Leaves of Life

American Spring?

2011-10-06T09:02:00.000+09:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/politics/occupy-wall-street/

Can we ever get an American Spring rise? Or will it be rooted out with pepper sprays in the bud?

Recession

2011-10-06T06:12:00.001+09:00

They asked me to spend from my future. I did.
All my future is now in the banks.
They made scrolls out of it, cut them into derivatives and sold them.
My life is not with me anymore.

Now they call recession if I dont spend anymore.
And I will lose my job if I dont keep spending!
What do I spend? Where is my money?
I sold my next 15 yrs salary already and lost even todays.

Let us get the rich get richer start spending
If they dont have enough to spend, lets tax them
Tax on the savings, not on the income, so they have the fair chance of spending
If it is socialism, why not socialism?

Fires of Fury

2010-09-09T01:38:00.000+09:00

Fire
The stone age man ignited it
The modern man abused it

The wildfires created havoc
As the nature engaged in honor killing
And we stood still, helpless

Flames
The guns and bombs poured them
Had men and towns wiped off
And we proudly marked Victory day

Let us re-learn from the cavemen
On how the fire can help us
Lending us some light to tread
In the drakness we are; awash with light
In the jungles we are; and fail to see

Finance lessons

2010-03-30T03:14:00.000+09:00

Economy - The most stable definition is the cattle class seats that the airliners offer commemorating the wagon tragedy. Do not expect this to change in the near future as bigger and wider planes become available. Because people flying this class are "peasants, so they won't appreciate it. And if the airlines made economy more comfortable, people wouldn't pay for premium"

Economic Growth - How people were gotten into the illusion of growth and prosperity. And in some parts of the world, something to avoid in future. Like the French high school text book Histoire du XXe siècle, that teaches "Economic growth imposes a hectic form of life, producing overwork, stress, nervous depression, cardiovascular disease and, according to some, even the development of cancer," What is needed is "an awareness of the limits to growth and the risks posed to humanity [by economic growth]"

Stock Market - A religion invented in the 20th century (and many people follow this religion across the globe even today) that offers people heaven they can dream in this life itself. The followers are encouraged to invest and create wealth (in stock market terms). The priests of this religion (called CEO, iCEO, CXO etc.) get to amass a lot of physical wealth using these small investments from the public and have full authority on the money thanks to the divided investor demography.

Insider Trading - The theory goes that people who knows the inside actions of the company should not be allowed to trade their stocks. That protects the ill-informed public from being at disadvantage. It can also be read that you are only allowed to play dice with your stocks. Why am I not allowed to sell my shares if I know the company is going under water? Or why not better limit the number of investors and respect their right of all information? Is Insider Trading really to be blamed?

The week that is

2010-03-19T23:40:00.000+09:00

"I don't want my tax dollars to be used for a federal funded abortion" Thats a strong reason for many to oppose the health care bill. The bill does not explicitly state that there will be no federal funding for elective abortions. Americans are so strong in faith and do not want to anything that goes against their faith. But do they have good view on where their tax is spent? All the money spent on war - does that align with their faith? A few thousand lives versus a potential threat? Taken. Now an abortion versus a hundred lives?

I am amazed by the depth of the American constitution. The patent rights is part of the constitution. I can fully understand that the constitution written by colonists will have the monopolist patent rights. Any "discoveries" will be protected. But in 200 years I cannot understand the constitution can ignore the responsibility of the nation to get these great discoveries at least in health care to be accessible to all the people. If not a common welfare what is the purpose of a nation?

Try the word socialism. Thats the strongest explosive in the US. It can kill any good ideas. Any thoughts. Socialism - no way. We do not want socialism. I am not sure how many of these people understand what this means though. I always believed democracy can work only if people are educated and are aware of what is being discussed. And I thought US is a great democracy. But its sadly no different. People get carried away just by some terms. Like the word "bourgeoisie" being used by the communists.

Someone has found out the Bible is more violent than the Qur'an. What is violence by the way? I don't see any holy book asking people to be violent. The Qur'an is very clearly against violence of any sorts. The only time war is allowed is when you are being attacked. And that too is to be within a set of limits that safeguard women, children, churches, synagogues, public utilities etc. Do suicide bombs take root in Islam or in LTTE? Who funded the LTTE? Why is west and Islam compared? One is a region and the other a religion. Why not west vs middle east. Or US vs Afghanistan.

Wither Japan?

2010-03-08T08:21:00.000+09:00

Akio Toyoda was at the Capitol answering the "quality conscious" US congress. He apologized for the quality issues that are plaguing Toyota cars past few months. Beyond all the recalls and money involved, this does not seem to end....

The very next week I was flying to Tokyo. At Narita station, waiting for Narita Express there was this delay announcement. N'EX is 10 minutes delayed as the incoming train is delayed. Apology. Taihan omatase itashimashita....

One evening I went to a cafe close to Shinjuku Sta. No Japanese faces in the crew. All foreigner staff. One of them drops a plate with a loud noise. Others just smile....

The next day my colleague makes it giri giri for a customer meeting. Yamanote sen sotomawari was stopped due to technical issues. Yamanote line and Chuo line delays are no longer a news now.

Is the focus on quality and customer withering away in Japanese society? While the DPJ government has promised to question every legacy bureaucracy in Japan, is someone questioning the too-much-customer-concern too? Is the Japan of yester years being a thing of past?

The JAL lounge had no signs of wear and tear. And no way does it expose the bankruptcy JAL is in today. When I got back into American Airlines and was wondering about the losing grip of okyakusan in Japan, quality gets a revisit. The flight will be delayed by 30 min. There is a long line for the runway and we are the eleventh. No apologies though. Granted.

I still thanked the JAL lounge and the great food it served as AA skipped the normal juice-snacks and went directly for dinner with a sweet query - "Do you want anything for dinner tonight ?"

.....

Blogs are better

2010-02-18T05:35:00.000+09:00

I have been away from blogging for a long time. I dont know if I am really back too. Things change. People change. Technology change. Slangs change. Who am I to resist these.

I have been through Orkut. Boring. Scraps. What do you mean? Non sense. Why not mail?

Facebook is neater. It does allow kind of blogging too. Microblogging.

But its too distracting. People want to say they did brush, they had breakfast etc there. People talking just because they have to say something. And what I hate is it shouting at me Joe and Tom are friends. Why do I care?

But I am still on facebook. Because there are still people who have something to say. And it allows subscriptions. Much better to manage than Google Reader. But much less contents.

Twitter. I still do not get or agree why tweet. At a game, agree. At an event, agree. Best way to send out running commentaries. But why like "Me wlking to offce".

I remember the old man near our college. He used to sit on the roadside with a notebook, he will be jotting down all the time and sometimes talking loud too. He was insane. So we said. If I do a fast forward by 20 years, he will be there today, the same ragged cloths, but on a laptop logged on to a twitter account - and he would have had a 1000 followers and would have been famous on the cyber world. An amazing tweeter he could have been.

Secrets used to have a sanctity. Private matters used to have a meaning. Pictures in bound albums used to have excitement. Like the first day in an arranged marriage. Like the long waited first kiss. We killed all that.

Bloggers - I love you. Do some serious writing. Do not get carried away by the attention seekers.

Salut to the Republic

2010-01-26T02:17:00.003+09:00

Salut to the Republic
As it turns sixty today
and is just warming up

You still can see tears in the yarn
But cannot miss how complex is the fabric
Cannot but appreciate the colours it presents
How the warp and weft keeps it strong

You still can see potholes on the road
But cannot miss the reaches of the path
The amount of people it carries
And the way it connects the souls

Agree that we have a lot of roadblocks, still
Amazing is the progress we've had
The sons and daughters who flew the flag higher
Who brought the pride back to the land

The Indian dream is not a tagline today
But it is a fact we can be proud of
The land which has premiers in all fields
Of all casts and colours; men and women

Salut to the nation
As it breathes the sixtieth year
We've just started the journey
And have miles to go before we sleep

Thanksgiving Eid

2009-11-27T13:26:00.002+09:00

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.

Time Shop

2009-08-14T13:19:00.003+09:00

"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.

The Saint and the Sinner

2009-08-11T23:54:00.002+09:00

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.

God Forgives...

2009-08-11T03:41:00.004+09:00

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.....

Credit Challenges

2009-06-25T04:24:00.002+09:00

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..

ameriCa ameriCa

2009-06-25T03:07:00.003+09:00

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.

Struggling

2009-06-23T04:39:00.003+09:00

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?

Changes around...

2008-10-21T15:53:00.002+09:00

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.

Credit Crunch

2008-10-20T12:30:00.003+09:00

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?

Time to Tokyo

2008-10-19T21:08:00.003+09:00

Time to Tokyo was 13.5 hrs when we started. When the altitude as zero.

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..

Google Chrome

2008-09-06T04:04:00.001+09:00

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

Politics heating up

2008-09-03T02:08:00.002+09:00

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!

Back after Ijtima

2008-08-26T00:51:00.002+09:00

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

New York this weekend

2008-08-22T04:07:00.001+09:00

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..

Getting back online

2008-08-20T04:43:00.000+09:00

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..

End of the long wait?

2008-02-01T06:18:00.001+09:00

Or.... is the beginning?

60 days and ticking

2007-09-12T07:49:00.001+09:00

60 days are over. Was on 4th of July 2007 that we landed in Dallas FortWorth Airport.

Getting settled. After a month, moved to a house. After a gap of 8 years, staying in an independent house again. The sight of squirrels, the chirping of birds and the hopping wild hares bring back the memories of early days in Kalamassery. There is but no kids coming out to play in the evening. The nearby park has been an attraction for kids. And the unlimited checkout from the city library. In past one month, kids have mugged up more than 100 books. I thought backyard would be a good attraction for them. But they prefer indoors. They says theres more space inside than in the backyard. And Dallas heat is terrible. They say its a cool summer this year! Thanks to the rains in Jul and now again in Sep.

On Aug 15 I started behind the wheel of my own car. My own - no loans. Drivers license is a big step here. No Drivers license? You really you? For many Americans, DL is THE identity card. Passport? Whats that? Oh, ok, let me check with my boss if that can be accepted as a proof of identity. So it goes. Now I am better off.

Driving is not bad. 35 min one side. I dont use freeways. And I use a slower road of 35mph speed limit. Cool drive listening to FM radio. The news and talk shows. Get to know a good lot of contemporary stuff. Starting with Dianne Reem show in the morning to All things considered on 90.1FM. The Hillary Clinton - Obama duels. The Katrina stories. Bush and war hate stories. The Iraq stories. Not just for the news. But for the language. The English in America is not the same English we have in India. This sounds all the way different. From the unvoiced Ps and the cutting Cs, the lengthening that reflects the ending of a word (quick nap vs a prolonged na...b), the rhythm to be embedded into every word to the rhythm that connects the parts of speech. Some are quite simple that at least I had overlooked. I never knew it makes so much of a difference between the sounds of w and v. But it is indeed sad that Americans dont know that English has been formed by distorting the original pronunciation of words from other languages. They might find me making mistake when I say guru. My accent trainer is fair in that. She never says right or wrong. She says American way and Indian way. And some are British way.

Facilities - not bad. Don't compare with Japan. Thats like comparing a PC with a Mac. Here you get a choice PC. You can choose the hardware, choose the OS and choose the apps. What you realize finally is that you are running on an Intel no matter what you did. Thats where you would appreciate a Mac. You bought home the machine. You had less choices. Yes, less choices. Jobs has decided everything for you. And you trust him. Thats what you want - a system you can trust. Not an option from the garbage. No wonder why Japan is costly. Again thats why democracy does not always deliver. And a good autocrat is the best option. The American democracy will go nuts if the President is not given so much autocratic power.

Folks back in India have a lot of appreciation of the American system. I don't say it is totally unfounded. But if someone takes US and India, strip off what both has built up so far and then put back again on a level playing field, I doubt the American dream remains dream for a longer term. At least thats what the Katrina example demonstrated and still demonstrating. With all the might and technology and the lessons from a huge human catastrophe at the Asian Tsunami, the American machinery could not work to get the people out of New Orleans. They were left to have their own choices. But the options were limited. Many had between life and death. For those who chose the former, a new set of options came - in the form of hunger and robbery. And this continues even now. One of the reporters goes on the radio that the local government is "anywhere between total incapability and non-existence". She is referring to the situation two years after the storm hit. A good vehicle is not the one which can just keep moving at high speeds. It is the one which can slow down when needed, and can restart after a complete stop.

"People" are calling for change. There are only two kinds of people again. Democrats and Republicans. The choice of the ruler for the longest run democracy comes from a choice between these two people. Anyway this time both these groups are calling for a change. Change in what? Not sure if republicans are serious about the next Presidency. The race at this time has come down between Obama and Hillary for the prelims. Both of them says change too. Hillary wants to "bring the experience" that she gained during her days as the first lady. (remember those days of impeachments and references to "that lady" and the Lewinsky tapes? she must have had a great experience for sure) And Obama wishes to bring the change from outside. He defends by offending Hillary's experience. He accepts not to have the experience Washington looks for, but he claims to have what America wants. I did not see anyone promising to put New Orleans back into life. America is not a peoples republic. It is a corporate republic.

Life is settling in. The texas summer is soon to leave for another 9 months. Ramadan is back in a week. What did I gain in last one year? What did I deliver?

Loan

2007-08-03T04:04:00.000+09:00

I have not decided on a car yet. I am looking for a cheap used car. Something that I can afford. Without much economics or excel sheet or banker advice, I should know what I can afford. My loan application is still with me. I am still wondering if I should apply or not.

Texans CU has a special deal for multinational (?) new employees. For those who have not proved they are "credit worthy". By default, none is worthy of a loan. You take more loans and pay them back, you are more eligible for a loan in need. If you are that old man with principles and values, who still prefers the giving hand over the begging hand, chances are that you will not get help when in need. If you are that guy in college, who used to borrow from someone and payback someone else every monday, you are termed "credit worthy" and people are ready to help you even when you are not in need. You have a healthy credit history.

Weird.

I now understand why Yunus got a Peace price and not price for Economy. Nobel authority still believes in the loans and credit worthiness. Otherwise they should have given him a Economics Nobel price. Someone who created a new economy, created a good society out of it, has been awarded for the results he produced. Peace. Not the common theory of loans and credits the he disproved.

Weird indeed.

