Not So Secret Ballot After All

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: May 1, 2009

In: My Life| Out Of The Box| Thoughts
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Chaos reigned when I told the polling officer that I want to vote for no one in the list of the candidates listed. She simply said that I could not do like that. I told her that there is a provision provided to do just that and its Section 49-O. She asked the Booth in-charge for help, but the Booth in-charge too did not have a clue on what this section was. This chaos went on for almost 10 minutes on the correct process to handle situations like this. Finally the representative from the Election Commission was summoned and he calmly asked the Booth in-charge to get my signature on the sheet and add in that I am not voting for the candidates that are listed in there and then himself sign the sheet.

With this drama happening in the polling booth, almost all of the people who stood behind me to cast their votes came to know about my choice, which is not the ideal scenario for something that’s known as a ‘Secret Ballot’

I feel that the best possible way to get out of such situations is for the Election Commission to introduce a button on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) saying ‘None Of The Above’ . This will maintain the feature of ‘Secret Ballot’ and yet get to exercise the option of not voting for any of the candidates listed in the sheets.

Tags: Election Commission, Electronic Voting Machines, Indian Elections, None of the Above, Secret Ballot, Section 49-o, Voting

Get Out and Vote!

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: April 18, 2009

In: Thoughts
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Voting is a right which has been given by our Constitution and is very crucial for existence of a democratic set up. Unfortunately, half of the country’s population does not participate in this process. This is really a very sad approach on the part of the citizens. In some countries people are literally dying to be able to cast a ballot and make a difference. So my request to all of the concerned citizens to vote in the upcoming elections at any cost.

There are several other reasons to vote:

You should believe that every single vote counts. Governments have fallen and candidates have lost by one vote. So dont’t feel that your vote does not matters.
By voting you get the choice to choose the leaders. You decide whom do you want to lead.
Through voting you can express your opinion. Many of us want to convey what we feel about particular policy or how things should be. Voting is the best way to do that.
By voting you ensure that the candidate is made accountable to the public.
Voting is your national duty. If you vote then it shows that you are respecting the constitution of India.
If you get out to vote on election day, you can set right example for people around you. Let everyone know that you care enough about your homeland.
If you don’t vote you really have no right to complain about government decisions/policies you don’t like.
If you feel that each candidate is worst/corrupt/not eligible for vote. Go ahead and make use of 49-o and say “I Vote Nobody”. Else select best from worst.
The entire election process is based on ceratin arithemetics/calculations. After all it is just a number game. But if the voting percentage increases then let me tell you that only deserving candidates will be elected. It is only when we fail to vote, wrong people are elected.

This time around there are maximum number of young voters. Our past generation might not have voted but this generation needs to change the few things. A democracy is of no use when the government is of the people, for the people but not by the people.

There are few important topics looming over India which will decide our future. And the result of these policies will be inherited by the coming generation. The economic reforms, getting more digitalized, global warming, environment, fuel consumption, infrastructure, security, national integrity etc. It is very easy to be unconcerned about your right to vote and take a “whatever, who cares” kind of attitude about it. If you don’t vote, you effectively blow away your ability to have any influence as to how these issues should be sorted or how these issues will play out in future.

You will have to decide what you want to give to your coming generation. If you are taking voting for granted then just check out internet to find how many people have fought/died to get this weapon in several other countries.

Remember, People who don’t participate in political and democratic process are punished to be governed by the dumb.

You will have to vote this time. It is your right, responsibility and a weapon which you are being given. Now, Go out and Vote!!

Tags: candidate, constitution, democracy, elections, government, India, mp, parliament, vote

F1 – 2009

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: March 24, 2009

In: General
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Well what do you know, the 2009 F1 season is just three days away, thought that I should get myself up to date with what’s happening in the world of F1

First up the Season Calander

Round Date Event Circuit

27-29 March 2009 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park, Mebourne
3-5 April 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit
17-19 April 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit
24-26 April 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
8-10 May 2009 Spanish Grand Prix Montmelo, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
21-24 May 2009 Monaco Grand Prix Monte-Carlo
5-7 June 2009 Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul Park
19-21 June 2009 British Grand Prix Silverstone
10-12 July 2009 German Grand Prix Nürburgring
24-26 July 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring
21-23 August 2009 European Grand Prix Valencia Street Circuit
28-30 August 2009 Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps
11-13 September 2009 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale Monza
25-27 September 2009 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore Street Circuit (night race)
2-4 October 2009 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka
16-18 October 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlagos, Sao Paulo
30 October – 1 November 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Island

Then we have the teams and the drivers

McLaren-Mercedes

Race drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Heikki Kovalainen
Test drivers
Pedro de la Rosa
Gary Paffett

Scuderia Ferrari

Race drivers
3. Felipe Massa
4. Kimi Raikkonen
Test drivers
Luca Badoer
Marc Gené

BMW Sauber F1 Team

Race drivers
5. Robert Kubica
6. Nick Heidfeld
Test drivers
Christian Klien

Renault F1 Team

Race drivers
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Nelson Piquet Jnr.
Test drivers
Romain Grosjean

