Few recent things inspired this post. The first one is the V for Vangibath story and the next was an episode in "Boston Legal" about a black man enquired because he was in a white neighborhood and the subsequent lengthy discussion with my friend gradus desicus.

Though the situation of brookentooth's friend is worse I have been in a somehwat similar situation. The place is Orlando airport. Being the usual grad student self I didn't bother to shave and was pulled out of the regular line and sent in a much shorter one. Poor me ! I didn't get the plot and was as usual happy seeing the shorter line without the screaming kids. It turned out to be a special line for suspects and I was frisked and my baggage was thoroughly searched.

When I left that line, I was curious to know whether the hair growth in my face or my color had anything to do with the previliege. There weren't any cruel intentions like suing. I just had my plans for the shorter line in my subsequent trips. The officer didn't understand my plans though. He didn't give a direct yes/no but he pointed to a white old man who didn't have a beard but was still being searched. So the plan for the shorter line was trashed.

The "Boston legal" case was similar to these except the race was different. Apart from these Driving while Black (DWB) cases seem to be a common thing here. The broader question that remains unanswered "Can we allow special forces to do racial profiling in some form ?". Though it helps having shorter lines and avoid screaming kids with Disney bags not everyone will like shorter lines. What if someone feels hurt ? Is the law still valid ? Can it hurt someone's feelings to protect the rest ? It appears it can because the law is for greater good. The term greater is ill-defined, in a broad sense can be majority but in the narrow mind can be the a single family (as it happened in recent Office of Profit issue back in India).

To me discrimination in any form cannot be allowed. Even if it helps the majority feel secure if it hurts the feeling of one innocent person then the law is not just. It ought to be just, right ? Well, what if it helps the minority like the profiling of the number of muslims in the indian army. Is it just ? My take : No, it isn't. By doing this the common law is starting to encourage discrimination which is amoral. Can legal experts curtail this before the disease spreads ? Time will answer.

The Coke factory in Gangaikondan, Tamilnadu is the place this time. There are investigations over a death. It will be very difficult to prove anything especially with the Indian penal system which provides the benefit of doubt to the accused. If it is in U.S then it will be simple. Get a middle class jury. The verdict will be almost decided at that point against the company. A better way for Coke to prove its social responsibility, as it claims to have, is to join the desalination project of the Tamilnadu government. But I am sure they won't do it for a few more years.

Check this article on GE Durham. One plant manager for 170 people who build aircraft engines. That says something about that 170 people. Every person knows every other person's salary. You need extraordinary trust in people to run a company like this. But isn't it the way it should be.

In contrast, look at the current conditions in services industry. It appears it is built on extraordinary disbelief in people. All the processes to avoid human error, then a process to evaluate the process itself(sei cmm?), salaries known only to your manager, more processes to keep it that way. I would like to work in a place like GE Durham. hmm ...

A very recent story about Coke's exploitation of natural resources is here. Coca cola is demanding sales tax benefits from the state government. For what ? Is it for its service to the humanity ? If the supreme court acts fast and finds Coca cola guilty of exploiting natural sources it is going to start a string of cases against all its bottling units. Let us see where this goes.

Coca cola's violation of fair trade practices is finally being noticed. Not in India, Colombia or Turkey where this violations happen. But in U.S. The Univ of Michigan has suspended sale of Coke products in its campus. Here is the letter doing that. When I went to see Constant Gardener (good movie) last week in UFL's cinema there was a signature drive to do the same in UFL. I happily agreed to sign. This is after NYU also chucked out Coca cola for similar reasons.

Me and Sri are one of those minority who say no to any of the carbonated drinks. We prefer plain water and are plainly surprised that the Coca Cola is beating its main competition "Water" in U.S.

When the U.S universities are doing this, what do we do in Indian colleges ? We will negotiate with Coca cola and pepsi for sponsorships and will choose the one who pays more ! Our actors will endorse it to make some more money ! Will someone in Indian Universities take a clue from these ?