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Seven new cases of Covid-19 in the community today
Indian High Commission celebrates Independence Day in Wellington in Alert Level 2
NZ extends alert levels, wage subsidy: What you need to know
Wage subsidy extended nation wide and what you need to know
Auckland lockdown to continue for 12 more days
Auckland's Level 3 lockdown extended till 26 August, wage subsidy to be extended nationwide
Kiwi Indian among the doctor-duo who lost lives in a road accident
More Police Deployed For COVID Efforts
The COVID-19 crisis tests oppositions as well as governments. Ahead of New Zealand's election, National risks failing that test
Second Wave, Day 3: 12 new Covid cases reported, active cases increases to 48
Covid-19: Cabinet to decide future of alert levels, decision to be announced at 5.30pm
Phil Goff: Auckland will need more government help
Verdict 2017
National Party sticks with their 'rock,' Bill English remains as Party Leader
Here comes Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
National juggernaut comes to halt with Labour-Green block winning two seats in the final count.
New Zealand politics in limbo: What's the fuss about the MMP and First past the post system?
What would a government with Winston Peters look like?
Can special votes go with National and not Labour-Green?
A report card of Kiwi-Indian candidates in 2017 election
Can Greens bring about real 'youth quake' in New Zealand politics?
Immigration cuts under any new government will depend on how badly we want to build our infrastructure
Can Greens create the history and go 'right' with National?
Trends from advance voting will determine who will form the next government
Google to invest $4.5 billion in Jio Platforms for 7.73% stake
Mukesh Ambani world's 7th richest, overtakes Warren Buffet
EU predicts 'deeper recession' in 2020 than expected
World needs to get ready for prolonged periods of instability: Study
Apple first US company to hit $1.5 trillion market cap
Airlines globally to lose $84.3 billion in 2020: IATA
World Bank projects global economy to shrink by 5.2% in 2020
US economy officially entered recession in February
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala to invest $1.2 billion in Reliance's Jio platforms
Google to reopen offices from July 6, gives workers $1,000 each
US rental-car company Hertz files for bankruptcy
American billionaires richer by $434 billion during the pandemic
IPL 13: Final on Nov 10; 10 double headers planned
Ganguly in home quarantine after brother Snehashish tests positive
Happy Birthday Sourav Ganguly: Captain who is still steering the ship of Indian cricket
Exclusive: New Zealand Cricket clears the air, 'not hosting IPL 2020'
Kohli can break Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries, says Hogg
Tendulkar pays tribute to 'three people' on Guru Purnima
Here's what Kiwi skipper Ken Williamson have to say about playing in IPL
Liverpool deserve guard of honour, says Man City manager Guardiola
Ahead of England tour, three Pak players test positive for COVID-19
COVID-19: ONE Championship star Bhullar helps native village in Punjab
Thought you wanted to beat the best, Mayweather asks McGregor
In these challenging times, our parents need us more than ever: Sachin Tendulkar
60,963 new corona cases take India tally across 23 lakh
Serum Institute to price Covid vaccine at less than Rs 250/dose
Pilots among 17 dead as AI Express plane overshoots runway, plunges into valley
Air India commences fifth phase of Vande Bharat Mission ops
Amit Shah tests positive for Covid, admitted to hospital
Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh passes away at 64 in Singapore
India to remain key global supply chain partner: Boeing India
Willpower matters: 101-yr-old Andhra woman wins COVID battle
Apple's 'Assembled in India' iPhone 11s reach retail stores
SpiceJet allowed to operate flights between India, US
The Serum Institute of India to conduct trials of Covishield vaccine
Delhi's 77% population still susceptible to coronavirus
World news
Australia's unemployment level hits 22-year high
Kamala Harris's Indian and African-Jamaican heritages create American dream
US strikes $1.5 billion deal for 100 million doses of Moderna Covid vaccine
Schools won't shut if 2nd COVID-19 wave hits UK: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Russia to begin COVID-19 vaccine production within 2 weeks
Biden picks Kamala Harris to be Democratic vice president nominee
Australia announces $10 billion boost for wage subsidy scheme
Beirut blasts toll reaches 135, state of emergency declared
Covid-19: Melbourne to go into lockdown with another 671 cases announced
Global COVID-19 deaths surpass 680,000: Johns Hopkins University
Trump working on 'a big immigration bill'
Australia records deadliest day of COVID-19 pandemic
Fiji Airways extends the cancellation of scheduled international flights to Sept
Fiji: Individuals can be quarantined outside designated facilities
Fiji govt unveils $US1.7 billion Budget
COVID-19: Fiji records two more positive cases
New COVID-19 case reported in Fiji
Fiji Budget to be delivered at 7.30pm on Friday 17th July
Fiji : Over 2,400 Fijians screened for COVID-19, 18 fresh cases
Fiji Airways cuts more than half of its staff by terminating contract of 758 employees
78% recovery rate has successfully broken the chain of COVID-19 transmission in Fiji- Dr. Waqainabete
Fiji PM touring Vatulele today to hand over the second phase of relief supplies
Badminton, Squash and Bowling now permitted- Qiliho
Fiji Prime Minister makes a surprise visit to descendants of Girmitiyas
Global Indians
Green card wait time for Indians can go to 450 years by 2030: US Senator
Dubai-based Indian girl breaks yoga world record
800,000 Indians could be forced to leave Kuwait: Report
Biden campaign names Indian-American as digital chief of staff
Priyanka Chopra tells Malala: Your degree from Oxford is such an achievement
Indian boy who created Covid-19 tool among Apple student challenge winners
Anmol Narang is the first Sikh woman graduate of US Military Academy
Be impatient, open minded: Sundar Pichai tells graduates
Indian-American scientist wins 'Inventor of the Year' award
Indian expat in UAE lends helping hand to corona patients
Tributes paid to 2 Indian-origin doctors killed by COVID-19
Indian doctor in Dubai gets emotional as cop stops her and salutes
Sushant's niece Mallika: I don't know a better person and I never will
CBI receives Centre's nod to probe Sushant Singh's death
Amitabh Bachchan tests Covid-19 negative, discharged from hospital
Sushant told ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande he was 'quite unhappy' as Rhea 'harassed' him: Reports
'Baahubali' director SS Rajamouli and family test Covid-19 positive
Ayushmann Khurrana plays a cross-functional athlete in next film
Sushant's father files FIR against Rhea for abetment to suicide
Amitabh Bachchan could not hold back tears after Aishwarya, Aaradhya's discharge from hospital
Moved by farmer's plight, Sonu Sood sends him tractor
'Dil Bechara' Review: Sushant Singh Rajput leads a stellar cast (Rating: * * * )
Ranvir Shorey, Anurag Kashyap lock horns on Twitter
SRK's bungalow Mannat covered with plastic due to monsoon, pic goes viral
'Aarya' Web Series: Sushmita Sen props lazy crime drama, Our Rating: * * and 1/2
Anurag Kashyap: My filmmaking process is changing
Lady Gaga's 16-track album 'Chromatica' is out now
'Into The Night' is a non-stop, cheesy caper (Rating: * * * )
Mrs Serial Killer: Utterly messed-up
Chris Hemsworth opens up on 'Thor: Love And Thunder'
Brace yourself for a virtually assisted couch-vacation
India in the cinemas: Ocean to Sky
Rise of the 'Phoenix' in Hollywood
'Hellaro' Takes Indian cinema to the next level; Rating: *****
'Game of Thrones' comes full circle for final goodbye
'The Big Bang Theory' ends on emotional note
Tongue in cheek
World weirdness quotient is rising fast (the funny side)
Photo critique
Elements of Success : Spirit
Elements of Success : Air
Elements of Success : Fire
Elements of Success : Water
Elements of Success : Earth
Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji (I am still a kid by heart)
Sunset Years, Sunshine Life!
Migrant Tales: STUFF No One Ever Tells You about Living Abroad!!
Pardesi Land, Phoren Accent!
Think it's hard to be the oh-so-cool host? Think again
2018: The Year of Fresh Beginnings (Yearly Horoscope)
Weekly horoscope: 1-7 December
Your weekly horoscope: May 12 to 18
Your weekly horoscope: May 5 to 11
Weekly horoscope: April 28 to May 4
Weekly horoscope: March 17 to 23
Weekly Horoscope: March 3 - 9
Your Weekly horoscope: February 17 to 23
Your weekly horoscope: February 10 to16
Your weekly horoscope: February 3 to 9
How technology has changed classical music
Baisakhi: Punjabi singers to hold online musical session for fans
Prateek Kuhad's song in Barack Obama's top 35 songs list
Dhvani's 'Vaaste' crosses 500 mn views in 4 months
Sufi Singer Pyarelal Wadali of Wadali Brothers passes away
Satta Vairowalia's '7 Jaaniya' an ode to women in his life
'The Black Prince' live in New Zealand
Satta Vairowalia set to return with 'Guarantee'
Rahat mesmerises house-full audience in Auckland
AR Rahman to perform live in Auckland this October
Coldplay-led Global Citizen Festival: High on glam, music, social cause
Music magician Mika Singh performs in Auckland
COVID-19 effect: Oscars 2021 might get delayed
'Vatt Thi Gujarati' concert to resonate the essence of Gujarati language
A legend of a production (Review)
Chinmaya youth set to illuminate stage with 'The Legends of Shiva'
Diwali and Bandhi Chhorh Divas celebrated at Sikh temples around Auckland
Fusion of 'Folk and Sufi' wows Auckland
Watch: My kids are the hardest to explain to, says Amit Tandon
Ladies Cultural Night set to returns with better entertainment this year
Theatre review—Dara by Prayas
Taste of Puketapapa brings home the world on a platter
Gujarati Talent Show winner to take home $1000 cash prize
Gauri Pathare set to perform in Auckland
Amazon to add live TV to Prime Video: Report
Sushant Singh Rajput death: Deepika highlights 'importance of reaching out'
Ridley Scott working on 'Gladiator' sequel
Subaru XV launched at Frankfurt
Isuzu to the rescue of St John
D-Max claims desert rally victory
10 reasons why D-Max is one tough ute
Isuzu D-Max the world's best 4WD ute
1.4 million kms and still going strong
The Beast now in New Zealand
Driving nirvana for the soul
Virtual test drive for Tata Nano a hit
In focus
Thank you all for the lovely wishes for our baby boy: Hardik
Lockdown diaries: Wisdom from authors in quarantine
Global warming may unleash Asian monsoon fury: Study
Here's the bucket list of an Adventure junkie... What's on yours?
Study provides evidence on link between air pollution & early death
NZ lamb and seafood showcased in a first virtual culinary competition for chefs in India
Important to know signs of mental health problems: Experts
The connection with nature
86% workers globally demand new skills training from employers: Survey
From corporate to Sufi, a journey within
Anish Kapoor tops list of 'Most Successful Indian Artists Alive Today 2020'
How the pandemic will shape the fashion world
Migrant Tales
A virtual backstage tour of Sydney Opera House
Would you dare to travel in 2020?
Over half of global airlines' passenger revenues at risk: IATA
A trip to Israel: Musings of a Kiwi-Indian journalist
Seniors of Auckland Indian Association make a trip to magical Alaska and Canadian rockies
Partying with the ghosts in Singapore
Pattaya mein bhi Mera Bharat Mahaan
Nat Geo documentary on Titanic to release next year
How inviting foreign delegates to the International Day of Yoga 2018 in India made a difference!
What's HOT at House of Travel Ponsonby
Face of the Week
Kritika Pandey wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2020
Rachit Kushwaha's 'Behind the Dreams' online show offers self-help advice from successful immigrants living in New Zealand
Living in NZ: A Chinese-descent Indian shares her unique cultural experience
One year after The Great Kiwi Bake Off: Did Kiwi-Indian mum get the jumpstart she was after?
'It's time to make some noise'
The young, up and coming musician-duo busting the myths
How to translate research into practice in competitive sports - A Book Review
Book Review: What does it take to be an International Citizen?
Nanette Nathoo: The community safety crusader
Heroes amongst us | Meet one of the only two Indian fire fighters in NZ
Kiwi-Indian among the finalists for Miss Universe NZ 2017
The face behind the masks
Microsoft aims to buy entire TikTok, including India ops: Report
Samsung rejigs Galaxy ecosystem with 5 flagship devices
Google extends work from home order till mid-2021
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 may cost cheaper than Note 10
WhatsApp introduces animated stickers, QR codes globally
Facebook to address advertisers as trust deficit grows
Here is how you can get US$35,000 from NASA for designing a toilet
This man 'accidentally' bought 28 Tesla cars for 1.4mn Euros
Amazon to acquire self-driving firm Zoox for over $1billion: Report
Scientists spot rare Neptune-like planet
New Facebook app to let you predict about world events
Apple reimagines iPhone, iPad, Watch experience with iOS 14
Understanding Plasma Therapy
Why daily stretching is a health necessity
Pump up the protein and vitamins in your diet
Manage your child's hidden hunger with these tips
Here are the Covid-19 vaccine candidates in late stage clinical trials
Healthy drinks to replace your morning tea
All you need to know about migraine
5 lifestyle changes towards building immunity
Just like any other organ, the brain too can fall sick: Experts
Covid patients dying of unique fungus, researchers begin probe
Turmeric compound could kill certain coronaviruses
5 tips to help clean your house during the pandemic
