Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
On Sat, Mar 21, 2009 at 5:00 AM, Kiran K Karthikeyan < kiran.karthike...@gmail.com> wrote: > 2009/3/21 Nikhil Mehra > > > I don;t know about this debate. I don't think it is even real. India > cannot > > have a Presidential system because I don't think this nation is capable > of > > a > > consensus candidate. The interests of the constituent states has to be > > represented at the centre because the power sharing arrangement in the > > Constitution as it stands is heavily biased in favor of the centre. > Greater > > power was not granted to the states at the time of independence because > > there was a genuine fear of fragmentation. > > > I agree that states have more power in the US, but not sure how that has a > bearing on the presidential system. If you have a presidential system and lesser power for the states then states have a lesser say in governance. Now, with a Parliamentary system, where we end up with coalition governments like it's going out of fashion, effectively regional entities have a substantial say in matters of governance. Is this good for the country? I wouldn't dismiss coalition governments outright. They have posed problems not on account of regionalism but because of ideology (The Left with the Congress) or petty politics looking for the limelight (Mamata di with the BJP). The latter hardly causes a substantial policy deviation. The former is a vital process that only lends further to a democracy because it gives a voice to a certain group in society whether we agree with them or not. > While a consensus candidate might be difficult, I think even the US > constitution foresaw this possibility and instituted the electoral college. > However, in most elections so far, the > electoral college members of a state have voted for the candidate that won > in that state. > Yes, we could have an electoral college, but what will be its composition? The US did not have anywhere near the ethnic variation that we did at the time of independence, and continue to have now. Also, in the US now there is immense diversity on account of immigration over generations, but the idenitities forged are not regional. They are racial and ethnic. So there is a lesser fear of rebellion against the Central authority where the demand is for sovereign control over territory, which territory can be historically traced to the group in question. I guess what I am saying that states in India can make a far stronger case for Statehood on the classical parameters of what constitutes a State than those in the US. > > What the presidential system (or something similar) does in my opinion, is > put a national campaign for presidential candidates beyond the scope of > most > regional parties. This would over time lead to a consolidation into a few > major national parties, and therefore to more stable governments. Laws are > still passed by the house where states have representation so I don't see > how their representation decreases under this system. I don't understand this aversion to coalition politics. Our best years of economic growth have had nothing but coaltion govts. Our nation was soporific in responding to the basic needs of the citizenry and we barely had a development vision when we had effectively single party rule. And coalition govts have been stable. Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee and the Congress have all lasted 5 years with a coalition govt. The issue for the center has not been a lack of stability, rather the fact that there are more constituencies that they have to answer to. And for me this makes for a more vibrant democracy. Even though states have representatives in Parliament, they would be toothless because they'd deprived of the No-Confidence Motion. A prez would have veto which quells regionalism. Impeachment under any prez system is a very difficult process. > > > Another advantage is the possibility for an independent candidate to run > for > elections and hold the highest office if he/she can mobilise the funds for > the campaign. Why is an independent candidate a good thing? He/she doesn't have an ideology. He/she has never had to engage in the political process in the past except for selfish interest. He's/she's never had to have the vision for a nation which is expected from the chosen few by political parties. What makes him or her ready to be head of state? And why is it good? > As we stand today, the comparitively more educated (and > richer) section of the Indian population hardly votes or rather can't make > a > real dent in the elections and instead get things done through bribes. Err the Presidential system will end bribery in India?? Right, And I'm late for my threesome with Nicole Scherzinger and Scarlett Johansonn. Nordic blonde and ethnic brunette - priceless. If the more educated sections in India do not vote, then I don't think they will suddenly because they have one man/woman to vote for. In fact, the numbers will be even worse against them. They are a minori
Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member
--- On Sat, 21/3/09, Udhay Shankar N wrote: > From: Udhay Shankar N > Subject: Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Saturday, 21 March, 2009, 11:11 AM > Bonobashi wrote, [on 3/21/2009 10:06 > AM]: > > > PS: I happen to be a friend of the only fat Dane in > Denmark. > > It started with pity and ended in friendship. I > couldn't help > > feeling sorry for him; he married an Iyengar. > > You *are* aware that this list is publicly archived, yes? > > Udhay > -- > ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) > ((www.digeratus.com)) My God! Who wrote this? It wasn't I. It's definitely a forgery. I take responsibility for what I wrote, but not for what I didn't. Aren't there laws against this? This is terrible, character assassination of the worst kind. Udhay, what are you and the other two whom I did not refer to doing about this abuse of free speech? Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member