If I have a million rupees worth land, I can mortgage and take a loan. Then invest in a business. Pay back regular. I increase my wealth. My land becomes free. My credit history improves. I then apply for a bigger loan. I get a better deal. I keep on growing my wealth.
I need a market too. So I give loan options for the poorer section of the society. Make sure their money is not invested to grow their wealth. They bet their future money into "comforts" that they do not deserve now. Their thirst for comforts grow. Their future earnings shrink. Their wealth shrinks. They grow thin as I put on weight. I call it free economy. They got choices, they made the wrong choice. I made the right choice. Haves keep growing and Have nots become more and more so. The gap never ends. Then dogs and fences and alarms come to guard the gaps. Wars and treaties fill up the air.

Banks are not something that the needy can bank on. In Yunus' words, banks have been asking people "Are you credit worthy?". Its time we ask them back "Are you bankworthy?"

പണമുള്ളോറ് നിറ്മ്മിച്ച നീതിക്കിതിലൊന്നും
പറയുവാനില്ലേ.....ഞാ൯ പി൯വലിച്ചു(ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ)

Choices

2007-07-27T00:14:00.000+09:00

At 12, it used to be the lunch break. A few of us will walk down the trail across the Ladies Hostel and downhill to the college junction. Across the bus workshop and behind the row of small shops, we would go to the shabby shop with two rows of desks put across each other. Most of the time, there is a wait time. For the maximum occupancy for Eliyas Chettan's kanhikkada was only 8. So we would wait while Eliyas Chettan serves the kanhi and keeps it ready to cool down to what he calls "room temperature" There was nothing to be separately ordered - for most days. Some days he will have special beef fry or mathi (iwashi) fry or some bigger fish.

Know what I am reading now? Vaccum cleaner reviews. I want a vaccum cleaner. Back in India, I would have called up Eureka Forbes. Or would have gone to a shop and would have looked around for options. Done. Here in this world of market economy where consumer is supposed to rule the world, I am struggling. There are so many models around. Upright, stick type, bagless, cannister and so many companies. Prices range from $40 to $500. They vary from shop to shop. Some online shops give you good discounts. Then they charge you for delivery and or installation separately. You never get a full picture. There is always a dark hole that you never know exists.

Same with car. New car? So many dealers selling the same car. Call up all dealers, ask for quote, bargain, get the best deal. Easy. Then there are certain things they did not tell you. Destination charges, taxes, dealer option prices, documentation charges. Loans, fortunately I dont have a credit history yet and I am left with one choice. The Texans CU special deal. Thats good. Going for a used car at CarMax sounds better for me. No bargains, no hidden costs. Pay what they wrote and drive away. Anyway I have not decided. As ever, I am undecided. To decide or not, when to decide or not, I dont know. I am thoroughly confused.

I still doubt if it was wise to do a relocation such late in age. Man, I am so tired. Thank God, I have no decided on a house, almost decided on internet/phone/tv package. Wonder why none has an all inclusive package that covers everything that I wanted? There are many options here but in total what you get for what you pay is the same. Contents are the same in all these different boxes.

Who says consumer rules? This is a perfect place that proves monopoly need not mean just one company. Multiple companies can run a monopoly too.

Eliyas Chettan did not have a competition serving kanhi anywhere in the vicinity. But he did not run a monopoly. None of us were dying for kanhi too. But we did not have any issue. What we want is not too many choices. But one dependable solution.

Dallas...finally

2007-07-12T01:11:00.000+09:00

And thus we landed at Dallas FortWorth Airport on the 4th of Jul 2007. Thank God.

Travel was .. what you expect on a 11H 50Min non stop flight. A little better than that because most part of the journey was overnight. Over the years I have developed a taste immunity that helps me finish up whatever food they give on the flight. But Ian had absolutely no food.

Immigration was smooth. As it have always been for me so far. No questions asked. Customs had only one concern - am I bringing in cumin seeds? "I do have some food items with me - but no cumin seeds" "Thats fine". Oh God, of all things on earth he is concerned only about that. Good.

Cherian had come to the airport. Sent the luggage with him and we took a compact rental car. And nicest was the great dinner at Cherians place. That was really good to have Ian get back in shape!

Last week was setting up at the hotel room. Monday was the "new hire orientation". Today comes and the first day at work. What happened to yesterday? Read Irene's blog. Thank God, it was hurting her too bad and she was all tears from Sunday night until finally they took two of them off yesterday. People say I have been lucky to get emergency appointment and get this done within a day. Dr. Vik Rao has to be thanked for that. The first two cheque leaves from my new cheque book goes to doctors!

A whole new set of things to do. Insurance; Dental; Vision. 401K. Deskphone. Mobile Phone. Housing. Utilities. Cable. Internet. Car(s). School.

First responses from kids, not kid so far -
"Are these roads not paved? They are so bumpy"
"Why are these elevators so noisy?"
"Again WalMart?"

Thanks for prayers

引越しますよ！

2007-07-03T20:58:00.000+09:00

When I walked out of the 10E door today, everything seemed to be so normal. Actually it was not. I knew that I was not in a position to step in back through the same door.

People were still bent over their desks as 6PM is still too early for Japan employees. But I was not telling them お先に as I walked out.

I do not have that "open sesame" card attached to my ID card that would open that door. After possessing that card for 2.5 years I am leaving this location. Today is my last working day in Japan. Long planning followed by months long uncertainties finally look like giving way to executions. Thank God. These days have been of great learning. Learning patience and the true meaning of trust in God. Also could cover a good number of books too. Muhammad - The Prophet of our times by Karen Armstrong; The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo; The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple - Good reads all of them. Now I am on a book by the Grameen fame Muhammad Yunus. Though I dont know with the move I will be able to keep up with the reading.

Tomorrow, God Willing, we will be flying to Dallas. My new location. Where I need to start everything from start. When the crowd was moving west, I remained. Now, God willing its my time. Its a whole new learning. Starting from the American accent and the American terminology to the American way. Not the American thinking:)

Ian says he is happy because everyday will be a free-dress-day in school there. Irene is looking forward to the land that her friends have been talking about. For us, it is a new place, need to get a home to stay and car to move...

Prayers pls..

Pradeep, yes, need to be steadfast to look for all doors to find which is meant for you. You never know when that one will open for you. Niki-chan, I promise Japanese goddess that I will visit her again.. hopefully she will let me go!

Optimism -kids teach us

2007-06-28T06:03:00.000+09:00

Optimism is seeing an opportunity in every calamity.

How can we do that? See my situation. With all expectations and plans, my visa interview gets into a mishap, the 2-3 weeks wait for name-check resultsps nothing but more and more stories of months long waits, I finally decide to board a plane to India for a break. And there again, mid air, one engine bows down with a blasting sound and the pilot decides to fly back. You get wild. Why is this happening to me? Why all the negatives?

I explained to the kids who were stuck on the 4in TV screens.
"Look, there is a problem with this plane. So we are flying back and will have to board another plane" I explained.
"Yahoo!" Ian screams "We get to see one more TV!!!!"

Around...

2007-06-26T10:58:00.000+09:00

God opens a door when he closes a window. I am thankful he lets me slip in through these doors. Prayers that I am always thankful and be humble.

I was in India last week for a short visit. Just escaped out on the second day of the rain drain picking a 6 hours delayed flight from Calicut airport. Past one month I am going through such small trials on my patience and trust in Allah.

My original plan was to start off in the US starting May. Attended interview on the 24th Apr. Everything went fine. "I am approving your visa" says the consular, adding after a spoken semicolon "but you know the world has changed a lot after you got your visa last time" He then explains that my name is too common and appears in the name database too many times and he has to get a name check done by Washington for stamping the same. And it would take 2-3 weeks time.

I normally do not plan anything in advance. But this time I had. I had planned my packing, vacating my apt etc. Everything went as per plan. Except for teh visa. A week later, we were homeless living on four suitcases! Two weeks I kept on in a temporary serviced apartment. The 2-3 weeks went off peacefully.. no updates. Consular had given me a phone number that I can call up to check the status. Every call costs $15. I can speak to the operator for 15min for that money. I did call, twice. The call center collects all the information and then calls me back -

Sorry sir, it is still under process. We are not in a position to give you any update. And we are helpless we cannot provide you an estimate too.

Then decided to drop off family in India. Plan to execution in two days. Tokyo Colombo flight had an engine failure (with a blasting sound!) mid air and then went back.. A day stay at Narita Nikko hotel with good food three times a day. Till the next day evening. Then they sent us via Bangkok on a JAL plane. A day late, I reached home. Stayed for two weeks, left family there and then came back to wait.

Anyway family got a good break in India before US embassy called up and said the name check is over. Send them the passports for stamping. So we are back here and waiting for the stampings to be done. With the four suitcases, in the hotel room in Shinjuku.

Patience Riyaz, patience. Innallaha maghassaabireen

Minnie the Pooh?

2007-05-18T12:05:00.001+09:00

Ian is now declared to be cured of his long ear problem. Alhamdulillah!

He used to get ear infections with every climate change. From his very young age. Two years back the doctor came up with the issue - Otitis Media with Effusion. Whatever be the term, it means that he gets this liquid (Otitis media) inside his ear and do not drain out automatically. For normal people this should drain automatically, but apparently for many kids it do not so easily. As kids grow up, the Eustachian tube also widens and then the media goes out.

And he proved that he has a hearing loss. For both the ears. Thank God it was not a sensory one. It is because of this media he said. The bookish doctor at Japan Red Cross Hospital told me he is referring to a guideline in the US for the treatment. Treat for 3 months, no change, do a surgery. This guy was so good that he told me the name of the guideline and that I could google it out.

My ENT in India was against surgery. The surgery is anyway a simple one. They drill a small hold on the ear-drum and put a grommet there. The otitis media will flow out through this. The grommet will stay for around 6 months. If the tube is not cured, the media can get filled in again. The root cause is not cured.

We could keep him away of ice-creams, warm him up during winter, treat him with nasal drops and thus avoid further ear infections. The hearing loss remained. And it remained almost beyond our attention, while Ian was closing into himself with less interactions to any friends or so. He missed out fun at school as he was not able to capture what exactly was being told, sung or heard. Until my friend told me about the behavioral issues that are caused by hearing loss, that thought never occurred to me. Then I started relating him to the symptoms. They started matching well.

Thanks to Kurashima sensei to whom we went for Surgery. Ian himself was ready when we told him surgery will help him hear better. The doctor wanted give one last chance. One week with two times a day mucodyne and the Japanese method of low dose antibiotic treatment with a very very sour medicine that they prescribed to be given alongwith milkmaid, ice-cream etc. Doctor sees improvement. Another week with the same dosage and then a couple more days with half the dose. And this monday, he finally declared it is fully cured now. Thank God.

Past few weeks Ian also has started showing signs of better hearing. He can now listen to TV with a lower volume. You cannot tell Irene something in a low voice and assume Ian will not hear. And he is having more and more ice creams too.

And yesterday, Ian comes up with his new discovery. "Umma, is it Winnie the Pooh? I always thought it was Minnie the Pooh... "

കുചേലന്റെ യാത്ര

2007-04-29T17:44:00.000+09:00

യാത്ര കുറെ ചെന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരല്‌പം വിശ്രമം. ഇനിയും നടക്കാനെത്ര ദൂരം? ഏതു ദിക്ക്? കുചേലന്‌ ഭാണ്ഡ്മഴിച്ചു. ഭാര്യ കൊടുത്തയച്ച പൊതിച്ചോറ്. നടുക്ക് ഉപ്പുനാരങ വച്ച് ചുറ്റും ചോറ് വച്ച് പായലിലയില് പൊതിഞ്ഞ ഒനിഗിരി. ജപ്പാന്‌കാരുടെ പ്രിയ ഭക്ഷണം.

ഭാണ്ഡം വീണ്ടും കെട്ടാന്‌ നേരമായി. കുറെ നാളായി പേറുന്ന ഭാണ്ഡം. പണ്ട് അത് മടിശ്ശീലയിലൊരു പൊതിയായിരുന്നു. പിന്നെ കയ്യിലൊരു കെട്ടായി. പിന്നെയും അത് വലുതായി. എന്തൊക്കെയാണതിലിന്ന്‌. ഭദ്രമായിക്കൊണ്ടു നടക്കുന്ന കടലാസുകെട്ടുകള്. പഴന്തുണി. ആഗ്രഹങ്ങള് സാധിച്ചു തരുന്ന അത്ഭുത വിളക്ക്‌. പവിഴമുത്തുകള്.

കുചേലന് ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളില്ലാഞ്ഞിട്ടല്ല. ആഗ്രഹിക്കാന് പേടിയാണ്. ഇന്നലെ നടന്ന രണ്ടടിയും ഇന്ന് നടന്ന രണ്ടടിയും കൂടിയാല് നാലടിയെമന്ന കണക്കു കുചേലനറിയാം. നാളെ നടക്കുന്ന രണ്ടടിയും കൂടെ കൂടിയാല് കണക്ക് തെറ്റി. അവിടെ കുചേലന് കണക്ക് അറിയില്ല എന്ന് നിങ്ങള് വിചാരിക്കും. നാളത്തെ രണ്ടടി കുചേലനെ ഭയപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

നാളെ എന്ന കണക്ക് ആകാശത്തിലെ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങള് പോലെയാണ്. ഉയരത്തില്. ഒരിക്കലും എത്താനാവാത്തത്ര ഉയരത്തില്‌‌. എത്തിയവരെയാരെയും കുചേലന് പരിചയം ഇല്ല. ഒന്നുകില് എന്നോ കത്തിത്തീറ്ന്ന ഒരു മണ്ണാങ്കട്ടയുടെ നിഴലായിരുന്നു ആ വെളിച്ചമെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞ് മടങ്ങി വന്നവരാകാം. അല്ലെങ്കില് തീക്കുണ്ടില് എരിഞ്ഞടങ്ങിയിട്ടുണ്ടാവാം.

നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളെക്കാളും പൊടിമണ്ണാണ് കുചേലന് ഇഷ്ടം. ഭം‌ഗിയില്ലെങ്കിലും കാപട്യമില്ലാത്ത പൊടിമണ്ണ്. രാവും പകലും നിറം മാറാത്ത, മഴയ്ക്കും വെയിലിനും മീതെയല്ലാത്ത പൊടിമണ്ണ്. പിറന്ന് വീണപ്പോള് ചോരയൊപ്പിയ മണ്ണ്. പൊരിവെയിലത്ത് നടന്നപ്പോള് പരിവേദനങ്ങളില്ലാതെ വിയറ്പ്പേറ്റ് വാങ്ങിയ മണ്ണ്. എപ്പോഴെന്നറിയാത്ത നാളെ താന് അലിഞ്ഞ് ചേരേണ്ട മണ്ണ്.

