K R Srinivasan's Blog...

Autism

2009-07-29T11:07:00.001+05:30

Posted By Mridula P

Definition of Autism

Autistic disorder (known also as infantile autism or childhood autism) almost always develops before the age of three and is characterized by impaired verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction, some form of repetitive and restricted stereotyped interest, ritual, or other behavior.

Description of Autism

Children with autism often have extreme difficulty developing normal relationships with others. They tend not to share in the interests their peers have. In many cases these children are not able to interpret non-verbal cues of communication like facial expressions. Most people with autism have some impairment in language and many never speak at all.

About 8.7 of every 10,000 children are autistic, and more than 1 in 300 children have some form of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). PDD means that some, but not all, symptoms of autism are present.

Autism is a lifelong disease that ranges in severity from mild cases in which the autistic person can live independently, to severe forms in which the patient requires social support and medical supervision throughout his or her life.

Treatment of Autism

Most behavioral treatment programs include:

clear instructions to the child
prompting to perform specific behaviors
immediate praise and rewards for performing those behaviors
a gradual increase in the complexity of reinforced behaviors
definite distinctions of when and when not to perform the learned behaviors

To get more info about Autism log on to

www.positivelyautism.com

Check out the below link for the materials that will help parents and teachers very much to train their children

https://nlconcepts.infusionsoft.com/go/cp01/mridula/Mridula

Your Mobile Phone will be Banned in 2009?

2008-12-24T15:49:00.002+05:30

DOT has told to the government that any phone which doesn’t have a valid IMEI Number will be banned starting next year think they started with a date of Jan 6th and may be they will move that or extend it to March 2009.This means 13 percent of the Chinese and Korean mobile phones which either doesn’t have a valid IMEI number or has all 0’s will get banned , This is to take care of security threat that those mobile phones are causing , this is a very good move .

This means Legitimate branded phones can expect Very good sales.

what is IMEI
The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI (pronounced /aɪˈmiː/) is a number unique to every GSM and UMTS and iDEN mobile phone as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed on the phone underneath the battery.
The IMEI number is used by the GSM network to identify valid devices and therefore can be used to stop a stolen phone from accessing the network. For example, if a mobile phone is stolen, the owner can call his or her network provider and instruct them to “ban” the phone using its IMEI number. This renders the phone useless, regardless of whether the phone’s SIM is changed.
Unlike the Electronic Serial Number or MEID of CDMA and other wireless networks, the IMEI is only used to identify the device, and has no permanent or semi-permanent relation to the subscriber. Instead, the subscriber is identified by transmission of an IMSI number, which is stored on a SIM card that can (in theory) be transferred to any handset. However, many network and security features are enabled by knowing the current device being used by a subscriber.

We Salute!

2008-12-06T13:12:00.003+05:30

We salute the brave officers who laid down their lives fighting the terrorists and protecting us, our mumbai and our country.

Heavy computer users are in risk of glaucoma

2008-11-12T16:00:00.002+05:30

Those who use computers heavily are at greater risk for glaucoma than the general public, particularly those who are short-sighted. Glaucoma is an insidious disease - because one typically does not notice its development. Glaucoma is characterized by increasing loss of peripheral vision eventually leading to severe vision loss.
A 2004 cross-sectional study in 9124 Japanese workers indicated that there was a possible association between heavy computer users and glaucomatous visual field abnormalities. In other words - if you use computers heavily, ie, programers, software engineers, gamers,
The study looked at typical daily computer use, as well as long-term computer use history. More than 500 participants had problems with their peripheral vision. Of that group, one third were found to have glaucoma … perhaps more than a third, since some workers with peripheral vision problems didn’t receive all the testing to accurately diagnose glaucoma.
Even more significant was that heavy computer users who were farsighted or nearsighted seemed to have a higher risk. Nearsightedness was found in 82% of those with glaucoma.

Effective Googling!

2008-11-07T15:09:00.005+05:30

This is fantastic, People say "you misplaced sometime at your home? try searching in Google you will find it"... yes Google has become part of our life now a days. We are searching in Google for each and everything and here are some tips to make your Google search effective!

Common Cold!

2008-11-05T22:58:00.003+05:30

Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose—everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting not more than one to two weeks, it is a leading cause for doctor visits and missed days from school and work. Children and women are 20% more vulnerable to common cold while the elderly are the least susceptible to the virus. More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. It is a myth that cold is caused because of the chill outside. The primary causative is the proximity we maintain with the individuals suffering from cold. There is neither cure nor any vaccination to prevent common cold.
Here are some tips though, which you can try before popping those pills!• Rest in bed with your head in a raised position.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Gargle frequently with warm salt water or using throat sprays.
• Inhale steam as it may temporarily relieve symptoms of congestion.
• Drink warm water as it helps to relieve congestion, better than brandy.
• Do not immediately pop a pill if you have cold. It will lead to other more serious conditions like sinus.
If the cold persist for more than three days, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Give up cigarettes for good!

