Sensible security

This is the first time I am taking planes since the presumed averted serious terrorist threat in the UK. The situation is beacoming insane. Getting off a plane, I was leaving the airport of Toronto and was not allowed to buy and take with me a bottle of mineral water (I was supposed to empty it in a plastic glass and take the glass with me)...

I wonder what the cost of paranoia is and who really believes that security measures that prevent people from taking fluids with them will solve the root cause of increased insecurity since 2001. We've spent five years waging wars, creating security policies, procedures and agencies, abducting "suspects" (see about the investigation of the European Parliament) and sending them to less than democratic countries for "tough"interrogation and throwing money out the window in military initiatives that lead nowhere.

Now the cost of war operations is SEVERAL TIMES the entire budget of the Marshall Plan of the 1950s; are we really investing our money in the best possible way to defeat terrorism, to build lasting peace and support durable development? By the way, terrorism in Greek is called "Tromokratia", which has the same structure as the word "democracy" (Dimokratia) and it means "political power by fear" (democracy means "political power by the people")... Perhaps in our times more than ever before fear is a means by which to exert political power. Today on Slashdot there was reference to an interesting article (read "What the terrorists want") written by someone who seems to have a very sensible way to approach security.

Food for thought...

Blogging in Canada

A couple of days ago I started a blog about my trip to Canada. Giving a thought to this blog, I decided to focus it more on business and professional aspects and to create dedicated blogs for other topics: books, cooking, trips, training, personal development... My plan is to invite other people to write in these dedicated blogs. More in a couple of weeks.

SIP telephony: quality not guaranteed

I'm really excited because I managed to place a couple of SIP calls with my Nokia E61. Quality of sound leaves a lot to be desired if the connection to the Internet is not excellent. I was on an 802.11.b network and I suspect the Internet connection was not that great, so I ended up spending more time asking the people I was calling whether they could hear me than actually speaking to them. Still, I find it great that a personal communication device can be used to place long distance calls via the Internet instead of standard cellular networks... Quality will improve. The question is whether cellular operators will reinvent their business models and how the mobile telco industry will be shaped now that it seems possible to get Internet access in extremely remote places.

When the web is where GSM coverage is not

Currently in the Magdalen Islands, Canada. No GSM coverage. Splendid corner of the planet (not only because of lack of coverage). Sitting in a cafe configuring my new E61 for SIP telephony. One quick thought: incumbents had better rethink their business model 'cause it's dying slowly but surely.

First day in Toronto, Ontario

First day in Toronto. First impressions outstanding. Nice people, nice city, exceptional blend of cultures and styles. A great feeling of openness, freedom and respect.
In fact I came here because a dear couple of friends is living in Toronto (and they love it)... So for me it is a great opportunity to discover a new place and discovery sometimes leads to interesting inspirations. Who knows?
I was stunned this morning in the underground reading a poster of the TTC, the local public transports organization, stating that they are able to provide information and service to their customers in 70 languages... Amazing! Canada seems to be a surprising blend of a developed country and a country that still has a lot of development opportunities for the future.

Today was a lot of walking downtown. China town is a beautiful experience and a great place for anyone who wants to study commercial talent... Tomorrow's schedule says "Greek part of Toronto" (how could I not go there after all?) and uptown... Let's see what the impressions will be.

Tough to write

Boy has it been tough for me to write stuff on my blog these past few weeks! Dealing with personal issues, trying to wrap-up projects and watching in utter dismay the sad events happening in the world. How relevant or important is it to write stuff about interesting marketing services, tests of products, why Palm's customer service on the Treo 650 sucks big time or how to create a relevant email signature for start-ups, when there is this outburst of violence?

Makes me think of U2's "Sunday, bloody Sunday", which we may want to rewrite "Summer, bloody summer"... "... there's many lost, but tell me who has won".  A couple of years ago I vowed to stop worrying about stuff I cannot influence and focus on my little sphere of action. So, that's exactly what I am going to do: work on creative positive endeavours, continue to work with people who want to grow, solve issues or find their purpose in life (and make them donate to NGO's as a payment for the time I spend walking a part of the path with them)... And I just had an idea while taking a shower (the shower is my best place for generating ideas (and no, I have never tried to do a brainstorming session with my customers under the shower!); anyway, here's the idea: to go through a program of foster parenting to support one child from one community at war and another from the other community involved in the same war and someday to manage to make them meet as "virtual" brothers / sisters. If we were numerous enough to do that, there may just be enough positive energy for closing the divide between longtime enemies. It would take a lot of people, but I guess it's a bit like a trip of a thousand miles that starts with just one little step... Food for thought.

"Recueil Désuet" : A dive in fantasy

Maya de Luna - "Recueil Désuet" on Jamendo

This is a great creation. I really like the way music and voices mix creating a strange and inviting atmosphere that prompts me to imagine fantastic landscapes and settings. It's lively, yet quiet and melodic... great discovery.