Sameer For Congress

A Message to the Airlines

2008-10-10T10:47:00.001-07:00

Hedge your fuel costs. NOW. Take a loan if you have to.

To be fair, I'm not sure that Jet A contracts are trading at prices that reflect oil at $80 a barrel -- but if they are, do it. Do it big; buy supply for 10 years out. I would imagine that injecting a little confidence on demand into the market could only help.

On the Nile

2008-06-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

This article by Tom Friedman makes me so incredibly happy. He's right -- this is what America is all about.

Waterboarding - Try it, you'll like it!

2007-12-24T09:09:00.000-08:00

This guy tried waterboarding to see for himself if it was torture. See the results.

Kochi-Kochi-Koo!

2007-11-22T05:26:00.001-08:00

No pictures today, but greetings from the really pretty Indian state of Kerala. I'm backpacking on my own now, and it's been a blast! Plenty of time to reflect on my own, and I met very cool fellow backpackers in two different cities, and hung out for a day or so with each. Rob's an EasyJet pilot from the UK, and Hannah is a Wall Street pro--one who didn't part with her Blackberry the whole time she was here! (to be entirely fair, neither did I).

But that's one of the best parts of backpacking--bonding with new people while seeing new places.

The other best part is the actual seeing of new places. Kerala is beautiful! I flew in from Goa on Tuesday (after watching the splendid Om Shanti, Om on the big screen) and even the view from the air was pretty. Drove in to Cochin (Kochi) and puttered around for a bit. Walked into the old "Jew Town" to explore the marketplace, talked to some very cool Kashmiri expats who were salespeople, and discovered (as locals chatted me up on regional politics) that Keralans are incredibly educated. More so, apparently, than the rest of India.

One last thought: everyone loves Kashmir. Everyone from there, from my auntie to the kurta sales guy speaks of it with such incredible love. I just can't communicate how much they love the place. With such high marks, I'm going to have to go soon. Who's with me?

This is My Mother's Mumbai.

2007-11-14T01:20:00.000-08:00

This is the Bombay of Salman Rushdie, exactly as I imagine it and precisely as I remember it. The always-perfect sunlight filtering through the trees; the mist above the tree-lined streets; the gorgeous British colonial architecture. Aaaah!

We were in Bombay for just three days, for my cousin's wedding and reception. After all the madness finished, I drove around in a cab to run some errands; namely checking out my mom's old high school and producing the required photograph for my Indian SIM card. I also picked up a few great CDs chock-full of lounge tracks. Now, after a brush with an almost-lost visa, we're in Bangalore--er, 'Bengaluru'--for a bit of relaxation before the "party-sharty" begins in Goa.

One last parting shot of Mumbai. For this one, the light was just perfect, as it always seems to be in this city. The writing on the wall and the picture of the guy on the chair intrigued me. The lady in pink walking by just added to the fun.

Adios! Hope everyone is well!

Really?

2007-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Girl-cotting

2007-05-08T23:09:00.000-07:00

So, there is apparently a somewhat-organized boycott of gasoline, coming up on May 15. It's been getting a bit of buzz--even as a spot on CNN (who, I hear, reported that it shouldn't be followed).

The consensus seems to be that it won't do anything. I can agree. I mean, really. Do you think XOM and others will be shaking in their boots if they see a downward spike in demand for one day? How about crude futures traders--think they'll see a dip in demand and estimate their June contracts a bit lower? Nah.

Now, a month of boycotting--that's something. But that'd take people actually putting in effort. And that's just not in the cards here. We're too addicted.

On the other hand, however, why the hell not? Sounds like fun. Let's see if anything happens.

...and he took the Lindbergh baby, too.

2007-03-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

So CNN is reporting that this guy, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, recently confessed to a bunch of crimes, including the following:

Plotting the 9/11 attacks.
Plotting the foiled Richard Reid shoe bombing.
Plotting the Bali bombing.
Plotting attacks on a myriad of cities and political figures.
Personally beheading Daniel Pearl.

I'm not saying this guy is innocent, but does anyone find it a bit much that he conveniently confessed to nearly every terrorist attack over the past few years? Or that this confession happened during a military tribunal at Guantanamo (a place not really known for its fair legal system)? Hmm...

Indian-taker*

2006-09-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

*(not the feather kind; the dot kind.)

So the TSA will now allow us all to carry travel-sized containers of liquids and gels on board an airplane. Thank you, TSA, for getting rid of that ridiculous, knee-jerk policy!

Oh wait--you didn't get rid of it. You took away our freedom, and then gave us back just a little. But held on to the rest.

Sounds an awful lot like the "temporary" measures of the Patriot Act enacted in 2001. Anyone with me?

A Plague of Property Insurance on our Houses!

2006-08-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter I sent to the Houston Chronicle today, about property insurance. Enjoy--if you dare:
----------------------

To Whom it May Concern,

There is an issue that is plaguing my residential community--however, we are not the only group affected. No, it's not the supersaturated, boiling air above the city--it's our property insurance rates.

