tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106535772024-03-05T13:49:52.274+05:30Our life in BangaloreLife is lotsa cupsa coffee...sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-77520166476865505792013-02-18T20:29:00.001+05:302013-02-18T20:29:07.584+05:30There's No Tomorrow (Make sure you watch ALL of this video)<div class='posterous_autopost'><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VOMWzjrRiBg" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>This is a long watch, but do watch it. Its illuminating, thought provoking, and sums things up really really well.</p> <p>It must be screened at every school. <strong>They're the ones who'll have to face it.</strong> They're the ones who'll need to discard everything we've taught them to be true and right and relearn, rediscover, experiment. All the while burdened with a terrible terrible legacy that we would have left them with.</p> <p>The energy, oil economy decided everything, and the monetary system that encouraged growth, has needed more and more and more of it. The bacteria-in-the-bottle analogy is chilling.</p> <p><strong>Growth (as currently pursued) indeed is a huge problem </strong>- its a brave thing to call that one out in the current madness for it as the panacea that can bring democracy, solve hunger, provide for all and solve anything at all. </p> <p>Alternative energy, conservation, recycling - these are all twigs we're trying to use to try and hold against the ground to stop the bus hurtling rapidly towards the cliff. Nothing will "solve" it unless we relook at - or are forced to relook at - how we continue to live, and how many of us do. </p> <p><strong>Our lack of acknowledgement, our inability to understand and react appropriately to this fundamental truth is apalling, scary and frustrating. </strong></p> <p>There's no way of continuing the current way we live and hope technology will solve it enough so we can get away without having to do anything.</p> <p>Thankfully, the movie does suggest a few fixes, and they're all tough. I don't see many willing or able to adapt to live the better life, and we'll eventually do when forced to.</p> <ul> <li>Question growth, globalization : they're pure bad as practised, NOT good.</li> <li>Walk, cycle more since you'll have to. Drive less. Way lesser.</li> <li>Buy less. Please. Everything,</li> <li>Buy local, seasonal, unpackaged.</li> <li>Fight fears and imagined inconveniences - the big ones haven't hit yet.</li> <li>Doing "more physical work" is NOT a bad thing.</li> <li>Get out of banking/globalized currency - its tough but make a start <ul> <li>A few ideas <ul> <li>Potlucks to substitute restaurants</li> <li>Barter skills and services</li> <li>Co-operate for manpower needs, don't always buy it</li> <li>Use everything longer</li> <li>Optimize the hell out of everything</li> <li>Slower, less commercial forms of entertainment</li> <li>Grow some food</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Learn more about the land, growing food, water <ul> <li>We've lost half the topsoil in the last couple of 100 years!</li> <li>We've completely lost any understanding of the carrying capacity of a place</li> </ul> </li> <li>Learn more about building homes from stuff around you</li> <li>Re-invest in community - time and effort, not money</li> </ul> <p><strong>The current financial economy and monetary system are indeed a ponzi scheme</strong>. Frustrating that we're so wedded to it and almost powerless to fiind a way out.</p> <p>Sometimes I think our faith in technology is a mere betrayal of our conceit, but it might just be the stupid-filter masquerading as smartness and intelligence. Our total lack of ability to connect the dots is apalling.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Or maybe we're just too scared to ask questions, change lifestyles that deviate from the marketed/accepted status quo.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">2048, I'd say, is the new doomsday. In less dramatic ways but figuratively, yes. I'll probably die before that but in a terrible state of mind.</span></p> <p>We're soooooo screwed. Sorry, kids, that we couldn;t see this, couldn't behave ourselves and were too weak to improve things in the face of the instant pleasure.</p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-49433999520246440872013-02-16T12:28:00.001+05:302013-02-16T12:28:18.685+05:30Moving (Again)<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href="http://www.nextbigwhat.com/posterous-shut-down-297/" target="_blank">http://www.nextbigwhat.com/posterous-shut-down-297/</a></p> <p>Given that Posterous will no longer be, decided to move this blog to:</p> <p><a href="http://zenxthinks.wordpress.com/">http://zenxthinks.wordpress.com/</a></p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-52858085720360759252013-02-14T10:13:00.001+05:302013-02-14T10:13:19.707+05:30Technology, Education, Innovation and All That<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>I was having a discussion, online, with someone who's opinions I have huge respect for.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p>It is sad that machines and automation are seen as a sign of indulgence or decadence. Machines are a great big social welfare mechanism. If machines are not used as tools, weaker or meeker people of society get used as tools. I'd rather have a society where people build machines which in turn work for the society, than people becoming machines or compromise on their individuality for the sake of survival.