Archive
Fidel Castro – Beaten but Not Down
It’s hard to envision Cuba and not think of cigars and Fidel Castro. The bearded figure is now out of the limelight but not out of public’s mind – such has been the persona. The characteristic superciliousness is very much there and so is the disdain against the US which is like “a vulture preying on humanity!” having “imperialistic arrogance. He loves to stick like a thorn in the US side. Raul Castro, his brother, has been running the show, but Castro’s influence is effervescent.
Banning the veil: Is freedom not objective anymore?
Just a few days after the French lower house of Parliament passed the ‘veil ban’ bill, debates have erupted all over Europe and the Middle East as several governments are set to follow in France’s footsteps. Regardless of whether or not the bill eventually becomes law, what has been more importantly underscored by the ongoing mainstream discourse is the concept of freedom and one can’t help but wonder whether notions like ‘liberalism’ are slowly losing objectivity. Why else would wearing the veil be a hindrance when done out of choice?
CarbonatedTv Tech rumors of the week
Will Apple really ditch its month old iPhone 4? Is the Droid going to borrow more from George Lucas and bring Star Wars to smartphones? CarbonatedTv went about the web and dug up a few interesting things that have surfaced over the past week. Read and find out what we think is going to happen over the next six weeks.
Help stop child labor; Stop paying $10 for jeans and $3 for candy
Last week a debate arose over whether Kate Gosselin’s children were being subjected to child labor for appearing on their reality TV show, Kate plus 8. CarbonatedTv did a little digging around and came up with a list of big name companies who have had a history of child labor, much worse than a bunch of kids under the supervision of their mother on the TV. While these companies publicly condemn child labor, they have simultaneously turned profits due to such activities. Here we list some of the companies that have child labor involved at some point in their supply chains.
Oops – The Earth’s Atmosphere is Collapsing!
A study released by NASA recently found out that the uppermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere collapsed. The contraction was the biggest in the 43 years and can be attributed to a lot of things, but primarily – carbon dioxide emissions. It will be too late for us if we don’t act now.
The drums of war have begun-Rhetoric against Iran
US-Iran relations have been strained since the Islamic revolution of 1979. However, events took an ugly turn when President Bush during his State of the Union address in 2002 referred to Iran as one of the three countries that make up an axis of evil. The US has since been making repeated allegations of Iran possessing nuclear weapons and has both publicly and privately made what many interpret as ‘threats of attack’. With the recent build up of US deployed force in the Gulf, rhetoric against Iran suggests a high possibility of war-the drums have already begun.
Spy Games: Is Shahram Amiri a US or Iranian double agent?
The return of Shahram Amiri, the “missing” Iranian scientist, to Tehran after 14 months in the USA is steeped in mystery. Everything about this episode strikes odd – from the controversy surrounding his resurfacing in Washington, to the question of whether he was tortured. What everyone really wants to know is – does Iran have nukes?
Why Did The Immigrant Cross The Border? Why Did The Immigrant Cross The Border?
The United States is divided on the subject of immigration. Everyone agrees that border security should be strengthened but views differ greatly when it concerns the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.
US-China Relations: Does the USA have a China complex?
USA and China have had a rather precarious relationship on the financial, political and trade front with Washington generally believed to have an upper hand in what has been called “asymmetric interdependence’. However, America can no longer undermine the Chinese point of view-one that is more often than not diametrically opposite to America’s. So, what now of the Sino-American partnership? How long can the US afford to blame China for home grown issues like unemployment, trade deficits and political differences as has been the norm?
Zero VS Plus: The Size Debate in Fashion Circles
Whoever said size doesn’t matter obviously had no inkling how the world of fashion and modeling works. Just when we thought that the reign of anorexic, zero-sized models on the ramp was coming to an end and fashion gurus’ and the general public’s perceptions were on the mend, designer Julien Macdonald’s remarks on plus-size models have added a spin on the Zero vs. Plus size debate in the fashion industry. Macdonald’s rants didn’t go well with everyone.
Lindsay Lohan’s Highs and Lows: Celebrities and Risk Behavio
Lindsay Lohan recently ended up at the wrong end of the law and was sentenced behind bars for 90 days. There has been a rise in celebrity drug arrests in 2010 alone. Some of the Hollywood stars seem to be out of control and unwilling to mend their ways. It has become quite fashionable these days for celebrities to firstly indulge in questionable behavior and misdemeanors and then piously commit to rehab or prison, and then to fall back to their old ways again.
Oprah – the controversies continue
Oprah is a household name and has dominated our TV screens since the 80s. With almost over 25 years of experience under her belt, the beloved queen of talk shows, the most influential woman is still making headlines – some good some bad. From her charitable causes and giving nature to scandals of abuse within the school she established, an unofficial ‘biography’ and now, allegations of rigging up votes for her new reality contest – the queen of daytime TV has had a tough time recently.
Afghanistan’s hidden wealth: Where does the War on Terror go from here?
Recently minerals worth trillions of dollars were discovered in Afghanistan. Conspiracies in abundance have long since regarded the mineral wealth of Afghanistan as the basis for war on terror and not the weapons of mass destruction. With the unveiling of the new by the Department of Defence last month, the conspiracy theories have been given a good nudge. So what really is the future for this troubled, war trodden land?
India, Dubai’s Knights in Shining Armour
Dubai was badly hit by the financial crisis. Reeling from an $80 billion debt, it is badly in need of investment to get back to its glory. Meanwhile, Indian financial magnets have been on the up in the corresponding time. Their drive for global brand recognition could make do with setting up off shore headquarters. The match between India and Dubai seems to be made in heaven. One , a brand in need of global oomph, another, a recognized corporate platform badly in need of cash.
Class Act – 12 Angry Men
Remaking old classics has become the new black. Movie producers have learnt that redoing old classics is a safer bet because the material has already proven its worth. In fact, where this knack of revamping movies was infrequent in the past, it has become so redundant now that movies that haven’t been old enough to be considered dated are being remade for the audience of today. This section takes a look at such movies that have been remade and compares the “original” to the “remake”.
