I am thankful to my kids who are forced to sacrifice many of their passions and still put up the lovely smiles on their faces. And for adjusting to my unpredictable responses.
I am thankful to my wife for sacrificing what was dear to her in return of an unknown person who stepped into her life. And for tolerating all my eccentricities.
I am thankful to my parents who sacrificed comfy life to focus on bringing us kids up with the best education they could afford. And for all the prayers that would return results only on me.
I am thankful to the great Lord who accepts all sacrifices and always guided on priority calls. Not just today, but everyday.
A happy thanksgiving Eid to all! America is commemorating a great thanksgiving while world Muslims are commemorating a great sacrifice that occurred thousands of years ago.
Friday, November 27
Friday, August 14
Time Shop
"Can you give me a second?"
I am on my way to Seattle and at Starbucks at DFW airport for my Green Tea Latte. As I placed order and stepped back, this lady behind me comes up and says "Can you give me a second". Bluetooth has made it impossible to make out whom someone is talking to.
But people coming to a shop to buy a second is not a wierd idea.
Buy time? Exactly. The idea was that you have all 24 hours in a day and its just that you use it accordingly. But even before you had any idea about time, all the 24 hours were used up. You started squeezing in more and more tasks and it has reached a point where you cannot do anything more. We all had 24 hrs to spend on life. And so was life filling up all the 24 hours. When we started working we squeezed in another 8 hours for work. Then came wife. Then kids - one, two and three in my case. We thought we squeezed in share for all of them within the 24 hours. Did we really? And now the blackberry is perfectly overlaying the entire time span with its email and facebook updates.
When this brother complained about being a new employee and a new father, having difficulty in being energetic to play with his baby as he gets back home - I was really shocked. He is succesful. He identified this as a problem. I too had the same situation. Coming back from office, I wanted to lay back. Stay at home. Cup of tea. Rest. In reality, blackberrying. And I thought this is what it is. I never found this as a problem.
Someone said it is about buying time. Time does not exist for you. Before you knew, it was used up. You buy time spending something else. So as your personal life grows and your shareholders grow, you have to buy more time. You have to expense something. Someone calls it priority. Real time is the product of priority and time span. If my priority of talking with you is the same for you, we can spend exactly the same amount of time talking to each other. For kids, talking to dad is probably very high priority. Unless you set the same priority you are not going to satisfy him.
Setting off to Milwaukee, I had so many office priorities to do when I come back. Coming back, I had one task above all others. And that was to set the right prioirties and set the work life balance.
"Can you give me one second?" - at least my kids should not be asking that to me.
I am on my way to Seattle and at Starbucks at DFW airport for my Green Tea Latte. As I placed order and stepped back, this lady behind me comes up and says "Can you give me a second". Bluetooth has made it impossible to make out whom someone is talking to.
But people coming to a shop to buy a second is not a wierd idea.
Buy time? Exactly. The idea was that you have all 24 hours in a day and its just that you use it accordingly. But even before you had any idea about time, all the 24 hours were used up. You started squeezing in more and more tasks and it has reached a point where you cannot do anything more. We all had 24 hrs to spend on life. And so was life filling up all the 24 hours. When we started working we squeezed in another 8 hours for work. Then came wife. Then kids - one, two and three in my case. We thought we squeezed in share for all of them within the 24 hours. Did we really? And now the blackberry is perfectly overlaying the entire time span with its email and facebook updates.
When this brother complained about being a new employee and a new father, having difficulty in being energetic to play with his baby as he gets back home - I was really shocked. He is succesful. He identified this as a problem. I too had the same situation. Coming back from office, I wanted to lay back. Stay at home. Cup of tea. Rest. In reality, blackberrying. And I thought this is what it is. I never found this as a problem.
Someone said it is about buying time. Time does not exist for you. Before you knew, it was used up. You buy time spending something else. So as your personal life grows and your shareholders grow, you have to buy more time. You have to expense something. Someone calls it priority. Real time is the product of priority and time span. If my priority of talking with you is the same for you, we can spend exactly the same amount of time talking to each other. For kids, talking to dad is probably very high priority. Unless you set the same priority you are not going to satisfy him.
