Bangalore LiveJournal Community

Replacing a HP notebook LCD screen in Bangalore?

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:21:22 GMT

I just got this note from a friend. Any ideas from the folks here?

I just bought a new HP Pavilion DV6000 Laptop with a 15.4" screen in Canada, and the screen cracked during transit!

The specs are:

AMD Turion 64, dual core processor
3 GB DDR2 memory
15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
200GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
1.3 Megapixel Webcam with mic built into screen
Altec Lansing speakers built in
3 USB ports, ExpressCard/54 Slot, Video Out, Integrated Consumer IR, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45
Windows Vista Home Premium

Do you know anyone who can replace the screen for me in Bangalore?

I do have a 1 year warranty from HP Canada, unfortunately HP warranty does not cover cracked screens, at least thats what someone told me ?

Please ask around and let me know?

Thanks a ton!

National Meetings on Software Patents - Oct 4, Bangalore

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:36:21 GMT

Hi All,

Software patents have always been very contentious. The patents act 2005 clearly did not allow software patents. However the government has brought out a draft Patents Manual, which might sort of give software patents a backdoor entry.

The Patent Office has been having a series of stakeholder meetings related to the Patent Manual, in which the issue of software patents has been raised by various interested parties. Given the large opposition to the Patent Manual's reading of the Indian Patent Act, the Patent Office has promised to hold a public meeting solely on software patents. However, the date and location of the Bangalore consultation hasn't been announced yet. We, a loose group of civil society organisations interested in the issue of software patents, believe that a public meeting (and not just an invitees only "industry consultation") on the issue of software patents will help gather together viewpoints which will be invaluable to the Patent Office.

The meeting will be held tomorrow(Oct 4th, Saturday) at the United Theological College (near Cant. railway station). This post is a public invitation for the same.

On behalf of the organizers, the Centre for Internet and Society
cordially invites you to

The National Public Meeting on Software Patents
====================================

==Venue==
2nd Floor, Ecumenical Resource Centre,
United Theological College,
Millers Road, Benson Town.
(Behind Cantonment Railway Station)
Bangalore–560046


==Date and Time==
10:00–17:00
Saturday, October 4, 2008


==Background==
Software patents in India occupy a contentious and indeterminate legal
space. While recent amendments to the Patent Act have sought to bring
our law in conformity with WTO-mandated standards, these amendments
have shied from pronouncing conclusively on the patentability of
software.  The result is an equivocation in the law which is being
wrestled aggressively and effectively by corporate interests, patent
attorneys and the Patent Office in favour of granting software
patents.  Unheard, and so unrepresented in this powerful triad are the
interests of millions of citizen-consumers who are either presumed too
ignorant to be credited with a view on the issue, or are presumed to
be irrelevant to the determination of issues which are seen as purely
"business" matters (as opposed to "citizen" matters).

Software is everywhere you look (and many places you never think of
looking). With the explosion of low-cost computing devices (think
mobile phones and iPods), software has leaked out of its traditional
home—the PC—and begun infiltrating various aspects of our lives.  From
traffic signals to toilet commodes in some countries, refrigerators to
railway tickets, vacuum cleaners and electronic voting machines, TVs,
refrigerators and electronic pacemakers, inanimate objects of all
sizes are humming to themselves, chattering amongst themselves in an
intricate, highly complex tongue called 'software' that few of us can
ever hope to understand. On the impulses of software, we stop or move
on streets, fill up on petrol, and elect governments. Someone's heart
beats. Someone else receives land records on a village kiosk. Someone
is standing by helplessly for fourteen years (the un-evergreened term
of a patent) because software failed to factor in her disability.

There are big stakes involved in the control of software in an era
when software is becoming increasingly central to the way we humans
organize our lives and inhabit a democracy.  At one level this is
about preserving the right of agency and self-direction that citizens
have in their own lives.  At another, it is about the right not to be
silenced when our long-fought democratic republic is at risk of being
diminished by a few lines of software in a machine. Whether or not we
are all in fact capable of deciphering software is inessential. Those
of us who are ought not to be denied the freedom to interrogate,
tinker and improve.

