Vinitha in my own words

Google Plus

2011-07-04T18:46:00.000+05:30

WhaT IS SO BIG ABOUT Google Plus?

Freaky

2010-05-25T08:36:00.000+05:30

This is SO weird!!!!

THIS IS REALLY FREAKY!

1) New York City has 11 letters
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters.
3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters.
4) George W Bush has 11 letters.

This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:

1) New York is the 11th state.
2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11.
3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11
4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers. 6+5=11
5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known. 9+1+1=11
6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number 911. 9+1+1=11.
Sheer coincidence..?!

Read on and make up your own mind:

1) The total number of victims inside all the hi-jacked planes was 254. 2+5+4=11.
2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year. Again 2+5+4=11.
3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3+1+1+2+4 =11.
4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towers incident.

Now this is where things get totally eerie:

The most recognised symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is the Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamic holy book:

''For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allahand lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."

That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.

Still unconvinced about all of this..?!

Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:

Open Microsoft Word and do the following:
1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the first plane to hit one of the Twin Towers.
2. Highlight the Q33 NY.
3. Change the font size to 48.
4. Change the actual font to WINGDINGS

What do you think now..?!

Pennagaram election results March 2010

2010-03-30T10:07:00.002+05:30

This march 30th is the day of counting votes of Pennagaram election result .The Pennagaram by election on Saturday witnessed a high voter turnout amid tight security arrangements.Pennagaram by election recorded a turnout of 84.95 per cent. The total number of votes polled was 1,70,755. Of the total number of voters, men accounted for 1,12,892 and women 98,116. the Pennagaram election result/The winner of Pennagaram Election will be out by the same day after noon , there is a very big expectation in this Pennagaram by election result, as this Pennagaram election result servers as the testing the ground realities before the tamil nadu assembly elections. this Pennagaram election result could serve as a projected picture for the future elections also. the tamil news channels sun news(suntv), jaya news, dinamalar etc are running live update of Pennagaram election result. keep comming back for live results,

The Pennagaram by election on Saturday witnessed a high voter turnout amid tight security arrangements.Pennagaram by election recorded a turnout of 84.95 per cent. The total number of votes polled was 1,70,755. Of the total number of voters, men accounted for 1,12,892 and women 98,116.

Polling, which began at 8 a.m., was over in all but 10 booths, where it was completed by 9.20 pm.

for Pennagaram election result online check out here (the official portal not yet updated)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the main contest is between

DMK candidate P.N.P. Inbasekaran (Pennagaram dmk votes)

AIADMK candidate R. Anbalagan - (Pennagaram aiadmk votes)

PMK candidate Thamizh Kumaran - (Pennagaram pmk votes)

DMDK candidate Kaveri Varaman

In results declared on Tuesday, Mar 30, the final vote tally stood at
DMK with 77,669,
PMK with 41,282,
AIADMK with 26,787
and DMDK with 11,406 votes

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pennagaram election result updates

sun news Pennagaram result link

dinamalar Pennagaram result link

jaya tv Pennagaram result link

Carlton Towers Fire Tragedy

2010-03-27T13:33:00.000+05:30

My heart melted after reading this.

Calrton Towers Tragedy a Warning to Society

//The fire engine
which came to the spot did not have water in it.//

They carry minimum water only, to ensure they reach the place fast. It is the duty of the place - building - to provide water hydrants.

The buildings are to be equipped with water and fire hose / extinguishers to a certain extent. Please visit ITPL Bangalore to see how well this is implemented.

I have seen this well implemented in USA. Canada. UAE. Singapore etc..

How long does it take to implement in India?

//ladder didn't reach//

Come on, any building should be built with all fire safety hazards in mind. Now with all the bribes around, people dont even read, what has to be built, to safegaurd occupants.

The buildings have to be built with outside fire safety / exit ladders like that what every building has in New York. ( beyond a certain height, they dont recommend, as win will blow you away! )

Happy Pongal and Sankranthi

2010-01-13T16:11:00.001+05:30

Happy Pongal and Sankranthi!

--
Regards
Vinitha & Family

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T18:51:00.002+05:30

Wishing you and family a very Happy New Year 2010!

--------------------------------------
Vinitha Bangalore.

Astrologers and Cheating

2009-11-20T10:46:00.001+05:30

I hate Kerala astrologers who cheat. :-(

A friend of mine was cheated of Rs 30,000 @ Megastar Astrologers, 1st Main, Arakere, off BG Road. Beware of that retired postal person!

My friends husband is not working now owing to recession.

Few months ago went to check on the planets etc. What is in store. For soothsaying. Just to make up the mind to take things as it comes.

That Radhakrishnan Nair, sitting in a comfortable AC cabin... told that to make the planets effective her husband has to wear 2 rings and an amulet and do a Navagraha homa costing about Rs 30,000/- in all! :-). What a way to cheat!

So this lady, pushed her husband and made him to spend that money.

So far no results! When she told me and cried, what could I say, other than consoling. This is too much, for a person to flick others money in the name of astrology!

What a waste of time and money! People have to understand, that no way you can change destiny!

India an Observation

2009-11-15T20:04:00.001+05:30

Warning - found on net!

If you want Quality of Life you have to pay the cost.

Independent India can be divided into two eras:

Era # 1 (Till 1991). This period was ruled by Nehru/Gandhi family or like minded PMs (Morarji, etc). This era was characterized by the following:
a. Infrastructure development was put on hold immediately after independence till it resumed in this century
b. Communal riots were so frequent that it got accepted as part of life
c. No economic development. 10 years to get a phone, 8 years for a 2-wheeler, 6 years for Gas connection, 2 cars, 2 2-wheelers, 1 Phone company, 2 TV channels
Era # 2 (Post 1991). This period was ruled by by several parties but no Govt was headed by Nehru/Gandhi family. This era is much different. E.g. Instantaneous phone connection, several options to get a phone, 2-wheeler, car. More than 100 TV channels, etc. etc.
Clearly, the era 1 was the darkest period in Indian history marked by institutionalization of corruption, bigotry, favoritism, poverty, economic stagnation.

17 qualities that distinguishes India from the rest

1) Most corrupt people – Politicians, bureaucrats, Purchase Managers, etc. Corruption is in our blood.
2) Most discriminative people based on anything - religion, caste, region, first name, second name, sub-religion, sub-caste, gotra, etc. etc.
3) Most unsafe, derogatory to women. Dowry. Pre-natal test and killing.
4) Carnage on the roads – most killings on road accidents
5) Most un-civil. We are the oldest un-civilization and continue to be un-civilized.
6) Most uncaring. If an accident victim lies on the road, we just pass by.
7) Most aggressive - road rage is an example
8) People often fall and die in pits, wells left un-covered by contractors.
9) Contractors in connivance with corrupt bureaucrats do a poor quality job. As a result the roads get broken in the very first rain.
10) The begging mafia kidnaps kids (both boys and girls), amputes their arms and legs and send them for begging. This happens only in India.
11) Maximum mafia culture - land mafia, parking lot mafia, rail reservation mafia, you name it and we have it.
12) Most un-accommodating. If traffic light goes off, we crowd each other and then the traffic just stops.
13) Most severe shortages - Water, Power, etc. etc.
14) Least productive. 70% of population is engaged in agriculture
15) Most un-educated
16) Most desperate to settle abroad

Still India is our country after all. So, let us say Mera Bharat Mahan.

Happy Diwali!

2009-10-15T16:54:00.000+05:30

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!

எல்லோருக்கும் என் இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

YSR Legacy

2009-09-07T09:37:00.005+05:30

It was a sad news to hear about YSR ( Andhra CM ) death.

Helicopter ride, weather and so many other conspiracy theories are getting circulated. I recently read on article on a Tamil magazine Nakheeran, about Chennai air command refusing permission to fly @ 1500 meters height, which is allocated for planes/jets only, but not for helirides. I dont know how true it is. The must would have been, to carry a Satphone, with proper GPRS, to track the VIP movement. Isn't is essential?

Hopefully they would publish the findings, such that the next VIP rides are taken serious.

Somewhere I read, that Reddy community is 5% strong in Andhra, while they have 30% MLA / MP seats of the ruling Congress party. Is it typical over the last 5 decades? Rich always rules the poor? There is no democracy?

I understand that YSR has left a legacy of good policies, governance and projects. I am not questioning who benefits most, but asking who can take it forward?

Jaganmohan Reddy, son of CM, an MP from Cudappa, if going by the dynastical politics, would become the next CM of Andhra. But would it happen? Just 120 MLA's supporting may not tilt the favour. He is a political novice, and comparing him with Rajiv Gandhi is totally out of question. People would want the best person for the job. This is where experience comes into play. The interim CM K Rosaiah would be best choice, as various TV channels, and newspapers editors are debating.

Drawing a parallel with Stalin, son of Tamilnadu CM, who is the current Deputy CM, has grown from working for the DMK party of the last 3 decades. Surely, he has grown in stature with hard work. One day, we can see him as CM of Tamilnadu, within his own rights, not by dynasty.

Wishing the people of Andhra Pradesh, all the very best!

All about USA visa

2009-08-26T18:37:00.003+05:30

Here are some articles from The Hindu seen here...

U.S. visa: never think of cheating the system

U.S. visa norms, validity and renewals

***

A blogger friend belonging to a certain religion was recently refused a business visa.

here is my reply.. if there is any correction, please let me know...

What I feel is, you should have had one invite from the company at any cost. They could have faxed it on their letter head. They should also mention, or your company should be taking care of all the expenses towards your visit, including the medical insurance. The period of travel should be clearly mentioned as well.

You should carry your bank statements which has salary deposits, 3 years Form 16s etc. Also wear your ID card of company in a proper attired suit.

You should go ahead and re-apply. There is no restriction. I think they would have given a 212g, which says there is insufficient documentation. They can also give a stamp like refused without prejudice (on the intent to immigrate).

- inputs from my husband, who has traveled many times to the USA.

( Sorry, that I don't want to tell about their attitude towards certain religions in public, as told by others in media ).

Good luck and praying that you should get the visa.

When Re 1 is worth US $ 100

2009-08-20T15:35:00.006+05:30

Year : 2050

Place : Silicon Valley, USA (Two American born Indians Talking)

Currency Conversion Rate : INR 1 Rs = USD $ 100

Ram: Hi Sunil, you didn't come yesterday to office?

Sunil: Yeah, I was in Indian Embassy for stamping.

Ram: Oh really, what happened, I heard that nowadays it has become very strict.

Sunil: Yeah, but I managed to get it.

Ram: How long it took to get it stamped?

Sunil: Oh, it was nasty man, long queue. Many PHD's was standing in front of me and they played with him like anything. That's why it got delayed. I went there at 2 AM itself and waited and returned by 4 PM .

Ram: Really? In India , it is a matter of an hour to get stamped for USA

Sunil: Yeah, but that is because who in India will be interested in coming to USA man, their economy has been booming.

Ram: So, when are you leaving?

Sunil: Anytime, after receiving my tickets from the client in India and you know, I will be getting a chance to fly Air-India in their new Supersonic Jet, which reaches Hyderabad in 2 hours. Sort of dream come true.

Ram: How long are you going to stay in India .

Sunil: What do you mean by how long? I will be settled in India , my company has promised me that they will process my Hatte Pachcha ..(Green Card)

Ram: Really, lucky person man, it is very difficult to get a Hatte Pachcha in India .

Sunil: Yeah, that's why, I am planning to marry an Hyderabadi Indian girl there.

Ram: But you can find lots of US born Indian girls in Hyderabad , Bangalore and Mumbai.

Sunil: But, I prefer Indian girls because they are beautiful and cultured. They also date!

Ram: Where did you get the offer, Hyderabad?

Sunil: Yeah, salary is good there, but cost of living is quite high, it is Rs. 2000/- for a single room accommodation.

Ram: I see, that's too much for US people, Re. 1 =$100/-. Oh God! What about in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai?

Sunil: No idea, but it is less than what we have in Hyderabad. It is like the world headquarters of software

Ram: I heard, almost all the Indians are having one personal Robot for help.

Sunil: You can get a BMW car for Rs. 5000/-, and a personal Robot for less than Rs.7500/-. But my dream is to purchase Ambassador, which costs Rs.2 ,00,000/- but has got a lovely design.

Ram: By the way, who is your client?

Sunil: Subbarao and Apparao Associates, a pure Indian company, specialising in Embedded Software.

Ram: Oh, really, lucky to work in a pure Indian company. They are really intelligent and unlike American Bodyshoppers who have opened their Fly-by-night outfits in India . Indian companies pay you in full even when you are on bench.

Retired President Barack Hussein Obama, it seems, used his visit time to visit Bihar, the most liveable place in India , probably world.

There you have full freedom and no restrictions. You can do whatever you want! I
wonder how that state has perfected that system.

Sunil: Yeah man!, you are right. I hope our America also follows their footsteps.

Ram: How are you going to cope with their language?

Sunil: Why not? From my school days I have been learning Telugu as my first language here at New York . At the Consulate they tested my proficiency in Telugu were quite impressed by my cent per cent score in TOTIL i.e. Test of Telugu as International Language.

Ram: So, you are going to have fun there.

Sunil: Yeah, I will be travelling in the world's fastest train, world's largest theme park, and the famous Cyberabad where you can see actors like, Ram Charan Teja and all. You know Ram Charan's son Junior Chiranjeevi is also going to debut as a star, with Maghadheera Rendu. Ramoji Rao Film City is also near Cyberabad. You should also visit Mumbai, where its slum of Dharavi is still maintained, as it was in 2009, but costs Rs 5000/- a night to stay in one of the tenements, worth 2 BMW's!

Ram: You know, the PM Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit US next year, he may then relax the number of visas.

Sunil: That's true. Last month, worlds richest man Teja Raju visited White House and donated Rs. 2000/- for infrastructure development at a SiliconValley company and has promised more if we follow the model of High-Tech City of Hyderabad. My dad also got a chance of meeting him. Very lucky person.