My condo community (for which I am on the Board) has experienced a dramatic increase in our insurance rates this year--quoted to us just days before our old insurance was to expire. Whereas our 6/2005-5/2006 coverage was in the $47,000 range, our 6/2006-5/2007 coverage is in the $127,000 range. In addition, our deductible for any damage has increased to 5% of the total insured value of the property. Obviously, this has required us to significantly increase our maintenance fees in order to cover our premium (and listen to some very angry homeowners berate us), and has presented vastly increased liability to our homeowners.

I've done some research into the issue, and it seems we are not alone. I have been told that some properties in town experienced a 500% increase in their premiums this year. This is ridiculous! The reason we buy insurance is not to pre-pay our damages; it is to spread risk. It appears, however, that no Texas Department of Insurance-approved insurance companies want to risk insuring in our area (just south of I-10 on Shepherd Drive). The only insurance we can get is "Surplus Lines" Insurance, which is astronomical in cost and appears to be designed for things like priceless artifacts and Elvis Presley's nose hair.

What I'd like to know, if possible, is why--and how we can change this. The State of Texas doesn't appear to classify our area as a Tier 1 disaster zone. Hurricane Rita didn't dignify us with so much as a sideways glance, and our property was merely sneezed at by Allison in 2001. Is this not sufficient to encourage insurance companies to do business with us? Or is the State's classification of our area misguided, such that we should be supported by its fund for Tier 1 disaster areas? Moreover, if all of Harris County is so patently dangerous, should we really be living here? As far as I know, we're not in nearly as much danger as those poor folks in Miami, whose houses are flattened every other summer.

I'd also like to know: have other readers had these issues? I know you (the Chronicle) ran a story on this a few weeks ago--but what are other readers' experiences in terms of insurance increases this year? I encourage people to write to their State Representatives, US Representatives, Presidents, Secretary-Generals, whatever--to get this issue recognized as a problem, and as something that should be addressed LONG before we address the apparently pressing issue of whether to invade Syria or Iran first.

Thanks,
(my information removed for the safety of the author)

Somethin' Fishy

2006-08-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

I don't want to take anything away from the wonderful people over at Scotland Yard, or from the nice folks in Pakistan--but as for today's announcement of a foiled terror plot, I smell a fish. Or a rat.

Granted, there may have been a foiled plot--but a few things don't smell right about this:

- It comes as people are calling for a timetable for Tony Blair's resignation, and as he doesn't want to produce one.

- It comes with Prezy Bush's popularity near or at an all-time low.

- It comes as a majority of Americans want out of Iraq.

- It includes Pakistan as an "ally" as they've been trampled in the world scene. Too perfect.

- The announcement came from the Bush Administration's office (and we all know what truthful statements that office has produced).

and last, but not least:

- Ties are being made between this incident and al Qaeda. Really, now. Would al Qaeda be stupid enough to try to bomb another plane--knowing that they were for sure going to get caught? How many times have you heard, "al Qaeda used the element of surprise on 9/11. They no longer have that, so they will use another tactic."

Anyone else smell a fishy rat?

Hey, Lady.

2006-07-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching what may have been the first Houston showing of M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water" with Lea and her sister. Fantastic. A wonderful piece of storytelling, which does what a great story does--alludes to grander themes.

It talks about a netherworld of beings that is sent to put us on the right path, as we have gone astray.

I think it's interesting that more than one director of late has chosen this sort of theme. It makes me wonder if these people; these stories have always existed in civilization, or if these suddenly-frequent posits by artists are signs that something really is wrong.

We all know the world has issues these days, but from the middle of it, it doesn't seem like they are significantly worse than those of any other civilization we know.

Maybe, however, this is what happens when a civilization nears a decision point. Maybe something similar happened in Egypt; in Greece. Maybe these artists are showing us, in dramatic form, that we as a world are tearing ourselves apart. Maybe we can do something about it.

Do as I Do...

2006-07-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Just something quick to say tonight. It seems we gave Israel the wrong idea--yeah, sure, go ahead and wipe out a country if they throw a stick at you. It's OK. We can't say a thing 'cause that's what we did with Iraq.

No wait--you're kidding, right?

2006-04-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

So rumors are starting to surface that the Bush administration is developing plans for an airstrike on Iran--to oust President Ahmadinejad, a "potential Hitler." Is it just me, or does anyone think that a third war is completely out of the question? I mean, hell--we're not done in Afghanistan, Bush has admitted that the responsibility for ending our presence in Iraq will be a task for another president, our military is stretched way thin--and now we're rattling our sabers again and even CONSIDERING another war?

Moreover, rumors suggest we're thinking about using NUCLEAR weapons in this battle. When will it end? When will it end?

I wonder if the Bushies can convice Congress to let them go to war again. I guarantee they can't convince the American people. What I'm worried about is that they'll attempt to go to war again without anyone's official backing. Grr....

