Message In A Bottle

Roller-Coaster Ride in Mumbai

2009-03-28T12:57:00.002-05:00

I'm on a two week vacation to visit my sister & folks in Mumbai. I believe the last time I was here was in 1989 - it has been a while. I don't have too many memories from my previous trips to Mumbai, however, I am loving the city a lot this time around.

Today was the first day I got out of my sister's apartment to trek around the area. And, the most convenient way to do it has been to hop in an auto-rickshaw - convenient and thrilling. The way that these three wheeled speedsters edge into and out of a swarm of other auto-rickshaws; squeezing in between the taxis, cars, and buses, and navigating around pedestrians only to stop on a dime when called for can't help but quicken the pulse and keep you on the edge of your seat! Although, being on the edge of the seat on the ride might not be such a good idea. The most amazing thing is that while all of our senses were being assaulted the whole time - the constant honks, the smell, the potholes in the road, the sights of a busy city - I never saw any of these urban chariot drivers so much as nick another thing. Mumbai has the same vibe for me as NYC. The pace is relentless in an energizing way.

As a postscript, I did see a Pizza Hut, a SubWay, and a McDonald's. Oh! And, the McDonald's here has a delivery service - we passed a McDonald's delivery guy on his motorcycle in our auto-rickshaw. How cool is that?!

Safety at the Cost of Freedom?

2009-01-02T21:30:00.005-06:00

I was listening to NPR on my way home from work earlier this evening and I heard this story of a family of Muslim travelers who were taken off an AirTran flight because another passenger on the flight misconstrued the conversation they overheard between a man and his sister-in-law about the safest seats on a plane.

One of the most disturbing aspect of this incident is the suggestion the Air Marshall made to the man when interviewing him that he shouldn't be discussing these sorts of things on a plane. What makes it positively scary is that so many listeners of the broadcast fed back similar views on the story's website.

Are we ready to give up the real freedom of (reasonable) speech for an illusion of safety? Are we prepared to be subjected to an unreasonable invasion of our person because of the paranoid delusions of someone else? Do we all now need to be cautious about what we say and where we say it for fear that someone would turn us in and we might be rendered and tortured someplace for views we hold or express?

I choose not to give in to such fears. I shall carry on reasonable conversations in public. I will not leap to conclusions based on my biased perceptions. If anything, I will engage any and all of my fellow travelers to make connections and build bonds. It is only in this way that I earn trust, trust in return and feel secure.

Happy 2009

2009-01-01T22:00:00.002-06:00

Wednesday was a wonderful end to a year that had tested me in many ways. I could not have asked for a better way to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future than in the midst of steady old friends & budding new friendships.

I start again. A new reference. Challenging goals. 365 days before re-evaluation.

Small Successes

2007-08-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

For the last few months I had been feeling "down"; in a real funk. But, this post isn't about that. It's about how small successes can turn things around. Yesterday, I took my pre-test test for my Six Sigma certification at work. Other than attending the training classes I hadn't really studied. Needless to say I was nervous about how I would do. It was important that I passed the test as it was a prerequisite for taking the actual test that was scheduled for today. I passed. I got a 77/100 and qualified for the test today. Nothing great, but, it was a positive. I followed up that success today with a 91/100 on the actual test; the top score in class! That felt great! Without even realizing it, until I sat down to write tonight, I feel like I am out of my funk.

In the bigger picture, the tests really don't matter. However, in the immediate present, they gave me a sense of achievement and boosted my self confidence. That's all you need to get back into the groove.

World Cup - Day 2

2006-06-10T20:22:00.000-05:00

Ah! It's World Cup time again and I've got the fever. I spent all day (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM) today watching all three matches: England (1) vs Paraguay (0) ; Trinidad & Tobago (0) vs Sweden (0), and Argentina (2) vs Cote d'Ivoire (1). Football in high-def; what a rush!

Alright, the first game between England and Paraguay was a snore. Neither team got into any rhythm and seemed to be playing some sort of back-alley scrimmage instead of World Cup football. I was hoping for more intensity. For crying out loud, it was England with Beckham (who scored the only goal) and Rooney (who didn't play). Where're the goals? I have to admit though, whenever Beckham did touch the ball, which was only a handful of times, he made it look so effortless.

