Speaking of Cows

Moody Cow

Some state of the art info about cows, sheep and other livestock for you rustics.

Walking the TAAQ

Thermal and a Quarter

From: Jeyashankher
Subject: Local bangalore rock band

Check out these guys. Rock stuff, but there is some decent stuff in there. I have listened to "The steal" and "paper puli". Pretty tight. Too classic-rockish (and digitised) sound though. These guys are playing today here at cubbon park. Will check them out. -J

I've listened to some of the songs and liked Paper Puli and Cynical World so far. What I really like about this band (from what I've seen on their website) is their resourcefulness. The music itself, I'm sure, will improve with time. But there is definitely a refreshing streak of authenticity and jugaad in their approach. The polished website with some great design elements (see paper puli page for instance), the lyrics and content on the webpages, the way they put their new album together in Madras and Hyderabad studios, their TOML license etc. Incidentally, this open license has been drafted by Lawrence who some of the bloggers will remember as a very articulate NLS graduate who won the JAM in Saarang 1997 in IITM. I think that their creative approach of actually making things happen has got a lot of elements in place and lets them now work on their music. The right approach for any desi enterprise.

One more on the "Gates"

The New Yorker: The Talk of the Town

Brings me back once again to The Simpsons' definition of post-modernism - "wierd for the sake of wierd".

Indians writing in English

The Cult of Authenticity

What does it mean to be an Indian writing in English? Is it a loss of identity and nativity? Vikram Chandra's essay is a good read.

Faking news

N.O.I.S.E - Noise Of India Special Edition

India's only newspaper with a recursive name that is putting the 'mock' back in democracy! There are laughs in almost every line of their articles, memos, ads and even search-engine keywords. A real 'noice' source that specializes in breaking-and-recreating news.

Rebop - Ragabop

Takatakita Blues

Some of the tracks are interesting but I like the titles best ('Dharma becomes Alibama' is another favourite). Actually Ragabop reminded me of a musician I was reading about recently, who named his son Rebop ! I think the full name is Rebop-pa-rebop-bop-fribidibop ... stolen from a Kurt Elling solo I say.

I think our Berklee grad's compositions are improving with each album - T. what's your take ?

Chillaxing

They are in a peaceful place

Hardly breaking news to most of you I assume but had to post it after I saw that word. IITM lingo goes mainstream huh ?

Earn your stripes

Kuhlman Company

I found this store in Santana Row in San Jose that stocks only men's shirts and ties! It's a small store (very much like an Indian boutique store) and have found some of the best french cuffed shirts here. Most of them cost less than the BR/KC fare and have great cuts and fits.

February Iruvai Okkati

The Mother Tongue Day

This is closely related to my Accent neutralization post. Our education system, industry needs, short-sighted political posturing and above all the monoculture of the Internet seem to be consigning our mother tongues to a permanent second language status.

As the article notes, "The health of a handful of languages is said to be pretty good, the sheer size of their speakers will ensure that they survive well beyond 100 years, but here again the question would be in how vibrant a form would they exist. Will they be around just to perform kitchen chores or would they lead the debates of the world?"

The article itself doesn't make any solid recommendations on how we can revive these languages. But that's a good question, what can be done? Interestingly, the local language movies (Tamil and Telugu in particular) seem to be serving a good cause here.

Nice try only...

Blog of an IIT student

I'm trying not to paste too many entries pointing to just-another-IIT guy. But this was a funny read. The 'Knee Yamma' thing had me cracking up for a long time... SpaceK, you might be interested in scrolling down and looking at his favorites in the sidebar.

Kaushik with a 'U'

Kaushik Kapisthalam

The link points to search results for a "U.S. based freelance south asia analyst" who is an op-ed editor for New York Times and his well-researched articles are being printed and quoted in many papers worldwide!

So, what's the deal, you ask? This is the same guy who went around with a permanent marker writing personalized graffiti on every 4th-wingers door. This is our hostel senior - Kau aka Kow aka Cow...

Unlikely bestsellers

Rupa's (the publishers) Golden Geese

Ruskin Bond and Gulzar makes sense. But Anurag Mathur (The Inscrutable Americans) and Chetan Bhagat (Five Point Someone - What Not To do At IIT)?

A Spiked article

Healthier in lungs, poorer in spirit

Don't smoke myself except for the occasional cigar ... but here is a refreshingly(?) contrarian viewpoint.

