Odds and Ends, Wed 18 Apr 2007

   1. "The Thoughts of Chairman Miaow"
        <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thoughts-Chairman-Miaow/dp/1861058462>
      Looks like I'm not the only person to have named their cat "Chairman
      Miaow".  The cat on the book cover even looks like a bit like my sadly
      departed cat:
        <http://homepage.mac.com/bruno_andrighetto/ChairmanMiaow/index.html>
      (I haven't updated that page, so it still uses the present tense)

   2. "Chocolate 'better than kissing'"
        <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6558775.stm>
      "Chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting "buzz" than kissing,
       and doubled volunteers' heart rates."
      "A buzz that, in many cases, lasted four times as long as the most
       passionate kiss."

   3. "Australian scientists dress women in wine"
        <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1872486.htm>
      "Australian researchers are making dresses from fermented fabric, using
       bacteria to grow slimy dresses from wine and beer."

   4. "Brides say 'I do' to green weddings"
        <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1892530.htm>
      "That means everything from recycled wedding dresses and guests arriving
       by bicycle, to home-grown flowers and locally produced food for the
       wedding buffet."

   5. "Libby Lenton's tent wedding"
        <http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21520528-5001021,00.html>
      "After selling the rights to her big day to New Idea, the 22-year-old was
       forced to shuffle inside a white "walking tent'', shielded by a white
       sheet and huge black umbrellas carried by a horde of security guards."

   6. "Luxury toilet made for modern kings and queens"
        <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1842749.htm>
      "Special features include an iPod music player and speakers, an Xbox
       video game console, a refrigerator filled with drinks and snacks and a
       cycling exercise machine."
      Photo at:
        <http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/07/rotorooter-to-give-away-ipod-enabled-potty/>

   7. The Joy of Tech comic: "The real reasons Mac OS X Leopard is late"
        <http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/948.html>

   8. An oldie but a goodie ...
      "The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they
       make a vacuum cleaner."

Can You Raed Tihs?

   A B-Lister recently reminded me of an item that appeared a few years
   ago about an interesting reading-related phenomenon:

   "Slepping: its so smiple"
     <http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1068149,00.html>
   "A curoius ietm is going around the innernet at the moemnt citting new
    reserach from Cambirge Uvinersity tat indicicates we don't raed wrods
    the way we ttaut we ddid. Accroding to the exprets, the eye deosn't
    need or evn want the whoole wrord. It noets the frist and last lettres,
    and fills in the rest by inrefence. You can even add or dorp lettres.
    The jumumble in btweeen is irrveralent. Cogintion hapneps vrey fast
    and quite misteriollusly."

   There's a related page about it at snopes.com:
     <http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/cambridge.asp>

   Included there is a link to a page at Cambridge's Cognition and Brain
   Sciences Unit:
     <http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/~mattd/Cmabrigde/>
   which looks at the science behind it, and has info about the original
   paper, plus some other related stuff if you're interested.

On the Act of Reading

   You may have noticed that I've been posting a lot of book reviews
   lately.  I got a bit bored of the old-style "themed" B-List posts,
   and I have been reading a bit more than usual recently.  Here are
   some book- and reading-related items ...

   1. "Six Walks in the Fictional Woods" by Umberto Eco
   I'm currently reading a book about the process of reading itself:
     <http://www.amazon.com/Six-Walks-Fictional-Woods/dp/0674810511>

   This is not really a review, since I'm only halfway through it.  While
   only 160 pages some bits are quite theoretical - e.g. it starts off
   examining the distinction between model author and empirical author.
   But it is interesting nonetheless.


   2. "The great unread: DBC Pierre, Harry Potter ... oh yes, and David
       Blunkett"
     <http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2031646,00.html>
   "Fifty-five per cent of those polled for the survey, commissioned by
    Teletext, said they buy books for decoration, and have no intention
    of actually reading them"

   "What happened next?"
     <http://books.guardian.co.uk/digestedread/story/0,,2031884,00.html>
   "John Crace's digested endings of Britain's 10 least-finished books"

   "The Digested Read"
     <http://books.guardian.co.uk/digestedread/>
   More summaries for those who don't have the time to read the whole
   book.


