Prez Campaign 08

I have been following the presidential campaign with avid interest. My main sources of information are the Daily Show(a sad testament to American media incapable of delivering concise national news...I am sick of hearing kitties stranded in trees in the local news) and NPR news on my drives to workplace.

This is a campaign in which all the candidates want to:-

* End the war

* Eliminate budget deficit

* Usher in green initiatives

* Make the foreign policy relevant again (not that it aint relevant now!)

* Reform health care

* Tackle immigration

This is campaign devoid of ideologies. A campaign of conservative democrats against "progressive" republicans. Hell, who could imagine Rudy G is leading the Republican primaries in SC (Rudy is pro-abortion, pro-gay rights and SC is super conservative "Bible" belt state).

This campaign is all about personality, charisma and attention to details. There is no visionary and there is no mission statement.

The GOP is running out of steam. Mitt Ramney is already irrelevant in the south. John McCain has run for office so many times that people dont take him seriouly no more. And Rudy G is all being "America's mayor". Mr Rudy, a friendly reminder that the country aint a city (or is he just another New Yorker who thinks NYC is America and America is NYC?).

The other side of the coin is the polarising figure of Hillary Clinton. The green horn called Barack Obama. At this point, the only candidate making sense is John Edwards (if you disregard the $400 haircut). But can a democrat from the south do a Clinton again?

As details and policy statements slowly emerge (Obama was out with his foreign policy today), the mythical devil will emerge from the details. But frankly, its going to pretty tough to distinguish between these devils as most will look, feel and smell the same.

A-Gone

Whats up with Bush these days? I am and will continue to be his greatest supporter. But, at times, blind faith is,well blind.

I happened to listen to excerpts of Alberto Gonzales's testimonial. If I term it as lousy, I being very generous. The AG should have done better. And Mr.President applauding him drives me nuts.

The other is the case of Wolfwotiz. Here is a man, who denied African governments world bank loans because they were corrupt. Ironically, he sees fit to give his "female companion" a rise. Is this not corruption? What has the President to say about this? To paraphrase him, he has full confidence in Wolfwotiz.

In his lame duck years, if Bush wants to leave behind a glorious legacy (that he richly deserves), its time to make changes.

Elephants in Manhattan!!!

What do you expect in Manhattan? Not elephants.

Here is a brilliant story about elephants(yes, the real animals) in NYC.

The picture of the parade was found on flickr (courtesy Wallyg' photostream)


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9190015

You got to listen to this!

Ponnu-pakarathu and other kissu-kissupu

It would usually go like this (rather, my last meeting went like this):-

My parents and me would be "invited" to go to the prespective's bride's house. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I will be thoroughly checked out. Its very weird being stared/ogled at by mamis, paatis, neighbors, and neighbor's maid. Man, I sure felt sexually harassed.

Then, we take a seat. And the usual conversation begins.

Peris 1: What do you do in America?

Me: Huh, a little bit of work ...

Peris 2: What kind of work?

Me: Software dev in fin. firm.

Peris 1: Do you like it there?

This is one of the std Qs. So answer should be as ambigous as possible

Me: Nothing compares to home!

Peris 1: Hahaha...the astrologer says you will come back when you are 29 or 38.

Me: (feigning interest)...what else did he say?

Peris 1: That you will have two daughters and will be very sucessful.

I am agasht...the old man has gone too far...this is the time to divert focus. My pop, steps in and they talk about business.

This goes on for a few mins and then the bride is introduced. There is no coffee tray in hand, nor a coy demanor nor kollams with feet. A simple smile and hi and sits right across me. I liked the confidence.

Peris 1: ...this house was constructed in 98...let me give you a tour....

We all follow like a sheep after a sheperd...as it should happen, one of the room has a couple of chairs and a coffee-table set in the right way...the peris comes to this room...there's nod to his daughter...the trap is set...and we both sit in the room

Me : This is a little awkward...so, "hi"

Gal : (giggles)...hi

Me : When were you informed of this meeting?

Gal : Last night!

Me : (This is the first Q i ask)...you ready for marriage?

Gal : I dont know

This is the point I would usually get up and leave the room. But, patience, i learned, is more than a virtue.

But then I labor on. Talk about life, school, college, hobbies, passion, living in the US, cousins, friends, sports???

At the back of my head, a clock starts ticking as soon as I enter the "meeting" room. After 40 mins, I can't take it no longer. The other person might be interesting. It doesn't matter. In the meantime, I would have eaten a few biscuits, hopefully kaju-katli and a juice. At the 41st minute, I envitably stop. The timing is an empathetic view of my parent's problems as well. They simply cannot keep socialising forever. Last time around, my mom had to socialise with the gal's mom who knew only kannada. My mom knew none. They talked for an hour in broken hindi with probably 5% of the content getting across.

Me: I know all I need to know. You are a very insteresting person...we should probably talk/chat more and get to know more

Gal: Sounds good! I can't decide either...here's my mail id

We make our way to the living room. On the way back, she shows me her painting. I am impressed but I comment that the shade of blue used could have been lighter (am I becoming gay or ready for family-life?)

Peris 1: Looks like you gelled (With a smile on his face....he quickly turns to my father)...you know, if you want to do something before your leaves, we are ready to do it...we can even come to Mumbai...got some folks there

Whoa! Whoa! Hold it! What are you smoking peris? The gal has the same look of exasperation.

Eventually, it doesn't work out. But, thats the routine folks for all you uniniated beings!

Guess whos back?

IT had been a weird, depressing, albeit interesting six months. After all this I have come out more mature, stronger, and lot a fatter!

The significant events in last six months were (in no particular order):

* Parents visited me in Chicago for the first time. It was a two-week trip and we did a lot of Patel-style things. My mom refused to talk to me when I drove and kept constantly praying whenever I drove! But that didnt stop her from making me drive to a jewellery store in south-western suburbs just after a snow-storm dumped a foot of snow.

* I had been chatting with potential brides. And I got to meet a couple of them in my trip home in Jan. The direct side-effect is my empathy with the "ponnu-pakara" scenes of movies and a lot of heart-burn.

* I had a great time attending the wedding of Kartik & W (one of the highpoints in my India trip). Here's a post describing the same.

* I tried socialising with the bai in Marathi...she started shooting me "looks" ever since

* Came back to see the beloved Bears getting butt-whopped. Officially, I slipped into a depression.

* Two weeks after super-bowl, I decided not to take the offer to move to Amsterdam. The pay offered was so ridiculous that I figured that I will live like a homeless person under one of the umpteen bridges in Amsterdam. I walked out attended around 20 interviews in less than a week including trips to NY and Seattle. In the trip to NY, I fainted while waiting for an interview; hit my head on marble; had a deep laceration and five stitches. Also chipped two teeth. The company nurse when attending to me had a "dont die on me bitch" look and I spent the rest of the day in Jersey City ER. I came back and accepted an offer in good old Chicago.

So long, folks!