Alka Dwivedi

Tanmoy has some real good suggestions for us. Terror attack in Mumbai has left us all dazed and shaken. But this time it will be good if we don’t move on and pretend if nothing has happened.

What is community service? What to my mind we can do instantaneously?

First, ask ourselves do we know how to fight an emergency / crisis situations ourselves? If the answer is no, let’s ask ourselves what can the emergency situations be. Fire in our apartment, may be! If we don’t know how to fight fire, do we know, if we write a letter to the nearest fire station, they will come and teach us some of the basic things.

People in fire service and police service often tend to feel that none cares for them unless one is affected. This can be a good exercise perhaps to get them involved.

Can anyone of us amongst ourselves take the responsibility of doing that for our own colony, apartment back in India?

Get yourself trained without really relying on tacit intelligence (we are tremendously over confident, I know!) and importantly help the women and children in our family / colony to get trained.

Secondly, can we start telling our children about our savings and teach them banking operations. In West, all children after the age of 10 tend to know about such things. We seem to protect themselves till eternity.
Thirdly, can we as a community go to the “lazy” police station across the street and tell them that we are scared. I know many of you loathe such police officials but trust me the feeling is mutual. They loathe you too but we must not assume they are utterly rubbish and stop involving them. If we make police / firemen a part of our community, after sometime they would become conscious of their existence too. We have to give them confidence, that we trust them. How many of us invite these people to our community functions? We don’t but why is that so?

Fourthly, can we be aware of things like Right to Information Act, Consumer Court, Public Grievance System in Government, Directorate of Public Grievances and many such organizations.
Fifthly, have a diary at home where emergency numbers are stored. I am sure most of our mobile phones don’t have them and same is for our family members. Why is that so? How long shall be inflict wounds on our families because of our callous attitude.

Sixthly, how many us have ever planted a tree or have helped someone to plant one?

When I was reading this piece, I made two conclusion that adventurous women (or women with low self esteem, I am not saying this, psychiatrists say) seek adventurous men and having scars make you macho and brave! Wow guys, look- its so easy to be macho and brave. So guys, if today you are in a mood for hunting, you know what make up you have to wear!!!
Guys, for more detail read this:

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that women view men with scars as being not only adventurous, but also macho and brave — but only if she is looking for a short-term relationship.

Interestingly, the study has found that once a woman becomes a mother, she is most likely to dump the “bad boy” for a more caring, sharing sort, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.

The researchers have based their findings on an analysis of an experiment which they carried out on a group of people to find out how scars influences the sexes in picking partners for both long-term and short-term relationships.

However, in case of women, the researchers found that men find women with or without scars attractive — the results of which are published in the latest edition of ‘Personality and Individual Differences’ journal.

I just realized that Dehradoon, Bangalore, Kozhikode and countless other towns are suburbs of Mumbai and each and every member of NSG, Army, Navy, ATS, Air Force and each and every MARCOS are Marathi and Marathi only. Actually they all reported to this lady Sharmila Thackeray, wife of Raj Thackeray and registered their hometown in her register she regularly maintains. Till now I have not realized that Sharmila Thackeray has access to such information. She knows the state and hometown of each and every soldier and commandos. In what authority and capacity Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila Thackeray has such information, we don’t know. Ms. Thackeray has sent an SMS TO Amitabh Bachchan.

Amitabh Bachchan who usually expresses his thoughts and feelings through his blogs, sent me an SMS on Monday afternoon. Visibly angry and frustrated, the “angry young man” of Indian cinema forwarded an SMS that was sent to him by Sharmila Thackeray, wife of Raj Thackeray.

It read, “All those who had lost their lives while saving this city are Marathis. MNS workers are busy donating blood, helping police for rescue operations and lifting bodies.”

I sincerely hope that terrorists don’t get hold of the register Raj Thackeray’s wife maintains. I think now Raj Thackeray’s wife should meet Ambassadors of different countries and convince them that they are wasting their time in Mumbai searching for their nationals. Only Marathis had died in this terror attacks. I am wondering whether attackers too were Marathis in this all Marathi drama?
What Amitabh has to say in all this?

“Can they stoop any lower! After cowering underground while citizens of all nationalities were dying and the others being rescued by the NSG, the navy and the army…this is what they have to say!”

