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Best of AnthoBLOGy • Unripe
Revolution |
Computing, Libraries, Tennis, India & other interests of Vikas Kamat
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If you can see this entry, my content scheduling (pre-programmed blogging) features are working  What's New
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| Buy a Calendar, Educate a Child | | ||
| Buy a Calendar, Educate a Child Don't have a year 2002 calendar yet? Buy the Asha for Education calendar featuring some of Kamat's photographs.
War Clouds Still Dark and Heavy "There is no difference between terrorists and governments that harbor terrorists"-- President Bush, September 11 Rediff: Pakistan not to handover terrorists -- Pakistani President Musharaf
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| Snow in Alabama! | | ||
| Snow in Alabama!
AOL introduces $30 per month DSL Indian couple donates $20 million to MIT.
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| 99.9 Uptime | | ||
| What 99.9% Uptime Really Means It has become fashionable to claim over 99.9% reliability, especially in the Microsoft camp. Web hosting companies, application servers, database servers, why, even Microsoft and friends (Compaq, Dell) have been touting this number as if it's a big deal. Consider this: 99.9% uptime amounts to 8.766 hours of downtime a year. With an average reboot of Windows NT/2000 servers taking 5 minutes, this amounts to 525 unscheduled reboots per year, which amounts to over 10 per week -- more than once a day! Holy cow!! Derived from Competing with Linux FYI: I run both Unix and NT for different tasks. The old Kamat.com server running Unix (BSD) never needed a reboot in 14 months of its use. The new Kamat.com server running Linux since November of 2001 has not been down even for a second. So, achieving 99.9% uptime with Microsoft Windows is very easy. Just reboot the server, about twice a day. See Also:
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| Suicides in India | | ||
| Suicides in India - Some Notes Mahesh Shantaram, a blogger from India writes about his rules for euthanasia. I am leaning towards a stance for death with dignity (politically correct name for assisted suicide), but I find that someone else making up the rules of death (like tape recording the procedure ?!) very repulsive. Isn't self-determination the crux of this debate? India perhaps has the longest history of assisted suicides. Described as Ichha-Marana or desired death, it is mentioned in ancient Indian epics such as Mahabharata. We have the cases of both men (Bhishma) and women (Madri) undergo desired deaths. The Sallekhana, Sati, and Johar systems were essentially suicide mechanisms in ancient (and not so ancient) India. The Sallekhana was practiced by devout Jains by fasting and meditation, and the participants starving to death. The most famous person to undergo Sallekhana was the queen mother Machikabbe. The Sati (a.k.a. Suttee) was the system in which a window committed suicide on the funeral pyre of her husband, believing in (or forced into) an eternal marriage. The Johar occured when the women of a town preferred death to dishonor and committed suicide in large numbers after a war. Attempt to Commit Suicide Indian buses tend to be extremely crowded, and it is common to overload the buses. Once I was going to school like that and was arrested by the police (that's India for you; instead of improving the public transportation system, the government harasses the citizens.) I asked on what grounds the police were arresting us as we had been issued valid tickets by the government operated bus service. The inspector told us that we were being arrested for "Attempt to Commit Suicide"!! It was then that I learnt that attempt to commit suicide was a crime in India. (For record, I wasn't attempting anything, except going to school. We were let go with a warning and a demand of a bribe, but that's not the point...) Since the days of Gandhi, Fast-unto-death protests have become common in India, where the activist in an non-violent protest goes on an hunger strike till his/her demands are met. I wonder if those qualify as attempts to commit suicide.
Indian Suicide Links
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| Flash is 100% Bad | | ||
| Macromedia Flash Flash Thief: Idea Generator Vs. Jacob Neilson Jacob Neilson: Flash: 99% Bad My $0.02: Flash is 100% bad for Web. Don't do it. Macromedia Flash is a cool technology. I know and use Flash for business, but oppose
creation of Flash content for the web for the following reasons. Save Your Eyes To save the strain on your eyes follow these two steps, and your eyes will thank me for rest of your life.
By taking these two simple steps you will get rid of all the annoying flashing (and Flash) banners. If the choice is between your eyes and stupid, meaningless, commerical animations, which one would you chose?
