A paraglider fails to control his chute and falls to the ground. The lower bones of his leg came through the knee and thighs. The man should have been screaming with pain or fainted from it. But no! Danny Penman had learnt hypnotism before and he psyched himself to believe that he was in a garden of flowers. He felt no pain after that.

This is a true tale. Hypnotism can be used as anaesthesia! Many doctors in Europe are using it. The benefits are obvious. It is cheap and it has no side effects. Some doctors use a local aesthetic while cutting the skin during surgery and nothing more. The patients are hypnotized during the operation and feel no pain.

But there are the non-believers too. They say only the skin has most of the nerves in the body and the ‘hypnotist’ doctors do use local anaesthetic. They also say that hypnotism only works on people who have the capacity to ‘turn off’. Others say the use of ultra sharp scalpels used in operations are the reason there is so little pain. Considering all these arguments, it seems a long time before hypnotism replaces standard anaesthesia (if ever it does).

Whatever be the truth. Hollywood has used hypnotism as the theme in many films and created blockbusters. Come to think of it, we all are being continuously being hypnotized all the time; by TV and video games. A TV advertisement psyches us into believing the message it is conveying. Many of us do get hypnotized into buying useless products we do not need. Experts are worried of the effect of violent computer games on young impressionable minds.

The need of the hour is that hypnotism as a phenomenon is thoroughly investigated, before some suggestible kid goes berserk after playing Tomb Rider or some such game.

Source: Daily Mail

Hugo Chavez is a larger-than-life figure In Venezuela. He has used the country’s oil wealth to defy the US and EU. He has made friends with Iran and Cuba, two countries which are anti-US. His popularity at home is not due to these factors alone. He has introduced measures that have made life easier for the poor in the country, like free medical facilities (with Cuban doctors), subsidized food and cheap credit for the weaker sections of society.

They form the backbone of his support base in the country. But there are emerging threats to him. Last year he tried to change the Constitution to enable him to be president for life, but the referendum on the matter went against him. The opposition has found a dynamic leader in Leopoldo Lopez, a pragmatic center-leftist politician, whose increasing popularity is giving Chavez cause for alarm.

He has tried to deal with the threat by framing most of the opposition leaders in some flimsy charges (which are not proved in the courts. But since Chavez has the Supreme Court in his pocket that would not be too difficult) and thus disqualifying them from the upcoming state elections.

It is quite possible that the opposition could sweep the elections. Resentment against Chavez is on the rise. Inflation is galloping at 35%. Venezuela has the highest murder-rate in the whole world. People are tired of the rising crime rate.

The opposition is determined to take the fight to the streets. They have tasted blood after the referendum that Chavez lost last year. Many of his former men have turned against him, like General Raul Salazar, Chavez’s former defence minister. He believes Chavez is showing signs of megalomania; that he is close to thinking that he is God.

But it must be said in Chavez’s defence that he has come to power through elections. The fact that he lost the referendum last year shows he has not started rigging polls. But the framing of opposition leaders is a sign of his growing insecurity. That increases more and he would go the ‘Robert Mugabe’ way.
Image
Source: Telegraph

Two questions come to mind. First, why are young men facing a greater AIDS infection? Second, why are the blacks amongst them the most vulnerable?

The answer to the first question is that the current rise in AIDS is the infection of ‘the second generation’ of young Americans. They are so aware of the dangers of AIDS. The rise of antivirals has made them bold enough not to be careful. They feel there is treatment available and act heedlessly.

Why are black young men suffering the most? Studies have noted that they are less likely to have sexual partners than white males. They use less injected drugs. And they are well aware of the need for ‘protected sex’. Then why the higher prevalence amongst black youths? The answer is that the black community suffers more (than other communities) from diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea, diseases that enhances chances of contracting AIDS.

But there is hope yet. A study by the American Journal of Public Health showed that prevention messages specially made for gay black men can work. Researchers recruited “opinion leaders” in the gay communities of three cities in North Carolina. Their message of the importance of protected sex showed results. There was a decline in the high-risk unprotected sex in the target areas.

Education and information focused on blacks will prove to be the key to solve this problem.

Image

Via: Washington Post

Britney Spears’ life seems to be getting back on track. Her mental condition is improving; even K-fed’s lawyer has admitted that. But the best thing that has happened to her is the new man in her life, Jason Trewick (or Trawick?). This was exactly what a good doctor would have ordered.