The Despot is Dead. Vive le Despot.

2006-03-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

So it seems that our friend Slobodan Milosevic is dead, according to CNN. Poisoned? Maybe. Heart attack? Maybe. Iocaine powder? Possibly. Regardless, he will be six feet under soon.

According to CNN, before now there have been
attempts to poison this guy while he was in prison.

This begs the question--would this guy have gotten a fair trial anyway? Will Saddam Hussein get a fair trial? Or are each of these tyrants' 'trials' simply a mockery of the judicial system?

I think they are. These guys have been judged even before they went into the courtroom. What's up for grabs is what sort of sentence they'll get (undoubtedly, exile). It seems to me, that the only reason anyone wants to see them in a courtroom is to air their complaints against them in a public forum. To throw stones at them.

I'm not saying folks aren't justified in wanting to see their beloved despots writhe in pain while having their accusations levied against them, one by one--but isn't there a better way to do that?

One that doesn't make a mockery of the judicial system?

Dubai, or A Long Time in Coming

2006-03-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks! It's been a long time, I know (almost 3 months!) but I haven't forgotten about this blog. As a matter of fact, I've been thinking about it a lot lately, as new news stories and other random observances have found me a bit testy.

A lot's happened in my life over the last three months. Met a retardedly awesome girl. Quit my job. Got a new job. Got a roommate.

And a lot has happened in the world over the last three months. A lot has changed--well, let me take that back. In terms of the ignorance of some folks in power, nothing has changed.

Take the takeover of the British port concern P&O by DP World (owned by the city-state of Dubai), for example. As it turns out, P&O has been managing several US ports. As a result of the takeover, DP World will now manage these ports.

Did this raise some red flags? Absolutely. Should it have? In my opinion, absolutely. Having critical commercial centers run (albeit indirectly) by a foreign government could present some interesting issues. I think it should at least warrant some investigation. To be honest, given the US' protectionist maritime laws (e.g. the one preventing non-American ships from connecting American ports), I'm surprised we let a foreign company run our ports today. So, yes, I think there needs to be some investigation into this matter.

But I thoroughly resent a certain Senator's contention that an investigation needs to be conducted to determine whether Dubai (or the UAE in general) has any links to al-Qaeda. Really, now.

I can tolerate being searched at the airport because I'm brown.

I can choke down the idea that because of my religion and because I have half a pilot's license my phone calls are likely being listened to personally by a certain Mr. Rumsfeld.

What I just can't swallow is the fact that a US Senator is making clearly ignorant (and in turn racist) statements. What--so now all Arab countries must be evaluated for linkages to al-Qaeda? Even though the UAE is one of the most progressive states in the Middle East, and Dubai is one of its most progressive emirates, all relationships with it should be subject to terrorism inquisitions?

I understand that not everybody in the US has the opportunity to research the difference between the countries in the Middle East. I understand that to many people here, any country on that side of the world is suspect. But a Senator has at hand every resource imaginable. And has a staff to filter his official statements. A staff that needs to be investigated. For links to ignorance.

Some real Texas-style legislation

2005-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here we are, on the eve of Election Day. Here in Texas, where we have a million and a half constitutional amendments, there are 9 proposed ones on the ballot--and I want to discuss one of them, because I have questions about it.

Arguably the most important proposed amendment on tomorrow's ballot is #2--regarding the prohibition of same-sex marriages.

But that's not the one I want to talk about.

I want to talk about Proposed Amendment 4 (let's call it PA4, for short):

"proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail
to a criminal defendant who violates a condition of the defendant's
release pending trial."

The full text of it (pretty short) is available at this link: Proposed Constitutional Amendment #2

The gist of it is this: Texas judges are only authorized to deny bail to defendants in certain situations (listed here: Texas Constitution). This bill proposes to add to this list "Any person accused of a felony in this state who is released on bail pending trial and whose bail is subsequently revoked or forfeited for a violation of a condition of release."

On the surface, this seems straightforward--someone is denied bail because they busted the conditions of their previous bail.

But lingering below, there is this question. Almost all of the situations in which a defendant can be denied bail require him to have been previously convicted. This condition, however, does not. Does this mean his common law protection of "innocent until proven guilty" is being violated?

Here's some viewpoints on this proposed amendment, provided by the Texas Legislative Council. Analyses '05

Please do tell me what you think! I'm especially interested in comments from those of you in other states...A very happy Election Day to you all...

Are YOU a citizen?

2005-10-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

Oh hell, it's been over a month since i posted something. And I'm not really writing anything worthy of note at the moment. What I do have is something Charles sent me, which is incredibly cool...

Citizenship Test Quiz

Click the link, and feel free to brag (or sulk) about your scores in comments!

I highly intend to write something meaningful soon! See you then...

The Odyssey...or is it the Aeneid?

