Tax Brackets

Someone asked me a really stupid question about their tax brackets yesterday. So for the record i thought i'd post the 2006 tax brackets (note that its tiered for each SEGMENT of income, so if you are in the 33% tax bracket, it doesnt mean that 33% applies to all of your income.. just to the monies that are in that segment)

Study Group @ Cornell

Foley and Aaron Ryan studying Financial Accounting-- Circa Oct 2006 @ The Residence Inn Newark Delaware. Thanks for teaching us accounting Foley, really do appreciate it.

Running free...

Finally found Paul Di'Anno singing the original Iron Maiden song running free. The song is what got me into Maiden back in 1983..man its been 24 yrs and I'm still evolving but musical tastes dont change...

More NYSE Pictures

got someone on the blogging bug?

you know who you are ...

http://taking-a-turn.blogspot.com/

Old Mates

Spoke online to an old friend from high school today - David. Turns out that hes a father now and has a bonny baby girl :) My how time flies, we're getting old, watching the next generation grow up already..

Analyzing my career

I'm at a point where I'm not very happy with my job (to say in the least). A series of events have culminated in me wondering if I really swim in a pool of sharks that are supposed to be my so called inner circle.

I took a step back to write down what I thought

Analyzing my options:

Immediate options: Complete my Exec MBA

Where Am I?
- Senior Manager in a big 5 consulting firm
- Work on client engagements focusing on technology integration and CRM

What do I want to do?
- Run my own company, innovate a solution or a product

Am I Happy?
- At my current job, NO! Im frustrated with the way things are going with my boss, he can get tunnel vision from time to time and i'm afraid at some point our relationship will mean nothing to me

Do I need a change of job?
- Yes. I need to do something totally different. Even if it is for a little less money

Where do we go from here?
- Investigate opportunities outside my current company
- Look at starting my own company
- Take a break for about 6 months and basically spend time with my mom

The NYSE .. Sept 15 2006

As part of my class at cornell, we had the fortune of being invited to the closing bell at the NYSE on Friday Sept 15 2006. Of course, I had to come off with the funny looking face

Funny looking eggplant

We had bought this sometime in June/July of 2006 and I had taken a picture. Forgot completely about it, but here it is.. funny a heck...

Its raining outside and i couldn't help but talk about it. so much happens when it rains, people scurry for cover, cars splash water on the road, the leaves go pitter-patter with drops of water... life takes on a new beginning as the source of life re-invigorates the plants. The dark skies remind me of days gone by as a kid, enjoying the monsoons in india. Innocent, an innocence I hope to be back to someday.

~Rain~

Have you ever enjoyed a rainy day,
skies overcast,
wondering what it is
to be outside and free at last

Have you ever sat by the window,
and watched the drops fall
not really seeing the story
of what the raindrops have to tell?

Have you ever thought that nature
is a friend of this rain
that lifes whole circle, is around,
find happiness in the pain.

Beer recipes

Found a site for managing beer recipes :) nice little place...
Beer Recipator
Beer Tutor
Introduction to homebrewing for Newbies
Links to other beer sites

More poetry

~ Friends ~

my world has so many
yet my life has so few
friends in that trusted circle
and more friendships anew

If lessons learned can explain
the harsh realities too
through forgiveness can i gain
a true friend in you

We walk down this road
and never know where it will end
we might have different paths
but each other as friends

more words

my usual thoughts struck me, and i captured them uncut..


I can look at the mirror
and see shades of myself
i still dont recognize the man
that person who is become me.

I sometimes wonder where it all changed
perhaps materials in the way
my means to an end hasn't lost it focus
i need to realign each day.

step back, analyze, introspect and realize
my interactions and relationships
those that will survive, those with a sweet demise
i need to be a better person today

Of Cricket and the Annual Bandra Boys BBQ

Aug 05: Our third annua Mac BBQ. All of the families and growing kids. Was a lovely day outside and had fun. Arvind, don't be sooo competitive yaar, we all are here for fun (and to cheat and win the game)

Satara - The memories keep coming

Been trying to reconnect with a bunch of friends from college. If you went to COE Satara from 1991-1995, then you know who you are. Some pictures below:

Of College and all that

Now that I've gotten into Cornell for my Exec MBA, class brings back some crazy memories of life left behind in India. All those days of yearning to be out in the world and doing my own thing, all those days of stress about studies..and most important of all... bonding and making lifelong friends.

Thought I'd post some pictures from my 2005 trip back to college (for the faint of heart, don't look):

Mike and his recovery

A friend and colleague Mike was diagnosed with bladder cancer sometime last year. This was all too much deja-vu what with stuff that happened to my dad. Mike did undergo full chemotherapy and radiation treatment and was built a new bladder from his intestine.

I happened to be in Orlando right before my trip to the bahamas and had that opportunity to catch up with him. Physically he was a shadow of his healthy-self, mentally...well a much stronger man and more spiritual being. We ran in the sun until his energy was sapped and then broke for lunch. It was fun to see someone on his path to recovery albeit with a dose of caution. Mike had left the chemo-port that is plugged into his aorta in place, he didnt want to get ahead of the game until he got a full report back stating that his cancer was in remission.

That news came last week (an excerpt from his email):

"My 3 month check up --- full body scan --- completely clear!!I wanted to share this sweeeeeeeeeeeeeett news.

I have just one more thing to do.....get my chemo port removed next Friday!! YEA!!

You all have been a great source of encouragement and prayer that I want to write a bit and tell you what it's like now. I have some residual issues, some aches and pains, but hey, we all do! When I think about where I've been, I can't really complain right now.

It's was a life changing experience....forever changed. I've heard some people say that eventually people forget the details of a trial like that....at this time, I don't think that's possible....I feel I'll never forget. I don't even think I can begin to describe how it feels.

I've been blessed to have been healed and for this I am overwhelmingly thankful to God and the friends and family that helped get me through."

Welcome back to the recovery Mike, we really are happy and are pulling for you just as we did when the chips were down.

Im amazed at his fortitude, I hope someday when faced with a problem, I will be able to stand up to it like Mike did.

Bomb blasts in Bombay

Seems like once again the city I love and grew up in has been hit with a series of bomb blasts. The body count stands at 147, but given that fact that it was 8 bombs on crowded commuter trains at rush hour..i'm sure its a lot more.

May god bless the souls of those who have died, may he provide solace to the families of those who have lost someone, and may he give strength in survival for those who have been injured.

I'm frustrated with this whole terrorist situation...why ARE they doing this? If its over kashmir, lets pick a battle there...we have special forces that will kick their ass out there. Stop attacking innocent people who are working stiffs trying to eke a living in an otherwise merciless and expensive city.

Whatever happens, i hope they find those responsible, and hang them without a trial. I feel for you Bombay, i really do. I know we will overcome scum like these and stand on our feet again.

Summer's here

Well it HAS been some time and a lot has been going on. Obviously done with my year end reviews at the company i work for (turned out OK -- nothing to cheer about). Went with my wife down to the bahamas and had a blast there, enjoyed all the conch they had to offer.

Other than that, been working out recently, and i feel pretty good about myself on that one. Not lost much weight, but at least the ole ticker is getting some exercise.

World cup is on, been trying to catch every match possible, shed a tear when germany lost to italy ....oh well life goes on

Freeware Utilities

Discovered a link to a bunch of freeware stuff. All good stuff (I use a bunch of it already). Of course for those of you that don't already know, besides spyware, there's also rootkits. Check out some utils to detect and remove them.

Freeware Lists