   3. Tressants - Invisible Cities
     <http://www.tressants.com/>
   "The interior design of the entire hotel is based on the book,
    'Invisible Cities', by Italo Calvino. Each bedroom is representative
    of a different city".

   Hotel Tressants in Menorca
     <http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/0121/design_1-1.html>
   An article about the hotel's unique architecture.


   4. Harrius Potter??

   I was in Dymocks recently and noticed that they had a section on Latin
   books (surprise #1).  And among the handful of Latin books was a
   translation of one of the Harry Potter books (surprise #2).  Not having
   read any of the books in the series, and not being able to read Latin
   anyway, I didn't think much more of it.  Later I did some googling and
   found that Wikipedia is also available in Latin (surprise #3).  Here's
   the article on "Harrius Potter":
     <http://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrius_Potter>


   5. "Hello, tech support? My book isn't working"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ>
   A humorous spoof of modern tech support set in the middle ages.  A monk
   is having problems reading his new-fangled "book" thingy.
   [Norwegian with English subtitles]

   If YouTube is blocked, you might be able to at least read about it at:
     <http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/?p=34>
     <http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/hello-tech-support-
        my-book-isnt-working/>

Just Say No - Technology You Don't Need

   Technology is a double-edged sword.  Most is good, but a lot is bad or
   just plain unnecessary.  Tech companies are always hyping the latest
   gizmos for consumers to waste their money on.  I have a long list of
   examples of Microsoft Snake Oil that I will write about on my rants
   blog when I get time.  In the meantime, here are some examples of
   cases to "Just Say No", plus an antidote.

   1. "Top 5ive Gadgets You Shouldn't Buy"
     <http://www.smartmoney.com/top5/index.cfm?story=20070213>

   2. "ABC to get Second Life"
     <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1836755.htm>
   "The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Telstra and Tourism
    Australia are building islands in the virtual online world of Second
    Life. Companies are recognising the huge marketing potential of the
    three-dimensional world, where people escape their own existences to
    live a different virtual life, and are racing to set up shop there and
    in other virtual worlds."

   Last week Four Corners took a look at Second Life in a program called
   "You Only Live Twice":
     <http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2007/s1873399.htm>
   You can read the transcripts and watch the "vodcast".  But be warned -
   it doesn't take long to find out where the real money will be made with
   this "virtual reality".
   My favourite quote: Clay Shirky, on the suggestion that Second Life
   "citizens" are excited about buying a book through Amazon when they
   are "in-world":
   "No. No-one is excited about that. People are excited about other
    people being excited about it."

   3. "Pizzaky: The Open-Air Electric Pizza Oven"
     <http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2007/03/pizzaky_the_ope.html>
   "This open-air, ovenless pizza cooker will cook up to a 12-inch pizza
    using its upper and lower electric heaters. The flavor might not be
    as good as the conventional brick oven, but who has the money--never
    mind the space--to install one these days? This one's just a little
    under $70."

   4. "Introducing the Hipster PDA"
     <http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/03/introducing-the-hipster-pda/>
   "Recently, I got sick of lugging my Palm V around, so I developed a
    vastly superior, greatly simplified device for capturing and sharing
    information. I call it 'The Hipster PDA.'"

   Like the author, I too bought a Palm V a few years ago.  It was an
   interesting toy, but I didn't find it at useful as I had hoped.  I've
   had a look at newer PDAs since stashing away my Palm, but nothing
   excites me.  It can be a hassle carrying a pen and scraps of paper
   in my shirt pocket, but the old tech is much more flexible.

   An add-on - the Hipster Shuffle
     <http://www.restlessdreaming.com/hipster-shuffle/>

Imperium, Under the Jaguar Sun and Software Creativity 2.0

   I've been doing a fair bit of reading lately - even more than usual.
   Here are some highlights ...

   1. "Imperium: A Novel" by Robert Harris
     <http://www.amazon.com/Imperium-Robert-Harris/dp/074326603X/>

   This is a finctionalized biography of the ancient Roman orator/lawyer/
   politician Marcus Tullius Cicero.  It is narrated by Cicero's slave and
   personal scribe, Tiro.  Two particular periods in Cicero's life are the
   focus of the novel.  Firstly, Cicero's campaign for praetor (elected
   magistrate), and in particular his risky and audacious prosecution of a
   corrupt governor of Sicily, the wealthy and well-connected Gaius Verres.
   Cicero uses his considerable intellect, wit and skill in the face of a
   bought judge and a jury sympathetic to Verres.