2005-09-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

While I'm bloggin' away--here's the link to pictures from my epic-ish trip:

http://wanderingmaverick.smugmug.com

For anyone (Lisa) who might want to buy prints, let me know. I have the prices cranked up on the site in preparation for potentially selling photos for profit. But I don't want to screw my friends! I'll tell you how to sign in to smugmug so you can buy photos at cost.

The Hurricane Cometh....

2005-09-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

The eerie yellowish hue of the sky. The two lines of thin white clouds, just parallel to each other. The suburban houses, waiting, seemingly unaware of the storm on its way. This picture doesn't do justice to the evening scene in Sugar Land, but it was the best my little camera phone could do.

And 10 minutes after this picture was taken, the hurricane swept in. The sky turned dark. The rains came.

I took this picture on my way out of my aunt's house, where she and I, along with my cousin and her family, are hanging out. My friend Jacky lives just down the street from my aunt, and I figured I'd say hi to him before the storm showed up.

So I walked. Yes, I know, that's not done in Houston. But dammit, I refuse to drive 100 yards. So I walked in the drizzle. Hung out with Jacky and Lynn for no more than a few minutes. Heard the wind. Heard the rain. And ran home--in the downpour.

Such is the 'Rita.

Organizational idea: RECEDE

2005-09-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

Not to toss the $42 million question and idea out with the bathwater (just putting it aside in the face of a more immediate disaster), here's an idea. I do want to bounce it off of people, and see what kind of support I get.

WHEREAS Hurricane Katrina displaced over half a million people, and

WHEREAS 20,000 of them are to stay at the Astrodome until the floodwaters recede, and

WHEREAS New Orleans may not be inhabitable for a long time, and

WHEREAS the majority of the people at the Astrodome are people who weren't necessarily on their feet before the hurricane, and

WHEREAS we, fortunately, are on our feet, educated, and know how to operate in America such that we can stay on our feet,

we have a unique opportunity. To offer a clean slate to those affected by Hurricane Katrina--those who either weren't on their feet or were barely on their feet before. How? By taking families or individuals into our homes, sharing our knowledge and money, and helping them get going again. This is, of course, just the hurricane survivors who want to do this.

And knowledge is the key to this. It's knowledge that keeps us on our feet (along with a lot of luck). And it's knowledge--knowledge about financial planning, saving, continuous sources of income (as opposed to quick fixes)--that we can share with an individual we stay with.

Yes, money is important here, as well. And the willingness to have someone from a completely different socioeconomic stratus, live with you.

It's something I'd like to do, I think. And I bet others across the country would be willing to, as well. So here's what the nonprofit organization (Recede--e.g. having the floodwaters, as well as poverty and lack of education recede) would do.

1) Encourage people willing to take in a hurricane survivor (people on their feet, or "feet") to fly to Houston and visit the Astrodome, at their own expense. Have them hang out there for a couple of days and talk to people--see who they identify with and wouldn't mind having in their homes. This is all at the personal expense of the "feet."

2) If they do decide to invite a hurricane survivor ("roommate") to stay with them, they register with Recede, and Recede arranges for the roommate's flight back to the feet's hometown (donation by Continental?).

3) The feet and the roommates go home. Recede provides the feet with a startup checklist (ideas to start with).

4) Most important part: Recede has an evaluation process whereby the roommates and feet report on their progress weekly.

5) At some point, the roommates move out and the feet close the Recede process.

I know there would have to be some process that would address the scenario where the roommates and feet don't get along, and another one that would decide if it's time to quit on the Recede plan--this is just a rough initial stab.

And how is this different from other organizations like HurricaneHousing.org? This is designed to get people on their feet--not just provide housing. And the Recede plan would be designed to ensure that.

Whaddaya think? Would any of you be interested in being "feet" if this option were available?

Baby Pee

2005-09-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, boys and girls, I'm in Bangalore--chillin' with my cousins, et al. Despairing of the end of my journey. And wondering what I'm going to do next.

And watching my nephew peeing on his mom's bed. And on his mom. While being changed. The scenario was actually quite funny:

Step one: Nanny begins to change child.

Step two: Mother starts to nuzzle child.

Step three: Child whizzes on mother

Step four (simultaneously executed with step three): Mother shrieks in surprise.

Step five (also simultaneous): Child shrieks.

Wailing and washing and remarks of surprise ensue. As I remain on couch, watching (and writing emails).

What a helpful houseguest I am. But it's been great, seeing the domesticated life. Eating lunch with whoever's around at lunchtime. Chatting with whoever's around. Writing emails. Going out at night. Having fun. Finding a cat on my bed when I wake up in the morning. (take that the wrong way, and I'll remove your nose!)

And relaxing. Back home soon--and if anyone knows of volunteer opps for Katrina victims, let me know. Also, if anyone wants a place to stay in Houston while volunteering, my doors are open--even before I return home.

Adios!

Bangkok, or What am I going to do with all this dong?

2005-08-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am in the Bangkok airport. At an internet terminal. Because I'm on my way to Bangalore and have a 6-hour layover. And I'm bored.