The other two games were just brilliant! The Trinidadians put up a magnificent fight and held Sweden to a draw. OK, let me repeat that, the Trinidadians, who were at the World Cup for the first time... ever, held Sweden, a football powerhouse, to zero goals! Holy crap! All thanks to Shaka Hislop, the Trinidadians' goal keeper who rejected everything Sweden threw at him. Sensational! And, get this: he wasn't even the originally slated keeper. He was, literally, a last minute replacement. What's more, he is 37, the second oldest keeper to hold a team to zero goals in World Cup history. Besides having a great game, the players were super-sportsmen; exchanging jerseys at the end of the match.

The last game of the day between Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire started out slow, but things got super-charged quickly. The first Argentinian goal was ruled not a goal. It looked like a goal to me, but apparently the entire ball didn't cross the plane of the goal line. You could hear the collective groan of the stadium. The Argentinians didn't waste any time though. Riquelme (the next Maradona?) quickly fed a ball to Crespo who scored and soon after fed a second ball to Saviola who put them up two goals to none. Drogba, the main man for the Cote d'Ivoire team, was sensational; never giving up. As the game was almost to an end, he scored the sole goal for Cote d'Ivoire.

Mesmerizing football. Fast. Dramatic. Thrilling! And, it's only the second day. (I wish I had TiVo.)

India Trip - Day 2

2005-11-16T17:41:00.000-06:00

I ended up being stranded in Chicago last night. Surprised? Hell no! We left Austin an hour late. There was no way we were getting to Chicago on time to make my Delhi connection. Did American Airlines help after I got here? Hell no! Their position is that "We do not accommodate delays caused by the weather or traffic." How about accommodating bad advice by the Austin ticketing agent? He knew we were delayed even before we left Austin. He had no information that the Delhi flight was not leaving on time out of Chicago (which it did). I had twice requested to be rescheduled for the following day if there was even a remote chance of me missing my connecting flight. But, thanks to his advice, here I am in Chicago, stranded for the last 24 hours. I'm now waiting to make my rescheduled flight. Hopefully it will be uneventful.

On a related note, the O'Hare airport has no free wireless access; no easy paid wireless access and no decent affordable food.

India Trip - Day 1

2005-11-15T15:59:00.000-06:00

Everything started off well today (for the most part). I made it to the Austin airport with plenty of time to spare only to wait at the gate for the bad weather in Chicago to clear before our flight can be on its way. Apparently, they have thunderstorms rolling through there. The gate agent seems to think I will make it to Chicago on time to catch my connecting flight to Delhi. I'm not sure I share his optimism. It'll be awfully close. I hope they wait for me to get there. But, if I do miss the direct flight to Delhi, he said that American Airlines will route me through London. The thing is I don't have a visa for the UK. This trip will be interesting, if nothing else.

Spanish Classical Music

2005-11-06T20:52:00.000-06:00

It's been tremendous sitting at Mozart's tonight enjoying the spanish classical music strummed by Solovato. Is there anything better than the sound of guitar? I haven't seen him play here before, but I hope he turns into a regular.

No Time to Wallow in Self Pity

2005-11-06T20:43:00.000-06:00

I have a very fragmented mind presently. It has been difficult to focus on anything. My efforts to organize are being sabotaged by ill timed unexpected obligations and emotions. My thoughts are being corrupted by nonsensical self-doubts that are draining my motivation. I need to put an end to this paralysis; re-establish routine and structure. This entry is the first step in snapping out of this funk.

Austin City Limits (Part IV) - Sunday Day 3

2005-09-30T11:09:00.000-05:00

The Bravery

Franz Ferdinand

Bands I saw on Sunday: Rachel Yamagata (B), Ruthie Foster (A), Jason Mraz (B), Franz Ferdinand (A)

Austin City Limits (Part III) - Saturday Day 2

2005-09-27T13:23:00.000-05:00

Death Cab for Cutie - Mellow & OK

Jet - Pure unadulterated rock n' roll, baby! They are it!

Oasis

Bands I saw on Saturday: Buddy Guy (B), Death Cab for Cutie (C), Jet (A), Oasis (B)

Austin City Limits (Part II) - Friday Day 1

2005-09-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

Festival - The crowd was amazing.

Blue October - This band just plain kicks ass! I've seen them twice and I will see them again come Oct 14th at Stubb's.

