Reasoned Rebellion

One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch

2010-12-25T16:14:00.001-05:00

As computing scholars, when we talk about the evolution of software and hardware we cannot help but reminisce about the good old days when a floppy disk was so flexible it actually "flopped" or how much the thumb drives of today put the computers of yesteryear to shame. We also cannot help but talk about the continued Windows vs. Mac battle of the titans.

As it stands, even now, 85% of operating systems worldwide are still running Windows. That number is down significantly from the state of affairs twenty years ago when the Apple logo was only seen by schoolchildren. Why is that? The reason is simple: software applications. Apple computers were known to be the superior educational tool because of the breadth of academic software available for the platform. In contrast, private sector developers were attracted to Windows and so Microsoft won the choice of the business user. Now, thanks to dual development, most software libraries cater to both. Although the two operating systems are at a more even playing field than ever before, user loyalty is arduously influenced this late in the game.

Most recently, cloud computing and Web 2.0 have revolutionized software development. Google has championed the paradigm bringing to the browser software tools that run circles around natively installed competitors. Gmail, Google Dogs, Google Maps, Google Voice, Youtube and Picasa are just a few of their many triumphs. They have metamorphosized the browser into a great OS equalizer; "Mac vs. Windows" has become irrelevant to applications and their programmers are finally liberated from the confines of redundant development. Any device with a browser can use cloud-based products. The day of the software "application" is slowly dying. Google is not alone. Other wonderful services we use everyday have surrendered to the cloud: Netflix, Pandora, Bing, CNBC, Flickr, CNN.com, Paypal, EBay, Bank of America, Skype, Hulu all just scratch the surface of the benefits platform neutrality has already brought to our daily lives.

Until now. With five little words, Apple has decided to breathe new life into the climate that was responsible for their misfortune two decades ago: "there's an app for that." A loyal iTunes customer eloquently explained it to me one night: "The internet is old news. Apple beautifully created so many of these new things called apps! Nobody uses websites anymore. Now, there's an app for everything! Why go to the website when there's an app?"

Sadly, apps are nothing new. Applications are in fact a primitive concept that we should be evolving away from. Mobile devices are no different than computers and have browsers that can share in the benefits of the cloud. The "app" culture is nothing more than proprietary and monopolistic shackles on computing advancement engineered by Apple, Inc. The giant has exploited the popularity of a single device to engage software makers who are once again faced with preferred platform anxiety.

And so, history will repeat itself once more; dual and triple development for most vendors is necessary. They are now focusing less development dollars on the neutral web browser and are being forced to choose a mobile platform in which to release new functionality. Will it be iOS? Android? Windows? Can a new OS player even enter the market? Will developers now have to maintain and debug apps for all of these platforms to satisfy the segregated user base? Why should they have to? Instead of creating more value for the end user these organizations are wrongly preoccupied with the viral spread of our colossal leap backward into using "apps" once again.

Memorable Quote from "A Single Man"

2010-07-18T22:30:00.003-04:00

The Nazis were obviously wrong to hate the Jews. But their hating the Jews was not without a cause… But the cause wasnʼt real. The cause was imagined. The cause was FEAR.

Letʼs leave the Jews out of this for a moment and think of another minority. One that can go unnoticed if it needs to.

There are all sorts of minorities, blondes for example, but a minority is only thought of as one when it constitutes some kind of threat to the majority. A real threat or an imagined one. And therein lies the FEAR. And, if the minority is somehow invisible……the fear is even greater. And this FEAR is the reason the minority is persecuted. So, there always is a cause. And the cause is FEAR. Minorities are just people. People……like us.

Fear, after all, is our real enemy. Fear is taking over our world. Fear is being used as a tool of manipulation in our society. Itʼs how politicians peddle policy and how Madison Avenue sells us things that we donʼt need. Think about it. Fear that weʼre going to be attacked, fear that there are communists lurking around every corner, fear that some little Caribbean country that doesnʼt believe in our way of life poses a threat to us. Fear that black culture may take over the world. Fear of Elvis Presleyʼs hips.Well, maybe that one is a real fear. Fear that our bad breath might ruin our friendships… Fear of growing old and being alone.

The India Diaries Part V: Kasauli

2010-04-23T21:31:00.006-04:00

Driving up through the mountains of Kasauli was a true adventure. Monkeys at every curve of the dangerously narrow road almost seem to be mocking us in hopes our car would tip over. The ordeal was worth it. The views from this hill station were unlike any that I have ever seen!

We were warned about those monkeys. Don't feed them, don't make eye contact, just ignore them. They were known throughout India not to be the friendliest of creatures attacking without warning. We had a rude awakening after settling in and enjoying tea service out on the resort's patio. All of a sudden, an ape from a nearby tree pounces onto our table. Terrified, we jumped back and took cover in the room. We could do nothing but watch the creature stuff a few sugar cubes into his mouth and make a quick getaway with our buttered toast.

Unlike the weather we just came from, there was a slight chill which was exhilarating each time I took in a gulp of the crisp hill air. I was eager to get to the top -- Monkey Point -- a place, according to on-line sources, was the peak of Kasauli where all the monkeys congregated. Surely, it was a sight to see. It was even protected by an Indian Air Force base where we had to be searched before entering. The challenge of climbing to the top was a daunting one, but that would not dissuade me from seeing those adorable yet vicious little monkeys.

Once at the top, I realized that my trusted Internet was sorely wrong. This was not really Monkey Point. It was Manki Point -- a religious reference to Hanuman. Not a monkey in sight. Just a tiny Hanuman Temple. The few people who were there were buying rice puffs as prasad from the temple's "holy man" (or vendor) and offering the bag to the hanuman statue. The statue's attendant was placing the bag of puffs on the deity's mouth and emptying the contents into a bowl as an offering to the Lord.

I wondered where all the puffs were eventually going. My guess was right back into bags and resold to another sucker.

As I was about to begin my descent to the ground, I noticed an emaciated dog resting at the steps of the temple. Every bone in her body was visible. My heart went out to the pup. I couldn't do much to help, but then realized that there was indeed one food vendor atop Monkey Point. I quickly bought a bag of rice puffs, but instead of feeding it to the statue, I thought it more worthwhile to give the poor animal some hunger relief. I learned that day that a bag of rice puffs doesn't become prasad just by putting it near a piece of porcelain. It becomes prasad when you do something noble with it.

The India Diaries Part IV: After the Wedding

2010-03-29T07:59:00.065-04:00

It was very late at night when I started walking back to the guest house after the final ceremonies. The moonlit sky was blue and appeared to have a light golden hue. My strides were slow and steady as I pondered the events that took place over the past few days.

I thought to myself, in the middle of India, as stray dogs lay asleep on the warm pavement, as very wealthy men drove past me in their luxury cars and as a loving family completes a multi-day wedding ceremony, that all living beings on this planet are given life for a reason.

The reason is to build wealth. That wealth can be defined in several forms, whether it be in accumulating large monetary assets, political power, or simply just being able to put food on the table.

I felt at that moment I was walking away from the wealthiest house in the neighborhood.

When I walked into their home for the first time I felt the warmth of their togetherness. The groom's mother's smile filled my body with her joy. The bride's laughter was like a tranquilizer that put me completely at peace.

Yes, indeed, this was a very rich family.

The India Diaries Part III: Hitting the Road

2010-03-27T23:32:00.014-04:00

On our way to Chandigarh, the car started shaking and with it my heart started to beat rapidly. The last thing I want is to be stranded in the middle of a hundred-degree sweltering Indian highway.

As we went from gas station to gas station seeking assistance, I was amazed at how well we were directed toward a competent mechanic. Not only are the natives very knowledgeable about their surroundings, they are extremely helpful and ready to share information when called upon.

So we finally pulled up to a repair shop -- simply a dirt road with several open-air shops. Multiple cattle, goats and dogs had clearly also made the area their home. Out from one of the three-walled structures ran 5 guys who immediately began to address our problem. Without the aid of a garage, advanced tools or computers, they were able to get us back on the road in 20 minutes flat. Try doing that at Pep Boys in the United States. The cost of this service? Four-hundred rupees. About 10 US Dollars when you factor in a generous tip.

Indian ingenuity is unlike that of any other I have ever witnessed.

The India Diaries Part II: Taking the first step

2010-03-26T22:48:00.018-04:00

So while on the phone with V, I finally worked up the courage to step over the sleeping dog and made it outside. I noticed many street vendors with bikes or wagons going to door-to-door with fresh groceries and newspapers. With an ipod blasting through my ear phones and Nike's on my feet I was clearly a fish out of water.

Running on the street is something I would have to get used to quickly for my own safety. Negotiating with traffic is much harder to do here. The stray dogs don't make it easier either. After about a half mile of street jogging inside the colony, I came to a gated park; an oasis from the outside world.

I took a step into a beautiful part of India with flowers and trees I had never seen before. My favorite is the bottle brush tree which is soft and velvety to the touch.

The warmth of the sun caressed my face as I observed the residents walking, meditating or doing yoga. At risk of standing out even further, I converted the walking path into a jogging track and was the only one actually doing any strenuous activity.

Today I would leave Delhi for the Puttar's wedding in Chandigarh. In India for less than 24 hours and already starting a road trip adventure with friends. Maybe this isn't so bad after all.

The India Diaries Part I: Arrival

2010-03-26T10:32:00.004-04:00

The aircraft finally descended upon Delhi when that signature Indian aroma overwhelmed me. While waiting at baggage claim, I overheard a mother speaking to her young son who was clearly visiting the country for the first time.

"See, India isn't dirty is it" asked the mother.
"No way" adamantly confirmed the boy.
"Wait till you go outside, kid," I thought to myself.

I was right. Another Indian city that needed a good scrubbing. I was on my way to a dear friend's home where I was being hosted for the week. The first night of sleep would be critical to avoid jet lag. It wasn't a total success since I woke up at 4am and started reading my emails and began drafting this blog entry. I eagerly consulted weather.com for the outdoor temperature and sunrise time to determine when it would be safe to go out for a run -- 6:18am.

Having easily killed two hours at the laptop, I opened my door to a mongrel who decided to take a nap outside of my bedroom. Already forewarned that these animals can sense fear and bite without warning, I decided take refuge and the shut the door. What have I got myself into?

Alice on IMAX

2010-03-06T23:35:00.003-05:00

This entry does NOT contain spoilers
So I went to go see Alice in Wonderland on IMAX 3D opening night. As always, Tim Burton has amazed me. Johnny Depp's performance is further evidence for his versatility as an actor.

Disney, however, proceeds to disappoint the Alice in Wonderland franchise. They continually diverge from the true essence of the characters to suit their storyline. For instance, the "Red Queen" appears in this and other Disney interpretations of Alice in Wonderland. In the book, the Red Queen first makes her appearance in the sequel, "Through the Looking Glass." The Red Queen is not to be confused with the villain in the first book, the Queen of Hearts. Disney thinks these two should be the same character. Regrettably, the only thing the Queen of Hearts and the Red Queen have in common is that they are both queens.

I guess I will have to once again accept the fact that another book was butchered on the big screen by production companies.

About this blog's headline image: The Cheshire Cat is one of many iconic characters depicted in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. At one point, the cat disappears gradually until nothing is left but its grin, prompting Alice to remark that she has often seen a cat without a grin but never a grin without a cat.

Late for Work

2010-02-16T08:32:00.003-05:00

An email I wrote to my boss and team this morning...

So you guys are never going to believe this but I did in fact leave on time today.

I stepped out of the house to a beautiful dusting of snow on the empty streets. The trees glistened in the delicate morning sunlight. The falling flakes cooled my recently shaven face.

On my way to the bus stop I was chased by a large black lab. My first instinct was to run, but that proved futile. My screams were only heard by the neighborhood trash cans. When cornered, I decided to reach out to the creature who indeed turned out to be quite friendly. Upon closer inspection, he had no tags or collar.

After a few minutes of worrying about what I would do with the beast, a frantic owner with a leash found us and was extremely grateful I kept the dog's attention long enough to prevent him from running further into the street.

I bid them both good day and proceeded onward to work having missed my regular bus. As I write this, I regret that I am now en route via my late bus, standing room only, with nothing better to do with my ride time than to regale you with my adventurous tale.

See you soon,

Vishal

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Job Creation

2010-02-15T21:54:00.006-05:00

As every HR professional probably has, I have been listening to and considering Obama's job creation plan very carefully.

The bottom line is that it is simply not within the government's capacity to create meaningful new jobs. The government can create the illusion of productive activity by creating temporary, unproductive positions in which people are paid with money taken from people who are being productive, but only the market creates jobs that are required to meet consumer demand, which create new wealth and trade production. The money we've already paid in taxes to take care of road maintenance and bridge building has obviously already been spent by a wasteful government, so now they're borrowing money which will have to be paid back in the form of higher taxes, so those types of jobs, although in some cases helpful, aren't creating wealth, and they are temporary.

In response to Obama's "green" strategy: If "green" products and services, whatever they are, were in demand, the market would be meeting that demand, so "green" jobs are also an illusion. This is government's attempt to play the part of producer, but it's a joke. The administration seems to think that by calling make-work jobs "green" it will somehow add value. The State can get out of the way, if they want to help, and not add regulatory and tax burdens to the free market. There's a fundamental problem with the State when it attempts to control economic activity and create growth by interfering in the market and attempting to spur and guide production by "creating jobs".

When the State attempts to adjust economic growth upwards because slow growth is politically damaging, it places political wishes above economic reality. If the State has this kind of power it would have found the right combination of interventions by now, after decades of tinkering, to maintain permanent full employment and steady economic growth.

You don't stimulate the healing of a recuperating patient by adding unnecessary layers of bandages and hiring more unnecessary doctors and nurses, even if the bandages are green and the healthcare workers will like you for giving them the work. The patient doesn't heal faster and the cost of treatment only skyrockets.

On the mountain

2009-08-24T14:47:00.003-04:00

Curious thing happened last Friday.

It was raining like crazy. Despite the weather, I went outside for a quick run. I was on this mountain near Montclair and noticed these two beautiful deer along my path. I sat still and observed them as they ate from the same patch of grass and drank from the same puddle of water. They were both drenched by the earlier downpour. Each was exhausted by what was certainly an arduous day. Still, they managed to find each other after the clouds cleared. As the sun set, the rain also began to fade, exposing a rainbow behind them with a promise of another day.

The tale of the lost (and found) passport

2009-07-30T11:30:00.006-04:00

So V went to the DMV on Saturday and as I was helping him arrange his papers on Sunday I noticed some strange woman's passport clipped together with his. We both panicked. Apparently the DMV (geniuses that they are) gave him an extra passport and this poor girl was missing hers.

