Examine what is said, not her who speaks

Someone did kill Jessica Lall, after all. And it was, as all of us had suspected, Manu Sharma, the son of an influential politician, who almost got away by threatening or paying off witnesses, leaving the country in shocked outrage.

Exactly 300 days after Manu and his friends were allowed to walk free by the trial court of S L Bhayana, the Delhi High Court on Monday convicted Manu for murdering Jessica.
Two days after he was convicted for murdering model Jessica Lall, Manu Sharma, son of a senior Congress leader, was on Wednesday given life sentence by the Delhi High Court, rejecting prosecution demand for death penalty.

ustice and truth have finally prevailed. Conviction of the killer in this sensational case - which brought out thousands of people on the streets to protest against Manu's acquittal, with candlelight vigils and silent marches - has restored the faith in the people about the rule of law. Even people with awesome clout have to pay for their crime.

"My father died waiting to hear this verdict," said Jessica's sister Sabrina Lall. "His soul will now be able to rest in peace." Sabrina also thanked the media: "I thank you guys who started the campaign for justice for Jessica."
The outrage over Jessica also brought the spotlight on two other sensational murders - that of Priyadarshini Mattoo and Nitish Katara.

Coming to Monday's dramatic verdict, a bench comprising Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin also convicted Vikas Yadav, son of "tainted" ex-MP D P Yadav, and former cola company executive Amardeep Singh Gill for conspiring with Manu to destroy evidence of his presence at the crime scene. The Bench also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Sharma, son of former Haryana Minister Vinod Sharma.

The other two convicts -- Vikas Yadav, son of controversial Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, and Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony, an executive with MNC, were sentenced to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 3000 each for conspiring to destroy the evidence.

Yadav and Gill were found to have returned to the restaurant after Jessica's murder on the night of April 29, 1999 to take away Manu's Tata Safari.
Here is the Chronology of Events which took place. Taken from The Times of India.

Was just going through the newspaper today and found this article. Thought I'd put it down here and get more views. These views are of people from Ahmedabad.

Has the blog replaced the good old 'secret diary' where you poured out your innermost feelings? Or is a blog too public a place to 'confess'... We find out.

Life's no longer a lazy Sunday, but everyday is more like a manic Monday. Yet even in this 'jet age' there are ways by which one tries to stay connected with oneself and with like minded people. And a blog is often the most popular way of doing things. But is this the 'real way' or just an attempt to run away from reality into a cyber world?

Umang Joshi, a young exec, says: "I have neither time nor the energy to pen my thoughts in a diary. Blogging, has come up in a big way, even though it can't ever be as 'honest' and candid as a diary. Every four months the number of bloggers is doubling."

"Online stuff is faster and easier to maintain. It's a great way to vent out your feelings and share them with strangers,"exclaims Akhil Kulkarni, another professional.

But not everyone agrees. "A lot of people associate blogging with an online diary. But a diary is something very personal.

It helps introspect and brings out clarity of thought. Blogging can never be that confessional,"says Mahananda Bohidar, a student.

Seconding her Priyanka Beharani, a psychology teacher says "Diaries are where emotions can flow. One can jot down things without any fear. The magic of pen and paper can't be replaced by a blog."

"Penning down thoughts is a kind of projection technique which suppresses anxiety. You can't reveal it to the world, as one has to do in blogs,"says Beharani.

However, Kulkarni says there is indeed a choice. "We have an option to secure our blogs, which means they are only visible to the owner."

The last word comes from Joshi: "Diaries are for my eyes only, whereas blogs are for others as well. They have different audiences; hence can never substitute each other."

Well, with all this talk of "climate porn", some of our activists in Amsterdam have gone one better - they've set up a "Green Light District" in the heart of Amsterdam's Red Light District by replacing the red light bulbs with green, energy efficient ones, and taking over a few of the windows - dressed normally, of course!

It's all part of a Dutch campaign for to get 1 million extra energy efficient lightbulbs installed in the Netherlands.

30-10-2006

In his review on climate change, economist and government advisor Sir Nicholas Stern says that "climate change represents the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen," but that there "is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we act now and act internationally." Which is exactly what we have been saying all along. The scientific and moral cases for acting against climate change have been known for some time - but it's taken an economist to spur the government into action.

