Re: [silk] Recommended Reading from 2015

[Anil Kumar]

On Thu, Dec 26, 2019 at 6:58 AM Thaths  wrote:

> On Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 4:35 AM Anil Kumar 
> wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 8:35 AM Thaths  wrote:
> >
> > > For the seventh year in a row, I am turning to silk listers for book
> > > recommendation this holiday season.
> > >
> > > What have you read over the last year that has left a mark on you? What
> > > are you eagerly looking forward to reading over the Christmas/NewYear's
> > > holidays?
> > >
> >
> > I miss Thath's requests for the yearly book recommendations and the mails
> > in response to the requests.
> >
>
> I stopped sending them because the last couple of times I did, there were
> no responses.
>

Any takers for a book recommendation thread this year?

Two books I enjoyed reading are:

1. This Divided Island - Samanth Subramaniam.
2. A Beginner's Guide to Japan - Pico Iyer.

- Anil Kumar


>
> Thaths
> --
> Homer: Hey, what does this job pay?
> Carl:  Nuthin'.
> Homer: D'oh!
> Carl:  Unless you're crooked.
> Homer: Woo-hoo!
>

Re: [silk] Recommended Reading from 2015

[Anil Kumar]

On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 8:35 AM Thaths  wrote:

> For the seventh year in a row, I am turning to silk listers for book
> recommendation this holiday season.
>
> What have you read over the last year that has left a mark on you? What
> are you eagerly looking forward to reading over the Christmas/NewYear's
> holidays?
>

I miss Thath's requests for the yearly book recommendations and the mails
in response to the requests.

- Anil Kumar



>
> Past silk list recommendations have included such gems as:
>
> * Alice Albina's Empires of the Indus
> * Samanth Subramaniam's Following Fish
> * Sarnath Bannerjee's Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers
> * Devdutt Pattanaik's Myth=Mithya.
> * Nilanjana Roy's Wildings
> * Aman Sethi's A Free Man
>
> The books that I enjoyed reading
> <https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/646599?shelf=read> the most this
> year:
>
> * Between the Wold and Me <http://www.amazon.com/dp/0812993543/> by
> Ta-Nehisi Coates. Searing.
>
> * The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto
> <http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679738347/> by Pico Iyer. A book published many
> years ago that I finally got to reading after a wonderful week in Kyoto
> during Sakura season.
>
> * Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
> <http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385523912/> by Barbara Demnick. Books about
> North Korea tend to paint a portrait of the other. Amidst the usual line up
> horror stories it is difficult to understand or imagine what the lives of
> ordinary people is like in that county (I am looking at you, *Orphan
> Master's Son*, as an egregious example). This book does a beautiful job of
> showing the lives of ordinary people and how they get by.
>
> * The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
> <http://www.amazon.com/dp/1439170916/> by Siddhartha Mukherjee. An
> excellent exploration of the history of cancer treatments and mankind's
> experience with the malady.
>
> * The Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism
> <http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195073495/> by A.L. Basham. A short work that
> provides an excellent introduction to how Classical Hinduism evolved.
>
> * Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity <http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312612370/>
> by
> Sam Miller. Miller explores the past and the present of Delhi as he walks
> round and round the city in a somewhat spiral route.
>
> * A Short walk in the Hindu Kush <http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BKQ1FA2/> by
> Eric Newby. Another classic that I did not get to reading till 2015.
>
>
> Thaths
>

Re: [silk] New member intro - Krishna Udayasankar

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, Dec 15, 2019 at 8:09 PM Krishna Udayasankar <
kris.udayasan...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Thanks for welcoming into this wonderful space. My name is Krishna, I
> pretend to be a writer (nothing you have read, I sincerely hope!) and
> keep up the pretence by continuing to put my name on about 7-odd
> novels that were mainly written by my 3 canine fur-kids; who are now
> at work on the movie/series scripts of the same.
>
> I also am well know for my agility, which allows me to often put my
> foot in my mouth (sometimes while the other foot is already inside),
> and also for my contribution to terraforming vide my jokes that fall
> flat and hard.
>
> I am currently a resident of Singapore, soon to become a resident of
> Bangalore. In terms of educational background- i.e.- what I should
> have done to get a real life - I was originally a lawyer and went on
> to do my PhD in Strategic Management and worked as an academic of over
> a decade before my epiphany that fiction is often truer than academic
> research.
>
> I now (attempt to) make a living by cracking bad jokes in exchange for
> beer. Whiskey promises a better standard of humour and perhaps an
> occasionally useful statement.
>
> Thanks and look forward to being a mildly-amusing wallflower on this group!
>
> Warm regards,
> Krishna
> 
> Krishna Udayasankar, PhD.
>
>
Welcome to Silklist, Krishna!  Welcome to Bangalore!

Re: [silk] Silklist Anniversary Meetup

[Anil Kumar]

> On 11-Dec-2019, at 11:40, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 5:16 PM Kiran K Karthikeyan <
> kiran.karthike...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 12th is my birthday and 13th is the winter party at work, but I'm game 14th
>> or 15th. What say Bangalore folks?
>> 
> 
> 14th/15th work, although I would prefer 14th. Show of hands?
> 
> Udhay
> 
> -- 
> 
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))

I’m for December 14.  Where and when?

Anil 

Re: [silk] Bangalore and Chennai food/restaurant recommendations

[Anil Kumar]

> On 18-Sep-2019, at 10:45, Biju Chacko  wrote:
> 
>> On Wed, 18 Sep 2019 at 07:52, Anil Kumar  wrote:
>> 
>> There is a long time running debate/fight on North Blr vs South Blr (CTR
>> better than MTR; Malleswaram better than Jayanagar) among some
>> Bangaloreans.  I (West Bangalorean; staying at similar distances to both
>> places) have my popcorn ready. :-)
> 
> Not being a big Dosa guy, I ignore this fight and head to Brahmin's in
> Basavangudi. Now, there's one place that lives up to the hype!
> 
> -- b
> 

+1. I spent 3 years at BHS from 1985-88; been a fan since then.

- Anil 

Re: [silk] Bangalore and Chennai food/restaurant recommendations

[Anil Kumar]

There is a long time running debate/fight on North Blr vs South Blr (CTR
better than MTR; Malleswaram better than Jayanagar) among some
Bangaloreans.  I (West Bangalorean; staying at similar distances to both
places) have my popcorn ready. :-)

Cheers!

Anil

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 8:53 PM Kavita ATD 
wrote:

> Hearing this for the first time! (MTR trumps over CTR)
>
> Are you sure you got them right?
>
>
>
> K
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 8:01 PM Simmi Sareen 
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > > On 17-Sep-2019, at 19:37, Venkat Mangudi - Silk <
> s...@venkatmangudi.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > MTR is over-rated. :-)
> > >
> > > CTR (there are two of them near Malleswaram) is better for dosas. Shree
> > > Sagar (Central tiffin room - CTR1) is near the Malleswaram ground.
> > > Chikkanna Tiffin Room (CTR2) is near the temple in Kumara Park. Both
> have
> > > lip-smacking dosas.
> > >
> > >>
> >
> > Love the original MTR in Lalbag.
> >
> > Find CTR hugely overrated :-)
> >
>
>
> --
>
> *Kavita Jhunjhunwala*
> *Digital Lead & Founder*
> *Avocado Tree Digital Pte Ltd *
> *www.avocadotreedigital.com  *
>
>
> Facebook  LinkedIn
> 
>
>
> *SG: +65 8499 7403 *
> *IND:+91 99868 77769 *
>

Re: [silk] Firefighting/Twitter story

[Anil Kumar]

On Sat, Nov 4, 2017 at 8:49 AM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> On Sat, Nov 4, 2017 at 7:51 AM, Anil Kumar 
> wrote:
>
> I have trained on a manual typewriter
> > many years ago (that is, took formal training for a full year at a
> *typing
> > institute* in Bangalore during my 9th standard; was not allowed to take
> up
> > the typewriting exam).
>
>
> ​Say more about this?​
>
> ​Udhay​
>
>
The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board conducts typewriting
and shorthand examinations after a student is trained by a registered *commerce
institute*.  The eligibility criteria for taking the exam is passing the
10th standard exams.  Some commerce institutes admitted students like
myself earlier than in the 10th standard or those that had not passed the
10th standard exam only to train as a typist but could not take the
exam conducted by the Board.  The training certainly helped in later years
when typing on a computer keyboard became a daily requirement.  Folks at
home got us to type formal letters occasionally.  The carbon tapes used on
the manual typewriter were available in uni-color (black) and dual colors
(black and red) where the red color was used to highlight certain text.
The typewriters were serviced periodically to keep them working well.  The
letter fonts had to be cleaned regularly using some fuel for clearly typed
letters and the levers had to be oiled regularly.

Anil


--
>
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>

Re: [silk] Firefighting/Twitter story

[Anil Kumar]

On Sat, Nov 4, 2017 at 6:37 AM, John Sundman  wrote:

> Here is a short (nonfiction) story about a fire call I responded to the
> other night.
>
> I’ve recreated it from the twitter threat that was its original format.
>
> Passing along to Silklist because (a) I think you might find the story
> interesting in itself & (b) it naturally causes me to reflect on the
> staccato, “just the facts, ma’am” style of storytelling that Twitter
> enforces. It’s an artificial constraint, but the discipline does really
> force you, I think, to learn how to be economical and direct.
>
> November 30 will be my last day as a firefighter.
>
> Comments welcome.
>
> 
>
> I'm a firefighter. I'm also a novelist. Had an interesting call last
> night. Prompted some big (for me, anyway) thoughts.
>
> No person or animal was injured; we saved the building and most of the
> contents. (There was water & smoke damage.) Still, it was tragic.
>
> The call came in around 9 PM. I was home. Earlier that evening I had
> worked out at the firehouse, then attended a lecture on Checkov.
>
> "Structure fire at [address]. Detached home office; flame visible." I got
> there just after the ladder truck, where my gear is stowed.
>
> As I geared up some other firefighters were connecting a supply line to a
> hydrant; others were already attacking the fire.
>
> I grabbed an air pack but Chief hollered to me, "Forget the pack. Give me
> some lights. Light up this scene!" So I began to do that.
>
> The building on fire was downhill from the main house, across a lawn, 100
> feet from the road. I dragged a power cord & light there, etc.
>
> The fire was soon knocked down & the long process of "salvage & overhaul"
> began. A man and a woman watched from a porch on the house.
>
> The man was the novelist Ward Just. Lost in the fire was the only
> manuscript of a novel he had been working on for 3 years. Gone. Ashes.
>
> I had met him & his wife before, sat next tot them at a dinner party.
> There's lots more to the story but that's enough for now.
>
> I wasn't going to make this public, Chief might not be happy with me, but
> a lost Ward Just novel is a big story, & he was a journalist.
>
> I asked myself, If our positions were reversed, if he was the firefighter
> & I the famous writer, would Ward Just have tweeted this out?
>
> I believe he would have. Further, this is just the kind of scenario that
> might appear in one of his novels. It's nearly Checkovian.
>
> I offered condolences, helped disconnect hoses, etc, went back to station,
> helped but truck back in order, re-packed my gear.
>
> Ward Just writes his novels on a manual typewriter. That also was ruined
> in the fire.
>
> It was about 1:30 AM when I went to bed. Today I'm going to find a few
> hours to work on my latest novel. I'll back up my work.
>
> 
>
> jrs
>


Its terribly sad to lose work done over three years; and, to lose the
instrument used to create that work.  I have trained on a manual typewriter
many years ago (that is, took formal training for a full year at a *typing
institute* in Bangalore during my 9th standard; was not allowed to take up
the typewriting exam).  Also, we had a Remington typewriter and a German
portable typewriter at home.  It takes time and effort to get used to
another typewriter, assuming one can be found easily.  Some people are
particular about the computer keyboard used for daily work.  For example,
the TVSE Gold keyboard for desktop computers used to be a favorite many
years ago in India because it returned a sharp click every time a key was
used unlike the soft keys on some of other keyboards.  To be comfortable in
using  a new manual typewriter on a regular basis (again, assuming that's
what the writer will do) could be a whole lot different.

Anil

Re: [silk] Mysore Masala Dosa in Bangalore

[Anil Kumar]

On Sat, Dec 10, 2016 at 9:31 AM, Venkatesh H R 
wrote:

> My thumb rule is: if a place advertises a Mysore Masala Dosa, then it's not
> really a good dosa place. Case in point: sagar ratna in Delhi. (Good dosas
> in Delhi are to be found in Carnatic cafe)
>

I totally agree with the thumb rule.

IMHO, you can enjoy your dosas at Carnatic Cafe in Delhi better if you
insist that the chef goes easy on the fat, too much ghee takes away the
real fun of it.  Btw, Kwality restaurant on Mall Road, Shimla had good
masala dosas (closer to the Bangalore style in how the dosa was made and
the taste of the potato palya/filling); though, I have not been there in a
few years now.



> Also, this might be controversial -- there are two dosa schools, what I
> call the Chennai school and the Bangalore school. The former includes dosas
> that are larger in size but thinner. Sometimes they're flaky. The latter is
> what you will find in Vidhyarthi Bhavan, CTR, etc.
>

I think there is nothing controversial there. Bangalore dosas are fluffy on
the inside and crispy on the outside unlike Chennai style dosas which are
flat and crispy. Its only for this reason i like the dosas at Carnatic Cafe
in Delhi.

Anil


>
> On Sat, Dec 10, 2016 at 4:01 AM Charles Haynes 
> wrote:
>
> > +1 to Vidyarthi Bhavan. Had a dosa here in Melbourne just yesterday, it
> was
> > soggy and they FOLDED it. This place did have "mysore masala dosa"  on
> the
> > menu but I am unwilling to try it just to report back what they put in
> it.
> >
> > -- Charles
> >
> > On Fri., 9 Dec. 2016, 9:22 pm Namitha Jagadeesh, 
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Second all the recommendations below. Vidyarthi Bhavan in Gandhi Bazaar
> > > pretty famous, can get crowded. You can sit but most of the times
> you'll
> > > share the table with others. Most Upahara Darshinis are good for masala
> > > dose too.
> > >
> > > On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 11:10 AM, Venkat Mangudi - Silk <
> > > s...@venkatmangudi.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > If you mean masala dosa with chutney smeared inside, that is just a
> > > > regular masala dosa here. It’s called Mysore Masala Dosa in Mumbai
> and
> > > > places north. Good dosas at
> > > >
> > > > 1. Central Tiffin Room, Malleswaram
> > > > 2. Dosa camp, Jayanagar
> > > > 3. Food street, V V Puram (no sitting)
> > > > and many many more places.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Venkat
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On 08-Dec-2016, at 4:02 PM, Aditya Kapil 
> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyone know any good Mysore Masala Dosa place in Bangalore?
> > Preferably
> > > > > where one might sit and eat.
> > > > > Thanks, Adit.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

Re: [silk] It's not cool, but...

