It finally happened! After several months of begging and pleading, and after several rounds of shedding tears, our daughter finally convinced us to get her a pet. We already have a goldfish, but that is not a true pet by my daughter’s definition. It just swims around in the tank; I can’t touch and feel it – that’s how she defines a pet.
Dogs, cats, turtles, rabbits, hamsters, lizards, guinea pigs, mice etc. were all under consideration; we finally settled for a rabbit after taking into account the amount of work involved. Of course, it helped that a close family friend has a rabbit as a pet and they naturally influenced the decision as well.
One Saturday, we went to a pet store that had a selection of about 10-12 rabbits, from babies to 10 week olds to even older ones. There was a white one with black eyes that we all liked pretty much the instant we saw it. This store is in a mall and we had decided that we would look at rabbits, shop at other stores and then come back to buy the rabbit. However, our kids made sure that we did not leave the pet store without our new pet. My daughter named it “Snowflake” pretty much instantly. It was great to have Snowflake with us while we shopped since she kept our kids occupied. It is interesting that we don’t know her gender for sure. Someone at the mall told us that she is female. So far we have not tried to challenge that assertion.
Once we got home, we set up her cage and settled around her. It was great to see all that she was doing. We had been told that rabbits love “Timothy hay” and we saw very clear evidence of that. It felt just like having another baby in the family. The sales guy at the pet store had told us to go easy on Snowflake but our kids were too impatient and just wanted to play with her. We also gave it another name, Chandani, which means moonlight in Hindi. Since then, we have been calling her Chandani.
It didn’t take more than a day or two for Chandani to start recognizing her family. It is a great feeling to see her respond even as we approach the cage. She has become very used to being let loose outside her cage and demands that she be let loose every time we are near her cage. She kicks up quite a storm if we don’t do that. It’s really cute to see her stand up on her hind legs and look around, as if taking in the view from atop a tall building.
Our kids are already behaving better. We don’t have to wake them up in the mornings any more. They wake up by themselves and the first thing they do is to check out Chandani and play with her. Of course, both of us do the same thing too. It has been very difficult to educate our 5 year old how timid and delicate Chandani is, and he can be rough with her sometimes. However, we can see how much he already cares for her. All of us find excuses to go near Chandani’s cage and to talk and play with her.
The best part of all has been the love and affection from Chandani in return for all the love and caring she has been getting. She is very comfortable roaming around us, and is not afraid of any of us. She eats out of our hands, and she licks us all affectionately. I really enjoy putting my cheeks in front of her and she licks non-stop for several minutes.
We have also learned a lot of new things that we never even thought of. We hadn’t heard of Timothy hay, nor did we know that papaya pills were good for rabbits. So, it turns out that you can buy all kinds of toys for rabbits, and you can even potty train them. Chandani loves carrots so the stereotype of rabbits as being carrot lovers might actually be based on solid evidence. One of our friends has been quick to point out that Chandani is really skinny. We had to explain to her that all of us a very skinny and Chandani simply cannot escape her family inheritance.
We are all very happy about our decision to bring Chandani into the house. What a joy she is! I wish we had done it earlier. If your child has been begging for a pet please give that a serious thought; it can be a life changing experience.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Signs of Progress?
Traditionally, the Asian Indian (Indian) culture has been very family oriented. It is well documented that Indians will make personal sacrifices to keep the family going.
Lately, I have come across a number of situations where this has not been the case. I used to hear about such cases, but never paid attention to them until this started happening with family and friends. All of these are cases of divorce, some involving little kids. In all these cases, the family has split over what seem to be trivial issues, issues one would find in every household. What is worse is that in pretty much every case, there is an extra-marital affair, with a married person, so that not one but two households are shattered as a result. In some of these cases, one of the spouses has even gone down to the level of hurting the other spouse by threatening them, by lodging false complaints with the police, or by canceling medical insurance etc.
Adopting western values and ideas has always been labeled as progress in India. I must say that I am appalled at this kind of progress. The western world has always been criticized about being too individualistic, and the Indian culture seems to be adopting this value very rapidly. Living in America as a foreigner is hard enough, and for a kid to grow up in this country in a spilt family is going to be far more challenging. People have become too busy and have no time to think, and are making irrational decisions in haste. This is not progress. The only way we can make progress is by thinking more, and knowing fully well the consequences of our actions.
