Trump calls it the Chinese flu. It could be expected from him given that he decerns issues at a very basic and unintelligible level. Is it the language of the common man in the USA. Perhaps it is, especially in the rural areas of the country. So, why a hyperbole has been created. The naming of virus-related spreading diseases has been the practice for a long time. We had Spanish flu, West Nile Virus, Zika, Ebola, etc. Then hurricanes are titled after popular names from both the genders. In lighter veins, Mexico seems it does not mind the use of … Continue reading “CHINESE FLU”

When the ongoing tragedies of human sufferings caused by humans do not get from most, a line in the poetry of poets, a page in the writings of writers, a stroke of brush in the paintings of painters, a focus in the meditation of meditators, a stay in the minds of yoga practitioners, a reflection of sermon from a priest about the teachings of Nanak and Kabir, a discern from political scientists and intellectuals in the social sciences, a condemning statement from silver screen heroes and entertainers, a quote from habitual social media motivational advisers. And all the educated professionals … Continue reading I Can’t Understand It

Democrat aspirant Michael Bloomberg is the 12th richest man in the world with a net worth of over $60 billion. If he wins the nomination, Bloomberg will be pitted against another billionaire, the incumbent president, Donald Trump. And this is where money will be a behemoth to impact the election scene. In the USA, unlike most other democracies in the world, the sky is the limit in election spending. Bloomberg joined the nomination race in November last year, much later than other candidates. According to a report in the Quartz, he has already spent over $400 million, compared to $120 … Continue reading Democracy In The USA Very Expensive Route To Elect A Govt.

Once again I say these are not riots between Hindus and Muslims. What has happened are violent and barbaric attacks by the so-called Hindus against the Muslims in several localities of Delhi. Holding peace prayers and advising calm to both the Muslims and Hindus are nonsense and stereotype politics. With the open support of the Delhi Police, hired and paid goons of the ruling Hindutva leaders came with lathis in their aggression along with a barrage of rocks on fellow citizens. Calling the whole mayhem as another Hindu-Muslim riot is trivializing the brewing hatred and violence against Muslims who have … Continue reading THESE’RE NOT RIOTS BUT VIOLENT BLITZ ON MUSLIMS

The trait of being socially or politically Left or Right is that the Left is anti-religious and the Right is fanatic. The former ridicules and rejects religion, and the latter is narcissistically illiterate about it. –Promod Puri Continue reading THE BINARY OF LEFT AND RIGHT

Democratic freedoms breed authoritarianism. Consolidation of power, achieved through democratic means, is a tempting phenomenon. Regimes are slowly being wrapped up in totalitarianism or dictatorship. Nationalism and patriotism are aroused. The fear factor is created by introducing “foreign enemies”. Minorities are being targeted. To streamline the influence of fear, several practices and arrangements are mobilized. Judiciary, the intelligence agencies, the income tax department, the police forces, state-sponsored “terrorism” are the channels to move democracy towards autocracy. In this exercise, the media is disciplined or regulated for the smooth acceptance of manufactured propagated material. It is a camouflaged process where the … Continue reading DEMOCRACY CRADLE OF DICTATORSHIP

Elected politicians all over the globe often boast about their economic achievements when their countries’ GDP goes up. And countrymen are impressed. For example, Trump can pride himself as the USA’s GDP has grown to $21.7 trillion last year, a massive gain that makes the country the most significant economic power in the world. GDP stands for gross domestic product, meaning the total market value of all the goods and services produced within the country. That gross production includes everything produced and purchased, services generated and bought, and investments made. When the GDP number of a given year is divided … Continue reading NEED TO GO BEYOND GDP

By Promod Puri Nationality, caste, color, creed, ritual-based religion: do we still have to wear these badges? When these identities become obsolete, dead, and gone? Nations across the globe have become or becoming cosmopolitan in both the physical and virtual worlds. Political boundaries are only relevant to the administrative and bureaucratic functioning of governments. But not for propping up nationalism and its related precept of patriotism. In a universal temperament, caste, color, creed, and ritual-based religion are irrelevant. Instead these antiquated social and faith-based divisions clog the advance of peace and harmony in our lives. Continue reading Getting Rid of Clogging Identities

Those in India and of Indian origin abroad, who are aware of the present tense situation in the country because of several controversial issues, are silent for being the supporters of  Modi regime, I can understand their muteness. But those, who are critical and are silent about the present state of affairs the nation is passing thru, must be condemned. “Society is not devasted by the misdeeds of badmen, but by the silence of the so-called good people.”- Mahesh Bhatt, writer and film producer “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of … Continue reading CONDEMNING THE SILENCE

