Baby Roni

So baby Roni was born on the 2nd of May (yes, yes eight months ago). Everyone said one would feel different when one holds ones child et al. I didn't feel anything of the sort.

It was only after her face started changing and she started developing a personality that I felt different. She's the sweetest tempered baby I've known. (Okay I've really only known 2 or 3 others).

veliath

Switched to an H1B

So after 13 years with HCLT I changed jobs after my H1B came through. Makku says its the end of an era...

I feel the era ended when I moved to Vadapalani after Nisha joined me in Chennai.

veliath

Vive le Consumer

Life in the US seems to center around the consumer. The producers may run the country but its the consumer that is put up on a pedestal and overtly worshipped.

Infact if say Safeway wants to keep using thin plastic carry bags, its their inherent "pro-consumer choice" stand at work!

Every store gives out coupons for "partner" stores that promise anything from 5-100% off on whatever they are selling.

As a friend said - they just want your money. Oh well.

veliath

Dirt

There seems to be so little dirt in our part of America. I walk to work everyday and my shoes have never been as clean. Its amazing.

My wife's sandals are as clean as new. Its no wonder people sell their used shoes online

veliath

Cell phone plans

Cell phone plans here are screwy. I wish it were more like the India ones:
- No charge on incoming calls. Here they charge for airtime -- they don't care if its incoming or outgoing
- SMSes are cheap. Here an SMS costs about a minute of talke time! WTF?! I so miss texting.

The long term contracts are weird, but I can see the sense in it. Another feature thats commendable here is the apparent lack of roaming charges within the US. Also no extra charges for calling any phone in the US.

Even better -- calling someone on your provider's n/w is free -- but I guess thats a feature of my scheme.

Data plans here are expensive. Not sure why.

veliath

Slashdot & comments

I'm so used to the fact that America is 12 hrs behind me that I expect a sizable number of comments to already be there when I log in read an article. I have to get used to the fact that I'm now in the commenting TZ!

veliath

Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a perfect example of the velianess to be found in America. I can barely finish one. Volume wise one of them must be some 200ml or so.

veliath

What does the title mean?

One of the first impressions I got after landing here was the immensity of everything -- the food portions, the people, the cars, the distances.

The "velia" in the title means big in Malayalam. Its of course all but two letters of my family name and preferred moniker.

So there!

veliath