</p> </blockquote> <p>It was a good point of view, one that viewed automation, technology as a deliverer of improved standards of living, democracy, equity. And yes, it can do all of that. But my instinct said that it could be used exactly in the opposite way as well, and much of industrial history has been about that!</p> <p>Got me thinking.</p> <p>If, in the last couple of centuries, innovations, education and technology have gotten us here, they must share the responsibility of our current state. Yes, they're all tools and finally what we do with the tools matters, but it remains true that certian tools have made certain behaviours easier.</p> <p>We have more *things*. We have a better shot at fighting disease in a short term way. We're overall eating unhealthier food, and breathing worse air, and its likely have a much higher incidence of cancer and the like than earlier. Land, the oceans and fresh water sources are more polluted, and access to these is limited to way fewer than ever before. Monetary systems dictate the value of effort and produce, not represent them, and as a result, economic power has shifted and more and more have lesser and lesser time for everything, despite appliances which "save time". Something's not right.</p> <p>I believe that the "why" and "what" of education needs a massive overhaul, but for now will restrict myself to technology.</p> <p>Technology does liberate the individual. But I suspect this is truer in regions of low population density and attendant prosperity and plentifulness - where freeing up one's time/effort enables more production and pursuit of higher level goals and desires. In a high population density area, it becomes a tool in the hands of those who have access to capital and technology, and exploitation follows. Case in point - the workers in manufacturing are more educated and skilled today than a couple of decades ago, but relatively make much lesser because organizations have used automation to not only reduce the overall need for humans, but use it as a bargaining tool as well. There's no "fair".</p> <p>Technology also dumbs down the workforce, moves innovation and "research" into labs and organized pusuit of the same. As an example, farming was very human dependent and there was a continuous effort in improving techniques, experimentation that varied with geography, crops, changing weather patterns and farmers not only built up knowledge, but continuously added to it. The same went for farmer driven seed improvement. The knowledge was owned by the community, and evolved all the time. </p> <p>Machines and technology, from the user's pov, "freeze" knowledge at a specific level at a specific time. The next iteration/improvement then needs to come from "the lab" (Monsanto's seeds are a good example). Farming thus becomes more menial and we start justifying lower and lower returns because its not a "knowledge enabled industry". </p> <p>(I just got back from a village where <strong>everyone</strong> has a job and very fertile fields next to a river lie untilled.)</p> <p>Its not that technology, or education itself is to blame. Its what we do with it, and use it for. But its undeniable that overall, its not necessarily been a positive force. Its moved value to a few, reduced practical innovation, helped the same few control the innovation and over-exploit a few resources to their advantage. We need a serious rethink of all these for a more sustainable, a more holistic and fundamentally democratic, equitable and stable society. </p> <p>This ain't really working too well.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-43898883129893970422013-01-18T20:24:00.001+05:302013-01-18T20:24:24.202+05:30More of What?<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>18 hours a day are no more enough</p> <p>You wish you had twenty eight.</p> <p>Two hands seem like a limitation.</p> <p> </p> <p>For consecutive years of growth</p> <p>And comfort beyond your 22 year old dreams</p> <p>At 40 is a mere stepping stone </p> <p>To bigger things</p> <p> </p> <p>More?</p> <p>Of the same?</p> <p>That could take care of 15 of you and never needs to?</p> <p> </p> <p>Or of time?</p> <p>And of sane lives and happy faces around you.</p> <p>That you might have not caused, but did not disrupt either?</p> <p> </p> <p>Of little important things</p> <p>That make your live your debt to the future a little</p> <p>Not just in preparation of securing it against unknown yet terrible fears?</p> <p> </p> <p>Of unimportant meetings</p> <p>Of unproductive investments into unfocused relationships with random people</p> <p>That in the end count not because they work out for you</p> <p>But because they happened.</p> <p> </p> <p>Maybe you have a meaning, or a purpose</p> <p>Maybe you don't</p> <p> </p> <p>But just the chasing of </p> <p>The next adjective, noun that starts to own you and the meaning</p> <p>Because it appreared on the horizon</p> <p>And took complete control of you</p> <p> </p> <p>Is that it?</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-5667056561579505922013-01-18T20:14:00.001+05:302013-01-18T20:14:07.518+05:30Endgame<div class='posterous_autopost'><p> <p>Each time your real estate yields more, or a technology investment helps cut costs, or you figure out an alternative source to source cheaper, remember its very often a win-lose game, and you're standing a little taller on someone's shoulders.</p> <p>Keep in mind the reason the entire cycle of economy works (should work?) within the scope of society. Its aim was never to maximize a few variables for a few, but provide a good distribution across multiple variables for many.