Schindler's List is a 1993 American drama film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Polish Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. This guy was a womaniser, lover of good wines and a Nazi party worker. He initially employed Jews as workers in his twin factories as they were the cheapest ones to hire in Nazi germany........and somewhere along the line, I guess the brutality of it all made him turn into one of the bravest men in the world in those times. Twice he was jailed, but having been quite a charmer in the higher social circles of Germany, his friends in high places helped him get out. By the time the war ended, he was penniless, having lost all his money bribing the Nazis and German officials to keep them away from his Jew workers. Liam Neeson gives the performance of his lifetime, and Ben Kingseley is great as usual.
And to think that we have the resident joker in Mumbai who loves to say that Hitler is his idol.People of Mumbai, he gives a bad name to all of you.........
How is it possible that six million Jews were killed in those six years and entire Germany stood by and watched? Well, not just watched, but helped Hitler and his goons to do that..........
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Air Farce
1.. In 1982, the Indian Air Force identified the need for advanced jet trainers for its pilots.
2.It then took the air force five years to spell out its requirements to the ministry. In 1987, the IAF told the government that it needed 66 advanced jet trainers
3.However, it was not until 2004 -- a full 22 years after the need was felt -- that the government signed a contract with BAE Systems
4.Here's the CHARMING part: The government signed a contract for 66 trainer aircraft, 24 of which were to be supplied in the fly-away condition and the rest license-manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.Sixty-six is the number of trainers that the air force wanted in 1987. And 66 is the number of trainers that the government orders in 2004. No study was conducted to figure out the increase in the IAF's requirements in the 17-odd years that took for the government to act on it.
5.In the CAG's words: 'It took 22 years to finalise contracts towards fulfilling the felt need for inducting an aircraft to meet essential training requirements of the IAF pilots. The supply and production of the aircraft was based on air staff requirements that were not reviewed since their issue in 1987. The restriction in utilisation of aircraft would compromise operational and training requirements.'
6.There is more: 'Because of software and integration problems, the IAF cannot utilise 40 per cent of the flying time. Due to pending integration of electronic weapons suite, the aircraft could not be used for tactical weapon training, limiting the operational use of the aircraft.'
2.It then took the air force five years to spell out its requirements to the ministry. In 1987, the IAF told the government that it needed 66 advanced jet trainers
3.However, it was not until 2004 -- a full 22 years after the need was felt -- that the government signed a contract with BAE Systems
4.Here's the CHARMING part: The government signed a contract for 66 trainer aircraft, 24 of which were to be supplied in the fly-away condition and the rest license-manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.Sixty-six is the number of trainers that the air force wanted in 1987. And 66 is the number of trainers that the government orders in 2004. No study was conducted to figure out the increase in the IAF's requirements in the 17-odd years that took for the government to act on it.
5.In the CAG's words: 'It took 22 years to finalise contracts towards fulfilling the felt need for inducting an aircraft to meet essential training requirements of the IAF pilots. The supply and production of the aircraft was based on air staff requirements that were not reviewed since their issue in 1987. The restriction in utilisation of aircraft would compromise operational and training requirements.'
6.There is more: 'Because of software and integration problems, the IAF cannot utilise 40 per cent of the flying time. Due to pending integration of electronic weapons suite, the aircraft could not be used for tactical weapon training, limiting the operational use of the aircraft.'
corrupt? who me?
Few days back was listening to my friends talk about how Bollywood has moved away from shwing the angry young man-hero.....because (I am holding my breath here again)- corruption in India has gone down from what it was........really ...??
In Kolkata, to retrive my suitcase filled with my medical books from Customs, I spent 5-6 hours with no avail. And then, I bribed a person sitting in the office of the Superintendent (where I had gone to lodge a complaint), and job gets done in an hour.
I dont know for sure how much corruption has gone down, but I know that it is an acceptable part of life now.Middle class has money, so money isnot a huge problem, unless I guess the bribe asked for is huge. Last time when I went to Silchar, my Medical College boys who had failed the PG entrance test were quite nervous as to how much of the money they had paid as bribe (before taking the exam) would be refunded.......well yes, everyone had paid there....It was I am told, to ensure that if you did a good exam, your scores are not tampered with.
Please read this carefully- it concerns all of us.
The CAG report talks about the 'inadequate assessment and management of risks associated with the acquisition of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.'
In simpler terms, the report damns the defence ministry for allowing the cost of acquisition to double in four years to Rs 7,207 crore ($1.82 billion)*.The report says that the delay will also, in effect, mean that the Indian Navy will get a second-hand ship with a limited life span. And to top it, the navy is acquiring a second-hand refitted aircraft carrier that had half the life span of and was 60 per cent more expensive than a new one.
What is even more glaring is that India is now under immense pressure from Moscow to increase the price by Rs 9,700 cr ($2 billion)* more than the initial price of Rs 3,856 cr ($974 million)*.
And all this after two naval delegations visited the Sevmash shipyard in 1995 and 1998 and reported that the 'carrier's condition was deteriorating.'
Further, the CAG report says the following: Out of the total 2,500 compartments spread over nine decks on the ship, 1,650 would either be newly created or extensively modified. Thus, almost two third of the ship would be renovated.
In conclusion, the report says: 'The objective of induction of the ship as an aircraft carrier in time to bridge the gap in the Navy's capabilities has been defeated. In sum, the government has paid $407.05 million (August 2007) and is now faced with an additional demand for $1.2 billion (November 2007) for a second hand carrier whose delivery schedule is uncertain. The matter was referred to the Ministry in September 2008; their reply was awaited as of January 2009.'
In Kolkata, to retrive my suitcase filled with my medical books from Customs, I spent 5-6 hours with no avail. And then, I bribed a person sitting in the office of the Superintendent (where I had gone to lodge a complaint), and job gets done in an hour.
I dont know for sure how much corruption has gone down, but I know that it is an acceptable part of life now.Middle class has money, so money isnot a huge problem, unless I guess the bribe asked for is huge. Last time when I went to Silchar, my Medical College boys who had failed the PG entrance test were quite nervous as to how much of the money they had paid as bribe (before taking the exam) would be refunded.......well yes, everyone had paid there....It was I am told, to ensure that if you did a good exam, your scores are not tampered with.
Please read this carefully- it concerns all of us.
The CAG report talks about the 'inadequate assessment and management of risks associated with the acquisition of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.'
In simpler terms, the report damns the defence ministry for allowing the cost of acquisition to double in four years to Rs 7,207 crore ($1.82 billion)*.The report says that the delay will also, in effect, mean that the Indian Navy will get a second-hand ship with a limited life span. And to top it, the navy is acquiring a second-hand refitted aircraft carrier that had half the life span of and was 60 per cent more expensive than a new one.
What is even more glaring is that India is now under immense pressure from Moscow to increase the price by Rs 9,700 cr ($2 billion)* more than the initial price of Rs 3,856 cr ($974 million)*.
And all this after two naval delegations visited the Sevmash shipyard in 1995 and 1998 and reported that the 'carrier's condition was deteriorating.'
Further, the CAG report says the following: Out of the total 2,500 compartments spread over nine decks on the ship, 1,650 would either be newly created or extensively modified. Thus, almost two third of the ship would be renovated.
In conclusion, the report says: 'The objective of induction of the ship as an aircraft carrier in time to bridge the gap in the Navy's capabilities has been defeated. In sum, the government has paid $407.05 million (August 2007) and is now faced with an additional demand for $1.2 billion (November 2007) for a second hand carrier whose delivery schedule is uncertain. The matter was referred to the Ministry in September 2008; their reply was awaited as of January 2009.'
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