Ever since I returned from Calcutta, I have been going through a particular kind of terror that I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy. It is sheer torture, and incorporates all the elements of a proper sad-masochistic episode of irrevelant, yet relentless, stupidity. I am currently buying a new notebook. Now when I was much [...]

A few minutes ago, I got this email from my daughter Geetanjali. She has written a poem, and I think you all should see it. It is about what could have been Kalpana Chawla’s last thoughts: Spaced Out It is here Life’s end and the begining of a journey which can never be told. I [...]

The shuttle Columbia is gone, taking seven astronauts with it, among them an Indian. What’s the importance of these three points? According to me, and in reverse order: Kalpana Chawla died in the line of duty. What happened to her is what every pioneer, including all astronauts, fear will happen to them. What is most [...]

Over the past week, I re-read the four original Robot greats by Isaac Asimov – “Caves of Steel”, “The Naked Sun”, “Robots of Dawn” and “Robots and Empire”. A few years ago, someone once casually made a comment to me that “Asimov’s books aren’t really science fiction”. I agree, and I disagree. When Asimov first [...]

Well, looks like I am back on schedule for GNUnify again – I received word that I was welcome there despite my “radical” views about keeping an open mind. So unless someone else now voices his objection, I will find myself in Pune on February 15th. This means that I am effectively travelling most of [...]

Our dog, Judo, became a father today when his German Shepherd girlfriend down the road gave birth to 6 puppies. Everyone is fine, though I suspect that Shubha is massively tickled about becoming “grandmother”. Judo has no clue why everyone is so excited, but what the heck – he is enjoying the attention anyway. Should [...]

Between the 23rd and the 26th, I was in Calcutta, where I gave a few talks at the COMPASS Software Summit, and helped the local LUG there with their exhibition stall. Reached there on 23rd morning, after catching a flight at 6 a.m.! Argh! Needless to say, I was braindead by the time I reached [...]

As some of you probably know, I had been invited to speak at the GNUnify event in Pune in February, and I really looked forward to it. Well, today I have been uninvited because of my use of the term “Open Source”. While this will naturally provoke great cheers from some quarters, I see this [...]

Maurice Gibb, one third of the immortal band The Bee Gees, died today after a heart attack. What can I say? There is something awfully final about one third of a phenomenon dying. In a way, it is as bad as when John Lennon died – you know that while other members of the band [...]

Well, this diary is now one year old, and a year later, Mrinal and I this is not a blog! Last Saturday, we had a “little” party to make up for the doozy New Year’s. An openair barbeque potluck party on our huge lawn. Good fun, live music, great food, lots of drink, lots of [...]