Almost 3 years after coming out, it's a bit late to buy WII. I am a bit slow to buy the hottest thing arouind. My wife bought me this WII as my father's day gift this year. She gave me option to buy iPhone last year, I took a rain check on that because I din't want to spend another $30 or $40 a month on data plan at that time. Market was tough and people were losing jobs, so I wanted to save some $$.
Backto WII. After spending only 5 minutes to hook up everything, we were in business. Created MII, the personal profile every player can create and save. We played Tennis for a while, did miserably in Baseball. It is hard to hit a ball. Threw a lot of gutterballs in bowling.
Then we switched the disc to the extra game "WII Play" we bought for some new games. Well, console could not find that disc. It does not work. Then we switched to the one that works... hmm, now this one doesn't even work. We tried to follow everythiong the manual said for the scenario.. no luck. Callled Nintendo Customer Service.. nobody live at that time (1:30 am, CST, USA).
There goes our excitement of First night with WII. We will take it back to Best Buy today and see what they can do.. but we will not get the last night back!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Doctors with ears
What a difference it makes between a doctor and a doctor with ears! My father has been seeing a very prominent Nephrologyst with his kidney problems for months now. His frustration has been growing from day one as this doctor spends so little time listening to the symptoms of his life threatening illness. I went with my father one morning for his 3rd visit to this guy and saw the whole "I am a doctor, you are nobody" attitude. After two hours of waiting outside his office, when we finally got to see him, he was on his newly-bought iPhone. We get in, he shows us to have a seat, continuing his conversation. Five whole minutes later, he tells the person on the phone, "I got somebody in front of me. It will be a few minutes.. and let me call you back". I felt like taking that iPhone, throwing it on the floor, stomping on it and then tell him, "We pay your salary. You work for us. The only reason you have that iPphone is because we pay you. Get off that phone and give us what you owe us.. your time and expertise. not a few of your annoyed-minutes".
No, he is too good of a doctor (don't know how and why, other than what his degree says). So, I politely smiled at him instead and my father started telling him his itching of skins, fever, pain and other recent changes in his body as his kidneys have been losing functionality.
Mr. Doctor had one answer after he cut him short abruptly, "I told you to start dialysis, there is nothing else I can do for you." May be it is true that there were nothing else he could do. However, he could have said in many ways to a seriously ill patient that is fighting for his life. With a little more listening, a bit more care and a whole lot of passion. Psychology, Social Science were two subjects that were vital in undergrad school and I use what I learnt to this day. Do these doctors go through any interpersonal skill building courses? If not, why not? If yes, what happens to them as they become more successful?
Last week, my father went to a famous doctor in Singapore to explore other options for his kidney treatment. He called me and told me, "this doctor listend to me for two hours!" In half a dozen visit, we could not get 30 minutes from the famous nephrpologyst. And here in another country, we get two hours the first time! Next visit was no diffeernt. Granted, it costs a lot more to see a doctor in Singapore. However, I doubt that the other guy behaves poorly because he receives less. Whatever are his scheduled payments, we pay. He just doesn't have it or doesn't get it. Not listening to the patients and just trying to cut their time short is a common practice among many doctors in many 3rd world countries. This needs to change and change soon.
Patients are flocking to other countries and spending thousands for almost similar or may be a tad-bit better treatment simply because they feel their doctors aren't listening to them. Without listening carefully to all the symptoms, how can a doctor give you the best medicine?
Doctors must listen before they speak!
No, he is too good of a doctor (don't know how and why, other than what his degree says). So, I politely smiled at him instead and my father started telling him his itching of skins, fever, pain and other recent changes in his body as his kidneys have been losing functionality.
Mr. Doctor had one answer after he cut him short abruptly, "I told you to start dialysis, there is nothing else I can do for you." May be it is true that there were nothing else he could do. However, he could have said in many ways to a seriously ill patient that is fighting for his life. With a little more listening, a bit more care and a whole lot of passion. Psychology, Social Science were two subjects that were vital in undergrad school and I use what I learnt to this day. Do these doctors go through any interpersonal skill building courses? If not, why not? If yes, what happens to them as they become more successful?
Last week, my father went to a famous doctor in Singapore to explore other options for his kidney treatment. He called me and told me, "this doctor listend to me for two hours!" In half a dozen visit, we could not get 30 minutes from the famous nephrpologyst. And here in another country, we get two hours the first time! Next visit was no diffeernt. Granted, it costs a lot more to see a doctor in Singapore. However, I doubt that the other guy behaves poorly because he receives less. Whatever are his scheduled payments, we pay. He just doesn't have it or doesn't get it. Not listening to the patients and just trying to cut their time short is a common practice among many doctors in many 3rd world countries. This needs to change and change soon.
Patients are flocking to other countries and spending thousands for almost similar or may be a tad-bit better treatment simply because they feel their doctors aren't listening to them. Without listening carefully to all the symptoms, how can a doctor give you the best medicine?
Doctors must listen before they speak!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Junk is Always Junk
When it comes to investments, thinking long-term needs to be my mantra as I do not have a whole lot of time to read and research about companies. My wife, who has strong finance background and sound money management skills, constantly reminds me of being thorough and do more research before I make any decision. Back in December, when Fannae Mae and Freddie Mac were about to be overtaken by US Government, their stocks went down to $2.50 a piece. My good friend who happens to be a millioanire by simply working hard as a Software Architect for over 30 years and saving little by little, told me, "Faisal, junks are junks, even if they are free. Don't buy junks." I told him, "How low can they go?" He said, "They can be $0; meaning bankrupted."
Well, I did not pay heed to his sound advice. I bought 50 shares of Freddie Mac, and 50 shares of Fannae Mae, spending $250. Now, They are worth $.50 a piece; goes up and down a few pennies on a daily basis. Yes, fifty cents for a stock of any of two Banking Giants that backs 60% of US Home Mortgage loans. Yes, Junks are Junks even if they are free; once feds took over, there were no reason for anybody to invest a dime in these banks; let alone a small amateur investor like Abunaser Faisal.
I will keep these two stocks in my portfolio for years so that I get remninded every time I am tempted to buy junk for great deal.
Well, I did not pay heed to his sound advice. I bought 50 shares of Freddie Mac, and 50 shares of Fannae Mae, spending $250. Now, They are worth $.50 a piece; goes up and down a few pennies on a daily basis. Yes, fifty cents for a stock of any of two Banking Giants that backs 60% of US Home Mortgage loans. Yes, Junks are Junks even if they are free; once feds took over, there were no reason for anybody to invest a dime in these banks; let alone a small amateur investor like Abunaser Faisal.
I will keep these two stocks in my portfolio for years so that I get remninded every time I am tempted to buy junk for great deal.
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