2000 year old Ajanta Caves in India.

I have been out of India since 1998 and living in US ever since. Just before coming to this land of opportunity, I went to the "God's own Country" Kerala. I was amazed at the greenery in that State and thought I should come back sometime, though I could never do that again. When I was reading about this article in Nytimes.com "In the Holy Caves of India" today, I felt that there are so many places I missed out in my country of birth while I was there. Hopefully I will see at least some of them in the remainder of my life!

One door closes while another door opens, but for different people.

One of my friends started working from today, whereas another friend of mine stopped working from today. While one started working after a gap of about 6 years, the other stopped working after a gap of about 6 years. While one was looking to break into work, the other was looking for a break from work. Both had their reasons for doing or not doing what they wanted to or did not want to. I am happy that both of them could do, what they wanted to. I wish both of them the very best in life. Ultimately we all want to be happy in our life and that is what we wish for our friends.

The importance of Elementary Education in USA

I am sure everyone agrees with me when I say that the most important resource of any Nation is its People. Children are our hope for tomorrow. We try to get the best for our Kids. But when it comes to school education we take what we have. Why do Policy Makers and Law Makers here in US, do not look at the quality of education for Elementary schools. Why does the Elementary School Teacher as a Profession not attract the brightest talent? Because there is not much incentive for anyone to do it like some of the glamorous professions like Software, Medicine and Sports. What is Government doing to correct this? What is the Society doing to make the Law Makers understand the importance to attract some of the best talent into Education? At present there is no attraction to be a School teacher and this should change. For starters, Why can't the Salaries bumped up for the School Teachers so that there is an immediate incentive to go into that Profession, when we can spend billions of dollars on democratizing Countries like Iraq. How much would it cost to do this? I do not know. But I am sure it will not cost even half of what is being spent now on charities for other countries. Probably there should be some movement towards this and only then the Politicians try to do something. There may be someone already working towards this goal. At least it does not make it to the front pages of Newspapers as of now. This is not something which can be glamorized and sensationalized. Leaders from Business like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet who have the money to spend should take lead in this and Political Leaders like George Bush(Sr) and Bill Clinton can mobilize people and money into this cause.

Is India the new land of Opportunity?

I know India is still a developing country and may be 25-50 years to go before it can be called a Developed nation. But is this the beginning? May be it is. This "In a Twist, Americans Appear in Ranks of Indian Firms" news item in NYtimes.com is newsworthy because, the fact all these years has been, Indians standing in long lines for visas in US embassies and Consulates. I am sure US will continue to be a land of opportunity for Indians and People from all over the world for many years to come.

Once a Politician. Always a Politician.

It is revolting to read news items like this when Politicians say whatever they like. A former Chief Minister of Kashmir says India will burn if a Terrorist is hanged. What an irresponsible statement? I always thought that Dr.Farooq Abdullah was one of the few saner, moderate modern faces of Indian Politicians. Just because he is no longer ruling, he should not be shooting his mouth off like this. I am appalled at the sad state of affairs where an important leader in India feels that India will be up in flames if a Terrorist is hanged. Why can't our Politicians forget that they are Politicians for a moment and think like Statesmen about the Country? Perhaps it is too much to ask for from them.

India has been slowly burning any way for a long time because of the short sighted approach by our Politicians and Society alike to our longstanding problems. There are fires all over India waiting to be put out. But for our Politicians, Media and Society at large, a small problem is always relegated to the back burner till it becomes a major fire.

Money grows on Tree of Ideas!

It has been proven yet again that it is the idea that makes money but not money itself! There is this good story in Nytimes.com about the latest money spinner in the news "YouTube" and one of it's founders. Check it out.

Great Expections or Least Expectations?

When we expect something and it does not happen, we feel bad. But we want to feel good. So, is it good personally, to have expectations? May not be. If we want to feel good, we should not have any expectations. It is like going to a Movie with no expectations. Even if the Movie is average, you feel as if you have watched a good movie. If you have great expectations about a Movie, even if it is good, it may not survive the expectations. I am struggling with this thought as to what is good for an Individual. To have expectations, fail to meet those expectations, feel bad, try to come out of that phase, try that cycle again and again till success is achieved. The other choice is to simply not have any expectations, do what you need to do and let the destiny be the Master. I don't know. I am sure many of us don't know. I am not sure that everyone does not know. At least I am not one of those who knows. I know that is something not to be proud of. Can someone enlighten me on my ignorance? I really feel that ignorance is bliss as of now.

It is all in our habits.

I have been thinking about this for some time. Why is it so difficult for some of us to do things which are, for others, very easy to do. We are all prisoners of habits and I guess it is very difficult for some of us to change these habits. It starts with when we wake up in the morning and ends with the time we hit the bed. What we do in the interregnum is what we are used to doing all along. We try to resist any changes in the patterns we built in leading our daily life. Even the way we think is also the result of the old habits. They say "Old habits die hard". We all die one day but the habits that we build up in our lives never die on their own till we are gone. We have to kill them and it is never easy for us to do so. We all want to be good, look good, feel good, eat good, live good, yet when it comes to the supposedly good habits it is always very difficult for us to cultivate and replace the bad habits. Does that mean "New habits die easy"? I believe it is very easy kick off new habits, because they are not habits till they are old. There is an article on Old habits at www.PhysOrg.com, for which I have given a link in this post.