   For those who know their ancient history, the novel provides an insight
   into the final days of the Roman Republic.  Cicero was a firm believer
   in the Republican ideal, and the novel sets the scene for the power
   struggles which would lead to end of the Republic.  Julius Caesar,
   Pompey the Great and Marcus Crassus feature in the second period in
   Cicero's life that the novel examines: the campaign for consul (the
   highest elected office of the Roman Republic).

   Along with an interesting look at the political system of Rome before
   it became an Empire, the book reminds us how history has a tendency of
   repeating itself.  Corrupt senators, greedy businessman and ruthless,
   power-hungry leaders willing to use propaganda and lies to justify
   wars.  The election of Antonus Hybrida (from an aristocratic family
   but lacking intellect or any other virtue) to the position of consul
   should've warned us of how someone like George W. Bush could become
   US President.  Will we ever learn?

   If you don't have time to read the book, a snapshot of Cicero's life is
   available at:
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero>


   2. "Under the Jaguar Sun" by Italo Calvino
     <http://www.amazon.com/Under-Jaguar-Sun-Italo-Calvino/dp/0156927942/>

   I read this book in the original Italian (under the title "Sotto il sole
   giaguaro").  It's a collection of three short stories on the senses:
   smell, taste and hearing.  Originally the author had intended to write
   two additional stories on the other senses (sight and touch), but
   unfortunately he died before he could complete them.

   The story about hearing, where a king is extremely sensitive to the
   sounds in his enormous palace, was my favourite of the three.  The story
   about smell involved customers to a perfumery in Paris, while the one on
   taste was about a couple's archaeological (and gastronomical) visit to
   Mexico.


   3. "Software Creativity 2.0" by Robert L Glass
     <http://www.amazon.com/Software-Creativity-2-0/dp/0977213315/>

   I've recently finished reading four software development related books.
   Most are too dry and technical for the B-List readership, but one may be
   of more general interest.  Software Creativity is about the role of
   creativity in software development.  It examines the conflicts between
   creativity and discipline, process and product, theory and practice.  In
   addition to personal anecdotes, the author provides interesting results
   from experiments and research conducted in the past 50 years.

   The author argues that management and many academics prefers discipline
   and formality over creativity and agility.  The process must be control-
   lable.  Programmers generally prefer less structure (and the ability to
   be creative).  The product is more important than the process.  The
   author is mostly of the opinion that creativity is critical to software
   development, and should not be eradicated by rigid processes.
   Interestingly however, the author shows there are certain types of
   projects where process may be necessary.  Is he contradicting himself?
   No, because such projects do not actually require much creativity to
   solve the particular problems present.  Or they are of such a scale that
   a greater degree of structure and formality is required.  Each project
   needs to be considered in its own right, given the size and criticality
   of the task, the problems to be solved, and the resources available.

   A book that both sides of the debate should read to find some common
   ground.  It's also a great collection of essays for anyone interested
   in creativity in the workplace and problem solving.

The Cult of Mac + The Search (book reviews)

   A couple of recent reads ...

   1. "The Cult of Mac" by Leander Kahney
     < http://www.amazon.com/Cult-Mac/dp/1593271220/ >

   An interesting look at the so-called "cult" of Mac users.  There's a
   broad spectrum of user types, from die-hard fanatics to ordinary
   pragmatists.  There are chapters on body art, collectors, Macspotting,
   Macquariums and the Mac-rumours phenomenon.  There's even a tongue-in-
   cheek chapter looking into the quasi-religious nature of Mac users.
   Lots of photos help make this an easy read.

   Personally, I'm more of a pragmatist than a rabid fanatic.  I bought my
   first Mac in 1992.  Before then, I respected Apple but I thought their
   products were overpriced.  I opted for cheaper computers (e.g. Atari
   ST), but by 1992 there seemed to be just two contenders left standing
   in the market: Apple Macintosh and the myriad of (bland) DOS PCs.
   Fortunately I was a uni student at the time so I could take advantage
   of educational discounts to buy my first Mac.  I was astonished at how
   good it was, even in those days.

