Are you like your parents and where does the time go?

Do you ever feel like your parents or guardian? I'm sure many of you have those moments where you say something and you realize you sound like your dad or mom. Yes, it is true that you indeed become your parents in many ways. I don't have any scientific proof (nor have I seen any postulated) of this, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence.

I have a strange thought...let me see if any of you face this...

I sometimes don't think I am as wise and sage as my dad seemed at the same age that I am today? It also seems my dad had much weighty responsibilities and a heavier family burden at the same age!

I remember looking up to my dad when I was say 14 years old and the image I have of him at the time does not match my self-image today. Do you understand? At the time my father was running a business and providing a living for our immediate family as well as cousins, uncles, and aunts that happen to be immigrating to the US from India. He seemed to work hard and things seemed to come much harder to him.

I on the other hand don't feel as mature has he seemed. Mature may be too strong of a word but the right one escapes me at the moment. I wonder how my kids view me?

I may be unique and the only one with this thought and vision, however one thing seems to be certain...today's generation has it much easier on the average then the prior generation. I'm sure the same can be said about two generations ago. You all have heard the stories about our parents and grand parents walking bare foot in the snow going to school up hill both ways...

Let me use this opportunity to shift to a related topic that comes to mind...

I know there are people in all stratas of life, but in general we have to admit we live a comparably easy life. Even a good percentage of the poor in the US have TVs, VCRs, and two cars. We on the average have time for so many social activities. I had social and sports activities my parents never had and my kids today have activities that I could not have dreamed about when I was growing up.

We have so much spare time that we...

• have TV's in every room
• have video IPOD's when a TV is not available
• know the difference between 12 and 18 year old Scotch
• write Blogs
• view the 20th page on a Google search (ok, I have never done that but you know who you are!)
• watch 3 hour movies (could they not have cut some of Tom Hank's Castaway?)
• read up to seven LONG Harry Potter novels

Yet, we all tend to complain about being too busy! We all seem to want more time to get that one other activity in or to sleep that extra hour. I think it is time for all of us to figure out better ways how to USE that spare time. Clearly we have the time somewhere...don't we...let me run 24 is on...

Do you believe what you read?

Welcome to my first blog post! Ok, let me honor the name of my blog by telling the truth. I guess I said "welcome to my first blog post" so you will be kind and patient as you strive to get to the end.

My, my, what do I write?

I have always wanted to start some form of a blog as I feel I have much to say but never taken the risk to really ramble on…I suppose fear and trepidation kept me from launching a blog. On reflection, I realize that much of my life I have unknowingly embodied this quote from Abraham Lincoln:

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"

So let's start removing the doubt…

I like the concept of the Blog sphere. It gives individuals direct access to the world to offer opinions, news, knowledge, wisdom, and anything else that may flow between the ears. I suppose I should thank the inventor of the Internet, Al Gore, for this opportunity…but…nahhh…

…truthfully, anything that bypasses organized media is a good thing.

On that note...do you realize how many people rely on the word printed in the daily newspaper or what is on the evening news for their entire knowledge base and view of the world? Sometimes I want to shout at the top of the tallest mountain to STOP READING THAT DRIBBLE. What is printed is so often wrong and driven by some agenda that it is unreal. My employer, CNSI, and every CNSI employee familiar with our Medicaid business ventures should truly understand my point. There were so many stories in the Maine press regarding the troubles our new system created for Maine's Medicaid program. Never mind that the software problems were minor in nature compared to the real problems behind the problems. Never mind that the state were not able to clearly and timely provide business information needed to be coded in the system. Never mind the thousands of hours of work (beyond what was called for) that CNSI employees put in to solve what may be close to impossible to solve. Never mind the truly creative system we have built and placed into production. Never mind it is performing better then the prior system and most systems in the country.

I'm afraid to know how many people have read the roasting our company has received in the Maine press and have at best a pessimistic view and at worst hatred for CNSI?

So why the unfair characterizations?

My friends, it is because that is what sells. Fairness is not a guiding principle for the fourth estate (i.e., the press). Facts and reality are boring. When new information is not available…no worries…just change a few words and re-cycle an old article. This happens every day, in every state, in every country...not just in Maine...and not just against CNSI.

What I find perhaps more unbelievable is that people buy the stuff and believe in it without any further research or question. The more we buy the more they believe in their righteousness. Folks stop buying and read more blogs...