Dearth of A Leader ...

Fiction gives us hints and examples, if not history. Darth Vader showed that the Galaxy needed a leader of substance who could be followed, good or bad, it did not matter, so long as squabbling over petty parochialisms and corruption ceased - thus bringing balance to the force. Thus, Democracy is not the answer like oligarchy isn't; the answer is a Leader to Lead by example.

As for History, Chanakya did indeed replace a corrupt rudimentary democracy (janapadas) by a King, who was virtuous, just, honourable and who led by example, to productively channel the masses in the direction beyond parochialism, towards just and all inclusive development.

As I have always maintained, Julian Assange is an American agent, responsible for the downfall of the Oligarchies of the Middle East & Mediterranean in the name of democracy and transparency, but the true intent being freedom of OIL - by toppling of OILgarchys ... eh!!!

But seriously, what are the masses fighting for, a new regime called democracy, like India, to fall back into the abyss whence it came; be it Colonialism, or Autocracy, a move to Democracy is always good, at least more can reap the fruits of corruption.

Salvage Inc.

The flag has to be borne by someone. So the soldiers of open source march on without Oracle!!! It is sad that Oracle does not think OOo to be worth its while. Yet the believers still strive to compete against M$ Inc.




Reference:

Future Ubuntu Releases Will Ship with LibreOffice an OpenOffice Fork

Ubuntu: The First Seduction

Introduction of the Paid Market Space will give an opportunity for Mac & Windows application and software vendors to reach Linux customers directly. People who shift from Mac or Windows will then have an option to continue to use their favorite proprietary software even in Linux. This is a move to earn revenue as well as make the free desktop Linux popular. Shuttleworth has once again shown his brilliance at marketing!!!



References:

Ubuntu 'Maverick Meerkat' erects own App Store

Instant Weather Reports with ForecastFox

Jail House Break!!!

The DMCA does not crack down as expected, but Apple has surely been bitten by the Copyright Board ruling on Cellphones, both for adding unapproved software installation as well as untethering of phones to run with all operators. Let the free market rule, without any anti-competitive measures forcing the consumer, who has ownership rights over his phone, to give-up his usufructory rights. Sadly of course, violation of contractual terms, thereby voiding of warranty, has not been held as a conscionable violation, merely the DMCA Copyright violation has been waived, so to speak!!!





References:

DMCA ruling supports smartphone jailbreaking, unlocking

Copyright Office OKs iPhone 'Jailbreaking'‎

Jailbreaking the iPhone: Not a Federal Offense‎

iPhone Jailbreaking: Legal, but Dangerous

More legal reasons to circumvent electronic locks | Technology | Los Angeles Times

Apple: Jailbreaking an iPhone can (still) violate your warranty

Clone Wars ... Let the Price Competition Begin!!!

The next year from today shall see cut-throat competition in the touch screen and qwerty cellular phone market with the rise of Indian phone makers and their value driven product targeting. This Clone Wars of new cheaper models to their expensive branded siblings is driven by two determinants: Newer Open Source OS and Local Hardware development.





References:

G-Fone 777 Dual SIM Phone now in India

Samsung debuts Bada, its own OS with launch of Samsung Wave in India

Smartphone Apps, Android Phones and the Search for Open Mobile Ecosystems

Samsung S8500 Wave: 5 MP camera AMOLED touchscreen handset @10000 in India

INQ to launch a touch screen, Android based mobile phone in India!‎

Micromax Q55 Bling Price and Features‎

Saved by the Dell!!!

Dell is riding the wave or is just being supportive or is trying to push in Ubuntu based Servers in future, it all would be seen in time, but as of now Dell is the only one out there that thinks Linux has a chance and is betting heavily on it!!!



