Re: [silk] Weekly or monthly recommendations

[Sidin Vadukut]

The Browser is a fantastic service that sends a few great reads everyday into 
your email
Inbox. Super low volume and I almost always enjoy their recommendations. I am a 
subscriber. And worth every penny. Also they don’t obsess over ‘good writing’ 
as much as ‘things that are good for reading’.

TheBrowser.com
On 29 Feb 2020, 18:15 +, Ashwin Nanjappa , wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have been thinking of switching to reading magazines with a weekly or
> monthly cadence for news, analysis, opinions, books, movies, travel, tech
> etc.
> Not only is following the "breaking news" mentally tiring, I have realized
> they don't matter in the long term.
> Right now I am reading The Economist and Linux Weekly News (LWN). Would
> love to discover more such sources.
>
> *What non-trash sources of weekly/monthly cadence do you recommend?*
> I would prefer they have paper versions, cause I am getting tired of
> complicated payments, ads, tracking, DRM etc.
>
> Regards,
> Ashwin

Re: [silk] projects in Art And Science

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 2:35 PM Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> I sometimes get interesting mail like this out of the blue. Anyone feels up
> to suggesting something to this person?
>
> Udhay
>
> -- Forwarded message -
> From: Tam Treanor 
> Date: Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 6:47 PM
> Subject: Art And Science
> To: 
>
>
> Hello I am a sound designer and musician based in Scotland with an interest
> in cross disciplinary projects. I shall be visiting India in October and
> November 2019. I looking to get involved in interesting projects,
> festivals, events, teaching, learning, performing etc.
>
> Skills Overview
> MSc in Sound Design
> Studio Production Experience
> Spatial Audio expertise (3D Audio)
> Composition
> Teaching
> Interactive software coding.
>
> I generally like to be involved in projects rather than simply being a
> tourist so I am reaching out to see what opportunities there might be while
> i am in India.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Tam
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>


Yes Uday, please forward details to me?



*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292 / +91 730 611 6314
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] A considered opinion

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Sun, Sep 15, 2019 at 1:07 PM Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> I saw this line from silklister Heather Madrone on another list, and it got
> me thinking (shared with Heather's permission):
>
> > I have no opinion on Ito and MIT and the Media Lab. I'm not
> > interested in doing the work to develop a considered view of that
> situation.
>
> Setting aside the specifics of the Media Lab clusterfuck, this is a
> remarkably concise way of conveying that
>
> 1) It takes *work* to build enough perspective to have an informed opinion
> about something;
> 2) Having an informed opinion is a good thing; and
> 3) Not having an opinion is OK if one can't have an informed opinion.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Udhay
>
> --
>
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>

I am in very strong agreement. I find it very easy to get sucked into easy
scholarship -> say something stupid online -> refuse to acknowledge ->
grind your heels in -> and loop.

Best to care about three things deeply than ten things shallowly. If that
makes sense.

-- 


*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292 / +91 730 611 6314
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] What do you do when you get to know that you have been pwned?

[Sidin Vadukut]

The haveibeenpwned.com  site is great and I use it every six months or to
check if any logins have been compromised.

(Sorry I keep forgetting the Silk protocol about replying before or after a
thread.)

On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 3:59 PM Ashim D'Silva 
wrote:

> Medium made a huge deal about it when they released it as a feature:
> https://blog.medium.com/signing-in-to-medium-by-email-aacc21134fcd
>
> Makes total sense though; passwords are an old solution to a difficult
> problem. Of course it also means that your email better always be in your
> control otherwise that’s the single point of failure.
>
> Cheerio,
>
> Ashim
> Design & Build
>
> The Random Lines
> www.therandomlines.com
>
>
> On Fri, 22 Feb 2019 at 17:25, Deepa Mohan  wrote:
>
> > I must say that "use 'forgot password'!" is advice I get very often from
> my
> > bank. I think it is an absurd solution that works!
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 8:53 PM Ra Jesh  wrote:
> >
> > > Hahaha. Neat!!!
> > >
> > > On Fri, Feb 22, 2019, 20:51 Ashim D'Silva 
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > For sites I don’t use too often, I was always tempted to reuse
> > passwords
> > > > which is a pretty bad practice, so I started just using the forgot
> > > password
> > > > feature more often. So I have a ridiculous entirely random password
> > that
> > > I
> > > > don’t know, and then just say forgot password when I want to log in.
> > > >
> > > > It’s could also be a good way to go about changing all your
> > passwords—and
> > > > side effect is it confirms your backup email.
> > > >
> > > > Cheerio,
> > > >
> > > > Ashim
> > > > Design & Build
> > > >
> > > > The Random Lines
> > > > www.therandomlines.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, 22 Feb 2019 at 16:55, Thaths  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 2:42 AM Udhay Shankar N 
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 2:04 PM Udhay Shankar N  >
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > 1. Log out all gmail/facebook/other social sessions (Most
> > providers
> > > > > give
> > > > > > > you the option to "log out all current sessions")
> > > > > > > 2. Change all the passwords of pwned email addresses
> > > > > > > 3. Enable 2FA EVERYWHERE that supports it. Ideally, with a
> > hardware
> > > > > token
> > > > > > > such as a yubikey.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Additionally, I'd also suggest you log in to your various
> > > (potentially)
> > > > > > compromised accounts, check under security setting to see if the
> > > backup
> > > > > > email address (where password reset notifications are sent) and
> > > backup
> > > > > > phone number have been tampered with.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > In addition to all of those steps, I also recommend using unique
> > > > passwords
> > > > > in all the sites. It is not going to be possible for you to
> remember
> > > that
> > > > > many unique passwords (especially if you choose strong passwords).
> I
> > > > > recommend you choose strong passwords that you memorize for one or
> > two
> > > of
> > > > > your key accounts (Google, Facebook). And use a password management
> > (I
> > > > > personally use keepass) to generate and store strong unique
> passwords
> > > for
> > > > > your other sites.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thaths
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Homer: Hey, what does this job pay?
> > > > > Carl:  Nuthin'.
> > > > > Homer: D'oh!
> > > > > Carl:  Unless you're crooked.
> > > > > Homer: Woo-hoo!
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>


