East vs. West - Myths that mystify ...

East vs. West - Myths that mystify ...

East vs. West - An interesting perspective of how different the cultures are:

• East vs. West - Myths that mystify!

A very interesting video clipping indeed;

Hope you enjoyed it.

Regards,

N

---

Death with Dignity

Death with Dignity

Dr. Peter Goodwin, the famous doctor who fought to introduce the "Death with Dignity Act" in USA, is no more.

He was possibly among the first men who fought for the right to "Assisted Suicide" for terminally ill patients.

On March 11, 2012, he used the law to end his own life.

Here's an obituary that I came across: Obituary - Dr. Peter Goodwin, the advocate of "Death with Dignity Act", is no more

For highly advanced societies with very strong and timely law-enforcement agencies, for intellectually mature individuals, for emotionally strong and stable individuals, perhaps "Assisted Suicide" may be a law worth introducing.

In a country like India, it is prone to misuse. In any case, even in those very same advanced societies, "Assisted Suicide" may not necessarily be a great idea for at least two reasons that I can think of:

• The disease which has impacted the patient may become curable after the actual date of death but before his preordained (by God, not by man) date of death
• There may be a medical miracle and the disease might have very well disappeared "suddenly"

Should we have such a law in any part of the planet?

On the other hand, unbearable suffering or a state of coma or a life as a vegetable can be highly undesirable. Especially for a patient who has been "full of life and energy" till the other day. Especially if the medical condition is known to be irreversible.

Unfortunately, in this life of ours, there are no easy answers to such complex questions. At least, I don't have an easy answer for this question.

Regards,

N

---

Privacy Concerns - How Companies Learn Your Secrets

Privacy Concerns - How Companies Learn Your Secrets

Scientific advancement is an amazing subject. Came across the following article:

• How Companies Learn Your Secrets ... ... ... ...

Apparently, certain retail companies have found the holy grail of marketing promotions: The ability to identify a customer who's probably pregnant and along with the ability to predict the likely date of delivery of the baby. And have started using the data to make special offers, discounts, promos on "baby items", for instance, to these very customers.

While the above is an interesting article at an academic level, it can be a shocker for expectant parents-to-be!

Considering the traditional perception of Indians being wizards in Maths, I'd not be surprised if some of our own Indian retail outlets have started using such "data-generation tools" already.

And, unlike western societies, we don't have adequately strong privacy protection laws. Nor do our customers have an adequate level of awareness about their rights.

Wonder what our young women will feel when they start getting targetted advertisements through email, post, SMS messages, etc. in the weeks before delivery of their baby!

Regards,

N

---

Alleged list of TOP 10 Swiss Bank A/c Holders from India

Alleged list of TOP 10 Swiss Bank A/c Holders from India

I happened to get from some unknown "email forward" a link that makes a few outrageous claims about Indian VIPs holding huge sums of money amounting to thousands of crores of rupees. The names are ... ... ... hmmm..., rather well-known.

Here is the link:

• Claimed "Top Swiss Bank A/c Holders List"

I've got a few simple queries:

• Are these claims true?
• If the claims are true, considering the fact that an ordinary "aam aadmi" like me has received the above link, enough and more of powerful persons in the media, in different wings of law-enforcement agencies, rival businessmen, rival politicians, etc. are sure to have received the very same "information". Why has there been no hue and cry in the media? After all, names have been mentioned. Along with account numbers. What more is required?
• Or, are these claims false?
• If the claims are false, considering the fact that an ordinary "aam aadmi" like me has received the above link, enough and more of powerful persons in the list, their supporters, their "powerful friends", the media, etc. are sure to have received the very same "information". Why has there been no loud protests claiming innocence? Why have we not heard about "cyber-crime" law suits against "unknown persons"? Why have we not heard of defamation law suits? After all, names have been mentioned. Along with account numbers. What more is required?

Obviously, I don't have answers.

Do you?

Regards,

N

---