aditya kumar's weblog

…Or do they just don’t want to meet each other? I am wondering, it’s been almost an year since Bangalore bloggers did a meetup!

Okay so here we are, Truman changes the look and feel of his blog after about 10 months. The last template received a lot of accolades and I fear this may have a lot to live up to.

Here is what I think. What is new and what would be missed.

Good things:

1. This is more readable. The font attributes are better than what we had in the last template, hence the improvement in readability.

2. The Blue and White combination is good to the eyes :)

3. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk image, I am absolutely in love with it. It held the most important place in my scheme of things. Now, I must mention here, the sky background and the aircraft were two different images. What you see is a blending of those two. The credit for that goes to my friend Dipankar Bose, who worked on it (from Calcutta) because I requested him to. Being a part-time artist myself, I can’t help but appreciate the fine work with the imagery.

4. I think, overall, the template is simple, uncluttered.

What will be missed:

1. The Newspaper template. That was not originally a newspaper-look-and-feel theme. It was just that I had customised it to such a degree that it had started to look like one.

2. Three column look. I have always preferred that. But in the three column themes, readability often takes a backseat.

Anything else? Please let me know your opinions :)

There is a misconception among a lot of people about free speech. Being rude and terming it as “free speech” is common. Neither can abusive language be used and described as freedom to express. Free speech, at least to me, is the freedom to express my opinion and at the same time, it is expected that I respect the opinion of others. I may disagree, yes, but I should still respect an opinion. Free speech is the basic element of secularism. That’s what free speech is.

When exploited, this often takes a form of personal attack.

To me, a “personal attack” happens when the commenter goes completely off-topic and talks about something that is bound to offend the author, by means of personal allegations. This is often done using abusive language. There lies the difference between healthy criticism and being rude.

As a blogger, I have started to believe that there are always people who do not like what you say and are often against the stands taken. There is nothing wrong in that. But there are a few of them who are so obsessed about their own point of view that they start making personal attacks to prove their point and some even land in your inbox. That will remain. As a blogger, there is nothing much I can do about them.


Most people, readers and writers included, do not take blogging seriously. Some do. If you happen to be one of those who takes it seriously, my advice to you is this — Be prepared to take criticism in your stride as well. When I say “criticism”, I mean criticism of things that you do not like to be talked negatively about. If you don’t, you are the kind of person I would like to stay away from.

If you happen to be one of those who don’t take all this so seriously, my advice is — Listen to U2 and Chill ;)

Like many other blog authors, I may not talk about all the pleasant things in life or use this medium to discuss my favourite colour. It is only a matter of time that you may disagree with one thing or the other I talk about. When that happens, dear Reader, treat it as my opinion and bear with it. Why? Because I bear with and respect, yours.

And there are, of course, ways to convey your displeasure without being rude and nasty.

This is in reply to a hate comment that I received.

Let me make this clear: On this website, I shall write what I want, when I want. If you have a problem with that, go away. I must remind you that you do not have to read this weblog if you do not subscribe to the opinions expressed here.

Also, it will not help matters, leaving hate comments and baseless criticism. Either I will delete your comment or if I decide to keep it, it will stay so for the readers should know your sick state of mind. Either way, you will end up making a mockery of yourself. Other than this, I cannot guarantee any special treatment.

My employer (if any, that is) has nothing to do with this website. Dragging my work, my vocation, my employer (or like in this case, my relatives!) adds a dash of uselessness to your comment(s).

Visitors are tracked hard and hate-commentors are tracked harder. So more often than not, I have an idea who you are, where you are. Be it Nepal, Sri Lanka, Amsterdam or UK, it’s not a big deal to find out all that information. Really.

Comments will be moderated for some time.

Uma’s post has won the first prize for the the “Can Conquer Cancer” Initiative. My post and Dave’s writeup here, won the second prize (it was a tie :) The results can be seen here.

I wish to thank the people involved in this initiative. It has been an effort, full of positivity. And, as I have said before, to conquer this disease, being positive is half the battle won.

As you may have noticed, with the results announced, I am in such fine company. I am honored, and I don’t know what more to say. It was a surprise, my name there!

Thank you, everyone.

This is late, in fact I did not even know that today is the last day for blog-voting at Indibloggies. Awards for the best of Indian Blogs for the year that has just passed by. I have just voted :)

And I shall be clear about whom I have voted for. Here are the categories, and my choice:

The best Indiblog of 2005
Uma’s Indianwriting

Select the Best Topical IndiBlog of 2005
Sonia Faleiro

Select the Best Group Blog of 2005
Desipundit

Select the Best IndiBlog directory/service/clique of 2005
Desipundit

I did not have to think twice while making these choices, the people associated with these blogs are wonderful people and write inspiringly well. I know that.

If you are a blogger as well, then please, please go and vote! Today is the last day!

And finally, Sonia Faleiro, makes her debut, with her novel, The Girl. This, I am sure, is another reason to look forward to the offerings of Modern Indian Literature.

The story is based in Goa. As I was reading the extract from the book here, the words painted a picture in my mind. As far as I could make out from what I read, Sonia has brilliantly captured the standstill life of Goa.

The prose is intense in its own way, yet captures the most important aspect of Goan life – Stillness.

Please read more about the book on Sonia’s website. Read the extract. In fact, read the book.

About the Author
After linking to her blog and being under the impression that she is a journalist, it came as a nice but big surprise, to know that Sonia is Assistant Editor, Tehelka, and her non-fiction writings have appeared in India Today, The Indian Express and The Hindustan Times.