2022 ends with lights and parades

Amid the gloom and havoc of 2022 in different spheres; from plummeting asset prices to RSV infections ailing many to an all out war between people in the Russo - Ukranian geographies there were good things happening.

We completed a full year (as in four seasons) of living in the Carolina region of the eastern United States after a long stint on the left coast and balmy days (which had started turning to embers and ash more often toward the end).

Having enjoyed the spring, summer and fall this winter came with much needed rain in the area. As the year winds down we continued our ongoing exploration of the culture and peoples of the area with a trip to a boat parade on a local marina; to an art museum in a former Mint; to some roller coaster fun with lights and Christmas Decor and finally a trip to visit a local estate that hosts a brilliantly lit garden and markets its Christian message. It is property that was once owned by the Evangelist and Minister called Billy Graham.

Below are some vistas from aforementioned trips -

local coaster attraction lit of for the season

Alive and kicking nativity (some camels were procured to lend a realistic touch in creating the Jesus birthing event near Jerusalem some two centuries ago)

Pathway of light at the Graham compound

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On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...

A few good books

On an informal mission to read one book a week as long as the eyes allow for such ambition. Fiction or non is not important as long as it entertains and /or educates. To that end the past few weeks have brought a bounty in the form of some wonderful and then not so engaging literature. Among the notables are - Non fiction category: 1. Good arguments by Bo Seo (how to handle a dispute or debate the most efficient way possible) 2. Genesis by Eric Schmidt (and former US Secy of State Henry Kissinger, who recently passed) - how AI might affect our lives as we know it 3. One in a billion - Zarna Garg (an autobiographical look at an Indian born American woman with a bindi narrated in a standup format - yes it is at times cliched but still funny) Fiction: 1. Personal by Lee Child (a vigilante story with Jack Reacher the giant, nomad protagonist of Child's novels goes hunting for a sniper) 2. Ramayana unraveled by Ami Ganatra (she might disagree about it being a work of fiction but oh wel...

Back in DC

This time for a tech conference in the realm of what else? AI. But applied to an oft neglected space called Knowledge Management. The latter is a community of practice that focuses on analyzing, organizing and making available reams of data that have been gathered over time by various functions within an organization for anyone in the company to utilize. This function or process is ripe for applying AI agents (or agentic AI framework) and optimize for better outcomes. It was informative. More rewarding was getting acquainted with folks who practice this craft as well as learning of what they see in the corporate or public sectors. Since the venue was Washington DC it also afforded me the chance to take evening strolls albeit the weather was trying. With wind chill in the single digit it still is a glamorous place to perambulate through history absorbing what this country has been through since its founding days. I was able to visit the place Lincoln was killed along with his monument t...

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