Potpourri

Kathmandu tops the 20 Most Earthquake-Vulnerable Cities

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:12:15 +0545

Kathmandu tops the 20 Most Earthquake-Vulnerable Cities:

GeoHazards International predicted a 6.0 earthquake would kill approximately 69,000 people in this growing city of about 1 million, the most densely populated district of Nepal.

What keeps happening often. (via @jwalanta)

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:28:13 +0545

What keeps happening often. (via @jwalanta)

"I’m sorry, but if you use Facebook, you have no expectation of privacy. Anything and..."

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:29:54 +0545

“I’m sorry, but if you use Facebook, you have no expectation of privacy. Anything and everything you put into Facebook should be considered public knowledge. This is why I do not use Facebook.”

- A comment on Slashdot

"I have served my country for almost seven years in some of the most isolated and dangerous parts of..."

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:12:00 +0545

“I have served my country for almost seven years in some of the most isolated and dangerous parts of the world. I want to continue to serve Nepal. However, I do not believe in the policies of this Administration and cannot —- morally and professionally —- defend or implement them. It is with heavy heart that I must end my service to Nepal and therefore resign…”

- read on the Facebook status of a friend who has been serving in the Nepali Army for more than half a decade now.

A concept-map exploring the Left vs Right political spectrum. Of...

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:35:39 +0545

A concept-map exploring the Left vs Right political spectrum.

Of course, the political spectrum is not quite so polarised. Actually, it’s more of a diamond shape, apparently. But this is how it’s mostly presented via the media – left wing vs. right wing, liberal vs. conservative, Labour vs Tory. And perhaps in our minds too…

Similar concept-maps for the US.

Difference between actual hazards and public outrage.

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:30:11 +0545

Difference between actual hazards and public outrage.

Hotspots for unrest in 2010. Nepal has ‘high’ risks...

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:43:19 +0545

Hotspots for unrest in 2010.

Nepal has ‘high’ risks of unrest

An estimated 60m people worldwide will lose their jobs. Poverty rates will continue to rise, with 200m people at risk of joining the ranks of those living on less than $2 a day. But poverty alone does not spark unrest—exaggerated income inequalities, poor governance, lack of social provision and ethnic tensions are all elements of the brew that foments unrest.

Global computer ownership in 2010. China increases its...

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:38:35 +0545

Global computer ownership in 2010. China increases its information technology (IT) spending next year by 13.3% to $80.2 billion.

RIP Paul Samuelson

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:20:06 +0545

RIP Paul Samuelson:

I enjoyed reading the book by Nobel Prize Winner Paul Samuelson during my undergraduate Economics course. I also enjoyed his regular columns in The NewsWeek.

Maoist induced economic crisis in Nepal

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:55:18 +0545

Maoist induced economic crisis in Nepal:

Rather than blaming India for increasing trade deficit, Prachanda needs to do some soul-searching to realize to what extent his party has contributed to the demise of the manufacturing sector, export-oriented production, and export potentials,

Give scientists more incentives to make your country innovative

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:28:12 +0545

Give scientists more incentives to make your country innovative

Finally, Nepal becomes the next gay-tourist destination!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:24:45 +0545

freddiebenjamin:

From the New York Times

31. Nepal
San Francisco, Amsterdam and Provincetown? Been there. Mykonos and Ibiza? Done that. Looking for the next gay destination? How about the Himalayan country of Nepal? Yes, Nepal.

In the roughly two years since the nation’s supreme court ordered that gay, lesbians and transgendered people be afforded equal rights, this conservative, mostly-Hindu country appears to be moving ahead full throttle.

Gay friendly clubs now dot its capital. (Go to www.utopia-asia.com for listings.) A “third gender” category is an option on national I.D. cards. Recently, a transgender beauty queen even got a photo op with the prime minister. And now there’s a tourist agency in Katmandu that is promoting gay tourism to Nepal.

Started by Sunil Babu Pant, an openly-gay legislator, Pink Mountain Travels and Tours (www.pinkyatra.com) promises to marry adventure travel with gay weddings. With talk that Nepal may legalize same-sex marriage this year as the country hammers out a new constitution (and, perhaps more importantly, deals with recent bouts of civil unrest), Mr. Pant is offering to hold nuptials at the Mount Everest base camp, jungle safari honeymoons and bridal processions on elephant back. — Aric Chen

When i find my code in tons of trouble, friends and colleagues...

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:43:59 +0545

When i find my code in tons of trouble, friends and colleagues come to me, speaking words of wisdom, Write in C.

Write in C (cover of Beatles’ Let it Be)

freddiebenjamin: He is in 10th grade, he likes his teachers, he...

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:11:29 +0545

freddiebenjamin:

He is in 10th grade, he likes his teachers, he wants to be a PHP developer and overtake a big company. For now you can hire him for $5 an hour.

This is probably the cutest, most sincere and the most useful ‘About Me’ page ever written in the history of all ‘About Me’ pages.

Source: http://www.kapeel.info/about-2