Computer screen and our eyes don’t see eye to eye with each other. But we can’t avoid their working relationship. We know, prolong staring rather than looking at the screen is damaging to our eyes. Staring means reduced or no blinking of eyes, while looking involves frequent blinking. The ideal is 12 blinks per minute while on the computer. Ophthalmologists suggest a “20-20-20” formula to avoid tired or dry eyes. That means taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes, and to look at something 20 feet in distance. This eye break allows both relaxation and plenty of blinks. –Promod Puri Continue reading “20-20-20” FORMULA FOR RELAXING EYES:

“I belong to a small country that was not afraid to abolish its army in order to increase its strength. In my homeland, you will not find a single tank, a single artillery piece, a single warship, or a single military helicopter. Today we threaten no one, neither our own people nor our neighbors. Such threats are absent not because we lack tanks but because there are few of us who are hungry, illiterate, or unemployed.” -Ex Costa Rican President Oscar Aria, 1987 Noble Peace Prize winner. Continue reading NO ARMIES, NO ENEMIES

A NEW FAD OF HINDU IDENTIFICATION: Red thread around the wrist (right for men and left for women) is the new fad of Hindu ritualistic identification. Called Mauli or Kalva, it is tied by a priest or an elderly person after a ceremonial event. The wearer is supposed to keep the thread until it is worn out. The literal meaning of Mauli in Sanskrit is ‘crown,’ which means, above all. There are several mythological stories about the origin of Mauli, as well as claims of health benefits. The red cotton thread is often mixed with small colors of yellow or … Continue reading Red Thread Around Wrist

Three noticeable differences: 1. Whereas Trump has a stiff relationship with the media, Modi is steadily developing a controlling relationship with the media. 2. Trump is open and blunt, expresses his views the moment these come to his mind; Modi often plays the politics of silence. 3. Modi loves bear hugging, for Trump shaking hands is enough. -Promod Puri Continue reading MODI VS TRUMP

Carbon Dioxide is the gas which is blamed, and rightly so, for warming the earth atmosphere. In fact, its concentration in our atmosphere is only 0.041 percentage. Whereas, all the human activities contribute just about 32 percent of 0.041% of the total amount of carbon dioxide. But carbon dioxide has a very strong influence on climate because of its ability to absorb heat emitted from our planet’s surface, keeping it from escaping out to space. And that causes the escalating phenomenon of climate change. -By Promod Puri Continue reading WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE

9/11 is the anniversary date of a major terrorist attack on the American soil September 11,2001. 9/11s have happened before and after. These are still occurring all over the globe. It befell on Vietnam, Iraq, and continues in Afghanistan and Syria. 9/11s erupts every now and then in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Call it the culture of gun violence, 9/11s happen several times a year on the American soil too. They say terrorists carry 9/11s. True. Regimes are also major players in developing, creating and executing 9/11s. It is a symptom and cause theory as Obama says in a different … Continue reading Seeking Cause Or Causes Of 9/11s Worldwide

People with free mindset attitude swing like a pendulum. Passing through the Centre, they move to the religious, social or political ideologies of the Left or Right, atheist or theist, but not committed to any of them. The world will be a better place if more people join the pendulum instead of being ideologically fanatics that can restrict the perception of ever-chabging issues confronting us individually or by the society we live in. -Promod Puri   Continue reading Swing Like A Pendulum

Besides the devotional practices at dedicated places like temples, home or public shrines, a striking and environmental sensitive and gratifying feature of Hindu worshipping practices and reverence is the deification of natural landmarks like rivers, lakes, and mountains. There is divinity in all elements of nature as well as in plants and animals. The belief is that gods and goddesses manifest in them. And their adoration is part of Hindu ritualistic practices. Continue reading HINDU WORSHIPPING

By Promod Puri In today’s real estate many homes and even apartments in the world’s big cities, including Vancouver, are priced over five million dollars. Now moving backward over a century ago, the US bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867. Still a bargain at $125 million in today’s dollars for 370 million of acres of pristine land rich in oil and other resources, and a major tourist destination. However, the entire Alaska region now is a vivid scene of deteriorating climate change thru its fast-melting glaciers. At some of the places, the climate change effects are so remarkable … Continue reading ALASKA: A REAL ESTATE BARGAIN AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE

Some news from South of the border do not interest me anymore: 1.Trump rhetorics (senseless) 2. Gun violence (American culture) 3. US-China trade talks (drag-on) 4. The US-Iran verbal war (stale) 5. Mueller report (waste material for archives) 6. The Trump wall (Humpty Dumpty) –Promod Puri Continue reading No-more Interest!