Supposedly the riots in France are beginning to "wind down." As they do, many people are starting to ask what started all this? Why are all these Arab Muslims so angry? It seems pretty clear to me that France has some of the same discrimination problems the United States had years ago (and probably still has in places).
Specifically, I'm reminded of an AP article I saved from Dec. 17, 2003. "Chirac to Seek Law Banning Head Scarves." I saved this article because at the time I remember being absolutely appalled. This was just two years after Sept.11th, 2001, but at the same time I could never imagine banning a certain form of religious dress in the U.S.A. It would be like making Hasidic Jews take off those hats!
In the article Chirac went on to say, "Secularism is one of the great successes of the Republic...It is a crucial element of social peace and national cohesion. We cannot let it weaken." This seems tremendously sad to me. I don't consider myself religious, but I do have faith. Totalitarian states based on a theocracy are one horrible extreme, but a total secular state seems to be the other.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
"What chu talkin’ bout Willis?"
I’m a technology guy. That is, I’m not an engineer, but I truly believe in the promise of technology, and that it will continue to make the world better for millions of people. So Malaria vaccines aside, every so often I think of something that makes me think “hmmm, will we give up all of our privacy and freedom if such and such happens?”
Here’s an example. Starting today, 2005, for the rest of your life, you better watch out what you say near any type of recording device! That is, don’t ever say anything out loud that you don’t mind having anyone hear. This will apply whether you’re planning to run for office in twenty-five years or if you just want to talk about your boss behind his back. Don’t ever call into a radio show anonymously and make an off color remark, because there will be no such thing as anonymous.
And the reason for the peril described above? The answer, of course, is Google. Maybe not Google specifically, but the future combination of different technologies will “out” us all on our perceived privacies. It goes like this. One form of biometric, a voice print, plus digitally recorded and stored audio, plus search algorithms equals the ultimate audio look up tool.
That means you could have every intention of leading a quiet life, not bothering anyone, and one day get pushed into the public eye --- say you win the lottery. The next day, you’re a news story, and all anyone needs to do is type in your name, select audio (or video for that matter) and click search. Everything you ever said near any type of a recorder pops up, including the time you promised that if you ever won the lottery you promised to give it all $340 million away to save endangered snail darter.
Be careful what you say.
Here’s an example. Starting today, 2005, for the rest of your life, you better watch out what you say near any type of recording device! That is, don’t ever say anything out loud that you don’t mind having anyone hear. This will apply whether you’re planning to run for office in twenty-five years or if you just want to talk about your boss behind his back. Don’t ever call into a radio show anonymously and make an off color remark, because there will be no such thing as anonymous.
And the reason for the peril described above? The answer, of course, is Google. Maybe not Google specifically, but the future combination of different technologies will “out” us all on our perceived privacies. It goes like this. One form of biometric, a voice print, plus digitally recorded and stored audio, plus search algorithms equals the ultimate audio look up tool.
That means you could have every intention of leading a quiet life, not bothering anyone, and one day get pushed into the public eye --- say you win the lottery. The next day, you’re a news story, and all anyone needs to do is type in your name, select audio (or video for that matter) and click search. Everything you ever said near any type of a recorder pops up, including the time you promised that if you ever won the lottery you promised to give it all $340 million away to save endangered snail darter.
Be careful what you say.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Dell's lost Mojo
I despise short-term thinking. I certainly can't say that I have never been guilty of it (who hasn't) but it doesn't stop me from calling it out in others....
An article appeared in Barron's this week entitled " Time to Admit It: Dell's Lost Its Mojo." (Sub required). A basic premise of the article is that Dell still rules the roost in U.S. PC sales, but that the Dell sell-direct model is not translating in overseas markets. "In the hottest markets, China and India, buyers prefer to play with a machine before buying. "
Well this seems perfectly logical. Haven't been to India; have not spent a lot of time in Beijing (zero), but I get the strong feeling that the PC market in these countries is very nascent. Furthermore, the article continues, ""The PC business is no longer a growth market, for Dell or for anyone else, and it never again will be," says John Enck of the Gartner Group. "There is no conceivable way that Dell can significantly outgrow the market as a whole "
This seems stunningly dumb to me. Sure, the PC business is not a growth market today. At the same time, can we all agree that the PC is a pretty neat invention? Can we all agree that the "sleeping Tigers" of Asia have huge pent-up market demand for PCs? Okay, so they're still in the tire-kicking stage of the PC market in China and feel the need to "get their hands on" the machines ahead of time. Once the masses understand the value of PCs, is there any reason to believe that Direct from Dell can't work there as well? What's more, could other PC companys like HP and Lenovo be so crazy as to be building reseller channels for PCs in these countries?
Doesn't make Dell a "buy" today, but also doesn't mean the PC market will "never again" be a growth market.
An article appeared in Barron's this week entitled " Time to Admit It: Dell's Lost Its Mojo." (Sub required). A basic premise of the article is that Dell still rules the roost in U.S. PC sales, but that the Dell sell-direct model is not translating in overseas markets. "In the hottest markets, China and India, buyers prefer to play with a machine before buying. "
Well this seems perfectly logical. Haven't been to India; have not spent a lot of time in Beijing (zero), but I get the strong feeling that the PC market in these countries is very nascent. Furthermore, the article continues, ""The PC business is no longer a growth market, for Dell or for anyone else, and it never again will be," says John Enck of the Gartner Group. "There is no conceivable way that Dell can significantly outgrow the market as a whole "
This seems stunningly dumb to me. Sure, the PC business is not a growth market today. At the same time, can we all agree that the PC is a pretty neat invention? Can we all agree that the "sleeping Tigers" of Asia have huge pent-up market demand for PCs? Okay, so they're still in the tire-kicking stage of the PC market in China and feel the need to "get their hands on" the machines ahead of time. Once the masses understand the value of PCs, is there any reason to believe that Direct from Dell can't work there as well? What's more, could other PC companys like HP and Lenovo be so crazy as to be building reseller channels for PCs in these countries?
Doesn't make Dell a "buy" today, but also doesn't mean the PC market will "never again" be a growth market.
First Blood
Good Morning - nothing much to say at the moment, at least...not until I figure out how this tool works. Not exactly "first blood" I know, but we'll see what happens.
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