Setting off to Milwaukee, I had so many office priorities to do when I come back. Coming back, I had one task above all others. And that was to set the right prioirties and set the work life balance.
"Can you give me one second?" - at least my kids should not be asking that to me.
Tuesday, August 11
The Saint and the Sinner
This story was related by Imam Azhar Hanif during the MKA retreat
Once there was a gambler who went out for gambling every day. There was a sufi in the area who used to advice this otherwise nice person to quit gambling. But his was so addicted that he could not quit. After the game, he repents, but it carried on.
Every day when he comes back from gambling, the Sufi would have kept a stone in front of the house. That reminds him of what he did, he repents, but the next day comes the same way.
This went on for several years. The stones in front of the house became a huge pile, reminding the gambler of all the sins he accumulated. As he grew old, he was getting more and more concerned about his sins.
The day came when both Sufi and the gambler died and was waiting for resurrection. Sufi to heaven and the gambler to hell. The angel comes and first holds the gambler.
"Peace be on you, come with me. The gates of heaven are open for you"
"Me? No way. I guess you mistook my name. Thats the other man over there. The sufi"
"God's angels do not make mistakes. Its you"
"How come? Can't you see the pile of stones in front of my house? Thats the pile of the sins I did"
"That pile of stones does not count in my book. God has washed out those stones by your repenting tears"
"Holy is God. Is not the Sufi coming with us too?"
"No. He has been too arrogant with you piling stones in front of your house. He thought he is God himself"
Let not anyone tell me I am a sinner. Let me not think of anyone as a sinner. And let us all understand the mercy of God is limitless.
Once there was a gambler who went out for gambling every day. There was a sufi in the area who used to advice this otherwise nice person to quit gambling. But his was so addicted that he could not quit. After the game, he repents, but it carried on.
Every day when he comes back from gambling, the Sufi would have kept a stone in front of the house. That reminds him of what he did, he repents, but the next day comes the same way.
This went on for several years. The stones in front of the house became a huge pile, reminding the gambler of all the sins he accumulated. As he grew old, he was getting more and more concerned about his sins.
The day came when both Sufi and the gambler died and was waiting for resurrection. Sufi to heaven and the gambler to hell. The angel comes and first holds the gambler.
"Peace be on you, come with me. The gates of heaven are open for you"
"Me? No way. I guess you mistook my name. Thats the other man over there. The sufi"
"God's angels do not make mistakes. Its you"
"How come? Can't you see the pile of stones in front of my house? Thats the pile of the sins I did"
"That pile of stones does not count in my book. God has washed out those stones by your repenting tears"
"Holy is God. Is not the Sufi coming with us too?"
"No. He has been too arrogant with you piling stones in front of your house. He thought he is God himself"
Let not anyone tell me I am a sinner. Let me not think of anyone as a sinner. And let us all understand the mercy of God is limitless.
God Forgives...
God Forgives.. that was the theme of the just concluded MKA Youth retreat (Ijtima)
Heard it so many times. God is mercy; God is love. But what does that mean. I dont like directly equating God to a verb or noun. I think they do it just for the beauty of the statement.
Now what God Forgives mean to me. It did not click until I was there. Until I heard what I heard - people talked from their walks; words came out of their mouth but originated in their hearts.
God Forgives - is a detergent that cleans my attire.
God Forgives - a body wash for me to cleanse myself
God Forgives - a sweeper to swipe my surroundings clean
God Forgives - a shovel and strainer that helps me dig my length and breadth and separate gems and mud
God Forgives - a shield that stops the burning sunlight from damaging my skin
God Forgives is a journey that I do not want to be late to start. Its a journey thats never too late though.
Its a journey down the road less traveled. But its a journey that can be done without fail.
