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Computing, Libraries, Tennis, India & other interests of Vikas Kamat

Death of Google Reader

Personally, the death of Google Reader is a good thing for me -- because it increases the value of my own RSS aggregators and apps built on that technology. I am hoping for it anyway NY Times: Death of Google Reader Our Kamat News for example is built on the aggregation technology . Long Live RSS! Do not miss the Hitler on the Death of Google Reader Video See Also: • My Convoluted Romance with RSS • 2002 Entry Case Against RSS Feeds First Written: Saturday, March 16, 2013 Last Modified: 3/16/2013 11:44:13 PM

New Year's Resolutions
"Less Greed, and More Charitable Service " -- is my resolution for the year 2013. I know, that should have been my life's resolution but anyway. Also want to resume updating this blog. Happy New Year to all my readers, advertisers, and friends! First Written: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 Last Modified: 1/2/2013 10:46:09 AM

Kamat Memorial Award Ceremony

I invite you to meet the Kamats at Nayana auditorium, Kannada Bhavan, JC Road, Jayanagar, Bangalore on Nov 18th (next Sunday) at a function remembering my father. Activities start at 10:30 am, but you can come at anytime and join us for lunch. Meet lots of talented and famous people. I especially want you to attend the 4:00 pm event when D.G. Mallikarjuna will be honored with the Krishnanand Kamat Memorial Award. Gurus of photography, litetaure, science, and Internet, all in one place! First Written: Monday, November 12, 2012 Last Modified: 11/13/2012 12:49:14 PM

Endorsing Re-election of Obama

© Vikas Kamat I have voted in two greatest democracies of our times. That somehow qualifies me to make a political endorsement. That, and at least a fraction of the two million who read our website each month might live in Ohio. I am not one of the 43% of Americans who don't pay Federal income taxes, I am not gay, not an illegal immigrant. I own a small business, and due to the way  I foolishly structured the company I end up not only paying FICA and social security taxes, but also the business gets taxed as an individual, a double whammy. I hate government regulations, and wasteful spending (who does?). Yet I endorse President Obama for another term. Here are the reasons for my endorsement: Omabacare -- what other idea is there to reduce the cost of the healthcare? Oh, there is -- it is "On Your Own" Global Warming -- many in the Republican party seem to have made careers out of ridiculing the concerns of environmental pollution and variations. Intolerance of  Romney coterie. Romney Presidency will be Acceptable Unlike many of Governor Romney's supporters, for whom Obama is un-acceptable (due to his policies or color of skin), Romney as a president is acceptable to me. I can whole-heartedly support Romney Presidency (I whole-heartedly supported Bush Presidency). I think he will make a fine president, and I even like Mitt Romney. But I cannot bear Romney's baggage -- the strongly opinionated, anti-immigrant, anti-poor, anti-women, anti-science bigots. That is the reason why I endorse President Obama. A Note About the Sharpie Mark For those who might not understand the relevance of the black mark on my finger -- in India they do not have a voter-identification system, so to prevent one voter from voting again, they paint a semi-permanent ink on the nails. Ha! First Written: Saturday, November 03, 2012 Last Modified: 11/4/2012 9:35:43 AM

Clip of ABC-33/40 Interview
Clip of my interview with ABC 33/40 News last Night ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports First Written: Thursday, October 18, 2012 Last Modified: 10/18/2012 2:24:38 PM

Draft Debate Speech for Obama

I couldn't bear to watch Obama screw up like he did. So I wrote a draft opening statement for his next debate. Dear Fellow Americans, Tonight's debate is on foreign policy and I am reminded of what Gandhi said once -- "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. Instead, I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any." While my administration will engage with all other Governments -- friends and foes, I refuse to let Israel or China dictate our policies. This is an important distinction between me and my opponent, who seems to pander to friends and doesn't believe in diplomacy or tact while dealing with adversaries. Look at my administration's record on foreign policy -- we have ended two wars, we have terminated the top Al-Queda leadership, we have seen a surge of democracy in the Middle-East, we have strengthened NATO, we have prevented a war between Israel and Iran, saw Burma begin the process of reform in a non-violent way, and long time dictators in Cuba, North-Korea, and Libya are gone. We are safer today than four years ago, and we have begun the process of restoring American prestige and credibility outside our borders. I want to say this to the American people -- during our last debate, my opponent pitched some ideas -- like empowering small businesses to grow -- that my administration will gladly embrace and implement. Because I believe that great ideas come from not just who will vote for me, but also from who will challenge me. I have been, and if re-elected, will continue to be the President of all Americans, not just the 47% who pay the federal income taxes, but all Americans. In fact in the next term, I propose to broaden the tax base, by making even poor people pay a small tax (the Supreme Court called it the Tax of not having health insurance) -- so that they will have a say in the our Federal Government -- something my opponents seem to deny them, labeling them as dependents and victims. This election is much more than economic recovery. Our healthcare, our retirement, the way we deal with the other nations, and our very future is at stake. Our economy by the way, has shown improvement due to my policies. The unemployment has fallen, stock market is up, and most importantly we have in place, a safety mechanism so our system won't collapse like it did. I am very proud of this preventive measure. I believe that our foreign policy decisions of the future will be shaped more by our debt situation, than by our military strength. So it is extremely important to pay off our debt -- through my balanced approach of revenue growth, reduced Government expenditure, and economic growth, than to simply invest in more weaponry. Instead, I believe we need to invest in research and education. This is another stark distinction we face this election. Tomorrow: Debate Speech for Romney (Still working on it) First Written: Friday, October 05, 2012 Last Modified: 10/5/2012 2:51:51 PM

Links for the Day
Link Suggestions Amma: D.G. Mallikarjuna is the Winner of this year's Kamat Literary Award Guernica: The Monkeyman of Delhi Tomorrow is October 2, Gandhi's Birthday -- so a good day to read up on Mahatma Gandhi First Written: Monday, October 01, 2012 Last Modified: 10/1/2012 12:58:23 PM

Obama Pill Vs Romney Pill
I have tried to capture the 2012 election choice in terms of the following graphic. © Vikas Kamat On one side we have a really great plan (but we don't know what it is) and on the other side we have a tired and weary plan that we have no confidence in. First Written: Thursday, September 27, 2012 Last Modified: 9/27/2012 3:06:16 PM

Inept Indian Governments Blame Pakistan for Exodus
BBC: India Blames Pakistan for Exodus -- How convenient! First Written: Saturday, August 18, 2012 Last Modified: 8/18/2012 10:48:20 PM

Goofy Athletes and Latest on 5K

I thank all my friends who have sponsored me to run a 5K race. I have sponsorship for about $1000 and still looking for more. Hospitals don't come cheap, so please consider donating. But I have a funny story to share. I wanted to be sure that I can actually finish the 5K and ran a  trial run today. I was exhausted at the end, but my wife, who timed me was pleasantly surprised that I took only 14 minutes. We quickly looked up the world record, it was slightly better at 12:37.35.  Just like Ye Shwin possibly couldn't have clocked a time better than Ryan Lochte, there was no way I could have finished 5K under 15 minutes.  The investigation revealed the track was in the shape of '8" and I had completely missed a loop. Actually I am not the first one. It even happens to professional athletes. There was a marathon runner Frederick Lorz, who ran just half the distance and was declared a winner in the Olympics. First Written: Sunday, August 12, 2012 Last Modified: 8/13/2012 2:16:47 PM

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