2008-10-17T17:53:00.002+05:30

How do you give up your cigarettes for good and never go back to them again?

Here are a few tips from the experts:

Have a plan and set a definite quit date.
Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays at home or in your desk at work.
Don’t allow others to smoke in your house.
Tell your friends and neighbors that you’re quitting. Doing so helps make quitting a matter of pride.
Chew sugarless gum or eat sugar-free hard candy to redirect the oral fixation that comes with smoking. This will prevent weight gain, too.
Eat as much as you want, but only low-calorie foods and drinks.
Drink plenty of water. This may help with the feelings of tension and restlessness that quitting can bring.
After eight weeks, you’ll lose your craving for tobacco, so it’s safe then to return to your usual eating habits.
Stay away from social situations that prompt you to smoke.
Dine in the nonsmoking section of restaurants.
Spend the money you save by not smoking on an occasional treat for yourself.

There is no way that you can slow down and stop at one point. Think... Decide now.... Start following the above steps…

Recession is coming

2008-10-15T17:54:00.002+05:30

Hello everyone,
I am posting this message not to make you panic guys but to make you alert and precautious.....
Recession is coming... make your own judgment, don't panic! Do what is wise. The recession looks very eminent. It is really time to take pro active steps to avoid a painful time in the next two years which is how long the is expected to last.
Suggestions:

1. Don't take any loans; buy homes, properties with loans, or even cash. Keep as much cash as possible.
2. Pay off as much of personal loans, private loans, as debt collection will be hastened.
3. Sell any stocks you can even at lower prices.
4. Take money off from Trust Funds.
5. Don't believe in huge sales forecast from customers, be extremely prudent, lowest inventories, reduce liabilities.
6. Don't invest in new capital.
7. If you are selling homes/ properties/ cars, do it now, when you can get good prices, they are going to fall.
8. Don't invest in new business proposals.
9. Cancel holiday plans using credit cards.
10. Don't change jobs, as companies will retrench based on 'last in first out'.

Stay cool, wait, and if you took all of the above actions and more, you probably will be better off then many. This is not a rumor. Bear Stearns is the first of many banking and financial institutions that will start falling in the not too future. If Bear Stearns can fall, so can JP Morgan, Citibank, HSBC, and the whole world. US economy falls, the rest will crumble. India and all those self economies will be the most protected, but not gullible. Europe may be a little stronger, but not China, another giant place! Malaysia will see significant impact. Be alert and pass this to your friends!!!

159,000 jobs lost in U.S. in a month

2008-10-06T10:29:00.000+05:30

Report from: SiliconIndia News
New York: As many as 159,000 jobs were cut in the U.S. in September, the worst ever retrenchment in a month for five years, the government has reported, heightening fears that the economic downturn was worsening and could persist well into next year.
The job loss has continued for nine consecutive months totalling 760,000 in the period, according to the Labor Department's report released Friday. In the last couple of weeks many people also had to leave work as several Wall Street institutions collapsed.
"We've lost jobs in nearly every area of the economy, and this is going to get worse before it gets better because the credit markets have deteriorated basically on a daily basis for the last few weeks," Michael T. Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners, a research and trading firm in Connecticut, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
Though the financial bailout plan cleared by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush Friday may restore order in the financial system, it will take time for its effect to be felt.
In a chain reaction, housing prices continue to fall, eroding household wealth just as millions are trapped in unmanageable debt. The shrinking job market has taken many paychecks out of the economy, forcing people to rethink thrift, resulting in reduced sales from car showrooms to hair salons.
Till only a few weeks ago, many economists held hopes of the economy recovering late this year or early next year. But now with the job market contracting faster, and fear dogging the financial system, 2008 is seen as a lost cause. The more pessimistic analysts don't mind using the word 'recession'.
"This is an economy in recession, and every dimension of the (labour) report confirms that," said Ethan S. Harris, an economist at Barclays Capital. "This has been preceded by a slow-motion recession. Now we're going into the full-speed recession that will last somewhere between three and five quarters."

