Red (=Democratic) Nepal

Should Prachanda lead Project Lumbini?

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:13:00 +0000

(Picture from UNESCO)

The Associated Press published the following news report today.

Hundreds of Buddhists demonstrated in Nepal's capital to protest the appointment of Maoist party chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal to head a project to develop the area where Buddha was believed born in southern Nepal.

The 500 demonstrators included monks and nuns holding banners saying there should not be any political involvement in the project to develop Lumbini, located 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of Katmandu.

The government recently appointed Dahal as the head of national committee for development of Lumbini. Maoist fought government troops until 2006 when they entered a peace process. The fighting left more than 13,000 people dead.

I agree with the demonstrators that choosing someone from the political arena isn't a good thing for the project. The noble work of upgrading and developing Lumbini's infrastructures will be mired with political bickering. Someone like Ani Choying Dolma, or someone else, who is actually a Buddhist and has contributed to the Buddhist community in Nepal should lead the project in my view. What do you think?

Rare antique video of King Mahendra's Visit to England

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:40:00 +0000

Late King Mahendra visits England with wife Ratna and is greeted by Queen Elizabeth of England in this video. A classic video from the past. You can also see Late King Birendra in this video - he looks so young.

Like and share this video if you enjoyed it.

The Disillusioned Soldier - A Documentary on Nepal's Maoist Soldiers by Al Jazeera

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:27:00 +0000

Behind the statistics on the Maoist soldiers, who many educated Nepalis despise, there are real people like us that have led hard lives and probably have much suffering to endure. It is probably the ordinary rural folks who will pay the highest price of these wars as this documentary shows. They are almost always used as pawns, and the top Maoist leadership seems to be no exception. Contrary to the Maoist's initial claims, this video also shows that there are ex-fighters in the Young Communist League (YCL) - a semi-guerrilla Maoist youth wing.

Al Jazeera concludes - "This film is a reminder of the people who fought for the Maoists and why they did it."

Subina Shrestha's has a write-up in the Al Jazeera website on this issue. Click here to read it.

US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi on Hybrid Seeds in Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:04:00 +0000

Scott H. DeLisi, the US ambassador to Nepal, wrote and posted an interesting article on his Facebook page. Here's the article.

There has been considerable discussion of late about US agricultural development strategy in Nepal, Monsanto, and hybrid seeds. I'd like to set the record straight. Before addressing the specifics, however, I would like to highlight our strongly held belief that the critical discussion is not about the role of a single company but about the future of agricultural development in Nepal. If anything, the recent debates about Monsanto have led me to believe that what is truly needed is a carefully considered, fact-based policy dialogue among agriculturalists, agronomists, government officials and all other stakeholders on the best course for this nation, as a food-deficit country, when it comes to addressing the fundamental issues of food security and improved livelihoods for farmers across the nation.

Regarding our policy, let me begin by emphasizing that President Obama's Feed the Future initiative in Nepal reflects a determined commitment on the part of the US Government to work with the Government and people of Nepal on the vital issues of food security and agricultural development. That will not change.

Secondly, let me be equally clear that ours is a partnership that supports the vision and direction of the Government of Nepal. To be successful, we believe that our programs must have government engagement and commitment and reflect governmental priorities. Without the Government of Nepal's support for the proposal that Monsanto will provide assistance and agricultural extension services to farmers using hybrid seeds, USAID will not move forward independently to fund such a program. If the government decides that such an educational partnership is desirable, however, we will be prepared to move forward with a well-designed and carefully considered program.

I also want to emphasize, however, that while looking at seed technology to enhance agricultural productivity is important, it is only a small component of our food security partnership with the government. We are supporting organic production, working with farmers on irrigation techniques, better nursery programs for seedlings, and better insect control. We are, for example, working with farmers in the mid-hills on diversifcation of crop production to show them that instead of making 5,000 rupees from a half hectare of maize in monsoon season they can generate 130,000 rupees from best-practice irrigated vegetable farming during the same period. My request and my intent is to keep our discussion focused on what makes sense for Nepal's development, for farmers' livelihoods, for the economy and for the future and to not let it be diverted by those for whom focusing on a single company is more important than addressing Nepal's food security concerns or long-term agricultural development strategies.

With that in mind, let me try to frame as cleary as possible the focus of our efforts as well as the reasons we're puzzled by some of the issues being raised. First, I have urged before, and I emphasize again, the importance of being clear about the true issues we are discussing. Yesterday there was yet another op-ed that spoke about "GMO" maize. I am not aware of any GMO maize being grown in Nepal not has it been approved by the government, nor are there any proposals on the part of USAID or anyone else that I know to introduce it. This careless use of terminology only clouds the issues. There are very important differences between hybrids and GMO seeds and, although there can and should be dialogue about both, we need to be clear about what we are talking about.

I have also seen many Facebook posts and press statements that talk about "stopping" the introduction of hybrid maize into Nepal. There was another such statement today. These statements puzzle me, however, as they seem to ignore the current realities in agriculture here in Nepal. The Government of Nepal began researching the use of hybrid seed varieties in 1987 and today, approximately 75% of tomatoes, cauliflower, and many other vegetables in Nepal are grown from hybrid seed. The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has also approved sixteen maize hybrids for sale in Nepal. Many of the approved varieties come from Monsanto, and four of them have been sold commercially here since 2004.

It is also worth nothing that 80% of mazie produced in the Terai is grown from hybrid seed and 10% of maize grown in the mid hills is also from hybrid seed. It is also the case that Nepal's maize production falls far short of demand and the nation imports tremendous quantities of maize (primarily hybrid varieties grown in India) each year at considerable expense to the national budget. Thus, if the goal of the debate is to "stop" the introduction of hybrids, it would seem that there is need for further education on the current agricultural realities and practices by the nation's farmers.

If the goal is instead to limit the further spread of hybrid use, then there clearly is need for further discussion as well, given that every year the use of hybrid seed in Nepal is growing, with seed availability not keeping pace with demand. This, I would add, is also a problem, as it leads to black market seed being introduced, not all of which is NARC-approved varieties that are tailored to Nepal's climate, soil and agricultural environment.

