Yahoo and Microsoft have agreed to an online search and advertising partnership, in an attempt to stand against the web search engine Google. The deal would be announced soon within the next 24 hours.
Under the term of the deal, Microsoft, which made a failed takeover bid of $47.5 billion for Yahoo last year, would access to the volume of search queries that run through Yahoo's search engine. Yahoo has agreed to use Microsoft's new Bing search engine on its own sites. Also, Yahoo will handle the advertising sales, using Microsoft technology. Yahoo Chief Executive Carol Bartz said, "I think Bing is actually a good product and Microsoft deserves kudos for Bing."
The deal would give Bing a boost in competing with Google's search engine. Google's search engine dominates the marketplace with 65 percent of the U.S. Internet searches, according to the figures provided by research firm ComScore. It is followed by followed by Yahoo with 19.6 percent and Microsoft with 8.4 percent.
According to a technology blog, All Things Digital, the deal is "less sweeping than originally conceived" and does not involve upfront payments by Microsoft to Yahoo. "This makes the deal much smaller than ones previously envisioned, which included Microsoft taking over both Yahoo's search and its text-based search advertising businesses, in exchange for large payments and guaranteed revenue."
However, the deal may also face privacy issues, said Colin Gillis, an Analyst at Brigantine Advisors. "Any agreement where Microsoft powers search and shares the search data to Yahoo! is open to scrutiny from the U.S. and EU justice departments," he added. It can trigger the federal regulation limiting the ability of companies like Yahoo to collect data from users' searches and share it with partners, which would remove a key advantage of the partnership, said Gillis.
Courtesy :http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Yahoo_and_Microsoft__to_strike_a_deal_in_next_24_hours-nid-59873.html
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Gay Rights – The disparity between logics and Morals
“The Delhi High Court pronounced a historical judgment decriminalizing homosexuality”
I’ve kind of lost my hope in our judicial system when I heard one of the High Court’s judgments about smoking on screen by celebs. I had many friends in College who started smoking just because their favorite hero on screen smoked and did many stylish tricks which attracted the heroine much. I was able to clearly see that the judicial system in India does not have a clear distinction between logics and morals. Logically, smoking on the screen is right but morally, it’s perilous. But the court had to succumb to logics more than morals. FYI, that’s where we are heading to!
I would like to pose a scenario where a mother of two, living happily with her husband and family, met with another man whom she thought was “the man of her dreams”. Logic may suggest that she should follow her heart’s desire, but morals would just keep her from deserting the family structure and live faithfully as a great mother. Same with another man who met a “woman of his dreams” but unfortunately she was married then. He being an extremely successful person, smart-looking, could allure her and shatter her commitment with her husband and strike an affair, “logically”. Yet morally, he backed up.
I’m trying to quote these two scenarios as this is very much our society and we ourselves. Though there are so many secret desires, lures and temptations, morals keep us on track. That’s what our families are made up of; morals and not logics. It is a moral commitment for a father to look after his children. Logically, why should a man strive hard for another human! It is very clear that morals are pivotal to a society and especially ours.
Who decides the standards for morals - What is moral and immoral? The answer is no one! Society frames the morals. It would try various things and eventually a basic moral framework would be set. Anything below that line would be immoral. For e.g. sex between legitimate couples is morally accepted. But if they are not, it’s the same sex, but the act is immoral. Why? No one knows! But that’s how the society is. Culturally rich countries like India, thankfully, even today have these moral values “as a society”. Please note the quoted phrase “as a society” because no one can claim that all Indians individually are morally, culturally rich. But fortunately our society still is. That’s why we still have strong family bonds. Parents don’t decide to separate at will…they try to mend inconsistencies and carry forward. Children grow up seeing parents, their commitments and they know the value of a family and that is what has been driving India morally.
The difference between LGTB and Eunuchs.
I would like to request the Honorable Supreme court of India not to relate the LGTB community with the eunuchs. These two are two different cases. The former is a handicap mentally where as the latter is a handicap, biologically. The Eunuchs deserve the right to live like other humans…there is absolutely no doubt about that. It’s the same as a physically challenged person and they need to be treated loyally. But why are the LGTB involved in this reservation. They have a problem mentally… against nature. It is natural for a man to love a woman and vice versa … Same sex attraction is unnatural and a mental disability. Even if there has to be special laws for the Eunuchs, the LGTB community needs to be exempted for the law to make sense.
