Memories of Alaska
Ouch! What does it take to get rid of this stupid burden on the tax payer?
दिल ढूँढ़ता है फिर वही फ़ुर्सत के रात दिन
The idyllic life. Thank you Daljeet for the opportunity.
Only two trees per family. So my only contribution has been photography.
The kids are exploring the farm. Plantation is yet to begin. What joy and fun.
Can any of you connect me to a good photo editing person in Delhi/Gurgaon? We don't mind paying (reasonably) for his/her services. There is this photo contest of photos from Japan, and I have a bunch of photos from our trip. But I am not good at touching up photos.
This is so despicable that it's actually hilarious. A "naked display of American imperialism" is how leftists would put it. And it is that. Dystopia!
Kids: Dad, we have invented a perpetual motion machine!
Mora: If they hadn't said that in front of me just now, I would not have believed that your kids say things like this. How old are they?
Me: Mora, you are my witness now 😀
Mora: If they hadn't said that in front of me just now, I would not have believed that your kids say things like this. How old are they?
Me: Mora, you are my witness now 😀
Nilay's random gyan to me for the day: Being vegetarian or vegan is such hypocrisy. You are still killing to eat. Just because plants don't scream? You should basically just live on water.
When we were in Japan and finding vegetarian food was a struggle, the web taught me about shōjin ryōri. This is devotional cuisine prepared by monks in temples. It avoids the killing of plants. Tubers, for example, are a no-no. This has parallels with Jainism where the taking of any life is unacceptable.
This doesn't mean you have to live on water, as Nilay suggests. You can eat fruit, provided you don't destroy the seeds thereafter. This also means fruits like pomegranates and bananas, which cannot be consumed without conserving the seeds, are a no-no.
I'm far from an expert on the subject, being an atheist. But I do believe that we need to understand our supply chains well, in the context of climate change and the rampant use of chemicals. Pesticides used in agriculture kill insects, rodents and worms. Even though you're not directly eating an animal, your food is still produced using violence to various forms of plant and animal life. The destruction of plant and animal habitat in order to create farm land for food production - that karma is also on you buddy. When you consume food wrapped in plastic and the plastic ends up in the land or marine foodchain, it is again your problem. The pollution caused by the ships and trucks that bring your fruits and vegetables from the farthest corners of the world, refrigerated, is harming animal life through climate change. Buying local and organic is one way to reduce your pain-to-animals footprint, even as you eat vegetarian.
I find veganism to be a rather western reaction to the food problem. You don't wanna kill and eat animals or consume their products, because they have eyeballs and they bleed. It is a step ahead of vegetarianism, which somehow allows for the destruction of beehives and the slavery of cows and sheep, or even the consumption of leather, silk and wool. But it is a step behind really thinking through where your food is coming from, and what impact it has on the planet.
I suppose, in the end, it is better to eat roadkill from across the road, than organic quinoa from across the planet.
When we were in Japan and finding vegetarian food was a struggle, the web taught me about shōjin ryōri. This is devotional cuisine prepared by monks in temples. It avoids the killing of plants. Tubers, for example, are a no-no. This has parallels with Jainism where the taking of any life is unacceptable.
This doesn't mean you have to live on water, as Nilay suggests. You can eat fruit, provided you don't destroy the seeds thereafter. This also means fruits like pomegranates and bananas, which cannot be consumed without conserving the seeds, are a no-no.
I'm far from an expert on the subject, being an atheist. But I do believe that we need to understand our supply chains well, in the context of climate change and the rampant use of chemicals. Pesticides used in agriculture kill insects, rodents and worms. Even though you're not directly eating an animal, your food is still produced using violence to various forms of plant and animal life. The destruction of plant and animal habitat in order to create farm land for food production - that karma is also on you buddy. When you consume food wrapped in plastic and the plastic ends up in the land or marine foodchain, it is again your problem. The pollution caused by the ships and trucks that bring your fruits and vegetables from the farthest corners of the world, refrigerated, is harming animal life through climate change. Buying local and organic is one way to reduce your pain-to-animals footprint, even as you eat vegetarian.
I find veganism to be a rather western reaction to the food problem. You don't wanna kill and eat animals or consume their products, because they have eyeballs and they bleed. It is a step ahead of vegetarianism, which somehow allows for the destruction of beehives and the slavery of cows and sheep, or even the consumption of leather, silk and wool. But it is a step behind really thinking through where your food is coming from, and what impact it has on the planet.