Patents have the effect of adding an additional layer of 'protection'
to already existing copyright protection of software, while
simultaneously overriding the various affordances and safeguards built
into copyright law. For instance, the right of "fair dealing" under
copyright law permits users to examine and modify any software in
order to make it interoperable with other software. This is an
extremely potent right that reasserts our right to intervene in the
shaping of our surroundings.  It is also one of the rights that is
most imperiled by software patents.

The present "public hearing" on software patents is an invitation for
dialogue on the various issue surrounding software patents.  Although
the Patent Office had scheduled a public consultation on its Draft
Patent Manual to be held in Bangalore in August this year, that
meeting was abruptly cancelled (or postponed indefinitely, or to an
unannounced date—we can't be sure) without any reasons having been
assigned by the Patent Office.  This signals either of two unpleasant
scenarios: first, the Patent Office is proceeding with its
consultations in an extremely mechanical fashion, not intending inputs
received in the course of these consultations to qualitatively impact
their functioning in any way; or secondly, perhaps the Patent Office
underestimates the amount that citizens living in the IT capital of
India might have to say on the subject of software patents.

It is our attempt in this public hearing to organize the kind of
consultation that the Indian Patent Office ought to have conducted. We
hope also hereby, to serve as a gentle but firm reminder to the Patent
Office that its task is as yet undone.

==Agenda==
1000–1100
Presentation on the principles of patent law and software patents

Sudhir Krishnaswamy
(National Law School)

Prabir Purkayastha
(Delhi Science Forum)

Nagarjuna G.
(Free Software Foundation of India)

--
1100–1130
Discussion on software patents in the Indian context: Indian Patent
Act, and the draft patent manual

Prashant Iyengar
(Alternative Law Forum)

Venkatesh Hariharan
(Red Hat)

--
1130–1150
Tea break

--
1150–1240
Discussion on patents and the development sector (freedom of speech,
open standards, healthcare, biotech, agro-sector, etc.)

Sunil Abraham
(Centre for Internet and Society)

Anivar Aravind
(Movingrepublic, FSUG-Bangalore)

Others

--
1240–1300
Presentation on the software patents that have been
granted so far in India

Pranesh Prakash
(Centre for Internet and Society)

--
1300–1400
Lunch break

--
1400–1700
Open House

Those speaking will include:
Joseph Matthew
(Special IT Adviser to the Government of Kerala)

T. Ramakrishna
(National Law School)

Abhas Abhinav
(DeepRoot Linux)

Sreekanth S. Rameshaiah
(Mahiti Infotech)

Vinay Sreenivasa
(IT for Change)

(And any others who wish to speak)


==Organizers==
Centre for Internet and Society;
Free Software Users Group-Bangalore;
Free Software Foundation of India;
SPACE;
IT for Change;
Alternative Law Forum;
Delhi Science Forum;
Movingrepublic;
Sarai/CSDS;
OpenSpace;
Swathanthra Malayalam Computing;
Servelots - Janastu;
Mahiti;
DeepRoot Linux;
Wiki Ocean;
Turtle Linux Lab;
Zyxware Technologies;
INSAF;
Aneka


==Webpages==
http://www.cis-india.org/advocacy/floss/national-public-meeting-on-software-patents
http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Say_No_To_Software_Patents/National_Public_Meeting

==Contact==
For further details, please contact:
Anivar Aravind (anivar.aravind@gmail.com / +91 9449009908)
Pranesh Prakash (pranesh@cis-india.org / +91 80 40926283)

Help! Do you know any senior person in the State govt?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:31:04 GMT

Hello LJ Bangalore.

I have applied for and my "normal" passport is under process.

I need to travel abroad, urgently.

I need a Tatkaal Passport for it.

