English breakfast...

Today's drive from Bengalooru to Mysore was one of the best drives I've had in a long time.

The windows were pulled down (the most worthy equivalent of driving top down in my car :( ), the company was lovely (thank you Divya Nagavara!), the conversation was filled with jokes, witty one liners, mundane banter and intellectual topics. I reached top speed of 145 kmph, which was quite decent considering the zombie like road crossing of the villagers enroute.

Today's breakfast was memorable as well. I tried the English breakfast at McDonalds. The pancakes with maple syrup and butter, some muffins along with hot chocolate.

The pancakes were delightfully soft to touch; I watched with delight as the maple syrup and butter together became a viscous solution and made its way down the stack of pancakes. Each bite was filled with sinful amounts of calories, but I couldn't care less. I atoned for my sins with an extra half kilometer at the treadmill in the evening.

All in all, today morning has proved beyond any doubt my capacity and desire in trying global cuisines. The doors have been opened. Here I come!

Current Reading Wishlist...

Here is my reading wishlist until the end of year.

I've somehow gotten caught up in the magic of historical fiction. It all started with Amish's "The Immortals of Meluha', where the author has spun a delightful web of fact, mystery, history and mythology around a pacy storyline. A quick check on the web got me some more books in the same vein.

--> The Rozabal Line - Jesus after crucifixion settling down in India? Sounds interesting!

--> The Secret of the Nagas (Absolutely thrilling sequel to 'The Immortals of Meluha' in the Shiva trilogy. This book, by ex-investment banker newbie Amish, has really come together fascinatingly. Hindus, especially, will have a ball while reading the story as they see mythological stories told by their grandmas come to life under slightly different circumstances.) -

Done.

--> Chanakya’s Chant (Brilliant concept.Promises to be exciting!)

--> Anna Hazare – The Fakir who moved a country (Less than a month, and news about Anna has already subsided. But during his time, he was right up there in the center. I want to know more about him and his work until now.)

--> The Vault of Shiva (by Andy McDermott. Interesting premise. Let me pick it up and then appraise you on this)

--> All other books by Andy McDermott (I want to give this author a try. I'm not going to lie. It was his books' racy titles that got me all curious. But then, I liked what I saw)

--> The Cobra (I simply love Fredrick Forsyth's attention to detail and his meticulousness)

I had thought of a few more. But will write about it in a bit.

Ciao!

The (United) States of economy

Whoa! August sure has been a busy month, hasn't it?!

I came across this cartoon by Mike Luckovich today. Put a smile on my face. And suckered me into some introspection.

(http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/2011/08/29/830-mike-luckovich-cartoon-jobs-needed/)

Here I am, thinking about which US B-school essays I need to sharpen my pen for, brushing aside the various macro-economic factors of the world!

But I feel I'm being too hard on myself. Aren't we all somewhat like this?

I like to blame our educational system and society for inculcating this narrow mindedness in our minds. Somehow, we convince ourselves into thinking that we are shielded from outside events and that somehow, the rules and issues don't apply to us common folk. Even the educated ones among us go about their chores, consoling themselves that a hike in the nation's inflation figures will affect only the banks and stock brokers. We idly curse the government when we suddenly have to pay double the amount we did last week for the tomatoes and potatoes. 3 months later, when there is a full blown recession and we lose our jobs, we blame 'fate' and investment bankers for our misfortunes.

I'm not saying our entire lot needs to get degree in Economics, but is a little GK too much to ask for?

1995, 2001, 2008, .... All this in my lifetime!

BBC has this amazing video on the current US debt and job shortage crisis.