I suppose, in the end, it is better to eat roadkill from across the road, than organic quinoa from across the planet.
So India has a cricket team and a women's cricket team.
Kavin: What is the meaning of mate?
Me: It's when a male and a female animal come together to make a baby.
Kavin: I don't think my teacher wants a sentence on that.
Me: Oh right. Mate also means a friend. Like my best mate Steve.
Kavin: That will work.
Me: It's when a male and a female animal come together to make a baby.
Kavin: I don't think my teacher wants a sentence on that.
Me: Oh right. Mate also means a friend. Like my best mate Steve.
Kavin: That will work.
Scary
बेटी पढ़ाओ बेटी बचाओ
From the looks of the ticket, it was likely printed on one of Thinvent's terminals.
This makes me so sad 😔
This makes me so sad 😔
Working demo of an early television broadcasting system. This is an awesome place to learn how electronics and communication systems work. A lot of working demos that explain archane equations and principles in a lucid manner.
One of the most annoying things about posting public is that random strangers who've decided to follow you, start commenting on your posts. Without so much as a by-your-leave or an introduction.
As I said to one of them just now, it's like I'm conversing with a few of my friends on the metro when a random stranger first starts eavesdropping and then commenting. Without even bothering to excuse herself.
Do you think this is a Facebook design issue? If I only wanna talk to my friends, I should just post friends only. Except, sharing a friends-only post is a pain, and friends reach out to me to convert a post they like to public so they can share it.
Of course, there's nothing that can't be solved with good etiquette. I've often commented on the public posts of others, so I'm guilty of the same act I'm railing against.
For starters, I do not recall posting a negative comment or a disapproval on a stranger's wall. If I had to, I'd probably begin with something like "I'm sorry but I disagree with what you're saying here. We don't know each other and I apologise for the intrusion, but here is my point of view. ..."
Are good manners unnecessary on the Internet?
As I said to one of them just now, it's like I'm conversing with a few of my friends on the metro when a random stranger first starts eavesdropping and then commenting. Without even bothering to excuse herself.
Do you think this is a Facebook design issue? If I only wanna talk to my friends, I should just post friends only. Except, sharing a friends-only post is a pain, and friends reach out to me to convert a post they like to public so they can share it.
Of course, there's nothing that can't be solved with good etiquette. I've often commented on the public posts of others, so I'm guilty of the same act I'm railing against.
For starters, I do not recall posting a negative comment or a disapproval on a stranger's wall. If I had to, I'd probably begin with something like "I'm sorry but I disagree with what you're saying here. We don't know each other and I apologise for the intrusion, but here is my point of view. ..."
Are good manners unnecessary on the Internet?
The Japanese are very comfortable with their language. Even though they are all educated, most of them don't speak English, even in places frequented by tourists.
But they're smart. So they have these cards. On the left side, in English, is stuff you want to communicate. On the right side is the same stuff written in Japanese. You just point.
One such card pops out at most food service places, if you utter the keywords bejetarian or "no meat". This card has three words on it.
Allergy
Religion
Don't Like
On the face of it, it doesn't make sense. Why do you care why I don't wanna eat meat. Then they explain. If it's an allergy, even contamination is a problem.
But what's the difference between the last two lines? In one case, an imaginary guy in the sky told you not to eat meat. In the other case, you're finicky yourself. Basically, if you choose religion, it's a cop out "It's not me who's making a fuss. They told me not to have it."
Which makes me wonder. Which of these would a true vegan choose?
But they're smart. So they have these cards. On the left side, in English, is stuff you want to communicate. On the right side is the same stuff written in Japanese. You just point.
One such card pops out at most food service places, if you utter the keywords bejetarian or "no meat". This card has three words on it.
Allergy
Religion
Don't Like
On the face of it, it doesn't make sense. Why do you care why I don't wanna eat meat. Then they explain. If it's an allergy, even contamination is a problem.
But what's the difference between the last two lines? In one case, an imaginary guy in the sky told you not to eat meat. In the other case, you're finicky yourself. Basically, if you choose religion, it's a cop out "It's not me who's making a fuss. They told me not to have it."
Which makes me wonder. Which of these would a true vegan choose?
Just received a WhatsApp message on the local community group. House available for rent, but only for a Bengali family.
Meanwhile, NotInMyName...
Meanwhile, NotInMyName...
Nilay put all of his photography skills into this snap.
When I bought this shirt a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea I'd be here so soon.
When I bought this shirt a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea I'd be here so soon.