Bonobashi wrote, [on 3/21/2009 10:06 AM]: > PS: I happen to be a friend of the only fat Dane in Denmark. > It started with pity and ended in friendship. I couldn't help > feeling sorry for him; he married an Iyengar. You *are* aware that this list is publicly archived, yes? Udhay -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member
--- On Sat, 21/3/09, Tim Bray wrote: > From: Tim Bray > Subject: Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Saturday, 21 March, 2009, 10:32 AM > On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 8:58 PM, Ravi > Bellur > wrote: > > I was born in the US to an Indian dad from Bangalore > and a Danish mom. > > This is a true story. One time I was in Helsingør, > AKA Hamlet's > hometown, at a technology conference, and I was single, and > I met a > comely young Danish woman, also single who looked at me > That Way, and > thought there might be something there, but I couldn't > pronounce her > first name and she didn't think that was cute, so I got > nowhere. I > recognize that having a Danish mom doesn't make this your > fault, but > I'm still bitter. > > -Tim Oh dear. Quite trying, what? Fortunately, by the time Danes crossed my bows, especially the females of the species, I was in a permanent relationship. However, the hazards to single males is clear and prominent. I deeply sympathise, from a safe distance. The factor that got home, however, was the beyond-English sense of humour the whole damn place has. It was totally unexpected and left me in a state of shock. I thought the Dutch were amusing; the Danes were truly in the groove. Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/
Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 8:58 PM, Ravi Bellur wrote: > I was born in the US to an Indian dad from Bangalore and a Danish mom. This is a true story. One time I was in Helsingør, AKA Hamlet's hometown, at a technology conference, and I was single, and I met a comely young Danish woman, also single who looked at me That Way, and thought there might be something there, but I couldn't pronounce her first name and she didn't think that was cute, so I got nowhere. I recognize that having a Danish mom doesn't make this your fault, but I'm still bitter. -Tim
Re: [silk] Introduction - New Member
--- On Sat, 21/3/09, Ravi Bellur wrote: > From: Ravi Bellur > Subject: [silk] Introduction - New Member > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Saturday, 21 March, 2009, 9:28 AM > Hi, all, > > Udai and my cousin Bala are long time friends, from > childhood. I met Udai > though him and after being subjected to my company on a > number of occasions, > he invited me to join silklist. I thought it was a fan club > for the soy milk > brand. But it's more likely a place to ask and discuss the > larger questions, > such as why some people, perhaps out of some nefarious > monosaccharide > racism, cannot tolerate a glucose and a galactose molecule > getting together. > > I was born in the US to an Indian dad from Bangalore and a > Danish mom. I'm > currently in India, this being my 4th visit, and no visit > every being less > than 6 weeks. Synthesizing the voiced input of my friends I > think of myself > as a dilettante that is occasionally mistaken for a > polymath. > > I did a 5 year sentence at Stanford Maximum Security > Educational > Institution, escaping from a sewage pipe into a rainstorm > with a bachelors > in economics and a masters in industrial engineering. I > then worked in tech > for some 12 years -- Intuit, Microsoft, some start-ups. So > I lived in the > bay area for a while (though I went to Seattle for > Microsoft). > > I did product management and marketing stuff mainly, > although I did run beta > testing and usability for Intuit for a while. Everything > from working on > features with recalcitrant engineering teams to talking to > press about new > products while being chaperoned by toothsome but vapid PR > women dressed all > in black with yellow tinted spectacles that have no > corrective power. > > I love rock and roll, put another rupee in the jukebox baby > -- I play > electric guitar and sing in a throw-together band. I also > love things > epicurean (but hate looking up how to spell words like > that), and somehow > was one of Zagat's top contributors for their 2008 bay area > guide (touching > form letter I got from them, but at least it came with a > free book and map). > > > Politically I've been a democrat for as long as I've been a > voter, and with > a Danish mom, I find little wrong with being a liberal and > considering > social programs for areas important to human dignity that > are overlooked or > underserved by the private sector (there is a difference > between whether > help is needed and whether the help currently given is > working or not). In > general I look to South Park and the Daily Show for the > most truthful news > -- paraphrasing Shaw, 'If you're going to tell people the > truth, you had > better make them laugh. Otherwise they will kill you' > > I'm currently in Bangalore (I've been in India since Jan > 21st), taking a > break from the vibe in the states and soaking in all that's > changed since I > was last here in the late '80s. As a person of Indian > origin, I got one of > these very nifty "Person of Indian Origin" cards that > connotes certain > benefits like not needing a visa, and being entitled to > work. So I am very > seriously contemplating getting some remunerative endeavor > (like a job) and > spending a