Yes, Mr. Bachchan, they will stoop to conquerer! In this process they will always set a new “low” for themselves.

Futrure Hope of India, Prince of Congress, Rahul Gandhi: He is our only hope, Congressmen told us repeatedly. Read here, what he was doing.

The Prince partied hard, till 5 in the morning, on Sunday at the ‘sangeet’ for the forthcoming wedding of Samir Sharma, his childhood friend. They were at a sprawling farmhouse at Radhey Mohan Chowk, the haven of people who lead charmed lives beyond Chhatarpur.
The Prince seemed to be completely out of sync with the mood of the nation post-26/11. Since Wednesday night, officials have been cancelling parties they were meant to host and even restaurants called off special events.

Of course chiiling out with pals is above all. and he is above those petty officials and restaurant owners! See the press people’s ball. They are questioning the sacred Madam’s progeny!! They should be hanged for this.

R.R. Patil: Jewel in the Crown: When a 20 something boy from Bihar was in a BEST bus with a country made pistol Katta, this brave person R.R. Patil has roared, “Goli ka zawab goli se diya jayega (bullet for bullet).” When Mumbai was seized by terrorists what pearls of wisdom came out from this Ex home minister of Maharashtra,R.R. Patil,

“Itne bade shahar me ekhada hadsa ho jata hai” (An untoward incident like this can happen in such a big city like Mumbai). ” We are proud of you Mr. Patil.

We meed more and more people like you in this country.

Kerala CM Achuthanandan: He broke in into the house of Major Sandeep Unnikrishanan to offer his condolences. What a way to empathize with a father. Later on what he said about this whole incident?

“If it had not been (Major) Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way,” he said when turned away at the door by Unnikrishnan’s father.

Here is today’s update:

A day after Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan insulted the family of martyred NSG Commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan, he refused to apologise for the denigrating remark.

“No, no,” is all he said when journalists confronted him with the question.

We can certainly learn manners from this gentleman.

Another comerde of CPI Atul Anzan said on Zee News: “Mr. Unnikrishanan has lost his mental balance.”
Of course Mr. Unnikrishanan was working in ISRO. I hope our leaders know the full form of ISRO. The mentally imbalanced scientists keep on putting India on world technology map. Recently these mentally imbalanced persons were in news for Chandrayaan-1. Does India needs such mentally imbalanced people? This organization ISRO should be dismantled and with this money, poverty should be eradicated, which is the topmost agenda of CPI.

See if you want to be the champion of a cause don’t try to look good. Your cause will suffer. Applying make up is a crime if you are carrying out a march. You don’t represent India. That what BJP’s Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi thinks.

“Some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians spreading dissatisfaction against democracy. This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said “in difficult times like these” some groups have decided to “wage a war against democracy” rather than waging war against the menace of terror.

What if you are a news reader in a broadcast media? You are reading false news!

I read this today. I wonder what would be and current jihadis will say about this.

A Muslim graveyard has refused to bury nine gunmen who terrorized Mumbai over three days last week, leaving at least 172 people dead and wreaking havoc at some of its most famous landmarks.

The men are not true followers of the Islamic faith, according to the influential Muslim Jama Masjid Trust, which runs the 7.5-acre (three-hectare) Badakabrastan graveyard in downtown Mumbai.

“People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim,” said Hanif Nalkhande, a trustee. “Islam does not permit this sort of barbaric crime.”
There are seven other Muslim graveyards in Mumbai, but the Jama Masjid’s influence means none of the others are likely to accept the bodies.

I read this at blogbharti. We follow lifestyles of westerners and Americans when it suits us.We can copy the following from them too. Its not that difficult.

For the protectors of Mumbai / Bombay

With respect and gratitude.

Our brave police, armed forces and firefighters have been putting their lives at risk to bring our city back to normal. Many have died.

We often criticise them vociferously; we probably will do so again. And we should. Later.

But now is a good time to show our gratitude and respect for what they’ve done since the night of the 26th.

Go over to your neighbourhood police station, fire brigade or army post.

Light a candle or a diya and leave it there.

Or leave a card, or a note of appreciation.

Or a flower.

Shake the hand of any police, army or fire brigade personnel on the spot, say thank you, and explain why you’re doing this.