Commenting on the proposal to develop emissions trading schemes, Charlie Kronick said "the only way a carbon market works is if there's a rigorous cap, otherwise it just makes money for carbon traders without addressing the problem. One test for Blair's successor will be what he or she pushes that cap to be."

Good morning Blogland!

This morning saw me sleeping in the night and waking up at 5:30 am. Not my normal routine but Xmas vacations going on in my business. All the clients are enjoying their vacations and so shall I be.

A lot to do today, what with cleaning up the rest of the house;the parts I couldnt get to yesterday, viz. the terrace of the house, where the party will be actually held today evening.

Yup, am giving a small Xmas party cum farewell dinner to Priyanka's friend tonight.... a chosen few friends invited and dinner to be cooked at home. I was going to cook until today morning but Priyanka has decided that she would be the one cooking so am going to be free to mingle around. Yayyy!! Of course, I shall help her with stuff but I would still be free to talk to people and enjoy my glass of wine.
I think, I shall get some ginger ale. What's Christmas without it, eh?

Plus, am going to buy a present for my sister. Its her birthday tomorrow. We(my brother, my brother-in-law and I) are planning to wake her up tomorrow with flowers and cake.
I kept on wondering what to gift her and finally I think, I shall buy her a nice leather purse. Another expense...Oh! Why is Decemeber so expensive!!

Will let y'all know tomorrow how the party goes tonight. Until then, have a great day ahead and enjoy the Xmas spirit.

Cheers!

Mára aurë!

First of, Le hannon, Thank you Daniel, for teaching me Elvish words. Really really appreciate it.I would like to ask Daniel how would my name be called in Elven language?
Kan ni hjälpa mig? B

AND OH...HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Now...the things I observed from Daniel's blog: Lets state the obvious first, shall we?

- A Swedish guy residing in the UK with his family these days. Family loving.
Loves his sister Danya to death.

- Excellent knowledge of languages. I'd like some lessons here please!

- A bit lost about the gifts this Christmas. Cheer up boy! You'll soon have
a pretty Lindsay helping you out, am sure.

- Formula One has become his passion these days. No mention though of who he likes to
see while watching it and whom does he cheer for.

For the rest:

- A sweet, cute looking guy, just the way people at the age of 17 ought to be;
passionate about things, fun loving and curious about the world. He
has, at some point of time, gone through the growing up process...the pain.

- Loves to impersonate other people. eg: family members and their reactions. Blog
group reactions.

- Loves Manga comics. Half of his blog is full of their characters.

- Very intersted in the dark side of the world. He could very well be one of the
characters from the comics. Yusuke Urameshi or Kishuku Sou perhaps?

- Seems like he likes the tall, slinky types in women.

- A Romantic too..a quality highly appreciated. Dont see it much in men.

There...will that do LJ?

Hi all,

I know I know. Its been long since I actually wrote something on the blog, apart from commenting on other blogger friends' blogs, but I've actually been going through so much and nothing, at the same time that I feel lost on what to write!

I've been busy with my work which has been in a frenzy due to a new campaign with a new Call center. Its always a pain-these first two weeks. Somehow there are always misunderstandings between the client and the center. The center produces without thinking much and has a series of questions that I get tired of answering to. The client is skeptical on how the center performs and demands miracles on the first day itself...blah blah blah! PFfff...But that's what I'm paid to do!
Last week, I had such a lot to do that I didnt sleep for 50 hours at a stretch.Didnt have a moment's rest! Was on caffeine and went through all the work they could throw at me cheerfully but Lord help me!! After that, when I slept...lets say, I was dead!

The more interesting part of my life:

My brother, Kushal has begun his studies seriously at last, thank God!! He studies the whole day along at the College and comes home, is dear enough to help me with house chores, teases Priyanka on her love life and in general. I feel like I am back, living together with my brother and sister both.
My sister, Kinjal, does fine, living with her husband and is busy in her life. Happily settled, am glad to say. Yesterday was her husband's birthday and we all celebrated it together, me being the representative of my family, from my parents side- I gifted him with an expensive Adidas aftershave. What else can you give a man??!!

Phew! So that is what's been happening in my life. LOL..seems funny to me that lives of people around me are so intertwined with my own.
I have nothing but my work and yet...am content at the moment. How so? Can you help me find an answer to this one?