Oh, and the @#$%ing money changer wouldn't change my Vietnamese dong into anything. Not even a paper crane. She looked pretty content with herself, too--here's a transcript:

ME: ...so you can't change my dong?

HER (grinning as if she was about to tell me it was raining ice cream): Nope!

ME: What am I going to do with all this dong?

The moral of the story: Use your dong in Vietnam.

The offer: if anyone has any use for my 200,000 dong (~$12 US), let me know. I can arrange the transfer of the goods (dong).

Adios!

Hanoi-Hou!

2005-08-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not done with Hanoi. I'm leaving for India tomorrow morning, but I'm entirely convinced I'm not yet ready to leave here. I haven't tasted enough of this city. I haven't yet been engulfed by it and emerged from it with a new understanding. I haven't met enough locals. And I have a feeling Hanoi's not done with me.

Moreover, I'm not done with this trip. Don't get me wrong--I want to go back home. I am tired of living in hostels and guesthouses. I did splurge on the last night here--I'm staying at the Hilton Hanoi Opera--and had a real, hot shower for the first time in a long while.

But I'm not done. There's so much I have left to learn. About myself. About what I want.

I need to be more in tune with the culture here. I need to spend more time on the street here. I need to learn some Vietnamese. I need to understand why people here (Vietnam only) try to screw me every way they can--and why at the end of the day it really shouldn't bother me. Because 10,000 dong is the equivalent of 66 cents.

In the last month and a half I've learned a thousand and one things about myself. Came out of God-knows-how-many shells. Knocked down a million walls. Talked to--IDENTIFIED with a jillion people. Listened to stories. Listened to tales.

But mostly tales told by Western people. People who spoke English. There are more stories to hear--understandings to, well, understand. Layers to dig through the people who are trying to sell you "moto ride"; "cold drink"; "boom boom". More time needed. More compassion needed. Less American arrogance needed.

As I think about going home, I'm excited--but I see the walls coming back up. The shells, I believe, have been crawled out of permanently--but the materialism will come back. When you're out here on your own you realize how much you really need. And how much it is you just want. Then you go home; you indulge your wants; you live your life.

And I'm going to start the process of going home tomorrow, via India. I'm going to go home. Indulge my wants. Live my life. Maybe.

Wat Contribution?

2005-08-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia--home of Angkor Wat, the magnificent Hindu/Buddhist temples in the jungle! I've been here for two days. Seen the Wat. Dealt with the really annoying tourist-sales population "you want to buy t-shirt? no? you want to buy cold drink? ok, $1.00 for Coke can." Yes, and I've been royally screwed by tourist prices.

But that's not wat I'm writing about.

I'm writing about an idea that I'd like to bounce off you folks. See, our nice President has generously guaranteed aid money for Africa this year. $42 million of it, I believe. A pittance. To be fair, I have yet to read what exactly the aid will be for--details to be addressed. Anyway, the fact that the amount Mr. Bush wants to give is so trivial--especially in comparison to what the USA spends on other things--got me thinking.

Corporations sometimes match their employees' donations. So why don't we match Mr. Bush's donation?

So here's the idea. Set up a website, something like matchthepresidentsdonation.com, that is simply dedicated to raising $42 million in aid for Africa, with 100% of the proceeds going to whatever organization the Federal money goes to. Get some media coverage. Get the word out.

The objective?

1) Show what a pittance $42 million is, and encourage Mr. Bush (and our Congress) to dig a little deeper.

2) Contribute to the African aid efforts. Any of them. All of them.

Whaddaya think?

Feelin' all sultan-y

2005-08-13T02:27:00.000-07:00

So I have a strong feeling that my taxi driver from the Brunei airport was, in fact, deceased. Dude barely moved. He looked dead when I got off the plane and into the cab. And he spoke a mangled dialect of some unintelligible language, as well.

One-foot-in-the-grave cab drivers aside....I have nothing to say about this place that wouldn't get its team of internet censors to come after me. Suffice it to say, the first thing I did upon landing here, changing some dinero, and checking in to my hostel, was buy a ticket out. For tomorrow. To Bangkok.

I KNOW, I haven't posted in a while--but I've been having such a great time! Started in Singapore, went on to Melaka (Straits of Malacca, anyone?), then on to Kuala Lumpur--which was gritty at first, but totally ROCKS. Hung out with some Australians and Americans there until 5 AM one night. Checked out some natural limestone caves, checked out the city. Ate pepperoni pizza at Pizza Hut (all halal--BEEF!). Continued on to Borneo (Kota Kinabalu). Kind of stagnated there for a couple days. Hung out with a cool American chick and a dude from the UK last night. Then came here today (breathe). On Royal Brunei Airways.

That was an experience in itself. Starting with the funky desert-arab style headdresses worn by the flight attendants (but only before departure!). And the odd, inexplicable atmosphere inside the plane. Continuing with the Arabic prayer recited on the tv screens and the intercom before takeoff. And followed by the empty, empty Brunei airport.

