US$100 Computers Set to be Rolled Out

First, in an attempt to throw Microsoft out of business, Sun Microsystems talked  ad nauseum.about the Network Computer (NC)  But that never really materialized. In fact, it was Sun that was living dangerously as its rivals cut into its space rapidly.

But the NC bottomline was that computers must become affordable even for the poor. Understandably, the concept of a US$100 PC came about — something that has been in the air for the last more than five years.

Now that dream is set to crystallize, if this BBC report is to be believed. It says the first of these cheap PCs should be out in October.

For more information, head to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6908946.stm

–G Joslin Vethakumar 

Will Pratibha Choice Mark the Beginning of the End of Congress in India?

Dr Kalam’s speeches removed from official site?

A tainted person ascending to the Indian Presidency is not a matter of pride for the people of the country.  Ideally, only the best possible candidates must get to occupy key governmental positions – President, ministers and even MPs. Singapore is a key example where they are handpicked by the senior leadership.

But in India and third-world democracies with rampant illiteracy and poverty, calibre, integrity and even criminal records can stop none from getting prestigious posts.

By throwing its weight behind Pratibha Patil, the Congress has done a disservice to the country. I think this may signal the beginning of the end of Congress rule in India. If we can have that fallout, then I will have reason to gloat over this silly choice.

But what I find appalling is that within a day after assuming office, all speeches of the outgoing President, Dr Abdul Kalam, have been removed from the online archive. I found this out when I received a mail from a news-group I have subscribed to. I am not sure if there is another official site for this, but all I find at http://www.presidentofindia.nic.in/ is the first speech of the new President.

–G Joslin Vethakumar  

Osama’s Colourful Clan

Even as Osama bin Laden continues to be in the spotlight with his doctrine of hate and religious extremism, some interesting facts are steadily emerging on how his extended family is cluttered with people who are far from traditional. His own mother has disowned him, making it open that she abhors the bloody jihad Osama advocates.

Recently, one of Osama’s sons married a British divorcee and grandmother who is twice his age. Read about it here — http://www.smh.com.au/news/WORLD/Osamas-son-marries-British-divorcee/2007/07/16/1184438179089.html

If this is not sacrilege, then there is a petite girl from the Osama clan who is a model, as you will see from this report at http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/a-family-that-dares-not-speak-its-name/2007/07/15/1184438148994.html

You can glean even more interesting nuggets of information about the Osama family from the online edition of The Sydney Morning Herald – through the above links and more.

–G Joslin Vethakumar

Bargaining at Airport Duty-Free Shops?

 

No Harm Giving it a Shot 

It has never ever occurred to me that there is room for bargaining at the duty-free shops at airports around the world. But now I feel it may be possible.

On my return from Sydney to Singapore, I ended up picking two Chanel perfume bottles for my wife. One was a Chanel No. 5 (Chanel’s most popular range for which one of my favourite stars, Nicole Kidman, models) and Chanel Cristalle.

Chanel No. 5 was priced at A$110 and Chanel Cristalle A$99 – prices that banners at the Sydney Duty-Free store claimed were cheaper than those at airports worldwide, including in Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok. It was at this Sydney airport shop that I realized that buyers may have the leeway seek better prices. Even as I was browsing, a shop assistant approached me to say that she can offer me a 10% discount.

Discounts are not uncommon at airports, but they are usually promoted openly. The offer of a discount when that is not marked or promoted was something new to me.

Perhaps this is a result of the new restrictions on carrying of liquids into the aircraft. But though I bought two 100ML bottles I had no issue taking them with me into the aircraft.  It helped that mine was a direct flight from Sydney to Singapore with no stopover.

But remember it won’t hurt to ask for a better price at even the airport duty-free shops.

–G Joslin Vethakumar

A Saravana Bhavan in Sydney?

