Black Friday shopping

All most since the day I landed here in USA on 18 August 2010, and expressed my wish to buy a Digital camera, and some other electronic item like lap top, my daughter Vijaya, also known as Vijaya, has been counselling we should wait for best deal, and make our purchase on Black Friday in Nov. 2010. I was a little perplexed about this term Black Friday, since normally amongst western nations Friday is not considered good, just as 13 is considered as unlucky number. In course of time I came to know that it is the day following Thanks Giving day celebrated in US amongst all the households with a feast of turkey and gathering of the clan if possible. Again my ignorance of Thanks giving day was also making me little uncomfortable. Now that both days are over, and today the Monday following is called Cyber Monday, I decided that I should really do a background check on the days, and see what these are all about. My research on Wikipedia opened the door to the answer I was seeking. Let us go by sequence.

1. Thanks Giving Day : Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. While there was an underlying religious element in the original celebration, Thanksgiving today is primarily identified as a secular holiday.
In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is Columbus Day in the United States. In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November.

While North Americans today celebrate the story of the first Thanksgiving held in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, there is some evidence for an earlier harvest celebration on the continent by Spanish explorers in Florida during 1565. There was also a fest two years before Plymouth (in 1619) in Virginia. A gathering in Newfoundland in 1578 was to celebrate a homecoming instead of the harvest.

While not the first thanksgiving of any sort on the continent, the traditional origin of modern Thanksgiving in the United States is generally regarded to be the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in Massachusetts, in 1621. The Wampanoag Native Americans helped the pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts cultivate the land and fish, saving them from starvation. This harvest celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original Thirteen Colonies that later were to become the United States. This Thanksgiving was modeled after harvest festivals that were commonplace in Europe at the time.

Thanksgiving in the United States was observed on various dates throughout history. By the middle of the 20th century, the final Thursday in November had become the customary day of Thanksgiving in most U.S. states. It was not until December 26, 1941, however, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, after pushing two years earlier to move the date earlier to give the country an economic boost, signed a bill into law with Congress, making Thanksgiving a national holiday and settling it to the fourth (but not final) Thursday in November.[8]

Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Especially popular in the United States, the event is spreading to other nations such as Canada and Australia. On this day, many retailers open very early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season. Black Friday is not actually a holiday, but many employers give their employees the day off, increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005,[1] although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate,[2] have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time.[3]


The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. Use of the term began by 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the period during which retailers are turning a profit, or "in the black."[4]

The news media have long described the day after Thanksgiving as the busiest shopping day of the year.[3] In earlier years, this was not actually the case. In the period from 1993 through 2001, for example, Black Friday ranked from fifth to tenth on the list of busiest shopping days, with the Saturday before Christmas usually taking first place.[2] In 2003, however, Black Friday actually was the busiest shopping day of the year, and it has retained that position every year since except 2004, when it ranked second.[1]

Black Friday is popular as a shopping day for a combination of several reasons. As the first day after the last major holiday before Christmas it inaugurates the Christmas season. Additionally, many employers give their employees the day off as part of Thanksgiving leave, increasing the potential number of shoppers. In order to take advantage of this, virtually all retailers in the country, big and small, offer various sales. Recent years have seen retailers extend beyond normal hours in order to maintain an edge, or simply keep up with, competition. Such hours may include opening as early as 4:00 a.m. or remaining open overnight on Thanksgiving day and beginning sales prices at midnight. In 2010, Toys 'R' Us began their Black Friday sales at 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving day and further upped the ante by offering free boxes of Crayola crayons and coloring books for as long as supplies lasted. Other retailers, like Sears, Aeropostale, and K-Mart began Black Friday sales early Thanksgiving morning, and ran them through as late as 11:00 p.m. Friday evening. Forever 21 went in the opposite direction, opening at normal hours on Friday, and running late sales until 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning.[5][6] Historically, it was common for Black Friday sales to extend throughout the following weekend. However, this practice has largely disappeared in recent years, perhaps because of an effort by retailers to create a greater sense of urgency.