Its a journey where there is no looking back. At the same time its a journey where the memories can always help you keep going.
Its a journey where the black and white becomes separate. Its a journey when you touch the white it turns black again.
Its walking the talk. And talking the walk.
A journey that never ends.....
Heard it so many times. God is mercy; God is love. But what does that mean. I dont like directly equating God to a verb or noun. I think they do it just for the beauty of the statement.
Now what God Forgives mean to me. It did not click until I was there. Until I heard what I heard - people talked from their walks; words came out of their mouth but originated in their hearts.
God Forgives - is a detergent that cleans my attire.
God Forgives - a body wash for me to cleanse myself
God Forgives - a sweeper to swipe my surroundings clean
God Forgives - a shovel and strainer that helps me dig my length and breadth and separate gems and mud
God Forgives - a shield that stops the burning sunlight from damaging my skin
God Forgives is a journey that I do not want to be late to start. Its a journey thats never too late though.
Its a journey down the road less traveled. But its a journey that can be done without fail.
Its a journey where there is no looking back. At the same time its a journey where the memories can always help you keep going.
Its a journey where the black and white becomes separate. Its a journey when you touch the white it turns black again.
Its walking the talk. And talking the walk.
A journey that never ends.....
Thursday, June 25
Credit Challenges
This article from Pradeep's blog is a must read. Also read Jeff's comments on the post for educating yourself.
If someone can provide zero interest loans and ask everyone to clear their debts, people will get a fresh start. Is that but possible. At least they will need to take an admin expense
Also, todays economy means debts that you can call as assests and with compound interest make it a growing assets. And then sell them as derivatives. And insurance companies insuring these derivatives. If there is no debt, all these guys are jobless. So the cycle starts again..
If someone can provide zero interest loans and ask everyone to clear their debts, people will get a fresh start. Is that but possible. At least they will need to take an admin expense
Also, todays economy means debts that you can call as assests and with compound interest make it a growing assets. And then sell them as derivatives. And insurance companies insuring these derivatives. If there is no debt, all these guys are jobless. So the cycle starts again..
ameriCa ameriCa
Obama is past 100 days. People say the honeymoon is over. But I doubt if he really had a honeymoon. He came to a hot seat and he was not sitting tight.
Anyways its interesting he is changing the C of ameriCa. From Corporate to Consumer. From Capitalism to Care for the community (shhhh.. don't call it socialism. Thats a big crime). Instead of pumping money into the rich, waiting for them to spend and revive economy, he decided to pump in money straight - into infrastructure projects.
C for commoners. He wants the common man to understand the chocolate coated dangers of credit cards. And all credits. He is attacking the revenue model and cheating ways of the credit card industry.
The next war is on health insurance. The entire American society runs on fear and insurance that protects from them from this fear. Create fear and protect. Protect you from mistakes that doctors do. Protect doctors from claims you will make. Protect you from liabilities on accidents. Create a lot of What ifs and sell them. Insurance. Saddam did not have a WMD at the end of all the search. Here is a WMD that everyone knows and no one cares to go near. Will Obama really dare to tread?
Americans on an average have a lot of medical awareness. For a headache they are told it is better to take a scan. What if there is a so and so that you miss? You are insured, go take that. Doctors are happy as they order more tests. Labs are happy. And patients are happy too. All the credit and insurance companies are happy. Who is unhappy?
What Americans need is health education. Health is not taking drugs and suppliments. Come out of the fear. There is no end for fear. East less. Eat healthy. Take less medication. Take less tests. Save money.
Anyways its interesting he is changing the C of ameriCa. From Corporate to Consumer. From Capitalism to Care for the community (shhhh.. don't call it socialism. Thats a big crime). Instead of pumping money into the rich, waiting for them to spend and revive economy, he decided to pump in money straight - into infrastructure projects.
C for commoners. He wants the common man to understand the chocolate coated dangers of credit cards. And all credits. He is attacking the revenue model and cheating ways of the credit card industry.