Upon further investigation, we read she is on an H4 visa and V recalled seeing her on the line ahead of him -- a beautiful woman with her young husband and toddler child. What could we do? If we returned it to the DMV, she wouldn't have a prayer in hell getting it back (geniuses that they are).

As there is no address and phone number in the passport (why is that, by the way?), I resorted to technology to assist me. Google, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn all failed me! What to do now? A ha! The visa inside had a sponsor's name and address -- most likely her husband. Google Maps informed me that she lives about 25 miles away.

What choice did we have? We piled into the car, hooked up the GPS and went on our way, proud of ourselves for being good samaritans and fantasizing that she would reward us with a home-cooked dinner (yeah, right!).

So we finally arrive in this picturesque suburbia in the middle of no-where and ........ NOBODY'S HOME! We approach a neighbor who apparently knows the couple very well. She told us her neighbor was indeed missing her passport and went to the DMV the day before to get her license. She also had a phone number. So, we called and left a message that we found her passport and were entrusting the document to her friendly neighbor.

Starving on our way back, we attempted to find an open restaurant around (no such luck) and on top of that God decides to thank us by giving us a heavy downpour which caused us to get lost and soaked with no other dinner option but IHOP. All's well that end's well, I suppose.

The next morning I get the sweetest call from the woman's husband thanking me profusely and regaling me with various stories of his wife and him blaming each other for the missing passport while they frantically searched for it in every crevice of the house and car. The sound of his relieved voice was thanks enough. No home-cooked dinner necessary.

I will love you always, Michael

2009-06-26T14:30:00.005-04:00

As a young boy, I remember waiting for the school bell to chime so I could go home and get ready for the world premier of the Thriller short movie on MTV. Back then, cable was a rarity as were VCRs. My cousin and I rushed to my uncle’s house, who happened to have both, and watched it live as we taped it. Dancing all night -- truly thrilled -- we watched that tape over and over again until our parents commanded our bedtime. The real-life Peter Pan, Michael Jackson refused to grow up -- just as we pledged never to grow up that night. His death takes with him his childhood, and a part of mine as well. To my generation, he was a hero and an inspiration who we loved.

I watched in horror on a television in Times Square as the tragic story unfolded yesterday. The world treated him unjustly and now they cry in pain over the loss of a fragile genius who they themselves abused. How disgusting. He will now be judged by his Creator and his accusers will also, one day, be punished for robbing the world of such talent, generosity and compassion.

Michael Jackson taught me many lessons -- the most important of which was to ignore adversity. He used his innocence as his most lethal weapon against those who condemned him. A valuable technique indeed; it has carried me through many tough times over the past few years. Now, I stand at the precipice of what will forever be known as the end of Michael Jackson and the end of innocence forever.

About this blog's headline image: One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records — including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" — 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career — more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. Before his death, Jackson had announced a 50 date sell-out "This Is It" comeback tour, in London, England.

Random Quote: Religion

2009-05-30T06:48:00.005-04:00

"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
- Steven Weinberg
American physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics

The Right Stimulus Package

2009-04-29T16:29:00.008-04:00

Last week, my train arrived early into Penn Station and so I decided to buy a hot bagel and relax for a few minutes in the middle of what is morning chaos for rush hour commuters. Watching their movements for a few minutes, I began pondering the mammoth problem of human transport that large cities like New York face. The downward spiral of our economy these past 12 months has given the industry a reprieve from what is usually a challenge that grows each year: get more people to their destination in less time.

I don't think the solution lies in building larger, faster trains -- or paving wider roads -- or even constructing more bridges and tunnels. At it's core this is a fundamental problem in human resource allocation. Every day, millions of people across the country wake up and go to work at the same time and come home at the same time. The ramification puts tremendous strain on various infrastructures such as transportation, food services, energy, etc. and furthermore increases risk to public health (promoting transmission of disease, difficulty deploying emergency services, etc.)

This paradigm simply does not meet society's demands. For example, like most people in New York City, I work a 7-to-7 shift regularly which prevents me from patronizing businesses that operate 9-to-5. I often can't even get the basics done like my dry cleaning, go to the doctor or even get maintenance done on my house or car.

The solution is simple. We can temporally distribute resources utilizing 2nd and 3rd shifts.

The result:
1. Keep businesses open, earn more profit and increase productivity (are you listening Obama? this is all the stimulus you need)
2. Reduce strain on society's resources
3. Keep employees happy (flexible hours)

About this blog's headline image: Grand Central Terminal (GCT) is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City which offers a total of 75 tracks and 48 platforms covering 48 acres.

Random Simpsons Quote: Home Equity Loans

2009-03-14T15:56:00.005-04:00

"I have this magical thing called a home equity loan! I borrow all the money I want and the house gets stuck with the bill! Sucker!"

- Homer Simpson

Beans for Bears

2009-03-03T15:02:00.004-05:00

Ahh, coffee. Refreshing, energizing, elixir of God.

I remember two years ago Sunshine had introduced me to the light-blended coffee beverages at Starbucks. Most of them tasted great, were low in fat and loaded with protein. I soon became addicted and found myself buying one on the way to work each day. Several credit card billing cycles later, I realized that I had been indulging myself in a $1,000 a year habit. Needless to say, I get my coffee for free at my office now.

Starbucks is now battling the $4/cup price image and today introduced it's first value meal scheme. Re-branding themselves as "affordable," they are offering $3.95 "breakfast pairings" which include a cup of coffee with an egg sandwich, oatmeal or coffee cake. Still a far cry from Micky D's dollar menu, Starbucks wants to portray both value and quality. "If we are a premium brand, it doesn’t mean we can’t provide value,” said Howard Schultz, the chief executive. “We believe when we come out of this, we will be stronger because we maintained our core customers and, through providing value, will bring on new customers."

But, will they ever be able to break away from their excessive $4 image? The recessionary period has hit Starbucks hard. Already, the chain has closed 1,000 stores and eliminated 9,000 jobs. Schultz vows there will be no more layoffs as the company continues to introduce a flurry of new products including tea lattes, instant coffees and mp3 downloads. Time will tell if this new pricing model is yet another step away from their core competency or if it's another lurch toward something it's not (like an in-store music creation studio).

Starbucks has built itself on creating a culture. Have they lost their way? Their customer can no longer afford to patronize them and therefore they need to make a last-ditch effort to reach out to the more frugal coffee drinker; they need to break away from the same elitist image they worked so hard to build.

About this blog's headline image: According to legend, Ethiopian shepherds were the first to observe the influence of the caffeine in coffee beans when the goats appeared to "dance" and to have an increased level of energy after consuming wild coffee berries.

Random Simpsons Quote: Punishment for Murder

2009-02-17T20:01:00.002-05:00

"The punishment for murder varies by state ... and by race."
- Homer Simpson

The Power of Love

2009-02-13T11:03:00.001-05:00

A friendly reminder for all of those lovers out there:
FOXNews.com - Healthy Love Life Leads to Well-Being - Health News

"Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News

You don't need money, don't take fame
Dont need no credit card to ride this train
Its strong and its sudden and its cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
Thats the power of love!

Vishal to Obama: I believed in you!

2009-02-11T14:22:00.005-05:00

The problem here is simple: credit is scarce because nobody wants to lend and nobody wants to buy. Why not? Because the Federal Government is threatening to borrow and spend a TRILLION DOLLARS. If you are bank, would you sell your product if you knew that the best customer ever was going to be spending a TRILLION dollars soon?

Of course not. Even if they choose not to buy from you, the price of lending is going to go up. It can't help but go up, not when a TRILLION dollar buyer is showing up. So nobody is lending now.

And nobody is buying anything now. Why would you? You want to be positioned correctly for the TRILLION dollars which is going to enter the market soon. You don't want to invest your money in something, only to find that the market has shifted and your investment is toast.

It’s pretty silly to think you can solve a problem created by too much borrowing and spending by doing a lot more borrowing and spending.

If everyone followed that logic in everyday life, imagine the results:

“Gosh, I’m forty pounds overweight now. I better start eating more.”

“Honey, you’re getting too many speeding tickets.” “Well, then, I better start driving faster.”

“That girl says I irritate her, but I really like her. I guess I should start being more obnoxious.”

“Oh, dear, the roof is leaking again. I better make the hole bigger.”

About this blog's headline image: In deflation, prices drop, and consumers stop buying in anticipation that prices will be lower in the future. Deflation is rarer than inflation, but when it strikes, it causes destruction all around with falling demand, sluggish investments and widespread unemployment.

Top 10 Lessons Learned From India

2009-01-02T11:55:00.002-05:00

10.White lines designating lanes on the roads mean absolutely NOTHING.
9. Everything tastes better with buffalo milk -- except corn flakes.
8. Don't accept the first price a merchant gives you for anything. Simply respond with a disgusted look on your face and say "Baraber Bathow!" and pay the lower price.
7. An 80-rupee haircut is a great deal, but the power may go out once or twice while your sideburns are being trimmed.
6. Stray dogs can be friendly ... at a distance.
5. Seaside property has breathtaking views but for the sake of your nose, try not to take any breaths.
4. Coca-cola, Lay's and Domino's may seem like familiar brands but they taste like nothing you find in the US.
3. The Jutti Chupai Indian wedding game can get a lot more violent in India than it ever is in the US.
2. Bollywood entertainment is considered beneath Bombay's most elite, but at the same time unifies the many diversified castes/cultures of India.
1. Riding a moped in traffic requires a great amount of maneuvering and skill... and wearing a helmet is pretty much... well... futile.

About this blog's headline image: The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India.

That's the way it is

2008-11-17T19:01:00.002-05:00

When you want it the most there's no easy way out....

HO Problem 1: Getting TV

2008-10-30T10:40:00.003-04:00

First of all, I need to apologize for yet another extended period of silence. I have a good excuse, like I always do. This time, I am very happy to announce that I recently became a homeowner (or a "HO" as the Puttar affectionately calls me). Luckily, the experience has given me much to write and think about:

1. The feeling of being Wells Fargo's bitch for the next 30 years.
2. Endless home repairs and renovations.
3. Dealing with surprisingly complacent neighbors who no doubt will eventually prove to have stepped right out of Wisteria Lane.

As a consequence of these new topics of discussion, I am starting a new series (and blog tag), appropriately titled "HO Problems."

The first of this series will focus on a project that most homeowners would find seemingly simple: getting cable TV service. Now being a good little Sindhi boy, while I was sitting in my old apartment, I called Cablevision well in advance to schedule my new service install. They gave me an install date about a month in the future. When the consultant finally arrived that fateful day, he informs me that my house is not "cable ready" and that a new line is required and needs to be run from the street to my unit. He tells me a crew of 5-6 people is needed to perform this service and Cablevision very promptly scheduled this the following week.

Again, being the good little Sindhi boy I am, I patiently waited at home all day during their time window (7am-8pm) for two separate installation teams (external first, then internal later in the day). When the first crew arrived, I was taken a bit by surprise since I didn't hear the bell. I ran to the door when I noticed the trucks and as soon as I opened it in came several large Negro men. I was distracted and unable to account for how many there were. I saw a few go upstairs, a few go downstairs, and the last one (who was tall and skinny) remained with me on the main floor. At that point, I excused myself and retrieved my wallet to place it in my back pocket (securing the most valuable thing in the house.)

As I proceeded to go upstairs to check on the workers, the tall, skinny one demanded my attention with very peculiar questions that I was convinced were designed to distract me "where is the broiler?" "can you show me your garage?"

I quickly guessed that the people servicing my cable needs weren't the most educated people in the world when I heard the foul language they used to converse with each other. A few moments later, a plump round one was attempting to solicit my attention in the garage. "Can you move your car?" I agreed. While I was getting in, he smiles at me and says "You have a lot of money don't you?"

That question immediately sent my heart racing. "Not anymore. I spent all my money buying this house," I retorted and drove off. I did not return to the invaded house until my good friend and neighbor, Ankit (henceforth to be known as "A-Man"), accompanied me. With both of us now in the house, the workers completed their tasks and left my home peacefully. I guess I convinced them I was broke. Indeed, I only had $2 in the wallet in my back pocket :-).

Later, the second team of 2 gentleman ("internal" cable) arrived to actually give me my TV service. The external line was left by the previous team in the garage and now needed to be routed to all the TVs in the house. It was explained to me that a small hole would need to be drilled in the hardwood floor to bring the wire up from the garage. After making the hole in beautiful wood, the technician requests permission to make a second hole because the first one wasn't in the correct position.

It was then that I lost my temper. "Why didn't you measure before drilling?" "If I allow you to drill a second hole, what guarantee do I have that the second one will be correct and you won't proceed to drill 5, 6 maybe 7 holes in my floor before you get it right??"

He fired back at me. I don't remember what he said but it was clear this one was dumber than the first lot that came earlier in the day. I demanded he cancel my order and told him this hassle was not worth it and I was switching to Verizon. He ran out of my house without giving me his name or my service call order -- everything I needed to identify him and force Cablevision to repair the damage he caused. I ran outside and demanded he give it to me when he yelled back "I don't have to give you my name or order number because you have no order -- you just canceled it."

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. I noted down his license plate and eventually strong armed Cablevision to correct the problem.

Oh the joys of owning a home. The American nightmare.

About this blog's headline image: An artist's 3D rendering of an ideal urban apartment.

World Peace

2008-07-25T15:19:00.002-04:00

So today was a bad day. I was going on one hour’s sleep, everything at work went wrong and responsibilities of life were thrusting down upon me harder than a Chippendale’s dancer at showtime. Then, I heard it. The sweet sound that is always welcome on a hot day in New York – the ice cream truck song.

I got my money ready and gladly said “chocolate cup, please!” and hurriedly took the treat back to my desk where I enjoyed every frigid spoonful melting in my mouth. My day was instantly better to the point where I can’t help but think that this phenomenon may be exploited to resolve global conflict. Think about it – if we gave everyone in the world just one free ice cream cone, we could end war as we know it. People would become increasingly amiable and understanding. Presidents, Prime Ministers and even dictators would sign peace treaties over some sprinkles and hot fudge.

And so, as I consume my last few bites of frozen happiness, I say to Congress – get rid of those tanks and invest in some ice cream trucks – destroy the guns and milk some cows – there is much work to be done!

About this blog's headline image: Ice cream was introduced to the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their ice cream recipes with them. Confectioners sold ice cream at their shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era. Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were known to have regularly eaten and served ice cream.