The Black Friday shopping has not been without its share of violence. There have been instances of unruly behaviour of shoppers, often leading to death on account of trampling. In 2008 a crowd of approximately 2,000 shoppers in Spring Valley, NY waited outside for the 5:00 a.m. opening of the local Wal-Mart. As opening time approached the crowd grew anxious and when the doors were opened the crowd pushed forward, breaking the door down, and trampling a 34 year old employee to death. The shoppers did not appear concerned with the victim's fate, expressing refusal to halt their stampede when other employees attempted to intervene and help the injured employee, complaining that they had been waiting in the cold and were not willing to wait any longer. Shoppers had begun assembling as early as 9:00 the evening before. Even when police arrived and attempted to render aid to the injured man, shoppers continued to pour in, shoving and pushing the officer as they made their way into the store. Several other people incurred minor injuries, including a pregnant woman who had to be taken to the hospital.[18][19][20] The incident may be the first case of a death occurring during Black Friday sales; according to the National Retail Federation, "We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving."[21]

The violence and unruly crowd created in me and my daughter a sense of fear, and we decided to forgo the option of going to more popular stores. Fortunately, the Office Depot store near our place in Gulf Breeze offered us the best option of getting the things we wanted and also no crowd. When I landed there at around 5 am. on Black Friday there were just 5 people ahead of me, and couple of employees from the stores handed us vouchers for the lap tops wanted, and told we could pick up other vouchers/goods as we entered the stores. Thus it was a very easy Black Friday shopping, without any hassles. As for other things Viju wanted to set up house when she will move to Houston in Jan end, she with Sagar went to Wall Mart, earlier night around 11.30 pm., located around 5 miles away, and picked up lots and was back by 1.30 am. Thus she was free to come and pick up things from Office Depot, and also some from Beales outlet in the same complex.

The term Cyber Monday, a neologism invented in 2005 by the National Retail Federation's division Shop.org, refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday based on a clear consumer trend that retailers began to recognize in 2003 and 2004. At the time, retailers noticed that many consumers, who were too busy to shop over the Thanksgiving weekend or did not find what they were looking for, shopped online that Monday from home or work to find bargains.

Scams

India is a country where any thing and every thing illegal goes, if you are powerful enough to put/pull it through. For every 10 scam which probably goes undetected you
may get one out in front, courtesy a squealer or a journalist with a nose for news.
Latest is Adarsh housing scam, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. The scam is out in the open and
the bakri (scape goat) is the Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan of the day, though there are
many more involved. A society formed supposedly to acomodate Kargil war veterans turns out giving flats out to politicians, their kin, govt. officials, retired senior army officers, etc. flouting all norms. The building comes up on a land, supposedly govt. land, but now turns out to be in the possession of the army. The title to the land is now in dispute. What will happen to the building, which is worth crores of rupees? Will it be brought down, or some sort of compromise arrived at! It seems there will be no final or proper ending just as an illegal building in Mahalakshmi, which is illegally built, ordered to be destroyed by the Supreme Court years back but still standing. The authorities may one day regularise it.

The 2G spectrum allocation is a big one, with thousands of crores of rupees involved. The minister in charge, Raja of DMK, has atlast resigned nearly a year or so after the scam was out in th open. Is there going to be any justice here. What will happen to Raja? Nothing I believe, considering the hold DMK has over this UPA govt.

This UPA govt. is full of skeletons tumbling out of its cupboard every day. The Common Wealth Games with it corruption and irregularities is in the open. Again it is very very much possible that nothing will come out of the CBI enquiry, Supreme court cases.

The public memory in India is very short, and no one remembers of the scams. The biggest one was Harshad Mehta scam of late 80's and early 90's. Harshad Mehta is no more, and no one knows what happened to the crores stashed away by him. The scam is the result of the loopholes/shortcomings in the system, and RBI is way responsible for this. In the PDO, SGL section the books were not balanced on daily basis, weekly basis or even monthly, to know the position of each constituent at the end of the day. Even a small bank like Sangli bank or Karad bank could deal in 100's of crores without having any backing so to say. The buying/selling amongst smallest entity and big ones like Citi Bank was surprising to say the least. Does any one remember this!

Jai Hind for scams of India.

Abraham Lincoln - The Vampire Hunter

I completed yesterday a book Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith, published by Grand Central Publishing New York/Boston, in March 2010.

When I saw the book in the new book category on my last visit to the library over here, I was little perplexed with the title, since I had not heard of President Lincoln having ever been a Vampire Hunter. The title made me pick up the book for reading. I took up this after completing Cleopatra, which was a slow reading one.

