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Srini RamaKrishnan | 1 May 2004 04:09

Re: Votescript...

On Friday, April 30, 2004 5:36 AM, Frederick Noronha (FN) wrote:

> Since there was a debate about voting systems, could anyone rate this?
> Where does it exactly fit in? FN
<snip>
> ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/linux/install/clienux/inteim/votescript

Without looking at it (the URL doesn't work BTW), it looks like a proof of
concept application. Not really something that's ready for primetime use.
Freshmeat should reveal hundreds of such scripts.

Srini

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Srini RamaKrishnan | 1 May 2004 04:38

Re: Spam Again

On Friday, April 30, 2004 7:38 AM, Badri Natarajan wrote:
<snip>
>
> Is there any hope of number portability between mobile phone networks in
<snip>
> was introduced with some
> fanfare in the US, last year...

And has for the most part not gone on too well. AT&T's contractor failed
them big time, and even in cases where it has worked, it seems shaky. Let's
not forget also that it's only applicable in select cities. But, yes, number
portability is welcome.

Srini

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Arun Mehta | 1 May 2004 09:03
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Re: [claw-in] Electronic Voting and Cyber Law Compliancy

Naavi's argument of a part electronic, part paper document is imaginative, but may not hold up in court. Is
an electronic vote a legal document in the spirit of ITA 2000? Doubtful. The voter did not sign the paper
ballots cast, so there is no reason why she should be required to do so electronically. Besides, we do have a
legal history in this matter already.

Early on in the electronic voting controversy, the matter was taken to court. Apparently, paper ballots
had, decades ago, been written into the law. The court agreed (was it the Kerala High Court?), upon which
the law was changed, actually permitting electronic voting. Perhaps our lawyer friends on the list have
access to the appropriate law? I do not see how ITA 2000 negates this.

On this basis, I would submit, electronic voting per se is legal. Until I see something different in the
actual law, I must assume that the EVMs in current use are legally ok.

However, I think all of Naavi's objections would be addressed sufficiently, if there were a paper trail. If
the voter verifies a piece of paper with his vote as cast, then what we have is a system little different from
the existing: instead of using a stamp and ink, he has pushed a button. That the information is also
recorded electronically, is merely a convenience in counting: in case of doubt, the paper vote would be
the legally binding.

If, in addition to debating the legal aspects, if others are willing to join in demanding, that by the next
elections, our EVMs must also produce a paper trail, I would be happy to participate in an approach to the
Election Commission, and also try to rope in other civil liberties activists.

Arun

> ------------Original Message------------
> From: naavi@...
> 
> Let me explain why I am coming to the conclusion that EVMs may not be complying with ITA-2000. I do not have
the information on the exact functioning of the EVMs and therefore I am constrained to pass only remarks
(Continue reading)

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Arun Mehta | 1 May 2004 12:38
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Re: Spam Again

> ------------Original Message------------
> From: "J. Balamurugan" <lists@...>
> > In a related category is SMS SPAM. I get at least 5 SMS's
> > a week from Airtel about how they have this great matchmaking game or
> > some crap or the other. Now, they never said anything about this when I
> > signed up (at least in 97 they did not) do they state they *will* do
> > this in the agreement?
> 
> I tried talking to airtel customer care and they said I have to give in
> writing that I dont want any SMS from them. They also said important
> announcements like price / plan changes wont be informed by sms. all sms
> from airtel would be blocked. so comtemplating what to do. best regds bala

Ask Airtel to put this in writing -- this is utterly ridiculous, there is no reason why they cannot maintain
separate mailing lists for advertising and for price/plan changes. Take it up with TRAI.
Arun

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Arun Mehta | 1 May 2004 20:28
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cell roaming more expensive

I guess the cell companies figure that those who roam on post-paid have a high attachment to their phone
number, and will not desert them even if rates go up... many people are pissed that these companies keep
changing their schemes so often.
Arun
________
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/may/01cell.htm
Cell firms hike roaming rates

May 01, 2004 17:14 IST

Lakhs of regular mobile users will have to shell out Rs 1.50 more for each minute of usage of roaming
facilities from Saturday, following hike in roaming charges by Airtel and some other companies.

As per the new roaming rates, mobile to mobile calls up to 200 km would cost Rs 3.49 per minute against Rs 1.99
earlier and for distance over 200 km the new tariffs are Rs 4.49 per minute against Rs 2.99.

Similarly, a post-paid roaming customer calling a landline would pay Rs 4.49 per minute for distance up to
200 km against Rs 2.99 earlier, and Rs 5.49 for distance slab of 200-500 km compared to Rs 3.99 per minute
charged earlier.