Random Boondocks Quote: Bad Neighborhoods

2008-07-20T11:13:00.003-04:00

[Grandad turns a health food joint into a soul food restaurant]

Huey: Grandad, look what you've done to this community!
Grandad: It's not that bad...
Huey: Not that bad?? This place used to sit between a coffee shop and a day spa... now there's a liquor store and a damn FOOT LOCKER! This food is destructive!
Grandad: This food is your culture!

Recalled Quote of the Week

2008-06-21T19:18:00.006-04:00

Where: YSA Retreat in Boston (inside the Hyatt elevator)
When: 6AM (after a night of partying)

Old White Man to Vishal (wearing a YSA t-shirt): Excuse me, can I ask you... is this some kind of convention for middle eastern kids?

Vishal to Old White Man: Yea, kinda. This is my floor. Bye.

Stroll down memory lane

2008-06-16T10:03:00.001-04:00

I feel like a kid again!

You know you're getting old when...

2008-06-08T17:45:00.007-04:00

A few days ago, I was watching television when on came a commercial for a new show on the Nick-at-Nite lineup. For those you who don't know, and if you don't, then you've been living under a rock, Nick-at-Nite is programming lineup of very old shows that used to air on network TV back in the day. I remember when Nick-at-Nite graced classic black-and-white shows like I Love Lucy and Bewitched. To my utter dismay, I learned they are now adding "Family Matters" later in June.

C'mon people! Family Matters!?!?! I clearly remember as a child watching the season premier of this show on TGIF. I literally grew up with Steve Urkel and the Winslow family. How can this show already be featured on Nick-at-Nite? This is a sad day for us children of the 80's. It is the ultimate validation that we are now entering the confines of adulthood and are oh so pitifully old.

About this blog's headline image: Introduced with the first color televisions, the SMPTE color bar test pattern included colored images, the top two-thirds of the television picture containing seven vertical bars in order from left to right, the colors are white, yellow, cyan, green, magenta, red, and blue.

Quote of the Week

2008-05-06T21:07:00.003-04:00

Punjabi Puttar: "Keerti, what are you doing tonight?"
Brown Boy: "The same thing I do every night, Yashoo - try and take care over the world."

Too Smart or Too Dumb?

2008-04-30T20:15:00.004-04:00

A well-known published economist, Richard Rothstein, recently wrote a very interesting article on the state of the American education system. I am currently interviewing candidates for an entry-level opening in my own department and have been receiving much interest even from those people who are overqualified.

Rothstein theorizes:

College graduates are, in fact, not in short supply. Indeed, some college graduates are now forced to take jobs requiring only high-school educations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, for the next decade, only 22 percent of job vacancies will require a college degree or more. Forty percent will require only one month or less of on-the-job training, and could be filled by high school graduates or, in many cases, by dropouts — retail salespersons and waiters and waitresses, for example.

Compounding the puzzle is the fact that despite overqualification, the return to education is historically very high. Lots of economists agree that this is a clear sign that we should invest more in education. But if many of the college grads who already exist aren't using their skills, what's the point of spending resources to make more of them?

One possible explanation is that "overqualified" college grads are low-quality students who didn't learn anything. So, in essence, they are not overqualified at all since earning a degree doesn't necessarily equate to having knowledge.

I think three factors may be at play here:

1. The high returns of education might actually be high returns of high-IQ, highly motivated young people, the sort of people whom we would not be surprised to see graduate from college.

2. Young people who neither accumulate human capital nor generate any valuable potential still have motivations to go to and finish college, namely peer pressure. All of their friends are going to school, and this is an opportunity to spend 4 years out of the workforce with their friends.

3. College is now accessible to a wider variety of people who otherwise would not have been able to attend. These students may incur a heavy debt of student loans, but these are the same people who often incur a heavy credit card debt also. Plus, student loans are subsidized, as is a college education generally. (I might add, undergraduate educations are subsidized by parents, and perhaps university endowments, as well as various levels of government.) Basically, families that would have never sent their kids to college 30 or 40 years ago now do so, in large part because those families are much better off financially. Kids who grow up with comfortable middle class lives expect the status of a college degree whether they would really benefit from it or not. Easy government money and parents all too willing to subsidize make this choice easy.

These phenomena, along with the lack of quality teachers, has really stripped the BA/BS of any real status or meaning, forcing those who really want to differentiate themselves to go to grad school.

About this blog's headline image: Never judge a book by it's cover.

Little Sindhi Buds

2008-03-31T19:22:00.005-04:00

I spent the weekend with friends and family at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. The festival commemorates a gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan in 1912. The trees, known as sakura, bloom for a brief period of just ten days or less and then wilt quite quickly.

We stayed with the Puttar in VA and as usual had our late night/early morning rants about anything and everything including the meaning of life, socioeconomic justice, religion, ethics and relationships. A topic that I was very interested in was the comparison of cultural standards between first-generation Americans like myself and their immigrant parents.

A brief summary of one theory is simply that immigrants who moved to America 20 or more years ago and had first-gen children usually raise them with the Indian values that existed when they left their country without regard for the evolution of thoughts and ideas that has occurred in 2-3 decades' time. My own father, for instance, just went back to India after 28 years and so his perception of the country was, in essence, frozen in time and he raised my sister and I through an out-dated frame of cultural reference.

There are, of course, many advantages to first-generation existence, the most notable of which includes enjoying a diverse and rich background. Having Indian roots and being an American fosters the opportunity for much fusion in every aspect of life from food to religion. I can't tell you how many times I've eaten tandoori turkey on Thanksgiving or praised Ganesh after Derek Jeter hit a homerun. This same duality, however, may have a tendency to cause much confusion in a child's upbringing.

It just so happens that I was also in DC attending an event organized by the Young Sindhi Adults (YSA), which is a group of twenty- and thirty-somethings with Sindhi ancestry. These individuals have an even greater sense of disparity since they not only fall victim to the temporal shift that all first-generationers go through but also to a geographical and cultural displacement that has occurred since the 1947 partition of India which resulted in Sindh becoming a Pakistani territory forcing Hindu-Sindhis to flee across the border. Because of their coerced dispersement throughout India and now across the world, the Hindu-Sindhis are beginning to experience the traits of a lost people with no homeland and dying culture.

This is what makes YSA such an important organization to Sindhi youth in America. It provides them a vehicle in which they may engage in preservation of their culture despite the negative forces of time and space. This admirable group, while having fun in a social atmosphere, fights an uphill battle to essentially save something precious that was lost by their forefathers. At this rate, no matter what the damage, Sindhi culture can be salvaged, but it remains in a state similar to cherry blossoms: so very beautiful, yet delicate and fragile.

About this blog's headline image: Whereas in China the cherry blossom symbolizes feminine beauty, the feminine principle, or love in the language of herbs, in Japan the cherry blossoms are believed to exemplify the transient nature of life, because of their short blooming times.

Better an honest enemy than a false friend

2008-03-16T23:21:00.005-04:00

I am reminded of the Aesop fable of the Partridge and the Fowler:

A fowler caught a partridge and was about to kill it. The partridge earnestly begged her to spare his life, saying,

"Madam, permit me to live and I will entice many partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me."

The fowler replied,
"I shall now with less scruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations."

Stupidity of Daylight Savings Time

2008-03-08T19:14:00.003-05:00

One of my greatest idols, Benjamin Franklin, came up with what I think is one of the stupidest ideas in history: Daylight Savings Time. He estimated that the simple act of awakening at sunrise and retiring at sunset in the months between spring and fall would result in an annual savings of a little more than 64 million pounds in candle wax for Paris’ residents.

This concept of conserving energy has always driven the idea of daylight savings. Recently, however, a study came out of the University of California-Santa Barbara that looked at over 7 million electric bills over three years in Indiana where for decades 77 of it's counties declined to participate in DST in protest. In using these counties as a control group, the University was able to determine that observing daylight savings actually resulted in an increase of $8.6 Million in residential electricity spending.

Now, Ben did have the right idea. The study found that electricity used to light homes actually decreased and that the increased use of heating and air conditioning during daylight savings was responsible for residential bills going up. Mr. Franklin, brilliant as he was, hardly envisioned Nintendos and computers, big-screen televisions and dishwashers. He wanted, as he wrote, the “pure light of the sun” to help him escape the “smokey, unwholesome and enormously expensive light of candles.”

About this blog's headline image: Daylight Savings Time (DST) is the convention of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less.

Super Bug & Celine

2008-02-17T18:24:00.010-05:00

Well, for the past four days I have been horribly sick in bed with the latest "Super Bug" virus (strep-flu-bronchitis-bacterial-viral strain). I'm finally winning the battle now and hope to be back to 100% in another day or two. While in bed, however, I spent my time productively watching lots and lots of television. On Friday, CBS aired a Celine Dion special promoting her new post-Vegas album.

During one of the numbers, with the help of Hip-Hop genius, Will-I-Am, she remixed her own new song Eyes on Me.

It's a great song with amazing lyrics in it's original form, but I thought adding Will-I-Am was absolutely brilliant. I hope Celine will release the remixed version in the United States soon.

Dion admits she's not great at hip hop and although she currently possesses one of the most powerful voices on the planet, I am of the opinion that if she performs more of these types of hybrid songs she'll attract a much broader audience.

About this blog's headline image: In 2004, after accumulating record sales in excess of 175 million, Celine Dion was presented with the Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards show for becoming the "Best-selling Female Artist in the World." In April 2007 Sony BMG announced that she had sold more than 200 million albums worldwide.

Random Comic Strip: The Perils of Dating

2008-02-16T17:56:00.000-05:00

Courtesy: Dilbert.com/United Media

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

2008-01-27T19:33:00.001-05:00

Sindhu Slavery House

2008-01-22T22:32:00.001-05:00

I belong to a listserv I rarely pay attention to called "Sindhu House NJ." Today, however, I received the following email from Pooja Sabhnani, daughter of Varsha and Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani who were recently convicted on charges of human trafficking.

I need to ask you all a favor. What im asking you, is if you can, to please write a letter, addressing the judge (Judge Arthur Spatt) of the type of people my parents are, the type of family we are. This will give him an idea of who we are in general, and this will help him in deciding what kind of a sentence to give mom and dad, you may not think that ur letter will do much, but everyone has their own opinion of my mom and dad, and each owns reflection of my parents will portray them in a different light, which will be important for the judge to see.

This could be a huge deciding factor for when it comes time for him to give a sentence, instead of giving them 40 years, he could reduce it to say 5 yrs based on the type of people they are and how the community perceives them.

This call for help has been answered by many prominent figures in the Sindhi community including, I am ashamed to say, some Khubani's. The Sabhnani's, in my opinion, are pure evil and criminals in the eyes of the law; any organized support for their cause by any Indian group is sordid.

Varsha and Mahender brutally mistreated two Indonesian women, hired as maids but treated as chattel, to be beaten and misused to the extent that they were often hidden away from sight, in the garage and basement of their mansion in New York.

A jury of their peers found that Varsha and Mahender confiscated the two slave's passports and regularly starved and beat them. They put in 21 hour work days, seven days a week for the promise of $200 a month – a fraction of the amount the lowliest paid of their American counterparts would have received. One of the slaves told authorities that she found out that even this was a lie -- her family in Indonesia had been receiving only half that sum.

According to testimony given by the victims, beatings were routinely administered either in the laundry room or bathroom, they said, with "a rolling pin, bamboo stick and a broomstick." The feds noted in court papers that the victims "bear highly visible scars that appear to be permanent over much of her body.

"She also has deep, open knife wounds behind her ears, which were inflicted by [Varsha]."

The Sabhnanis, who own an international perfume empire, also own a 2-bedroom condo on Broadway that’s worth about $1.4 million, and have enjoyed long vacation trips to Singapore, Australia and Bahrain. Their mansion at 205 Coachman Place, which is located in one of New York’s most expensive enclaves, has stone lion statues out front and a pool the size of a small lake in the back yard.

You know, it's comical to me how Indians can be so quick to answer Pooja's call for help and defend the behavior of her parents.

And yet so suddenly their moral compass becomes ostensible when they speak to their kids about "sins" regarding religion, sexuality and matrimony.

One of these days I'm going to write a book about socioeconomic and cultural hypocrisy and the Sabhnani case is going to be my first chapter.

Dance Fever

2008-01-13T23:33:00.000-05:00

My good friend Tom invited me to attend Parsons Dance Company at Joyce Theater this weekend.

This was my first exposure to modern dance and being that my knowledge of professional dance was previously limited only to Britney Spears and *N Sync, I was truly moved by what I experienced; the shear depth of spirit, strength and communication that exists between dancer and audience. Parsons' choreography was breathtaking, particularly during the "Caught" number which utilizes strobe lights to create the illusion of weightlessness.

At times I found myself interpreting a story from the performance which was both entertaining and emotional. At other times I was able to sit back and just enjoy the dancing. In both cases, it was amazing how much raw power a single, nonverbal movement had on my impassioned response.

I'm sure this positive experience will provoke me to attend other companies in the metro area, so if anyone has any interest in joining me just let me know.

About this blog's headline image: Modern dance is a style of theatrical dance that rejects the limitations of classical ballet and favors movement deriving from the expression of inner feeling.

Defying Gravity

2007-12-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a important decision to make between two opposite paths? Each one just as valid as the other? Each one with just as many benefits and pitfalls? Each one able to change the course of your life forever? When faced with choices like this, sometimes I feel so torn as if I am made up of two different people arguing with each other.

Around this time last year, I saw Wicked on Broadway and I remember this song being one of the ones that helped make things just a little bit clearer.

Enjoy.

The Oprah/Obama Ticket

2007-12-14T21:58:00.000-05:00

Oprah has had a series of blunders this year including a failing new Harpo talk show with Rachel Ray, child abuse at her girl's leadership academy in Africa, and supporting (and then emasculating) author of a Million Little Pieces James Frey.

Now, she has openly come out in support of presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Winfrey, who has been urged to run for president herself, reaffirmed her support for Obama's presidential candidacy this week. It is the first time that Ms. Winfrey has endorsed – not to mention thrown her brand behind – a political candidate.

Oprah has consistently been given the title of most influential person in the world. There's little question her fan base will be there to support their goddess but is she using her powers for good this time? I'd have to say yes, if only because she will be sending more women to the polls that otherwise may not have gone. Even if they vote for Obama only because the most popular girl on campus told them to, hitting either the polls or a political rally just once makes it so much more likely that they will again. Who knows how many women will come for the star power and as a result walk away politically-charged?