Comfort in your plate with some easy noodles recipes
Ramadan Special : Savoury Iftaar dishes
Treat your sweet tooth with dessert recipes this Diwali
Chicken Mughlai
Paneer Butter Masala
Vegetable Seekh Kebab
How to steep the perfect cup of tea?
Lohri 2018: Bring Punjab to your dinner table with these easy and delicious special dishes!
Tadka Dal
Stylize your simple Navratra food with new variants
Malai Kofta
Studying abroad in 2020? Read this
The downside of e-learning
Gardening: Welcome autumn by preparing new plantings
Simplifying maths for young minds at Mathematica
No response!
Zero + zero = zero!
Political correctness in job hunting
Decoding the cover letter
It's not what you know; It's 'who you know'
So, you think you are the victim?
Tips to combat back-to-school jitters
Welcome to Aotearoa, what next?
Nine unique breathing techniques to practice
A unique underground library has 900,000 books in Rajasthan
Yoga for holistic health
Vastu Myths Debunked
Book captures brilliance of Ranjit Singh's polity, rule
"We wish all a very happy Shravan Maas," Shri Radha Krishna Temple
Jindan – The Indomitable Maharani of Punjab
10 Spiritual Things You Should Do During Ramadan
Delegates hail Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute in Maharashtra
Why Kolkata should be your next holiday destination!! Part 1
'Ek Onkar': The Guru's way of life (Gurpurab Special)
The significance and celebration of Dhanteras
Second wave of Covid-19 in NZ: Undeterred Jacinda Ardern holds nerve and continues with elimination strategy.
Opinion: Overseas visa suspensions signal the death knell of the immigration system
OPINION: Latest Visa changes short-sighted and will detriment employers and migrants
Health Minister resigns: Govt finally chooses to play by the "playbook."
Maskless: The story of America's COVID-19 apocalypse
Learning from experience: how our universities can turn the international student crisis into an opportunity
Opinion: Where will America go from here?
National needs to do more than just scavenge upon the issue of flouting of social distancing rules under Alert level 2
Is government trying to hide behind smokescreen of anti-migrant rhetoric from responsibility of fixing the economy
Why international students are welcome but not temporary migrant workers with legitimate visas?
Of Racism and Coronavirus
Time for an ANZ-Pacific Island Bubble
Second wave of Covid-19 in NZ: Govt's resurgence plan needs to be remarkably different
National Party returns to "old guard," for leadership
Todd Muller had a huge crisis of self-confidence
Tough times for those stranded overseas
Will National's blue turn darker or lighter?
National's dangerously low polling: Will the two Kiwi-Indian MPs survive the cull and return to parliament?
Opinion: A Budget with big numbers, but little vision
New immigration laws ignore the plight of offshore migrants
Update on COVID-19: What would be the next 2 weeks be like for us in New Zealand?
Did INZ Mumbai respond to partnership-visa-delays by changing operational practice?
How China is quietly flexing its muscles in India
Racist comments against Kiwi-Indians are not representative of New Zealanders
Grim forebodings as 15 March Anniversary approaches
From Pacific to Indo-Pacific: NZ govt affirms commitment in most unambiguous manner
Community reception for Team India in Wellington: Cricket revered as a great enhancer of bilateral ties
Unwelcome verbal fireworks mar Diwali
International students left in limbo again: A sordid underbelly of export education
Has New Zealand finally shed its reticence toward 'Indo-Pacific'?
Is there anything in common in Bangladesh, Indian and South Africa's cricketing trajectory?
Wellbeing Budget is all well – but realpolitik shows
Everest needs an urgent solution!
With great power comes great responsibility
Will social media, and not climate change, be Jacinda's new nuclear-free moment?
Christchurch terror attack: Has the world finally found a leader in Jacinda Ardern to counter global rightwing populism?
India specials
Covid-19 could fulfil a long-standing Kiwi-Indian dream
US says 'ongoing threats' came up in consultations, but India silent on it
India's China Challenge
I see online community being hurtful to each other: Ratan Tata
Post-Covid paradigm shifts in business management
A cricketing record that'll never be broken
India's 71st Republic Day: Saluting the diaspora-connection with the 'idea of India'
How Modi changed (and changed) the demonetisation narrative
Salaam-Namaste, the Modi-Sharif tryst
Intolerance to inaction on climate change: Modi can make a difference
Is Modi himself moderating Hindu rashtra concept?
Style must accompany substance: a time for transformational leadership
Reader say
The gift of confidence!
Are you getting bullied...?
The secret of friendship
Discourse of the Diaspora
Readers Speak: When was the last road trip you took?
Readers speak: What are your thoughts about the brutal killing of Indian bus driver in Australia?
Crime, safety and race relations in New Zealand
Standing for working people and employers
Make your Zakat Count
From the Form to the Formless (1926 - 2011)
Dhoni: The man who defied logic
Guy Fawkes Day – the Kiwi spin on Diwali
A guide to women's health after 40
Anne Hathaway quits drinking believes parenting the right way
Eating lots of rice may advance start of menopause
How not to impress a woman (The funny side)
NZ PM Jacinda Ardern's pregnancy is an inspiration for all working-mums
Mothers work more, dads spends more leisure time: Study
The rise of 'freemales'
How WhatsApp is giving wings of freedom to housewives
Three Kiwi women honoured at the Women Economic Forum 2016
From our heart to yours—I am Woman launched
I am strong, I am invincible, I am Woman
No damsels in distress
Immigration news
Minister saying "disgruntled Indians go home" is not good look on this government of compassion
No immediate respite for deported Indian students who took sanctuary in Auckland Unitary Church
The migration magician
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of workshops
A call for ethnic Kiwis to leadership
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of workshops
Work and live in New Zealand permenantly
Work Visa - Working Temporarily in New Zealand
New Parent Category - Process
Working temporarily in New Zealand
Recent Family Category Changes
Know the law
LINZ response to the Indian Weekender's story of resident migrants ineligibility to buy homes
Staying alert prevents mishaps
Foreign buyers continue to snap up NZ land and houses
Personal Grievance
Drink Drive and Limited Licences - A Review
Traffic Offences – EBA (Drink Drive Charge – Second time)
Know about Limited Licence or Work Licence
Traffic Offences - Drinking and driving
What are your rights when being questioned by the police?
Hockey stick in a car. Legal or illegal?
What does the story of the first Pakeha-Sikh New Zealander tell us about Sikhism faith in New Zealand?
Playtime with dad improves children's self-control
Savour the flavour of each culture
Is it fine not to fine?
Bridging the cultural barrier
Early habits to prepare for Ramadan
The colour of your community
Bilingual and Multicultural
Love thy neighbour as your family
Is race dependent on space?
United we integrate
Sanju trailer
Pareshaan Parinda
Kangana Ranaut in Aap ki Adalat
SRK answers questions
Salman Khan talks to Indian Weekender
Victoria and Abdul trailer
Jagga Jasoos trailer
Tubelight trailer
Vinod Khanna in an old interview
Viceroy's house, movie trailer
Celebs leave for Da Bang tour
Hindi Medium trailer
Mumbai street food $100 challenge
World's spiciest curry
Kerala street food
Mumbai street food
Real Indian food in Delhi
Gordon Ramsay's Top 5 Indian Dishes
Hyderabad street food
Rasgulla Recipe
Cooking Doas
Paani Puri recipe
Medu wada
Masala papad
Huawei Nova 5T - Unboxing & Review
Huawei P30 Pro's camera is set to rewrite the rules of photography!!
Huawei P30 Pro Unboxing and Review
Controversial Lamb advertisement
Interview with Satta Vairowalia
Indians and Pakistanis taste test
Priyanka Chopra interview
Sundar Pichai - Googles new CEO
An eye-pad for the blind
Nandita Das - Dark is beautiful
India 2011 : BBC TV Debate
Obama observes Diwali
Paragliding fail
Early 20s vs Late 20s
What not to do a restaurant
Mummy ki call
Queues in India
Headless man prank
Punjabi Despacito
Amit Tandon on Mobile phones and Whatsapp
Indian middle class symbols - Amit Tandon
How Indians fight
Traffic in Delhi - Amit Tandon
Bhai ho
Hall of Fame
Hall of fame 2018
Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame - 2017
Sukhi Turner former mayor of Dunedin
Hall of Fame 2016 - Performance by Belly dancing troupe
Hall of Fame 2016 - Performance by Nasha
Hall of Fame 2016 - Performance by Arabella
Hall of Fame 2016 - Performance by Amrita Bhende deSouza
Hall of Fame 2016 - Speech by Rt Hon PM, John Key
Hall of Fame 2016 - Winner of the Unsung hero of the year, Ramesh Patel
Hall of Fame 2016 - Young achiever of the year Dr Malvindar Singh-Bains
Highlights of the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016
Hall of Fame 2016 - Winner of the Hall of Fame award, Dr CS Benjamin
India specials
The Parsi community
Vande Mataram
Mumbaicha Raja
A Tribute To Classic Indian Ads
India launches a record 104 satellites
Mexican ambassador's rickshaw
Social experiment on republic day
Dance on Flight to celebrate Republic Day
The Demonetization circus
The making of PM Modi's wax sculpture
An extra large dosa
Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech wedding ceremony
Purbayan Chatterjee and Rhythm Shaw - First train out
'Kattey' - Ram Sampath, Bhanvari Devi, Hard Kaur
Kattey - Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3
Sawan Mein featuring Jasmine Sandlas
Despacito Remix - India Dance Video
Yaara by AR Rahman
Shape of you Bhangra mix
Tu Hi Tha - Shirley Setia
#F8 The Fate of the Furious Official Trailer!
Chaiya Chaiya / Don't stop
I Can't Make You Love Me
Priyanka Chopra - In my city
New Zealand
Indian Weekender speaks with Ankur Sharma from Business Launchpad about Tax-related matters #IWK
Huawei P30 Pro Unboxing & Review
NZ survivor describes chasing terrorist away
Immigration NOW Episode 2 | The Show about NZ Immigration | Post Study Work Visa (Employer Assisted)
Immigration NOW Episode 1 | The Show About NZ Immigration | Essential Skills Work Visa
A Day Out With a Firefighter
Interview with Satta Vairowalia
Crown Superette robbery
Immigration in NZ
AR Rahman in conversation with IWK
Shoplifted 8 times in 3 years
NZ's Indian taxi drivers
Rescue work at the PIA crash site
Face of the Week- Anchal Mawah | Live Jamming Session
Choreography Gaurav N Chandni
Carpool singing in 4 languages
Manjit Singh superhuman strength
Groom sings for his bride
Tabla with Tap dancing
Juggling while solving 3 Rubik cubes
Russia's got talent
Sir Ravi the juggler
Just dance 2011
Extreme train stunts
World record Bollywood dance class
Photo Gallery
Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2017
Da Bang Tour NZ
Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016- Gala event
Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2015
Fusion Music Concert
Holi 2012
Budget 2010
R-Day diamond jubilee 2010
Wellington City
Samoa Tsunami
Gandhi Jayanti and Tagore Library inauguration
Face of India Photo exhibition
Santa comes to Nadi: Paul Ross, founder of Pacific Kids, organises for a Christmas party for the children at Loloma House
Auckland Diwali Festival 2014
Holi 2014
Kim Dotcom launches new music album
Diwali Festival 2013, Auckland
Satya Sai Baba 85th Birthday Celebrations
What Diwali means to me
Indian food festival
Diwali in Auckland City
Navratri 2009
Obama's Visit to India
Sachin Tendulkar
Indian Food
Glimpses of India
Live Shows
Kiwi Indian of the year - 2014
Kiwi Indian of the year - 2013
Holi hues of Auckland
Delhi Couture Week
Gurus of Indian Classical music
Politicking Animals
Election Fever- National Party
13th Annual IIFA Awards 2012
Cannes Film Festival 2012
Cannes Film Festival 2012
Indian Air Force Day 2010 celebrations
Indian Weekender presents Shreya Ghoshal
Sharukh Khan's house - Mannat
Minister saying "disgruntled Indians go home" is not good look on this government of compassion
Immigration news
Immigration news
Minister saying "disgruntled Indians go home" is not good look on this government of compassion
Escalating a general anti-immigrant rant, which is ideally more suitable on social media platforms, at a proper government policy level on a specific and sensitive issue of bringing one's chosen life-partner, is low.
Immigration news
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of workshops
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of free and user paid workshops for newcomers and migrants
Immigration news
A call for ethnic Kiwis to leadership
It's important every New Zealander feels inspired and has the opportunity to step into leadership roles
Immigration news
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of workshops
A.R.M.S Manukau Team are offering a range of free and user paid workshops for newcomers and migrants
Immigration news
Work and live in New Zealand permenantly
To work and live permanently in New Zealand, migrants have to apply for the visa based on their occupation and skills
Immigration news
Work Visa - Working Temporarily in New Zealand
Requirements and processes involved in obtaining a temporary work visa
Immigration news
Information on work visa category
Immigration news
New Parent Category - Process
We look into the requirements of the two tiers of the New Parent Category
Immigration news
Working temporarily in New Zealand
This edition takes a look at the requirements and process of applying for a work visa in New Zealand
Immigration news
Recent Family Category Changes
Recent changes in Immigration Policies for the family category.
Latest stories
Most popular Immigration news stories
Most commented Immigration news stories


