Dashain has arrived, NTC is cueing up mangal dhun and soon rest will follow. We're here to celebrate the season of goat-munching and chiura-crunching with our fabulous newsletter number 6! Yes, we do it every week because we're addicted to your virtual company, and we know you can't resist our weekly rendezvous.
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We’ve got few political unpacking, fast tech for people in a hurry, and a consolation prize. Grab your favorite brew, and let's soak all the wit and wisdom.
TLDR
Current Affairs
Musical Chairs and Rebel Affairs: Koshi's CM Conundrum
Modi's Kalapani Visit: An Unofficial Adventure in Nepali Territory!
MCC Bid Cancellation Drama: A Twist in the Unpopular Tale
Tech Trends
Game On: DARPA's Quest for Bulletproof VR
Google's Homepage: To Change or Not to Change? That Is the Question!
Consolation Prize
The Rajesh Hamal Hootenanny: An Ode to Cyberbullies and Sensitive Superfans
Current Affairs
Musical Chairs and Rebel Affairs: Koshi's CM Conundrum
Ah, the sweet sound of political musical chairs strikes again in Nepal's Koshi Province! Imagine the delightful game of swapping chief ministers, where the only rule seems to be "Change is the only constant." In the six years since Nepal's 2017 elections officially introduced a three-tier federal system, Koshi has seen no less than eight chief ministers. It's like they've set a new record in political tap dancing!
The latest shuffle brought in Nepali Congress lawmaker Kedar Karki as the newest "chief minister du jour." But don't get too attached; this appointment marks the fifth change in the provincial government since the last set of elections in 2022. The provincial assembly could have gone through a whole deck of cards by now.
You see, Karki's elevation was akin to a "Hail Mary" pass to rescue the province's assembly. All other constitutional options had been exhausted, and they were pretty much at the "why not" stage when Karki emerged. Now he's got 30 days to prove he's the chosen one (at least for now) by gathering support from 47 lawmakers. Good luck with that!
Here's the kicker: Karki's support isn't even predominantly from his own party. He's like the rebel hero riding into town with only a posse of eight loyalists from the Nepali Congress. The rest of his squad? Well, they belong to the CPN-UML, the main opposition, and they're playing a wild game of political twister.
The plot thickens! The party bigwigs in Kathmandu had a different plan in mind and were backing a Maoist Centre provincial lawmaker named Indra Bahadur Angbo for the CM seat. But Karki, with a bit of rebel flair and the blessings of Shekhar Koirala's faction, decided to steal the show.
Koirala's gang is all about pushing the Congress out of the federal coalition and doing the government-support-from-the-sidelines dance. They've grown tired of shouldering the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government's baggage. But don't worry; Dahal and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba reassured everyone that the new provincial set-up wouldn't sabotage their ruling coalition in Kathmandu.
Oh, but let's add some sizzle to this political soap opera: Congress couldn't quite contain the chaos, and PM Prachanda got weary of the situation. He had to personally step in and ensure that Shekhar and the Congress faction wouldn't jeopardize the coalition, putting his PM seat on shaky grounds. The trio signed an agreement on a piece of... let's say, a notebook paper. Crisis averted!
Let's take a moment to applaud the Koshi lawmakers who dared to defy the bigwigs in Kathmandu and took the bull by the horns (or should we say the Constitution by its articles) to form their government. If they can't run the show in their provinces, then what's the point of all this devolution talk?
Now the challenge falls on the new CM and the top dogs of the three main parties to keep this ship steady. But, folks, let's remember that Koshi should be allowed to sort out its own mess. No one needs the chaos of mid-term elections in a country already facing an economic crisis. It's like solving a Rubik's Cube while riding a unicycle — entertaining, but perhaps not the best strategy right now.
So, let the drama unfold in Koshi. We'll grab our popcorn and wait for the next act in this never-ending political soap opera!
Modi's Kalapani Visit: An Unofficial Adventure in Nepali Territory!
