Humour, comics, tech, law, software, reviews, essays, articles and HOWTOs intermingled with random philosophy now and then
Filed under:
Artwork/Portraits/Caricatures by
Hari
Posted on Fri, Dec 1, 2006 at 18:26 IST (last updated: Fri, May 29, 2009 @ 21:24 IST)
My next cartoon character: Professor Das
Occupation: Professor of Mathematics
Appears on: Educational programmes on Television and UGC programmes
Favourite problem: Solving the square root of pi to the thousandth decimal place
Quote: "What is the integral of square root of sin theta? Come on, tell me... tell me... tell me..."
Filed under:
My software by
Hari
Posted on Fri, Dec 1, 2006 at 13:08 IST (last updated: Thu, Oct 30, 2008 @ 23:01 IST)
I've written a Python GUI application to publish to a WordPress blog from the desktop. It has a simple interface and is not really a full "client" for WordPress. However, I think it would be useful to many people who simply want to post to their blog after composing their post offline (in a text file). It supports most of the post publishing options in WordPress including adding multiple categories and the option to turn off/on comments and pingbacks.
To run it, simply download the tar.gz file, extract it and run the
wp_publisher.py program from the command line.
Download: wp_publisher.tar.gz (5.2 kB)
Dependencies: python,
libglade,
python-gtk,
python-glade (GTK 2.0)
Screenshot:
Filed under:
Site management by
Hari
Posted on Fri, Dec 1, 2006 at 10:03 IST (last updated: Wed, Sep 26, 2007 @ 15:29 IST)
This is a test post created using my new desktop WordPress posting tool, wp_publisher. If this works, you should see this message in the blog.
Update: Yay, it works
Filed under:
Site management by
Hari
Posted on Wed, Nov 29, 2006 at 13:38 IST (last updated: Wed, Sep 26, 2007 @ 15:30 IST)
I'm experimenting with a new layout and a new colour theme. Please feel free to leave your feedback here. Some of the XHTML was changed and the CSS was modified heavily. In particular I thought I'd try and see how a left-side bar would work with the blog. Although this theme looks a lot like the old "grey" theme I used a while back, this is a completely new one.
The earlier gold-brown theme still exists, so I can always revert to that, but I wanted a change.
Filed under:
Humour and Nonsense by
Hari
Posted on Thu, Nov 23, 2006 at 10:13 IST (last updated: Wed, Jul 16, 2008 @ 20:36 IST)
With the run of poor form that the Indian Cricket team has been going through in recent times it's obvious to the most optimistic Indian Cricket fan that the dream of becoming the next world champions is fading out rather quickly.
Rather than talk and analyze cricket, here are some suggestions as to how India can avoid the losing streak.
- Hire a foriegn team -- now that India has successfully experimented with foriegn coaches, maybe it's time for Team India to comprise entirely of overseas players (do take a hint from England, guys!) At least the Indian players will have more time for their advertising endorsements this way rather than wasting their time on trivial matters like actually playing the game.
- Fund cloud-seeding research -- if more matches get washed out, the less matches India will lose and hence their record will be better. So the BCCI might as well use their funds to develop the art and science of rain-making. The other good thing about rain-making is that we can also use it for less important matters like drought relief.
- Dig up pitches and blame it on terrorists -- Admittedly on foriegn soil, we would need outside support for this, but nevertheless it can be arranged. Again, this is based on the theory that you cannot play a match on a pitch that looks like a raked up paddy field. The added advantage of this technique is that entire tours can be cancelled based on perceived security threats. And the ICC can do nothing about it... bwahahahaha!
- Bring back Kapil Dev and company (as players) -- Why stop at Anil Kumble? India needs its past heroes back on the field to prevent them from losing. Or at least if they lose, we can distract the masses by re-running clips of the '83 World Cup Final for the 12,382,938th time and keep them singing - 'OOH AAH India, AA JAA India' and 'Come On India.'