The next war is on health insurance. The entire American society runs on fear and insurance that protects from them from this fear. Create fear and protect. Protect you from mistakes that doctors do. Protect doctors from claims you will make. Protect you from liabilities on accidents. Create a lot of What ifs and sell them. Insurance. Saddam did not have a WMD at the end of all the search. Here is a WMD that everyone knows and no one cares to go near. Will Obama really dare to tread?
Americans on an average have a lot of medical awareness. For a headache they are told it is better to take a scan. What if there is a so and so that you miss? You are insured, go take that. Doctors are happy as they order more tests. Labs are happy. And patients are happy too. All the credit and insurance companies are happy. Who is unhappy?
What Americans need is health education. Health is not taking drugs and suppliments. Come out of the fear. There is no end for fear. East less. Eat healthy. Take less medication. Take less tests. Save money.
Tuesday, June 23
Struggling
39
Thats what I updated on my facebook last Friday. What is on my mind now? 39
Facebook is taking a lot of my attention now. I have an Orkut account. I started that to see what is all these social networking is about. Orkut is popular with Indias. May be they are targeting the new economy BRIC? I see lot of Braizilians also there. But I dont do much Orkut these days. And thats not entertaining too if you are not active.
Facebook is different. Thanks to mobile apps, people just update their status on Facebook. And good thing is unlike scraps, these are not specific messages to anyone. This is like telling everyone. A loud thinking. A sigh. Depending on how you set up you see read all these on your main page. Do not have to go anywhere. I am driving. I just stopped. I just filled gas etc. etc. It entertains. Though I still do not write much, I visit facebook everyday. Glancing on the first page, I can get a quick view on whats happening around.
Someone can have a facebook based app for development teams also. And for business teams. Instead of writing weekly reports that are boring, may these these are better for teams to collaborate on information.
39. Four years since I wrote about fading shadows. What did change. The shadow should have started shrinking and I should have started coming out of it now. I am think a bit differently now. The first half was learning. The second half need to be delivering. Am I doing that? Am I falling off?
I want to get back. On blogging too. Entire 2008, I had 9 posts! Compare that with 35 in 2007 and 57 in 2006. And this is the first in 2009. I thought of moving to Wordpress. But why? What does it help? My problem is not where it is hosted. It is simply that I do not know what to write these days. I have lost of the corner of mind that was used as a scratchpad. At 4 past noon, am I still struggling?
Thats what I updated on my facebook last Friday. What is on my mind now? 39
Facebook is taking a lot of my attention now. I have an Orkut account. I started that to see what is all these social networking is about. Orkut is popular with Indias. May be they are targeting the new economy BRIC? I see lot of Braizilians also there. But I dont do much Orkut these days. And thats not entertaining too if you are not active.
Facebook is different. Thanks to mobile apps, people just update their status on Facebook. And good thing is unlike scraps, these are not specific messages to anyone. This is like telling everyone. A loud thinking. A sigh. Depending on how you set up you see read all these on your main page. Do not have to go anywhere. I am driving. I just stopped. I just filled gas etc. etc. It entertains. Though I still do not write much, I visit facebook everyday. Glancing on the first page, I can get a quick view on whats happening around.
Someone can have a facebook based app for development teams also. And for business teams. Instead of writing weekly reports that are boring, may these these are better for teams to collaborate on information.
39. Four years since I wrote about fading shadows. What did change. The shadow should have started shrinking and I should have started coming out of it now. I am think a bit differently now. The first half was learning. The second half need to be delivering. Am I doing that? Am I falling off?
I want to get back. On blogging too. Entire 2008, I had 9 posts! Compare that with 35 in 2007 and 57 in 2006. And this is the first in 2009. I thought of moving to Wordpress. But why? What does it help? My problem is not where it is hosted. It is simply that I do not know what to write these days. I have lost of the corner of mind that was used as a scratchpad. At 4 past noon, am I still struggling?
Tuesday, October 21
Changes around...