-- 


*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] Huda Masood

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 4:39 PM Huda Masood  wrote:

> Hi !
>
> I'm Huda and I'm honoured to be part of the Silklist group. Udhay mentioned
> that I need to introduce myself so here's a little bit about myself.
>
> I live in Bangalore but I'm Hyderabadi. Here, in Bangalore, I run a company
> called The Huda Bar - we manufacture organic energy bars.
>
> I've an grad degree in dental surgery and a post graduate degree in
> Regenerative medicine - I worked with stem cells for a while before
> regulatory issues narrowed the scope of human stem cell research.
>
> I've worn a lot of hats and worked even more jobs, too many to list off the
> top of my head. My current hobby is to try and destroy my motorcycle on off
> road jaunts, while asking myself why I do this to myself.
>
> I've met a few Silklist folks over the last couple of years and I look
> forward to our conversations!
>
> That's it for now, see you guys soon!
>
> Huda
>

Welcome Huda. I believe Himesh sang about this product in his famous song
Tera pyaar pyaar pyaar Huda Bar?

Glad to make acquaintance.


-- 


*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] On Lit fests

[Sidin Vadukut]

Usually there will be at leasy one bookshop on location. And signings after
each session. Usually.



*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
*Foreign Correspondent - Mint*
91 Kingswood Road, Bromley, BR20NG
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Fax: +44 203 318 2053
Web: http://www.livemint.com
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 4:21 PM, Bharat Shetty <bharat.she...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 18, 2017 at 5:58 PM, Sidin Vadukut <sidin.vadu...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Was supposed to be there (as one of the surprisingly nice people) and
> then
> > my passport vanished into the corridors of the home office here in the
> UK.
> >
>
> I have never attended a LitFest earlier, but plan to visit it this time. I
> wonder if there will be any book sales around or just the talks and
> socializing around etc ?
>
> Regards,
> Bharat
>

Re: [silk] On Lit fests

[Sidin Vadukut]

Was supposed to be there (as one of the surprisingly nice people) and then
my passport vanished into the corridors of the home office here in the UK.

On Wed, Oct 18, 2017 at 1:08 PM Suresh Ramasubramanian 
wrote:

> Jaggi and Manu Joseph, fml.  The rest of the usual suspects and some
> surprisingly nice people.
>
> On 18/10/17, 5:15 PM, "silklist on behalf of Jayadevan P K"
>  jayadeva...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Bangalore Lit fest speaker list
> 
>
>
>
>

Re: [silk] On Lit fests

[Sidin Vadukut]

I have attended several in various capacities. And there are a few reasons
for this perhaps:

1. Most big fests have a media partner. And one of the quid pro quo
arrangements is that some senior editors will moderate panels, talk to
writers and so on.
2. Some senior journos are mini celebs in their own right, and are also
useful for higher profile, reaching out to foreign writers and journalists
and so on.
3. Journalists also write a lot of non-fiction books in India. I am not
sure what proportion of the whole corpus of non-fic. But my sense is that
they do tend to serve as a sort of public intellectual in India subsuming
the roles that academics, teachers and other may do overseas. So they are
more than journalists in that sense.
4. Many fests have politicians. And usually you set off a journalist
(usually TV) against politicians on stage. This creates a kind of staged
tension on stage. Or real tension.
5. And besides authors, and perhaps more so than authors, the largest
supply of articulate firangs free to do the fest kind of thing are foreign
correspondents working on India. So that is them. (Unlike the UK, for
instance, India does not have a large number of foreign students or
professors who can be summoned to do sessions.)
6. Litfests are also a kind of entertainment jamboree for anybody who
writes. In some sense I have often felt the literature is incidental to
these fests. They are good fun. But I don't think I have really come away
from these with any substantial insight into the craft of writing. (Except
for one session with Lawrence Wright in Jaipur which was very useful from a
journalistic perspective.)

So, in summary, I think a bunch of factors come together.

On Wed, Oct 18, 2017 at 4:12 AM Meera  wrote:

> Why are literary festivals in India less about literature and more about
> journalism? That gets them the popularity of course, but where do writers
> congregate? What do you all think?
>
> -Meera
>

Re: [silk] Two history podcasts to top them all

[Sidin Vadukut]

Y
​up production restarts this week. Have a few academic commitments till the
end of the year. So episode releases maybe a little slow. But otherwise a
new episode should be out in a week or so.
​

On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 4:18 AM, Thaths <tha...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 8:21 AM Thaths <tha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 9:30 AM Sidin Vadukut <sidin.vadu...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> ​Happy to inform that podcast will resume production in 2017. I will
>>> hopefully finish a bookproject by then and focus on the podcast and some
>>> other side projects.
>>>
>>> You can listen to the full archive of 14 episodes here:
>>> https://audioboom.com/channel/the-new-republic​
>>>
>>
>>
> Sidin,
>
> Now that your bookproject is compelte
> <https://www.amazon.in/dp/8193355288/>, any news of resuming the podcast?
> :-)
>
> Thaths
>
>
>
>>
>> That is great news that you plan to bring back the podcast.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Thaths
>>
>

Re: [silk] What's your primary computing device?

