Instant Translator

Babel
Thats the word I think of, as I visualize a situation where there is a group of people from every part of the world, speaking in different languages at the same time.

The internet and other technological advances has brought us closer, but I believe that the real barrier (and the barrier all along) is still language. Culture-wise, we are all a lot closer today than we were a 1,000 years ago. The Norwegians identify with Indian culture, Indians admire Japanese culture and the Japanese ape the Americans.

But how close can two people (or groups, or countries) ever get if they speak different languages.

One innovation that I see coming down the line, to solve this problem is "Instant Translation"

Imagine a situation where you are having a telephone conversation with a person from Japan. Would it not be cool if as you spoke in English, this was instantly translated to Japanese, such that the Japanese person heard a stream of Japanese words? Seamless communication.

I can imagine how you would set your "preferred language" on your phone and incoming calls from phones with a different "preferred language" from yours would be translated automatically.

And a similar function on email as well - Where your emails would automatically be translated as they enter another person's mailbox.

That is what I would call globalization.

A home of one's own

My wife and I have just finished going through the gruelling process of buying a new home. Pre-approval, inspection, termite tests, contracts et al. Finally, its almost over :-) We will be living in Cary, North Carolina at a place close to bike trails, lakes, a organic farmers market etc ... Its a townhome.

The wife is super busy deciding with interior designing, furniture, matching bath towels and others.

It's our first home :-) We are thrilled.

A suggestion to Muslims

As Islam nears the point when are being branded as the "Official Religion" of terrorism, moderate muslims who are peace-loving, life loving and abhorrent of the violence unleashed by some of the radical sub-sets of the religion are in the really unpleasent situation of being scrutinized more carefully by security, being discriminated against, being the targets of hate attacks, racist crime et al. (for no fault of theirs)

Just saying "I am a moderate Muslim" does seem to be cutting it, as people (ignorantly and incorrectly in most cases), still assume that moderate Muslims, although better than the extremists still sympathize with the overall violent cause, passively.

My simple suggestion is, Moderate Muslims should get together and call themselves something else. They can retain all of their religious practices, rituals and routine. All they really need is a new name with the associated branding campaign. Maybe they could have a green wrist band like the "Live Strong" band.