</p> </p> <p>The store next door shut because it couldn't afford the rentals anymore, not because it ran out of customers. Another store that had employed 7 earlier now makes do with 3, and worse service, again thanks to rentals. A whole set of professions suffers despite better education, skills, productivity, service levels, more demand because there's automation and laxer rules to keep profitability high for industry to maximize return on capital.</p> <p>Some might say I'm turning socialist in thought, but its merely a reaction. And ironically, its happening as I get more into business.</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-85967871154204833832013-01-17T16:33:00.001+05:302013-01-17T16:33:26.095+05:30Trust<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>I act differently</p> <p>React too</p> <p>Think, decide, explain.</p> <p>Speak, perceive, analyze.</p> <p>Eat, pray, work.</p> <p>Chase, relax, succumb.</p> <p>All differently.</p> <p>From you.</p> <p>Don't judge me for it.</p> <p>Don't suspect.</p> <p>Don't question intentions and motivations.</p> <p>Trust, instead.</p> <p>And speak with the faith in your voice. Freely.</p> <p>That's the only way forward.</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-27523417668656522442013-01-03T08:48:00.001+05:302013-01-03T08:48:03.292+05:30Developed<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Poisoned air</p> <p>Food</p> <p>Rivers, lakes, wells</p> <p>(Perhaps even dried)</p> <p>Poisoned lives</p> <p>And minds</p> <p>Time traded in</p> <p>And so smiles</p> <p>Simplicity and faith</p> <p>And connections</p> <p>With all and things around</p> <p>For a little money</p> <p>The idea of safety and security</p> <p>Within suspicious walls and fences</p> <p>Which multiply fear</p> <p> </p> <p>Behold</p> <p>Progress, development and prosperity abound.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4677007916871&set=a.1718552717340.97572.1043910898&type=1"> The inspiration for this one: Where do you draw the line?<img src="http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/156123_4677007916871_2080601808_n.jpg" alt="" /> </a></p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-14561663938593312642012-11-10T13:54:00.001+05:302012-11-10T13:54:18.443+05:30How To Look At Travel<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">a step from you</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">a step from me</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">and we'll make it a dance.</span><p /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">a smile cherished</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">some notes exchanged</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">friendships forged in a glance.</span><p /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">the new explored</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">the old adored</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /> <div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">time brings with it that chance<p />a question answered<br />answers questioned<br />as you slip into a trance</div> <p /> <p /> <div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">Wrote this for <a href="http://linger.in" target="_blank">Linger</a> - thats what we hope people do when they come over.</div> <p /> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-86202143493769616852012-10-15T20:41:00.001+05:302012-10-15T20:41:18.853+05:30Desirable?<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>More <em>pucca</em>/concrete houses</p> <p>More trinkets, trifles, gadgets changed more often?</p> <p>More people flying?</p> <p>More energy?</p> <p>More people living longer and longer?</p> <p>More productivity and efficiency?</p> <p>More money and more again?</p> <p> </p> <p>Are these as black/white as they seem on the surface?</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-17428779106615020902012-09-27T08:22:00.001+05:302012-09-27T08:22:37.043+05:30On the Ethical Scale<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Adding fake costs in a large infrastructure project.</p> <p>Recommending unneeded tests and surgery to patients who just need medication.</p> <p>Tricking the customer into buying that extra cheese slice with the burger with a "Do you want one slice or two?"</p> <p>Operating on people for frivolous reasons and steaing their kidneys.</p> <p>Cartelizing to jack up prices for whatever you are selling.</p> <p>Throwing the rule book and patents to be able to sell your drugs at 5x the cost.</p> <p> <p>Bloating a T&M project estimate from 3 weeks to 3 months.</p> </p> <p>Hidden charges with this, that and everything else.</p> <p>Moving in to make money off reconstructing a country you helped/caused bombed to smithereens.</p> <p> </p> <p>Its all the same, no? </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-12287072184747603632012-09-06T08:35:00.001+05:302012-09-06T08:35:09.170+05:30What Happens Then?<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Slow and steady</p> <p>or perhaps</p> <p>Fast and nimble</p> <p>Laser sharp focused</p> <p>Disciplined, efficient</p> <p> </p> <p>What is this finish line you're trying to get to?</p> <p>What happens once you get there?</p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-15921232849857731092012-08-27T21:40:00.003+05:302012-08-27T21:40:30.688+05:30I'm Ready To Join Politics<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Its true that change is best brought around from the inside. And India, culturally, is not given to revolution but to evolution - and thats a good thing.</p> <p>But I need a political outfit that can promise me the following:</p> <ol> <li>The right to speak my mind. Especially when I disagree with them.