References:

Dell flirts with Ubuntu as Windows rival

Ubuntu 'more secure' than Windows, says Dell

Dell Says: "Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft Windows"

Ubuntu safer than Windows, its official

War of the Roses: Battle Lines Drawn

Now it seems clear, a waste of effort on part of MS & Apple, howsoever apart their goals might be, that the new age is not theirs for the keeping, since Google pretty much owns the commanding share of web content search, management, and formatting. Given Google's commitment to net-neutrality, MS & Apple sure would have a fair chance, but that would also be on the Google turf. Adobe's prudence in being on Google's turf on strategic terms would sure pay-off in future, despite being as closed as Apple and MS themselves are!!! Its now just about taking sides: Google or Anti-Google ... such a determinate factor this ... eh!!!





References:

Is Google's WebM a game-changer or a big mess?

Google video effort to be dubbed WebM Project?

Google tries freeing Web video with WebM

Details on Google's Chrome Store and WebM plans

Apple of Deceit ...

The Devil works its ways through the apple once again!!! Trade related restrictions upon partners is not only abuse of dominant position but also a road to take over the universe like Darth Vader! But little do we all realize that Apple has already made us slaves by selling us bare bones and thereafter requiring us to run those bones with purchased muscles, skin and the works at its app store.

Apple also restricts access to open source developers to develop freely executable applications for its operating systems/embedded software.

I hope to see the Competition Commission of India taking a peek and wrestling with this sumo Apple for exacting fairness.


References:

EFF Breaks Down Apple's App Store License

EFF posts Apple's Iphone SDK licence terms

Green Fuel: Animal that fails to get tamed!!!

Crop production cycles of bio fuels cumulatively fail to meet emission standards, a classic case of environmental externalities being considered. Do we have a no go on bio fuels then?! The only remedy then is solar, until we discover silicon pollution; or wind, until we discover high cost of maintenance; geo-thermal, until we discover fissure safety depletion ... is there actually a remedy to the energy crisis of our times or are we doomed inevitably??!!!



References:

Biofuels could increase emissions

Biofuel is not as green as it seems

Opening up to the source of creativity ...

Then why does Indian Government have to spend on MS Windows licensing ?!! The Delhi High Court uses Vista, so do many government offices. We sure lack political will to eradicate profiteering and enforce judicious use of taxpayers' money.



References:

California blesses open source as 'acceptable'

California Warms Up to Open Source Software in Government

Copyleft Extreme !!!

Copyleft was the anti-thesis to Copyright giving birth to the Open Source Movement, but now there is a new anti-thesis to Copyleft, thus creating propriety redundancy!!!


Reference:

The Unlicense: A License for No License

The Wolf of Environment amongst the flock of Unemployed Sheep assisted by Artificial Intelligence ...

Run the local newspaper wala out of his livelihood, cashiers jobless, bill payment haats closed, so we now see how the New Year will evolve with such resolve !!!

New Year equation:

Value Added Services + I.A. = Unemployment



References:

Save trees, Save Environment great message by idea mobile

'Environment' is Idea Cellular's next big idea

A hand that leaves the plough for the pen never returns to holding the plough ...

A hand that holds the pen moveth to the gun and sword easily than it may, though an impossibility, take to the plough ...




References:

Whither Rural India?

Indian agriculture is in deep trouble

Surging food prices reinforce tightening view

Our Rise is How We Fall ...

If we're one of the living, we got to walk a thousand miles ... but if we keep on exploiting, we shall not survive more than a while ...

Sustainable development is the only way forward, but India seems to be the last to even coming closer to realizing that. All it realizes is commonwealth games and cutting more trees!!! Sadly so, the economy too failed to collapse just as all other failures, be it tiger preservation, rain forest preservation, Delhi Ridge preservation, sunderbans preservation, coral reef and coastal preservation, river eco-system preservation, and the list goes on ... We do however preserve poverty, unemployment, corrupt systems, inflation, diesel car sales, and the like ...

Choice is ours, to rise towards and leap out to our doom!!!


Reference:

CO2 emissions can be stabilized only with collapse of economy

Enemy's Enemy, My Friend!!!

So it is hereby revealed that the scattered Jedi unite to fight the good fight, a common cause that is sacrosanct by itself, the freedom of software, its applications and related avenues. So does this mean cheaper final products? If its Dell and Acer probably yes, if its Toshiba or Lenovo or even Sony its probably a big no. (HP-Compaq fits just right nowhere!!!)