This is a book of fiction, and writer's imaginations is really worth praising. Imagine any Indian writer portraying an Indian icon like Gandhi or Jawahar in the role of hunting demons or thuggees. Would have raised the hackles of not only their supporters, but also of the GOI.
In this book, Lincoln is portrayed as a Vampire Hunter, and he continues to hunt vampires almost till the his entry into Presidential House in Washington on March 4th 1861. The author has interspersed the chapters with Abe's life and the travails he went through in his march to being President of the USA, and the measures he took to abolish slavery, and proclamation freeing negroes from subjugation and slavery in southern states. In the story Abe is aided by a vampire in the annihilation of vampires, who masquerade as responsible citizens of various cities.
The family life and his parents and siblings as also his first love, and
also his wife and children are also written about. One of his sons was reportedly killed on account of a vampire after he became a President.

The author obtains the information and all details about Abe the Vampire Hunter, from 10 ten leather bound books, reportedly handed over to him by one Henry, who also happens to be the good vampire, who regularly sent messages to Lincoln, containing the name of the Vampire he has to hunt. The hunting started after the death of Lincoln's mother, who he believed was the result of a vampire. The main weapon for hunting was an Axe finely sharpened which could pierce through an heart if thrown from even 25 feet, and Abe is reported to have perfected the art of piercing the heart of vampire by just one throw.
It is believed that for over 250 years, between 1607 and 1865, vampires thrived in the shadows of America, and they are reported to have come from Europe. The author at the end writes about the vampires having left the shores of America, and emigrated to Europe and some other countries where the vampire hunting was not common.

An interesting book to read if you can lay your hands on a copy in India.
--

THE FINANCIAL FIASCO OF US

THE FINANCIAL FIASCO, IS A BOOK BY JOHAN NORBERG, GIVES THE READER AN INSIGHT INTO THE REASONS BEHIND THE COLLAPSE OF A FEW OF THE BIG FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF US AND THE NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, LEADING TO BIG JOBLESS NESS IN THE ECONOMY, AND DOWNTURN.
JOHAN NORBERG, IS SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CATO INSTITUTE, WASHINGTON D.C.. HE HAS ANOTHER BOOK TO HIS CREDIT, IN DEFENSE OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM.
THE BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO SIX CHAPTERS, TAKING THE READERS STEP BY STEP INTO THE REASONS FOR THE FIASCO. THE LAYMAN, ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DEEP INSIGHT INTO AMERICAN BANKING HAVE BEEN BLAMING THE WALL STREET FOR THE COLLAPSE. THE AUTHOR, HOWEVER, EXPOSES THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE US GOVT. AND ITS REGULATIONS IN CREATING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES THAT LED TO THE ECONOMIC MELTDOWN, FROM WHICH US IS STILL TO COME OUT.
ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR AMERICA'S INFATUATION WITH HOME OWNERSHIP AND EASY AND CHEAP MONEY CREATED THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE BORROWERS FOR HOME LOAN IN US COULD GET AWAY EASILY, IN CASE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPAY THE LOAN, SINCE AS PER GOVT. POLICY, AND FIN. INSTITUTIONS WANTING TO GET BETTER THAN EACH OTHER, WERE LENDING WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OF SECURITY EXCEPT FOR THE MORTGAGE ON THE HOUSE BOUGHT WITH THE LOAN. THE BORROWER IN CASE HE IS NOT ABLE TO REPAY WILL JUST HAND OVER THE KEY TO THE BANK OR LENDING INSTITUTION AND WALK AWAY SINCE HE HAD NO STAKE IN THE HOUSE.
THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES HOW THE MORTGAGES WERE BOUGHT AND SOLD AND PACKAGED AGAIN IN BONDS AND AGAIN SOLD. THE FIRST LENDER AFTER SELLING THE MORTGAGE HAD NO STAKE, AND AS SUCH NO RISK, AND POSSIBLY THIS LED TO FAILURE OF BEARS AND STERNS, AND OTHER BIG INSTITUTIONS, THE BIGGEST BEING, LEHMAN BROS, AND MERRIL LYNCH. BEHIND THE SCENES REASONS FOR NOT HELPING THESE TO BAIL OUT BY GOVT. IS ALSO ANALYSED. THE ROLE OF FANNIE MAE AND FANNIE MAC, TWO GOVT. CONTROLLED INSTITUTIONS IS ALSO WELL COMMENTED UPON.
THE AUTHOR IN THE FINAL TWO CHAPTERS DESCRIBES THE GOVT'S MISMANAGEMENT AND REFUSAL TO LEARN FROM THE PAST AND REPEATING THE VERY SAME MISTAKES AGAIN THAT CAUSED THE FIASCO.
IN CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 THE READER IS TAKEN THROUGH THE MONETARY AND HOUSING POLICY AND THE OBSESSION OF THE GOVT. AND POLITICIANS TO INCREASE THE SHARE OF FAMILIES WHO OWNED HOMES, EVEN UNDERMINING/IGNORING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE BORROWERS.
CHAPTER 3 DESCRIBES THE FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS, TRANSFORMING BIG RISKS TO SMALLER ONES, REPACKAGING, RELABELING AND SELLING THEM. THE GREED FOR MAKING EASY MONEY IS COMMENTED UPON WELL.
CHAPTER FOUR TELLS THE STORY OF HOW THE FALL OF AN INVESTMENT BANK GAVE THE GLOBAL ECONOMY JITTERS AND CARDIAC ARREST.
AN EXTREMELY READABLE BOOK, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE TRADE BY NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK.