Yeah, weird. Like this place. More later. Off to see the Brunei sights in the less-than-24 hours I have left in this godforsaken place.

Aloha, Hawai'i (sniff)...

2005-08-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm here at Honolulu International (Airport, that is...not hot dogs) and am about to head out to Singapore! I just checked in, and when the lady at the counter asked me if I wanted to be in the "upper deck" of the 747...oh baby, oh baby. I could have married her. Twice.

Yes, after 2.5 weeks in Hawaii, I'm a little bored. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place. Big Island totally rocks. But is waaay too quiet. Volcanoes National Park is flat out amazing. (I have some great pictures of "hot liquid magma" that I'll post soon.) And Maui (was there for a few days) is nice, too. With grumpy people. But way cool hostellers. I met these two Irish folks who were way cool. And their names? Sinead and Connor. Yeah.

So yeah, Hawaii starts to look the same after a few weeks. And the names--Weiulani, Haleakala, Pu'unani (yes, you heard that right)....kinda hard to get around when ever street name either a) ends in 'ani, or b) is Kamehameha!

That's all for now--I'll holla soon!

in a land called Honoli'i...

2005-07-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Howdy from Hilo, Hawaii--home of the wonderful Honoli'i surf shop. I just got here from Waikiki on Thursday night--and I must say, it's a very different Hawaii. Whereas Honolulu/Waikiki Beach were uber-commercialized and PACKED with people, Hilo is not. In fact, it's the complete antithesis of that. Small town USA. Not particularly wealthy; not particularly poor (except for the fact that the average Kamakawiwo'ole must have a $400,000 mortgage!). The only towns I can compare it to are Nome, AK and Hempstead, TX.

The hostel I'm staying at--Hilo Bay Hostel--is really nice. And quiet. Too quiet. I liked the masses of twentysomethings in Honolulu...so the fiftysomethings here and the twentysomethings that keep to themselves are a new adjustment. There is, however, a dollar movie theater right down the street (saw Hitchhiker's guide on Thursday, and Mad Hot Ballroom at another theater yesterday). Also, one of the guys I met at the hostel in Honolulu is staying here, as well.

I'm told renting a car is key here. So I will, in the next coupla days--go to Kona, check out Volcanoes Nat'l Park--and try to use this incredibly relaxing place to relax, some of the time. If I get really bored, however--probably head to Maui and see what's up there.

Things I've (re)learned about myself so far:

- I am completely unable to relax for an extended period of time (without sleeping 20 hours a day).

- I need people around--but not just one person...lots of them.

And on the original theme of this political blog, I'll leave y'all with a scenario, and a question. So let's say you've got a place (Hilo) that is beautiful and peaceful--and where you could imagine plenty of people would want to live (Hilo). How do you introduce commerce (other than tourism) without destroying what makes the city (Hilo) great? Can you legislate the city's magic? Or would you just have to surrender to the inevitability of over-commercialization (or embrace it, like Waikiki)? Ideas?

2005-07-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is Hilo

Shaka-laka

2005-07-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

Aloha from wonderful Waikiki! Oh man, this place is just as beautiful as everyone's described it. At Charles' recommendation, I watched a sunset on the beach last night--it was crazy beautiful. Not crazy/beautiful (the movie I'm almost ashamed to have watched) but CRAZY beautiful.

This whole island rocks--but as the Kaua'i resident I met last night mentioned--not every island here is so incredibly commercialized. I can't wait to see what Big Island is like.

Been looking for a cheap used surfboard to test my surfing prowess on--and I found one. Gonna go test it out tomorrow. Hang ten, buddy...oh, and that hand sign, Matt--you know, the one with the pinky and the thumb out and the others curved in--that's called the "shaka." Hawaiians totally use that to say "see you later" and it totally rocks.

Adios! In the meantime, I leave you with this picture:

(and others, at http://wanderingmaverick.smugmug.com ) -- and this challenge: say humuhumunukunukuapua'a 10 times fast. Backwards!

Waikikikikiki Sunset

2005-07-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

(from my mobile phone)

A dial I'd like to have...

2005-07-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

Softshell crabs are...

2005-07-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

IMG_0016
Originally uploaded by Bhoutros Bhoutros-Huevo.

Thumbs down! At least fried, and on a burger......

Send the madman back?!

2005-06-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Now here's a crazy thought, probably brought on by excessive work hours....

What if we sent Saddam back? Do you think he could bring order to that madness?

I promise I'll post more on this later--just wanted to jot it down now. I'm not saying I favor this idea--but it might be crazy enough to work. I know robfurrball (a standing ovation to him--he's being deployed to the Middle East soon) will probably kick my @$$ for this idea...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As promised, more on this one. But first, thanks to charles and queueball for posting comments! (queueball's is actually on this post here)

So here's what I think.