prolonged time here. > > Although with an 11:00 last call at bars, I'm thinking > someone deconstructed > the name of the place and presumed it meant "ban galore" -- > as in how much > can we ban. :-) > > Eager to enjoy the effervescent edification of ebullient > erudition. > > Best, > Ravi Dear Ravi, It is not my practice to welcome newcomers to the list because of my profound suspicion that each such entity is Udhay, or some other member of the Trite Three, in blackface, pumping up the numbers and generally acting as stalking horses. Until they have proved under fire that they have personalities distinct from Udhay, or Bharath, or Ram, they continue to be suspect. However, your last line proved comforting: none of these three would dare to reach back three centuries and use that particular figure of speech; their fear of tarring and feathering would intervene. So presumably you are a real person, and deserve a real welcome. And don't worry about having introduced yourself in such an endearing and well-written manner; it can be forgiven, your served time (Economics in what place? I thought they only did engineers) will be borne in mind during sentencing, and slack will duly be cut, with due regard paid by our younger male members to the possibilities dangled enticingly by you in your tantalising mention of toothsome females with yellow-rimmed glasses. Welcome to the asylum, and please wipe the razors clean of blood after use. Your courtesy will be appreciated by other users. PS: I happen to be a friend of the only fat Dane in Denmark. It started with pity and ended in friendship. I couldn't help feeling sorry for him; he married an Iyengar. Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! India Messe
[silk] Introduction - New Member
Hi, all, Udai and my cousin Bala are long time friends, from childhood. I met Udai though him and after being subjected to my company on a number of occasions, he invited me to join silklist. I thought it was a fan club for the soy milk brand. But it's more likely a place to ask and discuss the larger questions, such as why some people, perhaps out of some nefarious monosaccharide racism, cannot tolerate a glucose and a galactose molecule getting together. I was born in the US to an Indian dad from Bangalore and a Danish mom. I'm currently in India, this being my 4th visit, and no visit every being less than 6 weeks. Synthesizing the voiced input of my friends I think of myself as a dilettante that is occasionally mistaken for a polymath. I did a 5 year sentence at Stanford Maximum Security Educational Institution, escaping from a sewage pipe into a rainstorm with a bachelors in economics and a masters in industrial engineering. I then worked in tech for some 12 years -- Intuit, Microsoft, some start-ups. So I lived in the bay area for a while (though I went to Seattle for Microsoft). I did product management and marketing stuff mainly, although I did run beta testing and usability for Intuit for a while. Everything from working on features with recalcitrant engineering teams to talking to press about new products while being chaperoned by toothsome but vapid PR women dressed all in black with yellow tinted spectacles that have no corrective power. I love rock and roll, put another rupee in the jukebox baby -- I play electric guitar and sing in a throw-together band. I also love things epicurean (but hate looking up how to spell words like that), and somehow was one of Zagat's top contributors for their 2008 bay area guide (touching form letter I got from them, but at least it came with a free book and map). Politically I've been a democrat for as long as I've been a voter, and with a Danish mom, I find little wrong with being a liberal and considering social programs for areas important to human dignity that are overlooked or underserved by the private sector (there is a difference between whether help is needed and whether the help currently given is working or not). In general I look to South Park and the Daily Show for the most truthful news -- paraphrasing Shaw, 'If you're going to tell people the truth, you had better make them laugh. Otherwise they will kill you' I'm currently in Bangalore (I've been in India since Jan 21st), taking a break from the vibe in the states and soaking in all that's changed since I was last here in the late '80s. As a person of Indian origin, I got one of these very nifty "Person of Indian Origin" cards that connotes certain benefits like not needing a visa, and being entitled to work. So I am very seriously contemplating getting some remunerative endeavor (like a job) and spending a prolonged time here. Although with an 11:00 last call at bars, I'm thinking someone deconstructed the name of the place and presumed it meant "ban galore" -- as in how much can we ban. :-) Eager to enjoy the effervescent edification of ebullient erudition. Best, Ravi
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