After 1996

2007-04-20T12:40:00.000+09:00

Life after 1996 was total different. I just compiled the travel record now. Extension of what I did for Japan tax earlier. Today I did it for US Visa application. Thought of posting it

Arr Dep Port / Country
11-Feb-97 8-Mar-97 Japan.
First international travel. It was fun and at the same time daring to travel with minimum winter clothes at this time of the year. And no language too!
23-Mar-97 26-Mar-97 Seattle.
First US travel. Two days and two cities. India - Seattle - SFO - Japan. This is the trip where I got confused between day and night. Summer sun in Seattle too bright at 9PM!
27-Mar-97 14-Jun-97 Japan
Back to Japan for full three months stay. To the new apartment at Kamijima.
22-Jun-97 21-Jul-97 Seattle
One month stay in Seattle. Had a lot of fun in work too!
21-Jul-97 21-Jul-97 Singapore
A transit drop at Singapore, taxi up and down Mustafa became a habit
3-Aug-97 23-Aug-97 Seattle
24-Aug-97 20-Dec-97 Japan
5-Jan-98 2-Feb-98 Japan
2-Feb-98 7-Feb-98 Seattle
The short notice trip to Seattle via Kansai. Still dont know what I talked there and what for.
8-Feb-98 3-Mar-98 Japan
3-Mar-98 6-Mar-98 Seattle
7-Mar-98 21-Mar-98 Japan
Bye bye Japan. (Stage 1) I am going to get married. Dont know if I will come or not. Misa, Mina and kids were at Hamamatsu sta. waving Japan and India flags. Another sad sayonara.
22-Mar-98 22-Mar-98 Singapore
Marriage shopping at Singapore. A ring, a chain, some perfume. And some junks.
28-Jul-98 29-Jul-98 Singapore
haha! I missed my flight walking through shops in duty free. So took a permit to go out, stayed with Jochan/ Bino and flew the next day.
29-Jul-98 26-Aug-98 Seattle
27-Aug-98 27-Aug-98 Singapore
27-Sep-98 16-Oct-98 Seattle
17-Oct-98 17-Oct-98 Singapore
31-Jan-99 21-Feb-99 San Jose
Getting into new business. The new customer on audio drivers.
22-Feb-99 25-Feb-99 Dubai
Family travel plans fail for the first time. It was all set for wife to join in while I fly back. Plans are not to stay that way. I have always been wary of planning anything ever since.
12-Sep-99 27-Sep-99 Milpitas
The next customer that we successfully closed down!!!
27-Sep-99 27-Sep-99 Singapore
22-Apr-00 2-May-00 New Jersey / New Orleans
And yet another customer which never came up well.
14-Nov-00 15-Nov-00 Singapore
8-Jun-02 27-Jul-02 Japan
The second stint in Japan. Pilot travel for setting things up
24-Aug-02 4-Sep-03 Japan
Move in with family. First international relocation. Stay in Kawasaki and later move to Ichikawa Shiohama
5-Oct-03 11-Jan-04 Japan
Break for TI interview in Bangalore. Was supposed to be a stealth travel. Jojan tracked me down!
17-Jan-04 13-Mar-04 Japan
Second Sayonara to Japan. I might come on short visits. But we are going to set up a living in Bangalore. Could not stop tears when Malik sahib led prayers before getting into car
13-Mar-04 15-Mar-04 Singapore
The first family pleasure trip. You have to be out of a job to enjoy a vacation.
18-May-04 23-May-04 Japan
First visit from TI. The new face of Japan!
23-May-04 24-May-04 Singapore
Flight did not confirm. Had to stay back. Again, Mustafa!
13-Jun-04 19-Jun-04 Dallas
The most horrible travel experience. Thanks Cherian for taking care with food and rest
22-Jul-04 27-Jul-04 Japan
27-Jul-04 31-Jul-04 Korea
5-Sep-04 11-Sep-04 Japan
12-Oct-04 20-Oct-04 Japan
5-Dec-04 13-Feb-05 Japan
Back with family for the extended business trip!
13-Feb-05 18-Feb-05 France
3GSM Cannes, France
19-Feb-05 2-Apr-05 Japan
Another bye bye - but this time to come back for a longer time
25-Apr-05 29-Apr-05 Japan
15-May-05 9-Jun-05 Japan
5-Jul-05 13-Sep-06 Japan
13-Sep-06 20-Sep-06 Dallas
21-Sep-06 8-Dec-06 Japan
7-Jan-07 19-Feb-07 Japan
19-Feb-07 28-Feb-07 Dallas
hahaha! I came to Japan to enjoy a weekend with family! This return travel was the one got postponed because of storm
5-Mar-07 10-Mar-07 Dallas
11-Mar-07 Japan, so I remain...

Career Starts

2007-04-19T13:46:00.000+09:00

The first job was in 1993. When I left "homestay" to join CDOT in Bangalore. A dream job of the time. Did not have to think twice to leave my PG to take this up. All done in less than a month and left to the new place, the new job, the new life, "the career". When I boarded the Kanyakumari Express from Alwaye, I had a bag, a suitcase and a bed roll. And Rupees 800 in my pocket. Thats where I started.

CDOT had arranged our stay in a (then) remote place called Kammanahalli - Jal Vayu Vihar. Thats where we lived for the first one year. Thats where we struggled to reach on holidays with very few buses connecting. Thats where we had a tough time locating good place to dine. The first one year of career where the industry basics were learnt. The new acquaintances. Non-mallu people around first ever in life.

One year later, while many people preferred to stay around JVV and the new AWHO that came up opposite to it, some of us moved out. A small vibrant mallu group was formed near R.T.Nagar. Best part of CDOT life. Sreeraj lassi on saturday evenings and Anand chettan's mess food on other days. Annan returning to Bangalore. Kutty returning to Bangalore. Anand leaving for Trivandrum. Biju flying to the US. Brehon and Maya getting closer stealthily to get married soon. Kutty finally finding his partner. Radhakrishnan, Ajith getting married. KK, Fine and Anand Mathew moving in. All in a span of two years. And I had one house shifting too during this time. On a small pull cart. Kept to the same locality.

When I started off in 1993, I thought I would stay for a long time. Like for 10 years. A couple of years down, moving out became the buzz word. The new software companies. New VLSI opportunities. The map of Bangalore just began to change again. And thats where I decided to move to Trivandrum. To a comparably modest salary and a modest lifestyle. A small attempt to venture into some software - following a crowd. Right or wrong - thats a question that I never ask. You have no power to find that out. Never.

So I moved out in 1996 Jun. Transported things by train again. A couple of aluminium vessels. A couple of clothes; Puttu kutti; Chirava; the few good items that I had - like the good spoons from MK Ahmad that I still have here. Had some furniture that I sold / disposed too. Two cots that were transported from home. Including the yellowish one that I slept for years in Kalamassery. The two chairs Anoop helped buy for Rs.100 each when Infy changed their office and sold the furniture to employees. The bent folding table which was my first furniture while I was in JVV - second hand from the shop owner George for Rs200.

So when I started in Trivandrum in Jul 1996, I moved into the new house I rented walking in with a bag of clothes. And almost no bank balance too. A 3 bedroom house with a yard and compound wall for a single guy with a bag load of clothes! I am sure the local guys who wanted to get money when a big truck unloads was taken aback.

I still remember the farewell card they gave me at CDOT. It read "The hardest word in the English language - Good Bye". A long way. 11 years back.

Seerathunnabi

2007-04-17T14:06:00.000+09:00

We observed the seerathunnabi day last Sunday in the mission house.

A day to remember the Holy Prophet? Am I not supposed to be following him day in and out? At work and home? At leisure and business? The excellent exemplar is not to be limited to a day in a year. I think the idea of this day is to present the pure life, the highest values, the model for civil administration, the exemplar for a family man, the ideal business man, the concept of peace, coercion, war and avoidance of war to the general public. The Holy Prophet who has been misprinted by the so called followers of him. Who has been mispainted by the so called protectors of God. The great souls of his time did not grew great because of any academy or a theology college. Those souls did not turn aback from violence and vice not because of a sword that hung over them. His great missionaries went around the world not as teachers - but as students and knowledge exchange agents. They spread light from various sources around the dark corners of the world. Later we saw the dark ages moving out, the new enlightenment coming up.

The new so called Muslims think they are smarter than the Holy Prophet even. They have a sword in one hand. They have a holy print on the other - which they cannot read themselves. The Hadith is unknown to them. Enlightenment is wrong way. To think is to sin. To be flexible is to fail their faith. Faith is not anymore a trust. They tie Islam into the robes, the beard, the food habits and all the culture around. A Muslim girl with no headscarf? - no way. Islam for them is beneath the scarf. Open up and it flies away. Islam no longer liberates them. It shackles. The harmony of Islam creates a stress within them. And still they expect people to come in?

They proudly believe that the heaven is theirs to stay. The prophet taught us that you should have heaven in earth too. If you have that, if people around can enjoy that, you are saved. Live in a hell on earth, make it a hell for others, you dwell in hell forever. If you cant find peace, if you cant create peace, what you are living for? yaa ayyuhallazeena amanoo li ma taqooloona maa laa tafghaloon - O believers, why do you say what you do not do?

We had a good dinner and then some sweets too. Why sweets? For tarnishing an image that should have been respected, followed, copied in a day-to-day life? For limiting the memories to one day in a year? Well, for some, it was a program done for the sake of doing it. For writing in a report. Or for being self convinced of having done a job due.

The first move

2007-04-11T17:25:00.000+09:00

I think the first move happened in 1988 - not 1989.

Thats when HMT built the new B and C type quarters. Like for A.S.5/2, my dad became the first occupant for the C-7/2 also. Unlike the old one, this was bigger, with two bedrooms and better dining and living rooms. Unlike the old one, this was on the first floor. Unlike the old one this did not have a backyard and no neem, no spinach, no pudina and no guava. Unlike the old one, it had toilet inside the doors. But unlike the old one, it had a lot of air, windows on three sides and an electric calling bell.

I was a visitor there as I was doing my engg. and visited home every weekend with a load of laundry. I used to enjoy the west facing window in the kitchen area which gave a good view of all three sides, the regular pedestrians, the buses on the main road, the grazing goats and the most beautiful of all, the rain approaching from the west. The roar was so audible and I can see the thick semi-transparent opaqueness arriving as if its a tsunami. Though I never heard the word tsunami that time.

Time had run a lot by that time. We were no longer kids and the new supposed-to-be kids were born adults. Everyone used to get locked in front of movies on Sunday evening. Thats when I used to have my evening walk. Walk down the road into the lonely woods emptying my brain of all the things I wanted to unload from the past one week in college. And to get refreshed for a new week.

A notable miss was paapithalla, the old lady who used to explain the floods during the ninetees. Probably she was mentioning the floods during the Malayalam era ninetees. For no one knew when she was born. And which floods it was. May be it was a tsunami that has supposedly changed the geography of Kerala. That created the port of Cochin. Khader remained active, delivering the morning news paper to almost everyone there. He handled major part of our movement from A.S.5/2 t0 C-7/2. Before that major part, a lot of minor part has been moved on multiple trips on bic and scooter. I did not get involved in all the packing and shipments, as I was a weekend visitor. But I found everything was packed. No misses. From the old bedsheets which could one day be used as footmat for bathrooms (they are still in my mom's cupboard) to the little red sweater that I had worn when I was around 3 - everything. There was no packer, no mover, no survey and no insurance. Need to be moved. Move it.

Today I had the shipment survey at my apartment. He gives a set of documents - Power of Attorney, Customs declaration, Insurance valuation, policy, this and that. Then he goes around and lists down everything that we have. I have shipment allowance for one 40" container by sea and two 20" ones by air. After survey he says - well there's not much. I thought we will need two days - but we can finish in one day. And not much stuff for even one air shipment container too. Fits into one box.

Its only today that I feel of the move. So far, it was just something in emails. Today this guy has come to pack things up. Man, I am leaving this apartment. The sofas, the dining table, the cots, the chest all goes too. I will not see the Hiroo towers Sakura trees bloom next time. I will not be able to capture another cycle of seasons through my front windows.

A.S.5/2

2007-04-10T10:56:00.001+09:00

A.S.5/2. This used to be our address from time immemorial. A.S.5/2 HMT Quarters, Kalamassery to say in full. The small "quarter" of a four in line house. One of the 32 houses of the kind. One of the total 365 quarters in the 900 acre land HMT acquired for factory and colony. That was the so called bright days of industrialization led by Nehru.

This small house has all my earliest memories. The second one from left as seen in the picture. With the bright light. I took this picture when I revisited the place and the new inhabitants in 2005. Seventeen years since we left it. Time enough for a girl be born and turn to her sweetest. But my sweet memories of this house could only grow sweeter.

The cashew nut tree that used to be in the front yard has disappeared. The beautiful henna wall that my dad used to maintain has been orphaned. Kids who used to play around all sorts of games in the evenings have vanished. The charming air of joy seems long dead.

Most part of the colony is now unoccupied. The well lit roads are no longer maintained well. As the once thriving public sector is now struggling to come out of losses, the days of glory are all gone. We were all lucky to have stayed at the best of the times.

Salute to A.S.5/2. This is where I started my journey. When the world was within the four walls of the small house. When time was pulled along with the worker shift sirens of the factory. Starting at morning 5:30 till night 9:30. Once in a while they blow at 3PM and 3:02 PM. The call for silent prayers for someone departed the day before. When people used to care each other.

This is the place where we had the firsts of everything. The first Bajaj scooter which ran for 15 years, still appreciated to 200% of its purchase value when my dad sold to buy a new Chetak. The first fridge which ran for 10 years before being sold out. The first TV - 12inch one - which ran a long time which I later "inherited" and later traded for a new one. The first car which ran only for one year.

This is place where I had my first birthday with no cakes or sweets. This is where I had my 19th also probably. And all the ones in between. That means more than 50% of my life so far. And that too when future was thrive and planning unknown too. Looking back from the point in time of an unknown future and all out planning - Thank God for such a wonderful child life. Prayers for my kids also to have a wonderful memorable life for forever.

Cycle of Seasons

2007-04-09T15:37:00.001+09:00

Finally I could capture all four of the seasons.

As I looked out of the front window of my apartment, this is how seasons played hide n seek on me. They taught me that every season is a time to enjoy. That every level of mercury has a beauty of itself. The colors vary. But the combination is always right. None stay forever. All are visitors. Come and go. Rejoice the beauty. Clean up when you start shedding the dry leaves. Wait for the new ones to bloom.

