Was waiting for my brother to pick me up from the mall when I noticed this alert Corgi (?) leaning out of his master's car. What was interesting was that the dog didn't try to jumpt out or bark or look uncomfortable. Must be a great pet!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Birds of a feather, Spanish Bay, CA, USA
Birds on the beach at Spanish bay, CA, USA - nearly all looking one way. Notice how birds of a kind stay together - the browns to the left, the centre occupied by white breasted sea gulls and black birds to the right!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Jackals at the RCGC Kolkata
I spotted this young pair of jackals on the 17th fairway of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in Kolkata (http://www.rcgc.in/). I am told that there are several of this species on the premises of this very old golf club (it is the oldest golf club outside Great Britain - it was founded in 1829!). These lovely animals roamed free in these parts till urbanization left only the golf club premises with the natural habitat that they require. Then the club was fenced off and so these furry animals live in peace in the woods surrounding the club. I am told that the club provides them with food and water. They are out on the fairway sunning themselves after a weeks' heavy downpour(Took this with the the only camera available - my Nokia E71 mobilephone camera)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Dancing Peacock
Caught a peacock with his fan of tail feathers fully extended, dancing to attarct his harem next to the 7th (?) tee box on the Delhi Golf Course with my Nokia E71 mobilephone camera. Rain was moments away, and the mating calls of this and other peacocks filled the air.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Intelligence failure - what's that?
"Intelligence failure" has become a cliche of sorts - no one is sure of what the term means and yet each time we have a law & order situation or a terrorist strike, this two-word phrase is bandied about by "experts on TV shows etc who would have one believe that while nothing in this world is or can be perfect, intelligence collection is so simple that by mere application of the right sort of effort (no one is sure what this means!), we would have perfect intelligence!
I think we need to desist from such general comments that serve no purpose. Also, I don't think anyone expects intelligence to be 100% correct *and* available 100% of the times. To presume that each and every terror strike is always preceded with accurate intelligence on place, time and participants, failing which we must conclude that there was "intelligence failure" is, to say the least absurd if not outright stupid. Intelligence failure is not the same as say, "Power failure" or "Mechanical breakdown". This is obvious. Intelligence failure is a term that should be used sparingly when an entire system of intelligence collection, collation and dissemination has grossly failed over a period of time. This has not been the case and, therefore, if we use this phrase loosely we will do gross injustice to our intelligence organizations in particular and to security agencies and the police in general.
I think we need to desist from such general comments that serve no purpose. Also, I don't think anyone expects intelligence to be 100% correct *and* available 100% of the times. To presume that each and every terror strike is always preceded with accurate intelligence on place, time and participants, failing which we must conclude that there was "intelligence failure" is, to say the least absurd if not outright stupid. Intelligence failure is not the same as say, "Power failure" or "Mechanical breakdown". This is obvious. Intelligence failure is a term that should be used sparingly when an entire system of intelligence collection, collation and dissemination has grossly failed over a period of time. This has not been the case and, therefore, if we use this phrase loosely we will do gross injustice to our intelligence organizations in particular and to security agencies and the police in general.
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