Of contractors and mercenaries

Groups such as Blackwater (now serving in Iraq) would have been called mercenaries – which i guess is not necessarily a bad thing -  but now they are called private contractors.

Private contractors sounds so much better than mercenaries: especially, when reporting alleged indiscriminate shooting of civilians.

Sizzle – Walukarama road

They serve everything in a hot, black metal plate. The food comes to you spitting, sizzling and smoking.

The food, service and ambience is excellent. Prices are okay, but towards the expensive side. It is owned by a Muslim, and no pork is served. I am not too sure about how the spread for vegetarians, so I would call and find out if I were a vegetarian – meat eaters have nothing to worry about.

They don’t serve liquor, apparently because it is close to a school (Mahanama) (but there is a casino near by, which i am sure serves liquor).

I would go there again. There contact number: 0716 888 777

Buddhist clergy on the march

I think the Burmese priests are doing a great service to their country by their non-violent protest. Our local Safron clad politicians could (and should) learn from them.

My feelings are diametric. I respect, and feel good that the Buddhist priests are trying to do something in Burma (link to BBC). But i detest the local so-called priests who entered politics (in Sri Lanka) with the so-called intention of setting the country right.

Initially, the priests in Burma requested that the public not join them. But some seemed to have usurped the original protest and requested that the public too join in – albeit peacefully; imo this is an imprudent move to request that the public join in, as at the time of this post.

Burmese priest still guided by the teachings, LK safron politics ought to re-learn
I suppose the difference is that the priests in Burma are still guided by the core principals of what the Buddha taught. If anyone listened to the yellow robe clad Medhananda’s speech on the occasion of Ven Gangodawila Soma, where he reiterated time and again that he was murdered, Medhananda lacked a) compassion etc and b) intelligence : missed a good opportunity to spread the message of the Buddha; instead he chose to spread nothing but hatred and vengeance.

Is torture ever justified?

There is an interesting article in the Economist (link).

To quote one question put forward in that article
“What if that prisoner knew the whereabouts of a ticking bomb—maybe a biological, chemical or even nuclear one? Wouldn’t a little sleep deprivation, sexual humiliation or even water-dunking be justified to save hundreds and perhaps thousands of lives?”

So what do you think? If the police take in a suspected LTTE terrorist or in the old days, a JVP terrorist, should the law give immunity (or at least tacit support) for torture to extract information?

An interesting graph from the article:

The Chronicles of Narnia

At LKR 2,000 or so this is a pretty pricey book – but worth it, as it includes all seven books. I doubt that this is a adult book – I suppose it is rather a childrens’ book. However, i finished reading the first two and love the book. i like the simple way that its is written and the way the story flows; and the story itself.

Will i ever buy and give this wonderful collection to say a person below the age of 15? No: there are references such as “son of Adam” etc. The first book also carries with it a bit of creationism. As a person who claims to have no faith as such, i have no issues in my reading of these and enjoying it very much, but i do not think i will give this to a younger child – regardless of what the child’s religion is. However, adults, can enjoy and appreciate the book.

US Subprime – The rich man’s perspective

The following is a very interesting, thought provoking article: Subprime lessons for a Wall Street trader – Everyone feels sorry for the poor, and no one feels sorry for me. Even though it’s my money! No good deed goes unpunished.

While i may not agree with everything in it, it sure offers a different (new?) perspective. At the end of the day, people do business to make money – and people lend to make money: not to help people. We may not like it, but that is how it is.

I still continue to believe that the rating agencies will continue to be unfairly targeted for this sub-prime mess.

Shoot to kill, or shoot to arrest?

I am not much of a TV fan, but last Monday i was at a friend’s place and watched CSI, the finale which was superb. In one scene, the detective points his gun at a criminal who in turn has a gun pointed back at him and keeps on shouting asking the criminal to lay down the weapon.

My thoughts:
* If you are a police officer, and in uniform, what sort of a guy will point a gun at you?
* Should the police officer risk his/her life in order to arrest an armed criminal who may choose to blow your head off?
* Would the society as a whole to be better off, if the cop, when having a gun pointed at his/her head just pull the trigger when the opportunity strikes?

These are pointed questions, no doubt. I am definitely against extra-judicial killings, but i think the police would do all a favour if it just shoots back.

When some one is brutally attacked, what would i do?

Those who watched the news yesterday would know how Mr (Dr?) Foul and uneducated mouth’s son (Malaka Silva) savagely attacked a fellow human.

Anways, it got me thinking: what would i have done, if i was there and saw thugs such as these get together and beat someone up. a) would i have interveined and tried to stop the fight b) turn a blind eye c) call the police (from a public phone) d) try to get a video so that we have evidence to prosecute

The answer for me is, if the one getting beaten up is a friend, i.e. a very good friend, then i will jump in and try to get him out of it; else, it will be choice “c”. Yes, my love for my life, is much greater than doing the correct thing.

The Giniralla Conspiracy

Gini (fire) Ralla (wave) is truly an amazing story, and it will keep you sitting on you bum until you finish reading it. Its supposed to based on some facts; and yes, some facts but the story sounds fictitious (brilliant!) . The book has the right degree of romance, suspense and fact.

I find it much easier to relate to this book, and come up with suitable depictions of characters in my head as i am a product of a local university. It was fun.

The book also brings forth emotions ranging from jealousy, love and how people can leech on other peoples insecurity and use them for their advantage.

Maids – give them their fair due

Sometimes they are called servants. Maids are those that help around in the house, sweeping, cooking, washing and ironing cloths amongst other such chores. What do I mean when i say “fair due”:

a) respect
b) remuneration
c) quantum of work

Points “b” and “c” are easily understood. What about point “a”? basically, treat them as you would treat a human and not as how you would treat a slave. Yes, some people do treat their helper as slaves. For example, some people do not even bother to learn their helpers name and call them by various other names.

Maids play a very important role (those employed abroad send home foreign exchange) in Sri Lanka. It may go un-noticd and even un-appreciated: they save loads of time for me. Yes, i belong to that spoilt class that do not wash my cloths, make my bed, cook my food etc because we have a maid who does that for us; and because of her, it saves me time to concentrate on my work, studies and leisure.