Perfect balanced sample

Yes Prime Minister series 1 episodes 1-4

P was considering interviewing people about certain work-related issues and, instantly, I was reminded of one of my favourite exchanges from that grand-father of all sitcom scripts "yes (prime) minister". So, while I'm at it, I might as well pay a tribute.

Ludicrous Govt and civil service plots written in the 1980's by the Anthony Jay and the irrepressible Jonathan Lynn (who astoundingly also wrote the starkly different 'my cousin vinny'!) amazingly played themselves out in real life politics 15 years later!

Back to the issue at hand, this is a conversation where Sir Humphrey is telling Bernard how to design a survey for opinions on introduction of a national service, so he gets the result he's already decided.
Listen .

Sir Humphrey: "You know what happens: nice young lady comes up to you. Obviously you want to create a good impression, you don't want to look a fool, do you? So she starts asking you some questions: Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the number of young people without jobs?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our Comprehensive schools?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think young people welcome some authority and leadership in their lives?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think they respond to a challenge?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Would you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?"
Bernard Woolley: "Oh...well, I suppose I might be."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes or no?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Of course you would, Bernard. After all you told you can't say no to that. So they don't mention the first five questions and they publish the last one."
Bernard Woolley: "Is that really what they do?"
Sir Humphrey: "Well, not the reputable ones no, but there aren't many of those. So alternatively the young lady can get the opposite result."
Bernard Woolley: "How?"
Sir Humphrey: "Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the danger of war?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Are you worried about the growth of armaments?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think it is wrong to force people to take up arms against their will?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Would you oppose the reintroduction of National Service?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "There you are, you see Bernard. The perfect balanced sample."

IIT cohesion

DARK SIDE OF MOON (Tragedy of IITs)

Not just another IIT article. Raises, through its native means, issues with the family-business oriented Indian economy, lack of an IIT network, and potential reasons for it. Browse that website too, kinda interesting.

Al Looper ?

Gunga-Galunga

This is in response to Space's blog entry ... just reverse the roles and it's equally funny. You golf enthusiasts might also like to catch the full movie if you haven't already.

Accent neutralization

Rai on Letterman

I don't care much for the interview. Many say she fared badly. But to be fair, Letterman's line of questioning is awkward and most viewers have just got used to this oddity. Also, Paul's impulsive (or deliberate?) and mistimed cackles can be quite unnerving to the guests and even viewers and who knows, the host too!

What did strike me was Rai's completely neutralized accent. It was difficult to place it - British or American slant, original or affected? Maybe, its a mix of all the factors. But are our accents really getting so neutralized and perhaps even neutered (bastardized)? At least, that's what they are teaching (check the video) back in call centres in India. The desi accented stereotype seems to be living on only in the cartoon world of Simpsons.

Lingua Kannada

Chindi

For all your Kannada needs. Check out the drama section for some unbelievable clips from theatre - hiranyayya with everything on it.

Ok, ok, here's something for the rest of you to munch on. You simply have to listen to Dr. Rajkumar (yeah, yeah kidnap-rajkumar) belt out this English number. I guarantee a good time. Go to If you come today and click on "If you come today".

Frog Legs and Lollipops

Another Statesman book review

Since all of us are vegetarians this might not be as mouthwatering a read as it should. But there are lots of interesting facts in the article - did you know there was a Surrealist movement in the culinary arts too ? My apartment-mate and I have cooked up some surreal stuff over the years ... never knew that we were at the vanguard of an artistic movement.

Godel and Einstein

The Chronicle: 12/17/2004: Godel and Einstein: Friendship and Relativity

This was published a couple of months back - I was reminded of it by yesterday's NYT article : Incompleteness .

Philosophy Now

Immanuel Kant

Nice article on the philosopher. Incidentally a waitress once told me that I had a cool last name. Hey, I swear, Desai was a witness.

Its a wrap!

Gates to art

In the words of Karen, honey, two things:
1) Exhibiting your (clean/dirty) laundry is over! Our own bull, maqbool, showed yards and yards of white cloth in an elaborate exhibition post-Babri Masjid communal riots
and
2) You really need to get a life (My favourite line: "The two have spent their entire careers wrapping up monuments...")
and (if I may)
3) The greatest element of their art(ifice) seems to be that they befriended Mayor Bloomberg

An asinine argument

Cervantes vs Einstein

I have heard/read this type of argument more times than I can remember - Schopenhauer, anybody ? So these humanities types think they're better than us math/science types. You know, just because they have a way with words. You know, because they can talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk...... and write newspaper articles to declare victory.