Several American and Indian companies sell the approved hybrid seed varieties in Nepal in response to the current - and increasing - market demand for them. There are also discussions of Nepali companies either developing their own hybrid lines or acquiring rights from companies like Monsanto for the parental lines of currently used hybrids. As noted earlier, however, I believe that those who want to focus the discussion to either a single company, or to the commercial hybrid seed providers in general, miss the key concern. What is important is that decision makers and stakeholders bring the focus of the debate back to the core question: the appropriate role of hybrids as part of a comprehensive strategy for Nepal's agricultural development. To single out Monsanto, or any other company, serves no useful purpose in this discussion and distracts from the critical issues to be addressed.

The simple fact is that Nepal's agricultural productivity across the board is low - very low. Meanwhile, the population is growing, while the amount of arable land is at best static but may be decreasing due to urbanization. This imbalance puts the food security of the entire nation in jeopardy. Malnutrition and under nutrition remain serious problems, undermining the health and affecting the future of Nepali children. In my view, these are issues that must be discussed soberly and carefully. These are the issues we want to work with the people and the government to address.

There are those who also argued against hybrids on the grounds that they lead to a massive increase in the use of chemical fertilizer. Although I am not an expert, I have learned enough to know that there are many different views on that topic, even if not all of them are getting broad exposure in the current public discussion. I would urge that there be a more informed examination of all the issues, bearing in mind that the debate about fertilizer is not unique to the use of hybrid seed varieties. The use of fertilizer, deemed by so many of this nation's farmers to be an essential input for increased production, is just as much a factor in the production of open pollinated variety (OPV) maize as it is in hybrid production. Equally, despite suggestions by some to the contrary, hybrid seed varieties can be grown organically, can be fertilized with cow manure rather than chemicals, and will still produce increased yeilds compared to many OPV seeds.

When looking at the discussion to date, I also feel a degree of concern that it does not seem to reflect the views we hear expressed by the farmers who work the fields. For example, we know there are over 20,000 farmers in the Terai and the mid-hills who are eager to either expand their use of hybrids or participate in a trial in which Monsanto would provide agricultural extension services, education and other support. Their voices need to count in this debate as well. We also know that hybrid use is a reality in Nepal and is growing each year. The farmers who are making the choice to use hybrids and who depend on those crops for their livelihood need to be part of this discussion. If Nepali agriculture practice is indeed moving towards the increased use of hybrids, then it is important to ensure that the best agricultural practices are used and that farmers have the support and training they tell us they want and need to use hybrid seeds effectively.

Although I believe there are many related issues that warrant discussion by and among Nepalis as you shape your agricultural future, I again urge that, as you do so, you seek to separate fact from fiction. Hear ALL sides of the discussion and recognize that there are many views and competing considerations. For example, there are those who repeatedly posit as absolute fact that the maize crop failures in 2009 were due to hybrid seeds. There are experts, however, including in the Government of Nepal, who will tell you that the problem was a weather-related issue (extreme cold) that affected OPV maize as well as hybrid.

Other opponents of hybrid seeds argue that hybrids encourage dependence and are part of a new form of economic imperialism by the developed world. I disagree, but at the end of the day what I believe is not important. Nepalis must make that decision for themselves. I urge, however, that you listen not just to the foes but that you give just as much consideration to the voice of the farmer who argues that greater productivity and increased incomes stemming from hybrid use can improve his life and the future of his children while transforming agriculture in Nepal.

The bottom line? Let facts, not conjecture, emotion or misinformation, inform this important debate. Encourage a robust public discussion with experts on agriculture as well as the farmers who would be the most affected by the decisions, and be wary of any voices that offer only one side of the issue.
Finally, I would add that these issues are not unique to Nepal. Weigh the evidence and recommendations of the many experts who have discussed these same concerns as part of the global debate on food security. We all must come to terms with the inevitable tensions between balancing many competing concerns as the global community struggles with the question of how to feed an ever-growing world population with diminishing agricultural resources. This is one of the true challenges of our generation.

Our partnership with Nepal in development is now 60 years old. It has been driven in part by our sincere commitment to helping your government to meet the health and nutritional needs of the population so that your citizens will be better able to build a prosperous and democratic future for Nepal. That commitment and partnership will not change whatever course you and your government choose in terms of the nation's agricultural development. But I do believe that these issues have too long been neglected in the public discourse. I hope that the discussion we have seen in recent weeks can, and will, evolve into a much-needed examination of the broader questions to be answered for the future of agricultural development in Nepal.

To comment on his write-up in Facebook and see the discussion that's going on there, please click here.

Sagar Thapa's 35-meter Goal Against Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:23:00 +0000

Sagar Thapa shot a truly epic goal against Bangladesh in Nepal's Group B match against Bangladesh. Thapa, who plays a defender, shot a 35-yard free kick right into the post in the last 60 seconds of injury time.

There is already a Facebook group seeking to nominate Sagar Thapa for a FIFA award.. Join the group and help spread the word.

Sagar Thapa scored "once-in-a-life-time" goal in the 95th minute against Bangladesh in SAFF Championship 2011. For the beauty, accuracy, and timing of this goal, it deserves to be one of the top 10 nominee for FIFA Puskás (goal of the year) Award 2012.

Brazil's Ronaldinho had scored a similar goal in the FIFA 2002 World Cup. This video compares the goals by Ronaldinho and Sagar Thapa.

Here's the video of the goal from the game.

Lastly, this video shows the full highlights of the game.

Video investigation of Nepal's growing sex industry

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:06:00 +0000

Sagarmatha Television's Crime Watch investigates how the production of porn movies is rising in Nepal. Even though earlier such movies were made only by foreigners, who came to Nepal and recorded their sexual encounters without the knowledge of the sex workers they were having sex with. However the trend is changing in Nepal now as this investigation shows. Specifically currently there are:

- 25 Nepali professional porn movies made so far.
- More than 500 amateur porn movies in the cell-phones of Nepali youth.

The funny thing is that throughout the video they talk of how this is illegal. Towards the end, they post the web address, like an advertisement, of a Nepali porn site that is claimed to have more than 6.6 million page views in a month. Posted below is the video report.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

The Red idiot thinks that the real reason for the spike in amateur sex movies made in Nepal are Chinese cell-phones. They're pretty cheap and have a camera. Quality is crappy but who cares. Nepal's government should try banning cheap cell phones. :P

Share Love Today

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:01:00 +0000

From Amazon

CHRISTIAN THE LION is the story of a zoo-born lion cub purchased by two young men one Christmas at Harrod's Department store. They hand-raised the cub in London until he grew so large they knew he couldn't remain in London. This wonderful documentary was produced by the makers of "Born Free" to finance Christian's journey from England to east Africa and his introduction to life in the wild. It chronicles not only this major change in his life, but also the lasting and loving bond formed with his human "family." Clips from this film have circulated on the internet showing the remarkable and touching reunion of Christian with the men who raised him as a cub. The clips have also appeared on several TV shows.