I located to Bangalore around 2.5 years back; I dont have family or any local contacts here.

I need to get my Annexure F signed by the district collector / district magistrate.

I already have my Annexure I.

can someone please help me arrange an appointment with these people?

(to clarify I am not asking for anything illegal. The document needs to be signed by the DC/DM for the application to be approved as a Tatkaal application. )

====================

Any help would be greatly appreciated

In case you need to mail me, please contact me at manishchaks AT gmail DOT com or you can contact me at +919740980435.

====================

Afterthought: I so wish they required a proof of urgency and not these Annexures. As I have a genuine need, I would have produced the proof of urgency with ease.

More BBMP Land going into private hands?

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:57:09 GMT

After selling away the Garuda Mall land and the Divyasree chambers land for throw-away rates, the BBMP now wants to gift away more of our land to private developers.

Read the article in the Indian Express for more details (link pasted below)

www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx

Searching for Pen Like Mouse and Accessiblity Hardware at Blore

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:05:52 GMT

I am looking for a Pen like Mouse for my friend. He is disabled and can move only his thumb and hold the device with his other four fingers.

For reading, he uses Adobe Acrobat with Auto Scroll option.

We also recently figured out that Dasher is a good software to type in with the help of mouse only.He has a Bluetooth enabled phone and with a Bluetooth remote control, he can use the mobile phone's simple joystick as the pointer control to use along with Dasher. But that bluetooth mouse based device seem require a bit of training and carefulness as not to accidentally press the back or cancel button in the mobile. In short, we are facing some problems with it.

I wanted the group members option on availability of Pen-Like Mouse, with Pen-cap being used to control the mouse pointer. Have you seen anything like that? What is it called and where can I buy that in Bangalore?
Do you know of anyone who can design such a mouse? Any shop that that sells accessibility hardware?

Thanks in Advance.

Pediatrician & ayurvedic doctor recommendations...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:32:32 GMT

Can someone recommend a

1 A good ayurvedic doctor - someone you have consulted and think highly of?

2) A good pediatrician

Preferably in & around Banerghata Road (BTM Layout, JP Nagar, Jaya Nagar) etc -

Thanks
Arun

What next on Race Course land? A parking lot ???

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:43:34 GMT

The Lease for the race course is set to expire in 2009 and Yeddyurappa has said that he won't renew the lease. I think its a great idea. Right now that big patch of public land is used only by a few - those who indulge in horse -racing.

I think the best use of the land would be to make it into a park or part park-part , part-playground. We have a shortage of green spaces and playgrounds in the city.And these are public spaces which can be used by anyone irrespective of income etc. However there was talk of building an amusement park there(i read this some days back in DH I think) or even underground parking lots (see article below) .

India today article

I dont know what will be on the surface level if there is an underground parking lot, but it wont be a park for sure!

I guess the government should take inputs from citizens as well before deciding.

If the government does open a channel to get public inputs , I personally would request that the land is used for either creating a park or part-park, part-playground.

What do you guys think? If any of you agree, what do you think are the ways in which we can start engaging with the government to do this?
Any other views on what this land could be used for?

Condemnable action by KaRaVe

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:48:53 GMT

Local channels today have been showing scenes from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV/KaRaVe, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnataka_Rakshana_Vedike) ; 'raid' on an alleged rave party near Manchanbale(near the big banyan tree). Apparently KaRaVe got to know of a rave party happening at some resort near Manchan Bale and decided to 'raid' it. TV images showed clips of what are alleged to be drugs, KaRaVe men beating up some of the party-goers and even bloody touching/lightly hitting some women while herding them into some sort of group.

I think this is really condemnable. I mean i'm not saying we should encourage drugs but who is KaRaVe to decide what is right and what is wrong?If rave parties are not good, the cops will take care of it. And getting TV cameras there and telecasting the whole episode is highly disgusting. The KaRaVe has taken on some campaigns in [public interest - protesting against unequal treatment to kannadigas in railway recruitment, the hogenekkal issue etc. But taking on the role of moral police and conducting such raids and beating/abusing people is totally not justified. I hope the cops take action against them as well.