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| India-Israel Nexus | | ||
| India and Israel Shitting with one Anus During my college years (1984-88) in India, there were a large number of Palestinian students who came to India for education. The Palestinian Intifada was at its peak then, and India was one of the few places the Palestinians could get education. I had sympathized with the P.L.O. then as I do now. India was one of the few supporters of the Palestinian cause, by not recognizing the nation of Israel and by voting against the Israeli occupation in each of the UN resolutions. A lot has happened since. Arafat has made new friends (and forgot the old ones), India has established diplomatic relations with Israel, The PLO has (supposedly) given up its armed fight, and Indians emigrated to the USA in large numbers, establishing new friendships & relationships between Jews and Hindus. This week, Shimon Peres the Israeli statesman travels to New Delhi to forge a deeper military and economic alliance. Both countries are threatened by Islamic neighbors, and internal terrorism, although IMHO the context of the terrorism is completely different. There are many areas where the two countries can work together. Computer software, irrigation, urban development, and anti-terrorism come to my mind. India can also show Israel how Muslims and non-Muslims can indeed live together. Pakistan, and the Arab league of nations have a lot to be concerned about this new shift of power. Israel has demanded inclusion of India in UN Security council, and even in NATO (yes. NATO! Gee!!). Israel is selling military technology to India, and many Indians are entering into business aliances with the Israelis. I sincerely welcome the new developments. But the Indian leadership has to assure its Muslim citizens that India's long held values for the self-determination of Palestinians are not being compromized. This is a great opportunity for India to play an elder statesman in the world politics leveraging its (once upon a time) close ties with PLO as well as the new found friendship. Even a move towards peace in the Middle-East will be a stepping stone for peace in the sub-continent.
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| Our Top 10 Pages | | ||
| Top 10 Pages from Kamat's Potpourri Here are the ten most popular pages on Kamat.com as reported by the Apache logs for Dec. 2001 It is very perplexing to me that the search engine is the most sought after tool by far. If you have a theory on why this is so, please share your wisdom with me. Is it popular because it is good? or because my navigation sucks so bad that people have to search all the time? See Also:
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| Review of Chang | | ||||
| Siam of 1927 and India of 1977 In 1976-77 my father temporarily closed down his business, and packed his bags to study and live with the tribals of Madhya Pradesh for a whole year. Upon his return he would narrate stories of the tribals, their hardships, joys, and ways of life. He showed his photographs, line-drawings and artifacts (bows, arrows, masks) to enhance his stories. He went on to write several books about the simple, yet thrilling lifestyles of the native forest people of Central India. But it was not until today, that I could visualize that lifestyle in such brilliant detail. Today I saw the 1927 film Chang by Merian Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack (yes, the same guys who made King Kong) of life as God intended it to be. The slow pace, the earthly music, cohabitation of men and animals just took my breath away.
It is a silent, black and white movie and you might not enjoy it as much as I do. However, if you have liked father's Stories of Bastar travel or have a remote interest in the anthropology, I encourage you to rent/buy the movie. The movie is set in Thailand (Siam), but I claim that it portrays life no different than life of the period (why, even of year 1977) in India.
More Pictures of Boys Riding Animals in India
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| When did we get so smart? | | ||
| Suddenly We Weren't So Stupid Anymore It has long been believed (mostly by Western scientists) that the early man lived like an animal -- without tools and without abstract thinking. According to these scientists, the humans living in Europe, one day having learnt to manage fire, and use stone and bone tools, weren't so stupid anymore. This transformation, called "creative explosion" has been in vogue for sometime. I completely reject this sudden intelligence theory. In the 1960s and 70s, many Indian archeologists (among them, Dr. V.S. Wakankar) found prehistoric art and artifacts in central India, dating much far back. Some of which have been showcased at Kamat's Potpourri. These discoveries never got the publicity nor the encouragement they deserved, the Government operated institutions of India being infested with corruption and credit mongering. (Read Kamat's Interview with Wakankar, KalaRanga, Manohar Grintha Mala, 1982) Turns out that humans were smart, much before they reached Europe! New discoveries (link to new discovery at NPR website) have been made that Homo sapiens were smart even 77,000 years ago, much before any White Man's Civilization. See Also:
Mid Day: Tribute to Chintaman Raghunath Vyas by Prakash Burde.
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| Vivekananda's Birthday | | ||
| Remembering a Great Swamiji 139 Years Ago Today: Swami Vivekananda was born. Swami Vivekananda (Biography at Ramakrishna Mission Website) is but the most famous of Hindu monks from India, and has had a profound influence on the practisioners of an ancient religion. A born leader, and a great philosopher, he explained the deep meanings of the Vedanta teachings to the commoners.
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| Happy Pongal | | ||
| Happy Pongal/Sankranti I wish our readers happy Pongal.
• FAQ on Dyson's Shell by Anders Sandberg • Waste those mofos (link to Yahoo) • Dialog Now -- Rashmi Sinha's attempt to bring dialogue into the Indo-Pak conflict. 