text:
Seeing the Indigo Children
Benjamin Witts
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 33.4, July / August 2009
The Indigo children are touted as the next evolutionary stage in human development, and their supporters boast that these children are like nothing ever seen before. But what exactly are Indigo children and just how unique are they?
Many believe Indigo children are the next step in human evolution, and they are often described as possessing a new energy never before seen on Earth. Believers claim they have special gifts, such as psychic abilities, and are "sensitive" to the world around them. They are allegedly wise beyond their years and thirst for knowledge incessantly. Their parents often see them as gifted with above-average intelligence. Above all, believers agree on one thing: they are here to teach us a lesson.
The first Indigo child was allegedly observed in the early 1970s by Nancy Tappe, who intuitively "sees" people's auras (Tappe 1999). Tappe claims that she can decipher a person's life mission by the color he or she emits. She further states that she was aware that two new unknown colors—one of which would become Indigo—would be emerging around that time, since apparently, fuchsia and magenta disappeared from the spectrum. It wasn't until 1982, with the publication of her book Understanding Your Life Through Color, that the proclamation of the Indigo aura and its meaning was announced (Carroll and Tober 1999). The Indigo children movement, however, did not gain full momentum until 1999, when Lee Carroll and Jan Tober wrote the book The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived. Since then, the Indigo movement has been featured in books, television, a feature film titled Indigo, and even two videogames titled Fahrenheit and Indigo Prophecy.
What Is an Indigo Child?
The ten most common traits of Indigo children, according to Carroll and Tober, are:
They come into the world with a feeling of royalty (and often act like it).They have a feeling of "deserving to be here," and are surprised when others don't share that.Self-worth is not a big issue. They often tell the parents "who they are."They have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice).They simply will not do certain things; for example, waiting in line is difficult for them.They get frustrated with systems that are ritual-oriented and don't require creative thought.They often see better ways of doing things, both at home and in school, which makes them seem like "system busters" (nonconforming to any system).They seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human understands them. School is often extremely difficult for them socially.They will not respond to "guilt" discipline ("Wait till your father gets home and finds out what you did").They are not shy in letting you know what they need. (Carroll and Tober 1992)
The descriptors can change a bit depending on the source, but these traits are congruent with the typical account of an Indigo child. Nancy Tappe goes on to claim that at least 90 percent of children under the age of ten are, in fact, Indigo children (Tappe 1999).
Tappe (1999) lists and describes the four subtypes of Indigo children. The humanist is characterized by strong opinions, is socially outgoing, and is easily distracted. The conceptual subtype is comprised of children who are more interested in completing projects than human interaction. Tappe offers a warning that this subtype is prone to addiction, particularly in their teen years. The artist is a child who is typically smaller in size and often more sensitive. The fourth subtype is the interdimensional child, who is larger than the other three subtypes, is often seen as a bully, and can be expected to bring in new religions and philosophical beliefs.
These traits are numerous and vague. Given the breadth of individuals these descriptions cover, it would not be surprising if every child was identified as Indigo at some point in their lives, including those children who lived before the first Indigos supposedly made an appearance. Take for example the refusal to conform to social rules: there are a lot of children who do not like to wear clothes—being naked is natural. Most people can think of at least one story involving a child running around the house sans-clothing at an awkward moment. Is this child free-spirited and socially defiant? Doubtful. Most likely they are just doing what feels natural. It is too easy to turn a mundane situation like this into evidence of being Indigo:
I remember when Johnny was only three and he would tear through the house buck naked! He was so confident with who he was. He didn't care who knew it, he was proud of himself and wasn't afraid to show his true form. That's what cued me in to Johnny being Indigo.
The subtypes of Indigo children sound rather stereotypical. There's the sensitive artist, the isolated youth who self-medicates, an upbeat, energetic child who is easily distracted, and the large unpopular child who uses his or her size to gain control over others (the artistic, conceptual, humanistic, and interdimensional subtypes, respectively). These don't sound like evolutionary advances; they sound more like one-dimensional, easily identifiable characters.
Indigo children, as mentioned above, can supposedly be identified by their auras (the "energy" that believers claim is emitted by humans and other animals). Unfortunately, not everyone (or anyone?) can see people's auras, so identification based solely on reading someone's aura can be problematic. It has also been suggested that Kirlian photography may be an effective way to identify such children. Kirlian photography is a photographic process in which a sheet of film is placed on a metal plate and the object of interest is then placed on top of the film. High voltage is sent through the plate, which creates an exposure of the object. As James Randi has shown us, Kirlian photography can be explained by the changes in pressure the subject exerts on the film or by environmental effects, such as temperature and humidity (Randi 1982). The aura identification strategy is oft debated in the Indigo community. For many believers, being labeled Indigo was merely that—the label had nothing to do with the child's aura. The only identification strategy, then, hinges on meeting the criteria based on the descriptors.
Disciplining the Indigo Child
Robert Gerard offers advice on how to properly discipline the Indigo child based on what he calls "loving discipline" (Gerard 1999). Loving discipline consists of informing the child of the purpose and course of discipline using simple explanations, avoiding reactions, orders, and verbal and physical abuse, following through with your punishment, using a time-out procedure, dealing with discipline in the moment—not delaying punishment—and discussing the situation when it is over.
Cathy Patterson (1999) gives advice on setting boundaries and guidelines to help raise an Indigo child. These guidelines include giving the child choices, using brief explanations, giving only one direction at a time, using time-outs for discipline, using a chart to track positive behaviors with stickers, and setting a regular and consistent routine.
In considering the disciplinary strategies advised by Patterson and Gerard, it appears that their advice is the same offered by one of the behavioral pioneers in psychology, Montrose M. Wolf. Wolf, responsible for the creation of time-out, developed these and similar recommendations in the early 1960s (Risley 2005), roughly forty years before Patterson and Gerard offered their pearls of wisdom. Is it amazing that these techniques have been around and working pre-Indigo? If the Indigo children are different from non-Indigos and require special instructions on discipline, then why are the disciplinary suggestions the same as those applied to "normal" children? These "special" recommendations on disciplining Indigo children are not unique to this population; they are universal and highly researched in the psychological community.
Indigo Children and ADHD
Doreen Virtue (1999) offers several diagnostic features of the Indigo child in addition to those listed listed above. These features include: high levels of energy, easy boredom onset, resistance to authority, learning through exploration combined with a distaste for rote memorization, the inability to sit still unless they're interested, and giving up in the face of failure, to name a few. Several of the traits describing Indigo children are comparable with a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association 2000), the handbook of diagnoses for the psychological community. Virtue asserts that Indigo children are easily misdiagnosed as having ADHD.
Kathy McCloskey, like Virtue, believes that many Indigo children are being diagnosed with ADHD (McCloskey 1999). McCloskey makes the argument for the misdiagnoses based on case studies of children who are diagnosed with ADHD and score high on IQ scales but perform average to below average in school. It sounds as if McCloskey is surprised that an ADHD child can be of above-average intelligence. As is pointed out by Schuck and Crinella (2005), it is not uncommon for children with ADHD to be of normal intelligence. Missed assignments, boredom, and forgetting to study for a test do not reflect intelligence but are reflected in a child's grade. ADHD does not mean a child is below average intelligence.
Leaders in the Indigo community also offer advice on what to do with Indigo children diagnosed with ADHD. This advice usually entails the cessation of any medication the child is on to treat the ADHD. Holly J. Roberts, a licensed psychologist in the pediatric psychology department at the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, which is known for using empirically supported psychological techniques for helping children, responded to a question regarding the danger of removing medication from ADHD children:
It is well known that psychostimulant medication is the single most efficacious treatment of ADHD as it reduces the primary symptoms of ADHD (MTA Cooperative Group 1999). That is, psychostimulant medication reduces inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children with ADHD. Therefore, discontinuing medication for a child with a definitive diagnosis [of] ADHD can have a negative impact on home and school functioning as children with ADHD typically evince a pervasive set of problems spanning behavioral, social, and academic areas.
For the Indigos who have ADHD, several alternative treatments have been offered (Carroll and Tober 1999). These treatments include supplemental vitamins and minerals, eating blue-green algae from Lake Klamath, biofeedback, neuromuscular integration, rapid eye technology, and electromagnetic field (EMF) balancing, which is purportedly a technique in which two people use each other's electromagnetic fields, which allows them to form their own reality, whatever that means.
Biofeedback is a process in which children are hooked up to an electroencephalograph (EEG) and are taught to control the brain waves that appear on a monitor by controlling their thoughts, which supposedly increases the ability to concentrate at school. Biofeedback has been considered potentially effective for treating children with ADHD (Monastra, et al. 2005), but more tightly controlled studies are required before any valid conclusions can be drawn (Loo and Barkley 2005).
It is only a small step, then, to make the same claim with neuromuscular integration—described as being very similar to biofeedback—except that this therapy is performed to "…progressively realign the entire body and recondition the nervous system" (Carroll and Tober 1999, 193) over the course of ten sessions that involve therapeutic techniques such as dialogue, journaling, and deep tissue manipulation.
Are These Children Gifted?
One claim heard from many parents of Indigos is that their child is special or gifted. Holly J. Roberts also commented on the nature of gifted children. She writes:
There is evidence to suggest that children may achieve beyond expectations based on caregiver expectations. Outcomes of children identified as "gifted" or "early bloomers" are best demonstrated by Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968) examining teacher expectations on student achievement. The findings of this study showed that children who are randomly identified as gifted showed an increase in IQ scores at the end of the year due to the preferential treatment received by teachers based on the expectancy information. Thus, telling a child they are gifted at a young age may be beneficial but could take time and attention away from other children with similar abilities.
As indicated by Roberts's statement, caretakers' perceptions of children can easily shape their intelligence and thus how others perceive their intellectual performance ability.
What They've Come to Teach Us, and How This Will Save Us
One central theme of the Indigo movement is the idea that the Indigo children are here to teach us a lesson. Some of these lessons are outlined through stories from Indigos and parents or grandparents of Indigos in Carroll and Tober's 2001 follow-up book, An Indigo Celebration: More Messages, Stories, and Insights from the Indigo Children. According to several Indigo proponents, many Indigo children are "old souls," indicating that they have experienced several lifetimes and carry with them tremendous knowledge and wisdom from these past lives. Parents who believe this is true tend to keep an open mind and report their child's statements as true. For example, one child stated that the reflection of the sun's rays on the water, which were called "God spots" (p. 59), were used to take people's souls back to heaven when they die. Because the child used the phrase "back up to heaven" (p. 59), the parent unquestionably deduced that the child had knowledge regarding the existence of souls in heaven prior to a person's birth. The child of another set of parents explained that he once ruled an entire planet, but unfortunately for him there was a large disaster (an earthquake, in this case) that caused him to suffer a traumatic impact from bumping his head on a rock. This caused his spirit to fall from his body and land inside of his Earth-mother. The parents decided it was best to keep an open mind about the story.
Other stories presented in An Indigo Celebration (2001) include teenagers, who identify themselves as Indigo, struggling to fit in because they know they are Indigo and thus are different and isolated. A teenager reporting that he or she feels isolated, unique, and above average is not an exceptional statement—many teens feel this way. The imaginary audience and personal fable come to mind when reading these stories; both phenomena should be easily identifiable to anyone who has taken an introduction to psychology course. The imaginary audience syndrome is a common experience for teenagers—they feel that everyone is focused solely on them, and the world scrutinizes every action they make. The personal fable is related to the notion that many teens feel special and unique to the extent that the law of averages does not apply to them. This is used to explain many risk-taking behaviors by youths, even though they are aware of the potential consequences (e.g., "It won't happen to me!").
Furthermore, some say the Indigo children are here to save us from something or other. Most accounts are vague, alluding to a general change in our way of thinking and a passion for saving the earth and its inhabitants.
Making Money Off the Movement
The Indigo children phenomenon can produce big bucks for those individuals who know how to market it. In 2003, executive producer James Twyman co-wrote the movieIndigo. The film centers around a young girl named Grace who uses her natural, unique gift to aid her mother and grandfather in reconciling their differences while evading a mysterious person who wants to kidnap her. While the directing, acting, and plot may be sub-par, it doesn't stop those who support the Indigo idea from declaring this film accurate and a good introduction to Indigos for the general public. Indigo was in limited release in January 2005 and grossed $1,190,000, according to IMDB.com. The film also received the Santa Fe Film Festival's audience award in 2003.
Along with the Indigo books that are available, there is also a metaphysically related online magazine titled Children of the New Earth. In this magazine, one can read about drama therapy for their Indigo child, the newest threat from fluoride, or how to raise your Indigo or Crystal child, which is yet one more unique type of child in the same vein as Indigos but beyond the scope of this article. The online magazine is currently $32.99 for a one-year subscription, but you can subscribe for a one-month trial at $4.99. The Web site also features a list of alternative schools that may be appropriate for children whose parents believe their children are Indigos.
There is a wealth of money to be made in teaching parents of Indigo children as well. For example, at metagifted.org, a company run solely by Wendy Chapman, individuals can take an online workshop related to their Indigo children through AIM or AOL instant-messaging services. The fee is $25 per person or $40 per couple. For the same prices, there are also online classes for Indigos. You can also purchase an Indigo consultation, which will provide you with information regarding your Indigo child or yourself, if you happen to be an Indigo adult. Prices are $75 per hour or $50 for a half hour by phone, $50 per hour or $30 for a half hour for an online chat, and $30 per hour if your consult is conducted via email.
Australian Scott Alexander King, a self-proclaimed animal psychic, offers seminars on Indigo children. For $250, over the course of two days (eight hours total), you can participate in "The Indigo Child and the Journey Drum," in which you will learn about the sacred art of drum making and even create your own drum. King also offers shorter seminars on learning about the Indigo phenomenon for $125.
The Future of Indigo Children
The pseudoscientific categorization of children does not stop with the Indigo children. Recently, several new categories have been proposed that offer even more options for children to be labeled as above average and gifted. These new categories include the Crystal children and the Rainbow children to name a few. These children, so named by Doreen Virtue because of the color of the aura they emit, are said to be the next generations after Indigo children. Much like the Indigos, the Crystals and Rainbows are allegedly new life energies on Earth that are here to change our global lives.
To date, there is no scientific way to test many of the claims endorsed by the Indigo movement. Further, the vague criteria noted to describe Indigo children could easily be applied to most people at some point in their lives. Yet despite these hurdles, many have financially benefited from the movement through the publication of magazines, books, films, therapy, and lectures.
Many parents may also benefit from the Indigo movement by labeling their child as special and gifted instead of suffering from ADHD or behavioral problems. The Indigo movement provides parents and caregivers with a happy, warm explanation for childrens' behaviors, whether good or bad. While this may not be incredibly dangerous, one begins to see the potential harm when children are removed from ADHD medications, scientifically unsupported diets are implemented, unproven treatments are utilized, and behavioral interventions are ceased for troubled children. When we divert energy and resources away from proper childhood interventions, we run the risk of inflicting long-term harm to our children.
Whether you wear rose-colored or indigo-colored glasses, your perception of the world and its workings will be affected. When we prejudge our children as gifted and insightful, that is exactly what we will get, regardless of the reality.
- American Psychiatric Association. 2000. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
- —. 2001. The Indigo Children. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Carroll, Lee, and Jan Tober, eds. 2001. An Indigo Celebration. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Daley, D. 2006. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A review of the essential facts. Child:Care, Health and Development, 32(2): 193–204.
- Dixon, Lori Beth, Frances J. Cronin, and Susan M. Krebs-Smith. 2001. Let the pyramid guide your food choices: Capturing the total diet concept. Journal of Nutrition, 131(S2-1): 461S–72S.
- Gerard, Robert. 1999. "Disciplining the Indigo." In The Indigo Children, edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 71–73. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- The Internet Movie Database. "Indigo (2003)—Box office/business." Available online at imdb.com (accessed May 18, 2008).
- Johnson, Lisa, and Sarah Safranek. 2005. What is the most effective treatment for ADHD in children (Clinical inquiries: From the family practice inquiries network) (Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Journal of Family Practice, 54(2): 166–68.
- Lilienfeld, Scott O. 1996. EMDR treatment: Less than meets the eye? – eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Skeptical Inquirer, 20(1): 25–31.
- Lohr, Jeffrey M., Wayne Hook, Richard Gist, and David F. Tolin. 2003. Novel and controversial treatments for trauma-related stress disorders. In Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology edited by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, and Jeffrey M. Lohr, 243–272. New York: Guilford Press.
- Loo, Sandra K., and Russell A Barkley. 2005. Clinical utility of EEG in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Applied Neuropsychology. Special Issue: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Neuropsychology, 12(2): 64–76.
- McCloskey, Kathy. 1999. "The New Powerful Children." In The Indigo Children,edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 25–31. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Melvin, Melanie. 1999. "Respecting the Indigo Children." In The Indigo Children,edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 112–123. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Monastra, Vincent J., S. Lynn, M. Linden, Joel F. Lubar, J. Gruzelier, and Theodore J. LaVaque. 2005. Electroencephalographic biofeedback in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 30(2): 95–114.
- MTA Cooperative Group. 1999. A 14-Month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(12): 1073–1086.
- Patterson, Cathy. 1999. "Strategies to use in Guiding Indigo Children." In The Indigo Children, edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 77–88. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Randi, James. Flim-Flam. 1982. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
- Risley, Todd. 2005. Montrose M. Wolf (1935-2004). Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38(Summer): 279–87.
- Rosenthal, Robert, and Lenore Jacobson. 1968. Pygmalion in the Classroom: Teacher Expectation and Pupils' Intellectual Development. New York: Rinehart and Winston.
- Schuck, Sabrina E. B., and Francis M. Crinella. 2005. Why children with ADHD do not have low IQs. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3): 262–80.
- Tappe, N. A. 1999. "Introduction to the Indigos." In The Indigo Children, edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 6–17. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House.
- Virtue, Doreen. 1999. "Parenting an Indigo Child." In The Indigo Children, edited by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, 133–140. Vancouver, Canada: Hay House. Benjamin Witts lives in North Mankato, Minnesota. E-mail: email@example.com.
Benjamin Witts
Benjamin Witts lives in North Mankato, Minnesota.