Ubuntu has already dented the MS bandwagon, probably the Chrome OS would do the same. Not to forget the Android OS on Acer Aspire One D250.



References:

Ubuntu's Canonical and Google partner to create Chrome

Acer Aspire One D250 with Android

Electric Barbarella ...

We stand here at the brink of the Kyoto Crisis. The need of the hour: electric cars, solar power, oceanic energies (wave, current and tidal power), wind power, geo-thermal power and other alternate sources of energy. Its time to strike back at our self induced decadence. This reminds me of a great song of my teens, that has kept the flame alive of saving the earth from certain destruction ...

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain...
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth its weeping shores?

What have we done to the world?
Look what we've done.
What about all the peace,
That you pledge your only son?
What about flowering fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams,
That you said was yours and mine?

Did you ever stop to notice,
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice,
This crying Earth its weeping shores?

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

Hey

what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about empathy
(What about us)
I need you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about baby boy
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

-- Michael Jackson, Earth Song, HIStory (1995)

References:

Reva to Reveal New Vehicles with Remote Charging Technology

GM India could partner Reva to roll out its electric Chevy Spark ...

Tata Indica Vista Electric Vehicle SKD kits to be shipped to Norway

Tata to Build Electric Cars in Europe

Green cars, green shoots at Frankfurt

If a spade can dig, so can a shovel, if the soil is loose and unsettled ...

The Agricultural Produce Market Committees are marketing boards established by the state governments of India to facilitate farmers to sell their produce to the APMC and get a reasonable price for it. However, due to middlemen creeping in, the system has become so profiteering that the ultimate price to the end consumers is more than 100% of the price of procurement from the farmers!!! It is also illegal to circumvent an APMC under state law. But due to political reasons, the Shiv Sena has shown that circumventing the system can enable them to sell agro-produce to the end consumer at 1/2 the retail market rates, without affecting the agro-procurement prices or the nominal profit margins.

This development poses a very interesting intersection of law, politics, consumer interest, constitutional duties of governments and above all the duty to serve by upholding justice (that may or may not include upholding the law!!!).

As it has been rightly said, Law is merely a tool, if its breaking serves the purpose, so be it.




References:

Eyeing vote gain, Shiv Sena sells veggies at no-profit-no-loss rates

Sena members stage protest against price rise

Coercion: New Industrial Disease Part 2

Denial of job unless accepting restrictive terms, more so the amount of remuneration is now the norm. Call it ironical, but a while ago overvaluation of workforce only had led to the cash crunch!!! Guess we all are to blame.



References:

Coercion robs workers of $20 bn annually, says ILO report

IIP slumps 2.3% in March

Microsoft may cut more jobs if economy worsens

US shouldn't kill hi-tech talent: Steve Ballmer

They better have wings and fly!!!

So many cars, so many brands; do we have the roads?!!

References:

JLR in India by June

New Audi A6 launched in India

Audi to have 40 models by 2015; to launch its Q3 SUV in 2011

Auto makers report encouraging growth in April

Despite slowdown, April sales accelerate for car-makers

Hyundai Motor launches 'Hyundai Utsav' to tap rural India

Toyota Reveals Pricing for New Indian Compact Car

Honda Jazz – Honda's Small Car

The Expendables!!!

Labor rights and employee welfare seem to have lost all meaning. These are terms of a now Jurassic era when they meant PF, retirement benefits and performance incentives. Now these terms are synonymous with retention of productive employees, enhanced training, retraining and multiple evaluations. Somewhere it has become more structured and efficient like the computers we work on; elsewhere it has lost that human touch. Is that all there is to business? Has it no heart and life but is merely a monolith? Are we just tomatoes in a packaged tomato soup factory?

Welcome to the time of the "Live & Let Die"!!!




References:

India Satyam has 10 percent extra staff says chairman: report

`Cisco could announce 10% layoffs'

After the Layoff, Infosys Extends Training Period