Perceive

And she stood in the Doorway
Between yesterday and tomorrow
And she asked me,"What do you see?"
I replied,"Understanding."
She disappeared in a flash of luminescence
Her trailing voice teased me,"What do you perceive?"

This room is cold, darkness surrounds me,
All that ever will be
Needs me to lift my veil and see.

Am told

Am told to forever think outside the box. I think it's time to change the box.
Am told I'm impossible. No .. I am possible ... just improbable.
Am told that all one needs is love and clean air. Send me some money instead.
Am told that it takes two to tango. True ... three can't tango. Shame about that; I no longer tango.
Am told that to be of service to others leads to salvation. So when can you begin?
Am told that I'm tiresome. No .. you just don't have any stamina.
Am told Love conquers all. So did Attila the Hun.
Am told I talk too much. Well ... you listen too much.
Am told I am inattentive. Say what?
Am told that my greatest virtue is my humility. Damn right.

Either-Or

Is it just me or do we really define ourselves based on how others define themselves? That way, we can find ourselves in the "opposite" of what others stand for. For example, let us consider economic and political leanings.

On speed reading several blogs, there appear to be two diametrically opposite schools of thought: advocates of the “free market” and advocates of the “centralized control”. I find both distasteful, as in isolation, both are the equivalent of “one hand clapping”.

If I was to compare “centralized control” to Government intervention, then I have the following issues with both schools of thought:

a) Free markets – the problem with free markets is price distortions. Price manipulations do happen in free markets, despite best intentions. The rolling blackouts that took place in California on account of Enron’s activities are a small example of what can go wrong. Remember, the blackouts were an outcome of price manipulations in energy derivatives markets, which are financial markets. Yet, they impacted a physical market. All arguments that the market will decide the fair price have been repeatedly undone by situations where there are large enough players repeatedly causing price distortions. Add to that control over liquidity being in the hands of a few, and we have a problem. Recent failures by hedge funds, the dot-com crisis being exacerbated by flawed analyst reports etc. only point to dangers of Free Markets. Take the case of expensive private health care, or expensive privately run parks, schools etc. and I remain unconvinced that we are evolved enough to implement "Free Markets".

b) Centralized Control – it has become passe to discuss the failures of Governmental intervention. Government can run an institution either at a profit or at a loss. There are issues either way. To run at a profit, the institution requires to be competitive, and competitiveness cannot arise in a “cost plus” situation. Having competitive cost structures and demanding fair prices are at best difficult when the management is largely political in origin and has a say at procurement and price-setting. If the institution runs at a loss, then the Government must infuse more equity into the institution, and the source of these funds can only be tax-payer’s money. Of course, all these problems can occur in a "corruption-free" environment. Throw in corrpution, and well ....

As a possible way out, how about the following:
All sectors should be divided into two lines: profitable and unprofitable.
Unprofitable sectors that are of tremendous social benefit must be handled by the Government. All the rest should be parcelled off to the private sector. The Government should ensure that the sector be non-profit and non-loss as well. Funding such activities should take place through taxes, and external agencies having judicial powers should have regulatory powers over monitoring these institutions. Thus, the Government would naturally enter sectors such as Education, Railways, Rural infrastructure etc. As and when the sector reaches a stage of profitability, the sector must be privatized and the Government would then play the role of a regulator, and taxes would be slashed as the Government would no longer need the funds.

While I have over-simplified several arguments, what I am alluding to is a “Middle Path”. An enterprise or activity (or even an individual) can be successful only if it is profitable, perpetual and growing. Any failure on one of these three parameters should lead to the “creative destruction” of the enterprise. Government must evolve and enforce policies that will create a viable market for such activities. Having enforced such policies, the Government must then stay out.

The essential goal of a Government is to ensure its redundancy.
The essential goal of a Private Institution is to ensure the Government’s redundancy.

Another analogy: Compare "Free Markets" versus "Centralized Control" to the battle of “Open Source Code” versus “Proprietary Source Code”. Personally, this argument can get very juvenile: both have their place in this world. In all infant industries, the “Proprietary Source Code” approach is required. As industries mature, standards and consortiums begin to be established, that is when the situation is ripe for the creation of an “Open Source” standard. The “Proprietary Source Code” player would respond by seeking infant markets, and by opening parts of his code in the mature markets. The only exception remains the gaming industry, where proprietary standards continue to dominate despite being intensely competitive and mature.

Key philosophical learning here: the more we continue to think in the “Either-Or” framework, more will we continue to limit ourselves. It is even more dangerous that we use the “Either-Or” framework to define who we are and how we are different from each other. The day we think in the “And” framework, that is when real progress takes place.

To the Man who saw Yesterday

You parked the car across the street. Trivial life-forms were swarming around fading street lights. You crossed over, and decided to wait for godot. The inn-keeper still has a business to attend to, and if he could help you, he surely would. Slanging matches were taking place across the street. Children with no futures, parents will never make ends meet. Toxins started dancing in your blood-stream, as your mind started dancing on someone else's highway. You have never been cursed, you have never been granted a wish. You couldn't lie, unless you knew the truth. You thrive in chaos and participate in a neatly indexed life. You want to spread madness, for you have mastered method. For streams to flow, you set forth undercurrents. You wanted all for one, yet you are hesitating in giving away one to all.