[Anil Kumar]

> On 13-Jul-2015, at 20:27, Venkat Mangudi - Silk  
> wrote:
> 
> Good show? Interesting.
> 

Venkat:

I think "Good Show" is a sign of appreciation by a very old friend :-)

Anil



> Meanwhile,  congratulations U&L.
> 
> -Venkat
>> On Jul 13, 2015 10:54 AM, "Aditya Kapil"  wrote:
>> 
>> Congratulations man! Good show. Please convey my best wishes to L.
>> Adit.
>> 
>> On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 7:38 PM, Jessie Prabhakar 
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Congrats Udhay and Lavanya!
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
 On 13-Jul-2015, at 1:38 pm, Srini RamaKrishnan 
>> wrote:
 
> On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 12:17 PM, Thaths  wrote:
> Congratulations, Udhay and Lavanya. Has it been 15 years already?!
 
 Indeed, congrats, it feels like it was only yesterday :-)
>> 

Re: [silk] Books and libraries

[Anil Kumar]

> On 05-Nov-2014, at 2:08 pm, Anil Kumar  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> On 03-Nov-2014, at 4:09 pm, Nikhil Mehra  wrote:
>> 
>> Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks!
>>> On 3 Nov 2014 16:06, "Alok G. Singh"  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Bharat Shetty  writes:
>>> 
>>>> Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in
>>>> Bengaluru ?
>>> 
>>> I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and
>>> not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a
>>> good nostalgia fix.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Alok
>>> 
>>> This is NOT a repeat.
> 
> Nikhil:
> 
> Eloor Library is in South Extension, Part 1 in Delhi too. My wife and I like 
> the collection there.
> 
> Anil Kumar

UPDATE

Apologies. I just read Eloor closed its Delhi branch early this year.

Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] Books and libraries

[Anil Kumar]

> On 03-Nov-2014, at 4:09 pm, Nikhil Mehra  wrote:
> 
> Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks!
>> On 3 Nov 2014 16:06, "Alok G. Singh"  wrote:
>> 
>> Bharat Shetty  writes:
>> 
>>> Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in
>>> Bengaluru ?
>> 
>> I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and
>> not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a
>> good nostalgia fix.
>> 
>> --
>> Alok
>> 
>> This is NOT a repeat.
>> 

Nikhil:

Eloor Library is in South Extension, Part 1 in Delhi too. My wife and I like 
the collection there.

Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] E.T go home :)

[Anil Kumar]

> On 26-Aug-2014, at 9:38 pm, Charanya Chidambaram 
>  wrote:
> 
>> On 26 August 2014 14:23, Biju Chacko  wrote:
>> 
>> Welcome. I'm afraid I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the meet.
>> What do you do? What interests you?
>> 
>> -- b
> 
> ​Hi Biju,
> My day job is that of a Communications consultant - I have worked with
> universities, startups and various governments over the last few years. I
> also moonlight as a chef every now and then with my pop -up dinners :) I
> have hosted more than 200 dinners mostly across Europe and am starting out
> in India with Bangalore.
> 
> I absolutely adore travel and spent my last year travelling around India -
> from spending time in monasteries to paragliding to pretty much eating
> my way through the rest of my travels :)
> 
> I have been part of the coworking and coliving movements and am bringing
> parts of that to my new home in Bangalore and am very excited for what lies
> ahead.
> 
> A tiny glimpse into my wonderland  :)

Hi Charanya:

Welcome to Silk-list.

My wife and I will be very interested to attend a pop-up dinner, if you plan 
one in New Delhi. Please let me know :-)

Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] Bilingualism benefits aging brain

[Anil Kumar]

> On 06-Jun-2014, at 10:50 am, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:
> 
>> On Fri, Jun 6, 2014 at 8:15 AM, Deepa Mohan  wrote:
>> 
>> Yes, in India, with rapid urbanization, I have seen this amazing
>> phenomenon (which I never thought about for a long time) of people who
>> cannot read and/or write their mother tongue, or even, sometimes, speak it.
>> Are there parallels in other countries?
> 
> India, to my knowledge, is unique in having the combination of the below:
> 
> 1. Having a huge assortment of languages and dialects native to the
> country, such that the need for link languages exists.
> 2. A large population whose only education has been in a language
> other than the "mother" tongue - in this case, in English.
> 
> In fact, I'd make a distinction between mother tongue (being defined
> as the language that your family historically spoke) and native tongue
> (being defined as the language you usually think in). My native tongue
> is English.
> 
> Udhay
> -- 
> 
Question to those who use multiple languages on a regular basis. What language 
do you use to think? I find myself mostly using English. I can read and write 
Kannada and Hindi and I use all 3 languages on a daily basis.

Anil Kumar
> 

Re: [silk] Fifteen

[Anil Kumar]

On Dec 5, 2012, at 22:48, Bonobashi  wrote:

> Cal or Delhi, anyone?
> 
> Indrajit Gupta

I'm in if it's in Delhi.

> 
> On Dec 5, 2012, at 2:28 PM, "Nikhil Mehra"  wrote:
> 
>> I'm in. 
>> Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Udhay Shankar N 
>> Sender: silklist-bounces+nikhil.mehra773=gmail@lists.hserus.net
>> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 14:27:05 
>> To: 
>> Reply-To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
>> Subject: Re: [silk] Fifteen
>> 
>> On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 1:43 PM, Nikhil Mehra  
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Absolutely.
>> 
>> So let's say 7pm Friday 21st December, at a place To Be Named Later. :)
>> 
>> Works for all?
>> 
>> Udhay
>> -- 
>> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>> 
> 

Re: [silk] Internet access advice

[Anil Kumar]

On 9/28/12, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:
> This is from a post grad student in the US (a friend of a friend). I'd
> think that one of the mobile broadband sticks (Reliance, Tata, etc)
> might be the trick, but I'm not sure how easily and how fast a
> foreigner on a tight schedule can get one. Can someone comment?
>
> Udhay
>
> 
>
> I need people who know New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and also Kathmandu and
> Pokara (Nepal), but also people with general India and Nepal
> knowledge.
>
> My issue is this:
>
> The wedding is right at the same time as the post-doc hiring
> season.  I'm obviously not willing to screw up my physics career
> forever by taking a 3-week trip to India.  Therefore I need reliable,
> pervasive internet access that I can get once or twice a day both in
> India and Nepal.
>
> I am thinking 3G hotspot, or internet cafe, or something else?
>  I know that it is hard for a foreigner to get a local SIM card or
> temporary phone, and I'm not sure what the standard isis every
> $20-35/night 3-or-4-star hotel (!!) that we are looking at going
> to have internet that I can count on strongly enough for
> career-depends-on-it considerations?  What about the hostels?  How can
> I most easily and affordably ensure reliable daily communication with
> North America?
>
> I really want to go to India, but I obviously don't want to
> not get a job because I was there, and I need advice.
>
> 
>
> --
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>
>


Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune--There are several cafes that offer wi-fi
and almost all hotels in South Delhi and South Mumbai offer wi-fi.
Some of the hotels in the USD50-100 range offer it free; the 5 Star
hotels offer wi-fi / internet but charge a premium around USD14-30 per
day.

- Anil Kumar

[silk] The Paris Time Capsule Apartment

[Anil Kumar]

I like the fact that the apartment does not seem to have been burgled
or occupied.

- Anil Kumar


http://www.messynessychic.com/2012/05/09/the-paris-time-capsule-apartment/


The Paris Time Capsule Apartment
In "Nostalgia" "Paris" on May 9, 2012 at 2:13 pm
A Parisian apartment left untouched for over 70 years was discovered
in the quartier of Pigalle a few summers ago and I’ve been meaning to
share the pictures with you. Time to unlock the vault …



The owner of this apartment, Mrs. De Florian left Paris just before
the rumblings of World War II broke out in Europe. She closed up her
shutters and left for the South of France, never to return to the city
again. Seven decades later she passed away at the age of 91. It was
only when her heirs enlisted professionals to make an inventory of the
Parisian apartment she left behind, that this time capsule was finally
unlocked.





The team that had the honor of opening what must have been a very
stiff old lock for the first time in 70 years, likened the experience
to ‘stumbling into the castle of sleeping beauty’. The smell of dust,
the cobwebs, the silence, was overwhelming; a once in a lifetime
experience.



There is a further twist to the story. In the apartment a painting of
familiar style was discovered of a beautiful woman in pink. One of the
inventory team members suspected this might be a very important piece
of treasure. Along with the painting, they also found stacks of old
love letters tied with colored ribbon.



With some expert historical opinion, the ribbon-bound love letters
were quickly recognized as the calling card of none other than
Giovanni Boldini, one of Paris’ most important painters of the Belle
Époque. The painting was his. The beautiful woman pictured in the
painting was Mrs. de Florian’s grand-mother, Marthe de Florian, a
beautiful French actress and socialite of the Belle Époque. She was
Boldini’s muse. And, despite him being a married man, she was also his
lover. The art world went a bit nutty for the whole story and the
painting was later sold for $3 million at auction.



What I find so intriguing about this story is not so much the
discovered painting and the revelation of a love affair between a
great Italian painter and the beautiful actress in an enchanting era,
but more the story of Mrs. de Florian and why she stayed away from
Paris for so long.

What kept her away even after the war? Was she running away from
someone or something other than the Nazis? For all those decades, her
rent on the elegant apartment in a flourishing city had been
faithfully paid, but it was left it to freeze in time. It all sounds
like the perfect mystery.

via The Telegraph, photos by GETTY

Re: [silk] The Bhansali Stork

[Anil Kumar]

On Apr 18, 2012, at 11:16, Vinit Bhansali  wrote:

> 
> 
> On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Deepa Mohan  wrote:
> I am very happy to tell everyone that Vinit Bhansali and Surabhi Tomar found 
> a baby boy in a bed of rose petals on Sunday, April 15. The little one, in 
> Vinit's words, is "so good-looking that we are wondering which couple have 
> left their baby with us."
> 
> Emailing them might be better than calling them, but it's up to each person.
> 
> Cheers, Deepa.
> 
> Sharing some interesting news based on the SilkMeet from the 13th.
> For people who were there and wondering why Surabhi disappeared halfway 
> through the evening ... She had just gone into labour!
> 
> Though it lasted longer and our baby Vir was only born on Sunday, I can 
> safely say that he did start kicking to get out during the SilkMeet (to meet 
> my wonderful SilkList friends)
> 
> So thanks SilkList for having this meet at our place and literally 
> kickstarting our baby's birth! 
> 

Congratulations Vinit and Surabhi!

Re: [silk] Delhi meetup?

[Anil Kumar]

On 2/16/12, Venkat Mangudi  wrote:
> On Thursday 16 February 2012 10:33 AM, Anil Kumar wrote:
>
>>
>> What date is the meetup?  I would like to join [work permitting].
>
> The plan is to meet on 20th in the evening.
>
> --Venkat

Sounds good to me; 20th is a holiday for Mahashivaratri; likely that
the retail vends are closed that day; so if it is B[ring]YOB, stocking
early is recommended.  I shall eagerly await information on time and
place for the meetup.

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] Delhi meetup?

[Anil Kumar]

On 2/16/12, Venkat Mangudi  wrote:
>
>
> "J. Alfred Prufrock"  wrote:
>
>>Venkat has obviously been corrupted by the law-abiding west. Corkage?!?
>>Cripes!!
>>BYOB it is.
>>
>
> Guilty as charged. :) but I am confused by the term 'law abiding west'.
> Can't think of the place you're talking about. Or do you mean all the way
> west, like Singapore? :)
>
> What's the wine scene at Delhi? Who else for wine?
>
>>I should be at the Lalit. Phone numbers may be exchanged off-list (
>>another.prufr...@gmail.com).
>
> Email is also fine... will send email with my phone number.
>
>>
>>Shefaly Yogendra off The Other Smooth List may be in town. And I vote
>>we
>>bring in DD and his better half The Babu - easily the most interesting
>>couple I know. Salil, alas, may leave before the 20th.
>
> I might invite a good friend, Deepak Shenoy. Some of us might know him
> already.
>
> --Venkat
> --
> Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.


What date is the meetup?  I would like to join [work permitting].

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] JT Edsons

[Anil Kumar]

On 1/31/12, Biju Chacko  wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 9:31 PM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:
>> On 30-Jan-12 8:18 PM, Vinit Bhansali wrote:
>>
>>> Have almost every L'Amour book. Never got around to JT Edson.
>>> How does their writing quality/style compare?
>>
>> Louis L'Amour is a far better writer than Edson - but for some reason,
>> Edson's earlier works are a guilty pleasure for several people, myself
>> included.
>
> Kind of how I'll happily read a Clive Cussler novel and immediately
> wonder why the heck I enjoyed it so much.
>
> Does anybody else have any other guilty pleasures (of the literary
> kind) they'd ... um... recommend (if that's the word).
>
> My list would include Clive Cussler, David Eddings and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
>
> -- b



Yes, exact same feeling from reading Clive Cussler novel; Robin Cook
and John Grisham did that to me ten years ago, not anymore.

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] how does one take an Indian bank to court?

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 11:46 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian
wrote:

> Sure. You approached your local bank officials and also their customer
> service center
>
> This is a fit case for the banking ombudsman
>
> If that does not work hire a competent lawyer and follow his advice.
>  Googling up law terms is sort of like self medicating after reading up
> websites and readers digest articles on various symptoms
>
> --
> srs (blackberry)
>
> -Original Message-
> From: "." 
> Sender: silklist-bounces+suresh=hserus@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:46:11
> To: 
> Reply-To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Subject: Re: [silk] how does one take an Indian bank to court?
>
> On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 12:07, Anil Kumar 
> wrote:
> >
> > You may want to briefly state the reasons for wanting to take the bank
> > (and/or its employee) to court; as a consumer you can seek redressal from
> > the bank's internal system then escalate it to the RBI Ombudsman; if that
> > does not work, take the matter formally to the Consumer Forum.
>
> Thanks Anil. Are there any legal sites that list out the various
> Indian penal clauses? I would like to read up some legalese and be
> more informed before I take any action. I'm specifically looking for
> past cases when individuals have taken Indian banks to court, so that
> I can learn what clauses they are liable under.  I remember reading a
> few news reports over the years but Google was unhelpful, atleast for
> the keywords I used.
>
> As for the reason: I wanted to wire some money to someone and the
> bank** gratuitously debited my account (without my permission nor
> authorization) for 5x the original amount and never bothered to
> intimate me. I came to know only _after_ I got the quarterly statement
> and only upon my following it up did they come up with a new claim
> "XYZ charges" but have no explanation on why they were not upfront (I
> was never given the numbers) about these specific charges and taxes,
> ever. The worst part of this miserable experience, the person who I
> sent the money to says he didnt get it.
>
> Fwiw, I'm not aware if the bank has any internal redressal system
> other than emailing their support centre — I had emailed their
> support/redressal id and they sent me a standard automated (unrelated
> and useless) reply. When I met the local branch folks requesting a
> reply, they tried to blame me, tried fobbing me off with a claim about
> tax/bank charges, But, when questioned about the unauthorized debits
> they had no credible answer on why (and under whose authorization)
> they generously helped themselves to my money from my bank account
> without informing me nor taking my permission _before_ debiting said
> account. A few hours ago I got a call saying they discussed it
> internally and agreed (to do me a favor?) and return some portion of
> the money if I could just forget the rest and end this.
>
> For me, its about a bank intentionally and carelessly breaching
> customer rights and privileges -- I dont think any bank has the
> freedom to gratuitously debit my account without my permission nor
> authorization. Most importantly, they broke the trust that I deposit
> along with my money. Period.
>
> ** Can one name the bank publicly, before going the judicial way? Will
> that break some Indian law that I am not aware of?
> --
> .
>
>

I agree with Suresh - this is a fit case for the banking ombusdsman (a
mechanism that has been put in place by the RBI for resolving customer
grievances).