   IMHO the Mac OS has remained far ahead of the alternatives.  And Macs
   are no longer as overpriced as they were in the 1980s and 1990s.  I've
   used Linux, Windows and Mac OS over the years at work.  I would only
   ever consider using Macs at home.  I want my computer to work reliably
   (and dare I say elegantly?).  Macs let me focus on the actual tasks I
   want to do rather than the boring administrivia that seems to be
   associated with keeping Windows PCs (barely) stable and Linux
   environments (barely) usable.


   2. "The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business
       and Transformed Our Culture" by John Battelle
     < http://www.amazon.com/Search/dp/1591841410/ >

   A mostly non-technical history of Internet search technologies.  It
   describes the evolution of search from the pre-"Web" days of Archie,
   through to the present day.  While most people associate Google with
   search, there have been others along the way that have left their mark,
   including Altavista and Architext/Excite.  Obviously from the title
   there is a focus on Google, but Yahoo is still a player today, and
   Microsoft, Amazon and others are keen to profit from search.  The book
   also looks at some promising future directions for Internet search.

   If you want a more technical view of search engines and the technology
   they use, you should look elsewhere.  The author does describe the
   basics of search engines, but the focus is on the business side and
   the end-user's point of view - for example improving the ease of use
   and the quality of results.

   Also, don't expect a complete history of Google.  Last year I read
   a book which does a better job of that, including more information
   about the founders of Google:
   "The Google Story: Inside the Hottest Business, Media, and Technology
    Success of Our Time" by David Vise
     < http://www.amazon.com/Google-Story/dp/0553383663/ >

   However, Battelle does take a more critical view of Google's stated
   objective of "Don't Be Evil" than Vise does.

SidewaysBike - Why?

   If it was April 1st you could be forgiven for thinking this is an April
   Fool's joke.  An Irish software engineer, Michael Killian, has invented
   a "sideways" bicycle:
   "How does a sideways bike work?"
     < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6375259.stm >
   "The cyclist sits sideways and operates a wheel with each hand, and
    pedalling makes the whole bike travel sideways"

   The official homepage has YouTube videos of the bike it's younger
   brother the "Terrible Two", and the "sideways scooter":
     < http://www.sidewaysbike.com/ >

   I don't think I'll be queuing up for one any time soon.

   ----

   While on the topic of "What were they thinking?" ...

   1. Microsoft Bob
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob >
   "Microsoft Bob was a Microsoft software product, released in March 1995,
    which provided a new, nontechnical interface to desktop computing
    operations. Despite its ambitious nature, Bob failed to penetrate the
    market and is considered Microsoft's worst program, and their largest
    failure" (so far :)

   Bob commentary and screenshots available at:
     < http://toastytech.com/guis/bob.html >
     < http://www.dans20thcenturyabandonware.com/ms-bob.html >

   You will probably notice some of the "characters" in Bob have found
   their way into other Microsoft products (for example, Rover).

   2. Microsoft SPOT Watches
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Personal_Objects_Technology >
   "Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) is Microsoft's initiative to
    attempt to create 'smart' software and hardware that will personalize
    household electronics and everyday devices to make their uses more
    versatile"

   "Why Microsoft's SPOT is such a dog"
     < http://review.zdnet.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7296_16-5115922.html >

   Nothing says "I'm an idiot" quite like wearing one of these fine
   "timepieces":
     < http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Wrist-Smart-FX3005/dp/B0006N3IFA >
     < http://www.msndirect.com/SmartWatchAbacus06Pics.html >

   3. Finally, some classic fun with Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft

   * Ballmer, jumping to "Get On Your Feet"
     < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc4MzqBFxZE >
   * Ballmer - Developers, developers, developers ...
     < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8To-6VIJZRE >

   If YouTube is blocked, read about it and try the links at:
     < http://www.appleturns.com/scene/?id=3223 >
     < http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/20840.html >
     < http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Steve_Ballmer >
     < http://www.msboycott.com/media/ >

   Yes, he really is CEO of Microsoft.