Lately, I have come across a number of situations where this has not been the case. I used to hear about such cases, but never paid attention to them until this started happening with family and friends. All of these are cases of divorce, some involving little kids. In all these cases, the family has split over what seem to be trivial issues, issues one would find in every household. What is worse is that in pretty much every case, there is an extra-marital affair, with a married person, so that not one but two households are shattered as a result. In some of these cases, one of the spouses has even gone down to the level of hurting the other spouse by threatening them, by lodging false complaints with the police, or by canceling medical insurance etc.
Adopting western values and ideas has always been labeled as progress in India. I must say that I am appalled at this kind of progress. The western world has always been criticized about being too individualistic, and the Indian culture seems to be adopting this value very rapidly. Living in America as a foreigner is hard enough, and for a kid to grow up in this country in a spilt family is going to be far more challenging. People have become too busy and have no time to think, and are making irrational decisions in haste. This is not progress. The only way we can make progress is by thinking more, and knowing fully well the consequences of our actions.
The Gadget Geeks
Every time a new electronic item is released for sale in the market, the manufacturer naturally creates quite a buzz about it. After all, the objective is to sell as many of the items as possible, and capture a sizable market share. What is interesting though is the fact that there are many people (the gadget geeks) who are so hooked on to these items, that they can't wait for the next version or the next "cool" product to be launched. I have observed that these people spend a lot of time researching what's coming in the market next, and know everything there is to know about the features and functions of the new product. These are the same people who are willing to camp overnight or for days in order to be first in line to buy the new product. These are also the people who are never happy with what they have because once they have spent a few hours with their new gadget, they are already yearning for more.
Apple has been well-known in the last few years as the leader when it comes to innovations in the world of electronics. The iPod has become synonymous with music and video and the product has enjoyed immense popularity with all. We have also seen the immense popularity of gaming consoles like the PlayStation II and others. The iPhone was much hyped about for a long time, and quite a frenzy was built up about its launch including the mystery icon.
The phone was finally launched earlier this year, and as expected, people lined up at the stores to get their new toy. I must admit that it is a beautiful gadget, and I loved the experience when I tried it. The gadget geeks were happy and proud. I did not buy it because the asking price was just too much ($599 for the more loaded version).
Something terrible happened earlier this month. Apple dropped the price of the iPhone by $200. They say that it is because they want to sell 10 million phones by the end of 2008, but I feel really bad for the true fans of the device. I am certain that folks who lined up the shops (or the Internet) and bought the phone at $599 feel royally cheated. The true fan should be rewarded and not cheated by having to pay such a high price. I wonder what the aftermath of this will be, and I am certain that mailboxes of Steve Jobs and others at Apple have been flooded with hate mail.
I can only feel good about the fact that I did not succumb to the charms of this new phone when it was launched because I would have felt really bad about the price drop. In general, I have seen that it simply does not help to pay top dollar for any new technology. It seems that paying for features that will never be used just doesn't make sense. Things become obsolete so fast today that one can never keep up.
All this makes me wonder -- what drives the gadget geeks? As I think about it, I have begun to believe that these are special people, these are the folks who drive innovation. I strongly believe that we need these people. If everyone thought like me, we might still be using the land line as our primary means of communication and TV would be the only household video device. The gadget geeks make personal sacrifices to make innovation possible. Just getting their hands on the latest and greatest is reward enough!
Apple has been well-known in the last few years as the leader when it comes to innovations in the world of electronics. The iPod has become synonymous with music and video and the product has enjoyed immense popularity with all. We have also seen the immense popularity of gaming consoles like the PlayStation II and others. The iPhone was much hyped about for a long time, and quite a frenzy was built up about its launch including the mystery icon.
The phone was finally launched earlier this year, and as expected, people lined up at the stores to get their new toy. I must admit that it is a beautiful gadget, and I loved the experience when I tried it. The gadget geeks were happy and proud. I did not buy it because the asking price was just too much ($599 for the more loaded version).
Something terrible happened earlier this month. Apple dropped the price of the iPhone by $200. They say that it is because they want to sell 10 million phones by the end of 2008, but I feel really bad for the true fans of the device. I am certain that folks who lined up the shops (or the Internet) and bought the phone at $599 feel royally cheated. The true fan should be rewarded and not cheated by having to pay such a high price. I wonder what the aftermath of this will be, and I am certain that mailboxes of Steve Jobs and others at Apple have been flooded with hate mail.