The longer route of arguing your case with the bank can lead the bank to
putting a spin on its actions and waste a lot of your time; end of it all,
you may win but the return will be modest and may not be worth the time and
effort.  You can look up some past cases at http://indiakanoon.org/; the
RBI issues master circulars on an annual basis; these circulars contain
regulations on various issues including functioning of banks -
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/bs_viewmastercirculars.aspx - you might find
some information here.  You can also ask your bank (as a matter of right)
to provide you a written document for customer grievance redressal; this
will contain the procedure to be followed by you and will state the
esclation mechanism if the issue is not resolved.

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] how does one take an Indian bank to court?

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Anil Kumar wrote:

>
> You may want to briefly state the reasons for wanting to take the bank
> (and/or its employee) to court; as a consumer you can seek redressal from
> the bank's internal system then escalate it to the RBI Ombudsman; if that
> does not work, take the matter formally to the Consumer Forum.
>
> - Anil Kumar
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 5:16 PM, .  wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> How does one take a bank branch (an employee in particular) to court? Are
>> the rules different for public banks and private bank employees -- as in
>> they still fall under the RBI right? Will an FIR in the local police
>> station be the first step before  filing a case in the
>> Bangalore court? Has anyone on this list taken a bank to court and would
>> they be interested in sharing their experience? Any advice from all the
>> lawyers (and anyone else who has gone the judicial way) on this list is
>> more than welcome, and feel free to go off-list if you dont want any public
>> archives. Thanks,
>>
>> -
>> .
>>
>> Apologies for the top-posting.
>
- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] how does one take an Indian bank to court?

[Anil Kumar]

You may want to briefly state the reasons for wanting to take the bank
(and/or its employee) to court; as a consumer you can seek redressal from
the bank's internal system then escalate it to the RBI Ombudsman; if that
does not work, take the matter formally to the Consumer Forum.

- Anil Kumar




On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 5:16 PM, .  wrote:

> Hi,
> How does one take a bank branch (an employee in particular) to court? Are
> the rules different for public banks and private bank employees -- as in
> they still fall under the RBI right? Will an FIR in the local police
> station be the first step before  filing a case in the
> Bangalore court? Has anyone on this list taken a bank to court and would
> they be interested in sharing their experience? Any advice from all the
> lawyers (and anyone else who has gone the judicial way) on this list is
> more than welcome, and feel free to go off-list if you dont want any public
> archives. Thanks,
>
> -
> .
>
>

Re: [silk] Immigration contacts, anyone?

[Anil Kumar]

Nishant:

I do not think your friends can expect any action from the FRRO at this
late hour.  They should visit the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jaisalmer House
on Mansingh Road in New Delhi and petition the officer in-charge of renewal
of visas to Taiwan nationals; the MHA should be able to resolve the
residence permit issue as well.  It will help if they can reach out to the
Embassy of Taiwan in New Delhi and have an officer there vouch for their
credentials.

- Anil Kumar

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 5:58 PM, Nishant Shah  wrote:

> Hi All,
> I have 2 friends from Taiwan who are right now in India, studying for
> their Ph.D. and seem to be in some sort of a soup with the immigration
> authorities. So here is a quick recap of events:
> 1. The students registered with an autonomous research centre for their
> Ph.D. course work. This is not a state-recognised centre but the
> qualification from the coursework results in a University registration.
> However, during their course work, they could not come in as students so
> they took a tourist visa and completed their qualifications.
> 2. Last month, they also resigstered at the University as bona fide
> students and now have all their documentation in hand. In the completion of
> the course work and the registration at the University, they had to leave
> India once and then come back into the country. When they came back the
> second time, they did not register with the FRRO because they thought they
> had already done it once - their bad - and went about their way to getting
> everything else in place to apply for a student visa.
> 3. Their current visa expires on Thursday and there is still some lethargy
> from the FRRO to convert their visa. Additionally, they are told that
> because they didn't register the second time they came into the country,
> they cannot leave because they don't have a 'residence permit' which the
> immigration authorities at the Indian airport will need in order for them
> to leave. At the same time, there seems to be no indication from the FRRO
> about when they will get their visa extension and if they will get it. So
> they are now scared of becoming illegal residents once their visa expires
> on Thursday, and they can no longer legally stay in India, but also,
> apparently can't leave the country.
>
> So to sort out this complicated thing, we need help. If you know a
> competent immigration lawyer who will be able to sort this out (for not too
> hefty a fee, please, they are both students who are funding their entire
> education already) or contacts within the FRRO in Bangalore, it would be
> hugely useful.
>
> Otherwise, if you have any tips on what should be done (we are going to
> call the consulate first thing tomorrow morning, hopefully it will be open
> despite Muharram), do please write in to me. This is the time for all
> (wo)men to come to the aid of the party.
>
> Thanks a bunch
> Nishant
>
> --
> Nishant Shah
> Director (Research), Centre for Internet and Society,( www.cis-india.org )
> Asia Awards Fellow, 2008-09
> # 00-91-9740074884
> http://www.facebook.com/nishant.shah
> http://cis-india.academia.edu/NishantShah
>
>

Re: [silk] Remember Shakti - India Tour dates

[Anil Kumar]

>
>  *From: *Anil Kumar 
> *Sender: *silklist-bounces+suresh=hserus@lists.hserus.net
> *Date: *Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:33:52 +0530
> *To: *
> *ReplyTo: *silklist@lists.hserus.net
> *Subject: *Re: [silk] Remember Shakti - India Tour dates
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 10:39 AM, Ashwin Kumar  wrote:
>
>> Hey folks
>>
>> Sorry if this is spamming, but getting a chance to watch these guys live
>> is too exciting for me :)
>>
>> http://deghelt-productions.com/concerts/concerts.html
>>
>> Remember Shakti - Special Tour in India !
>> with John McLaughlin (guitar)
>> Zakir Hussain (tabla)
>> Shankar Mahadavan (vocals)
>> U. Shrinivas (mandolin)
>> V. Selvaganesh (kanjira, ghatam, mridangam)
>>
>> 5/02/12 Pune
>> 7/02/12 Mumbai
>> 9/02/12 Kolkata
>> 10/02/12 Bangalore
>> 11/02/12 Chennai
>> 12/02/12 Mumbai
>>
>> ~ashwin
>>
>
> Not in New Delhi? it is the right time of the year for an Open-air concert
> at Nehru Park.
>
> - Anil Kumar
>



On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 11:35 AM, Suresh Ramasubramanian
wrote:

> **
> remember metallica
> --
>

Aww...Come on!  Not that reason again.  Also, it should not be the excuse
for the following reasons; (i) Nehru Park is in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi,
unlike Leisure Valley located at Gurgaon - better policing; and (ii) Shakti
will not draw such large crowds.

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] Remember Shakti - India Tour dates

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 10:39 AM, Ashwin Kumar  wrote:

> Hey folks
>
> Sorry if this is spamming, but getting a chance to watch these guys live
> is too exciting for me :)
>
> http://deghelt-productions.com/concerts/concerts.html
>
> Remember Shakti - Special Tour in India !
> with John McLaughlin (guitar)
> Zakir Hussain (tabla)
> Shankar Mahadavan (vocals)
> U. Shrinivas (mandolin)
> V. Selvaganesh (kanjira, ghatam, mridangam)
>
> 5/02/12 Pune
> 7/02/12 Mumbai
> 9/02/12 Kolkata
> 10/02/12 Bangalore
> 11/02/12 Chennai
> 12/02/12 Mumbai
>
> ~ashwin
>

Not in New Delhi? it is the right time of the year for an Open-air concert
at Nehru Park.

- Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] One for Satyam

[Anil Kumar]

On Aug 1, 2011, at 23:36, Chetan Nagendra  wrote:

> This is hilarious!
> 
> Satyam spam from Nigeria! Just curious- has anyone received something similar?
> 
> 
> >>
> Namaskar,
> 
> 
> My name is Radha  Ramalinga,I am the wife of B. Suryanarayana Raju 
> Ramalinga,the younger brother of Byrraju Ramalinga Raju,former 
> chairman,founder and owner of Satyam Computers.
> 
> I do have a proposal for you,which would be of immense financial benefits to 
> you and .
> 
> <<<

I have received a few of these in the past, maybe 4-6 months ago.

[silk] No demat accounts for Hindu gods: HC

[Anil Kumar]

Just in case there weren't enough schemes to scam on the exchange;  but, the
jolly part is that the Indian Income Tax Department seems to have granted
Permanent Account Numbers to these dieties.  Also, do not miss the
distinction between private [trust] god and public god :-)



http://www.financialexpress.com/news/no-demat-accounts-for-hindu-gods-hc/647531/
#


*No demat accounts for Hindu gods: HC*
Agencies
Posted online: 2010-07-16 17:46:34+05:30

*Mumbai*Observing that deities should remain in temples and not in stock
markets, the Bombay High Court today rejected a petition seeking permission
to open demat accounts in the names of Hindu Gods.

"Trading in shares on the stock market requires certain skills and expertise
and to expect this from deities would not be proper," observed Justices P B
Majumdar and Rajendra Sawant while disposing of the petition filed by a
religious trust.

The trust had filed a petition challenging the decision of National
Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) to refuse it permission for opening demat
accounts in the names of five Hindu deities.

"When the Income Tax department has issued PAN cards to these five deities,
why should not NSDL allow opening of demat accounts in their names?" the
trust asked.

The deities of the Sangli-based trust "Ganpati Panchayatam Sansthan" are
Lord Ganesh, Chintamaneshwardev, Chintamaneshwaridevi, Suryanarayandev and
Laxminarayandev.

The trust, belonging to the Patwardhan family, the erstwhile royals of
Sangli, had obtained PAN cards in the names of deities in 2008.

Recently, the trust applied for opening demat accounts in the names of these
deities through a private bank but the request was turned down by NSDL.

The trust contended in the petition that various high courts and the Supreme
Court had given decisions in different cases allowing Hindu deities to
acquire property.

The counsel for the trust Uday Varunjkar argued that shares, debentures and
mutual funds can also be regarded as a property. The deities have a right to
acquire property, including shares and debentures and this is in keeping
with various judgements of high courts and the Supreme Court.

S Ganesh, a senior officer of NSDL, filed an affidavit saying only deities
of registered public trusts can acquire property.

The Sangli-based trust was a private religious body, he said and contended
that private trusts which were not registered under the Bombay Public Trusts
Act could not acquire property in the name of religious deities.

The private trusts can own or acquire property, including shares and
debentures, in the names of trustees but not in the name of god, the NSDL
official submitted.

Re: [silk] Chicago Now - "60 embarrassing ways to butcher the english language"

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 12:12 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian
wrote:

> Engrish as she is spooken .. a lot of it stateside, besides the old desi
> favorite "child bear"
>

..and you had to quote 'beer' wrong.

-Anil KUMAR



>
> Don't miss the Eric Schmidt business card where he's the "Chariman" of
> google
>
> And the mathematically inclined guy who wrote a check to Verizon (though
> that
> shouldn't have come into this list at all)
>
>
> http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/so-not-an-expert/2010/07/isnt-spelling-important-anymore.html
>
>

Re: [silk] Hilton banned in India

[Anil Kumar]

On Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 4:41 PM, Nikhil Mehra wrote:

>
> On Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 3:31 PM, Venkat Mangudi wrote:
>
>> On Saturday 19 June 2010 03:04 PM, Eugen Leitl wrote:
>> > On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 11:56:22PM +0530, Gautam John wrote:
>> >
>> >> I <3 IP too!
>> >
>> > I <3 IPv6.
>> >
>>
>> I <3 Judge Narinder Singh Dadda. All the IP experts in the world couldn't
>> have manufactured that result.
>>
>
Nikhil,

You probably recall from your Blr days that dadda in Kannada means a
dunce...

[silk] Hilton banned in India

[Anil Kumar]

 Like the Hindi saying goesaisa bhi hota hain (Such [incidents] too
occur)
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Hilton-banned-in-India-/635140/ Hilton
banned in India!
*Agencies* Posted: Jun 17, 2010 at 1859 hrs
*New Delhi* Conrad Hilton may have set up the first Hilton Hotel in 1925,
but a Rajasthan court has barred the US hotel group with business in 80
countries from operating in India under that brand, holding that it was
deceptively similar to Sirohi-based Hilltone Hotel.

Additional District Judge Narinder Singh Dadda, Sirohi, restrained the
international hospitality group from using any kind of "misleading logo and
mark" which has potential to cause confusion among the general public and
directed it not to carry on the business of hotel and food items under "such
duplicate trademark".

The order was passed on a petition from Hotel Hilltone founded in 1973 and
based in Sirohi, Rajasthan. The petitioner contended that it was registered
under the Companies Act, 1956.

The petitioner had sought a direction to restrain New York-based M/S Hilton
International Corporation from carrying on business in India by using a
"deceptively similar trademark".

"The defendant, in any state of India, may not use the registered trademark
Hotel Hilltone of the plaintiff or any kind of sabotage in it by using any
kind of misleading logo and mark.

"It may not use and enjoy by causing confusion of being plaintiff's hotel
and in collaboration with any other Indian establishment may not carry on
business of hotels and food items under such duplicate trade mark," the
court said in the order passed in April.

Conrad Hilton had bought his first hotel in 1919 and founded the
international chain of hotels named Hilton in 1925 in Dallas, Texas.

Hilton has a joint venture in India with DLF. It has three hotel properties,
including two in Delhi.

"The defendants (Hilton International Corporation and Hilton International)
are restrained by permanent injunction that they not give the threat to the
plaintiff to use the name of Hotel Hilltone and the defendant may not create
any obstruction of any kind in the manufacturing and sale of the food items
to be manufactured by the plaintiff under the registered trademark," the
order said.

The court has rejected the contention of Hilton International that the
domestic firm has adopted its name and trademark for deriving benefits of
its fame and reputation.

Re: [silk] Ten toughest books to read

[Anil Kumar]

On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 1:11 PM, Srini RamaKrishnan wrote:

> On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 3:45 AM, ss  wrote:
> > I haven't read a single Mills and Boon in my life. Is that a world
> record? For
> > me it was a purely sexist phenomenon. It was for girls and sissies.
>
> If so I share that record with you. My memory of M&B is seeing mothers
> and daughters bonding and fighting over these books.
>
> Cheeni
>
>
Yep, me too; never read an M&B or any other similar books; I've bought M&Bs
at INR10/- per book on Avenue Road and gifted to cousins but not read any;
possibly because we were a male-dominated joint family household and being
caught reading M&B may not have been very nice.

- Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Ten toughest books to read

[Anil Kumar]

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 6:11 PM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> Supriya Nair wrote, [on 6/15/2010 3:09 PM]:
>
> > Does Udhay's Harry Potter dismissal equate 'tough' with 'boring'? That
> > will inflate everyone's bounce lists.
>
> Fair question. I guess that "boring" is a subset of "tough to finish",
> the overarching criterion being "I don't care what happens to these
> people anymore".
>
> Udhay
>
>
Agree with Venky Hariharan; though I did not abandon reading God of Small
Things; finished it only to feel a depression set in; reading The Kite
Runner was depressing too, but in a different way.

A non-fiction book I took real long time to finish was Ramchandra Guha -
India After Gandhi; the last hundred pages were really slow.

- Anil KUMAR

[silk] Ten toughest books to read

[Anil Kumar]

Calling the attention of the bibliophiles on Silk -


http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/books/Ten-toughest-books-to-read/Article1-557458.aspx

Oh well; the others too...


  Ten toughest books to read

Who among us hasn’t struggled with a book or poem that failed to capture our
attention? Here's a list of ten toughest reads in literature.

*1. Finnegans Wake,  James Joyce:* Internet searches on “most difficult” and
“hard to read” novels unfailingly recognize *Finnegan’s Wake* as the most
difficult work of fiction in the English language. Written partially in a
made-up language of mindbendingly convoluted puns, this novel is often
considered unreadable.

*2. The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner:* Some readers have found
themselves filled with fury after trying to tackle the
near-punctuation-less, paragraph-long, stream-of-onscious sentences.

*3. Naked Lunch, William Burroughs:* Is it any surprise that a book whose
pages were written while the author was high on heroin, then cut into
pieces, randomly reassembled, and published is a tough read? The
book certainly is a difficult read, as sentences seem to just end without
warning and new sentences begin half-way through.

*4. The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot:* This tremendously dense modernist poem is
told in five parts and abruptly shifts between characters, time, place, and
languages (English, Latin, Greek, German, and Sanskrit) with nothing more
than the reader’s own erudition to make the connection between passages.

*5. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne:* You may need a dictionary and
you can easily get lost in the multiple pages of descriptive digressions.
Hawthorne himself admitted to adding a complete chapter (The Custom House)
only because the book was otherwise too short to print.

*6. Foucault’s Pendulum, Umberto Eco:* Fans read Eco with a dictionary at
hand, raving that his books are “for the strong of spirit, people with
perseverance, willing to struggle in order to reach the ultimate truth that
only the very few have mastered.”

*7. The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn:* This
not-quite-objective-history, not-quite-memoir, “literary investigation”
weaves endless depressing narrative threads, using prose seemingly designed
to punish. The palpable sense of despair and apathy comes less from the
text, but from the reading thereof, and it forces most readers to abandon
the fight.

*8. Moby Dick, Herman Melville:* This 600-plus-page book goes on and on—and
on—about whaling techniques while remaining light on plot.

*9. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand:* Devotees recommend taking on the 1,000 page
book in small doses, over a long period of time.

*10. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy:* Fans say it’s best to read a few chapters
at a time, keep notes, rent the film, and then be sure to “do something
special” to celebrate after you’ve finished it. In fact, many people have
read it just to say they did.

*(Info Courtesy: listverse.com)*
  * 
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/557458.aspx*<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/557458.aspx#>
© Copyright 2009 Hindustan Times



- Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Chennai Silk Meet May 23rd?

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 5:33 PM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

>
> .
> PS: Someone asked me offlist whether Lavanya Mohan was Deepa Mohan's
> granddaughter. My response was: "no, Deepa's granddaughter is probably
> not on silk yet."
>
> "Though her ghostwriters are."
>
>

Well, my knee-jerk on seeing that first name was that your spouse joined
Silk; the 2nd name told me otherwise...

-Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] "Do what I mean!"

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 7:32 PM, Deepa Mohan  wrote:

>
> Deepq.
>

Seems like you had a really long day already ;-)

I fully agree with leaving mind alone..

Re: [silk] Anybody know where to get Mysore Concerns coffee in madras?

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 9:58 PM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> Shoba Narayan wrote, [on 7/31/2009 6:44 AM]:
>
> > I would like to know from Silk List where good coffee blends for home
> > brewing can be bought in Bangalore.  I buy Kothas coffee (with 30%
> > chicory) from my local Benson Town Family Supermarket.  And you know
> > what? It ain't bad at all.
>
> I may have deleted earlier posts on this topic, hence using Udhay's mail to
respond to Shoba's query -

Last December, I visited Kalmane Coffee in Jayanagar 4th block, Bangalore
[above Titan showroom, opposite, opposite the east side of the Jayanagar
complex]; they had a variety of coffees and blends from 100% pure to 45%
blend.  I picked up 4 of them and we've liked all of them.  We brew coffee
using a Prestige coffee maker.

Anil KUMAR
PS - I cannot recall if these were arabica or robusta..

Re: [silk] admin note on silklist postings

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 9:57 PM, Sirtaj Singh Kang wrote:

>
> On Wednesday 27 January 2010, ss wrote:
> [snip]
> > Building for sale, picture below
> > http://www.funxite.com/media/2047-taj-mahal-wallpapers.jpg
>
> Sir please send me a quote, I would like to purchase three.
>
> Just kidding of course. I went to visit my namesake recently for the first
> time since I was an infant and I wasn't terribly impressed. I can see the
> appeal, sure,  but it doesn't really do much, does it? Mostly just sits
> there looking stoned.
>
> -Taj.
>
> Waah Taj Waah!!

Anil KUMAR

PS: I refer of course, not to the stoned one.

[silk] Name similar to terrorist - you may not get insurance

[Anil Kumar]

I wonder if the contents of this news-article is bad news-writing [I have
not seen the IRDA circular, yet] or inefficient policy making?  If it is the
latter, surely, it would invoke dissent, me thinks.

*Anil KUMAR*


http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=21_11_2009_703_005&mode=1

*Name similar to terrorist - you may not get insurance*

If your name happens to be Abdur Razzaq or a Mohammad Selim, you may have a
harrowing time buying an insurance policy.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has issued a fresh
circular to insurance companies to refrain from selling policies to
individuals whose name resemble terrorists. The exhaustive list of names has
been sent to all firms on November 17 with clear-cut guidelines that any
names bearing semblance to the list should be reported immediately for
further scrutiny.

IRDA has asked the firms to furnish information regularly to the Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU) about a customer who is a terrorist suspect. FIU is
the central agency under Union finance ministry responsible for
receiving,processing,analysinganddisseminating information relating to
suspect financial transactions.

J. Hari Narayan, chairman, IRDA said, "There are suspicious individuals who
have been identified and we have asked companies to keep a track of them."

Another IRDA official said: "This is list that has been circulated globally
as part of the UN Security Resolution. The resolution says that those
identified as being terrorist should not get any formoffinance.TheGovernment
has circulated the list to all the three regulators (RBI, SEBI and
IRDA)askingthemtoensurethat theentitiestheyregulateconform to this
practice."

According to HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company's principal officer and
executive director Paresh Parasnis, IRDA has clearly asked the companies to
keep a tab on the policies it is selling.
It is common practice for terrorists to buy policies with high premiums and
shorter tenure as a tool for money laundering.
Terrorists use it as a ploy to convert their black money into white.
While the premium is paid with money unaccounted for, it gets converted to
"white" once the insurance company issues a cheque to the policy holder on
completion of the term.
--

Re: [silk] Indian foodies

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, 7 Jun 2009 19:54:40 +0530, Deepa Mohan  wrote:

> On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 5:19 PM, Anil Kumar  >wrote:
>
> 
> >
> > Irrespective of the nature of the event, it is bad manners to commence
> eating until the last dish has been served on the leaf which again is a drop
> of ghee on the white rice.  Then, wait for a signal from an elder or the
> host to commence eating.
>
>
> For Brahmins (only men of course) , after sitting down at the palm leaf,
> and after the meal has been served up to the rice part (before the sambar)
> it is mandatory to take a palmful of water, take it around the leaf
>  clockwise three times with the water dribbling around (probably to purify
> the food?), saying, or rather muttering, the Gayatri mantra (I think). Then,
> the man says, "achyuthAya namaha, ananthAya namaha, gOvindAya namaha, Om
> shri kEshava nArAyaNA mAdhava gOvinda vishNu madhusoodhana thrivikra vAmana
>  (Mohan is not sure how the rest of it goes, it's so long since he did
> it), touch the finger to the navel (residence of Brahma), the chest
> (residence of Vishnu) and the forehead (residence of Shiva)...and then start
> eating.


It is commonly referred to as the Bhojana Mantra [Prayer before lunch].  The
actual mantras that are uttered vary slightly but are mostly comprised of
the Gayatri Mantra, the Brahmaarpanam Mantra [loosely translated - offering
food to God, before consumption by self] - idea here is to consecrate the
food to turn it into Prasad [sacred offering].

Then there is the other explanation to encircling your leaf / plate with
water - basically, in the olden days, people ate food while seated on the
floor and it was circled with water to prevent ants and bugs from crawling
onto your leaf.


> At the end of the meal, also, there is a "prOkshaNam", where water is
> sprinkled around the leafI suppose this is a kind of thanksgiving for
> the foodsince all the men I know only mutter this to themselves, and
> hardly anyone does it any more except for priests or brahmins called home to
> a feast for religious reasons, I don't know it properlyit's always been
> meaningless mumbo-jumbo to me.


:-) Since, apart from the highly orthodox practitioners, not many follow
these traditions on a daily basis, it is possible that most people have
forgotten the actual mantras, hence the mutterings.



> Will find out soon, in detail.


>
> Deepa.


Do mail me off-list if you come across anything interesting apart from the
usual set of explanations. There are many sites and blogs on the internet
with this information.


-Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Indian foodies

[Anil Kumar]

Apologies! I posted this earlier without editing the subject.  I receive
Silk postings in digest format.

On Sat, 6 Jun 2009 19:19:07 +0530, Deepa Mohan  wrote:

> On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 5:19 PM, Kiran Jonnalagadda  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Incidentally, something I didn't grow up with and therefore encountered
> > with surprise in the homes of relatives: it is a great offense to serve
> rice
> > before any other item. Serving rice first apparently implies you're too
> > poor to eat anything else.
> >
> > Is this common practice elsewhere?
>
>
>
> I found this major difference between serving of food in Iyer and Iyengar
> (two different kinds of Tamizh Brahmins): in Iyer households and feasts,
> the
> rice is served after several items have been served and before the sambar,
> rasam, and thayir (yogurt)...in Iyengar households, the rice is always
> served first. I have heard my aunts (Iyers) laughing about it and saying
> "these Iyengars are crazy" or the equivalent!
>
>
>  In today's buffet/serve yourself  world, of course, it's all irrelevant.
>
> Deepa.
>

In Kannada Madhva Brahmin lunches [i mean those traditional ones where a
complete course is served on plantain leaf] it is mandatory to dab a drop or
two of ghee on the leaf before serving anything else, followed by a serving
of payasa / kheer [a sweet dish] and only then the other servings follow.
This practice is only for a shubha samaradhane or happy ceremony.  The rule
apparently does not apply in case the lunch is on account of a death
ceremony, then salt is first served onto the leaf.

Irrespective of the nature of the event, it is bad manners to commence
eating until the last dish has been served on the leaf which again is a drop
of ghee on the white rice.  Then, wait for a signal from an elder or the
host to commence eating.

-Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] silklist Digest, Vol 59, Issue 13

[Anil Kumar]

On Sat, 6 Jun 2009 19:19:07 +0530, Deepa Mohan  wrote:

> On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 5:19 PM, Kiran Jonnalagadda  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Incidentally, something I didn't grow up with and therefore encountered
> > with surprise in the homes of relatives: it is a great offense to serve
> rice
> > before any other item. Serving rice first apparently implies you're too
> > poor to eat anything else.
> >
> > Is this common practice elsewhere?
>
>
>
> I found this major difference between serving of food in Iyer and Iyengar
> (two different kinds of Tamizh Brahmins): in Iyer households and feasts,
> the
> rice is served after several items have been served and before the sambar,
> rasam, and thayir (yogurt)...in Iyengar households, the rice is always
> served first. I have heard my aunts (Iyers) laughing about it and saying
> "these Iyengars are crazy" or the equivalent!
>
>
>  In today's buffet/serve yourself  world, of course, it's all irrelevant.
>
> Deepa.
>

In Kannada Madhva Brahmin lunches [i mean those traditional ones where a
complete course is served on plantain leaf] it is mandatory to dab a drop or
two of ghee on the leaf before serving anything else, followed by a serving
of payasa / kheer [a sweet dish] and only then the other servings follow.
This practice is only for a shubha samaradhane or happy ceremony.  The rule
apparently does not apply in case the lunch is on account of a death
ceremony, then salt is first served onto the leaf.

Irrespective of the nature of the event, it is bad manners to commence
eating until the last dish has been served on the leaf which again is a drop
of ghee on the white rice.  Then, wait for a signal from an elder or the
host to commence eating.

-Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Indian foodies

[Anil Kumar]

On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 19:53:18 +0530, "."  wrote:

> ...
> Most hotels in India dont bother to serve the variety of local cuisine -
> just the limited standard stuff.  I have yet to see a hotel menu with fresh
> rice sevai, lasoon chutney, appam, missi roti, neer dosa, gatta kadi,
> vaalachi virdi, pesarettu or even sweets like methi ladoo, adai pradhaman,
> dhik/ding ladoos, jackfruit halwa, elai adai payasam, chakli, fresh sweet
> coconut dumplings, mango panna,... These are not rare or special foods and
> yet its only available either at a friend's home or yours (depending on the
> region your origins lie).
>
> --
> ., is hungry now :-/


In New Delhi, if you are not particular about finding all [or most] of the
above under one roof or in one establishment, may I suggest  - Rajdhani in
Connaught Place for the Rajasthani and Gujarati dishes that you mention
[they have a fancier place in a Mall in Gurgaon]; two doors away from the CP
outlet, you will find Saravana Bhavan serving adai pradhaman, halwa, chakli,
rava ladoo.  Check out Swagath in Defence Colony across town for the appams
and neer dosas [Many years ago, I heard that State Government owned Kerala
House serves good food; I don't know if that is still the same and if
general public are allowed].  The canteen in Andhra Bhavan serves MLA
Pesarattu for breakfast sometimes.

Then there are the Farsan Outlets across the city that sell lasoon chutney
and more of the Rajasthani and Gujarati stuff.

Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Archie proposes to Veronica next month ..

[Anil Kumar]

Sun, 31 May 2009 20:42:53 +0530 Udhay Shankar N 

> Thaths wrote, [on 5/31/2009 8:32 PM]:
>
> >> http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/05/comic-book-shoc.html
> >
> > As it says on the cover: Part 1 of 6. Pre-pubescent American girls
> > will never ever accept this sort of ending. I think this is a nice
> > manufactured controversy by the publishers to increase sales.
>
> Obviously. Like the death of Superman, and now Batman. And the deaths of
> various characters in various TV series, all of which were eventually
> revealed to be a dream, or mistaken identity, or...
>
> Udhay
>

and, here in India, a certain Ms. Ekta KAPOOR is popularly credited with
introducing reincarnations and re-appearances of dead characters...of
course, all very dramatic.