Bands I saw on Friday: Lucinda Williams (C); Thievery Corporation (A); Keane (A); Blue October (A); The Black Crowes (B)

Austin City Limits (Part I)

2005-09-26T00:48:00.000-05:00

Since I am wickedly tired, let me just say that the Austin City Limits music festival rocked. Oh my goodness! And while my feet, calves, thighs, and back are jello from standing eight plus hours each day, I am glad I did it. Magnificent!

I will post pictures and comments tomorrow when I am less achy. Right now, I need to figure out a way to make it to my bed... or I could just do "nap time" right here.

Still Growing

2005-09-17T20:19:00.000-05:00

Earlier today I was browsing my alma mater's website; checking to see what was new. Unexpectedly enough, I came across a post highlighting the achievements of a former peer. I had a sickening reaction to it. It bummed me out. I remember thinking "Aw man! Her?! Again? How is it possible that she keeps getting these breaks?"

Let me be honest. It isn't her that upset me. It's that reading about her achievements put a spotlight on my lack of them. Wait. In all fairness, I have achieved. Its that my achievements haven't been publicly celebrated. Am I being envious? How immature. I thought I had grown past this sort of stuff. Apparently I still have a long way to go.

Can You Hear Me... Now?

2005-09-16T23:16:00.000-05:00

I stayed home last night to watch the President address the nation from the French Quarters in New Orleans. After listening to him take responsibility for the botched federal response to the disaster along the Gulf coast during his joint press conference with visiting Iraqi President Talabani, I had high hopes for this national address. I was hoping for something simple, direct and heart felt; something like what he said standing on top of the rubble in NYC with a megaphone after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Instead, yesterday's address was more of the same rhetoric. I'm hard pressed to remember any of what he said. I just remember my excitement drain as he droned on recapitulating all that has happened thus far. There is no longer the bravado of "I" when he speaks anymore; no candidness in his message. Its now some obscure "We".

How Not To Treat Your Employees

2005-09-16T15:07:00.000-05:00

I left Jordan Valley Semiconductors at the end of August. This year I was eligible for three weeks of regular vacation (15 days) plus two floating holidays. The distinction between the two is that floating holidays are use-it-or-lose-it while regular vacation days can accumulate and unused portions may be paid-out in cash. Isn't it then reasonable to expect that the floating holidays be charged first before tapping into regular vacation days?

However, as I was advised, since I hadn't specifically requested floating holidays when I used two and a half days time off that, by default, they were charged to my regular vacation days. In effect, I lost the two floating holidays because I, technically, didn't use them while employed and I lost two and a half days of my regular vacation days resulting in 12.5 days instead of 14.5 days of unused vacation pay-out. Does this seem fair to you?

Regardless, I'm not upset over losing the few hundred dollars from the loss of two vacation days as much as I'm stunned at the decision of my former manager, and by extension the company, to get technical on this issue with me. For what? Was it to save a multi-million dollar company a few hundred dollars by cheating an employee of earned vacation time? All that has resulted is to manufacture ill will where there was none before. How cheap and silly is this?

The Base Must Be Order

2005-09-14T11:59:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina didn't just blow down houses or destroy roadways and communication lines in New Orleans with her gale force winds, she drowned all regional order under her monster storm surges as well. I watched with incredulity at the disorder that took hold in the following days: rampant looting; gangs raping; rescue workers being shot at. But, why should my disbelief be of the acts that define disorder? Disorder. Lost order. That is the shocking thing.

First there must be order. There cannot be anything else without order; no rescue work, no guaranty of safety, no opportunity to better our circumstance and no freedom. Order is the foundation for all other institutions; institutions that represent our democracy.

When terrorists strike, they strike at institutions that provide order (the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon). They recognize that by breaking down order everything else built on it will inevitably fall. Its no surprise then that police recruitment centers, security check points, and people that represent order like judges and political leaders are routinely targeted in Iraq and Israel by terrorists attempting to disrupt or prevent order from taking hold.

I've always known the significance of order. I was just reminded to think on it by Fareed Zakaria when he recently appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

Kenyan Proverb

2005-09-12T23:50:00.000-05:00

The Earth wasn't given to you by your fathers, it is loaned to you by your grandchildren.

