Fun Enclave - Chit Chat

[Debate] India deserves Nobel Prize for filth

Agnel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:31:06 GMT

Quote:

Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh, known for making forthright comments, today said if there was any Nobel Prize for dirt and filth, India would get it. :ashamed:

"Our cities are dirtiest cities of the world. If there is a Nobel prize for dirt and filth, India will win it, no doubt," he said at a function to release a report of TERI.

Ramesh lamented the poor facilities for disposing municipal waste in majority of the cities in the country. The ministers' comments assume significance as the TERI report on 'Green Indian 2047' says that waste management is not given priority in local bodies. There is poor compliance with the solid waste management rules.

Source: India deserves Nobel for filth: Jairam Ramesh

[News] Shame Shame Puppy Shiv Sena

Agnel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:10:25 GMT

Shiv Sena has attacked the CNN IBN offices in Mumbai after the channel had taken a strong stand against the foolish political party.

Quote:

Mumbai: A group of 20-25 Shiv Sena activists attacked journalists and damaged property at the offices of IBN Lokmat and IBN7, the Marathi and Hindi news channels of the IBN Network, in north-east Mumbai’s Vikhroli on Friday.

Several IBN Network journalists and other employees were beaten up and their clothes torn by the group. The attackers barged into the office at around 1600 hrs IST, slapped a woman receptionist and told employees that they would not accept reports criticizing the Shiv Sena.

Armed with sticks and bats, the attackers damaged furniture and fittings, glass partitions, OB (outdoor broadcasting) vans and electronic equipment. They threw a chair at Nikhil Wagle, IBN Lokmat's editor-in-chief, and tried to punch him.

"The attack was preplanned, they had come armed with sticks and iron rods for creating the mayhem in our offices. They hurled a chair at me," Wagle told media persons.

The Mumbai Police claimed they had arrested seven Shiv Sena workers for the attack.

Source: SHIV SENA ATTACKS IBN OFFICES, GLOATS

What does Shiv Sena has to say for this foolishness? :S

Quote:

Mumbai: Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday admitted his party’s workers had attacked the offices IBN network channels in Mumbai on Pune.

Raut said the IBN Network had been critical of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and that was intolerable to his party. He told the Zee News channel Shiv Sainiks had attacked IBN offices for allegedly misquoting Thackeray's editorial on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

"Media is not God--criticism of Balasaheb Thackeray will not be tolerated," said Raut. "If you target Sena, we will attack. Criticism of Sena is also criticism of Marathi Manoos." :rofl: :hilarious:

Raut, executive editor of Sena’s newspaper Saamna, said the attack on the news channels was “spontaneous”.

What kind of fools are these fellows? :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

And I gotta agree with these fools for once, "Media is not God" :sarhello: :no:

Source: If you target us, we will attack: Shiv Sena leader

Aarti Chhabria under probe for terror boyfriend links

Safin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:07:31 GMT

Aarti Chhabria, under probe for dangerous liaisons with LET(Lashkar-E-Toiba) operative David Headley

Lashkar-e-Taiba mastermind David Coleman Headley (49), whose reputation as a strikingly handsome charmer, almost matches that of his terror history, may have dated starlet Aarti Chhabria.

According to reliable sources at the National Investigative Agency (NIA), which is heading the probe in the Headley- Tahawwur Rana case, it was Mahesh Bhatt's son, Rahul, who introduced Chhabria to Headley at a party.

The same sources along with Intelligence Bureau sources added that Chhabria and Headley met frequently, hit town together and were also gym buddies.

Chhabria did bit roles in Raja Bhaiiya, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Anamika and Dhoom Dhadakka. She has also acted in South Indian movies.

What does Aarti have to say?

Aarti Chhabria denied meeting Headley. "I stay a few blocks away from Shyam Nivas but I have never met this man (Headley).

I didn't even known that Rahul Bhatt was working out in the same gymnasium with the man," she said.

Who is Headley?

Pakistan-born American national, David Coleman Headley (49) was arrested in Chicago last month by the US FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Investigations have revealed that he was possibly involved in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and other bomb blasts across the country. Headley had even stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower twice in 2008.

According to the FBI, Headley was in contact with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders.

He has been accused of plotting terror attacks on behalf of the LeT against India and for plotting a terror attack against the Danish newspaper, which had published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed in 2005. He is currently in US custody.

Another Abu Ghraib? Iraqis claim abuse by British troops...

Safin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:36:29 GMT

Echoing the abuses at Abu Ghraib, 33 Iraqi detainees say they were raped, abused, humiliated by British troops. Critics ask, why are the allegations coming now?