Say what you will about Winfrey, she knows exactly how powerful she is and there's just no reason to believe she doesn't take that power seriously. Agree with her choice or not but be glad she cares enough to take a break from housewife makeovers to work for change in her country and in the world. It's because, in fact, she first bothered with the housewives (a group who no one else bothered with) that ordinary women listen to her now. Women trust her because she spent years proving that they matter to her. Why should they listen to their ministers, husbands or CNN any more seriously than the girlfriend who bothers to help them find exercise short cuts or pick out good books to read while they wait out another soccer match or pediatrician appointment?

So, bravo, Oprah!

And here's a warning for Obama: remember what she did when James Frey and the teacher at her leadership Academy crossed her? She'll do it to you too, so you had better deliver. Oprah knows the power of admitting to your mistakes and requiring those around you to do so as well.

About this blog's headline image: Barack Hussein Obama is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.

Vishal Day 2007

2007-12-09T00:37:00.001-05:00

Click on "gallery" for more pics.

Random Movie Quote: Pretty Woman

2007-11-18T22:03:00.000-05:00

Edward: Vivian, what is it you want? What do you see happening between us?

Vivian: I don't know. When I was a little girl, my mama used to lock me in the attic when I was bad, which was pretty often. And I would… I would pretend I was a princess, trapped in the tower by a wicked queen. And then suddenly, this knight, on a white horse, with these colors flying, would come charging up and draw his sword… and I would wave, and he would climb up the tower, and rescue me. But never in all the time… that I had this dream… did the knight say to me, "Come on, baby, I'll put you up in a great condo."

Random Simpsons Quote: Trick or Treating

2007-11-05T23:16:00.000-05:00

[Mrs. Skinner slams door on trick or treaters]

Bart: Hear me out! Seems to me we gave her a choice. Trick or treat. She didn't give us a treat so...
Milhouse: Bart, where are you heading with this?
Bart: 'Trick or treat' isn't just some phrase you chant mindlessly like the lord's prayer, it's an oral contract!

Bad Blood?

2007-10-31T20:07:00.000-04:00

When Haresh was ill a few months ago, I spent a lot of time by his side. There were signs all over the hospital that they were in desperate need of O- blood and that donors were urgently needed. It just so happens that I have O- blood and so I went off to the donation facility to answer the medical staff's call for help.

During the detailed medical screening, I revealed to them that I do indeed have a heart irregularity I was born with called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome which involves an extra electrical pathway in the heart. Many WPW patients, like myself, are completely asymptomatic and lead normal lives. Others can choose to have the accessory pathway surgically removed.

What is shocking to me, however, is that I am an otherwise healthy 26-year-old man with O- blood. Despite this, my donation was not welcome that day simply because I have WPW which can only be detected by EKG. The nurses quietly agreed with my assessment that denying my donation was ludicrous but that their hands were tied by FDA regulations.

Unfortunately, there are other nonsense FDA requirements that turn away healthy blood donors every day. Many of these are racially and sexually motivated through ignorance and discrimination. For instance, no matter how healthy the donor, travel to or birth in some countries in Africa and South Asia preclude a blood donation.

Many people don't know this but it is illegal for gay men to donate blood. The policy was created in the mid-1980's when the HIV epidemic was new and screening for blood was still lax. Today, blood safety is assured by a three-tiered safety system. The system has redundancy built in because the FDA assumes that mistakes may be, and indeed are, made at any step of the process. The first step is "donor deferral" -- that is, a policy of restricting those who are most likely to introduce HIV or other infectious agents into the blood supply. Donor deferral is meant to minimize the chance that an HIV-infected unit of blood is ever drawn in the first place. The policy is most evident in the intimate questions asked of all who donate blood. It is the most visible step in the blood safety process, and the point when gay men and other individuals from certain "high risk" countries confront the fact that their blood is unwanted.

The second stage of the blood safety system involves testing all donated blood for infectious agents, including hepatitis viruses, HIV, HTLV (a cancer-causing virus), and syphilis. The tests for HIV and other infectious agents are very good, and every day, units of infected blood are identified and discarded at this stage.

The third stage of blood safety in the United States is the regulation and quality control of the blood banks themselves. The collection, processing, and distribution of blood is a big business in the United States. The FDA ensures that blood banks operate according to good manufacturing practices.

Despite the tests in place, the FDA still continues to discriminate against potential homosexual blood donors based on the fear, not medical evidence, that they are at high risk for HIV. It is clearly rooted in homophobia, not medical facts.

The official thinking for why gay men should not be allowed to donate goes something like this:

If the blood donor pool is opened to healthy gay men, not many more potential donors are included given the small numbers of gay men overall.
Assume 5 percent of the 130 million American males are gay, which gives a rough estimate of 6.5 million gay men in the United States.
Assume at least 85 percent of these men are healthy, HIV-uninfected, with no other exclusions and that they would donate blood at roughly the same rate as the rest of the population (less than 5 percent).
This results in an expansion of the donor pool by only about 250,000 people.

The FDA makes these cold calculations in their decisions to potentially lift the gay blood ban. The numbers simply don't make it worth their while. The fact of the matter is that with respect to blood donation, homosexuality is placed in an even higher risk-class than prostitution and intravenous drug use, practices that do not result in a permanent ban on giving. The only other permanent restrictions are for people with medical conditions like cancer and heart disease. The contradiction for gay men becomes apparent when one considers that a heterosexual man can have unprotected anal sex with female prostitutes for years, stop, and then donate blood twelve months later, while a gay man in a monogamous relationship who practices safe sex is forever barred from donation.

WPW or not, I don't think I want to give blood to a society who discriminates on the basis of race or sexual orientation. I'll keep my blood to myself thank you very much.

About this blog's headline image: Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate body's principal means of delivering oxygen from the lungs or gills to body tissues via the blood.

Go Redskins

2007-10-28T18:11:00.000-04:00

I was in Parsippany today and took a walk around the town. I stumbled across my old High School and thought what I wouldn't give to be back there again. It's funny how when I was there I couldn't wait to get out and now it seems like the best place on the planet. If only I could start over and fix all my mistakes...

Feels like Today

2007-10-13T11:53:00.000-04:00

This one is dedicated to you, Hareshi...

Feels like Today
Rascal Flatts

I Woke up this morning
With this feeling inside me that I can't explain
like a weight that I've carried
Been carried away, away

But I know something is coming
I don't know what it is
But I know it's amazing, you save me
My time is coming
And I'll find my way out of this longest drought...

It feels like today I know
It feels like today I'm sure
It's the one thing that's missin'
The one thing I'm wishin'
Life's sacred blessin' and then
It feels like today
Feels like today

You treat life like a picture
But it's not a moment thats frozen in time
It's not gonna wait
Til you make up your mind, at all

So while this storm is breaking
While there's light at the end of the tunnel
Keep running towards it
Releasing the pressure, that's my heartache
Soon this dam will break

And it feels like today I know,
it feels like today, I'm sure
It's the one thing that's missin'
The one thing you're wishin'
Life's sacred blessin' and then,
It feels like today

Feels like, feels like your life changes
Feels like, feels like your life changes

It's the one thing that's missin'
The one thing you're wishin'
Life's sacred blessin' and then,
It feels like today

Feels like, feels like your life changes
Feels like, feels like your life changes

About this blog's headline image: On average, lightning strikes the earth about 100 times every second.

Random Simpsons Quote: Commercial Airlines

2007-10-04T10:39:00.000-04:00

Marge: Did you fly to Chicago on a commercial airline?
Homer: No way, commercial is for losers and terrorists! I flew on a private plane!

Haresh

2007-09-21T20:46:00.000-04:00

Haresh is a dear brother and friend. One thing I always admired about him was his sense of humor. I would defy you to sit in a room with him for five minutes and not crack a smile. No matter what would happen, whatever serious problem you had, he could always cheer you up as if he had this talent to snatch you from reality if only for a few moments.

His love of laughter was contagious. Fun loving and light hearted, he was truly an entertainer.

He didn’t lead an easy life, but he made it seem easy. He never tolerated any clouds hanging over him because he had great faith in his dreams and the dreams of others. He was very encouraging.

It’s difficult to explain, but Haresh was different – he had sort of an uncanny inner peace about him – something so special in his soul no one else possessed – any darkness around him always faded quickly as if there was this precious little light in him that always shined brightly.

No matter what or who tried to bring him down he refused to fall. Failure was never an option for Haresh. Using his quick wit as his sword and his humor as his shield, he went through his short and arduous life without hesitation or fear.

My earliest memory of Haresh was when we were kids. He was in LA and I was in Queens. He used to come to New York and visit me every so often. He truly was like a big brother. I wanted to wear the clothes he wore, I wanted to listen to the music he listened to, and play the games he played. I wasted no time taking him around to all my friends showing him off as if my real brother had come home to visit me. I was so proud.

But then it would come time for him to leave. I knew I would see him again, but it made my heart ache to see him go; he made me feel very much like I feel right now.

To cope, I remembered the good times we had during our visits. We used to play all day – he took me around to arcades, parks and zoos. I remember this one time out of the blue he started calling me “chikni” and in fact he kept calling me that into adulthood.

Actually, it was not till a few weeks ago that I found out chikni was not a reference to a chicken or some other type of bird like I had assumed. I just learned in Hindi it means “hot looking girl” !!

That was your typical pure Haresh humor.

When asked about death and dying, Winston Churchill said something that sounded very much like something Haresh would say:

I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.

I will really miss you, Chikni. We will meet again soon.

Dreams

2007-09-18T23:06:00.000-04:00

I first heard this song, by Grace Slick, last Fall. During the past year, it's message has brought me much strength and has gotten me through some difficult times. I heard it again today and thought I would share with you all...

Lyrics
Oh I, I believe in magic and I believe in dreams
Until I heard the thunder rumble
I saw the mountains crumble -
Then came the circus so I followed it’s parade

With all the fancy lion tamers, high-wire fiery flamers
Ravers of every kind
I saw those high-stepping sexy witches
Sons of satin, sons of bitches - all were there in my dreams
all in my dreams
Sodom and Gomorrah
I see you’re back in town.
And though you build a wall around you
The multitude still found you
Just like a circus to start with a parade
Oh but a parade of the

Fancy lion tamers, high-wire fiery flamers
Ravers of every kind
I saw those high-stepping sexy witches
Sons of satin, sons of bitches - all were there in my dreams
all in my dreams
Now I can see the whole world is just a circus
And I can tell that the circus why it’s just hell
And then I heard a drummer rolling
I found my seat’s been stolen
Then a spotlight hit me going wild in center ring for all you

Fancy lion tamers, high-wire fiery flamers
Ravers of every kind
I saw those high-stepping sexy witches
Sons of satin, sons of bitches - all were there in my dreams
all in my dreams

My dreams my dreams
Well I, I believe in magic and I believe in dreams
I said I, I believe in magic and I, I believe in dreams
I believe in dreams
I said I, I believe in magic, I believe in dreams
I believe in dreams, magic, magical dreams
I wanted to sing that I believe in dreams
Magical dreams, oh I believe in dreams
I said I, I believe in magic, I still believe in dreams

The Beauty of Hawai'i

2007-09-04T06:03:00.000-04:00

I am writing this blog entry as I sit quietly in my hotel room peering out of my window as the night stars look back at me. I am absolutely amazed by these islands. Their heavenly mountains, endless rainbows and deep, blue seas are simply breathtaking. My friends and I have had the opportunity to do much sightseeing at Pearl Harbor and other notable sites as well as do many other activities like hiking, canoeing, snorkeling and going to an amazing Polynesian luau. Pics are available in the gallery and more will be uploaded as they become available.

Amidst all this beauty, I can't help but wonder how it all started. There are, of course, many myths about the Goddess Pele and how she is responsible for the volcanic eruptions that formed much of the island's pristine pulchritude. Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanic fires, symbolised woman at her most destructive. Like many other beings of Polynesian myth she was a great voyager. She was said to have come from Kahiki (Tahiti). Some say she was driven out by her elder sister whose husband she stole, or that she was driven towards Hawaii by a flood. Others say that she simply longed to travel and, tucking her little sister Hi'iaka (who was born in the shape of an egg) under her arm, she set off on the journey to Hawai'i.

I am fascinated by the native stories such as these and their simplified explanations of complex concepts. It's what makes life here so laid back. A great vacation spot. Back to reality tomorrow in New York...

About this blog's headline image: Hanamua Bay is a marine embayment formed within a volcanic cone or crater and located along the southeast coast of the Island of O'ahu (just east of Honolulu).

Reason #842 Why Apple Must be Stopped

2007-08-13T21:00:00.000-04:00

Nobody I know has actually bought an iPhone (yet) and I would discourage anyone who is actually thinking about it. Some iPhone users are up in arms this week over what they say are defective touch screens. Apple's own support forums were flooded with messages from iPhone customers complaining about the quality of their devices. Many of the touch screens that came out of the manufacturing plant are blurred or darkened especially when watching movies.

It is not clear how widespread the problem is, but Apple has removed the threads from their support forum that described the issue. It appears they will replace iPhones for customers who have this problem, although no official statement has been made by the electronics giant.

Last week I was having dinner with my cousins during which my sister -- yes my own flesh and blood -- announced she wants to be a Mac user. Moreover, recently even the Puttar betrayed Windows and switched to a Mac. Clearly, their propaganda on television and other media is convincing enough for even the most hardcore technology enthusiast to convert. But, how dangerous is this for society?

Apple has always adopted a very religion-like stance with their users. They basically are saying we'll make all the hardware, provide all the software and control much of the development in a closed environment so we can "protect" you. You don't really have to think about anything when you buy an Apple product. We know what's best for you and your iLife.

And, when there is a problem and you criticize us, we will not hesitate to censor you to protect our image.

Windows/IBM machines, on the other hand, exist on a more open plane. Yes, they have viruses and are less user friendly. Nothing is provided for you. If you want piece of software or a peripheral you have a plethora of choices and need to make a decision for what's best for you. You actually have to think. It's not all laid out for you by mommy. Nobody has cherry picked your options for you.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather live in a world where people actually think about technology and understand how to use it instead of opting for a more user-friendly alternative where a multi-billion dollar organization has to make all the decisions for everyone.

About this blog's headline image: On June 28, 2007, during an address to Apple employees, Steve Jobs announced that all full-time Apple employees and those part-time employees that have been with the company at least one year would receive a free iPhone

Sprint Nazi: "No Service for You!"

2007-07-16T19:58:00.000-04:00

Well it’s been a few weeks since I put something up. There are several reasons for my lack of attention to the Rebellion:

1. I’ve been extremely busy with my new job.
2. It took me much time to adjust to my new cellular carrier and equipment.
3. There hasn’t really been anything in the news that caught my fancy, until now.

So what could I have read that was so provocative it motivated a blog entry after nearly 6 weeks of silence?

