Back from Amsterdam

Amsterdam has to be the highest bicylce populated city in the world. That and the only other city were you can get high standing outside a coffeeshop! We did tons of walking, a little biking through tulip fields, some drinking, no fighting and lots of eating. Amsterdam is a not the same Amsterdam that I remember from 20 years ago. Its certainly very tourist centric (sadly like many popular cities the world over), unabashed in what it has to offer and has some interesting architecture projects near the water. It does not have the majestic buildings of some other european cities but it certainly has a vibrant tone and soothing charm of life by the canal. We visited the Van Gogh Musuem and Rijks Musuem, both of which are nice. An interestesting fact that I found out was that Van Gogh painted for less than 10 years and he managed to become so famous. The ten years includes the time he spent 'learning' how to paint. To summarize his genius would be to say I am in expert in modern art but the impression that I got was that he simply thought outside the box - did not use any conventional methods to paint. Overall we recommend that you visit Amsterdam. If you asked Priya, she would say that you should move there. My sis-in-law, Anu,bid on a house in connecticut and should be moving by June. She was very happy with the place and is quite excited about moving in. Strange as it may sound, this was probably what we would have done by now if I had not gone to INSEAD. Instead, we continue to be broke, pay rent, sit on boxes instead of furniture, pay 50% in taxes and use public transportation. FYI - I am in Malaysia till May 5th, got here yesterday. The weather is hot and lots of rain.

HAPPY EASTER!! We are off to Amsterdam for the long weekend. We have a four day weekend because Germany is a hardcore christian country . I get back on tuesday morning in time for work. We are hoping to see some tulips blooming and stay away from the 'grass'. Have a good Weekend.

Are you on the Cusp of a new Generation?

Think about it you wannabe Mommies and Daddies, do you realise that you are now on the cusp of a new generation? A few hundred years ago it would not have mattered but today the pace of change in society is so fast that priorities betweeen generations are vastly different. My parents worried that whether I would become a Doctor or an Engineer but perhaps my generation will worry if their kids will be homosexual or hetrosexual. Most of the change I would attribute to natural human evolution but though there are some exceptions to the rules. For example, in china the one child policy has been in place for more than a few generations now. This new crop of denizens have grown up differently than I have, imagine growing up with no siblings to fight with or having no aunts to buy you gifts, no family reunions, no relatives to visit in new cities you travel to etc.. Perhaps on the face of it the impact is minimal but it will impact the way we live life. Will growing up like this make us more insular and self centered? This again is not necessarily a bad thing but we frown upon this kind of behaviour today in my generation. Natural eveloution that I refer to is really a lot of things is'nt it. Technology, changing social hierachy, feminism, literacy and religion are probably some of the things that influenced this generation transition. I would rank technology among the most significant factors this time around for many reasons which are obvious. Automobiles, mobile communications, laptops, credit cards, e-commerce have changed the way we live life but has it permanently altered human evolution?? Personal news - Priya is slowly getting acclimatised to Munich (it was snowing here yesterday). She got her visa stuff sorted today, her entry visa would have expired tommorow! My parents are thinking of coming over during world cup, that should be fun. Two of my best friends are getting married in India soon, wish I could go. Disclaimer - Priya brought up this topic when she landed, I just decided to elaborate on it online. So if you have a beef with the concept take it up with her!! Comments Dennis Says - While I'd have to give in to the fact that our evolution has indeed made us more insular and also accede that we are on the cusp of new generation. However the total transformation and the extent of the change is worh discussing.The change occuring now isin'it somethign mankind hasnt seen before. I think it just appears pronounced to us, since we are in it.I think the coming generation is not at point of total transformation from the previous generations.From the early neanderthals to the present day generation man hasnt really changed. They raised families then, they killed,lied and also committed adultery (any semblance to the commandments is purely coincidental :-)From the bronze age, stone age seemed like a total revoltuion. We are still passing through the Information revoltion.Issues like choice of religious beliefs and its cultural manifestation, sexuality et al existed through all ages and each generation feels the next has totally digressed from the earlier patterns. But has it really??But yes..in our daily lives we'd have to deal with this transient phase! Ranjith Says - I agree but more pointedly would you say in the same breadth that technology has had the same effect on one generation say that religion has had on many generations?