A little-known fact?

The problem with books that are written in a lighter vein is that you don't know if they mean it or it is supposed to be a joke of some sort (that escapes you, in any case).

Could any one confirm that this is correct:

Did you know - this is a little-known fact but absolute truth - that when they dedicate a new multi-storey car park [in London?] the Lord Mayor and his wife have a ceremonial pee in the stairwell? It's true.

The above is quoted from Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island.

Picture courtesy: Andrea Cuccureddu

Nokia tops in Greenpeace ranking

I am reminded of what Thomas L Friedman said in his lecture titled 'The World is Flat 3.0' This was delivered at MIT as part of their open courseware program and can be freely downloaded on iTunesU. In this lecture he ridicules the current so called green revolution. He says: It is not a revolution. When have you heard of no one getting hurt in a revolution. It is a party out there. (or something similar to that effect).

I agree.

More Maternity Leave

The Govt of India has agreed to increase the maternity leave from the existing 3 months to six months.
In addition, mothers will get 2 years of paid leave to take care of their children - during examination or illness.
This applies only to the women employed by Central Government.
For now.

I hope the private sector follow suit. The women in the private sector must not exploit such facilities though. I know of numerous cases where after availing of the maternity leave the woman employee resigns within 15 days of rejoining. Only to join some other lucrative job. There is nothing illegal about this, I am sure, but seems like shameless exploitation of facilities. You see the long leaves have a built-in trust factor that to my mind is violated here.

That said, this is will give an opportunity to so many women who cannot follow a career due to family constraints. A welcome move!