Earthquake?
We should all pay serious attention to this issue. I've often riden with drivers who have been on the job for over 20 hours. #Uber has all the data on driver fatigue at its fingertips, yet refuses to act. And the worst part about the problem is the customer service attitude - the issue is resolved.
I've similarly rallied on social media about the lack of seat belts in Uber cabs in India. No response or resolution from Uber customer service about the lack of seat belts either.
Tony Wu, how does one grab Uber corporate HQ's attention?
I've similarly rallied on social media about the lack of seat belts in Uber cabs in India. No response or resolution from Uber customer service about the lack of seat belts either.
Tony Wu, how does one grab Uber corporate HQ's attention?
Hemant, totally expect you to not show up for your own exhibit. Parul, that is such excruciating detail. Kudos, guys.
Kids @ work
What an amazing place, right within Delhi. And such a wonderful workshop covering everything from planting, composting, organic food, waste management to pot making.
So I posted here recently about how I get a lot of invites from fake profiles on Facebook. Here is one profile that just sent me an invite:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015225187820
This time, I am actually familiar with the person whose photo they used - Kartikeya Murari.
What's up with this fake profile problem, Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015225187820
This time, I am actually familiar with the person whose photo they used - Kartikeya Murari.
What's up with this fake profile problem, Facebook?
The Tattva festival is coming up. You are your family should seriously think of attending. This is one event/activity that I would strongly recommend for everyone, especially families with children.
http://zorbathebuddha.org/events/tattva2017/
http://zorbathebuddha.org/events/tattva2017/
What's cooking? The next Tattva!
The Zimbabwe gang killing it at Surajkund. Such fun.
Bipin, Mrinal, saw your team all over the place. छाप रखा है मेले को तुमने.
Bipin, Mrinal, saw your team all over the place. छाप रखा है मेले को तुमने.
The Surajkund mela is really well organised this year. In fact it sets the bar for an aesthetic and well organised exhibitions.
Except the entry process. BookMyShow and mPaisa have thoroughly screwed that up for everyone.
Except the entry process. BookMyShow and mPaisa have thoroughly screwed that up for everyone.
भइया Ramakrishna देखो हम मेले में क्या पाए
Monkey business
We made it to the safari
Plan for tomorrow:
Safari: https://www.facebook.com/events/1703108086600403/
Surajkund Crafts Mela: http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/india-news/colours-galore-surajkund-international-crafts-mela-2017/photo-BNZOOLXrrrQuvO30CSjWJM.html
India Art Fair: https://www.facebook.com/events/1231320340273245/
Chidren's Literature Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/1276744679038920/
Tomorrow's likely reality: 😴
Safari: https://www.facebook.com/events/1703108086600403/
Surajkund Crafts Mela: http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/india-news/colours-galore-surajkund-international-crafts-mela-2017/photo-BNZOOLXrrrQuvO30CSjWJM.html
India Art Fair: https://www.facebook.com/events/1231320340273245/
Chidren's Literature Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/1276744679038920/
Tomorrow's likely reality: 😴
Oh. Selfie stick journalism. This is neat. The only good use of a selfie stick that I have seen so far. The guy is reporting live using a wireless broadband connection, and the cameraman is replaced by his selfie stick. Neat. Not a big leap - the technology has been around for a long time now. I have often wondered why TV crews roam the city with their bulky OB vans and noisy generators, cables strewn everywhere.
The times they are a changin'
The times they are a changin'
I have so many feels about this. Taking our culture to the people, who it belongs to. Nityanand Jayaraman you, quite literally, rock.
I have been touched by this story.
1. It brings out the beauty and power of science. Gathering, analysing and sharing data using the scientific method, led to this discovery.
2. There are a large number of scientists working tirelessly to make the world a better place. We should value their work, even if they do not come up with remarkable discoveries during their lifetime. They are moving the frontiers of knowledge forward.
3. As a parent myself, I feel really sad for those who lost their little children. It is tragic that we still lose children of a tender age to malnutrition.
4. In India, it is common for elders to tell children not to consume any single fruit in excess. Mangoes and bananas are widely known (believed?) to cause upset stomachs when eaten exclusively as a meal.
1. It brings out the beauty and power of science. Gathering, analysing and sharing data using the scientific method, led to this discovery.
2. There are a large number of scientists working tirelessly to make the world a better place. We should value their work, even if they do not come up with remarkable discoveries during their lifetime. They are moving the frontiers of knowledge forward.
