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This week’s blog mela is up at India Uncut. Sterling stuff. Go right there, right now!
And if you’re a blogger and you find yourself in Bombay tomorrow, come over and meet us.
Where? Café Coffee Day, InOrbit Mall, Malad
When? 3 pm
Why? Supply the answer yourself. If you can’t come over and we’ll give you one […]

What would you say when a media outlet exhorts readers to vote not based on the ability of the candidates in the fray, but on geographical location?
This isn’t about politics, but about the Indian Idol finals. But don’t shrug it off. Will you vote for someone in a game show just because he’s from your […]

During my chat with Jai Arjun last week, we spoke about how many books we read. I generally manage around two per week. He was surprised that my reading rate, as a non-lit person, was the same as his. Well, there are caveats. First, I count work related books in my reading list. Second, I […]

I don’t concern myself much with the debate on social security, which is raging in the US (although I did engage Patrix once on the issue). Loads of libertarian sites and blogs have written on it in far greater depth than I would be able to manage. For a flavour, go to Cato’s Project on […]

I’m finally back in Bombay. Had a refreshing holiday in Goa followed by a conference and some other work in Delhi (where I met the luxuriantly sideburned Jabberwok — he’s written more about the blogging blind date).
One resolution I’d made (and kept) was not to enter a cyber café or get anywhere close to […]

Arguments for the legalization of drugs

This message came in from Alex Singleton today:
For your delectation and delight, I am pleased to announce the launch of a new blog. The Globalization Institute Blog will be a major source of information and commentary on development economics, international trade and poverty relief. As you might imagine from the name, we’re in favour of […]

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said “two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert … near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lips, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that […]

Can you defame somebody who’s dead? Well, some organisation called Yuvak Biradari is deeply upset with remarks made by Vijay Tendulkar on Gandhiji. The merits / demerits of the remarks are not relevant. What is, is the fact that Yuvak Biradari intends to sue Tendulkar for defamation. Without obviously caring to look up the law. […]

Don’t you hate it when you go over to a site and it pops a “free registration required” — I would then go through the motions of registering even if it was just to read one article. Then I came across the wonderful BugMeNot site. I love it. Here’s an excerpt from their FAQ:
What’s […]

A simple explanation best demolishes common myths. Don Boudreaux does it time and again. Here he takes on the myth of social security being a safety net.
A safety net is something that one never wants to use; everyone wishes to avoid contact with it. It’s there in the event of an accident, an unplanned mishap.
Whether […]

Last month, Amit Varma wrote about liberal / libertarian and their shifting meanings. For me, the best point on these labels is made by David Boaz in his book Libertarianism: A Primer. Here’s an excerpt from the book’s website:
The right term for the advocates of civil society and free markets is arguably socialist. Thomas […]

Kiruba Shankar is throwing a vodka cocktail party at his home in Chennai on February 13. I would have gladly flown down but it’s Valentine’s eve and I’ve been booked.

Ever wonder at the incongruity of state awards? And see how similar it is to monarchs of yore handing out the goodies to loyal servants?
I agree with Romila Thapar’s decision to return the Padma Bhushan. She makes her reasons clear in this interview.
In 1992, I was given precisely this award. I decided I would stay […]

Today is the 100th birthday of Ayn Rand. I enjoyed all her books, fiction and non-fiction; was a founding member of the New Delhi Ayn Rand club; and well, owe a lot of my learnings in libertarianism to her. I grew up with browsing through her books in my parents library. When my father […]

As we’ve already had reams of stuff written on last Sunday’s blogger meet, I will refrain from contributing more hot air (prefer to use that to warm myself)
However, I shall promise to write up on helmets, seat belts and steering-wheel-spikes. Yes, I know I’ve promised articles post the last bloggers meet. Which means, dear […]

Bryan Caplan on EconLog, picks up an old interview from Capitalism Magazine on Legalizing Insider Trading. I agree, but it’s déjà vu (twice in once day!)
Seven odd years back, Ajay Shah convinced me against a ban on insider trading. Here’s what Ajay (then a professor at IGIDR) wrote in the Business Standard (25 March […]

While reading this in today’s TOI, I had a strong feeling of déjà vu. I was right. The Times cooly picks up stuff from Steven Lynch’s Cricinfo column and all the attribution it will deign to give is “according to a website.”
Why am I picking on the Times when it wasn’t the only newspaper […]

The fates have finally decreed that Ravikiran should post the blog mela. He’s also decamped to Ohio to escape the brickbats. (All bouquets to be diverted to my blog).
The next mela will be hosted by Chien(ne)s Sans Frontiers. There’s a small twist this time. Not only do you have to leave your nomination, […]