Anil

[silk] . Re: Hello

[Anil Kumar]

On Thu, 21 May 2009 16:19:36 +0530, Deepa Mohan 
wrote:

> On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 4:14 PM, Ramakrishnan Sundaram
>  wrote:
> > 2009/5/20 Dr. John Marshall Johnson :
> >
> >> Well, can see Shiv, Mahesh, IG, Chetan,
> >> Venkat, Ram  out here.  Hi !! guys.
> >
> > Hi, JMJ.
>
> No, no, Ram...JMJ in general parlance stands for Joseph Mary Jesus! I know
> of schools and businesses which are called JMJ (much like the ubiquitous SLV
> or Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara) and I found this out.
>
> Deepa.


Seems to me this was the quickest thread-drift in recent times; right?

Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Bangalore Meetup on May 16?

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:08 +0530, Venkatesh Hariharan 
wrote:

> .



> When I lived in Indira Nagar in 2000, I was struck by the fact that people
> would just buy a peg or two and swig it right there. That never happens in
> Bombay or Delhi so this struck me as a peculiar oddity.
>
> Venky
>

Oh, very much prevalent in Delhi [surprisingly, even in peak of
summer-time]; check parking lot near any theka [booze retailing outlet]
after dark and there'll be full-on binge sessions in progress; music playing
from cars, snack vendors [sometimes with chicken and fish-fry too] doing
business, a paan-walla doubling as stockist of cold-drink, ice-cubes,
chilled mineral water and disposable glasses.  Sastha tikau, like the
delhite says.

Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Bangalore Meetup on May 16?

[Anil Kumar]

On Tue, 12 May 2009 17:01:45 +0530, Kiran K Karthikeyan <
kiran.karthike...@gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> If you want to see a 40+ year old woman down a pint of cheap rum in one
> swig before noon, this is THE place.
>
> Kiran
>

And, that would be consumed 'neat' and not diluted; yes, I have been
witness to such a sight in Vijayanagar, Bangalore once - This was a
vegetable seller with full basket on head which she parks beside the booze
shop entrance; guy at counter knew her preference and quota; places it
before her; quick swigs and she is off to do business.  Those days I would
get high on a pint of beer.

Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] modem phones

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2009 15:13:17 +0530, Nandkumar Saravade 
wrote:

> -- Forwarded message --
> On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 7:32 AM, Suresh Ramasubramanian  >wrote:
>
> > Abhijit Menon-Sen [05/04/09 07:24 +0530]:
> >
> >> A USB data card sounds good. I should have known that such things must
> >> exist. I knew about PCMCIA ones, but I don't have a PCMCIA slot. Do you
> >> have any recommendations? Or should I just get whatever $noname card I
> >> can find in Nehru Place?
> >>
> >
> > nehru place - for 5..6k. and yes you stick your simcard in.
> > go to nehru place and see what known / recognizable brand name you can
> get.
> > or walk into any vodafone / airtel / tata indicom (if you prefer cdma)
> > store ..
> >
>
> My brother bought a Lenovo netbook from the Croma store in Phoenix Mill
> Mumbai last week and also availed of a bundled offer of a USB data modem
> from TATA Indicom for Rs. 999. The data plan was unlimited downloads for the
> first three months for a thousand rupees. You could check out the local
> Croma store (http://www.cromaretail.com/stores/locations.html).
>
> Nandkumar
>
>
AMS,

December last year, I used a Reliance Data Card (PCMCIA) on a train journey
between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi; worked very well and I got network
coverage on almost the entire route spanning through Orissa, Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh and Delhi.  A friend who travels frequently says he now uses a
Reliance data card (usb) and finds it better than his (earlier) pcmcia
version.

I know there is a Reliance Outlet in Shakuntala Building, Nehru Place.

Re: [silk] Yet another introduction (Venkat Inumella)

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:08:15 +0530 Venkat Inumella  wrote:

>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Venkat Inumella 
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:08:15 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] Yet another introduction
> On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 11:59 PM, Madhu Menon  wrote:
> > Well, didn't expect to see you here, Venx. Who dragged you in here? :)
> >
> > Madhu
> >
>
> Why, hello! :) I came across the Linked-in group several months ago, much
> nosey-ness ensued, and I pretty much dragged myself here.
>
> Venkat
>

What number of the Venkats will he be on Silk?

Anil KUMAR
[happy not to have another of that name here; there are so many by that
name, you know!]

Re: [silk] Welcome to the "silklist" mailing list

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:17:43 +0530 Julian Philips 
wrote:

> -- Forwarded message --
> From:
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:17:43 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] Welcome to the "silklist" mailing list
> yes i'm a little scattered right now.  apologize for the
> newbie gaffe. have changed the password.
>
> On Sun, Mar 29, 2009 at 11:24 AM, Julian Philips  >wrote:
>
> > Thanks Udhay
> > Hello folks,  It good to get back on the silklist. As prescribed a  quick
> introduction -  a few of my favorite things : baking, music and geek talk.
> based in : Bangalore (live rather close to our where our venerable admin
> does actually) and work in : the mobile internet space
> >
> > Cheers all
> > Julian
>

HI Julian,

Welcome back!

But, you are top-posting, over your own earlier message :-)  Has Udhay
barged out with a whip already?


Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Nikon D80

[Anil Kumar]

On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 11:18:36 -0800 at 1:30 AM, Thaths 
wrote:

> On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 11:13 AM, Srini Ramakrishnan 
> wrote:
> > It would appear that Aditya has found his answer? At least the thread
> drift isn't getting him worked up, or perhaps he's given up?
>
> As it happens, Aditya and I have taken up further discussions of his
> requirements and my recommendations offlist. :-)
>
> Thaths
>

Awplease don't do that; you are depriving a lurker of interesting
information on camera equipment.

:-)

Anil KUMAR

[silk] are there other Deepas on this list?

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 10:16:08 +0530, Deepa Mohan  wrote:

> On Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 2:06 AM, Andre Uratsuka Manoel
> wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > First, let me introduce myself. My name is Andre Uratsuka Manoel and I
> > am a Japanese-Portuguese-Spanish Brazilian from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
>
>
>
> Hi Andrewelcome to this list!  There are plenty of us who don't post
> anything interesting or insightful, too. Not to mention the no-post-lurkers
> in their dozens.
>
> Cheers, Deepa Mohan. (are there other Deepas on this list? I have found
> namesakes almost every other list I belong to.)
>

Cheers, Deepa,

I don't recall another Deepa on this list; just as I don't think there is
another Anil KUMAR here.

-Anil KUMAR [whose first name is almost as common as the 2nd name, 'Sharma'
in North India]

Re: [silk] Anybody been following this series on the bbc?

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:36:19 +0530 (IST), Bonobashi 
wrote:

> From: Ramakrishnan Sundaram 
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Sent: Saturday, 24 January, 2009 11:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [silk] Anybody been following this series on the bbc?
>
> 2009/1/24 Bonobashi :
> > Chill - it's just me being my usual grumpy misanthropic self
> >
> > Not seriously taking pliss.
>
> Don't worry, nobody does.
>
> Where are you now? Calling your (last known) mobile number says
> something about you being out of service.
>
> Ram
>
>
> I'm so glad you've given up worrying and hope you have stopped biting your
> nails as well. Even chewing tobacco is better, I'm sure.
>
> Somehow I can't believe the rest of the list has stopped worrying as well,
> but in the absence of evidence, have to refrain from comment.
>
> Re. my last known mobile service, it is lying in its teeth; I assure you I
> am both serviceable and in service, and so is my mobile service. It being a
> Reliance subscription, there are many reasons to distrust its veracity; a
> recent SMS from them claimed that a sum of Rs. 23344332 was due from them as
> calling charges for the month. I wouldn't believe everything that a
> pre-recorded message said to me, if I were you, without seeking an
> independent opinion from my doctor or my lawyer, whichever applies.
>
> I'll send you personal mail in a few minutes, since we will wish to keep
> the discussion about the nails and one or two other, similar matters very
> private.
>
> IG
> +91 98836 50648 OR
> +91 93317 42638


HILARIOUS!  Thanks IG, for this dose of humour.

Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Always wondered what....

[Anil Kumar]

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:12:30 +0530, Venkat Mangudi 
wrote:

> Always wondered what
> ...digeratus means. Googled it today and found this (1) in Merriam Webster.
> Is the "fellow who wrote in" Udhay? Coined 16 years ago? About the time U
> took an active interest in all things computing.
>
> Venkat
>
> (1) http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wftwarch.pl?041808
>


Oh!  I had taken it to be a short-form of 'Digital Rat Udhay Shankar',
knowing his affinity to that particular rodent :-)

--Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Introducing myself - in the tone I, me, myself

[Anil Kumar]

On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 13:14:07 +0530, "Sanjeev Kumar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

> ah! from I, me & Myself to U...U & me .well some years back or many
> years back...I met U (in a party - I know none of u and U will believe it if
> I say temple!)


Hey Sanjeev!

Welcome!!

I wonder how many people have managed to get U (besides Mrs. U) into a
temple in all his life ;-)


--Anil (who tried and failed)
 

Re: [silk] Food and Empire

[Anil Kumar]

On 25 Sep 2008 10:20:10 +0200, Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> 
> i remember how difficult it used to be to find in delhi the principal
> ingredient, winter melon / ash gourd (white petha in delhi hindi)[1]. it is
> similarly hard to find it at indian stores here, since they're a) punjabi
> and b) pakistani. so south / east indian ingredients are not kept.
>
> however, i was surprised and pleased to discover that this south indian
> vegetable is incredibly common in chinese cooking, and easily available in
> chinese / south east asian stores that keep fresh vegetables. it is dong-gua
> in mandarin.
>
> ...
>
> -r
>
>  Rishab,
Even now, it is difficult to find White / Ash gourd in (South) Delhi
markets; it is the same with Ridge gourd (though it appears more often on
Noida and Gurgaon vegetable carts).

I wonder if the Chinese in Delhi have a favourite market they go for veggie
shopping.  hmmm


--Anil



>

>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: "Venkatesh Hariharan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:24:23 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] introduction...
> >
> > I am reminded of a USian friend of mine who spent a year on the hippie
> > trail in India. I asked her what her thoughts were as she was about to
> > leave. "I am surprised it works," she said.
> >
>
> Reminds me of the story of the Frenchman who visited India. His parting
> words were that before he came to India he did not believe in God, but only
> God could keep this country together.
>
> And I think it was John Kenneth Galbriath who described India as a
> "functioning anarchy." Pretty apt!
>
> Venky
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Abhijit Menon-Sen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:31:06 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] Food and Empire
> At 2008-09-25 10:20:10 +0200, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > and banana flower, though i haven't tried to cook that myself yet.
>
> Speaking of which, we ate some Mochar ghonto at this restaurant in CR
> Park (called "Babu Moshai") some time ago, and were quite disappointed.
> I had high hopes, because I like it so much, and haven't had any for a
> long time. Even their Alu posto was quite sad.
>
> -- ams
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: . <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:59:57 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] Food and Empire
> On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 3:44 AM, Perry E. Metzger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> >
> > You mean, a-vile-able?
> >
>
> http://www.indiaexpress.com/cooking//avial.html
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:54:41 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] URGENT: Dinner tonight at 8:30, not 7PM!
> Deepa Mohan wrote:
>
>> On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 4:45 PM, Amit Varma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> 2] Vinit told us about his fetish
>>>
>>> 3] Devdas confessed his fetish
>>>
>>> 4] Supriya told us about her fetish
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> In view of the above, you should have written the sentence, "The
>> photographs
>> have been digitally altered,
>> though, to make people look fat." to read, " to make people look fetish."
>>
>> Deepa.
>>
>>
> Or just "to make people look fet"?
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:59:51 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] One witty guy in Bangalore
> Deepa Mohan wrote:
>
>>
>> http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/depontis/?action=view¤t=IMG_0153.jpg
>>
>>
>> Let's trot out all those lengthiterminophobias...
>>
>> Deepa.
>>
> I know this is a bad idea, but am going to do it anyway... thinking, I
> mean...
>
> venustraphobian = I am scared of relationships because they are venus
> traps?
>
>
>
>
>
> ___
> silklist mailing list
> silklist@lists.hserus.net
> http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/silklist
>
>

[silk] Restaurant names Koyla (was:Re: URGENT: Dinner tonight at 8:30, not 7PM!)

[Anil Kumar]

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:47:44 +0530, "Deepa Mohan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:

> .
>
> And...what does the restaurant name mean? I cannot imagine that they named
> it after a lump of coal?
>
> Deepa.
>

There used to be (about 10 years ago) a restaurant called *Charcoal(s)* in
Prestige Meridien on MG Road in Bangalore that used to dish out decent
Sizzlers.

I still find it hard with some of the pub and restaurant names in Delhi like
- Ego and Snobs.

--Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Food and the Empire (savita rao)

[Anil Kumar]

On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:09:57 +0530, "savita rao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

> Curry - A tale of cooks and conquerors by Lizzie Collinngham makes very
> interesting reading.
> She traces the history of some of India's iconic dishes (biryani, vindaloo,
> "curry", korma) while also covering broader culinary influences, imports
> etc.
>
> While we're on food, I wonder if the foodies of this list (I guess that's
> about everyone) have any pointers to the history of Karnataka or even south
> indian cuisine in general?
> I'm looking for all sorts of things: authoritative history, anecdotes, any
> very old recipe books, or recipes (written by the like of grandmoms and so
> on).
>
> Thanks!
> Savita


Hi!

For grandma kind of Andhra (vegetarian) cuisine recipes try -
http://pedatha.com/pedathaa-legacy/

The book - 'Cooking at home with Pedatha' is an absolute delight with its
simple instructions and multilingual reference chart at the end.

--Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Numismatist ahoy!

[Anil Kumar]

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:15:33 +0530, "Gautam John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hello!
>
> Are there any numismatist's on this list? My grandmother has an old coin
> collection she's looking to sell and apart from eBay, I have no idea how to
> go about this.
>
> Help?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Gautam
>
>
Hi Gautam,

I know a Numismatist based in Bangalore.  If you like I can check with him
if he is interested in talking to you.

-- Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] On Innovation in India

[Anil Kumar]

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:14:22 +0530 "Gautam John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

>
> http://seekingalpha.com/article/76511-where-are-indias-innovative-companies-products-and-solutions
>
> According to the article, the missing ingredients required to jump-start
> India's innovation ecosystem are;
>
>   1. Access to intellectual and relational capital.
>   2. A well developed Angel and Venture Capital industry does not exist in
> India.
>   3. An active segment of the Press focused on promoting early stage
> ventures and building Entrepreneurs into Business Celebrities.
>   4. A Comprehensive Understanding of the Indian Consumer and the lack of
> formal Government support to promote Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
>   5. Establishing Compelling Reasons to Innovate.
>
> Quite safely, one can say that 5 exists and as for 4, the less government
> 'support' the better, yes?
>
>
Apologies for the delayed posting in response to this post;

My response is in reference to Point - 4:
I quite disagree with the 'less government 'support' the better' argument.
In India, good examples (IMHO) are the development of the Information
Technology sector, now followed by the Business Process Outsourcing sector,
both having benefited from various forms of government (both Central and
State) support including but not limited to support in procuring land and
buildings, reduced to nil stamp duties and registration fees on real estate
transactions, tax free income generation.  There are a few other benefits
and support on administrative and regulatory levels.  This support
(particularly from Central Government) is administered through the Software
Technology Parks of India Scheme.

