Will 11.11.11 be lucky for you? Do you have superpowers, politician?

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Will 11.11.11 be lucky for you?

Will 11.11.11 be lucky for you? It's finally 11.11.11 today! A date that had been widely speculated as being either auspicious or really unlucky. Numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani tells us why this date is such a huge deal, in his own words.

11.11.11 has already put people in a tizzy, from expectant mothers wanting to check if it's an auspicious day to deliver, to many couples wishing to tie the knot. And in fact, the sequence of numbers has also become popular for product or service launches, and other planned events - as the date is easy to remember. Even Hollywood is not far behind - with a film being made on it and even titled, "11/11/11". Closer home, director Imtiaz Ali and Ashtavinayak, the producers of the much awaited Ranbir Kapoor starrer, "Rockstar" have chosen the date, considering it auspicious.

We always discourage expectant mothers to 'choose' the delivery date urging them to leave it to Mother Nature, unless in specific complicated cases where it is compulsory to opt for a C-section. 11/11/11 as a date is particularly special because of the repetitions of No 1, but apart from that, each number or planet has its own beauty and charm, lending us both strengths and weakness. This date is governed by primarily number 2 (1+1=2) Moon, number 9, Mars (Scorpio Ruler) and number 8, Saturn (11+11+2011=8). Let's analyse this...

'It's a moon walk!: People born on the 2, 11, 20 and 29 in any month are termed as number 2 people, ruled by the Moon. Cancerians are also governed by Moon. In fact, the first time man set foot on the Moon, it was a date adding to number 2 (July 20), which was also during the Cancer period when Moon is in full flow. Moon, as one can see is a dreamy, romantic, gentle, but laid-back planet that lends gift of imagination, and creativity, hence, most number 2 people are very gifted and talented. Many songs in Bollywood have been inspired, and pictured on the Moon. Some of the great Bollywood actors of all times are ruled by number 2, such as Amitabh Bachchan - (October 11), Shah Rukh Khan - (November 2), Sanjay Dutt (July 29), Ajay Devgn (April 2).

Also number 2 Moon-ruled Cancerians to have made it big are Priyanka Chopra - (July 18) and Katrina (July 16).

So a person born on such a date would surely have some great talents, but the Moon also has a flip side - it can make a person restless, moody and lack continuity in plans. Moon as we know effects even the vast ocean. The high and low tides in the ocean are due to the phases of the Moon.

A study even revealed that lunatics are most affected during the full moon. Hence, it is also considered inauspicious to start something during such a period. During 11/11/11, the Moon will be on the decline, hence one must not attempt anything important, unless it cannot be helped. As per astrology, it is generally safe to venture out when the Moon is about to grow.

Why men are from Mars: Number 9, Mars - (Scorpio Ruler) is a fiery hot planet. Scorpions or those born on the 9, 18, 27 are hence, usually impulsive, accident prone, stubborn and inflexible.

However, one must not over do red as Mars is fiery, and can make one impulsive, rash. World over, the accident ratio of red cars is the highest amongst all colours. Most countries use red as a signal of warning or to symbolise 'stop' for road signals.

Meet the lord of judgement: 11+11+2011 = 8 which is Saturn (Shani) is known to be the strict Lord of Judgement. So, those born on 8, 17 and 26, along with Aquarians, Librans and Capricorns are influenced by number 8. Saturn may appear to many as harsh, but is actually 'just'. Look at the Libran symbol - the weighing scale - which means balance.

To sum it up 11/11/11, I would say, treat it just like a normal day of the year, and you may not have many problems. You should, however, refrain from using 11/11/11 as an auspicious date even if you may think it is so, because as they say - it can be lucky for some, but not for others. So, better not take a chance.

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YB a mind reader?

One Man's Meat by PHILIP GOLINGAI

If you are not the Prime Minister or on whispering terms with him, don’t pretend you know when the election will be called.

"Just because you wear a T-shirt with a Superman logo, it does not mean you have superpowers"

EVEN at the eleventh hour, some Malay­sians were still speculating whether something big – other than the once-in-a-lifetime wedding date – would happen on 11.11.11.

Yesterday, my smartphone was bombarded with SMSes asking whether Parliament would be dissolved today.

The spread of such speculation can be blamed on politicians who think they can read the Prime Minister’s mind.

Since speculating on the election date has fevered Malaysians, let me list 11 things po-liticians – to borrow a DAP battle cry in the Sarawak polls – should ubah (change) about themselves.