I can only feel good about the fact that I did not succumb to the charms of this new phone when it was launched because I would have felt really bad about the price drop. In general, I have seen that it simply does not help to pay top dollar for any new technology. It seems that paying for features that will never be used just doesn't make sense. Things become obsolete so fast today that one can never keep up.
All this makes me wonder -- what drives the gadget geeks? As I think about it, I have begun to believe that these are special people, these are the folks who drive innovation. I strongly believe that we need these people. If everyone thought like me, we might still be using the land line as our primary means of communication and TV would be the only household video device. The gadget geeks make personal sacrifices to make innovation possible. Just getting their hands on the latest and greatest is reward enough!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Harsh realities of being a first generation immigrant
Many of us have done this during the last several years; namely, come to the US from India during our twenties either to pursue higher studies or to work. I am a typical representative of that group who crossed the oceans in 1987. I represent a large majority within that group, as most of us have not returned to India. The US offers exciting job opportunities to everyone, a life possibly better than what most of us grew up with (at least financially), and for many, especially women, freedom from traditions and cultural boundaries that they frown upon.
In the twenties and thirties, everything is good. Those are the days of youth, the body is healthy, and the mind is excited to explore and innovate. Everyone around us is happy as well, including parents back home, who are proud of our achievements.
I (and many others like me) have now crossed into the forties, and things have changed. Our parents are now in the late sixties and seventies, our own kids are teenagers or getting there, and our own bodies are not the same they were ten years ago. It has become common to hear about parents having one health problem or another, generally lacking support in India, and finding it difficult to manage their day to day lives. Occasionally, our parents come out here and visit us, but it is very difficult for them to come out and stay for long periods of time, since they lack mobility, don’t have lot of people to interact with on a daily basis, cannot assimilate easily in the culture here, and most importantly cannot get medical insurance. Also, these visits are only possible until they are reasonably healthy.
I have spent several sleepless nights thinking about this issue but have not come up with a solution. I guess this is the price that the first generation of immigrants has to pay. Or perhaps, this is the personal sacrifice we have to make in exchange for a better life. If I am spending sleepless nights here pondering this issue, do I really have a better life?
Of course, I am being very selfish just thinking about my own problems. I had to make a personal sacrifice in search of a better life. What about the sacrifice made by my parents? What have I been able to give them in exchange for the agony they have had to endure? Their child has been away from them for years, and they have had only some interaction with their grandchildren. These are joys that most people take for granted.
I wish I could come up with a solution to this problem that would make everyone happy. For the time bring, I suppose the sleepless nights will continue.
In the twenties and thirties, everything is good. Those are the days of youth, the body is healthy, and the mind is excited to explore and innovate. Everyone around us is happy as well, including parents back home, who are proud of our achievements.
I (and many others like me) have now crossed into the forties, and things have changed. Our parents are now in the late sixties and seventies, our own kids are teenagers or getting there, and our own bodies are not the same they were ten years ago. It has become common to hear about parents having one health problem or another, generally lacking support in India, and finding it difficult to manage their day to day lives. Occasionally, our parents come out here and visit us, but it is very difficult for them to come out and stay for long periods of time, since they lack mobility, don’t have lot of people to interact with on a daily basis, cannot assimilate easily in the culture here, and most importantly cannot get medical insurance. Also, these visits are only possible until they are reasonably healthy.
I have spent several sleepless nights thinking about this issue but have not come up with a solution. I guess this is the price that the first generation of immigrants has to pay. Or perhaps, this is the personal sacrifice we have to make in exchange for a better life. If I am spending sleepless nights here pondering this issue, do I really have a better life?
Of course, I am being very selfish just thinking about my own problems. I had to make a personal sacrifice in search of a better life. What about the sacrifice made by my parents? What have I been able to give them in exchange for the agony they have had to endure? Their child has been away from them for years, and they have had only some interaction with their grandchildren. These are joys that most people take for granted.
I wish I could come up with a solution to this problem that would make everyone happy. For the time bring, I suppose the sleepless nights will continue.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
MMIS Conference 2007
The MMIS Conference was held in sunny San Diego this year. San Diego is a beautiful city, and the conference location was right by the marina, with several ships and aircraft carriers within walking distance. I have to applaud the State of California for hosting the conference in San Diego instead of their capitol city of Sacramento.
