India’s favourite spiritual book, The Bhagavad Gita, has made a dramatic impact at Harvard, Wharton and other business schools with its universal message of “concentration, consistency, and cooperation”. In a nutshell: “You can’t succeed in business (or war) unless you develop the intellect, which controls the mind and body.” The Gita remains relevant in the conduct of any...

Three British Muslims were convicted yesterday of plotting to commit “mass murder on an unimaginable scale” by blowing up transatlantic airliners in an attempt to kill thousands of people in the air and on the ground, reports The Independent. “Last night, senior Scotland Yard detectives told The Independent that, if the plot had been successful, the death toll could easily have exceeded the...

Here’s yet another item about something weird showing up in a product that isn’t the best P.R. for a corporation, via AFP: A Florida man who cracked open an ice cold can of Pepsi found dismembered remains of a frog, the US Food and Drug Administration said today. “It has been verified, and it was indeed a frog,” Charles Watson, a spokesman at the US food inspection authority, said...

With a face perhaps reflecting contrition, German Chancellor Merkel lays a candle after giving a speech at a ceremony in Poland on the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WW II. She said, ‘We caused unending suffering in the world. I bow before the victims.’ Even after 70 years, the wounds and rivalries that triggered and resulted from the last ‘war to end all wars’ still fester in...

In the wake of 9/11 attacks in the USA, the relations between the “Christian West” and the “Muslim World” took a nose-dive. Australia is among the few countries who made a concerted effort to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslims in their own country and elsewhere. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, now on a visit to India, announced in New Delhi that the International...

The view of the smoke from the Station Fire in California from a NASA satellite: Smoke from Station Fire Blankets Southern California — Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice.

‘HEADWINDS’ The fascinating planetary split on whether or not it was correct to release Lockerbie bombing convict Abdul Basset Ali Al-Megrahi continues with this article by columnist Joao Pereira Coutinho who writes for the Brazilian newspaper Folha. For Folha, Coutinho writes in a sarcastic rejoinder to the release: “For ‘compassionate’ reasons, the Scottish government –...

Who knew!? You know, I’ve been pregnant three times, gave birth to live, healthy babies three times and nursed each of my three babies.  If breastfeeding my babies was not related to pregnancy, someone tell me what was going on with my body, k? Kate Harding at Salon.com has an excellent take-down and analysis of this gobsmackingly narrow decision regarding Totes/Isotoner’s pregnancy discrimination...

America doesn’t revolve around any one group of people, and no one racial or ethnic group exclusively defines what it means to be an American. I wholeheartedly believe that. We all contribute. -2morrowKnight — Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. — Technorati : quotes, race Del.icio.us : quotes, race Zooomr : quotes, race Flickr : quotes, race

From the webcomic xkcd, which is an entertaining read, the Tech Support Cheat Sheet. It hits the nail squarely on the head… — Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. — Technorati : computers, geek cool, humor Del.icio.us : computers, geek cool, humor Zooomr : computers, geek cool, humor Flickr : computers, geek cool, humor

From Gizmodo.com: Pole Dancer Doll Doesn’t Really Set the Perfect Role Model There’s so, so many ways this is just wrong… — Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. — Technorati : toys Del.icio.us : toys Zooomr : toys Flickr : toys

As I am writing this, Senator Edward M. Kennedy is being laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He joins his two slain brothers, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. In fact, Senator Kennedy is being buried only a short distance from where his brothers are buried, and where an eternal flame lights the graves not only of the former president and the former First Lady, Jacqueline...

Continuing with our global coverage of the reaction to Ted Kennedy’s death, this article by Laurent Joffrin of France’s Liberation frames the saga of the Kennedy clan as one of redemption from a merciless thirst for power. For Liberation, Laurent Joffrin writes in part: “In the 1940s and 50s, There wasn’t a clan that was more cynical or more determined in its quest for glory. A brutal...

What is the proper role of government in the lives of people? According to columnist Christoph von Marschall of the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, it is the answer to this question that separates Europeans and Americans, and is at the heart of America’s debate over health care. For Der Tagesspiegel, Christoph von Marschall writes in part: “At issue is one of the fundamental ideological differences...

We’ve all seen videos of these young people on their mountain bikes, hopping around, jumping over ramps, going up stair cases on one wheel. Perhaps some of you readers engage in these activities yourself. So… you think you can bike? I got news for ya, kid. You can’t bike. In fact, you’d be lucky if somebody told you that you bike like a girl. (From the good folks at Break.com) Check out...

The Forbes list of the world’s 100 most powerful women is out. The top honour goes to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of the world’s fourth-largest economy. She has won this honour for the fourth consecutive year. “In assembling the list, Forbes looked for women who run countries, big companies or influential nonprofits. Their rankings are a combination of two scores: visibility...

A question asked by a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) got my attention. The question was: “I think most members of Congress don’t understand what it’s like to serve in the armed services. How many members of Congress have served in the military?” The MOAA’s answer was: The numbers of veterans in Congress has significantly diminished over the years....

Comments that follow an article in a newspaper/magazine/blog generally indicate the quality of its readership. The Economist magazine does get an impressive array of views. I offer below the views, tied in a string in a random fashion, of different readers under the article “Losing Afghanistan?” Reader No. 1: “The real purpose of the (American) occupation is to extend and entrench western...

I have been a sports fan all my life but concede in the twilight of my existence what once was fiery passion has turned to embers. I’m not really jaded, bored or turned off because of steroids or performance enhancing drugs. No. What bothers me are the superstar athletes who don’t know when to call it quits. I’m undecided whether it’s the money or a severe ego problem. Probably a lot...

There is much to be said in favor of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community. -Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) Technorati : journalism, media, quotes Del.icio.us : journalism, media, quotes Zooomr : journalism, media, quotes Flickr : journalism, media, quotes

Disqus 3 is coming to this blog very very soon with many enhancements to make the commenting experience better and more robust. I will write more about it once Disqus 3 is on TMV. Check out the video below: DISQUS V3 from Giannii on Vimeo.

Kevin Rudd’s government is in a celebration mode following Australia’s twin victory in finalizing 20-year-long liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deals with India and China. A sales and purchase AUD 25 billion agreement between ExxonMobil and Petronet LNG of India signed last week is the “dawning of a new trading partnership.” Under the agreement, Exxon Mobil will supply about 1.5 million...

From The Onion: Congress Deadlocked Over How To Not Provide Health Care WASHINGTON—After months of committee meetings and hundreds of hours of heated debate, the United States Congress remained deadlocked this week over the best possible way to deny Americans health care. “Both parties understand that the current system is broken,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Monday. “But what...

Boeing has had a tough time getting the first production 787 Dreamliner planes delivered. Some of the recent problems have involved the composite materials used in the construction of the fuselage and wings. Ordinarily, I’m all for the use of new technologies and new materials. The carbon composites being used in the 787 are significantly stronger than aluminum for the same weight, which for airplanes...

Reality is stranger than fiction: The world of Mexican midget wrestling is in mourning after two of its most famous stars were apparently poisoned by fake prostitutes. Brothers in armlocks Alberto and Alejandro Pérez Jiménez were found dead in a hotel room after being drugged and robbed. The women who spiked the twins’ drinks are thought to be members of an organised crime gang who pose as prostitutes...