Been trying to stay off the Internet for awhile but got absorbed in sections of the Guardian this weekend, in particular this piece on a murder in Cambodia in the dying days of the Pol Pot era. It gave me the shivers at some points and brings out the lunacy and evil of governments based on ideology. Though by any standards, the Pol Pot regime seems unrivalled in its insanity and cruelty. Also pertinent points at the end on the need to still cling to the ideas that formed the beginnings of some of these regimes.
Showing posts with label Links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Links. Show all posts
11 January 2010
25 November 2009
TN Sleaze
There is clearly something in the water in Tamil Nadu. In the mid 80s it was a video of unsuspecting schoolgirls lured into compormising positions that was doing the rounds in Thanjavur District. And some salacious tale that has been duly filmed always seems to be around from my experience.
4 November 2009
Links for today
Regretsy kept me laughing all of today (most fun if you are familiar with that handmade emporium, etsy).
And as a lemonhead and chocophobe, this article hit all the right notes.
And as a lemonhead and chocophobe, this article hit all the right notes.
28 October 2009
Conceit
I read David Brooks' column at lunch time. And its true that 90% of the people you meet believe they are doing a great job - and the other person is rubbish.
16 February 2009
Diamond Fetishism
The Atlantic reproduced a 1982 article on the marketing of diamonds, how they came to represent "forever" essentials, how tastes were led to match the diamonds available to the trade and how the trade/cartel works behind the scenes.
Though the article in the main discusses the West and Japan, some things were familiar. For one, diamonds are seen as quintessential to a Tamilian wedding, even "traditional", for the stone has a long history in the country. But I remember my great grandmother mentioning that diamond jewellery for the bride were not the norm when she was young. It would appear they became de rigeur in South India not long after they became necessary in the West. As in the article, the resale value of diamonds is widely known to be nil amongst those in India who amass jewellery as security, this doesn't lessen the desire to own them. And the popularity of "small" diamonds over the years is visible in the jewellery young Indian women wear. In fact with increasing incomes, it is not uncommon to see brides in diamond "sets" (ostensibly less gaudy than large gems, nevertheless overwhelming in their totality). There is one difference. Diamonds symbolise romance in the West i.e. the man buys it for a woman. In India, it remains dowry - a measure of how much a woman's family can afford.
Though the article in the main discusses the West and Japan, some things were familiar. For one, diamonds are seen as quintessential to a Tamilian wedding, even "traditional", for the stone has a long history in the country. But I remember my great grandmother mentioning that diamond jewellery for the bride were not the norm when she was young. It would appear they became de rigeur in South India not long after they became necessary in the West. As in the article, the resale value of diamonds is widely known to be nil amongst those in India who amass jewellery as security, this doesn't lessen the desire to own them. And the popularity of "small" diamonds over the years is visible in the jewellery young Indian women wear. In fact with increasing incomes, it is not uncommon to see brides in diamond "sets" (ostensibly less gaudy than large gems, nevertheless overwhelming in their totality). There is one difference. Diamonds symbolise romance in the West i.e. the man buys it for a woman. In India, it remains dowry - a measure of how much a woman's family can afford.
12 February 2009
Snippets
Two very different links today.
Not clear at this stage as to what intellectual property right has been recognised. And what kind of precedent it sets for TK protection in general.
And
Libby Brooks on the myth of menopause (see my earlier post).
Not clear at this stage as to what intellectual property right has been recognised. And what kind of precedent it sets for TK protection in general.
And
Libby Brooks on the myth of menopause (see my earlier post).
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