[Sidin Vadukut]

​Work: 50% 7-year old iMac, 50% cheap as chips Acer Chromebook
Play: Phone. But that is because for me play is almost entirely podcast
listening.​



*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
*Foreign Correspondent - Mint*
91 Kingswood Road, Bromley, BR20NG
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Fax: +44 203 318 2053
Web: http://www.livemint.com
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

On Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 9:32 AM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> As in, what do you spend the most time doing serious work/play on? For any
> definition of 'work' or 'play' that appeals to you?
>
> For me, it is still an assembled desktop computer running Windows.
> Notwithstanding the existence in the house of 3 laptops, sundry tablets,
> and many, MANY phones.
>
> Udhay
>
> --
>
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>

Re: [silk] Two history podcasts to top them all

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Dec 1, 2016 at 9:49 PM, Thaths <tha...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 1:12 AM Sidin Vadukut <sidin.vadu...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Incidentally, and do excuse this unsolicited advertising, I've started
> work on a podcast history of the Indian constitution as well. This is a
> non-hardcore history meant to be interesting to curious amateurs like me.
> I'd be thrilled if some of you listened and passed on feedback. (
> http://soundcloud.com/anewrepublic)
>
>
> Hey Sidin,
>
> It's been so long since the last episode landed that I wanted to re-listen
> to all episodes of this podcast from the beginning. But I am unable to find
> episodes 1-5 anywhere (the itunes feed, the soundcloud listing, etc. all
> seems to begin with episode 6). I could swear I listened to those missing
> episodes when I last listened to the podcast about a couple of years ago.
>
> Anyway I can get all the episodes?
>
> Also, if it is a pecuniary constrains that prevent the making of more
> episodes, I would be more than happy to chip in on a kickstarter or
> gofundme campaign. If it is time constrains, I am afraid I running low on
> chronotons myself.
>
> Thaths
>

​Happy to inform that podcast will resume production in 2017. I will
hopefully finish a bookproject by then and focus on the podcast and some
other side projects.

You can listen to the full archive of 14 episodes here:
https://audioboom.com/channel/the-new-republic​

Re: [silk] Not quite your dad's cup of tea

[Sidin Vadukut]

First of all stop having liquor with tea. This is not the 1980s in Thrissur.


*Sidin Sunny Vadukut*
*Foreign Correspondent - Mint*
Flat 128, Sienna Alto, 2 Cornmill Lane, Lewisham
London SE13 7GG, UK
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Fax: +44 203 318 2053
Web: http://www.livemint.com
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

On Tue, Dec 8, 2015 at 11:52 AM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:

> Interesting thing I just noticed.
>
> I upgraded my water filter to an RO based system. The water tastes
> different, which is understandable. The tea made with it tastes different,
> which is also understandable. But the tea *looks* different. The liquor is
> lighter and more reddish. All other conditions (tea used, time steeped) are
> same. Any ideas?
>
> Udhay
>
> --
> ((Udhay Shankar N))  ((via phone))
>

Re: [silk] Two history podcasts to top them all

[Sidin Vadukut]

Hello all.

I am a rather avid consumer of podcasts and listen to literally dozens each
week. My two history-ish podcast recomendations--accounting for the ones
already recommended here--are:

1. Radiolab. (http://radiolab.org) A superbly produced series of stories
built around themes that almost always has a science-history angle. Well
made, well told, well worth it.

2. Twelve Byzantine Rulers. (http://12byzantinerulers.com/) For me this
remains the gold standard for pure, no-frills history podcasts. One man in
front of a mic narrating fantastic stories. This podcast got me into
reading several books on Byzantium, the Roman empire and the Church.

Incidentally, and do excuse this unsolicited advertising, I've started work
on a podcast history of the Indian constitution as well. This is a
non-hardcore history meant to be interesting to curious amateurs like me.
I'd be thrilled if some of you listened and passed on feedback. (
http://soundcloud.com/anewrepublic)

Cheerio,
Sidin.

p.s. I am sure someone must have brought this up already. But (
http://anneisaman.blogspot.co.uk/) is a great source of history podcast
reviews. I often drop in here for new suggestions. For instance I
discovered the excellent Big ideas podcast (
http://www.tvo.org/TVOsites/WebObjects/TvoMicrosite.woa?bigideas) thanks to
Anne.

On Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Srini RamaKrishnan che...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 5:02 AM, Sean Doyle sdo...@gmail.com wrote:
 I agree. Bragg is often surprised at what his guests say (e.g., that
Malory
 of Le Morte Darthur was a thug) - he obviously prepares for his
podcast
 but he doesn't try to script/control his guests too much (except in in
the
 interest of time). The variety of topics is wonderful. I wish that the
 science/math ones went deeper but almost all of the presentations on
history
 or literature are new to me.


 Bragg's genuine interest in Philosophy and History shows through,
 though he does lean a tad heavily on British history, after all it is
 a BBC4 show.