POINT: Saddam Hussein is a despotic, genocidal, paranoid maniac who ruled his people with fear and an iron fist.
POINT: Iraq is a mess. Militants are everywhere. Many innocent citizens are killed every day. The Iraqi leadership has no real control over Iraqi rebels--and neither does the US Army.

Derivation of these points: Saddam, while genocidal, did have control of his people--at least his army. If you read some historical info about him (like Wikipedia: Saddam Hussein) you'll notice that one of his major accomplishments during his rise to power was uniting (or, quite possibly, forcibly gluing together) the historically conflicting factions in the area. In addition, during Saddam's ruthless reign, Iraq's infrastructure developed at a fairly rapid clip. In short, Saddam Hussein probably understands the intricacies of managing Iraq better than anyone else--certainly better than any American.

So why not do this--why not bring him back as a consultant? Offer him a good deal--life in exile, rather than submitting himself to a trial that has no chance of being fair--in exchange for aiding us and the new Iraqi government. He wouldn't be given any real power--but we could certainly listen to his observations, and follow those we didn't consider to be too Machiavellian. Who knows? The despot who ran Iraq for 40 years could actually help us run it better, now. The knowledge of a former leader, combined with the somewhat benevolent intentions of a democratic invading army (that wants to get the hell out sometime soon) could just make for a better Iraq.

In reply to charles and queueball's comments:

Yes, Saddam is being held by the Iraqi goverment. But please don't tell me anyone really believes that when the US says "jump," the Iraqis don't head for the nearest trampoline. If we wanted to offer this sort of a deal, we could certainly incentivize the Iraqis and their ruling party to allow us to do so.
No, I don't think this is a panacea--it will certainly not allow us to get out tomorrow. But it might make our pullout able to happen a little sooner.

Thanks again for your comments--I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone says!

Reflecting on Prague

2005-06-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on Prague
Originally uploaded by Bhoutros Bhoutros-Huevo.

Just testing the flickr blogging thing out...

Where in the....

2005-06-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

As I was on a plane to Cincinnati late Tuesday afternoon, I realized I had the following itineraries in my Continental OnePass account:

OnePass reward: IAD - CVG (with a return, never to be used--but required by Continental), CVG-CLE-DCA.

...overlapping...

Continental ticket: CVG - IAH, returning to BWI

...overlapping...

OnePass reward: IAH - BRO, returning to IAH

OnePass reward: IAH - Honolulu - Tokyo - Singapore - Tokyo - San Francisco - IAH (more on this one later!)

...if my plane had crashed (heaven forbid!) or anyone wanted to find me, they would have had a HELL of a time looking. Not a bad feeling for a nomad!

a new leenk

2005-06-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks,

At robfurrball's request (and because my posts have been mildly infrequent), I've added a "subscribe" feature at the bottom of this page for anyone who wants to get an e-mail when posts are made through this site.

I'm not entirely sure whether it's a daily status or an "on-post" email that gets sent out--but you all are welcome to try it! It's powered by Bloglet, and I've checked--you can unsubscribe fairly easily.

Enjoy!

The Runway in the Rain

2005-06-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no posting this week--I'll be responding to some old comments! In the meantime, enjoy this illustration of my life (at the moment).

Spelling Terror

2005-06-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

So here I am, in a 737 that is apparently immune to all laws of physics. Somewhere between the Immelmanns and the barrel rolls, my Continental jet makes its way to the runway at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington. Yes, boys and girls--the process of getting me to the National Spelling Bee involves a barf bag.

All in the name of the war on terror(ism), of course.

By sheer virtue of the fact that our planes do loop-de-loops upon entering DC; because of the very fact that we incarcerate random Americans of Middle Eastern descent in Cuba; as a result of our continuing practice of cavity-searching brown travelers...we're letting the terror into our heads. We're on the defensive. We're losing the war.

How do I propose winning the war? We start with the first battle--in our minds. Let's not be afraid. Let's not keep pouring lots more money into slightly more effective airport scanners. Let's live as we always have. We can't forget about those lost on Sept. 11, but we can make Albert Qaeda believe we've done so. What happened when we didn't show any fear for 10 years after the first WTC bombing? Nothing, for a while. If the terrorists don't think we're afraid, they will realize they have to regroup to be effective. That gives us the high ground, and the chance to begin our first campaign.

That would be the "stop ticking people off" campaign. No more "preemptive invasions." No more propping up ANY regimes--including the Israelis and the Saudis. Let's recognize the authority of the United Nations in all our actions. Let's continue giving some jobs to people in other countries--but let's force our corporations to pay decent wages. Last but not least, if we're going to act as the world's police force, let's apply that force uniformly--with justice (not oil) in mind. I know these things are easier said than done, but all of them are absolutely critical to winning the war on terrorism.

For our main campaign of the war, let's go on the offensive. Let's promote our brand of freedom--while keeping in mind the idea that it may not be the best option for every country. Let's continue to embrace and export capitalism--and show other nations how they can enjoy it as well. Let's flex our military muscle--but reserve its use for social justice and homefront defense. Let's live free--as we always have--and stay vigilant.