--- On Sat, 21/3/09, Nikhil Mehra wrote: > From: Nikhil Mehra > Subject: Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Saturday, 21 March, 2009, 3:01 AM > I don;t know about this debate. I > don't think it is even real. India cannot > have a Presidential system because I don't think this > nation is capable of a > consensus candidate. The interests of the constituent > states has to be > represented at the centre because the power sharing > arrangement in the > Constitution as it stands is heavily biased in favor of the > centre. Greater > power was not granted to the states at the time of > independence because > there was a genuine fear of fragmentation. > > In today's scenario, I think the lack of consensus over any > one candidate, > and in fact the impossibility of it, is betrayed by the > constancy of > coalition politics. Hence, I think having a President is an > impossibility. > Yes, the BJP may be trying to project a single leader, but > so is everyone > else. If Sonia were willing to be PM there would be no > doubt about the > Cong's candidate. And even if a proxy is elected, there is > no doubt about > who is in charge. The left does not name a PM candidate > because they are not > capable of producing a PM - they've never even attempted > it. The only way > they can is through horse-trading in Parliament. > > As for efficiency, what ever the system, it'll still be the > same people > manning that system. It can be distorted by preying on the > same moral > deficiencies. > > > On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Thaths > wrote: > > > On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM, Kiran K Karthikeyan > > > wrote: > > >> ITYM *execution*. The House and Senate in the > USian system take care > > >> of the legislation. > > > Yes. And it is the legislative bodies which are > pre-occupied with > > retaining > > > the majority in the gov't. Perhaps I wasn't > clear, but the presidential > > > system seems more stable. With our current system > any small regional > > party > > > can bring the governement down and maybe even > force re-election which > > > effectively means an entire year or more wasted, > not to mention the > > costs. > > > > Aren't the Real Executive in the Westminister system - > the > > bureaucracies in Whitehall and South Block - protected > from the coming > > and goings of MPs to a certain extent? You do have a > point about costs > > of elections. > > > > > If this has been discussed elsewhere, please do > forward the links if > > > possible. I would like to know the arguments > against a Presidential > > system > > > (with or without an electoral college). > > > > Africa is full of faltering democracies (de facto > dictatorships) that > > chose the Presidential system. I suspect the > Presidential system in a > > newly democratic country lends itself handy to > strongmen (and they > > have all been men). > > > > Thaths > > -- > > "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing > a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson So it has started. Woe is me. Don't say, at the end, that I didn't warn you. Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! India Messenger at http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/?wm=n/
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
2009/3/21 Nikhil Mehra > I don;t know about this debate. I don't think it is even real. India cannot > have a Presidential system because I don't think this nation is capable of > a > consensus candidate. The interests of the constituent states has to be > represented at the centre because the power sharing arrangement in the > Constitution as it stands is heavily biased in favor of the centre. Greater > power was not granted to the states at the time of independence because > there was a genuine fear of fragmentation. I agree that states have more power in the US, but not sure how that has a bearing on the presidential system. While a consensus candidate might be difficult, I think even the US constitution foresaw this possibility and instituted the electoral college. However, in most elections so far, the electoral college members of a state have voted for the candidate that won in that state. What the presidential system (or something similar) does in my opinion, is put a national campaign for presidential candidates beyond the scope of most regional parties. This would over time lead to a consolidation into a few major national parties, and therefore to more stable governments. Laws are still passed by the house where states have representation so I don't see how their representation decreases under this system. Another advantage is the possibility for an independent candidate to run for elections and hold the highest office if he/she can mobilise the funds for the campaign. As we stand today, the comparitively more educated (and richer) section of the Indian population hardly votes or rather can't make a real dent in the elections and instead get things done through bribes. However, a few thousand crores could be mobilised from this demographic by the right candidate. Under the current system, an independent candidate cannot possibly aspire to be PM. And this possibility would make most parties clean up their act. Ross Perot ran for the US presidential office in '92 and he gave the established parties quite a scare. Thoughts? Kiran
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
On Sat, Mar 21, 2009 at 4:27 AM, Amit Somani wrote: > I'm Amit Somani and I recently returned to India after spending 14 years in > the US. I am presently in Product Management at Google Bangalore. Hi Amit, I don't know if you remember me, we've worked together a bit on the Google India Real Estate project. I was at Google Bangalore from Jan 2007 until Feb 2008 as an engineering manager. We should swap stories some time... > I started > my career at IBM Research in San Jose and spent many years in IBM's Software > Group as well. I'm a foodie, Yay foodies. I greatly benefitted from Madhu and Gautam's food advice while I was in B'lore. > a proud father of a toddler, a sports > enthusiast and wonder from time to time if running an ice-cream parlor or a > mexican restaurant would be more fun than being in the corporate world ;-) Don't get me started on the dearth of good authentic Mexican food outside of Mexico. Burritos and carnitas are not Mexican food, dammit, but I would have killed for even that in Bangalore. Just before leaving I was talking to Gautam about the possibility of getting corn ground with lime (masa) to make my own tortillas and tamales. Most of the other spices and ingredients are available so it should be possible. -- Charles