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| Waiting for Robin Moor | | ||
| India-Pakistan: Waiting for Robin Moor As I blog this, over a million troops have been amassed on the sensitive Indo-Pak border. India has laid down the measurable criteria for avoidance of war, which Pakistan has rejected. So one wonders what is the next move. Flashback to 1941. The World War II has broken out. The Western Europe is begging USA to participate, but President Roosevelt just cannot enter the war unilaterally. The situation is very fluid. The Allied forces are praying for just one mistake on the part of Germans (to attack anything American), so America can join the war. I see the same scenario in the subcontinent now. India is just waiting for another terrorist attack to declare the offensive. The situation is very fluid. Musharaf knows this very well. Why else do you think he is reversing twenty years of Pakistani policies? A war will certainly leave him out of power. The question is, how long will India wait for such a such a trigger? What if it never happens? FYI, on May 21, 1941 Hiter did provide FDR the incentive to join WWII by sinking Robin Moor. All of us know what happened since.
BBC: Racist Aussie Cries Foul -- Top seeded Lleyton Hewitt (who uttered racial commenets during last years' US Open, which he won) exits in the first round of Australian Open. But not quietly. Tennis Tip: If you have a problem getting your raquet in position during the serve, try this trick --imagine that the raquet is a telephone you are trying to answer and take your clenched fist towards the ear.
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| Kamat via Satellite | | ||
| News and Ideas
Over 150 new pictures added to Kamat House of Pictures. New Business Idea: I think I'd like to start a Auditing the Auditors Company. It is badly needed. Just look at the practices of Arthur Andersen. Heard on Rumor Mill: Due to management problems, ZDNet might close down its India Website. Northern Light is no longer free.
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Kamat's Potpourri now available on | Programmer's Disease | | ||
| How I Fought the Programmer's Disease The Programmer's disease occurs by excessive use of the computer keyboard and the mouse. It is also referred to as CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) in the medical community. In 1999 I started experiencing acute pain in my right hand (I'm right handed). I didn't know about RSI then, and sought physical therapy, which provided temporary help. In year 2000, a fellow programmer suggested that I switch my mouse-clicking hand. It was difficult initially, but the body learns sooner than you think. The pain subsided, and now I have become ambidextrous!
To to prevent RSI
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| Schools of the Jungle | | ||
 The Schools of the Jungle Students are teachers here, and teachers, students.
New at Kamats
Over 250 new pictures scanned and added to the House of Pictures.
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| News Links | | ||
| News Links Yahoo!: It's
KMART, not KAMAT who is bankrupt. BBC: Monica beats Venus in Australian Open Rediff: New Acts of Terror in Kolkata
-- Is this the trigger India has been waiting to
declare war ?
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| Desi Blogs | | ||
| Indian Weblogs -- List of regularly updated weblogs from India. New Pictures Added This Month to Kamat's Potpourri
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| Libraries, Knowledge, and Freedom | | ||
| Random Notes on Libraries, Knowledge, and Freedom I have had a long romance with the libraries. In the rural town of Honavar (map - topics - pictures) in India where I grew up, there was a library ("Ravindra Vachanalaya") in the attic of a temple, where my friend Gopalkrishna Bhat and I had read each and every book by the time we were in the fourth grade! (that was in year 1977. In today's Honavar there is not even one library, although the population has multiplied several times over. What a shame.). The various public libraries in Karnataka were a good place to go and read Cricket analysis, and job opportunities, but they were never awe inspiring. Libraries are a luxury in India, and my parents have had to build a collection on their own for their research work.
My first culture shock after coming to America was when I entered the
Noble Library at the Arizona State University. I'd never seen
anything quite like it!