Ram: But, Indian government is planning to split Tech Mahendra and Satyam, the largest company in the world. That is to help both the sons of Raju, who are the world's richest. It seems, after serving his 10 years sentence, Ramalinga Raju, brought out few thousand crores, paying the 30% Voluntary Disclosure Tax, and made a killing when the US Dollar fell in the last 2 decades! Now at 90 Ramalinga Raju is in Moon, doing the age defying process.

Sunil: Both Rajus are hard workers man, he can build any number of Satyam like this. Every minute he is getting Rs. 1000/-. It seems, if you keep all his money converted as $ 1/- notes you can reach Pluto.

Ram: OK, Good Luck Sunil.

Sunil: Same to you Ram. And don't go to Consulate in a "Kurta Pyjama" or "Veshti Tundu" because they will think you are too Indianised and may doubt you will never come back and hence your Non-Immigrant Visa may get rejected. But don't forget to say " Namaskara, Baagunaara " to the Visa officer at Window 5. It seems he likes that and will not give you a visa if you don't greet him that way.

Swine Flu Panic

2009-08-17T12:41:00.003+05:30

Thulasi works. yes.

Homeopathy works. yes. But my regular doctor cribs. Wait till it hits you. English medicine is great! Yeah right. I shouldn't enhance immunity...

I see all kids cribbing 1000 times to wear face masks.

My daughter has a nice "lips" drawn in the mask. Style statement.

The sugar pills of homeopathy is loved by kids, some less candy expense! ( costly at Rs 24/- per tube for 5 days? )

***

A friend told me that my blog post writings are appearing as snippets in newspapers, other blogs etc. ( without credit to me ). Please inform me if any match is found.

Copyright for me only! :-)

Happy Independence Day

2009-08-15T10:34:00.001+05:30

Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians.

Let us enjoy the freedom.

Jai ho! Bharta mata ki je!

Swine Flu Medication

2009-08-14T17:57:00.004+05:30

Please share this valuable information with your friends.

Please consult your doctor for the right medication if suffering from cold and fever.

Also read my post Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

It could be symptoms of Swine Flu. The dry cough, seems to be an indicator and wear and nose/mouth surgical mask while going out. You can make is at home, with a clean washed cloth, cut in Jain's Gurus style.

Please use Eucalyptus Oil drops on handkerchiefs and masks as one of the preventive measures against Swine Flu, while going out to shops, schools, colleges, social gatherings, theaters and malls.

Do not shake hand, hug or kiss when socializing.

Influenza strain, that affects the lungs is the root cause ( that jumped from pigs - swine to human ). There are many conspiracy theories floating around based on Robin Cook novels, how the bird flu, swine flu is affecting human populations at the behest of these tough medicine makers in the name of making these drugs. Hence the traditional medicine might work against after diagnosis and administration of Allopathic Prophylactic Tami-flu 75 mg which costs Rs 1800 to Rs 2100 in India for 10 tablets ( which gives side effects of diarrhea, muscle pains and strained eyes ). Even Tami-flu is getting manufactured in India by Stryde Arcolabs, Bangalore and I am told it would retail at Rs 64 plus taxes, soon.

Scientific Prevention of Swine Flu using Household Products (as told by Baba Ramdev and various TV Channels )

1. Inhale Clove Oil (Lavang) For 1 Second.
2. Chew 1 Clove In a Day
3. Eat Raw Garlic (Lasun), Onion, Ginger (Aale) (1 to 5gm)
4. Drink Hot Milk With 2gm of Turmeric
5. Consume Plenty Of Vit C Fruits-Lemon/Avala

Homeopathy advises building strong immunity. ( If you believe in Homeopathy )

* Influenzin 200 medium size sugar pills and take 5 pills after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

* Varolinium 200 can also be taken to prevent contagious diseases, with same measures as above.

Always check with your own doctor before taking any medicine.

Note - This is not a medical advice, just information!

Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

2009-08-14T17:56:00.000+05:30

Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

Symptom	Cold	Swine Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe w

Happy Friendship Day

2009-08-02T18:24:00.001+05:30

Happy Friendship Day to one and all!

Thanks to my friend Ramesh for giving me the interesting blog award for a Womens Tamil Blogs aggregator blog! This was featured in Ananda Vikatan ( அனந்த விகடன் a Tamil weekly mag.)

A nice short story by Sam Rushdie on New Yorker

2009-07-28T09:24:00.003+05:30

I was scanning through various articles on the web and came across this story on New Yorker.

http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/05/18/090518fi_fiction_rushdie

Very nice, funny and thought provoking.

A person doesn't want to be blessed or born with many kids or siblings and narrated with a stylish attitude.

Chennai Eliots beach forms a part in this story.

Enjoy it.

Atlas Shrugged (1957) Ayn Rand

2009-07-24T11:36:00.001+05:30

This a book which sees raging debates in review pages and discussion groups. It seems people like to love it or hate it, and if there was a list for 'most fascinating book of the 20th century', Rand's classic would have to be in the top ten.

Rand was a philosopher who used fiction to influence the masses. A Russian emigrant who had seen first hand the restrictions placed on individual freedom after the Bolshevik revolution, her magnum opus may get you thinking for the first time about what it means to be free and the nature of capitalism. The book addresses one of basic issues of existence: the degree to which one should be selfish. At a higher level, the work is a treatise on the heights that human beings can and should reach for.

What is Atlas Shrugged?

Atlas Shrugged is a mystery, raunchy romance and work of philosophy all in one. Its protagonist is Dagny Taggart, a driven young railroad executive who tries to run Taggart Transcontinental while fighting off corruption on a national scale. She is joined in the cast by the ruthless industrialist Hank Rearden and the flamboyant and aristocratic mining baron Francisco D'Anconia. But the key character does not reveal himself until late in the book, when we get answers to some intriguing questions: why is the greatest living philosopher working as a short-order cook in a diner in the Rocky Mountains? How did the most important inventor of our time come to be an underground ganger on the railways? What happens when the people who might save the world choose not to save it? Who is John Galt?

Reason (or the responsibility to live according to a purpose)

Atlas Shrugged was inspired by the author's fury that people wasted the one capacity which distinguished them from other animals: reason. Those who no longer asked 'Why am I alive?'or 'What am I going to do or create that can justify my existence?' were for Rand as good as dead. 'Society' amounted to a protection racket for all sorts of mediocrities, with people agreeing not to point out others' lack of effort if theirs was not likewise exposed. But this willingness to accept less, in order to accommodate 'human nature', was for Rand actually anti-human. One of her characters says something to the effect of "…most people don't really want to live, but "to get away with living'". And when Dagny Taggart asks Franciso D'Anconia what he thinks is the worst type of human being, he shoots back 'The man without a purpose.'

Dagny's role in managing Taggart Transcontinental is, in her eyes, a sacred trust. Only when out on the tracks or poring over figures does she feel really alive: the trains are a metaphor for her whole understanding of life - they run at high speed on undeviating courses toward a fixed destination. In one scene, as she pushes a locomotive towards 100 mph on the newly built John Galt Line, Dagny gets a flash of insight above the roar of the engines: Wasn't it evil to wish without moving - or to move without aim?

Atlas Shrugged holds a person's greatest duty to be appreciation of the joy of being alive. Dagny Taggart's whole existence seems to be a struggle, yet she refuses to give suffering authority over her life.

The nobility of making money

For Rand, wealth was a sign that significant individual thought had taken place - to create something and to make money out of it was nothing less than the essence of human morality. Napoleon Hill said it in cruder words: 'Think and grow rich.' Money obtained by any other means (including inheritance, fraud or public directive) is 'looting', yet in the book the people who advance civilization and keep the world turning are sneered at as being 'vulgar materialists', and 'robbers of the people'. The big question that Dagny faces is why she should still try to save her railway while the looters, in the name of 'the public good', emaciate it. Wealth creators be proud! is the book's cry. Fight for your freedom to innovate and produce, and never accept the guilt of the non-productive.

The best society is one in which people trade the best they have created for the best that others have created. Alan Greenspan, the famous former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board, is probably Rand's best-known disciple, and was part of her New York circle in the 1950s. In The Greenspan Effect (Sicilia & Cruickshank), the authors refer to a statement by their subject. Before he met Rand, Greenspan notes, he was an 'Adam Smith' economist, appreciating the technical basis of capitalism - after Rand he became convinced of its moral force.

Atlas Shrugged and the individual

For so long an object of ridicule, many of Rand's ideas are now conventional wisdom. We now worship the entrepreneur just as she did, and despite the turmoil on world markets many still believe that a purer brand of capitalism makes the best use of each person's talents and delivers ever-more refined products and services. Economic life in the 21st century is not simply a triumph of technology, but a culture of invention generated by individual imagination.

The motif running through Atlas Shrugged is the dollar sign. For Rand, an immigrant to the United States who loved its ideals, this sacred symbol represented the triumph of the creative mind over the state, religion and tradition. It meant freedom from mediocrity and its strangling power. This worship of the dollar and self-interest looks unpleasant and unseemly, yet Atlas Shrugged brilliantly portrays what happens when the ethic of 'the greater good' is pursued to its logical ends. It very effectively annexes the spirit from an entire nation. Self-interest, as Adam Smith noted, is actually in full accordance with nature and therefore brings the more moral end. Rand is a patron saint of the 21st century entrepreneur because she provides a morality of powerful creation; a person with a Randian frame of mind is opposed in principle to 'equality' if it means sacrificing their dreams for the sake of others. The pursuit of equal rights may be noble, but ultimately suffocates the life-spirit that has always fired human advance.

Final comments

Rand may have been a ranting, chain-smoking, homophobic, commie-hater, yet her star continues to rise. Whether she influenced its emergence or not, her philosophy of maximum self-expression teamed with a lust for technological progress has been the perfect backdrop for our times.

Atlas Shrugged will probably outlive its wry-smiling critics, continuing to inspire while other works classified as 'literature' become of only academic interest. The book runs for 1080 pages, and like the greatest novels, it is a world you enter rather than a book you read. The prose may not be the most brilliant: there are many lines that will have the discerning reader shaking their head or chuckling, and there is a fair amount of repetition - like many books of this length, it could be a lot shorter and better edited. However, there is a spirit behind the words that makes you certain you are reading something important.

- from Butler Bowdon

21 Golden Rules for Women

2009-06-29T10:10:00.004+05:30

I was browsing Indusladies.com group , where Indian Origin Women share their stories and experiences.... If you have lots of time with you, a good choice of group.

I wish they share more options on earning from home etc.

Here is the location for the 21 Golden Rules for women. You will have to register and login to download to read correctly!

Click here to download

Failure, Success and Michael Jordan

2009-06-29T10:02:00.000+05:30

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

– Michael Jordan

What a quote, Sir!

Today is also World Earth Hour Day

2009-03-28T08:15:00.001+05:30

Dont forget to switch of lights at 8.30 PM IST for one hour and use candles (to provide for Earth!).

World Earth Hour Day!

Once a year!

One hour!

Save's our Earth!

At times...

2009-03-18T20:51:00.003+05:30

Current election in India, is a foregone conclusion of coalition politics.

Too many people with a new third front...

So who is going to win?

Post your ideas please.

I have a feeling that Indian elections in 2009 would be the talk of the century.

Kashmir, Pakistan, Religion and Secularism

2009-01-05T15:32:00.006+05:30

In the Jammu & Kashmir ministry sworn in, only 2 are non - Muslims, headed by Omar Abdullah. Farooq Abdullah

Read this piece of news somewhere.... (Rediff?)

There is no doubt that Farooq Abdullah is regarded as "secular" face of Kashmiri Muslims. He himself is married to a British Christian. His son and well established politician, an aspirant on the national scene, Omar is married to a Sikh girl, Payal. But when Farooq's daughter Sara marries a Hindu, she is abandoned. Neither Farooq nor his son Omar attended the marriage of Sara.

Farooq likes to bike around with Shabana Azmi, while her husband Javed Akhtar watches!

And we are told that Indian Muslims are the progressive lot!

Similar was the case with another "great" Muslim politician who was and is still portrayed as a "great secular" leader, even though he was instrumental in the creation of Pakistan. Yes, I am talking of Qaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. When he was in his forties, he married a sixteen year old daughter of his Parsi friend. But when his daughter from this Parsi lady wanted to marry a Parsi Gentleman, this secular Muslim disowned her. She never went to Pakistan.

*************

So much for Secularism!

Nothing would satisfy Muslims to unite under one global umbrella. But at what cost? If there is 100% peace, I can support....

Note - Jammu with 67% Hindus population and now 11 BJP MLA's out of 17 in that area, and 13 Hindu MLA's with 4 times the size of Delhi, can be made a state of India - separately - full state rights like others. The rest of the Kashmir with India and Pakistan, can be made a self governed entity under both adminsitration, taken care by an UN resolution, while Indians, Bangladeshis and Nepalis, can travel there without any Visa. This wont be separatism, if we accept Sikkim acceding to India.

I wish to travel with family, with peace to all parts of erstwhile India.

I just dont understand Politics nor what people want.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

2008-12-31T17:37:00.001+05:30

Hours of happy times with friends and family

Abundant time for relaxation

Prosperity

Plenty of love when u need it the most

Youthful excitement of life's simple pleasures

Nights of restful slumber

Everything you need

Wishes to come true

Years and years of good health

Enjoyment and mirth

Angels to watch over you

Remembrances of happy moments

Customer service

2008-12-20T18:00:00.003+05:30

I was reading the blog of Guy Kawasaki... He has shared on chapter on Customer Service.

I wanted to share what I read... thanks Guy Kawasaki... nice chapter... We should buy that Reality Check book.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This got me thinking about customer service, so I’m providing you with a chapter of my book, Reality Check, that explains the Art of Customer Service.