Toyota Racing

Race drivers
9. Jarno Trulli
10. Timo Glock
Test drivers
Kamui Kobayashi

Scuderia Toro Rosso

Race drivers
11. Sebastien Bourdais
12. Sebastien Buemi
Test drivers
Brendon Hartley

Red Bull Racing

Race drivers
14. Mark Webber
15. Sebastian Vettel
Test drivers
Brendon Hartley

Williams

Race drivers
16. Nico Rosberg
17. Kazuki Nakajima
Test drivers
Nico Hülkenberg

Force India F1 Team

Race drivers
18. Adrian Sutil
19. Giancarlo Fisichella
Test drivers
Vitantonio Liuzzi

Brawn GP

Race drivers
20. Jenson Button
21. Rubens Barrichello
Test drivers
TBC

Rules, rules and more rules

Sporting

Drivers can only use eight engines during the (17-race) season. If they have to use a ninth engine they will have a ten-pace grid penalty at the first race where they use it, and further similar penalties will follow if additional engines are used.

The pit lane speed limit in qualifying and the race has been raised from 80kph (49.7mph) to 100kph (62.1mph).

All teams must declare the starting weights of their cars within two hours of qualifying finishing.

If a race starts behind the safety car, drivers must start the race on wet weather tyres.

The rules on what a team can do to a car which is starting the race from the pit lane have been changed – teams can now make changes to “improve driver comfort” and the driver may do a reconnaissance lap.

The rule preventing drivers from being able to pit during a safety car until permitted to do so has been scrapped.

The FIA will now appoint three stewards per race (instead of two), one of which will not have a vote. It may also appoint an advisor as it did in 2008 (Alan Donnelly).

The teams cannot do more than 15,000km of testing and may not test between the first race of the season and the last day of the year. There are two major exceptions: teams can do up to eight days of straight-line aerodynamics testing, and after the last race of the season they have three days in which they may test young drivers.

NB. Distribution of points remains the same as in 2008 (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) despite the FIA’s recent attempt to introduce a system where the driver with the most wins would become world champion.

Technical

Grooved tyres have been replaced by slicks. The tyres known as ’standard wets’ last year are now called ‘intermediates’ and ‘extreme wets’ are called ‘wets’. At each race the softer of the two dry compounds available and the wet weather tyres will be marked with green rings.

Teams may use Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) but it is not compulsory and they may run KERS and non-KERS cars at different races. KERS may give them a power boost of up to 400 kilojoules per lap which roughly equals 82bhp for 6.6 seconds, though the power could be used in different ways. If a driver abandons their cars its KERS must be switched off. KERS may be charged before the start of the race.

Engines may not exceed 18,000rpm (reduced from 19,000).

The cars’ front wings may be adjusted while the car is moving a maximum of twice per lap by a maximum of six degrees.

There are new restrictions on the aerodynamic shape of the cars: front wings may now be wider, rear wings are narrower and taller, and many of the winglets and flip-ups that used to be on the cars have been banned. Diffusers are more tightly limited in size and shape.

The cars must now have four onboard camera housings instead of two, so hopefully we should see more interested TV pictures this year!

2.5 Million Scholarships for Minorities

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: February 1, 2009

In: Catholic| General
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In line with its commitment to improve the literacy rate among the minority communities, the government today approved a scheme, providing for 2.5 million pre-matric scholarships to meritorious minority students, entailing an expenditure of Rs 1,868.50 crore during the 11th Plan period.

Thirty per cent amount of this scheme will earmarked for girl students of each minority community in a state or union territory, Home Minister P Chidambaram told newspersons after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Under the scheme, to be launched during 2007-08, scholarships will be awarded to minority students who are studying in India in government or private schools from classes I to X, including residential government institutes, and eligible private institutes selected and notified in a transparent manner by the state governments and union territories concerned.

The maximum ceiling of tuition fee entitlement will be Rs 350 a month, subject to actuals. The rates of maintenance allowance will be Rs 600 a month for hostelers from class VI onwards, subject to actuals, and Rs 100 a month for day-scholars from class I onwards. Admission fee from class VI onwards will be Rs 500 per annum, subject to actuals.

Of the total amount, Rs 1,408.40 crore will be borne by the centre, while Rs 460.10 crore will be shared by the states, he said adding union territories will be provided 100 per cent central assistance.

Full scheme details here: http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/schemes/postmatric/sch_details0708.pdf

Tags: CCEA, Indian Government, Minorities, Scholarships

www.manickpur.in

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: January 1, 2009

In: General
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Evolving from a single page website (web page) way back in 2005, to a complete website offering a glimpse of Manickpur by just sitting in front of your computer in 2006 all hosted on free servers. The site received more than 2500 individual page views since the launch on the eve of the 400th anniversary of St. Michael’s Church.

2009 sees Manickpur in a brend new light, We are now on a more reliable host with a better name – www.manickpur.in, with a better look.