 Bragg's general bewilderment at science and maths is typical of a life
 human-scientific [0]. When discussing Galen or Avicenna his love for
 history can be seen guiding a principally scientific discussion on
 medicine, into all sorts of interesting nooks. On the topic of
 galaxies and milky ways he turns mute as a toad and lets his guests
 ramble on - I have learned not to bother listening to them unless I'm
 out of listening material.

 [0] humantific ought to be a word, but it's now a trademarked
 brand-name - leading separately to the question of what happens to the
 brand-name when say the Oxford English Dictionary decides to make it a
 word.



-- 

*
*
*Sidin Vadukut*
*Foreign Correspondent - Mint*
*Editor - Mint Indulge*
Flat 14, 71 E, Drayton Park
London N51DH, UK
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Web: http://www.livemint.com
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] Two history podcasts to top them all

[Sidin Vadukut]

Ahem. (Sheepish grin.) I forgot to recommend a podcast I wished existed.

1. A factually accurate, detailed podcast telling the history of India's
military conflicts since independence. Both internal and external.

On Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Sidin Vadukut sidin.vadu...@gmail.com wrote:
 Hello all.

 I am a rather avid consumer of podcasts and listen to literally dozens
each week. My two history-ish podcast recomendations--accounting for the
ones already recommended here--are:

 1. Radiolab. (http://radiolab.org) A superbly produced series of stories
built around themes that almost always has a science-history angle. Well
made, well told, well worth it.

 2. Twelve Byzantine Rulers. (http://12byzantinerulers.com/) For me this
remains the gold standard for pure, no-frills history podcasts. One man in
front of a mic narrating fantastic stories. This podcast got me into
reading several books on Byzantium, the Roman empire and the Church.

 Incidentally, and do excuse this unsolicited advertising, I've started
work on a podcast history of the Indian constitution as well. This is a
non-hardcore history meant to be interesting to curious amateurs like me.
I'd be thrilled if some of you listened and passed on feedback. (
http://soundcloud.com/anewrepublic)

 Cheerio,
 Sidin.

 p.s. I am sure someone must have brought this up already. But (
http://anneisaman.blogspot.co.uk/) is a great source of history podcast
reviews. I often drop in here for new suggestions. For instance I
discovered the excellent Big ideas podcast (
http://www.tvo.org/TVOsites/WebObjects/TvoMicrosite.woa?bigideas) thanks to
Anne.

 On Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Srini RamaKrishnan che...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 5:02 AM, Sean Doyle sdo...@gmail.com wrote:
 I agree. Bragg is often surprised at what his guests say (e.g., that
Malory
 of Le Morte Darthur was a thug) - he obviously prepares for his
podcast
 but he doesn't try to script/control his guests too much (except in in
the
 interest of time). The variety of topics is wonderful. I wish that the
 science/math ones went deeper but almost all of the presentations on
history
 or literature are new to me.


 Bragg's genuine interest in Philosophy and History shows through,
 though he does lean a tad heavily on British history, after all it is
 a BBC4 show.

 Bragg's general bewilderment at science and maths is typical of a life
 human-scientific [0]. When discussing Galen or Avicenna his love for
 history can be seen guiding a principally scientific discussion on
 medicine, into all sorts of interesting nooks. On the topic of
 galaxies and milky ways he turns mute as a toad and lets his guests
 ramble on - I have learned not to bother listening to them unless I'm
 out of listening material.

 [0] humantific ought to be a word, but it's now a trademarked
 brand-name - leading separately to the question of what happens to the
 brand-name when say the Oxford English Dictionary decides to make it a
 word.



 --


 Sidin Vadukut
 Foreign Correspondent - Mint
 Editor - Mint Indulge
 Flat 14, 71 E, Drayton Park
 London N51DH, UK
 Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
 Web: http://www.livemint.com
 Blog: http://www.whatay.com
 @sidin


-- 

*
*
*Sidin Vadukut*
*Foreign Correspondent - Mint*
*Editor - Mint Indulge*
Flat 14, 71 E, Drayton Park
London N51DH, UK
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292
Web: http://www.livemint.com
Blog: http://www.whatay.com
@sidin

Re: [silk] Reverse migration, and book launches

[Sidin Vadukut]

What happens to the remittance economy that runs because of them?

On 28 Aug 2012, at 08:26 AM, Udhay Shankar N ud...@pobox.com wrote:

 I'm a sucker for ambitious undertakings. Especially when they come
 wrapped in packages like this one.
 
 Silklister Shoba Narayan is releasing her second book in Bangalore next
 week, and is happy to have the denizens of silk come and make some noise
 [1].
 
 And the ambitious undertaking? See below.
 
 Thoughts?
 
 Udhay
 
 [1] https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6615241/Invite_Return%20to%20India.pdf
 
 
 http://shobanarayan.com/2012/04/16/new-book-return-to-india/
 
 New Book: Return to India
 Posted on April 16, 2012
 
 I am working on Book Number 2, which will hopefully be out later this
 summer.  It is a memoir called, “Return to India.”  It will be published
 by Rain Tree (how I love that name), which Rupa calls “its new premium
 hardcover imprint” here
 
 You can view my title in the Raintree catalogue here
 
 The reason I put up this post was a note from a friend– okay, my
 husband– this morning that said, “Good timing of the book.”  He was
 responding to an article in the New York Times about immigrants.
 