The conference had some interesting sessions; Dr. Brailer had good ideas to present but I did not get a sense that there were any concrete next steps that had been identified. The PS-TG session was well attended, and there were a lot of good discussions during the break out sessions on the different topics. It was clear to me that the vendor community should focus on providing concrete examples and artifacts that can help to remove the vagueness that continues to plague the MMIS industry. A case in point was the discussion on security. We continue to talk about HIPAA and privacy and security yet there is no clear definition of these requirements from an MMIS implementation perspective.
The MITA Proof of Concept session didn’t have quite the impact that the presenters had hoped, because many people in the audience did not see anything that had not already been done. I realize that even this limited implementation required a lot of hard work from many people, but I feel that the MMIS audience won’t be satisfied until they something more comprehensive. People are also unsure about this whole model. I don’t believe that one can build an efficient system based solely on web services. Interoperability is good, and the SOA is a great concept, but an MMIS must first process claims correctly and efficiently.
Ever since CNSI set a tone for the evening events with the party in Big Sky, vendors have been trying to put on great shows for the conference evenings. This year, the Arabian Nights party by CNSI was a great hit, with belly dancers, swords, boa constrictors, and a cute four year girl being the stars of the show. The DJ struggled to put on good dance music, yet everyone had a good time. CNSI managed to put some eCAMS in all the attendees (I am talking about the drink), which was an innovative approach to branding. The zoo excursion by EDS and the dinner cruise with ACS were also enjoyable events, covering key San Diego attractions.
The booth displays were amazing because there were so many vendors. Only a few years ago, the booth area used to be really small with just the usual suspects. Now, if you have anything that is even remotely related to an MMIS, that’s a good enough reason to have a booth. I mean, just because I have some SOA product – and how is that related to MMIS? Also, if you sampled the booths, you would think that all that happens in an MMIS is fraud and abuse.
Personally, I enjoyed the conference. It is always good to meet people, learn about new ideas, demonstrate your products and have a good time. My personal triumph was winning a Socrates bobble head doll, as I somehow managed to balance that golf ball on the tee in just five minutes. The foxes given away by Fox Systems were quite a hit with my kids, as were the gadgets from S2Tech. Can’t wait to be in Nashville next year, hopefully with some more personal involvement in helping to advance the conference initiatives. I know that it will be a musical feast.
The conference had some interesting sessions; Dr. Brailer had good ideas to present but I did not get a sense that there were any concrete next steps that had been identified. The PS-TG session was well attended, and there were a lot of good discussions during the break out sessions on the different topics. It was clear to me that the vendor community should focus on providing concrete examples and artifacts that can help to remove the vagueness that continues to plague the MMIS industry. A case in point was the discussion on security. We continue to talk about HIPAA and privacy and security yet there is no clear definition of these requirements from an MMIS implementation perspective.
The MITA Proof of Concept session didn’t have quite the impact that the presenters had hoped, because many people in the audience did not see anything that had not already been done. I realize that even this limited implementation required a lot of hard work from many people, but I feel that the MMIS audience won’t be satisfied until they something more comprehensive. People are also unsure about this whole model. I don’t believe that one can build an efficient system based solely on web services. Interoperability is good, and the SOA is a great concept, but an MMIS must first process claims correctly and efficiently.
Ever since CNSI set a tone for the evening events with the party in Big Sky, vendors have been trying to put on great shows for the conference evenings. This year, the Arabian Nights party by CNSI was a great hit, with belly dancers, swords, boa constrictors, and a cute four year girl being the stars of the show. The DJ struggled to put on good dance music, yet everyone had a good time. CNSI managed to put some eCAMS in all the attendees (I am talking about the drink), which was an innovative approach to branding. The zoo excursion by EDS and the dinner cruise with ACS were also enjoyable events, covering key San Diego attractions.
The booth displays were amazing because there were so many vendors. Only a few years ago, the booth area used to be really small with just the usual suspects. Now, if you have anything that is even remotely related to an MMIS, that’s a good enough reason to have a booth. I mean, just because I have some SOA product – and how is that related to MMIS? Also, if you sampled the booths, you would think that all that happens in an MMIS is fraud and abuse.
Personally, I enjoyed the conference. It is always good to meet people, learn about new ideas, demonstrate your products and have a good time. My personal triumph was winning a Socrates bobble head doll, as I somehow managed to balance that golf ball on the tee in just five minutes. The foxes given away by Fox Systems were quite a hit with my kids, as were the gadgets from S2Tech. Can’t wait to be in Nashville next year, hopefully with some more personal involvement in helping to advance the conference initiatives. I know that it will be a musical feast.
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