- Bribe umpires -- A good way to ensure... ahem... neutrality. One good thing with this technique is that you can use it against umpires you don't like. Push some money into his pockets and then scream out loudly so that the world denounces him. What's the worst that can happen? The umpire gets chucked out of Cricket and India gets banned from the ICC? Two pros and no cons. Oh, well, at least we won't see Team India lose any more. The added bonus is that we'll get to see a lot more exciting domestic cricket like Mumbai vs Karnataka and North Zone vs East Zone on DD Sports with the accompanying Hindi-English commentary from the studio experts at Doordarshan!
- Start protesting on and off the field -- If you can't join 'em, beat 'em! So if bribing doesn't work, there's always another way out! Pakistan and Sri Lanka have shown us a great technique which India have yet to adopt effectively. The Art of Protesting. So when Muttiah Muralitharan was accused of chuck... er... having an illegal action (based on a birth-defect), the whole of Sri Lanka rose up in outraged dignity -- right up from the President of the country down to the janitors and sweeps. The Pakistani team has no such problems adopting these techniques either. When confronted with on-field problems, they simply walk out. So what if you have forfeited the match? You still rob your opponents of the satisfaction of a real win! Maybe the Indian Cricket team needs to learn from the Opposition benches of Parliament.
- EA Sports Cricket 2010 -- If none of the above work out, at least ensure that the next release of EA Sports Cricket features India as the strongest team with the highest stats possible so that fans of Indian Cricket can at least enjoy seeing their heroes perform in the virtual world. This is possible if the BCCI officially licenses out our players to EA Sports. Realism? To hell with realism! And oh EA, at least make sure that when Anil Kumble bowls, his action doesn't resemble that of Jeremy Snape.
If you think my suggestions are outrageous or unworthy of consideration, just read the title again -- all I talked was about not losing... there is not a word about winning. I might be optimistic but I'm not really that unrealistic!
Filed under:
Humour and Nonsense by
Hari
Posted on Wed, Nov 22, 2006 at 12:44 IST (last updated: Thu, Oct 30, 2008 @ 08:08 IST)
Papa Hari has started a new agony column to solve all your troubles! Every week I receive dozens of e-mails and phone calls from desperate people who are looking for a way to solve their intricate personal problems. Here are a few typical questions and their responses.
Question from A.Boi
Dear Papa Hari,
I have a question. I have been going to school for nearly ten years and I still haven't managed to pass out successfully. I am in the local football team as well. Last Sunday night I had chocolates for dinner and fell ill. I was named this season's most talented player by the school. So should I buy a new iPod?
Papa Hari Responds
Dear A.Boi,
You should certainly consider the costs of eating chocolates exclusively for dinner. There are other nutritious foods available. On the other hand, I see no problem with buying an iPod so long as it is within your budget. Best of luck with your studies and I hope you manage to pass out of school! By the way, you haven't mentioned your age in your question.
Question from Mr. Golfman
Hi,
I am the fabulously stinking rich executive of a multi-billion dollar corporation and I own a golf course, a yacht and several farms and apartments all over the country. Last week I was playing with a few friends and I missed an easy par 4 on hole 16. I later found that the course staff had not cut the grass properly on the edge of the fairway. Should I sue? And if so, who should I sue?
Papa Hari Responds
Dear Mr. Golfman,
I am not sure of the answer to your question, but I'm pretty certain that I should sue you for wasting my time. Care to give me the address of your legal advisor?
Question from J.A.
Dear Papa Hari,
I work hard for a living and I plan on going on a holiday. I found that my banker owes me $100,000 since last September and I haven't calculated interest on it yet. Luckily a close friend of mine guaranteed that he would pay that amount on my behalf and settle my debt. I feel that going to a lawyer at this stage is not good, but my wife insists on going to the Maldives. So what do you think I should do about my sick dog? Shoot it or take it to the vet?
Papa Hari Responds
Dear J.A.,
First you should take some strong medication to clear your hangover. After that you might want to consider rephrasing your question. About your dog, I think he/she would prefer to be shot than to continue living with you. A holiday is highly recommended and I would not venture to contradict your wife's suggestion.
That's all this week, folks. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me and don't forget the $250 cheque as well. Have a nice day.
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