All about Obama

As is to be expected of a news junkie like me, I spent the whole day watching CNN yesterday. Obamania seems to have touched me too! Now, I am not, nor will ever be, a groupie. It's just that I wanted to see what the Americans would do to commemorate this event. At the outset, it presents like an impossible task. An African-American as President? But it has happened. There is a lot being said about whether Obama will be able to weather the huge expectations that his candidacy generated.

Some experts have commented about his inaugural speech not being as soulstirring as his earlier ones. But that, I believe, is a problem which America has to overcome. Rhetoric must be kept aside, simple steps must be outlined. In his speech, what Obama did was to paint a few broad strokes about his upcoming policies. It was not a speech, 'full of sound and fury/ signifying nothing', as Shakespeare would have said. It was a speech which clearly pointed the way he was going to deal with the mess USA has landed itself in.

He outlines, for instance, the fact that it is high time for Americans to curb wasteful consumption of resources. A cleaner way of life - I loved that thought. So, a return to basic values of thrift and common sense. If I can afford only $100, I do not go out and buy a coat costing $200 with my credit card. That way of thinking has only contributed to the rot in American society.

Another thing - he emphasized how infrastructure projects would be a way to generate more jobs, jumpstart the economy. Superb! Lots of schools, medical centres, bridges, roads etc need to be built. In the olden days, it was a tested strategy of kings to do the same when there were natural calamites.

Dependence on oil to be reduced - another winner. Please, we're so tired of putting up with the oil producers' whims. He directly addressed the Muslim nations. He has extended a friendly hand based on 'mutual interest', not the avenging angel type of action espoused by Bush. Smart move.

Education - a return to basic science and technology, not just quick IT-type schooling. Another big idea which is bound to revitalize youth.

So, all in all, I think his speech was a solid demonstration of his intentions. We, in Canada, will be watching to see how he behaves with us. After the fiasco with NAFTA, soft wood lumber and border security issues, how Obama views his northern neighbour remains to be seen. But, it's a new world. And I, along with other Canadians, continue to be hopeful.

Gutsy Raju

The temerity of some people is astonishing. They have no sense of their grave culpability; their huge egos probably cushion them from reality. I'm referring, of course, to the infamous Raju brothers who are currently in custody. After this monumental fraud they conducted at Satyam, they now have the audacity to ask for a 'special' cell to be allotted to them at the jail. In other words, they believe, like Orwell's pigs, 'everyone is equal, but they are more equal than others' (my paraphrase from 'Animal Farm').

Let's examine the undertones of this episode. Educated criminals, with fancy houses, kids in expensive private schools, uniformed gatemen at their doors and spouses who cram their Gucci bags hastily with Rs 500 notes - these very people have shattered the hopes, dreams and self-worth of thousands of their employees.

No better than the neighbourhood pickpocket, Raju has smothered his whispering conscience and like Icarus, risen higher and higher towards the sun. He probably forgot that the heat can melt those waxen wings and that a fall is imminent, a matter of time merely. He felt invincible in his role, so much so that he forgot to be shocked when his books were cooked by hired accounting firms. Instead, he gave them his blessings.

When it all came out, this load of crap, while being interviewed on TV, he could not meet the camera's omniscient eye. His eyes dropped and he perspired - it was ghastly to watch. Then came the details, and drive to the jail.

I guess he has recovered sufficiently now. He has asked his lawyers to plead for a better jail cell. What does he want - an a/c room with colour TV, tandoori paneer and fried rice? He's played around with lives of people, how is he better than a thief? Will a thief who stole to support his drug habit have the guts to ask for anything other than his rat-infested cell? I wonder.

List-hysteria. No, don't reach for the dictionary

As is usual these days, my sister who lives in Leeds and me in Ontario, were skype-ing today. Lists, we remarked wisely, are the only way to keep chaos at bay. Whether you are moving house (as are our parents in Kolkata) or planning a party, only lists can help to ensure the smooth operation of the event.

Now, you don't need a fancy pad and Cross pen, you certainly don't require a Blackberry. Just the back of an envelope and your kid's half-chewn pencil will do quite well. It's a discipline, like the nuns taught you in school. You might scoff, but trust me, it works.

I guess its a learned skill. I wasn't really a 'list' kind of person but now am a dedicated convert, since I've seen how stressless it can make life. I have lists for day to day activities, for upcoming events and the biggies like planning my trips. Relying on my memory is no longer such a great idea. Getting on, you know!

Just today I was vindicated in my belief of the efficacious nature of lists by a report in the news. It stated that researchers now believe that simple checklists before and after surgery can reduce complications and prevent deaths by a significant amount.

According to a study by the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, a plunge of 40% in complications and deaths resulted from following the humble list. I'm willing to believe those researcher guys. When I'm having a splenectomy, I'd rather the surgeon intones to the chief List-er, "Done, cross off- reconnect the spleen with the arteries".

