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Thursday, June 30, 2005

Wanderlust

Tech's next watering hole | Perspectives | CNET News.com

Maybe it is the star sign or maybe its just me, I keep switching between chilling out at home and hitting the road for a long time. In recent times I have been called a number of things including "economic adventurer from a third world country" by a guy on a messageboard on offshoring. For him and other like him, here is a Brazilian saying - "snake that does not move ends up as a belt".

As for me, I have been talking about moving to cities that end in "ai". The ones that I had in mind were Dubai, Shanghai, Mumbai (the NY of India) and Chennai ( I am just mad about it). A friend of mine pointed out that Madurai also fits the criteria. I am not sure I want to spend time in the capital of the Pandya kingdom. I would certainly love to visit.

Loved the last line in the article referenced above. Vegas baby...

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Yet another day in the Middle East

They say that people who are abused are more likely to become abusers themselves. Maybe that explains the Middle East problem...

I will drink to that... Guinness, of course!

The End of the Rainbow - New York Times

Bitch, Witch, Durga and Mother India...

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Nixon's dislike of 'witch' Indira

You may not agree with everything that she did, you may even hate her but this women had more balls than most of the men who have held that position.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Ah! the perks of offshoring...

For BPO babas, sex in the office space is a reality - The Economic Times

Who am I to comment on this private matter. Just don't put me on hold to do the hanky-panky stuff.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Exporting Democracy

Who Are Americans to Think That Freedom Is Theirs to Spread? - New York Times

Ok, I think this article was an attempt by its author to be unbiased. But, it is a classic example of what is wrong. There is no mention of WMD (remember? Weapons of Mass Destruction...). US went to war against Iraq because Iraq posed a danger to America and possessed WMD. And, they went to war in Afghanistan to finish off the terrorist cells and Taliban. Nowhere did the lofty ideals of freedom or democracy figure in this. Now, everyone is entitled to change their stance. But, history is full of examples where US has supported friendly dictatorship.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

End to "Chalta Hai..."

Magppie

Remember the time when you cannnot expect anything more than utility from your desi wares. If it works it has offered you everything. Magppie changes it all. What do they say - "A thing of beauty is joy forever".

Desi's promised land...

How others see Americans | Still not loved. Now not envied | Economist.com

Interesting to see that desis viiew US of A most favorably.

It has been interesting to see the reactions of desi's in pardes to the rise of India as an economic power. The first generation folks who moved abroad about 20+ years back lament that they did not have all these opportunities during their time. They also lament the decline of social values, religion etc... I heard them say - "Our temple here is better than the ones in India. We have the religious values that were around X years back in india". Typically, X turns out to be the time when this dude left India. I have heard one say - "This fellow would not have been allowed to step into my house in india. And, look at him becoming the office bearer..." Interestingly enough this remark came from an Indian catholic. Of course, most of them talk of going back to india to die - "be at home. And, medical facilities are cheaper."

The new generation (folks who came in the last 15 years) thanks to IT etc... I guess feel that they missed the bus. So, quite a few of them side with the Lou Dobbs' of the world and are quite critical about offshoring and outsourcing. I have heard a guy say - "but, what about my child? what will be the prospects for him in the US of A when he grows up?" The sense of "entitlement" that Thomas Friedman talks about - sooner or later we all feel it. Some talk about how China will kick India's butt. In most cases these folks have never been to china, know anything about Indo-china trade etc...But, it makes them feel better. In fact, I heard a desi say that US outsourcing to China is a larger US conspiracy to create popular revolt in China and overthrow communism. And, at the end of it US will be victorious. Though I dont' see how democratic China will be less powerful in the economic front.

I think India has the promise. Hopefully, they won't screw it up thru' bad government policies or plain old greed (like the BPO folks who stole customer information). And, do nations and borders really matter... ?


Thursday, June 23, 2005

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Greatest American

AOL Television: Greatest American

AOL is running a poll to identify the greatest american. The top 25 nominees are almost all either political figures or celebrities. There are very few who are the "normal" folks - there is Gates, Ford and Einstein.

Wonder what to make of it.

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Of Rendition, Outsourcing Torture and Exporting Democracy

I believe there is a case coming up in the courts of Milan about the abduction/ kidnapping of an Imam from the streets of Italy. The Bushies call it "rendition". The Imam was then bundled up and packed off to Cairo. The friendly Arab "democracy" also has interesting ways to make people be "friendly". The italians are calling this "outsourcing torture". Of course, all this is happening in the name of "spreading democracy".

Maybe, the Bushies will remember what the good Lord is supposed to have said "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone ..."

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Married to the madness

Indian forced to 'marry' her father-in-law rapist - Yahoo! News

First they force her to 'marry" the rapist. Then, some dude says that according to sharia law the rapist should be punished by death. Now, if this is all confusing. Imagine the 'secular' indian judiciary suggesting that the victim take up the rapist's offer of marriage in another situation.

Thanks to the lack of an uniform civil code crimes get interpreted in different ways. And, then you have the 'secular' folks who try to implement their social ideas through the judiciary. A few weeks back a good friend of mine - a Canadian of Indian origin suggested that India cannot afford to have a uniform civil code (He is a Christian). He is also supports the French ban on wearing "head scarfs" and other select religious symbols to schools ( I don't think the ban extends to wearing the cross). It almost feels like some of these 'secular' folks believe in 'as long as it is not in my backyard and it does not affect me' feel free to discriminate.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Of Social Contracts, commitments and corporations

Last Saturday, over dinner conversations with a good friend turned towards outsourcing, offshoring and social contract between corporations and its employees.

