October 31, 2011
October 30, 2011
October 28, 2011
Yellowstone Videos
I finally got around to downloading the videos for the Yellowstone trip. Here they are. The thermal areas and wildlife are especially interesting.
Getting to Yellowstone:
Our Cabin:
Thermal Areas
Wildlife
Link to Original Yellowstone Post
Getting to Yellowstone:
Link to Original Yellowstone Post
Deepavali 2011@Jarvis Avenue
We had a good celebration with deepalu, poojalu, bhojanalu and tapasulu. Aditya and Arjun had fun. Unfortunately, I mistakenly deleted all videos which are now unrecoverable, so only pictures :-(
More pictures
https://picasaweb.google.com/100439682375564182182/Deepavali2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKb9pbak9MbrHg&feat=directlink
More pictures
https://picasaweb.google.com/100439682375564182182/Deepavali2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKb9pbak9MbrHg&feat=directlink
October 27, 2011
The case of the inspired judge
When SRM retired he was having roaring practice. Usually doctors and lawyers peak after they are past 50.He said “there is no compulsory retirement for people like me. But I want to retire at 60”.Afterwards; he went away to ashram at ANGALA KUDURU to practice “detachment”, and that is another story.
The problem was to find a suitable man who can take over the practice to the satisfaction of all his cliente.M.V. Narayana caught his attention. He was self made man. A pleaders clerk, who did his B.L .Degree privately, and was working under Y.Janaki ramiah.The practice was handed over to him.SRMs judgment about the capacities of MVN were proved to be correct and all the clients were pleased with his knowledge and capacities.
MVN went on to become a leading lawyer, caught the attention of N.T. Rama Rao, who offered him M.L.A. ticket. He moved to high court and is practicing there. He wanted to repay his debt to his “guruvugaru” and proposed the unveiling of a portrait of SRM at bar of Kavali.Our story begins there.
Justice P.Venkata Rami Reddy garu was a student of J.B.He was the judge of Karnataka high court, A.P. high court, chief justice of Karnataka high court and judge of Supreme Court. He is now chair man, law commission.MVN invited justice PVR for the unveiling of the photo and he kindly agreed.
It was raining heavily that day. The function was held at Radhakrishna Kalalyana Mandapam, opposite Krupa Nursing Home. After the introductions by MVN, speeches by other colleagues and unveiling of SRMs portrait, SLN was asked to talk on behalf of the family.
An out line of the speech by SLN
I will talk about SRM not as a father but as a man. He is very shy and unassuming. He is very sincere in his profession. Treated clients with respect. We are used to see him working late into night when ever there was a case to be argued next day. He hated all sorts of strikes especially by lawyers.
Then justice PVR spoke. Important part of his speech
It gives me great pleasure to unveil the portrait Sri SRM. One thing most of you do not know is that he was our lawyer. When I finished my inter and waiting to join degree, there was a panchayat election related case of our family and SRM was our lawyer. I used to attend every adjournment.and was inspired by SRMs way of preparing, arguing. In a way he was the reason for me to choose this profession. His portrait here is a symbol of great values and it should inspire many generations.
October 24, 2011
Desktop or Laptop?
An article in the NY Times talks about a premium Silicon Valley school that has no computers. Quite a few tech heavyweights are apparently choosing this option for their children. To quote the article (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?_r=2&hp):
"... the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home."
"..the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix."
"This is the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, one of around 160 Waldorf schools in the country that subscribe to a teaching philosophy focused on physical activity and learning through creative, hands-on tasks. Those who endorse this approach say computers inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction and attention spans."
"... the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home."
"..the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix."
"This is the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, one of around 160 Waldorf schools in the country that subscribe to a teaching philosophy focused on physical activity and learning through creative, hands-on tasks. Those who endorse this approach say computers inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction and attention spans."
The article goes on to say that there is no objective evidence that this approach works better than the default approach, where computers are used to educate and engage children.
The debate comes down to the term 'engagement': some believe that if the tools to engage children are around (computers), why not use them; while this 'school' of thought believes that 'engagement' in the context of teaching has to be about human interaction.
Thoughts? Computers for children: good, bad or neutral?
October 22, 2011
October 19, 2011
THE CASE OF THE RELUCTANT ZAMINDAR
Naga Samudram was a small agraharam village at about 30 km from Kavali.Singampallis had one third share in that agraharam.SRM used to take an oxen cart to go to the village annually, to collect CIST. People assemble near the rachabanda to talk to the zamindar.They say the thumu to the cheruvu is not working properly; kaluvas have to deepened to get water to the fields and so on.
When asked about cist to be paid , they start saying there was no crop lat year. We could get only half the yield. I married my daughter etc and used to pay only half the cist or less. SRM was hard only in words as we all know.
The net result was if the collection was Rs 50 the expenditure was same or more.
Finally when agraharams were taken over by Government SRM was one of few zamindars, who were happy!!!
