agree to some funds to the developing countries and may even allow some cheap technology transfer but are not willing to compromise on their lifestyle.

This means the developing countries should cease to develop and remain in poverty trap for years to come. It is one of the most complex puzzles that is being spun at the backdrop of climate catastrophe.

Within the rich countries there are differences, particularly between European Union and US. The Europe has one line of thought, the US has other. Within Europe there are differences as well.

Even the developing countries are not a unified house. There are urban and rural divide on this issue. The argument of the north is extended by the urban centers with which the rural centers are not so comfortable. Those living in the urban centers want the rural people to live in the primitive stage to address the issues of climate change while they may like to continue with their sedentary lifestyles. This is the most ludicrous part of the campaign on the climate change.

As the time ticking for the Copenhagen summit and even though there is a consensus on this issue that’s its extremely essential to sustain the campaign to save the planet from the perils of climate change but the camps are divided.

One school of thought led by the developing countries say “no deal is better than an unfair deal.” They want to abide by their agenda and not ready to compromise, a proposition that could spoil the deal.

“Seal the deal” is another campaign that is being lunched by the developing countries ahead of the Copenhagen Summit. It says if we have to move forward on the issue of climate change, a it’s essential to “Seal the deal”

Arguments and counter arguments are put forward before the Copenhagen summit. The house of hope and despair are equally divided. The skeptics’ view that this talk shop may fail to kick off for want of consensus, the optimist argue, it will roll on in fit and starts because it’s a question of survival of human mankind.

As largest-ever gathering of world leaders at Copenhagen gets underway, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed that there is an urgent need for collective action to save the planet. He has called upon the civil society, faith groups, businesses and governments to join forces to combat climate change.

The sliver lining in the black cloud is that India and China have signed a memorandum of understanding on the issue. It shows that the two world's major players are serious about finding an alternative path alongside trying to attain sustainable development.

Not withstanding, how this story plays itself out, the fact remains that Copenhagen summit on climate change is turning out to be a basket case of ‘now or never.’

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a working journalist based in Chennai. He recently in New Delhi to attended a conference on climate change organized by International Federation of Environment Journalist. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com