Guaranteed Extra Cash Online

2008-10-04T23:14:00.001+05:30

Guaranteed Extra Cash Online
by: Peter V. Ruble
For college students and other people who feel burned out trying to balance paying the bills and living at the same time, ads like these can prove to be irresistible. Many of them make perfect sense and easily hook you based on good concepts. Unfortunately, many times the product or service does not match the brilliance of a great idea for making money from home or through the Internet. As I’ve learned myself, the further you go down this road, the more excited you get. You basically get hooked, and if you aren’t careful, you will end up working hard and falling further into debt than you can imagine. Much like gambling, the lure of easy money and independence can make just about anyone fall prey to work at home scams that feed off your dreams to get to your wallet so they can go on to the next victim.
Hopefully, you will never fall victim to these scam artists. However, the fact of the matter is that these scammers would not be wasting their time if they were not making any money. And as long as people continue to get mixed up in this business, these scammers are going to stick around to trick more and more people.
The best way to keep a scammer’s claws away from your credit card is to do thorough research on each opportunity that you are considering. This means doing much more than simply reading a bit about it online. In my personal experience, I have been taken by companies who were savvy enough to pollute the Internet with staged testimonials, guarantees, questionable references to big name endorsements, and even appearances in the Better Business Bureau.
A colleague of mine who invested in vending machine placement services even went so far as to physically go to the manufacturing plant to tour the warehouse as well as contact the Better Business Bureau of that state. What he received, in return, were twenty malfunctioning candy machines with a list of local businesses who had apparently agreed to receive them. Not only did none of these businesses know what he was talking about, many of them were hostile when he showed up to place them.
What you want to do is check message boards such as the ASK section of Yahoo.com. Another simple method of weeding out the scams from the genuine opportunities is to go to a search engine and simply type in the company name followed by the word “scam”. If you do this, and you are barraged by an endless list of complaints, you my friend have found a nugget of gold in a sea of mud.
In terms of the Better Business Bureau, it is best to contact them directly to ask about any complaints, and also find out how long a company has been listed. The Better Business Bureau operates state by state. They will be able to tell you if they have any complaints on file. If they do, you will want to avoid the opportunity at all costs. But if it appears that a company is doing business the right way, you can continue your own research.
Being in the Business Bureau is not necessarily that hard to accomplish. Many scammers can use their money and connections to set up a front to initially qualify for the Better Business Bureau just long enough for them to collect their cash from unsuspecting victims, close shop, create a new identity and start again.
Before you decide to do anything, attempt to get in touch with the company that you are interested in. Can you get a human being on the phone? Do they have an actually physical address? How long does it take them to respond to your e-mails, if at all? If you cannot even talk to the company before you start, there is not chance that they will be around when you really need them. I once made quite a bit of money selling vacation vouchers on auction sites. The marketing plan was sound, and the money saving vouchers was a hit. Only problem was, I could never get in touch with their customer service department to handle my customer inquiries and complaints once I realized that the promises that existed in writing on the vouchers were misleading at best. This proved to be such a problem that it took me over a year to recover from the negative publicity on my auction site.
Of course, there are legitimate home based businesses out there. With the Internet and all the low cost, web producing tools available, there seems to be a renaissance in entrepreneurship. Basically, just find a product or service you can market online, and do your research. Sell on EBay if you don’t want to build your own website. You can have a website their and all search engine marketing is already done by EBay. The Small Business Association has an office in downtown Tacoma and contains invaluable information on their website http://www.sba.com. Since small business is the backbone of our country economically, sources such as these are eager to help you create a plan with realistic expectations.
However, like anything else worthwhile, you have to do your homework and work hard at it. The problem is that too many people make you think you can practically go online and make money just clicking on a mouse. You want to steer clear of any business that asks to you to pay for their “Top Secret” e-book that will teach you how to make an automated income.”
Think about it, if you are in dire need of cash, can you imagine any other situation in which you would not only work for free, but pay for the privilege to work. There are no magic formals or secrets worth paying for. All of the information in these e-books can be found for free through your own research if you have common internet skills.
If you don’t want to work hard and just make a few easy extra bucks without donating your blood or volunteering to be a guinea pig, it is possible to make some good extra money filling out online surveys or through mystery shopping. There are real opportunities out there which require no fee to get started. Not only that, several of them will even give you a $5 bonus just for signing up. If a company such as this is legitimate, they would be making lots of money through the success of its members. Companies that require that $49.97 start up fee only make money through the fee and only want to teach you how to get other people to do the same. The products are all useless lists and general information that anyone with a functioning mind could figure out on their own, or get for free by doing their own research.
In 12 years of trying to make a living on the Internet, the following are the best companies I have ever encountered for making a few extra bucks filling out surveys, playing games and mystery shopping. They probably won’t pay the rent, but if you’re interested in making an extra $400 or $500 a month or eating out at nice restaurants and going to movies for free, you may want to check these out:
Mystery Shopping Providers Association: ." target=new>http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/">.
This site contains all the information you will ever need on starting up as a mystery shopper. It is also a portal for the best sites to go to for mystery shopping jobs online, and they don’t require that you invest a penny.
InboxDollars.com. (you can sign up for free and get $5 just for signing up. You can make a few hundred dollars in one day, theoretically, if you are willing to use a credit card to sign up for free or paid trials. Just make sure you have the patience to fill out the long surveys and keep detailed records so you can remember to cancel your free trials before you get charged. Also, you can fill out surveys to make a dollar or two which are completely free. I’ve made about $400 with this site.
http://www..sendearnings.com.(almost identical to InboxDollars.com)
http://www.treasuretrooper.com. (a lot of free surveys and cool games)
http://www.tiktikcash.com. By far the best of the survey sites. The free surveys are tremendous. You can make a dollar or two in one minute. This site has the shortest, most painless surveys. I made over thirty bucks in less than after signing up.

