Governments in Business

This post is inspired by the TamilNadu government's recent move to take over the operations of MSO's like SCV and Hathway. The government's contention is that it would be able to provide better service and reduce the rates to the consumers. Good intentions, no doubt. But history reveals that as a rule - state owned firms are never efficient and competition is the only thing which increases efficiency, drives the prices down and improves Service.

I have often wondered whether i am a Socialist or Capitalist. It's a very difficult choice. There's no bigger example to explain this difference than the banking system in India. India allows foriegn banks and FDI in banking. So with the de-regulation of the economy we had new banks like ICICI Bank which became popular overnight. In any big city, u can observe all these big players - ICICI, StanChart, CitiBank etc comepeting aginst each other, offering newer and easier options(Sometimes unsolicited ones !!) and great service. But if u have a look at the rural scenario, where credit is most important, these banks don't even care a damn(except ICICI, which is making a foray into rural through Self Help Groups). Even the bigger State owned banks think twice or thrice before lending to a poor farmer. Now these farmers are left to the mercy of money lenders who charge sky high interest rates !! The trouble with capitalism and market oriented companies are that, they enter only where it is profitable for them. What about the other oft-neglected areas ?? The telephone industry is another example. There's a stipulation that private operators are to provide service to villages also, faling which they are to deposit money to compensate the losses of BSNL. Is there a solution to this problem - maybe a middle path - Capitalism with a Human Face ??

Ajax , Google and Dot Net 2005

We had a seminar on Dot NEt 2005 in our office.. I had my first look at Dot Net 2005 there .. Man it's amazing !! The attention to details is awesome !! This is definetely going to be a winner.. The speaker briefly touched upon another technology (not a microsoft one) called Ajax. Google has invested in Ajax in a big way. Have u guys seen Google Suggest?? This as well as Gmail are based on Ajax. MS is planning to integrate this technology in the next version of ASP Dot Net. So all ye Dot Net developers rejoice - The future looks very bright indeed !!!

P.S - I am no Microsoft 'Evangelist' !! Though wud love to become one :) :)

Things we do for the sake of the Society !!

After receiving(and sending too) a barrage of mails and sms'es wishing a Happy New Year i started thinking deeply !! How many of the people who wish us do it really from the bottom of their hearts??It's become more of a chore than something with a meaning .. It's more like the Good Morning mail which i daily Forward to G and D to inform that i am present !!All these happy new year, happy pongal, happy diwali messages have become mere lip service these days !! That's probably due to the modern society and the pace at which things move these days .. No one is concerned about the others - more of a rat race in which winning alone matters and nothing else.. So folks, the next time u wish someone happy new year or happy B'day please remember that the wish doesn't matter - but the spirit behind it is what counts !!!

P.S - reminds me of Mahesh and Kottachi(Hari Prasad) shouting 'Govinda Govinda' and genuinely wishing that the buses meet with accidents etc !!! Those were the days !! Rampa - remember Appun and karthikeyan ??

The Hypocrisy of Western Media

It's a known fact that America and Israel have more than a close relationship, but recent events suggest that Europe too is starting to follow in American footsteps. When Ariel Sharon was hospitalised, we had the tamasha of BBC moving it's news anchor to Jerusalem and the news broadcast from there !!! But if my memory serves me rite - no such thing was done when the Tsunami attacked Asia or the killer quake rocked India and Pak !!! The international community stood like a Rock behind Israel. Condoleeza Rice cancelled her trip to Australia and waited for Sharon to recover !!
Far Worse is the plight of African nations - they hardly ever make it to the news bulletins .. The other day we had this article in the HINDU Magazine where it was mentioned that the media panders to the public taste - i.e. they are publishing what people wanna read !! So news stories like the spread of AIDS in Africa, how malaria is killing millions of children in Africa often never make the headlines !! Coz they are not sexy enough !! The other day a reporter remarked - only a million people were killed by the tsunami, but we loose ten times more each year in Africa due to preventable diseases like Malaria !!! But we hardly ever make the headlines !! A sad state of affairs indeed !!

A funny moment

After booze on consecutive days, my stomach suddenly decided to play truant.. Whatever i ate on Jan 1 came out and the situation was none better today. So i decided to consult the doctor in my company. The doctor looked like a college kid and patiently listened to my woe story .. He then called a nurse and told her to give me an injection. I went over to the bed and started rolling my shirt sleeves. Suddenly the nurse said - "Not there, turn around and lie down. The injection should be given only down ..". I was totally embarrased - but managed to recover, pull my pants down and got a shot !! Well - wonder why the doctor did not give the injection himself.. he could have saved me all the embarrasement ..

P.S - I thot only kids are injected in the butt !!!! But that myth has been shattered now !!

P.P.S - I dont feel any better.. Just that i am sitting slighlty uncomfortably !!