The bomb blasts - Why?

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:59:07 GMT

I was feeling very depressed yesterday. My first reaction when someone told me about the banner headline on NDTV.com was "Shit. I hope it's a false alarm and not true". Alas that was not to be.

But more importantly, why are people putting bombs?

Is it just some deranged "mental patients" who'll gladly do anything if Pakistan pays them enough money?

Is it due to age old Hindu-Muslim antagonism? Perhaps our social fabric was always torn but only now we have the collective conscience to cry foul at overt acts like this?

Or has independent India done something gravely wrong? Have we exacerbated divisions and increased acrimony? Do these people have a genuine grievance against the Indian State, and by proxy, against the average Indian itself?

I don't have the answers to these questions. And sadly the media won't raise them even when topical.

The most uninteresting part is they had access to such bombs and could "plan" this event. That's a given if the motives are strong enough. People can do far more with far less. Remember 1857?

Bangalore Rocks!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:15:48 GMT

The terror turkey has come home to roost. The myth of a secure Bangalore was long shattered when the blasts had occurred in IISC a few years ago. However, those blasts today are hazy memory to most Bangaloreans.

Today 6 low intensity blasts have taken place at multiple locations - Adugodi, Nayandahalli, Madivala among others. Placement of bombs at widely scattered locations and the precision of timing indicates meticulous planning and extremely devious (BUT/& intelligent) minds. The city is yet to groan to a grinding halt. People surely have been thrown out of their comfortable rocking chair existence today. The blasts establish the laxity in security and lack of concern regarding safety provisions within the city. We still can not however make comments about intelligence network and its success or failure. Any negative comment at this juncture would not only be hasty but also flippant.

Will the Governments wake up? Will also the common man wake up to the new reality? That there is NOTHING called a safe place anymore.  Will we become REAL citizens from now?

Bangalore, it's not just Mumbai (and Delhi and Hyderabad) that rocks.. Is it just the beginning or is it the beginning of an end?

Blasts in Bangalore

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:13:00 GMT

According to early reports, at least one woman has been killed and 15 people injured in a series of blasts in Bangalore. Six blasts have been reported so far.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/6_blasts_rock_Bangalore_2_dead_20_wounded/articleshow/3279730.cms

Bangalore based freelance UI designers and Joomla developers

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:53:05 GMT

Hi All,

We need some freelance Joomla developers and UI designers to design a intra-office portal and another site.
If any of you know any Bangalore based developers and/or designers , please mail me at vinay.sreenivasa@yahoo.com or pls call at
98805 95032.

Thanks all!
Vinay.

Laptop purchase ideas in Bangalore

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:28:45 GMT

Hello,

I don't know how relevant this post is to this forum, but again as I am looking out for some information in Bangalore. I have decided to post it.

I am looking out for a laptop purchase for a student friend of mine. We have decided upon the budget of Rs.20,000/- to Rs.25,000/-
And we looked out for stores like Computer Ware House and another store in MG Road.
Lenovo, HP and Acer Models have within that range, but they are Intel Celeron processor based and the vendor's do not suggest those models for any programming tasks ( say Java apps development). Memory of those Laptops are 512 MB.
Does anyone has experience with those models and would suggest going for it? What would drawbacks in choosing Celeron based Laptops.

I understand, AMD processors are cheaper than Intels, so I was looking out for AMD based laptops within 20-25K range and could not find any at the shops I went.

I would like members suggestion on "a good laptop recommendation" within 20-25K and where would you advice me to purchase it in Bangalore.

Thanks in advance.
Senthil

World's End

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:10:47 GMT

This world might be coming to an end by 2012. Its survival depends on us. We have to do a tapas. Tapas consists of eliminating all death of hunger among humans, starvation among young and otherwise disadvataged humans and death of hunger among cats and dogs, including homeless ones. This tapas has to be successful within certain number of months from now.

