My To Do List for 2010

- Write an Op Ed for Slate
- Write a short story that I can live with
- Shoot a travel show
- Start a business
- Take carpentry lessons
- Figure out whether I am PhD material
- Learn to live more healthy
- Start a wikipedia project to document the lives of the 100 influential Bangladeshi women
- Stand up against domestic violence

Graffiti Art Goes Mainstream

In the olden days, graffiti art was unwanted. It was the work of renegades who defaced property without the owner's consent. Now the tides have turned. A mural created by graffiti artist Banksy was defaced and community volunteers are cleaning it up.

Don't believe me? Check out the BBC article

YES WE DID! - Top 3 Election Night Moments

1) In Washington DC’s U Street neighborhood, from where we watched the elections, Obamania knew no bounds. It was no surprise since 93% of Washingtonians voted for him. The jubilant crowd danced, hugged and cheered. Honking cars and fireworks added to the festivities. In 1968, this neighborhood was the scene of mayhem and destruction when racial riots erupted in the aftermath of Martin Luther King’s assassination. Who would have thought that forty years on a diverse crowd would gather at the same spot to celebrate the first African-American President. I was proud of my adopted homeland for coming full circle.

2) As a new Virginia resident, I was thrilled to see the once staunchly Republican state go blue. Virginia hasn’t backed a democratic presidential candidate since 1964. So this was HUGE!

3) On a split screen, CNN showed two victory celebrations – one in Grant Park, Chicago as the crowd awaited Obama’s speech and the other in his ancestral village in Kenya. The Kenyan President actually declared a public holiday in honor of Obama’s landslide victory!

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm

Most Americans have not had the pleasure of laying their eyes on the US Immigration and Citizen Services ' I-485 application. In this form, people who are applying to be a permanent resident are asked a range of "interesting" questions. Here's a taste:

Have you ever engaged in, conspired to engage in, or do you intend to engage in, or have you ever solicited membership or funds for, or have you through any means ever assisted or provided any type of material support to any person or organization that has ever engaged or conspired to engage in sabotage, kidnapping, political assassination, hijacking, or any other form of terrorist activity?

Have you ever engaged in genocide, or otherwise ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the killing of any person because of race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, or political opinion?

Do you intend to engage in the US in
a) Espionage?
b) Any activity a purpose of which is opposition to, or the control or overthrow of, the Government of the United States, by force, violence, or other unlawful means?

Do you plan to practice polygamy in the United States?

Within the past ten years have you been a prostitute or procured anyone for prostitution, or intend to engage in such activities in the future?

Some lawyer somewhere probably got big bucks to come up with these questions! The thought of answering "YES" just for kicks did cross my mind. But spending the rest of my life behind bars would have been too high a price to pay for curiosity.

Here's a question that may be added to the list in the unlikely instance of a McCain-Palin win - Do you harbor or intend to spread liberal or socialist values?

Honoring the Dead

Here's an interesting bit of trivia - Barack Obama's grandmother passed away on Nov 3, a day before the nationwide polls. However, she sent in an absentee ballot in Hawaii on Oct 27. Does this count?

ANSWER: YES!

Not all states allow "ghost votes". California, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, and West Virginia are among those that do. USA Today made an interesting observation about "ghost voters" in 2004:

"Considering that an average of 455 voting-age people die in Florida every day, and that the 2000 presidential election was decided by a mere 537 votes, dead votes that slip through the cracks could become a meaningful bloc."

Fork It Over

Despite our "no gift" policy, we amassed multiple sets of spoons, forks and other paraphernalia. Given that our supply of utensils exceeds demand, I am looking for alternative uses. Here are a few:

Construct furniture

Build a chandelier

Make jewellery

Tune an instrument

Make up a Halloween costume

Create a piece of art

What a Drag

Wedding festivities were in full swing and my friends whisked me away to get my hair and make-up done. I was sitting in my favorite hair salon, getting my short hair coaxed into a bun and praying it won’t look like a butt on my head. The hairdresser was particularly flamboyant. He wore a flower-patterned shirt, sported a big hat and had impeccable eyebrows. I am rather promiscuous when it comes to hairdressers and have tried out almost all the stylists at that salon. However, this particular guy had never done my hair before and I was pleasantly surprised that he managed to put my hair up in a bun without making me look like a sinister school teacher. Noticing that I was rather impressed with his concoction, the stylist gave me his sales pitch. “Would you like me to do your make up too? I have been doing bridal make up for 25 years,” he bragged. For good measure he added, “In fact I also dress up as a woman all the time.” Drag queens are great fun and I wouldn’t quite mind getting made up like one. But it’s best to save that urge for Halloween instead of trying it out at my wedding. However, on second thought, that probably won’t be too far from the look of a South Asian bride.