Yes, there is one but that is not the original Saravana Bhavan. I guessed as much when I looked at the menu online, as they seemed to serve non-vegetarian food as well. A call to the restaurant confirmed this. They are just using the name of the original Chennai restaurant for business mileage, but they still specialize in south Indian food.

I have seen restaurants in Singapore, too, use the names of some Indian chains. I don’t take kindly to this type of business fraud fundamentally because it creates confusion among customers like me. Wish there could be a global mechanism to stop such thefts!!

In this Sydney instance, it can create problems for the original Saravana Bhavan as the latter is fast becoming a global chain with branches in many countries.

–G Joslin Vethakumar

Sydney and my Daughter

I generally stay aloof even when on long flights sans any sleep.  Not that I am proud of it, that is just the way I am. In fact, this is one part of me that I encourage my children not to embrace though my elder daughter is even more introverted.

I have just brought her to Sydney where she has begun her life outside of the cosy confines of home. She is used to being well shielded by her parents and to being harassed by her younger sister to the point of exasperation even while keeping a close sibling bond with her.

Life can be pretty monotonous without such little tiffs and patch-ups. She is sure to miss it all in Sydney, but I would wish for everything to be simple and straightforward for a meaningful experience that will prepare her for a smooth journey ahead. It helps that a few of her friends have also moved with her to Sydney!

Close-Knit, Insular Family: As for me, it is going to be tough reconciling myself to the void at home in Singapore. Ours is a close-knit, even insular, family that has kept us going strong amid all the bumps along the way. Each evening the very thought of returning home to family is what that has helped me retain my sanity. There can be no substitute to quality time with the family (and some friends) after all the challenges and frustrations at work.

She is a rare individual, unaffected by the cultural perversions of the developed world while retaining her innocent charm far removed from new-generation pretensions. Blessed with a quiet disposition and the traditional moorings and values we cherish as a family, she still enjoys being an obedient child and staying clear of any extraneous influences. And I am proud about this!

Passes Driving Test at First Attempt, Scores Centum in Piano: Her sense of focus is nonpareil – she passed her driving test at her very first attempt last week in Singapore (getting a driving licence here is like getting a degree, with the learning and the testing just as intense). She also scored a centum in her very first piano exam conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

There is no question I will miss her. The only comforting thought is that she will get to visit us once in four months. In fact, from late November to early February she will be with us in Singapore on a long Christmas break. That is something to look forward to!

–G Joslin Vethakumar

Hail Taj!

In a fitting tribute to the monument of love, the Taj Mahal has made it to the new list of the world’s seven wonders. The details are available here — http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/07/06/seven.wonders/index.html . My wife eyeballed the news with glee since today is her birthday.

 

As the seven were decided upon by popular choice, it may lack some credibility given that anyone can vote any number of times. I will have preferred for the list to have been decided upon by a panel of experts.

 

I visited the Taj late last year, but returned with some unpleasant memories. As I had a foreign visitor with me then, we were swarmed by hordes of pests trying to hawk their ware. They hardly left us space to move. I wish the government fixes such issues for tourists so they take back just memories and images of the moments they cherished admiring the architectural marvel.

 

Anyway, I am glad the Taj Mahal figures in it. This will give me something to munch over and possibly indulge in small talk in San Francisco/San Jose where I fly to this evening for a short four-day business trip. Generally I shun idle talk as I am a dreamer, conveying the image of being absent-minded. Indulging in meaningless talk is an art — something I am thankfully not blessed with. Being a good conversationalist is one, dabbling in crap-talk is quite another.

 

I am drifting, call it crap-writing, if you will! But…hail Taj!

 

–G Joslin Vethakumar

Doctors Turn to Terrorism in London, Putting India in a Spot

I have a cousin who is a doctor in London. Given the crackdown on the medical terror ring in the U.K., doctors may soon become one of the most feared there. This is because, from wielding the knife on the operating table, some of them appear to have taken to the gun.

