| Username |
Post |
| Paschim |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 08:15 AM
For hundreds of years, people of the Kalahari Desert in Africa have eaten the Hoodia Cactus to suppress hunger as they go on long hunting trips. Apparently, this cactus represses appetite. A few years ago, a South African entity patented this aspect of the Hoodia -- P57, which eventually reached Pfizer (yes, they also make Viagra). Pfizer is now trying to use Hoodia to help fat, flabby Americans become less fat and flabby. When the folks from the Kalahari heard that their beloved Hoodia had witnessed transactions involving millions of dollars, the bushmen rightly fumed at the South Africans for stealing their traditional knowledge, and demanded a share of the pie.
I too lost an appetite last week for my weekly quota of beer and Sajha. Work. Nothing to do with the Cactus. And for 7 days, I stayed sober, and stayed away from Sajha. Then like an alcoholic on a relapse, I ran to Sajhas door yesterday. But I could not get in. User name and Password re. Where would I get those? So much for an appetite lost and found.
By the way, those men of the Kalahari who suppress their appetite when they go for long hunts are called San as well. Thats their tribal name. Serious. And no, the San of the Kalahari have nothing to do with our gracious host, San of New Road :)
For Mr. Bush, a war has begun. For the bushmen of the Kalahari, a weekend has begun. As I wait for my copy of Love in the Time of Cholera to be hand-delivered, I also wonder where Pun Karsaap is flying next? Gorkha Bazaar to Manaslu on a private Copter would be a great 20 minute ride. Not many people know this, but some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the planet exist en route to Manaslu. I say, give Krishna Dhoj and Rekha a kraanti-kaari honeymoon all over again. Ten years ago, it took me 8 days to walk the distance on a pair of Chinese jutta I bought in Tundikhel. I nearly died.
Yale economist William Nordhaus tried putting a price tag on the ongoing American adventure -- his low case and high case scenarios over the next decade? 120 billion and 1.6 trillion dollars, respectively. And that is without the blood. I wish the San of the Kalahari could patent this tag, instead of the lousy Hoodia. Much pricey than the bounty weighty Americans will start paying for Pfizer slimming pills, come 2006, when they are expected in the market.
Always good to browse Sajha after a break. This is my little kista to the guff. It is 11.18 pm now. Time to go to bed -- "awed and shocked."
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| jira |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 08:28 AM
Paschim! correct me if I am wrong but you sounded like Paketmar! I mean..not the real paketmar :-) . Remember! who used to write articles over ongoing issues. Ke garney..je dekhya tyai bhanya......nidra napugya jasto cha aja.
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| Raksiya |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 08:37 AM
Paschim,
I also want to take Hoodia Cactus to suppress alcohol hang-over and visit Sajha every other minutes as we go along ongoing war agaist Iraq? San, the king of kalahari Tribe, Hamilai pani bhana na yaar, kata ho testo appitite ghataune cheezzzzzzz.
Paschim, sajha lai testo maya namara na yaar. Aro aro posting pani padna pau.
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| hehe |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 09:02 AM
-Nice to read your interesting stuff after a long time. Enjoyed this piece too, as always. Such a nice combination of things in local context with the issues of global concern.
-Have heard about indigenous knowledge of local people of Kalahari (Botswana and South African border?) as covered in Western media and literature. They have presented Kalahari people as an 'endangered species' and tribal 'indigenous' peoples with culture resembling to those communities in the pre-historic times.
hehe
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 09:04 AM
>Yale economist William Nordhaus tried putting
>a price tag on the ongoing American adventure
> -- his low case and high case scenarios over the
>next decade? 120 billion and 1.6 trillion dollars,
> respectively.
Paschim,
I always doubt America will be the one footing the bill eventually. Like Arnico pointed out in another thread, they are there to plant American flag on the oil fields. Iraq, according to a recent report by Baker Institute of Policy, sits atop the SECOND largest proven oil resource in the world. Its current capacity is 112 bpd, and so homogenous was export after Iran-Iraq war that 99% of Iraq's export was from oil in 1989, a year before Kuwait invasion.
I think, down the road, Iraq will be the one footing the bill. I am afraid for a lot of Iraqis, the bill may come in the form of compromised sovereignty too.
"Where there is a Bush, there is a War."Someone once told me. For a man raised in trigger-happy, cowboy cultured Texas,conflict and intransigence have been essential part of his life.His messy Florida election court-campaign was the , literally, start of the presidential life that will remind the world that Texas doesn't give a damn to a life that doesn't involve conflict and triggers.
The silver lining of today's war: hopefully those kids dying in Hospitals of Iraq will see a better day soon. The more this economic embargo dragged on, the more abject the life could be for the ordinary Iraqis.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 09:07 AM
What? What's problem with the line spaces? It is not working in my postings.