Start at the top. The CEO’s attitude toward customer service determines the quality of service that a company delivers. If the CEO thinks that customers are a pain in the ass, her company will provide lousy service. If the CEO thinks customers are treasured assets, it will provide great service. If you’re not the CEO, either change her mind, quit, or learn to live with mediocrity—in that order.
I’m pretty sure you can check this box off at Virgin.
Put the customer in control. The best customer service happens when management enables employees to put the customer in control. Th is requires two leaps of faith: first, trusting customers to not take advantage of the situation; second, trusting employees to make sound decisions. If you can make these leaps, then the quality of your customer service will zoom; if not … well, there is nothing more frustrating than working for a firm that cops the attitude that something is “against company policy.”
Take responsibility for your shortcomings. Companies that take responsibility for their shortcomings garner good customer-service reputations because they have acknowledged that the problem is their fault and their responsibility to fix. Most people understand that “shiitake happens,” but it’s aggravating when companies deny that the problem is their fault and responsibility. Th at’s when you hear people say, “It’s the principle.”
Don’t point the finger. This is the flip side of taking responsibility. For example, when a computer program doesn’t work, vendors resort to finger pointing: “It’s Apple’s system software.” “It’s Microsoft’s application.” “It’s Adobe’s PDF format.” A great customer-service company doesn’t point the finger; it figures out what the solution is, regardless of whose fault the problem is, and makes the customer happy. As my mother used to say, quoting Eldrige Cleaver, “You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.” (By the way, as a rule of thumb, the company with the largest market capitalization is the one at fault.)
Don’t finger the pointer. Great customer service companies don’t shoot the messenger. It could be a customer, an employee, a vendor, or a consultant who’s doing the pointing. The goal is not to silence the messenger, but to fix the problem so that the messenger never has to bring that message again.
Don’t be paranoid. One of the most common justifications for lousy service is “What if everyone did this?” For example, to cite the often-told, perhaps apocryphal, story of a customer returning a tire to Nordstrom even though Nordstrom doesn’t sell tires: What if everyone started returning tires to Nordstrom? However, the worst case is seldom the common case. There will be abusers, but generally people are reasonable.
Hire the right kind of people. To put it mildly, customer service is not a job for everyone. The ideal customer-service person derives great satisfaction by helping people and solving problems. Th is cannot be said of every job candidate. It’s the company’s responsibility to hire the right kind of people for this job, because it is a bad experience for the employee and the customer when you hire folks without a service orientation.
Underpromise and overdeliver. The goal is to delight a customer. For example, the signs in the lines at Disneyland that tell you how long you’ll have to wait from each point are purposely overstated. When you get to the ride in less time, you’re delighted. Imagine if the signs were understated— you’d be angry because Disneyland lied to you.
Integrate customer service into the mainstream. Let’s see: Salespeople make the big bucks. Marketers do the fun stuff. Engineers: You leave them alone in their dark caves. Accounting cuts the paychecks. And customer service? They handle angry people when something isn’t working, and something isn’t working all the time. Customer service largely determines the company’s reputation, so do not consider it a profit-sucking necessary evil.
Don’t give them a sales pitch. Never give customers a sales pitch unless they’re calling your sales department. When customers call for customer service or technical support, they are hardly in a mood for a sales pitch. If you sell anything, you’re in danger of losing the customer, so you certainly should not ask customers to shell out more money to fix problems that they perceive as the company’s fault. And don’t even think about off ering more free defective products as a token of your appreciation for their business.
Use operating procedures, not scripts. You’ve probably called at least a few companies and been sure the representative is reading a script—it’s annoying and certainly not personal. Have standard operating procedures for common things, like cancellations and product returns, to ensure the job is done properly, but never ask or train your representatives to read from a script.
Use operators. Use people, not PBX systems (the push 1 for sales, 2 for billing). Make it so the operator can answer basic questions (like How do I sign up?), collect information about problems, assign a ticket number or reference ID, and find an available representative to take the call. If you must use a PBX system, keep it to one level with three or four options, as well as an option to be connected immediately to an operator.
Use a callback system. A few companies have a callback system by which they off er the option of calling you back at a set time rather than making you wait on hold. The first time I encountered one of these systems, I hesitated, thinking I might lose my place in the queue, but it really worked, and I’ve been a believer ever since.
Keep customers in the loop. Customers should never have to ask what you are doing. Let them know what’s happening as you’re doing things like looking up their account or researching an issue. Extending this concept, you can post information about outages right on your Web site, so people don’t have to call to figure out what’s happening. Be honest: Tell them if there’s a problem and what’s causing it, when service will be restored, and what you’re doing to prevent it from happening again.
Make customers feel important. Train your employees to make customers feel important. If a customer makes a suggestion, the representative should note it and let the customer know he’s noted it. Don’t hesitate to do things like give credits or say things like “because you’re a valued customer, we can do this for you.” Customers are usually frustrated when they call customer service or support, so try to make them feel good.
Follow up. The biggest difference between acceptable and great customer service is how often and how well the customer-service department follows up on requests. Give customers a call or send them an e-mail with the result of their complaint or request. If a customer calls with a problem and you believe it’s resolved, call or send an e-mail to ask if the issue has been resolved to their satisfaction.

The irony of customer service is that at an intuitive level, most people know that it largely determines a company’s reputation, but companies spend less money on it than sales and marketing. The double irony of customer service is that nothing I’ve listed is particularly expensive. Now you know what to do, how to do it, and how cheap it is to do, so you have absolutely no excuses for poor customer service.

And the next time I fly to London or Las Vegas, I’m going to give Sir Richard’s airline a shot especially because there’s WiFi in some of his planes.

Best Basketball game ending ever

2008-12-07T18:46:00.001+05:30

This was the DII championships and Winona St. were huge favorites that hadn't even lost a game in forever..Barton comes back to win the national championship, down 7 with 45 seconds to play. The win ended Winona State's 50+ game win streak, dating back to the '05-'06 season. This is probably the best ending to a basketball game that I have ever seen....

Thanks to... internet.

A B C D

2008-12-07T10:00:00.000+05:30

Did you ever realize that the letters, A B C D do not appear in the spellings of the numerical 1 to 99 !!

D appears first in Hundred.

A appears first in Thousand.

B appears first in Billion.

C appears first in Crore

Reason -

Everyone must wait for his turn and his share of success !!

***

From Amitabh Bachchans Blog.

This is my 75th post.

Beware of these Holiday Scams

2008-12-06T14:24:00.000+05:30

Naming a star

What better gift could you give someone than the symbol of the first Christmas -- a star? Various companies claim you can name a star for between $20 and $150. These companies will send you a certificate with the name and location of "your star" and promise that your star's name will be in a star registry.

Here's the problem: Stars are named by the International Astronomical Union -- and they aren't selling. Names for stars (and most are given numbers) are assigned according to the internationally accepted rules of the IAU. Anyone else who claims to be able to name stars has no more legal standing than your neighbor's Rottweiler. When they say your star is going into a "registry," they mean whatever registry they made up -- not the official catalog that is kept by the IAU and used by all astronomers.

According to the IAU's Web site, "such 'names' have no formal or official validity whatever. Like true love and many of the other best things in human life, the beauty of the night sky is not for sale, but is free for all to enjoy."

If you want to give someone a star, save yourself some money: Go to the closest planetarium, pick a star you think is pretty and ask the astronomer for the coordinates. Then go home and make your own certificate on your own computer.

Fake charities

Is that sound holiday carolers at your door? No. It's kids selling magazines to support a local scam artist -- oops, they meant to say charity.

Many charities will come knocking, calling or mailing you for donations because during the holidays, people remember that part of being human is helping out those less fortunate. Unfortunately, many of those so-called charities are fakes.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, many of the calls you get this year will be from scam artists. The FTC has a checklist of warning signs to help you steer clear of charity scams. Your best bet is to not make any quick decisions, ask for information in writing and research the charity before cutting any checks.

Spam solicitations

Never buy anything from an unsolicited e-mail. No matter how good a deal you think you are getting, it is not worth the risk of losing your money or giving any of your information to a possible scam artist. By responding to these e-mails, you are begging to receive so much spam as to make your inbox unusable, because this lets the spammers know that you have a working e-mail address. You are also proclaiming yourself easily fooled and a great target for any number of Internet scams -- such as identity theft.

It is unfortunate that spam scams have become so prevalent that they are virtually indistinguishable from legitimate advertisers -- and there are legitimate advertisers out there. But as this is the current reality, don't take the risk.

Online auction scams

"Let the buyer beware" takes on a severe meaning when applied to online auctions. Accept the fact that you are dealing with a nameless, faceless salesperson that could disappear at any time.

Bid wisely and pay for items using your credit card, if not PayPal, so you can cancel payment if you don't receive your merchandise -- or if you receive that tea set you were bidding on only to discover that it is dollhouse-sized.

The high-pressure sale

Perhaps the most annoying scam is the legal one: the high-pressure sale. It can happen anywhere -- the mall, the car lot, over the phone and even in the salon. You've been through it before: "No, really, you have to have this mousse so your hair will sit correctly. I'll just add it onto your bill," or "We have only two of these carrot juicers left. After these are gone, I won't have any more," and "This is a special price just for you, so take it or leave it because I am just about to close up shop."

Rest assured, there are lots of carrot juicers in the world, and if one person is willing to give you a "good deal" on it, someone else will too. Go home, research the product and prices online, and save yourself from paying too much.

Abraham Lincoln 's Letter to His Son's Teacher

2008-12-02T20:58:00.000+05:30

Abraham Lincoln 's Letter to His Son's Teacher

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish Politician,there is a dedicated leader... Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy, if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick... Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books... But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.
In the school teach him it is far honorable to fail than to cheat... Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong... Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon... Teach him to listen to all men... but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad... Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness... Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price-tagon his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Treat him gently,but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage to be impatient... let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do... He is such a fine fellow, my son!

Roti and Roti Maker

2008-11-28T20:16:00.003+05:30

We bought one Roti Maker, during out trip to Bangalore last year.

A new mall called Total in Madivala....

We paid like Rs 600/- for a Rs 2,000/- item. Not bad.... Not sure about the electricity or the gas saving,as we are almost paying the same for both.

We are using it for more than a year now.

The idea was to have non oil rotis and reduce weight. Target was 10 kilos in a year!

But due to certain factors, eventually have gained weight over last 1 year!

Watchout for number of rotis that gets consumed, and plan well.

How does it work?

You need not roll rotis.

Make a ball of kneeded atta.

Keep it in center of the two round hard tava handles of roti maker, and press hard....

Voila, you get good rotis.

Tip:

To have soft rotis after making, even hot, store the cooked one's in a towel inside a hot pack. Works!

Do not have the roti kneeded atta, dry. Let it be bit soggy.

Related post ... Why I Bought an Electric Roti Maker....When Everyone Asked Me Not To.

USA

2008-11-22T09:35:00.001+05:30

US is still the land of milk & honey, though they went overboard. It is a lesson for others, how even so well endowed can get one in a shit-hole! But, you have to give in to them for their flair. We saw how the CEOs of auto majors were mauled by the regulators asking for public funding for bare survival. It is like a profligate child begging & the father putting his foot down requesting better behavior! It was played for the whole world to see!

Though some feel they deserve it, it is a lesson how things can go horribly wrong in life by taking the easy route. They were hooked on to oil & went crazy to ensure it. It is like a teenager transfixed by a beautiful lass, little realizing the life's tough lessons that will soon follow.

Bush's presidency were eight lost years. The distant thunder was unmistakable. A rising China, having many eating out of their hands. Son of a gun, Putin entrenching his hold in Russia. Quagmire in Afghanistan & Iraq!

But they will rise. Obama is even Palling with McCain now! Al Gore working for energy independence. In fact, they have it all & Bush years will be an aberration. They attract the best & give them the space to achieve. R & D will again make them reach beyond our stars.

Obama has the making of a great President. When you have such a low base to start with, the success will be tougher but remarkable.

How one longs for a similar approach in a land called India! The sooner, the better! We deserve more!

India is the best still, and see how good we would be in 2009!

Mind over matter

2008-11-11T17:16:00.000+05:30

Mind over matter is a serious thought that one has to put in...

I have had many scenarios to work upon...

Kids don like some stuff, you have to plan it well...

You should use to mind to get the benefits...

Money (matter) comes along.

I think people understand that!

Fertility and Marriage

2008-11-01T16:25:00.000+05:30

There is a relative of mine, who got married 3 years ago... She was 25 when she got married.

After studies she did work outside home for sometime....

She is so cool person. One day her mom found about her love interest in the place she was working! Marching orders were given the same day, back to home! Not sure about the truth, but heard from my mom, who heard it from her mom itself.... Women cannot keep secrets don't they!

Her parents, married her off to someone know to the family, people with hidden richness?

The guy is like 9 years elder to her, and they are struggling to have a kid. Both a medically fit, and something is not coming out right! One day there would be light at the end of tunnel!

May God bless them with a kid!

I pray for them!

Friendship

2008-10-15T21:41:00.000+05:30

Horror gripped the heart of a World War-I soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. The soldier asked his Lieutenant if he could go out to bring his fallen comrade back.

"You can go," said the Lieutenant, "but don't think it will be worth it .Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away."

The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.

Miraculously, he managed to reach his friend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company's trench.

The officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.

"I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."

"It was worth it, Sir," said the soldier.

"What do you mean by worth it?" responded the Lieutenant." Your friend is Dead."

"Yes Sir," the soldier answered, "but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say.......

"Buddy...I knew you would come."

விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

2008-09-01T16:45:00.000+05:30

விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி வாழ்த்துக்கள்! (September fifth)

மதம், நல்லிணக்கம், அமைதி எதிர்பார்கிறேன்!

சுதந்திர தின வாழ்த்துக்கள்

2008-08-14T18:29:00.000+05:30

சுதந்திர தின வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

स्वन्तिरा बंधन आगे!

हैप्पी इन्देपेंदेंस डे!

Happy Independence Day!

Abhinav Bindra wins Gold for India in Olympics!

2008-08-11T11:00:00.001+05:30

Abhinav Bindra wins Gold for India in Olympics (10 m air rifle event).

He is from Pune, and has good support from all.

First Individual Gold for India in the games history. Congratulations!

August 11th, 2008 is a memorable day!

