20 Eunuchs to Collect Taxes in India
Friday, November 10, 2006 12:31 AM EST
The Associated Press
PATNA, India (AP) — One cash-strapped Indian city has launched a unique collection service to dislodge payment from tax deadbeats: Door-to-door eunuchs.
Eunuchs — a term used in India to describe transvestites, postoperative transsexuals and hermaphrodites — traditionally make a living on tips for dancing at weddings or for blessing newborns. They frequently refuse to leave until they are given money.
Patna, the capital of Bihar state in eastern India, hired scores of them Wednesday to compel shop owners to pay their back taxes.
"We are confident that their reputation and persuasive skills will come in handy for the municipal authorities to collect taxes from defaulters," said Bharat Sharma, a revenue officer.
Only 2,000 of nearly a half-million people have been paying property tax and water supply charges to Patna's municipal authorities, and tax collection is less than one-third of a projected tax base of $15 million, said Atul Prasad, the municipal administrator.
Dancing and singing to the beat of drums and wearing bright saris, the eunuchs met with success in their new role Wednesday. They collected about $9,000 in cash and checks from shop owners in the city, Sharma said.
The eunuchs get 4 percent of what they collect from defaulters, and will soon be asked to help collect outstanding taxes from homeowners, Prasad said.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
Breast Cancer Awareness
On September 20th of this year my mother was diagnosed with multi-focal infiltrating lobular carcinoma. There was no history of breast cancer in our family. On September 26th, she had a bilateral modified radical mastectomy. There have been no signs of metastasis to the lymph nodes, liver or bones.
Her cancer was initially detected on a routine mammogram.
Her cancer was initially detected on a routine mammogram.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Apparently, I'm it...
So, Bones tagged me for this so I would be forced to update this blog. So here goes..
5 things in my purse wallet
1. Drivers License
2. Natural Ice "Lip Protectant"
3. Gym membership card
4. Cell phone
5. A ridiculous amount of change
5 things in my refrigerator
1. Grovestand Orange Juice
2. Roast beef
3. A variety of pickles
4. Milk
5. Mango flavored water
5 things in my closet
1. Candle sconces
2. Bride's maid dress I wore in my sister's wedding
3. John William Waterhouse prints I haven't framed yet
4. Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS boxes (just in case...)
5. Empty picture frames
5 things in my car
1. Proof of insurance
2. A partially melted crayon
3. Jewel cases for Saliva and Willie Nelson CDs
4. A lab coat
5. 2 pairs of sunglasses
As for who gets tagged next, well, I think I'll just take volunteers. Anyone?
5 things in my purse wallet
1. Drivers License
2. Natural Ice "Lip Protectant"
3. Gym membership card
4. Cell phone
5. A ridiculous amount of change
5 things in my refrigerator
1. Grovestand Orange Juice
2. Roast beef
3. A variety of pickles
4. Milk
5. Mango flavored water
5 things in my closet
1. Candle sconces
2. Bride's maid dress I wore in my sister's wedding
3. John William Waterhouse prints I haven't framed yet
4. Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS boxes (just in case...)
5. Empty picture frames
5 things in my car
1. Proof of insurance
2. A partially melted crayon
3. Jewel cases for Saliva and Willie Nelson CDs
4. A lab coat
5. 2 pairs of sunglasses
As for who gets tagged next, well, I think I'll just take volunteers. Anyone?
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
A Poem by W. B. Yeats
Based on the poems I have previously posted, you may have thought I only liked Dorothy Parker. And I will admit that Mrs. Parker is a favorite, but I do have collections of other poets on the bookshelf. One of those other poets is W.B.Yeats. And among my favorites of his, is "The Stolen Child." (Note: If you don't have the patience to read the poem, there is a music rendition of it posted at the bottom of this entry. The musical version is by Loreena McKennitt, from the cd "Elemental.")
The Stolen Child
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats;
There we've hid our faery vats.
Full of berries,
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout,
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that frop their tears
Over the young streams,
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Away with us he's going,
The solemn-eyed:
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside;
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal-chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
From a world more full of weeping than he can understand.
W.B. Yeats
I'm not sure how good the sound quality will be, but I thought we'd give it a try!!
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The Stolen Child
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats;
There we've hid our faery vats.
Full of berries,
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout,
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that frop their tears
Over the young streams,
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
Away with us he's going,
The solemn-eyed:
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside;
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal-chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
From a world more full of weeping than he can understand.