Let's do all these things. I think we can--and to some degree we're already doing so. Let's spell al-Qaeda (and terrorism in general) E-N-D-A-N-G-E-R-E-D.

Backin' up to the big picture

2005-05-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

My buddy Charles suggested I back up a bit from specific issues and outline my views on government in general. So here we go.

At its root, government should serve as a framework for a nation by:

- Imposing and enforcing laws that maintain order.

- Lubricating the flow of daily life (commerce, health care, etc.), wherever possible, and jump-starting opportunities where it can (read: FDR's Depression-era efforts, NASA's space pioneering)

- Defending the state from those who might seek to destroy it.

- Giving extra opportunities to its less fortunate citizens.

- Being the voice of the masses, on any issues that require the power of the collective (giving foreign aid, bailing out industries, creating legislation).

- In all other respects, giving its citizens the freedom to do as they please.

The government (in our case, a representative democracy) should get its limited power from:

- The voice of the collective, heard in the November elections.

- The appropriation of necessary funds each year from each citizen.

In my opinon, government should not:

- Define "morality" for its citizens.

- Expend extra effort to protect its weakest, most accident-prone citizens.

- Prop up failing industries and organizations indefinitely (read: airlines, Amtrak).

- Attempt to maintain other regions of the world.

Like? Have suggestions? Let me know.

Required reading for me on this topic: The Federalist Papers and Plato's Republic. Any other suggestions are more than welcome--but will have to be read after my next Rushdie fix.

A warm welcome

2005-05-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

Just a quick thanks to everyone who's posted and/or read this blog so far--I appreciate the help!

Just so you know--I may not respond to every post on this site, but rest assured--I read every one!

Thanks,

Sameer

Taxes - a little to the left

2005-05-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

So I was eating lunch with my cousin Maz a few minutes ago, and he mentioned the idea a certain Apprentice contestant had described of eliminating the Federal income tax in favor of a higher sales tax. I've heard this one before, and I love that idea! (Especially after hassling with my extraordinarily complicated Federal taxes this year).

I think it's incredibly silly that over 100 million Americans have to fill out a cryptic form every year to submit their taxes. For the people that get refunds, that means Uncle Sam held on to their $$ for the year, at 0% APR! For the people that have to pay on April 15, that means Uncle Sam didn't have the $$ he needed from them for up to 12 months! That's not to mention the sheer number of people who probably get screwed during the process (like I almost did by using an online tax tool last year)...

Here's how I think the sales tax thing could work:

National 20% sales tax (in addition to whatever states currently collect).
Sales tax is built into the advertised price on everything (like VAT in the UK)
The only people who are exempt from paying it are folks below a certain threshold of annual income (say, $25,000/household).
Things that are now tax-deductible are simply not taxed (mortgage interest, charitable contributions).

Effects:

Simplified tax process.
Immediate and accurate cash flow for the government and taxpayers.
Lower income folks wind up paying 0% sales tax (so they have more disposable income).
Middle-class folks pay a little less in taxes (+20% in sales tax, -~30% in income tax).
The highest income folks (who typically don't pay much, if any, tax) now pay the same tax as everyone else. Their tax dollars offset the cost of lower-income folks (0% tax) and middle-class folks (-~10% tax).

Who will this piss off?

The entire industry that uses the complexity of the tax code as its sole basis for existence. I figure if you set a date for this change at 10 years out, however, members of this industry will have plenty of time to find other jobs.
The highest-income folks. There needs to be a way to spin this to them (maybe the amount they will save on tax advisors!)

In addition, the entire US economy would cool down for a short period of time as people got used to seeing prices that were 20% higher on everything (even though most people's net incomes would be higher).

A radical change, but hell if it wouldn't make April 15 a MUCH happier day for us taxpayers, as well as for the poor saps who have to work like mad on the night of April 14!

Tell me what you think...

El Announcement

2005-05-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

I hereby throw my hat in the ring for a congressional race in 2006. Which one? That's a secret for now. Why? That's easy--I've always wanted to do this. I'm an IT consultant by trade, and I've always said I wanted to do something bigger with my life.

Sure, every twentysomething wants to save the world. Some do it by joining NGOs and other social organizations. Others become teachers and try to change society via its children. Still others (and a lot of people I know) decide to try to "make it" first, and then volunteer their time or money later.

These are all great ways to give back. I want to work a little differently, though. I want to change the world through policy.

Imagine a legislator who makes decisions based on facts as well as fairness. Imagine a politician who takes world history into account when shaping future policy. Imagine a congressman with the cojones to buck the system.

That's who I want to be.

That's why I'm starting this blog. I want to run, but I don't have a solid platform and I haven't chosen a party. I find my views are strengthened when I express them, so over the next two years I intend to write them here. I hope everyone who reads my opinions feels free to reply with critiques and comments, and most of all I hope that this will be the beginning of something great.

As people of my faith say when starting something new, Bismillah.