Colombo Public Library. Pretty Bad


Sri Lanka’s Eye Donations

An AFP story about Sri Lankan eye donations has been making the rounds. Around Colombo 7 there’s a sign that says ‘eye donations this way’, which I always found a bit odd. There’s also old images like the above, of a Bodhisattva donating an eye (in Mulkirigala). Turns out its not so odd after all, Sri Lanka is among the top cornea providers in the world.

3D Printing (And Piracy)

Thatha has a post about 3D printing and 3D piracy. Apparently the Pirate Bay now has a section for 3D schematics, for 3D printers. Lest you think this is years away, there are working 3D printers on sale for around $1000, though the model I want costs $1,750. Which is what 2D printers used to cost.

Poverty And Progress

A lot of progressive values are the default if you’re poor. Eating less meat, not using cars, consuming less electricity, buying local food. While someone in Brooklyn will pay exorbitant amounts (and attention) to bicycle to work, eat organic food and minimize their carbon footprint, this is what a poor Sri Lankan does by default.

Traffic And Terrorism

This morning, four people were killed (including two children) when a van caught fire. The problem internationally is worse, as Matt Yglesias says “There’s a social convention in the United States that we don’t talk about those ninety daily deaths as a serious problem, even though obviously if we had nine people getting killed by terrorists every month there’d be a perpetual state of freaking out.”
indi.ca

Mailing A Letter. The Ordeal

Every now and then I have to use the postal service. It’s always an ordeal. It honestly feels like climbing inside a computer and moving bits around. It’s hot, bothersome and feels entirely unnecessary.

Is Intelligence Even Useful?

I read something interesting: “What people haven’t seemed to notice is that on earth, of all the billions of species that have evolved, only one has developed intelligence to the level of producing technology. Which means that kind of intelligence is really not very useful. It’s not actually, in the general case, of much evolutionary value” (Tim Maudlin).

Marine Drive (Photos)

Many Sri Lankans have two names, as do most Sri Lankan roads. My name is Indrajit, but everybody calls me Indi, or Jit. The Galle Road is either the Galle Road or the Colombo road, depending on which way you’re going. The Colombo Plan Road – along the coast – is still called Marine Drive. It’s a beautiful stretch.

The Welikada Prison Riot Story (AFAIK)

This is what I hear. Apparently the cops tried to do a spot search for drugs and the prisoners got pissed. The place is overcrowded and open, so the cops and guards are always outnumbered. Anyways, all hell breaks loose and there’s prisoners on the roof, also throwing rocks on the road. Some journalists get onto a balcony across the street and they hear gunfire.

Welikada Prison, What I Remember

Today there have been riots in the Welikada Prison. About a year ago I visited the prison with a group of young lawyers. This is what I remember about the place.