3. As a parent myself, I feel really sad for those who lost their little children. It is tragic that we still lose children of a tender age to malnutrition.
4. In India, it is common for elders to tell children not to consume any single fruit in excess. Mangoes and bananas are widely known (believed?) to cause upset stomachs when eaten exclusively as a meal.
Good on you, Aravinda, for standing your ground against Trump's henchmen.
Ravi Kuchimanchi, ignore the headline. We know there's a lot more to you than being the 'Swades' guy ;-)
Ravi Kuchimanchi, ignore the headline. We know there's a lot more to you than being the 'Swades' guy ;-)
Three young scientists, thrilled to have made carbon dioxide from citric acid and baking soda.
(This is the before-the-thrill photograph)
(This is the before-the-thrill photograph)
Seriously, China? You've been exporting plutonium and wind tunnels to North Korea? Openly.
Yea! I'm educated.
When The Onion isn't even satire any more. It's just facts.
Mending Wall
Robert Frost, 1874 - 1963
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
‘Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of outdoor game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.'
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn’t it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say ‘Elves’ to him,
But it’s not elves exactly, and I’d rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father’s saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.'
We studied this poem in school. I remember learning it by heart. I remember the English teacher teaching us that a line has been repeated for emphasis.
"Something there is that doesn’t love a wall"
I read the poem again today after long. And I see that another line has been repeated in the poem, for emphasis.
"Good fences make good neighbors"
To each his own, I suppose.
Robert Frost, 1874 - 1963
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
‘Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of outdoor game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.'
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn’t it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say ‘Elves’ to him,
But it’s not elves exactly, and I’d rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father’s saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.'
We studied this poem in school. I remember learning it by heart. I remember the English teacher teaching us that a line has been repeated for emphasis.
"Something there is that doesn’t love a wall"
I read the poem again today after long. And I see that another line has been repeated in the poem, for emphasis.
"Good fences make good neighbors"
To each his own, I suppose.
@[511027862:2048:Jaspal Oberoi] we were talking about him just yesterday. Let's go guys! Looks like he does do concerts even now.
Whattup Chennai? Looks like the local trains and buses are not running, autos won't ply, many long distance trains have been cancelled, and the roads are jammed. Stay safe people.
A colleague IS desperately trying to leave Chennai. His train got cancelled. We've somehow managed an UberPool for him from Central to CMBT. Hope he makes it to CMBT safely.
In case he doesn't make it to CMBT, we'll need some help from my good friends in Chennai.
A colleague IS desperately trying to leave Chennai. His train got cancelled. We've somehow managed an UberPool for him from Central to CMBT. Hope he makes it to CMBT safely.
In case he doesn't make it to CMBT, we'll need some help from my good friends in Chennai.
की भालो
Three tired playmates and a bunk bed
PARI is trending today on the interwebs. What joy. Watch the video from 6:15 onwards.
@[100002612004250:2048:Sunil Tripathi] this is us.
Unfortunate that it actually took Trump to start fixing the H1B program.
Of course, none of this would be needed if all STEM post-grads had Green Cards stapled to their passports upon graduation - something that was promised in the Bush era. A GC gives fresh grads the freedom they need in order to establish a successful career.
For the non US postgrad folks, the lottery should be replaced with a reverse auction. Companies offering $200k/year to worthy candidates should be given preference to those offering $100k/year to a body-shopped guy. Then the business of investigating whether an American worker was replaced would end - an investigation that is flawed because of the various loopholes that consulting firms exploit.
Of course, none of this would be needed if all STEM post-grads had Green Cards stapled to their passports upon graduation - something that was promised in the Bush era. A GC gives fresh grads the freedom they need in order to establish a successful career.
For the non US postgrad folks, the lottery should be replaced with a reverse auction. Companies offering $200k/year to worthy candidates should be given preference to those offering $100k/year to a body-shopped guy. Then the business of investigating whether an American worker was replaced would end - an investigation that is flawed because of the various loopholes that consulting firms exploit.
Kavin just fell in love with a street dog and took these photos.
@[685662540:2048:Jayasri], congratulations on the opening of such a beautiful store. Chennai junta, please do attend.
मतलब, जनता के घर देर है अंधेर नहीं है
Lovely writeup. My thoughts:
1. Youth energy is nice. But it needs to be channeled in the right direction. The young need to be able to discern what is really important for the preservation of our culture.