In Loving Memory of Arthur C Clarke (December 16 1917 – March 19, 2008)

He took me to a realm where imagination was boundless like the universe itself. Unfettered by gravity or the humdrum realities that tie people down, I could be an explorer on a quest for the impossible.

The world will remember him as a humanist…. a visionary…. an astute scientist…. a literary genius… an avid underwater explorer and more. I will remember him as the man who taught me to dream.

Here’s a link to one of my favorite Arthur C Clarke short stories “Nine Billion Names of God”

Bangladesh Cyclone: How Can You Help?

A Category 10 cyclone has hit Bangladesh's southern region, which is home to 10 million people! According to the Daily Star At least 496 people were killed and thousands but tolls are expected to increase. An estimated half a million people are in shelters.

I am compiling a list of organizations that are accepting donations and working with displaced people. I will update the list as I find more information:

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
http://www.bdrcs.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=5

Save the Children – US
https://secure.ga4.org/01/bangladesh_cyclone_1107

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://donate.ifrc.org/?navid=02_02
http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/07/07111602/index.asp

If you know of other organizations please add their names and link in the comments section.

Pizza Hut Meets Muslim World - Part 2

The Pizza Hut in Giza offers the best view of the pyramids. But it also takes away from it....... I arrived on the pyramid site waiting to behold the grandeur of one of the best known wonders of the world but right across the street was an eyesore of a Pizza Hut (and KFC).

Pizza Hut Meets Muslim World

I had the unique opportunity to experience iftar at Pizza Hut in Dhaka. I should mention that Pizza Hut is a luxury restaurant in the Bangladeshi context, where one individual-sized pan pizza can cost up to $10, which is a LOT of money in taka (the taka is the only currency on the face of this planet that is still depreciating against the dollar). Among others, it is frequented by aid workers and embassy officials craving for food they can relate to. They occupied around half of the restaurant, clad in shalwar kameez and kurta, and waited expectantly for the azaan in an effort to be respectful to the "locals". A mechanical waiter came to take down our orders and insisted on addressing us in garbled English despite our attempts to steer him to Bangla. Next another waiter stepped out with a regal air, rang a bell ceremoniously and announced that we can break out fast. The food arrived but it wasn't pizza.... it was dates and lebur shorbot! Turns out it was part of the iftar special. Only in Bangladesh.........

Quid Pro Quo

Wondering how to pay for your stay at the space hotel or purchase prime real estate on the moon? Now you can use the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination, or Quid. It has been especially designed by scientists for foreign exchange company Travelex. One Quid is worth £6.25 (that's gazillions in dollars given the drastic devaluation). The Quid coins are made out of a special polymer used in non-stick pans so that they are not damaged by radiation or don't injure unsuspecting astronauts if they float free accidently.

Don't believe me? Read more on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7029564.stm

Ramadan Giving

I would like to point out the Global Giving's Ramadan Giving site to those who are looking for channels to donate their zakat and sadqah money. Global Giving compiles a list of credible development projects around the world and ensures that they meet IRS and anti-terrorism regulations:http://www.globalgiving.com/ramadan.html

If you would like to donate to Bangladeshi projects you can go to:http://www.globalgiving.com/ac/ctry00bangla1.html

They Met and it was Electric.....

I enjoyed reading this interesting exchange between the two Nobel laureates, Rabinranath Tagore (Literature) and Einstein (Physics), on the nature of reality.

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/einstein_tagore.htm

Birds and Bees.... and Beluga Whales


A trip to the Georgia Aquarium proved to be more educational than we had fathomed. The Beluga whales are the biggest attraction there. Nico, the male Beluga, is the resident Romeo and shares his tank with three female Belugas (Maris, Natasha, and Marina), who are on breeding loan from the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.