IMPRESSIONS OF A BOOK.

TWO COOTS IN A CANOE - AN UNUSUAL STORY OF FRIENDSHIP
BY DAVID MORAINE

DAVID MORAINE IS A CONSERVATIONIST AND WAS THE HEAD OF LAND ACQUISITION FOR
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY FROM 1972 TO 1990. HE HAS AUTHORED FIVE BOOKS, ALL ON
CONSERVATION, GOOD DIRT, CONFESSIONS OF A CONSERVATIONIST, VACATION LAND, A
HALF CENTURY OF SUMMERING IN MAINE, SMALL CLAIMS:MY LITTLE TRIALS IN LIFE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF TWO MEN IN A CANOE. RAMSAY PEARD A RETIRED CEO, ASKS HIS
LONGTIME FRIEND DAVID (BUGSY) MOAINE IF HE WOULD LIKE TO CANOE THE 400 MILE LONG
CONNECTICUT RIVER, FIRST CONTACT IN 20 YEARS. DAVID AGREES WITH THE CONDITION THAT
NO CAMPING, 'I AM TOO OLD TO BE SLEEPING ON GROUND, COOKING OVER AN OPEN FIRE ETC.
THE FRIENDS DECIDED TO RELAY ON KINDNESS OF STRANGERS FOR THEIR NIGHT STAY. THE
FRIENDS HAD MET AT UNIV. OF VIRGINIA, DOING BACHELOR OF ADMN. IN 1969,

THE BOOK DESCRIBES THEIR JOURNEY ON THE RIVER, WITH SUBTLE HUMOUR, AND FULL OF
LAUGHTER ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR MISADVENTURES, INTERACTIONS WITH STRANGERS WHO
HOST THEM. ONE SEES ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE JOURNEY, HOWEVER,THE OTHER
INHERENTLY FEELS HIS FATE IS SEALED. IT IS AN HONEST ACCOUNT OF THE JOURNEY BY
DAVID MORAINE, AND IS TOLD IN A LUCID AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE.

THE JOURNEY COMMENCING ON MAY 27 2003, AND ENDS ON JUNE 28 2003, WITH 27 STRANGERS
PLAYING HOST TO THEM FOR THEIR STAY. THE COOTS EXPERIENCE VARYING WEATHER, RAIN
AND LITTLE CHILLY WEATHER. DAVID AVOIDING DRINKS WHILE CANOEING, RAMSAY ENJOYED
HIS CANS OF BEER AND HIS SMOKE, BUYING SIX PACKS EVERY DAY HOPING TO GIVE SOME AWAY TO
OTHER CANOEISTS. ALAS FOR NEARLY HALF THE JOURNEY THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY OTHER
ROWERS. THE COOTS REPAY THEIR HOSTS, MOSTLY, BY ARRANGING GRANTS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION
EFFORTS.

THEIR HOPES OF MEETING KATHERINE HEPBURN ON THE LAST LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY IN A PARTY
FAILED TO MATERIALISE, AND SADLY KATHERINE DIED ON JUNE 29, TWO DAYS AFTER THEY LEFT
FOR THEIR HOMES. THE BOOKS' END SHOCKS THE READER FOR THE DARK AND UNEXPECTED
DESTINATION OF THE FRIENDS.
IT IS WELL TOLD STORY AND KEEPS ONE ENGROSSED.
The book is published by Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 303 pages, 28 chapters,
3 parts, 1st part covers North country, 2nd Dartmouth South, and 3 rd part covers Massachusetts and
Connecticut.

Pensalcola, Florida, US visit contd.