Here's the video:

The exciting office in Kathmandu

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:04:00 +0000

This was originally posted in EKantipur and was authored by Benjamin Graham.

On this particular morning, the office is empty. Like any office in Kathmandu, there are desks, a small tea station, computers, a printer and a conference room. But unlike most offices in Kathmandu, the space isn’t home to a single company. It’s home to several.

On a regular day, the desks at Biruwa Ventures, this 1500 square foot shared office space located in Baluwatar, are occupied by a litany of young people working on various projects. Some are start-up companies; some are single-man IT companies. One entrepreneur even runs a hydropower project in the Khumbu region from here when he’s in town.

“It’s challenging for a young person to start a company in Nepal,” Vidhan Rana and Abhinab Basnyat, the founders of Biruwa, tell me over a cup of tea in the conference room. They started Biruwa in August, after returning to Nepal from extended stays studying and working in the US. The goal, they explain, is to incubate young entrepreneurs and their ideas.

The World Bank recently ranked Nepal 107 out of 183 countries on ‘ease of doing business’ indicators. Outside of international trade barriers, a significant part of the ranking was based on the difficulties of starting a new business in Nepal. It can take months to register a company with the government, and even longer to receive an official stamp—necessary for all official business transactions. But it’s not just the hoops that entrepreneurs must jump through that make starting a business difficult, it’s also the culture.

“In Nepal, people avoid taking risks when it comes to business,” Rana says. “The most popular method is to copy someone else’s business plan.” While his background is in finance and marketing, Rana says the evidence for this phenomenon can even be seen in the restaurant industry, where many eateries take their names and menus from other already-established restaurants.

“People tend to be pessimistic about new business ideas. Family and friends will warn you that you’ll lose money if you try to start something on your own,” Basnyat says. As a result, university graduates tend to gravitate towards more proven occupational paths, seeking jobs with NGOs or banks, while others move abroad to earn Master’s Degrees.

That’s part of the reason Rana and Basnyat have decided to offer a variety of services at Biruwa. Aside from the rented office space, entrepreneurs can get one-on-one mentoring and an assortment of other business services, anything from a lawyer to an accountant to a graphic designer; whatever a start-up needs to get off the ground.

Similarly, the business plan for the office space is flexible. A desk can be rented for Rs 400 a day, 2,000 a week, 6,000 a month or 60,000 a year. Each renter receives access to a speedy internet connection with 24-hour backup electricity and a wireless printer.

While we’re the only ones in the office this early on a Sunday, one company that has been renting office space for the past three weeks is on the roof taking staff photos. The company, OneSeed, is a joint venture trekking organisation founded by Chris Baker, an American, and Tek Dong and Bishnu Thapa, both Nepalis. They, along with six of their newly hired guides, are posing for headshots for their website.

“The best thing about working out of this office has been the attitude,” Baker says, before lining up for his own photo. “It’s all about what you can do, not what you can’t.”

For OneSeed, the moral support and collaborative atmosphere of the office is appreciated. Their business plan is unique and as of yet, unproven. 10 percent of their total income will go into an investment fund, which will contribute to microfinance projects in the Kathmandu Valley. Additionally, their guides will be provided with profit sharing, comprehensive insurance and a salary, rather than paid by the trip, and all of their partner lodges along the trail have to meet a series of stringent environmental standards.

“Working from here is cheaper than working at a coffee shop,” says Baker. “And I’ve found that some of the most exciting conversations I’ve had in Nepal have come over coffee in Biruwa.”

Rana and Basnyat hope to harness some of the ideas that come out of these conversations. The last stage of their plan for Biruwa is to set up a venture capitalist fund through which they can finance some of these start-ups.

“Every morning we sit and come up with ideas. We’re looking for people to take leads, and to enable people to act on their own ideas,” Basnyat says.

Red Photo of the Past

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Recognize these faces?

Prachanda, the President of CPN Maoists (United), and Baburam Bhattarai, the current Prime Minister of Nepal, with their wives - Sita Dahal (right of Prachanda), and Hishila Yami (left of Baburam). This photo was taken just before the Maoist historic Chuwang Meeting during the insurgency.

Lex in Nepal: with Namrata Shrestha

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:55:00 +0000

For those, who don't know, Lex is a Nepali blogger and entertainer based in the UK. He created a few videos in Nepal, when he went back to spend the past summer. The first of the six videos of the series was released yesterday. It is a candid talk with one of the rising stars of Nepali cinema - Miss Namrata Shrestha, who is making a comeback.

Here is the talk :

Translation : Woods by Laxmi Prasad Devkota

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Kritish Rajbhandary, a senior English major from Nepal at Reed College, loves translating Nepali poems. Below is a poem, written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota, that Kritish translated. Share this poem if you like it :).

Woods (वन)

by Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Shedding tears amidst the woods of life;

Found not things my heart sought, among the rife.

Tear filled eyes suffering over broken hope;

Whence from this pain comes, where did else it rove.

Greed, masqueraded as sedulous charm,

Spoke showing gemstones, "Why your tears so warm?

"Your queen I'll be, in Palace of luxury"

"Morrow", said I, "dust and ash this will be."

Kuber said, "Work for me, I'll make you rich.

My servants sleep on a bed golden each"

I said, "Lord of wealth, your worth, I realize,

But priceless freedom of spirit is what I prize"

With golden crown on head, came coaxing Fame

"Follow me, brother, miss not this scheme.

"With neat outfit you come; be made renown."

I said, "I'll wear rags, but in truth I ground."

"I offer sweet apples.", Mighty Love stirred.

I said, "Serving mankind is my elixir."

Sage said, "Hold Samadhi, you'll see heaven."

I said, "I have my brothers to attend."

Indra said, "Rich is Heaven, full of light"

I asked to let me make the World all bright.

Said Pain, "Thorns prick" I said, "Flowers shall bloom."

Said Doubt, "Flowers wilt" I said, "They're well groomed"

Life said, "Gruesome War ! " I said, "Warrior's glad !"

Struggle said, "Hills ! " Said I "Aim's heaven's hat !"

