amorphous_singh

Thanks Bhaji - you are a star.

Erm there seem to be endless typo's in my previous reply - apols. The result of too much haste! I can't seem to get into edit mode to change them. So erm ignore over them ;-) This reply is typo free - I hope!

Would you mind commenting on how strong you think you technical skills are? For instance would you consider yourself to be a use, a user who can programme (regardless of language), a decent programmer, someone who can hack around on a system compiling and installing software from tarballs (if you don't know whayt his means then you can rule this one out ;-) or someother variation. Also what sort of platforms are familar with? Windows only or Unix/Linux, other? Are you [i was thinking about making like an online reservation system for this big restaurant, here. So a Website interface, with a database that links to a 2nd system, which is based at the restaurant. Obviously a lot of coding and work has to be done on it. However, i was talking to a friend, who said that i will have to expand that idea, as some people do that kidna stuff for their A Level projects, which got me thinking..] I work in a dept of computing for a university as a Unix Systems Manager and we often host or setup systems to enable student projects. In general we find that any sort of online system is normally a pretty simple project that can be accomplished with a some freeware software and demonstrates very little. There might be lots of requirements analysis but after that very little implentation work. On the other hand students who get their hands dirty and branch out a bit further tend to learn a lot more and get better grades - the vast majority of students who do their projects with us tend to get firsts of upper 2nd's. They also tend to more employable - I'm always more interested what someone can do as opposed to what they learnt academically. My general advise to all these students is to steer well clear of any sort of web front end to a database (not matter what terminology you use to disguise the fact thats really all the system is); unless you're doing something genuinally original or innovative; in which case they can be a good project. A previous student of ours wrote an email filtering system for me in perl; he had to interface it with a lot of backend software and understand all sorts of setups (we provided him with the necessary details) - it was a good project and we dragged in XML and all sorts of othe stuff. He got a first and I hired him. He's now left and has a better paying job elsewhere. But he learnt a lot and in the process could due all sort of Unixy stuff (mostly Solaris) and program in perl on these systems. My advise is to think outside of the web frontend/database box. You can do this without even getting into programming - for instance a through investigation of the various FLOSS licencing schemes and their applicability is a good project especially if you can wrap this around a system for an industry. But ..... ..... don't listen to me - listen to what you supervisor is saying. They should be able to guide you as appropriate. The above should not be taken as a sure fire way to get a decent project/grade but is based on my experience in academia. Play to your strengths but do try and do something different; most of the project markers I know are bored sensless with web<->db. ;-) Depending on your skills I could make some suggestions - but I hestitate to do so as I don't want to lead you down a path that is not correct for you; especially as I won't be at hand to offer advise. But if after reading the above you'd still like some suggestions then I'd be happy to help. If appropriate I can even create an account for you and provide you with command level remote access to appropriate systems. But you might find that sticking a second disk into your own machine and installing any decent linux distro will provide you with the same. NB - I'm way too busy to actually contribute code etc ;-)) All these words and this post probably still doenst help you much!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh The Sikh Youth Sangat of Gravesend will be remembering the great Sikh Shaheeds - Sukha and Jinda with a special programme and would like to invite all the wider Sangat to attend. On the 9th October from 6pm to 11pm there will be a Kirtan and Dhadhi Darbar in addition to a Sikh Youth Workshop. This is a benti to everyone to try their best to attend. Please see the attached poster for details. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Gurfateh. Next week I will be visiting Toronto for a few weeks; just bumming around with a bag and a couple of guide books. I'm booked in downtown for the first week and will work out what to do the second week once I'm there. I was just after some general advise on how to get to some of the main Gurdwara; ie Dixie Rd etc as I'd love to try and visit a few while I'm over - details on any programmes that might be happening would also be useful. My main issue is that I will be using public transport while I am there; so it's got to be subway, train, bus(eek!) etc and I know that most of the Gurdwara are way out in the surburbs and not downtown; near where I am staying. So any travel advise on how I could get to some Gurdwara would be appreciated - but no Taxi's - I'm way too cheap for that ;-) Incidently is there any Gurdwara downtown - I will be based around the College subway stop for the first few days at least; if that helps. Walking long (ie 3 or 4 miles) to get some somewhere is no t a problem - famous last words! Also anyone know if it's possible to hire a bike on a daily basis (as I wouldn't think I could keep it in my hotel room overnight) anywhere downtown. It's a great way to get around I always find. So if you see a Singh with a 1984 T-shirt whizz past - give me a wave :-) I had hoped to visit the Yudh 2005 competition but I don't think I will be able now. I'm hoping to make a photo journal so got plenty of SD ram packed and recharable batteries. Well thats the theory at least. Any help, advise etc gratefully received. I should be able to check the board for a few more days Thanks

