If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or email alerts. Thanks for visiting!It seems political science research is quite contemporary. James Fowler tests the Colbert Bump hypothesis [PDF link] and comes up with the following conclusions: “Democratic candidates who appear on the Report receive a statistically significant “Colbert [...]
Posts in Current Affairs Category
April 6th, 2008
Colbert Bump Hypothesis Tested
Patrix | 
Asides, Current Affairs, Politicking | 
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April 3rd, 2008
B Raman’s Open Letter to Aamir Khan
I request those of you who have asked me to stay away from the Olympic Torch Relay to understand that when I do run with the torch on the 17th of April it is not in support of China. In fact it will be with a prayer in my heart for the people of Tibet, [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Politicking, Sports | 13 Comments »
March 31st, 2008
Standing up to China
Finally we have a celebrity in India who has the balls to stand up for what he believes in. Baichung Bhutia, India’s ace footballer refused to carry the Olympic torch when it reaches New Delhi on April 17 [source: ToI]:
Talking to TOI , Bhutia, a Buddhist, said, ‘‘I sympathize with the [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, India, Sports | 11 Comments »
February 29th, 2008
‘Border’ battle never happened?
Major General Atma Singh, now retired who won the Vir Chakra for gallantry for his role in the Laungewala battle fought in 1971 now claims that no ground battle was ever fought there and the army merely rehearsed it on a sand model after the ceasefire to cover up the incompetence of military commanders [source]. [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, India | 2 Comments »
February 27th, 2008
Experience vs. Change
Even if you have been casually channel surfing over the past few months, I’m sure you have heard these slogans over and over again - “I’ll be ready on day one; experience matters” or the more catchy - “Change you can believe in; yes we can”. Clinton and Obama have been at loggerheads for over [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Politicking, United States | 16 Comments »
February 22nd, 2008
Holes in McCain’s Denials
Although the NY Times expose on John McCain is largely being seen as a ’smear campaign by the liberal media’, Newsweek has discovered a possible anomoly in McCain emphatic denial. I’m not interested in his romantic fling with Vicki Iseman but looking into ties to and influence of lobbyists is not a smear campaign.
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs, Politicking, United States | Comments Off
February 18th, 2008
Viewing Lunar Eclipse
If you are located in North or South America, Western Europe, or Africa do not miss the full lunar eclipse this Wednesday night i.e February 20th, 2008. As long as the weather cooperates, the eclipse will occur at a perfect time for viewing in most of the United States. The partial eclipse will begin at [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Science | 10 Comments »
February 13th, 2008
Excuses for Defeat
Caucus states, the former first lady says, are undemocratic and cater only to party activists. Southern states, like Louisiana, have “a very strong and very proud African-American electorate,” naturally predisposed to favor a black candidate.And so-called “red” states like North Dakota, Idaho and Kansas — all of which Obama won on Super Tuesday — will [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Politicking, United States | Comments Off
February 5th, 2008
Twitterific Primaries
Keep a tab on the pulse of today’s Super Tuesday Primaries with Google Maps and Twitter. Nice.
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs, United States | Comments Off
January 15th, 2008
Chapatis for Peace
We bought wheat flour (atta) for nearly twice its regular price yesterday. I wondered why the sudden shortage in supply (remember the dal crisis a few months back?). The shopkeeper had no clue. Then I read Nitin’s post on the wheat flour crisis in Pakistan. I hadn’t heard of a similar crisis in India so [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Food Drink, United States | 10 Comments »
December 6th, 2007
Infusing Religion into Politics - The Romney Way
[via Jessica Hagy] No wonder I find Republican debates amusing. Also, by the way that Mormon who desperately wants to prove that he is Christian enough just as Obama had to prove he is black enough was in College Station today (nope, I couldn’t heckle him; it was an invite-only event). Mitt Romney tried to [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Religion, United States | Comments Off
December 4th, 2007
No Nuclear Weapons in Iran…yet
The biggest story yesterday should have been that Iran shelved nuclear arms work way back in 2003 but instead we had Chris Matthews discussing ‘Power Rankings’ i.e. who is more friendlier, Obama or Hillary. Using Bush’s words, we may have effectively seen the end of World War III rhetoric even before it started. But of [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Politicking, United States | 7 Comments »
November 29th, 2007
The Mohammad Teddy Bear
Islam has been offended again. This time, a teddy bear is involved. If you wonder how a simple innocent cuddly teddy bear can offend one of the great religions of the world, just name it after the Prophet who claimed to have talked to God. It is now no longer acceptable to draw or name [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Religion | 6 Comments »
November 18th, 2007
Definitely more than a trillion
A well-reasoned and insightful article on the cost of the war in Iraq by Tyler Cowen. He rightly points out the many hidden costs that economists often refer to as opportunity costs. Theses are usually overlooked by the layperson.
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs, United States | Comments Off
November 14th, 2007
Illegal immigrants are terrorists?
Gov.Spitzer of New York finally succumbed to pressure from anti-immigration groups and abandoned his plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. While not commenting on his decision to issue a legal document to individuals residing illegally in this country, his intentions to bring them out of the shadows cannot be faulted.
However, the argument offered [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Governance, Politicking, United States | 12 Comments »
November 12th, 2007
Failed Governance in Nandigram
I am surprised at the collapse of governance in Nandigram and may I remind you, this is happening in a seemingly-democratic India that adheres to its constitution. And yet not much outrage expressed anywhere else in the country. Where are the 24-hour news channels when you need them to do their job?
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs, Food Drink, India | 1 Comment »
November 12th, 2007
Why Americans are anti-antiwar
Jonah Goldberg has a path-breaking theory on why American are in fact not anti-war as many of the polls seem to show us. To be fair, it was a concept first floated around by that conservative big-daddy, Instapundit. The A-est of A-list blogger in fact is a libertarian in disguise but none of his minions [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Movies, United States | 2 Comments »
November 8th, 2007
Political Endorsements with a Dash of Hypocrisy
When I got into my blogging groove in 2004, the U.S. Presidential Election campaigns were at full blast and although most of my readers back then were desi, they liked reading my take on this ‘foreign’ election. Add to that the Dubya factor and the potential for gaffes, blogging material was never a problem. Jon [...]
Patrix | Current Affairs, Politicking, United States | 6 Comments »
November 8th, 2007
Yahoo & Microsoft remove Iran email
The anti-Iran sanctions are moving online. Yahoo and Microsoft remove Iran from their webmail services country list. I’m not sure that’s the way to win over Iranian hearts and minds.
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs | 3 Comments »
November 7th, 2007
All-time High Oil Prices
Oil prices hit $97 (per barrel). I’m glad to be spending at least a month of this winter in India with our heat turned off.
Patrix | Asides, Current Affairs | Comments Off
Movies I've Watched...
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2008-09-02 21:00
Explores the brother-sister relationship brought together during their father's last days.
0.3 -
2008-09-01 21:00
Poignant but slow narrative of an orphaned girl living with her aunt in rural Maharashtra.
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2008-08-09 23:00
Stunning and engaging narration. Raw violence and personal struggles of ordinary guys in a tough neighborhood.
0.3 -
2008-08-05 20:00
Underwhelming. Johansson is miscast but continues her run of being the 'other woman'.
0.3
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