League of Superheros

Everywhere around me, I see heros. People of great valor, roaming the streets, shedding light and imparting wisdom to all the lives they come in contact with.

And then it strikes me – no publishing house has released stories of superheros dedicated to these living legends. It is a shame, and I plead each and everyone of us to raise a toast to the extraordinary “League Of SupERheroS” (LOSERS)

a) Delegator-man
Whenever there is trouble, call "Delegator-man". He'll send someone around and send an MIS report of the same to the "League of Superheros". Doesn't do much except strut like a peacock when senior management is around and pulls out presentations from his trendy new laptop when the League is having their annual report on peace-keeping missions. Otherwise listens to "Grateful Dead".

b) Takin-Man: A Bhutanese export
Too busy fighting crime to attend school. Consequently, he's always in 5th standard. Whenever there is trouble, call the Takin-Man, and he will arrive riding a Takin. He will arrive a little slowly though. Like Delegator-Man, he also attends meetings of the "League of Superheros". His specialty includes serving paneer bhujiyas at all "League of Superheros" meetings. You don't want to know how the paneer was made.

c) Brash Bobby Boy
Hails from a city up North. Call him and he will come tearing down in his Yamaha, with the bike's muffler removed. Especially useful if the criminal is from down South and answers to the name "Tambi". The mere sight of Brash Bobby Boy will cause them to tremble in their gum-boots, and their spectacles to fall off. Last time he attended a "League of Superheros" meetings and was asked to prepare "Minutes of the Meeting", he wrote "Meeting lasted 37 minutes". Last seen as a parking attendant for all "League of Superheros" meetings.

d) Amino Aunty
She puts the “A” in Type A and chews “Orbit” to mask the smell of the latest victim on her breath. In her off-time, she will quote Sylvia Plath to get in touch with her victim’s feminine side. Mere sight of her will cause the criminals to jump into the cooking pot and lather themselves with sunflower oil, cardamom and saffron. But she does have a large heart, often for breakfast.

e) Dirty Dominic
Dominic fools everyone with his diminutive size. It isn’t the size of the man in the fight, it’s the size of his vocabulary. Rich expletives flow from his mouth and a hot bike chase often ensues, with the villains wanting to kick his rear-end.

f) Pillion Pamela
Accompanying Dominic in his hot bike pursuits is Pillion Pamela, who was last seen with Biceps Bunty. She was pursued relentlessly by Dominic while Bunty used his forehead to crack some eggs open. Dominic won her over with his immortal SMS: “I fight crime, And in my spare time, I rhyme, will you be mine?”
Last meeting with the League of Superheros, when the chairman made an effort to move the House, all the Superheros made an effort to make moves on Pamela. Naturally, she yielded the floor. Or was that, on the floor?

g) HR Harry
The effervescent boss; loves all of Man, but enjoys all of Woman even more. One look at his team composition and you'll understand why he is so effervescent.

h) Banal Anal(yst)
Loves to talk “M&A dealflows” in the same breath as Fuel Cell technologies and Naushad compositions. Known to corner all the villains in a Lounge Bar. Backed to the wall, with quivering lips, they ask him what he is going to do. At that point, he flips open his laptop, asks them about their retirement plans, asset allocations and presents his forecast on the Return of the "Commodity". I think we may see the IPO of the “League of Superheros”.

i) Blog Boy
Fights crime through innuendo and sloganeering on websites. Utility unknown. Last meeting, the "League of Superheros" contemplated not renewing his contract.

O Investor! My Investor!

O Investor! My Investor! Our investments are done;
Your Fund has invested everywhere; the market says you’ve won;
The bears are near, their chants I hear, but bulls are all exulting,
While follow eyes the sensex graph, my returns are soaring:
But O Short-seller! Short-seller! Short-seller!
While your wallet is bleeding red,
On the stock exchange my Investor lies,
Drunk and fallen on his head.

O Investor! My Investor! Wake up and start to sell;
Wake up - you're short of cash - no more does margin trading thrill;
For you pretty journalists, for you TV channels are crowding;
For you they call, the pretty lass, your stories they are churning;
Here Investor! Dear Investor!
You’ve earned your daily bread;
You’ve made a killing on convertibles,
You’ve sold currencies till they are dead.

My Investor does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My Investor does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The Sensex has started falling down, trading volumes start to slack;
From regulators to lawyers, come investigators on his back;
Exult, O Bears, and ring those bells!
But I, with drooping chin,
Walk the deck my Investor lies,
Our wallets frightfully thin.

This time, I know I'm going to Hell. Move over, Satan! You've got a new neighbour.

Lady and the Tramps

The lady was smiling constantly,
And I strained with all my might:
I did my very best to show
My lighter, just to catch her sight--
And this was useless, because there was
A boyfriend, to offer her a light.

I just sat there sulkily,
Because I thought that bum
Had got no business to be there
While I was high on rum
"It's very rude of him," I said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The party was sloshed as sloshed could be,
Her throat was dry as dry.
You could not see a vacant latrine, because
They were stuffed with couples. Oh my!
The DJ was playing Juggy D
Into the wee hours of the night.