Compassion said with warmth, "Why, then, you cry?”

I said, "I serve Mankind, but Time is shy"

"Who are your friends? Who go with you? Which land is your home?

What place do you seek, Traveler? With what news do you roam?"

"My friend is decent diligence. Courage comes with me.

All world's my home. To heart-land I roam with hues of Humanity"

Entrepreneurs for Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:57:00 +0000

This article highlights a few points about the role of entrepreneurs in transforming Nepal. It is freely sharable, and editable. Please go here if you want to edit the document. Ujwal Thapa, and Prasanna Dhungel wrote the initial piece, now it is your turn to make a contribution.

How will Entrepreneurs transform Nepal ?
An Entrepreneur creates opportunities not just for himself but more importantly for others. In Nepal, this is even more important as we have a high number of unemployed Nepalis and opportunities are limited to a privileged few.

There is an ongoing joke in Nepal, that if we produce a politician, we destroy 100 jobs, whereas if we create an entrepreneur, we create 100 jobs. On a serious note, this is why many youths should turn to entrepreneurship as the engine of their personal, professional and soulful growth. We need not look far to realize how entrepreneurship has transformed our neighbors, China and India. A responsible government would bet on producing and helping more entrepreneurs than on anything else.
Here are few ways Entrepreneurs will transform Nepal-

Entrepreneurs solve problems in Nepal
We hear of so many problems in Nepal. Listen to news, and you will hear problems left and right. Entrepreneurs view these problems as opportunities and solve problems for all of us to have a nicer life in Nepal. In the process of solving problems, they create jobs and positivism and efficiency in the economy. Today, many have become dependent on foreign aid and the government to solve our problems. Entrepreneurs don’t wait and will not allow others to solve problems. They grab the opportunity, try to solve it and find a sustainable way to do this (business). Imagine a future in which each Nepali is hungry for problems and jumps to solve each and every problem in our society and makes a business out of it. We could become a very different society.

Entrepreneurs create jobs that benefit low-income families in Nepal
As an entrepreneur, you may help a struggling Nepali family directly, lifting them from poverty simply by creating ‘jobs’. The employment you generate and the salary you pay , helps towards the betterment of local economy, i.e small shops, farmers, schools, groceries and local towns. You help the local eco-system by the wealth you generate for others. This in turn helps generate a positive cycle of employment. You help continue this positive cycle of growth even as a small entrepreneur. A small Information technology (IT) business I opened has helped generate employment for 100s of college students, many of whom were earning for for the first time for their families.

Entrepreneurs creates platforms/ecosystems in Nepal
As an entrepreneur, you will be creating not just one small business but over the course of time build it into a platform, an eco-system so that others can build their own businesses around yours. Thamel became Thamel when businesses started to bloom, servicing around one Hotel, Kathmandu Guest house.

So you will be helping create opportunities for others too, by creating this as a by-product of building their ventures. When we started Digital Max Solutions, we never thought our employees would go on to start 14 other similar businesses. As a result of an entrepreneur, an industry of like-minded entrepreneurs came into being. Do not under-estimate the power of entrepreneurship to change the world.

Entrepreneurs raise dignity of Nepalis
When we get the opportunity to work in our own country, utilizing materials and human power here and export them, rather than having to leave afar, we become dignified individuals ourselves. It raises our family’s self-esteem, our children's self-esteem. Entrepreneurs create dignified jobs and dignified professionals as their employees. Entrepreneurship is not about exploiting people. It is about empowering people so that they help run their business better. Hari Bhakta Sharma has scaled his pharmaceuticals company - Deurali Janata - by successfully providing dignified employment and opportunity to work in a place which makes life-saving medicines at affordable prices for the poor.

Entrepreneurs remove the gap between rich and poor in Nepal
A strange statement? Well many confuse entrepreneurs with traditional traders, monopolistic business houses or even evil rich people. Till now in Nepal, the power and wealth has been restricted to a few traditional elites. They earn their wealth, thus power, not by being entrepreneurial on fair competition but by abusing their power, access, status and restricting other Nepalis wish to becoming an entrepreneur. They stifle innovation and growth and encourage practices that benefit just themselves. So they are not entrepreneurs. In-fact, when entrepreneurs come into the equation, they in-fact break monopolies and barriers created by these traditional power elites. The fact that entrepreneurs can come from any background, tribes, age, status is powerful way to transform society from status-quo to progress.

For economic equality and prosperity in Nepal, we need not more politicians or job seekers but more entrepreneurs who rise from obscurity, cutting across tribes, economic past, castes and age. In other words, that entrepreneur can be you. If we are looking for the profound changes we want to see here, help yourself become an Entrepreneur. Take the example of Rudra Pandey, the founder of D2Hawkeye. He comes from a simple humble background in remote Nepal, rose through sheer hard work and ambition, started and grew D2Hawkeye into a powerhouse. He grew the firm to a global healthcare analytics firm and helped put Nepal on the map of world class companies. Many Nepalese have taken inspiration from him and are trying entrepreneurship in Nepal and outside in their own ways.

Entrepreneurs creates positive cultures
"Yes we can"- This is the feeling that prosperity brought by Entrepreneurship evokes. It improves the self confidence of all Nepalis. With this positive attitude, it helps replace the current "blame-game" culture of “yestai ho”, “ke garne” attitude in which we are stuck and can’t seem to create a win-win situation in villages and towns across Nepal. It helps usher us towards a fair meritocratic culture in which every Nepali, irrespective of background, gains the attitude - ‘yes, I can achieve my dreams.’
Positive culture in Nepal is essential if we want to create an economically equal, fair, accountable, responsible society. And as an entrepreneur, you will be helping us achieve this much faster than any other professional. Prithivi Pande, current CEO of Nepal Investment Bank, was responsible for creating a a positive culture trend in the Banking sector. Many of the current heads of Financial institutions in Nepal have worked with him and followed his lead to be successful bankers themselves.

So how will YOU benefit as an entrepreneur in Nepal?

1) A dignified status
Nepal has changed. Now your peers, your followers and many Nepalis will regard an entrepreneur as a leader. And some will even think of you as a visionary. They will read about you, hear about you and follow your steps. You will be inspiring the next generation of Nepalis to become innovative entrepreneurs and help create great entrepreneurial centers right here in Nepal like the Silicon Valley in the United States. Entrepreneurs like Anil Chitrakar, Karna Shakya, Ambika Shrestha, Min Bahadur Gurung are respected, admired and thanked for the opportunities they have created in Nepal.