ICICI Bank’s financial position sound

2008-09-30T14:21:00.001+05:30

Done panic... ICICI Bank’s financial position strong Press Release from ICICI Bank on 30th Sep 2008

How to beat stress?

2008-09-26T14:43:00.003+05:30

How to beat stress?
To control stress effectively, we must first know what is causing the stress. Once we know the cause, we can try to find suitable ways to cope with it. We can also change the way we react to stress. We would not be able to get rid of stress altogether, but we can manage it at a level that we can handle. The following stress busters are some positive ways to cope with stress.
Plan your time well
Be more organized. Make a list of all the things you need to do and arrange them in order of importance. Decide how much time you need for each job and then stick to your plan.
Be realistic about what you can do
Choose your work according to your own ability and interest. Do not hope for the impossible. Set goals for yourself those are achievable so that you don't become frustrated or discouraged.
Make decisions wisely
Get all the relevant information first - don't make major decisions blindly. Consider the good and bad points of each choice. Involve people who will be affected by the decision in the process.
Learn to like yourself
Don't worry too much about your looks, height, pimples and other faults. Make the best of what you have and learn to accept what you cannot change.
Think positive
Prevent negative feeling from building up. Learn to identify the cause of these feelings and deal constructively with them. Don't blow things out of proportion.
Share your problems
Do not keep all your problems and worries to yourself. Remember you are not alone. Talk to your spouse, friend, supervisor or religious leader. They may have had experience with similar situations and they may be able to suggest a solution to your problem. You may also use the helpline provided.
Make friends
Just as you need a happy family, you also need friends to talk to and laugh with, to visit you and go out with you and to help you in times of need. Treat others the way you would like them to treat you. Respect their views and be patient with their faults. Try giving in to others sometimes - even when you are right.
Keep healthy
Keep your body healthy by exercising regularly, eating wisely and getting enough sleep. Do not turn to cigarettes or alcohol to relieve your stress.

Endhiran- The Robot - First pictures....

2008-09-23T11:34:00.002+05:30

What is your Numerology?

2008-09-22T17:18:00.000+05:30

Irrespective of the religion, Numerology play an important role nowadays especially when it come to the naming of kids. Here is exclusively prepared Numerology Excel use it. Thanks to Mr. Anand my friend who prepared it. Numerology Excel

Mild quake in Bangalore?

2008-09-17T14:00:00.002+05:30

When I reached office today morning, one of my friends was saying he had felt a mild earthquake in his appartment. He added that he was woken up by a shakey feeling and saw the doors of his cupboards shaking. It was around 3 am. We just had fun of him and said “dude u must have had a wild dream”….

But to my surprise I saw this news in the MSN today morning “Mild quake jilts Western Maharashtra”

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1666339

Call 108 For Emergency!

2008-09-16T17:56:00.001+05:30

You can now call "108" when you are in Emergency. This service is launched in tamilnadu on Monday the 15th of Sep 2008, by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The facility will have 20 ambulances stationed at different locations across the city and 250 employees of the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) to attend to all medical, fire and police emergencies.

Sources say that “108” is already being used as the toll free emergency number in Indian states such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Now_on_call_108_in_emergency/articleshow/3487438.cms

NETGEAR wireless G-router-A Review

2008-09-08T11:57:00.004+05:30

I have recently bought a Netgear wireless G-router (54 mbps). This is 4 Port and wireless router which is very affordable ($37 when I bought it on the last week of Aug 08), easy to configure (just like plug and play) and useful for home networking.

Netgear wireless G-router is very small and handly, it weights less than ¼ of a KG, has the range of 400 meters. When I used it in my home for the first time yesterday, the signal strength is very good in all the rooms in my 2bhk apartment. It has got 4 ports for connecting wired network connection and a small antenna for wireless. There is 5^th port (yellow color) which should be connected with the actual modem. Remember the router is not a modem. You can also set up password encryption for protecting other from steeling your internet.