W.B. Yeats
I'm not sure how good the sound quality will be, but I thought we'd give it a try!!
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Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Dogwoods and Daffodils
Many people who have never visited the south have a very Faulknerian idea of what the spring and summer are like here. There is the idea of watching life pass from the front porch while sipping a mint julep or a sweet tea. (Ok, the sweet tea part is true.) The South as seen in movies like The Long Hot Summer doesn't really exist anymore, if it ever did. At least not for the majority of southerners.
Sometimes, it's hard to remember why I have stayed in the South.
But there's a few weeks every year, usually the 2-3 weeks leading up to Easter, when the only trees in bloom are the Dogwoods and Red Buds. The daffodils and tulips are in bloom, as well. Everyone has begun cutting their grass again.
As you drive along, you can see small clusters of Dogwoods covered in white and pink blooms in between the oaks and pines with wild daffodils scattered about and the sun dappled by the taller trees, and it feels almost like nature is sharing a secret with you. And in those moments, I can't imagine living anywhere else.
The song "Southland in the Springtime" by the Indigo Girls always reminds me of that feeling, so I hope you'll enjoy it, too.
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Sometimes, it's hard to remember why I have stayed in the South.
But there's a few weeks every year, usually the 2-3 weeks leading up to Easter, when the only trees in bloom are the Dogwoods and Red Buds. The daffodils and tulips are in bloom, as well. Everyone has begun cutting their grass again.
As you drive along, you can see small clusters of Dogwoods covered in white and pink blooms in between the oaks and pines with wild daffodils scattered about and the sun dappled by the taller trees, and it feels almost like nature is sharing a secret with you. And in those moments, I can't imagine living anywhere else.
The song "Southland in the Springtime" by the Indigo Girls always reminds me of that feeling, so I hope you'll enjoy it, too.
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Friday, April 21, 2006
Poem of the Month
The Flaw in Paganism
Drink and dance and laugh and lie,
Love, the reeling midnight through.
For tomorrow we shall die!
(But, alas, we never do.)
--Dorothy Parker
Drink and dance and laugh and lie,
Love, the reeling midnight through.
For tomorrow we shall die!
(But, alas, we never do.)
--Dorothy Parker
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Why?
I am not married.
I have never been married.
I may never get married...
And I'm ok with that.
All my male friends never have anything to say about my single status; they couldn't care less or at least they never mention it if they do. All my female friends want me to get married and have babies. I have an aunt who frequently expresses her concern to my mother over my single state. She thinks something is wrong with me because I'm not desparate for marriage at my advanced age of 31 (though why she has such a high opinion of marriage I'll never know. She's been married and divorced 3 times...those are the ones we know about, anyway).
The reasons I'm not married are as simple and as complicated as you want to make them. Simple because I've never been "in love." Complicated because I've never been in love due to fact that I've never been able to trust anyone that much. My trust issues go back to my childhood and I won't drag that baggage out today, except to say I've never been able to lose said baggage, unlike Delta Airlines who had no problem losing my baggage.
But regardless of my reasons, I'm like my life as it is. If I want to go to the movies or out to dinner or anywhere else, I go. Sometimes I go with friends and/or family; sometimes I go alone. At this point, I have trouble see myself as part of a couple.
So I guess my question is: if I'm happy with my life, why isn't everyone else?
I have never been married.
I may never get married...
And I'm ok with that.
All my male friends never have anything to say about my single status; they couldn't care less or at least they never mention it if they do. All my female friends want me to get married and have babies. I have an aunt who frequently expresses her concern to my mother over my single state. She thinks something is wrong with me because I'm not desparate for marriage at my advanced age of 31 (though why she has such a high opinion of marriage I'll never know. She's been married and divorced 3 times...those are the ones we know about, anyway).
The reasons I'm not married are as simple and as complicated as you want to make them. Simple because I've never been "in love." Complicated because I've never been in love due to fact that I've never been able to trust anyone that much. My trust issues go back to my childhood and I won't drag that baggage out today, except to say I've never been able to lose said baggage, unlike Delta Airlines who had no problem losing my baggage.
But regardless of my reasons, I'm like my life as it is. If I want to go to the movies or out to dinner or anywhere else, I go. Sometimes I go with friends and/or family; sometimes I go alone. At this point, I have trouble see myself as part of a couple.
So I guess my question is: if I'm happy with my life, why isn't everyone else?