P.S. When Viswams marriage was fixed, Venkarao garus (co son in law) shaddakudu (Ramathapur, Hyd) learned that we are agrharikis. Seems they were other partner in Nagasamudram Aggraharam.They were saying oh! Padama is being married into a zamindari family. How lucky she is!!!!!
October 17, 2011
October 12, 2011
October 9, 2011
October 6, 2011
That is Srinivas!!!!
Srinivas is one of the speakers at the Oracleworld conference in SF and he slogged for hours in the past 4-months to build a demo for the conference.
As one of the tokens of appreciation, he got a ticket to this awesome party&concert that Oracle throws in SF. Typically only guests and very senior level Oracle staff are invited to this party, and the performing artists are Sting and Tom Petty. The ticket could easily fetch $500.....
Guess what he did!!!! He gave away the ticket and came home. In his own words, "Man, I am glad to be home. I would not have gone to that concert even if I was paid $500. I don't like that loud music, it's too cold in SF, and I don't drink, so what's the point!!!!!"
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, if only I could have been able to use that ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have loved to go to a Sting concert.
Long time ago, I actually bought two tickets for The Police concert and both IS and SSV refused to give me company. I ended up selling those tickets off for a $100 markup :-(
As one of the tokens of appreciation, he got a ticket to this awesome party&concert that Oracle throws in SF. Typically only guests and very senior level Oracle staff are invited to this party, and the performing artists are Sting and Tom Petty. The ticket could easily fetch $500.....
Guess what he did!!!! He gave away the ticket and came home. In his own words, "Man, I am glad to be home. I would not have gone to that concert even if I was paid $500. I don't like that loud music, it's too cold in SF, and I don't drink, so what's the point!!!!!"
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, if only I could have been able to use that ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have loved to go to a Sting concert.
Long time ago, I actually bought two tickets for The Police concert and both IS and SSV refused to give me company. I ended up selling those tickets off for a $100 markup :-(
October 4, 2011
October 3, 2011
HANUMAN TEMPLE AT KAVALI
The construction of anjaneya swamis temple in kavali is complete and Pratishta will be on 31st October, November 1st and 2nd.Ritwiks from t.t.d, madras are coming to do homams etc..Till now we contributed RS1, 35,000(500000 By Singampallis family, 50000 by Krupakar in memory of SVSR and 35000 by BVS and family).Pictures of new temple in another post.
One interesting development was when the old temple was being renovated, it was noticed that the door way had some inscriptions written over it. Door frames were preserved safely, archeology people were contacted. They came, took copy of the Sasanam. The results are yet to come. We were assisted by one of my students who has great interest in history of kavali. He told me that one of the inscriptions is already recorded in a book published in 1904.
October 2, 2011
Annaprasam Snaps
https://picasaweb.google.com/106282958929086778800/Annaprasam?authkey=Gv1sRgCOCD1r-ei5yCqwE
Snaps by Anupama Kondayya
Snaps by Anupama Kondayya
October 1, 2011
Food Security Bill
There have been a few editorials recently in the Hindu about the Food Security Bill which is now before Parliament. Today, there is one from M S Swaminathan which analyzes the current draft. It points out, among other things, the hopelessly unrealistic estimates of nutritional needs of the poor at Rs.35 a day in urban India, and Rs.26 in rural India. It also talks about the reasons for the 'crop holiday' in AP:
"A committee set up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and chaired by Dr. Mohan Kanda, pointed to the following factors behind the decision of a large number of farm families not to grow rice during this kharif season. First, the MSP on offer does not cover the cost of production; the MSP fixed by the Government of India was Rs.1,080 a quintal for common varieties, while the cost of production was Rs.1,270. Second, procurement is sluggish since it is largely being done by rice mills. Third, the late release of canal water, non-availability of credit and other essential inputs, and delayed settlement of crop insurance dues, are affecting the morale and level of interest of farm families. Thus, farmers are facing serious economic, ecological and farm management difficulties."
It goes on to say that improved procurement and an increase in the minimum sale price to cost+50% will help in proving better incentive to farmers to produce.
Any comments from the agriculturalists in the family, in view of the recent post by SRN on the crop holiday?
"A committee set up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and chaired by Dr. Mohan Kanda, pointed to the following factors behind the decision of a large number of farm families not to grow rice during this kharif season. First, the MSP on offer does not cover the cost of production; the MSP fixed by the Government of India was Rs.1,080 a quintal for common varieties, while the cost of production was Rs.1,270. Second, procurement is sluggish since it is largely being done by rice mills. Third, the late release of canal water, non-availability of credit and other essential inputs, and delayed settlement of crop insurance dues, are affecting the morale and level of interest of farm families. Thus, farmers are facing serious economic, ecological and farm management difficulties."
It goes on to say that improved procurement and an increase in the minimum sale price to cost+50% will help in proving better incentive to farmers to produce.
Any comments from the agriculturalists in the family, in view of the recent post by SRN on the crop holiday?
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