See, I have this elder brother. The guy in the green shirt pictured here. He wants photos in front of waterfalls and what not. And then I get dragged into the frame. And... you can see how I feel about this whole thing.
Tokyo really does come alive at night.
Here I am with a toothless grin, munching on my roadside snack outside a fancy restaurant.
I Googled
How many people does the Earth need.
Google responded with links on
How many people can the Earth support.
It isn't the same thing, people. It's a rat race. Countries with low income and education, such as India, are making a lot of people. Young people who can grow the economy. But over time our population will also age, as is happening in Europe and Japan. And between the rapid rise and the gradual fall of global population, what will become of the Earth?
The root cause of all man made problems, and all problems people face, is overpopulation. Climate change isn't caused by industrialisation. It's caused be industrialisation at a scale required to sustain global needs.
So, how many people do we need? I suppose the answer depends on what our purpose, as a species, is. If it is the colonisation of the planet, the consumption of its resources, and competition with other species, then we are doing a remarkable job.
However, if our purpose is the furtherance of our intellectual and physical abilities, then perhaps we need a lot less people. We need those who dedicate their lives to science, literature, sports, the arts, and the myriad other fields of human endeavour. And we need those who run the economy by providing for human needs.
How many is that? And how much flab are we carrying?
How many people does the Earth need.
Google responded with links on
How many people can the Earth support.
It isn't the same thing, people. It's a rat race. Countries with low income and education, such as India, are making a lot of people. Young people who can grow the economy. But over time our population will also age, as is happening in Europe and Japan. And between the rapid rise and the gradual fall of global population, what will become of the Earth?
The root cause of all man made problems, and all problems people face, is overpopulation. Climate change isn't caused by industrialisation. It's caused be industrialisation at a scale required to sustain global needs.
So, how many people do we need? I suppose the answer depends on what our purpose, as a species, is. If it is the colonisation of the planet, the consumption of its resources, and competition with other species, then we are doing a remarkable job.
However, if our purpose is the furtherance of our intellectual and physical abilities, then perhaps we need a lot less people. We need those who dedicate their lives to science, literature, sports, the arts, and the myriad other fields of human endeavour. And we need those who run the economy by providing for human needs.
How many is that? And how much flab are we carrying?
Mathrubootham strikes again!
I do not agree with communism but I really appreciate what the CPI is doing here.
Kavin's good friend sent him a set of lovely cupcakes on his birthday. Kavin is unwell, so he isn't cutting or eating the cakes. Neither is he letting Nilay eat the cakes. So Nilay has been moping around all day, even though it's Kavin who is sick.
Nilay feels we should have given Kavin a longer name. Then we would get more cakes 😀
Nilay feels we should have given Kavin a longer name. Then we would get more cakes 😀
Support and appreciate artists. But remember to put your money where your mouth is.
Mandatory reading for the new world we live in.
I use Amazon Prime as a customer and a supplier. I use AWS as a developer, and of course as an Internet user. How Amazon brings efficiency into every supply chain or infrastructure horizontal is simply amazing.
I use Amazon Prime as a customer and a supplier. I use AWS as a developer, and of course as an Internet user. How Amazon brings efficiency into every supply chain or infrastructure horizontal is simply amazing.
Kavin just witnessed Alaa Wardi for the first time. So many questions. What is a Kick, Snare, Synth, HiHat, etc.
@[636590252:2048:Barry], @[651215422:2048:Udaya], @[216124:2048:Zachariah George], Bhaskar, @[574348342:2048:Arun], @[610191751:2048:Bindhumalini], please make a video call and explain music to my kiddos.
@[636590252:2048:Barry], @[651215422:2048:Udaya], @[216124:2048:Zachariah George], Bhaskar, @[574348342:2048:Arun], @[610191751:2048:Bindhumalini], please make a video call and explain music to my kiddos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKInfjYDZAA is the wackiest thing I've seen in a while. Wackier than stuff I grew up with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlDjEd8gAkI , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPpuEgAZ2rQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ropn_kwpFDU
Please have terrifying visions all day of eyeballs staring at you from a petridish. You're welcome.
My Father's Day goody bag had two greeting cards, a pen stand and lots of hugs and appreciation.
Kavin's card is recursive - if you look hard you'll notice. The pen stand is made of a recycled toilet paper roll.
Nilay made homemade ice cream for me. Yum!
Kavin's card is recursive - if you look hard you'll notice. The pen stand is made of a recycled toilet paper roll.
Nilay made homemade ice cream for me. Yum!