So far I have lived five such cycles in Japan. Seen the beauty from the more village like Hamamatsu. Enjoyed it in the suburban Ichikawa. And rejoiced then again in the center of Tokyo.

Time for me to leave. Move on to the next battlefield. The new land. The new people. New schools. New summer-autumn-winter-spring. Had been busy mentally preparing for the past weeks. Getting squeezed between thoughts of move planning and inability to do so. Between decides and decide-nots.

Another couple of weeks Insha Allah.

The crowd puller

2007-04-02T10:12:00.001+09:00

not worth a title

2007-04-02T07:19:00.000+09:00

Girls evolve. Loved child to a lovely wife to a loving mom. And cared for always.

Guys grow. Great son to a caring husband to a respected dad. All at the same time.
And they fail too. One or more. Or one by one till every one. Or all at the same time.

Sakuras are adored. Because they stay for one week in spring. Had they stayed longer, had they come in summer again, they would have been rubbish.

Sakura time

2007-03-26T12:20:00.001+09:00

Its Sakura time in Tokyo. The weather ministry has approved the season after certifying at least 6 of the identified sakura trees are in blossom now. The sweet, "japan" colored cherry blossoms!!! Party time, Tokyo!!!!

For a good percentage of population, it appears that this is what they lived for after the last sakura. Cameras, flashes, zoom accessories, get ready. The 87 year olds have been seeing this for the past 87 years and still only "warming up" (copy Larry King Live). The only thing new this year is probably the new higher spec camera.

It will be parties this week. Under the cherry blossom, they will have gatherings from shakai-s, offices, friends. The businesses smile from behind as W, W and W have their annual gathering. The sakuras smile from above as the mankind let themselves off on a such short lived, fragile, soft flowers and keep waiting for another year on them.

Nevertheless, they are a sweet meal for the eyes..

Dad's day at school

2007-03-22T15:23:00.001+09:00

Ian presented me with this portrait on Dads day at school. A fun day at school with daddys..

Had this been school, playing, painting, drawing, cutting, pasting, playing... I would have never stopped going to school. Should have taken a video to show to the so called playschools in India!

Chalti ka naam gaadi

2007-03-19T12:12:00.000+09:00

Touch and go invades Tokyo. Now one prepaid IC card will work across all buses and trains in Tokyo area. Taxis and flights, not yet:) This is really good. So far only JR had the IC card. Suica with the penguin icon. For private lines, Toei lines and Tokyo Metro, the ticket system was different. Though in some of the popular routes, they issued combined tickets. You had to bother about which company runs the line you use. No more. I used my JR Suica to office today. No hiccups, smooth sailing it was. No clogging at the gates and the human traffic was just flowing. With Suica, now I can board all the trains, dont bother who runs them, buses and purchase at Kiosks at any station too. Good. Also this probably is a huge step for credit cards in Japan, with a late start. With the credit card embedded IC cards from Tokyo Metro, the card will get automatically charged when you exit with a low charge in card. Hmm.. automatic.. dangerous... And now with the mobile phones embedding these IC cards and credit cards, you will be totally living out of your mobile phone and a credit card company? I dont think I will use the new card in bus. Why should I? For trains I had the advantage of rushing towards the train. In bus, I am using this inside the bus. It is definitely good for me if the person ahead of me uses the card so that I can get in on a winter day. No advantage for me but. And I lose the 15% added points that the buses give for prepaid cards.. Anyway, no more JR, shitetsu, chikatetsu, Toei.. chalti ka naam gaadi.

Tokyo Tower turns green

2007-03-17T19:38:00.001+09:00

Tokyo Tower is lit today in green from 7PM to 11PM - St Patrick's day during the Japan Ireland Friendship year

My boarding pass

2007-03-15T13:05:00.001+09:00

Do I have invisible arrows and gate numbers in life too? Is there an invisible boarding pass stating which Gate is assigned for me? Am I sure that the possessions I checked in are going to take the same route as I will?

With a visibly printed boarding pass, with all these boards, with all the big systems working at the back end - at times we get confused. We get into hurry at the last minute. We get our baggage lost.

Lord, I am blind to all these invisible guidances in life. I am deaf to the announcements. I am dumb to ask any. A little of these, with thy blessings is all that I seek. Not putting myself in the auction for someone to call up a price for. Not any trust on the planning and calculations that my limited arithmetic can do.

Move?

2007-03-14T11:36:00.000+09:00

All the best, Riyaz!!!
Our prayers always with you!

When you are on something, someone to be with you. Wishing you when you take up new things. Supporting you when you need something. Keeping a portion of prayers from their heart for you.

This message from Soorej moved me. I had a couple like this three years back too when I was confirming my move from Japan to Bangalore. Insha Allah, I am working on my next move. I never planned anything for me. Things happen as it happens. The way Lord decides it should. I only execute. Then He can have his axe anytime for my good.

Will keep posted, just started the official processes. May be a month - or two - as I see now. Let us see. Keeping prayers and trusting on them from around. Humble requests.. as always..

Pale blue is still blue...

2007-02-28T00:04:00.000+09:00

Last minute delays actually used to be welcome surprise wished for. An exam postponed on the day before. A customer deadline canceled on the 11th hour. Man, how much ever wished for, never really got one. But now, here I am totally out of place with the three extra days I got at the (t-5)th hour.

Thank God with the max number of tylenols I ever had in my life I am now out of fever. But back home things were not so good as they were made to appear to me? Ian was on drip yesterday and Alhamdulillah getting fine now after his dehydration from vomiting.

And I am still playing around with my tickets. Till two days back it was go back. Then it was like extend for a week. Then go back and come again after 3 days. Costly, did you say? Well, there is a good travel expense control mechanism. They will go through your travel bills and check your individual receipts. What they will not do is to check why you did the travel in the first place.

Insha Allah I will anyway fly tomorrow. I mean I will go to airport and board the plane if they allow me:) Thanking AA for letting me sit somewhere. Do not blame them man, people do not expect service here either! There was a lady in front of me in the rebooking line at airport who was wondering

I dont know why they should be putting up the hotel bill when the problem is weather which is not in their control?

So you got it? I thought industry take these risk into accounts either directly or through the insurance companies and then charge it back to the passengers...

Blues

2007-02-26T11:41:00.000+09:00

When I read the story of JetBlue passengers stranded in the plane for 8 hours, I could not believe it. How could they do it? Well, now AA taught me if Jet Blues, AA also can blue.

So my story goes after I boarded the AA flight back to Tokyo saturday morning. ETD 10:10 AM when the pilot announces he is going for some extra gas:) wonder why. Then he goes towards some runway, says the other runway is closed because of heavy wind in some direction. And after a long time he announces we are next in queue. So far, thanks to the two Tylenol tablets to suppress my fever, I was so drowsy and sleepy to have any concept of time. Nor to understand an hour is 60 minutes and two hour means 120 minutes. Good or bad..

Good news it was until he suddenly says there is an engine trouble that he wants to check up. So taxi back to the terminal, and in another half an hour or so, they fixed it. Passengers were allowed to use their phones, iPods, laptops and anything they want to. Thats when I found that my iMode mail can work in the US!! And now the happy crowd inches back to the long queue of planes to the runway. Good? not yet.

Does not look like any plane is moving.. so the pilot who is concerned about Kyoto protocol decides to switch off the engine. Comes the fourth hour and he says the new decision. Go back to terminal and then the agents will explain to us the next step. Back at the gate again and doors not open yet. They want the captives in the wagon while they take a decision. And announce it. That they have decided to cancel the flight.

Story does not end. Next one hour was queueing up at the counter for rebooking. When two ladies came up and handed over a hotel room for the night stay, a $10 food bill (hmmmm..)and a 1-800 number to call later for rebooking.

Back to my room, picked up the phone and tried the number with great expectations. Your current waiting time is approx. 69 minutes... Man... I decided to give me a good rest instead over another pair of tylenol. And with many tries in the next 24 hours finally I got through on Sunday evening.

How can I help you sir?
Ok, not possible to book you for today sir.
You mean an upgrade? Thats a good suggestion from you, but I cant do that.
The earliest I can give you is Wednesday morning, same flight.
Seat number? No aisle, no window seats. I am putting you in the middle.

So I will be flying out on wednesday and until then I should fight out my fever... insha allah..

"Snowballing"

2007-02-14T13:15:00.003+09:00

dashing thru the snow.......

2007-02-14T13:15:00.001+09:00

Valentines Day

2007-02-14T11:43:00.000+09:00

Tulip
Originally uploaded by We ourselves Irene and Ian.

I never wished anyone for a Valentine day yet. So far. I still do not believe love has become something to be comemmorated once a year. That we need Landmark or Archies to express love. Nor scraps or mails. Love buds blooms and sheds throughout the year. In the hearts of people where there is space left for it.

For everyone who care about love, who value love, who love love, a budding tulip from me.

Happy Valentines day

Sappppppppppporo

2007-02-14T10:19:00.001+09:00

oishiiiiiiiiiiiii

No grey roads. No dark rooftops. No green grass. White spread over like a sea on land.

All in little more than an hour. The flight time from Haneda to Shin-Chitose airport. Probably the first ever trip that I planned more than two months before and executed. Though till last day was wondering if my wind-cheaters would do the trick to keep me warm at Sapporo. Thank God I did buy proper jackets, gloves and water-proof shoes on the 11th hour. Or a little earlier than that.

Sapporo as a city does not look any different from an average Japan city. The JR announcements sound similar, ticket gates and displays look familiar. People have similar faces, they cross the road the same way and even the mini skirts and knee high boots keep presence unaware of the mercury around. Even in the sub zero temperature, high school girls still wrap wool only on the upper parts of their body.

Difference, a few too. Like the interesting road numbering. All roads are North-South and East-West. And from the center of the small city, the road numbers North 1, North 2, East1, East 2.. West 1, West 2 etc. So easy to locate. Our hotel was close to N2W2. Just look for Kita2 Nishi2. Good. And because of the one ways, road crossings become green for orthogonal crosses everytime. That means you can cross a road diagonally. At least practically.

Kids had the best time in life. Snow, snow, snow and snow and more snow and still more snow all around. Pickup, make a snow ball and throw. Do that again. Yet again and again. I have been warning them on the ice flakes on the sidewalks which could be dangerous. Until I actually lost grip and fell down myself. Well, it was not as dangerous as it could have been:) Thank God.

Satoland was real fun. The entire farmland covered in snow and a lot of activities for kids. Like huge slides. Like the snow-man workshops. Like the bamboo ski lessons. Rolling over the snow slopes. The snow sculptures at Satoland and Oodori and the ice ones at Susukino did not catch much attention and it looked very normal with so many around. But they really look superb in pictures. They say they bring in around 400 to 700 truck loads of good snow from other locations of Hokkaido for this festival.

And the sashimi and grilled crab - yummmmmmy.

No new Blogs?

2007-02-05T15:28:00.000+09:00

asks Anoop.

Blogging improves when workload increases. A way to relieve and relax. Under low load, you have nothing to relax about.

Varicose has been keeping me bothered ever since. But I lost the habit of commuting by bus. These days I am on train. With a book in hand.

Just finished another of Toni Morrison's famous books. Beloved. A heavy reading. The same theme of black America. Story woven through the final days of slavery in power. To the beginning of the slavery-ghosts-in-power era. When the niggers realise they have a heart that actually beats. That they have a day that they could decide what to do with. Beloved. Symbol of the days that were to follow haunted by the hurts, better-hurts and the lowest yets. Of the mindset that still wants to think the hacksaw was less worse than the white man.

Now have an Economist in hand. Talks about the perils of globalisation. About the people who lose livelihoods. The contrast between bosses that get fired honorably vs the workers who lose out miserably. If you thought this is anything similar to what the Marxists say back in Kerala, you are mistaken. Nor this has to do anything with Veerendrakumar's GATTum Kaanaacharadukalum (GATT and the invisible strings). Though Economist has a box on dying cotton farmers of India, and how and why India lead a 3W team on Doha rounds to get American subsidies cut, the focus is more on the jobs US and other developed countries lose to Bangalores and Chinas. Interesting..

Tata went all the way up to 603 pence to proclaim their pride. Corus bosses will be happy for that huge a price. But for the Corus labour this would mean more imminent cuts. And Tata has announced that too. No guarantee on Corus jobs.

And here I sit with nothing much to blog on. Though I keep visiting my Google reader for updates. And gets surprised by Anoop talking money, stocks, investments, mutual funds. I moved a little ahead and registered for ICICI Direct. The application form has come on mail. Not decided to download or not. Depends on what Anoop writes next!

Irene during Onigiri classes

2007-01-22T14:50:00.001+09:00

Travel Log

2007-01-18T10:42:00.001+09:00

Anoops post about his travel diary did not really initiate me to flip through my passport and log mine too. But last week I got a mail from the tax people asking if I should be considered for permanent resident taxation in Japan. As per rules, if one stays in Japan 5 years out of last 10 years, you will be considered permanent resident for taxation. Well, for PR, you will need to apply separately I guess!

So I flipped through my passport pages and created the log for Japan.

Japan Arr Japan Dep Japan Days
11-Feb-97 8-Mar-97 25 First trip to take up Yamaha project
27-Mar-97 14-Jun-97 79
24-Aug-97 20-Dec-97 118
5-Jan-98 2-Feb-98 28
8-Feb-98 3-Mar-98 23
7-Mar-98 21-Mar-98 14 G'bye Yamaha. I am getting married

8-Jun-02 27-Jul-02 49 The new Japan role. Nihon NeST
24-Aug-02 Moved in with family.
4-Sep-03 376 First Japan vacation.
5-Oct-03 11-Jan-04 98 Jan 04. When I attended TI India interviews
17-Jan-04 13-Mar-04 56 G'bye NeST. Me moving back to Blore
18-May-04 23-May-04 5 TI India does not mean be in India
22-Jul-04 27-Jul-04 5
5-Sep-04 11-Sep-04 6
12-Oct-04 20-Oct-04 8
5-Dec-04 13-Feb-05 70 The extended intl biz trip. 3GSM Cannes in Feb
19-Feb-05 2-Apr-05 42 I will be back soon for a longer stay!
25-Apr-05 29-Apr-05 4
15-May-05 9-Jun-05 25 Setting up school etc.
5-Jul-05 13-Sep-06 435 Second stint with family
21-Sep-06 8-Dec-06 78 Only one short break for a Dallas trip

So I have clocked 241 days less to be a permanent resident of Japan!