His contention was outsourcing and offshoring was hitting hard at the very "soul" of business. According to him businesses in the past have had a social contract with its employees - you work hard for us and we will take good care of you. And, with this contract being broken corporations are bound to fail.

And, then came the media blitz on how Microsoft China (actually, MSN China) was censoring words like "freedom", "democracy" etc...How Microsoft is not doing everything it can to promote free speech.

Of course, we have in the past heard arguments on how Wal-Mart is bad for the community etc...

This left me thinking about whether corporations should have a social contract with its employees. And, whether companies should involve in promoting "political" agendas. What if you manufacture and earn profits in a country outside of where you are HQ'ed. Are you expected to have a social contract with your employees in the HQ at the expense of the folks who manufacture, sell and earn profits...?

I think companies have no social contract with its employees. If you think there is one, it is a figment of your imagination. As long as the firm pays you competitive wages and benefits in safe work environment, it is fine. If the employee wants better wages/ job security he or she should find a better place. After all, corporations like Wal-mart (which is often blamed for paying very low wages) are not forcing you to work for them. You work for them because you can't find a better place to work.

The only contract a corporation has is with its shareholders - to maximize their profit. And, to achieve this corporation has to develop a contract with its customers - one based on the principle - first do no harm, then try to add value.

Similarly, it is not Microsoft's business (or, Google's or Yahoo's) to promote free speech in China or for that matter in any other part of the world. It is their job to follow the nation where they operate (and, they have been doing a great job). If you want to promote free speech in China try getting your government to boycott interactions with China, impose tariffs on firms that deal with China or boycott products made in China. You have a choice. But, corporations have to do what is best for their shareholders. And, unless all shareholders tell them to give China the middle finger they should do the best to maximize profits from China. Asking corporations to take a political stance is a slippery slope.

That is just my 2 cents...

Monday, June 13, 2005

What was he thinking?

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Yudhoyono's phone offer crashes

Who elected this guy? Of course, looks like the government machinery is no better when it comes to the level of inteligence - splashing the number all over...

How long is the Beta?

Often times we feel that companies like Microsoft and others release software to the public before it is ready for prime time. But, consider the opposite - being in beta forever. Is that any good? What does that indicate?

If you are wondering what company indulges in such tactics - Google, for one. The Google groups has been in beta ever since they acquired Deja News (remember them). Gmail has been in beta for over a year.

I wonder if it has to do with the way they report revenues. Maybe, they don't have to report revenues / provide details regarding the performance of services that are in beta.

Now, if that is true I consider that as evil.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

CEO salaries - are they justified?

Sometimes, over lunch we have interesting, free wheeling and midly conterversial discussions. The other day the topic of discussion was the Bush's plan to privatize social security and general economic/ immigration trends. And, the people in the discussion include a Romanian who is now US citizen, a Russian, a Chinese who is a US citizen, an American of Pakistani descent born in Canada, an American from the midwest and me.

The Romanian was all for the privatization of social security and proposed that the government cut back all funding for social causes. Of course, she is also married to a dude who hunts "game" (which, i think is lame. I mean how many of the deers carry guns and know how to shoot.) and drives a truck. You get the picture. As we started talking about whether we need government to fund social programs and upliftment of the down trodden, we started discussing outsourcing/ offshoring and the problem with run away CEO salaries.

I was of the opinion that Wall Street is very short sighted and it rewards CEOs who indulge in short term thinking. And, CEOs (actually, all C level folks) are becoming short sighted - they outsource / offshore to reduce costs without seeing if the process has waste and is flawed. And, I brought up the issue of CEO salaries. In my case, I earn 1/4th of my boss, who earns 1/3rd of his boss and this person earns 1/3rd of the CEO. So, in effect I earn less than 1/30th of my CEO. And, our CEO is by no means raking it and I am a mid-senior manager level. So, my question was - is this multiplier at each level justified? And, why is it that in Europe the pay at the C level is far less.

Of course, the Romanian's reaction was - "How do you know the CEO salaries? I think this is all false". Ah! classic republican. The pakistani-american's reaction was that this allows US to attract better talent. By virtue of what he said he was saying all CEOs work for money and all American company CEOs are smarter than the rest. Interstingly, the other three felt that this is something worth looking into and addressing.

In meantime, jobs get whacked/outsourced/offshored and CEO pay goes thru' the roof (I believe the new multiplier is 350+. Or, the average salary of US CEO is 350 times that of the average worker. This is according to Businessweek.) and Wall Street is only interested in the numbers for the next Q.

Blogging with a Tablet pc... What a joy!

So, about two weeks back I walk into the office of our Director of IT Procurement to find him using a Dell laptop. I knew that he had one of those fancy HP TC1100 tablets. I asked him about it. And, he said it "sucks" - freezes up etc... I asked if I could have it and he said yes. Thus, I came to have a tablet-pc.

I ran an anti spyware, virus check on the machine (always, do this first). And, it found about eleven spyware programs and four viruses. No wonder the machine was freezing up. Oh, did I tell you that the Director is also in-charge of desktops in our company? I then went on to update some programs, update the BIOS (which screwed up the Windows activation and necessitated a call to MSFT. During the process I found that my dear Director had ordered extra memory but never installed it. So,I did that. Now, I have a TabletPC with lGHz CPU & 1GB Ram. I then installed the Experience Pack. It just rocks - esp. the Ink Desktop! I love Corporate America - they find unique ways to waste money.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Mahatma Gandhi and Linux

Red Hat's Truth Happens

Matthew Szulik, the CEO comes across as a person very passionate about his job. And, he certainly is very proud of this commercial. Who knew that the old man who gave The Empire a hard time will find what he said be part of an effort bring another empire down.