Tiger Released

The buzz must be stale by now, but Tiger (JDK 1.5) is out. Gosling excitedly terms Generics, the ability to parameterize a type, as the big one. As everybody knows by now, JDK1.5 is probably the last big change to Java after JDK1.2 which saw the arrival of Swing and new Collections API. I am yet to lay my hands on it, meanwhile here are few worthwhile pointers:

J2SE 1.5 in a Nutshell: sums up the features in Tiger
J2SE1.5: First of its kind: accounts first ever un-depracation in Java
Generics Preview
Tiger and the Magic of Synth

Are you for compulsory voting?

Manohar puri made an interesting point in his article*. Should voting be made compulsory? Though I don't entirely agree with his view that one should snatch away the rights of an individual to criticize government policies and performance if he has not voted, right for expression being one of the foundation stones on which our democracy stands, that should not dilute the fatc that "duties" should be given equal weightage.

Making the "right to vote" a "duty to vote" might be beneficial in several ways. An increase in voting percentage can at least assure of, if not guarantee, a clear mandate. Who knows, it might provide a respite from these coalition-jokes arising out of hung-parliaments and hazy mandates. But the fact remains that applying such a rule wouldn't be easy, unless you accompany it with some kind of punishment on defiance, lest it goes the "Pulse-polio" way. Who can pursue me to vote mandatorily unless my employer tells me categorically that I would lose my days' salary if I don't. Another good suggestion that Puri made here is that the electoral officer might provide some kind of a receipt or a certificate to an individual to declare that he has indeed voted.

And why stop at compulsory primary education and voting, I am for compulsory rights and duties in the following areas too:

• Right to get a universally acceptable identity card (akin to the Social Security number concept of the US) that replaces all other forms of identification documents such as Ration cards, Voter ID and so on.


• Duty to get a compulsory Aids Test

Easier said than done, eh.

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* Not a permalink.
[ Hindi version of this post is available here.]

Is India Shining?

Asks Charu. Here is what I commented.

If we are talking about a surging stock market, which might be a short-lived and synthetic phenomenon , yes. But going by the same yard-stick was India shining while Harshad Mehta was reigning? India is not shining because our exports have suddenly amassed, but because of the fact that FDIs and NRIs have invested here owing to the better interest rates they get in India than in their own country. India is shining because rich people are growing more rich and buying more, for the common man kerosene and diesel prices have shot-up more than 5 times in the recent times. Are we rejoicing over the outsourcing lottery. Sorry to awake you people but the bubble of offshore jobs may burst again in the times where US is going to elections. India must be shining with increasing inflation rates and accruing unemployment. Off course BJP has a fair share of contribution to the "til-gud factor", first they were the one to coin the term, Advani borrowed the idea from the catch-phrase of an apparel's advertisement campaign, and secondly for the good monsoon we had last.

Political Compass

Finally a guage to enlighten me on the orientation of my thoughts. Political Compass tells me that I am an economic left winger with a slight inclination towards authoritarianism (score: Economic Left/Right: -3.88, Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.05). A confirmed authoritarian leftist, wow! Though my score on the social dimension surprises me! [Link via Acorn]