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
I don;t know about this debate. I don't think it is even real. India cannot have a Presidential system because I don't think this nation is capable of a consensus candidate. The interests of the constituent states has to be represented at the centre because the power sharing arrangement in the Constitution as it stands is heavily biased in favor of the centre. Greater power was not granted to the states at the time of independence because there was a genuine fear of fragmentation. In today's scenario, I think the lack of consensus over any one candidate, and in fact the impossibility of it, is betrayed by the constancy of coalition politics. Hence, I think having a President is an impossibility. Yes, the BJP may be trying to project a single leader, but so is everyone else. If Sonia were willing to be PM there would be no doubt about the Cong's candidate. And even if a proxy is elected, there is no doubt about who is in charge. The left does not name a PM candidate because they are not capable of producing a PM - they've never even attempted it. The only way they can is through horse-trading in Parliament. As for efficiency, what ever the system, it'll still be the same people manning that system. It can be distorted by preying on the same moral deficiencies. On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Thaths wrote: > On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM, Kiran K Karthikeyan > wrote: > >> ITYM *execution*. The House and Senate in the USian system take care > >> of the legislation. > > Yes. And it is the legislative bodies which are pre-occupied with > retaining > > the majority in the gov't. Perhaps I wasn't clear, but the presidential > > system seems more stable. With our current system any small regional > party > > can bring the governement down and maybe even force re-election which > > effectively means an entire year or more wasted, not to mention the > costs. > > Aren't the Real Executive in the Westminister system - the > bureaucracies in Whitehall and South Block - protected from the coming > and goings of MPs to a certain extent? You do have a point about costs > of elections. > > > If this has been discussed elsewhere, please do forward the links if > > possible. I would like to know the arguments against a Presidential > system > > (with or without an electoral college). > > Africa is full of faltering democracies (de facto dictatorships) that > chose the Presidential system. I suspect the Presidential system in a > newly democratic country lends itself handy to strongmen (and they > have all been men). > > Thaths > -- > "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson > >
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
Srini Ramakrishnan wrote: On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 6:27 PM, Amit Somani wrote: Hello Folks: Freeman Murray recommended Silklist to me as a place where a lot of interesting conversations happen. I'm glad Udhay let me in :-)) He also recommended I introduce myself. So here goes. Oh noes, another googler! Umm... hello, fellow googler, welcome to Silk. Would you be a good person to ask why the GMail browser chat version of GTalk has more features than the full-blown GTalk downloadable application? :P -- <<< * >>> Madhu Menon Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine | Moss Cocktail Lounge 96, Amar Jyoti Layout, Inner Ring Road, Bangalore @ http://shiokfood.com & http://mosslounge.com Join the Moss group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39295417270
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 6:27 PM, Amit Somani wrote: > Hello Folks: > Freeman Murray recommended Silklist to me as a place where a lot of > interesting conversations happen. I'm glad Udhay let me in :-)) He also > recommended I introduce myself. So here goes. Oh noes, another googler! Umm... hello, fellow googler, welcome to Silk. Cheeni
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
--- On Fri, 20/3/09, Radhika, Y. wrote: > From: Radhika, Y. > Subject: Re: [silk] Introduction (new member) > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Friday, 20 March, 2009, 11:07 PM > Amit if you are really > entrepreneurial;-) open a restaurant for > diabetics with mexican and desi inspired food - food > portions listed, > ingredients, and everything pared down to the simplest. > huge challenge. or > even diabetic catering!!! look forward to your posts on > Silklist. > > On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 10:27 AM, Amit Somani > wrote: > > > Hello Folks: > > Freeman Murray recommended Silklist to me as a place > where a lot of > > interesting conversations happen. I'm glad Udhay let > me in :-)) He also > > recommended I introduce myself. So here goes. > > > > I'm Amit Somani and I recently returned to India after > spending 14 years in > > the US. I am presently in Product Management at Google > Bangalore. I started > > my career at IBM Research in San Jose and spent many > years in IBM's > > Software > > Group as well. I'm a foodie, a proud father of a > toddler, a sports > > enthusiast and wonder from time to time if running an > ice-cream parlor or a > > mexican restaurant would be more fun than being in the > corporate world ;-) > > > > Regards, > > Amit > > I vote for the ice cream parlour Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 10:57 PM, Amit Somani wrote: >I'm glad Udhay let me in :-)) I hope that opinion continues. >I'm a proud father of a toddler Raising a child is also Product Management. Welcome to India, Bangalore,and to the list where arachnids, and sometimes worms, spin yarns Deepa.
