Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

No proposal about the way to Brexit seems to get majority support in British Parliament! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2pdH9FnGrs , 11 min. 9 secs, published by CNN on 27th March 2019 --- The indicative vote topics and vote counts are given here (you have to click on 'Results of indicative votes ballot, in order' link in it): https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/mar/27/brexit-latest-news-live-debate-indicative-votes--to-vote-on-alternative-votes-as-speculation-mounts-may-could-announce-plans-to-quit-live-news . Note that the No Deal vote got only 160 votes FOR and 400 votes AGAINST and so was defeated by a ***big*** margin of 240 votes in a total of 560 votes. So British Parliament wants a Deal but they can't get a majority of members behind any Deal proposed so far! --- In response to a comment on my associated FB post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2448920988657797 , I wrote (slightly edited): It is a tough situation for the elect...

Mongolia: A toxic warning to the world - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFAJivap1w , 8 min 13 secs, published on 24th March 2019. Alarmist? Perhaps but perhaps not. I think human society's ways have become a danger for humanity itself! Uncontrolled and rather chaotic urbanization is quite the reality in India with a lot of rural migration to urban areas. People don't like to read such news. They may prefer to limit themselves to happy news. But isn't that a form of escapism? Will reading only nice and goodie-goodie news automatically make all the big problems of the world like environmental negative impact due to chaotic urbanization and fossil fuel usage, just disappear like some miracle? I doubt it. We have to face these major problems that are a direct challenge to human civilization in this early 21st century and work towards solving them. Media channels like the BBC are doing a wonderful service to humanity by highlighting these dangers. I am gratefu...

Last updated on 26th March 2019 I am turning to the history of the US presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in a book I am reading, to get some hope for the future given the frightening challenges faced by the world today (environmental damage, climate change, growing intolerance and increasing tribalism including religious tribalism (includes anti-immigrant and anti-particular-religion sentiments), terror attacks and the threat of war (e.g. Indo-Pak tension), human greed that is concerned much more about the individual than the community etc.). I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a video on FDR on youtube, which has actual video clips of FDR presidency! I have started watching it and it captures very well the huge challenges FDR faced when he became president in 1933. USA was in the grips of the Great Depression (25% unemployment). People were losing faith in the banking system. In his first days as president, FDR had to tackle this banking system crisis! And the video...

From my FB post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2444910005725562 Seems like a Malaysian band superbly rendering the Hindi film oldie goldie Yeh Sama, Sama Hai Ye Pyar Ka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaiii4EsmgI , around 7 mins, published May 2016. This is played on the street of some city. May be Kuala Lumpur but I don't know for sure. I enjoyed the rendition. The lady singer's articulation of the Hindi song was really great! Congratulations to her! The song is from the 1965 movie: Jab Jab Phool Khile. Here's the original film video clip with the stars on screen being Nanda and Shashi Kapoor, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn9GDeIHioE , around 5 mins. And the singer is the great Lata Mangeshkar. ---- The singer is Nadia Fharshah, a Malaysian "Bollywood singer": https://www.facebook.com/nadiafarshah123/ ... Here she is singing another Hindi film oldie golide - Babuji Dheere Chalna, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECXW1UPSxqw , 3 mi...

Readers may want to see my recent post on another blog: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern emerges as global hero(ine) for religious pluralism, multi-racial society and peace,  https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/03/nz-pm-jacinda-arden-emerges-as-global.html .

A few days ago, I read a pessimistic article on difficulties faced by rural America which I felt would apply to rural India too, some of the issues being relevant to rural India now itself, and some probably in the future. I put up a post on it: NYT article by Paul Krugman: "Getting Real About Rural America" may apply to some extent to rural India too, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/03/nyt-article-by-paul-krugman-getting.html , 20th March 2019 Yesterday night, I read something that gave me hope for reducing the severe problems faced by rural America and rural India. I had started reading the book, FDR by Jean Edward Smith, published perhaps in 2007, https://www.amazon.in/FDR-Jean-Edward-Smith/dp/0812970497 (reprinted in 2008), which is a biography of former USA President Franklin D. Roosevelt (president from 1933 to 1945 when he died). In its preface, the author writes: When he (FDR) took office in 1933, one third of the nation (USA) was unemployed. Agriculture...

Last updated on 22nd March 2019 Note: This is a pessimistic post. Readers who read this post may also want to read this later post of mine which is optimistic: Unemployment & rural distress problems in many democratic countries may need optimistic & energetic leadership with good masses-connect & willingness to try innovative solutions, like US President FDR in 1930s, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/03/todays-unemployment-and-rural-distress.html , 21st March 2019 Getting Real About Rural America, Nobody knows how to reverse the heartland’s decline. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/opinion/rural-america-economic-decline.html , by Paul Krugman 18th March 2019 This article is a pessimistic one. But I think it is an important read for those who care about rural America, and also about rural India. I think some of what ails rural America already ails rural India and I expect more of such similarity of issues in rural America and rural India, in future. The ar...