In the latest episode of "Modi's Marvelous Adventures," our dear Indian Prime Minister decided to take a little stroll across the border to Nepal. Now, you might think this was just a friendly neighborly visit, but as it turns out, Nepal wasn't exactly prepared for the pop-in!
So, Modi visited a quaint Nepali border village, which India has held hostage for decades. To say that this surprise visit stirred the pot would be an understatement. Lawmakers in Nepal weren't exactly thrilled about it and wondered why their southern neighbor didn't give them a heads-up. I mean, who drops by unannounced anymore?
Of course, social media had a field day with this escapade, with users poking fun at Modi's unexpected tour. It's like having your neighbor over for tea, only to find out they've redecorated your living room without asking.
Now, the big question is, why did Modi pull this border-hopping stunt? Well, Nepal and India have been arguing about the Kalapani area's ownership, with each side claiming it as their own. So, Modi's visit added another layer of intrigue to this territorial tango.
While lawmakers in Nepal are demanding answers and a proper welcome ceremony for future "guests," we can't help but wonder where Modi will pop up next. So, stay tuned for the next episode of "Modi's Mysterious Escapades." Who knows, he might just show up in your backyard with a chai cart!
MCC Bid Cancellation Drama: A Twist in the Unpopular Tale
Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round for the latest chapter in the MCC saga! If you thought this story was all shadowy dealings and backroom schemes, you're in for a surprise.
Picture this: politicians from all corners of the political spectrum put on a grand show, vocally opposing the MCC deal. But guess what? Behind closed doors, they were secretly giving it the nod.
Citizens? Oh, they were as divided as a piece of cake at a birthday party. Half of them saw the MCC as nothing short of treason, while the other half believed it was a golden ticket to a brighter future.
And now, in an unexpected twist, the MCC's grand transmission line project has hit the brakes due to overwhelming bid costs. It's like the plot took a detour we never saw coming!
While they figure out the next move, one thing's for sure: Nepal's power grid is sweating bullets. That 315-kilometer transmission line isn't just a string of lights; it's the lifeline keeping the nation buzzing.
So, folks, grab your popcorn. The MCC story is becoming a real page-turner, and we're all eager to see how it unfolds. Stay tuned for more twists, turns, and hopefully, a happy ending!
Tech Trends
Game On: DARPA's Quest for Bulletproof VR
In the realm of military innovation, DARPA is flipping the script from 'Call of Duty' to 'Call of Duty...Without the Barf Bags?' It turns out they've been stealthily cooking up virtual reality (VR) headsets for our brave soldiers, raising the age-old question: is this the call of duty becoming real, or is war just getting gamified?
DARPA, short for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has declared an all-out mission to armor up US troops against something they call "cognitive attacks." What are these dastardly digital offenses? Well, it's a bit like throwing a virtual spanner into the gears of military-grade VR gear.
Picture this: soldiers suiting up with VR headsets ready to face their foes, only to be hit with information overload, cluttered virtual landscapes with real-world debris, and even personal network hacks to leave them scratching their camouflaged heads. Sounds like a real-life version of 'Inception,' doesn't it? And that's just the beginning.
DARPA's mission is to zap the kinks out of the VR combat experience, including the not-so-fun side effect of nausea. Yes, you read that right. US fighters were having a not-so-merry time with mixed-reality headsets, which earned them the charming nickname "vomit extractors." Talk about a battlefield promotion nobody wanted.
But wait, there's more! Microsoft's HoloLens, originally built for the military, fell short last year by causing everything from tummy turmoil to epic headaches and eye strain. Cue disgruntled soldiers, who made it known they weren't thrilled with their less-than-joyful VR experience. Congress responded with a firm "rethink this" directive but with a significantly smaller budget than what the Army wished for.
Fast forward to today, and the US Army has given the green light to these custom HoloLens goggles. Good news? No more military barf bags required. However, the project's $22 billion price tag and the lurking threat of those ominous "cognitive attacks" keep us wondering: are we diving headfirst into a real-life 'Call of Duty' or a high-tech game of chess? Time will tell.
Google's Homepage: To Change or Not to Change? That Is the Question!
