UPS delivered SageTV in the evening. I was surprised to see how small it is compared to HTPC I'm currently running!. It is actually tiny bit bigger than iPhone 4, as the accompanying photo shows. For the last few years I've come to the realization that I don't watch any of the cable channels. The only programs I watch are "Office", "Outsource", "Chase", "The Middle" and sometimes "America Got Talent". My current dish network subscription has been local channels only for this reason. HTPC was supposed to replace my Dish Receiver, but the maintenance and power consumption was a big concern for me. My efforts to switch to HTPC with network based OTA tuner (HDHomeRun) ran into several issues, HTPC hardware fails (HDD failed, graphic card died, Windows 7 corruption etc). It was a constant battle to keep this setup running.
I was looking at SageTV HD200 and SageMC setup for sometime, it looked like a good option. but I wasn't sold on HD200 it looked ugly both hardware and software. Then recently Sage released souped up HD 300 with more capabilities, new hardware design and SageTV MC 7.0. There was no reason not to get this puppy now.
Why is Jimmy Wales staring at you?
Have you noticed wikipedia in the past couple of weeks? You cannot escape founder of wikipedia staring at you with a "personal appeal". I use wikipedia almost everyday for everything from learning about "four loco" to "L'Avion". His stare makes me uncomfortable, I scroll down as soon as I hit wiki page to avoid making eye contact!!. This is the first time I've seen something like this in Wikipedia and did a little digging to find out the reason behind using his face and stare for raising money. There is a fascinating reason behind his stare. Read it here. Now I wonder how can other public services, such as NPR, use this marketing tactic? Is there anyway I can tell Jimmy Wales to stop staring, I did my contribution already? Please?
NetNeutrality - a bad omen for congressmen
There were 95 Democrats in Congress who pledged public support for net neutrality:
http://www.netcompetition.org/Electiontally.pdf
http://www.netneutralityprotectors.com/
http://www.netcompetition.org/Electiontally.pdf
http://www.netneutralityprotectors.com/
Apparently, every single one of them lost in last week's election!
Clearly, net neutrality was not one of the top issues for the election but it did become one of the casualties nevertheless.
http://www.netcompetition.org/Electiontally.pdf
http://www.netneutralityprotectors.com/
http://www.netcompetition.org/Electiontally.pdf
http://www.netneutralityprotectors.com/
Apparently, every single one of them lost in last week's election!
Clearly, net neutrality was not one of the top issues for the election but it did become one of the casualties nevertheless.
Brazil - International Seminar
As part of the program we have option to choose 5 destinations for our international seminar in the 5th term. Paris (New Product Development),Munich (Managing Brands, Identity, and Experiences), Shanghai (Opportunities and Risk in PRC), Hong Kong (Opportunities and Risk in PRC) and Rio De Janeiro (Competitiveness of Latin Economies and why countries grow?).
I've been asked this why I chose to go to Brazil?. Why not Munich? Shanghai? Well, like others I anguished myself over this for many days. And finally chose Brazil for following reasons.
I've been asked this why I chose to go to Brazil?. Why not Munich? Shanghai? Well, like others I anguished myself over this for many days. And finally chose Brazil for following reasons.
- Brazil is one of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries that is going to shape the future of the world in the coming years.
- It certainly has abundant natural resources but struggles to improve its people's living standards.
- It has huge populations, with large middle class. On one hand it has large swath of people with advanced skills and on the other hand there is a large section of population that lack basic skills and education.
- Brazil is one of the countries that is admired around the world for its culture and sports skills. Brazilian samba and carnival are known around the world. Its soccer team is adored by millions of plans in far countries such as Bangladesh and India.
- Its President Lula is respected around the world for the changes he brought in and for his liberal views. I was personal impressed with his offer of asylum to the woman who is sentenced to stoning in Iran.
- Brazil aspires to be a world power in the coming years. It competes regionally with countries such as Chile and globally with India, China and Russia. I want to understand what measures a country such as Brazil can take to compete in global arena. How the firms in the country fight for global foothold (Ex.Embraer). I understand the perspective of China and India, I want to look at Brazil from a different angle. As Ghemawat said, the rules that apply to companies also apply to countries.
- Personally I've been to all other places before (HK, Paris, Munich and Shangahi). Brazil is one place I've not been to.
Globalization Block week
Well it is already fourth day of Globalization block week. It was mostly lectures by Prof.Stiglitz today. I had to send out couple of emails and look at some of the PE documents. I was thinking about sitting in the simulcast room the program setup for auditors. When I went to the room, I was surprised to see around 15 people sitting there. From what I learnt, it consisted of mostly people who are taking the class for credit.
Prof.Stiglitz's lecture was interesting today. He talked about global IP regimes, IMF, SDR etc. He suggested the idea of giving all the countries a certain amount of SDRs and taxing them on the surplus. There were plenty of questions on the topic from students. I couldn't comprehend how this will work? How to divvy up SDRs to countries?
I got a chance to talk to Prof.Greenwald in the walkway. He was waiting it out during Prof.Stiglitz lecture. I got Prof.Greenwald's autograph in his book and also a photo with him.
Prof.Stiglitz's lecture was interesting today. He talked about global IP regimes, IMF, SDR etc. He suggested the idea of giving all the countries a certain amount of SDRs and taxing them on the surplus. There were plenty of questions on the topic from students. I couldn't comprehend how this will work? How to divvy up SDRs to countries?
I got a chance to talk to Prof.Greenwald in the walkway. He was waiting it out during Prof.Stiglitz lecture. I got Prof.Greenwald's autograph in his book and also a photo with him.
Term 4 ended today and... Term 5 started already!!
Today is the last day of the Globalization Block week. I was wondering if Prof.Stiglitz going to be in the class today. Sure enough, it was only Prof.Greenwald discussing the Benetton and Tricon cases. I was under the impression that the class is going to end at 2:30. However, Prof.Greenwald ended the class before noon. We didn't get a chance to discuss Tricon case. He just gave us summary and key learnings from the case. I saw Prof.Stiglitz outside uris hall talking with couple other professors. I had his book "Globalization and its discontents" ready with for getting his autograph. They were discussing something quite seriously. I thought about asking for an autograph but gave up the idea at the last minute.
Received an email from Prof.Goodson with course syllabus and case readings for Block 1 of M&A classes. He has the "world's largest syllabus", his words!.
Term 5 starts now...
Received an email from Prof.Goodson with course syllabus and case readings for Block 1 of M&A classes. He has the "world's largest syllabus", his words!.
Term 5 starts now...
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