Re: [silk] Introduction (new member)
Amit if you are really entrepreneurial;-) open a restaurant for diabetics with mexican and desi inspired food - food portions listed, ingredients, and everything pared down to the simplest. huge challenge. or even diabetic catering!!! look forward to your posts on Silklist. On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 10:27 AM, Amit Somani wrote: > Hello Folks: > Freeman Murray recommended Silklist to me as a place where a lot of > interesting conversations happen. I'm glad Udhay let me in :-)) He also > recommended I introduce myself. So here goes. > > I'm Amit Somani and I recently returned to India after spending 14 years in > the US. I am presently in Product Management at Google Bangalore. I started > my career at IBM Research in San Jose and spent many years in IBM's > Software > Group as well. I'm a foodie, a proud father of a toddler, a sports > enthusiast and wonder from time to time if running an ice-cream parlor or a > mexican restaurant would be more fun than being in the corporate world ;-) > > Regards, > Amit >
[silk] Introduction (new member)
Hello Folks: Freeman Murray recommended Silklist to me as a place where a lot of interesting conversations happen. I'm glad Udhay let me in :-)) He also recommended I introduce myself. So here goes. I'm Amit Somani and I recently returned to India after spending 14 years in the US. I am presently in Product Management at Google Bangalore. I started my career at IBM Research in San Jose and spent many years in IBM's Software Group as well. I'm a foodie, a proud father of a toddler, a sports enthusiast and wonder from time to time if running an ice-cream parlor or a mexican restaurant would be more fun than being in the corporate world ;-) Regards, Amit
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM, Kiran K Karthikeyan wrote: >> ITYM *execution*. The House and Senate in the USian system take care >> of the legislation. > Yes. And it is the legislative bodies which are pre-occupied with retaining > the majority in the gov't. Perhaps I wasn't clear, but the presidential > system seems more stable. With our current system any small regional party > can bring the governement down and maybe even force re-election which > effectively means an entire year or more wasted, not to mention the costs. Aren't the Real Executive in the Westminister system - the bureaucracies in Whitehall and South Block - protected from the coming and goings of MPs to a certain extent? You do have a point about costs of elections. > If this has been discussed elsewhere, please do forward the links if > possible. I would like to know the arguments against a Presidential system > (with or without an electoral college). Africa is full of faltering democracies (de facto dictatorships) that chose the Presidential system. I suspect the Presidential system in a newly democratic country lends itself handy to strongmen (and they have all been men). Thaths -- "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
> > Tangentially, Perry Anderson has been writing polished analyses of the > decay > of parliamentary democracy in Italy in the London Review of Books: he has > this piece, http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n04/ande01_.html on the new order of > the '90s being subverted by the problems of the old order, Parts of it sound almost like an alternate ending to Citizen Kane...media tycoon getting into gov't. Kiran
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
> > ITYM *execution*. The House and Senate in the USian system take care > of the legislation. Yes. And it is the legislative bodies which are pre-occupied with retaining the majority in the gov't. Perhaps I wasn't clear, but the presidential system seems more stable. With our current system any small regional party can bring the governement down and maybe even force re-election which effectively means an entire year or more wasted, not to mention the costs. Its either that, or if you do provide support, then you're locked in for the term. If this has been discussed elsewhere, please do forward the links if possible. I would like to know the arguments against a Presidential system (with or without an electoral college). Kiran
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 1:28 AM, Bonobashi wrote: > Think of Chaudhry Charan Singh remaining head of government for a fixed > tenure. Think of Deve Gowda. > Please, let's not even go there. With a Presidential system Charan Singh would never have happened. And there is always the impeachment option for the likes of Deve Gowda. Thaths -- "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 12:59 AM, Kiran K Karthikeyan wrote: > Instead of trying to prevent a Vote of no confidence/withdrawal of support, > they can concentrate on legislation and also reduces chances of re-election. ITYM *execution*. The House and Senate in the USian system take care of the legislation. Thaths -- "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson
Re: [silk] DNA cryptography