Just a note that we are also on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manickpur

Tags: Manickpur, Website, Wikipedia

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: December 20, 2008

In: General| Rewiews
3 Comments

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish… No I am not thinking or talking about Steve Jobs but a certain Rashmi Bansal an MBA from IIM A and cofounder and editor of JAM (Just Another Magazine), India’s leading youth magazine. Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish is the name of her book that has been brought out by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship at the IIM Ahmadabad.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Rashmi has showcased 25 IIM A graduates who went out of the line and chose entrepreneurship, rejecting the more conventional and comfortable corporate jobs.

It is a good read specially if you are really thinking about going the entrepreneurship way, to be inspired with the people showcased in the book. But on a general term this is more like a small biography of there 25 people who chose to make a difference in their life.

The book is divided into 3 sections

The Believers: IIM-A graduates who took the plunge straight out of IIM-A
The Opportunists: Who saw an opportunity and capitalized on it
The Alternate Vision: Social Entrepreneurs who cared about things beyond money

It’s written in a very easy format, with Rashmi providing a brief introduction about the person portrayed and then the bio and then an advice by the person.

It shows how mistakes actually make you learn and how there needs to be a certain level of confidence in you to keep that dream alive. Also when you dream… dream real big…

With just 25 of the entrepreneurs mentioned in the book only from one institute, there are bound to be more such individuals who have walked the rough path. I am looking forward to a sequel to the book.

Tags: CIIE, Entrepreneur, IIM A, JAM, Rashmi Bansal, Stay Foolish, Stay Hungry

Celestial Delight Tonight

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: December 1, 2008

In: General
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Not everyday do we get to see something that the sky has to offer today. The Moon is joined by two of the most brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter to form a unique smiley in the night sky. Do go out and find out – It is fantastic

Tags: Celestial, December, Jupiter, Moon, Venus

Mumbai Attacked

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: November 27, 2008

In: General
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Location	Type of Attack
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station	Shootings, Grenades
South Mumbai police headquarters	Shootings
Leopold Café, Colaba	Shootings
Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel	Shootings, six explosions, fire on top floor, RDX found nearby
Oberoi Trident hotel	Shootings, Explosions, Hostages, Fire
Mazagaon docks	Explosion, boat with armaments seized
Cama Hospital	Shootings, hostages
Nariman House	Siege, shootings, hostages. Home of the Chabad Lubavitch center
Vile Parle suburb, North Mumbai	Car bomb blast

Mumbai on Wednesday 26th November, just a few minutes before 10 PM was hit by what we can call the worst terrorist attacks in India with over a 100 people killed and over 300 injured.

Amongst those killed include foreign tourists and a top counter terror officer. It as been over 16 hours now and the firing still continues at certain locations.

Hostage situation at two of the prime hotels in Mumbai The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and The Oberoi Trident.

It definitely looks like a very highly coordinated attack with the terrorists coming to the city in boats. It all started just a little before 10 PM when two people with automatick AK-47 rifles and hand grenades were seen holding up inside the CST station in Mumbai.

The Indian Army and the NSG cammandos are taking control of the situation.

10 things to do before I turn 30

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: September 10, 2008

In: My Life| Out Of The Box
6 Comments

I turned 25 today

Here are a quickfire 10 things that I want to do before I turn 30.

Work for myself
Drive a car
Learn French, Spanish, German
Get lost in a country where I don’t speak the language (a real wild one )
Do a Parachute jump from a plane
Make a bet I couldn’t afford to lose
Get in the habit of excersising. Every Single Day.
See the world
Learn to play a musical instrument with some expertise
Get Married

Hope that these are not that difficult to achieve.

Cheers

Tags: Birthday, wishes

Chromed

Posted by: Malcolm Almeida on: September 3, 2008

In: General| Rewiews
4 Comments

Google Chrome Logo

Just downloaded the newest entrant in browser market – Google Chrome. So whats the difference Google is making by launching their own browser in such fierce compeition between arch-rivals Microsoft and friends Mozilla?

Here are some pointers on the Google Chrome website:

Google Chrome is a Open Source browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

One box for everything - Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages.
Thumbnails of your top sites - Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab
Shortcuts for your apps - Get desktop shortcuts to launch your favorite web applications

OK, but the ultimate question is WHY? – there is an answer for this too: According to Google, we spend most of out online time in a browser – search, chat, email, blog, bank, catch up with friends, read news, follow sports.. all with a browser. So in order to make our lives simpler, Google brought us this Chrome – On the surface its simple and straight, under the hood, there is a strong browser that runs complex web apps. Each and every tab is an isolated ’snadbox’ that prevents the other tab from crashing and provides protection from rogue sites. There is a very strong and new JavaScript engine, V8 to help pages load faster.

Google Chrome Screenshot

Well is it fast enough?

hmm.. I cannot really guarantee that, so far I have experienced a lag in the working of the Chrome. But I cannot really say that given the speed of my internet connection