You can't handle the truth!

Just the other day I was watching the classic military-courtroom thriller of 1992, A Few Good Men.

This courtroom scene from the movie is a favorite for many including me. "You can't handle the truth", Colonel Jessup starts and goes on to tell why he feels the death of Santiago, while tragic, saved lives.

I couldn't help but consider this an analogy to the situation the Government of India (GoI) is in today after the two high profile scams - 2G spectrum and coal blocks . Not that I blame them, for even in the movie Colonel Jessup comes across as a tough master who merely removed Santiago, the rotten apple who could have spoiled the barrel.

This is probably what the GoI would speak if not for the fear of assault by Opposition/Civil society/Media/Judiciary on it. And when I mean GoI it means any party that sits on the captain seat and steers the country. 

"Son, we live in a world that is globalized, and the companies that drives the economy need to have their raw materials (Coal.?!) and resources (2G spectrum.?!). Who's gonna give it? You? You, Mr. Anna Hazare? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for lost revenue, and you curse the Government. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That the scams, while tragic, probably saved jobs in the dire economic situation. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, drives the economy and in turn your lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on the driver seat, you need me on that seat. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very financial freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you to become a politician/bureaucrat and design policies. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to."

The original quote however is here.

We might hang people like Colonel Jessup for human rights violation but when in difficult situation like a war, it is people like him whom we look to. I am not justifying or defending the government, it is just that - Power corrupts, deal with it, losers (anti-corruption brigade)!

Another of my favorite quote comes to my mind, from the movie Die another day. One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter! Not all of them can be satisfied and everyone has their defenses and justifications!

Apple Inc - The World's most (hypocritically) valuable company.!

A lot had been discussed about the outcome of the Apple vs Samsung trial by news and gadget websites around the world. While I am personally shocked at the audacity with which the jury had overwhelmingly handed Apple Inc, the victory, without even properly understanding the jury instructions as this report claims it is not surprising, for what else to expect from a case where the judge seemed to love Apple, the defendant was a Korean company (Apple played this beautifully, by not bringing Google to court first!) with the trial held in the United States of America, where off late jobs (not Steve) from other countries contributing to their economy is considered suspicious and the jury was picked from a place where Steve Jobs is considered an Idol. Well can't blame the jury for anyone who comes into contact with an Apple device, invariably, falls into the 'Reality Distortion Field', which probably helped them answer 700 questions in 3 work days (21 hours) flat, albeit, with a lot of inconsistencies.

All I had for the jury when I heard the outcome was a little prayer.

It was the response of Apple to the Jury's verdict that upset me the most. It started off with thanking the jury for their time - which we see is not the case, they arrived at the verdict at lightning speed. It goes on to say that the fight was not about money but values. I doubt where the values went when Apple ripped technologies from other companies. They continue to state that they value innovation, this coming from a company which was releasing updates to counter jailbroken devices and curtailing innovation with a device someone owned. While Android, the OS Samsung used in the devices in question can be modified, used in other devices such as watches, computers, refrigerators, et cetera. Wonder who values Innovation here? It ends by applauding the court for sending a clear message that Stealing isn't right, while their own former boss, the man behind the ipod, ipad and iphone, Steve Jobs, had said that they have been shameless about stealing. 

Author Mark Henderson was right when he said in The Geek Manifesto that Scientific controversies must not be settled through litigation. Well, maybe, Apple didn't do anything scientific off late.

BAT-ism..

Screen at the top left corner of the Church

Our church, the CSI Redeemer Church in Anna nagar, has a nice projector which projects into a motorized screen, hymns, excerpts from the order of worship for its congregation to read from, pictures and videos. It is a nice touch and makes the Church one among a few technology embracing churches where being traditional rather than technological is the norm.

Despite being the house of God it was a mere human who had to maintain content and the topic for the Sunday mass was Baptism, but the projected topic, had a typo, and read Batism! Bat-ism, I read it as, and my thoughts drifted (I'm confessing!) to The Dark Knight Rises movie I had watched and the discussion surrounding it with friends the other day. 

One of the main complaints from friends was the presence of 'Desi' content in the movie. Examples of such content would be the hero failing to stand up to a villain in the initial stages but emerge victorious towards the end of a movie, acts of dare devilry wherein jumping without a protective rope around the waist guarantees success, et cetera. These are, as Indians would profess, normal for any Indian actor in the average Indian 'Desi' flick (I'm a small-time fan of such flicks!).

But I am of the feeling that this was one of the most realistically made super hero movie and an awesome conclusion to an impressive trilogy. It says even a super hero can fail, confidence can make or break, it is good to have partners (business ones!) and it is a good idea to ultimately retire and let someone else take forward the fight (Did I hear someone say Sachin?!).

I still wish Katie Holmes was part of the cast, thanks, Tom Cruise and Church of Scientology!

The Scourge of PSBs

HDFC Bank pipped State Bank of India (SBI) to become the most valued bank by Market Capitalization.

As the son of a serving SBI officer and having been in service of one of SBI's many subsidiaries, SBT (State Bank of Travancore) as a Probationary Officer, this was a rather embarrassing and sad news, though I understand that this news will be history sooner than later. But what strikes me is the apathy with which my fellow citizens view SBI and the other PSBs (Public Sector Banks) in India. Evident when a friend of mine, an account holder and shareholder of HDFC Bank, pointed me to the above news item with a sarcastic smiley over IM.

Agreed, the service rendered by most PSB branches are no where near comparable to those offered by the private and foreign banks (PFBs) in India but is that reason enough to hate the PSBs with such hatred. The media too have field days in pointing out mistakes by PSBs while going soft on the PFBs, probably because a lot more can be exposed because PSBs are covered by the Right To Information (RTI) act while PFBs aren't?! So much for being transparent.