Hi Udhay, Apologies on top post, as another cryptographer on the list my humble thoughts :). Looks intersting, the classic paper to have a look at is Adelman's paper. Doing operations, have been not very efficient using DNA Regards Anish Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -Original Message- From: Udhay Shankar N Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:39:05 To: Subject: [silk] DNA cryptography I'd be very interested in the thoughts of various listmembers on this (Perry, you there?) Udhay http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23167/ The emerging science of DNA cryptography If DNA computing can be used to break codes, then the machinery of life can be exploited to encrypt data too Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Molecular biologists have long thought of DNA as an information storage device. The body processes this information with an impressive array of computing machinery which, since the 1990s, we've exploited to carry out a few of our own calculations. DNA computing may not be fast but it is massively parallel. With the right kind of setup, it has the potential to solve huge mathematical problems. It's hardly surprising then, that DNA computing represents a serious threat to various powerful encryption schemes such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES). But if DNA can be used to break codes then it can also be exploited to encrypt data. Various groups have suggested using the sequence of nucleotides in DNA (A for 00, C for 01, G for 10, T for 11) for just this purpose. One idea is to not even bother encrypting the information but simply burying it in the DNA so it is well hidden, a technique called DNA steganography. But that all sounds to simple for Nang King, an independent researcher who today puts forward an entirely new approach based on the way in which information from DNA is processed inside cells. The processing works in two stages called transcription and translation. In transcription, a DNA segment that constitutes a gene is converted into messenger RNA (mRNA) which floats out of the nucleus and into the body of the cell. this happens only after the noncoding parts of the gene have been removed and the remaining sequences spliced back together. In translation, molecular computers called ribosomes read the information that mRNA carries and uses it to assemble amino acids into protein chains. This is a one way process. Information can be transferred from DNA to a protein but it cannot be converted back. There reasons are various. How would this process know where to reinsert the noncoding regions of DNA that were originally cut out or what these noncoding sequences would have consisted of in the first place? Nang's idea is that Alice encodes her message in the original DNA sequence and allows this to be transcribed and translated. The resulting protein is then like a public key which can be sent to Bob through a public channel. Meanwhile, Alice sends Bob the secret key which consists of the information he needs to reassemble the DNA such as the location of the noncoding regions that need to be reinserted. Nang says that this form of cryptography is surprisingly secure to a number of powerful attacks. But he also points out various weaknesses such as that the encryption becomes increasingly difficult if more complex keys are used. But it piques the interest for sure. And as an additional weapon in the cryptographer's armoury, it's surely an idea worthy of further study. Ref: arxiv.org/abs/0903.2693: A Pseudo DNA Cryptography Method -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
[silk] DNA cryptography
I'd be very interested in the thoughts of various listmembers on this (Perry, you there?) Udhay http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23167/ The emerging science of DNA cryptography If DNA computing can be used to break codes, then the machinery of life can be exploited to encrypt data too Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Molecular biologists have long thought of DNA as an information storage device. The body processes this information with an impressive array of computing machinery which, since the 1990s, we've exploited to carry out a few of our own calculations. DNA computing may not be fast but it is massively parallel. With the right kind of setup, it has the potential to solve huge mathematical problems. It's hardly surprising then, that DNA computing represents a serious threat to various powerful encryption schemes such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES). But if DNA can be used to break codes then it can also be exploited to encrypt data. Various groups have suggested using the sequence of nucleotides in DNA (A for 00, C for 01, G for 10, T for 11) for just this purpose. One idea is to not even bother encrypting the information but simply burying it in the DNA so it is well hidden, a technique called DNA steganography. But that all sounds to simple for Nang King, an independent researcher who today puts forward an entirely new approach based on the way in which information from DNA is processed inside cells. The processing works in two stages called transcription and translation. In transcription, a DNA segment that constitutes a gene is converted into messenger RNA (mRNA) which floats out of the nucleus and into the body of the cell. this happens only after the noncoding parts of the gene have been removed and the remaining sequences spliced back together. In translation, molecular computers called ribosomes read the information that mRNA carries and uses it to assemble amino acids into protein chains. This is a one way process. Information can be transferred from DNA to a protein but it cannot be converted back. There reasons are various. How would this process know where to reinsert the noncoding regions of DNA that were originally cut out or what these noncoding sequences would have consisted of in the first place? Nang's idea is that Alice encodes her message in the original DNA sequence and allows this to be transcribed and translated. The resulting protein is then like a public key which can be sent to Bob through a public channel. Meanwhile, Alice sends Bob the secret key which consists of the information he needs to reassemble the DNA such as the location of the noncoding regions that need to be reinserted. Nang says that this form of cryptography is surprisingly secure to a number of powerful attacks. But he also points out various weaknesses such as that the encryption becomes increasingly difficult if more complex keys are used. But it piques the interest for sure. And as an additional weapon in the cryptographer's armoury, it's surely an idea worthy of further study. Ref: arxiv.org/abs/0903.2693: A Pseudo DNA Cryptography Method -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