Husband of the Year Awards:

Third Place goes to
GREECE

Maybe he's just taking a break to smoke......while walking uphill!>

href='http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1008246'>Can't figure this one out........>

First place goes to
IRELAND
href='http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1008247'>

>The true Romantics- he's holding her hand!>

If you ever thought Indians were poor, think again. Not all of them but quite a few, even when they've stayed all their life in India, working in a normal position.
To give you an example, here's an article that should open your eyes. People spend like crazy on weddings. I wish they'd make a gift of all that money to the couple so they could invest it somewhere wise, which might contribute towards our GDP and induce the Govt. to reduce taxes on laymen.

TAKE A LOOK:

The mythical Arabian Nights, exotica Morocco and the rustic beauty of Rajasthan have all descended on the marriage mandaps of Gujarat.

Gone are the days when you would arrive at a predictable setting for a wedding — a party plot, the groom in a sherwani, the bride in all her finery and formally dressed guests, standing around dimly-lit trees.

An increasing number of Gujaratis, including many NRIs, now prefer theme based marriages — tailor-made to your taste.

It could be a rustic rural settings or a qawwali theme. Some families are ready to spend up to Rs 35 lakh (60,500 Euros)just for that dream-theme wedding.

In fact, qawwals from Mumbai and Delhi have made Ahmedabad their second home this wedding season, flying white pigeons, wedding guests attired in Lucknowi caps, in achkan sherwani and shararas, lady quwwals on the side of bride and male quwwals on the side of groom, almost Umroa Jaan-like! Alan Ohol, operations incharge, Shaddi Info says, "Families are getting creative about their weddings to make them memorable and also ensure an enriching experience for the guests.We are getting demands for qawwali themes and even destination marriage where entire families go on a wedding trip to Goa or Agra."

Mukund Shah's son, on the other hand, got married in a royal style in Vadodara. The royal touch was provided with the Laxmi Vilas Palace in the backdrop.

The theme was Peshwai. "Even the flower arrangements that were done around the stage were patterned on the Peshwai theme,"said Shah, syndicate member in M. S. University.

Nishith Shah, promoter, Go Banana said, "Instead of having large gatherings, many families are becoming selective on who they invite for the wedding, making it more manageable and the money they save is used for preparing themes.

A NRG (Non Resident Gujarati) family from Nigeria had planned their wedding with a peacock feather as the theme. Everything, from cards to the venue was made to look like peacock feathers, using colours like vibrant blue and green.

"Fun loving Surtis too know how to make a celebration memorable. They have taken to the concept of theme marriages with ice and diya, Roman, Italian and Rajsthani themes being among the more popular.

"Families prefer that the mandap and seating area follow a certain themes. If a colour is the theme, them families on both sides will come dressed in that particular colour,"says Pranay Agarwal of Ceremonies Events. "Next week we are doing a wedding where Bandhni will be the theme and everyone will come dressed in it."

If there was one marriage made in heaven, this was it.

The brilliance of well-preserved silk Kanjivarams and the smell of white jasmine overpowered the seating area while the dais was bedecked with garlands of marigolds and clusters of banana leaves. And, as the clock struck six, the chant of 'mantras' and the strains of the 'nadaswaram' (a musical instrument, quite like the 'shehnai') pervaded the air, transforming the mundane MMRDA ground at Bandra, Mumbai, into something much more hallowed on Saturday.

The 'Srinivasa Kalyanam' — the coming together of Lord Balaji and his consort, Padmavati, in holy matrimony — right here in earthly Mumbai was not to be passed up.

Devotees from all parts of Maharashtra, and beyond, were in attendance as the wedding ceremony of the most revered deity in large parts of south India was performed in Mumbai. The idols were specially brought from Tirupati for the wedding to be performed over Saturday and Sunday evenings. The made-in-heaven marriage was also a first for Mumbai and the rest of the country beyond Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This is the first time the gods are being married outside south India, thanks to the efforts of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and the South Indian Education Society.

The significance of Saturday's event could also be gauged by the list of the wedding guests. Besides devotees from all over the country and politicians cutting across party barriers, the list also included Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati and Maharashtra governor S M Krishna.