How does this Law for LGTB bring down the morals of our society?
As I have told before, the moral standards of our society has been set. Often different thinkers may prop up claiming to revisit the moral standards to make sure it really is humanitarian. If it doesn’t there would be voices raised and depending on the justice it makes, would be accepted or discarded. But the reforms brought up and widely accepted till today, made sense…like abolishing sati, widow discrimination which has taken our moral values up. LGTB is a mental issue, unnatural feeling for which a law cannot be proposed. It would then justify persons having unnatural attraction within own family members (incest) also. Terrorist killings could be justified as they could claim they have a natural tendency to kill people. Even child abusers could justify their natural instinct towards children which could later breed into a great community claiming rights for their own.
Where is our society heading to?
It’s high time we decide whether to be logically correct or morally correct. The government and the court would stay silent because of the 70 million vote bank. Educated mass may also choose to be neutral to pacify the LGTB community which is mostly the elite. When it comes to making a decision, logics might be most admired than morals as morals are a little old fashioned in our current vibrant sophisticated social framework. Slowly, moral laws would be modified to make logical sense. The end is for you to presume!
Religiously, is it correct?
I follow the Bible and the Bible treats the act of homosexuality as an abomination, a curse that is detestable before the eyes of God. Read it in the Holy Bible. Do you know why? It’s because God instituted a Holy and most divine institution called “Marriage” between a man and a woman. So far this institution has worked wonders and we are what we are because our forefathers and our parents relentlessly held on to the morals established. I know there is no widely accepted religion that legalizes or supports homosexuality.
I believe when there are riches, intellect and sophistications in abundance, the human mind tries new theories like these just because their basic needs are already met. People in most down trodden countries today have no time fighting for gay rights as they are fighting for their next meal. Even in India, not long ago, 15 years back when India was counted as an underdeveloped country by westerners, none dared to bring these issues up as we were struggling for our basic necessities. Fathers had no choice than to earn little and mothers wisely used that little to raise their children. But today with globalization and international exposure, earning exuberant salaries has become easy. The concept of living content is gone and craving for new sophistications is talk of the town. Western lifestyle is the new mantra; “breaking-up”, pizzas, burgers, harmful beverages, branded apparels, swanky cars and gadgets have become an invincible part of our lives. There’s no doubt a lot of these new theories are propping up. Wait and see… worse is yet to come!
A Word to LGTB
The law says more than the law breaker the one who instigated to break the law should suffer more punishment. Please do not conduct a Pride rally or something of that sort, primarily because there is nothing to be proud about and secondly you create a lot of unwanted publicity. Many ignorant young people may want to follow you just because of this publicity. After all who has the right to supervise your secrecy but don’t make it public. But remember, there is a time coming very soon when the gold will be put to test and refined. Only what is pure and moral would stand and all impurity would be cast out.
Malachi 2:17 says “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
And Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;”
The people during Noah’s time were very similar to this age… No moral values and when the test of time came, there was no time to repent. I’m praying for you to repent!
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” – Romans 6:12-13
- John Manoah
I’ve kind of lost my hope in our judicial system when I heard one of the High Court’s judgments about smoking on screen by celebs. I had many friends in College who started smoking just because their favorite hero on screen smoked and did many stylish tricks which attracted the heroine much. I was able to clearly see that the judicial system in India does not have a clear distinction between logics and morals. Logically, smoking on the screen is right but morally, it’s perilous. But the court had to succumb to logics more than morals. FYI, that’s where we are heading to!
I would like to pose a scenario where a mother of two, living happily with her husband and family, met with another man whom she thought was “the man of her dreams”. Logic may suggest that she should follow her heart’s desire, but morals would just keep her from deserting the family structure and live faithfully as a great mother. Same with another man who met a “woman of his dreams” but unfortunately she was married then. He being an extremely successful person, smart-looking, could allure her and shatter her commitment with her husband and strike an affair, “logically”. Yet morally, he backed up.
I’m trying to quote these two scenarios as this is very much our society and we ourselves. Though there are so many secret desires, lures and temptations, morals keep us on track. That’s what our families are made up of; morals and not logics. It is a moral commitment for a father to look after his children. Logically, why should a man strive hard for another human! It is very clear that morals are pivotal to a society and especially ours.