This I found is really useful, with this 54mbps fast, you can do almost all the things what you want to do with internet like chating, watching videos online, connect to the VPN and accessing a remote computer. Though Idid not encounter any problem as such. Try always keeping this device away from the wireless phone/mobile phones or TV.

Here are the some of the snaps of the Netgear wireless G-router. I have taken one picture keeping it next to my mobile phone, just to show how small/big the device looks like.

Google's new web browser-Google Chrome.

2008-09-03T23:03:00.004+05:30

New browser from Google arrived here, its called Google Chrome.

Here are some of the featurs of Google Chrome (beta)

- Fast

- Robust

- Phishing and malware backlist updated periodically.

- Each tab in Chrome is sandboxed

- Plug-ins is run in very low privileges to avoid attacks.

To download

http://www.google.com/chrome

To know all its features, advantages

http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2008-09-01-n47.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome

http://tools.google.com/chrome/intl/en-US/features.html

The Shark Tooth

2008-08-28T23:43:00.001+05:30

I just came across this beautiful story in one of the forward e-mails I got.

Read it....

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the water close to Japan has not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring the fish. If the return trip took more time, the fish were not fresh. To solve this problem, fish companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish. And they did not like the taste of frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So, fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, they were tired, dull, and lost their fresh-fish taste. The fishing industry faced an impending crisis! But today, they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan. How did they manage? To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks but with a small shark.The fish are challenged and hence are constantly on the move. The challenge they face keeps them alive and fresh!Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired and dull? Basically in our lives, sharks are new challenges to keep us active. If you are steadily conquering challenges, you are happy. Your challenges keep you energized. Don't create success and revel in it in a state of inertia. You have the resources, skills and abilities to make a difference. Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!

A touching video...99 BALLOONS

2008-06-25T18:29:00.004+05:30

Hi Friends,

Sorry for being away for long time. I was devastated by few things happened over last one month in my life. I was thinking to i have to get back to my bogging ways for long time, and now after seeing this video which just left only tears in my eyes, i thought i should post this in the blog.
So this video "99 BALLOONS" was posted by a parents who lost their kid in 99 days. The child, eliot, was diagnosed "Trisomy18" which was also called as "Edwards Syndrome" even before the birth...and rest you just see in the video...

Regards,
K R Srinivasan

Earth Hour

2008-03-27T15:52:00.004+05:30

On 29 March 2008, millions of people in some of the world's biggest cities will unite and switch off for one hour - Earth Hour - sending a powerful national and global message that it's possible to take action on global warming.

Last year On March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour — Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

After Strong backing from the City of Sydney and its Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, helped to make Earth Hour 2008 an international event.

Over 9000 businesses and 136,000 individuals had indicated their intention to participate at earthhour.org

Earth Hour 2008 will include the following "partner cities".

Aalborg, Denmark
Aarhus, Denmark
Adelaide, Australia
Atlanta, United States
Bangkok, Thailand
Brisbane, Australia
Canberra, Australia
Chicago, United States
Christchurch, New Zealand
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dubai, UAE
Dublin, Ireland
Lautoka, Fiji
Manila, Philippines
Melbourne, Australia
Montreal, Canada
Odense, Denmark
Ottawa, Canada
Perth, Australia
Phoenix, United States
San Francisco, United States
Suva, Fiji
Sydney, Australia
Tel Aviv, Israel
Toronto, Canada
Vancouver, Canada

This is going to happen every year, as a biggest democracy and the second largest populated nation we should add at least one Indian city to list. Sign up to participate in this program and save our earth For more details visit http://www.earthhour.org/

Is it Best time to buy a Property in Bangalore?

2008-03-25T15:36:00.005+05:30

Is it Best time to buy a Property in Bangalore?

You like to buy a property in Bangalore rather anywhere in India?
Wait! Wait! Wait for a year or so. The property bubble is almost bust? You must have read it in some of the magazines. You must have read it like “its right time to invest” in Bangalore properties, these magazines say half truth, yes the “property bubble is bust” but still its not right time to buy a property in Bangalore. These kinds of “property bubble is bust, right time to invest” articles are another desperate action by the property builders/owners/infrastructure companies and brokers to step up the falling property market.

The real scenario is there is over supply of properties, especially the apartments. Yes there are thousands of apartments built and finished across Bangalore and yet attracts no buyers! Yes that’s true! The big property owners who can withstand the market fall are holding on to it yet, but not ready to sell it for the lesser price.
Some of the marketing companies are especially employed just to sell the exciting apartments. For example “Orange properties” as such they are not builders but employed only to sell of the left over apartments.

