the wonderful world of the internet

One of the things i like the most about the internet is how, when looking for a particular bit of information, you can sometimes come across some completely unrelated, and unusual information. Like this time.

I was googling the web for images of the great composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, specifically using their useful Image search feature, when I came across a page that explained the various easter traditions of central Europe, including countries such as Poland, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and others. Here is the interesting tidbit I found (and I Quote)-

"One prime example of a pagan Czech Easter celebration is the "pomlazka". Farmers used to believe that a strong whipping after the winter period guaranteed health, prosperity, and most importantly a good harvest. This tradition remains to this day, although slightly modified. It is only the women who are given a good spanking with whips made of willow twigs, decorated with colourful ribbons (as if a little bit of decoration would help to ease the pain!). It is mainly younger boys who go from door to door, hoping to thrash a few girls to get some eggs in return, while singing traditional Easter carols.
The whipping or "pomlazka" is to get rid of all the bad things that had accumulated during the winter and bring the vitality back in the ladies, as well as ensure beauty and, of course, fertility."

Nothing like a good whipping to get the ol' Ovaries going.

the article goes on to quote a woman who reminisces about her ceremonial whippings as a child, and explains how it has now become a sort of game between younger children. That still does not justify what is essentially violence against women, disguised as an innocuous game between children.

i'm sure there are parallels in Indian culture as well, but my question is, how far can you go, when you are trying to balance ancient traditions and modern civility? where is the fine line between the game and the abuse? It can be assumed that the Czech explain to their young the sigificance of this ritual, and educate them about what constitutes fun and what becomes fear. Somehow, I cannot bring myself to expect the same from my own countrymen.

maybe that could fit in here....

So, as the date for my departure draws closer, I have officially commenced my shopping spree. This free run of the malls and online stores is however, only for the stuff my friends have asked for. My own personal shopping has been going on for quite a while at a more slow, sustained rate.


This is what my suitcase looked like about 10 days back, and now even the little space at the top left is occupied by something or the other. I think one bag will have to be delegated entirely to the merchandise i'm bringing over, and one bag will carry all my clothes and books. let us see how the packing works out.

smooch smooch slobber slobber

...is probably NOT what Richard Gere had in mind, when he swept off Shilpa Shetty off her feet.

I can't believe what this country is coming to. Here, we have things going on like the persistant demand for Kashmir's demiltarisation, Reservations, A questionable Nuclear agreement, and who knows what else I have failed to mention here, but our peerless media decides to give publicity to the scourges known as the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and their ilk. what's more, this unnecessary coverage is making me write this totally unnecessary article, adding to the bulk of bad writings available on the internet.
It's funny how Richard Gere is in the news so suddenly, as just the other day, I was showing some of my pictures from the McLoedganj-Dharamsala trip I undertook last year. A boss of mine, who can be described as a wannabe buddhist, became quite excited when I mentioned that McLo is one of Mr. Gere's haunts.

In keeping with the 'news segment' feel of this post, A South korean-origin gunman, possibly a jilted lover, slaughtered 32 people, including students, an Indian professor, and many more innocents, yesterday morning at Virginia Tech. Mothers all over the country could be seen at every school bus stop, escorting their kids into the bus,such has been the impact of this shooting.

IMHO-this is what you get when you don't require a licence for obtaining and possessing a lethal weapon. What is more disturbing is how, today, all over the radio, pro-gun spokespersons were dismissing the event, suggesting that a killer as determined as the individual responsible for this attack, would "find other means to do what he did", if guns were not available.

What a stupid comment. the guy was carrying 2 guns, one of which was a Glock 9mm pistol. It carries 15 rounds of ammo in a standard clip, plus one in the chamber. This very sophisticated, jam-proof gun was designed for military and paramilitary applications, not civil markets. Moreover, 9 mm is about as big as you can go in handgun sizes. This is a serious weapon, designed to kill enemy combatants at close range, not disable like the comparatively itsy-bitsy 5.65 mm. The Glock 17/18 model can be modified to become a fully automatic burst-firing pistol. Although I am not sure that this was the model the gunman was carrying, Glocks are basically modular, meaning a civil-sales pistol could be made into a melee weapon, despite the difficulties of doing so.

Why would you allow just about anyone to privately own such a weapon?