Export quality?

Every time I go to Indian grocery store to buy stuff, I always feel good seeing ‘export quality’ label on the merchandise. Recently I read that most of the goods that are imported into US do not require a quality check to be performed in the originating country. Also only a very tiny percent of what is imported is sampled and checked by FDA for quality and assurance here in US. FDA attributes it to usual complaints like lack of resources, funding etc.

So essentially most goods we buy here that are imported is not assured to have good quality. After knowing that piece of info, ‘export quality’ label doesn’t make me feel good anymore. In fact it makes me very nervous now.

Freedom to make my own decisions

It’s a well known fact that most Indians in America buy Japanese cars. Just go to any Indian party or gathering, you’ll know what I mean. Just the other day I was talking about this to my American friend and he remarked that it would be unimaginable for him to possess a foreign car. He said that his neighbors and friends would make fun of him if he owned a foreign car and there is no way that he can even think about buying a foreign car even if it is more reliable than the American counterparts. (FYI - I live in a conservative Republican city.)

That’s when I realized how I can make any decisions I want here, not minding about what my relatives or neighbors think about it. Being away from home does have its advantages.

Office Space

This morning I saw a trouble desk record in my email saying that ‘Level 5’ Report has failed. My mind almost immediately remembered the movie ‘Office Space’. Many times I have laughed thinking about the movie 'Office Space' and the significance of ‘TPS Reports’ in that movie. If you are in software and haven’t watched the movie ‘Office Space’, I suggest you watch it. It’s a funny movie and you can very easily relate to it.

Watching too much TV

Yesterday after dinner I was sitting in my living room which doesn’t have a TV. My son looked at me and said ‘No TV. You cannot turn it on.’ I was so embarrassed. I guess I am watching too much TV in front of him. It’s probably because of all the world cup cricket I have been watching the last 2 months. Now that the world cup is over, I hope I can change his opinion.

Comedians

I am always intrigued by the kind of creativity most comedians are bestowed with. Most of them have this ingenious capability to take ordinary things that unfold in front of their eyes and make it into something very funny. These are mainly what I would call ‘Jerry Seinfeld’ kind of comedians. It’s a clean comedy which usually does not get into other people’s nerves or senses. It’s something you laugh about and forget when you go back home. No nonsense comedy.

There are many out there doing comedy by making fun of people and their feelings. Some are no doubt very hilarious. But what seems hilarious to me may not be the same way for somebody else.

So personally I don’t rate them as much as ‘Jerry Seinfeld’ kind of comedians. Many might disagree. But this is what I personally think.