The day when India engraved history in the field of space exploration was the day of launching “Chandrayan” - the first unmanned mission to the moon which was launched with the total budget of 46 billion euro by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) established in 1969. Chandrayan has been the first effort ever made by ISRO to send any object beyond the earth’s orbit.

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India has made its place in the global space research arena and has emerged as a superpower of information and technological advancements which have brought fame and recognition to the nation. ISRO, with its moon mission has attracted most people and scientists from NASA and ECA to look back and check the technological improvements with India. The Chandrayaan has come as a new ray of light which shall spread the information and technology developments throughout the country. Most people are thrilled and filled with joy looking at the great effort our scientists have put up. ISRO, has come up as a leading research organization and the most sought place for any space enthusiast.

The Asian Space Race has been embarked by the achievements most Asian countries have made through successful launch of their satellites and unmanned moon mission. If India gets success in this effort, then it will be competing with countries like China, United States and Japan who have covered some great distance in the space race age. India has issues with Russia and Japan both of which are prevailing powers of Asia and are setting missions up to send a man to the moon till 2020. India is also planning to launch the Chandrayan 2 with the larger budget of 47 billion Euros till 2015 for more exploration of the space and also for the social and industrial benefits. India already has 16 satellites that are supporting weather forecasting, remote education, earth observation, TV broadcasting and for healthcare.

Many other responses have been observed by different classes of the country. Those who are living below the poverty line feel that the launching of Chandrayan is just a wastage of money and rather the money should be used to exterminate poverty from the country while middle class people are aware of the booming affects of the launch.

Some great achievements by Asian countries in the space are:

§ In 1969, India established Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) and launched its first satellite in 1980 named Rohini and in 1984 Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to be sent to the space on the Soviet Spacecraft.

§ Japan launched “Hiten” lunar orbit in the year of 1990 and “Toyohiro Akiyama” a TV reporter was sent to the space.

§ China launched its first taikonaut in the year of 2003 and it shooted out its own first setalitte in 2007. Japan also launched an unmanned lunner orbit named Selene in the same year.

These countries are further planing to make new miracles in space explorations and India is setting up for the launch of the Chandrayaan 2 till the years 2012-2013

With the latest Indian achievement, all eyes have turned towards India and people are now interested to be a part of the great mission which the ISRO has done for the nation.

Some orthodox Hindus are troubling Christians and forcibly harassing them to spread out the Hindu religion in India. Anti Christian violence has increased in the country and the Christians who are living in the eastern parts of India are worst effected. The Christians had to facade many attacks by these hard liner Hindus. Christians have been enforced to flee away from their homes and to look up for shelter in thick forests.

Anti Christianity had made the life of Christians hell, they are obligated to live like nomads. These people were harassed even by the militants. Recently in Andhra Pradesh a Christian lady was raped by a Hindu militant. In August 2008, in an anti Christian campaign, almost 248 people lost their lives and 30,000 people were wanderers.

India is viewed as a highly democratic country and occurrences of such irrational and anti social activities really fire at the prestige of the country. Gradually anti Christianity violence has also scattered out in other parts of the country like Bangalore and Mangalore city and also Kerala. Recently in Assam, almost 30 people had to lose their lives in different clashes of Hindus and Christians. The Christians of Madhya Pradesh have also been targeted with such violence. Last week three people were killed in different religious fights. Orissa is not an exception to this anti Christianity campaign. Some Hindu religion activists argue that this is not the anti Christian crusade but it is for hampering some missionaries to stop the conversion of some poor Hindu people into Christians and pretending to be a true Hindu. But behind these statements, these people are actually harassing and assaulting Christian people.

Violence in Orissa

In Orissa, Kandhamal has been the combat zone for the Christian missionaries since a long time and having two different group of people as Panas and Kandhas. Panas are low cast Hindus or Dalits and were also referred as untouchables in the old days. The Kandhas are called tribal that are combating for school seats and for the jobs. Most of the Panas have been converted into Christians, but Kandhas have not acquired any conversions, the fights between these groups are continuously happening till the time and no steps are being taken to cure the problem by the government.