Well, it’s the recent story about Sprint. As some of you may know, I am a new Sprint subscriber so when I got a taste of this tidbit it really commanded my attention. The cellular provider cut off over 1,200 subscribers for making too many customer service calls. A Sprint representative said the average customer calls customer service less than once a month, but the 1,200 clients getting the boot call 40-50 times as often. So, instead of working through the customer’s problems they decided to discontinue their service waiving the $200 early termination fee and giving them 30 days to find a new cellular carrier if they so choose.

Even the New York State Consumer Protection Board weighed in on this and suggested that the company pay a $200 “termination fee” to each of the customers whose contracts were cut short.

With that said, calling 40-50 times a month for customer service of course seems excessive. However, speaking as a Sprint customer myself, who has only had service for a little over 30 days, I have already called them about 10-15 times. My account is constantly mishandled and my price plan changed without my permission. What’s worse is that when a Sprint rep gives me an answer on the phone I know is wrong I am forced to call again on the same day to get somebody with a little bit more intelligence (not a lot, just a little). I am convinced that each time I call I will get different answers to the same questions time and time again.

Unfortunately, the real reasons for why these customers had to call so many times remains nebulous. But, of the 1,200 that were cut I believe it is very likely a good portion of them had real problems that Sprint just did not want to take the time to solve. And that’s sad. Others were probably no-good complainers that just wasted Sprint's time. But how many of these subscribers were simply victims of poor network coverage? How many of them were trapped with faulty phones that they couldn't upgrade? And who deserves our pity? The last time I checked, the customer was king.

About this blog's headline image: In practice, cell sites are grouped in areas of high population density, with the most potential users.

Soaring 1200 feet in the air

2007-05-30T10:02:00.001-04:00

This weekend, we went to VA beach for Memorial Day. Pictures can be found here.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of my trip was going parasailing with the Puttar nearly 1200 feet up in the air. I literally rose to the heavens! It was the most fun I've had in long time. Up there the world just looks different.

I definitely recommend parasailing to the adventure-minded vacationer, however I should caution that there is no shortage of horror stories. The parasailing industry has exploded worldwide, with a corresponding increase in the number of injuries and fatalities. According to the Parasailing Safety Council, there is currently no system in place to monitor just how many of these accidents occur.

One incident in Hawaii involved a young Japanese female tourist who, despite being described as a happy person having a great vacation (as reported by her female companion), inexplicably threw herself out of a parasailing two-seater bench in a suicide dive while suspended high in the air.

Two other parasailing accidents that occurred in the Bahamas in recent months involved a 27-year-old woman drowning to death in the Atlantic ocean and another where a young surfer lost an arm while being hit by a speed boat.

Accidents occur in other countries, too. A 10-year-old boy, who was parasailing with his parents died in the United Arab Emirates in 2005. The rope connecting his family to the boat snapped. The parachute he was still harnessed to was then swept to the shore and tossed against a minaret at the resort of Jumeirah, near Dubai. The boy was dead on arrival at the hospital.

Before boarding the boat, the Puttar and I signed a document releasing the company of any liability in case of injury or death.

About this blog's headline image: Typical parasail flights are performed with 500-1000 feet of line although some operators use as much as 2000 feet of line.

Random Desperate Housewives Quote: Mother's Day

2007-05-09T23:35:00.000-04:00

[Bree is compulsively fixing a button on her psychologist's jacket during their session]

Dr. Goldfine: I'm sure Freud would not approve of this.

Bree: Oh, who cares what he thinks. I took psychology in college. We learned all about Freud. A miserable human being.

Dr. Goldfine: What makes you say that?

Bree: Well, think about it. He grew up in the late 1800s. There were no appliances back then. His mother had to do everything by hand, just backbreaking work from sunup to sundown, not to mention the countless other sacrifices she probably had to make to take care of her family. And what does he do? He grows up and becomes famous, peddling a theory that the problems of most adults can be traced back to something awful their mother has done. She must have felt so betrayed. He saw how hard she worked. He saw what she did for him. Did he even ever think to say thank you? I doubt it.

Got Milk?

2007-05-03T10:40:00.000-04:00

Well the price of gas is going up why not milk?

Analysts are predicting an overall 8 percent increase for whole milk, from an average of $3.07 a gallon to about $3.35 in October.

The increase, ironically, is actually related to the United States' dependency on foreign oil. Sure, we own the cows, but the price of livestock feed (i.e. corn which is also used to make ethanol) is skyrocketing.

So what does this mean for the average Joe? Well, for Sunshine it probably just means less milk with her weight watchers cakes. For the rest of us, do we really need milk? Many people in our society are lactose-intolerant but the fact of the matter is that we are all actually meant to have an intolerance to milk and dairy products as we get older. Think about it, human beings are the only mammals on the planet that will continue to drink another mammal's milk after our own mothers stop lactating. Without cow's milk at a young age, the average child with no dairy tradition would lose their metabolic ability to process the lactose in milk by the age of four.

The late Dr. Benjamin Spock, America's leading authority on child care, spoke out against feeding cow's milk to children, saying it can cause anemia, allergies, and insulin-dependent diabetes and in the long term, will set kids up for obesity and heart disease, America's number one cause of death.

So, the price of milk is going up? Who cares? Stop drinking it and stop giving it to your children! Who knows, less consumption of milk might even reduce the price of ethanol and save you money at the pump.

About this blog's headline image: A cow farm in the Kingdom of Belgium.

Massacre at Virginia Tech

2007-04-18T18:18:00.000-04:00

I am so sick of this.
I am completely numb.

33 dead, more wounded. What is wrong with this country? When one of my co-workers told me about the shooting I barely flinched. My first thought was "oh well, it happened again." It was almost as if I was expecting it. And why shouldn't we expect it? Since Columbine, we've had not one... not two... but three or more school shootings each year.

I remember Columbine very vividly, almost 8 years ago to the day. I was a naive young boy then. Freshman at college. Just got my first car. Volunteered a lot. Participated in almost every protest there was. Then I hear 14 kids not much younger than me were shot and killed in Littleton, Colorado.

The country erupted.
How can this happen in a school?
In a place of learning?
Where our children should be the safest?

Now back then I didn't have an opinion on gun control and I don't have one now. But one thing I knew for certain 8 years ago is that Americans would not stand for this. This problem will be fixed, I thought to myself.

And now, in the year 2007, we are faced with the deadliest shooting in United States history. How senseless. We have not learned anything and our children are still dying.

When I heard about the shooting in VA, my second thought was "my God, those poor babies." I cannot consciously bring another life into this unsafe world.

About this blog's headline image: Students at VA Tech pose in front of one of their buildings on the Blacksburg, VA campus.

Congrats to Manoj and Shalini and Building Trust

2007-04-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

First, I want to deeply congratulate my cousin Manoj and his fiance Shalini on their wedding. Manoj, boy do you know how to party! We are having a 6-day non-stop gala to celebrate their union all culminating with an extravagant reception Saturday evening. So far, it's only Thursday and one thing that I've discovered about my body is how little sleep it actually needs to function! (And, a little coffee never hurt anyone either ;-) )

Some of the occasions are quite a trek for me so I decided to use the travel time wisely and read a few passages from The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey. And no, he's not the "7 Habits" Covey you are thinking of; he's that Stephen Covey's son. Now, I'm a big fan of the 7 Habits book which the President of my company gave me when I graduated high school. I still have my tattered and worn copy which I carry around and call my "bible." I treat the habits as tenets to guide me through my daily life. However, I feel the Speed of Trust is the typical, repetitive, principle-oriented, "big picture," propaganda material that we have seen come from the Covey enterprise since the original release of the 7 Habits.

In Trust, Covey Jr. first proclaims the obvious that "trust is necessary to credibility -- and, therefore, the empowerment -- of any organization, economy or human relationship." Trust cultivates collaboration, productivity and efficiency, Covey says. In the absence of trust, it is human nature to put up protective barriers that inhibit meaningful interaction.

Trust can be built, broken and restored. Those who speak and act in ways that build trust pursue it as a distinct purpose. They are attuned to the “five waves of trust,” which move outward among people, like the ripples on a pond after a tossed pebble hits the surface.

They are:
1. “Self-trust” – To trust or be trusted by others, you must be able to trust yourself.

2. “Relationship trust” – Consistently build and establish trust in your relationships. Consistency is a fundamental principle of trust-building behavior.

3. “Organizational trust” – This involves trust in organizations and their sub-units, not only businesses, but also nonprofit t, governmental and educational institutions.

4. “Market trust” – Reputation supports brands, which depend upon the market’s trust.

5. “Societal trust” – This requires directly or indirectly creating value for society.

As a doctoral candidate at NJIT, I did extensive work on trust-building in electronic marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.com. It's not only about trust, but branding as Covey clearly points out in his section about "Market Trust." One look at Manoj and Shalini or any other happily paired couple demonstrates the unconditional "Relationship Trust" they both must share to keep their love alive.

Now, why I am going on and on about trust during my cousin's wedding? Well, it's because of the sheer joy I feel when my family gets together for celebrations like this one. It genuinely gives me a sense of security, prosperity and warmth. Out-of-towners and domestics alike, we all get to see each other so rarely and so our time together is precious. But, there is still a disconnect for me and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this. Could it be a lack of "Relationship Trust" within our own family? I don't think so. But, I think Covey hit the nail right on the head in his section about "Societal Trust."

Our family goes beyond the relationships within it. We are an entire society which is why the undertaking of trust-building is so mammoth.

Trust is so important to our society that, frequently, people take it for granted. In societies characterized by high trust, people have more opportunities to collaborate and cooperate, and consequently have more choices. Contribution is sine qua non of societal trust.

Tziporah Heller, a notable author, says "in a society without trust, the members are closed to each other; they don’t want to learn from one another or to help one another. The damage is incalculable." Sounds familiar, doesn't it guys?

Covey opened his book by saying trust can be restored! He describes 13 behaviors that foster trust like listening, creating transparency and accountability. If you have few minutes, I would highly recommend a quick read of the abstract that outlines all 13 very briefly.

So, fam, for the rest of the week my focus is on A) Celebrating Manoj and Shalini and B) Using this opportunity we have to spend limited time together to foster and create trust. Anyone else up for the challenge?

About this blog's headline image: Bridal mehndi is the application of henna for intricate body art on the skin.

Manoj & Shalini's Wedding Celebrations

2007-04-05T11:09:00.000-04:00

All shaadi, all the time...

All pictures (so far) can be found here.

3 videos from the reception

1 video from the wedding

4 "Funny Uncle" Videos from Manoj's Puja:

Two videos from the Mehndi & Sangeet are below:

Cooking Woes

2007-03-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

I was reminded this weekend that my friends Rashan and Nisha are excellent cooks. I've been living "on my own" now for several years and I just can't get this cooking thing right. Is it normal to want to put chaat masala on everything? Are all curries supposed to taste the same? My eggs and chicken tend to want to explode in the microwave. My peanut butter jar never sees bread. The onions obviously don't want to be cut, because they make me cry for even trying. Exactly how much parsley is in a palm full? What is a "pinch" of salt? And someone please explain to me how to flip an omelet without the raw egg creating a pattern on the kitchen counter. The most common phrase heard in the kitchen when I am there is: "Oh shit!". In the end, though, it all tastes good to me and me alone.

About this blog's headline image: A well organized kitchen.

Random South Park Quote: Sexual Harassment

2007-03-23T08:12:00.000-04:00

Mr. Garrison: Does anyone know what sexual harassment means?

Cartman: When you are tying to have intercourse with a special lady friend and some other guy comes up and tickles your balls from behind.

Congrats, lil' sis'!

2007-03-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

I wanted to pause for a moment and extend my baby sister congratulatory wishes on accepting a new position (well, she's not a baby any more but will always be to me!). She graduates from Montclair State University in May and has decided to join Toys R Us later this summer in an entry-level rotational program! Congrats, Avisha! I have 3 points of advice as you take this next step in your life:

Number 1: Work hard; you're only single and in your 20's for a short period of time. You will never be able to work this hard again. Time flies. You'll wake up one day and be in menopause and wonder what happened.

Number 2: Be true to yourself; business is a power play. No one succeeds without lying at least a little. But, never lie to yourself about anything.

Number 3: Ignore adversity; don't accept limits just because someone tells you 'this is the way it is.' These people fear change and will never get any where.

While I am at it, belated congratulations are in order for Sunshine and the Brown Boy as well! Sunshine accepted a new position with eTrade earlier this this year and Brown Boy just got promoted at AIG. Congrats, guys! All those late nights at the office (and in Sunshine's case, at the bar) paid off!

About this blog's headline image: Toys R Us has a 60-foot indoor ferris wheel at their Times Square location.

Meadows of Hope

2007-03-15T13:41:00.001-04:00

Silence is golden. But, still, I apologize for my silence these past few weeks. It's been about two months since I took my little unexpected sabbatical from "vishal's virtual vault" (vvv). In that short time, I think I've made several discoveries and breakthroughs which I will share with you in the coming weeks. They have inspired me to finally retire vvv after nearly three years of great success, top notch journalism, entertaining musings, and of course pulitzer-prize nominated writing.

With the retirement of vvv, I've given birth to a new sense of self and therefore a new blog space: Reasoned Rebellion. What exactly has changed? In hindsight, maybe just the name and a few graphics. I'm kidding. A lot more has changed. My core has changed and I wanted to reflect that in my blog. I also chose the new title very carefully since some things that haven't changed are my unique points of view, libertarian outlook and witty sense of humor. Can you feel the narcissism? *Sniiiiif*. Take it in boys, yum, smell the smug.

In any case, by now (if you are even still reading this), I'm sure you are probably asking yourself "What is he rebelling against?" Well, you see, my dear fellow, it's not about rebelling at all! It's about hope. Let's face it, life is hard. The world can be a pretty shitty place. And it's easy to lose hope. It's only human nature to resort to some way of easing that pain. What is your drug of choice: crack? cocaine? weed? tobacco? Or the creme de la creme: alcohol? For me, it was the all mighty french fry. Indeed, food is a very powerful antidepressant.

Yep. You can put 2 and 2 together can't you? Give up your drug cold turkey and what happens? Not only are you hopeless, you are also depressed. You are a hopeless, depressed loser. And, more likely than not an addict will return to his or her source of tranquility however physically straining it may be. Or, less often, the addict will make a conscious choice to break the iteration. To somehow restore hope through the next best emotion: anger. You grow angry at yourself, angry at the world, angry with the situation. Whatever. You're pissed. Enough said.

