My epiphanies: the Indian sari

Little is known about the original designer(s) of the sari. What were their primary objectives, what was the motivation behind the design may never be definitely known.

However, I am pretty convinced it was designed with the pregnant woman in mind!! Now in my final trimester, as I experience the inevitable uncovering of my gigantic belly regardless of the top I choose to wear, I can see the advantages of a garment that not only doesn’t put any restrictions on how much your belly continues to grow over time - but actually provides a mechanism to cover it up too!
It was probably designed in the era where a woman's goal in her adult life was producing as many babies as possible and loosing the baby fat was probably equated to loosing your vitality! Come to think of it. I was even unfamiliar with the term baby fat till I came to the US, so the concept of losing it doesn’t arise at all!
All said and done, in my current state, I am more inclined to appreciate the sari than I ever have before!

Inspiration

One thing I genuinely like about myself is how easily and indeed effortlessly I get inspired. Today, I got inspired in two very different ways by two very different sources.
At work, a robotic manager got promoted to a higher-level management position and contrary to popular expectation, gave a meaningful and personal talk. Here's the take-away bullet points that I found borderline inspiring (currently, at work, it takes a lot to inspire me!)
Guiding principles for every good developer:
1. Understand the WHY: the feature, other features around it, the customer scenario - once you get the WHY, you can simplify the how.
2. Plan and prioritize - find the balance between the two: planning is long term and prioritizing is short term
3. Ensure quality always.
Guiding principles for him as a manager:
1. Ask questions and listen to people
2. Provide honest feedback
3. Provide opportunities
4. Allow people to focus
What he expects from us:
1. Integrity and respect
2. Continuously improve oneself
3. Help others grow
Late at night I was quite beat and low-energy when going through a PPT completely energized and needless to say inspired me! Here's the gist:
Here's what u need to do to not fall ill:
1. Always speak your mind!
2. Make decisions
3. Find solutions to problems: we are what we think
4. Be happy - nothing is as pathetic as a sad existence.
5. Accept facts
6. Don't live by appearances
7. Trust - you cannot have a meaningful relationship without trust.
I found this one truly inspiring: so many of the points are so relevant to my thoughts and efforts on self-improvement!

My DNC quotables quotes

Bill Clinton: We need to lead by the power of example not by an example of our power

Bill Richirdson: MaCain may wear shoes worth several hundred dollars, but its us average americans who will have to pay for his flip flops (on MaCain's changing his stance on several issues like tax cuts)

Al Gore: Hey, I believe in re-cycling, but that's taking it too far (on MaCain's continuing w/ George W Bush's policies)