My Father used to tell me that I have to be disciplined in order to succeed in life and once your habit patterns are formed in the early part of life, it will not be easy for me to change and unless I made changes, I will have to suffer later. I realize now, that, not only is discipline very important early on in life, it helps us in dealing with the situations more confidently. Self Confidence is also the way we perceive about ourselves and I think that too is a habit. May be this can go on and on, but I need to stop it somewhere, lest this becomes my habit. I don't want to add to my repertoire of habits! But I am not sure if I am succeeding in that goal, because not doing something is also a habit!!!

Positive Fuel for thought and action!

It has been sometime since I added any content on this blog. I have always been thinking why can't Politicians be practical and look at what is possible in the immediate near future rather than talk about something which can happen in the next 50-100 years. Probably it is all public posturing. That is the reason I guess Bush talks about Hydrogen fuel cells and going to Mars. I am of the belief that if someone can do it others can too. If Brazil can do it and do it with success in about 15-25 years why can't countries like India, US and China do it too??? Their current insatiable needs for oil is now being met by imports saddling the people with big deficits in their budgets. I think People have to wake them (Politicians) up to the ground realities and make sure their voice is heard. I was listening to the KGO talk show the other day and Karel was saying that if the Speeds on the Roads in US are reduced by 5 Miles (Just 5 Miles, Can you believe it!?) the there will 30% reduction in US consumption of Oil. Imagine what would happen to the World oil Market if US reduces its oil import by that percentage. But common sense is not so common and it is all about posturing in public life.

It is commendable that someone like Vinod Khosla, who has been advocating about the ethanol as an alternative to the fossil fuels. I watched his speech on a recent visit to the google at Mountain View, California and has a link to the on the google website. I am sure that very soon the pain becomes so unbearable that we have to do something. I request everyone who happens to read my blog, to please take time and listen to his speech (I have provided the link above). If we can contribute to this change in the attitude for alternative fuels, even in a small way, will be a big right step. The possibilities of ethanol made out of Corn or Sugar Cane are enormous. The environment will be cleaner and greener.

Automotive Companies like Toyota and GM are beginning to understand the seriousness of this, by introducing Hybrid and Flex Fuel cars. I am sure all the other companies would follow suit, plainly because of Hobson's choice. I have always believed everything happens for a reason and for our good. Even the recent record prices at the Gas stations all over the US and other countries would prompt people to take action and do something about this alternative fuel to the fossil fuels. If the prices were low nobody would want to do anything. I am positive that this will be an awakening for everyone to take action.

I laughed at this joke and I am sure anyone would!!!

I was reading this Joke of the day and I liked it. I am sure others will find it good too!

The Train!
June 13th, 2006
AskMen.com Rates
This Joke: 8/10
A man and his wife check into a hotel. The husband wants to have a drink at the bar, but his wife is extremely tired so she decides to go on up to their room to rest.She lies down on the bed... just then, an elevated train passes by very close to the window and shakes the room so hard she's thrown out of the bed.Thinking this must be a freak occurrence, she lies down once more.Again a train shakes the room so violently, she's pitched to the floor.Exasperated, she calls the front desk and asks for the manager. The manager says he'll be right up.The manager is skeptical, but the wife insists the story is true."Look... lie here on the bed -- you'll be thrown right to the floor!"So he lies down next to the wife.Just then the husband walks in and says, "What are you doing here!?!"The manager calmly replies, "Would you believe I'm waiting for a train?"

No Pain No Gain

The gas prices are now around $3.25/gallon in US. People slowly seem to realize that this is not something that can go down anytime soon. Even the President has acknowledged that he is helpless in this. People always haggle whether the oil companies are making money or not. But no one seems to understand that they are in the business of making money. They are not in charitable business. They will try to make money when they can. Did anyone complain when the gas prices had gone down to almost a Dollar/gallon about 4 years back? It is market economics which comes into play. Demand and supply which decides the price of oil.

CNN has been broadcasting a show " We have been warned" for the last 2 months over the weekends. In the show we are told of Brazil's success in attaining self-sufficiency for its fuel needs with 40% of their needs met by Ethanol made out of Sugarcane. Brazil is the number one producer of Sugarcane in the world. When Brazil can do this why can't it be done in USA or India which are so dependent on imported oil. There can be no miracles overnight. But if we plan now may be USA and India can become self-sufficient for their energy needs in about 25-30 years, which is good enough. People always look for something which is romantic and unachievable in a decent period. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is one example of that. Why can't the Governments encourage businesses to invest in the manufacture of Ethanol so that we need not be dependent on imported oil. They say common sense is not so common.

Hopefully now that Gas prices have become prohibitively expensive people will wake up now and think of alternatives to the traditional fuels. If the prices were low people would go about their business as usual without worrying as to what might happen tomorrow. I sincerely hope this is a true wakeup call and people will wake up. As someone said " No pain No gain."