Loveline

2005-09-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

What the hell do Adam Carolla's rants have to do with Loveline anymore? Loveline used to be about providing help for dealing with deeply personal problems. I've been a long time follower and I tune in to listen to people like me open themselves up; not to hear you vent your frustrations about the beeping garbage trucks or the lousy traffic signs on L.A. freeways, Adam. (Oh! And get some new material jackass! Stop spewing the same crap from the radio show on your new TV show. Its wasn't funny the first time!)

I was hooked from the first time I saw Loveline on MTV (1996). I still religiously tune in to the radio show although lately I find myself switching stations frequently. Even after being around for so long, there is still nothing else like it on anywhere today. It helped me mature and learn to accept myself. It helped me realize I wasn't alone in being the way I am. It used to be full of non-judgemental objective advice from two guys that got it. Now its just another talk show. Bogus!

Even Dr. Drew has lost it; cutting off callers (who've patiently been waiting for hours) before they get to their question; patronizing and summarily categorizing them. What happened to your bedside manners Dr. Drew? If you're bored and tired of repeatedly dealing with these same issues, why don't you pass the reins to someone new and enthusiatic?

Mozart's Coffee Shop

2005-09-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

Ever since my friend Fretwell introduced me to it, I've spent a few hours on most nights at Mozart's Coffee Shop out by Town Lake. I love the atmosphere; it's casual and friendly. It has been very easy to strike up a conversation, and I have made good acquaintances with a few of the regulars. The crowd is mostly 20-30 somethings; students and professionals alike; smart and engaging. I refer to it as the anti-bar scene. Live music, ranging from Jazz & the Blues to Folk and even Country, adds to the experience without being obtrusive as at a typical bar. It has been the perfect place to go when I want to get out of my house.

Shame On Us

2005-09-03T23:36:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina left a major catastrophe in her wake. Undoubtedly. Part of me feels horrible for all that still suffer. Really. What must it feels like to lose everything and be left destitute; to be separated from loved ones not knowing if they are still alive? Devastating, I'm sure. However, instead of the deep sense of grief like I felt after the south-east Asian tsunami, the overwhelming feeling I have now is disappointment and resignation. The tsunami victims didn't have any warning, nor did they have the wherewithal to react to any warnings if they had got them. The daily tragedy that continues to unfold in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama could've... no not could've but should've been prevented or at least minimized, damnit!

We live in the richest country in the world with every resource at our disposal. We had ample warning of the development of Katrina and her probable path. Every news and weather outlet were covering her. We are sophisticated enough to have forecast the destruction she would bring. And yet, how is it possible that no one at the federal or state or county or city level thought to preemptively declare a state of emergency and evacuate (forcibly if needed) the residents inland. How could we fail so magnificently?

Katrina did all she was capable of, we did not.

Shame on us.

Congress Av., Austin, TX

2005-09-01T00:31:00.000-05:00

Get In The Groove

2005-08-26T22:36:00.000-05:00

I promise I'm not a cynic, however, I think we're blindly turning into a short sighted inconsiderate selfish society. Let me explain.

When you stop the flow of traffic so that you can merge into an adjacent lane in an effort to save yourself the trouble of flowing with your present lane, you're being selfish and inconsiderate. Suck it up; move with traffic and correct your lack of planning some place less congested. Stop irritating everyone else to save yourself... save yourself what exactly? Time? Will someone clue me in? Plan your route or plan your time or, better still, do both! Quit throwing off everyone else's tempo. Ya heard?

Enough of you do enough of these 'little' things so as to completely throw someone off of their rhythm. That is goddamn annoying.

Give Them What They Want

2005-08-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Is it so difficult for developers to understand that when their vision conflicts with customer demands it's time to don a pair of marketing glasses? How many of you regularly poll your customers for their needs? Yeah. Customers; the people whose business you're after.

I work as an applications engineer in the semiconductor equipment industry, uniquely positioned as the interface between the factory and my customers. It's a rare day for me to not get complaints about the quality of the software we vendors provide. And, the complaints are not about one thing; they are about everything - from the lack of needed functions to the lousy and often complicated GUIs (graphical user interface).

Doesn't it make sense to address these identified gaps which would translate to improved customer productivity (i.e. greater tool utilization) that could in turn generate repeat sales? That's right. Repeat sales; the grail that contributes to our bottom line. And yet, it seems, this low hanging fruit is repeatedly passed up in favor of bells and whistles that users don't need, can't understand or won't use. What gives?