I haven't written a decent poem since years now. But occasionally I find a poem worth repeating to myself on the net. IF, by Rudyard Kipling was the last one I quoted here. Today, I am quoting another one - "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley - the title means unconquered in Latin. Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Just about an year ago Finland declared broadband internet access as a legal right and now BBC has come up with a survey that 80% people in developed world believe that internet access should be a fundamental right. Image Credit: BBC , March 2010. Link to detailed results [PDF] People equate internet to a fundamental right stating its impact on other fundamental rights [Ref: UN Declaration , Articles 18, 19, 26, 27 and 29] such as freedom of thought, conscience, right to speech, opinion and expression, and right to education and full development of personality. The whole concept may look outlandish in the developing world where the basic necessities of food and shelter are still not available to all citizens, but for a large part of the "access enabled" population, the internet is becoming as fundamental to the very existence of modern lifestyle like banking services or water or electricity. For example, check out his conversation which happened late night earlier this week...

The 1936 classic " Gone With the Wind " by Margaret Michelle is known primarily for its depiction of Civil War America and its impeccable laying of the characters. I for myself liked the novel for its depiction of how individuals fall for 'real life mirages'. The protagonist Scarlett O'Hara has a lifelong obsession with Ashley Wilkes who (only) in her perception is one of the most 'manly' individuals - decisive, gallant, and chivalrous. Ashley is the man with whom Scarlett is obsessed. Gentlemanly yet indecisive, he loves Melanie , his cousin and later his wife, but is tormented by an obsession with Scarlett. His failure to deal with his true feelings for Scarlett ruins any chance she has for real happiness with the true love of her life ( Rhett Butler ). Due to her obsession with Ashley, Scarlett keeps ruining her every chance of getting true love from Rhett Butler. It is only towards the end of the novel that Scarlett realizes that she loves Rhett an...