Do this whenever you can, wherever you can. You don’t have to be in Bombay. This could have happened anywhere in the world.

(People in other countries and Indians abroad: you may want to do this at your nearest Indian embassy or consulate.)

You might have read this on net or as sms. I find this sms in TOI.

"Where is Raj Thackery and his `brave’ sena? Tell him that 200 NSG commandos have been sent to save Mumbai and fight terrorists so that he can sleep peacefully. The Indian army has Indians and not marathis, UPites or biharis alone," said a message with sender requesting to forward to all Indians so that it finally reaches the coward bully Raj Thackeray.

I wonder where are they? Holed up somewhere to save their skins? When their own Mumbai was held captive by the terrorists. Why didn’t they and their workers came out in open to save their "beloved" city and protect their reputation? Shouldn’t they make a claim that it must only be protected by marathi manushs and not by bhaiyaas from Bihar and U.P? Or better only marathi police officials should be sent here, Your Mumbai doesn’t need rest of the Indians? First Marathas should be out there? Or their bravery comes out only against Bachchans and Bhaiyyas? Where are Mr. little boy Thackeray who proclaimed probably last month proudly "Mumbai mere baap ki hai" Why his Baap has abandoned his children and is hiding in his hole?

I think we at least the educated one stops viewing ourselves as regional entities and see the larger picture. I was reading at a blog that singing Hindi songs was considered blasphemy. Just imagine those psychopath parents and teachers who were so blinded by regional glory that they have stopped exhibiting even the basic human traits. They don’t hesitate to fill the clean mind with hatred (Well few movies, songs and books can be vulgar or cheap but it is true for every language). If you can teach small children hatred for a language, songs, movies and people, you are not fit to shoulder the responsibility parenthood brings. If your language, culture and food are REALLY so great then why this insecurity? Why feel threatened by other people, languages, food and culture? Greatness never inspire insecurity. Greatness is inclusive not…

Update: I realized it a bit late. At least the green color in my blog post doesn’t represent a particular religion. Here I want to say that same chaos and anarchy that Kashmir is facing is spreading and enveloping the rest of India.
Old Post:
I get this at Barbarindians blog. It is really true that a picture is worth thousand words. Today what is happening is Mumbai is the mirror of the future we and our children will march forward to. Or maybe when we won’t be find enough places to chill out, when terrorists will take hold of discs and pubs rendering us unable to move our a**es to “cool” beats, when we don’t have enough safe places to sip and discuss the colors of classy cocktails, we might start “THINKING” about this problem called terrorism and start thinking about how to make our political bosses feel uncomfortable in their bulletproof jackets purchased with our money.

Source:barbarindians.blogspot.com

The result of this research finding is not very different from the obvious. BUT I think that findings hold an element of universal truth. We often feel relieved after sharing our woes with parents or siblings. Kissing, embracing, holding hand, a warm glance of our parents, siblings or friends blow away our blues, no matter in what stage of life we are in.

Results of a recent study have said that couples who hug and kiss have lower stress hormone levels in their bodies especially if they are married.

The week long Swiss study by researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, of 51 German couples who were mostly married checked the cortisol levels in their saliva. Cortisol, a hormone in the body, also responsible for several stress-related changes in the body, is secreted by the adrenal glands, has been termed “the stress hormone” because high levels of it are secreted during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Small increases in cortisol have positive effects on the body like helping in proper glucose metabolism and regulation of blood pressure. Higher levels of cortisol are seen in the morning with its lowest levels at night.

What is more important is we HAVE to nurture, develop and protect this kind of intimacy. It doesn’t spring up naturally. Now the million dollar question is, do we have time for such nurturing and caring?

Beate Ditzen of Zurich University, who conducted the research said intimacy seemed to improve the hormone levels by boosting the mood. She stressed that it was not intimacy per se that was needed but couples finding things they could do together that would create positive feelings for each other. The definition of intimacy differs from couple to couple and Dr Ditzen said. “This means that there is no specific behavior that couples should show in everyday life. Rather, all kinds of behavior which couples themselves would consider intimate… might be beneficial,” the expert added.

I wish next they find out how couples develop such kind of intimacy. Because its not a sum total of physical acts only. That will go kaput soon.