More on this on our other blog. I suggest that we reserve this blog for just storing links (along with short descriptions). We can do our ranting on the other blog...

Tharoor Interview -- a 'hatke' career

Conversation with Shashi Tharoor

With the post-Ph.D ontological crises members of the group may be in, Tharoor's life makes interesting reading. I particularly recommend the "Diplomat" section explaining his transition to a career in the U.N. Exudes that Gen-W intellectual appeal. And in that spirit, read the whole article I say.

Pakistan, By Definition

Analysis of Stephen Philip Cohen's new book by Jaswant Singh.

The origin of the 'idea' of Pakistan, its unconsidered evolution and the resultant contradictions in the 'state' of Pakistan are well catalogued in this brief analysis/review by Jaswant Singh. The most disturbing insight from Cohen himself is that Pakistan's nuclear weapons program is the most important percept of its current identity!

However, the fact remains that Pakistan is still a state that is less than the sum of the ideas that went into its creation.

Poetry for Valentine's Day

By Robert Pinsky

Here's advice from a former poet laureate. How can you go wrong ??
Don't worry we'll find a way.

How to play the French service game

... and win

I've never been to a french restaurant ... and after reading this I'm in no hurry either.

Sliding all the way down

FinalGoodBye.ppt

A "clear, concise and persuasive" powerpoint presentation of a tragic story.

A symbol of intelligence?

FBI recruitment ad

This ad aired right before the superbowl. Pinch me! Are Indians really this mainstream in this country that we can have this (purposely retaining suspense till you see ad) in an FBI recruitment ad in front of the largest TV audience of the year?

Wendy Doniger

If you are looking for more factoids

There was (is?) a huge debate on Sulekha.com and another on OutlookIndia.com about her "scholarly" works on Hinduism. I've read most of the posts. What I didn't know was that she was decent hottie in her prime...

Another Statesman article ...

The world's first multinational

... with some interesting factoids.

How to win an argument.

Schopenhauer on the tricks of the trade.

Another article by our favourite book reviewer...

Blog-listed

A google (ex-)employee's blog.

He was employed a few weeks back. And he began blogging about his experiences at google. Within a week, his posts were sanitised and he has been ultimately fired! But the few remaining posts are an interesting read. Goes to show what you can and cannot do in the corporate world.

One more for the book shelf

Knuth releases the second fascicle of his next volume.

The first time I laid my hands on Knuth's Art of Computer Prgramming tomes was when Pandu notoriously encouraged each of us to start building our personal libraries. Knuth has finally (after forty years!) started releasing sections of his next volume. I think this guy's efforts are laud-worthy because CS has long ceased to be a field where someone can write a classic. But this guys works definitely merit the 'classic' tag. Since this is a pre-release web copy, he offers cash for each error found (including typographical) and a mention in the book for a better solution to the examples. That's one way you get students who buy the books and let them gather dust on the bookshelves, to actually read them.

Neat Ad

New Peugeot advertisement.

Got this in the badmash.org mailing list. Not sure if it's meant only for an Indian audience but don't see a reason why it can't be used in other contexts.

Celebrating Italo Calvino

An audio tribute.

Literary gossip, reviews and tributes are usually more engaging than literature itself. This tribute to Italo Calvino features comments by Salman Rushdie and Umberto Eco among others.

A funny review

Chaw McCuddy on Yitzhak Perelman

I saw this recently at a music discussion board. You'll probably need to register (it takes a couple of minutes but it is worth it). This is sure to bring back bad memories for those of you who have been to the Orchestra Hall in Chicago (where the CSO performs).

A serious article on Wodehouse

Jeeves vs Pooh

With the recent publication of a Wodehouse biography just about every web-zine has had a Wodehouse tribute article in the last few months. This one I found most interesting.

On brushstrokes

The Mystery of Picasso (Le Myst�re Picasso) (1956): Pablo Picasso - PopMatters Film Review

Go rent this movie! Picasso's ability to abstract visuals to their fundamental shape will dazzle you, so will Clouzot's depiction of the same. But the sardonic rhetoric will stay with you and will keep you wondering whether films are actually true art for a long while.

Gandhian overture

Epica Awards

What an influence. A deservedly award-winning ad.

Contrast with Alyque Padamsee's Gandhi-in-a-brushstroke ad
"The greatest thing about this man was his simplicity
Let us find the Gandhi in ourselves"