88888

2008-08-08T13:05:00.001+05:30

சென்னை: உலகம் வெப்பமாதலை தடுக்க எக்ஸ்னோரா நிறுவனம் '88888' பிச்சார நிகழ்ச்சியை இன்று நடத்துகிறது. அதன்படி இன்று இரவு 8 மணியிலிருந்து 8 நிமிடங்களுக்கு மின்சார பயன்பாட்டை மக்கள் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும் என்று கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளது.

----------------------------------
The Link is :

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2008/08/08/tn-exnoras-88888-lights-out-campaign.html

Nikitha Mehta and her case/judgement

2008-08-08T12:51:00.001+05:30

Our Country (India) laws are very good and aimed at pro-choice.

Only on medical and family reason, certain benefits are given to abort.

There are many families who yearn for kids, but end up not getting their own, but adopt.

What can law do to kids, who are still born, yet to be born?

I am looking at various newsgroups, sites on web etc. and only decision learned are making is dont carry the burden along.

But life is a life.

My uncles kid was diagnosed during the 26th week, to have a skipped heart beat. Malformed heart. No abortion was allowed. My uncle even contemplated to go abroad, to Europe, where laws were easy in the abortion way. But still my cousin was made to be born, blind, quadriplegic, heart sort of half protruding out and died when he was 18. My uncle and aunt didn't have the energy and tears when he passed away!

****

When I posted on cheering the womanhood, article, I wanted to post this as well!

Cheers to womankind!

2008-08-08T12:24:00.000+05:30

Why Women ARE so Special...... ......... .

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, 'I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed.'
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.

She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag.

Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, 'I thought you were going to bed.' 'I'm on my way,' she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the basket, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack.

She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. 'I'm going to bed.' And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here?

Wonder why women live longer...? 'CAUSE THEY ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL...... (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

Send this to five phenomenal women today...they' ll love you for it! Forward this to as many men as you can so that they know why women are so special ??

..whether a housewife or a working woman, every woman is special in her own way..

if U men agree, hand on heart, that women are special, just respect them as they are ...and their individualism and independence.

Cheers to womankind!

Stocks and fall

2008-07-19T19:11:00.001+05:30

If you are greedy you had it.

All the punters, and I am told by Kotak the D Company guys have moved out.

Petrol related has made money.

Now is the time for clothers and FMCGs.

Dont think of buying 2.46 crore houses, reduce to 2.35 crores, you know what I mean?

Philosophy links

2008-07-14T20:14:00.001+05:30

1) Complete works of Plato: http://www.ac- nice.fr/philo/ textes/Plato- Works/Plato- Works.htm

2) Philosophers and their works: http://academic. cengage.com/ cengage/discipli nesolutions. do?solId= 2270&page=discipline

3) The perspectives of Nietzsche: http://www.pitt. edu/~wbcurry/ nietzsche. html

4) The world as I see it, An Essay by Einstein: http://www.aip. org/history/ einstein/ essay.htm

5) Squashed Philosophers: http://www.btintern et.com/~glynhugh es/squashed/

Men and Women (most forwarded item)

2008-06-13T10:26:00.001+05:30

Men:

1. All men are extremely busy.

2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women.

3. Although they have time for women, they don't really care for them.

4. Although they don't really care for them, they always have one around.

5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others.

6. Although they try their luck with others, they get really pissed off if the first woman leaves them.

7. Although the woman leaves them they still don't learn from their mistakes and still try their luck with others.

Women:

1. The most important thing for a woman is financial security.

2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes and stuff.

3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they say they never have something to wear.

4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully.

5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just 'an old rag'.

6. Although their clothes are always 'just an old rag', they still expect you to compliment them.

7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don't believe you.

How to write a better resume?

2008-06-10T10:47:00.001+05:30

Your CV does not get you the job - just the interview call.

Attributes

1. Your Curriculum Vitae should enable the person screening a pile of them to quickly ascertain the salient points that will decide whether you are a potential candidate.

2. At the same time, it should also contain the detail that will interest an interviewer. To fulfil these attributes, it must be easy to read.

Layout
The standard way to layout a Curriculum Vitae is as follows:

1. Start with your personal details: name, address, phone numbers and email address.

2. Continue with your educational qualifications, professional qualifications and skills including software and methods.

3. Follow this with your experience in reverse chronological order. List employers, dates and your title. Describe the skills and methods you used and your achievements.

4. It is vital that you are conscious of the skills and experience required by the position for which you are applying and weave your own experience of them into your narrative.

5. End with interests and hobbies but be careful: candidates with a consuming hobby that could interfere with the business day, might be avoided.

6. Many recruiters advocate that your Curriculum Vitae fit onto two pages but don't feel constrained by this if you genuinely need more space to relate your key skills and experience where they coincide with the requirements of the position for which you are applying.

Bespoke
It is essential that your Curriculum Vitae clearly demonstrate your suitability for the position. So, consider producing a separate CV for each application that directly addresses a match between the skills and experience required and offered. The overall content may be the same but you could put your most relevant skills and experience first.

Typography
Your CV may only have a few seconds to impress the scanner before being relegated to the failed pile - also called the bin. So it is of paramount importance that your Curriculum Vitae can be easily and quickly read. Achieve this by following some simple guidelines:

1. When word processing your Curriculum Vitae, save it in Rich Text Format (RTF) to ensure that someone without your word-processing software can easily open and read it. PDF documents can also be read by anyone who has the ubiquitous and free Adobe Acrobat Reader but remember that readers will not be able to edit your Curriculum Vitae, which may or may not be desirable.

2. Use black ink printed on a quality bond paper.

3. Your Curriculum Vitae must be easy to read fast. You can achieve this by the use of wide margins so that each line of text has no more than about 70 characters. Think about newspapers that print in quite narrow columns that can be read by scanning the eye down rather than from side to side. Conversely, narrow margins with wide lines mean that the eye struggles to move to the next correct line when the distance from the right side back to the left is too far. Try top and bottom margins of about ¾ inch or 20 mm with left and right margins of 1¼ inches or 33 mm.

4. Although san serif type faces such as Arial have a clean modern look, it is actually easier to read serif faces such as Times New Roman, Palatino or Perpetua because the little feet or serifs on each character form an invisible line for the eye to follow. Because Times is so overused, you may prefer to stand out by using Palatino or Perpetua. Whichever you choose, stick with one font throughout. The only other layout that looks pleasing and that you will see used in many newspapers and magazines is to use a sans serif face for all heads and subheads and a serif face for everything else.

5. Don't mix lots of font sizes. Either use one size throughout - 11 point is a good choice - or use a font one point larger for heads and subheads.

6. A word-processor is not a typewriter, so don't use the space bar to align text. Set proper stops instead. This will also make it easy if a recruiter needs to amend your Curriculum Vitae to a standard house style because stops can easily be adjusted whereas unnecessary spaces take ages to remove.

7. Don't use underlining or ALL CAPITALS. They are old-fashioned, look like shouting and belong to the typewriter age when they were the only way to highlight text. Instead, use bold, italic or bold italic but do so sparingly.

8. Above all, leave plenty of white space. Firstly, it makes your Curriculum Vitae easier to read. Secondly, it gives the interviewer room to write notes.

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2008-06-09T19:07:00.001+05:30

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2008-06-07T17:28:00.001+05:30

Man discovered COLORS and invented PAINT ; Woman discovered PAINT and invented MAKEUP .

Man discovered the WORD and invented CONVERSATION ; Woman discovered CONVERSATION and invented GOSSIP .

Man discovered AGRICULTURE and invented FOOD ; Woman discovered FOOD and invented DIET .

Man discovered FRIENDSHIP and invented LOVE ; Woman discovered LOVE and invented LOVE TRIANGLES.

Man discovered TRADING and invented MONEY ; Woman discovered MONEY and invented SHOPPING .

That's it!!!

Thereafter man has discovered and invented a lot of things... While women are still STUCK with shopping!!!

Thanks & Regards

Enjoy the power of Web3.0

2008-06-03T14:24:00.000+05:30

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Dr.Phil's Personality Test (I paid someone in 2003 to take this test!)

2008-05-31T11:08:00.001+05:30

Dr. Phil gave this test on Oprah. Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out. Read on, this is very interesting!

Here's something that you may find interesting ...psychological profile.

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate, and it only takes 2 minutes.

Don't peek but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers are for who you are now..... not who you were in the past. Have pen or pencil and paper ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees.

It's only 10 simple questions, so ... grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers.
Ready?? Be Honest!

Begin..

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon & and early evening
c) late at night

2. You usually walk
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with
a) a big, appreciative laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted; do you ...
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep, you lie
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone the should "handle with care". You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement your radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Blogging Tips

2008-05-30T12:30:00.001+05:30

Blogging Tips

Blogging can be a fun way to express your thoughts on anything you want from music to movies. But it's important to remember that information that is on the Internet can be read by anyone - including strangers. Follow these tips to keep yourself safe:

Never put your last name or the full names of your friends or family online. Instead, use screen names or nicknames.
Don't put your birthdate with your name. It could lead to identity theft.
Never list your address, school, workplace or telephone number. It's an invitation for stalkers.
Don't put pictures of yourself and your friends and never list who is in the picture. Anyone can use the online photograph to find you.
If you have a teenager in the house, talk to them about their Internet usage. Not many teens want their parents to read their blogs, you can help them think of ways to use a blog while protecting their privacy.

Blogging Facts:

According to data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, out of 24 million American teens between ages 12 and 17, 21 million, or 87 percent, use the Internet.
Sixty-five percent use instant messaging and 44 percent go online every day. Another 29 percent of teens keep several instant message conversations going on at once, and 25 percent have even "IM'ed" people in the same room.
Out of the 21 million teens who do use the Internet, the Pew study found that 57 percent have created their own blog and have posted stories, videos or photography online.

source: Lydia Seabol, The Tuscaloosa News, Alabama

CRUDE OIL BUBBLE: IS IT A CASE OF " IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE?

2008-05-29T08:09:00.001+05:30

CRUDE OIL BUBBLE: IS IT A CASE OF " IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE"?

The recent gravity defying surge in Crude Oil has attracted much attention and generated heated debate across the globe. A 100% annual appreciation in prices of world's principal source of fuel is bound to affect all countries and their inhabitants in a big way. The situation is even worse at MCX, India, where a depreciating rupee (against dollar) has further added momentum to the rally as a stronger dollar directly translates to costlier imports (read Crude Oil). In my previous posts in the same blog and numerous articles, presentations, lectures and private discussions, I had reiterated that the era of "Easy/Cheap" oil is over. However, the way the Crude Oil is scaling newer highs each day has put analysts across the world in a fix. It is not the $130 or $135 level which is alarming us but the speed with which these milestones are being achieved.

Market is equally divided between those who are seeing further upside and between those who are expecting a substantial correction in near term.

The reasons for a deeper correction/profit booking in Crude Oil are numerous.

There are many reasons to assume that market is overreacting to Oil bullish factors. What is being ignored is the fact that Commodity business is a cyclical one. Higher Crude Oil prices (or any other commodity) are self defeating as it directly translates into a reduction in demand as the consumers start cutting down on consumption or switches to cheaper alternative. Arjun Murti of Goldman Sachs who has to his credit many doomsday prophecies (including the recent Crude at $ 200 one) himself drives in a Hybrid car.

Many banks and investment firms have come out to defend the rise in oil prices, saying that it is based on fundamentals and that prices could rise much further. Analysts like Arjun Murti, Pickens, Guppy etc. and market movers like Goldman Sachs, UBS are constantly raising the projection levels in prices, thus sending the prices over the roof. While they go on saying this and prices continues to move upward, open interest in crude futures contracts has been moving steadily downward since a high of 1.58 million last July to 1.36 million now.

But aren't there fundamental reasons for this rise in oil prices? In some ways yes, demand from China and India is increasing, but at a slower pace than oil has gone up. The chief market strategist for one of the world's leading oil industry banks, David Kelly, of J.P. Morgan Funds, recently admitted something telling to the Washington Post, "One of the things I think is very important to realize is that the growth in the world oil consumption is not that strong." One of the stories used to support the oil futures speculators is the allegation that China 's oil import thirst is exploding out of control, driving shortages in the supply-demand equilibrium. The facts do not support the China demand thesis however. The US Government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its most recent monthly Short Term Energy Outlook report, concluded that US oil demand is expected to decline by 190,000 b/d in 2008. That is mainly owing to the deepening economic recession. Chinese consumption, the EIA says, far from exploding, is expected to rise this year by only 400,000 barrels a day. That is hardly the "surging oil demand" blamed on China in the media. Last year China imported 3.2 million barrels per day, and its estimated usage was around 7 million b/d total. The US , by contrast, consumes around 20.7 million b/d. That means the key oil consuming nation, the USA, is experiencing a significant drop in demand. China, which consumes only a third of the oil the US does, will see a minor rise in import demand compared with the total daily world oil output of some 84 million barrels, less than half of a percent of the total demand. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has its 2008 global oil demand growth forecast unchanged at 1.2 mm bpd, as slowing economic growth in the industrialised world is offset by slightly growing consumption in developing nations. OPEC predicts global oil demand in 2008 will average 87 million bpd -- largely unchanged from its previous estimate. Demand from China , the Middle East , India , and Latin America -- is forecast to be stronger but the EU and North American demand will be lower.

Not only is there no supply crisis to justify such a price bubble. There are several giant new oil fields due to begin production over the course of 2008 to further add to supply.

The world's single largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia is finalizing plans to boost drilling activity by a third and increase investments by 40 %. Saudi Aramco's plan, which runs from 2009 to 2013, is expected to be approved by the company's board and the Oil Ministry this month. The Kingdom is in the midst of a $ 50 billion oil production expansion plan to meet growing demand in Asia and other emerging markets. The Kingdom is expected to boost its pumping capacity to a total of 12.5 mm bpd by next year, up about 11 % from current capacity of 11.3 mm bpd. In April this year Saudi Arabia 's Khursaniyah oilfield began pumping and will soon add another 500,000 bpd to world oil supply of high grade Arabian Light crude. As well, another Saudi expansion project, the Khurais oilfield development, is the largest of Saudi Aramco projects that will boost the production capacity of Saudi oilfields from 11.3 million bpd to 12.5 million bpd by 2009. Khurais is planned to add another 1.2 million bpd of high-quality Arabian light crude to Saudi Arabia 's export capacity.