Some narrow minded politicians add fuel to the fire as they consider this violence as the mean of winning elections. In Orrisa, according to the fatalities of the violence, a militant group named Bajrang dal that is considered to be the closest to the Bhartiya Janata Dal who is ruling Orissa is responsible for this harassment of people. Also two men were burnt alive in the clashes between Christians and the campaigners of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, and churches were also ruined.

Such antisocial activities in country like India is an issue of ignominy and disrepute because it is considered to be a religious and secular country. A number of religions prevail in India so one should acquire religious tolerance to avoid the chaos and anarchy in the country. The government should take some strict steps to eradicate this violence and should pass some rule or act in the parliament. Everyone has a right to live; no other person can seize it away. Live and let live should be strategy of everyone to keep the country peaceful.

The Global economic crisis which has shaken most economies throughout the world has been the one of the largest meltdowns which has sucked money the countries. The origin is undoubtedly U.S. and the basic reason behind this crisis is over leveraging which had been done by most financial institutions throughout the world.

In a developing economy, the calculations go right most of the times, but when some real problem occurs, losses emerge which need funds to support the system. Most institutions have gone bankrupt owing to their leveraging issues and the non capability in facing redemptions. The Government of U.S. needed a change since long as the current calculation of work and money distribution is really not apt.

How badly is India & Asia hit?

India and neighboring countries have been severely hit which were the biggest target of the global crisis in their development stage. This was the time, these countries required sufficient funds and investments as they were offering some great opportunities which are nowhere to be seen in any developed nation. Asia is badly hit by redemptions from U.S. and U.K. funds that were investing in these markets since the last 6 years and had huge equity positions with money involved in the securities and real estate. India is a great nation and has always strived to deliver excellent growth opportunities which are why these investors came to India as FII (Foreign Institutional Investors). Asia was also flooded with funds from U.S. and U.K. as these had invested in most growth opportunities in India and Asia and were forced to go back owing to their economic crisis.

What is the source of the economic crisis?

Sub prime in U.S. is till date the largest housing crisis which has even hit any economy. The sub prime crisis which happened due to the over leveraging positions in housing industry by major banks and financial institutions has forced the institutions to withdraw all money from the growing Asian markets and keep reserves for redemption which if not provided shall result in bankruptcy by most companies.

Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and Countrywide are some huge examples of what the effect is all about which clarifies from these institutions going bankrupt. This year Fanny Mae and AIG also went bankrupt which was another shock to the U.S. government. The government had no option but to takeover these companies. Though this shall solve the problem for a while, the crisis still remains which is the unstoppable property prices decline and sale in U.S. and this has forced most owners and banks to get rid of their real estate in U.S. and move out of the country.

President Bush has done enough damage by allowing Phil Graham (advisor) to play with all the money by means of over leveraging. The crisis is the result of those wrong calculations which these people did. This shall take a long time and will require faith to be instilled in the general public which the Bush or McCain government cannot do as McCain again has Phil Graham in his party and wants him to be the treasury head.

The only solution which can come by way of Obama entering the economy and interfering with the funds flow shall be to levy huge taxes and take money out of the system to protect the future growth.

India has faced the pinch by not keeping check on the inflows and outflows by FII’s which gave a blistering kick by taking out huge chinks in this year and were responsible for the biggest crash in the history of Indian Stock markets. The Indian Stock market has gone below the levels of 2002 and most securities have breached their all time lows which are no less than a crisis for these companies and the investors as value is badly hit.

This decrease in the value has shaken the complete infrastructure and the money flow has squeezed the markets to such an extent where faith and trust have eroded out of the Indian stock markets which were supposedly the largest market till last year.

India has some great systems and these have saved the country from falling apart in this scenario where most of the investment was taken out immediately. The country still has a lot of growth potential for the basic reason that India is a developing economy. Other economies in Asia have faced similar pressures and their markets have also tested lows which was a result of the pullout from funds and institutions from U.S. and U.K.

What is being done about it?