I want everyone who worships any Hindu God to donate once off $150 to a World Hunger cause through any ethical charity or website, and also $150 on behalf of every minor child and every unemployed person. If you live outside of USA, donate 150 of your local currency. I want everyone to donate at least $40 to World Hunger every 3 months.

Make this first priority and tell your family about it.

Blessings,
Shree Maya Ishvari

Run Run Run like the wind

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:29:48 GMT

I have been running for some time now.Also joined http://www.runnersforlife.com and am always on the look out for running events.There is a very nice track planned for the next run off Kanakpura Road this Sunday.I really want to make it but i am not very sure if i will be traveling that day.Anyone interested in the run can visit:
http://www.runnersforlife.com/events/event/show?id=2086499:Event:5257

What are your weekend plans?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:01:08 GMT

Well I can suggest something interesting! Come one and come all to make a small difference to our city!
Let us plant some trees... Here is "when and where" we can...

Plantathon – Month of June

June 14^th - Lasala Arapana Niweas, Sakalwara, Bannergatta Road 09:00 AM	120 nos.
June 14^th– Fathers’s of Holy Cross Sakalwara, Bannergatta Road (all fruit trees ) 11:00 AM	220 nos

June 15^thNobonagar Resident’s Assn, Bannergatta Road, Near Meenakshi Temple 10:00 AM	150 nos.

June 21, 2008 People for Animals, Chennasandra, Uttarahalli	250 nos.

June 28, 2008 Clara Nivas, Bannergatta Road (Shool for Handicapped Children) Gottigere (fruit and avenue trees)	100 nos.

Visit http://treesforfree.org to know more about us!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:40:16 GMT

Is there a group of parents (or just some parents) doing homeschooling or unschooling with their children in Bangalore? It would be great to get any information on the issue, please share if you do know!

An official India community for LJ

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:00:32 GMT

Greetings from LJ_India, the new official India community we’re piloting to connect all our India users.

We’re writing to invite you to take a first look at the Community (http://community.livejournal.com/lj_india/) as it’s launched and share your feedback. You’re, of course, under absolutely no obligation to join, but we’d be delighted if you did :)

Do join us at http://community.livejournal.com/lj_india/ and let's get this conversation started!

Cheers and thanks,

Team Blogworks for LiveJournal India

Airport Road

Mon, 26 May 2008 06:56:26 GMT

I take the Airport Road(will it hence be called 'Old Airport Road'?Yeah ok,i am no creative genius :P) to office everyday and it takes me about 35 mins to get to Sarjapur Outer Ring Road.Today was my first commute after the HAL airport shut down to make way for the brand new BIAL(B'lore International Airport Ltd),and i made it to office in 20 mins flat.I dunno if it was pyschological or if i was plain lucky today but it was not even a bit frustrating to ride through the otherwise heavy traffic on Airport Road.After today i can say i like living in B'lore better now.
Although i did feel bad about so many people who lost their jobs after the HAL airport shut down and the frequent flyers who probably will take longer to get to the new airport than to their destinations.But just may be, pain and frustration can 'niether be created nor destroyed,but can only be transferred' from one person to another! :)

road.inc

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:17:58 GMT

Is it me just dreaming or have the roads turned better overnight?!!
The whole stretch starting from Bellary Road to Koramangala has been completely revamped!

Fighting the setting up of a pizza place next door..

Sun, 18 May 2008 07:56:16 GMT

Hi All,

My immediate neighbour wants to rent out his ground floor to a pizza place. Me and a couple of our other neighbours really dont want it - I mean imagine a pizza place next to your house - the smells from the kitchen, the crowds etc in a residential neghbourhood.