Fun days back home

2007-01-15T11:31:00.001+09:00

The coconut grove vacation. To realise the beauty of the coconut trees, the kalpavriksham of which no part goes wasted, you need to stay away from these. And then once in a while come back and they will steal your gaze.

Irene and Ian at Madayippara. Pazahyangadippuzha flowing in the background. Down the hill is the angadi. On top of hill, once should have been a small fort. Only some stones are seen. Then there are still the vadukunna shiva kshetram, the madayikkaavu, and the vadukunnippuzha, a pond that holds water round the year. And a school. And a college.

The view from the top of Fazl-e-Omar school is also breath-taking. On one side, is the shy Chemmallikundu puzha flows tucked in the deep green and the naked beauty still fast asleep under a blanket of fog on the other.

iPhone rolls out....

2007-01-11T16:19:00.000+09:00

http://glorify.blogspot.com/2007/01/job-well-done-or-magic-jobs.html

Back into reality

2007-01-09T16:30:00.000+09:00

It was colours all over. Now I am back into the black and white world. The dotted lines. Solid spaces.

A month of slowdown. yukkiri shimashita.

The soil, the greenery, the warmth.. reminds me where I belong. And a longer stay and returns to ATM counters reminds me about controlling emotions. So I am back. Into the cold says of winter. Into the mechanical life of trains and buses. Of mails and phone calls. Of watches that run fast.

A month passed on so quickly. Saw rain and shine. Experienced laughter and tears. Despair and joy. Fights and set-them-rights. Met far and near. Those who are so near but not met for nearly a decade! People joining and separating. Birth and death. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi...

Kids enjoyed a lot. Morning till evening of fun. Exploring relationships. Understanding the meaning of cousins.. New games, new rules.

And a month of almost no emails. No gmails. No office calls. No blogs. No scraps. No craps. No ppts. A huge break. First time in life.

Back into the black and white world of realities. Let me restore my formatted brain with the latest backups and updates.....

Break

2006-12-07T13:44:00.000+09:00

Taking a break. It has been very long since I took a vacation. Tomorrow, God Willing, I am leaving to India. Madras - Payangadi - Bangalore plans alive on my google calendar.

First time in last years I am to miss new year in Japan. Will be missing the freezing Dec vacation when even ATMs will be locked indoors....

See you all in 2007. A very happy new year

Majestic Tokyo tower

2006-11-29T22:39:00.000+09:00

What I say and what I do

2006-11-28T12:23:00.000+09:00

I am busy these days

More work in office. Or just say work in office. Planned vacation at a stone's throw. Make sure people don't throw stones on me while I am on vacation.

People who have been close and have always asked me advices are still asking. And I am trying to tell them how to be cheerful, how to come out of issues and ramp up from the troughs of the emotional cycle. And I am still not giving up on the kids on the stacking blocks game. I am telling them how and why stacking is an interesting game, how challenging is to make sure the blocks are in place and that there is a proper place for every block they come across.

Below all the juicy flesh, below all the tasty pulp, there lies the sour part of the fruit. Like the ugly and the dirty manifesting as beauty of the night lamps go off. There I lie in my own emotional cycle.

Well, I could have written about the pulp and how tasty it is. I could have written about the sour nut and how beautiful it looks like and the the great role that it plays in the overall cycle. The fact that I did not choose to write those is the problem... thats what worries me...

Irene had all consoles for me yesterday. A cake I bought for her was nothing when compared to little small paper crafts she gave me with her "I love you" and "Its okay" messages. And she advised me to be in school with her mom from next time to avoid a mistake about time.

Bad dad bad....

2006-11-27T10:07:00.000+09:00

Weekend was nice for kids. One evening at Tokyo tower to see the new year lighting. Next day half day at the new bayside Lalaport mall at Toyosu. Though we didnt make it to the new Kidzania, the trip was in general good fun for kids. But all those lightings are only beautiful when you look from a distance. And only in the dark. The day reckons and the lights are no more to be seen. You now see the dirty and the ugly only...

Today morning was something Irene had been waiting for weeks. Their "harvest" performance in school. As a class they will be talking about harvest in each country during the morning assembly which once in a while is open for parents. She wanted me to go. And the camera too. Her mom will be there anyway. I agreed. Today morning also she reminded me - 9am is the performance. Sure. I will make it.

Wanted to keep her happy. Charged the camera to make sure no last minute issues come up. Made sure to be in the best of my shirts, tied up neatly, wore a good winter jacket instead of those shabby wind-cheaters, rushed to school to reach exactly at 9. And I did. Sharp 9 and I am at the Multipurpose hall where the performance was to............ There came the surprise. I switched on the camera and went in. The entire junior school is singing now. Must be the starting song? But why did they start early? Anyway waited for that song to be over. The principal then thanked everyone, and the first graders stood up to go back. My good God, its over???

Well, its true that Irene made a mistake about time. It actually started at 8:40. But it was too cruel a punishment for that. I had the responsibility to check up once again before setting this surprise. Instead of giving her the surprise, I now took it for myself. And I had to see Irene off to class with tears rolling down her cheeks. She did stop to console me - her dad feels sad if she cries at school - and responded to my gomenne with daijobu; but I am sure her day is immersed in a bucket of tears today. All for a dad who missed her performance.

Bad, daddy, bad................

winter again

2006-11-25T07:15:00.000+09:00

Getting cooler day by day. Very soon, entering another winter in Japan. But the autumn leaves are just creeping in - at least in Tokyo. The scarlet colours are decorating the streets.

Last one full cycle I was in Japan. This winter I would be taking a month off. Missing Japan new year first time since 2002. Though it does not mean anything to me. As usual I go to sleep. As usual I wake up.

A collection of the seasons on my camera.

From Season

Martyr's square and the Macy's party

2006-11-24T07:43:00.000+09:00

I am not a daily TV viewer these days. But the new Al Jazeera English broadcast calls me in front of the TV sometimes for a treat. Yesterday was a live coverage from Beirut where millions of people have been on the streets following the murder of the nationalist (anti Syrian) politician Pierre Gemayel. There were emotional speeches from his father Amin Gemayel, from Saad al Hariri, son of Rafiq Hariri, an earlier politician who was also assasinated recently. All with live online translation. As they speakers called - this could be the start of the second independance movement of Lebanon. Could be a very crucial incident in the modern history. Those of us who have heard nation formations only in text books, I guess yesterday was a real live scene on how "masses" get to resolve the future for their contry. These masses should be distinguished from the masses that came out after Russia fell down, after Saddam fell down. These people are active when the opposition is on the height. Not when everything fell apart.

And I switched to CNN to see what story they would have. When King Fahd was dead, CNN had a wide coverage. On how King Fahd was close to US, interview with a couple of US diplomats about King Fahd, Saudi after King Fahd etc. Well the usual American media way. Those who missed how ABC reported Italy lifting the world cup, VKN has nailed it up here.

Yesterday but CNN was untouched. They were all in festive mood, with a splashy Happy Thanksgiving screen and then a live coverage of the Macy's party. Americans ought to be thanksgiving. For a government that consider them as the only civilized society in the world. For a media that makes them bother only when at least a hair of an American puppy is disturbed. Happy thanksgiving!

Freedom again

2006-11-20T17:32:00.000+09:00

O ye who believe ! Why do you say what you do not ?

(The Holy Qur'an 61:3)

Well, thats become life. We do not do anything. Then we comment on what others do. Do a hair split analysis. Explain why it should not have been done that way.

Professional maturity means keeping what we do for living and keep actual life separate. What I talk is to get money to live. And then my life is independent? How is that? Well, you don't know modern management basics.

Who said world is progressing towards a free thought democracy. More and more theocratic nations on the rise. So far it was only Saudi, Taliban.. now we have France and the latest is Netherlands. Deciding on what people should wear and what they should not wear! You can think freely, express freely, kiss freely even xxxx freely. But the government would decide what you wear. Or to be exact, what you cannot wear additionally. In Japanese, the "plus alpha" is not allowed.

Well, if Jack Straw does not want people who want to meet him to go in so and so dress code, respect it. That his decision. You can stay away if you dont want to do that. If Netherlands says that all visitors should obey a certain dress code, do that or stay away. Same for Saudi or Taliban parts of Afghanistan. Respect them. Respecting them is part of the religion. Religion is not just putting a veil. It is opening up of mind.

Any country has the right to decide what is an acceptable social behaviour. Thats decided by the majority. (Though I fail to understand why a huge majority should bother by a small majority wearing an additional piece of cloth) But this sovereignty has to be respected for all the nations too. Speak what you practice.

Henna.mpg

2006-11-11T07:47:00.001+09:00


Putting Henna.

Stacking blocks

2006-11-07T17:12:00.000+09:00

Seen kids stacking blocks? Not always with a plan, they just keep on stacking the way they find a block. They keep on building it up. They enjoy it. They like what they built. They will never want to tear it down. But may be Mom wants to clean up. Or when they get angry, give it a kick. Or may be one kicks his sisters blocks and she in turn kicks his too.

Later when he grows up and gets married, he repeats the exercise. He and she stacks the blocks. Sometimes together, sometimes separate. Sometimes blame for a wrong color, sometime appreciate for the right shape. Keep on stacking as and when the blocks come up. Sometimes with plan and sometimes with no plan.

Will he want to tear it down? He knows that like the childhood blocks, he can never stack it the same way he did first time. She too. But what if one of them gets emotional and gets out of control? If they started kicking on the blocks other has stacked? Or, if Mom or Dad wants to clean up a "mess"?

It is difficult to talk logic or advise diplomacy when kids fight. It is at times difficult to find out which block spoiled the stack and who placed it too. The same way beauty of a single petal does not give rose its beauty as Tagore said, the reverse is also true. A bad petal alone cannot make a rose look bad. Nor an ugly block alone make a stack look ugly.

You better stay away until they raze it down completely? But if you care for the little others who trust these little blocks, and believe thats the most beautiful they have seen, you ought to step in. And give a try.

Nothing to lose. And if you win, you keep a beautiful stack of blocks intact, and growing.

The taste of debt

2006-11-01T13:54:00.000+09:00

Firo forwarded an article today. To make sure his "To:" list reads it, he gave this quote from the article

"My rich dad often reminded me that money doesn't make a person who he or she is (or isn't). Applying this logic, money also doesn't make a person greedy. Rich dad's point was that money has the power only to reveal a person's true nature

The problem I see is that the businesses aren't being acquired with money or equity --they're being acquired with debt. And as far as I know, somebody will have to pay that money back "

Go on and read the full article at
http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/richricher/11429

When more and more Americans go into the debt cycle, Corporate America make sure that the circle is extended to third world to pay them back. Militant America will come as saviors of the world against the "vogue" nations sitting on resources and take control of them. These debts keep the wars alive and active, with a reason.

This need not stay at the corporate level alone. This is affecting the daily lives of you and me. In Bangalore there was an eye-catching bill board on the Airport road. A romantic couple on a country boat enjoying a secluded honeymoon. And the caption - When you can afford such a vacation today, why delay - or something like that. And what does afford mean? ABC bank's Personal Loan. When you can go on debt, that means you can afford that! And these personal loans are against what? Your education, your job, your future salary.

Mark that - your future salary. You are selling that for a silly holiday that you cannot really afford. You are becoming a slave of your future job and salary. You are supposed to be the master of your job, not the slave. And where did your job and education came from? Because your parents saved those small amounts they got, for your well being. Because they never bothered to take personal loans (than those PF loans from their own money) to enjoy the secluded country boats. The only loans they might have taken are for the house (on real earth) and may be your education. Now you are selling them for the so called real estate (which sells the same piece of earth to 100 people and give you a portion on the air) and for the glittering fake afford-ability.

Well, some might ask, does it really matter. If this collapses, the bank loses, I do not. True. If only you collapse, the goondas / yakuzas of the bank could beat you up. May be you can declare yourself as bankrupt and save from legal issues. If the industry collapses and the whole vicious cycle collapses, I do not think banks can even afford to pay those goondas / yakuzas. Does not mean you are safe! Everything will start falling down. The piece of air you bought might value nothing. No one will buy your car. Your entire lifestyle changes.

The bubble burst is not just a fiction. It happened in Japan after almost a decade of bustling economy. A couple of banks failed. Many lives ended on a piece of rope, with insurance policies - many to save their companies and very few their families. The risk calculations of insurance companies failed and they too collapse. A huge collapse at the end. People became cautious and started spending less. Less consumption started driving Japanese economy down. 15 years later, it is slightly getting better. Real estate has not even reached 50% of that even now.

Japan could afford that. They had a huge savings in hand. All the money they earned with hard work and tight life paid them off to come back. What if this happens in India. The savings of our parents is not that high. We do not know how to spell savings. We only know loans. All the jobs we have are daily wage type. One lock on the front door - ends it all. When we get into more and more debt, our Government might not be able to spread out and create a fourth world to save us.

With more and more call centers and more and more teenagers getting into the spending world, I think its time we put some real world economics in the school curriculum. Like we had the biological ecosystem covered in high school, there should be some small coverage on the economic ecosystem too. How all the jobs are related. How the chaayakkada on the corner is important in the village economic activity. Why jobs cannot be created - only scout for opportunities. Why you have to work hard if we want to prosper. Why we are not yet in a position to behave American.

When I was in my second year of employment, my father told me that he always was able to keep a balance of two months salary with all the expenses for his three children and no loans. Born as the second son of a wealthy man, he did not have the luxury to enjoy the love and care of his parents, whom he lost when he was 9 and 11, forget about the wealth. He had to tighten his belt to acquire education, take care of his younger ones, manage his job and save for all of us. Thank God for He has supported me thus far. From the day I left to Bangalore with CDOT appointment order and Rs.800 in my pocket, much has changed. I always try to make sure that I do not spend based on what I have - base it on what I really need and then what I really can afford. I can does not mean I should.

Pictures at Shinjuku

2006-10-31T10:38:00.001+09:00

Capture longer moments

2006-10-30T12:01:00.000+09:00

Weekend was nice. For the family it was two dine outs - saturday night Japanese and sunday night Lebanese. Gonpachi sushi was costly indeed, but its okay once in a while. After all good sushi means good money anyway. And the Lebanese food was a great experience. Especially the Baklaawa - Lebanese sweets.

What made the weekend special was also the family walk around Nishi Shinjuku area. The tall rise buildings, the i-Land tower, the sculptures on the sidewalk. Finally I could take the picture of the little sky in between the three giant buildings. Yet to upload them. I dont know if they look beautiful. But almost everyday I find someone taking these snaps. Yesterday also there were another couple on the job. That too, not a old Japanese man learning to do high end photography. This was an Indian couple. There must be something beautiful about this. Wait till tomorrow when I would update the picture.