Readers may want to see my recent post on another blog: Horrendous and barbaric attacks on two New Zealand mosques; Prayers and sympathies for victims and their families,  https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/03/horrendous-and-barbaric-attacks-on-two.html .

Note: This is NOT a political post in support of Senator Bernie Sanders. I have a PUBLICLY (POLITICALLY) NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about USA politics. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me having voted in USA elections. I am a well-wisher of the people of the USA. After I viewed this video, I simply could not skip sharing it with others as a piece of history. Phil Donahue openly shows his surprise at Bernard Sanders, who openly says he is a socialist, becoming mayor of Burlington, Vermont, USA in 1981 - winning by a slim margin of 10 votes from over 9000 votes cast, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_history_of_Bernie_Sanders#1981 . He puts in many tough questions to Sanders who answers them without trying to dodge them. Note that US President then was Ronald Reagan (Republican) who had defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter (Democrat) in the 1980 presidential elections. Donahue appears sh...

This is an orchestra rendition done perhaps in 2018. BTW Mastek Foundation, http://www.mastekfoundation.org.in/ , which has organized the function is a social service orgn. associated with Mastek, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastek , a software services company that I was associated with in the 90s. Sung by Sanjeevani Bhelande and Prashant Naseri,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbDQ0v2ir3o , 4 min. 4 secs. ---- The original film video clip, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL2YnJsE70w , around 5 mins (some adverts follow the song). The film stars in the song are Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore. The singers are Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. Nice remix version (Akriti Kakar & Arnab Chakraborty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS5UObEYPGE , around 4 mins with some ads at the end. A remix version with a Indian yuppie video story (Akriti Kakar): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXDm0Y8JjM4 , 4 mins. Superb orchestra rendition with Anuradha Paudwal singing t...

Padma Bhushan award being announced and given to John Chambers,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_T._Chambers , by President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovind on 11th March 2019, in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and senior union cabinet ministers of India, can be seen from around 2 min to around 2 min 40 secs in the video: Padma Awards presentation ceremony, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84B4iWXmeuY , around 31 mins, published by Rajya Sabha TV. Given below are some screenshots from the above video: [To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] Above pic shows John Chambers doing Namaskar (folded palms salutation) to President Kovind before moving forward to accept the award Above two pics show John Chambers accepting the Padma Bhushan award from President Kovind Above pic shows Prime Minister Modi and other union minis...

This Kishore Kumar song was still very popular in my young adult days of the 80s. I don't think I had seen the video clip of the song in the film earlier. Thanks to youtube and its content creators. Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi (Original) - Mr. X In Bombay - Kishore Kumars Greatest Hits - Old Songs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIzCBU0_LyY , 4 min. 32 secs ---- Nice rendition by a young girl, (Neha Naaz) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXnBEe9aelA , 3 min. 48 secs. Interesting remix version (audio with still video): (DJ LAXMAN SINGH RAWAT) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdtAaWpUcrE , 2 min. 56 secs. Reasonable rendition - video shows a romantic break up and sadness, video quality is somewhat poor: (Zafar Iqbal Zafri) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rqk6hqTWg8 , 4 min. 3 secs Awesome one-handed keyboard rendition, (Kuddus Noorani) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYn8WlYLNAs , 3 min. 39 secs. Song starts after 1 min into the video, (Anand Vinod) https://www.youtube....

When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer). https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2451546711728558 Nigel Farage gives the Hard Brexiteers view in the EU (Farage speaks from around 6 mins in the video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjbM4NmjLcA , around 10 mins, published 31st Mar. 2019 =================================================================== https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2450235718526324 Not ordinary college dropouts who found academics to be too difficult ... just guys who felt they knew enough to contribute to humanity via industry and so could drop out of academics. [Shared FB post has pics of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg with some captions: https://www.facebook.com/baggoutcom/photos/a.374021156053591/2033836363405387/?type=3&theater ] In response to a comment, I (Ravi) wrote: I think that both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have contributed to humanity via the software wor...

Readers may want to read my recent post on another blog: Bismillah Sai Ram Tiffin Centre - where Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are treated with equal respect and reverence, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/03/bismillah-sai-ram-tiffin-centre-where.html .