Imagine Google's homepage as a person standing in front of their wardrobe, pondering, "What should I wear today?" Well, Google has been standing in front of its digital mirror, asking, "What should I show to the world on my homepage?" The latest experiment looks like Google might be veering away from its usual clean and minimalistic outfit and considering something a bit more... snazzy.
In the world of Google, change is as rare as a unicorn sipping a cup of tea. But recently, the tech giant seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis with its homepage. First, they tried an experiment that resembled an over-enthusiastic dashboard filled with weather updates and stock prices. Now, they're flirting with an entirely new look – one that screams "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"
You see, instead of the classic Google homepage with its simple logo, a search box, and a couple of buttons, it now looks like a Google Discover newsfeed crashed the party. You've got rows and rows of news articles Google thinks you might like, sometimes with the subtlety of a bullhorn at a library. To the right, there's a stack of "at a glance" cards, your one-stop shop for sports scores, stock market drama, and a quick weather forecast. It's like Google realized it was time to embrace its inner Bing and Yahoo, donned a snazzy new suit, and strutted into the room.
The Verge even went Sherlock Holmes on this and managed to reach someone at Google (bravo, detectives!), who spilled the beans that this is just an experiment playing out in India for now. So, there's still a chance that Google might decide, "Nah, not our style," and this whole thing might vanish faster than a Snapchat message.
One can't help but wonder why Google's mobile app and desktop website are playing the "spot the difference" game. If Google Discover is Google's rock star on the mobile stage, it makes you wonder, why isn't it getting the same spotlight treatment on Google.com? Who knows, with Google's newfound zest for shaking things up (and a gentle nudge from revenue figures), perhaps we're in for a homepage overhaul. So, what will it be, Google? To change or not to change? We're waiting with bated breath!
Consolation Prize
The Rajesh Hamal Hootenanny: An Ode to Cyberbullies and Sensitive Superfans
Oh, the drama! The scandal! The horror! It's almost like we're in a Shakespearean tragedy, where one brave actress dared to utter the unthinkable - that Rajesh Hamal might not be the divine actor we all worship at the altar of Nepali cinema. The earth shook, and the cyber-avalanche was unleashed.
Usha Rajak, our courageous critic, dared to expose the chinks in Hamal's star-studded armor. She mentioned that in his heyday, he scored roles. But alas, his acting and dancing skills left much to be desired. And can you believe it? She's facing online abuse for her honesty. Shame on her for having an opinion!
Let's get something straight. In a democracy, you're allowed to voice your thoughts, even if they upset the great Rajesh Hamal fan club. No artist, no matter how famous, is above a little questioning and critique. After all, what is an artist without a bit of feedback?
But not Rajesh Hamal, the great, the untouchable! When you question his abilities, you risk your career, your sanity, and maybe even your lunch. Just ask Usha, Deepa Shree, and many mores who bravely tasted the wrath of the cyber-zealots.
You see, Hamal himself is a man of few words, with diplomatic responses that rival UN peace talks. But his fans? Well, they're not exactly known for their subtlety. So, if you don't label Hamal as the ultimate hero, prepare for a barrage of internet fury.
Poor Usha Rajak fell victim to this online maelstrom. A snippet of her comedy show appearance was taken out of context, and the cyber-hounds were unleashed. They didn't stop at criticizing her acting; they dug into her personal life, and it wasn't pretty.
As a result, our heroine issued an apology that should be framed and hung in the Louvre. She clarified that her comments were made in jest during a comedy show and should never be taken seriously. She also declared her admiration for the great hero, Hamal, and his "remarkable" contributions.
So, there you have it, folks. In the grand tapestry of Nepali cinema, a critical opinion can lead to cyberbullying, diplomatic apologies, and the enduring reign of the legendary Rajesh Hamal. Let's remember, though, every artist deserves a standing ovation, even if the applause is accompanied by a few critical coughs from the audience. After all, it's just the circle of critique, and it moves us all.
Last but not the least
Did todays newsletter hit the mark, or did it miss the latte art? |