We stood in front of the exhibit and watched the playful antics of the majestic marine mammals. But the Belugas ended up being more of a show stopper than we had imagined.... After fooling around for a bit, things started heating up and we watched a National Geographic moment unravel before our eyes. The soft lighting and mood music added to the ambiance and the crowd cheered on Nico.......

Conversations with a Desi Cab Driver – Part 2

He was one of the strangest cab drivers I have encountered. He was in his 50s but thought of himself as a 20-something year old latino lover. He sported a hat and injected words like “mamasita” in the middle of every other sentence. Here’s the conversation that ensued:

Delusional Desi Driver: You beautiful lady

Me: Thanks

DDD: You should put on make-up in the morning…. Maybe pink lipstick to go with your shirt

Me (slightly amused): I am beautiful with or without make-up… how come you are an expert on make-up anyway?

DDD: I was married to American lady once. I get divorce since she want me to move to the country with her but we are still friends. She teach me about respect and hygiene. A lot of Indian lady and Pakistani lady don’t wear deodorant. You come to America. You find everything in store. Why not use it? My real estate lady wear no deodorant. She stink. I don’t like. I just sell my land on Tuesday. Here’s her picture. (he hands me a business card which contains a picture of a heavily made-up woman).

Me (not amused any longer): You trusted her to sell your land. She has to be good.

DDD: You married?

Me (definitely not amused): I don’t feel comfortable disclosing personal information

DDD: You should introduce me to Bangladeshi girl… maybe 25-30 year old……

Me (pissed off): If a 25 year old married you it would probably be for your money

(At this point I had arrived at my work)

DDD: Are you going to have coffee before you go to work? Maybe I can buy you coffee.

Me: No thanks (as I slam the door shut and march off angrily)

It wasn’t till I got on the elevator that I realized I had forgotten to pay the fare……

Mama Barir Abdar

Here's a poem with a twist for a special friend......

Tai Tai Tai

Mama-r mansion-e jai

Mama dilo Quizno's Baja Chicken sandwich

Pet bhore khai

Mami elo Swifer Jet niye

Palai palai

Disturbing Facts on Inequality in the US

• Many workers got a break on July 24, 2008 when the federal minimum wage was increased to $5.85 from $5.15 -- the first increase in the federal minimum wage in 10 years. But the minimum wage is still 7% below where it was 10 years ago, adjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, CEO pay has gone up 45%, adjusted for inflation, in the same period.
• CEO pay in the U.S. has grown to become 364 times the average worker's pay.
• U.S. execs make three times as much as their European counterparts, even though these European bosses manage companies that are 40% bigger.

Read more here: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/IsACEOWorth364TimesAnAverageJoe.aspx?GT1=10421

Pet Peeves

I would like to see the term “boyfriend” abolished from the dictionary once and for all. Not only does it sound juvenile, it barely captures the fact that you are in a romantic relationship with a grown man. So the million dollar question is what do you call a guy who is not a “boy” and not a “friend”?

Of course there is also the gender neutrality dimension politically-correct people harp on, which opens up a whole new can of worms. The terms “partner” and “significant other” are often used. “Partner” gives the impression that you have entered into a business contract with someone while “significant other” can make one feel like the insignificant one in the relationship. “Lover” or “sweetheart” is somewhat revolting, “suitor” sounds very nineteenth century while “date” sounds non-committal. “Companion” could work perhaps but it conjures up an image of Paris Hilton’s pet Chihuahua. So the search for a suitable word continues.

A Word on South Asian Cab Drivers

I love Desi cabbies! Everytime I hail a taxi I secretly hope that there is a desi driver behind the wheels. Usually I do not appreciate unsolicited advice or familiarity from strangers but I have come to accept and expect it from desi cabbies. Unless I am in a particularly sour mood, I love the lively banter that ensues and enjoy bonding over Bollywood jingles or Quran telawat.

Last week, I decided to make a quick trip to Georgetown to get a pack of my favorite tea. The otherwise friendly desi driver gave me a disapproving look as he dropped me off at the street corner and curtly inquired – “Are you going to that restaurant?” It turns out that right next door to my tea shop was Washington DC’s premier sex-toy store. I felt a pair of eyes following me as I walked out of the cab, waiting to see which way I go.