</li> <li>An RTI like policy that the outfit responds quickly and transparently to - no fine print - whenever a member or any citizen asks a question. Add a 100/- donation to the party if you feel like with the form.</li> <li>A career ladder, including a decent growth path, for careerist politicians. Well laid out and transparent.</li> <li>Transparent sources of funding, audited accounts.</li> <li>One person one post.</li> <li>Publicly shared constitution, auditable mechanisms and processes for citizen involvement, decision making and supporting/opposing policies or legislation based on issues.</li> <li>Openly decided/debated list of candidates with internal elections, representation and debates. Details of decision making available through the RTI like mechanism above.</li> <li>Every candidate/office bearer/party member should respond to queries about personal assets, stand on issues etc if asked, esp through the RTI like mechanism.</li> </ol> <p>And then, sure - count me in!</p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-5917734592060178042012-08-27T21:40:00.001+05:302012-08-27T21:40:16.910+05:30i'm Ready To Join Politics<div class='posterous_autopost'><p> <p>Its true that change is best brought around from the inside. And India, culturally, is not given to revolution but to evolution - and thats a good thing.</p> <p>But I need a political outfit that can promise me the following:</p> <ol> <li>The right to speak my mind. Especially when I disagree with them.</li> <li>An RTI like policy that the outfit responds quickly and transparently to - no fine print - whenever a member or any citizen asks a question. Add a 100/- donation to the party if you feel like with the form.</li> <li>A career ladder, including a decent growth path, for careerist politicians. Well laid out and transparent.</li> <li>Transparent sources of funding, audited accounts.</li> <li>One person one post.</li> <li>Publicly shared constitution, auditable mechanisms and processes for citizen involvement, decision making and supporting/opposing policies or legislation based on issues.</li> <li>Openly decided/debated list of candidates with internal elections, representation and debates. Details of decision making available through the RTI like mechanism above.</li> <li>Every candidate/office bearer/party member should respond to queries about personal assets, stand on issues etc if asked, esp through the RTI like mechanism.</li> </ol> <p>And then, sure - count me in!</p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-41387616257258488702012-08-15T23:03:00.001+05:302012-08-15T23:03:41.585+05:30Afraid To Lose<div class='posterous_autopost'><p> <p>Our generation's version of Martin Niemöller's "First they came for the Socialists..." will be something like :</p> <p>"I was too afraid to lose what I had - so I first lost my spine, then my sense of community, them I lost my voice, my eyesight, next my sense of right and wrong, and eventually my dignity and honour, and I had nothing left to lose at all"</p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-44537040635200891332012-08-01T13:53:00.001+05:302012-08-01T13:53:11.033+05:30Viewpoints : Crises or Crying Wolf?<div class='posterous_autopost'><p> <p>There's 2 or 3 sides to the world now. </p> <p>One set's enjoying the orchestra of the numerous fiddles hired, well paid Neros are playing on an exquisitely crafted stage (to be followed with a master-chef prepared multi course dinner). They tolerate little argument or interference that breaks this engrossing, rapturous music and do everything in their power to try and make sure it continues - forever.</p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The other is a set that is not inside those concert or dining halls - for reasons as varied as opportunity, ability, circumstances, or a mere continuing of whatever they were doing earlier. Many of these end up supporting the wheels that keep the concerts running, without necessarily even knowing about them. Change has already happened to these, in the other direction - and they're paying the price already.</p> <p> </p> <p>Then there's those who see bigger change coming, or even here, and cannot ignore it. Often they could just switch off and get into the concert, but cannot. They're trying to build lifeboats, and arks, and grow food in a pot, and grab electricity from the wind and sun and everything. Everything as it is seems wrong, worrying and worth questioning. The future is unknown but the present is certainly not pleasant. They see what's happening with the second set, the power that the first set possess but refuse to use, and worry even more.</p> <p> </p> <p>Perhaps it always was like this. But the tension seems pretty heightened right now.</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-10123499278383683742012-06-15T09:45:00.001+05:302012-06-15T09:45:41.342+05:30Rethinking Growth<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href="http://zenx.posterous.com/growth" target="_blank">Had wondered about what "Growth" has come to mean.</a> </p> <p> </p> <p>Since then - have read more about this. Chilean economist wonders whats gone wrong with it - and even why growth is a goal and not development.