Shock & condemnation not adequate reactions

Just expressing shock and condemning attacks is not adequate reaction to Islamic terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The government has to take tackle terrorism with seriousness and keep vote bank politics aside. Turning a blind eye to Islamic terrorism has allowed it to grow beyond any imaginable limit.

Oridinary citizens should not tolerate government ineptitude. We have to react strongly against this useless government that has not done anything to contain terrorism.

Bought an iPod

I am not a fan of gadgets and gizmos. I first heard of iPod couple of years ago. I knew that it was some gadget from Apple to play music, which had become the latest craze. But my knowledge was limited to that much until recently. When Poornima started asking me to buy an iPod earlier this year, I ignored it. On her birthday, I made first attempt to understand what iPods and MP3 Players are. I remember doing a google on 'difference between an iPod & MP3 Player' a few months back. Then I made an unsuccessful attempt at buying an MP3 Player. I searched the web to buy an MP3 Player online. But the more I searched, the more confused I became.

One day Poornima and I searched the Net for cheap models of MP3 Players and iPods. She liked iPod Nano, but I thought it was too costly at $150. We then gave up on the idea without a fight. Then Diwali passed and I blissfully ignored shopping and gifting. Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. Yesterday evening after coming back from office I walked to RadioShack and inquired about iPods. They had 3 models - the Shuffle, Nano and iTouch.

Shuffle was already rejected because it did not have a screen to view and select songs. I had gone there to buy Nano, which was priced at $150. When I saw iTouch for $220, I thought why not pay another $70 and buy it rather than buying Nano, which is a very basic iPod. So I immediately doled out $251 ($31 of tax over the price of the iPod) and purchased it.

That's the way I shop. I don't buy much stuff. I hate shopping and rarely buy anything for myself. When I buy, I don't waste much time on doing research. I just go out and buy what I like. I don't care much about the price. That's the way I am.

Anyway, the iPod is really cool and we are enjoying it!

Schindler's List

Poornima & I saw Schindler's List yesterday. It was the second time I saw it and I realized what an amazing movie it is! In Marathi there's a saying - vaalyaachaa valmeekee jhaalaa. That's really true about Oskar Schindler, who first began his business by exploiting Jewish labourers, but later gave up all his wealth to save the lives of as many Jews as he could.

In 1967, Schindler was honored at Israel's Yad Vashem memorial to the victims of the Holocaust as one of the Righteous Among the Nations, or "righteous Gentiles", an honor awarded by Israel to non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, at great personal risk. Schindler was the only former member of the Nazi party to be so recognized. He was also honored with the German Federal Cross of Merit and with the Papal Order of St. Sylvester during the 1960s. He is buried at the Catholic cemetery at Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the only member of the Nazi party to be so honored.

Historic day for America - Obama wins

It is quite exciting to witness this historic day for America - Obama has won! Opinion polls had indicated that Obama was in the lead. However nobody had written off McCain, until at around 8:30 pm PST, he conceded defeat in front of his supporters in Arizona, Biltmore, and congrulated Obama, now the President Elect of the USA. It was a very interesting campaign. First Obama-Hillary fight and then the Obama-McCain dual - both very interesting.

I had watched all the 3 debates between Obama and McCain, and Obama had impressed me with his views and thoughts. His views are extremely rational and progressive. To top it, he is an extraordinary orator. His victory speech should have been very inspiring to Americans.

Tonight, however, I was also impressed by the speech that McCain made. The graciously manner in which he accepted defeat was exemplary.

Quote

A nice quotation I came across in an email signature of someone at work:

"Let your mind be a prism for your thoughts, focusing on the subject of your choice and burning through to the truth".

Go-live! A sense of satisfaction

After close to three years of work our project went live today. For me it was culmination of an year of toil. It gives a great feeling of satisfaction to know that all the efforts have borne sweet fruit!

Happy Diwali!!

This year Diwali has been much better than last year. The weather has been much more pleasant. There has been a lot of sunshine until recently. Even in first week of November we can go out without having to wear thermals. We can even keep our windows open! This gentle weather has made Diwali more pleasant. It is only after coming to this western world and experiencing the harsh weather here that one realizes the obsession of the people here about weather. When so much of your joy is linked to the whims of weather, it is no wonder that the people here become obsessed with it and discuss it so frequently. Here, in Seattle, no day passes without mention of weather. We discuss weather with every other person we meet. It's either a great day or a lousy day depending on whether the weather is sunny or not.