Now this Trewick is no wild guy. He is a sober guy; an agent at the William Morris talent agency which has helped manage Britney in the past. So Britney knows him from before. More importantly, who better than an agent in a wild singer’s life to bring stability? I am sure, for Britney, guys like Adnan Ghalib must be already like a bad dream. Compared to him, Jason appears like a knight in shining armor.

No wonder Britney’s parents have been quick to bless the new liason. The father, Jamie, who sees Trewick as a “stabilising influence”. He says, “She always had a thing for bad boys but now she realises good guys can be attractive, too.”

Well we are all happy for Britney, but one thing puzzles me. Recently an impression was created that Britney and K-Fed were going to get together again. Instead, this Jason bursts onto the scene suddenly. How did this happen? I feel Jamie is behind this.
source

During Saddam Hussain’s time woman were protected by laws which gave them the opportunity to participate in the governance of the country. Repressive Muslim laws had largely been kept at bay. Saddam may have used rape as weapon, but at that time he and his henchmen were the only devils. Today women are falling prey to everyone.

Especially to those who have guns. Even US soldiers have had sex with detained Iraqi women at Abu Gharib. Islamists have raped Iraqi Christian women in retalialation.

Any women accused of adultery or of sex before marriage are killed or burned by the family itself to protect its “honour”. Or they fall to the whims of local sheikhs who dispense arbitrary justice. This happens especially in the Kurdish areas. The Iraqi judicial courts do not come into the picture at all.

Not that the Iraqi laws are any better. The Iraqi penal code prescribes leniency for those who commit such crimes for “honourable motives”, enabling some of the men involved to get off with no more than a fine.

The future is likely to get worse. Women members of Iraqi parliament are strongly opposing article 41 of the draft constitution, which would give greater say in family matters [matters related to women] to different communities and sects. In other words strict stifling Sharia is in the offing.

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has hardly emerged as the champion of women. He sided with the three policemen recently who had been accused of raping a Sunni woman and honoured them instead.

Guardian
Image credits 1 2 3 4 5 6

India is seeing the ill effects of the ever-increasing oil prices. Recently the government had to marginally increase the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas as the oil companies were finding the strain of absorbing the oil price rise too much to bear. The price hike was in second thoughts a bad move. The rate of inflation which was hovering around the 8% level, jumped to 11% plus within days.

The protests by the general public have been surprisingly lower than expected. This was perhaps because the government has been explaining well the reasons for the inevitability of the price hike. The middle class who has borne the brunt perhaps understand the situation (the prices of kerosene have been left untouched. The poor anyway get highly subsidized kerosene). But the country’s truckers have gone on strike, demanding that the diesel prices be rolled back. What they do not understand is that if their strike continues for more than two days, this will further increase prices of commodities (as there will be shortages).

Another thing they do not understand is that it is impossible for the government to roll back prices. The oil bill is already eating away 1.5% of India’s GDP. The government does not have unlimited resources. Continuing high level of subsidy would make it cash strapped for other very important social welfare purposes.

Many Asian nations besides India, like China and ASEAN countries too protect their citizens from the full impact of the oil price hike. But when recently the burden got too unbearable they too have cut oil subsidies to a certain extent.

All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the truckers’ body leading the strike, should be smart enough to understand three things. Otherwise they will end up looking like fools.

Firstly, the recent fuel price hike has to be accepted. The government is no position to roll them back.

Secondly, as said before if the strike continues for too long, it will trigger a further hike in prices of all commodities (including food item). The truckers will then face the fury of the public already battling high prices in their daily life.

Thirdly, though the government will not roll back fuel prices, it will not dare to raise them in the near future as it jacks up inflation in leaps and bounds.

In conclusion one may say the truckers have gone on strike without thinking out things. If the government is smart enough to get the message across to the masses that the strike is adding to inflation, the truckers will not know what hit them.

Source: Biopact

Image

Novelist McEvan has said that he hates militant Islam. He has also defended his friend Martin Amis who has also expressed his dislike for Islam. McEvan says anyone who says something against militant Islam is branded a racist. This is true. Governments the world over have become extra-sensitive in dealing with their Muslim populace. They want to avoid anything that hurts their sentiments. This is because Osama bin Laden’s brand of Islam has many takers.