Who decides the standards for morals - What is moral and immoral? The answer is no one! Society frames the morals. It would try various things and eventually a basic moral framework would be set. Anything below that line would be immoral. For e.g. sex between legitimate couples is morally accepted. But if they are not, it’s the same sex, but the act is immoral. Why? No one knows! But that’s how the society is. Culturally rich countries like India, thankfully, even today have these moral values “as a society”. Please note the quoted phrase “as a society” because no one can claim that all Indians individually are morally, culturally rich. But fortunately our society still is. That’s why we still have strong family bonds. Parents don’t decide to separate at will…they try to mend inconsistencies and carry forward. Children grow up seeing parents, their commitments and they know the value of a family and that is what has been driving India morally.
The difference between LGTB and Eunuchs.
I would like to request the Honorable Supreme court of India not to relate the LGTB community with the eunuchs. These two are two different cases. The former is a handicap mentally where as the latter is a handicap, biologically. The Eunuchs deserve the right to live like other humans…there is absolutely no doubt about that. It’s the same as a physically challenged person and they need to be treated loyally. But why are the LGTB involved in this reservation. They have a problem mentally… against nature. It is natural for a man to love a woman and vice versa … Same sex attraction is unnatural and a mental disability. Even if there has to be special laws for the Eunuchs, the LGTB community needs to be exempted for the law to make sense.
How does this Law for LGTB bring down the morals of our society?
As I have told before, the moral standards of our society has been set. Often different thinkers may prop up claiming to revisit the moral standards to make sure it really is humanitarian. If it doesn’t there would be voices raised and depending on the justice it makes, would be accepted or discarded. But the reforms brought up and widely accepted till today, made sense…like abolishing sati, widow discrimination which has taken our moral values up. LGTB is a mental issue, unnatural feeling for which a law cannot be proposed. It would then justify persons having unnatural attraction within own family members (incest) also. Terrorist killings could be justified as they could claim they have a natural tendency to kill people. Even child abusers could justify their natural instinct towards children which could later breed into a great community claiming rights for their own.
Where is our society heading to?
It’s high time we decide whether to be logically correct or morally correct. The government and the court would stay silent because of the 70 million vote bank. Educated mass may also choose to be neutral to pacify the LGTB community which is mostly the elite. When it comes to making a decision, logics might be most admired than morals as morals are a little old fashioned in our current vibrant sophisticated social framework. Slowly, moral laws would be modified to make logical sense. The end is for you to presume!
Religiously, is it correct?
I follow the Bible and the Bible treats the act of homosexuality as an abomination, a curse that is detestable before the eyes of God. Read it in the Holy Bible. Do you know why? It’s because God instituted a Holy and most divine institution called “Marriage” between a man and a woman. So far this institution has worked wonders and we are what we are because our forefathers and our parents relentlessly held on to the morals established. I know there is no widely accepted religion that legalizes or supports homosexuality.
I believe when there are riches, intellect and sophistications in abundance, the human mind tries new theories like these just because their basic needs are already met. People in most down trodden countries today have no time fighting for gay rights as they are fighting for their next meal. Even in India, not long ago, 15 years back when India was counted as an underdeveloped country by westerners, none dared to bring these issues up as we were struggling for our basic necessities. Fathers had no choice than to earn little and mothers wisely used that little to raise their children. But today with globalization and international exposure, earning exuberant salaries has become easy. The concept of living content is gone and craving for new sophistications is talk of the town. Western lifestyle is the new mantra; “breaking-up”, pizzas, burgers, harmful beverages, branded apparels, swanky cars and gadgets have become an invincible part of our lives. There’s no doubt a lot of these new theories are propping up. Wait and see… worse is yet to come!
A Word to LGTB
The law says more than the law breaker the one who instigated to break the law should suffer more punishment. Please do not conduct a Pride rally or something of that sort, primarily because there is nothing to be proud about and secondly you create a lot of unwanted publicity. Many ignorant young people may want to follow you just because of this publicity. After all who has the right to supervise your secrecy but don’t make it public. But remember, there is a time coming very soon when the gold will be put to test and refined. Only what is pure and moral would stand and all impurity would be cast out.
Malachi 2:17 says “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
And Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;”
The people during Noah’s time were very similar to this age… No moral values and when the test of time came, there was no time to repent. I’m praying for you to repent!
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” – Romans 6:12-13
- John Manoah
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