 I can say it here because hardly anyone sees this site.  My grand
 ambition with this book is to open the floodgates of reverse migration.
 People write books for the same reason they start companies or join
 politics: to effect change.  I may not effect change on any grand scale,
 but I can dream, can’t I? My blousy dream, the reason I wrote ‘Return to
 India,’ is to cause million of Indians who are currently living abroad
 to return to India and become contributing residents.  There, I’ve said
 it and blown it into the wind.  A fluttering butterfly’s wing causing a
 tsunami millions of miles away.
 -- 
 
 ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
 

Re: [silk] 500 mile emails, redux

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Tuesday, May 29, 2012, Udhay Shankar N wrote:

 On 29-May-12 10:02 AM, Biju Chacko wrote:

  One of these days I should write up the story of the ERP project that
  I worked on that crashed if the CEO of our company was in the room.
  Same kind of story.

 Here's a silklist-worthy project - let us crowdsource a word that will
 describe this kind of story. Suggestions?


Epifunnys

Re: [silk] Does IQ really matter

[Sidin Vadukut]

 
 As an aside, have any of you tested your IQ? Care to share?
 
 --Venkat 
 
I gave a Mensa test once that I cleared. But I don't recall being given an 
actual IQ score. The test was fun enough to give though. I like giving exams. 
Don't judge me. 

Re: [silk] India: global mobility

[Sidin Vadukut]

 -Original Message-
 From: Srini RamaKrishnan che...@gmail.com (mailto:che...@gmail.com)
 Sender: silklist-bounces+suresh=hserus@lists.hserus.net 
 (mailto:hserus@lists.hserus.net)
 Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:46:47  
 To: silklist@lists.hserus.net (mailto:silklist@lists.hserus.net)
 Reply-To: silklist@lists.hserus.net (mailto:silklist@lists.hserus.net)
 Subject: [silk] India: global mobility
  
 Assuming there is a special class of Indian passport [1], one where
 the recipient is vetted to be of first or second world standards in
 education, income, and other desirables, and comes with
 pre-negotiated visa waivers with most countries - it would enable a
 more mobile class of Indian who can travel and be employed in other
 countries, but be off the host country's books in terms of visas and
 permanent residencies. Given the incentive to convert nationality or
 residency is greatly reduced for this new mobile Indian it helps India
 retain its talent too.
  
  

How much of this boils down to the reputation other countries have of our 
passport verification and issuing process? I remember talking about this to a 
Republic of Ireland government investment/tourism of some kind a few years ago, 
who said that they were well aware of how archaic the passport issuing 
mechanism in India was. As long as you can buy a new passport for Rs 35,000 or 
so in Delhi, which was the rate when I last checked, the document is a 
certificate of nothing at all. (Now Ireland also lets in Indian passports with 
Schengens or UK visas in them.)

My experiences with Visa On Arrival have been mixed. Sri Lanka and Malaysia 
were good. Turkey was absolutely terrible. Even the guys at the airport said 
that if I ever were to come back I should just get a visa the usual way before 
leaving.

Perhaps there are elements of racism and such like. But to be told, in Turkey, 
that Indian passport were inspected more closely than Iraqi ones was… a bit 
much IMHO.

Re: [silk] India: global mobility

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Wednesday, 18 April 2012 at 16:33, Thaths wrote:

 On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 8:29 AM, salil tripathi sali...@gmail.com 
 (mailto:sali...@gmail.com) wrote:
  And ec(n)r prevented school-drop-out artists from travelling, since if you 
  hadn't finished hi school, assumption was that sarkar maibaap would be 
  needed to look after you and decide if you were eligible to travel abroad. 
 
 I know. The EC(N)R regime probably goes back to the migration of indentured 
 laborers to the colonies.
 
 My dad used to know a fellow in Al Ain (UAE) who ran a successful, how do I 
put it, public-private partnership in passport renewals and ECNR stamps. We 
used to call it the Kozhikode Embassy and this fellow the Ambassador of 
Kozhikode.

Re: [silk] In the UK.

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 7:01 PM, Varun Sahni v...@yahoo.com wrote:
 We are in london - do let me know when you are coming thru.

 Best,


 Varun

 On 8 Mar 2012, at 21:01, Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan
 chandrachoo...@gmail.com wrote:

 Hello,

 Just a quick note. I've moved to the UK, specifically Bristol (possibly
 London soon) to work in the rather interesting mashup between
 heritage/history and TV production. I will also be pursuing other projects -
 making radio/podcasts on a lot of other subjects, as well as remotely
 curating a documentary film festival in Chennai.

 If you're in the neighbourhood, or don't mind travelling here, give me a
 shout. Number's part of my sig, email id's up top-left of this post.

 C

 --
 http://about.me/chandrachoodan

 +447594553053

Arrey sooper! Drop a line and we shall meet over copious small batch
hand made ales.

Re: [silk] Hello

[Sidin Vadukut]

Enter Sundman.


Sidin Sunny Vadukut
London Correspondent - Mint WSJ
Mobile: +44 757 244 1292


On Friday, 13 January 2012 at 18:21, Shoba Narayan wrote:

  Message: 8
  Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:12:17 -0500
  From: John R. Sundman j...@wetmachine.com (mailto:j...@wetmachine.com)
  To:
  Hello Friends,
  
  I'm honored to be added to this list. Below, a brief introduction.
  
