30 million had a wash in the Ganges yesterday. There were so many people there you could see it from space and about 20 people were killed in the crush.
Got a Christmas card from some random law firm. Can’t decide if it’s a month late for Xmas, three months late for last Diwali, nine months early for this Diwali, or if they were thinking of either Chinese or Telugu new years which happen round about now.
Guy from Chennai appears to diagnose our ailing firewall / proxy. Hasn’t seen the logs we’d already sent though—bad feeling begins. He says proxy fine and blames ISP. ISP proves that they are fine. Chennai guy leaves in huff saying all will be fine anyway. Can you feel the scepticism?
Out with Velu, Hari, Divia and Navin. Try new bar called Mars 2230 supposedly set in the future. More like 2230 BC I think. Still, drank too much and rounded off the evening with dosa and chicken gravy, neither of which is useful for feeling better in the morning.
Woke to blackout and realization that the home UPS has disconnected itself from the mains. Thus stumble around in darkness trying to make breakfast and have a wash.
Vijay in from Mumbai today for meetings with various Bangalore firms. Trying to grow a beard currently, but effort looks a little unfortunate at the moment. Still, it’s nice to see him again and compare notes between conferences. Six more people registered for the conference. Now we have seven.
Once again forget to actually eat anything of note after breakfast. Must investigate cooking lessons again. Memory lapse blamed this time on lack of food (sic) and eager awaiting of March 25 - India vs Australia in Bangalore stadium—which was confirmed today.
Start the day invigorated by the equivalent of three nights sleep and promptly go and annoy four people over email. Perhaps I should wait until I’m a little sleepy before I write any more. Fail miserably to spell palce (sic) correctly throughout the entire day as well.
First deadline for banglinux has passed and 50% of the material is in, so about average turnout. Others are away at Linux World or Linux Expo this week anyway. As will Frank be in order to get his new visa, his old one running out in two weeks.
Thought I knew most of the Indian names for clothing but apparently not. A pashmina is a broad Kashmiri shawl / scarf that extends down to the waist. A dupatta is a longer, narrower piece of silk also worn as a shawl. Think of a dupatta as a bedsheet and a pashmina as a usually more patterned tablecloth and you’re about there.
John’s back although his luggage is not. Apparently it was lost on the way back to the UK, found four hours before he left and lost again on the way back. So I’ll make sure I never fly via Delhi then.
Spent whatever period of the day awake on the verge of falling asleep and feeling pretty miserable. Turned in at 4pm only to wake up, see Elizabeth Taylor demonstrate why she should only ever be seen at awards ceremonies these days and never given something to do, and fall back asleep again.
Inadvertently wore a Wrox shirt into a computer bookstore and ended up recommending books and answering questions for a while from punters looking at the books on the shelves. Managed to buy one or two myself.
Two presidents got inaugurated today by circumstances as opposed to by merit - a five foot Phillipino to replace Estrada and a six foot yank who wants to be better than his dad. 70,000 people took to the streets to see the former sworn in. Several hundred Texans stood by to watch the American. Go figure.