The Institutionisation of Fear May 17, 2010 Just read this awesome essay by Bruce Scheneier about the fundamentally broken way in which security policies and management is being done in the countries of today. Most of the folks in charge of security are trying to base their measures and policy around the worst case scenario. ...
Making this blog more general in nature Jan 4, 2010 When I initially started this blog, my intention was to separate my rants against the religious-political situation in the country, from my tech related blogs. It was the time before elections, and a time with a lot of rabble rousing going around the country. ...
The debate regarding security vs privacy Sep 15, 2009 Like many people, I also had the perception that increased security can in most cases only be achieved at the cost of privacy and liberty. I have since started reconsidering that line of thought after I recently came across this article(“Protecting Privacy and Liberty”) by Bruce Schneier written way back on September 30 2001 just after 9-11, which argued that “this association is simplistic and largely fallacious”. ...
What truth in religion? Apr 18, 2009 In an article in Guardian, Julian Baggini wrote: Intelligent atheism rejects what is false in religion, but should retain an interest in what is true about it. I don't think many of my fellow atheists would disagree. ...
Colored news: the problem of Indian TV media Dec 22, 2008 A very nicely articulated analysis, by Seema Goswami, of the problems of the TV media, especially in the coverage of the recent Mumbai attacks. Also a good comparison between the print and TV media. ...
Jethmalani on Kasab's right to legal defense Dec 20, 2008 Somewhere down the line, the lawyers of our country (just like most other professions) have forgotten that they form an essential pillar of India’s democratic structure, where their services are required, and not merely solicited. ...
The age of celebrity terrorism Dec 1, 2008 The media and the blogosphere is filled with anger and vitriol. Perhaps, we Indians are too close to the scene of the tragedy and are mostly incapable of seeing the large ramifications of what just happened in Mumbai. ...
Don't make the wrong resolutions Nov 29, 2008 We will no longer remain passive. We should stand up against terrorism once and for all. Enough is enough I say no to getting used to terrorism ...
Salon on the mumbai attacks and government response Nov 29, 2008 Very well written story at Salon about the similarity between the Bush and Indian response to terrorism. Any decent, civilized person watching scenes in Mumbai of extremists shooting indiscriminate machine gun fire and launching grenades into civilians crowds – deliberately slaughtering innocent people by the dozens – is going to feel disgust, fury, and a desire for vengeance against the perpetrators, regardless of what precipitated it. ...
Time magazine on the attackers Nov 29, 2008 Nice analysis by Time About the background of the attackers: What we should be certain of, though, is that the Mumbai attackers were combat trained. You do not sustain a military assault for three days, taking only combat naps, unless you know what you are doing. ...