And again what made the weekend special was the purchase I did before the walk. I finally decided to buy the video camera. After browsing and reading about a lot of low end camcorders, I finally ended up on a not-so-low-end Sony HDR-SR1. High Definition camcorder with 30GB hardware. The new Sony-Panasonic AVCHD (some derivative of H.264) format. With 10x optical zoom, flash for still pictures, possibility of simultaneous still and video, 3.5 inch LCD, IR for night capture.. this looks fairly good for me.

Pictures I took yesterday, but are still on my Minolta. Except for the lack of anti-vibration control and for the low performance on low battery, thats still a good camera.

Eid Mubarak!!

2006-10-24T16:16:00.001+09:00

Happenings

2006-10-23T09:33:00.000+09:00

Just looking back and forth and sideways sitting in front of the 12" window to the virtual world...

30 days of Ramdhan coming to an end today. Alhamdulillah. Tomorrow is the Eid. Nice dresses, nice food, nice smiles and nice talks. Supposed to be nice hearts, nice body and nice morals. Dry fruits get ignored for another year.

3Q financial results of various companies coming up. No big surprises. How many more people I fooled. What is the margin which I fooled an average person. These two decides the stock prices and the future number of fools.

India gulping in 5M mobile handsets a month for new subscribers alone. Fashion and trend added with newly found money forces a huge lot of existing ones to change their phones. Corporate India upbeat with Tata Steel takeover of Corus Steel. For an India where infrastructure is yet to be built up, steel is a key industry, at least next to energy.

Found a new way how Irene could get rid of signing her posts with me:) and have her identity there. Fool I was. Blogger from beginning had the contributor option. So I still own her blog, but she signs in as her Mom (whose id I stole for her blogger profile) and her posts from now on will be signed as Irene. I now need to find out a way how the old posts signature can be changed too.

Most of the blogs I read are in sleep mode. Ramdhan, Diwali whatever reason. Pradeep is an exception. Well, Time and Tide cannot stop. And himself being a journalist, he cannot but keep on creating stories and write about them. And he covers good topics with not much of creative content in it. I don't like journalists becoming creative. Though that's the trend and the "journalism industry" demands. Who wants the dots? People want fully blown pictures.

I remember how my classmate Biju used to get good transistor curves in the lab. Instead of measuring, marking and plotting, he did exactly the reverse. Beautiful plots. Journalism goes the same way now. They call it investigative journalism. Pradeep, expect your comments!

Thus goes another Monday morning.

Peace, Economy and Nobel

2006-10-20T11:39:00.000+09:00

"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Signed 111 years back in Paris by Alfred Nobel. Unknown was the real reason why he left most of his wealth to establishing such a prize. Something which his relatives did not agree and which got delayed by 5 years to get implemented after his death.

May be Nobel is a happy man this year. When the Peace prize went to Yunus and his Grameen Bank. After all, the "explotion", which he invented and made most of his wealth from, has been a technological upper hand for a lot of nations to create and maintain a power and trade imbalance. Looking at the recent history, this trade - economic disparity has been one of the key factors in many of the wars on earth. At macro and micro levels, the economic disparity was strong enough to sustain iteslf and in time re-defined peace as security.

There are now debates on Micro credit and its effects. Whether this is really against capitalism or if this is derived from capitalism. I am not an expert on economics. The prize here is not for the economist Yunus. This is for the pacifist Yunus. Appreciate that. Just look at the earlier pages in Nobel Peace Prize. Great names you can see there. Shimon Peres, Yasir Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, Jimmy Carter, UNO, Kofi Annan.. Oh man....where is the world these people stiched in peace? Where was a day in peace for any of the societies they represented? Now go to the customers of Grameen bank and ask them. The huge shift from statesmanship, diplomacies and boardroom handshakes to real work on the street. Kudos.

How much money now goes into creating psuedo security and safety? Why think globally - let us look at the micro level. Even in a small town, if we pool all the expenses for maintaining the dogs, men and technologies that guard the big houses and cars, and use this through a micro-credit group, may be the very need of these will get questioned?

When I sleep heavily guarded, I sleep in security. When I sleep not bothering any of these, I sleep in peace.

Nobel Peace Price

2006-10-11T09:52:00.000+09:00

The Nobel foundation is announcing their 2006 prizes. So far it is a clean sweep by the US. Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Economics. All went to Americans. The Literature award is coming up tomorrow and Peace this Friday. Where will these go?

At least for Peace, I am sure Americans will bag it this time. I bet President Bush is the most eligible guy for this. He has been keeping himself busy cleaning up his boundaries (aka the world) from the so-called terrorists. When someone blew up the WTC, it did not take him much time to attack whatever nation he thought would have backed them. He did not shy away from killing 100s and 1000s of possible and potential future terrorists. Then he swamped Iraq, because there was no reason for him to think that Iraq will not support these guys in a later future. He dreams of a future world (aka the USA) that is free from all kinds of non-governmental attacks. For that he is trying his best to make sure that unless he approves, no one would break an atom. And if he approves, any one can do that too.

Well, he has to be awarded. He is doing this almost single handed. It really takes a lot to work like a monarch within a democracy. Working clandestinely against his own laws in the US. By hiring jails elsewhere in the world because the US laws are not adequately created to treat the non-US barbarians. [do not get confused with the arya-mlecha theory though]. He has been fighting the Red Cross and Amnesty and, possibly he is risking his future too? May be someday the mad lawyers and judges in the US might have a reason to have him behind bars too?

Truly courageous, dedicated to world (read US) peace. Tell me why he cannot be awarded? And that too in an election year where his rating is troubling his party?

Well, two of the four prizes awarded has been shared by two people. I think peace price will also be shared. By none other than Saddam Hussain. Because he did almost exactly the same thing, though his boundaries were limited within the geographical boundaries of Iraq. He was sure to shoot all terrorists that worked against his country. When his motorcade was attacked in a village, he arrested most in that area and even executed many of them. Though not in 100s. When Kurds were working against his government with external support, he did not shy away from using the deadliest weapons on them. Though not a carpet bombing. When he found Kuwait was not following the oil explorations as he liked it to, he swamped upon them. Though he had less to do to become a monarch, he did the best he could do as a monarch to keep his government free from terrorists. And what not, he is already behind bars as per laws that did not exist when he was doing all these. Unfair.

So I think this Friday Nobel will announce the Nobel Peace prize to President Bush and President Saddam Hussain, for their contributions in protecting their establishments from all kind of terrorists, for asserting themselves in the harshest way to wipe out possible future terrorists and for risking their own lives in the cause of peace.

Peace prevail.

The dry fruit

2006-10-02T10:36:00.000+09:00

It has been more than a month now since I blogged. Anoop has been pushing me lately to start again. But I am yet limbing. How much you squeeze a dry fruit?

September was eventful. Events? Wife and me both got sick. She says whenever she gets sick, I too get that. And this time I totally surpassed her. Almost two weeks I was down. Almost no office. Not looking into the 12" screen of my Dell is a rare day for me - normally. These two weeks were not so normal anyway. No laptop, no desktop. Man, I was so tired. Luckily work load was too low. Probably it was only an hour mailing and an hour blogging anyways!

Then I had a trip to Dallas. A week. Met Cherian, did some shopping, drove around for the first time in the US. Went to mosque too, met a couple of guys including a newly-found-colleague! Well, met some people in office too. Because it was an official trip:)

Dallas was interesting sort of. Texas is one of the states were whites are in minority. Most of the kids books in Barnes and Noble went bilingual. Go to any shop, starbucks or Mac, you meet mustached guys and pierced ear gals. The darker than white skins make you feel more at home. Like the one Tamil air-hostess among a "host" of Chinese crew in SQ409.

On the way back, bought a novel at the airport and finished off during the 11 hour flight. The Bluest Eyes by Nobel Laurette Toni Morrison. Story of the black community told through the ugly eyes of an ugly back girl who prayed for a beautiful blue pair of eyes.

"You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction."

Hope this is only a novel. But it talks about the long history of self contempt, of self conviction through generations. Read before you blame the next black looking at the color of his/her skin. They have been in the sun for time immemorial forced to be busy with the chores of the society. They are a dried fruit. You cannot squeeze them and have a juicy juice. And sure your fist is going to hurt if you try.

Ramadan is on. When I end the fast everyday with a cup of tea and a dry fruit, I need to answer how much of a dry fruit I am? What is left in me?

National... ity vs. ism

2006-08-29T13:36:00.000+09:00

The once a month haircut is a must for me. If I missed it, alarm will strike - in the form of cold, headache, fever... it was the last two ones this time.

So I headed to Nakajima san, at his 100+ year old barber shop near my apartment, where the famed yesteryear foreign baseball players in Japan had their haircuts done by his father Nakajima and his grandfather Nakajima. The one good thing in waiting at this barber shop is that I can quickly read through a set of Time magazines. Normally I would sleep during the cut - but this time I decided to continue reading. And I realized that his chair has the accessories that takes care of your reading too.

And there was one interview with Pat Buchanan. The founder of the American cause is worried about the Mexicans coming in and establishing a new culture. He says America is losing out in these areas. The new people stick on to their language, their culture ... nothing American. The childhood Americanism that he knew is missing. The same language, the same thoughts, the same culture, though different races, and the same faith. Well this is the idea of his American Cause movement also.

A little silly. If he could go back a couple of childhoods - his, his fathers, then a couple more grand fathers - I am sure he could look around and see one another Pat Buchanan being butchered. For using the same language against Europeans that entered the country. They also brought a new language, a new faith, a new culture, called themselves Americans. Not stopped there - they termed the original Americans as Indians.

This is simply resonating with similar cries everywhere. RSS has been crying so wide and wild that Indian culture has been losing to foreign culture since 400 years back. They do not want to stop at their childhood when a new secular India was born. Europe is also defining what is Europe and who should be allowed to join EU. And all these people blames Japan for being racist during the war and extending informal preference to Japanese even now.

What does nationality mean. Does it mean a set of rites, customs, culture, celebrations? For Indians, anyway we do not share any much commonality on any of these items across North to South - nor across East to West. We all have this different. And we are getting the nationality also sub-divided in India.

When I say I do not celebrate Onam - some frown. Well, it is not exactly religious festival - it is a national festival of Kerala. So what? What makes a national festival. Am I supposed to celebrate? In Assam you should have a ID card to vote. An Indian national, but not an Assam national yet:) Yesterday Karnataka CM has approved a whopping 60K crore [1 crore = 10 million] rupees investment projects. Pre condition - employment preference to Karnataka nationals. And the local Kannada and Rajkumar fans groups will tell you what cannot make you a Kannadiga! You should share their feelings on Kaveri, on Kannada films, on digging up roads to build stage and might have to bow to the yellow-red "Karnataka National Flag" also!

When I read in newspapers that Govt of India summoned the Dutch ambassador on the NW flight issue and asked for a written explanation - I had a sigh of relief. A meaning for my Nationality. What I want is a guardian who will provide me a social security. Give me freedom up to and until it bothers another person. Give me backing in having my rights. Give me a ground to exercise my responsibilities. It is that feeling of "chodikkaanum parayaanum aalundu" that I want. Not a set of rites, cultures, languages and a stupid patriotism that bases on hatred towards others. I am proud of my nationality. I don't want any nationalism.

Practising Religion

2006-08-20T06:22:00.000+09:00

This morning while still on bed, I was thinking about the term "practising religion". What does it mean? If you put a theory into practice, you should see the results. If not, call it a demonstration. Unfortunately, the meaning is different in religions. I was once told by a Christian friend that Sonia Gandhi is a practising Christian. Good. That means she goes to Church for Mass every week. APJ is said to be not a practising Muslim.

A practising Muslim will be one who prays five times a day, goes to Friday prayers etc. Well, he could be practising something else too - like beating his wife, fighting with his neighbors etc. A dual citizenship. Practising religion has become to be exercising a set of rights. Rights to property, rights to divorce, rights to hold demonstrations, rights to use loudspeakers where the are banned etc.

As a Muslim, the example to follow for me is that Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). And what was his life? Of compassion, of love, of giving, of simplicity, of logic, of taking care of others rights and one's responsibility. The real practice of religion. All other that the masses imitate are the ways he employed and advocated to achieve this state of mind.

Woke up from bed and on my custom Google homepage is a news from Times of India. Another religious practice. People in Mahim, Bombay has found an easy way to get blessed. A shortcut practice of religion. Now, the health authorities will have a tough time. They cannot stop people from doing this - that could run against what is provided in the constitution - right to practice your religion. And the saddest is the pciture of an ignorant mother forcing her baby practise too...

Happy Independence Day

2006-08-15T15:08:00.000+09:00

Let it be a happy independence day for India. Let it be so for Pakistan, Srilanka and Indonasea. Let this wish reach the real people who move the nation.

I was just wondering about what exactly makes an independence day wish. What is independence. Is there a real independence. Anyone really worry to be so so independent at the end of day? Freedom from British rule day it was? Anyway, for the sake of it, let us call it independence.

When India became independent, it became dependent on Russians and French. When Russia failed to support India later on, we competed with Pakistan to be laid down by the US. Now we have US directing India who should be what minister and what shoudl he be doing. On what the energy policy should be.

Whatever we define independence, let us make sure we share the same hope for the life around us too. I would like to take you to what Cherian wrote on the 2005 US 4th of July on India independence thought days. Read it here.

And to the following seven point oath by the Hon President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his address to the nation on the eve of independence day

1. I realize, I have to set a goal in my life. To achieve the goal, I will acquire the knowledge, I will work hard, and when the problem occurs, I have to defeat the problem and succeed.

2. As a youth of my nation, I will work and work with courage to achieve success in all my tasks and enjoy the success of others.

3. I shall always keep myself, my home, my surroundings, neighbourhood and environment clean and tidy.

4. I realize righteousness in the heart leads to beauty in the character, beauty in the character brings harmony in the home, harmony in the home leads to order in the nation and order in the nation leads to peace in the world.

5. I will lead an honest life free from all corruption and will set an example for others to adopt a righteous way of life.

6. I will light the lamp of knowledge in the nation and ensure that it remains lit for ever.

7. I realize, whatever work I do if I do the best, I am contributing towards realizing the vision of developed India 2020.

Once again happy independence day wishes to my country men and to all my friends from Pakistan, Srilanka and Indonasea.

God Lovers

2006-08-10T09:54:00.000+09:00

There was another story in the Malayalam Reader (Kerala Pathavali Malayalam) during school days. I dont think I understood the story until I heard this once again from a school master talking at a seminar.