Let us discuss what McEvan and Amis say about Islam. We deal with Amis first. He says the militants have won the war of dominance and the moderates amongst Muslims have lost. Though there are many takers for the militant brand of Islam, it would be too early to say that the moderates have lost. Though ‘Ladenism’ has appealed to many, most Muslims the world over subscribe to moderate Islam. It is only that the hardliners grab more headlines.

Amis said Muslims would suffer till they bring their house into order. This is true. Muslims the world over are looked upon with suspicion. The relations of Muslims with their neighbours of other religions have been gradually spoiled. But when Amis says things like, ’strip-searching people who look like they’re from the Middle East or from Pakistan’, it is going too far. This will only swell the ranks of Laden’s followers.

McEvan says he detests Islam because of the way women are not given freedom and its non-acceptance of homosexuality. McEvan should look at Turkey and Jordan. Both have Muslim populations but the status of women there is good. Iraqi women too enjoyed a free life till Saddma Hussain was deposed. As far as homosexuality is concerned, it is only recently gay marriages were legalized in ultra liberal California. Homosexuality remains taboo even today in most countries of the world.

Though McEvan has full rights to say he hates militant Islam, he offers no solutions. His friend Amis provides extreme measures that will prove counter-productive. It must be kept in mind that Ladenism is a freak strand of Islam, subscribed to by a minuscule minority of Muslims. Muslims are citizens of the world too and followers of other religions should show understanding. Just criticizing the weaknesses of Islam as followed by some will only alienate the entire community. Gandhi’s teachings are very relevant today. His principles of tolerance hold the key to today’s incipient clash between religions.

Source: Telegraph

Image

I remember a cartoon in the Times of India showing a fat American couple strolling in a dirty Delhi street with beggars eating from the garbage dump. The husband says something like “no wonder there is food shortage back home, these guys are eating a lot now.”

We Indians have always been very sensitive. Anyone says the least derogatory thing (real or imagined) about us and we are on our feet and protesting! I think it is because of an inferiority complex that runs in our blood since the British came to rule over us.

Anyway, no one bothered to check what Bush had said and in what context. One can hardly expect a mature response from complexed minds

The way it was reported in the western media raises our suspicions too. Bush’s statement was not clearly carried in most US newspapers. Is it that some media houses in the US feel that the country has had enough of Republican rule and it was time for Obama or Clinton? The deliberate bias against Bush in the media is perhaps to taint McCain image somehow. The idea is to show Bush as an idiot and as someone who is against India and China; the communities of these two countries amongst US voters is not unsubstantial.

source
Image credit

Incredible but true! Paris Hilton is getting fat! The most remarkable changes are in the thighs; they have grown fuller. Her mates say that she has moved to Diet Coke from Zero Coke and is eating more breakfast. Is she growing fat because she is eating more or is it something else? There has been a lot of talk about babies from Benji Madden. Your guess is good as mine. As for the maternity suit Paris is wearing in the pics, one cannot really go by that. She has very teasing nature. She loves to play pranks.

Source

The children in Kenya are suffering. They are being abused by both the government and the militia of the Sabaot Land Defense Force. And these children are totally innocent. It is their bad luck that they have been caught up in the war between the militia and the army. The militia of Sabaot is fighting for a good cause. Poor farmers who had been tilling the land in the area for a long time were denied the land after the government came up with a land scheme. The land they lost was grabbed by the rich and powerful big farmers.

Though the cause of the Sabaot militia might be just, their means are barbaric. Kenyan children are bearing the brunt of the militia fury. They are being forcibly conscripted at gunpoint, with threats of otherwise killing their near and dear ones.

The attitude of the government is hardly better. The army went into the Sabaot region and promptly rounded up children there, merely on suspicion of them being involved with the rebels. The army does not bother to understand that even kids who are with the militia are there under duress. The kids have received inhuman treatment at the hands of the army.

All this points at the failure of the Kenyan leadership. A strong government in Nairobi would not have allowed the army to go berserk in Sabaot. The issue of the country’s leadership itself is highly unstable today, after the Kikuyu-Lou conflict during the presidential polls. If there is chaos at the centre, one can hardly expect rule of law in the provinces.

Whatever be the political situation in Kenya, innocent children are paying the price for the anarchy.

Source: MSNBC

Image