Google Reader to FeedDemon

It has been an year since i came to know of RSS and met Google Reader. It was love at first sight. Since that day, Google reader has never let me down, coming up with regular improvements and added features. Though my experience with Google reader was more than satisfactory, it was FeedDemon that was in my dreams. But I consoled myself that one should learn to live happy with what u have. And assuring myself that I would never lay hands on FeedDemon.

But a surprise awaited me, last Tuesday. Newsgator decided to make FeedDemon software free, making it accessible to people like me. And now FeedDemon occupies the coveted position of 'My favorite RSS reader'. If u r using Google reader, give FeedDemon a try.

Also Read

• Why FeedDemon is better than Google Reader and Bloglines by Amit
• FeedDemon Vs Online RSS Readers - Round II by Amit
  

Controversy for Controversy's sake

Why should Sania Mirza has to face controversies after controversies? Why should Tamil Actress Shriya face a police complaint for wearing an outfit that is 'very very modest' compared to her costumes in movies?
These issues shows the rising trend of 'controversies just for the sake of controversies' in India. :(

It is a pity that most of these controversies center around women celebrities. And most of us(including me) neglect these controversies... Justifying our self that they are paying the price for their celebrity status. If left unchecked, these controversies for the sake of controversies may become the glass ceiling for women in public life. And the best way to deal with the people creating these controversies is to cut off their incentive.(like the what the Associated Press did as a week long experiment with regard to Paris Hilton). It is time Indian Media stopped giving air time in news channels or space in the newspaper columns to these kind of organizations who go after controversies for the sake of controversy.

Environmentalists! Don't Oppose TATA Nano!

Ratan Tata and his team at TATA motors had made India proud with the "World's Cheapest Car" - a disruptive innovation that has the potential to change the face of Global automotive industry. But Indian environmentalists like Sunita Narain are calling the government to tax the car "like crazy" and make sure that the car becomes economically nonviable. [Read the news here]. My first reaction to these news snippets is to question the Indianess of these environmentalists. Can't they see that TATA motors is giving wings to dreams of hundreds of Indians who want to own a car in their lifetime?. Can't see that Cars symbolizes an additional form of mobility and freedom to a lot of Indians. Yeah! Environmentalists have a point in raising the issue of lack of proper mass transit system in most cities in India. But Can't they see that the various benefits of TATA Nano like placing TATA & India in the global automotive map, its export potential, etc. outweighs the costs?

In an rediff article, Mritiunjoy Mohanty, Assistant Professor of IIM Calcutta has come in support of TATA Motors and explains(correctly) why criticizing Rs. 1 lakh car is wrong?

Other Reads

• Don't follow us By an American to Indians.

Disclaimer: I have never been a great supporter of Environmental concerns. Rather than supporting environmental issues blindly, I prefer a "Cost-Benefit Analysis" approach to issues raised by environmentalists.

Role of Caste in Indian Cricket

Ah! Finally an Australian reporter writes how caste could play in who represents India in cricket. On reading the news - 'A Class Act? Opinions Differ', I was shell-shocked. Who would have thought this situation exist in Indian Cricket Team, the one love of all Indians?

Only Fools believe that caste plays a role in the selection of Indian cricket team. But as the article points out that there is a huge number of people from a single caste(7 in the playing 11), disproportionate to their percentage of Indian population. It means something is wrong somewhere. May be there is a caste discrimination at the lower level... May be the elitist sports is played only by the elite caste of India. But whatever may be the reason, it has to be identified soon and corrected. Or else it could become a tailor made situation for politicians to exploit for their personal benefits. BCCI! Please Wake Up!

God Save Tirunelveli CSI Diocess

When a police Jeep is required for the peaceful conduct of a Church Service in Tirunelveli, you know that something is horribly wrong. It is not (the regular) RSS and Sangh Parivar, who are the culprits but the internal politics of Tirunelveli CSI Diocese. The intricacies of the politics witnessed during the recent elections showed the stuff that Tirunelveli CSI Diocese is really made up of. The recent elections got everything from double crossing, 'bunkee' jumping and even the occasional violence. (Surely would make a very good thriller movie). Read the story - 'Nellai Diocesan fight turns ugly'

But for someone who loves the church and diocese, it is the sign of a doom bell ringing aloud. A Case Study of what would happen when power is given to religious authorities. [CSI Tirunelveli Diocese controls around 360 institutions and has 85,000+ students under its various institutions]. Was really heart wrenching to see a diocese which has produced national christian leaders going downhill.

God Save Tirunelveli CSI Diocese.