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
other inspiration
Rest In Pieces
Look at me, my depth perception must be off again
Cause this hurts deeper than I thought it did
It has not healed with time
It just shot down my spine _
You look so beautiful tonight
Remind me how you laid us down
And gently smiled before you destroyed my life
Would you find it in your heart
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make it go away
And let me rest in pieces
Look at me, my depth perception must be off again
You got much closer than I thought you did
I'm in your reach
You held me in your hands
But could you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make it go away
And let me rest in
- From the album "Back Into Your System" by Saliva
Look at me, my depth perception must be off again
Cause this hurts deeper than I thought it did
It has not healed with time
It just shot down my spine _
You look so beautiful tonight
Remind me how you laid us down
And gently smiled before you destroyed my life
Would you find it in your heart
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make it go away
And let me rest in pieces
Look at me, my depth perception must be off again
You got much closer than I thought you did
I'm in your reach
You held me in your hands
But could you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me rest in pieces
Would you find it in your heart?
To make it go away
And let me rest in
- From the album "Back Into Your System" by Saliva
Thursday, March 02, 2006
so, maybe not demure
Roundel
She's passing fair; but so demure is she,
So quiet is her gown, so smooth her hair,
That few there are who note her and agree
She's passing fair.
Yet when was ever beauty held more rare
Than simple heart and maiden modesty?
What fostered charms with virtue could compare?
Alas, no lover ever stops to see;
The best that she is offered is the air.
Yet- if the passing mark is minus D-
She's passing fair.
-Dorothy Parker
You may have noticed a familiar phrase in that poem. Yes, this poem was the inspiration for the name of this blog. The description also came from a poetic/lyrical inspiration. Would anyone care to guess the source?
She's passing fair; but so demure is she,
So quiet is her gown, so smooth her hair,
That few there are who note her and agree
She's passing fair.
Yet when was ever beauty held more rare
Than simple heart and maiden modesty?
What fostered charms with virtue could compare?
Alas, no lover ever stops to see;
The best that she is offered is the air.
Yet- if the passing mark is minus D-
She's passing fair.
-Dorothy Parker
You may have noticed a familiar phrase in that poem. Yes, this poem was the inspiration for the name of this blog. The description also came from a poetic/lyrical inspiration. Would anyone care to guess the source?
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Note to self
To be added to my Netflix queue when space permits:
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Why We Fight
On the Outs
These are all documentary/independent films, which means they won't be shown in any of the theaters in this area.
I also want to see Annapolis, but that is showing in the theaters here.
Anyone got any other suggestions for movies releasing in the next few weeks?
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Why We Fight
On the Outs
These are all documentary/independent films, which means they won't be shown in any of the theaters in this area.
I also want to see Annapolis, but that is showing in the theaters here.
Anyone got any other suggestions for movies releasing in the next few weeks?
Checked Baggage
Well, Memphis is a great town. I would love to go back one day. Next time I just hope my luggage arrives when I do. So, I arrive in Memphis last Tuesday morning to learn that my suitcase was not on the flight. I report it to the baggage claim office and am told it should arrive on a later flight and will be delivered to my hotel. They give me a file number and an 800 number to check the status. And I do check the status, every couple of hours. By 6pm, I still had no suitcase. The only things I had at this point were my wallet, my DS, and my glasses (this proved to be very fortunate). We go to dinner and then find a store where I can at least buy a shirt for the next day (at this point I still have hope that my suitcase will be delivered). Go back to the hotel and continue to call about my file status. Wake up Wednesday morning - still no suitcase. In fact, my suitcase and I were not reunited until Saturday, after I had been back home approximately 24 hours. I had 1 hour on Wednesday to go buy all the clothing I would need for the rest of the week, and a suitcase to take it all home in. As you may have guessed, I did not check anything for the return flight.
But I did enjoy Memphis...And I played a lot of Mario Kart!
But I did enjoy Memphis...And I played a lot of Mario Kart!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Memphis, TN
tomorrow morning at the unnatural hour of 6 am, i'm off to atlanta airport to fly to Memphis for 4 days. It is a work related trip, but i'm looking forward to it since I've never been to Memphis. of course, it would be even better if they hadn't extended the coverage on my pager...and if a couple of our travel companions would get lost on the way to the airport.
and, Bones, i haven't forgotten about Diamond.
and, Bones, i haven't forgotten about Diamond.