Adaminte Makan Abu. So goes the title of the story. Abu, son of Adam.

Abu was a nice person, very kind at heart, very pious, loving and helpful not only to his fellow beings, but anyone around, including birds and animals. One night Abu sees an angel in a dream. The angel was writing something in a book, which appeared to Abu as a register.

What are you writing?
I am writing the names of people who love God
Is my name in that?
Angel browse through the list - not at least on the first page.
Abu was sad. He fell asleep again

He wakes into the dream again, the angel is now writing another register

What are you writing now?
I am writing the names of people who love the creatures of God.
Is my name in that?
Yes, yours is the first in this list

Abu left a bit happy. Still he was sad why the angel did not include him in the list of people who loved God. He really loved God. Why then.. Abu fell asleep again and wakes into the dream third time. The angel is now writing another register, which looked so important.

Now what are you writing?
I am writing the names of people whom God loves.
Is my name in ......
Yes, yours in the first in this list

What we now have in the world is people who love God, protect God, protect the laws of God, protect the thoughts of God - fiercely, violently, brutally. Except for the beautiful creations of God, they protect everything. God needs help. Come and join. God's creatures need help. Ask them to wait.

If you worship a God who manifests through the creations, through the rules of the nature, through the compassion that is implicit in the heart of men, show your love for him by loving the creations, loving the rules of nature, extending compassion that is in built. To me, whoever loves God, but if that love is not manifested in his relations with the fellow beings, he is loving a God who does not own the creations. He could get his name in the first register - not in the last.

It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but truly righteous is he who believes in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and spends his money out of love for Him, on the kindred and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask for charity, and for ransoming the captives; and observes prayer and pays the Zakat; and those who fulfil their promise when they have made one, and the patient in poverty and afflictions and the steadfast in the time of war; it is these who have proved truthful and it is these who are truly God-Fearing. The Holy Quran [2:178]

6 feet only

2006-08-07T10:39:00.000+09:00

Do you remember the story we studied in school - of the generous king?

[Well, Irene might be wondering how come one study a story. Well, in our childhood, we used to study these stories. Write exams. Annotations. Essays. You are lucky to read many stories in school...]

Well, this king was so generous and he used to give people anything they ask. His subjects knew they will get whatever they want whenever they want it. So the kingdom was living happily. There comes a new greedy man - not sure if he was a new MBA graduate with clear career goals etc. - who learns about this king. He meets the king and asks for some land.

How much do you need?
Whatever I could measure up in one day.
Granted

The man started running and he ran till the dusk as people saw him. The next morning king sent his people to find him. Far away in the land, the man was lying dead. With his strong determination and his aspirations which led him running through the dark, tired of the exertion, he succumbed to death. Kings men comes back with the body. They ask the king to grant some land to bury him.

How much do you need?
6 feet.
Granted

This is what we all want at the end of the day. I am exerting too much while others are sleeping. I call it my determination to seek aspirations in life. And I end up gaining what - just what my height dictates. Less than 6 ft.

I always envy the marunnu kada (ayurveda medical shop) owner at my village. He comes to his shop everytime at a fixed time. He closes at a fixed time. Do not ask him about google and 2G and 3G. He does not know. Well, he does not care. Why he should? He knows he will get the 6 feet when he want that. Whats my guarantee about my 6 feet!

Stop running. Walk slowly. I am not going to raze down the mountains nor fill up the seas. I am not going to measure up the whole world. Nor do I need that.

HTML debug

2006-08-03T11:52:00.000+09:00

My blog had some serious errors. Anoop told me he is seeing two entries mixed. I tried at home - no issues. Tried in office - no issues. Thought either Anoop was tired when he looked at it or there are some issues with his browser.

But today morning he sends the error report again. And the software engineer in him is awake. He sends a snapshot too as bmp. Yes, I can see that, but not in my machine still. I thought I will send him a snapshot back. No longer an engineer, I pasted the snapshot on my life-n-bread tool - Powerpoint - and was ready to send out. Anoop comes back and tells me the issue is only on IE and not on Firefox. I am using firefox at home and office and hence did not see.

Shame on me. I should have thought about it well. I remember advising my team members on debugging. Believe on anyone who reports an error. Its your responsibility to make sure you replicate [Anne had banned the term bug reproduction - she says software bugs do not reproduce], find fix, demonstrate that it does not manifest any longer. And there was a nice story about the car that didn't start after a vanilla icecream that I circulated.

That made my inner self wakeup. Hey, I need to fix it. I tried to dig up some of the html tags that I had used earlier days, when I built my first Geocities homepage (this one died a long back, but the 1999 entries in this blog come from that page. And many in the Petals I Picked blog too) and when I was passively involved in the earlier version of Alislam homepage etc. I went to the edit page, looked into html code..... deleted some scripts (I dont understand what those script tags had to do on my simple text blog) and now its back in good shape.

To make sure I dont mess up again, this entry done through IE.

Thanks Anoop!

Trust in God vs. Gods for Hire

2006-08-01T12:21:00.000+09:00

Radhachechi was our neighbour during my high school days. When the school exam season starts, Radhchechi and her children alongwith others in the colony goes to temple everyday. Exam specials.

I had a friend while in university who used to put Re1/- coin at the Parathottukaavu Ambalam (a local temple) as we walked up the hill to college on exam days. Some days he puts only 50 paise.
Reason? Well, I have not prepared at all. Even if God wants, not much can be done.
And on another day the reason could be different. I have prepared very well today, so I dont really care much about help of God.

Though I never complained -even now I do not- about Radhachechi or Biju (they have their own view and I respect it), I somehow disliked this practice. When in distress, call for God. And thank him for the job done. God for hire. Thats what I felt. And the collection boxes at temples, churches and mosques appears to say "tips accepted for a job well done" like in some US share-taxis.

I once thought it is more important and tougher for man to pray to God when he is in ease rather than just when he is in distress. I thought there was more stress to the word ease than distress. For me it felt quite natural to pray in distress. No big deal. But why this unnatural requirement of pray when in ease?

There came an eye opener in the form of Thankappan. Thankappan was an office boy where I was working for my second employer and had a very meagre monthly pay. One fine day (while his wife was expecting for a third time, after two miscarriages, and was under complete bed rest) the admin manager tells Thankappan that he is getting terminated. A two weeks notice he had. Can imagine the distress he had, when he requested me to suggest any job that I know of. But what took my attention was what he said smiling "mukalil oral undallo saare" [There is someone above us]. His trust in God. And that trust worked. Thankappan continued there and later got transferred to another unit closer to his hometown too. Thankappan might not have visited temples, not put money in tip boxes of the agents of Gods. But he had what was needed. Trust. iimaan.

I once thought it is more important and tougher for man to pray to God when he is in ease rather than just when he is in distress. I thought there was more stress to the word ease than distress. For me it felt quite natural to pray in distress. No big deal. But why this unnatural requirement of pray when in ease?

Thinking about this, I understand that while praying in distress is a natural phenomenon, while praying at ease could be possible with a little care, keeping trust in God during distress is indeed a tough task. While praying to God, if I start devising methods to come out of distress, which is not in the way God has guided me, which is not the way I understand is correct, I do not trust God. Why do I pay bribes to get things done? Why do I say lies to come out of problems? Why do I steal someone else's rights to get my things established? Because I do not trust God. Well, I do have faith, I do believe God, but I do not trust God. I am only keeping God as a backup option. I am assigning God as one of many options.

I remember once a colleague asked me "Riyaz, I understand you believe in God, right?"

Well, Do I? What is this belief and why? I can believe Bush is the President of US. I can even believe Osama bin Laden is alive and active. How does it affect me? I dont have faith in Bush and hence I do not believe what he says. I have faith in a friend of mine and I can believe him. But when I trust God, I do believe in him, I have faith in Him and moreover, I have the trust that He will help me when I am in need. I do not need to find other shortcuts. I do not need alternatives. No bribes, no lies and no forgeries.

Irene in full steam

2006-07-31T10:21:00.001+09:00

Irene is getting crazy in her blogs these days. I was especially startled with the kind of expressions she used to explain simple things in her latest entry

Samples

talking doll - she says it means mouth
black marks on that white square whith that black sharped thing - hmm... filling up the credit card applications in black with a black pen
bark with ears - the doggie balloon doll she got from the credit card sales campaign corner

At the railway station

2006-07-28T10:48:00.000+09:00

Waiting at the railway station is something that disturbs me a lot.

I donno why. The long waits in remote locations, especially when I am alone, I start thinking about what I will do next; where I will go etc. These are certain thoughts that I do not dare to tread into. Who am I to decide what I will do next. I have never planned anything beyond a month or two.

I remember once I visited a classmate and saw a small house-like structure next to her house.
"What is that?"
"That will be a clinic for my brother when he finishes his medical college"
That was looking ahead for 3 years. I can still remember how shocked I was. That probably was the first time the scare of planning ahead came into my mind. For no reason. I hope that did come true for her doctor brother. But for her, who always tried to present a nice dream about married life, preferred marriage and partner decide her career, who believed in dowry and did not want to marry without a dowry - the first married life was a failure.

The railway stations pull me into long gazes that has no end. I still remember those dreaded waits during my previous life in Japan. Many a times these will be after a visit to a no-longer-potential customer. What am I set for? Where is my promised life? I fail to locate. All I can see are those parallel lines that never converge. The solemn silence. People who are destined to wait. The vending machines begging for a few coins.

Looking at the rails, I feel that one of them is my fantasies and the other one is facts. I have been coming all the same way and still continuing the same way. At some points I could see them converging, but once I ride over them, sadly realize they were only crossing of paths. My fantasies and facts still run in parallel. The multicolor promises that stand alongside are mostly red. Once in a while they turn green and I need to rush. Looking into the future I mostly spy red lights everywhere. Some of them turns green and the moment I reach closer, they too turn red. How did I come all the way? The light posts of the past are turning their back on me. I cannot see them anymore. I can only the light above me. The light that has guided me so far. The light that has let me see the world around.

Even now, I don't know where I am headed to. Today is what I can see. Tomorrow is a blur. After that its all dark. I only trust the light that will rise up when tomorrow is over. The light that I can trust. This is the trust that many call faith. Some call it belief.

Japanese Muslims

2006-07-26T15:35:00.000+09:00

Are there Japanese Muslims?

Yes, there are a lot. I would say most of them are at least 50% Muslims, if you can show me the 100% Muslims...

Do you mean most of them are Muslims? Do they pray five times a day, fast a month, ladies wear burqa, gents grow beard????

Sorry, I thought you just asked me if there are Muslims? You did not qualify your question this way.

Hmmm. .... but at least prayer is a must for a Muslim.

Yes, it is. For those who think they follow Islam, a must. But Japanese do not know Islam

But the purpose of creation of Man is to worship God...

True. Ibadat is the word that got translated into worship. Do you mean those people who pray 5 times all worship God? Do they really be "abd" of God? Do they really have iimaan - trust? I read a blog yday which says a nice story. An entire village assembled to pray for rains. One boy came with an umbrella. The blog author called it confidence. I will call it trust in God. The real iimaan.

Look at the way Japanese live. Even duing heavy traffic, they do not violate traffic rules. They trust the rules are for their own benefit. They have faith in the system. They can let their elementary school kids to go to school by themselves. Commuting on the Tokyo metro trains. And on the day the weather broadcast says it will rain in the afternoon, they carry their umbrellas. They respect others. Be it a chaufer, janitor, gate keeper or whoever. Respect is for the human. No caste, no colors, no job status matter in that. When the bus driver says it is dangerous to stand near the door (closed doors operated only by the driver) they respect him and move in.

Look at the harmony they maintain in public. In office or on the road or a restaurant. The way they overcome short term temptations for long term benefit - this is one of the things that religions want to achieve in trust in life after death. Do not think your actions are just until you die. There is life after death. For others around you and hence you.

So what is lacking?

Same thing that many of us are lacking. The harmony inside us. The harmony in public without internal harmony gives them a lot of stress. Which they relieve with long fumes of cigarrettes while office breaks. With heavy doses of alcohol after office hours. And all those society ills that you see. We dont get into that because we do not maintain that harmony in public life too. So less stress we have. Once Japanese achieve the internal harmony, I guess they become the real Muslims. And I believe Islam can help them understand how to achieve this. The prayers, the fasting and all worship modes are for achieving this harmony. The personal life commands are your responsibilities to the society. The public life rules are the rights of others. No religion teaches about your rights. There are only others' rights and your responsibilities.

Coming back to the purpose of creation. Yes, it is worship of God. Not only yours. Of the entire mankind. Your worship God when you respect, you love and you care for his creations. If you want others to look at your family with respect seeing you, you need to be a respectable character. If you want one to worship God, he should see a society that reflect a worshippable God. Thats the basic slogan of a Muslim - I bear witness that God is the only worship.

The problem is we do not yet know how to achieve the harmony in inner, private and public lives. The Nafsul Mutmainna looks so far for us. And we believe we are Muslims and we can teach them Islam!

Japan is changing

2006-07-25T11:19:00.000+09:00

No I am not quoting FT BT or ET. Not quoting Bush or Koizumi san. Not even Japan Central Bank.

I saw it myself today. Right in my office building. When I was coming to office today.

There were 6 of us in the elevator. And believe me, all of us were folding a foldable umbrella! No one had that ubiquitious Japanese kalan kuda. Imagine the Japan without these umbrellas. The wooden handled ones. The gaudy extra long leather handled ones for the fairer sex. The throw-aways that they sell for the needy when it rains. All the colours - red, maroon, pink, blue, patterned and plain, the branded and unbranded.

I was thinking about this change when I walked in to my cubicle. And then again shocked seeing a colleague folding a four fold umbrella!

Indeed Japan is changing.

Safety, Peace and War

2006-07-24T08:27:00.000+09:00

The ubiquitious autorikhsaws in Kerala is a cultural mirror. They always reflect the contemporary setting. With all autorikshaws bearing a name, many of them will be names of a recent movie. But one auto had a nice caption written instead of a name. It read
"In War, Everyone's right and No one left"

Now we have another war in progress. Great search tools cannot replace the tanks bullets and bombs searching for preys. Cannot help the so-called world leaders searching for root-causes. Numbers have been replacing souls. And the relative value of these numbers are attached to the nationality. 1 American, 2 Israelis, 100s of Iraqis, 200s of Lebanese.. so it goes. No one counts human being.