Not to say that current reality is in any way excusable, but I shudder to think of the implications of a unilateral power centre in this democracy. Tangentially, Perry Anderson has been writing polished analyses of the decay of parliamentary democracy in Italy in the London Review of Books: he has this piece, http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n04/ande01_.html on the new order of the '90s being subverted by the problems of the old order, and this one, http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n05/ande01_.html on the death of the Italian Left [NB, I haven't read the second one in entirety yet]. I only wish there were some way to predict what sort of government would be better for a FIFA World Cup victory. On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 1:36 PM, Kiran K Karthikeyan < kiran.karthike...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > http://indian-election2009.blogspot.com/2009/03/cost-of-indian-election-2009.html > > . > > > > Found this in the comments of the link above which I just sent - > > >>As our goal to promote astrology, we invite the political election > candidates to get their horoscopes analyzed by DecisionCare and be provided > to the voters. DecisionCare will provide this horoscope analysis free as > long as the birth details (date, time and birth place) come from the > candidates directly. This is to avoid confusion about the accuracy of > available birth data. We urge all voter readers to pass this information to > political candidates participating in Indian elections. > Http://www.decisioncare.org<< > > Speechless! > > Kiran > -- roswitha.tumblr.com
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
--- On Fri, 20/3/09, Kiran K Karthikeyan wrote: > From: Kiran K Karthikeyan > Subject: Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Friday, 20 March, 2009, 1:36 PM > > > > > > http://indian-election2009.blogspot.com/2009/03/cost-of-indian-election-2009.html > > . > > > > Found this in the comments of the link above which I just > sent - > > >>As our goal to promote astrology, we invite the > political election > candidates to get their horoscopes analyzed by DecisionCare > and be provided > to the voters. DecisionCare will provide this horoscope > analysis free as > long as the birth details (date, time and birth place) come > from the > candidates directly. This is to avoid confusion about the > accuracy of > available birth data. We urge all voter readers to pass > this information to > political candidates participating in Indian elections. > Http://www.decisioncare.org<< > > Speechless! > > Kiran Promises, promises Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
--- On Fri, 20/3/09, Kiran K Karthikeyan wrote: > From: Kiran K Karthikeyan > Subject: Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Date: Friday, 20 March, 2009, 1:29 PM > > > > Karat commented yesterday that this is due to the BJP > yearning for a > > presidential form of government, and always trying to > fit our present > > Westminster style parliamentary democracy with PM and > cabinet responsible to > > the house and determined by a majority in the house to > a quasi presidential > > system. > > > Wouldn't a presidential system actually be better than the > coalition > goverments we've been getting? I.e. they can get things > done? No. It's been debated to death elsewhere, we are highly unlikely to add fresh ideas to that stale mix. Think of Chaudhry Charan Singh remaining head of government for a fixed tenure. Think of Deve Gowda. Please, let's not even go there. Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
> > > http://indian-election2009.blogspot.com/2009/03/cost-of-indian-election-2009.html > . > Found this in the comments of the link above which I just sent - >>As our goal to promote astrology, we invite the political election candidates to get their horoscopes analyzed by DecisionCare and be provided to the voters. DecisionCare will provide this horoscope analysis free as long as the birth details (date, time and birth place) come from the candidates directly. This is to avoid confusion about the accuracy of available birth data. We urge all voter readers to pass this information to political candidates participating in Indian elections. Http://www.decisioncare.org<< Speechless! Kiran
Re: [silk] Prime Ministerial candidate
> > Karat commented yesterday that this is due to the BJP yearning for a > presidential form of government, and always trying to fit our present > Westminster style parliamentary democracy with PM and cabinet responsible to > the house and determined by a majority in the house to a quasi presidential > system. Wouldn't a presidential system actually be better than the coalition goverments we've been getting? I.e. they can get things done? Instead of trying to prevent a Vote of no confidence/withdrawal of support, they can concentrate on legislation and also reduces chances of re-election. The Indian election is a very costly affair - http://indian-election2009.blogspot.com/2009/03/cost-of-indian-election-2009.html . Kiran