Asipac a real estate company conducted a survey and states that property prices in the city have dropped by at least 10 to 20 per cent in the past one year. The survey results say that prices have come down by 20 per cent in areas like Sarjapur.

THE BANGALORE PROPERTY FALL…

East Bangalore Drop from Rs 3,100/sq ft to Rs 2,100/sq ft
South Bangalore Drop from Rs 6,400/sq ft to Rs 4,000/sq ft
South East Bangalore Drop from Rs 5,300/sq ft to Rs 3500/sq ft
North Bangalore Prices unchanged

Still after the fall, this is unaffordable for some of the highly earning people, after the US market recession and Indian stock market’s great fall. The property market is expected to fall further. Builders in Bangalore find it difficult to selloff the apartments these days and are incurring huge losses. Therefore they are reducing the prices to draw customers and yet finding it difficult due to over supply.

These Property prices fall is not only in Bangalore, but across all over major cities in India. I saw this unconfirmed news in a website last week which says “No takers for three apartments auctioned by Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority”

Finally,
Rate of interest at all time high…
Over supply of Apartments…
Recession in US…
Stock market great fall…
still its not right time to buy/invest in Bangalore properties at current levels, the prices is expected to fall further, hold on or think before you buy a property. Don’t fall for the word “It is the best time to buy a property in Bangalore”

Vijay and Nayanthara as brand ambassador for Chennai Super Kings

2008-03-19T11:57:00.006+05:30

Chennai: India Cements, which has bought the rights for the Chennai team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), plans to operate on a revenue model involving advertisements on players' helmets, sponsorship for T-shirts, gate collections, and revenue sharing agreements with BCCI and television rights holder Sony.
The company on Tuesday announced that it has signed up Tamil actors Vijay and Nayanthara as brand ambassadors for the team - Chennai Super Kings.
India Cements executive president T S Raghupathy and former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth were present on the occasion.
Vijay and Nayanthara will endorse Chennai Super Kings, appear on hoardings and IPL television ads, and also turn up at all team matches to cheer captain M S Dhoni and his team. The first match is likely to be held on April 23 in Chennai followed by one each in Mohali, Kolkata and Mumbai. Chennai Super Kings' logo is that of a roaring lion with the tagline: Fearless entertainers who will play to win.
Source: Business Standard

The most beautiful smile

2008-03-18T09:25:00.003+05:30

I have got this video as fwd mail from one of my friends. Really this is one of the beautiful smiles I have seen. I am just posting this to make your day cheerful... Here is "The most beautiful smile"... Have a great day...

Mission Safer India

2008-03-11T14:28:00.004+05:30

While I was browsing internet, I have come across a website called http://www.saferindia.com/. This web site is started and directly administered by Dr. Kiran Bedi. This is an wonderful effort to strengthen police service in India. You can go ahead and log your complaint regarding any crime in your place (especially when your area police is ignoring your complain). I think this is very much useful site not only for Indians and also to the foreigners who are touring to India.
Remember this is not a investigation agency.
Once you log a complaint it will be sent to your area DGP. You may also use this “complaint mail” as the legal document in case of filing a case in the court of judgment.
Please spread this to your friends...

Coping with interviews

2008-03-10T10:13:00.001+05:30

Coping with interviews
by David Denny

Practice makes perfect. Get what it takes to interview with confidence.

Introduction
After coming through all the hurdles of the SELECTION PROCESS, you will eventually arrive at an interview. This is of course, a major obstacle for many job applicants. Although they may have the qualifications, experience and a proven track record, they may lose out to a candidate who 'interviews better.'

So what does 'interviewing better' actually mean? It comes down to the candidate being well-prepared and confident. A candidate who can answer questions in a way which is acceptable (but not necessarily right) to the interviewer, someone who knows something about their potential employer's business and the post they hope to fill. These are really the basic components of any candidate who 'interviews well'. There are undoubtedly other aspects employers may look for in relation to specific posts - having their own ideas, articulate, thinking on their feet, aspects which will be related to the job and to the company's preference in employees.

The employer will also be looking to fill a post, which has a particular job specification - in other words personal aspects besides the experience, and qualifications that can be put down on paper. The interviewer will set out to ascertain that the candidate has these personal qualities, skills and abilities the company requires.

Preparation and confidence
These two essential ingredients are interlinked. Good preparation instills confidence.

The basic approach to an interview is to be well-prepared. This means two things - preparing yourself practically for the interview, and gathering knowledge and information you can draw on during the interview.

