Social Safety Nets
Posted: April 21, 2009 Filed under: My bandwagon, News/information and opinion, Randomization of randomness 3 Comments »My previous post was not about detest to taxation, it was more on the inept pricing of DVD rentals in that particular public library. I believe that proper functioning of a society requires certain social safety nets, for that you need taxation. But don’t get me wrong, I am strongly against ‘taxation of people to death’ by their government. Taxation definitely is required, but getting an appropriate and effective taxation scheme is more of a challenge.
Today morning, while driving to work, my car spun off the ramp and the engine shut off after hitting the curb. My car was facing straight to incoming ‘office time’ traffic, eager to get off the ramp. There was a high probability that some vehicle would definitely crash into mine on the ramp (while hurrying to get to their work). I dialed 911 and a State Trooper got their in two minutes to slow down the incoming traffic from the ramp. A County Police Car got their in five minutes, giving way to the State Trooper. The County Police stayed there till the towing company towed my car away.
If there was no taxation then there won’t be anything called Police, or any other social safety nets. I doubt anyone would have stopped their vehicle in safe (visible) place and help slow down the incoming traffic. So as long as my tax money is spent wisely, I don’t mind contributing. And if you expect similar help (god forbid if something like that happen), then it would be foolish to decry taxation.
Thank god, I and my car got away without any major incident. God is great.
Perks of living in a big city?
Posted: April 9, 2009 Filed under: News/information and opinion, Randomization of randomness 6 Comments »There are definitely some perks of living close to a big city: like proximity to bigger airports, happening places, lot more friends, lot more visitors and places for you to visit, better infrastructures, etc. But there might be some downsides, even if it’s negligible in comparison to the benefits you reap. I discovered one of them yesterday.
I am a big fan of public library, in fact I love anything that’s public: public transport, public TV, public radio, etc. When I was in Lafayette, I used to borrow a lot from the public library; books, CD’s, and mostly DVD’s. They all were free, you could keep DVD’s for a week, and after that it was $1 fine per day.
Yesterday I went to Baltimore County Public Library to borrow couple of DVD’s. The rate was $2.30 for a DVD (you can keep it for 2 days), after that there was a fine of $2.30 per day. I was surprised with the cost, especially when I pay four times the state tax that I used to pay in Louisiana. What baffled me more was who would want to get DVD’s from this library when you can get newer releases in the Redbox for $1.06 (rate of a DVD per day)? Also, when the older movies nowadays are readily available on the web.
Picture source: http://tylermuth.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/redbox.jpg
Migration of conventional wisdom
Posted: March 12, 2009 Filed under: Ramblings on life, Randomization of randomness Leave a comment »There used to be time when wisdom was all about age, we have a saying in Nepali “आगो ताप्नु मुढाको कुरा सुन्नु बुढाको” which meant “for fire use timbers for knowledge listen to the elders” (not exact, but close enough translation). The idea was that with age a person garners lot of knowledge & wisdom based on their experience. I grew up with that mind set, especially when you are forced into believing that elders are always correct.
Now call it a generation divide or information technology boom, the conventional wisdom seems to be fading. Don’t believe me? simply look around the kids, think of the conversation you had with them (and remember yourself at that age). Elders are no longer the sole providers of knowledge, there are numerous other sources.
When it comes to philosophies of life (for example relationships) elders might still edge out in wisdom; but don’t expect the kids to buy the notion that “elders are always correct” as they definitely have edge in knowledge.
Women & No
Posted: February 19, 2009 Filed under: Randomization of randomness 7 Comments »Ever seen how women prefer to have sleek electronic gadgets? The phones, laptops, ipod’s, etc that they have (or want) are very sophisticated and stylish. It won’t be wrong to say that they are very picky on electronics.
BUT, why do they always hate to spend time inside electronics stores compared to men. I have never understood it, nor it seems understandable; but it’s a fact that I love to spend time in electronics store while my wife doesn’t; even when she has cool taste on electronics. It’s not just us; I have seen this in almost all the couples that I know.
I can spend hours in an electronics store and my wife in a mall, but vice versa is not always true. I can be flexible with my hours at mall but not her (without a grump). It’s not just her; it’s true for almost all the girls I know.
“Why are you wasting your time looking at these electronic gadgets if you are not planning to buy it now?” That’s a typical question I get when I am in an electronics store. But I never understood why they keep on looking and trying on different shoes and dresses when they know that they are not buying them all? Equally baffling!!!!
I bet most women were shrewdly smiling hearing the news of Circuit City’s bankruptcy, that’s one less place for men to go now 
Past Vs Present
Posted: January 12, 2009 Filed under: Let the picture speak, Randomization of randomness 3 Comments »
The picture (above) was taken by my friend Rupak, the Photoshop concepts belonged to my wife, and I applied the touches. The team effort produced this good image. My cousin Shai nicely summoned this picture: the past is colorful but the view ahead is b/w . Many things in life can relate to that.
South Africa’s historic series win
Posted: December 29, 2008 Filed under: Randomization of randomness 4 Comments »The vivid images of Imran Khan lifting the 1992 World Cup was enough to get me into cricket , I never looked back since then. I used to play a lot when I was younger, but I am now confined to periodic following over the Internet. In those two (almost) decades, Australia were always on top. Many people, when they don’t have their favorite sports team playing, tend to support the underdogs; and I am no different. Since they were not my favorite team to start with, they were always the team I was rooting against. Nothing personal against them; they never were underdogs hence never garnered my support.
I am keenly following the current Australia Vs South Africa test series, finally my support for an underdogs seems to be paying off. South Africa, the perennial chokers, just handed a series defeat to Australia in their own den. A feat most recently achieved by Richie Richardson’s team in 1992/1993 season, 16 years ago. Though India just handed a series defeat to Australia, South Africa are the ones to nail the coffin with a series win at Aussies own backyard.
It seems that Australian supremacy of world cricket is slowly waning down. Who knows if I would be supporting Australia next year, there is a good chance that they won’t be starting as a favorite for rest of the year 
Christmas Cards
Posted: December 24, 2008 Filed under: Randomization of randomness 33 Comments »I am not big on greeting cards, I always feel it’s waste of paper. Some might disagree, I have seen people collect cards throughout their lives, but that’s not my cup of tea. I don’t want to give cards, and I don’t expect either. But I keep on getting those unilaterally, especially during Christmas.
I don’t remember ever storing any cards, they all have similar fate: to trash cans. I believe most people do that too, so why waste paper. If you want to wish use E-cards, that way you can fulfill your objective as well as save the environment. This is why I love Facebook, no more birthday cards
Having a foreign name is no fun either, here are the list of names addressed to me in half dozen Christmas cards that I received at my work: Praswol,Prajwal, Praswal. Only one got it correct as Prajwol. Forget the Americans, in one of the invitation that I recently received from a relative was addressed as Mr. & Ms. Gazal 
Christmas Card Source: www.allthingschristmas.com