Before my cousin gets edgy reading this, let me quickly clarify that she is a non-violent she, so she (pardon me for the alliterative tongue-twister) has nothing to do with the recent discovery that people from the medical fraternity are involved in terrorist activity in the U.K.

If indeed my cousin is reading this, she may get homicidal urges and want to kill (there I go again!!) me. Well. she is a god-fearing, born-again Christian. Not that it matters as, to me, goodness transcends religion.

We have some things in common – in particular, the zodiac sign (we are both Geminians), temperament (moodiness), crankiness and openness. We pull no punches back and are never too shy to make our thoughts known. I have a special bond with her and we have generally behaved more as friends than cousins, confiding in each other in the same breath as we trade barbs.

It makes no sense for me to go discuss it any further and induce a big yawn in you. Suffice it to say that soon a close friend and her family will be relocating to London from India. When that happens I will have a strong reason to visit London with my family.

I haven’t been to London since March 2000. The land that gave the world its lingua franca, the right to free speech and literary masterpieces that will weather the test of time is now reduced to a breeding ground of terrorism, racism and cultural decadence.

After the London blasts in 2005, South Asians have not had it good there. But Indians were above blame as terror plots were generally hatched in Pakistan. Now, the recent foiled attacks in Glasgow and London point to the involvement of Indian doctors.

I had long stopped believing that terrorism is the result of some misguided illiterates. The recent arrests in the U.K. and Australia of doctors and others with enviable educational qualifications go to reinforce that.

And that indeed is a pity – the intelligentsia among Muslims treading the terror path when they should be the ones leading the ignorant masses from their faith away from it!

–G Joslin Vethakumar

How Airlines Protect Only Their Interests!

 

They Take Little Liability for Passenger Losses

Recently, a colleague lost his bag on his return to Singapore from London by Singapore Airlines. Despite being a business class passenger and a PPS Club member, he was told that the maximum liability for the airline on loss of baggage is only US$600.

He had things worth more than US$4000. But it is more than just monetary loss for him. Being a person with a big build, he cannot buy any clothing or shoes off the shelves. He has to custom-make them. Since he has lost many of his new outfits, having new ones tailored is a painstakingly time-consuming process.

I had written about the trouble I had with a Continental flight in the U.S. recently. They have rejected the demand for compensation, saying that the flight cancellation that I wrote about was due to some issues with air traffic control clearance. As that was beyond the airline’s control, they are not obliged to compensate me for my losses.

Well, well, whichever way you look at it, businesses ensure that they protect their interests fully. Customer interests weigh least on their minds!

We can hardly grudge that as safe flights are our priority always.

Experiences, both good and bad, do make us wiser. Therein lies our gains.

–G Joslin Vethakumar

Bummers from Bangalore

I am just back from Bangalore after an electrifying visit for some day-long meetings on Friday at the Cisco offices there. The last time I visited Bangalore was in 2004, before I joined Cisco and it was for pure leisure (no hard slog then in the city), spending time with a friend and her family. This time I combined business with pleasure and moved to the same friend’s place on Saturday, with a return flight to catch on Sunday night — leaving me with just about a day with them.

What was best about it all? Well, the weather was great – with the gentle breeze and the mild chill compensating for an otherwise frigid environment.

Changing for the Better: There are indications that the city is waking up to its infrastructure woes, with the metro and a new airport in the pipeline. The mozzie menace at the current airport was a distraction (as if the other distractions were not enough), reminding me more of the chikungunya havoc in India than of the anti-denque measures in Singapore.

That aside, it was good to see that one of India’s finest cities was changing for the better.

Unplanned, but Nostalgic, Meeting:  I spent some time with a good friend who was a colleague during my journalistic days. This meeting was not on the agenda until a day before I left for Bangalore. But I am glad I was able to catch up with her for some nostalgia. 

Another unscheduled meeting with another former colleague at the airport made my short trip complete – despite the time lost at a church I went to in Bangalore. 

— G Joslin Vethakumar