Another long wait is now over
All the rumors and speculations are ending. TI announced the changes to the world. May be a few hours before that it was internally also announced. 1000 people getting laid off immediately. A large part are contractors - so they might not be jobless as such. As long as their employers can find some space for them to earn money. Another 300 people will be at the mercy of someone who can buy the spin off business.
The internal mail came around 3AM in Japan. I was glancing the mails every now and then I open my eyes. Details are not yet known. Decided to spin off so-and-so business. So many people in that business will be at the mercy of the new masters. More people will lose jobs anyways. Starting tomorrow.
Who are the people who lose their job tomorrow? What will they do? Some of them will be getting it in office tomorrow. How many is some of them? How many will come to office expecting an "early release". How many families would expect their dad come back home early tomorrow? Which all houses and cars will suddenly show up as liability suddenly tomorrow? Which all people will be "technically" able to sleep a lot more in the morning, while they actually will not be able to sleep even minimum hours in the night? None of them are getting into the new vaccum because they did anything wrong. This is just because someone at a decision making level made some wrong decisions in the past. The value of the stocks they get part of the compensation is now going down. They have to get it straight. Lay off.
Insha Allah, I want to keep believing that I am not in list that gets the pink slip. May be I will know in a day. The new org. The new bosses. The new dotted lines. The new virtual teams.
Wait is not over. It will never be over actually. Changes will keep happening. You wait or not wait.
All the rumors and speculations are ending. TI announced the changes to the world. May be a few hours before that it was internally also announced. 1000 people getting laid off immediately. A large part are contractors - so they might not be jobless as such. As long as their employers can find some space for them to earn money. Another 300 people will be at the mercy of someone who can buy the spin off business.
The internal mail came around 3AM in Japan. I was glancing the mails every now and then I open my eyes. Details are not yet known. Decided to spin off so-and-so business. So many people in that business will be at the mercy of the new masters. More people will lose jobs anyways. Starting tomorrow.
Who are the people who lose their job tomorrow? What will they do? Some of them will be getting it in office tomorrow. How many is some of them? How many will come to office expecting an "early release". How many families would expect their dad come back home early tomorrow? Which all houses and cars will suddenly show up as liability suddenly tomorrow? Which all people will be "technically" able to sleep a lot more in the morning, while they actually will not be able to sleep even minimum hours in the night? None of them are getting into the new vaccum because they did anything wrong. This is just because someone at a decision making level made some wrong decisions in the past. The value of the stocks they get part of the compensation is now going down. They have to get it straight. Lay off.
Insha Allah, I want to keep believing that I am not in list that gets the pink slip. May be I will know in a day. The new org. The new bosses. The new dotted lines. The new virtual teams.
Wait is not over. It will never be over actually. Changes will keep happening. You wait or not wait.
Monday, October 20
Credit Crunch
Picture of a houseboat on the backdrop of beautiful Kerala backwaters. He and she tucked away into the scenic silence.
If you can afford this vacation today, why wait?
So says the billboard that used to catch my attention - and made me lose my temper everytime - off Airport road in Bangalore three years back. Well, why should I worry?
The second line is what I hate - the new means of "affording" luxury - xxxBank Personal Loans. No collateral needed. They will give you a loan. Take it, spend it. The resort owners also have taken a loan. So the money flow from bank back to bank has to happen through you. Economic activity. You pay for the vacation, interest to the loan you took, interest for the loan resort owner has taken, pay your part for the billboard that invited you into the deal and then the profit for the resort. The value of the vacation is probably only 20% of what you spend in total. But still they know the art of making you feel you are happy. That you just could "afford" a vacation that you "deserved".
Vacation was not a word for working class in our childhood. We had Onam vacation, Christmas vacation and annual vacation for schools. When we go to our grandparents place. That was our vacation. It used to be save, save, save for our parents. Save for your childrens education - though education was close to free. Still, save for building your house. The primary need and the most important and many times first asset.