With that anger, finally, comes a sense of rebellion. The very basis of a rebellion is the hope for change, the struggle for change. Hope is a funny feeling to have because everything that we hope for is far into the distance. It's kind of like being in an empty meadow, an abyss with nothing surrounding you but one or two trees far off in the distance. You walk toward those trees, with the hope of finding more trees, maybe ones with fruit or even a few mouth-watering monkeys. Whatever it may be.

This restores your hope. And, you continue to fight the good fight.

Welcome to my Rebellion.

African Lion Kisses And Hugs Woman Who Saved Him

2007-01-15T16:37:00.001-05:00

People in Cali, Colombia, are shocked to see the bond between a large African lion and a woman who saved it from abuse, involving long, affectionate kisses and hugs between the pair. Ana Julia Torres, who runs the Villa Lorena animal shelter in Cali, fed and nursed Jupiter the African lion back to health years ago after it was found ...

Source:http://www.local6.com/news/10726779/detail.html

20,000 more troops and advice from General Paton

2007-01-11T19:20:00.000-05:00

So "dubya" went on the telly last night and told the American people two things:
1. The mistakes in Iraq are his responsibility and
2. He would like to increase the amount of troops in Iraq by more than 20,000.

This "war" -- and I use that term loosely -- has killed 3,000 of our boys and girls and wounded 22,000 others. I use the phrase "boys and girls" because much of the armed forces is made up of 18 and 19 year olds.

Perhaps the swiftest response was made by Ted Kennedy who introduced a bill today that would stop the President from sending more troops into Iraq without the approval of Congress.

I'm not really sure where I stand on this issue. On one hand, I'm not too keen on the idea of taking the power of making war decisions away from the commander-in-chief. On the other hand, Georgie has proved himself to be a moron and leaving him in the driver seat can be dangerous. Not that I am saying Congress can do any better.

All I can say is that the President went on TV last night and gained some sympathy from the American public saying that our boys and girls are dying out there and he doesn't want their bravery to be in vain. First of all, Mr. President, those kids have more bravery in their little toe than you have in your whole body. Bravery lies with the people who fight wars, not the the people who send them to fight wars.

And, while I am at at, I'd like to close by reminding the President about some advice General Patten gave about wars and casualties...

"No poor bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making other poor bastards die for their country."
- General George S. Paton

Stranded on an Island

2006-12-31T10:06:00.000-05:00

Before I get started, I just wanted to announce the pictures from the Puttar's 31st B-Day parties are now in the gallery. Happy birthday, Yashoo.

Now for a chilling tale of how I got stranded on an island and how an ignorant society still allows terror to terrorize them. I bought tickets to see the live production of "Little Orphan Annie" at Madison Square Garden for me and my little sis. I highly recommend the movie, not the play.

The trip to the island was quite routine. Park at Journal Square, take the PATH to 33rd street, walk 2 blocks to The Garden. The play concluded and much of the crowd walked back to the PATH station to head back in to Jersey, as we did. Swiped our metro card and waited patiently for the overcrowded train to begin moving. Almost everyone around us had Annie memorabilia in hand. Inaudible announcements kept repeating on the train as people began a mass exodus. I was confused, as were many others, who could not make out what the communication was telling us. So we waited. Soon after, an MTA employee approached us and said "due to police activity, all PATH trains are canceled until further notice."

That could only mean one thing -- terrorist/muslim behavior was again prevalent in the city. Felt like 9/11 all over again.

Our only other option was to go back to The Garden and take NJ Transit to Newark. But how to get back to Journal Square? So I called the Brown Boy. He did not hesitate to offer giving me a ride from Newark to Jersey City. After all, what are friends for? So, without further delay, I proceeded back to The Garden so that I could get off this God-forsaken island.

Since we already spent our hard-earned money on a PATH that went nowhere, NJ Transit was cross honoring. Thank goodness, because you know I would've been the first one to file a civil suit against the MTA.
Now, the NJ Transit station was mobbed with disgruntled PATH riders. And, if you have ever ridden on NJ Transit before, you know that they don't give you the track number for your train until the last minute. So, picture a crowd of hundreds of people waiting by an LED screen. As soon as the number popped up -- everyone screamed, "TWELVE!!!!" and started running. It was like a gunshot at a marathon, except we were pushing and shoving each other to get a seat. Failing to do so would've meant we'd be stranded on the island for that much longer.

Luckily, my sister and I made it out of the island back in beautiful and terror-free Newark safely out of the evil clutches of "Annie" and the terror she induced that fateful night.

By the way, while the MTA found it necessary to shut down the PATH for our security, they did not find it necessary to post any information about the closing on their website nor did any journalist that I know of find it necessary to cover the event in any major newspaper, Internet or television broadcast.

Happy 2007 and stay safe my brothers and sisters.

Down with DRM!

2006-12-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

Courtesy: UserFriendly.org

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

You read that title right. I'm here to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Just last year, I had a post on this very blog promoting the use of the term "Happy Holidays." But, lots has changed for me in 2006. Did you ever get that feeling that it was "You vs. World"? Well, I'm in one of those ruts right now. And as they say, there are no atheists on their death beds right? So, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Jesus Day, whatever. Jesus, Sai Baba, Ganesh, Allah, whomever is out there and wants to help I don't care -- I am open and welcome to receiving all the help I can get!!

You know, one of the reasons I keep a blog is because it is an open and public documentation of my most personal thoughts. Just going back through the archives (on the bottom right side of this window) makes me realize how much I have changed and grown these past couple of years. It truly is amazing and fun to look back in that capacity. I highly recommend it. Blogger.com for anyone who is interested in doing the same. Make it a New Year's Resolution for 2007!

Well I'm off to yet another party. Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a good night.

Random Grey's Anatomy Quote: Romeo & Juliet

2006-12-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

"Everyone thinks it's so romantic: Romeo and Juliet, true love...how sad. If Juliet was stupid enough to fall for the enemy, drink a bottle of poison, and go to sleep in a mausoleum, then she deserved everything she got."

-Meredith Grey
Grey's Anatomy

Happy Vishal Day 2006

2006-12-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

So Vishal Day came early this year. The Puttar drove up last weekend and surprised me along with the Brown Boy, Sunshine and the White Boy (in absentia). Now I know what to get these people for their birthdays -- calendars! Just kidding, it was such a pleasant surprise and we all had a lot of fun (me most of all). On the agenda was a wonderful holiday show, That Time of the Year, followed by some food and goofing around at our favorite hangout in the Village, The Garage. Pictures can be found here.

The night was full of memorable and humorous moments...

First, as we were walking around NYC trying to find the theater, I noticed a homeless man watching a portable DVD player surrounded by garbage. Go figure.

Then, even more hilarious, we had trouble finding the theater because it was inside of a church! Wait, I'm not done yet. The theater is in the basement. And after you climb down all those stairs you kind of wonder why a Christmas show is taking placing in Satan's 3rd layer of Hell.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that earlier that night we had a snack -- some White Castle and Indian fast food. This nourishment eventually caught up with Sunshine after the show resulting in her immediate need for a bathroom. She probably killed an elderly gentleman in the process.

And lastly, after kissing and touching each other inappropriately, we ended a fabulous evening by discovering an upside-down Christmas tree.

Don't believe me? All of these events were photographically documented.

The show was good, the food was great and the company was excellent. It's nights like these that remind you how lucky you are to have such caring and loving friends. Thanks guys!

Separate but Equal?

2006-11-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

I received a phone call last week from a small business inviting me to render some of my services to them. Despite having to much on my plate as it is, I decided to indulge my curiosity any way and set up a meeting at their office. Immediately, when I arrived, I noticed something very peculiar. Every last person working there was a person of Indian descent, and so was I. I couldn't help but think -- was I given this opportunity because of the color of my skin or the depth of my talent?

Having over nine years of experience in the staffing industry, I know all to well about employment laws, the forbidden interview questions and of course I know all about the heavy hand of the EEOC. So why is it that even after we had a major civil rights movement in this country 40 years ago, fighting so hard for racial equality, we still have companies today that can operate their entire business staffed with people from a single ethnic population? Is that coincidence?

Is it coincidence that most Chinese restaurants are employed with only Chinese people? Is it coincidence that nail salons are filled with an exorbitant amount of Koreans? Is it coincidence that when you sit down to eat at almost any Indian restaurant in the tri-state area you will be served by an Indian waiter?

Or, is racism genetically ingrained inside of us? No matter how many laws we make to create the illusion of equality, we will continue to separate ourselves along racial lines?

I certainly am not smart enough to answer these questions ... soliciting your input on the topic...

Random Simpsons Quote: Sanctions

2006-11-14T20:42:00.000-05:00

Homer Simpson (trying to recruit for the U.S. Army):

"Hey, ladies, are you tired of waiting for sanctions to work? I know I am."

Truth and Happiness

2006-11-05T23:21:00.001-05:00

Midnight,
Why has the moon forgotten me?
I stand alone under the street light,
And if you look at me,
You won’t see the carefully hidden truths,
And you’ll understand what happiness was.

Daylight,
Waiting for the sunrise,
The crisp, cold smell of the morning.
The street lamps die,
The night is over,
And another day is dawning!

From a Distance

2006-10-25T18:08:00.000-04:00

I wanted to update everyone with the news that has just hit the wire within the past couple of hours. The Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey, at around 4:30 PM this afternoon, guaranteed gay and lesbian couples the same rights and privileges afforded to married couples, but stopped short of calling it marriage. The state legislature now has 180 days to amend the current statutes or create a new set of statutes that applies to gay and lesbian couples. If you recall, a similar event happened in Vermont in 1999 after their Supreme Court granted all couples equal protection under the law, but the legislature labeled "marriage" as solely between a man and a woman. All other unions were deemed "civil unions." Massachusetts remains the only state in the country that currently allows same-sex couples to marry.

Now I've made it no secret that I am against gay marriage. In fact, I am against straight marriage as well. The state should not sanction any union simply to grant them special benefits under the law. We cannot legislate love! Marital issues should be left up to religions to decide and the government should have no authority in promoting the type of behavior it wants to see among the population.

The government likes to get involved in the marriage business because society has a morbid tendency to "couple" us up even when there is no evidence that humans are sexually monogamous animals. Even among our own circle of friends, people have stated that they want to live a single (but not celibate) lifestyle -- including our most eligible bachelor, The Puttar.

But, in any case, seeing as how I don't predict the government will ever stop legislating marriage, this step toward giving gays and lesbians equal rights in New Jersey is a positive step.

Also, let me take this opportunity to wish The Black Boy and The Blacktress a happy and prosperous engagement (no disrespect intended given today's topic). 7.28.07

Random Desperate Housewives Quote: Love and Hate

2006-10-14T11:55:00.000-04:00

"You know the opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference. And, if you hate me, that means you still care, and we're still connected, and I still have a chance to set you right."

-Bree Van De Camp [To Her Son]

Is this love?

2006-10-08T00:23:00.000-04:00

OK so I am pissed that everyone keeps asking me when I'm going to get married -- and then assuming that my marriage will be a "traditionally indian." Well, since all of you are so interested in my matrimonials, I've decided to give in. Your comments are nothing but self-fulfilling prophecies.

Yep, I've already taken the first step. Here is my Shaadi.com ad:

I am a (not so) tall, dark handsome twenty five year old boy seeking a wife for ownership ..er.. I mean partnership in life. Caste, color and origin are not important as long as she can prove her virginity. Said girl must be able to cook Punjabi, South Indian and Sindhi meals, clean the household to meet my standards of cleanliness and do the dishes and laundry without any fuss. A girl physically incapable of speech would be a big plus.

In order to qualify, girl must be willing to bear as many as two children a year, without any silly feminine arguments about it not being possible. Female children will not be tolerated. She must never argue with her husband (me) under any circumstances or risk being thrown out of the house and divorced instantly. I will of course have several concubines from time to time, to which she must never raise any objections.

I assure parents that as long as their daughter follows the protocols for wifely behavior set forth in Indian culture, she will be well treated, except for the occasional drunken bout of wife beating. She must never sit at the same height as her husband and she must appear veiled before all strangers. She may leave the house only to purchase groceries in order to cook meals of my choice. If you've brought your daughter up well, she will have no trouble at all in satisfying these meager needs of mine.

And oh yes, before I forget, the girl I seek must be a 100% carbon based life form. i.e. silicon(e) is not acceptable. To show my adjusting nature and kind temperament, I waive 50% of the standard dowry and ask for only $50,000. Also you can have the option of paying the dowry in installments and I will not throw acid on her or set her on fire if your dowry installments are not on time.

Hurry! Limited time offer, open only till end of Dec 2006!!

Random Boondocks Quote: The White Man

2006-10-02T22:33:00.000-04:00

White man's just a joy to be around.
They smell like lemon juice and pledge furniture cleaner.
And look at 'em! They gave us discipline, jobs, put structure in our lives, took us out the jungle.
And what we do to show our appreciation?
We march up and down the streets, we vote, carry on.
Ingrates!

-Uncle Ruckus

Adventures in Bloomfield

2006-09-28T23:51:00.000-04:00

So we've been living in the Bloomfield/Belleville area (on the border, actually) for quite a while now. Right next to our apartment building resides a mysterious body of water. The best way I can describe it is a polluted quarry that generates a number of mosquitos and other unwanted pests. It's very shallow water, maybe about 3-4", similar to what you would see in a sewer. What's worse is that this is right outside my bedroom window which is pleasing to the ear at night but sore on the eyes when I look outside in the morning.

Well, anyway, I was taking my usual daily walk one day, which is by the way a wonderful way to lose weight, and so I decided to take a new route along the quarry. I wanted to find out exactly where this thing led. And even more gratifying would be if I could find out why it was never drained or bull-dozed over especially in a real estate market where open land is very valuable and will draw in many potential industrial and residential buyers.

Long story short, about 2 miles later and having almost been killed by wild animals and loitering teenagers who were probably armed, I discovered the following sign:

Now, I'm not one to judge, but if I had children I probably wouldn't send them swimming in there -- ever.

My guess is that once upon a time this used to be a big beautiful canal where all the townspeople spent their hot summer days. Now, because of big government and corruption, it seems to have been neglected and lost its once triumphant beauty. And, because it's a historic landmark, it can't be torn down to build something better in it's place by any private enterprise.

That is all for now. And, P.S., in answer to your question, YES, I do get several whistles and hollers as well on my walks.

Random South Park Quote: The American Way

2006-09-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

"Everything's legal in Mexico. It's the American way."
-Uncle Jimbo

Return of the Mack

2006-09-12T15:16:00.000-04:00

I'm back! Did you miss me? Of course you did! (Can't you just feel the narcissism?)