Flowers cut to make a bouquet are massacred. Trees cut to make a book are martyred.
Five years ago, we took a train journey through Canada. And Google Photos remembered.
Sainath, you crazy fool. With an ode like this written in his honour, a lesser man would rest on his laurels. But you will soldier on. Truly, it is only rural India that deserves your love and attention; for only it can love you back in equal measure.
I'm also sad that my taxes pay for this "research".
Earlier today, I was ranting inside of my head about how broken the investment climate now is. Here is someone explaining it for us.
Apple wants tax breaks for making investments and creating jobs. और हम सारी देशी कंपनियाँ बेवक़ूफ़ हैं. We save forex, create IP, create jobs, pay full duties and taxes, pay income taxes on profits, then plough back the post tax profits as capital investments.
Why even bother listening to these big companies? If the government spreads the same tax sops over thousands of smaller companies, the net job and value creation will be higher.
Apple may provide jobs in India, and it will bring advanced manufacturing processes and know how and disseminate it to its labour force. But Indian companies will generate a lot of IP through R&D. Learning through doing is better than rote learning.
Why even bother listening to these big companies? If the government spreads the same tax sops over thousands of smaller companies, the net job and value creation will be higher.
Apple may provide jobs in India, and it will bring advanced manufacturing processes and know how and disseminate it to its labour force. But Indian companies will generate a lot of IP through R&D. Learning through doing is better than rote learning.
I don't think Raghuram is laughing. He cares too much about India to be laughing at our current state - even if he was indeed proven right.
I haven't read the article, only the headline.
I haven't read the article, only the headline.
Nilay has been crying for the last half hour because soldiers die and their families are left broken.
Good job humanity. The only species in billions of years of evolution to invent war.
Now what do I tell this kid? That war has a higher purpose? I can't lie to him...
Good job humanity. The only species in billions of years of evolution to invent war.
Now what do I tell this kid? That war has a higher purpose? I can't lie to him...
In 1999, I got into a debate with a neighbour at Ganga Hostel. Aromal Lily insisted that Kerala should be a separate nation.
I did not present any arguments to support my case. I found this notion so absurd, I just laughed in his face. I reacted to him the way I would have reacted to an auto driver asking me for ₹200 (in 1999) to take me from IIT gate to Sathyam cinema.
To my knowledge, back then, there was no significant industry left in Kerala. They exported all their manpower, and imported much of their needs. Making Kerala a separate country would solve all of its unemployment woes. The demand from passport and visa offices, and customs offices, would be sufficient to employ anyone left without a job. I laughed in Aromal's face with silly jokes like these.
How naive and insolent of me. I suppose Aromal is now having the last laugh. Kerala has largely been a voice of sanity in the ocean of bad news that surrounds us.
I did not present any arguments to support my case. I found this notion so absurd, I just laughed in his face. I reacted to him the way I would have reacted to an auto driver asking me for ₹200 (in 1999) to take me from IIT gate to Sathyam cinema.
To my knowledge, back then, there was no significant industry left in Kerala. They exported all their manpower, and imported much of their needs. Making Kerala a separate country would solve all of its unemployment woes. The demand from passport and visa offices, and customs offices, would be sufficient to employ anyone left without a job. I laughed in Aromal's face with silly jokes like these.
How naive and insolent of me. I suppose Aromal is now having the last laugh. Kerala has largely been a voice of sanity in the ocean of bad news that surrounds us.
At some point today, I switched to posting publicly on Facebook.
And bang came the trolls. Some things in life just don't change. How comforting :-)
As I write this post, Facebook reminds me to switch my privacy settings back to Friends. We shall see, Facebook. We shall see.
जलाने वाले जलाते ही हैं चराग़ आख़िर
ये क्या कहा कि हवा तेज़ है ज़माने की
And bang came the trolls. Some things in life just don't change. How comforting :-)
As I write this post, Facebook reminds me to switch my privacy settings back to Friends. We shall see, Facebook. We shall see.
जलाने वाले जलाते ही हैं चराग़ आख़िर
ये क्या कहा कि हवा तेज़ है ज़माने की
Well written and well researched. Don't let your patriotism make you balk at the headline. Read. If nothing, you'll learn a thing or two more about Dyer.
Mrinal Sinha borrowed my cellphone for 10 minutes to make a call, and left for an hour.
I was without my smartphone for an hour. Alone. At a restaurant.
I'm still twitching.