1) If you are not the Prime Minister or on whispering terms with him, don’t pretend you know when the election will be called.

Yes, it is a powerful feeling to have people lean closer to listen to your theory that it is 11.11.11 because 11 is the PM’s favourite number. But such coffeeshop talk is not good for those planning a life in November.

2) Don’t be a jack-in-a-box politician. 

Just like a certain party president who appeared out of nowhere and was PhotoShopped cycling next to the Prime Minister, there are political unknowns who suddenly pop out like a jack-in-a-box.

On the day Parliament is dissolved, they declare themselves a candidate.

If you want to be a candidate, at least let your presence be felt. Perhaps tweet (ie on the Auditor-General’s Report) or lead a fiery protest against something (ie Elton John’s concert).

3) Don’t be a foul-mouthed politician.

Just because you wear a T-shirt with a Superman logo, it does not mean you have superpowers to abuse your rivals with expletives that will make even Kim Kardashian blush. Win over your voters with a cause.

4) Don’t pull a Carlos Tevez. 

Make sure that you don’t miscalculate and book your holiday on the day Parliament is dissolved. If not, you would end up holidaying in China while your comrades are campaigning.

They would accuse you of behaving like the Manchester City striker who was charged for refusing to play when told to do so by his coach.

Perhaps you should listen to more coffee shop talk on when Parliament will be dissolved.

5) Don’t be a yo-yo politician. 

Meaning: don’t be consistently inconsistent. Don’t say “yes” to hudud today and “no” tomorrow. Chameleons are great for the Animal Planet series but not for Parliament.

6) Stop being a drain-orientated politician.

If you are a politician of a certain status (ie an exco member), don’t proudly tweet that you are solving your constituents’ drainage problem.

Your state has bigger problems than a blocked drain. Leave that to your municipal councillors.

7) Be a frog prince. 

Don’t be a political frog who would jump party the moment you experience a political awakening while sleeping in Parliament.

Surprise your voters so that when they “kiss” ugly you, you turn out to be a frog prince as honourable as Nelson Mandela.

8) If you are not Nelson Mandela, don’t compare yourself to Nelson Mandela. 

There are politicians from both sides of the political spectrum who have shamelessly compared themselves to Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela.

Funny thing is that some of them are more Silvio Berlusconi than Mandela.

9) Quit if you are a has-been politician. 

There’s nothing more dangerous than a politician who is looking at the rear-view mirror of his political career.

A has-been politician might join a “trustworthy” non-governmental organisation and start accusing his party of things (ie corrupt practices) he was blind to when he was in power.

10) Don’t promise to build a bridge even when there’s no river.

That’s all. Oops, only 10 whereas I promised 11. Well, like a politician, I lied.

India sees China as 'de facto competitor'

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(China Daily)
  
BEIJING - Recent bold moves regarding India's armed forces have political rather than military objectives, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said.

India's repositioning of its national security strategy has led to the country "starting to treat China as a de facto competitor", it said in a commentary on Wednesday.

"China has always adhered to the principle of 'peaceful rise'. But this has been misinterpreted by some countries as a 'rising threat'," it said.



The response came a week after the Indian Ministry of Defense announced its biggest expansion package to date, a $13 billion military modernization plan.

Within five years, the project is set to deploy 90,000 more soldiers and raise four new divisions along India's border with China, the largest such mobilization since the Sino-Indian border clashes of 1962.

The Indian military is also in the final phase of choosing between two fighter jets in what is said to be the world's largest defense deal. For months, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Dassault Rafale aircraft have been competing for an Indian Air Force contract that is now worth more than $20 billion - almost double the original estimate.

These moves followed the Indian government's decision in October to deploy Brahmos cruise missiles against China, the first time it has taken such a step with offensive tactical missiles.

India is also pushing for its first joint air force and naval exercises with Japan, which Indian Defense Minister A K Antony revealed during his visit to Japan last week.

On Monday, a senior former Indian diplomat said India, as a potential "positive balancer" in East Asia, wants to see a strong Japan in the context of China's rise.

A strong Japan would play a positive role in maintaining the strategic balance in the region, former Indian ambassador to Japan Hemant Krishan Singh said in New Delhi at a discussion on the US-Japan alliance.

During the same discussion, Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow with the US-based Council on Foreign Relations, said Japan's "strategic discomfort" has been growing amid the rise of China in recent years.