First of all, I suppose I should explain where I was. A little sabbatical that's all -- mind your business! The important thing is that I'm back and I'm better than ever; leaner (yup, by about 25 pounds) and maybe even a little meaner! Ya, you heard me, 25 pounds -- that's 1/80th of a ton people! That's about two fat babies!

So, as I continue to starve myself and resist the temptation to go to Applebees for their new southwestern fiesta quesadilla burger, I thought I'd catch up on a month's worth of blogs by just casually listing things that have been on my mind:

1. Five Years Since 9/11 - Yesterday we turned to cable news channels and almost every expert being interviewed said "well at least we're a lot safer than we were five years ago." Uhh no we're not. Just because we haven't been attacked doesn't mean we're safer. The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. What exactly makes us feel safe? The fact that slowly our freedoms are being stripped away? How does me not being able to carry a bottle of water onto an airplane make you feel safe exactly? And another thing -- seriously after five years we need to wake up and stop Bush's illegal wiretapping programs. And don't give me the sob story that only the people who have something to hide should be objecting to it. That bird won't fly, Senator McCarthy. Radical islamists wanted to turn this from a free state to a police state and now it looks like they are succeeding.

"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security." -Benjamin Franklin

2. Rosie's Back! - Okay so can I just say Rosie O'Donnell kicking Star Jones off The View (I know it didn't exactly happen that way but a boy likes to dream) is the best thing that ever happened to daytime TV since Oprah.

3. Racism on Survivor - Oh man have you heard about this? This season of Survivor: Cook Islands is splitting the tribes up by ... you guessed it ... RACE! That's right -- a tribe of blacks, a tribe of whites, a tribe of Hispanics and a tribe of Asians. Now, a lot of people are pissed about this. I think it'll make a huge point that sometimes racial stereotypes are true! Carlos Mencia must be having a field day right now. I really don't think Mark Burnett and NBC were out to step on anyone's toes. They probably thought people would be able to follow the show easier when they could easily tell who was on which tribe :-) Nah, I'm just kidding. But honestly -- if you have never seen Survivor before or have missed the last couple of seasons this is the season to watch!

That is all for now. At ease.

Random Movie Quote: Honesty

2006-07-30T10:56:00.000-04:00

"I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid."
- Captain Jack Sparrow
Pirates of the Caribbean

The Epidemic of Bachelorism

2006-07-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

Okay, so now that Bill O'Reilly said it, I am scared. He wailed on TV this week that the "secular progressive movement" is responsible for the drop in traditional marriage rates in the United States. The movement, which is already in full swing in Europe, is also to blame for the recent "Culture Wars" this Christmas Season, says O'Reilly.

Well the proof is in the pudding. Marriage rates are dropping steadily -- just look at Brangalina if you need an example. Today's modern couples have clearly rejected the cultural, religious and economic sanctions of marriage for more simplified commitment-free relationships. Given that over 50% of all marriages fail, this is a valid new paradigm that needs to be explored.

But, I take exception to O'Reilly's theory of a so-called "War on Marriage." There is no evidence that the secular progressives denounce marriage as an institution. In fact, I believe the opposite that there is a War on Bachelorism! Just look at this ad that recently ran on the Internet for match.com and the corresponding webpage.

The federal government has been "pushing" marriage down our throats since the 1800's! According to the General Accounting office of Congress, there are 1,138 benefits, rights, and privileges contingent on or related to marital status. Some of the most widely known include the ability to file for taxes jointly, access to healthcare through a partner's or parent's insurance, ability to see a loved one in intensive care, inheritance rights, and second-parent adoption rights. Why do you think gays are trying to get married so badly? Moreover, the federal government also attempts to incentivize child rearing with even further tax benefits, free public education and discounted healthcare for children.

So, O'Reilly, wise up. The federal government is clearly trying to promote the traditional idea of the "wholesome American family." There is a War on Bachelorism in this country -- not a War on Marriage.

And that's the memo :-)

Random Boondocks Quote: Payment

2006-07-01T03:26:00.000-04:00

Riley: Well I don't see what's the big deal with hoes anyway.
Huey: Riley all women are not hoes! We're talking 20-25 percent tops.
Riley: Ok but if they not all hoes then why do I got to pay to take them out to eat then? I mean I'm paying'! That's payment.
Huey: I don't know, cause that's just what you do. You meet a girl you take her out to dinner but your not paying the girl your paying the restaurant.
Riley: But I'm paying which makes her a hoe! Why don't I just give her the money I was gonna spend on dinner and that hoe can go grocery shopping?

Well Said

2006-06-06T10:06:00.000-04:00

With the 2006 midterm elections looming, advice given many years ago is still valid today:

Superman Returns

2006-05-22T10:32:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note before I begin this week that new images from our trip to DC to see the Punjabi Puttar are now available in the gallery.

There have been many permutations of Superman in the comic books, television and big screen over the past 50 years. Among the major players of course are George Reeves, Christopher Reeves, Dean Cain, Tom Welling, and now Brandon Routh.

It is important for Brandon and the new movie, Superman Returns, to treat the franchise with the utmost respect. Christopher Reeves in his day truly did make a generation of movie-goers believe a man could fly (well, at least for a magical 151 minutes). I remember myself growing up with Superman. In fact, my earliest memory is falling asleep in the theater watching Supergirl with my parents. One of the most crucial elements of the epic mythological tale, often overlooked, is the fact that it is deeply rooted in moral absolutism philosophy. It is the story of good vs. evil and one man having the ultimate power to deliver justice.

Parallels can even be drawn between Superman and the Bible. Take the first scene of the first movie for example where Jor-El, played by Marlon Brando, is wearing a bright white suit with his white hair. Meanwhile, the criminals he is condemning wear all black and have black hair. This scene establishes the higher source of judgment that absolutists agree with. In the New Testament, only God is the ultimate judge of punishment or mercy. The white vs. black contrast is more evidence that good and evil are absolutely defined. Moreover, Jor-El's bright white suit and white hair makes him seem almost God-like in the film.

The scene where Jor-El is preparing the space capsule for his only son is even often referred to as "The Savior" because it can be compared to God sending Jesus to Earth. Though Krypton is doomed to destruction, the mother of the child still doubts her husband's actions: "But why Earth, Jor-El? They're primitives thousands of years behind us!" Jor-El replies, "Once there was a civilization much like ours, but with a greater intelligence, greater powers, and a greater capacity for good."

Even Jor-El's final words to his son sound like God speaking to Jesus before sending him to be the Savior for humankind.

You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you. Even in the face of our deaths, the richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I have learned, everything that I feel all this and more, I bequeath you my son. You will carry me inside you all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father and the father the son. This is all I can send you, Kal-El.

The Superman movies were an entire generation's first lesson in ethics that when examined closer illustrates Kantian and Utilitarian principles. Warner Brothers and Brandon Routh need to understand this fact about the damaged franchise and protect and nurture it if they wish to profit from it beyond just one summer blockbuster.

Random South Park Quote - Big Bonededness

2006-04-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

"I'm not fat, I just haven't grown into my body yet you skinny bitch."
- Eric Cartman

$100 Richer

2006-04-23T22:49:00.000-04:00

Today, I am a $100 richer ... well, on paper only.

You see, my friend and yours, the White Boy, is planning a summer internship to India working with Eureka Forbes. He has been trained by the best and brightest -- the Brown Boy and Sunshine -- on surviving in the foreign land. And, today, while discussing the challenges of finding certain "luxuries" in India, namely pasteurized milk, Honey Combs Cereal and a servant who knows the capital of the United States, I had to insist that with this superficial attitude there will be no India trip! And -- in my haste -- I bet the White Boy $100 USD that he would not set foot on Indian soil before December 31, 2006. Simple. No other terms or conditions.

In hindsight, maybe I should not have made the wager although I still think it is a very safe one. With the absence of a job offer, passport, visa or airline ticket one could very safely say that a summer internship in India is not going to happen. The December 31st deadline only makes it that much more interesting.

Who knows, maybe when he lands in the monsoon-smelly-muggy-110-degrees-when-it's-cold India he'll shock me and the other pessimists. Then, I'll eat my words.

If not, the $100 I win will be used to treat the whole gang to a dinner at Ming.

Heat 2006

2006-04-17T16:10:00.000-04:00

Heat 2006 @ the Cotinental Airlines Arena with Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Sushmita Sen.

Pictures from Heat 2006

Videos:

State Budget, Higher Education, and Solutions that Work

2006-04-07T16:50:00.000-04:00

As many of you already know, Governor Jon S. Corzine proposed a $169 million cut in state funding to higher education. Various University presidents across New Jersey have labeled the cuts "unprecedented" and "devastating." Many report that even with tuition hikes as large as 20%-30%, it will not be business as usual -- there will be massive layoffs, reduction/elimination of promotions and raises, and historic cuts across the board in nearly every program.

The proposed cut is an effort to fill the state's $4.5 Billion deficit caused by years of fiscal irresponsibility. More proof that with big government come big problems.

Let's use my alma mater, Rutgers, as an example -- the state's largest University system. Their cuts are proposed at a whopping $56 million having a net effect of $114 million. So, if not to Universities, where is all the education money going? Corzine's budget gives twice as much aid to the Newark school system as to the entire Rutgers University system. Newark will get $698 million in state aid, while Rutgers gets a mere $303 million in direct aid.

Now, we all pay income tax here and this state aid to Newark is wonderful news -- for them. But how does it help you and me? If you live in a typical suburb in Morris County, state aid for your school systems has not changed much since NJ first adopted the income tax.

Beyond the squandered education budget, the fact of the matter is that all the money is still going to the people who shouldn't have it -- the government. Corzine has proposed no cuts in public pensions that have been growing at an outrageous rate. Corzine has simply ignored the recommendations of a benefits review task force that reported to him recently on the perennial budget crisis caused by the lavish pension payouts.

So -- how bad would it be if state employees were forced to absorb cuts to their pensions? Perhaps they would be forced to get jobs in the private sector where retirement benefits would be much lower even after massive state cuts.

What's worse is that public worker unions have no intention to fix this problem -- they want to maintain high pensions even for new employees without regard to traditional 401k plans that have worked so well in the private sector. Meanwhile, Corzine now seeks additional revenue to fund such an initiative. That's great, maybe after he finds enough money for public workers he might have a little left over for the public.

But, I am not one to point out a lot of problems without proposing solutions. Here are a set of hard solutions, both short and long term, that will work if the legislature had any courage to implement them.

Short Term
1. Cut current pension benefits, roll already obligated pensions into 401k plans, initiate 401k for state workers. Unfortunately, the labor unions are not going to like this and they already have strong lobbying power in Trenton.

2. End State aid to the Newark school system. All school systems should be expected to thrive on property tax alone (which is the highest in the country). If the school system is failing, offer students vouchers to get their education elsewhere.

3. Higher education promotes the success and well-being of the public. It promotes their ability to become productive members of society. Restore funding to institutions such as these by reducing funding to social programs like state welfare that promote the public's ability to remain unemployed and below the poverty line.

Long Term
In 1975, in-state tuition at Rutgers was $585/year. With inflation, that's equivalent to $2,192. The current in-state tuition at Rutgers is $7,336. Expenses at each University are growing as they erect more unnecessary buildings, hire unionized teaching staff that couldn't teach a frog to jump, and of course hire a set of Vice Presidents and Associate Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents to manage them. We could probably save about $25 million by eliminating all the memos that float around between all these vice presidents alone.

The real question: the cost of education is going higher, but is the quality of learning getting any better?

This will only happen once schools are accountable to their students. That can only happen when students become the customer -- not the state. The money we pay in income tax allows Universities to offer in-state tuition to those who have been paying the income tax. But, with state aid to higher education continually decreasing, the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition is closing. These actions force more and more of our young people to take their talent to different states after they graduate high school. The system is failing us.

The solution is to gradually end this notion that everyone is entitled to education.
Drastically cut the state income tax and all of the property tax. In the absence of government, bureaucracy will end and the operational cost for universities will go down. Studies have shown that private schools can educate our children more effectively and with less cost than public schools. The savings on taxes will allow citizens to be able to afford to pay their own tuition making the schools accountable to them and only them. Capitalism is a beautiful thing and it works!

New Jersey is broken. What we have been doing is not working and it's time to try something new. I challenge every New Jerseyan to join me in demanding that power be returned to the people in this state.

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." -Thomas Jefferson

Voorhees State Park

2006-04-02T22:21:00.000-04:00

Took a day trip to Voorhees State Park for my first hiking trip today. I'll let the media speak for itself...

For more pics see the gallery.

B-I-O-D-A-T-A

2006-03-31T16:25:00.000-05:00

An oldie but goodie...

The Conviction

2006-03-26T21:10:00.000-05:00

"Too much mercy often results in further crimes which are fatal to innocent victims who need not have been victims if justice had been put first and mercy second."
-Agatha Christie

This is an update to the crime that occurred at XP in July 2005. You can read more about it here and here. Nine months later, we finally have a conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for later in April.

**My Open Letter to the Honorable Joseph Isabella**

Random Simpsons Quote - Children

2006-03-06T09:47:00.000-05:00

"We're tired of picking up the bills for other peoples kids!

We already pay millions every year in school taxes!

I dream of an America with nudity and F-words on network TV...

An America where the whole world doesn't stop just because a school bus did!

Children are the future, TODAY BELONGS TO ME!"

-Lindsey Naegle

President, SSCCATAGAPP (Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples And Teens And Gays Against Parasitic Parents)

Yes, It's True

2006-03-03T23:43:00.000-05:00

Well, it's time I fess up. All the rumors you have heard are true.

I was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of NJIT's Alumni Association. The sun set on GSA a few years ago and now I have become involved in this. Don't ask me why. I guess it's a combination of yearning to be involved and contributing value back to the University. And, the politics and drama can't be beat! :-)

Wish me luck...

MedicAlert's new "SOA" will cost lives

2006-02-27T23:34:00.000-05:00

This month's Network Computing magazine featured the MedicAlert company and their new service-oriented architecture (SOA) which is being used to develop a new line of products dubbed "Medical Alert 2.0." The article praises the company and it's key IT executives for the new IT-driven transformation they have undergone. However, it is my opinion that the new MedicAlert 2.0 project will certainly cost American lives and that the Network Computing article fails to take in to account some of the SOA's shortcomings.

The non-profit organization has a very interesting and rich history. Founded in 1953, MedicAlert began with a simple product and business model: to manufacture and distribute MedicAlert bracelets. The bracelets, shown below, are still in use today by millions of patients in America. First responders and emergency medical technicians (EMT's) are trained to look for the MedicAlert symbol on any jewelry the patient might be wearing before treating them in an emergency. Engraved on the pendant is critical medical information that EMT's should know about the victim such as allergies to medication or conditions that can effect type of resuscitation used such as diabetes or history of heart surgery.

