There really isn't anything we can do with this hair...

Amos son of Amos son of Amos, cousin once removed

My Dads first cousin Amos Stoltzfus is in India for awhile, with his wife Rowena (Oliver and Betty Mast's daughter), and youngest son, Dirgham. It was great fun to see them, after so many years. They live close to Delhi, and drove down to have supper with us.

Amos' Dad is my Paternal Grandfathers younger brother, making my dad Amos' first cousin. So I think that makes Amos my first cousin once removed, and Dirgham would be second cousin to our kids. Is that right?

Amos has over 100 first cousins (not their spouses or degrees, but just first cousins). That is a lot. My 50 or so pale in comparison.

Question: What is the Proper Protocol for Answering Comments on One's Webblog?

Many people have left comments in this blog, which I/we appreciate.

What is the appropriate web protocol for answering them? With another comment? With another blog posting? With a personal email?

PS: Red Velvet cake is regular old chocolate cake with loads and loads of red food coloring in the cake to make it look like red velvet (recipe on the web for sure). The girls love it because it turns their milk red (yes, of course my children eat their milk in a bowl with milk on top of it. What kind of person do you take me for?) I love it because chocolate cake, by any other name, is still chocolate cake.

Thomas Friedman's Book, "The World is Flat"

I just finished reading Thomas Friedmans book, "The World is Flat", about how the internet, Globilization etc are changing the world, so that now we are more like one big country, instead of numerous smaller countries. Here are some observations:

1. He is telling me stuff I already know, I just have been to busy to think about it.

2. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The method of maintaining relationships change (from letters to email), but a relationship is still a relationship. Business is still business.

3. The indirect references to the Tower of Babel are fascinating. The world is being leveled, "one world" is emerging. Walls based on nation, tribe, creed and tongue are being destroyed. What will G-d do now?

4. It works where Christianity is permitted and blessed. Much of it is based on trust, equality and peacefully working together and resolving disputes. These are Christian qualities. Where Christianity is hated, it doesn't work.

5. Mahoman Singh, in the early 90's, did more to change India than any other Indian since 1950.

6. It is creating a new type of "rich" and "poor", "slave" and "free". The geeks are becoming the ruling class. Computer illiterate people have a difficult time making a living wage.

7. The author likes Macs.

8. The author does not like George Bush.

9. I have many "flat world moments", but I don't live in a flat world. I might be in India seeing a Basque patient using a French person who speaks Spanish as a second language to translate about how to take his Chinese made medicines, but I still rode my bicycle over to see him.

10. The new jobs outlined in the chapter "the Untouchables", are mostly people doing one of two things: Either doing their old jobs in new ways, or showing people how to do their old jobs in new ways.

11. Learning how to do things by yourself (without formal training) is one of the best skills you can have. I never had a computer class, but I am blogging. On the other hand I have had many grammar classes, and just look at this mess.

12. The big important skills to have include: Curiosity, Passion, Getting Along well with Others, Being "Well-Rounded", and a Culture of Trust.

13. He thinks the answer to problems is Big Government. I couldn't disagree more.

14. His comments on Islamists (that they are not religious, but political, and so on) are profound and well worth reading.

I dunno, but this would appear to be Trouble.

Note that I spelled Trouble with a capital "T". This is Nora Grace and her friend Amiel. He is from South Africa. Man-o-man, can these two get into trouble. Don't let appearances decieve you.

Gifts for Sam

We have recieved a number of gifts for Samuel, from some of our local friends.

1. Disposable Diapers: for those dierrheal days when you just cannot wash another clothe diaper.

2. Eggs: Not sure why. But several people have given us eggs. I made French Toast with them. (French Toast being a classic Daddy meal. When Dad has to make supper really fast, there is a good chance it will be French Toast).

3. Cash: Several people handed us 1oo rupee notes in honor of the birth of son. Again, I didn't get a good explanation or if it is different if it is a girl. They just said it is what they do. Presumably, this particular tradition is subject to modern economic forces such as inflation, and they haven't always given 100 rupees. In former times, that would be several weeks wages. Nowadays it is two dollars. Sam plans to invest his fortune wisely.

4. Massage: Sam is getting a massage everyday, provided by some friends. For a nominal fee, Amy also gets a brief massage. It is traditional in our part of the world to massage newborn babies and their mothers vigorously with oil, something Sam has strong feelings about, usually not too happy. Amy doesn't mind, and Miriam would really like to get in ont the act also.

5. Clothes: Well you knew that we would be on this list.

6. Chocolate and local sweets: Hey, I can accept those on behalf of my son.

Week in New Delhi

We got into New Delhi last evening.

We are here to apply for a Report of a Birth Abroad, the first step in Sam's paperwork. Then when we get that, we can apply for a passport. Then when we get that, we can apply for a visa from the Foreign Registration Office of the India Government. So we spend the week in Government offices filling out forms.

We got here by airplane, the first time we have done that. When India began privatizing things a few years ago, one of the first prices to come down was Domestic Airline prices. A few weeks ago, one of the low-cost carriers began operating flights to Varanasi, and we decided to take advantage of them. So we got to the airport and checked in the waiting lounge by 11AM yesterday, in order to get on our SpiceJet airplane.

Unfortunately, it didnt arrive until 5PM. So we had a bit of along afternoon in a small room with dozens of other somewhat frustrated passengers. We all cheered and whooped when the plane did arrive, and the staff came around all afternoon offering free chai.

We had a quieter day today, and just stayed in at the guesthouse, having family Church.

Life in Varanasi goes on

Not too much to report here. Election results were released yesterday, so there was lots of problems with traffic, as people paraded through the streets.

Spent the weekend doing wedding stuff for N and H.

We are off to New Delhi on Saturday to work on a passport and visa for Sam, and Nora Grace, whose will expire shortly.

Amy's Birthday

Amy had a quiet birthday on October 31. That was also the day for local Elections, so the whole city was shut down, everyone at home and every shop closed.

All wheeled vehicle traffic was forbidden. Motorcycles, trucks, cars, scooters, bicycles etc. So wasn't much to do except stay inside and visit. And that is not such a bad thing.

Amy is of the opinion that no one can make her favorite kind of cake better than her, hence, she will make her own cake. There is good reason for her to think that way. She made a Red Velvet cake, and it is being enjoyed by one and all.

Boys had a great and glorious day on election day, since all the streets were empty, they could finally play a good round of cricket, a game that I am genetically destined to be unable to understand.

No one died in our local area on election day, always a good thing, though a few were hospitilized. West of here, several people died in poll violence.

The reason no wheeled traffic is allowed on election day? Because people will try to steal the ballot boxes (in areas where their opponant is strong) and dump them in the river. And yet you doubt original sin?