Ever thought of a little wonder called a heart that works so hard day and night to keep so many bones and muscles and so much of brain activity keep running and finally succumb to atrocities run by people powered by similar hearts?

Human life is lost in Lebanon. We have so much money being spent for protecting some rare species from extinction. Now, we have the very human life in danger. They are killing each other. And this is claimed to be to create peace. If war can bring peace, world would have been a peaceful place. Some people take the example of how Japan was tamed and how peace was created. Wrong. No one brought peace. There is no peace in Japan too. Othrewise why they should fear NKorea now?

Japan only followed the example of colonial powers. To become another colonial power. But these powers did not let them do that. And they claimed to have tamed Japan. aadine pattiyakki adichu kolluka. ennittu kayyadi vanguka. thats all

Bush has now blessed the war on Lebanon. Media is happy. They can run more and more stories. They can create stories on a bad leader. Write stories about his affluent lifestyle, his love for wine and women, his lust for blood etc. etc. The combodian rebel leader was referred as "Butcher" even when he died. How many people did he kill. Now, how many did Bush kill? Will the media dare to call Bush a butcher too?

You can have 100 armed soldiers around your house to protect you. You could be safe, but you are definitely not living in peace. We want peace and not just safety.

2006-07-23T08:04:00.000+09:00

The "sloppy" station along the Hakone cable car!

Kodaikanal of Japan

2006-07-23T08:01:00.000+09:00

Hakone Gotemba

Last weekend we went for our honeymoon. The first ever fully personal stay over trip after weekend! Though planned at the 11th hour, it went pretty well. Day1 at fujii san kodomonokuni - interesting water play for kids. But Hakone really a whole world of its own.

Drive to hakone reminded the drive from Bangalore back home. The narrow raods through the forests - sans the frequent potholes. Nothing on the sides - no shops no homes no nothing. In one quick day, covered rope way, ship and cable car. The cable car climbing up was reall interesting. The "sloppy" railway stations makes it different from the Ootty Mettu narrowguage. The "real train" atmosphere contrasts from the pazhani cable car too.

Atmosphere in general in Hakone is probably Mercara or Kodai. Worth the trip.

Peace Prevaliing!

2006-07-21T15:05:00.000+09:00

Japan says it can ask US to launch a pre-emptive strike on N.Korea. This is absolutely covered by right to self defense. And why else should Japan feed US army in their land? If you dont know, Japan can have only self defense forces and no military. As per US written post war constitution. Or hire the US goondas.

If N.Korea has weapons that can reach Japan, it is risky. This disrupts balance of power. If Japan can ask US (and pay) that is self defence. Listen carefully. Else you will confuse.

Blair goes on record telling Bush that he can say anything and get away. Which he admits Rice cannot do. What a proud statement of a mighty Britain! Shame on Her Majesty - the once Bharata Bhagya vidhatha.

Anyone knew Iraq is on the path of democracy? Which Russia is to learn from, as per Bush. Anyway Putin says they are not at all interested in such a democracy. Palestine is not democratic. They did vote and the elections were nuetral. But the party who won the election is not pro-US. Let US decide on the policy, president and the council of ministers. That will become democracy. Poor Lincoln.

Congress and BJP gets paid by CIA in India. LDP and the long dead opposition in Japan got paid by CIA. To keep the countries democratic. Once there was a shock wave in US after they learnt China poured in money to keep US democratic in one of the elections - which is a reserved domain for Israel.

India wins G8 condemn Bombay blasts. Big win. India stops peace talks with Pak. We will restart when there is complete peace. I thought peace talks are meant to create peace. Did not realise these are meetings done in peace. Get into business. People want to know what they can achieve with peace. Newspapers will have less reports of bomb blasts. Someone suggests India should go the US way to eliminate terror. Good advice. Start the blame game and it goes for ever. I dont think we can eliminate these with military.

Train and keep the military. Tsunami still round the corner and still a killer. Weather has been tough on Japan and Korea with heavy rains and Europe with extreme heat. Not sure about the poor souls in third world. CNN news was filled with the news of US citizens returning from Lebanon.

That was a short break

2006-07-20T16:19:00.000+09:00

Well, hope I am back.

Today Irene turned 7. I gifted her with a new blog for her. Through my little eyes. Let me see how she logs in there on her daily life. I stole the first entry as I did the trial last week. And the second entry when I put the welcome wish today.

Life has been slightly hectic and will remain so for a couple more days.

Varicose Vein

2006-07-14T14:53:00.000+09:00

Varicose veins are veins on the leg which are large, twisted, and ropelike, and can cause pain, swelling, or itching.

Varicose veins result due to insufficiency of the valves in the communicating veins. These are veins which link the superficial and deep veins of the lower limb. Normally, blood flows from the superficial to the deep veins, facilitating return of blood to the heart. However, when the valve becomes defective, blood is forced into the superficial veins by the action of the muscle pump (which normally aids return of blood to the heart by compressing the deep veins).

So the doctor tells me not to sit for long time (boy, good reason to move around and take frequent coffee breaks in office) and to take long walks. So from now I plan to change my daily commute to bus. Makes me walk 10 min extra to office.

But, I might be late from office and too tired to walk till the bus stop. Or I might be early from office and might find too hot to walk.

May be I will soon develop a "bus" version of the Japanese art of sleeping-till-my-stop that I succesfully practise in train these days. Till then, I might be able to find some time to read and reflect.

US take on Italy vs France in Germany

2006-07-11T05:42:00.000+09:00

An interesting piece from Byju. Guess how US commentators handle their audience to a live football (oh, sorry its a "soccer") game between Italy and France in Germany? Read this blog.
What else is the US take here..

A celebrity pic (that I missed)

2006-07-10T09:45:00.001+09:00

Well, can I say this is a celebrity picture? Or, say, it could have been?

We were walking back from the park with the kids, and close to our apartment, we saw the roads are empty. There were three policemen standing at the crossing and no one was crossing the road, ignoring the green pedestian cross signal. Everyone was working on their multi-megapixel mobile phones. Not fully realising whats going on, I too pressed the camera button on my phone.

Then the motorcade appeared. A police car in the front, then the black royal car with two police motorcycles on the sides and a few on the rear, another couple of cars. Good view. I have never seen this in Japan. I aimed my camera and took the picture in 3M Pixels. Good. I thought.

Then the cars turned right and took the small road in front of us. The rear window of the black car was open and an old lady was waiving her hands. Everyone clicks their phones. Then my wife screamed "thats the Empress". I ended up taking just the picture of the motorcade!!

"Who's that, umma?" asked Irene
"Thats the empress of Japan"
"Who's an empress"
"Empress is the emperor's wife"
"oh.. so they are the rulers of whole Japan"
"Well, not exactly.. and almost never exactly...."

4th of July Fireworks

2006-07-06T11:53:00.000+09:00

North Korea has joined the US independance day Fireworks celeberations this year. With the test fire of a new long range missile.

"World" leaders are crying fowl. The new threat to world.

Really?

What is the interest for N Korea to attack any other country than S Korea and Japan. And if S Korea and Japan are not US dummies, why should they attack? And with no nuclear power supporting N Korea in the region, I feel this is just a regional balance, not an imbalance.

Well, I had decided not to bother about these silly issues. And not to spend my blog space for these....

30 Hour clock

2006-07-05T13:41:00.000+09:00

It was funny how my fathers friend missed train he had reserved for to attend my sisters wedding. He reserved for the train leaving a Saturday night from Alwaye station. Time of departure: Late night. Precisely, 12:40 midnight

He goes there with family to board the train on Saturday night, checks the reservation chart and his name was not there. Ticket looks perfect. Date is correct, train is correct. Why this happened? Railway officials explained that his train actually left already. Saturday early morning 00:40. Or Friday night 12:40.

The 24 hour clock did not help him. I always get into confusion when I setup meetings on Outlook calendar. 12:30 is noon or late night??

I have found the way TV Program listings in Japan solved the issue very interesting. They have a clock starting 06:00 Hrs running till 30:00 Hrs. For guys who want to stay late and watch TV, they don't have to turn back the page. Worldcup match on Jun 17 in Germany do not get live broadcast on Jun 18 (01:00AM), but on the same day, Jun 17, but at 25:00 Hrs. This is not just interesting, it is really useful. Why the hell is day changing so stealthily in the mid of the night, when everyone is supposed to be sleeping and nothing specific happens in nature - other than so many clocks will be striking in full length disturbing people who want to enjoy a nice sleep? Who designed this clock?

I guess the early middle-east clock was correct. Sun set. Day closed. A new day. If there is a new moon, a new month too. The first twelve hours is what we call night. The second 12 hours will be what we call the day. That's why Jesus asked "Are there not 12 hours in a day?" For the normal 12 hour clock, mid of the clock is either mid of the day or mid of the night. If you offset the 30 Hrs Japanese clock to start at 00:00, you get back to this.

I have read about how calendars were evolved and invented, how Christmas was created in December etc. Never heard about who created the stealth clock that changes day in the mid of the night. Can anyone help me?

Never too late

2006-07-04T07:04:00.000+09:00

Does it really want to have someone like Narayana Murthy come up with an initiative to chase away the late night slogger software engineers back home? Probably yes. Read the following mail from Murthy. At a minimum "I have nothing else to do" is a very dangerous situation to start with.

It's half past 8 in the office
but the lights are still on...
PCs still running,
coffee machines still buzzing...
and who's at work?
Most of them??? Take a closer look...
All or most specimens are 20-something male species of the human race...
Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...
and why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let's ask one of them...
Here's what he says... "What's there 2 do after going home... here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee.. thats is why I am working late...
importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.
Bachelors "time-passing" during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what r the consequences... read on...
"Working"(for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.
With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback,(oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!).They aren't helping things too...
To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!
Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and that's when the problem starts... becoz u start having commitments at home too.
For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become a "early leaver" even if u leave an hour after regulartime... after doing the same amount of work.
People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...
Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they r spoiling the work
culture at their own place and never realize that they wuld have to regret at one point of time.

*So what's the moral of the story?? *
* Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
* Never put in extra time " *unless really needed *"
* Don't stay back un-necessarily and spoil your company work culture which
will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues. There are
hundred other things to do in the evening..
Learn music...
Learn a foreign language...
try a sport... TT, cricket.........
importantly Get a girl friend or gal friend, take him/her around town...
* And for heaven's sake net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.
Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: *"Life's calling, where are you??"*

Please pass on this message to all those colleagues
And please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to
forward this!!!

和 - Harmony - Basis of Anything Japanese

2006-06-30T16:37:00.000+09:00

I am just out of a cross cultural training. Basically it was a discussion. My take from the discussion was one kanji 和-wa. This Kanji represents Japan and anything Japanese. Like 和食(washoku - Japanese cuisine) 和服（wafuku - Japanese attire) etc. The meaning of this kanji is harmony. And that is the basis of anything Japanese.

When doing business, there is a harmony that you should create. That is your buildup time when you will be meeting customers, sharing good time and still get no business. If you set this up, business can flow on that. As long as you maintain that harmony. They will also maintain. So even you fail one project, they will come back. As long as you did not "disrupt the harmony". You can make error - but accept and apologise properly.

This is true in a meeting too. You present a new idea and you expect feedbacks. You get only staring faces. Or sleeping ones. Or in between. No dynamic lips at all. Why? There is no harmony to talk. If you want a discussion to happen, you should have sent this out earlier, had enough of background meetings etc. Or, you should have had that relation that keeps discussions flowing.

Now someone is talking about something. You are not expected to say a blunt NO. Why? Thats against the harmony of the meeting - of the group. Make a round about suggestion that you probably dont think it is correct. Or talk after the meeting. Thats so common. Post meeting and side meeting discussions. Where information flow will happen. The formal meetings are only meant for sustaining the harmony.

Well, this I guess is true about India too. We all love harmony. Job security. Morning and evening tea has no alternatives. Though we are getting bastardised with the American corporate thinking of late. We are now being told to say NO when we do not agree. The Boss is not always right; tell him on the face etcetera. I am not saying which is right and which is wrong. But I guess we Indians still love harmony at heart. We feel hurt otherwise.

May people think Japan is inefficient because of the round and round discussions and the delay in taking decisions. I would say this is a short sighted view. Harmony is in fact the most efficient system, right? What we call Impedance matching in electrical world. Thats where the whole system becomes efficient. When Japanese talk, the system is something that cuts across so many years in lenagth and so many people in width.

For all people leaders too, I guess we have to learn this harmony and the art of building and maintaining harmony. Unless we are sure that the entire team is okay with the American style of working. If all are American, then that system may be efficient too.

Politeness, Poverty and Society behaviours

2006-06-29T14:24:00.000+09:00

A long and tiring mail debate on the topic on ddg mailing list. Though it kept the list very active, I dont think the discussions were any productive towards the end. And may be so many would not like entering more discussions. Just a rise in mails per day, not senders per day.

It all started with Anne or Anu forwarding an article about "10 things I hate about India". I did not read the article. Like many such fwded mails. But I did read all the mails. Anne complaining about giving foreigners priority in airports - which she is not getting in London. Whether it is happening in London or Newyork, I would support any preference given to foreigners. Do not assume a color of skin when I say foreigner. Treat guests with respect. Give them priority. Let him be from Japan. Let him be from Niger.

Anu complaining about the impolite attitude of the immigration officer when she flies off from Bombay - saying a short bye to the homeland. I would agree with Jojans point that the impolite behaviour whatever seen in sections of the society is the result of the grooming of the society in general and not the fault of the individual per se. What I do not agree is his suggestions that those who complain are the ones who cannot or do not see the real problems of the society.

>>I cannot forget their (immigration officers) rude face and they would not even look
>> at our face while stamping passports.

But generally the most rudest looking people are Keralites. The first thing I noticed after coming to Chennai is that the people are very much polite, compared to Kerala.

But does it mean, Keralites are not friendly?

It is really bad that, some people, blinded by the glittering, artificial politeness and sophistication of developed countries, commenting bad about their own people.

You have to see the facts. Considering the daily income of an average indian and the competition he faces to earn his daily bread, politeness is secondary. These software professionals, they don't
have time to worry about the worries of the common man. They worry about the condition of Bombay air port, worry about entrance fee at Taj!!!

This the real problem of India.

One has the right to demand a decent behaviour. Has the right to complain about impoliteness. Accept errors. Do not defend. Do not blame the society for individual errors. If you wait for the society to be well positioned in affluences to improve your morals, I would guess it will never happen. pathu kittiyaal nooru mathiyennum nooru kittukil sahasramennum..

I just signed off the debate. I dont think it is going anywhere than kind of fighting each other.