It was not just the size of the library and the number of books; it
was the quiet surroundings, the incredible collection of maps and periodicals; the
lack of red tape; the services (from photocopying, to database searches,
to inter-library-loans, to personal computing facilities). I spent
a lot of time in the libraries of ASU and UAB, and ignored my studies. Many people point to the Brooklyn Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, and (what was) WTC as the symbols of American greatness and might. I must point to the Public Libraries spread all over of America to describe why America is a great nation. As I immerse myself in the admiration of American Libraries, often I am reminded of Tagore's Where knowledge is free song we used to sing in RSS, that was supposed to be the Song of India. In the year 2000, at the invitation of the Directorate of Public Libraries, I had an opportunity to address some of the librarians in Bangalore and I realized the conditions under which they have had to operate -- general lack of funds, too much Government interference, lack of patronage from citizens, and general apathy towards libraries in India. Problems facing Libraries in India -- topic of a future blog. Tomorrow: Things You Didn't Know About Libraries Links
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| Learn Your Library | | ||
| Things You Do Not Know About Your Library (Rather, things I didn't know about the libraries)
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| On Indira Gandhi | | ||
 What I Really Think About Indira Gandhi A researcher asked me (via email) what I really
thought of Indira Gandhi. The summary of my answer: See Also: Today is India's Republic Day
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| PeTA and the Circus | | ||
| PeTA and the Circus I went to the annual Circus this week, and was greeted by the protestors, who apparently have been asking to boycott the circus, as it is unethical. I concede that circuses are rough on the animals, but I say to PeTA what I say to the pro-lifers. (I am both pro-life and pro-ethical-treatment of animals) "If you are against the circus, don't go. But don't stop me." Apparently they are upset at the treatment given to the elephants at the circus. Why only elephants I ask. BTW, See Also:
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| Memories of Indira | | ||
| Speaking of Indira Gandhi The other day, I blogged about Indira Gandhi, and it brought to my mind a montage of childhood memories. It was summer of 1976, and I was barely nine years old. Indira Gandhi had suspended the constitution of India and had assumed dictatorial powers. She had banned the RSS, and saying anything against the Government or Indira Gandhi landed people in jail without trial. One day some of us boys got up early in the wee hours and wandered the dark streets of the town writing anti-Indira graffiti. "Down with the Dictator" we wrote, and "Damn the Bitch". I was careful not to deface people's homes, but apparently some others weren't so diligent. After vandalizing the entire town, we went to wash our charcoal soaked hands in a waterfall just outside of town. By the time we returned, it was school time and everybody everywhere was reading our propaganda. It was great. I felt like the heroes of India I had idolized, who had fought to banish the British. But when I went home, there was a big "Indira Gandhi is a Whore" written on our wall! My uncles were very angry and upset. I was told to wash the sign with soap before my uncles and I got arrested. I just remember that the darn thing won't come off! Subsequent to this incident, many people in my town were arrested. I personally know of two people who were kept in prison for a whole year without trial, because they opposed the programs of Indira Gandhi.
I believe the year was 1977. By now Indira was the self-proclaimed Amma (motherly figure) of India, and she came to our town of Honavar for campaigning for the election. The whole of Honavar and neighboring towns showed up. It was no small event. We waited like hours and hours for the helicopter to land. It was my first time seeing an aircraft, and I believe so was for the other 30,000 who had gathered. Indira Gandhi was taken to an open stage that had been erected for the occasion where she spoke for a few minutes. But the crowd did not move from the helipad, all of them had come to see the helicopter! As she left, some in the audience started shouting the slogans "Indira Hatao, Indri Bachao" (Avoid Indira and save your genitals!). See, in the name of family planning, Indira and her evil son Sanjay Gandhi had forced many poor people to undergo vasectomies, under their 20+5 Point Programme. A Piece of History In a stunning display of resiliency of Indian
democracy, Indira and her son Sanjay were defeated in that election,
by candidates who were still in prison. Indira's Congress Party lost power, and a new political force, the Janata Party, emerged. But the weakening of opposition Indira Gandhi had engineered was to have a far damaging impact on the nation, resulting in successive governments that were weak and unstable.
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| Brahmin Boy and Village Pimp | | ||
| Friendship of Brahmin Boy and the Pimp Yesterday I wrote about how Indira Gandhi kept the members of the opposition in jail without trial during the dark days of Emergency in India. One such leader, a family friend, was kept in the police-station/jail of our town. The food that was provided by the jail-contractor was horrible and my family talked the officials into us providing meals to this political detainee. For eight months in 1976-77 I hand-carried lunch and dinner for this gentleman. Here's a picture of me of that period, so you can imagine.
I do not think visiting jail everyday at such a young age has had any negative impact on me. On the contrary, I developed a broad sense of the legal system and its abuse. Even today, I am more guided by what is right and wrong, rather than what is legal. "Men make legal systems. But there are higher powers Anyway, back to the story. During my daily visits, I became friends with the food-contractor Mr. Bhatta* who seemed like a religious man with his fresh namas and a soft personality. Everyday, he would ask -"What's for dinner today?" and reply -"No change in my menu!" We would greet each other even when we met outside of the police-station. Sometime after this, one day (after Indira Gandhi lost power, and after her own arrest), some boys and girls wanted to play games in a spacious yard with lots of mango trees, that we had never played before. I knocked the door of the house to ask, and Bhatta answered. He gladly allowed us to play. We played to our hearts content, till it became dark. There was a furor in the town the next day. Apparently Bhatta was the town pimp, and everybody was shocked that brahmin children -- some of them teenaged girls, would play in the proximity of ill repute. Hey, we didn't know!! * Name altered to protect identity
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