Not all of them are. Yudh2005 at Holla Moholla was held in the Midlands. http://www.khalsapanth.co.uk/

After the conclusion of a very succesful meeting. Hey how come the others are walking so fast! Thats them in the distance.

The Mayor has the most amazing view right over Tower Bridge. This shot is taken from his office window - and he didnt even think it was a cheeky request :-) [incidently higher resolution versions of all of the above are available on request - just in case; these ones are reduced to 640x480 to save on image size]

Group shot of delegation; kindly taken by a passing American tourist!

A bit later than I had planned due to activities elsewhere - but here goes. A few more pictures from the meeting with the Mayor. The Sikh delegation outside City Hall prior to the meeting. Surely there're not having a discussion about the appropriate footwear to wear to such a meeting. Actually thats exactly what there're doing :-) No sandals were harmed in the making of this very significant and positive development with the Mayor.

Doesn't sound like a major incident. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4703777.stm ----- Begin ----- Tube cleared after minor blasts Dummy explosions using detonators only have sparked the evacuation of three Tube stations and the closure of three lines, a BBC correspondent has said. Police cordoned off large areas around Warren Street, Oval and Shepherd's Bush Tube stations. Emergency services also attended an incident on a route 26 bus in Hackney Road in Bethnal Green. Police in London say they are not treating the incidents on the underground as "a major incident yet". The whole of the Northern Line has been suspended, along with the Victoria Line and the Hammersmith and City. An eyewitness at Oval station said there had been a small bang, and a man had then run off when the Tube reached the station. Shepherd's Bush Police have set up cordons round the stations Sosiane Mohellavi, 35, was travelling from Oxford Circus to Walthamstow when she was evacuated from a train at Warren Street. "I was in the carriage and we smelt smoke - it was like something was burning. "Everyone was panicked and people were screaming. We had to pull the alarm. I am still shaking." But a BBC reporter outside Warren Street station said there was no sign of smoke outside. ===== End =====

yeap thats what they're saying over here. 3 stations evacuated; 3 lines closed. Smoke from Warren St. No reports of any ingjuries (yet). And I was just about to drive to a meeting in central london for a meeting. Currently re-assessing my plans.

Just wanted to add (and I will avoid trying to turn this into a hagiography ;-) ) I've seen Bhaji in "action" many times; from meetings with diplomats, ambassadors, MPs, Ministers, and many others. He is always the most articulate and professional Sikh representative. This is the reason he comes across so well in the media and is very far removed from some other Sikhs who appear on the media. He is a tireless sewadaar and it's about time I said some nice things about him publicly :-) And not forgetting; that there are obviously many others who do much valuable sewa as well. I know it's becoming a bit of a broken record; but we really do need more people like this who are better able to deal with all the various aspects of the media. And when we do get representatives on to the broadcast media do please phone in, text etc - it's very important to get involved. Oh and tantalising please watch out for some very positive announcements in the near future.

Here's one. Some more to follow.

The Sahibzadey movie will be showing this Sat at Gravesend, Kent, UK, Gurdwara. Details: Sat 23rd July at 1pm Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend Contact: Parvinder Singh 07817 695 042 or Ranjeet Kaur 07908 736 226 Email: info@gravesendsikhs.org.uk

Sahibzadey movie will be showing in Gravesend on Sat 23rd July at 1pm. Details: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend Contact: Parvinder Singh - 07817 695 042 or Ranjeet Kaur - 07908 736 226

Afraid Paaji didnt get as much of an opportunity to speak. But it's well worth a listen if you didnt catch it.