</p> <p> </p> <p><iframe src="http://www.democracynow.org/embed/story/2010/11/26/chilean_economist_manfred_max_neef_on" frameborder="0" height="225" width="400"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>Someone then shared the following infographics about how a handful of corporations consume most of what we consume - from<a href="http://frugaldad.com/2011/11/22/media-consolidation-infographic/" target="_blank"> <a href="http://frugaldad.com/2011/11/22/media-consolidation-infographic/)">http://frugaldad.com/2011/11/22/media-consolidation-infographic/)</a></a> Dug a little more and <a href="http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=5070" target="_blank">here's more worrying stuff</a> about <a href="http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4055-global-agribusiness-two-decades-of-plunder" target="_blank">their control over most of world food production</a> and consumption as well.</p> <p> </p> <p>It popped the question on its own - is the whole idea of the large corporation at the root of a lot of problems we face today? This is not a tirade against free markets. In fact much freer markets can exist with smaller companies, retail etc. </p> <p> </p> <p>The smaller guy is more connected to the economy around him, to the people working for them. The smaller guy spends locally, and there's less "accumulation" of wealth which then gets more and more abstracted. There's more churn in players, and there's less of a need for 30% y-o-y growth which needs comparable growth in consumption, whether or not people at the other end really need it and totally not clued in to whether we can collectively afford it in terns of depletion of natural resources, pollution and social activity, welfare.</p> <p> </p> <p>The large corporation is a being in its own right and does not relate to any for of humanity - or human needs. Its needs start to supercede everything else - and as long as its "legal" in a given context, its done. Social, moral, ethical questions are frequently suppressed for "shareholder value" (sounds very much like various other justifictions other extreme "isms" have forwarded for their actions over the centuries). It tends to appeal to the carnal, the base and the common denominator, because it needs scale and the easier path to profitability in the shortest time.</p> <p> </p> <p>The smaller guy, the individual and the locally connected business has to factor in variables other than "shareholder value" into their choices. Their personal likes/dislikes, "what will people say", "is it good for the community" are all part of the landscape. Yes, those are "limitations" too - but hey - we're people with lives, not producers and consumers alone.</p> <p> </p> <p>Its a question which is growing more significant in my head, at least, with each passing day. And I daresay the answer is moving towards the black and white from the earlier greys when I was "with it".</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-77086550844757079272012-05-14T09:21:00.001+05:302012-05-14T09:21:00.305+05:30We, The Corrupt<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>We're repulsed by the numbers from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam" target="_blank">2G scam</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suresh_Kalmadi" target="_blank">from CWG</a>, by what <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bangaru-Laxman-held-guilty-of-taking-bribe/articleshow/12905260.cms" target="_blank">Bangaru Laxman</a> did, and whats been happening with mining, land allocation, tribal "resettlement" etc across states.</p> <p> </p> <p>Should we be? </p> <p> </p> <p>Some of the HR teams at some MNCs and other large organizations have a pretty sullied image amongst techies. There's nepotism, and money changes hands on a regular basis for recruitment services. </p> <p> </p> <p>Land deals for big corporates are opportunities to make money directly and indirectly - just like it happens at the level of the government of the state when deciding on infrastructure projects. Many an employee in admin has been known to build a huge house soon after a big deal.</p> <p> </p> <p>Doctors approving/recommending clinical trials at the behest of drug companies was big news in today's papers. And Aamir Khan revived the discussion around their culpability in sex determination and illegal foetus termination on the TV recently.</p> <p> </p> <p>These are folks amongst and around us. Rich, well off folks. </p> <p> </p> <p>Someone in the extended family has been facing tons of issues at work because they refuse to "fit in" at an quasi-government hospital - every little opportunity to make money is exploited. Someone else I know was brought in to fix large-scale corruption issues at one of the companies of a very well respected (for its ethics!) business house we all know of.</p> <p> </p> <p>And we take umbrage at the bus conductor - a comparitively very poor bloke - making 2/- off a ticket. </p> <p> </p> <p>A couple of generations ago - it did exist then too (though perhaps on a much smaller scale) - it was not acceptable socially to be known to have such sources of income. Folks would resign, and retire from society, perhaps in shame. Today, thats almost turned into pride, if not something to gloat about.</p> <p> </p> <p>Has is just become part of our ecnomically-motivated-all-else-be-damned fabric? Is is just about opportunity and the risk of getting caught? Are we all funadamentally too weak when face to face with the little packet of cash that'll get us our iPad or new phone or this or that?</p> <p> </p> <p>I fear the answer is not nice one. I fear what we see in the politician and big deals he does is a mere reflection of who we've become fundamentally. Grab-when-possible is our mantra. Damn what its doing to us, and damn the long run. </p> <p> </p> <p>If we really ever want to fix this, we have to change. We have to stop respecting money irrespective of its hue and colour. We have to also respect efforts that do not yield hard cash. We have to make things other than a big bank balance cool, acceptable and a desirable goal again. We have to make get-rich-soon socially undesirble - as long as thats ok morality will be bent. We have to make morality itself cool again - its an often-mocked notion right now.