Brazil 's Petrobras is in the early phase of exploiting what it estimates are newly confirmed oil reserves offshore in its Tupi field that could be as great or greater than the North Sea . Petrobras, says the new ultra-deep Tupi field could hold as much as 8 billion barrels of recoverable light crude. When online in a few years it is expected to put Brazil among the world's "top 10" oil producers, between those of Nigeria and those of Venezuela .

In the United States, aside from rumors that the big oil companies have been deliberately sitting on vast new reserves in Alaska for fear that the prices of recent years would plunge on over-supply, the US Geological Survey (USGS) recently issued a report that confirmed major new oil reserves in an area called the Bakken, which stretches across North Dakota, Montana and south-eastern Saskatchewan. The USGS estimates up to 3.65 billion barrels of oil in the Bakken. These are just several confirmations of large new oil reserves to be exploited. Iraq , where the Anglo-American Big Four oil majors are salivating to get their hands on the unexplored fields, is believed to hold oil reserves second only to Saudi Arabia . Much of the world has yet to be explored for oil. At prices above $60 a barrel huge new potentials become economic. The major problem faced by Big Oil is not finding replacement oil but keeping the lid on world oil finds in order to maintain present exorbitant prices. Here they have some help from Wall Street banks and the two major oil trade exchanges—NYMEX and London-Atlanta's ICE and ICE Futures.

Moreover, the argument that Crude Oil is tracking a weaker dollar doesn't hold true anymore. Euro has corrected sharply from its high of 1.6018 against the dollar. Signs of slowdown are being identified in Eurozone as well and ECB's Trichet has come under pressure to review his tight monetary policy. On the other hand recently released US economic indicators and have been largely mixed and point towards relative stabilization of Housing and labor market. Moreover with commodity prices going over the roof, US Federal Reserve may soon return to the policy of Inflation targeting. Interest-rate futures show the Federal Reserve may start to raise U.S. borrowing costs by the end of the year as the economy recovers and inflation accelerates. Earlier, seven interest-rate cuts by the Fed since September sent the dollar to an all-time low against the euro in April, boosting gold and other commodities.

Moreover, Crude Oil being a political (and strategic) commodity, we may very well see intervention from US on the issue of high prices. Entire global economy, especially that of US is under strong pressure due to Crude Oil induced inflation. Recently, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude price. Already, President Bush in his recent trip to Gulf has pressurised Saudi Arabia, the most influential OPEC member to increase the Crude Oil production by 300,000 million barrels per day. Also, if recent indications are to be believed, U.S. Government is soon expected to force regulators to raise margin requirements under current market conditions, specifically with respect to the oil markets. This could have a dramatic downward effect on prices. (Remember silver and the Hunt Brothers in 1980.) In April 2008, U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, told Congress, "There is an orgy of speculation in futures markets. This is a 24-hour casino with unbelievable speculation." He and others in Congress have been raising the idea of changing margin requirements that traders must pay up front in order to engage in oil speculation. Dorgan said stock speculation requires a 50% margin, but commodities like oil demand a much lower threshold, just 5% or 7%.

No doubt, Crude Oil, being in limited supply, is fundamentally strongest commodity around. But the way the recent spike has pushed the prices of the liquid gold has raised many an eyebrow and in coming days we may expect a substantial correction. Though a break below $100 is certainly not anticipated and too far fetched, a correction to the tune of $ 20 from current levels cannot be ruled out. However, traders should refrain from taking a short position arbitrarily and should wait for the confirming trend. Like any other market analysts, I too have faith in the old adage "Market is always right" and "Trend is your friend".

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2008-05-29T08:05:00.001+05:30

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Comment of the H4 wife saga blog

2008-05-12T21:42:00.001+05:30

SInce I had disabled, a kind member used another post to post this comment. Voila. Thanks Dear!

Hi All,

Even I am in the same boat. But I am keeping myself in various activities.
I watched lots of english movies for which I never got time .
I joined gym as a workout.
My daily routine is set.I make break-fast.I make sure there is always varieties of option in food.My husband use to come daily for lunch.We do it together.
I give proper attention to my husband's and my diet.
I love reading. I am using US public-library facility to the fulliest.Knoelege never goes waste.
I keep busy myself doing cleaning and laundry work.So that everything is perfect at our home.It help in maintaining hygene also.
I do grocery shopping by planning.I helps my husband in making budget.I uses lots of coupon.I always keep an eye on hot Deals.
In last,"kahan samay jata pata hi nahi chalta".

Moreover there is no universal problem of In-Laws.

Talking about H4 visa wifes saga in USA (also Spouse)

2008-05-11T21:53:00.001+05:30

Some one wrote somewhere that H4 wifes have a tough time in USA, but I beg to differ.Note that I am not a chauvinist, and this applies to Spouse as in the Title. (Males on H4 visa). Substitute, he or she as you please. Not being a chauvinist here. Narrow minded idiots would think otherwise. If abuses are hurled, I would collect severe punitive damages, including the entire networth and make those guys go on road, literally. IT information act protects, the Indian constitution and does not protect abuses.She wanted American life, that was the reason she bought (literally in South Indian context, gold, katnam, dowry) . What is the heck about not working? She very well knows (or just by googling) you can find about how the H4 visa holder can or cannot survive in USA.I was on H1 and my wife too came along.Here are some of the things to do (lots). I will keep updating....Learn the American Accent. Worth every cent of it for a BPO job, just-in case.Learn driving in the USA roads. Get comfortable.Volunteering for local cause ASHA, CRY, Indian associations, Tamil Telugu classes etc.First of all she learnt cooking! (in India she was pampered at home) She learnt the American way to cook. Do you know that the ketchup packet an dthe pepper salt small pack at MacDonalds is alone enough for a decent Rasam, with a little parsely leaves/coriander?She took some Computer courses from local college.Learnt Spanish. Got some Spanish/Mexicans friends and fun with that. It helps in future biz.She did lots of learning and programming and helped in developing something at home (which is not illegal) which was the seed for the venture we tried to find in India. (intelligent wife)I am not trying to convince the USA authorities to allow H4 visa holders to work like L2 as we know very well they read and store each and every correspondence that matters for USA. Something is in the offing for that to be allowed.Obviously, unless the husband wants to come back to India, she can scale up her skills (SAP training in the elearning mode) and earn tons of USDs.You can help the daily household chores completed and make sure husband concentrates on work alone. Paying bills, grocery urgent shopping etc.Keep the tax books, on savings investments tab everyday. Stock market investing in USA doesnt need a visa.Plan for the future kids and get ready for it. Mentally and physically.A friends wife learnt Adobe Illustrator at home, and came up with a product idea, and once my friend got his GC, floated that idea and got some venture and today he is a multi-millionaire.And you can do lots of excercises, keep yourself hip. Eat frog legs, mussels, kim chew etc.For unintelligent wifes who cannot do above, put on lots of weight - eat lots of chips and be happy, drinking lotsa coke. (I would say all of the H4 wives are very intelligent on taking the bold step to get H4 visa itself).Man being a housewife equals 6 jobs. Worth the salary the guy gets. With recession looming - you can ensure the husband gets knowledge of keeping the job alive. Worth it!Also you need someone around to take care of parents and in-laws visiting for 6 months (small time) every year alternating. And it takes a month just to pack things for them to go back to India with the dollar shop gifts, purchased - weekend over weekend on sales. So you are blocking 6 to months of your yearly calendar.

Notebook

2008-05-06T15:49:00.001+05:30

Notebook

Very important item. Those days it was only writing and nowadays it is typing. Saves lots of trees.

Do you have any idea on a cheap notebook in Bangalore?

Appreciate your inputs.

Anti-Virus Software

2008-05-06T15:48:00.001+05:30

Anti-Virus Software

What are the free ones available on the net? Any idea?

Post ideas please.

Best diet for a day to loose weight and stay trim

2008-05-02T14:27:00.001+05:30

I got this one from my close friend. Surefire way to loose some decent weight. Dont crib that this is strvation diet :-). There are people in some parts of the world who dont have food to eat!

Running is the best all over fat burner. If you do not like running, have breathing problems or cannot run, you can walk at an incline. For example if you walk on a treadmill at 4 mph at 10 incline for 45 minutes, you have burned 500 calories. Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, and protiens. Try to cut back on sugar or not eat anything full of sugar such as candy, cookies, etc but natural sugars (found in fruit) are fine. Here is a meal plan that will help you lose weight fast and not be too hard to follow:

BREAKFAST
1/2 grapefruit
2 egg whites
slice of whole wheat toast

LUNCH
pear
banana
Fiber One bar

salad with little dressing
celery with peanut butter

DINNER
breaded and baked fish (any kind you like) or chicken
peas or any kind of vegetable
brown rice

SNACKS
cottage cheese
fruit
vegetables
protien shake (one scoop protien powder, nonfat milk, frozen fruit)

Also make sure you drink enough water. Drink one glass on nonfat skim milk a day or have it in a shake and then drink NOTHING but water. Take your weight and divide it by 2. The convert pounds to ounces. For example, if you weighed 150 lbs then divide by 2 = 75 lbs then convert to ounces - 75 ounces of water a day. Make sure to drink that much water every day.

How to loose the Belly Fat

2008-05-01T17:00:00.001+05:30

Very Simple to loose the Belly Fat!

This information is provided free of cost!

Yes - all you have to do is, cut one meal everyday for 30 days.
At times substitute dinner with just only fruits.
Say no to milk products and cookies.
Avoid meat products at any cost.
Stay away from salty food.
Walk briskly for 45 minutes.
Climb stairs at work place.
Drink a glass of water every 1 hour.
Swim in good weather
Try stomach cleansing pills every weekend - with doctors supervision

(Note - there is danger of gaining the weight back, if you dont continue above steps for the life).

Blogging to the Bank

2008-04-29T14:53:00.001+05:30

There are various ways to make sure, you can blog to the bank.

Blogging to the Bank seems to be new mantra in the e-world.

Let me try to give all some inputs. The objective is not to make money, but to make it on the fly doing your normal stuff.

Dont forget Google adsense. Few cents a day (or a click) is worth huindres of dollars in a year. All in your pass time.

Good luck!

Intro (fun)

2008-04-25T10:28:00.001+05:30

Lemme Introduce Myself ……….

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▼▲▼
▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▼▲▼
………╔════════════════════╗ ……….
……… šμм 1 αšκε∂ мε………………
……… 2 ∂εšcгιвε мαšεlƒ ιπ ………..
……… 2 шΘг∂š. нε εχρεcτε∂…………
……… мε 2 απšшεг…………………
……… ∂ шΘг∂ …………………….
……… "τнε вεšτ"………………….
…….. .вμτ ι ∂ι∂π'τ απšшεг………….
……… ι jμšτ šιмρlγ šмιlε∂…………
……… π šαι∂……………………..
……… "πΘ cΘмραгιšΘπ"……………..
………╚════════════════════╝………..
▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▼▲▼
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Clixsense and earn

2008-04-18T08:02:00.001+05:30

http://www.clixsense.com/?2422599

Job Search Links

2008-04-13T20:07:00.001+05:30

Job Search Links

Monster
Starting to feel competition from several sites below but still the grandaddy and largest of all the online job sites also offering job search and career advice.
CareerBuilder
Owned by the Gannett Co., offers both print and online job search and advice services partnering with 150 newspapers as well as AOL and MSN.
HotJobs
Division of Internet giant Yahoo®, has huge job search site plus offers extensive tools and advice section for career and job search improvement.
WorkGiant
This pay-for-performance site allows employers to post all jobs for free, PLUS pays job seekers referral fees of from $50 to $200 each for all candidates who are hired.
Craig's List
Begun in the Bay Area, this job search site now in most cities across the US and overseas offers other resources as well.
Workbloom-Blog
Blog that discusses anything that has to do with work, from how to apply for jobs to how to climb the corporate ladder.
Workbloom-Site
Online career resources site helping you help yourself in this competitive work environment.
America's Job Bank
Job Search site co-sponsored by the US Department of Labor. Now called CareerOneStop.
Workblast
Linking candidates to thousands of employers via free video resumes that can be uploaded and stored along with conventional resume.
Indeed
Billed as a one-stop search engine for jobs, simply list your job preferences and get a slug of returns pulled from many other sites, including those listed here. No resume posting (visibility) here, though.
About: Jobs & Careers
Owned by NY Times, no job postings, but one of the most extensive career, job search, interviewing and resume advice sections you'll find. Presided by expert 'guide', Alison Doyle .
Vault
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Email from Boss!

2008-04-10T09:24:00.001+05:30

It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on...
PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing...
And who's at work? Most of them??? Take a closer look...

All or most specimens are??
Something male species of the human race...

Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...

And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let's ask one of them...
Here's what he says... "What's there 2 do after going home...Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late...Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!"

This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.

Bachelors "Time-passing" during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what r the consequences...

"Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.

With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!).
They aren't helping things too...

To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!

Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.

So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and
That's when the problem starts... b'coz u start having commitments at home too.

For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become a "early leaver" even if u leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.

People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...

Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they r spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they wuld have to regret at one point of time.

So what's the moral of the story??
* Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
* Never put in extra time " unless really needed "
* Don't stay back un-necessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
There are hundred other things to do in the evening..

Learn music...

Learn a foreign language...

Try a sport... TT, cricket.........

Importantly,get a girl friend or boy friend, take him/her around town...

* And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.

Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: *"Life's calling, where are you??"*

Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!

IT'S A TYPICAL ASIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC.

PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DONT KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE !

Regards,

Your Boss

THOUGHT

'Love your job but don't love your company because you can't say when the company will stop to love you.'

Dr. Abdul kalam.

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage: Embrace Imperfection

2008-02-29T10:39:00.001+05:30

Here's to all my buddies who are married, getting married, and looking forward to getting married.....