They say its spend, spend, spend for Indians now. Take loans and spend. Buy a car - why not buy a 10L+ car? You just pay so-and-so per month. You can afford that, can't you? Buy vacations. You work so hard (yeah spending time on orkut and facebook), don't you? Buy all "affordable" luxuries. Come on, kids can wait. Before that let us see life. Swipe the plastic card when you see something good. Don't worry about your savings. You know banks are helping you a great deal. The more cards, the more you "afford". Build up the liabilities day by day. Not assets. But believe, get convinced, that you are the proud owner of all these.
Our moms saved a lot of gold. For them gold was an asset that helped them in need. Their daughters now collect more gold credit cards. And monthly statements on each one of them.
I welcome a recession now. I know its hard. Many lose jobs. (May be its me. I am glancing on my mails every 10 min for the pending reorg announcement). But I think its better than later. Better fall from a 5 storeyed building than from a 10 storeyed one. When I wrote about loans couple months back, the Generation Y did not understand. People cannot wait for that vacation. Enjoy life today. Just remember one thing - you are able to jump start your life because your parents got you a safe jumping board. Not a set of loans that you should start paying back. Never its too late. Just compare with the worse. Comfort is a comparative feeling. And so is hardship too.
Why this recession? Because everyone went on loans. Money was made as a tool for virtualising barter system. Now money itself is being traded. Money market - I fail to comprehend this level of abstraction. Someone was telling me six months back - housing market is bad, but money is still cheap. I guess it means a low interest loan. I think if these loans were not there, the overall price index should come down. Now they create customers by giving loans. When people can "afford" more, the price goes up. A vicious cycle where only the bank officials make money (banks do not - they only have paper assets. Thats why they fail)
You dont have to be forced out of loans. You can decide by yourself to remain where you are and stop pursuing more luxuries. If you know the building foundation is not really good, you should start climbing down. Not climbing up. But they don't tell you that. All of them tell you banks are still safe, they still give you money and make you pay up their salaries. Just hold off. No more loans for another 5 years. After that you probably will get used to it. And might not need loans to pay back your loans. Can we do that?
If you can afford this vacation today, why wait?
So says the billboard that used to catch my attention - and made me lose my temper everytime - off Airport road in Bangalore three years back. Well, why should I worry?
The second line is what I hate - the new means of "affording" luxury - xxxBank Personal Loans. No collateral needed. They will give you a loan. Take it, spend it. The resort owners also have taken a loan. So the money flow from bank back to bank has to happen through you. Economic activity. You pay for the vacation, interest to the loan you took, interest for the loan resort owner has taken, pay your part for the billboard that invited you into the deal and then the profit for the resort. The value of the vacation is probably only 20% of what you spend in total. But still they know the art of making you feel you are happy. That you just could "afford" a vacation that you "deserved".
Vacation was not a word for working class in our childhood. We had Onam vacation, Christmas vacation and annual vacation for schools. When we go to our grandparents place. That was our vacation. It used to be save, save, save for our parents. Save for your childrens education - though education was close to free. Still, save for building your house. The primary need and the most important and many times first asset.
They say its spend, spend, spend for Indians now. Take loans and spend. Buy a car - why not buy a 10L+ car? You just pay so-and-so per month. You can afford that, can't you? Buy vacations. You work so hard (yeah spending time on orkut and facebook), don't you? Buy all "affordable" luxuries. Come on, kids can wait. Before that let us see life. Swipe the plastic card when you see something good. Don't worry about your savings. You know banks are helping you a great deal. The more cards, the more you "afford". Build up the liabilities day by day. Not assets. But believe, get convinced, that you are the proud owner of all these.
Our moms saved a lot of gold. For them gold was an asset that helped them in need. Their daughters now collect more gold credit cards. And monthly statements on each one of them.