Bipin Preet Singh, I ordered some food and beverage. Mobikwik better pay for it 😋
Calling bridge numbers at 9:30pm. I'm so glad corporate and startup life is behind me. Here's to being a "small business", Thinvent.
Mrinal, there goes your carefully curated social media presence.
I was without my smartphone for an hour. Alone. At a restaurant.
I'm still twitching.
Bipin Preet Singh, I ordered some food and beverage. Mobikwik better pay for it 😋
Calling bridge numbers at 9:30pm. I'm so glad corporate and startup life is behind me. Here's to being a "small business", Thinvent.
Mrinal, there goes your carefully curated social media presence.
Spam reveals the scary state of research in our country.
This raises a lot of questions.
For example, why is a Joint Secretary of the Indian Government using personal email addresses for work? That too something hosted outside Indian soil.
For example, why is a Joint Secretary of the Indian Government using personal email addresses for work? That too something hosted outside Indian soil.
My company @[100063777711947:2048:Thinvent] has been a vendor to Agrasar in the past. They are a genuine NGO doing good work on the ground. If you live in and around Gurgaon, please support them in this rescue work. It just rained heavily in the city, and things must have gone from bad to worse at the site.
These RBI people are on drugs, I tell you. Bunch of crackpots on crack.
The country is facing its largest ever debt crisis and these morons want account number portability. The IFSC code will in any case change when you move to a new bank. All your payees will need to make that change, and register you as a payee with two-factor authentication and the associated song and dance routine that the RBI insists on. How does keeping the same bank account number while changing the IFSC code help anyone?
The country is facing its largest ever debt crisis and these morons want account number portability. The IFSC code will in any case change when you move to a new bank. All your payees will need to make that change, and register you as a payee with two-factor authentication and the associated song and dance routine that the RBI insists on. How does keeping the same bank account number while changing the IFSC code help anyone?
What are we waiting for? Let's get this done already!
Also, even after we sell of this white elephant, let us please keep investigating how it ended up neck deep in debt. For the government to continue owning an airline was bad enough. For it to run it into the ground through bad decisions is worse.
Once we are done hawking off this debt ridden mess, can we please divert its subsidy package to the railways and metros, and to the development of electric buses.
Also, even after we sell of this white elephant, let us please keep investigating how it ended up neck deep in debt. For the government to continue owning an airline was bad enough. For it to run it into the ground through bad decisions is worse.
Once we are done hawking off this debt ridden mess, can we please divert its subsidy package to the railways and metros, and to the development of electric buses.
Do support @[615622089:2048:Chittaranjan] and Samantha in this lovely endeavour.
So, this one time, I went to Japan, and...
The British stiff upper lip on display in all its majestic glory. I really appreciate that these very old lady is standing up and meeting all these people. Our own elected presidents rarely ever do that.
At the same time, I find it curious that she betrays not the slightest emotion when this lady narrates to her how her daughter's friend and mother perished in the attack. She doesn't waver. She doesn't go over and hug this woman as you expect any other "grandmother" to do. She just changes the topic like nothing ever happened. Stiff. Very stiff.
At the same time, I find it curious that she betrays not the slightest emotion when this lady narrates to her how her daughter's friend and mother perished in the attack. She doesn't waver. She doesn't go over and hug this woman as you expect any other "grandmother" to do. She just changes the topic like nothing ever happened. Stiff. Very stiff.
This is our Cake Face
Tanya taught us how to make vegan tiramisu. We are loving it 😀
Tanya taught us how to make vegan tiramisu. We are loving it 😀
Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is satire.
There is still some freedom of expression left in this country. And it tastes delicious.
There is still some freedom of expression left in this country. And it tastes delicious.
तफ़री
Today we had a chance to admire the beauty of this mechanical marvel. Till the harrowed owner took it away, that is.
The children learnt that not just the keyboard layout, but many other everyday computing concepts such as margins, tabulation (Tab key), backspace, intensity, ribbon colour, line spacing, line feed, carriage return, and the fantastic shift key, all originated long before computers, and have stayed almost the same even on our phones.
So why is the shift key called the shift hey? Have you ever seen a carriage shift? Why does a typeface have a face?
The children learnt that not just the keyboard layout, but many other everyday computing concepts such as margins, tabulation (Tab key), backspace, intensity, ribbon colour, line spacing, line feed, carriage return, and the fantastic shift key, all originated long before computers, and have stayed almost the same even on our phones.
So why is the shift key called the shift hey? Have you ever seen a carriage shift? Why does a typeface have a face?