Be sure you know the time, date and location of the interview and name of interviewee where appropriate.
Check out how you will get to the location, and when you need to set off to be there in good time - do a dummy run if necessary. Plan to get there no earlier than half an hour before the interview time, anticipate delays.
Have what you are going to wear ready in advance - everything down to your underwear.
Do not go to the interview laden down with baggage - psychological as well as physical. Take the bare minimum of belongings necessary. Concentrate on the interview at the interview - nothing else.
If you are asked to bring certificates, references etc, get them ready before the day. Take your interview letter.
On arrival ensure the receptionist knows you are there, visit the toilets to tidy up etc.

If you are well-organized and have planned for the day your confidence will increase.

Preparing to meet the employer
The interview is a chance for you and the employer to get to know one another. It is NOT the time to get to know about the post or the employer's business.

Do gather information about your employer before you are interviewed - what do they do, what are their current projects, what other interests do they have? Ask staff - many companies will offer you the chance to talk about the vacancy with someone, use the opportunity to find out more about the company.

Bigger companies will have PR departments, smaller ones will provide you with some information - libraries can provide information on local business and keep directories of national business. Use the Internet - many companies have a presence here now.

Make sure you know what the job entails - get a job description, ask someone in a similar post; ring the company to clarify if unsure.

Don't forget you
Remember the employer is interested in you as a person, your experiences and your opinions (in most cases). Do take the time to sit down and think about you, who you are and what you've achieved. It can be highly embarrassing to know more about the employer than yourself.

Sit down with your CV and make notes about your work record, what you've achieved. Look at yourself as a person in employment - how do you see your self, what have you done, what ambitions do you have. Make notes and prepare and rehearse sound bites about yourself. Remember that one of the most common interview questions is 'Tell me about yourself'. Prepare a sound bite for this in particular, but not a life history. Usually interviewers want to know about personal qualities, not achievements - though examples can be included to support your statement.

Answering interview questions
Interviews vary tremendously, from very informal to formal. However, some questions can be anticipated, as can the subject matter. If you are well-prepared, then the majority of problem questions should not arise. You will know about the company, you will know about yourself and you will a have a good idea of the demands of the job - these questions will not be a problem to the well-prepared interviewee.

A few general rules:

Speak up when answering questions.
Answer briefly, but try to avoid yes or no answers.
Don't worry about pausing before you answer, it shows you can think and are not spitting out the sound bites you learned!
Don't worry about admitting you don't know - but keep this to a bare minimum.
Don't embellish answers or lie! Be as honest as possible.
Be prepared for hypothetical situation questions, take your time on these.
Be prepared for the unexpected question, that's designed to see how you cope with the unexpected.
If you ask questions, keep them brief during the interview, remember you're the interviewee. At the end of the interview, ask your questions in an open manner, that is, questions which cannot be answered with yes or no. E.g. tell me about....? what is....? why.....?

Thank the interviewers for their time when you leave, and smile, even if you now hate them.

Questions for the interviewer
There is always the opportunity to ask them questions at the end of the interview - remember the interview is a two-way process, you need to be sure you want to join them too!

Try to concentrate on issues which are important to you and combine as an apparent interest in the company. Leave issues like terms and conditions until the very last, even though they may feel like the most important to you. Write your questions down prior to the interview and take them with you.

Good topics to touch on include:

the competitive environment in which the organisation operates
executive management styles
what obstacles the organisation anticipates in meeting its goals
how the organisation's goals have changed over the past three to five years.

Generally, it is most unwise to ask about pay or benefits or other similar areas. The reason is that it tends to make you seem more interested in what the organisation can do for you. It is also not a good idea to simply have no questions at all. Doing so makes you appear passive rather than curious and interested.

Suggested questions:

What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position?
How does the company expect these objectives to be met?
What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives?
What resources are available from the company and what must be found elsewhere to reach the objectives?

Presentation and body language
Wear what is appropriate for the post and the company. It may vary from smart, formal wear in some instances to very formal dress in others. Try and get an insight into what the company would expect from employees or gauge this through observation. What would be appropriate for a building company is very different to a public relations agency.

Be well groomed and clean. Try to look calm and confident, simple things like deodorant can boost your confidence.

Once you are ushered into the interview room there will usually be a short exchange of pleasantries and ice breaking. Don't be fooled by this time - it really is designed to put you at ease in most circumstances, but these initial moments are the most formative - don't go over the top being exceptionally friendly, or alternatively going rigid with fear thinking that your handshake was too limp! A pleasant natural smile, a firm handshake and a brief exchange of words in a natural manner is sufficient.