India and most Asian market shall remain the best investment opportunities for the coming years as there is growth potential and infrastructure development in these countries which shall offer lucrative margins for these investors. The U.S. market and the economic crisis in U.S. will take a long time to recover as the slashed property prices have ruined most real estate markets and subprime mortgages are on their lifetime high which has affected most banks liquidity issues. Obama is considered as a new ray of hope in the U.S. who shall bring some change and get things better. This is not a situation which can be treated easily and shall require time to rectify. The banks can start investing again once they are settled with their redemption pressures and the best markets will be Asian Countries which shall allow huge inflow with excellent systems to welcome these companies. The crisis has to be fought back and the best way is to face it and start working on improving the things immediately which should be done by the governments from all countries. U.S. is expected to come up with reasonable plans to convert some parts of the finance sector into public from private and taking control of the situation. The Asian governments can also work in stabilizing their markets which can be done by pursuing the Home institutions to put money in the system and their markets which shall also give a cushion to this effect.

What a great idea. The site features a blog, news and a break down of this Transition team. Looks like transparency will be high on an Obama administrations list of kept promises. I’m pretty optimistic about the direction.

One of the most telling things on the site is that it features a bunch of volunteer programs such as AmeriCorps & Peace Corps. But also has so new programs: Classroom Corps to help teachers in underserved schools, Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps.

Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free.

These are pretty good ideas.

My digg response:

I REALLY wanted Ron Paul to win. That being said, America does not want to hear what Paul or Schiff have to say. And I can see why. It took everything in my power not to slice my wrists after reading Schiff’s book, Crash Proof. Then when I called EuroPacific, Schiff’s company, to implement Schiff’s plan to become Crash Proof and save what remains of my 401K from the impending crash, they told me the minimum investment was 20K (which I no longer have) and that was that. I’m not mad at them for being capitalists (I’m pro-capitalism), but I don’t think the markets are a self perpetuating panacea for every human issue and situation.
I believe we need a smart, competent, visionary to run this country and I hope that Obama will make the right decisions. To suggest that he is going to destroy the country before he has even take office takes a flying leap from pessimism into paranoia.

Me and Mbraynard talk:

“It’s only a flying leap if you don’t believe he meant it when he said what he was going to do once elected.”
– I know its disappointing for some to see a presidential candidate NOT come through on every single campaign promise.  However, one must consider that as president (not merely a nominee) every decision is based on the situation at hand.

“You can’t possibly have *really* wanted Ron Paul to win and thing that Obama will be anything but a disaster”

-I actually walked the streets for Paul.  I lost faith when he refused to go third party even after the GOP shit all over him.  And I’m telling everyone I know about Schiff’s book because I believe its an important message.  I haven’t agree with everything they’ve said.  Even inspite of Schiff’s many accurate predictions.

In fact, one thing that Schiff & Paul are seriously flawed on is that they don’t emphasize the importance of clean renewable energy, even though they both say over and over that part of the problem with our declining buying power is that we have gotten rid of our manufacturing  obtaining a serious trade deficit as a result and a cancerous addiction to oil that funds some groups that would like us broke and/or dead.  An aggressive move toward renewable energy could fix both of those problems LONG TERM.  That is a promise I hope Obama keeps regardless of the wax and wane of the US Dollar.

*check out HOT, FLAT and CROWDED by Thomas Freidman

Lady liberty’s torch is burning bright again summoning the world to dream about these American shores once again. I didn’t cry when Obama got elected.  Yes, I’m black and realize the historical implications of what has taken place.  Yes, he gave one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever heard.  But I didn’t shed a tear.  I’ll admit I was struck by how beautiful his family was, but the aesthetics of it didn’t bring the tears.  The full gravity of it didn’t hit me until today when I considered the Statue of Liberty.  I went to Wikipedia to examine her history and her reason for being and FLOW MY TEARS.   It was like a light went off.  America is a very special occurrence in the history of mankind.  I didn’t just notice this.. I stopped taking my liberties for granted when I lived in another country for a year. While other nations have been built on specific races, creeds and religions allowing others the gilded cage of a second class citizenship, America asks the world:  

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”  

Our culture is unique in that it is a frame work that allows others the freedoms to enjoy theres and still be as American as everyone else.   We are not perfect.  There is no magic here.  We are people just like you.  But what sets us apart is that we are a constant work in progress that allows for unprecedented change and the audacity of hope especially in the most perilous times.  

I saw celebrations and/or mock U.S. elections in China, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Iran and Indonesia.  I’m speechless.

The most powerful thing about this win is what it represents.  When people around the world are questioned they mention the same thing… they are hoping for better relations between they’re country and the U.S.