2. We have the right to alternate opinions, unpopular opinions. It is our duty to express our thoughts, debate, discuss, and then formulate opinions. Towing the popular opinion all the time is neither necessary nor healthy.
3. Cruelty to animals and the environment has become inherent to human nature. This needs to change. We continue to put carbon in the atmosphere, plastic in the oceans, and meat and milk on our tables. Yet we split hair over the acceptability of bull fighting, horse racing and cock fighting.
1. Youth energy is nice. But it needs to be channeled in the right direction. The young need to be able to discern what is really important for the preservation of our culture.
2. We have the right to alternate opinions, unpopular opinions. It is our duty to express our thoughts, debate, discuss, and then formulate opinions. Towing the popular opinion all the time is neither necessary nor healthy.
3. Cruelty to animals and the environment has become inherent to human nature. This needs to change. We continue to put carbon in the atmosphere, plastic in the oceans, and meat and milk on our tables. Yet we split hair over the acceptability of bull fighting, horse racing and cock fighting.
Hilarious. What a joker. @[552555617:2048:Bipin], @[572712352:2048:Mrinal], if this is the competition you need to deal with, then I take it that the going is pretty easy for you guys. :-)
Goodbye holiday
Indirect tax evasion is rampant in Kerala. The fanciest of restaurants, hotels and shops will coolly hand you an "estimate" without any rubber stamp or sign. No proper invoices, even if you insist on one.
I hear that the Kerala government is projected to lose $1 billion in revenues due to prohibition. Shouldn't they be doing something about enforcement of sales and service tax? The Delhi Government has been running various schemes that encourage vendors and consumers to issue and demand proper invoices. I hear they're fairly successful.
I hear that the Kerala government is projected to lose $1 billion in revenues due to prohibition. Shouldn't they be doing something about enforcement of sales and service tax? The Delhi Government has been running various schemes that encourage vendors and consumers to issue and demand proper invoices. I hear they're fairly successful.
Witnessed a Bengali gentleman arguing with a Malayali lady. Both would simply not budge from their respective positions. Her card machine was not working, yet she refused to remove the "cards accepted here" notice from her counter. He would only pay by card as long as that message was up. All the other customers waited for half an hour for them.
I wonder how the Communist Party meetings in India look like? 😜
I wonder how the Communist Party meetings in India look like? 😜
Our quick visit to the beach to help in cleanup. A big thanks to Nityanand for pointing us that way. It was good meeting up after 17 years man. The children learnt something about the consequences of their actions - every bit of packaging they use ends up harming the environment in some way or the other.
My kid is famous on the interwebs.
Stop whatever you are doing and watch this.
Brilliant performances. Terrible sound arrangement. Looks like the entire sound budget of the festival is being spent on professional shows.
Brilliant performances. Terrible sound arrangement. Looks like the entire sound budget of the festival is being spent on professional shows.
Sound check at OAT for the Rock Show. Look closely. The decorations are vibrating.
Barry, the crowd went berserk. Was this a Thalaivar song?
Kavin is upset. I'm unable to precisely define the difference between evening and night. Why isn't there a single hour at which evening turns to night, just as morning turns to noon and then afternoon.
Life with a maths nerd.
Life with a maths nerd.
I just took down a post. People told me I was wrong.
There is no space on Facebook to be wrong. I'm not afraid to be wrong. But others are upset that I am wrong.
But I wasn't born right. I've learnt through debate and discussion. My friends have helped form my opinions and beliefs through constructive criticism.
That is not allowed any more. I must subscribe to the majority view. Be politically correct. Which essentially means, follow what's trending. Forming your own opinions is passe.
Sigh. Nilay told me to stop when I was writing a long post on Facebook. He said I should just stick to posting his cool photos here. I should have listened.
There is no space on Facebook to be wrong. I'm not afraid to be wrong. But others are upset that I am wrong.
But I wasn't born right. I've learnt through debate and discussion. My friends have helped form my opinions and beliefs through constructive criticism.
That is not allowed any more. I must subscribe to the majority view. Be politically correct. Which essentially means, follow what's trending. Forming your own opinions is passe.
Sigh. Nilay told me to stop when I was writing a long post on Facebook. He said I should just stick to posting his cool photos here. I should have listened.
Hit me with your Pondicherry recommendations. We have one day (or what's left of it).
Googled for "India doc" by mistake. First result is the constitution of India. Neat. Gives "show me the code" a whole new meaning. Document is in Microsoft Word - not as free as we would like things to be.