What I want to know is how exactly do we fight this? I think he needs a no-objection certificate from us, which he wont get from any of the neighbours. But just in case he still goes ahead and rents out the place - how do we fight it? Should we approach the health department in the corporation? Is there any other department in the BBMP we need to go to?

Any inputs will be much appreciated.

Thanks a lot all!

For Sale

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:33:14 GMT

Owner Going Out Of Country

For Sale:

Sofa Set,

4-Seater Dining,

Beds,

Cupboard,

W/Machine,

Music System,

Crockery,

Computer And Other Household Items…

Open: Fri 16^th And Sun 18^th

10.00am - 9.00pm

And From Mon 19^th For 1 Week:

5.00 Pm - 8.00 Pm

Contact

C-1 Madhuban Apts., 2nd Floor, Hosur Main Road, Adugodi Bangalore 560 030
Landmark : Close To Star Bazaar, Opp. Adugodi Police Station
9886020850

Request support - for kannada medium student needing to clear 10th supplementary

Fri, 09 May 2008 06:24:18 GMT

Hi All,

Some friends of mine conduct spoken English classes in a slum in Thilaknagar. One of the girls in their class has just written her 10th Std exams. Unfortunately she has not cleared 4 subjects - Science, Maths, Hindi and Social Studies. The result coupled with peer pressure and parental pressure took a bad toll on her mind and she is extremely depressed about it.

They are sure that with little tutoring she will be able to clear the exam comfortably. But the challenge is that she will have to re-write the exam in June, which is not too far away. They require someone who can teach her the above mentioned subjects fast and well, preferably during the day. Also, they really need someone with good Kannada speaking and reading skills as she studies in a Kannada medium school.

To summarise the following are the requirements:

* Comfortable with Kannada reading and speaking
* Capable of tutoring 10 standard government state syllabus level in Science, Maths, Social Studies and Hindi
* Can teach during the day, as she has only until June 1st week

Any help will be welcome. Ideally they are looking for someone who can do this for free or at minimal cost, as these guys work on a voluntary effort with very little funding. But even so, please do not hesitate to contact them if you can help as the matter is very very urgent. Even if you are comfortable with teaching any ONE or TWO of the above mentioned subjects and not all, please contact them at : swagath.english@gmail.com

Thanks Guys!

Mehendi??

Tue, 06 May 2008 10:55:47 GMT

Hi,

I'm looking for someone on Bangalore who does mehendi. Ideally I would like someone who can come home and do it (I stay in Sanjaynagar). Do let me know if you know anyone! Thanks!

Review, I guess?

Fri, 02 May 2008 21:42:41 GMT

Pragathi Travels, Malleshwaram - DON'T USE THEM

A few days back I was stuck at Race Course road at 3 in the night. We called Pragathi Travels and asked for a cab back to Koramangala. The cab came and we noticed that the driver was talking funny. I suspected that he was drunk and asked him, he said he wasn't. So, at the MG-Brigade junction, this guy didn't stop the car and tried to cross it at a speed of 90kmph. Oh, he was also on his cellphone at that time. Our car got hit by another cab coming from the other side. It was a terrible accident, our car flew and flipped in the air and landed upside down. Thankfully, we weren't that hurt. I just broke a finger. Enter the normal drama after any accident; the police asked us if we wanted to press charges against the driver, we didn't. I honestly thought it was a one time incident and didn't take any action. BAD MOVE.

I have been talking to a few friends who know the place well and apparently reckless driving, drunken drivers etc. are common things with Pragathi Travels. Unlike the rest of the cab services, they don't keep a check on their drivers. I called the travel agency to question them and they said, and I quote here, "You should have pressed charges if you wanted to. It is not our fault." It IS your fault dammit. If you don't keep a check on how your drivers are doing their job, who else will! I wasn't even asking for anything. I just wanted to tell them to be more precautious in the future.

Bottomline, if you need a cab, call City Taxi or someone else. Anyone else. Don't trust Pragathi. I did, and it was a big fault of mine that I am having to pay for with a broken finger.