Is it really true that love is blind? Whatever articles or fiction I read on love paint a rosier than rosy picture of love. But what I have seen in real life is more of a bizarre kind of emotions than actual love. Love makes you think and do many awkward things that you won’t do when you are thinking normally. I have seen sane headed persons behaving in most illogical manner. But a recent online study tell the same thing.

In an experiment with college students in long-term relationships, researchers at UCLA and the online dating service eHarmony found that asking coeds to reflect on the love they felt for their boyfriends or girlfriends blunted the appeal of especially attractive members of the opposite sex.

When people are in love they don’t remember the USP of the hot alternatives presented to them such as curvaceous body or toned muscles. Then what do they remember of the “other” hot prospects?

“These people could remember the color of a shirt or whether the photo was taken in New York, but they didn’t remember anything tempting about the person,” Gonzaga said. “It’s not like their overall memory was impaired; it’s as if they had selectively screened out things that would make them think about the how attractive the alternative was.”
“One of the biggest threats to a relationship is an attractive alternative to your loved one — or that attractive woman at work or the hot guy you meet in the bar,” Gonzaga said. “In subtle ways that you might not even notice, the gushy feelings you get when you think of your partner help you fend off these threats.”

So it really seems true that love triumphs all or most of the obstacles.

I just want to thank Dr. L.B. Verma sir for treating the subject history the way it should be treated. Whatever understanding I have of history, is solely due to his way of teaching. I remember students from other disciplines used to come and attend his class and if there was no place to sit, students preferred to stand at the back of the class and listened to him. Its because of him we used to understand how a mere common man defeated mighty emperors and church priests and they had to give up their power to the common man in the form of democracy. I don’t know where he is today. But I know one fact, a teacher affects eternity. Its really true when I think about Verma sir. I wish he can read my poem. He will perfectly understand what I am trying to convey.

Success!

Another reason to float on cloud nine
World’s most envied automobile, at my doorsteps!!
Father! Come & look at your birthday present..

Later my son later, right now I am busy,
Busy?
Father, talking to a perfect non entity and
Busy ?

Father! You will never be a success!!
I can’t thrust it upon you anymore
You refuse to join the list of also arrived!
I shouted down the frustration of my entire life..

Calm down my son. Calm down.
I always defied those instruments which,
Standardize me, classify me, categorize me..
I laughed out loud,
Always!

Just crosscheck, my son, when the King tried
To dictate terms on me,
I’d proclaimed proudly
Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

Crosscheck, my son what happened to the priest,
When the priest issued the passport to heaven,
I have confined him to the pages of books
Today you have to sit in the lap of history
To search for his power!!

If the circumference of the human intelligence
Has shrunken so miserably, then
It is high time, My Son! Learn from history,
And don’t decide for me, overtly or covertly,
What is success!
Because History ever repeats itself!!!

This guy is amazing. Most of the people do everything in their capacity to earn extra bucks. And if the source of income is passive why would one want to temper with it? But read what he has done.

“By dropping Adsense and text link ads with no immediate replacement, I’m giving up a good chunk of change. We’re talking in excess of $100,000 per year just from those two sources. And this is easy, fairly stable, passive income that goes straight into my bank account month after month.”

“In truth there are a number of reasons I’m doing this, and they don’t have much to do with money.

One reason for this change is that generating income from selling advertising just doesn’t resonate with me anymore. I’m totally bored with it. I feel a strong desire to drop it and move on to something new.

I also felt that many of the ads being served up were a bit too Cro-Magnon relative to the ideas I’ve been blogging about. It seemed rather lame to write an article on Oneness and then see ads for money-making schemes next to it. Even worse was when fast food ads popped up next to an article about the raw food diet. I quickly banned the objectionable ads of course, but lately I found myself feeling increasingly disconnected from most of the ads that were being displayed. I don’t want to generate income in a manner that makes me feel disconnected.”
“Am I worried or stressed about dumping thousands of dollars in easy monthly income? Not a bit. I feel totally at peace with this new direction, even though I can’t quite see where it will lead.

Given the choice between having an extra $100K per year of free money vs. becoming the kind of person who can kill off that much income without fear or worry, I’m grateful that I can look in the mirror and see a guy that can make the latter choice, simply because he knows he’s following the path with a heart.”