Last updated on 9th Mar 2019 I agree with the NYT Editorial Board that there is a danger of nuclear war between India and Pakistan in future possible escalations. Note that the recent flare-up seems to have de-escalated significantly now, even though there still is tension on the Indo-Pak border. The Editorial Board is biased towards the USA, which is natural. It makes no mention of Indian Air Force claim of having downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter plane in the dogfight between Indian and Pakistani air forces. It does mention, of course, the Indian Air Force plane being downed and its pilot being captured and then released by Pakistan. Overall, I think the NYT Editorial Board article on this matter is a weighty one. I recommend it strongly for readers interested in this matter. This Is Where a Nuclear Exchange Is Most Likely. (It’s Not North Korea.), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/opinion/kashmir-india-pakistan-nuclear.html by the New York Times Editorial Board dated 7th M...

Iran threatens action against Pakistan-based terrorist groups, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/iran-threatens-action-against-pakistan-based-terrorist-groups/articleshow/68248206.cms , 4th March 2019 I think this article has some significant remarks from Iranian military leaders about Pakistan being a hub for terror. A powerful General of the Iranian military is quoted as saying: I have this question for the Pakistani government: where are you heading to? You have caused unrest along borders with all your neighbours and do you have any other neighbour left that you want to stir insecurity for. ... Are you, who have atomic bombs, unable to destroy a terrorist group with several hundred members in the region? --- end quotes --- The background to this is that Iran claims that suicide bomber(s) from Pakistan have been behind some terror attack(s) in Iran. The article also states that Iran and India have increased counter-terrorism cooperation. Pakistan s...

Only share: Could a MiG-21 fighter jet shoot down an F-16? - Doubts Cleared, http://defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=583387 ---- Ravi: Fascinating! Wing Commander Abhinandan has emerged as a great hero. The reports are that he piloting an upgraded MIG-21 called MIG-21 Bison took on an invading Pakistani F-16 and downed it. In the process his plane was also downed. But still he took down an F-16 with a MIG-21 (upgraded)! That's an awesome achievement! Note that this seems to be the first (fighter jet) dogfight that India has engaged in, after 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. So this is a (fighter jet) dogfight in India after a gap of 47 to 48 years! No wonder it has attracted so much attention. And then from what we know of his behaviour, first while under mob attack and then under captivity, he has been stoic, courageous and gentlemanly as well. He walked back from Pakistan to India with so much dignity! I think this episode has become a great thing already for Indians an...

After 1971 Bangladesh war this is the first fighter jet dogfight between India and Pakistan. That is a period of slightly over 47 years! Nearly half a century! I think fighter jets play a crucial role in both attack and defense capability. Therefore this incident is a very noteworthy incident now for India. A patrol plane of Pakistan seems to have been brought down by India in 1999 Kargil conflict. But it was a patrol plane and not an attacking fighter jet. For around half a century there was no battle in the air between India and Pakistan involving invading and defending fighter jets. Now that peace has been broken. It is worthwhile to dig a little deeper into the dogfight based on reports from Indian sources. The article: Why were Mig-21s used against Pak's F-16s and not Su-30 MKIs, http://defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=583346 , 28th Feb. 2019 provides the following information about the Indian and Pakistani fighter jet dogfight. MIG21 Bison (an upgraded version of MIG21...

Only share: 'None of Allah's 99 names means violence' Fight against terrorism is not confrontation against any religion: Sushma Swaraj, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fight-against-terrorism-is-not-confrontation-against-any-religion-sushma-swaraj/articleshow/68215927.cms ---- Only share: Sushma Swaraj's speech at OIC meet: Full text, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sushma-swaraj-at-oic-meet-full-text/articleshow/68216618.cms ---- Ravi: Just waiting to see IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan walk/be driven across Wagah border from Pakistan back to mother India. No Retreat ceremony at Attari today: BSF, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-retreat-ceremony-at-attari-today-bsf/articleshow/68217230.cms ---- Update: This was wrong news. Abhinandan crossed over to Indian soil only sometime after 9 PM today (1st Mar. 2019). News channels are saying that IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan is back on Indian soil. But we need to wait for a few m...

Given below is content from my FB posts of 28th Feb. 2019 mostly related to Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Pak's claim of not targeting Indian military installations false: Defence ministry, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/paks-claim-of-not-targeting-indian-military-installations-false-defence-ministry/articleshow/68199630.cms Ravi: Hmm. That's a very serious thing. Are we then staring at a real possibility of war??? ---- IAF’s oldest warhorse downs Pakistan's best, http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=583340 Ravi: I think this seems to be reliable info. from our (Indian) side. ---- Proud of Him, Pray He Isn’t Tortured: Captured IAF Pilot’s Father, https://www.thequint.com/news/india/iaf-pilot-abhinandan-varthaman-father-on-his-capture-by-pakistan Ravi: Prayers for IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan's well being and early release from Pakistani custody. Prayers for well being of his family. ---- Why were Mig-21s used agains...