Recently, India has evolved this support mechanism through a legislation and
supports eligible activities under the Special Economic Zones Act.

I think such support is certainly worth-while for the development of India.

-- Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] On Intolerance -off topic (ss)

[Anil Kumar]

On Thu, 15 May 2008 21:37:52 +0530, ss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote :
>
>
> On Thursday 15 May 2008 8:23:13 pm Sajith T S wrote:
> > leaders offended by alcohol named "Christian Brothers",
>
> A friend of mine from Scotland is on the lookout for this brand.
>
> We were unable to find it in Bangalore earlier this month.
>
> shiv
>
>

Hmm...now that you mention, I do not recall seeing it on Shelves of the
Thekhas (liquor shop) in New Delhi [actually, read that as South Delhi] last
winter.  If I find it, would you like me to pick up one for you / your
friend?

- Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] Wanted: Exceptional parents

[Anil Kumar]

Aplogies. Missed out editing the subject line and deleting unrelated posts.


-- Forwarded message --
From: Anil Kumar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: silklist Digest, Vol 45, Issue 16
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net





I totally agree with Rishab;  there's absolutely no sense of belonging in
most of the people here in Delhi, especially with the 'semi-literate /
illiterate' migrant class; it is seen as a place to work, make your money
and go back / or send it back home.

I have also felt this is probably one of the major reasons for the brutal
murders that happen across the city frequently; the rape incidents and the
consequences of road-rage.

Yes, definitely jolly to go places in the Metro.


Anil KUMAR


On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:42:38 +0200, Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

>
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 11:49 +0530, Biju Chacko wrote:
> > Delhi is a nice place -- lotsa history and great architecture. Too many
> Delhites, though. :-)
>
> i think the problem is too _few_ delhi-ites, actually. everyone is from
> somewhere else and doesn't really have a sense of place, and lots of the
> somewhere elses bring their own cultures that are not very nice, all
> combining to create india's rape capital.
>
> awesome kababs and the metro's amazing, though.

Re: [silk] silklist Digest, Vol 45, Issue 16

[Anil Kumar]

I totally agree with Rishab;  there's absolutely no sense of belonging in
most of the people here in Delhi, especially with the 'semi-literate /
illiterate' migrant class; it is seen as a place to work, make your money
and go back / or send it back home.

I have also felt this is probably one of the major reasons for the brutal
murders that happen across the city frequently; the rape incidents and the
consequences of road-rage.

Yes, definitely jolly to go places in the Metro.


Anil KUMAR


On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:42:38 +0200, Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

>
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 11:49 +0530, Biju Chacko wrote:
> > Delhi is a nice place -- lotsa history and great architecture. Too many
> Delhites, though. :-)
>
> i think the problem is too _few_ delhi-ites, actually. everyone is from
> somewhere else and doesn't really have a sense of place, and lots of the
> somewhere elses bring their own cultures that are not very nice, all
> combining to create india's rape capital.
>
> awesome kababs and the metro's amazing, though.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:45:32 +0200
> Subject: Re: [silk] romance and reading
> sounds fascinating! sounds a bit jim crace-ish.
>
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 15:09 +0530, Abhishek Hazra wrote:
> > a book that i am waiting to re-read
> > City of Saints and Madmen
> > by Jeff VanderMeer
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:51:26 +0200
> Subject: Re: [silk] Supercharge Your Camera with Open-Source CHDK Firmware
>
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 12:47 +0530, Biju Chacko wrote:
> > Digital cameras have powers beyond what is immediately available to
> > the user. On a standard Canon, for example, the fastest shutter speed
> > option offered is 1/1,600 second, but the hardware can handle much
> > more than that -- up to 1/60,000 of a second.
>
> you can't actually do that (1/6 second!) on a regular camera that
> has a decent sized hardware shutter. the examples seem to be with
> cheaper cameras which use software to control the CCD and don't have
> mechanical shutters at all.
>
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Rishab Aiyer Ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:59:46 +0200
> Subject: Re: [silk] The US is in recession or equity markets are
> manipulating the equity market.
> that's where the conspiracy theory looks wild-eyed. bear sterns senior
> managers made enormous personal losses, so they certainly couldn't have
> been behind their own collapse. but they were pretty much among the best
> in the business at playing the markets, and very well connected, so the
> suggestion that some _other_ financial whizzes "beat them to the ground"
> is absurd.
>
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 20:03 +0530, Vinayak Hegde wrote:
> > Just think of what the short sellers did to Bear Stearns. It's true
> > that Bear Stearns's fabled risk management was not up to par in its
> > portfolio. But it's also true that without the hedge fund heavies of
> > great wealth and great gossip beating them to the ground, Bear would
> > surely have "shlepped it through," as we say.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: "Ramakrishnan Sundaram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 16:30:19 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] How did this guy wind up here?
> On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 10:02 AM, Biju Chacko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
>
> >  Or comments from people like Udhay, who do not seem significantly less
> >  coherent when drunk.
>
> Umm. I take it you haven't seen Udhay _really_ drunk.
>
> I'm talking hold-me-back-someone-or-I'm-going-to-beat-up-random-stranger
> drunk.
>
> OTOH, he's getting on in years and age (and marriage) have mellowed him.
>
> Ram
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Thaths <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:18:34 -0700
> Subject: Re: [silk] Ugadi
> On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 11:18 PM, Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >  I'd like to plug a book here:
> >
> >  _Ethnicity and Populist Mobilization: political parties, citizens and
> >  democracy in South India_
> >  by Narendra Subrama

Re: [silk] IHT.com Article: First transsexual celebrity, Rose, makes a TV debut

[Anil Kumar]

Apologies for the typo...

I of course meant - Indian Music _for_ Dummies

On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:40:56 +0530, "Anil Kumar" <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Oh no.  Please keep it going.  It is turning out like a - Indian music of
> Dummies.
>
> I've never been to a music class;  I listen to music and it is good to
> know
> the stuff being written here.  Though, it would be nice to change the
> subject line to an appropriate one to the discussion.
>
> Before that is done, somebody please tell me if this show is on air now
> and
> at what time?
>
> Anil KUMAR
>
> On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:55:58 +0530, "Deepa Mohan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > 
> > "karNa paramparA" (auditory tradition) in its latest avatar! :)
> >
> > I guess this drift may be getting quite uninteresting to a lot of people
> > now
> >
> > Deepa.
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: va <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:44:25 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] Lost and Found
> On 2/28/08, The smaller the better <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > So the bureaucracy is one justified 'time-efficiency' detractor. Maybe
> our
> > Indian civic responsibility should lead us to pledge to unravel one reel
> of
> > red tape per year, or something like that.
> >
> > Suppose each of us were to follow up any one of our dealings with the
> > government in the fair, honest, right and proper way, no matter how long
>
> Dunno if PSU banks fall in the government category but my first-hand
> experience of bureaucracy (usually an excuse to not do the work they
> get paid for) was when money deposited in my account was going
> elsewhere (the bankers didnt know where?) and another persons money
> was being deposited in my account
>
> the short:: it took me 3 months** to actually get them to remove the
> man's money from my account and return mine. The upside of my
> experience was even illiterate strangers seen talking to me got
> excellent service thereon from that particular branch ;-)
>
> ** of daily visits to the local branch which would only start
> functioning at 11AM, armed with applications in duplicate signed by
> witnesses, innumerable ID proofs, not to mention the photocopies and
> paperwork.
>
> -
> || vid ||
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: "Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:48:00 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] IHT.com Article: First transsexual celebrity, Rose,
> makes a TV debut
> Ok, now that everyone's "confessing" their music-learning crimes, let me
> state mine. It has a happy beginning.
>
> We've always had singers in the family. My grandmother sang, dad played
> the
> flute and his brother the flute and the violin. Cousins sang. So I wasn't
> pushed into learning carnatic music as much as just gently nudged along by
> 2
> generations of family-pressure.
>
> I started on the vocal thing, but couldn't keep up with the lessons
> because
> we kept moving houses. And along the way, my voice broke. So, off I went
> trying to learn the violin and the flute. Which didn't hold my interest
> and
> so Mridangam. Three years, where I came up to learning the "korvais" and
> the
> gumukas and started off on learning how to do the "adi thaalam" to a basic
> song. And then, I moved, my teacher moved and I lost my mridangam.
>
> I think I should start again.
>
> C
>
> --
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravages
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/ravages
> http://www.selectiveamnesia.org/
>
> +91-9884467463
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Madhu Kurup <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:22:24 -0500
> Subject: Re: [silk] [EMAIL PROTECTED] GUI design [ was Re: IHT.com Article: ]
> Ashok Krish wrote:
> > On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 9:28 AM, Suresh Ramasubramanian <
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> (I usually dial down touchpad sensitivity a bit to suit my tastes, and
> >> these days use a thinkpad with a trackpoint)
> >>
> >
> > I always connect a tiny mouse and use that. Works much better for me.
> The
> > trackpoint is a bit like a US cruise missile. It's pretty accurate to
> the
> > point of saying "Baghdad is the target" but when it gets real close,
> there's
> > quite a bit of collateral d

Re: [silk] IHT.com Article: First transsexual celebrity, Rose, makes a TV debut

[Anil Kumar]

Oh no.  Please keep it going.  It is turning out like a - Indian music of
Dummies.

I've never been to a music class;  I listen to music and it is good to know
the stuff being written here.  Though, it would be nice to change the
subject line to an appropriate one to the discussion.

Before that is done, somebody please tell me if this show is on air now and
at what time?

Anil KUMAR

On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:55:58 +0530, "Deepa Mohan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
>
> 
> "karNa paramparA" (auditory tradition) in its latest avatar! :)
>
> I guess this drift may be getting quite uninteresting to a lot of people
> now
>
> Deepa.

[silk] get-together in Delhi?

[Anil Kumar]

HI Brian,

My name is Anil KUMAR and I am a lawyer, non-techie and a serious lurker on
this list; if this sounds bearable :-) do let me know and I would love to
join you guys on 14 Feb in Delhi.  AMS knows me.

Anil KUMAR


On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 01:42:35 -0800 (PST), Brian Behlendorf <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:



> On Fri, 8 Feb 2008, Abhijit Menon-Sen wrote:
> > Hi Brian, nice to see you on silk.
> >
> > At 2008-02-03 23:27:17 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >>
> >> I'm going to be in India for the next two weeks [...]
> >>
> >> Feb 14-15: Delhi (OSIweek)
> >
> > I didn't write earlier because I wasn't sure I would be around while you
> were in town. But I'm leaving only on the 15th (also for the mountains, but
> NE of Delhi rather than NW, as Dharamsala is). If you're still free on the
> 14th evening, I'd love to meet up.
>
> Sure, I'd be into planning something similar in Delhi.  We'll be staying
> at the Conclave hotel - no idea where that is but hopefully not hard to
> find?  I don't see anything on my schedule planned for the night of the
> 14th, so if we want to get together at the hotel or some other convenient
> place, I'm game.  Anyone else out there in Delhi?
>
> > Can't have you thinking that everyone on silk is from Bangalore. ;-)
>
> Nah, just the chatty ones.  :)
> 
>Brian
>

Re: [silk] greetings and salutations

[Anil Kumar]

Not far from where the J P Churchill Hotel claims to be is a "Family" Bar &
Restaurant called 70mm located within The Basant Residency; I visited it
last a couple of years ago and they served reasonably good andhra cuisine
and the place was certainly wallet friendly.  Udhay might know some people
who would have more recent reports on this place.


On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 11:05:47 +0530,  "Biju Chacko" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

> Might be better to decide a place earlier -- with Bangalore traffic it's
> incredibly inefficient to drive to the Churchill and then drive from there
> to whatever is the final venue. We'd be in traffic all evening. ;-)
>
> Does anyone know a nice place in that part of town?  Preferably slightly
> more wallet friendly than the Taj or the Sheraton? Windsor Pub comes to mind
> ...
>
> As the person responsible for the alternative plan I'll volunteer to
> transport our directionally-challenged guest (ie Brian) to and from wherever
> we decide.
>
> -- b
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:09:24 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] greetings and salutations
> Biju Chacko wrote, [on 2/5/2008 11:05 AM]:
>
> > Does anyone know a nice place in that part of town? Preferably
> > slightly more wallet friendly than the Taj or the Sheraton? Windsor
> > Pub comes to mind ...
>
> Windsor Pub sounds good, or we could take our chances at the Churchill
> itself.
>
> > As the person responsible for the alternative plan I'll volunteer to
> > transport our directionally-challenged guest (ie Brian) to and from
> > wherever we decide.
>
> I know! Let's get Venky to transport Brian and start a betting pool on
> where they'll eventually land up! 
>
> Just kidding - I'm probably going to hook up with Brian earlier in the
> evening, so will bring him along to wherever we're meeting.
>
> Udhay
> --
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Madhu Menon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:00:27 +0530
> Subject: Re: [silk] greetings and salutations
>
> > My only requirements for a hotel are power, water, and clean TCP/IP.  Oh
> > a soft bed often helps, but I'll take a matt on the floor rather than
> > give up connectivity.
>
> But will Matt enjoy that? ;)
>
> --
> <<<   *   >>>
> Madhu Menon
> Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine
> Indiranagar, Bangalore
> Visit us @ http://www.shiokfood.com
> Phone: (080) 4116 1800
> My food photos: http://flickr.com/photos/themadman/sets/72157594457160531/
>
>
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: "Srini Ramakrishnan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 14:28:31 +0530
> Subject: [silk] Lasers Make Other Metals Look Like Gold
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/science/31metal.html?_r=3&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
>
> Lasers Make Other Metals Look Like Gold
>
> All that glitters golden is not gold. It could be aluminum. Or
> tungsten. Or another metal of Chunlei Guo's choosing.
>
> In a feat of optical alchemy, Dr. Guo, a professor of optics at the
> University of Rochester, and Anatoliy Y. Vorobyev, a postdoctoral
> researcher, use ultrashort laser bursts to pockmark the surface of a
> metal in a way that is not perceptible to the touch — it still feels
> smooth to the finger — but that alters how the metal absorbs and
> reflects light.
>
> The result is that pure aluminum looks like gold, and the appearance
> is literally skin deep.
>
> "I cannot tell it's not gold," Dr. Guo said. "It looks very pretty."
>
> Dr. Guo and Dr. Vorobyev reported their findings in the journal
> Applied Physics Letters published online Thursday.
>
> The golden aluminum follows work a little more than year ago where
> Drs. Guo and Vorobyev reported that they could make gold and other
> metals look black — indeed a black that is blacker than the usual
> black, sucking up almost all light that impinged upon it.
>
> The laser bursts — each lasting only about 60 millionths of a
> billionth of a second — melt and vaporize metal atoms near the
> surface, which then reassemble in minuscule structures including pits,
> spheres and rods that are a fraction of a millionth of a meter in
> size.
>
> By changing the length, strength and number of pulses, the researchers
> found they could vary the resulting color.
>
> In some cases, the change causes the structures to absorb a range of
> colors so that they cannot be seen. But the colors that are not
> absorbed are still reflected, and thus visible, resulting in gold
> aluminum or dark blue tungsten.
>
> In other cases, the laser pulses create a periodic array of structures
> that cause the reflected light to interact and interfere with itself,
> producing an iridescent, shimmering rainbow — much like some butterfly
> wings, Dr. Guo said.
>
> Dr. Guo imagines a kaleido

Re: [silk] driving from delhi to bangalore

[Anil Kumar]

I have heard (but do not know anyone personally) that some computer hardware
vendors in Bangalore do a road-trip Bangalore-Delhi-Bangalore for shopping.