Monday, January 09, 2006
the return of the 360
I had to go by my house during lunch today to pick something up. And there on the steps was the box from the repair center, containing a new console and power cord. The unit is already setup, account has been recovered, and arcade games have been downloaded...
I am happy. Very happy.
I am happy. Very happy.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Update on the update
I intended to update this several days ago, but I do have some slacker tendencies. Oh well, at least I'm updating now.
Two days after my post about not having an xbox360, I got one. A friend was at Target and bought the last one they had on my behalf. It was a premium, too. Unfortunately, it apparently has a bad video card, and so, on January 5th, the unit was shipped to McAllen, TX for repair or replacement. I noticed as soon as I connected the unit to my television that would have to power cycle the unit as many as 4 times before anything would display on the screen. Then on December 31st, I started to get an error message. Called XBox support on Jan. 1, and spoke to a less than helpful CSR who told me to take the unit back to Target and exchange it. So, I called Target, and not so surprisingly, was informed they didn't have any, didn't know when they would be getting any or how many they would get. Called XBox Support back and spoke to a CSR who was not an idiot. He placed a repair order and told me I would be receiving a box for the unit. The unit arrived at the repair facility on Jan. 6th, so I hope to have my unit or a replacement by the end of this week or first of next week.
So, to tide me over in its absence, I've been playing some single and multi player black box games, as well as some Mario Kart and Animal Crossing on the Nintendo DS. I had never owned a handheld gaming system before the DS, and was not sure how much I would really play it, but now I love the DS. Mario Kart is the only racing game I have ever won a race in. For that matter, it is the only racing game I have never crashed within a few yards of the starting line. The DS will definitely be accompanying me on my upcoming trip to Memphis. Maybe by then I'll have worked the other three games (Space Invaders, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and The Nightmare before Xmas: The Pumpkin King) I have for the DS into the rotation.
We got my dad's Christmas present on Xmas eve, but not because it finally arrive on Sears' delivery truck. When I called to check the status on the 24th, the manager told me it had not arrived, they were very sorry, and that they would look at the inventory of the store and see if they could put together a package that would be the equivalent of what I had ordered. About fifteen minutes later they called me back to say that even though it had not shown in the store inventory, they had found the exact item I had ordered hidden behind a display of table saws. True or not, I was made very happy by this, since the only other thing I had gotten my dad was a box of Little Debbie Nutty Bars as a joke. Christmas was saved!
Two days after my post about not having an xbox360, I got one. A friend was at Target and bought the last one they had on my behalf. It was a premium, too. Unfortunately, it apparently has a bad video card, and so, on January 5th, the unit was shipped to McAllen, TX for repair or replacement. I noticed as soon as I connected the unit to my television that would have to power cycle the unit as many as 4 times before anything would display on the screen. Then on December 31st, I started to get an error message. Called XBox support on Jan. 1, and spoke to a less than helpful CSR who told me to take the unit back to Target and exchange it. So, I called Target, and not so surprisingly, was informed they didn't have any, didn't know when they would be getting any or how many they would get. Called XBox Support back and spoke to a CSR who was not an idiot. He placed a repair order and told me I would be receiving a box for the unit. The unit arrived at the repair facility on Jan. 6th, so I hope to have my unit or a replacement by the end of this week or first of next week.
So, to tide me over in its absence, I've been playing some single and multi player black box games, as well as some Mario Kart and Animal Crossing on the Nintendo DS. I had never owned a handheld gaming system before the DS, and was not sure how much I would really play it, but now I love the DS. Mario Kart is the only racing game I have ever won a race in. For that matter, it is the only racing game I have never crashed within a few yards of the starting line. The DS will definitely be accompanying me on my upcoming trip to Memphis. Maybe by then I'll have worked the other three games (Space Invaders, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and The Nightmare before Xmas: The Pumpkin King) I have for the DS into the rotation.
We got my dad's Christmas present on Xmas eve, but not because it finally arrive on Sears' delivery truck. When I called to check the status on the 24th, the manager told me it had not arrived, they were very sorry, and that they would look at the inventory of the store and see if they could put together a package that would be the equivalent of what I had ordered. About fifteen minutes later they called me back to say that even though it had not shown in the store inventory, they had found the exact item I had ordered hidden behind a display of table saws. True or not, I was made very happy by this, since the only other thing I had gotten my dad was a box of Little Debbie Nutty Bars as a joke. Christmas was saved!
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