I’ve traveled the world both before and after 9/ll and I can tell you there was a time when America was loved like you would not believe.  I remember being in Korea in 1998 as G.I.  Although there were some violent student protests at the colleges, the older generations LOVED Americans.  I remember walking the streets and a Korean father handing me his baby and telling me he loved Americans.  He could barely speak English and I could barely speak Korean.  I went there again in 2004.  With American in the middle of two wars (one very, unpopular) I didn’t feel as comfortable wandering too far from other Americans.  I also went to Germany in 2004 and I can tell you that every now and then I’d notice a book, a magazine or a news cast with a negative perception of America.  On more than one occasion I was tempted to tell people I was from Canada just to avoid being embarrassed or being killed.

It is obvious that people around the world want America to be successful not just because many of their economies depend on our buying power but also the dream and hope that America represents.

We are one of the few nations on Earth that allow a citizen of any race the opportunity to take a major office to represent and govern its people.

That is something to be proud of.

there our economy is tied into so many of their lives

so many dreams,

1)  He aligned himself with Bush.

Why did John McCain allow George Bush to campaign with him, take pictures and hang out with him when he is among the most unpopular president of all time.    Its like CNN Contributor, Alex Castellano, mentioned “Republicans broke the brand”.

2)  McCain is worth $40 million dollars. (cnn money)

As a US senator he earns $165K per year.  This Navy pension gets $54K per year.  Since about 1999 he’s been putting out a book a year which gets him about $225K in royalties per year.  His family companies earn about $7mill per year.  He also has real estate that makes about $1million.  Among other things he has a bunch of misc. trusts that pull in over $24 million.

3)  He’s been a senator since 1982 years.

As of 2008 he’s been in the senate for 26 years.  That means he’s had a major hand in the development of America.   He’s had the luxuries, power and prestige that comes with being a senator.

4)  He’s married to a beer heiress.

She is chair of Hensley & Co.,^[4][5] founded by her father and one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in the United States. - wiki  DUDE… JOHN S. McCain is married to a HOT billionaire BEER heiress!!

5)  He’s John Mc “flippin’” Cain.

If you feel sorry for John McCain, you don’t know John McCain.  He suffered in a POW camp for 5 years.  He survived the worse carrier fire in the US Naval history.. He walked out of the flames of a missile created fire.  Bottom line:  John McCain does not need your flippin’ sympathy!

MONTREAL — A Quebec comedy duo notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state has reached Sarah Palin, convincing the Republican vice-presidential nominee she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.  http://www.justiciers.tv/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEwKcs-7Hc

Oh, man!  That is ugly.  The french accent is totally authentic.  I don’t think she heard the “Nailin’ Palin” comment at the end.  I believe that is some adult stuff depicting Sarah.  Those Canadians must be following the media pretty close.

Honestly, I kind of feel bad for Palin on this one.

“open.salon.com — The Republican Party is dead. Yes, I’m saying this before the election. Even if McCain wins, which could happen if Obama supporters stay home thinking the election is in the bag, the GOP still has lost its way along with a substantial number of members. While high-profile Republicans like Susan Eisenhower and Frank Schaeffer have made the headlines”

George W. Bush.  It wasn’t really BUSH that killed the GOP, but the GOP base and their unwillingness to separate from myriad failed policies of George W. Bush.  Lets tick off the disaster:  Iraqi, Gitmo (suspension of Habeas Corpus), Abu Graib, constant inflation of the dollar, beating the war drum against Iran.

This just in:  U.S. Attacks part of Syria & Pakistan with NOTHING to say to anyone… including the American people.

Its the ass end of 2008.  The Democrats could sweep the elections.  What will they do with all that power?  Will they deliver the final death blow to America’s economy or will they have the wisdom, audacity and hubris to implement the catalyst that raises America to a new greatness.

I am a hopeful optimist with the goggles of a realist.  The Democrats have been just as careless with our civil liberties, economy and military as the Bush executive branch has been.  So I am skeptical of their ethics but hopefull that they will do the right thing.  If we dig our selves out of this one, it won’t be without a lot of dumb luck.  I hope Obama is that dumb luck.  If not, the next thing you will see on this site is a dead Donkey.  I will leave no punch un-thrown.