Science solves everything
Once in a while, something comes along that is so true and so right that you cannot help but support it.
Chennai people, please attend. This is a movement to liberate art and culture. Through art and culture for all. That includes you.
Chennai people, please attend. This is a movement to liberate art and culture. Through art and culture for all. That includes you.
Happy New Year 2017. We are very happy, enjoying our journey to Chennai.
Our train is running twelve hours late. Nilay is delighted that he'll be spending an extra twelve hours in the train. He finds the journey more exciting than the destination.
More excitement awaits us in Chennai. Shaastra and Saarang 2017.
Our train is running twelve hours late. Nilay is delighted that he'll be spending an extra twelve hours in the train. He finds the journey more exciting than the destination.
More excitement awaits us in Chennai. Shaastra and Saarang 2017.
Chennai people, we are coming to town. Also visiting some fun places in TN and Kerala. Shall we meet?
Anyone who says that doing everything at the last minute is an "engineering grad" trait, has never dealt with a CA before.
Retweeted Sushant Sinha (@sushantsinha):
If everyone in India is put inside the jails, then all the terrorists and criminals will also be inside the jail. Small pain, huge gain!
If everyone in India is put inside the jails, then all the terrorists and criminals will also be inside the jail. Small pain, huge gain!
be-dar-o-dīvār sā ik ghar banāyā chāhiye
koī ham-sāya na ho aur pāsbāñ koī na ho
jalā hai jism jahāñ dil bhī jal gayā hogā
kuredte ho jo ab rākh justajū kyā hai
mohabbat meñ nahīñ hai farq jīne aur marne kā
usī ko dekh kar jīte haiñ jis kāfir pe dam nikle
क़ैद-ए-हयात-ओ-बंद-ए-ग़म, अस्ल में दोनों एक हैं
मौत से पहले आदमी ग़म से निजात पाए क्यूँ?
(The prison of life and the bondage of grief are one and the same
Before the onset of death, how can man expect to be free of grief?)
अजी चचा ग़ालिब का जन्मदिन है आज। आपको लगा हम भूल गए? लीजिए आप भी पढ़िए।
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghalib
https://rekhta.org/poets/mirza-ghalib
Google for him today and you will find all kinds of interesting articles and tweets. Ghalib has left a beautiful and indelible impression on us. Is there any other poet who is celebrated like this every year? If so I'd like to know about this other poet and read his/her work too.
koī ham-sāya na ho aur pāsbāñ koī na ho
jalā hai jism jahāñ dil bhī jal gayā hogā
kuredte ho jo ab rākh justajū kyā hai
mohabbat meñ nahīñ hai farq jīne aur marne kā
usī ko dekh kar jīte haiñ jis kāfir pe dam nikle
क़ैद-ए-हयात-ओ-बंद-ए-ग़म, अस्ल में दोनों एक हैं
मौत से पहले आदमी ग़म से निजात पाए क्यूँ?
(The prison of life and the bondage of grief are one and the same
Before the onset of death, how can man expect to be free of grief?)
अजी चचा ग़ालिब का जन्मदिन है आज। आपको लगा हम भूल गए? लीजिए आप भी पढ़िए।
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghalib
https://rekhta.org/poets/mirza-ghalib
Google for him today and you will find all kinds of interesting articles and tweets. Ghalib has left a beautiful and indelible impression on us. Is there any other poet who is celebrated like this every year? If so I'd like to know about this other poet and read his/her work too.
Kalindi Kunj Traffic Jam is literally a place on Facebook. And Facebook wanted me to check in here. So, here I am. Come join me.
What a sick joke. There is nothing high capacity about these air purifiers. This is about the size of air purifier that you need in a closed bedroom in Delhi. To run two of them side by side in an open area in Delhi, then pretend that anything at all has been achieved, is a travesty. It is a waste of public money, nothing else. Let them put a PM meter at these locations and prove that a dip of even 100 micrograms has been achieved ten meters from the purifiers.
With PM2.5 at 500 and PM10 at 1,000, we need to shut down the city. Ban all private traffic. Close all coal and waste fired power plants. Empty the roads and suck up all the dust. Instead, we are politicking.
Shame.
With PM2.5 at 500 and PM10 at 1,000, we need to shut down the city. Ban all private traffic. Close all coal and waste fired power plants. Empty the roads and suck up all the dust. Instead, we are politicking.
Shame.