  I live on Martha's Vineyard, a mostly rural island 5 miles south of 
  Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 
  
 
 
 Hello John! Welcome to the list. 
 I wish I had a funny response like Chandrachoodan. Mine is a lot more 
 annoying though. It's like going to a wedding and having people ask you, Do 
 you know so-and-so in Bangalore?
 So anyway
 Do you know George and Charlotte Clark who have home in the Vineyard. They 
 are sorta my Godparents. George taught aerophysics at MIT and hand-built his 
 home at the Vineyard-- where I've spent many happy weekends. Charlotte went 
 to Mount Holyoke a few decades before me, which is how I got to know them. 
 Anyways... your email brought lots of happy memories...so thanks.
 Shoba
 
 

Re: [silk] Freedom of Speech

[Sidin Vadukut]

I am not an expert in India media, having only worked for a newspaper for a 
very brief period of time. At least my paper, I know, writes and deals with 
things like police reform. We had a columnist for a while who wrote about this 
kind of thing. And we keep writing about it. Do people read about it? I have no 
idea. I do not remember being inundated with reader emails or thoughts on the 
topic of state reform or police reform in response to these articles. We've 
written about the Natgrid, constitution reform and a bunch of other topics.

Do newspapers bring these things up? Yes. Do they bring it up more frequently 
than it comes in public discourse? I would think so. Is there a lot of pubic 
discourse on these topics? Not in my little experience offline and on. 

I don't think newspapers operate in some detached vacuum from what the public 
at large is talking about. Or in any case not all of them. I suppose newspapers 
should be leading debate on the topics you mention. But if the general traction 
for these topics are so low... what do you do?

I am not being rhetorical. I am asking. What do you do?

And I don't think there is deliberate intellectual dishonesty everywhere. I 
have never, in my experience, sat through a single editorial meeting and seen a 
topic of national relevance being played up or down for dishonest reasons. This 
may not be a universal phenomenon. 

There is, however, a lot of deliberate opportunism in the business. Some people 
only care for what the 'public' cares.

Or maybe I am just writing all this because I yearn to be a decent journalist.

Anyways.

Sidin Sunny Vadukut
London correspondent, Mint - WSJ
www.livemint.com
Mobile: 07572441292




On 9 Dec 2011, at 14:53, Srini RamaKrishnan wrote:

 On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 5:31 AM, Biju Chacko biju.cha...@gmail.com wrote:
 What with the Kapil Sibal brouhaha, I thought I'd better find out more
 about what rights I actually have.
 
 What rights do you actually have? How about none? One doesn't even
 have the right to end up along with 6000 other Kashmiris in an
 unmarked grave.
 
 Let's be clear about one thing here, India isn't a shining democracy.
 Far from it. Most Indian states on their own would be declared fascist
 regimes overnight [0].
 
 I find it funny that the Indian intelligentsia get their panties in a
 bunch because of some silly comments by a minister who should know
 better, and yet mass graves, genocide, mass oppression and warfare on
 its people go for the most part uncommented.
 
 Misplaced priorities: the newspapers of the world will rant incessant
 about the merits of letting Walmart  co into India, and only make
 silent noises about the lack of Police reform, even when ordered by
 the Supreme court. How many times has the police reform issue been
 mooted and vetoed? The lack of attention is not accidental, it is
 deliberate intellectual dishonesty.
 
 What about the reforms to the constitution? Does anyone even bring up
 the Sarkaria commission in the polite company of politicians these
 days?
 
 
 [0] I am not given to hyperbole, I can make a rather strong case for
 quite a few large Indian states.
 

Re: [silk] Recommended Reading from 2011

[Sidin Vadukut]

My recommendations for this year are:

1. Max Hastings' excellent All Hell Let Loose. A rather compelling, very well 
balanced retelling of WW2. Most excellent.

2. VS Ramachandran's The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What 
Makes Us Human. I have a gigantic man-crush on VS. Very good.

3. Dara O Briain's Tickling the English. Basically an immensely smart, 
sensitive Irish standup comic musing on the English. Very funny. But also 
intelligent.

4. Anything by Arnaldur Indridasson. I discovered this Icelandic crime writer 
this year. Brooding, plodding, cold, grey and all that. But also shorn of all 
ornamentation. Delightful.

5. John Julius Norwich's The Popes. Magisterial history of the papacy. You, no 
not even you Dan Brown, can make this stuff up.

6. Sebastian Sebag Montefiore's Jerusalem: The Biography. Jhakkas.

I've read mostly non-fiction this year.


Sidin Sunny Vadukut
London correspondent, Mint - WSJ
www.livemint.com
Mobile: 07572441292




On 5 Dec 2011, at 17:47, Anish wrote:

 Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar +1.Levine? and Carol Dweck's Mindset 
 +1
 Have to admit have read both of them intersting books
 --Original Message--
 From: Shoba Narayan
 Sender: silklist-bounces+anish.mohammed=gmail@lists.hserus.net
 To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
 ReplyTo: silklist@lists.hserus.net
 Subject: Re: [silk] Recommended Reading from 2011
 Sent: 5 Dec 2011 17:43
 
 
 Message: 5
 Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 10:13:19 +0530
 From: Sumant Srivathsan suma...@gmail.com
 
 So, having identified a deficiency, Shoba, got recommendations?
 