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 09:23 AM
Paschim ji
As usual, only you have the knack for mildly putting things into perspective...without "HOLLERING"!!! :)
Reminds me of a very well-liked, distinguished, reputed professor/friend of mine. He always has this mild demeanour and non-assuming disposition... one has to go beyond the surface value of words, popular views, meandering ponderings to understand and appreciate his arguments.
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| whine and chij |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 09:33 AM
them pfizer dogs must be crazy, too! so much trouble from a lousy diet coke bottle...
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| oys_chill |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 12:14 PM
ahile wine ra cheez khadai ma, don't think u will never need pfizer dogs ;) .....
pachi budeskaal lage pachi regret garna parla ...........(in jugular vein) :)
OYS
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| Paschim |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 06:11 PM
Biswo, yes, I think the expectation is that the Iraqi oil will "re-imburse" many of these costs. 3 million barrels a year can get them 25 billion dollars a year, and Blair et al are talking about a "trust fund" of some sort under a legitimate trusteeship. No doubt there will be many claims on this bounty. I refer you to the insightful Nordhaus piece in the NY Review of Books (early December) for more on how he computed the estimates.
Jira, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not Paketmaar! Yes, I remember his first few articles last year -- very original, clever, and funny. I hope he returns with more.
Sitara, you keep good company :)
Hehe, yes, the issue of "The San and their Hoodia Cactus" is quite hot in the "intellectual property" literature -- as a case of biopiracy.
Raksiya and others, thanks for reading. Hijo raati sutnu aghi yeso falaaki hereko ni.
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| Paschim |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 06:14 PM
Erratum: 3 million barrels *a day*, not a year.
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| Kajal |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 06:51 PM
Sitara,
On one thread "HOLLERING" you suck up and praise this person Surya,
IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! Reverberating thoughts and clarity of expression!
Aroo pani jawos! :)
and then on the other thread " SAN AND THE HOODIA CACTUS " you punch them with your sarcasm
"As usual, only you have the knack for mildly putting things into perspective...without "HOLLERING"!!! :)
amongst the midst of brilliant minds putting things into perspective like Paschim ji.
Can't you just let people read a good write up without bringing your sentiments and sarcasm? No wonder they are picking on you for being two faced and what not.
Just let us all read in peace will ya? At first I ignored others comments to you but man can't read without your pain in the ass sarcasm and smiley faces, like someone said.
Me get now!
Out of Sajha, go on vacation, until I have the opportunity again to read more from the brilliant minds of Sajha without being interrupted by useless, empty one liners, suck ups, sarcasms. Little more maturity might come in handy by the way.
Will pass by someday again, maybe there will be more constructive and concrete two way conversations on the "After the war issues" might be interesting to read.
Been a pleasure! All Sajhaties stay safe and stay good!
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 07:15 PM
Hai Hai! Kajal ji...
My posting on this thread was WAAAAAAAAAAAY before the "Hollering" thread ! Jumping into conclusions are we? tsk! tsk! tsk! such assumptions from one so learned and observant! TWO-faced???????? Only? :( AND I was told I was multifaceted!
Yep, definitely one-liners for me... it is called "when/if my mood strikes!"
But do have a safe vacation hajur!
and yes! served with a :) ( a cyber one) too!
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| surya |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 07:16 PM
Kajal:
In all fairness to Sitara, please note that her post on this thead is registered at 9:23 am and I started my thread at 9:58 am, AFTER this post:)
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| Prem Charo |
Posted
on 21-Mar-03 11:08 PM
Welcome back Paschim Ji. Kasto ramro lekheko- aha! Ani kaam kasto bhaira cha? Ma pani ektali teta ghumna aaune bichar cha. Herau.
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| sks |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 09:01 AM
Sitara, r u prescient, too??
ok...ok...so it was coincidence....or was it? ;)
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 09:19 AM
SKs ji
Prescient?....absolutely! I know if you leave a match lying around... a kid will come and light it ! :P
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 09:23 AM
Paschim ji
Aroo pani jawos...would like to be a part of intellectual piracy! :)
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| surya |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 09:32 AM
Intellectual piracy? That's second only to Freek's shenannigan!! :)
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| NK |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 11:01 AM
All the Botox babes rejoice! So, San the Hoodia cactus is here! And yes, you too, the liposuction patients. I am just singing Hail to the Chief. The chief knows the best. He has the resource, the ammunition and the avenging spirit that a great Caesar needs. Oh, great George Bush, will I get a piece of the pie you long long time ago promised the people of your constituency? If I remember correctly you had proposed to make the pie bigger so that lots and lots of people can share (!). How would have I known then you were eyeing so shrewdly your far, far away neighbor. Oh, George Bush, you are the far-sighted emperor we all unworthy, illiterate people need. You, the Father, the Holy Ghost, and the son of George H.W. Bush, know everything. Those undeserving, blind, foolish peace marchers deserve lashing of a whip. So do all the nation head that opposed this particular war.