Slack (a book review)

   "Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency"
   by Tom Demarco
     < http://www.amazon.com/Slack/dp/0767907698/ >

   Don't get too excited.  The book doesn't conclude that being a total
   slacker is good for your employer.  Instead, it's main argument is that
   if an organisation's workers are always 100% "busy", and therefore
   working at 100% efficiency, then the true effectiveness of the
   organisation actually suffers.  By allowing some "slack", workers
   (especially knowledge workers) can produce better output, express
   themselves more creatively, feel less stressed and ultimately feel
   happier.  The organisation also benefits: it becomes more responsive
   to change, quality improves and it becomes more profitable.

   The author challenges many of the pillars of modern management:
   * "Fungible resources" e.g. interchangeable staff
   * "Management by Objectives"
   * Rigid processes with high ceremony
   * "Productivity" measurement
   * "Quality" programs
   * "Motivational" material and seminars

   Another interesting book co-written by this author is:
   "Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams"
   by Tom Demarco and Timothy Lister
     < http://www.amazon.com/Peopleware/dp/0932633439/ >

   I try to re-read it once every couple of years.  There's lots of great
   stuff covered on how to create a productive environment for IT workers.
   It all seems like common sense, but you need reminding every once in a
   while because many employers seem to do the opposite.

Poking Fun At Microsoft

   ... just because I haven't had a dig at the Evil Empire for a while and
   they've done so much lately to deserve a serve :)

   1. "Lies, Damned Lies, and Bill Gates"
     < http://daringfireball.net/2007/02/lies_damned_lies_and_bill_gates >
   Maybe Chairman Bill sick of everyone loving Apple's products and hating
   the stuff his company makes, or perhaps he's just a little bit scared?

   2. Praising Vista - Not!
   * "The Trouble with Vista"
     < http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9009961 >
   "It isn't the features you can see in Vista, or the lack thereof --
    it's the priority shift at Microsoft's core"

   * "Uninspiring Vista"
     < http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/17992/ >
   "How Microsoft's long-awaited operating system disappointed a stubborn
    fan"

   * "Few rush out to buy new Windows Vista"
     < http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070130/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_vista_launch >
   "Consumers can finally get their hands on Microsoft Corp.'s long-delayed
    Windows Vista, but unlike the mad midnight rushes retailers saw with
    the recently released video game consoles, stores saw only a trickle
    of early adopters Tuesday"

   3. Vista Upgrade Path
   * Vista and Mac OS X Leopard Upgrade Chart
     < http://macintosh.wordpress.com/2007/02/02/vista-and-mac-os-x-leopard-upgrade-chart/ >

   * "Windows Vista Product Editions Preview"
     < http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp >
   A look at the various Vista editions - so much choice it's enough to
   give you a headache ...
   "In the Home category, Microsoft will create four product editions:
    Windows Starter 2007, Windows Vista Home Basic (and Home Basic N for
    the European market), Windows Vista Home Premium, and Windows Vista
    Ultimate (previously known as "Uber" Edition). In the Business category,
    there will are three editions: Windows Vista Small Business, Windows
    Vista Business (previously known as Professional Standard Edition;
    along with Business N for the European market), and Windows Vista
    Enterprise (previously known as Professional Premium Edition)"

   4. "Microsoft Confirms it Originated iPod Box Parody Video"
     < http://www.ipodobserver.com/story/25957 >

   5. Zany Zune
   * "Avoid the loony Zune"
     < http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/147048,CST-FIN-Andy23.article >
   "Yes, Microsoft's new Zune digital music player is just plain dreadful.
    I've spent a week setting this thing up and using it, and the overall
    experience is about as pleasant as having an airbag deploy in your
    face."

   * Microsoft Zune Review
     < http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/zune.asp >
   "I'm sorry if I'm beating this to death, but seriously, there seems to
    be nothing about the iPod that Microsoft is unwilling to copy. It's
    pathological."
   "The bottom line is that Microsoft should have waited until it had a
    more compelling product to sell. I can't imagine what they were
    thinking."

   * Zune Setup - Installation Error
     < http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=294929001&context=set-72157594292367584&size=o >
   This is an actual error screen from the Zune Setup program.  Many
   people have speculated as to what exactly is going on in the photo.

   Flickr has some amusing photoshopped Zune screens, if you dare.