subset: commoncrawl


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For the last few months I have been working on an implementation of ISO/IEC 20000 with one of my customers. Quite a challenge, and it was a success! Before we started, I have created a simple MindMap with notes about requirements. So I decided to share it with you for free.
These are just short notes about structure and requirements, just to give you a quick picture on what to expect.
Of course, if you decide to hop on certification train, I recommend buying a full set of ISO/IEC20000 documentation, at least the requirements and guidance on the application of SMS which are published in 2011/12 edition.
You can download my MindMap for free here.
If you don't have a MindJet MindManager, you can have a look in flash here (it will ask you for a viewer installation). Hope you enjoy it!
Have a nice day.
|ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 Mind Map


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I am lucky enough to have a fairly unusual first name second name combination. There are no movie stars cluttering up mentions of my name online (Brenda Fricker used to be good for telephone spelling requests but her departure from Casualty has resulted in a notable reduction in the population wide knowledge of how to spell Fricker). The first ten hits on Google are mostly related to me with my LinkedIn, Twitter, and Biog from HLG conference included. The notable false drop is the other main Alan Fricker on the web. An environmentalist in New Zealand his death was the first thing a Google Alert I set up ever told me about my name (the perils of vanity test searches). The other major false drop is from Facebook. This Blog shows up on the second page of results (as does Movember from last year). Not much of a surprise to me are a few Jiscmail mentions as I have long been active on these. I would suggest this is actually part of my personal brand – active.
Generally I have been happy to put my own name to my activity online (also shortened versions as my name is distinct enough for people in my sector to recognise me). My main blogging outlet being a group blog is an issue for personal brand. Indeed the lack of a clear personal brand was one of the issues picked up when myself and Hanna Lewin spoke at HLG Conference in Salford about the group blog experience. It is notable also that people really struggle with the blog name (and that the "what's an informaticist" page gets lots of hits!). I did have an experimental blog for some KM learning which could be revived. A long with my own name I have been happy enough to use my own picture (mucked about with of late as result of trying out an online tool). I can understand why some might shy away from using their picture though.
I think the professional is personal and my communication online reflects this. I think about what I do / professional issues a fair bit and this comes out. Twitter encourages the blurring of the line but I share considerably less there than I might with colleagues in the office. I also like to show off pictures of pies.
I think my online brand is fairly consistent with offline which is a good thing to my way of thinking. I probably should have a personal blog rather than the confusion of this group blog but I like it here.