I think every female wants to unlock this mystery It will make things simpler and life easier. I always suspected that men use their eyes instead of brain or heart when they choose a mate. They just behave like a child who loves most of that things that glitter but are not gold! I was NOT wrong! Adult males DO behave like a child. A man’s eye(s) definitely play an all important role in selecting a female. Jokes apart, a groundbreaking study by two University of Rochester psychologists to be published online Oct. 28 by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology adds color—literally and figuratively—to the age-old question of what attracts men to women.

“In the final study, the shirt of the woman in the photograph, instead of the background, was digitally colored red or blue. In this experiment, men were queried not only about their attraction to the woman, but their intentions regarding dating. One question asked: “Imagine that you are going on a date with this person and have $100 in your wallet. How much money would you be willing to spend on your date?”

Under all of the conditions, the women shown framed by or wearing red were rated significantly more attractive and sexually desirable by men than the exact same women shown with other colors. When wearing red, the woman was also more likely to score an invitation to the prom and to be treated to a more expensive outing.”

BUT this color blindness stops at the attractiveness barometer only. Men don’t show this color blindness as far as likability, intelligence or kindness are concerned. Thank god for small mercies and gifting some real human qualities to males too!!

I don’t have words and strength to add something of my own to this news.

Lucknow: A school principal in Uttar Pradesh was booked on Thursday for tying a five-year-old student with ropes and dragging him for nearly 50 metres for not attending school regularly, an official said.

“An FIR has been registered against the school principal Shamsad Ali for ill-treating the child Alok Gupta, studying in the kindergarten at the Mother Teresa Public School,” said officer in-charge of basic education Awadesh Kumar.

A team was sent to inquire into the incident in which Alok was tied and dragged on Wednesday and was also made to kneel down in front of the school gate for nearly two hours.
The school is in Baghuchaghat village in Deori, about 280 km from here.
According to information available, Alok was unable to attend school due to health problems, Kumar said.
Corporal punishment is banned in schools following the directions of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Raj Thackeray was in news. It was obvious he doesn’t like lock ups or jails. But what is surprising is his lawyer’s name who was in the limelight most the time, Mr. Akhilesh Chube. What a North Indian sounding name! Or probably when one’s *ss is truly in danger of being grilled, North, South, East or West Indians don’t matter. Vageesh Saraswat, the MNS vice-president is also from Aligarh, probably a north Indian town. Few weeks ago Mr. Raj Thackeray had organized a computer software course for Maharashtrian Youths. The head instructor was Saurabh Mishra.
But Manish Chauhan has written a pretty interesting account on this ongoing sub nationalism plaguing modern metrosexual Indians. His target is Shahrukh Khan.

Shahrukh Khan is in trouble. He calls himself a Delhi boy, which he duly is, but Bal Thackray insists now he is not because Mumbai has given him wealth and fame. Though at the same time, he also insists that Sonia Gandhi is still an Italian, a Videshi.

Shahrukh must be disoriented by now about his existence. Myself sailing on the same damn boat. Join the notorious club. Who knows, someone might club us all.

I repeat, Bal Thackray insists since it is Mumbai and Maharashtra which has given him wealth and fame so why does he harp about being a Delhi boy.

As if, as soon as he touched Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, or shall I say Bhusawal, almost magically, someone started giving him all his wealth - to make him rich, and concurrently, someone else (or the same guy perhaps) started calling his name on AIR, to make him famous.

Applying the theory of mathematical induction (though I never came across a bigger fraudulent theory), every one making money or name in Maharashtra started doing in the same manner. Well, not every body, though. Some of them were beaten black and blue right on landing at the Kalyan & Kurla station. However, rest get it for free, by almost doing nothing.

It may also be that all the movie audience of Shahrukh Khan is from Mumbai and Maharashtra only. Rest of India and world are not counted. It is already known that he dances at the ceremonies of Netas to earn quick bucks. So this settles it.

Mahindra and Mahindra, Telco, Bajaj sell all their vehicles only in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra. So those workers who come here and work should also pay their homage and respect for their bread and butter, and to their very existence, only to Maharashtra.

Had there been no Maharashtra, who would have created these vehicles and much worse, who would have bought them, isn’t it ? Anyway it is not their work which is bringing them money. They are being paid only for the fact that they have entered Maharashtra.

