Una verdad simulada

“Conservatives” have a new-found slogan: “Going Galt.” Why? Because Obama had the nerve to increase the taxes for income over $250,000 from 35% to 39%.

Going Galt is a libertarian character who — hold your breath — organizes a successful strike. Yes, its alright if the rich folks go on a strike: thats libertarianism, if poor folks go on a strike: thats socialism. (I am over-simplifying here… but still, no one really sees any irony in their beliefs?)

But getting back to the topic, conservatives say (they won’t put it into action though) that the right response to a small increase in the tax at higher end would be to stop earning more because you’d have to give it away anyway. Quote:

This week, ABC News spotlighted upper-income earners going Galt in response to Obama’s proposed tax hikes on families with incomes of $250,000 or more. A Lafayette, La., attorney told the reporter she was cutting back on her business to avoid the tax threshold: “Why kill yourself working if you’re going to give it all away to people who aren’t working as hard?” Tax hikes have consequences. Incentives matter. Only self-deluded wealth redistributors living in la-la land believe otherwise.

Anyway, here is Stephan Colbert going Galt for a full 10 seconds:

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - Rand Illusion

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.

I think these two quotes sums it all:

“This book is like Conservative Bible: Preachy and can be used to justify anything.”

“That when millions are losing jobs and losing homes and losing hope, there is nothing more important than putting yourself first.“

Tags: General by Niket
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By far the most reliable eating-out guide for Chennai from none other than Rahul Basu. None of his recommendations have disappointed me so far.

If in Chennai, check it out before making your restaurant choice.

Tags: General by Niket
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Here is video of a 11-minute speech by president Barack Obama before he signed an executive order to allow federal funding for Embryonic Stem Cell research (via Pharyngula). After eight years of ideological and political interference with science, its good to see a president ready to do the right thing and ready to talk to people as adults.

A big difference between Obama and Bush was that the latter, after a narrow victory in 2004, stated that he had earned political capital and intended to spend it during his presidency. On the other hand, Obama acknowledges that there are many who oppose this research on religious / moral grounds and says that “we must respect their point of view;” still, majority believe that stem cell research is the right course of action and his administration will support it.

There is a fundamental difference between the two styles. Only one of them is taking decisions based on issues and not dogma; only one of them is open to discussion. The end result is unlikely to be different; still, discussion and delibration are cornerstones of democracy.

And that is something liberals and conservatives would agree with.

Tags: General by Niket
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A conversation between a shaadi.com groom-to-be (GTB) and the father of potential suitor (FPS):

FPS: “Do you have any vices?”

GTB: “I don’t think so. BTW, I am not sure what you mean by ’vices’.”

FPS: “Well, do you drink, smoke or eat meat?”

GTB: “I don’t smoke, I drink socially and I eat meat fairly regularly.”

FPS: “Sir, do you really think I can trust my daughter with a person who drinks or eats meat?”

GTB: “Why not? If by drinking, you mean I come home stumbling and half-concious, I don’t. Social drinking essentially means that I enjoy a glass of beer or three occasionally when I go out with my friends. I eat meat; I see no reason why that would make me untrustworthy.”

FPS: “Well, I can’t trust my daughter with someone who drinks and eats meat.”

GTB: “If I were you, I’d rather that my son-in-law treats my daughter with love, respect and dignity and who does not abuse her than him being a vegetarian.

The above conversation is typical of dysfunctional way our society works. Daughter is a responsibility; I need to find a suitor for her; suitor who confirms to “social norms” and not one who’d love and respect my daughter.

Tags: Ludicrous, Hypothetical Conversations by Niket
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Quote: “Geography was never fun. But that was before Google Earth. Now Geography is cool.”

Tags: General by Niket
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I just got back from a two-day Indo-German workshop on Microreactor Technology, held at NCL Pune. There were a few excellent talks followed by a poster session. My student, Vikram, won the third prize in the poster session.

One of the students attending the conference remarked that it was somewhat de-motivating that he is competing with people having a lot of good resources and steadily flowing funding. While he learned a lot in the workshop, its an uphill struggle to keep up with such heavily funded groups.

While it is true that good equipment — computational, experimental and analytical — allows you the freedom to pursue challenging and novel ideas, it is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for good research output. There is only one necessary condition (though, not sufficient) for good research: good ideas. The poster session itself provided good examples of research that could be done with as low as Rs. 5000. Yes, to push the work further, you need good analytical equipment, which could cost a lot. But then, with a “proof of concept” work already out of the door, one can make a compelling case to the funding agencies why this work needs funded.

Tags: General by Niket
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When Obama was elected, one wondered whether Jon Stewart will continue with his skewering of the administration. He admitted that it would be difficult to top the Bush administration in its ridiculousness; so it would be tougher, but they would still find enough in the political process to skewer.

Well, it turns out, at least in the case of Iraq, Jon is willing to skewer the politician he supported to be the president. And therein lies the difference between him and the Rethuglicans. Watch:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mess O’Potamia - The Iraq War Is Over

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Update: Added text to clear formatting.

Tags: General by Niket
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