It is a well known fact how private banks use 'goondas' and other not so dignified means to recover money, as a borrower the people complain of this callous act but as an investor they are annoyed when PSBs declare rising NPAs (Non Performing Assets). The private banks hardly lend to farmers for they hardly have branches in remote places, so when the monsoon fails it is the PSBs that write off the farmer's loans and take a hit on their profits. The urban educated, savvy, young population would brush off a PSB as not quick enough for their lifestyle but most would have availed an Education loan from a PSB as private banks shun them. The private banks intimidate poor pensioners but whine about lack of Government businesses.

The private and foreign banks brought in many firsts in India and set new benchmarks in service, but the public sector banks have always stood for the nation and should be respected for what they have done.

Gentleman Jack.!

The most admired company in the world is Apple Inc according to most people across the world and also according to this survey and most of my friends, fervently, agree. I tend to disagree primarily because of my views on patent battles and the ill effects the judgments from these lawsuits have on innovation and customer choices. I strongly feel that second place holder Google Inc deserves the first place because of their attitude towards technology, contribution and support to open source projects and trying to live up to their "Don't Be Evil" tag. 

Boxy Bottle and Black Label

Well, my point here ain't about who among these two companies are the most admirable and I still obviously consider my Apple 'fanboi' friends as friends!

It is about the makers of the 'best selling whiskey in the world', the owners of the brand called Jack Daniels, shipped in a boxy bottle and black label. They just became darlings to many across the world and was admired even by people who abhor alcohol.

Spot the differences in the design!

The reason. The traditional black label (not to be confused with the Johnnie Walker Black Label which is a Scotch!) on the boxy bottle of the Tennessee whiskey inspired/was adapted/copied as his book cover by author Mr. Patrick Wensink (or his publishers or both) in his book, Broken Piano for President.

In an age where litigation between the companies in the most admired list are a daily occurrence around the world, the distillers did something which has never been done in modern history (to the best of my knowledge). Excerpts from their letter to the author is shown below.

Excerpts of letter by brand owners to the author.

Shouldn't the companies in the 'most admired companies' list be learning a lesson or two from the above letter. Wish they would.

The Dark Knight and Corruption Nightmares..

It was a Corporate Banking assignment which had been due about a week back and I had submitted it late, as usual. The professor, Mr. Sridharan, an ex banker, wanted us, management grads, to contemplate the depreciation of Indian Rupee, the reasons and solutions and submit it as a two page essay.

My essay was scrutinized for the content and the learned professor pointed out a glaring mistake in my report. I had included corruption as a reason for the depreciation. Well, he was right, I had included it after much deliberation to fill in the empty space (well I had forgotten about the solution part and listed just the reasons and hence the empty space!).

Today after reading two news articles, one about the upcoming fast by Team Anna and another about Russian ambassador, Mr. Alexander Kadakin, ‘warning’ about the investments by India’s ONGC in oil exploration in Russia might run into a Russian Winter if the Supreme Court judgment on license cancellation has adverse effect on Russian Sistema Telecom’s Indian venture, I can’t help but believe corruption does play a role, albeit, a trivial role. Well it isn’t the corruption, literally, since Russia is more corrupt than India. All the vigilantes that have raised against corruption, drawing more airtime and in the process a lot of negative publicity to Indian corporate, government and putting the pressure on a reform-starved Judiciary to deliver overzealous verdicts to appease a corrupt population making them believe they are being forced to be corrupt.

I may be prejudiced here given my disgust for Team Anna and their campaigns which I feel distort facts. I would like to see an honest, non-corrupt bureaucracy with a transparent government at its helm but then I have a feeling that it is like an ideal engine (a carnot engine), possible only theoretically. Even the country lauded for its non-corrupt system has them all.

Well it is Batman season and let me take a quote from the movie.

..as a symbol I can be incorruptible..

Harvey Dent: When their enemies were at the gates, the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to protect the city. It wasn't considered an honor, it was considered a public service. 
Rachel Dawes: Harvey, the last man who they appointed the Republic was named Caesar and he never gave up his power. 
Harvey Dent: Okay, fine. you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. 

Now do I have to tell you who I think are the enemy and Caesar in case of India? Fine, Corruption is the enemy and Lokpal or the Corruption Crusaders may well be the Caesar.


God save my country!!!

An American Inc, a Korean Conglomerate and a Korean-American Judge

Judge Lucy Koh

Yet another judgement against Android by judge Lucy H Koh. She says and I quote, "I really don't think this is a trial about Steve Jobs", when dismissing Samsung's argument that Jobs' 'Thermonuclear' quote speaks of Apple's bias, motives and lack of belief in its claims. 

Obama with his mac

Obviously it ain't a trial against him but then when other Judges like Chicago Federal Judge Richard Posner agrees its fair game to include Steve Jobs' quotes why would Judge Koh do the opposite. Being the Korean-American she is, she doesn't have to side with Samsung but she should at least be sincere when dealing with an electronics giant from Korea rather than being corrupt or biased as being alleged around the world. The fact that she and her spouse are active in the current administration with Barack Obama at the helm, who incidentally is a mac lover and Jobs' admirer is worrying.

Tim Cook, Apple CEO

I personally feel patent lawsuits take us nowhere and seriously hamper innovation. Apple does get its share of profits by charging a premium over its products for its 'innovation', which occasionally were stolen ideas as admitted by Steve Jobs. Why raise the rhetoric now? Given that Tim Cook prefers to 'settle rather than battle', I believe Apple is doing all this to keep alive the Jobs' legacy of waging the battle.

The war might never be won and war has always been a setback to development.