The new project, however, now promotes the use of an "e-Health Key," essentially a flash USB drive keychain that the company boasts can carry much more information than a bracelet and allows consumers to be able to manage all of their health information. They new key, they say, can be used by doctor's offices, patients and first responders. And, as a result of the SOA, the key requires no special installation or software. The key will also be able to connect to and interface with MedicAlert's web service.

There are three obvious problems with this model that can cost the lives of patients:

1. Information Overload
EMTs and first responders do not need full medical history to revive a patient. Providing them with the patient's entire record without somehow highlighting information they need to know in the first 30 seconds they are on the scene would almost certainly prove to be a waste of their time. In this way, the MedicAlert bracelet has a clear advantage in that it communicates only a few lines of the most critical information for EMTs.

2. Infrastructure & Accessibility
"To date, the MedicAlert database is accessible only to customers, though part of the Web Services project will be to make the data uploadable to doctors' offices and by EMTs." This assumes that the EMT and/or doctor's office has a web connection and a USB port and this is almost never the case. Today's volunteer emergency health squads do not have ambulances equipped with even a simple laptop. Moreover, most of the country is still without broadband internet connections. In fact, it is not uncommon, even on both coasts, to find doctors that still keep paper files and just one computer per office for scheduling purposes. Some doctors have made the move to paperless records with plasma touch screens in every examination room, but the overall infrastructure isn't nearly as strong as MedicAlert 2.0 would need it to be. Patients who falsely assume that EMTs or doctors will be able to read their USB keys are gambling with their lives.

3. Security & Privacy
Moreover, in today's society, carrying around one's entire health history on a keychain could pose a significant privacy risk. The keychain could be lost or stolen and easily read by identity thieves. The information on the key could of course be encrypted but that again inhibits the accessibility of the information to EMTs who waste precious minutes "logging on" before they can get the information necessary to revive the patient.

MedicAlert can successfully and responsibly market the new eHealthKey only under the following conditions:

1. Cease marketing it as an improved version of or replacement for the MedicAlert bracelet. Given the state of the nation's current emergency response system, the eHeatlhKey cannot safely be used by first responders. The company needs to make it clear to it's customers that a MedicAlert bracelet is still necessary to communicate vital information to EMTs. To date, they have explicitly marketed the eHealthKey as something that could be used by first responders and have implied it to be the "better" more high-tech version of the classic MedicAlert bracelet.

--OR--

1. Equip the nations ambulances with USB ports and screens that can read eHealthKeys and provide the most critical information immediately upon insertion. The media inside the key must be much more reliable than traditional memory sticks so that they are not easily damaged by patients dropping their keychains on the floor or exposing them to extreme heat and cold by leaving them inside cars. As an added reliabilty measure, some critical data could also still be engraved on the oustide of the key.

and...

2. Work with doctor's offices to keep information on the eHealthKeys as up-to-date as possible. For doctor's offices that still do not have Windows computers, perhaps MedicAlert could provide mini portable kiosks for doctors to be able to have access to and change the information on the key.

and...

3. Encrypt the data on the eHealthKey with a user-defined password as well as a universal, ever-changing, SecureID that allows EMTs to gain access to all eHeatlhKeys with a single dynamic pin number. Critical information needed in an emergency such as allergies and conditions should always be left unencrypted for faster access.

Without these basic steps, consumers will continue to believe and use the eHealthKey as the high-tech replacement to the MedicAlert bracelet. Clearly, the company's false implications and misleading promises will cost patients their lives.

The eHealthKey is currently nothing more than an personal health records management tool for home computers. Marketing it as anything more than that requires a much broader effort to improve the infrastructure, security and accessibility of the information to EMTs and other health providers.

American Idol 5 Prediction

2006-02-24T19:33:00.000-05:00

There is lots of talent on this season's American Idol and at this juncture (Top 24) I am ready to make a prediction on the winner.

The season's American Idol will be none other than Ace Young. He performed "Father Figure" by George Michael this week that made me (and the rest of America for that matter) melt. Even Simon Cowell, the show's harshest judge, admitted that although not the best vocalist this season, Ace has the "X-Factor."

Good luck, Ace! We're watching!

Random Drawn Together Quote

2006-02-11T23:24:00.000-05:00

Captain Hero to Group:

Everyone! I'm off to save Foxxy!

Princess Clara to Captain Hero:

But ... you're in a wheelchair. Society no longer values you.

Best Friends

2006-02-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

Our society rarely embraces the idea of the male best friend. A guy introducing another guy as their "best friend" is usually met with confused stares, speculations of homosexuality or a facial expression that conveys the thought: "Uhh, what are you, still in high school?" I remember an episode of South Park that satired the concept of the male best friend and redefined the term BFF (Best Friends Forever).

But, contrary to popular belief and admission of alpha males, heterosexual best friend relationships irrefragably do exist. Yes, girls, it is true. And I know there are some macho men out there that sill won't admit it but they have or have had a best friend whether they like it or not. Whenever something exciting happens in your life ... or something tragic ... something confusing ... something fortunate ... something mind-blowing ... the first person who you call to tell about it, that one person is your best friend. Humans are creatures of habit and we will share our lives with others in a logical order. The speed dial list is numerical for a reason. The phone number in slot number one is your best friend.

Still, it has been my experience that the "BFF" stage is impossible to achieve. That is, the Best Friends Forever. Sadly, while best friends exist, it is my painful conclusion that they are only finite. In my quarter century on this planet I can only recall just handful -- very elite group -- that I labeled best friends at one time or another, each relationship ending as easily as it started.

My cousin D and I were born just a few months apart. We grew up in the same section of New York City, went to the same schools, and at least for the first decade of existence did everything together. We were inseparable and I remember following him around wherever he went. Even though he was family, he was still my first best friend. Children, however, grow and change with time and as we matured our interests diversified and we went in two different directions. No longer best friends, though the underlying family bond we share is still impenetrable and thankfully could never be broken.

In my early teens, I bonded with an immigrant boy who had moved to my school district from Ahmedabad. His name was Jay and his parents were very conservative; as "new arrivals" they carried with them strong convictions and morals from their mother country. Being from two different worlds, Jay and I both had a fascination with each other's origins. I learned so much about his and he mine. But one day, through my own fault, I crossed a line with my mischief since my disciplining was no where as strict as his. Fearing my bad behavior would "rub off" on their son, the friendship was artificially severed by parental sanction. In the later months, Jay's family mysteriously moved way, no doubt to remove him from my contact in addition to other economic and social factors.

At the onset of high school, my family moved to Jersey. And even still the pain of Jay's sudden and mysterious disappearance lingered with me. Some phone book searches and (perhaps illegal) spying techniques led me to his new address. In times when email wasn't popular yet, I did the only thing I could do -- I wrote a letter. I even received a reply which encouraged me to write more. But every one after that was "returned to sender." My attempts were futile, clearly blocked by parental influence once again. Darn.

Then came Tim. He joined my high school as a junior having grown up in Belleville before moving to Parsippany. We shared a close bond for two years. And, I think anyone would agree that senior year in high school is always the best and it tends to heighten one's perceptions and experiences with friends. Tim was there through the good times -- the first all-night party, the first binge drinking, the first car, the first road trip. But sadly, after graduation, we did not share the same ambitions and as I started college he got a job with a local retail chain and we lost touch.

At Rutgers, where I got my undergraduate degree, things were very quiet. I worked fulltime and went to school fulltime. While most college kids talked about having a blast at spring break, I talked about how I could attend three lectures and still make it to work in the same day. It was indeed a very stressful time and although I don't regret doing it this way since there were clearly some notable fruits to my efforts, I still remain scarred by not having the real college experience. No best friends there.

It was not until I got involved in student governance on the graduate level that things started to pick up again. It was through this participation I met what is arguably the best group of friends I have ever had in my life and we are still going strong till this day. That is also when I met the final chapter of this story, the Punjabi Puttar. I believe it was him who first used the term "best friend" which I had not heard in about 6 years. Immediately, I gave him a facial expression that conveyed the thought: "Uhh, what are you, still in high school?"

But yes, he was right. That is how we should be labeled. He was number one on my speed dial. My problems went through his analysis first before anyone else. All news no matter how ecstatic or tragic took a priority with his ears. After a while, it became natural. Sure, there were fights. Boy, were there fights! A number of previous entries in this very blog are evidence of that. But that's only natural in my opinion. Generous, selfless, kind and understanding, he became the most trusted confidant and the most reliable source of advice. Those first couple of years as we went through grad school together we were joined at the hip more as brothers than as friends.

Not to be overly dramatic (can I avoid it?) but then came D-Day. Many events took place namely at school and at home that caused my external world to fall apart around me. Then, I get a call from the Puttar that he must move to DC immediately.

And there went the internal world.

Just as I had forgotten the concept of "best friends" after high school I had also forgotten the pain involved in losing them.

The Puttar and some others will argue that this is not a big deal. And, I would like nothing more to believe that, really I would. Indeed, the world is flat and smaller than ever before. With phones, emails, trains and planes, friendship can survive even with 400 miles in the equation, right? I hope it can. But at the same time, even though my stomach squeezes into knots as I type this very sentence, there needs to be a reality check here. The best prediction of the future is in the past. D, Jay and Tim all no longer share my world because of a single factor -- distance. Geographically or mentally, distance has destroyed so many relationships. One thing I have learned through this reflection is that the best friend bond is delicate and very breakable.

I can only hope that I am wrong about this and something can be salvaged from what I see as a destructive occurrence. It will require much more effort. And maybe it will never be the same, but I hope it still exists on some level.

This will be a test of my mettle. And, I accept the challenge.

Qualifyer Exams: Finally Over

2006-01-21T13:16:00.000-05:00

Courtesy: PhD Comics

Keep America Safe and Free

2006-01-17T17:27:00.000-05:00

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union, together with a coalition of other organizations and entities, filed a lawsuit against the NSA seeking an end to the secret program of illegal electronic surveillance authorized by President Bush. For years, I have been questioned by those who consider the ACLU a leftist organization about how I, as a libertarian, which is not left or right, can support this group. The answer is that I don't consider the ACLU a leftist organization. This is a group of people who have organized themselves for a single purpose: to protect the Constitution.

Signing of the United States Constitution

In doing so, their lawsuit claims that this spying program violates Americans' rights to free speech and privacy under the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution and that the president has exceeded the limits of executive authority under separation of powers principles. They stand together with several prominent journalists, scholars, attorneys, and national nonprofit organizations as listed plaintiffs in this case -- all of whom frequently communicate by phone and email with people in the Middle East.

Historically, the ACLU has been pivotal in protecting civil liberties in various federal courts including fighting a great number of cases before the Supreme Court. Among them, in 1941, the ACLU won a discrimination case referred to as Edwards v. California. This Supreme Court Case fought the "anti-Okie" law of California which prohibited the transporting of indigent people into the state. In 1943, the Supreme Court decided in favor of the ACLU in the religious discrimination case, West Virginia v. Barnette, and determined that Jehovah's Witness children could not be forced to salute the American flag. In Smith v. Allwright, 1944, the ACLU successfully fought a racial discrimination case which allowed blacks to vote in Texas' "white primary". The Supreme Court determined that even though the Democratic Party is a private organization, primaries are essential to the electoral process and all eligible voters must be included. In 1948 a censorship case called Shelley vs. Kramer determined that restrictive homeowner's covenants cannot be used to prevent the sale of houses to blacks. In 1952, Burstyn vs. Wilson determined that New York state was wrong to censor a movie called "The Miracle" for being sacrilegious, saying this violated the First Amendment.

In more recent cases, the 1992 case, Lee vs. Weisman determined that it is unconstitutional for officially sanctioned prayers to be read at graduation ceremonies. The 1993 case of J.E.B. vs. T.B. the Supreme Court decided that pre-emptory challenges could not be used to exclude jurors on the basis of sex. And in 1997, the Supreme Court decided that the 1996 Communications Act banning "indecent" speech violated First Amendment rights.

The ACLU has traditionally fought cases that were unpopular and controversial, but they stand by the American citizens' right to Constitutional freedoms. Those cases that may seem the most extreme and outlandish as they occur often later become beloved institutions of American jurisprudence.

If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled. I, for one, am glad and proud that the ACLU is there to stand up to president Bush in this case. Though our president claims he can authorize warrantless spying on Americans, this surveillance program is illegal.

I personally urge everyone to watch for news about the suit during the coming days. Partisans in Washington have already been scrambling to undermine inquiries into the NSA scandal, but this lawsuit is grounded in our most basic American principles, and not driven by the tides of politics or spin.

Click here to help the ACLU by sending out an email to your Senator requesting the Department of Justice appoint a special counsel to investigate and prosecute any and all crimes committed.

Through our actions, we will see that justice prevails.

In Liberty,

Vishal

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

2006-01-13T15:11:00.000-05:00

Strength. Wisdom. Life.

We learn lessons by making mistakes. As children, we begin to define ourselves and our personalities. In high school and in college we are exposed, slowly, to the real world. We are allowed to fall. Some don't get up. Others do but keep falling. Few learn what it takes to stand up and keep standing. Even fewer learn to stand up and walk forward.

Some psychologists believe that even as teenagers and young adults we are still developing -- independence, responsibility and other social traits that help us become productive members of society and form quality relationships with peers. Unfortunately it's not that simple. For everyone there are obstacles along the way, paths to be chosen, and allies or enemies to be made.

Two extremes of situations or anything in between can happen:

As you walk forward, sunshine follows you. You have nothing but good fortune. The pavement below you lights up with every step taken. Everything you touch turns to gold.

Or, perhaps, on this path you are surrounded by darkness and cloud. You are constantly faced with flames of hate and ignorance. The absence of pavement forces you to walk through vegetation that pierces your skin and the only sign of warmth is the blood that trickles down your body. You are devastated.

In 2006, I have no doubt that many of us are at a crossroads. As am I. I have taken a leave of absence from school to figure some things out. This was precipitated by what is arguably one of the most cataclysmic events that can happen to a PhD student -- the resignation of the advisor. At this point I could offer my opinions about tenure, faculty retention and other issues that can prevent or even eliminate this risk but I will save that for another blog.

So I have a few months to think. Some projects have already started. Career development, addressing health concerns, social concerns, genealogical issues. Too many to details to outline and some of which are sworn confidential.

It's just comforting to know that no matter what type of path we are on, everything truly is going to be all right in the end eventually sunlight will shine through the darkness.

Enough babbling that probably makes no sense to anyone.