There was lots said on the world’s cheapest car awhile back. A lot of it was facile and derogatory.

What it reminded me of was the computer business. Computer prices level off from time to time, and the impression I used to have was: well, that’s it, you can’t make them cheaper than that. Faster maybe, but not cheaper. No sooner would I think that than someone WOULD come along and make it cheaper.

Now what making it cheaper did was 3 things.
1: it made people realize that there was no lower limit to how cheap you could make computers. And there is still no limit.
2: it greatly increased who could get access to computers, and everytime more people gained access to computers, better things occured.
3: It changed the design of the computers. Making more computers makes them better, not worse. 

And it is on that last point that I think that the world’s cheapest car could be a good thing.

For more, see Tata Nano: The Worlds Cheapest Car at New York Times. According the the Times:

“Over the past year, Tata has been building hype for a car that would cost a mere 100,000 rupees (roughly $2,500) and bring automotive transportation to the mainstream Indian population. It has been nicknamed the “People’s Car.” “

… walking!

First off, people can tell from the way you talk. It’s obvious. And it is obvious that you are squeezing them in. If they don’t mind being squeezed in, that’s fine. But if you owe them more, that’s not a good thing to do. For whatever else you say, what you are “saying” is that the only time you have for them is “down time”, your “time scraps”, that they are “not important”. If the call is important, take the time to call them when you have time. Better yet, arrange to meet them in person.

What goes for walking holds for other downtime as well, such as commuting, waiting in a food court, terminal, etc.

Do I have to say never call someone in the washroom? Yes, it is a stupid thing to do, and yes, I have seen people do it often, and no, I never do it, and you shouldn’t either. The only way I want someone to phone me in the washroom is if they just remembered they owe me a million dollars and that they are bringing it over right away. Then it’s ok. 🙂

Ok, ’nuff said. 🙂