A good update to Facebook

If there's one thing about the Facebook update that I like (I haven't played with it much yet), it's the fact that I don't have to start every update with "Rajat is ..."

We can make general comments now, ... like "Mascarpone and strawberry jam sandwiches taste good" (this shows that I just learned what Mascarpone is :-)) or "Obama seems to be taking more of my change", as he signs bill after bill with lots of our money, and apparently lots of earmarks ...

Oh ... the joy of self-expression on the Internet! 

Speak your mind!

Real-life Frogger!

While I gloated about being able to just cross the road to work during my recent Bangalore visit, I failed to mention that there was inherent danger built into the act of crossing! (The photo above shows a lean traffic period)

Some of the skills one needs to have in India to cross a road, especially a busy one like the Old Madras Road, are guts, incremental planning and goal-setting, and the ability to discern speed accurately!

Actually, it's exactly like playing Frogger! Only - if you get killed in the game, you're actually dead, i.e., you can't restart!

Here are some tips for playing Frogger - Bangalore Edition:

• Don't take chances with the big buses and lorries(trucks).
• If you can't cross all the way, that's fine - just stop until you can continue (without getting hit)
• If there's a median, life is peachy - plan only to get to the median - then worry about the rest
  
• Those small Maruti cars and vans can be pretty zippy - watch out!
• Motorcycles and scooters are a pain - they can't kill you, but can hurt you - so don't completely ignore them!

My wife? She just grabs the arm of the nearest (good-looking) guy to cross!

"Can't cross" ...a likely story!

Shamu - the whale killer of iPods

Shamu was a must-stop during our travels with the Kiwis (my sister's family) during their visit. Sweet little Shamu - with that killer smile :-)

Rewind! There's a splash zone, with blue raincoats for a reason!!

Bravado! My 18-year-old nephew braved the odds. He did have on a very expensive (waterproof) jacket, and his iPod was in the pocket!

Shamu came, Shamu splashed, Shamu the killer whale killed his iPod!

(Actually it was a dolphin, but Shamu (also really a dolphin) gets all the credit, does he not?)

Apple and salt water don't mix - they turn you green on the insides!