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage: Embrace Imperfection

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet, all my dad did was reached for his toast, smiled at my mom, and asked me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned toast."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said,"Debbie, your mommy put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!"

In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner...and the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to mind just recently when Jack and I sat down to eat dinner.

I had arrived home late...as usual...and decided we would have breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose!

To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began to cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of the oven!

Now, had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two pieces of bread in the entire house -- I would have started all over. But it had been one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a "Thank you!" I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was, "Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day."

As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my mom and dad...how burnt toast hadn't been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!

You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching "Golf Academy" is not my idea of a great night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mold and have learned to celebrate our differences.You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are!

For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and I'm even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am weak, and vice versa.

And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's thinking. I can predict his actions before he finalizes his plans. On the other hand, he knows whether I'm troubled or not the moment I enter a room.

We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still best friends. We've traveled through many valleys and enjoyed many mountaintops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and I must work every minute of every day to make this thing called "marriage" work!

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage relationship.

Have a great day! May God bless your marriage.

This is how business is done!!

2008-02-17T07:46:00.000+05:30

Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice

Son: "I will choose my own bride!"

Father: "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."

Son: "Well, in that case...ok"

Next Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."

Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"

Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."

Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."

President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"

Father: "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."

President: "Ah, in that case...ok"

This is how business is done!!

Moral: Even If you have nothing, you can get anything. But your attitude should be positive

All about Warren Buffet - (c) as found on net

2008-02-16T20:25:00.001+05:30

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31
billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha , that he bought after he got married
50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
He has given his CEO's only two rules.

Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money.

Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself
some pop corn and watch Television.

8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think
he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

His advice to young people: "Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and Remember:

A. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.

B. Live your life as simple as you are.

C. Don't do what others say, just listen to them, but do what makes you feel good.

D. Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.

E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on things that you really need.

F. After all it's your life, then why give others the chance to rule your life."

What Success Really Means to You?

2008-02-10T18:53:00.001+05:30

What Success Really Means to You

When people speak of "success", they generally mean a position of importance in the world's eyes, or a job that yields lots of money and all the material pleasures and comforts that implies. But success, in terms of the deeper issue of vocation, is a highly individual thing that means different things to different people.

Thigh Exercises For Women (found on the net)

2007-12-29T11:50:00.001+05:30

Thigh Exercises For Women

For women, shaping the muscles of the thighs is an important fitness goal. A shapely lower body is considered very feminine, and the right proportion of the waist to the hips is part of the equation. It's surprising, but true, thigh toning exercises can be done at home, without equipment and results can be seen in 4-6 weeks. Also, did you know that thigh and hip toning gadgets are not required if you know which exercises work, and how to do them. Most importantly, thigh exercises are most effective when combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

This means that women must not only do the right thigh exercises, but also include aerobic exercise and sound nutrition to get best results. The following exercises are the most effective front thigh exercises for women. The routine also includes inner thigh and rear thigh exercises.

For best results, start with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase gradually to 2 sets. Complete the routine at least 2 times a week for best results. This is an effective beginner to intermediate toning program. Please remember that these numbers are general guidelines only. For an optimum program tailored to your needs, please consult a certified personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.

Wall Squat: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: – Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet and lean back against the wall. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required.

Standing Dumbbell Squats: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position:- Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet. Movement:- Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. 5 lb dumbbells work well, but you can start with 2 lbs and then work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-5 weeks.

Lunges: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: – Assume a standing position with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. Grasp a barbell with a wider than shoulder width grip and place it across your shoulders. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your back vertical and slightly arched, slowly step forward with one leg making a long stride, lowering your body down slowly until your rear knee lightly touches the floor (if you cannot go as low as this, then work your way up to it over 2-3 weeks). Exhale and shift your weight backwards, taking one step (or 2-3 small steps if that sounds difficult) to return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Remember to consult your doctor before this or any other knee exercises if you have had any knee trouble!

Lying Face Down: Front Thigh Stretch.
Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a matt with your legs together. Movement: Reach behind you and grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Pull your right heel up as far as you can. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Please remember to hold for 10 seconds for this stretch.

Seated Split Stretch: Inner Thigh Stretch.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt and spread your legs as far as you can. Movement: Lean to your right side and reach for your toes. Rest your hands on your toes or at your ankle. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side.

Seated Butterfly: Inner Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your back straight. Movement: Bring the soles of your feet together and pull them in as close to your body as you can. Allow your hands to rest on your feet or to apply light pressure to your thighs. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Hold this position for 10 seconds. You will find this most effective if you gently push your knees down using your hands, be careful not to push too much.

Seated Hip Twist: Outer Thigh And Rear Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs straight out in front of you. Movement: Bend your right knee and place your right foot over your left leg. Wrap your arms around your right knee and gently pull it in towards your left shoulder. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds.

Lying Leg Pull: Total Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Lie on your back on an exercise matt with your knees in the air and feet flat on the floor. Movement: Bring your right heel to rest on your left thigh. Loop your hands around your left thigh and pull it towards your chest. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds in each set.

Nice article - Must Read

2007-10-22T14:43:00.001+05:30

http://www.breakoutofthebox.com/circle.htm

Bottomline is - increase the circle of influence from within.

Reason why never visit a 5* Hotel

2007-07-19T12:16:00.001+05:30

Reason why never visit a 5* Hotel

Question : " What would you like to have ..Fruit juice, Soda, Tea, Chocolate, Milo, or Coffee?"

Answer: " tea please "

Question : " Ceylon tea, Herbal tea, Bush tea, Honey bush tea, Ice tea or green tea ?"

Answer : "Ceylon tea "

Question : "How would you like it ? Black or white ?"

Answer: "white"

Question: "Milk, Whitener, or Condensed milk ? "

Answer: "With milk "

Question: "Goat milk, Camel milk or cow milk"

Answer: "With cow milk please.

Question: " Milk from Freeze land cow or Afrikaner cow?"

Answer: " Um, I'll take it black. "

Question: " Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey? "

Answer: "With sugar"

Question: " Beet sugar or cane sugar ?"

Answer: "Cane sugar "

Question:" White , brown or yellow sugar ?"

Answer: "Forget about tea just give me a glass of water instead."

Question: "Mineral water or still water ? "

Answer: "Mineral water"

Question: "Flavored or non-flavored ?"

Answer: "I'll rather die of thirst

What is TEAM?

2007-07-04T15:41:00.001+05:30

TEAM: Together Everybody Accomplishes More!!!

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy

2007-06-30T12:37:00.001+05:30

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy

INFOSYSism
You have a 1000 poor cows. You put them on a nice campus, & send them one at a time to the US for milking.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
WIPROism
GE has a cow. You take 49% of the milk.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
SATYAMism
You have a cow. You have its milk. But don't know what to do with it!

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
DELLism
Intel has a Goat. Samsung has a Camel. Buy milk from both & sell it as Cow's milk.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
IBMism
You have old stubborn cows. You sell them as pet dogs to innocent small businessmen.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
MICROSOFTism
You have a cow. Force the world to buy milk from you. Spend a million dollars to feed poorer cows.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
SUNism
You have a bull. It doesn't give milk. You hate Microsoft.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
ORACLEism
You have a cow. You don't know which side to milk, so you sell tools to help milk cows.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
SAPism
You don't have a cow You sell milking solutions for cows implemented by milking consultants.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
APPLEism
You have a cow. You sell iMilk.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
SONYism
You have a cow. You spend $50 mn to develop the world's thinnest milk.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
CITIBANKism
Welcome to Citibank. If you have a cow, press 1. If you have a bull, press 2...stay on line if you'd like our customer care to milk it for you.

Some emerging "isms" of the new economy
HPism
You don't know if what you have is a cow. You sell complete milking solutions through authorised resellers only.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
GEism
You have a donkey. People think you have a 100-year old cow. If someone finds out, that's his imagination at work.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
RELIANCEism
You don't yet have a cow. You sell empty cans to people for Rs. 501, because Dhirubhai wanted everyone to have milk.

Emerging 'isms' of the new economy
TATAism
You have a very old cow. You re-brand it as TATA Indicow.

Harry Potter Plot

2007-06-21T15:22:00.001+05:30

So many news about yet to be released Harry Potter Book. One month to go. July 21st.

News is that someone solved the plot, and the climax is 2 characters die. Go in Light.

3 million copies of books have been booked or sold in advance.

I am a great fan, waiting to see the end.

A Can of COKE

2007-04-17T14:40:00.001+05:30

A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke which she put into the refrigerator of the boat. On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She died on Wednesday. The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis. This was traced to the can of coke she drank from, not using a glass. Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the disease Leptospirosis. Rat urine contains toxic and deadly substances It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of soda cans before drinking out of them. The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the shops without being cleaned. A study at NYCU showed that the tops of soda cans are more contaminated than public toilets (i .e.) full of germs and bacteria. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident. Please forward this message to all the people you care about. (I JUST DID!)

To elaborate further, drinking canned items itself is dangerous because of the inherent hazards involved in the material, unhygenic storage of cans before they are filled etc. Therefore totally avoid using any canned drink or food items to save you from the food poisoning. I USE COKE AS A PESTICIDE TO WARD OFF FUNGAL INFECTION OF MY PLANTS AT THE ROOF GARDEN. It works good because the coke contains acids of 3 kind which can do harm to the bones and stomach in the long run.

இனிய தமிழ் புத்தான்டு நல்வாழ்துக்கள்

2007-04-15T14:19:00.001+05:30

இனிய தமிழ் புத்தான்டு நல்வாழ்துக்கள்

Lycos Mail provides 3GB storage

2007-04-02T21:18:00.001+05:30

Lycos is being generous and better with storage than GMAIL

Lycos Mail provides 3GB storage, all for free! Only one image based advt per mail.

Worlds first 2 Day International Match!

2007-03-28T21:30:00.000+05:30

Hey Folks

Worlds first 2 Day International Match! is being held between West Indies and Australia (split due to rain), and once again, Australia is going to romp home a win!

Fun City Chennai is a Death Trap for Kids

2007-03-25T07:03:00.001+05:30

Fun City Chennai is a Death Trap for Kids

No safety, no First Aid Kit, and hundreds of kids allowed to play in a small area!

Something fishy and wrong and collision with local government is happening.

Yesterday we went with my kids to City Centre the new place for food and fun in Chennai. Obviously the fame is catching up, but without any safety precautions. The place is doomed and will be taken care!

After a meal in one of the restaurants, my kids insisted on playing at Funcity, who charge at exorbitant rates... 20 rupees for a 2 minutes game and 80 rupees for 1 hour in the congested death trap (slide and balls play area).

No attendant (with due respect, they dont have locals for managing - I dont know why?) was actively taking care of kids.

Since my son is under 5, we wanted to be along with him, just to ensure. The flat faced lady comforted me that nothing wrong will happen and they will take care of kids well. My kids played for 10 minutes, and some rowdy kids - too small to take care, pushed around and my son fell down, with a big scratch on his face. (tip of the nose). I rushed there, and in vain, found no first aid kit. (obviously someone is taking bribe and letting the safety norms go for a toss!). No cotton and we had to use of hankies and take him to the nearest hospital. Luckily nothing serious and I hope the scar heals fast. The surgeon at CSI Kalyani Hospital nearby said, there could be a little scar....Now there will be mental tension and we have to run around, that too with his annual exam time!

When all this was happening, the manager did a first thing, all managers would envy off! He asked the flat faced lady whom I was angry with, to run away from the scene. (Note - there was business going on as usual, without first aid kid, but collecting money only!).

I wish someone from government take a sincere note of this and close down the establishment ASAP.

I live in Gopalapuram and proximity to the ruling party folks. Things will get messy!

My new Indian Cricket team (a message to Mr Pawar and Vengsarkar)

2007-03-24T18:42:00.001+05:30

After the debacle with Srilanka (everyone has it once a while), Indian cricket team needs a makeover.

Even if they make it to Super 8, thanks to Bermuda on Sunday, Sachin, Dhoni and Harbhajan gets the axe in all matches.

First thing

Sack Rahul Dravid as captain (but retain in team, The Wall)and re-instate Sourav Ganguly as Captain. Good for India for next 2 years.

Send out Sachin Tendulkar, even God needs retirement. (my son handles the bat well, just kidding ;-) ). No wonder his son says Dhoni is best, Wow!

Dhoni gets the boot. Let us give him a break, back for Australian trip.

Now Harbhajan magic is over after finger injury, with 5 runs plus an over and 36 plus a wicket in 50 balls, Ramesh Powar is the best bet. Anil Kumble should have played the Srilanka match than clicking pictures. Swansong in one-day cricket for him. Bye bye, owner of Candlelight software.

Robin Uthappa needs some more match practice so he stays.

Dinesh Kaarthick should be no 1 wicketkeeper, it was sad to seem in cry when India lost.

Vengsarkar and team have done his best (taking care of state/caste quotas, personal interests), but he should have had Suresh Raina and Mohd. Kaif in the team. He did for Sehwag, but he needs a break too! Let him come back for Australian trip.

What is Pathan doing? Get his brother too!

Also Badrinath and Venugopal Rao should be given a serious try, they are very good fielders too!

Where the heck is Ishant Sharma? he will play soon.... I want that Abid Ali from Kashmir on the trip to England.

God Bless All!

So others stay around with all the salary and incentives, clubbed with performance.

Finally, no more individual advertisement contracts, only team contracts..... Good for team India.

South Africa Versus Australia today (March 24th 2007)

2007-03-24T18:14:00.001+05:30

Looks like Australia would walk away with honors. I call this class match.

The time is favourable for them, while inserting South Africa to bat, and chase it comfortably.

Lets wait and watch.

Will Bermuda win against Bangladesh?

2007-03-24T10:37:00.001+05:30

Bermuda versus Bangladesh on 25th March 2007

Will Bermuda win against Bangladesh?

No 6 at 10.13 AM - Chennai

Moon with a connection of Venus in 12th, favourite pastime/game result.

Also Sun in the Lagna says that it is something of a challenge to intelligence, and the outcome may be just based on planets.

Asc and 11th sublords are Jupiter, which says YES.