Quote:

The British military has become embroiled in yet more controversy over its conduct in the Iraq war. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is investigating 33 new allegations by Iraqi civilians of rape and abuse against soldiers.

One man says he was raped by two British soldiers, and another says he was sexually humiliated by male and female personnel. Others allege they were stripped naked and photographed in the same style as the notorious pictures at Abu Ghraib, where abuses of prisoners by US troops helped fuel anti-American sentiment.

British soldiers have faced a series of claims that they mistreated Iraqi civilians in southern Iraq during six years of combat operations. Last year Britain settled a legal case involving the death of an Iraqi civilian, and the abuse of nine others, paying nearly �3 million ($5.3 million) in compensation.

A public inquiry is being held into the death of a hotel worker, Baha Mousa, who died in the custody of British troops following a raid on his hotel in Basra in 2003. He suffered 93 separate injuries.

Corporal Donald Payne pleaded guilty in 2006 to inhumanely treating Iraqi civilians in Britain's first war crimes conviction and was jailed for one year.

Phil Shiner, the lawyer representing the Iraqis who made the latest claims, said in a letter to the Ministry of Defence: ''Given the history of the UK's involvement in the development of these techniques alongside the US, it is deeply concerning that there appears to be strong similarities between instances of the use of sexual humiliation.''

Mr Shiner said some Iraqis were coming forward now after the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq this year.

The Ministry of Defence said the allegations were being taken seriously. But the Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell, told the BBC that the fresh allegations did not merit a public enquiry.

In one of the most serious allegations, a boy, 16, said he was among a group of Iraqis in May 2003 who were taken to a British camp to help fill sandbags. In a statement reported by The Independent, he alleged that two soldiers raped him at knifepoint.

What is your worst quality?

Chulbuli_Si — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:26:34 GMT

plzz let us each others worst quality and plzz be genuine??? :mad: :@:@ :under:

Do post ur views..n DO NOT run away to spam :D:P :ohyeah::rofl::devil:

I will also tell my qualities later :D;)

Amazing Facts about Gujarat !!!

Kimi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:38:56 GMT

1. Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states of the country, having a per-capita GDP 3.2 times India's average.

2. If it was a nation it would have been 67th richest nation in the world above many European and Asian economies like China and Ukraine .

3. Gujarat holds many records in India for economic development:
� 20% of India's Industrial Output
� 9% of India's Mineral Production
� 22% of India's exports
� 24% of India's textile production
� 35% of India's pharmaceutical products
� 51% of India's petrochemical production

4. The world's largest ship breaking yard is in Gujarat near Bhavnagar at Alang.

5. Reliance Petroleum Limited, one of the group companies of Reliance Industries Limited founded by Dhirubhai Ambani operates the oil refinery at Jamnagar which is the world's largest grass roots refineries .

6. Gujarat ranks first nationwide in gas-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation with national market share of over 1%.

7. Over 20% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Gujarat.

8. Over 35% of the stock market wealth of India is with Gujarati People.

9. Over 60% of Indian Population in North America is Gujarati.

10. An average income of a Gujarati family in North America is three times more than the average income of an American family.

11. Gujarat is having the longest sea shore compared to any other Indian state

12. Gujarat is having the highest no. of operating airports in India (Total 12).

13. India's 16% of Investment are from Gujarat.

14. Gujarat is having highest no. of vegetarian people compared to any other state in India.

15. The first ALL VEG PIZZA-HUT was opened in Ahmedabad

16. Ahmedabad � the commercial capital of Gujarat is the seventh largest city in India.

17. Surat is the fastest growing city in the world.

18. Gandhinagar is the Greenest Capital City in whole Asia.

19. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad(IIMA) is Asia's 1 st and world's 45th ranked management college located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

20. Gujarat is the safest state as the Crime rate of it is 8.2 which is the least in India even after considering 2002 communal riots, stated by India Today 2005 report.

21. Gujarat is having least crime against women among all Indian states (excluding Goa) where AP is 1st, Delhi is 2nd , Bihar is 3rd ,Zarakhand is 4th and UP is 5th.

22. Ahmedabad which is the seventh largest city in India is the lowest in crime rate among all Tier-I and Tier-II cities of India as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.

23. Ahmedabad is ranked 2nd in Real Estate - Ahead of Bangalore,Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Delhi. 3rd in Policy Initiatives - Ahead of Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, Mumbai & Delhi. 4th in Manpower - Ahead of Bangalore,Chennai, Mumbai & Delhi.