A recording of the above programme can be heard/downloaded from http://june84.org/audio/deol-2005-07-19.mp3

"The legacy of India's counter-terrorism" By Jaskaran Kaur can be viewed at http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=12468

From http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial...nter_terrorism/ ----- Begin ----- The legacy of India's counter-terrorism By Jaskaran Kaur | July 17, 2005 WHEN INDIAN Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets with President Bush in Washington this week on his first official visit, and the first of an Indian head of state since 9/11, he will be reaffirming a strategic partnership. Prime Minister Singh will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, and terrorism is high on the agenda. An item not likely on the agenda is India's systematic abuse of human rights in the name of counter-terrorism. Despite receiving praise as the world's largest democracy, India's human rights record falls dismally behind countries that have only recently shed their legacy of dictatorships. From 1984-95, Indian security forces tortured, ''disappeared," killed, and illegally cremated more than 10,000 Punjabi Sikhs in counter-insurgency operations. Many perpetrators of these abuses are now championed as counter-terrorism experts. Most prominent among them is former Punjab director general of police and campaign architect K.P.S. Gill, whose policies, according to Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights, ''appeared to justify any and all means, including torture and murder." Hailed as a super cop, Gill now heads an Indian counter-terrorism institute. Four years ago, I criss-crossed Punjab and documented the impact of impunity for abuses committed by security forces. I sat on jute cots in poor farming houses talking with survivors struggling to rebuild their lives and sipped tea in the guarded mansions of judges. A senior high court judge, who addressed me as a naïve daughter, pointedly told me that fundamental rights did not exist during an insurgency. One afternoon, I spoke with Jaswinder Singh. He was in his 20s. In 1992, Punjab police officers repeatedly subjected Jaswinder to electric shocks, stretched his legs apart at the waist until his thigh muscles ruptured, and suspended him upside down from the ceiling, while beating him with rods. Subsequently, the police ''disappeared" his brother, father, and grandfather. Jaswinder unsuccessfully pursued his family's disappearance to the Supreme Court. But he had no time for grief; the loss of his family's breadwinners meant he had to support the survivors, despite continued police harassment. A flickering hope of justice remains for survivors of the counter-insurgency abuses. Since December 1996, the Committee for Information and Initiative in Punjab has struggled before the Indian National Human Rights Commission in a landmark lawsuit addressing police abductions that led to mass cremations, including those of Jaswinder's family. The commission, acting as a body of the Indian Supreme Court, has the authority to remedy violations of fundamental rights in this historic case of mass crimes. Its decisions will serve as precedent for victims of state-sponsored abuses throughout India. The commission has received over 3,500 claims from Amritsar alone, one of 17 districts in Punjab. During the past eight years, however, the commission has not heard testimony from a single survivor. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission registered 42,275 victims in 18 months. El Salvador's Commission on the Truth collected information on 22,000 victims in eight months. The Indian Commission, however, has kept survivors running in circles, limiting its inquiry to one of 17 districts in Punjab. A few weeks ago, the commission drastically narrowed its mandate, stating its plan to resolve the case by determining only whether police had properly cremated victims -- not whether the police had wrongfully killed them in the first place. With this move, the commission rejected the victims' right to life and endorsed the Indian government's position that life is expendable during times of insurgency. India's counter-terrorism practices have left a legacy of broken families, rampant police abuse, and a judicial system unwilling to enforce fundamental rights. As India ignores its past, it continues to employ the same Draconian measures in places such as Kashmir. While Prime Minister Singh extols India as a leading democracy, the international community must weigh the devastation and insecurity wrought by a national security policy based on systematic human rights abuses and impunity. In 1997, Ajaib Singh committed suicide after the Punjab police tortured and disappeared his son and justice failed him. His suicide note read: ''Self-annihilation is the only way out of a tyranny that leaves no chance for justice." If India fails to address its own mass atrocities, this should raise serious questions about its role as a partner in the ''war on terror." Jaskaran Kaur is co-founder and executive director of ENSAAF, a nonprofit organization fighting impunity in India. © Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company. ===== End =====

Spotted this on www.tapoban.org Some pictures from the protest held in Vancouver can be seen at http://www.davindersingh.ca/2005/07/protest.html