It is God’s will that they were born to move into Maharashtra in future. Was this not tobe, may be God would have cancelled the order. That’s why, my dear Shahrukh, you ain’t no Delhi boy. You were desitined to come here, and that’s why you were concieved (or else it would have been someone else in your place). You are now Mee-Mumbai-Maharashtra boy.

Now let us all say in chorus - Jai Maharashtra!

It seems as the economy is recessing the anger of the employees is on the rise. Richard Fuld, the disgraced head of Lehman Brothers, was punched in the face in the office gym amid the bank’s collapse. I know the news is a bit old. But I thought about the lucky fellow who availed the opportunity to give vent to his anger. How many of us want to punch our boss on many occasion but … what Richard Fuld, former Lehman Brothers CEO, and his team was doing for such a long time, it seems, this is a very small price to pay. Lehman Brothers, was particularly badly hit by “toxic” mortgage debt and filed for bankruptcy last month. Richard Fuld, the former CEO of Lehman Brothers had given a low down on bank’s financial crisis before the US House Oversight Committee. Richard Fuld was genuinely surprised that why the US government was not bailing out the 158 years old firm.

Those who has seen him testifying before the US House Oversight Committee said that his performance was brilliant. he blamed everyone but himself for the failure of the 158 year old Lehman Brothers.

Vicki Ward, a US journalist, said “two very senior sources - one incredibly senior source” had confirmed it to her. “He went to the gym after … Lehman was announced as going under,” she told CNBC. “He was on a treadmill with a heart monitor on. Someone was in the corner, pumping iron and he walked over and he knocked him out cold.

“And frankly after having watched [Mr Fuld's testimony to the committee], I’d have done the same too.”

When I was reading this “Scientists Create ‘World’s Most Relaxing Room‘ ”

Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman has designed and constructed a large-scale multi-media space that aims to calm even the most stressed out of minds.To help promote the University of Hertfordshire’s Health and Human Sciences Research Institute Showcase, Wiseman reviewed the scientific research into relaxation, and has created what is being billed as ‘The world’s most relaxing room.

I was a bit dazed. Can a place like this really exists when one forgets the economic recession and hence one’s worries? Is it possible that relaxing is as simple as entering into a room? We don’t have to learn relaxing exercises from anyone? Will this relaxing room be available to everyone by paying a nominal sum? I think, if we have to pay for relaxing room like we pay for watching a movie, then it won’t remain a relaxing room at all. We, being we, will bring our attitude, money, fashion, bags and boots and what not and start the competition or rat race again and relaxation will jump out of the each and every available window.

But nonetheless its an interesting read.

During the Showcase, which runs from 21-24 October at the University’s de Havilland campus, groups of up to ten visitors at a time will be invited to enter this large and unusual space, lie on soft matting and rest their head on lavender-scented pillows. In each fifteen minute session, people will be bathed in a calming glade-like green light, listen to a specially composed soothing soundtrack, and look at a completely clear artificial blue sky.

Is our economy really slowing down? Common people are really talking about economic recession instead of sports and films ? If I go by the newspaper headlines, it seems economic recession has really caught the imagination of print media. Each day I can see the creases and frowns in their headlines about recession. Instead of political news, economic recession news seem grabbing the headlines. 
I know vaguely about this company AIG, because I have seen the ads of Tata-AIG insurance on TV. What I know is, AIG is one of the biggest insurance companies in the world. Recently AIG was hit hard by the turmoil in the credit markets in September 2008. But AIG got a fresh lease of life after an $85 billion government bailout. Basically AIG had faced a near death situation. But I have my own doubts that economic recession is actually happening when I read about this company AIG something like this:

AIG big shots get $500G vacations on taxpayers’ dime

Just six days after sticking taxpayers with an $85 billion bailout, AIG’s top executives dropped $500,000 whooping it up at a swanky California beach resort.

Among the charges American International Group racked up at last month’s week-long retreat:

• $150,000 for banquets,
• $10,000 in bar bills,
• $3,000 on tips,
• $7,000 in greens fees,
• $23,000 at the hotel spa
• $1,400 at the salon.

"They were getting their manicures, their facials, their pedicures and their massages while American people were footing the bill!" barked Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is probing the ever-growing financial collapse.

Do you still think that we are facing economic recession?