Counterfeit currency

There are reports that a large volume of counterfeit currency is in circulation. Apparantly the government is worried. I wonder why. Nobel prize-winning economists tell us that a recessionary economy needs “stimulus”. Counterfeit currency is “stimulus” too. Shouldn’t we be applauding the counterfeiters for creating additional “demand” and thus helping the “economy as a whole”?

The climate is changing

The climate is changing (via The New Clarion). And the change is certainly induced by humans. (I couldn’t resist the pun but it is not funny at all)
A couple of weeks ago I talked to the director of marketing for a leading private aviation company, which offers fractional jet ownership, pre-paid membership packages of private jet [...]

Contradictory ideas

I recently had a couple of meetings with a senior banker. In the first meeting, during some light talk, he mentioned his support for a signature campaign for the stricter implementation of the PCPNDT act (which bans sex determination tests). In the second meeting, he mentioned how certain regulations recently imposed by the Reserve Bank of India [...]

Sexual Anarchy!

I have been writing about anarchy in my last two posts and debating it. Meanwhile other people are worried about anarchy too. Sexual anarchy! Apparantly Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (some Islamic organization) is worried that “the repeal of the section [section 377 of the Indian constitution which criminalizes homosexuality] would create ’sexual anarchy’ in the society”. (via The Rational [...]

20,000 civilians killed in Sri Lanka?

Recently, there have been reports about the killing of large number of civilians in the recently concluded military operations in Sri Lanka. Now, I have never followed Sri Lankan politics in any detail. So I cannot comment on which side (if any) is in the right. But that is not the purpose of the post. I am [...]

Where is the U.S. heading?

This post (via Gus Van Horn) shows how the government operates in the U.S. these days. There doesn’t seem to be much difference between it and a criminal gang. Except that unlike a criminal gang, it has the entire coercive apparatus of the state behind it. Scary.

Is TARP criminal?

Donald Luskin asks “Is TARP a criminal enterprise?” and goes on to describe a number of dubious details such as:
…it was disclosed that “nearly 20 preliminary and full criminal investigations” are underway, including “large corporate and securities fraud matters affecting TARP investments, tax matters, insider trading, public corruption, and mortgage-modification fraud.”
…Perhaps this refers to the [...]

More on propaganda

Via this piece at True Sailing Is Dead, I came across this post:
 The curious case of 200 nearly identical MSM headlines
The following headlines have appeared in newspapers within the last 24 hours. This is not an inclusive list.
• Third of Illinoisans went without health insurance in last 2 years: Sun-Times
• Report: 2.5M in Michigan lacked health [...]

Abu Azmi’s brother hands out cash?

The Times of India reports
Mumbai: It was meant to be a grand procession, planned by Samajwadi Party candidate Abu Asim Azmi from the Bandra-Kherwadi signal to the collector’s office where he was to file his nomination papers for the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency on Monday. But it turned out to be a damp squib [...]

Advertising, coaching classes and education

In the same edition of the The Times of India that carried the news report on Hafiz Contractor, there was a report on a more interesting case. Titled “Coaching class ad leaves IIT dean red-faced”, the report states:
A newspaper advertisement for an IIT entrance coaching class had the campus in a flutter recently. Reason: The [...]