The discussion was held just weeks ahead of a proposed trilateral dialogue involving India, US and Japan that experts said was aimed at keeping China in check.

The trilateral dialogue, to be held by the year's end, will discuss regional issues, the US State Department said last week.

China has not commented on the matter.

"The West's vigilance and confinement of China's rise are increasing. One of its means is to take advantage of China's conflicts and issues with its neighboring countries, and instigate and radicalize issues to exhaust China's energy, resources and strategic projection," said Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on South Asian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

China should "take it easy" when outsiders feel uneasy about its growth and role in regional as well as global affairs, said Feng Yujun, head of Russian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

China should not only remain alert of actions taken by parties to contain its rise, but also actively adjust its strategy and focus on improving its relations with neighboring countries instead of the big powers, said Jin Yinan, head of the Strategic Research Institute at National Defense University.

India and China are slated to become the world's largest trading partners by 2030, according to estimates by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

But analysts say India's increasingly assertive approaches, acting as a counterweight to the rise of China, are reshaping the Asian strategic landscape.

"This is largely projected as a response to India's threat perceptions of China," wrote M K Bhadrakumar, a former career diplomat who served as India's ambassador to Turkey and Uzbekistan, in the Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Washington, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns last week hailed India's "Look East" policy as becoming an "Act East" policy. "India's rise will reshape the international system," he said.

Kim R. Holmes, vice-president of the Heritage Foundation and former US assistant secretary of state, said closer India-US ties are the natural result of a rising China.

"I believe that growing strategic challenges presented by a rising China and continuing threats from terrorism in the region will inevitably drive the US and India to cooperate more closely on defense and other key sectors like space, maritime security and nuclear nonproliferation," he said.

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It's a Dumb Scandal, But Taxing Christmas Trees Is Also Dumb

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Timothy B. Lee, Forbe Contributor

My Twitter feed is atwitter today over this post about the Obama administration’s proposal to assess a 15-cent tax on Christmas tree sales. The tax would go to a fund that the Christmas tree industry would use to run advertising promoting Christmas trees. After some negative publicity, the USDA says it’s delaying implementation of the tax.

Obviously, the “war on Christmas” spin some conservatives have been giving this story is ridiculous. As various folks have pointed out, this concept has been under discussion since the Bush administration, it’s supported by most Christmas tree growers, and I doubt President Obama had anything to do with it.

Still, I’ve been disappointed by the number of people on the left who have gone beyond rebutting idiotic partisan spin to actually defend the proposal on its merits. For example, several people have linked to this piece:

According to a statement issued by the group, there are at least 18 programs already in effect for other agricultural commodities under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.

“This program was requested by the industry in 2009 and has gone through two industrywide comment periods during which 565 comments were submitted from interested parties,” the National Christmas Tree Association said in a statement, adding that nearly 90 percent of the state and multi-state associations who commented on the program supported it.

“The program is designed to benefit the industry and will be funded by the growers at a rate of 15 cents per tree sold,” the release states. “The program is not expected to have any impact on the final price consumers pay for their Christmas tree.”

But some conservatives aren’t letting the facts get in the way of an awesome headline.

The “18 programs” referred to here are industries like milk, dairy, and eggs where taxes are levied to support generic ad campaigns like the dairy industry’s famous “Got Milk” spots. These campaigns are a waste of money, and I see no reason for the government to be levying the taxes to support them. Such campaigns are particularly unfair to niche producers who seek to differentiate their products from those of larger producers, but are nevertheless forced to pay for ads that promote milk (or beef, eggs, etc) as a generic commodity.

Nothing’s stopping the Christmas tree growers who support these ads from pooling their money and buying as many ads as they like. But why should a majority of growers be able to force the minority to contribute to ads they might not want or even agree with?

It’s also hard to take seriously the claim that these taxes won’t raise consumer prices. The economics here are pretty simple: when you tax a product on a per-item basis, producers usually pass the higher costs on to consumers. This is true whether the tax is formally assessed on consumers (as sales taxes are) or on businesses (like gas and cigarette taxes). Either way, the money ultimately comes out of consumers’ pockets. There’s no reason to think Christmas trees (or milk) are an exception to this general rule.

It’s hard to think of any other context where liberals cite industry support as a justification for an otherwise-indefensible government policy. Obviously, it’s worth pushing back on the idiotic “war on Christmas” spin, but the fact that Republicans are making fools of themselves doesn’t change the fact that Congress really ought to repeal the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.

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