I know of one adventurous soul who bought a car (one of the original
Maruti-800 - with kit from Japan) in Delhi and drove it down to Bangalore,
stayed there for a few months and drove back to Delhi.  Let me know if you
wish to communicate directly and I will check with him to introduce you.

Anil

On Feb 1, 2008 1:30 AM,  (Abhijit Menon-Sen) wrote:

> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Abhijit Menon-Sen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:02:33 +0530
> Subject: [silk] driving from delhi to bangalore
> Has anyone done it? Or does anyone have an idea of how long it will
> take, and what the roads are like?
>
> -- ams
>
>

Re: [silk] Apple Repair/Upgrade in Bangalore

[Anil Kumar]

Found this in the (Indian) Economic Times today -

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/ET/navigator.asp?Daily=ETD&login=default

Nok Air too suspends flights to Bangalore
Urvashi Jha BANGALORE

THAI low-cost carrier Nok Air, which positioned itself as a 'shoppers
airline,' is suspending its operations to Bangalore. The heavy
discounts on offer for brands like Bebe, Replay, Bossini and Espirit
at malls in Bangkok have failed to charm passengers from the city.The
airline is withdrawing its operations on the Bangalore-Bangkok route
this month with its last flight operating on November 23, 2007.
   Nok Air started operations in India by launching daily
Bangalore-Bangkok flight in June this year. Bangalore was also the
first international destination for Nok Air, which operates to 11
destinations in Thailand. After Bangalore, the airline had planned to
launch daily flights from Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi to Bangkok
early next year.
   This is the second low cost carrier flying to South East Asia that
will suspend its operations to the city . Early this year, JetStar
Asia withdrew its five flights per week service on the
Bangalore-Singapore sector citing low passenger load factor.
   According to industry sources like JetStar Asia, Nok Air too found
the route unviable. Having a limited fleet of eight aircraft, Nok Air
is looking at operating on other lucrative routes in South East Asia
such as Vietnam. The airline has recently added Hanoi on its air map.
However, Rajiv Bhatia, GM (India) of Nok Air says, "we were doing very
well on the Bangalore-Bangkok route. We are only withdrawing our
operations on this route temporarily owing to the non-availability of
aircraft. We were going to get five Boeing aircraft on lease. India is
definitely on our radar and we still want to fly to Delhi , Hyderabad
and Chennai." Mr Bhatia, however, declined to comment on the timeline
of re-entry into India. All the passengers who have been booked on the
flight after November 23 will be transferred to Thai Airways.
   But, the travel industry has a different story to tell. According
to sources, Nok Air passenger load factor fell to 40%. "In India,
international low cost carriers take more time to turn profitable, but
they withdraw their operations soon. Also the return fare (including
taxes) difference between Nok Air and full serviced carrier such as
Thai Airways is around Rs 3,000-4,000. So Indian passengers prefer a
full serviced carrier rather than paying for food and blankets on Nok
Air. Indian customers want fantastic value if they travel low cost,"
says a travel agent.
   Another factor that went against Nok Air on this route was the poor
on-ward connectivity to other destinations in South East Asia. Full
service carriers such as Thai, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines
and Sri Lankan score over Nok Air with better connectivity to
destinations beyond Thailand. They also offer several value holiday
packages and competitive air fares regularly.


On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 10:06:19 +0530,  Kiran Jonnalagadda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:

> > Have these flights started? From what I could find online they are
> > postponed
> > to sometime next year. The company website does not say so but they
> > don't
> > seem to have any tickets available either.
>
> I just did a trip on them. Flights tend to get cancelled, but
> passengers get an upgrade to Thai. I did.
>
> Shiv, when it comes to buying Macs, Apple India markup exceeds typical 
> roundtrip expenses.

Re: [silk] Today is the first day...

[Anil Kumar]

Awesome!  Didn't know you too were 'frequent enquiring' on Udhay's health...
though I distinctly recall we both were at Guzzlers Inn and called Udhay to
let him know our whereabouts (was that day also his birthday?).

We called from a mobile phone of a friend who worked with a phone company.
Those days there were very few people carrying mobile phones in Bangalore
and phone co. employees easily lent them since they weren't paying for the
calls anyways...


Anil KUMAR

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:16:32 +0400, Ramakrishnan Sundaram <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> > FWIW, I currently hold the unique position of irritating him most
> > number of times during a prolonged bout of illness - something Udhay
> > has not forgotten yet and is always happy to return the favour.  In my
>
> I'm afraid we must share that position, Anil.
>
> And if anyone enquires, it's up to Udhay to tell that story, and that of
> my subsequent divine retribution the same evening.
>
> Ram

Re: [silk] Apple drops iphone price

[Anil Kumar]

HI Eugen,

I have no clue of your requirement of a 'procmail recipe' - though I see
some others on the list have understood what it means.  I'm guessing it has
something to do with your mailbox filters/settings.

But as they say, to each one his interests - computer technology, biology
and a lot of other stuff (that you write about on this list - most of which
I unfortunately neither understand nor have the interest for) may interest
you while I may find messages on finger-food in Bangalore's lanes (among
other topics including but not limited to just mobile phones) catching my
attention.

The purpose of my posting the link and query was to solicit list-member's
reactions on this unusual change in Apple's pricing policy as well as
initiate a discussion (assuming if it interested anyone at all).

I have not seen an Iphone and hence cannot confirm or refute if it is a lame
gadget, but I like what's being written about it.

Anil KUMAR

On Thu, 6 Sep 2007 10:51:37 +0200, Eugen Leitl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Eugen Leitl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 10:51:37 +0200
> Subject: Re: [silk] Apple drops iphone price
> On Thu, Sep 06, 2007 at 07:40:21AM +0530, Anil Kumar wrote:
>
> > My comments and questions - There's some speculation that this
> price-drop is
> > because of decreasing sales.  Could that be true - if yes, what's the
> > reason?  Also, is it possible to expect the iphone in India sooner than
> >  in 2008 (as estimated by some people)?
>
> I think I need a new procmail recipe, which filters anything with iphone
> in it right to /dev/null
>
> It's a really lame gadget. I like Macs just fine, but this obsession is
> ludicrous.
>
> --
> Eugen* Leitl http://leitl.org";>leitl http://leitl.org
> __
> ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.ativel.com http://postbiota.org
> 8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A  7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE

[silk] Apple drops iphone price

[Anil Kumar]

Associated Press
*Apple Cuts iPhone Price, Updates iPods*
By MAY WONG and RACHEL KONRAD 09.05.07, 9:21 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -

*Apple Inc.* slashed the price of the top iPhone by $200 Wednesday to
bolster holiday sales, but also angered loyal customers who paid top dollar
in the gadget's first 10 weeks on the market.
.

The 8-gigabyte iPhone will now cost $399 - one-third cheaper than when it
went on sale June 29. The 4-gigabyte iPhone, which sold for $499, will be
phased out. By comparison, the iPod Touch will sell for $299 for the
8-gigabyte model and $399 for the 16-gigabyte one.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/05/ap4086678.html - full story here


My comments and questions - There's some speculation that this price-drop is
because of decreasing sales.  Could that be true - if yes, what's the
reason?  Also, is it possible to expect the iphone in India sooner than
 in 2008 (as estimated by some people)?

PS: The Apple Stores purchase policy permits request for refund of the
difference in price if an apple branded product has been bought with 14 days
of the price change.
http://www.apple.com/legal/sales_policies/retail_us.html

Re: [silk] Introduction

[Anil Kumar]

HI Jim!

I am curious .  How do you manage going through 200 lists,
participate and also have time for your work (and family / kids / friends
(or all), hobbies, shopping and other general things in life).

Anil KUMAR

On 8/23/07, Jim Grisanzio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> From: Jim Grisanzio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:36:57 +0900
> Subject: Re: [silk] Introduction
> Venky TV wrote:
> > Hey Jim,
> >
> > Welcome to Silk!  We've talked often on the OpenSolaris mailing lists.
>
> Indeed. I'm on something like 200 lists now. That's why I figured I
> needed just /one/ more ... I'm just not busy enough, I guess. :)
>
> Jim
> --
> http://blogs.sun.com/jimgris
>

Re: [silk] Chaos makes better business sense

[Anil Kumar]

Fresh is a misnomer in its name "Reliance Fresh".  I have seen cut, partly
smashed and near rotting bell peppers (the red and yellow ones, which are
displayed in the front shelves of the outlet), greens dried out and nowhere
near fresh.  This is a regular scene in a couple of their outlets in South
Delhi.  I have heard similarly from my folks in Malleswaram, Bangalore.
Note, I'm not saying all the stuff are bad-but the whole place loses its
charm and appeal when you see some of it rotting in chillers under bright
light - especially when you have "Fresh" displayed on a large sign lit
outside.

Contrary to this,  I've been surprised by the local vegetable vendors in
Delhi displaying fresh mint and coriander leaves wrapped in moist jute cloth
and selling them on push-carts and bicycles.

I prefer Namdhari for its fresh produce.  Its slightly expensive, but the
stuff from there lasts longer and stays fresh.  Unfortunately, they don't
have too many outlets in Delhi and the one close to me in Green Park Market
just moved farther away to Lajpatnagar.

Anil KUMAR

On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:48:26 -0700 (PDT), Vardhini Shankar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
>
> It is quite possible that the one store I saw is the exception and I must
> mention that I went there only twice.  But there was no way I was going to
> shop there, given the fact that there are 2 good produce stands within a
> mile of my parents' house. In addition to these are the vegetable vendors
> who come on the street selling produce from the nearby (< 50 Kms ) farm
> lands.
>
> - Original Message 
> From: Gautam John <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 11:10:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [silk] Chaos makes better business sense
>
> On 8/10/07, Vardhini Shankar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >...found produce from reliance etc to be really really lacking in
> quality.
>
> That's something I haven't heard. And given their investment at the
> back-end, from what I've heard and seen, I'm *very* surprised.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ___
> silklist mailing list
> silklist@lists.hserus.net
> http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/silklist
>
>

Re: [silk] Chaos makes better business sense

[Anil Kumar]

Reading the article, I cannot help feel that this statement of ..."Even
the dirty, black-spotted onions serve a function. For the average Indian,
dusty and dirty produce means fresh from the farm, he says.". - is a
cover-up for the mix of good, not so good and bad stuff (all in the same
basket / barrel) that Big / Food Bazaar is pushing more often lately.
Bottom-line, the quality of products and produce there has gone down from
what it was earlier.  I wonder whether stocking packaged products dirty on
the outside, greasy cooking oil sachets, partially torn-out labels are part
of the 'making it chaotic' plan.  Anyone who has been to any of their
'Annual Sales' or even casually looked up their electronics section would
have noticed that a lot of the so-called branded goods selling at 'highly'
discounted prices are actually scratched, dented at places and were possibly
on display / demonstration in other stores.

I hasten to add that I have only been inside 2 of the Big / Food Bazaar
stores - the ones in Gurgaon and Noida, New Delhi.

In the long run isn't the "India Two: the drivers, maids, cooks, nannies,
farmers and others who serve India One" more likely to return to the types
of - a lane dedicated to a vegetable seller collective...  In fact, in
Delhi, there are temporary fairs / bazaars that are held on the road-side
one day of the week in various areas across the city - where the 'India Two'
and the lower-middle class people normally shop and get their best bargain.

my 2p

Anil KUMAR

On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 16:09:35 +0530, "Srini Ramakrishnan" <[EMAIL 
PROTECTED]>wrote:


Let's never go shopping together, emmm ok?
>
> I'd prefer a pleasant shop assistant who knows his trade, and goods that
> are neatly stocked for convenience. I don't particularly fancy the Reliance
> stores which are similarly quite cramped and limited in choice. It's a sad
> commentary on the state of affairs in Hyderabad that these stores I detest
> are in fact some of the better places to shop.
>
> There is a lane dedicated to a vegetable seller collective in Rajajinagar
> in Bangalore that is quite neat and offers plenty of choice at great prices
> and quality without any haggling. That is the real India too, not Biyani's
> manufactured chaos.
>
> Cheeni
>
> On 8/9/07, ashok _ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > I know I am in a minroty, but I kinda agree with the guy.
> > I personally hate supermarkets and shopping malls; people driving around
> > slowly looking for a parking slot; various
> > people in promotional gear shoving soaps and creams up my nose, none of
> > which i really want ; spotless aisles neatly
> > ordered by brand and color. and there is always this category of music
> > playing in the backgroud "mall music" ?
> > give me the filth and the cholestrol and sugar and caffeine laden drinks
> and
> > the no-returns policy. And I quite like
> > the suspicious store owner, simply because he gives me the right to be
> > extremely rude to him.
> >
> >
> > On 8/9/07, Madhu Menon wrote:
> > >
> > > You guys should read this article before the link dies (it's good only
> > > for a week):
> > >
> > >
> http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB118651168871890705-lMyQjAxMDE3ODA2ODUwMTgxWj.html
> > >
> > > An interesting user experience-related issue.
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> ___
> silklist mailing list
> silklist@lists.hserus.net
> http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/silklist
>
>

Re: [silk] Audiophile advice

[Anil Kumar]

I have connected a Worldspace receiver to a PC Speaker set - 2.1 from
Creative.  Total cost INR1500/- (~USD37/-);  It works well, decent sound
output.  Depending upon when you subscribed to Outlook - try and get them to
send you the limited edition of receiver with speakers which they were
offering until a few weeks ago.

Anil

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:08:45 +0530, Abhijit Menon-Sen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:From: Abhijit Menon-Sen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:08:45 +0530
Subject: Re: [silk] Audiophile advice
I need some anti-audiophile advice.

I subscribed to Outlook and got a free Worldspace receiver and a 6-month
subscription. The receiver (which arrived today, after much delay) is a
little box with RCA outputs. The only Worldspace receiver I've seen had
a little built-in speaker, and that's what I was expecting, so I was a
bit disappointed to see that this one didn't have speakers.

I don't have an amp, or a stereo, or speakers to plug this into.

So: what is the minimum I can spend to get halfway decent sound out of
the thing? Should I get PC speakers and forget the amp? Should I look
for a cheap little stereo with built-in speakers (if such things still
exist)? Or does someone know where (in Delhi) I can get cheap speakers
with an amplifier?

-- ams

Re: [silk] The Real Montessori?

[Anil Kumar]

http://www.montessori.in/ - has some information on Montessori in India.
This site is of a friend who is bcced on this mail.