[News] Now a film on the life of Lalit Modi

Safin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:50:27 GMT

Lalit Modi has given the nod to Percept Picture Company to make a film on his life.

The film titled The Commissioner will be directed by Madhur Bhandarkar.

Quote:

�I had a meeting with him (Modi) in Mumbai and he is very excited that he�s committed for the film. It�s a fictional biopic like Guru on Dhirubhai Ambani,� joint MD, PPC, Shailendra Singh said. Titled The Commissioner, the script of the biopic is being written by Shridhar Raghavan and is �under development... Other than the lead, casting won�t be much of an issue. But the apt choice would be Shah Rukh Khan.� Other actors in consideration for Modi�s role are �Irrfan Khan and Shahid Kapur�.

I think Emraan Hashmi would be the best choice :sarhello: And how about Preity for the heroine :lmao: He can look at her more carefully then :rofl:

All in all a rather shameful chapter. making a film on Lalit Modi?? :no: We have reached the depths in India. :@

[News] Man sues AXE, says "there is no AXE effect"

Agnel — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:33:15 GMT

Quote:

Unable to attract even a single girl, frustrated man sues Axe Unable to attract even a single girl, frustrated man sues Axe
Monday, 26 October 2009 16:28

New Delhi. In what could prove to be a major marketing and legal embarrassment for Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), a 26-year-old man has filed a case against the FMCG company, which owns the Axe brand of men grooming products, for ‘cheating’ and causing him ‘mental suffering’. The plaintiff has cited his failure to attract any girl at all even though he’s been using Axe products for over seven years now. Axe advertisements suggest that the products help men in instantly attracting women.

Vaibhav Bedi, the petitioner, also surrendered all his used, unused and half-used deodorant sprays, perfume sticks and roll-ons, anti-perspirants, aftershaves, body washes, shampoos, and hair gels to the court, and demanded a laboratory test of the products and narcotics test of the brand managers of Axe. Vaibhav was pushed to take this step when his bai (maid) beat him with a broom when he tried to impress her by appearing naked in front of her after applying all the Axe products. :lmao: :hilarious: :rofl: :hoho: :lmao:

“Where the f** is the Axe effect? I’ve been waiting for it for over seven years. Right from my college to now in my office, no girl ever agreed to even go out for a tea or coffee with me, even though I’m sure they could smell my perfumes, deodorants and aftershaves. I always applied them in abundance to make sure the girls get turned on as they show in the television. Finally I thought I’d try to impress my lonely bai who had an ugly fight with her husband and was living alone for over a year. Axe effect my foot!” Vaibhav expressed his unhappiness. :hilarious: :rofl:

Vaibhav claims that he had been using all the Axe products as per the company’s instructions even since he first bought them. He argued that if he couldn’t experience the Axe effect despite using the products as directed, either the company was making false claims or selling fake products.

“I had always stored them in cool and dry place, and kept them away from direct light or heat. I’d always use a ruler before applying the spray and make sure that the distance between the nozzle and my armpit was at least 15 centimeters. I’d do everything they told. I even beat up my 5-year-old nephew for coming near my closet, as they had instructed it to keep away from children’s reach. And yet, all I get is a broom beating from my ugly bai.” Vaibhav expressed his frustration. :crazy: :rofl: :lmao:

Vaibhav claims that he had to do go a lot of mental suffering and public humiliation due to the lack of Axe effect and wants HUL to compensate him for this agony. An advocate in Karkardooma court, who happened to mistake Vaibhav for some deodorant vendor when he entered the court premises with all the bottles, has now offered to take up his case in the court. HUL has been served a legal notice in this regard.

HUL has officially declined to comment on the case citing the subject to be sub judice, but our sources inform that the company was worried over the possible outcomes of the case. The company might argue that Vaibhav was hopelessly unattractive and unintelligent and didn’t possess the bare minimum requirements for the Axe effect to take place. Officially HUL has not issued any statement, but legal experts believe that HUL could have tough time convincing the court.

“HUL might be tempted to take that line of argument, but it is very risky. There is no data to substantiate the supposition that unattractive and unintelligent men don’t attract women. In fact some of the best looking women have been known to marry and date absolutely ghoulish guys. I’d suggest that the company settles this issue out of court.” noted lawyer Ram Jhoothmalani said.