I welcome a recession now. I know its hard. Many lose jobs. (May be its me. I am glancing on my mails every 10 min for the pending reorg announcement). But I think its better than later. Better fall from a 5 storeyed building than from a 10 storeyed one. When I wrote about loans couple months back, the Generation Y did not understand. People cannot wait for that vacation. Enjoy life today. Just remember one thing - you are able to jump start your life because your parents got you a safe jumping board. Not a set of loans that you should start paying back. Never its too late. Just compare with the worse. Comfort is a comparative feeling. And so is hardship too.
Why this recession? Because everyone went on loans. Money was made as a tool for virtualising barter system. Now money itself is being traded. Money market - I fail to comprehend this level of abstraction. Someone was telling me six months back - housing market is bad, but money is still cheap. I guess it means a low interest loan. I think if these loans were not there, the overall price index should come down. Now they create customers by giving loans. When people can "afford" more, the price goes up. A vicious cycle where only the bank officials make money (banks do not - they only have paper assets. Thats why they fail)
You dont have to be forced out of loans. You can decide by yourself to remain where you are and stop pursuing more luxuries. If you know the building foundation is not really good, you should start climbing down. Not climbing up. But they don't tell you that. All of them tell you banks are still safe, they still give you money and make you pay up their salaries. Just hold off. No more loans for another 5 years. After that you probably will get used to it. And might not need loans to pay back your loans. Can we do that?
Sunday, October 19
Time to Tokyo
Time to Tokyo was 13.5 hrs when we started. When the altitude as zero.
Time to Tokyo: xx hrs
I did not look at the screen for a long time. I had bought a Paulo Coelho novel - the Zahir - and was immersed in that.
I always go for an aisle seat on my flights. This time I could not get one. So I was stranded on a window seat. The only way to get out was to open the window and feel that I am not sitting down. The view beneath was too good to miss. A vast vast land of pure white snow. Looks like some small hills and valleys - but all white snow. Nowhere could I see a trace of life. Looked up the screen again.
Time to Tokyo: xx hrs
Altitude: 30000 feet
We are flying over Alaska. Alaska is now a fame thanks to the pageant VP candidate Sarah Palin. By the way, just checked Alaska on Google Maps Satellite map. Man, its so gorgeous! Much much more than Sarah Palin. Reminded me of the old Bombay Dyeing advertisement - a model clad in a designer bed sheet. Have a look today - around Anchorage.
I did not know Alaska was so much of ice. To me it looked like my mind. It has been so frozen for a long time. No reading, no writing. I tried hard to start jotting down at least a couple. I failed. The frozen mind stays solid. I say I am busy. Yes, I am. Doing what? What if my body and brain does a hundred push ups but my mind does not move? What I call so busy are like the small streams that flow on top of the snow. The speed of the stream just shows its ignorance. As if it is going to move the entire snow.
I want to read more and more. Today's pick was really good. Paulo Coehlo is such an inspired author. I am not qualified to understand even 10% of what he wrote. But that small percentage is good enough to do some mowing on the snow. A constant mowing is what is needed. I want the ability to mow when I think it need to be.
Ability - that's the key. Freedom is the ability to be free when you want to. For a short interval. Freedom to choose between different masters. To decide on the kind of slavery. Paulo Coelho sets out his journey to seek knowledge. What is knowledge? What do we learn in school. Mathematics - there is no knowledge. We only learn a way to solve a problem. Problems to be solved in pursuit of knowledge. Science says how things work. Basic need-to-knows when you want to learn something more. The ability to learn more. History is how mankind learned to learn. To know the footsteps that took us so far. Trace back to trails just to know how to know.
What is knowledge? Back to the Zahir..
Saturday, September 6
Google Chrome
Google is again in the news. Thats not a news.
This time they surprised many with a new browser. People who downloaded and used was not surprised though. Do I see a major GOOG difference out there? No. There is no menu bar and there is more space to view. Come on. I did not care about the extra inch. I dont have that in many apps anyways and I am not used to work on that top margin of my display anyways.
The tabs can be dragged out as a window. So what?