2) A comfortable life
In Nepal, an entrepreneur's life is much more comfortable as your ability to succeed is higher because there is less competition here. Once you are successful, you carry great leverage. As an entrepreneur, you can leverage your success to have access to more opportunities to work on a bigger level, may it be with the government or on bigger lucrative projects.

3) A satisfying life
The satisfaction of having helped many will be extremely gratifying for your soul. In Nepal, you can actually see your effects directly. Leading an honest life as an entrepreneur and providing for others - what a satisfying way to live here than in the already developed country where your impact may be minimal compared to here. A small example, when Ujwal started one small IT company, it have helped created 100s of professionals and through the decade, inspired 14 other Nepalis to become entrepreneurs creating further opportunities and innovation in the IT industry. How best to help others - by innovating a fishing industry, not just teaching how to fish, or worse just giving them fish.

4) Live your life
As an entrepreneur, you can live your life passionately, not your parent's life, or your friend's or your spouse’s, but yours. I believe this is one of the best ways to live where you decide on your path. In other words, you lead a passionate life. As an entrepreneur, I have enough time and energy to follow my different passions in life, to experiment on projects and to mentor others. It allows me to make time for myself and my family while finding ways to serve the society better.

Uhile ko Nepal (Nepal of the Past): A Documentary by Tony Hagen

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:27:00 +0000

This documentary by Tony Hagen is pretty awesome - shows how pristine Nepal was in the 1950's. Below is the information I found on his Facebook page.

Filmmaker Toni Hagen shot much of his sociological documentary Uhile ko Nepal between 1950 and 1960 - a decade when the gates of Nepal had only recently been opened to the outside world. Hagen initially visited the country on a mission of Swiss development assistance, with a stated goal of diamond hunting, but in the process, he stumbled onto a pre-technological civilization, free from such modern accoutrements as paved roads, automobiles and airplanes - and undertook a 14,000 km journey from one end of the country to another. The result is a time capsule of a vanished civilization - captured in footage that forms a striking contrast with modern-day Nepal.

Part 1: http://youtu.be/399zknmngHE

Part 2: http://youtu.be/M98FbT-Srig

Requirement : Better Service, not More Planes

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:25:00 +0000

This is in response to this article from Nepalnews:

Tourism Minister Magar says NAC will acquire a fleet of five aircraft soon Newly-appointed Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar on Tuesday informed that Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the ailing national flag-carrier, is planning to purchase a fleet of five aircraft over next few years.

Speaking at an interaction organised in the capital this afternoon, Minister Magar said that NAC plans to acquire the five planes through a Cabinet decision soon. He also informed that talks with the representatives of aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus are on and that a team of NAC technicians have also left for China to study whether China manufactured airplanes are suitable for Nepalese conditions.

“The decision to purchase aircraft will be taken after the technical team returns from China,” he said, adding that the country needs more airplanes and he will purchase at least 5 planes for the country without creating any controversy. Due to concerns about its management, NAC had a year ago failed to secure a USD 134-million loan guarantee from the Ministry of Finance to purchase two aircraft from the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. NAC, which was formerly called RNAC, had acquired two Boeing 757 — Karnali in 1987 and Gandaki in 1988. But after people’s movement in 1990, successive governments of Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) had leased aircraft from Lauda Airlines and China South Western Airlines. (Source: http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2011/nov/nov15/news18.php)

The airport is rife with corruption, and lack of professional service and modern equipments, amongst many others. The decision to buy more planes seems to be pretty much in line with the corrupt system of commission scheme - buy expensive items so you can hoard money.

"I came back home to serve my own people"

noreply@blogger.com (Mahayoddha) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:07:00 +0000

Cardiologist Dr. Bhagwan Koirala's interview in Dishanirdesh. Having done study in his field for about 20 years, he ultimately came back home. The only thing that gives him happiness in his job is the look of gratuity in the patients' faces after he saves their lives.

Support Ron Paul for President 2012

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:30:00 +0000

If I had a right to vote in the US, I would vote for Ron Paul.

Here are a few Ron Paul advertisements.

What do more and better jobs mean (to me)?

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:24:00 +0000

I wanted to attend a World Bank Conference, and had to write an essay as part of the application. I didn't get selected, but I realize that it is perhaps worth sharing my view here. I have removed the name of the village from the article to not reveal my identity.

In less than 1000 words, please answer the following prompt, “What do More and Better Jobs in South Asia mean to you?”

The current scenario for most of the world, particularly South Asia, is that jobs are mostly, if not only, available in the cities. Almost all economic activities in rural South Asia comprise of traditional agricultural practices. I had an opportunity to get a first-hand experience of this phenomenon this summer while working in ** – a rural village in Nepal – where I was born in and raised until I was five. I would also visit the village during my breaks each school year so I have a good understanding of the village demographics and have witnessed the change over time. In this essay, I will leverage my familiarity with ** and the opportunity I had to research there to discuss what more and better jobs mean to me. I believe that for South Asia to have more and better jobs, it is imperative that jobs are made locally available in rural areas like **, with the caveat that environmental and cultural sustainability be taken into consideration.

In general, one could imagine that better jobs might simply mean high paying jobs. For others, like me, better jobs might mean jobs that are sustainable in the long run that have positive externalities for the the family and society in both monetary and non-monetary ways. In **, one of the biggest concerns I was able to identify amongst the local population was the lack of right jobs in the locality that made it necessary for people to migrate to find jobs that commensurate with their abilities and ambitions. I also found out that ** had changed by a lot during my visit. From over a hundred friends of my age I had in the village, almost everyone had left; I met only two of them in **. They too had returned back on a break from working in India.

The situation so far has been that students who finish high school studies in the village go to bigger towns and cities for their further education and end up working outside the village after graduation. Others, who cannot finish high school, either go to work as cheap labor in India, the Middle East, Malaysia and South Korea, or try their luck to work in the British, Indian and Nepali military. This dynamic, often referred to as “brain drain”, is extremely pervasive in villages, producing rural demographics that consist almost exclusively of old people and young kids. Furthermore, being left in the village is widely regarded as being unable to progress in life, so there is an unbearable pressure on individuals, especially the youth, from the society to go abroad or in the cities to work.