Airtel officials confirmed the hike, which was also resorted to by some players including Hutch, saying
that the increase of Rs 1.50 in roaming charges was owing to the promotional offer coming to an end in April.

For distance above 500 km, the roaming charges have been hiked to Rs 6.49 per minute compared to Rs 4.99 per
minute earlier.

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(Continue reading)

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Raj Shekhar | 2 May 2004 04:01

Re: duh -- outsourcing doesn't always work

Arun Mehta wrote:
> none of this should surprise anyone on this list -- we know how hard it
> is to find good programmers in this country, notwithstanding the hype.
> The US seems to be suffering a crisis of confidence, and magnifying the
> problem. The US was unquestioned number one in software, and while the
> dotcom bust hurt it bad, surely it didn't deserve the kind of press it
> has been getting. 

I think that companies have problems with outsourcing if they make two
mistakes

- The "hired gun" programmers do not have an overview of the whole
system , they are assigned tasks on a need to know basis

However cleanly you break a project into smaller subsystems, these have
to come together to make the whole system work. During the system
analysis, the architects will be see nice flowcharts and UML diagrams.
They will hand out to the subcontractors the task of making the
subcomponents. When the programmers sit down to write the actual code,
they are cocooned in their own small world with no idea how their code
is going to interact with the rest of the system. Is it because of lack
of training ? Maybe, but I would also consider it a problem of
communication too. The architects were not able to convey their "vision"
of the system effectively to the programmers.

- They outsource their core competencies

For example, a sofware company will succeed by writing good software and
marketing it well. It makes perfect sense to outsource their CD-ROM
duplication process, but if they outsource their programming process,
(Continue reading)

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Kingsly John | 2 May 2004 14:14
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Re: cell roaming more expensive

+++ Arun Mehta [2004-05-01 23:58:09]:

> I guess the cell companies figure that those who roam on post-paid have a
> high attachment to their phone number, and will not desert them even if
> rates go up... many people are pissed that these companies keep changing
> their schemes so often.  Arun ________

Also wouldn't Airtel and Hutch hiking prices simulateously to the same
level... amount to cartelisation after all in most circles these guys amount
for around 50% or more of the market?

Kingsly

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Kingsly John | 2 May 2004 14:17
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Reliance Infocomm makes Rs 390-cr loss


The consolidated profit figures for RIL for '03-04 show that Reliance Info's
share is a negative Rs 265 crore, according to a presentation made by RIL
vice-chairman, Anil Ambani. Based on the Rs 265-crore negative contribution
figure, a pro-rata calculation will yield a loss figure of Rs 589 crore on an
estimated revenue of around Rs 4,400 crore for '03-04.

However, company officials said that the figure of Rs 265 crore cannot be
considered as a loss, since it includes various interests and dividend
payments as well. The total loss for Reliance Info, they say, is Rs 390
crore. According to them, Infocomm has reported a cash profit in the first
year of operations. However, they did not disclose the topline figure.

Complete article here...

http://bsnl.in/telecomnews.asp?intNewsId=34283

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Root Of All Evil | 2 May 2004 19:05
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Favicon

Supreme Court order on PIL on EVMs

Am attaching the Supreme Court order on PIL on EVMs. 

Maybe the lawyers on these lists can interpret whether
it is necessary / mandatory for Election Commission to
consider Satinath Choudhary's suggestions. Or is it
just a suggestion by the Supreme Court to the Election
Commission. What is the exact meaning of "may"
consider?

The Root Of All Evil

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

 W.P(C)No. 191 OF 2004

ITEM No.9                    Court No. 1              
   SECTION PIL

                S U P R E M E   C O U R T   O F   I N
D I A
                          RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

   Writ Petition(Civil) No.191 of 2004
( For Preliminary Hearing )

 SATINATH CHOUDHARY                                   
    Petitioner (s)

                              VERSUS
(Continue reading)

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Badri Natarajan | 2 May 2004 19:36

Re: Supreme Court order on PIL on EVMs

At 10:05 AM 5/2/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>Am attaching the Supreme Court order on PIL on EVMs.
>
>Maybe the lawyers on these lists can interpret whether
>it is necessary / mandatory for Election Commission to
>consider Satinath Choudhary's suggestions. Or is it
>just a suggestion by the Supreme Court to the Election
>Commission. What is the exact meaning of "may"
>consider?

"May" means just that. That is, not compulsory - if it had been so, the 
word "shall" would have probably been used.

This order imposes no obligation on the EC in my opinion. There is no 
obligation to even consider his representations, much less act upon them. 
If the Court had actually wanted to take action on this issue, they would 
have ordered the EC to consider Choudhary's representation and enforced it 
by requiring someone from the EC to show up and explain himself at another 
hearing in a couple of weeks.

Badri

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Gmane