 I loved Beautiful Thing by Sonia Faleiro.  Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar. 
  Price of Privilege by Madeline someone.  Levine? and Carol Dweck's Mindset.
 But not too many women writers in the subcontinent.  
 Namita Devidayal's book?  I liked her Music Room but haven't read the recent 
 one.  
 
 
 Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Re: [silk] Query on wines.... and snobbery

[Sidin Vadukut]

I thought all whisky tasted the same till I went for a distillery
tasting recently. Where I was taught, a little, by a wonderfully down
to earth master distiller on tasting whiskies and generally drinking
them with a little insight. He said rather than worrying about whether
I got the same honey notes as he did, I should focus on figuring out
notes I liked and then trying lots of different whiskies till I found
what pleased me the most.

Now I really do enjoy whiskies better. Oddly, maybe, the insights he
gave me help me identify bad whiskies more than it does good.

It turns out I like smokey malts. Cheers.

On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 3:19 PM, Tim Bray tb...@textuality.com wrote:
 Actually the evidence is on Charles' side. Practiced wine-tasters can
 identify many different characteristics of wine with high statistical
 significance.

 This is not to say it isn't a major outlet for snobbery.

 -T

 On Nov 10, 2011 4:36 AM, Charles Haynes charles.hay...@gmail.com wrote:

 On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 9:24 PM, ss cybers...@gmail.com wrote:
  On Thursday 10 Nov 2011 2:17:14 pm Deepa Mohan wrote:
  I don't see anything wrong with liking the cheapest and most plonky
  wine in
  the supermarket.
 
  Deepa wine appreciation is pure snobbery nothing else.

 Certainly there are wine drinkers who are purely snobs and nothing
 else, but I assure you that I learned to taste wines in a rather
 stricter, more structured way.

 A friend of mine used to conduct semi-weekly wine tastings, usually
 5-6 bottles either of a single varietal from a single producer over
 multiple years (a vertical tasting) or 5-6 bottles of a single
 varietal from multiple producers in the same region in a single year
 (a horizontal tasting). Both vertical tastings and horizontal
 tastings usually had one or two ringers - wines that were either
 from a different producer (in the case of a vertical) or from a
 different grape, region, or year in the case of a horizontal. The
 wines were put in opaque bags by one person, and given random letter
 labels by a different person. We then poured a measured portion of
 each wine into our separate lettered glasses.

 The tasting itself was relatively structured, each person evaluating
 each wine indepenently of everyone else, writing down observations
 about color, aroma and taste along multiple dimensions and at
 different times. Each person then rated the wines by letter, and the
 ratings were collected.

 The scores were aggregated and the wines were then revealed from
 lowest to highest.

 From this, over time, we learned how to identify grape varietals,
 producers, styles, various kinds of defects, and how to distinguish
 and describe different wines. Because the tastings were double blind,
 we were not influenced by brand or price. It was in the course of
 years of these kinds of tastings that I determined my own preferences
 in wine style and varietals (I tend to prefer reds in a traditional
 burgundian style - usually pure pinot noir - and I dislike big
 extracted wines, or whites with a lot of oak for example.) I am a big
 fan of traditional champagnes, and at one point I could tell if a
 champagne from a producer I was unfamiliar with was from Marne, Reims,
 or Cote de Blancs, blind.

 We also did what's called a components tasting, where we would start
 with 5-6 identical bottles and add specific components (like tannin,
 oak, malic acid, lactic acid, sweetness, and ketones) would be added
 in small amounts to the wine to let us learn what those flavors were
 like in wines.

 Anyway, I'm just trying to say that no actually, real wine
 appreciation is a learned skill that can be used for snobbery or not
 as suits the inclination of the individual. I find that it enhances my
 enjoyment of wine to have a discerning palate, but it also means I do
 not get as much enjoyment out of boxed wine as I did when I was
 younger. I'm willing to make that sacrifice.

 -- Charles

Re: [silk] India's Selective Rage Over Corruption

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Friday, 19 August 2011 at 14:44, Ramakrishnan Sundaram wrote:

 On 19 August 2011 19:10, Kragen Javier Sitaker kra...@canonical.org 
 (mailto:kra...@canonical.org) wrote:
 
 And if you don't agree with them, they're nonsense.
 
 Ram
 Perhaps someone could go on an additional fast so that we can also revive the 
ancient art of disagreeing gracefully. 

[silk] John Julius Norwich's The Popes

[Sidin Vadukut]

I'm almost done reading this book, for the purpose of a review albeit, and I
am enthralled.

This is the second history of the popes I'm reading in two months. And I am
utterly not bored.

Those guys were... dudes.

Must read. Two thumbs up.

Re: [silk] John Julius Norwich's The Popes

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 12:39 PM, Charles Haynes charles.hay...@gmail.comwrote:

 On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 8:47 PM, Sidin Vadukut sidin.vadu...@gmail.com
 wrote:

  This is the second history of the popes I'm reading in two months. And I
 am
  utterly not bored.

  Those guys were... dudes.


Indeed.


 Those guys were ... not all guys. :)

 I presume the Borgia popes play a prominent role. Did they include
 Pope Leo VIII who was both a Pope AND and antipope? (Fortunately not
 at the same time or he would have annihilated himself...)


Ha ha ha. And of course that most fun period when they had three popes. And
detested all of them.

It is remarkable how little religion there is in a history of the papacy.
And also how Berlusconi-like some of them were.