Anil KUMAR

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:34:52 -0700, Thaths <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


-- Forwarded message --
From: Thaths <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Intelligent Conversation" 
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:34:52 -0700
Subject: [silk] The Real Montessori?
I've seen many schools in India that claimed to be Montessori schools.
However, they seem to be following the same curriculum and processes
as any other school. Have any of you heard of /real/ Montessori
schools in India? I am especially interested in ones in Mumbai and
Chennai.

Thaths
--
Homer: He has all the money in the world, but there's one thing he can't
buy.
Marge: What's that?
Homer: (pause) A dinosaur.
-- Homer J. Simpson
Sudhakar ChandraSlacker Without
Borders

Re: [silk] indian budget airlines

[Anil Kumar]

With some efforts in looking up the various online booking sites (and the
individual airline sites), you can actually get a good fare on the
'Full-service airlines'.  Also, currently there's an offer - if you hold (or
know anyone holding and can use it) either a Indian-issued visa or a
mastercard - credit card - you get further discounts ranging from 5% to 30%
on the basic fare depending upon the type of card.

Notwithstanding the complaints against online booking services, I personally
am happy that such services are now available in India - gives me the
freedom of choice (with discounts thrown in - occasionally) and I do not
have to depend upon the travel agent whose degree of attention to my
requirements depended upon the business I give them; its the same with the
introduction of direct-to-home (DTH) television channel services, thereby
eliminating the monopolistic cablewalla.

Of course, the online fares are good if your travel schedules are fixed.
Any changes will attract additional costs - also watch out for different set
of terms and conditions for e-ticket and paper tickets.


Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] CTR in Malleswaram stands for....?

[Anil Kumar]

That's the old and popularly known name.  Don't go looking for it, 'cos the
restaurant sports a different name, one I cannot recall right now.  Good
idea to reach Malleswaram Club / Grounds and look for a oldish looking
restaurant in a corner on other side of Margosa Road.  Of course, easier to
just ask someone around there.

Anil KUMAR


On 4/1/07, Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


-- Forwarded message --
From: Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 09:51:09 +0530
Subject: Re: [silk] CTR in Malleswaram stands for?
Srini Ramakrishnan wrote: [ on 02:27 AM 3/31/2007 ]

>>   CTR stands for: Central Tiffin Room or Central Tiffany Room? I
>> have heard both versions, and was unable to verify the name when I
>> was there recently.
>
>I've only heard of MTR == Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (sic)
>
>I'd strongly bet on Tiffin

According to a couple of old Malleswaram residents I asked (who have
been in the area 30+ years) it is Central Tiffin Rooms.

Udhay

--
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))





-- Forwarded message --
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 08:53:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [silk] CTR in Malleswaram stands for?
Thanks Udhay!

  Kamla

Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  Srini Ramakrishnan wrote: [ on 02:27 AM 3/31/2007 ]

>> CTR stands for: Central Tiffin Room or Central Tiffany Room? I
>> have heard both versions, and was unable to verify the name when I
>> was there recently.
>
>I've only heard of MTR == Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (sic)
>
>I'd strongly bet on Tiffin

According to a couple of old Malleswaram residents I asked (who have
been in the area 30+ years) it is Central Tiffin Rooms.

Udhay

--
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))

[silk] Re 1 trick to stop trains

[Anil Kumar]

Will someone please explain how this is done?

Anil KUMAR

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb162007/national042592007216.asp

* Re 1 trick to stop trains *
 From Abhay Kumar DH News Service Patna:

And you thought only Superman could stop a running train. Wrongdoers in
Bihar can do that easier and faster — all they need is a one rupee coin!

No, they do not pull the chain or snap the hose-pipe. Instead, they change
the signal. Here's a lowdown on the novel method they employ to do this.

The miscreants place a one rupee coin on the tracks between the two points
(joints), connected by an isolator.

By inserting the metallic coin between the joints, the electric circuit is
maintained for the time being and the fibre isolation eventually changes the
railway signal.

As the train stops, passengers get down or board the train as per their
convenience.

<.>

[silk] Subject: Re: Charles Haynes introduction

[Anil Kumar]

Dwarka, I hear, is still around - in the Gandhi Bazaar or NR Colony area.
This time minus (I hope) the various notices hung on walls of the old
establishment - which, inter alia,  warned customers - not to wash hands in
plate, not to speak loudly, eat and get out etc.

On 1/31/07, Venkat Mangudi wrote:


-- Forwarded message --
From: Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 10:18:02 +0530
Subject: Re: [silk] Charles Haynes introduction
Anil Kumar wrote:
> Anybody been to Vidyarthi Bhavan lately?
I believe VB quality has come down significantly. I also noticed that
Dwarka on Bull Temple Road has closed. They used to serve awesome set
dosas.

Re: [silk] Charles Haynes introduction

[Anil Kumar]

aka - Central Tiffin Room (the excellent dosa place near malleswaram club)
for the old timers of Bangalore.

If you are in the South of Bangalore try - Brahmins Coffee Bar near Shankar
Mutt, off Bull Temple Road - for delicious idlis, vada, kharabath and
kesaribath;  wrap up with coffee (This is all you get at this place) -
another stand, eat and go kinda places.

For spicy North Karnataka food try Kamat Yatri Nivas on Bull Temple Road.
This one is new, clean and has good service.  I totally prefer over the one
in Gandhinagar.

Anybody been to Vidyarthi Bhavan lately?


Anil KUMAR



...



-- Forwarded message --
From: Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:57:21 +0530
Subject: Re: [silk] Charles Haynes introduction



Thaths wrote:

> There is also an excellent Dosa place on Margosa road near the
> playground opposite Malleshwaram club.
>
I was just going to recommend this place. I think it is called Shree
sagar or something like that. Be prepared to wait, sometimes upto half
an hour.

Another great place for dosa and vada in Malleswaram is Janata Hotel.

A small 15x15 place called Veena stores serves some excellent idlis. No
place to sit though.

[silk] Enthu Cutlets

[Anil Kumar]

HI!

I am back on Silk, or shall we say Silklist is back on my mail box.  I had
not been receiving silk-list messages for a few weeks now (I subscribe the
digest format).  I have been lurking on this list and must have posted
lesser times than the number of years it has been in existence and hence
unknown to many.

I know there's an introduction-protocol and here goes my re-introduction…
Name – Anil KUMAR; city / country of residence – New Delhi / India;
occupation – lawyer; interests – music, reading, long drives and occasional
camping, trekking, rafting etc.
What prompted me to ramble here today is in the title to this post.  Chilly
Sunday morning here in Delhi, I opened the Brunch (magazine that supplied
with Sunday edition of The Hindustan Times newspaper), leafing through I
notice this article on Travel - Alive as a Dodo - by Mahesh Murthy (I know
he was / is on this list) – about a recent trip to Mauritius.  The
inconspicuous mention of "Enthu Cutlets" caught my attention and triggered
memories of college days in Bangalore.  It is real nice to see South Indian
lingo in North Indian news papers.  It is nice to see South India specific
programmes on television.  Thankfully, generalizing all South Indians as
Madrasis is no longer done in North India.

I'm not aware of the origin of 'Enthu Cutlets' or whether it was / is in use
in other parts of India but it is something I haven't heard for a long time
now (and never in Delhi).  Reading it today in Hindustan Times was like a
connection to home, a blast from the past.  Thanks to Mahesh Murthy!

Anil Kumar

Re: [silk] security and choosing sides

[Anil Kumar]

t if you
insist let it be at your own risk.
So what's the conclusion I'm
driving at? Actually, there are three. I don't think the Dutch were
wrong. Once the Northwest Airlines plane chose to return to Amsterdam
it would have been irresponsible not to thoroughly investigate the 12.
And, frankly, even if you think the reaction of the crew and airline
marshals was exaggerated it was, in the circumstances, understandable.
As a frequent flier, I'd rather an over-reaction than complacency. At
35,000 feet, you can't take chances.
Second, were we right to
demand an apology before we knew the full facts? If this ever happens
again — and it might — I would advise discretion and silence until all
the details are known. It's never too late to ask someone to say sorry.
But to hastily demand an apology and get it wrong is a little
embarrassing.
Third, a lesson for all of us: whilst we must never
accuse someone because he's Muslim, don't excuse him on those grounds
either. Regardless of faith, dress or beard, stupid behaviour is
indefensible. In times of stress it provokes panicky and harsh
reactions. When that happens the fault lies more in the behaviour than
in the over-reaction. And, without doubt, our 12 behaved like yokels.
None
of this is to deny there's racism and the West is often guilty of it.
And there have been racist responses to the Heathrow scare. But what
happened to our 12 was different.
Finally, before accusing others
shouldn't we check if we're free of the same prejudice? It's easy to
get angry — it's a lot more difficult to accept you are at fault
yourself. Anil KUMAR

Re: [silk] madikere

[Anil Kumar]

HI Abhijit,My last trip to Madikeri was in June, a month ago.  Madikeri (aka Mercara) is about 275kms from Bangalore.  You can reach there by evening, if you start from Bangalore in the morning.  Economical way is to take a bus from Bangalore directly to Madikeri or through Mysore.  Check 
http://www.ksrtc.org/timetable.aspYou can also take a train from Bangalore to Mysore and a bus thereon.  Funnily, the KSRTC timetable online does not list buses from Mysore to Mercara.
If you are driving, (at an easy pace) it should take you 7-8 hours from Bangalore including snack stops at the MTR Hotel after Channapatna or Kamat Lokaruchi.  (I wonder if they still make those awesome Maddur vadas at the Maddur railway station canteen).
Most part of the Bangalore-Mysore drive is good, except in patches where work is still going on.  Same with the road bye-passing Mysore to Madikeri via Hunsur.  A month ago, road building work was in progress but there are stretches you can drive at 60-80kmph. 
Feel free to call / mail me for details.  Anil KUMAROn 7/17/06, Abhijit Menon-Sen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
 wrote:Message: 3Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:46:32 +0530From: Abhijit Menon-Sen <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: [silk] madikereTo: silklist@lists.hserus.netMessage-ID: <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-asciiHas anyone been there?Does anyone know if it's sensible to expect to arrive in Bangalore in the morning, and be in Madikere by evening? What's the best way to do it? Bus to Mysore and another to Madikere? Would a taxi be expensive? Are the buses regular enough that I don't have to worry about precise timings?
Any relevant information would be greatly appreciated.-- ams

silklist@lists.hserus.net

[Anil Kumar]

They certainly can't be blamed for being rude, considering what the majority go through on a daily basis (twice at least)http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1676889,curpg-1.cms




Rude shock for Mumbai
Chidanand Rajghatta[ Saturday, June 24, 2006  09:22:13 pm
TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
 "Mad,
bad, and dangerous to know," was Lady Caroline Lamb's assessment of her lover
Lord Byron. If a Reader's Digest survey is to be believed, Mumbaikars are a
rude, crude, ill-mannered brood.

  ...On 6/29/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Message: 9Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:40:52 +0530
From: Madhu Menon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: Re: [silk] Gates interview on world health &cTo: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowedDevdas Bhagat wrote:[infomercial voiceover mode on]
And for that low, low, price, you - yes, *you* - can enjoy a relaxing 90minute train ride through beautiful Mumbai. Enjoy the wonderful sights
of dilapidated buildings as you take in the wonderful smell of faecesemanating from Mumbai's distinguishing "slums by the rail tracks".You will find yourself riveted to the sights and sounds, not because
they're so enjoyable, but because you will find yourself unable to move,as you are held tightly in place by 300 other people sharing the sametrain coach as you.Make new friends on this long journey... there is nothing like finding
yourself taking in the armpit odour of your fellow passengers to createa bonding experience unlike any other.And all this can be yours for just Rs. 18. Call now and book yourtickets! Take the same charming trip that millions of Mumbai citizens
take every day.[infomercial voiceover mode off]--<<<   *   >>>Madhu MenonShiok Far-eastern CuisineIndiranagar, BangaloreVisit us @ 
http://www.shiokfood.comPhone: (080) 4116 1800--___silklist mailing list
silklist@lists.hserus.nethttp://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/silklistEnd of silklist Digest, Vol 23, Issue 57

Re: [silk] intro Zeenath

[Anil Kumar]

He's a kinda boring boy these days.  I totally miss the 'weird' Udhay from years gone by.  He's running the risk of becoming a 'normal' person :)Of course, of late his vodka knowledge and collection is certainly a highlight of my (very rare) visits to his home.
Anil KUMARPS: I have hit reply on the original post and copy-pasted subject line.  I hope it works this time.Re: the THAI joint spilling over to the footpath in GK-2, New Delhi, Madhu's right, it is Culinaire; serves great food for decent prices, in contrast to many other over-priced joints in the vicinity; i personally speak for the veggie food only, while my friends have enjoyed the non-vegetarian fare just as well.  Don't expect comfort seating - better option is to take-away.
 Message: 10Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 09:39:24 +0400From: "Ramakrishnan Sundaram" <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: Re: [silk] intro ZeenathTo: silklist@lists.hserus.netMessage-ID:<
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowedOn 6/21/06, Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:> He knows more about Vodka than anybody else I know... He keeps introducing me to new brands of Vodka every time I meet him.And Vodka knows more about him than anyone else I know.
At least in times before Lavanya :-). I've heard disturbing rumours that he's a good boy these days.Ram--___silklist mailing list
silklist@lists.hserus.nethttp://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/silklistEnd of silklist Digest, Vol 23, Issue 35

Re: [silk] Mmmmm, flame-broiled... (Udhay Shankar N)

[Anil Kumar]

Exactly where in Delhi have you eaten noodles and sambhar - as a dish featuring on the menu / hang-board?As I write this, I recall - Some years ago, there was a Thai restaurant in Greater Kailash, Delhi called Sukhothai, attached to a pub.  My partner and me were friends with the captain-a south indian.  Very often we would be served the "Staff Menu" 'cos they would have run short or out of food by the time we reached there.  We found quality of staff menu certainly superior to the dishes offered to customers for a price.
Dunno if that was one of the reasons for the place to close down.:)Anil KUMARPS: I recall a round of introductions being made sometime ago.  I'm a very long time lurker on this list and must have posted less than 10 times thus far.  I am a lawyer currently based in Delhi and originally from Bangalore, known to Udhay and a very few others on the list.
On 6/15/06,  Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:50:43 -0700 (PDT)From: Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: Re: [silk] M, flame-broiled...
To: silklist@lists.hserus.netMessage-ID: <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1Deepa Mohan <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> But it's nice, occasionally, to "belong" to the "establishment" and> make> superior comments about tastes that don't conform! Being judgemental
> comes> naturally...Absolutely. Have I told you about the disgusting combination you canget from Delhi street vendors, "Chaawmeen aur sambher" or noodles withsambhar. Ugh.Udhay

[silk] Bangalore to be renamed Bengaluru

[Anil KUMAR]

I saw this Report on NDTV a short while ago.  Chief Minister of Karnataka 
Dharam Singh has asked the State Chief Secretary to take steps for renaming 
the city Bengaluru.  The renaming is expected to be done by November 2006.


I wonder why not Bendha kalluru (baked beans city) - as the legend goes.

Anil