Within this context, I believe the notion of more and better jobs means that villages like ** should develop local economic activities to create local jobs. The process of rapid migration into cities like Kathmandu has created major problems in security, congestion, resource distribution, and overall city management. Availability of jobs in the villages would mean that there would be a reduction in the rapidly increasing out-migration from the villages. This would lead to a reduction in the rapidly increasing social and economic problems that cities have to deal with currently.

It is also not the case that villages like ** are poor in terms of resources. There were so many herbs of medicinal value in the village that someone could actually start a factory and start processing these herbs, thereby providing local employment and increasing economic activity. There was so much bamboo that someone could start a factory that uses bamboo to construct furniture and other products and then market them in the cities. There are many other such resources – and almost any region in Nepal is flush with natural resources. Furthermore, in my survey of the population in **, I found out that most people were interested in themselves and their families staying in the village, if only there were jobs available in the village. More and better jobs in ** would also alleviate the stigma of staying back in the village.

However, there is also a caveat I would like to discuss when speaking about industrializing villages and increasing economic activity. Great care has to be taken with regards to the way industries operate in these rural regions. The controversies surrounding Vedanta Resources, a global mining and metals company, which also operates in Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa of India, show that the company showed disregard for the environment, safety of their employees and a sustainable growth path. Jobs in industries as such might lead to more jobs in the short run, but not better jobs for both the individuals and the society in the long run. Jobs that provide income for the people, while also doing good for the environment and society should be actively sought by entrepreneurial individuals with support from local and national governing bodies for the sustainable growth and development of household, local and national economies.

For me, South Asia with more and better jobs will come into being when rural economies develop in a sustainable way. Firstly, this process will lead to a reduction in resource management crisis in the cities. Secondly, this will lead to a balanced family and work environment, a crucial ingredient for job satisfaction, especially in South Asia, where family bonds are held highly. Finally, this will be a wonderful opportunity to start afresh in rural places, so with a proper framework that focuses on sustainability and brings in investments, quantitatively more – also because sustainable jobs last longer – and qualitatively better jobs can be created.

What is your opinion of more and better jobs? I hope to see criticisms of my view too.

Help write the constitution of Nepal.

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:12:00 +0000

Namaste fellow Nepalis, and well-wishers of Nepal,

It has been a long time that the Constituent Assembly of Nepal has been trying to write a constitution for Nepal. There are major contentious issues, and it is not sure yet when we will, if ever, get to see a constitution drafted by our elected representatives. In one of my random excursions in the web trying to see the progress being made with the constitution writing process in Nepal, I came across this website - a place for all to write the constitution.

There is no legal value, or perhaps any value at all to what you will write on there. But, it is a matter of civic engagement - of writing what you want from the new constitution. Perhaps, the well-informed constitutional experts from Nepal and elsewhere could put in thoughts that could guide our constitution making process. Perhaps, they may not. However, the issue lies in trying.

Therefore, this is a request to all - if you really care and feel that you do not have much you can do - why do you not go to this website and share what you want from the constitution. If Wikipedia can generate a knowledge-base for everything, why cannot a wiki designed to write a constitution for Nepal come up with something? There are only 601 CA members (perhaps that is a lot) but we are far more. Our combined knowledge should be greater.

So yeah, check out this website - Constitution of Nepal - and write in your thoughts.

Vera Brezhneva - Real Life

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Song shot in Kathmandu, Nepal. I think Vera is beautiful but I also liked this comment on Youtube -

"This is beautiful, I love the music ... I just wish she would step aside for a few moments so I could see more of Nepal!"

See the video for yourself.

A Question of Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Mahayoddha) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:26:00 +0000

If everybody started demanding constitution instead of another Nepal bandh, there would be a constitution.

Tensions are running high in a country where the leaders have failed to deliver their promises and constitution has been long due. The youth have descended to the streets demanding constitution and an end to crisis. This film made by UN’s humanitarian division shows what analysts and political party representatives have to say about the current crisis. While some remark it’s just a phase during transformation and that they need some time to hammer a consensus, others think there isn’t the most fundamental requirement-trust among the leaders. Whatever the reason be, it’s the dream of the Nepalese that has been squashed and it’s the youth who are away from partisan interests who have to keep tabs of the leaders and their moves.

Nepalese have long been like barking dogs going door to door in search of meat. First the meat was the People’s War, then end to monarchy, then declaration of republic, then constituent assembly elections, then constitution and so on. The dogs are high-handed to get their hands on the meat and can go to any extent to make sure they get the lion’s share. While there is a lot of horse-trading, constitution is still due. We often tend to forget that it’s the whole state that has to be restructured and the whole system that has to be changed. Little attention is given to infrastructure building, making jobs, enhancing health care and education and nation building. If constitution remains the only focus at the time and nothing is done in other areas, I have high doubts that once the long waited constitution is written down, the dogs would have a new meat to bark for and the countrymen would be left with their arms akimbo.

How the uprising looks from the other side

noreply@blogger.com (Mahayoddha) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:59:00 +0000

It was all going to be over. They said a revolution was coming. People were furious.

In April 2006, during power outage in dark rooms of our school dorm in Kathmandu, as we turned on the radios, we felt something big was in the offing. We were stuck inside the school, some nine to ten miles away from where people had flooded the streets and where the flares of smoke rose up in the sky. The King was planning his next moves in his palace, and the political leaders were in their offices recruiting more voices to speak for them. Everyday, for a few weeks, curfew, demonstrations and chakka jam (transportation strike) made the headlines and beaten up and killed people became the regular images in the newspapers.

Dozens of leaders and professionals were being arrested by the state for their protests. The Maoists, a rebel group and long time state foes, had teamed up with the major political parties of the country for a united revolt. While the King claimed that the bloody rebels had infiltrated among the protestors, the throng in the streets included poor youth hauled in trucks and buses from villages and brought to the capital in addition to the middle class citizens and professionals. They called it a “people’s movement.” A revolution was around the corner and people were ready to face bullets for “change.”

Those days, political debates and discussions were taking over our studies. Then one night we kept vigil until until midnight to see King’s proclamation on television. The grim faced King finally declared that the power of the people had been returned to them. The 240-year-old monarchy was weeded out. People stormed to the streets in celebration. They believed the people’s movement had come to a good fate. The country was declared a republic only two years later.

But then we failed to take the country in a good path from there. Long-term political deadlock, much bickering of political leaders, little consensus and failure for cooperation hinted at choking of the newly established republic. A new constitution was to be formulated, but even years later, the hope remains bleak. Nepalis all over the globe only scratch their heads over why the revolution occurred.