Apps can have shortcuts and they run on a disguised browser when clicked. Hmmm
Google says the browser is not any more a tool that is used to view pages. This is a platform for running apps. I vote mutiple times on this. This is the key. Web is now a new Ultra High Level OS. Not a window anymore. This is a door where you can walk into and play your role. This is a place for interaction.
I believe this is a browser for their Android. Happened to be for computers too. They wanted something like a Safari on iPhone. I dont believe they will compete in the PC market where IE still holds 60% share. But on Android they will have 100% share. They can create iPhone and S60 version of the browser and let users download. Again, not a browser. The Google Apps package. Google Gears.
You can also browse
This time they surprised many with a new browser. People who downloaded and used was not surprised though. Do I see a major GOOG difference out there? No. There is no menu bar and there is more space to view. Come on. I did not care about the extra inch. I dont have that in many apps anyways and I am not used to work on that top margin of my display anyways.
The tabs can be dragged out as a window. So what?
Apps can have shortcuts and they run on a disguised browser when clicked. Hmmm
Google says the browser is not any more a tool that is used to view pages. This is a platform for running apps. I vote mutiple times on this. This is the key. Web is now a new Ultra High Level OS. Not a window anymore. This is a door where you can walk into and play your role. This is a place for interaction.
I believe this is a browser for their Android. Happened to be for computers too. They wanted something like a Safari on iPhone. I dont believe they will compete in the PC market where IE still holds 60% share. But on Android they will have 100% share. They can create iPhone and S60 version of the browser and let users download. Again, not a browser. The Google Apps package. Google Gears.
You can also browse
Wednesday, September 3
Politics heating up
They are going to decide who the next Uncle Sam is. For a change some thought it would be an Aunt Sam. Not there yet though.
The US elections are really interesting. This year too so. There are only two contendors. This is a place they spend more time battling their own party men than fighting the real opposition. Too much focus on individual. Of course they election is for a monarch for the next five years. So it has to be vetted at the personal level. Less experience, young Obama with an older Biden against experienced old McCain with a young beauty queen Palin. Reformist Democrats vs Reformist Conservatives (!). Reform is one word they want to win. Though it is basically between War and no War. Tax cut for business vs Tax cut for low income. Abortion vs Pro-life.
They call it democracy. But the billions they spend in the professional exercises that last for years is mostly coming from businesses. What for? This is a democracy where if you pay $2300 you get to shake hands with Obama (at least during primary). All the payers are rewarded with access into the "democratic" system.
Good to watch on!
The US elections are really interesting. This year too so. There are only two contendors. This is a place they spend more time battling their own party men than fighting the real opposition. Too much focus on individual. Of course they election is for a monarch for the next five years. So it has to be vetted at the personal level. Less experience, young Obama with an older Biden against experienced old McCain with a young beauty queen Palin. Reformist Democrats vs Reformist Conservatives (!). Reform is one word they want to win. Though it is basically between War and no War. Tax cut for business vs Tax cut for low income. Abortion vs Pro-life.
They call it democracy. But the billions they spend in the professional exercises that last for years is mostly coming from businesses. What for? This is a democracy where if you pay $2300 you get to shake hands with Obama (at least during primary). All the payers are rewarded with access into the "democratic" system.
Good to watch on!
Tuesday, August 26
Back after Ijtima
Had been to Hudson Valley NY for MKA Ijtima. Three days and nights and back home to see Aiden and Ian getting sick - fever and body pain. So working from home today
Friday, August 22
New York this weekend
I am leaving for New York tonight. Khuddamul Ahmadiyya National Ijtima. This is the second time I will be in NY. First after 2001 - the WTC towers did exist at that time. I dont have time to check the non existent towers this time though..
Wednesday, August 20
Getting back online
Six months. Aiden is now a happy boy. He sits down, smiles, coos, plays with his soft toys. He kept us all busy all these days. Now he is part of our daily life. Cant even think of the days when he was not around..
Let me try get back online. A few lines a day..
Let me try get back online. A few lines a day..
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