God speed

He is a good man.
He is the villain in my story.
But he is a good man.
I hope for his sake he is.

May God liberate him from his troubles.

Project Shiksha

I signed up to help build a site for an NGO that's run by a friend in India. The non-profit focuses on women's education, esp. trying to get women to send their daughters to school.

The url is www.project-shiksha.org, and still under construction.

Would be awesome if any of you would be interested in volunteering some time to help build this into a functional site. My thanks to G for spending some time on this already.

Anyone in a giving mood, shoot me an email.

I heart Bill Drayton

<rant>

(If you don't know him, google him.)

Much love to you sir!

I was listening to one of his talks at Stanford and he was one of the first people who acknowledged that young people are disadvantaged today as were women in the last century. Most organs of government or commerce, according to him, represent the old guard and antiquated thinking that wont embrace a huge pool of talent and ideas that young people represent.

In this world where the rate of change is constantly escalating, young people have tremendous potential to be change agents and help companies and governments make the right choices for a generation that demands products and policies which represent its priorities. Without them, governments and companies risk falling behind. Sound familiar?

So next time you see an iphone totting, converse wearing, skate boarding youngin and think to yourself - "Kids, these days," know that in a couple of years these kids will be a part of the workforce, making purchasing decisions worth millions of dollars. And if they're loyal to your competitor - ROI, TCO, and all the cutesy TLAs pretty much go straight out the window. Someone else walks away with your lunch.

On an unrelated note, please, if you're thinking about who to vote for - vote Obama. Worried about experience? Just look at how the last 8 years turned out at the hands of an experienced leader. Time to give youth and optimism a chance.

</rant>

Massage 101

I had my first massage class today. It was mostly anatomy - talking about the major muscle groups. Now most people who know about my latest pursuit ask me one question - WHY?

I like spas and massages. Now, this indulgence of mine costs me quite a bit every year. Recently a masseuse who I have been going to for months mentioned how going through massage school she had to give several massages. And, wait for it, she had to receive an equal number of them. Approximately 3-5 a week.

CHA CHING!!!

I know opportunity when I see one. With her help I found a class that has mostly intermediate level pupils studying massage. I am on my way to not only learning this art that will be put to good use (ahem!) but I'll get some free massages on the way.

After my first class, Thea and I went to Urth.

T: What's the deal with this massage thing you've got going on?

Me: Nothing. Just a way to get free massages. And meet some ladies. 13 of the 15 people in class were twenty-something cuties y'know.

T: You're such a pig!! Everything you do is for profit. I'd never believe that you could raise a finger for others if I didn't know you better.

Me: I'll raise a finger to you...

T: F#%k you!

Resolutions

Most people make them at the beginning of the year. I am committing to them today; May 18, 2008.

1. Shed 50lbs in body weight
2. Be accepted to a top MBA program
3. Become a certified massage therapist

I'll check-in on these items same time next year. I can do this!

Pauschian Realization

All American Rejects were on the radio, exhorting listeners to move along. Thea and I were driving to the beach. I had been to a lot of cold places in the past few weeks and had this sudden urge to lay on the beach for hours doing nothing. Sometimes its the best thing you can do.

So champ! What's next?

I had just told Thea that the outcome of another interview was pretty much the same. I wouldn't be hired because I didn't have the right "level" at my company.

I'm moving along. To new things.

She smiled. A moment of inspiration-by-radio I see.

Actually, its not just the radio. I've been reading this guy's book - a professor at Carnegie Mellon. He's got a few months to live and he decided to use that time to do a lecture and write a book. One of the things he says, which is beginning to sink in, is that sometimes, one gets more from pursuing a dream and not accomplishing it.

Early this year, I had set myself a rough deadline. If by the end of April I wasn't able to get a job (a job that I wanted,) I would cease and desist and do some introspection on future paths that I must take.

Am I hearing this correctly? You're finally thinking about giving up on this.  F**K! I cant believe this.

Thea has on many occasions told me that I never know when to surrender, to my own detriment. Many battles were won because warriors deserted a battlefield only to return fit and better equipped to force a suitable outcome, she would tell me.

We parked the car and began walking to the beach.

I always thought you were over-reaching. Don't worry! Whatever it is you want, it will come to you, surely. I know it's hard for you...

How about I let you rub some SPF30 on my back to cheer you up wonderBoy? You haven't had female contact for a while have ya? (evil grin)