 -- Charles

Re: [silk] Yay, we are number 11

[Sidin Vadukut]

On 21 Jul 2011, at 16:08, Anand Manikutty wrote:

 Thanks to IIMA's PGPX #11 ranking in the FT Global MBA rankings 
 (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings-2011), 
 demand has risen for the program, I understand, and so the batch size has 
 been increased. I wonder what is going on at ISB. 
 
 Anand
 

Woo hoo.

Re: [silk] Thief in the night

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 6:38 AM, Udhay Shankar N ud...@pobox.com wrote:

 On 7/17/2011 10:36 AM, Julian Philips wrote:
  Sidin,
  Very touching article.
 
  http://www.livemint.com/2011/07/15204615/Thief-in-the-night.html?h=D

 Not sure why Julian's post was in the Mumbai Blasts thread, but agree,
 great piece.

 Reminds me of the standard NRI line: we'll move back to India in two
 years. Anecdotally, have seen this with various friends and relatives
 over the past few decades.

 Udhay


Thank you.

Re: [silk] samsung 8.9 tablet

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 9:39 AM, naresh v xxx...@yahoo.com wrote:

 I have been putting off buying a tablet ,particularly after Silklister
 Kingsley's comment that ' there is the iPad2 and then there are tablets..
 The 10.1 size for tablets is too large to hold in one hand comfortably and
 the 7 is too small..
 I own too many apple devices already and was wondering if anyone on the
 list knows anythng about the new Samsing Galaxy Tab 8.9' launch date in
 India?

 Naresh


Not buying an Apple product because you have too many Apple products... is
well not a good enough reason to buy a Samsung no?

Re: [silk] samsung 8.9 tablet

[Sidin Vadukut]

On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 11:07 AM, Xxxrum xxx...@yahoo.com wrote:

 But it doth have a USB port,better one hand form factor and honeycomb,no?

 'Naresh' Narasimhan
 Sent from my Phone


Yes. I've never used Honeycomb though. And I've never really struggled with
the iPad on the first two counts. Though I read everything on a Kindle if it
is lengthy.

Re: [silk] Influence of silklisters in India

[Sidin Vadukut]

On 11 Jun 2011, at 21:17, Srini RamaKrishnan che...@gmail.com wrote:

 On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 5:47 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian
 sur...@hserus.net wrote:
 though .. twitter != social networking ..

 I don't see @ShashiTharoor. I believe he's pretty influential on
 twitter in India, isn't he?

 Cheeni


You don't know this yet. But I'm totally influencing this conversation.

Re: [silk] Norwegian/Swedish

[Sidin Vadukut]

On 20 May 2011, at 06:44, Venkat Mangudi s...@venkatmangudi.com wrote:

 On Friday 20 May 2011 05:50 AM, Sidin Sunny Vadukut wrote:
^^^
 Sidin/Amit/Rahul


 So you're Sidin/Sunny/Amit/Rahul, right?

 Cheerio...


Unless I'm being Blossom.

Re: [silk] Sidin Vadukut - Introduction

[Sidin Vadukut]

On 18 May 2011, at 08:03, Venkat Mangudi s...@venkatmangudi.com wrote:

 On Wednesday 18 May 2011 12:10 PM, Madhu Menon wrote:
 Holy crap, a thread about Sidin has morphed into one about my knives,
 and we have Deepa's jokes to blame for this? This is true Mallu-Mallu
 bonding.

 Sidin, welcome. I forgot to welcome you in the heat of the moment.

 May I venture a guess, Siddharth - Indira? :-)


 --Venkat



*goddammit! Must it come to this always??!!*

Hello all. Let me clarify that name. Please sit back and grab a drink.
Or a knife.

My father's name is Sunny. A respectable, cheerful malayali name for a boy.

My mother's name, unfortunately, was Dilaila. Yes. The one from the
bible who stabs Samson in the back and has his hair cut off. She was
named so after my maternal grandfather went and saw the movie Samson
and Delilah. He named his first boy Samson and his first girl Diliala.

Yes. Bizarre.

When I was born they took the S from Sunny and the Di From Diliala and
tried various combinations. Till Sidin happened.

Consequently all my cousins on my dad's side have names starting in S.
Including a Shine.

And all my cousins on my mum's side have names ending in In. Including
a Jenwin. (Promounced Genuine.)

However whenever I go to a cafe or a pub I use Sunny. Or Rahul.

It just makes things simple.

Re: [silk] Sidin Vadukut - Introduction

[Sidin Vadukut]

On 18 May 2011, at 08:11, Chetan Nagendra che...@pobox.com wrote:

Welcome! I have always wondered about the London attraction for journalists
of Indian origin. Is it because of the anomaly of left leaning publications
in the middle of a capitalistic paradise?

Chetan

On 18 May 2011, at 00:41, Sidin Vadukut wrote:

Hello All,

Udhay has just graciously added me to your august grouping here. I am a
journalist with the Mint business newspaper in New Delhi. I write about
anything the paper tells me to, but usually write about office culture,
consumer tech, watches, travel and books. I have a written a couple of
books, one of which came out in December 2009 and the next one is due this
November. I now live in London after having lived for brief periods in Abu
Dhabi, Trichy, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi. I look forward to
adding value.

If you are ever in London I will be happy to let you buy me a beer. Just
drop me a line. Alternately, you can just wire me the money.

Thanks.

Sidin Vadukut

www.whatay.com
www.tinyurl.com/mintsidin



No. I just like the museums and the history I think. But mostly my wife got
transferred here.