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After completing her bachelor's degree and martial arts training in 2015, Ranjita began to give martial arts classes for the girls in nearby hostels and schools. Life was much settled in routines — until one day something happened that shook her whole life and brought her to a point where she lost herself in depression.
Ranjita is a 22-year-old young woman from Bihar, Madya Pradesh. She lives in a small town with her parents and four siblings, and their needs are somehow met by the small shop run by her father. Her family comes from an unbelieving background but is now growing in Christ.
It was a bright day and her happiness had no limits when her best friend Sonu, whom she knew for years, visited her for a few days.
"I was very happy to have her with me," Ranjita said. "But my happiness did not last for long. That next day when I was to go for teaching the martial art class in the nearby village, I invited Sonu to accompany me. I was very much excited to have her with me. She, too, was very happy."
It was a half-an-hour journey from Ranjita's village. On the way, they had to cross a small mud bridge over a dry riverbed, with large, exposed sharp rocks. As usual, Ranjita took her scooter, but Sonu insisted to drive. They were enjoying the ride, chatting and giggling together when, suddenly, their scooter lost its balance on the mud bridge. They both were thrown over the bridge onto the sharp rocks.
Ranjita uttered a prayer to God, saying, "Lord, please help us." She was scared and shivering with fear. Her face was covered with blood and she was in deep pain. Her fear was greatest because she could not see her friend. She began calling Sonu's name, but there was no response.
Then she heard a small groaning sound. To her distress, she saw Sonu had fallen on the deeper side. Ranjita could not reach out to help her, limited by her own pain and dizziness. She tried to call her family on her phone but could not get connected.
Ranjita somehow gathered her strength and climbed up to the nearby road. She cried for help to the passing vehicles, but many passed her by. Eventually, one passerby came to her rescue. She felt as if God had come down to help her.
"It took me six months to recover from my physical injuries, but to my shock, my friend passed away after two months," Ranjita said. "I was totally broken. I felt guilty, that Sonu died because of me."
She believed that if she had not taken her to the class, this incident would not have happened.
Ranjita was devastated.
Villages in India, being close communities, are socially bound to each other's family. Ranjita was more and more depressed due to the constant reminder of her friend's death, as neighbors and relatives repeatedly discussed the accident, increasing her guilt. She could not avoid her neighbors asking her about the tragedy. So the family decided to send her to a nearby town for work. But Ranjita could not adjust there on her own and returned home within one month.
Though Ranjita felt broken, guilty, and lonely, God was close to her. Things in Ranjita's life changed when she got an opportunity to attend a three-day convention through her church. Ranjita had both emotional and spiritual needs; she sought freedom and peace.
"I was totally broken and felt very lonely," she said, her eyes watering with emotion. "I needed peace in my heart, so I went to the convention expecting Jesus to heal my heart and give me peace. To my utter surprise, in midst of thousands of people attending the meeting, one pastor lady from the convention leading team came straight to me, placed her hand on my head and prayed for me. And I felt so much blessed as I cried out my heart to the Lord. I prayed to my Lord … Please, God, I need a comforting and caring hug from you, please help me."
God answered Rajita's prayer as the pastor began talking with her. Ranjita cried as she shared her entire burden with the pastor.
Ranjita's expression changed to joy and excitement when she said, "On hearing my story the pastor lady suddenly hugged me lovingly; I felt Jesus hugging me. The pastor lady said to me, 'Don't cry, Jesus loves you. Forget whatever has happened in your past and trust in Jesus, for He is with you.' She said, 'Today you are a new creation and He will bless you.'"
Ranjita says that she will never forget those loving words and hug that changed her life. The guilt was washed away and God's peace entered her heart.
"I believe that Jesus spoke to me through her," she said.
After the convention, Ranjita returned home with joy and hope.
Ranjita was a changed person, and her pastor noticed. After observing her a few months, Ranjita's pastor asked if she was willing to go for Bible school training. Ranjita was happy but did not respond immediately, taking time to pray about the matter. Later she was surprised when her church director gave her the same advice. The director was willing to financially support her Bible school training. Ranjita took this as an answer to her prayer and confirmation of God's call for ministry.
Ranjita is blessed to be in South India Bible School and is a living testimony of God's grace, which restored her life and filled it with new joy and hope in Christ.


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Tom Cruise: I was surprised by Katie Holmes divorce
In rare comments about his personal life, Tom Cruise admits that the separation and divorce initiated by ex-wife Katie Holmes took him by surprise.
"I did not expect that," Cruise, 50, told the German TV channel ProSieben about the breakup. Speaking at the Vienna premiere of his film "Oblivion," he told U.S.-born Steven Gätjen of the "Steven Loves Cinema" program that the events gave him much "time to reflect."
"Life is a challenge," he said. "To be 50 and have experiences and think you have everything under control, and then it hits you -- that's what life is. Life is tragicomic. You need a sense of humor."
Cruise -- whose comments were reported by the German magazine Bunte from a ProSieben online video unavailable in the United States for copyright reasons -- said his children "Suri, Connor and Isabella have grown up on film sets. The door is always open for them" to be part of the industry.
As for himself, he said he tries to stay grounded. "I don't have an insular life," he said. "I want to be in contact with people."


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After a Tough Loss, the Sox Try to Make the Best of a Brutal Schedule
Halfway through yesterday's game, with the Sox leading 6-0, I started to think about what I was going to write about the Sox's two-game sweep over the Tigers.
Then came the top of the sixth inning and all I could think about is "Hold the Presses."
Andy Dirks singles. Miguel Cabrera homers. Prince Fielder doubles. Alex Avila grounds out, Fielder to third. Brennan Boesch is hit by a pitch. Ryan Raburn homers. Jhonny Peralta walks. (Will Ohman replaces Jake Peavy). Pinch-hitter Delmon Young is hit by a pitch, Peralta to second. Austin Jackson homers. Dirks pops out. Cabrera lines out to center.
Heading into the ninth trailing 10-6, The Sox did make it interesting. They scored twice and had runners on second and third with Dayan Viciedo representing the winning run at the plate. Tank hit a long drive to right that came within a few feet of sending Sox fans home happy. But it was not to be.
Now comes the fun part. After losing a tough game, the Sox entourage took the long flight to Cali to face the Angels in a two-game series, today and tomorrow. Then it's back to Chicago to face the Media Darlings at Bartman Field. What were the schedule-makers thinking?
Sox Note of Note: A.J. Pierzynski was on fire yesterday, going 5 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.


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102. TIMOTHY LEARY: Find the others
Timothy Leary (1920-1996) was a psychologist, author and pioneer of psychedelic drugs. While working as a professor at Harvard, he explored the potential benefits of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. His later experiments with LSD made him a key figure and hero during the counter-culture movement of the 1960s.
– I'd never heard of Leary before a reader (thanks Denver) sent me this quote.
– There's lot of his interviews on YouTube (like this great one) and I also found this BBC documentary on him if you're interested in finding out more.


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Alumnus short-listed for Arabic fiction prize
December 17, 2012
The Beaver, a novel by Academic English Studies (AES) alumnus Mohammed Hasan Alwan, has been short-listed for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), also known as the "Arabic Booker." The prize is supported by the Booker Prize Foundation of London.
The IPAF is one of the most prestigious and important literary prizes in the Arab world. Its aim is to reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage the readership of high-quality Arabic literature internationally by getting translations of novels that have won or been short-listed for the IPAF published in other major languages.
The winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2013 will be announced at an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi on April 23, 2013.
[Story updated on January 14]


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2011 Audi Q7 Introduction
The Audi Q7 is a big SUV that's big on refinement, comfort and features. The Q7 is derived from the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg, but the Q7 rides on a longer wheelbase. The Q7 is also longer overall than the other two, and it is the only one to offer three-row seating. There are many other differences. We've noticed the Q7 offers a more compliant ride than the Cayenne or Touareg and it's more stable at high speed though less agile both in terms of handling and parking.
The 2011 Audi Q7 benefits from major engine and transmission changes. The 2011 Q7 is available with two new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engines plus a 3.0-liter TDI turbodiesel V6. All 2011 Audi Q7s are matched to a new 8-speed automatic transmission for better performance and better fuel economy. (A V8 is no longer offered.)
The gas engines are both supercharged 3.0-liter V6s, the standard unit at 272 horsepower, and the new S Line Prestige version at 333 hp. The 3.0-liter diesel delivers 225 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque. Torque is that force that propels you away from intersections and up steep hills, and the diesel's impressive torque gives it an advantage over the gas engines. The diesel is also the easiest on fuel, and the logical choice for those planning on towing.
Every Audi Q7 comes with seven seats and all-wheel drive. Audi has decades of experience with quattro all-wheel drive. Safety features include a blind-spot warning system.
The Audi Q7 competes with other seven-seat luxury SUVs, such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Volvo XC90. The smaller Lexus GX470 and the more comparable Lexus LX570 are more expensive.
We found the Q7 a paragon of driving elegance and interior refinement.


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Scouts from Washington and Arizona are here for the fourth consecutive night amid reports that a three-way deal with the Sox involving Adam Dunn is percolating, although a major league source said talks have yet to advanced quickly yet.
July 29, 2010
Scouts from Washington and Arizona at today's White Sox game
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The Bullying Cure
Relationship Power
The principle for curing bullying is very simple, although the implementation is less so. Bullies bully in order to feel good as a substitute for feeling good about themselves. Discover the critical difference between these two concepts which is so essential to curing bullies.
In Section I
In Section II


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VANCOUVER — It sounded like an astonishing purchase when reported in June — $25 million for a deluxe penthouse in the Fairmont Pacific Rim building at Coal Harbour — but it turns out that was just part of the story.
The price for the penthouse was a record for a Vancouver condo, but the buyer, identified only as a Middle Eastern royal by the realtor who made the deal, also picked up a unit on the floor below for $15 million, bringing the total to $40 million worth of real estate.
Realtor Malcolm Hasman, quoted in a story by Bloomberg News, characterized the combined purchase as the most expensive condominium purchase in Canada, and indicative of the foreign interest in Vancouver real estate.
"Vancouver has been fuelled tremendously in the last couple of years by high-end wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong buyers," Hasman said.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE, or if you're using a mobile app, tap the story image and swipe.
This year will probably be Hasman's third-highest in sales, after 2012 and 2007, with more than $200 million in luxury real estate sold, he said.
"There's more money around today than there's ever been in the high-end market. And where's it coming in from? The Middle East, China, Asia."
Hasman declined to disclose his buyer's identity, and transaction records at the B.C. Land Title Office only identify the purchaser as Leemar Investments FZE, a company registered in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority.
Land title documents show that Leemar bought the PH01 unit on June 7 for $25 million. The property last sold for $17.6 million in April 2010.
Just 10 days later, land title documents show that Leemar bought apartment 4601 for $15 million. That property last sold for $5.5 million in February, 2010.
Realtors at the luxury end of the market noted a marginal recovery in sales of expensive properties during the first half of 2013 compared with the last half of 2012.
Sotheby's International Realty Canada, in its mid-year Top-Tier report for 2013, counted seven condominium sales over $4 million in the first half of 2013, which was relatively steady with the last half of 2012.
Condo sales at lower tiers, however, were more robust. At the price point between $2 million and $4 million, Sotheby's counted 40 sales, a 90-per-cent increase from the last half of 2012, and between $1 million and $2 million, 131 apartments sold, which was up 26 per cent from the last half of 2012.
The Pacific Rim sale was part of six consecutive months of monthly home sales gains, the most since January 2011, and defying the predictions of the Toronto Real Estate Board and the Bank of Montreal that the market is cooling. Analysts and investors including Bank of Nova Scotia and Sun Life Financial Inc. now say it represents the excesses of a market that may be peaking.
with file from Bloomberg
VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE, or if you're using a mobile app, tap the story image and swipe.