   ----

   In the tradition of "fair and balanced reporting", as made famous by
   Fox News, I offer you my criticism of Apple's Mighty Mouse:
     < http://bruno-rants.blogspot.com/2007/02/apples-mighty-mouse-not-so-mighty-in.html >

Something Rotten + The World Is Flat

   Mini-reviews of a book I read, and another book I only skim-read ...

   1. "Something Rotten" by Jasper Fforde
     < http://www.amazon.com/Something-Rotten/dp/014303541X/ >

   This is the fourth (and latest) book in the "Thursday Next" Series,
   following on from "The Eyre Affair", "Lost in a Good Book", and "The
   Well of Lost Plots".

   This time Thursday Next returns the real world after spending more than
   two years in BookWorld (the world that exists within books).  She has
   recently given birth to her eradicated husband's son.  Hamlet (from the
   play of the same name) is taking an officially sanctioned break from the
   slings an arrows of outrageous fortune to live at Thursday's mother's
   house.  Meanwhile, Yorrick Kaine, a fictional character from an obscure
   book, has made an unauthorised exit from BookWorld to become leader of
   the Whig Party.  With the assistance of Goliath Corporation he is within
   a whisker of becoming England's Dictator for Life.  He has already led
   an anti-Danish movement, and is hell-bent on starting a new World War
   that will ultimately lead to the end of civilisation.  Unless of course
   Thursday can help fulfill the seventh and final "revealment" of St Zvlkx
   and, despite overwhelming obstacles, guide the Swindon Mallets to
   victory in the World Croquet League "Superhoop".

   Jasper Fforde has delivered another very entertaining read.  However
   you will probably need to read the earlier books in the series to get
   the most out if it and for it all to make sense.


   2. "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century"
      by Thomas L. Friedman
     < http://www.amazon.com/World-Flat/dp/0374292795/ >

   I started reading this book, essentially about globalisation, but I gave
   up after the first two chapters.  I ended up just skim-reading the rest
   of the book in the hope that I would find anything worth reading.  Alas,
   I didn't find anything to redeem it.  Don't get me wrong: I'm not
   opposed to globalisation.  What I am opposed to is people trying to
   argue that it is a panacea to the world's problems and that it is 100%
   beneficial.

   The book starts out describing how modern communications and events have
   rendered the world "flat" (hence the book's title).  We're talking meta-
   phorically here of course.  Basically, the removal of political and
   other barriers, along with new technology, has made the world more
   connected and reduced the tyranny of distance.  I don't have a problem
   with this, and anyone who has worked with other people around the world
   via the internet will probably yawn at this "revelation".

   The author then proceeds to cite examples of the new world order.  He
   namedrops and quotes from interviews with many high-flying CEOs.  If you
   were to believe him, globalisation is unquestionably a Good Thing (TM).
   There are no side-effects, and as long as everyone embraces it we can
   all live happily ever after.  I suspect the hidden agenda is to promote
   globalisation via the "flat world" metaphor, almost throwing up a smoke
   screen to make you think that "flat world" equates to "level playing
   field".  In my opinion, globalisation does not guarantee this at all.

   Perhaps I'm being too cynical, but a couple of examples highlight my
   concerns about the book.  Firstly, the book starts off praising call
   centres such as those in India.  While I'm sure they do good and useful
   work on behalf of many leading companies, some also act as annoying
   telemarketers bombarding us with unsolicited phone calls to get us to
   take up a particular mobile phone plan or switch to a different energy
   provider.  The author obviously doesn't see this as a problem.  A second
   example is the author's assertion that everyone using Microsoft Word to
   prepare documents is unquestionably positive.  To think that some people
   actually use MS Word to compose emails and send them as attachments.
   Aargh!  Email is a flattener, Word is a boat-anchor.

   If you're looking for a balanced, well-argued case about the merits of
   globalisation, then this is not the book.  You will probably need to
   also read an antidote book, such as "The World Is Flat?: A Critical
   Analysis" by Ronald Aronica and Mtetwa Ramdoo:
     < http://www.amazon.com/World-Flat-Critical-Analysis/dp/0929652045/ >

   But better still, save some time and try looking for a single book by an
   impartial author (if that's even possible).