Heartcrossings

DB comes up with some really quotable stuff now and again. An observation thrown in the middle of an unrelated conversation will give me pause of thought. Recently one evening while cleaning out his French Press that always has it's plastic base falling off, DB said "India is to the IT services industry what China is to the manufacturing in this country. They both produce stuff that is attractive because it is so cheap and really bad for you in the long term" Obviously the Made in China label at the base of the Press triggered this.  At his workplace, a cheap and relatively unknown Indian managed services provider is trying incredibly hard to win their business. There is no harm done in that except that they are flagrantly misrepresenting their capabilities in every aspect of the proposed engagement. He is yet to see one original idea or any indication that they understand what they are looking to undertake. Every presentation they have made to the management team is gene...

At the kernel of J is a very headstrong person. She was that even at a few months old. There would be no kicking and screaming to protest but she would resolutely hold her ground and do exactly what she had set out to do. In the last few months, DB and I have noticed a more concerning variation on the theme of "resolute". When we are upset with her for any reason, she switches off emotionally and presents a stone cold persona that nothing can touch. Our words and remonstrations mean nothing to her at that point - it is like we have lost all contact with the child and yet she is sitting right across from us at the dinner table. The snapping of connection is as sudden as it is complete and it leaves us at our wits end. Yesterday DB tried a different way to get to the bottom of this change. After the moment of disagreement had passed, he started a casual conversation with her and soon she had regained her usual animation. Once he had her full attention, he started probing a litt...