This is no laughing matter. Go on, bring out your paper and pen. Make a list.

Weathering Ontario

It's c-c-cold here today. What do I mean by that? How about wrapping your head around the figure - minus 25? We were warned earlier about the extreme weather ahead of us. But its not the same when you are feeling the wind slam into your face. All other parts are generally covered but the face/eyes can't be. Unless of course you wear swimming-style goggles. A huge fashion faux pas, surely.

In Southwestern Ontario, where we live, weather as a topic of conversation, comes up with fascinating regularity. We start phone conversations with, 'Hi, cold?'

We view the march of the seasons with interest and sometimes strong feelings. Right now, its a fact that Ontarians are awaiting the arrival of spring really breathlessly. All we see outside our windows are piles of snow, bare trees and cars whizzing by. Few birds, except for the ubiquitious starlings and chickadees.

There is also an interesting medical condition that nervous types are subject to at this time of year. It's called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). An appropriate acronym. The scientific reason is that some people feel depressed more than usual at this time, simply because of lack of sunlight exposure. Not at all far fetched. We, who have been born and bred in tropical countries find it a hardship to get through these days.

Ah, the end of March, harbinger of warmer breezes, melting snow, the heavenly fuzz of green in the garden!

But, as a poet truthfully pointed out, "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?'

The blame game

All this news about Israel and Hamas in Gaza...it gets me down. To a certain extent we are inured to bad news, bloody news, news about murders, arson, kidnappings et al. Our age is one of profound 'care'-lessness.

We couldn't care less that half the world away, a family with six children are shivering in their two room apartment as bombs explode with frightening regularity. I watched on TV yesterday, this father telling the reporter that he has no answers to give his kids when they ask if they are going to die in the night. Can you imagine how he must feel?

Living in a war zone is no picnic certainly. For people in the Gaza strip, life must be all about scurrying to get the limited supplies available in the market, burrowing down in their makeshift shelters and thankfulness that they got through a night of terror alive.

Its sad that the media show these onesided reports. We all know that propoganda is a war weapon and one used effectively through the ages. Who knows whose 'fault' it is? Now, the common man does not need to fix blame. He needs to be safe and provide safety for his children. Today Canada is the only country in the UN security council which supports Israel. What are the ramifications of this move? Can we club it with the news that Canada is the first country that Obama will visit as President? Are these two linked?

They say, historically, all American Presidents visit Canada first, on taking office. It was only George Bush who visited Mexico first. Our conservative government filled with Harper's cronies certainly played their cards right, eh?

GG - talk

Watched the GGs last night. Predictably, it was glitzy and littered with familiar Hollywood stars. Most of the women wore weird dresses and had feathery concoctions in place of natural hair. Even the messiness of their hair was carefully done, one felt. Some of the necklaces/jewellery I loved!

Of the women there I liked for their timelss style - Meryl Streep & Susan Sarandon. Both are women of 'a certain age' and have an inimitable sense of presence. I also have a soft spot for Kate Winslett sitting between her husband and Leonardo di Caprio. Now, Leonardo is an actor I've always admired for his passion. I loved 'Titanic' and 'Blood Diamond'. But Kate won a GG and went to pieces. Her acceptance speech was a ham piece of acting, sounded false and completely ruined everyting. Also saw some gorgeous hunks like Brad Pitt. Tom Cruise looked older and more tired than ever. I liked Tom Hanks.

But the icing on the cake, for me, was watching 'Slumdog Millionaire' winning a couple of awards. Apna India was represented by ghastly Anil Kapoor (with a stubble), a suave Shahrukh Khan, A R Rahman - music maestro and the young pair in the movie, Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto.

Great to see people of Indian origin winning at the GGs. Hoepfully the Oscars will have them too.

Rituals in the morning

We all follow certain rituals. Starting off my day, I like to have a cup of tea, toast with apricot jam and the newspaper open on the table in front of me. We subscribe to Canada's largest newspaper - The Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/).

It's an old established paper, people like Hemmingway (yes, the Hemmingway) were reporters for it once upon a time. Later, it adopted a liberalist stance; it espoused causes of immigrants coming into the country and developed a healthy social conscience under Atkinson.

I like to read it because it gives me a wide coverage of what's happening in the province, the country and internationally. They also do many human interest stories, stories of troubled immigrants, quirky takes on life and such. So it provides an interesting link to the outside world.

The other newspapers that are available here can't compete with Star. Elistist groups may prefer 'Globe and Mail', and I have tried it, but something, maybe sheer comfort level, keeps me a loyal Star subscriber.

Which makes me think, so much of our lives are ruled by habits. Many years ago, my grandfather, a doctor in India, used to tell me sagely, "A habit is pretty hard to get rid of - if you take away the 'h', 'a bit' remains. If you take away 'a', 'bit' remains, and if you take away the 'b', 'it' remains!