Looking at Asc, 6th and 11th, there is Ju and Ve connection reflecting the question in mind, along with Moon.

Outcome timings....

Venus in transit in 12th. Victory for team in question, with help of Saturn which is in 3rd, with a connection of Jupiter and Venus. Clearly shows that some miracle or help is to happen.

Venus is in full swing under Jupiter influence from 18.01 PM to 1.18 AM.

Sun is in action till 3.30 AM, which clearly says that intelligence prevails.

So what I can deduce is match should be over by 1.18AM.

Bermuda should win the toss and bowl first and restrict Bangladesh to less than 150 under 40 overs, and chase the target before 1.18 AM, in 35 overs.

=======================================================
Yesterday I looked at the RPs of the toss at 6.30 PM IST and could deduce...

India would win and bowl against Srilanka, restrict to 250 of the opposition (still finding matches and scores with RPs)

Match will be over by 2.50AM next day, which says either India looses chasing or target is met.

Moon was in action will 10 PM only, clearly shows that the initial benefit gained is lost.

Saturn was in action which clearly showed that there was malicious intent to favour opposition.

Few Definitions

2007-03-22T22:48:00.001+05:30

Few Definitions

School: A place where Papa pays and Son plays.
Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that
you can make your family Rich after your death.
Nurse: A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills.
Marriage: It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree
and a woman gains her masters.
Divorce: Future tense of Marriage.
Tears: The hydraulic force by which masculine willpower is defeated by
feminine waterpower.
Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the
Lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the minds of
either"
Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.
Compromise: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody
believes he got the biggest piece.
Dictionary : A place where success comes before work.
Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and
everybody disagrees later on.
Father: A banker provided by nature.
Criminal: A guy no different from the rest....except that he got
caught.
Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are
early.
Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and your
Confidence after.
Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.
Classic: Books, which people praise, but do not read.
Smile: A curve that can set a lot of things straight.
Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.
Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.
Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you
actually do.
Committee : Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to
decide that nothing can be done together.
Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.
Atom Bomb: An invention to end all inventions.
Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when
dead

Definitions you must know!

2007-03-22T22:46:00.000+05:30

Few Definitions

School: A place where Papa pays and Son plays.
Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all
your life so that you can make your family Rich after
your death.
Nurse: A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping
pills.
Marriage: It's an agreement in which a man loses his
bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters.
Divorce: Future tense of Marriage.
Tears: The hydraulic force by which masculine
willpower is defeated by feminine waterpower.
Lecture: An art of transferring information from the
notes of the Lecturer to the notes of the students
without passing through "the minds of either"
Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the
number present.
Compromise: The art of dividing a cake in such a way
that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.
Dictionary : A place where success comes before work.
Conference Room : A place where everybody talks,
nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.
Father: A banker provided by nature.
Criminal: A guy no different from the rest....except
that he got caught.
Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late
when you are early.
Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections
and your Confidence after.
Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and
kills you by bills.
Classic: Books, which people praise, but do not read.
Smile: A curve that can set a lot of things straight.
Office: A place where you can relax after your
strenuous home life.
Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open
their mouth.
Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more
than you actually do.
Committee : Individuals who can do nothing
individually and sit to decide that nothing can be
done together.
Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.
Atom Bomb: An invention to end all inventions.
Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life,
to be spoken of when dead

Cricket World Cup 2007 - Super 8 and Beyond

2007-03-21T18:16:00.001+05:30

This is my wishful thinking and astrological analysis.

Super 8 Lineup
-----------------------

Group A
A1 - Aus
A2 - SA

Group B
B1 - Ind
B2 - SL

Group C
C1 - NZ
C2 - Eng

Group D
D1 - Ire
D2 - WI

Super 8 Matches (24 matches)
----------------------------------------------
India wins against all
Australia looses against India
England looses against India, Australia
West Indies looses against India, Australia, England
Srilanka Looses to Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa
South Africa Looses to India, England, West Indies, New Zealand
New Zealand Looses to India, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka
Ireland Looses to India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka

List of Points
--------------------
(1) 16 - Aus - 5 wins (10) plus 6 points (Round 1) - 12 (10+2) rank (2)
(2) 14 - India - 6 wins (12) plus 4 points (R1) - 14 (12+2) rank (1)
(3) 12 - Eng - 4 wins (8) plus 4 points (R1) - 8 (8+0)
(4) 12 - WI - 3 wins (6) plus 6 points (R1) - 8 (6+2)
(5) 8 - SL - 2 wins (4) plus 4 points (R1) - 4 (4+0)
(6) 10 - NZ - 2 wins (4) plus 6 points (R1) - 4 (4+0)
(7) 8 - SA - 2 wins (4) plus 4 points (R1) - 4 (4+0)
(8) 0 - Ire - 0 wins (0) plus 0 points (R1) - 0 (0+0)

The rankings could change on only the right most points (points added on Super 8 qualifiers) and NRR..

Still the Semi Final lineup would be like this.

Semi finals
-----------------

24-Apr-2007 (1) Aus vs (4) WI
25-Apr-2007 (2) Ind vs (3) Eng

Final

(1) Aus vs (2) Ind - 16 runs or 8 wickets win for India

Numerologically too India seems to be favoured... (unless bookies run the show)
1983- 3 (Ind) 1987 - 7(Eng) 1992 - 3(Pak) 1996 - 7(SL) 1999 - 1(Aus) 2003 - 5 (Aus) 2007 - 9 (Ind)

What Dymock says on Hororary?

2007-03-16T21:02:00.001+05:30

Hororary Charts answer specific questions. Whenever an issue of some significance arises in your life, and you have been pondering your best course of action, make a note of the date and the exact time and set up a Chart for the location where you are at the moment. This will mostly of course be your place of residence but it could also occur when you are travelling.

The basic rules are—

The Ascendant Ruler and the Moon represent the questioner (you, or somebody else who asks the question).
The person, thing or issue you are enquiring about is represented by the Ruler of the appropriate House, for example:
- 7th House for spouse, partner or another person not in any special relationship to you. Opponents and competitors.
- 5th House for a child or lover, 11th for a friend or client.
- 4th/10th House for a parent or boss.
- 3rd House for short trips and moving house.
- 8th House for money from others, pensions, government grants, etc. 2nd House for earnings.
- 4th/7th Houses for changing residence.
- 10th House for a question re your career and job.
- 9th House for tertiary education or travel. Foreign parts and people.
- 2nd House for an article lost.
- 6th House for illness, 8th for surgery, 12th for hospitalization.
Planets in the Houses concerned are also important, especially if close to the Cusp.

You can see that the Houses follow their standard meanings. Aspects between the Rulers or occupiers of the Houses concerned show the answer. A trine or sextile gives a favourable outcome, an opposition or square an adverse issue, difficulty and struggle. Conjunctions can be either, depending on other factors, but mostly favourable when linked to Jupiter and Venus, unfavourable when linked to Mars or Saturn.

Additional significators that help interpretation are the planets themselves: Sun and Saturn for the father: Moon and Venus for the mother: Mercury for children and small items: Moon for the home and family, Jupiter and Venus for luck and good fortune: Mars, Saturn, Uranus for accidents; Neptune both joy and disappointment; Pluto both destruction and resurrection.

The Moon's function is especially important. Its applying Aspects indicate things to come, its separating Aspects represent what has already happened.

Bread is the best breakfast

2007-03-14T07:52:00.000+05:30

Bread is the best breakfast

Off the shelf. Easy, all like. Cheap and economical. Very good for health.

Also any time snack.

;-) what goes on top of it matters, whether you are rich or poor!

It's a Girl's World..

2007-03-10T21:59:00.001+05:30

It's a Girl's World..

If he is late for class,he's told,
"Time and Tide wait for none".
If she is late,then the bus was late.
If a girl is dressed as a boy,she is modern,says the
world.
But if a boy is dressed as a girl,"Has he escaped from
the Zoo?"
:This is really coolman:
If a boy talks with a girl,"I think he is trying for
her"
But if a girl talks with a boy,then she is trying to
be friendly.
When a girl cries,the world is convinced of her
But when a boy cries,"Come on man:Don't be a girl".
:This is really coolman:
If a girl meets with an accident,then it's the mistake
of others.
And if a boy meets with an accident,"I think you
should learn to drive".
If a boy sits in front of a city bus,he is mannerless
and cultureless brute.
But if a girl sits in the back seat,"Try to respect
ladies,man!".
If a boy gets a big rank in an entrance exam,"You've
to work hard".
But if a girl gets a big rank,... still got 33!
Reservation.
If there are girls in a class,the professor gives an
interesting lecture,
And if there are no girls,he says,there is no class
today.
:This is really coolman:
If a girl does not answer,during a viva,then atleast
'smile' says the examiner.
But when a boy does not answer,"better luck next
time".

If a girl doesn't answer in an Interview , the
interviewer writes the answer for her and selects her

But when a boy does answer all questions , he gets
rejected due to over qualification

The List goes on...................... L L

Billionaires and how they grow!

2007-03-09T10:21:00.001+05:30

Here is the link

Enjoy knowing about billionaires.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/03/08/forbes.billionaires.reut/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Life is not easy as you think.

Photography

2007-03-07T10:32:00.001+05:30

Interesting article in the Net on Photography

Who hasn't fallen prey to the many charms of these shiny, sleek electronic devices called cameras? One click and you have a memory stored forever. Bewitched by the camera's charms, I decided it was time I stopped being an awed spectator and got where the action was. My plan was not to become a pro but to add a certain quality to the pictures I take and also gain some basic knowledge about photography. Determined, I called my colleague, Amrit Patki, a professional photographer with Digit and asked him for guidance. We decided to shoot on camera, the architectural marvel, the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus or erstwhile Victoria Terminus (VT station) in Mumbai. What was captivating about my subject was not just it's Victorian beauty but also the sheer liveliness of the place. Putting my Canon Powershot 4 mega pixel with 4x zoom capacity to test, I clicked three different shots from different angles and waited for expert advice. My first lesson Picture 1
	When shooting a picture horizontally or vertically, one should select a point of interest.
	Any shot taken should not have a central point as it disrupts the harmony of the picture, as was the case in this one.
	The top portion of the picture is interesting and hence would have been better if taken vertically.
	While clicking any shot, one should select a ¾ : ¼ ratio of any interesting point, which means that you should select either more of the sky or of the land depending on what brings more effectiveness to the picture.
Picture 2
	There is no focal point in this picture.
	The composition of the picture is incorrect.
	The branch could have been shot in a way that would have made the picture more interesting.
	This picture would have looked better if shot at a wider angle.
Picture 3
	The angle of the picture is incorrect.
	Ratio of the picture is not proportionate.
	Composition could have been a lot better
Here are a few more interesting points I learned about photography:
	A landscape picture gets more interesting when human figures or trees are used as the point of interest.
	The zoom lens of the camera should be adjusted as per requirements of the picture.
	A photograph should always be clicked from a side angle while maintaining balance of the frame.
	Best lighting time during winter is around 8 am to 11 am and between 4 pm and 5:30 pm. The timings change according to seasons.
	A lot of practice will ensure you have a steady hand while taking a shot, thereby enabling you to take that perfect picture.
After those tips, I decided to give my pictures another shot and put my learning to test. I was almost beaming at the results when Amrit casually suggested that perseverance was key. His comments on the pictures:
Picture 1 retaken
	Space on top would give breathing space to the object in focus, adding to its beauty.
	The picture by itself was a good one in terms of selection of the focal point.
	Improvement of the angle is seen here.
Picture 2 retaken
	Branches in the picture need better framing.
	Composition of the building is good though it would have been better if taken in a sitting position.
	A little more space on the right would have made the picture more interesting.
Picture 3 retaken
	Good picture.
	Focal point is much improved.
	Focal point is much improved.
As a professional photographer Amrit uses a Nikon D70 DSLR with 18-70 mm lens (wide lens) 6.2 mega pixel. He clicked a few shots with it and showed me the end results. I noted the difference between the pictures taken by his camera and mine. For one, they were of better clarity. The camera had modified lens unlike mine and clearly the pictures were of better quality.
My first lesson in photography was quite a learning experience. With more lessons in store, am hoping to know more about macro, shutter speed, aperture setting, et all. So join me on the road to exploration.

Happiness

2007-03-07T10:05:00.001+05:30

Happiness

Happiness is the "magic ingredient" people desire. Almost everyone I've met over the past few years can answer "Yes" to some or all of these questions:

Do you want to change your limiting beliefs?

Would you like to see yourself getting control of your life?

Have you tried to let go of negative thoughts & behaviours ?

Would you like to feel good, more & more of the time?

Are you ready to get what you want, fast?

Do you long for a sense of peace and fulfilment ?

Do you wish you could have better, more satisfying relationships ?

Are you ready to stop worrying and really start enjoying life ?

Are you ready to stop putting it off, and be happy now?

While we all know intellectually that the trappings of success can't bring us the happiness we desire, most people still act as though their happiness is dependant on getting what they want. But here's the thing:

When people say "I'll be happy when I get the (car / money / partner / skills / etc)", it almost never works!

In fact, in the years that I've been studying the links between happiness & success, I've discovered something that completely blew my mind:

It works the other way around: You're much more likely to get what you want when you're happy!

As the multi-millionaire financial expert, Robert Kiyosaki says, "If you are not happy while getting rich, chances are that you will not be happy when you do get rich."

What do I mean by happy success?

Getting what you want AND feeling good about it.

Doing the job of your dreams AND loving going to work each day.

Getting the car / house / holiday you've always wanted AND feeling great every time you think about it.

Being in a relationship with someone you're incredibly attracted to AND feeling great about it every day.

Living a life that's your vision of success AND feeling fantastic about yourself every day.

Dekoh the new Web2.0 Platform (Controlled Sharing from Desktop)

2007-03-06T19:36:00.001+05:30

Here is the link

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/06/stories/2007030602640400.htm

Dekoh, is going to be the next Web2.0 in thing by Pramiti Technologies.

This provides (Controlled Sharing from Desktop) - so all your friends can Dekoh (Hindi meaning "See") your platform independent applications.

Nice try!