I have been a little lazy of late not keeping the blog updated. I am not sure who is following my blog, and ramblings in it. But it is a sort of an outlet for my thoughts, and I think I will keep on airing thoughts/views, for what ever they are worth.

This visit is specifically to help, my Viju, in her delivery of first baby, and also to tide over the first

few months. Unlike our last visit in 2009, outings have been few, mainly on account of the date of delivery nearing. My last posting was on 2 Sept. 2010, and today it is 3 Nov. 2010, just more than 2 months. Lot has happened in the intervening period. The most joyous occasion was advent of my 2nd grand daughter in to this world. I loathe to call it beautiful and other adjectives as is wont by most humans. We are destroying this world slowly step by step, and the future generations will be poorer for it. We humans are greedy, and would like to enjoy everything, without giving any thought to the coming generations. She, as per the practice in US, already named Sara, came into this world at 5.57pm, CST, on 13 Sept. 2010, 3 days ahead of schedule given by the doctors, in an hospital near the Pensacola Airport. The hospital, as is everything over here, is very clean and neat and well maintained, with excellent care being taken of the new arrival as also the mother. Myself and Revathi could hold the tiny baby by around 6.10 pm. The baby at birth was only 6.4 lbs, but with lots of jet black hair. All in the hospital were astounded by the hair she was born with, since babies in US are normally not born with so much hair. Her fingers and limbs appeared to be quite long, since she was very tiny and bony. She reached her home to be just after 48 hours, and is now a permanent feature of our lives. She has now completed 7 weeks on this earth, and is into her eighth week. She has already seen Navratri, will be part of her father Sagar's birthday tomorrow, and Deepavali immediately thereafter on 5th. However, US being what it is, she will not be witness to the festivities as in India. She is now a US citizen, with her pass port, and Social security no. She has for the past week or so started recognising and seeing things and people around, and also showing her emotions more openly, by crying, making faces, smiling etc. She is keeping every one of us busy here. I dread the day we will be leaving for India.

Baby Sara's stay here in Gulf Breeze, just adjacent to the bay, will also be short. Sagar is being relocated to Houston, and they will all be leaving mostly by end of Jan 2011, immediately after we leave for India. Houston, is reported to be third largest city in US, and hence will also be heavily populated with resultant chaos. Comparatively this is a very thinly populated and peaceful city, though it is vast in area. I am not sure whether I will be visiting Houston, since the programme of children is uncertain, and no one knows how long they will continue to be in US. I should thank my Viju for giving us this opportunity to visit the US two years running.

Even with Sara's coming, we have not let off on our eating out, two meals in a Vietnamese Rest. called Tu Du, Mexican in Mellow Mushroom, etc. The best is variety of food, various Asian cusine which we never had the opportunity in India to taste.

Internet has facilitated the communication to such an extent that we see Ria, our first grand daughter in Pune quite regularly and talk to her over video/audio call. I could talk and see my mother and also brother in Ghatkopar. I got in touch with an old friend, referred more as German Subbu, after his visit to Germany, courtesy RBI some two decades ago, again through net, and also had a talk.

The county library system in US is a big boon to book lovers like me. I have been reading many books, some fiction and also others. Three books that has in this trip attracted me are one on Cleopatra, another on Sugar Ray Robinson famous boxer of 50s and 60s, and the last one was on Abraham Lincoln, who is portrayed by the author as a Vampire hunter and slayer, till almost the date of his election as President of USA. Another of the books I liked was an account of two friends, who get together after more than 3 decades to traverse the 400 mile Connecticut river on a canoe, spending time with strangers every night without staying in tents or cooking their own meals. The book has an unexpected ending with one of the protagonist committing suicide a few months after completion of the adventure. TCM, (Turner Classic Movie) channel also keeps me occupied with movies of yesteryear's dating to 3os, till 60s. The movies which we may not again get to see in theaters are now easily viewed. Alas, we do not have any such exclusive channel in India, to show case old Indian classics, though some of the channels do show old movies off and on.

Another news is about my first son-in-law Rajesh changing course in mid stream so to say. He has decided to leave his cushy and secured job and income, and take a plunge into an uncertain world of independent venture. He has decided to open in Pune, Baner a restaurant, which will serve mainly continental dishes and also deserts normally not available outside five stars. We wish him all the success in this venture of his. What with the new found prosperity in and around Pune, and all techies abound, there is little doubt this will be a profitable venture with lady luck smiling on the venture, and dedication and hard work. The joint is expected to commence operation in December, and will keep all updated on the opening date.

