Red (=Democratic) Nepal: April 2009

Natural Cloning in Ants

A group of Amazonian ants have evolved an extremely unusual social system: They are all female and reproduce via cloning. Though their sexual organs have virtually disappeared, they have also gained some extraordinary abilities.

University of Arizona biologist Anna Himler orginally began studying the ants, called Mycocepurus smithii, because they had incredible success as farmers. Many breeds of ant keep domesticated “farms” where they breed various kinds of fungus for nourishment. But Mycocepurus smithii was able to breed fungus far more successfully, and in greater varieties, than other ants Himler had encountered.

As she and her team studied the insects, they realized there were no male ants anywhere to be found. Himler told the BBC that it’s possible the ants evolved so as “not to operate under the usual constraints of sexual reproduction.” Interestingly, the fungi that the ants cultivate also reproduce asexually. But why would these ants choose to emulate the reproductive cycle favored by their crops? Himler explains:
“It avoids the energetic cost of producing males, and doubles the number of reproductive females produced each generation from 50% to 100% of the offspring.”

All the members of the colony are clones of the queen. While that means the queen can control every aspect of the population, it also makes the colony vulnerable to pandemics. A virus that can kill one ant can kill all of them, since they all have the exact same immune systems. On the other hand, it seems that a lack of men gave these women more time and energy to cultivate some of the most elaborate forms of ant agriculture ever studied.

According to Himler, ants often evolve highly unusual reproductive strategies. But all-female ant societies are highly rare.

From http://impactlab.com

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The recent unfolding of the "soft coup" by Kantipur seems to have bolstered the Maoists' demand of saking Katawal. Now the Maoists shout - "The army didn't obey civilian authority. The chief must be sacked."

This is not a new development. The Maoists and COAS Katawal have had their differences public a long time ago. Here is what Prachanda had said even before he became the Prime Minister.

Ram Bahadur Thapa, the defense minister, also had a lot of differences with Katawal.

When Nanda Kishore Pun, Pasang, publicly says that the Maoists have also started their recruitment, the Maoists have no intention of firing him. Isn't this partiality? If the Maoists are to function as a democratic party, they need to sack Pasang, if they sack Katawal.

Also, I think it's time that we need to know who the political members of the Maoists are, and who the military are. I mean, why should the nation bear the military costs of the PLA commanders, who speak as political leaders of the Maoists. They ought to choose one, and abide by the principles. The fact that they need both, and that they act as if they had defeated the Nepali Army is one of the primary reasons for the disputes we see now.

Also, we should know what constitutional right a single party has over firing of the COAS. Oh! The constitution is yet to be drafted. So, a consensus is what we need. And what's the Maoist way of getting a consensus? - Either Katawal remains as the COAS or we leave the government. A great way to get a consensus!

It's high time that Maoists stop politicizing the Nepal Army. Their blatant acts of fucked-up-diplomacy might have brought them success until now, but if they still keep to their douchebaggery, they will need to learn a tough lesson.

Also, as of now, the Maoists have no right to call themselves a civilian government. Their behavior still has influences of the jungle, and they are not civilized enough.

Long live the Nepal Army. Also, I hope that the Maoists get some senses in their heads.

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The New "New National Anthem"

Here is an interesting remix of our national anthem. Originally, I found it on the wall one of the facebook groups. I've been informed that this poem is written by someone who identifies himself as sigdel maila .

"सयौं थुँगा प्रचन्डको जुँगा
तान्ने हामी नेपाली
सार्वभौम भई फैलिएका YCL र माओवादी ।
बन्द हड्ताल कोटी कोटी फोहोरको आँचल
जो कोहि वादी आए पनि भारतकै दलाल ।
कान्ति छैन शान्ति छैन
अभावै छ केवल नेपालीपन
बाँकि छैन नामको मात्रै नेपाल।
गुटवन्दी र फुटवन्दी छ समस्या छन् विशाल
प्रतिगामि राष्ट्र हाम्रो कठै विचरा नेपाल !!!"

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Explaining the economic crisis for dummies!

A financial advisor was asked to explain in a simple way to ordinary people the world economic crisis.