Four years after the people's movement in Nepal came the case in Tunisia of a 26-year-old street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi. Bouazizi’s self-incineration sparked protests and led to the ousting of long-time Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who had been in power for more than two decades and the country showed little progress. The protests fanned out across the Middle East, first to Egypt against Mubarak, and then to Libya against Gaddafi and so on. People who hadn’t spoken for a long time rolled down to the streets and showed their rage against the regimes that gave them only little. The outcries questioned the predominant western support of the regimes, which has been justified as a defense against the fiends of Islamic fundamentalism in the region. They also made people ponder over the founding principles of western diplomacy.

To “most” westerners, each instance of unrest, often happening in places that are rarely heard of, matters little. Scores or perhaps hundreds or thousands die. Then if things go too crazy, the superheroes —the U.S., NATO or the UN — intervene to settle the score. There are no worries on this side of the globe. Here they have enough supplies of commodities; they think this sort of politics touches them very little. They will have jobs to feed their bellies and buy a house, a television, a nice X-box, some beer for the weekend, watch movies every now and then for entertainment. Then they will marry, have kids, maybe go around the world for vacations, and donate for a couple of charity. Life is good. But the story might not look as interesting from the other side of the globe.

The non-western countries are generally perceived by the world as places of religious extremists, where men in different attires roam the streets instilling the fear of God (allah, bhagavan, jesus or whatever it is), where women are treated as shadows and deprived of any rights, where kids and women are dressed up in colorful gowns and makeup to dance in different rhythms and tunes. But it's quite different. Moreover, during unrest, it’s a strong sign that there will be blood, some kith will die and the history of the country will be changed. There is a hope for jobs to feed and secure one’s family and to develop the country’s economy. There is a hope that the corrupt and despotic autocratic systems will change and the country will get little more perfect.

When the protestors cry for peace and democracy, that’s not exactly what they are demanding. They are tired of their hypocrite leaders that promised false hopes. They are tired of their country lagging behind while being referred to as the third world countrymen. They are tired of relying on foreign aid that often goes astray. They are tired of incessant struggle in the streets for their basic human rights and dignity while the westerners remain busy in innovations and creativity. They are tired of being manipulated by foreigners for their advantage. They are tired of McDonaldization and Coca-Colonization and their culture being put on the back burner. They are tired that their men are compelled to live their dreams in other countries and look back to their own in anger. They are tired that their countries have little manpower, no security, no appreciation for human life and dignity.

If every country had a good education system, a good governing body, a system for proper utilization of resources and a good use and appreciation of talents of its people, westerners wouldn’t have to read news about these social upheavals and worry about tackling immigration, job insecurity or terrorism.

When I say there is unrest in the Arab world, it gives me hope that other corrupt leaders of the world will get alerted and think twice before defalcating that foreign aid to fatten up their own wallets. It gives me hope that the death of a few today promises a survival of their children tomorrow. It gives me hope that they’ll be less dependent on foreigners for their basic needs. It gives me hope that they will not have to leave their country for work. It shouts out to me “if these countries can rise up, so can mine.” It just empowers me and gives me motivation and strength to go back to my country, round up some youth and hit the streets. We might not know what we would achieve, but whatever we achieve would be more than what we have now.

I say, people — bring it on. Bring orange revolution, bring tulip revolution, bring velvet revolution, bring jasmine revolution, bring rose revolution, bring bulldozer revolution, bring purple revolution, bring lotus revolution, bring cedar revolution, bring blue revolution. Bring the Chameli revolution, as they call it the upcoming movement in Nepal, and then will come peace, security and a bright future for the next generation.

Word Cloud

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:03:00 +0000

This is the word-cloud of all the words that have appeared in this blog since its inception.

We Gonna Change This

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Tue, 03 May 2011 02:18:00 +0000

31 advises from a 31 year old!

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:17:00 +0000

I hope this will make your life good. Originally published here.

1. Trust your gut. Really.
If you think he likes you, you're probably right. If you think he's cheating, you're probably right. If you think she's going to be your new BFF, (this time with feeling!) you're probably right.

2. Sunscreen. Always.
SPF 15 indoors, SPF 30 outdoors. I've been wearing sunscreen everyday since I was 19 and I still get carded. I think this actually has more to do with the bouncers hitting on me, but I'd like to share the credit with my good friend Oil of Olay daily moisturizing lotion with SPF.

3. If you're lying in bed worrying about it, get up and write it down.
If I don't do this, my night will quickly devolve into cyclical thoughts of doom and anxiety. Just get out of bed, write down the thing that you're worried about, write down a few ideas to deal with it and then go the eff back to sleep.

4. Processed carbohydrates and sugars are yucky.
It's not hard to switch to wholewheat bread and noodles or substitute honey/maple syrup/raw sugar for the white stuff. It's yummy and you'll feel heaps better!

5. Maintaining friendships (and making new friends) is an active process.
Stop waiting for them to call you! Think of something fun to do, call your friends and go do it. Also, stop sitting in your apartment, devotedly wishing that you knew more cool people. Surprisingly, this will not get you any closer to making new friends. Go places where like-minded people hang out, talk to new people at parties, initiate.

6. Uncomfortable underwear can ruin your day.
At least they can ruin mine. So don't wear your sexy-times underwear on the day you have to walk ten blocks to work.

7. It really doesn't matter what you major in.
What does matter? The internships you get, your work ethic, your interpersonal skills, who you know. So go ahead and get a BA in Studio Art! As long as you compliment that with work experience at a graphic design studio, a museum and an ad agency.

8. Create an active life style.
I don't go to the gym every day. Or, um, ever in the summer. But I walk to work and to the market and just about everywhere within a 3 mile radius. If you make daily activity a habit, you won't have nearly as many moments of "how did I inadvertently gain 30 pounds?!" or "why can't I walk up a flight of stairs?!"

9. Learn to enjoy your own company
There will be times in your life when you really want to see that movie, check out that new boutique, go to Thailand and no one wants to go with you. Bummer! But that doesn't mean that you can't go by yourself and have a good time. Take baby steps and work up to doing the big stuff on your own.

10. Don't allow outside sources to determine your self-esteem
I'm still working on this one. But I think it's important to realize that just about everything in life is relative - depending on your surroundings, you could be the hottest/smartest/highest paid girl in the room. But if you walk next door? Maybe it's different story. It's important to have faith in your abilities and strong suits - regardless of how they compare to others.