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>> Friday, April 30, 2010
Today is the last day of National Poetry Month and I wanted to end it with "His Eyes Dimmed", as it reminds me of a time I was a newlywed and this one night I was, let's say, too quick with my mouth. I love this poem as it is so heart felt.
His Eyes Dimmed, by Petrina Yemane
Never before have I seen the light washed from his eyes. That's when I realized he cries. Once such a happy face that took the shape of an invincible man, for the words I used were so strong cutting him deep, he could no longer stand. My prince now sat in rags and through his dimmed eyes I caught, a glimpse of his scared heart. Cursed is the tongue that holds truths untold, to proclaim thoughts so pompous, so bold. Oh no, reverse time, don't let it slip, hold fast, too late, I tripped. Over the words which would bring disease and now it cannot be seized, for that's when I saw it; his eyes dimmed.
The cushion has become a dagger. His spirit lost is what's sadder. My love, my life, I apologize. Deserving not, were the tears from your eyes. Restitution must and will be made. For it is your companionship that I crave and it's your love that will save. With all that's been said and done, there is no knowlegde made sane, no passion contained, no elements of power that may harness love. Lessons learned, proven correct, aah the spoken word, wisely one must select. Now though my words are to blame, I have changed. From this time on life will not be the same. Strive build up, put courage into, these are just a few I recite. Proud you will be to call me wife. And I promise that forever and a day, I will carry your scar, from that day, when your eyes...dimmed.
-Art in its written form, Copyright 2005, www.amazon.com


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In Iraq, Sunni attacks spark Shiite calls to arms
BAGHDAD (AP) -- The wave of attacks by al-Qaida-led Sunni extremists that has killed thousands of Iraqis this year, most of them Shiites, is provoking ominous calls from Shiite leaders to take up arms in self-defense.
They generally insist they'll do it legally, under the banner of the security forces. But Iraq's young democracy is still struggling, nearly two years after U.S. troops withdrew, and the specter of armed Shiite and Sunni camps revives memories of the sectarian fighting that took the country to the brink of civil war in the mid-2000s.
Since April, bombings and shootings have killed more than 5,500 people. Averaging at least two a week, they target outdoor markets, cafes, bus stations, mosques and pilgrimages in Shiite areas.
Iraq's Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who will meet with President Barack Obama on Friday, says he wants American help in quelling the violence.
Departing for Washington, he appealed for quicker delivery of offensive weapons such as helicopters that Baghdad says it needs.
Since late December, Iraq's minority Sunnis have been protesting what they perceive as discrimination and tough anti-terrorism measures against them by the Shiite-led government. The Sunni attacks followed a government crackdown on a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawija in which 44 civilians and one member of the security forces were killed, according to U.N. estimates.
Now high-profile calls are being made for Shiites to play a role in their own defense by creating armed "popular committees," attached in some form to the regular security forces. The idea raises the specter of some of Iraq's darkest years following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein's Sunni-led regime, paving the way for long-repressed majority Shiites to seize power.
Iranian-backed Shiite death squads roamed Baghdad from 2006-2008, killing Sunnis by the dozens and dumping their often mutilated bodies on the streets or in the river in retaliation for the devastating bombings and suicide attacks blamed on Sunni insurgents.
It was a cease-fire by militia leader and anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, along with a Sunni revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq and a series of U.S.-Iraqi offensives that helped quell the bloodshed. While Iraqis continued to face near-daily attacks, they hoped the days of rampant sectarian warfare were behind them. Now a politician, al-Sadr has urged calm among his followers and made no public statements about the calls to take up arms to protect Shiites.
Zuhair al-Araji, a Sunni lawmaker, pointed out that the insurgents are targeting not only Shiites but moderate Sunnis, and that arming Shiite groups would backfire. "We are worried that some militias will infiltrate these proposed committees and we will see grave consequences," he said.
But Jassim Mohammed al-Fartousi, whose 24-year-old son was among some 80 people killed in a suicide attack Sept. 21, reflects growing public demand for a response.
"The government and the security forces are incompetent," he said. "The popular committees will make us feel safe."
The civil war in neighboring Syria is also stoking the tensions as it takes on increasingly sectarian undertones, with many Iraqi Shiites traveling to the country to support President Bashar Assad's government against mainly Sunni rebels.
Qais al-Khazali heads a feared Shiite militia, Asaib Ahl al-Haq (Band of the Righteous), an Iranian-backed group that repeatedly attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and says it is sending fighters to Syria. He spent years in U.S. detention but was released after he was handed over to the Iraqi government.
Last year, the group decided to lay down its weapons and join the Iraqi political process, a move welcomed by al-Maliki. But addressing a conference of tribal leaders and clerics on Oct. 9, al-Khazali said his group needed to react to the "killings and destruction."
He said his "committees" would not participate in raids, but would cooperate with security forces in "patrolling their areas and setting up roadblocks."
Still, the security forces are supposed to be nonsectarian, and the suggestion of a Shiite militia in league with a Shiite prime minister's security forces is sure to heighten Sunni distrust.
Ali al-Moussawi, al-Maliki's spokesman, sounded lukewarm to the idea, saying the security forces "do not need armed committees; they need help with intelligence."
The law bans the formation of armed groups outside the state security forces, but the government made an exception for the Sunni militia formed by U.S. forces to fight al-Qaida.
Also calling for Shiite self-defense measures are Shiite lawmakers, one of them affiliated with al-Maliki's parliamentary bloc, and some clerics connected to parties with militant wings.
Earlier this year, Wathiq al-Batat, a Shiite cleric who was a senior official in the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, formed what he calls the Mukhtar Army to protect Shiites. He claims to have more than 1 million members, a number that has not been independently verified.
In an interview with the Beirut-based Iraqi satellite channel al-Sumaria last week, he said his militia was "well-intentioned" and wouldn't attack Sunnis as such, only "takfiri" groups, a term applied to Sunni radicals.
Al-Batat demanded that in order to be within the law, some of his followers should be integrated into the Defense or Interior Ministries to work with the security forces.
Despite some attacks on Sunni mosques following Sunni actions, Shiite reprisals are far less intense than they were in the tit-for-tat bloodshed of 2006-2007, when Sunnis would be snatched off the streets and killed and many families were driven from their homes.
But that may change if the "popular committees" come into being, some warn.
Hadi Jalo, a political analyst in Baghdad, said the government "could implicitly give the green light to some armed groups to help the security forces struggling to put an end to violence and to ease the pressure from the public."
Shwan Mohammed Taha, a Kurd who serves on the parliament's defense and security committee, warned such a move could prove a turning point.
"The atmosphere is already tense and such move will lead to the militarization of society and then to all-out civil war," he said.
Follow Sinan Salaheddin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sinansm


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Whining Woes – Why Children Whine & How to Stop it.
Why Do Children Whine?
Children whine for many different reasons; however, there are some that are fairly universal. Let's take a look at some of the most common reasons for whining and how to reduce them, using a mindful and gentle approach to discipline. Continue reading
Posted in Teens, Toddlers, Tweens Tagged child always whines, gentle discipline, gentle discipline book, gentle parenting whinging, gentle parenting whining, how to stop child whinging, how to stop child whining, how to stop toddler whinging, how to stop toddler whining, how to stop whining, whinging child, whining child, whining teenager, whining toddler, why do children whine