OMG :hilarious: :lmao: :lmao:

Source : Unable to attract even a single girl, frustrated man sues Axe | India | News

Salary theorem

Ayesha M — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:27:47 GMT

Salary Theorem

[News] Online relationships can hurt you

Agnel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:16:18 GMT

Quote:

(CNN) -- If you harbor a bit of angst over Facebook friend requests gone unanswered, a surprise "defriending" or being deserted by your Twitter followers, you're not alone.

Elaine Fogel has amassed more than 500 connections on LinkedIn, a professional networking Web site, by extending invites to those who appear to fit her wide array of career interests.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time, people just say yes," she said.

But then came "this one woman" who Fogel encountered on one of the 40-plus discussion groups she belongs to on LinkedIn. The woman offered interesting opinions, so Fogel sent her an invitation to join her network.

"She sent an e-mail saying, 'I only connect with people I know, and hopefully our paths will cross one day,' " said Fogel, of Phoenix, Arizona, her voice still carrying notes of disbelief. "I read that, and I said, 'Oh, my God, I've been rejected.' " :jawdrop:

Fogel echoes other users who have felt the twinge of hurt and surprise from social media rejection. Some may think hers is an overreaction -- it happened online, with a woman she didn't know -- but recent research shows that our "digital egos" can bruise as easily as we do in person. In fact, rejection online may have the potential to sting even more.

"People tend to think that these relationships are trivial and not very deep, but this is what we're moving towards, having a lot of our communications play out over the Internet," Purdue University social psychologist Kip Williams said. "That's the way it's becoming; this is how we interpret our worth. People care how many [online] friends they have." :ohyeah:

Or, increasingly, how many Twitter followers they have. This year, a third-party service launched Qwitter, which allows Twitter users to determine who's stopped following them and which tweet may have turned them off.

Experts say rejection on social networks can hurt worse than an in-person snub because people are usually more polite face-to-face than they are online.

"I think the thing that is often clearly worse online is when it's relatively anonymous, and people use that as a cover and are more cruel than they would be otherwise," said Jean Twenge, a San Diego State psychologist who has studied the way social networking affects personality development.

Online rejection also doesn't lessen the physical reaction we have to emotional pain.

"Pain is divided into two components," said Baldwin Way, a UCLA researcher who studies the way human brains respond to social rejection.

"If you put a red-hot poker on your arm, one part of your brain says, 'This pain is on your arm,' and the other part says, 'Ow, that hurts' and is less concerned with where it is and more concerned about the emotional meaning of it," he said. "That [second] part also seems to be activated when someone's left out or excluded and rejected."

To Way's surprise, that neurological reaction holds true even when the rejection comes in a digital form, lacking the real-world body language, vocal intonations and other aspects that can influence the way rejection is perceived and felt.

"If you'd asked me a few years ago if you'd get the same effect online as you would in person, I'd say no way," Way said. "I thought doing something in person would have stronger effects than doing something online, but interesting data has come out in the last few years that show mental representations are just as powerful as the real thing."

These data include Williams' "cyberball" studies, which ask a participant to play a virtual ball-tossing game with two other icons. In one study group, the participant plays the game for the entire six minutes, but in the second group, he or she is included for only a fraction of that time and then ignored. The second group reports feelings of anger and lower levels of self-esteem.

Whether participants believe they're playing with humans doesn't appear to affect their feelings of rejection.

"Even when people get rejected by the computer, they feel bad," Twenge said. :crazy:

Kenneth Loflin, a student who participated in Williams' study, got so frustrated by his fellow players that he gave the computer screen an offensive gesture.

"I'm a people person, and I like people to like me," he said. :S

The study also affected the way Loflin interacts online. Out of the 1,200 friends he has on Facebook, 400 of them he doesn't really know, many of them being friends of friends.

"I thought about defriending them, but I didn't want them to feel how I felt" during the "cyberball" game, Loflin said. :angel:

By contrast, Bruce Hammond doesn't have a problem giving the rejection slip to Facebook hangers-on.

"For the most part, the people that I'm defriending are the people that I don't have a relationship with: the people I haven't talked to in 15 years," said Hammond, 30, of Chicago, Illinois. "I don't let someone know if I'm going to defriend them. I just do it." :devil:

Similarly, Hammond doesn't expect any of his Facebook contacts to let him know before giving him the ax. If someone rejected him in real life, he would ask why the person felt that way, but when the relationship is online, his thinking changes.

"If I come on [Facebook] tomorrow and see I have 425 friends instead of 426, I'm not going to go through my list and see who did it and be upset with them," he said. :thumb:

Cecilia Sepp, a Washington, D.C.-area consultant, said she avoids the issue entirely by limiting her online network to about 100 friends.