He said:

A salesman visited a remote village and offered to buy every mule they had for $1000 each.

Many of the villagers sold their mules immediately. Then the salesman raised his buying price to $1200 for each mule. He managed to buy more mules with the newly hiked price.

Then the salesman raised his buying price to $1500 in an attempt to buy the remaining mules from the villagers. The price was irresistible for those who didn’t sell in the first two rounds and sold their mules.

Finally the salesman told the villagers that he would pay $2500 for each mule upon his return after the weekend. By then there were no more mules in the village.

A few hours later, the salesman’s assistance showed up and offered the villagers to sell them their original mules for $2000 each, this way they will be able to sell their mules to his boss at $2500.

The villagers were happy and dug out all their life’s savings to manage a buyback of their original mules and whoever was unable to arrange cash borrowed the needed amount in a hope for a quick profit.

After the weekend, the villagers never got to see the salesman nor his assistance and only two things were left in the village: Debts and Mules.

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Mahatma Gandhi - The Man

When I was 12 years old, I asked my father why Gandhi never won the Nobel Peace prize.
My father told me it was probably due to politics. "But son, if they had awarded the prize to Gandhi, the prize would have been honored" he told me.
I think that Gandhi's position in human history is quite un-equaled (especially since naming Buddha, Mahavira and Jesus Christ as human has become inappropriate.)
So Man of the Century or not, Gandhi is the Greatest.
--Vikas Kamat
Editor, Kamat's Potpourri ( http://www.kamat.com )

I think the same. Leaders need a charisma. Gandhi had it more than enough. He was humble, and he had a great foresight. If anything, the only thing I don't agree with what he did are a few things Nathu Ram Godse said in his trial. Nonetheless, if I ever become involved in Nepali politics, I'd do my best to follow a lot of Gandhi's teachings. Our leaders, who emulate everything from India, should at least learn that Gandhi was Indian, and try to be influenced by him.

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Knowledge

When I was in grade 10, I thought I was one of the most talented people in the world, and that I could do anything, beat anybody.

In grades 11 and 12, I worked less hard, put less effort thinking that if I am talented enough, small effort should have large rewards for me.

I did not work for my freshman year in college, got ok grades. But I now feel bad about not being serious. I'm about 20 and haven't accomplished anything that I thought I would (when I was a kid). Contrary to what I would like to believe, it seems that I do not have a powerful mathematical brain that I thought I had. I still take it as good news.

It seems that I have to work my way to success - it won't be effortless. Also, there are so many things I want to know about right now - don't think even if I live up to 100, I would be able to learn what I aspire to.

Not sure if this gibberish makes much sense. Anyways I feel good that I've now started working hard. Even if I end up a "failure", I would have learned a lot - and that is all I care about. I like to classify the periods I spent in trivial pursuits, without being serious towards my work as bygone moments of wankery. I'm going to test how much further hard work takes me, and I'm going to work hard.

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Inspiring Quotes

So I'd been procrastinating a lot lately. And, everything seemed to be getting on my nerves. I have huge aspirations, and my failure to work properly coupled with my thoughts about what my parents expect from me, made me very tensed indeed. Not anymore though.

I found some quotations on a few websites. Used stumble upon to find some quotations related to success and perseverance, and put up those quotes on stickies on the shelf on my reading desk. Everytime I'm about to procrastinate, I look over them, and I begin doing my work. (Not now though, I took some time off to help people who might have faced similar problems like mine)

The quotes that are on my desk are -

You may delay but time won't.

Nothing will work unless you do.

If not me, Who? If not now, When?

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

Enjoy being naturally high.

Even the biggest trees need water.

When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all.

We first make out habits, then our habits make us.

The ruin of most men dates from idle moments.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

The harder I work, the luckier I get.

If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.

Successful people made their decision to be successful.

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. Set yourself on Fire.

Make each day your masterpiece.

Your are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.

Accept what happens and learn from it.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start now and make a brand new ending.

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

Don't ask for a light load, but rather ask for a strong back.

Remember, when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn't fall there.

The most effective way to do it, is to do it.

A nail is driven our by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit.

It takes as much stress to be a success as it does to be a failure.

And finally my best -

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.