11. Find out what colors and styles work (and don't work) on you. Style accordingly.
I look good in gold and browns and corals. I look good with long, wavy hair. I look good in boat-neck, three quarter length tops. It took many, many unflattering photos to figure this out.

12. When in doubt, make the effort
You will never regret wearing that nice outfit, buying the thoughtful gift for the friend you haven't heard from in a while, over-tipping. If it doesn't work out, at least you'll know you did your best.

13. Cook at home.
Seriously. You will save one million dollars. You will maintain a healthy weight. You will impress your friends.

14. There are 300 million people in America. And 6,000,000,000 in the world.
I promise you, you'll love someone else. You'll meet new friends. You'll find co-workers and neighbors that are awesome. If it's too hard (or if someone is making you feel bad) walk away. There are a million other people out there who won't make you feel bad!

15. It's easier to make money than memories
Are you throwing up in your mouth right now? I am, a little bit. But it's true. Don't take the extra shift at work and miss your friend's awesome end-of-the summer barbecue. If all your friends are springing for a weekend at a cabin near the Canadian border, save up for a few weeks and make it happen. You won't remember the two weeks of eating in and watching library dvds, but you'll remember 3 days of fun with your buddies.

16. You can find common ground with just about anyone, any where
Regardless of a person's gender, age, race or religion there are common denominators to the human experience - falling in love, being homesick, laughing at baby animals. You don't even need to speak the same language to share an appreciation for these things. You'd be amazed how far you can get with most people just by smiling and asking them questions.

17. Don't buy the cheapest version. Buy the second cheapest.
This trick has saved me a lot of money. And many hang overs. Usually the cheapest version of something (vodka, eye shadow, shoes) is noticeably dicey. But the second-cheapest? Not so bad!

18. Make an extra copy
Of your keys, your lease, your birth certificate, your social security card. Then give said copy to someone trust worthy.

19. Floss.
For realz. It's pretty gratifying in a slightly disgusting way.

20. Consider second hand, for just about everything
98% of everything I own is second hand. My blow dryer, my picture frames, my sheets (not as gross as you're imagining). They cost a fraction of what I'd pay for them new, and no one's the wiser. At least until I tell the internet that I sleep on used sheets.

21. Excuses are embarrassing
With the exception of excuses like "my grandma died" most excuses are embarrassing for everyone involved - the person giving them and the person listening to them. 'I just don't know where to start,' 'I'm tired,' 'it's too expensive' really just translate to 'I'm not making it a priority'. See? Embarrassing, right?

22. Don't ask a question if you're not prepared to hear the answer
If you ask your friend "Do I look fat in this?" you best be prepared to hear that it's not a super flattering look on you. If you ask that guy you've been seeing for five months "Where do you see this going?" you need to know he might respond in stutters, back-pedaling and comments about "keeping it light." Don't ask if you don't really, really want to know.

23. Engage in calculated risk taking
Dancing on the table, taking a spontaneous road trip by yourself to a neighboring state, trying a new type of ethnic food - it is unlikely that any of these things will kill you. But they will probably make you more interesting.

24. Learn how to live well within your means
Make a budget and stick to it. Pay off your credit cards every month. Learn to cook for yourself. Get a bike and use it (then you won't need a gym membership or all that gas for you car!) Cancel the cable. Split internet with a neighbor. Consider second hand. You'd be amazed how painless saving money can be!

25. Learn some basic photo editing skills

Because that photo from your vacation would make a great Facebook profile photo if you didn't have that giant zit, right? Photoscape, Picnik and Gimp are all great options!

26. If you don't know what you say, silence is always an option
I learned this from my friend Ellie, who used this approach to deal with unruly patients during her years as a nurse in NYC. If someone says something you don't like (and don't know how to respond to) just stare at them and don't say anything. Totally. terrifying. And totally effective!

27. If you don't know, ask

Because that thing that people say about assuming (it makes an ass out of you and me)? That's true.

28. Do something different with your weekends
After a week in the cubicle farm, I know it's tempting to spend your weekend watching DVDs, running errands, going to house parties and nursing hangovers. But doing the same thing every weekend gets old. And you won't return to work reinvigorated or inspired. You don't have to do anything earth shattering - have a sleep over with old friends, go camping in a State Park, rent bikes and ride through your city, try a new ethnic restaurant, look up the top tourist sights in your city and check them out. Milk those two days off for all they're worth!

29. Stay in touch
In the age of skype/facebook/texting there's absolutely no reason that you can't maintain regular contact with your childhood bestie or that cool girl from your freshman comp class. Maintaining and fostering friendships is super important. Also, you'll have more couches to crash on when you go traveling!

30. Find a creative outlet
Most of us aren't 100% creatively fulfilled by our day jobs. Even those of us who work in creative fields! Engaging different parts of your brain (and different parts of your personality) is hugely, hugely gratifying. Seriously, you cannot overestimate how having a good hobby can change your life. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that after I started blogging, I needed less sleep and was a much happier person. Truth.

31. Act like you know what you're doing
You can pretty much conquer the world with a confident walk, a well-thought-out outfit and confident demeanor. We teach people how to treat us and when you show people that you're a force to be reckoned with, they'll believe you.

Urgent

noreply@blogger.com (davinci) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:53:00 +0000

The calendar shows that May, 2011 is almost here. We have not really solved any of the problems that we were supposed to even coming so far after the peace process, in terms of time. The constitution is largely undecided, and the constituent assembly is a JOKE.

Crime rates have risen and some statistics show that they have been higher for some periods after peace than during the civil war .

We also have Madhes-based and other ethnic parties on the rise. You will realize that almost all of them are opportunists - if you try to research a bit on them.

If this state is allowed to continue, we are surely adding more problems instead of solving any. We are also effectively giving power to this pack of incapable wolves.

I see this as the time to bring about major changes through grassroots movements in Nepal. Kudos to all the people, who have been working on the ground in rural regions to help make lives better. I ask all who are involved in such activities to find a way to educate people in rural regions about freedom, democracy, ethical values, and how our current leadership and politicians lack any of the desirable qualities.

People need to have an option. Right now, the best is to not vote - or choose from the worst. Come on, educated, and honest Nepalis - the country needs you!

And to Nepal's political parties - either rise up to the challenge by changing yourselves, or soon you will find yourself extinct.