Dear Lazyweb,

I am looking for a Multi Function Device - those Print-Scan-Copy things for home usage and specifically for a 'desktop'/workspace usage. I want it to have the following qualities:

• should be network-ready
• the scanner preferably should not be requiring a binary blob
• the printer should be a laser printer

Does anyone have a set of suggested devices I should be looking at ?

Yours,

etc.

I was reading the tweet-stream of MTV India. Looks like they are holding a preview of the upcoming Roadies 8 at a tweet-up. Curiously 'social' I'd say. The previous seasons of Roadies didn't really have as much social heaving that this one seems to have.

However, the hashtag also led me to ponder about what gets us into mass schadenfreude ? Why do the baser parts of human actions seem to titillate and entice us into extracting some illicit enjoyment ? In current times we are less prone to appreciate a good turn than we are to snicker at someone's goofing up or, making a reasonably pathetic act of themselves. We are lesser and lesser getting used to the idea of saying "Thank You" and being gracious for the smaller things and more prone to boorish behavior in civil society and public places. The very fact that they try needs to be applauded but most of the shows ratchet up their viewers by highlighting the most embarrasing parts and in a subtle way exhorting the in-studio audience to mock it.

I wonder what it does for the psyche of the participants and, the audience !

Over the weekend we went to a place called Karpe's Wadi at Nagoan (near Alibaug). The pictures are on Facebook as well as here. It was a reasonably nice drive barring some sections of the State Highway where the 'road' part of the description was missing in full tilt. I'd  be happy to announce that the LX130 from MapMyIndia also performed fairly nicely with proper prompts (barring the segments where the lady and Runa were in complete disagreement and it wasn't a good thing to see).

Karpe's Wadi is a nice get-away place. They put emphasis on 'organic' stuff and, it is probably well taken. A welcome drink of tender coconut and we went to settle into one of the rooms/cottages. The entire place has cottages/rooms in an outer concentric circle with the inner area being a garden and a common dining space. The waves were breaking and, the sound was tempting enough to freshen up and check out the place. The rear gate opens out on to the beach and, by all accounts it is a bit far from the beach where all the crowds come. Nice. Food was vegetarian thali meals with self-service with the option of ordering a few variety of fish (surmai, paplet and prawns) and chicken. The number of hammocks made it a good reason to chill out before a walk by the shore during evening.

And, although we had plans to go see the Alibaug Fort, those we ditched in order to make ourselves comfortable on the hammocks, read and basically relax a lot. Good fun. I'd recommend the place for a day or two place to get away from it all. But, it appears that there is a need to book in advance. It isn't a 'resort' or, a fancy 'star' joint. The plumbing is basic and adequate while the beds are well maintained.

The drive back was a bit of a nuisance with constant tailgating and rash driving by various vehicles from the Mahindra(s) each sporting a sticker or, a registration plate design of a political party.