"I don't have a problem with defriending because I don't accumulate [enough] to have a high number," Sepp said.

"When I first heard that defriending was beginning on social networks, it was through a blog post by someone who was shocked that this person had defriended them because they didn't understand why," she said. "The person wanted to know had they done something, had they said something, should they ask, 'What did [I] do?' "

Sepp believes that online "defrienders" should extend the courtesy that Fogel's LinkedIn rejecter gave her: an e-mail explanation.

"You have no facial expression online; you have no tone of voice online; it's very easy to misinterpret phrasing in an e-mail. You have to be very careful about your wording and be more explicit with people when you're making or removing connections," Sepp said. "That's why it's so important to connect with people that you actually know."

:devil2:

Defriending can bruise your 'digital ego' - CNN.com

[News] Nokia unveils 5 new low-end phone models

Kimi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:40:50 GMT

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia unveiled five new low-end phone models on Wednesday, aiming to improve its offering in the emerging markets.

The world's top cellphone maker is a dominant player in many key emerging markets with market shares of 60-70 percent, but it is under strong pressure as rivals such as ZTE are try to improve their position in the low-end of the market.

Nokia's new models are priced from 20 euros ($29.26) to 54 euros, excluding operator subsidies and local taxes.

"The long battery life, with up to 22 days of standby time, is vital for people in areas where access to electricity is limited," Nokia said in a statement.

Most expensive new models, the Nokia 2220 slide and the Nokia 2690, priced at 45 euros and 54 euros, also support e-mail on the device through Nokia's Ovi Mail.

Nokia said it will open its Life Tools service -- which offers agricultural, education and information services to cellphones -- in Indonesia from early December 2009. It has offered the service so far in India.

http://in.biz.yahoo.com/091104/137/b...37/bauhrg.html

50 most Romantic things to do with your Girl Friend...

Kimi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:22:42 GMT

1. Watch the sunset together.

2. Whispers to each other.

3. Cook for each other.

4. Walk in the rain.

5. Hold hands.

6. Buy small gifts for each other.

7. Gift Roses.

8. Find out their favorite cologne/perfume and wear every time you're together.

9. Go for a long walk down the beach at midnight.

10. Write poetry for each other.

11. Hugs are the universal medicine.

12. Say I love you, only when you mean it and make sure they know you mean it.

13. Give random gifts of flowers/candy/poetry etc.

14. Tell her that she's the only girl you ever want. Don't lie!

15. Spend every second possible together.

16. Look into each other's eyes.

17. Very lightly push up her chin, look into her eyes, tell her you love her, and kiss her lightly.

18. When in public, only flirt w/ each other.

19. Put love notes in their pockets when they aren't looking.

20. Buy her a ring.

21. Sing to each other.

22. Always hold her around her hips/sides.

23. Take her to dinner and do the dinner for two-deal

24. Spaghetti? (Ever see Lady and the Tramp?)

25. Hold her hand, stare into her eyes, kiss her hand and then put it over your heart.

26. Dance together.

27. I love the way a girl looks right after she's fallen asleep with her head in my lap.

28. Do cute things like write I love you in a note so that they have

to look in a mirror to read it.

29. Make excuses to call them every 5 minutes

30. Even if you are really busy doing something, go out of your way to call and say I love you.

31. Call from your vacation spot to tell them you were thinking about them.

32. Remember your dreams and tell her about them.

34. Tell each other your most sacred secrets/fears.

35. Be Prince Charming to her parents.

36. Brush her hair out of her face for her.

37. Hang out with his/her friends.

38. Go to church/pray/ worship together.

39. Take her to see a romantic movie and remember the parts she liked.

40. Learn from each other and don't make the same mistake twice.

41. Describe the joy you feel just to be with him/her.

42. Make sacrifices for each other.

43. Really love each other, or don't stay together.

44. Let there never be a second during any given day that you aren't thinking about them, and make sure they know it.

45. Love yourself before you love anyone else.

46. Learn to say sweet things in foreign languages.

47. Dedicate songs to them on the radio.

48. Fall asleep on the phone with each other.

49. Stand up for them when someone talks trash.

50. Never forget the kiss goodnight and always remember to say,"Sweet dreams."

[News] Eight surgeries for dream wife!

Kimi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:35:59 GMT

A German plastic surgeon has revealed how he �built� himself a perfect wife after performing eight surgeries to change her chest, thighs, eyes and face

Eight surgeries for dream wife!