The net has also been helpful in my watching the cricket matches, sometimes getting up at mid night or early morning. My walks continue, and the two months over here has also helped me recover my health to a certain extent after my trip to Kailas mansarover in June, just before coming over to US.

Today, for the first time in my two visits, I got drenched while returning from my walk, and I really enjoyed it. I am used to getting fully wet in India regularly every rain, what with my unwillingness to carry a burden of an umbrella. The cold is setting in, and it is expected to be in 30s from Friday.

As in India, we prepared deepavali bakshanam over here, with available things. A small celebrations will be there, being the first one for Sara. A small get together of friends is being arranged by some of the Indians over here, and we expect to participate on Friday evening.

This has been a big and long blog. See you all till the next one.

US Visit contd.

I think I should now let you have a description of the Pensa cola town as I see it. When I first landed here on 10th April 2009, what greeted me aswe exited the airport in our daughter's car was the wide roads, disciplined traffic, and sparse traffic to boot. The drive from airport to Gulf breeze where the flat is located took around half hour. What surprised me most was that there were hardly any shops as we know in India. While on the way we could see some eating joints, etc., but no grocery stores or small mom and pop establishments. We had no problem like adjusting to the day-night timings here, since we did not feel any jet lag. The reason probably was because we hardly slept on the way from India, and we were ready to hit the deck by around 8 pm local time.

However, seeing Viju and Sagar, and talking about things and people back home, esp. our dear Riya's antics, we went to bed little late. From next day our routine started.

With in couple of days I started my daily walks, along madam, and slowly increased the distance covered. Unlike India, there were very few walkers, what with a very sparse population. Initially we waled along the road, and then started coming into the bay area through a opening near the road, and walking over the sand to the house. After a few days found other better route to walk, with independent houses on one side, and thick green vegetation on the other side. The downturn of the US economy was evident from the number of properties put up for sale. During the course of our three months stay, we found that some properties which had prices notified, bringing down the prices by a few thousands. Our walk used to cover around 5 kms. and take more than an hour, since I had to match the speed of my dear wife. We used to leave home between 7.15 and 7.30 and return by around 9.00 am.

The nearest departmental store was called Publix, and it was located around a km from our place. I hardly saw anyone walking to make purchases, all used to drive down. The nearest Wall mart store was located around 7 kms away. All our purchases like milk, curd, vegetables etc. were from Publix, and Wall Mart was visited once in a while. The other interesting market near Wall mart, is Flea Market, open only and saturdays, and sundays, where in you can get from house hold goods to clothes, electrical appliances, etc. both used and new ones. One corner is reserved for chinese goods being sold at near throwaway prices. It is somewhat akin to our chor bazar but much better organised, and nothing illegal about it. It also has a vegetable stall where one could get some fresh veggies.

The best thing about the towns in US is the free public library, where in you can borrow number of books at a time, as well as CDs/DVDs. I could watch some very old Hollywood classics. There is also a recreation centre with basket ball court, tennis courts, football and baseball courts etc. There is no charge for use of tennis court facilities.

The people generally are very cheerful, and wish you on morning walks even though they might be seeing you for the first time in their life. The cars and other vehicles respect the rights of the pedestrians, unlike in our Great Bharat, where a pedestrian is treated as a pest by the car/vehicle drivers. Overtaking by cars is done very systematically where there are two lanes each way, but on single lane roads, no overtaking as such is seen. The cars are ready to follow the bikes or other slow moving vehicles.

The offices are mostly located in down town area, and one has to drive to the office around 10 kms. each way daily. Most of the big malls are also located either in down town area or near the air port. One such big mall is Cardova Mall, with a number of stores inside, catering to people of both sexes and all age groups. To reach the down town area, one had to cross a three mile bridge, with water on both the sides, and the drive over the brigde is beautiful to say the least. Most of the clothes are from the Asian continent. Major supplier of all goods is China, and I feel if China stops producing and catering to the needs of US market and consumer, for some reason or the other, US market will close down. Such is the Chinese dominance of US economy. Almost all electronic, household, and many other items are outsourced from China, both the US companies, and China being beneficiaries. However, one dreads to think of the consequences of dependence on one individual source for all your requirements.

US economy is a consumer economy, with only spending as the motto, with savings having no place, and all purchased being made through credit card, though debit card may also be in use to an extent. Savings from Asian countries, China, and Japan is fuelling the US economy, and to a lesser extent Indian savings too helps.