The Logic of the Stock Price

2007-03-06T18:54:00.000+05:30

The Logic of the Stock Price

A stock price has many definitions. One of the most sophisticated definitions is that it values the forecasted free cash flows of a company. There are many financial models that try to capture this conceptual definition (e.g. EV/EBIDTA, EPSxP-E, Cash EPSxCash P-E).

The most popular among them is the discounted (free) cash flow (DCF) valuation. Mainly popularized by Mckinsey and some other strategic consultants, it sought to value 'free cash flows' (operating margins, net of investment in working capital and routine capex, after adjusting for the tax benefits of leverage) over the visible period (also called the explicit period). Mckinsey also imputed a terminal value, which assumes a steady growth rate going to infinity. This perpetually growing cash flow often created a terminal value, which accounted for up to 90 per cent of the enterprise value (EV) in a fast growing company There are problems with this model. It often arrives at valuations that are considered 'theoretical' by markets. My understanding is that the 'strategic' valuation that the DCF is prone to recommend (5 to 8 years) is simply too long for the market. The real reason why the market often undervalues a given cash flow is that it is simply too myopic.

That seems to have been the disconnect in the Tata-Corus deal. Phrases like 'winner's curse, 'arrogant acquisition' 'overpayment' and 'value destroying' have been used. The difference in perspective, I think, is purely over the visible forecasted period. Tata Steel's strategists are valuing the free cash flow over a longer competitive advantage period. This goes back to the Buffetian argument that the valuation of the stock should take into account not only the size and growth rate of a cash flow but also the competitive advantage period. This articulates a long-standing disagreement between the steel industry and the stock markets. The steel industry is a long gestation industry. The typical project (concept to free cash flow) is set up over most of the typical business (or interest rate/liquidity) cycle. Hence any steel company has to ride out a period of high liquidity and a cash crunch every time it sets up a greenfield capacity. Steelmen, therefore, are used to thinking in terms of a gestation period of 8 to 12 years. They simply have longer visibility than the financial markets.

On the flip side, they also know that an embedded player has a huge advantage. Sometimes you make extra money simply because you are sitting there. The Tatas have possibly projected a certain free cash flow grown at certain rate over a longer competitive advantage period than the markets are used to defining.

So who is right? Financial market players (my mental stereotype is of the Ketan Parekhs, Harshad Mehtas and the hedge funds of the world) or the steel industrialists? Are these market players any richer than the Tatas? Long-term investors don't necessarily do worse than spectacular wealth creators, found so commonly in the financial markets. You just have to decide what you want to be.

When Warren Buffet said, "Buy the business, not the scrip", this was what he meant. Let me explain this in detail.

I don't think too many people, bar the most cynical, are arguing that the Tata-Corus deal is going to reduce the total free cash flow (FCF) of the combined entity. Yes, there is a certain view that if the steel cycle turns, the FCF being projected will drop, but will it turn negative? And if it doesn't, then the payback will happen. Only the rate at which the payback will happen might get extended. That would increase the number of years taken to digest the acquisition.

This is what a value investor should seek. Whenever Mr Market turns apoplectic, but you find long-term, 'strategic' players who want to 'buy the business, not the scrip' on your side; go ahead, jump. This is the Buffet model. Once you know where the market stands, you should stand apart from the market. At this point in time, the broader market is definitely morose about Tata Steel. Yet, nobody is arguing with Mr Ratan Tata on his claims of "long-term value". The difference of opinion is only about the investment horizon.

Most of my regular readers would know that I am usually bearish, skeptical, 'negative'. This is especially true of the last couple of years, when I have been negative, even as I have myself joined the large mass of India's nouveau riche. Well, here is my recommendation - buy Tata Steel, and keep trading in the stock for five years (which is the payback period estimated by many analysts on current cash flows of the combined entity).

How do you trade? As you find the short-term (Mr. Market) marketmen get out, pace yourself and get in. Just like you buy a systematic investment plan (SIP), keep buying this stock on declines. Every time the stock recovers back to its previous high, sell what you bought at lower levels; then buy back the stock as it declines. This way, target to keep your average holding cost lower than the prevailing stock price. The stock will make a long, saucer-like pattern. Your average holding cost should track the falling price of the stock. As your average price drops, keep adding to your total holding. In other words, take your trading profits in the form of stock, not cash.

I will not speculate on how long the coming (down cycle?) will continue. The RBI has just hiked CRR rates again, clearly telling the country that they are determined to squeeze out liquidity till inflation slows down. As interest rates rise, the cost of capital in the markets will rise much more. That should bring temperance to the stock markets (and real estate, but that is a different story).

If you don't know how to trade, then you must buy and hold. That is a more difficult way to earn money, but Warren Buffet has proved that it can be equally profitable. For buy-and-hold investors, this would still count as a 'Buffet event', i.e., a sharp, apparently disastrous incident that looks spectacular, but does not impact the long-term prospects of the company. That is a cue for value investors to go bottom-fishing.

Asian Stocks (Must Read Article)

2007-03-06T18:53:00.001+05:30

Asian Stocks

Of "Asian" flus and global cues…

With no "bottom" after the 10% decline over the past fortnight, the Indian markets are at it again – down 3.2% as we write! Indian equities are seemingly having a case of the Asian flu: benchmark indices in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Taiwan have just closed in the red (see graph below). These markets, in turn, are taking the "global" cue from a 1% decline witnessed in the US markets on Friday.

Fears of an economic slowdown in the US, China's proposed leash on speculative domestic capital and the realisation that the Indian economy is in an 'overheated' mode, have seemingly shaken investors belief whether the Indian stockmarkets, after a 4-year dream run, are actually a pretty 'risky' place!

A slowing economy….
We shall reiterate what we have been saying with respect to the economy overheating and the hanging sword of rising capital costs globally (and in India). We believe that there is a high probability that the Indian economy will slow down as the RBI is (correctly) determined to keep inflation under control by increasing interest rates and slowing demand.

…does not change our view.
Well, we are not surprised by the attempts by the RBI to slow the economy! We continue to believe that the Indian economy will grow at a rate of 7% to 7.5% per annum on a long-term sustainable basis. We continue to believe that earnings of India Inc. will grow at 15% per annum on a long-term sustainable basis. So do not get confused about the noise that will be created over a slower growth rate in the US economy or by the selling of FIIs that may cause the market to decline shaprly (as it did in May June 2006).

Focus on your portfolio, and your ability to take risks
The effect of a slowing economy will vary by sector: capital goods companies will possibly see a slowdown in orders; but technology companies may not be affected. However, the global decline in stock markets may see a further sell-off in Indian share markets. But do not let these near-term swings and "bull" and "bear" markets rattle you. There is a way to be immune to all the noise about the Asian flu and global cues. The smartest and most successful investors in the world tend to ignore such volatility and always invest with a long-term perspective – they are never concerned about the daily movements in stock prices

The events of the past week should have given you ample reason to reassess your portfolio exposure. The specific stocks you own (click to read our view on large-cap and mid-cap stocks) or the mutual funds you own ( meet a Personalfn representative ) must have a risk-return profile that suits your financial goals and your risk-taking ability. Never gamble in stocks and mutual funds, always invest rationally.

Markets: You are not alone!

"It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked." - Warren Buffett
Did your stocks survive last two week's plunge? No? Well, you were not alone to have taken the hit! Data compiled for CNX Nifty stocks show that, during the period from 2nd February 2007 to 2nd March 2007 (28 days), all 50 of them lost ground, with the Nifty itself losing 11% during this period. What more, 23 of these (or 46% of the pack) are down on a yearly basis as well! As for the BSE-Sensex, all 30 stocks ended the 28-day period in the red.

Nifty: Top 10 losers
02-Feb-07 02-Mar-07 Change 52-Week H/L
VSNL 505 360 -28.8% 516 / 300
Grasim 2,811 2,097 -25.4% 2,940 / 1,455
Hindalco 184 138 -25.2% 251 / 133
Jet Airways 786 600 - 23.6% 1,058 / 475
Guj. Ambuja 143 110 -23.1% 153 / 70
OBC 219 174 -20.5% 280 / 139
MTNL 169 135 -20.1% 229 / 123
ACC 1,041 854 -17.9% 1,195 / 601
PNB 517 427 -17.4% 582 / 300
BHEL 2,502 2,098 - 16.1% 2,666 / 1,533

The weakness in Indian equities over the past few sessions has been due to a combination of factors - most of them actually impacting the whole of global equity markets. China was simply the trigger, but the fears of slowdown in the US has an equal part to play if not more. And you know what, despite being the 'trigger' for the global 'collapse', China was the only one among the major global indices to end the stated period (2nd February 2007 to 2nd March 2007) in the positive!

Global equities: India 'leads' the pack!
Index Country 02-Feb-07 02-Mar-07 Change
BSE-Sensex India 14,404 12,886 -10.5%
Bovespa Brazil 44,998 42,370 -5.8%
Hang Seng Hong Kong 20,564 19,442 - 5.5%
CAC France 5,677 5,425 -4.4%
Straits Times Singapore 3,218 3,079 -4.3%
Dow Jones US 12,653 12,114 -4.3%
DAX Germany 6,886 6,603 -4.1%
NASDAQ US-Tech 1,798 1,726 -4.0%
FTSE UK 6,311 6,116 - 3.1%
Nikkei Japan 17,547 17,218 -1.9%
Shanghai Comp. China 2,673 2,832 5.9%

Source: Yahoo Finance
After the significant volatility witnessed in equities over the last two weeks, you must be wondering whether this is a sign of things to come. And why not! Following four strong years of stock market gains and sky rocketing valuations across sectors, it would not be out of doubt to believe that the markets may enter a prolonged period of selling (or correction). Whatever the case may be, recent events are certainly a reminder that there is, in fact, 'risk' in equity investing.

"Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing." - Warren Buffett

So, what are the lessons learned?
The past few weeks must have provided you with a great time to reassess your risk exposure. However, it would be folly to blindly sell off your stocks based solely on the recent events. While the latest market plunge might serve you a wake-up call, it should not be seen as a forecast that 'all' stocks are headed downward. In fact, now is a great time to make sure that you are invested in financially sound companies with strong business models and reasonable valuations.

Where to from here?
As we had mentioned in our view on the market after the Wednesday (February 28, 2007) fall, the recent decline should be taken as an opportunity to invest and build a long-term equity portfolio. Needless to say that the equity component of the overall asset allocation should be in line with one's risk-return profile. Overall, you, as a retail investor, should not shy away from equities given the recent decline in the stock market. Invest in good companies with strong business models ( i.e., ability to ride through cycles) from a three to five year perspective and do not worry about the day-to-day market movements.

Parting note (From Warren Buffett's Letter to Shareholders, 2000)
"The line separating investment and speculation, which is never bright and clear, becomes blurred still further when most market participants have recently enjoyed triumphs. Nothing sedates rationality like large doses of effortless money. After a heady experience of that kind, normally sensible people drift into behavior akin to that of Cinderella at the ball. They know that overstaying the festivities -- that is, continuing to speculate in companies that have gigantic valuations relative to the cash they are likely to generate in the future -- will eventually bring on pumpkins and mice. But they nevertheless hate to miss a single minute of what is one helluva party. Therefore, the giddy participants all plan to leave just seconds before midnight. There's a problem, though: They are dancing in a room in which the clocks have no hands."

If you are bored at work!

2007-03-06T12:35:00.001+05:30

If you find it very boring in the office...

1. Form a detective agency to find out who is quitting next.
2. Make blank calls to your Boss.
3. Send mails from lotus notes (outlook) to your internet mail (and
Immediately get to the internet and see who reaches
first, you or your Mail?) And read them there, and note down the time they
take to reach There. Then do vice versa.....!!
4. Rearrange the furniture, i.e. flick someone else\'s chair just to
Irritate him/her.
5. Count your fingers (and toes if you still get bored).
6. Watch other people changing their facial ex-press ions while working and
try changing your ex-press ions also.
7. Try to stretch status meetings as longer as possible, just by asking
Silly doubts.
8. Make faces at strangers in office.
9. Have a two hour lunch; it\'s a big social occasion.
10. Learn to whistle.
11. Revise last week\'s newspaper.
12. Hold "How fast my computer boots" competitions.
13. Practice aiming the coffee cup into the dustbin.
14. Compile "How to waste your day"
15. Pick up phone and dial non-existing nos.
16. Have work breaks in between tea.
17. Count maximum no of applications your computer can open at time.
18. For Win NT/95 users....Move things to Recycle bin and restore Them. Then
repeat this process.
19. Look at someone & try to imagine how(s) he might have looked when(s) he
Was 5 years old.
20. Read jokes and send jokes.
21. Make full use of the comfortable chair and table provided and take a
Nap.

And if you are still getting
bored.........................then
22. Fwd this mail to everyone u know....

Stock Market

2007-03-06T11:10:00.001+05:30

Serious Investing of the savings in Stock Markets either direct or through Mutual Funds
would make a lot of difference in saving money.

Some sites you can use. (India)

http://www.amfi.com
http://www.valuresearchonline.com

Also do due diligence on investing. Never take tips from brokers/sellers. Do your own research.

Songs

2007-03-05T11:12:00.000+05:30

I love Tamil songs, and some melodies from Hindi.

I keep buying lots of CDs, MP3s.

I will also write about my favourite stars/singers.

passion in photography

2007-03-05T11:11:00.000+05:30

I like to share my passion in photography.

I will try to scan my non digital pictures and post.

Lovely Kids

2007-03-05T11:10:00.000+05:30

I have two kids 7 years old daughter and 5 years old son. They are growing day by day.

Their talk changing from kiddish to matured.

I hope their attachment remains same when they grow up.

Would like to share their nuances, etc. when I find time.

My friends

2007-03-05T11:09:00.000+05:30

I make friends wherever I go.

In school, neighbours and other friends friends.

My husbands friends wives become my friends and they become intangible.

Life and studies

2007-03-05T11:08:00.000+05:30

Life is a game.

All the important decisions are made in split second.

Tough to have a call later.

Your studies in life, matter most when you are old.