Image-obsessed Reza Vossough told how he tied the knot with a dowdy girl after spotting her "potential" to become his ideal lover.

The 48-year-old expert pumped 600g of silicone into Cany's body, taking her size A chest to a massive F cup, enhanced her lips, lifted her eyelids and ironed her forehead.

The 33-year-old former waitress, now a model, also went under the knife to firm up her bum, tummy and thighs along with numerous Botox injections.

"It's almost like being God - you have the ability to change nature," the Sun quoted Reza as saying.

"When I first met Cany, she had physical deficiencies, but I could see there was something there. She had big hips and big thighs, so we made corrections, then did a little bit more.

"On the operating table her face is covered, so she's anonymous like any patient. I was interested in working on her. It's better than nature could do," Reza added.

Cany said she was thrilled with her new look that cost 18,000 pounds of cosmetic surgery. She said: "When your husband is a plastic surgeon, then the scalpel is your friend."

Source: ANI

Eight surgeries for dream wife! - *Fashion ? Lifestyle ? MSN India

[Debate] Why the political left despise the people of Australia

patch01 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:37:24 GMT

Among the dominant faction of our political elite the Australian people have acquired a bad name. The reason is simply explained: whereas members of the elite almost always want the ordinary punters to record an affirmative vote at referendums the people take the opposite view. Consequently the Australian people, in the view of that elite, have a bad record when it comes to reforming the Constitution.

I take the opposite view. The fact that only eight out of 44 proposals put to the people to change the Constitution have succeeded says much about our politicians. It does not say that the people have been foolish. Quite the contrary. Ordinary people are, in my opinion, always a lot smarter, more tough-minded and more fair-minded than the political class believes them to be.

So, why have only eight out of 44 proposals succeeded? I think there are two reasons. First, politicians are motivated by the promotion of their own glory. Second, politicians are subject to fads.

To understand what I mean let us go back one hundred years. We imagine we are in October 1909. Alfred Deakin is our great Prime Minister, currently serving the third of his three terms. Waiting in the wings is another great Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. He has already served a short term of seven months (from November 1908 to June 1909) but is waiting for the landslide victory he will inevitably enjoy in the autumn of 1910.

At that time no one would have said the Australian people had shown bad judgement in the matter of amending the Constitution. Only one proposal has been put � and it was carried easily at a referendum held in conjunction with the December 1906 general election. So no one thinks the framers of our Constitution made a mistake to bring the people into the process. The Americans had not done that but we had � and we were proud of it because it demonstrated the fact that we were ahead of the Americans in democratic thinking.

At that point, however, the first fad sets in. It goes from 1910 all the way through to 1951. That fad takes the form of supposing that the welfare of the Australian people can best be advanced by adding to the powers of the Commonwealth Parliament under section 51 of the Constitution. From 1910 through to 1951 there were 23 proposals put to the people. Of those, 20 proposed an amendment to section 51 to add power to the Commonwealth Parliament. Only one was accepted. The other 19 were rejected.

My further thoughts about the fad of 1910 to 1951 tell me of the wisdom of the Australian people. Although the High Court was often disposed to give the Commonwealth more power the people were not. Their decisions can be justified on one of two counts. In some cases it would have been a bad thing if the extra powers were given. In other cases it was quite un-necessary that the Commonwealth be given the extra power. In effect the people were telling the politicians not to waste their time.

Finally, I should say that there is one reform of the Australian Constitution which I do favour. It is to amend section 44 which now reads:

Any person who �

(i.) Is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power: or

(ii.) Is attainted of treason, or has been convicted. . .

(iii.) Is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent: or

(iv.) Holds any office of profit under the Crown. . .

(v.) Has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest. . . . . . . shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. . .

This section tells us a very interesting story. In July 1997 there was a report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. The report was titled �Aspects of Section 44 of the Australian Constitution: Subsections 44 (i) and (iv)�. Here was an all-party committee which unanimously recommended a change to the section.

If our politicians today were as they were in the good old days (by which I mean in 1906) they could have placed this amendment before the people at a referendum to accompany any general election since then. If they had done that they could have claimed a reform implemented by a combination of themselves and the people. Why, then, have they not done that? The explanation is simple: they want glory for themselves. They are not really interested in constitutional reform.

(excerpts taken from the Mackerras paper "Recent fads of the Australian Constitutional Change for Change's Sake" Brigade)

Award winning , funny Indian ad on eve teasing for AAJ TAK

Chulbuli_Si — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:03:02 GMT

YouTube - Award winning , funny Indian ad on eve teasing for AAJ TAK