</p> <p> </p> <p>Stricter rules won't cut it unless we fundamentally find it reprehensible, and are unable to look at ourselves in the mirror if we sway. Today, we almost admire it and the outcry is almost merely - well - envy.</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-10215384364081397252012-05-12T13:48:00.001+05:302012-05-12T13:48:23.230+05:30Priorities<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>A pal of mine in a very senior position recently decided that work was sucking too much out of him, and decided to (at least) take a sabbatical and spent time with the family. He put in his papers last week.</p> <p> </p> <p>Guess what the reaction of his boss - the guy who heads the company was?</p> <p> </p> <ol> <li>Instill fear - "How will you manage your cashflows after a couple of months?"</li> <li>I don't know how to put this - "You can at most spend 5-10 minutes with the family. What'll you do for the rest of the day?"</li> </ol> <p> </p> <p>Questions about one's own health, interests, growth as a human being etc never entered the conversation.</p> <p> </p> <p>My friend works at a staffing/outsourced HR outfit. And his boss used to head HR at an MNC earlier!!</p> <p> </p> <p>There is a lot of sickness in what we call our "workplace". Its certainly not a healthy place anymore. There's too much money, too much greed, and too much emphasis on grabbing more and fear of not being able to.</p> <p> </p> <p>Thankfully, the conversation hammered home this truth in my friend's head. "The whole 'quality time' crap is a corporate invention, Sameer", he says. "Bulls**t, you just need to spend time - yes - quantity - with your family, near and dear ones, friends."</p> <p> </p> <p>True. Which do we do for which?</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-62309672938820241492012-04-30T21:25:00.001+05:302012-04-30T21:25:14.161+05:30What We Do<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Our best brains today should be solving problems in water, energy - both consumption and generation, efficient transportation solutions, food production and preservation, and managing climate change.</p> <p> </p> <p>Instead, Facebook and Apple are our most valued brands, and thousands of the best minds are caught up in keeping us distracted. Through more "consumer entertainment" and essentially - timepass. Through mobile apps - over 50% of which are games. Through more and more inane and shallow conversation on flakier and flakier "networks". Amidst all this is the messaging that drives the "monetization" of all this distraction, and its one big game we're all playing.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldous_Huxley" target="_blank">Aldous Huxley was right</a> in the <a href="http://www.egodialogues.com/2009/aldous-huxley-george-orwell/" target="_blank">Brave New World</a> where "<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">happiness derives from consuming mass-produced goods, sports such as Obstacle Golf and Centrifugal Bumble-puppy, promiscuous sex, "the feelies", and most famously of all, a supposedly perfect pleasure-drug, </span><a href="http://www.huxley.net/soma/somaquote.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">soma</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">." Our capacity to <a href="http://www.egodialogues.com/2009/aldous-huxley-george-orwell/" target="_blank">amuse and distract ourselves</a> almost feeds upon itself now - with no end to its growth in sight.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We define ourselves through the gadgets that we possess and worship, and breathe through their updates and upgrades. We live in a constructed reality that drifts away further from the real planet, real people, real food, real problems around us. Obviously, we're not worried about, or driven enough to be solving them.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We can probably do better. Will we?</span></p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-10088565921537399882012-03-30T10:49:00.001+05:302012-03-30T10:49:19.578+05:30Growth - !,?,??,:(<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Here's a good one I came across this morning</p> <p><img src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/553006_419172804775751_166854740007560_88173900_856102879_n.jpg"/" alt="" width="400" /></p> <p>Have been thinking about "growth" as it has started to mean to us. We say we need growth economies to generate enough to fee the growing billions. </p> <p>Trickle down has failed, so I guess growth isn't what its made out to be? It probably does create opportunity - but its too random, too sporadic and too destructive as well.</p> <p>Economic growth - growth in energy consumption/production - growth in consumption of goods one didnt really need - growth of waste - growth of disease and illness.</p> <p>We're 7 billion - up from 2 billion since the advent of modern medicine, industrialization. All those cliched essays discussing technology being a boon or bane in the larger context suddenly seem less irrelevant.