The Lady and her Boyfriend
Were walking hand in hand;
I smiled like anything to see
Their puppy love, so grand:
"If this would only happen to me,"I thought,
"I would stop dating my left hand!"

"If George Clooney or Brad Pitt
Gave you a leer,
Do you suppose," the Boyfriend asked,
"I would have anything to fear?"
"I doubt it," said the Lady,
Her cheeks glowed with lovely tears.

"O boyfriend, come and walk with me!"
The lady did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
To avoid that rum-soaked leech:
I cannot live without your love.”
Couples in the latrine continued to screech.

A wise man looked at me,
But never a word he said:
A wise man winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not approve
Of my desire to have her company in bed.

But I just kept hurrying up,
Hoping against hope for a treat:
My hair was brushed, my face was washed,
My shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
A drunk can barely see two feet.

My idle conversation just followed them,
She said, “He’s just another flirt;
He thinks he can break our Love,
Beat it, you squirt--
Haven’t you heard that heavens above,
Guard us against your kind of dirt?”

The Lady and the Boyfriend
Walked on a mile or so,
And then his hands ran up her skirt
Which fashionably hung low:
And all the single men stood
And gasped in a row.

"The time has come," the Lady said,
"To talk of many things:
Of babies, houses, cars and shoes;
Do you have that diamond ring?
I’d like a villa on the mountain.
Oh! And get yourself some gold cuff links."

"But wait a bit," the Boyfriend cried,
"Before we get to that;
For your words leave me out of breath,
Let’s first sit down!" And so they sat.
"Let’s be in no hurry!" said the Boyfriend,
”There’s no need for that.”

"When the time is right," the Boyfriend said,
"What we will chiefly need:
Are pre-nuptial agreements,
In case I underestimate your greed.
Now if you're ready, Lady dear,
Won't you first sign this deed?"

"There is time for that!" the Lady cried,
Turning a little blue.
And all this while, my rum soaked brain
Wondered what I could do.
Should I just sit passively by
Or should I make my move?

"It was so kind of you to come,
And you are very nice!"
The Lady said nothing but,
"I need men, not mice.
I wish you didn't pretend to be deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Boyfriend said,
"To play on me such a trick,
After I’ve tolerated you so far,
And developed feelings so thick!"
The Lady said nothing but,
"Beat it, you useless prick!"

"I weep for you," the Lady said:
"I valued the time you gave me."
With sobs and tears the boyfriend ran out
And jumped into the sea,
Leaving the field open
For a rum-soaked hero like me.

"O dear Lady," said I,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be go to the party again?”
She agreed to my request for fun.
And this was scarcely odd, because
She was used to doing everyone.

Apologies to Lewis Carroll, may I not burn in Hell for this.

Changing guard

Having actively observed the technology space pan out across various markets for a few years now, it is striking that some of the questions remain the same.

Q: What are those needs that drive the changes in this space?
Interestingly, this one never changes. In spite of rapid changes in technology and lifestyles, peoples needs continue to revolve around
Information - structure, language, content, ease of search, accessibility
Entertainment - richer, higher content
Communication - easier, simulating the living-room experience
Transaction - speed, security, convenience

Q: What will determine how people will react to these changes?
While researchers and analysts are splitting the hairs right down the middle, I think there are three broad factors that drive peoples reactions to changes -age, race, gender

Q: What would provide the competitive edge?
Dominace would center around safeguarding the core technology IPR through securing rights on the medium (devices, network, hosting). However, the core technology IPR should continue to strive for convergence, convenience and lower prices.

Q: So how are different players competing?
... Google is betting on medium and accessibility
... Yahoo is betting on people using some or all the components to create a social medium
... Microsoft is betting on entertainment
... Production houses are betting on content

Needless to say, there will be several derived, expanding markets
... Server manufacturers are betting on low-end RISC UNIX boxes to serve SME markets
... Tie-ups between significant players (e.g. Google and Sun) to provide computing infrastructure
... Intel to expand the chip-set product ranges
etc.

Q: What am I betting on?
Convergence and price. Why? There is a vastly served market and there is a vast underserved market. I continue to argue for the underserved market. Needs are undefined and aplenty; they have been priced out of the marketplace and forced to look for cheap alternatives. Thus, if Google were to embrace the consumer electronics market and evolve home devices, then my bet will be on Google to continue dominating. (This would make a target price in excess of $500 at the end of 2006 seem reasonable).

While business models will change, Google has proved that advertising revenues can only grow higher. Price points can be broken only if the attempt is to ensure that end-user receives it free. This would suggest that the only way to defeat piracy is to partially embrace it - offer limited content free that can be widely distributed and see what all advertising revenues can be earned in the distribution. Retain premium content that is distributed with devices, thus limiting the scope for piracy. After all, piracy is not an art.

Q: What would this imply?
Office suites would soon be available as a web service, music artists would start selling some of their songs for free and start earning of advertising revenues etc.

Q: Why do I believe this?
I believe this because there is always money to be made; it just doesn't have to be made off me.