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| deep |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 11:48 AM
"As I wait for my copy of Love in the Time of Cholera to be hand-delivered.."
----------
Ram ....ram.....ram! paschim le kasto fohor kuro gareko huh?
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 11:59 AM
NK:
Halleluja!!!!
You forgot the :) hehe! Bush had a visitation from God hence his burning bush!
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 04:25 PM
Freeek Freeek ji Ma Man!
and the glimpse of Sajha chatroom constipated gossip-warfare....That surely was NOT patented document (Posted on Hollering)! That was classified and priceless! :)
Talking about pricing, pirating and patenting... San, have you thought of asking chatters to patent their gossip so they are safe from being pirated/posted/busted on kurakani. Just a thought... Trust me Sajha won't have to depend on charity/contribution and handouts! Sajha can be a self-generating, flourishing and thriving business.
LOL @ Deep! hehe!
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| oys_chill |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 04:27 PM
deep dai..............still waiting for yor sardar ji ko kahani..............or shall i say it in this break fever ;)...oops sorry..what the hell is paschim talking bout??? :P
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| NK |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 06:36 PM
Sitaradahnling, i am a bit tipsy from drinking a tad too much tonight. Forgive me if i sound impish, but shouldn't we be marching in New York right now, rather than this inane chat?
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 07:39 PM
Hic! Hic! to you too, NK! ;)
I am typing from NY on my laptop! oh no!!! Gottttttttaaaaaaaaa ruuuuunnnnnn!!!! Barking mongrels at my ankles!!!! :P
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| Paschim |
Posted
on 22-Mar-03 08:38 PM
Oh boy...what's going on here?
Starting a thread on Sajha is like firing an unguided missile -- you never know where it will go, where it will land, who it will hit, who will capture and re-launch it, and who will make what use of the bits and pieces that fall on the ground. Wouldn't you agree?
Just in jest :)
-----
Btw, San, what's happened to the "search" feature of Sajha?
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| deep |
Posted
on 23-Mar-03 08:07 AM
""As I wait for my copy of Love in the Time of Cholera to be hand-delivered.."
Looks like I mistook the word "Cholera" to a nepali "common" word. Must have been the overinfluence and a sudden spark of those fading hangover of guchcha tole and masangalli days...
Paschim le fohor kura garya haina re chha kyara...my bad!
Actually, Paschim if you don't want your missile to go stray then you should rely on "GPS", you know what I mean?
Take care and don't get too close - with you know who - to get that killer pneumonia in the name of -you know what- (oops! the fading influence feels like is sparking again).
:-)
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| NK |
Posted
on 23-Mar-03 02:47 PM
Paschim,just hurl the "unguided missile", sit back, and relax. Did you remember to get a bucket full of popcorn btw? Welcome to Sajha theater. As San would say, enjoy the show!
Sitara, How are the wounded ankles? I am sure if not thousands, hundreds of able-bodied chiseled cheek-boned men (and women - who knows) must be tending your (ahem) ankles. :)
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 23-Mar-03 03:25 PM
NK... Wounded????????
My theme song "Catch me if you can!" ;)
Paschim ji....
Launa...ke ho yesto... were you aiming somewhere? Bushman in DC ki bushmen in Africa?
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| MainBatti |
Posted
on 23-Mar-03 04:46 PM
On Pun Karshaap:
---------------------
The job of Minister of Physical Planning of Nepal seems to me more charismatic than that of the Secretary-General of the UN (people working for the UN, and thinking of surmounting that pinnacle--of the post of Secretary-General--might want to think twice now.)
Our Karshaap probably has not thought about the catastrophic repercussion that are likely if he allows our Commie-camrades to celebrate another honey-moon. But dumb our commie brothers are, their overexcitement might put them in the most difficult position ever. Good that BRB has some shame--he DID hesitate to come to public.
Whatever the future has in store for us--including for our "yaatri" in Mangolia--we are seeing the most awkward, but awesome, yugal-jodi (yes, one of the political parties did have this as their election symbol in the last election) we have ever witnessed. A Pun and a Shah! Let's hope these two karsaaps come out with something good for all of us.
Bhawadiye,
"Born to digress each and every topic in Sajha"
MainBatti, March 23, 2003
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| Paschim |
Posted
on 23-Mar-03 05:49 PM
Mainbatti, I think "Yugal-jodi" was the symbol of Shri Kirti Nidhi Bista in the last elections. He is "ekal" in life -- but "yugal-jodi" would be more apt for his naati, and my good friend, who was last heard admiring the amorous exchanges between (President) John Adams and his wife Abigail in the late 18th century. :)
Deep, I knew what you meant -- but I would have spelled that differently. Here, the reference is to a "sojho" work of Gabriel Marquez with a slightly "baango" artha, but never mind!
NK/Sitara -- Unguided missile, it is!
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