Monday, April 27, 2026

A Prayer....

 There are wars in progress, people are vanishing from their homes, murders and potential assassination attempts are occurring according to news reports. To some people this might be business as usual, but is it ? In the lonely dark nights of winter it seems like evil has descended upon the planet if you add to this mix your own personal problems, but the warm sunlight of approaching summer makes this depressing state almost tolerable!

Therefore, it seems appropriate to repeat an ancient Hindu prayer:

Aum bhur bhuvah swaha….

May we meditate on the effulgent light of one who is worshipful and has given birth to all the worlds, may he guide the rays of our intelligence towards the path of good !


Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Some of my old photographs



I took these photos with a Olympus point and shoot camera between 2005 -2011


Lake Washington, Kirkland


Horses in a park in Redmond, WA


From the window of a plane!


Me around 2010. Taken in a studio.

Winter in Washington state 

Also from window of a plane 

My daughter's piano concert 

A shed in a park in Redmond, WA 

Serenity now!
The Sofa I miss now..


 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

In the news....

 Date: April 1,2026

Washington, USA

There are two important news items that might affect life of  immigrants in Washington State. 

If you are a millionaire, you will have to pay 9.9% income tax in Washington state starting in 2028. Washington has been one of the states that do not impose state income tax. According to Seattle times, there are approximately 21000 millionaire households in the state.

Federal judges are considering the appeal against the restrictions put on the automatic birthright citizenship clause in the US Constitution by Trump administration. Children born to Illegal aliens and temporary visitors within USA will not become US citizens upon birth according to the Trump administration reform.


Addendum:

There are many varieties of taxes that an individual has to pay depending upon which state they reside in. Here are a few that I have encountered while living in USA in five different states.

Federal Income Tax

State Income Tax

County Income tax 

City Income tax

School District tax.

Pennsylvania is an example of one state that imposes some of the taxes mentioned above.