</p> <p>Isn't it shortsighted/narrow to assume there's no other model? Can there not be one around sustainability - of populations, economies, environment, consumption, energy. That seems to be nature's way for sure - and we've sucked at most things we dont out of sync with nature. </p> <p>Are we caught up in local maximas as a specieis - totally unable to see that the cancer is spreading too fast and we're not nearly as smart as we've started believing we are? We don't even pause to consider other models, other ways of being, other modes of existence.</p> <p>Will inertia of motion, and this local maxima of intelligence, kill us?</p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-86566820136404554952012-03-21T10:19:00.001+05:302012-03-21T10:19:22.731+05:30I Exist<div class='posterous_autopost'><p> <p>I exist - for me ?</p> <p>for the next breath ?</p> <p>(or just because of it)</p> <p>for dreams ?</p> <p>so i can be more</p> <p>than mere existence ?</p> <p>what is cause</p> <p>what effect</p> <p>is not for me to say</p> <p>but since i exist</p> <p>might as well</p> <p>smell the roses on the way</p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-29177783457600356192012-02-20T15:27:00.001+05:302012-02-20T15:27:13.849+05:30Books Vs E-Books : The Little Things I Need<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>A lot has been said about e-books - their efficiency, <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/feb/15/ebooks-cant-burn/" target="_blank">unburnability</a>, growing popularity - especially on the back of the popularity of the devices where they're consumed.</p> <p> </p> <p>But for now, I prefer books. And, I suspect, a lot of book lovers do too. </p> <p> </p> <p>For one, we're book lovers. Not story lovers, or fiction lovers. Book lovers. Perhaps self-help cr*p is ok on the Kindle, but an eWodehouse? </p> <p> </p> <p>I persoanlly prefer old, used books. The slightly yellow pages, straightened out dog-ears. The fact the book has been read/appreciated already. Its one of those things you cannot be rational about, can you? I have even bought books with a page or two missing, sometimes, and reconstructed the lost bits in my imagination.</p> <p> </p> <p>And what do you do with an ebook once you've read it? The Brysons and the Douglas Adams, the Narayans, the Scott Adams and the assorted unknown authors go right back to the shelf, reminding me of themselves, the characters and lives and imaginary worlds I inhabited for the while I read them - each time I pass by or happen to look at them. </p> <p> </p> <p>I walk into people's homes, and the books there tell me something. They become starting points for conversations. They invite one to pick-one-up and browse, even if one never intends to read them.</p> <p> </p> <p>A few books in the bag make one look forward to the vacation, or a train journey. You could share one with fellow travellers. And the kids pick their own. </p> <p> </p> <p>I've never used bookmarks. I visually and from memory try and get back into the story.</p> <p> </p> <p>I sometimes read ahead and skip some bits. Some bits, once in a while, are speed-read. </p> <p> </p> <p>Some passages are re-read again.</p> <p> </p> <p>Dozing off in the afternoon on a hammock or an easy chair, with the book open at somewhere around where I lost track of where I was, is one of the strongest memories of "a relaxed time".</p> <p> </p> <p>E-books reduce books to merely their content, and that again consumed in very restricted ways. On an electronic device, even my imagination is in suspend mode. E-devices often suck you into the screen - not the world that the words suggest. Being mesmerized and fascinated are very different things.</p> <p> </p> <p>Doesn't kindle my fire, sorry.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-63235363335899188262011-11-10T21:31:00.000+05:302011-11-10T21:33:25.567+05:30Woods and the Trees<p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We're pretty interesting as a species.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We experiment, spend time/effort/money to make automobiles just that 5-10% more efficient. Even a light 1000kg car - with 2 passengers - essentially uses most of the power to move itself.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We invented CFLs, LEDs and increasingly way more efficient forms of lighting. To light pathways, roads, streets and places with a near-zero human population or movement all night. In fact, a city is praised for "being well lit" all night even tho the number of bulbs faaaaar outnumber the number of people all night. </div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We watch "reality" on TV.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We ALL want exclusive, unique experiences. </div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; border-collapse: collapse; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: arial; vertical-align: baseline; border-collapse: separate; "></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><a href="http://lingerleisure.in/" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; "></a></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We want super efficient production - the goal being the elimination of as many people from the production cycle as possible. In heavy engineering, in agriculture, even in software. We also have started replacing consumers with super efficient ones that support "growth" is price/sales - via commodity trading! All so human beings can lead better, happier lives.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We define and seek templates for how to break the mould, think out of the box and chase our dreams.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We all want to better than average at most things.