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JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon's annual letter to shareholders spends a good deal of time on Dodd-Frank. None of his analysis is particularly insightful — the only thing I learned is that Dimon isn't a great writer. Nevertheless, Dimon is an influential and ambitious figure, so it's interesting to see how he presents his thinking on some of these issues. (As should be obvious, I don't own shares in JPMorgan.)
On the CFPB, Dimon claims that JPMorgan was never really against the creation of a CFPB, just against the creation of a CFPB that might, you know, do stuff that JPMorgan doesn't like:
We need to create a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that is effective for both consumers and banksDimon is not a fan of Blanche Lincoln's infamous Section 716 (and in spite of his rhetoric, he's right about this). Remember when Blanche Lincoln had convinced people that a provision that her Ag Committee staffer threw in at the last second was The Most Important Banking Reform Ever? Anyway, here's Dimon:
It has been widely reported that we were against the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). We were not – we were against the creation of a standalone CFPB, operating separately and apart from whatever regulatory agency already had oversight authority over banks. We thought that a CFPB should have been housed within the banking regulators and with proper authority within that regulator. This would have avoided the overlap, confusion and bureaucracy created by competing agencies.
However, we fully acknowledge that there were many good reasons that led to the creation of the CFPB and believe that if the CFPB does its job well, the agency will benefit American consumers and the system. Strong regulatory standards, adequate review of new products and transparency to consumers all are good things. Indeed, had there been stronger standards in the mortgage markets, one huge cause of the recent crisis might have been avoided. Other countries with stricter limits on mortgages, such as higher loan-to-value ratios, didn't experience a mortgage crisis comparable with ours. As recently as five years ago, most Americans would have called the U.S. mortgage market one of the best in the world — boy, was that wrong! What happened to our system did not work well for any market participant — lender or borrower — and a careful rewriting of the rules would benefit all.
Finally, there is a truly misguided element of Dodd-Frank regarding derivatives. This so-called "spin-out provision" requires firms like ours to move credit, equity and commodity derivatives outside the bank. This requirement necessitates our creating a separately capitalized subsidiary and requiring our clients to establish new legal contracts with this new subsidiary. This is an operational nightmare (which we can handle) but makes it harder to service clients. It runs completely counter to recent efforts by regulators to reduce banks' exposure to counterparty default. This provision creates a lot of costs and no benefits. We believe that it makes our system riskier — not safer.On the Volcker Rule, Dimon claims not to care about the prop trading ban, but — surprise, surprise — is ultra-defensive of market-making:
The Volcker Rule needs to leave ample room for market-making — the lifeblood of our capital marketsOn the resolution authority, Dimon thinks preferreds and unsecured debt should be automatically converted to equity:
The Volcker Rule has various components. We have no issue with two of these: the component eliminating pure proprietary trading; and the component limiting banks from investing substantial amounts of their own capital into hedge funds.
Our concern largely is with a third aspect regarding capital and market-making. It's critical that the rules regarding market-making allow properly priced risk to be taken so we can serve clients and maintain liquidity. The recently proposed higher capital and liquidity standards for market-making operations — the new Basel II and Basel III capital rules — approximately triple the amount of regulatory capital for trading portfolios inclusive of market-making and hedging activities. For the most part, these capital rules protect against excessive risk taking. We don't believe any additional rules are needed, under the Volcker Rule or otherwise. However, if there must be more rules, these rules need to be carefully constructed (e.g., they should distinguish between liquid and illiquid securities, allow for hedging either on a specific-name or portfolio basis, etc.). When market-makers are able to aggressively buy and sell securities in size, investors are able to get the best possible prices for their securities.
Resolution Authority needs to be properly designed
Simply put, Resolution Authority essentially provides a bankruptcy process for big banks that is controlled and minimizes damage to the economy. We made a mistake when we called this aspect of financial reform "Resolution Authority," which sounds to the general public very much like a bailout. Perhaps a better name for it would have been "Minimally Damaging Bankruptcy For Big Dumb Banks" (MDBFBDB). Banks entering this process should do so with the understanding and certainty that the equity will be wiped out, the clawbacks on compensation will be fully invoked, and the company will be dismembered and eventually sold or liquidated.
When the FDIC takes over a bank, it has full authority to fire the management and Board of Directors and wipe out equity and unsecured debt — in a way that does not damage the economy. Controlled failure of large financial institutions should work the same way. It is complex because these companies are big and global and require international coordination. However, if the process is carefully constructed (and completely apolitical), controlled failure can be achieved.
In the process, the role of preferred equity and unsecured debt needs to be clarified. This may require corresponding accounting changes. My preference would be, at the point of failure, to convert preferred equity and unsecured debt to pure, new common equity. For example: When Lehman went bankrupt, it had $26 billion of equity and $128 billion of unsecured debt. If, on the day of bankruptcy, the regulators had converted that unsecured debt to equity, Lehman would have been massively overcapitalized and possibly able to secure funding to continue its operations and meet its obligations. The process to sell or liquidate the company would have been far more orderly. And the effect on the global economy would have been less damaging.


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Air India's Dreamliner Nightmare
Air India's troubles with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft just don't seem to end.
On Monday, the airline experienced glitches on two separate Dreamliner flights. On a London to Delhi flight, the aircraft's pilots received a warning about a possible fault with the brakes as they prepared to land in the Indian capital. On another Dreamliner between Delhi and Sydney, the aircraft developed a crack on its outer windshield while landing in Melbourne for a stopover.
"It was later found that there was no fault in the brakes. There was an issue with the warning system, which is being looked into," an airline spokesman told India Real Time. The aviation regulator has initiated a probe into the incident.
Another spokesman for the airline said the outer windshield on the Delhi-Sydney flight cracked because of variations in temperature. He said the Dreamliner, which has been grounded in Melbourne, will likely take off later Tuesday after the windshield is replaced by an airline engineering crew from India.
Boeing executives didn't respond to phone calls on Tuesday.
Air India--one of the first customers for the Dreamliner-- is no stranger to problems with the aircraft.
In October, the aircraft's spoilers--part of the wings that are used to slow down the aircraft--malfunctioned onboard one of the carrier's Dreamliners. That same month, an underbody panel fell off another Dreamliner aircraft while landing in Bangalore.
A federal probe is on. Boeing said last week that the panel that detached from the aircraft was "an access panel and not a pressurized panel" and therefore wasn't a safety hazard.
In July, an oven overheated in a 787 jetliner on a domestic flight in India causing smoke in the galley-oven area.
The incidents also follow the worldwide grounding of the Dreamliner for four months, after the jet's lithium ion batteries heated up in two separate incidents in mid-January.
The series of incidents aboard the Dreamliner come at a time when Air India is taking several steps to turn profitable after five years of losses.
The flag carrier operates the Dreamliner to long-haul destinations including Paris, Frankfurt and Birmingham, in addition to some domestic routes. It says the Dreamliner is crucial for its turnaround as it allows the airline to operate not only its current routes profitably, but also open up new destinations.
Air India ordered 27 aircraft in January 2006. However, production problems at Boeing delayed delivery of the jet by several years. Air India has received nine Dreamliners since September 2012 and is scheduled to receive an additional aircraft in 10 days' time, Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president for sales in Asia-Pacific and India for Boeing's commercial airplanes, said last week.
Boeing says the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel-efficient than similarly sized wide-bodied jets and produces 20% fewer carbon dioxide emissions.
However, for now Air India must be hoping that more than the fuel-savings, the Dreamliner turns out to be an aircraft that flies without any hiccups.
Follow India Real Time on Twitter @WSJIndia.


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**Except Nimco's speech, which is transcript only.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Intersect, Bristol 2012
**Except Nimco's speech, which is transcript only.
5 comments:
I think certain upcoming conferences which call themselves "feminist" while giving the rest of us a bad name (never has Flavia's line on intersectionality seemed so pertinent!) have shown just how necessary an event like this has become, and that you managed to pull it all together on nothing but enthusiasm and a prayer (and fuck all money) is a testament to your bloody brilliance. Hope it will not be the last such event we see your name on.ReplyDelete
Yes, well done indeed. It would be good to have an annual conference - maybe this time in the Midlands? I have contacts at Coventry University and so there may be space there that could be used. Maybe even for IWD 2013? Twitter: JLOsmReplyDelete
That you managed to pull this off despite the constraints of being unemployed is nothing short of amazing. A massive well done to yourself and all others involved!ReplyDelete
So no sex workers spoke? And I see you've written against porn in the past. I guess 'intersectionality' just didn't go that far.ReplyDeleteReplies
No, no sex workers spoke. I did make enquiries to get in touch with Sheila Farmer to see if she'd come speak about her persecution by the police and so on, but the time I was trying to get in touch with her was around the time of her court date, so she was understandably busy and I didn't hear back (I can probably prove this if you want, I can get screenshots!).Delete
However, we also only had one day. There were several other groups I'd have loved to speak as well (Women in Prison being one of them), but there was only a limited amount of time. If I decide to do another one, I'll be using different groups and speakers to represent other areas of intersectionality.
In the past I have written against the sex industry from an anti-capitalist perspective. This does not mean I am opposed to sex workers, I am very pro-sex workers rights and this is one reason I oppose the industry. Similar to how I oppose child labour, and that doesn't mean I hate children. You can dislike an industry and support the people in it.


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Clint Eastwood gives Broadway musical Jersey Boys the celluloid treatment, adding his own touches of genius that, pardon the pun, really makes the story of the Four Seasons sing.
Eastwood seems to get it on all levels, creating a movie musical that isn't too heavy on music, but doesn't skimp on it, yet gives it an urgency with the behind-the-scenes drama that makes it interesting to those who don't give a dang about the mid-20th century boy band.
The tug-of-war for the film, though, is making it fit for the big screen when it really feels more like a made-for-TV biopic. But what do I know? The 60-something guy next to me was singing along with every tune and when the movie was over, yelled "Bravo" at the screen.
The movie is really a few stories rolled into one. First, there's the story of the group of guys from outside of Newark — Belleville, N.J. — who, according to the first of the four to speak directly into the camera (the asides technique is used in the musical and skillfully done here), have only three ways to get out of their dead end town: "join the Mob, join the Army, or get famous."
They are Goodfellas types who come from lower middle class homes that have pictures of the Pope in the same frame as a black and white of Frank Sinatra, where spaghetti is the staple at dinner, and "dis, dat, does and yo," plus a slap upside the head, are a common language. The movie begins following the small town thugs whose plan to steal a safe goes awry when it's too heavy and big to fit in the truck of a car.
But soon the focus turns to Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, a.k.a. Frankie Valli, the guy with the falsetto voice. Frankie is basically a good guy, while his pal Tommy DeVito (the wonderful Vincent Piazza), a hustler, sees that Frankie is a Golden Ticket.
The movie goes through the band's rise and fall, Frankie's tumultuous life with his alcoholic wife, and eventually the debt he has to pay off because of DeVito's gambling addiction.
The only known star in the cast is Christopher Walken, who dives into the role as a mobster who tears up when Frankie sings.
John Lloyd Young, who created the role on Broadway, is absolutely riveting on screen. Eastwood approached Lloyd Young to star in the film while he was performing the show. It was a wise choice in the fact that he's played Valli almost 2,000 times on stage.
The director insisted that the cast sing live on camera and there's definitely the feel of the immediate performance. Eastwood also makes sure that the decades (the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s) are captured creating almost another character with the spot-on eras. Eastwood's direction, which is reminiscent of the same style he brought to the 2008 Changeling, soars amidst vintage instruments, cars and costumes.
A bit of trivia: Keep an eye out for Eastwood's daughter Francesca Eastwood. She has a cameo appearance as a waitress who flirts with one of the band members.
While the film has its share of gems, the curtain call takes the cake. How to capture a Broadway curtain call on film? The wonderful closing number of Jersey Boys is choreographed to a tee. And Walken doing a soft shoe? Priceless.