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We believe in notions of equality, fairness. We also use or invent all available ways to assert dominance, authority and superiority over everyone we can.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We want a better future for ourselves and our kids. We're mostly caught up is quarterly results and short term goals.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We want to explore the world for newer, stranger experiences. We are investing heavily into, and using readily, technology to connect more and more with "people like us" and ideas we agree with.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">We have more, faster tools for communication. And we do much more tof this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://efficientmeetings.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cartoon51.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="318" class="pointer_cursor" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-left-radius: 4px 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px 4px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0898438) 3px 3px 0px; " /></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We have more information than ever. Attention spans have shortened and deep thought has fled us.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We have cut down forests, directly and indirectly. And support "plant a tree" initiatives all the time.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We are all expressing ourselves more often, more widely and more loudly. To an audience that has less and less time, or inclination to listen in toviews other than their own, or to anything thats not entertaining.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We want our impact on the planet to lessen. Starting after we are done buying the SUV, or large screen TV, or 5 more energy consuming devices.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We want dustbins in every corner. So we can "safely" dispose of - read move out of sight - all the junk that we did not need to generate and throw into garbage cans in the first place.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We have invented increasingly complex monetary systems that none of us understand or control anymore.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We spread and support democracy with a missionary zeal. Yet a few companies control most foodgrain, and a handful control most production and monetary flows in the world - much fewer than ever before.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We are inventing shoes that help you feel you're running barefoot. Expensive shoes :)</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We fly across the globe as ecologically conscious tourists.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I could go on, but I think you get the idea.</div><p style="margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); clear: none; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I don't think its hypocrisy. Its probably some kind of blindness, or at least myopia. We really cannot see the disappearing woods and get caught up in delighting at the artificially grown trees as part of our massive landscaping effort.</div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-12393576550003722112011-08-15T08:51:00.001+05:302011-08-15T08:51:48.764+05:30Social Net ke Side Effects<div class='posterous_autopost'>One thing Facebook, Twitter etc have done is to make it even more important to appear to lead an interesting life than actually leading one.<p /><div>Applies to entrepreneurship, patriotism, concern-for-causes too - ?</div> <p /><div>Everyone's marketing - their lives, lifestyles, their relationships, their heartfelt causes, and of course (and maybe most appropriately) their businesses :) Its reverse-voyeurism, in a sense. And surely, our social networks can be for so much more, can they not ?<br /> <div><div><div><div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial;"><div><div><i><a href="http://lingerleisure.in/" target="_blank"></a></i></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div><p /></div><br /> </div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://zenx.posterous.com/social-net-ke-side-effects">bangalorekaapi</a> </p> </div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653577.post-75035301595901634362011-08-11T08:14:00.001+05:302011-08-11T08:14:59.210+05:30London Fires<div class='posterous_autopost'>London portends an ominous warning for all of us. <p /><div>Its not a happy world. Not too long ago, we'd have taken poverty/tough times in our stride and been thankful for whatever we got when we did. </div> <p /><div>Our current growth models and their needs and structures help and serve a few, and that again in the short term. We almost design them to be win-lose, and just too many are shown unreal and sometimes illegitimate dreams, and then kept away from them. Our sense of achievement comes often from having "risen above". We have a stronger and stronger awareness of what we're not getting - and we invent newer needs and mechanisms to keep defining "risen above", in the wake creating a feeling of restlessness and impotence in so many who, in the first place, couldn't really be bothered about those 'needs'.<br /> </div><p /><div>Watch out, you may be starting fires today that you'll need to fight tomorrow.</div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://zenx.posterous.com/london-fires">bangalorekaapi</a> </p> </div>sameerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832302260129482241noreply@blogger.com0