Sit comfortably with both feet on the floor, lean slightly towards the interviewer.
Don't play with your hair or you hands. Keep them out of pockets!
Try not to create defensive barriers between you and them, like a brief case on your knees, folded arms or crossed legs....even if you feel you need to. It's natural, but your interviewer will not physically attack!
Maintain natural eye contact with the interviewer - that is maintain eye contact, but don't stare like a snake!
If there's more than one interviewer, look at who's talking.
When you're talking, shift your glance from one to the other.
Don't over-use your hands, if you are a natural gesticulator.
Don't squirm and fidget.
Do nod and Mmm, to show you're listening to them.
Above all try to be you, unless you're naturally offensive!

Obeying these rules, will allow the interviewers to concentrate on you and not what you're doing in the interview. Body language conveys all sorts of messages, and the right body language will convey the message of a well-balanced and confident individual...............even if you're not!

Top CV Mistakes to Avoid

2008-03-06T10:20:00.003+05:30

Make sure your CV is your springboard to the next stage of the job search. Here are some key CV mistakes to avoid.

Your CV is often the first impression a hiring manager has of you and more often than not you will only have a few seconds to grab his/her attention and leave him/her wanting to read more and invite you in for an interview. It is essential that you get this vital piece of communication right and use it as a springboard to the next stage of the job search. The following are some common CV mistakes to avoid at all costs.

1. Insufficient Contact Details
Make sure your CV clearly details your full name, address and contact details for a prospective employer to reach you including phone numbers and email address. This may sound obvious but remarkably, a few candidates will send their CV out omitting key contact information or with outdated contact details. If your email address reads particularly unprofessionally (eg hotbabe) or is a work email address it may be well worth while changing it for a different one to utilize for correspondence with employers.

2. No Objective
Every CV should begin with a clear and concise objective citing the position you are seeking and a supporting short skills statement summarizing the reason you are highly qualified for this role; e.g. "Seeking a senior marketing analyst role where I can apply my 3 years experience in marketing analysis gained with a leading Fortune 500 FMCG company as well as my skills in copywriting, strategic analysis, business development, client servicing and media planning." Remember, the goal of the CV is to outline what you can do for your prospective employer not what your employer can do for you.

3. Passive Language
Remember to use active verbs that show leadership and accomplishments rather than weak passive words. Words like achieved, spearheaded, managed, exceeded, pioneered, led, created, developed and motivated convey an active, dynamic successful professional. Substitute all weak descriptive sentences for sentences that detail accomplishments in no uncertain terms eg instead of "Managed the firm's emerging markets equity portfolio" try "Managed and achieved a 34% annualized return on the firm's flagship USD200 million emerging markets equity portfolio."

4. Writing in the first person
Do not start sentences with the word 'I' or use the personal pronoun in your job descriptions. Keep your sentences short and dynamic and begin them wherever possible with strong action words.

5. Lack of Focus
Every CV should be focused on the particular job and industry you are targeting. If you are applying to jobs in 2 different industries make sure you have different CVs that cater specifically to the different skills required in each industry. The best CVs are customized for the individual job at hand and emphasize objectives, skillsets, past accomplishments, aptitudes and qualifications that are uniquely relevant to that role. Generic, unfocused CVs rarely make the mark.

6. Poor Formatting
Your CV will get no more than a cursory glance if the formatting is poor and it shows bad planning, poor organization or clutter. Makes sure you adhere to an acceptable format that is professional, simple and attractive to the eye. Use bullet points wherever possible rather than long, winding prose and be consistent with font, headings, spaces and layout. Avoid the coloured paper, illustrations and glitzy touches - if you are applying for a creative position show your creativity in your portfolio not by jazzing up your CV. Aim to send your CV on high quality paper (if not on-line) and make sure it is no longer than 1 page if you are entry level and a maximum of 2 pages if you are a seasoned professional.

7. No Proofreading
Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and glaring errors are a surefire way to get your CV dismissed and stop the job search process in its tracks. Read and reread your CV before sending it to the employer, run a spellcheck and have some-one else read it for an extra check before sending it out.

8. Omission of Key Facts
Educational qualifications and professional experience must be included in your CV with proper dates, titles, institution names and descriptions. Use plenty of keywords in describing your role and accomplishments in each job as well as in the Skills section - these will often be the hook that makes the difference between your CV being considered or overlooked, particularly with an online employer CV search. If you are unsure what keywords to use, read the job description thoroughly, read detailed job descriptions for similar jobs with other companies and ask peers in the industry what skills/qualificatio ns are particularly relevant for this role.

9. Lies
Lies and half-truths will be discovered sooner or later and you are better off omitting them from the start. If you have not finished a university degree make that clear on your CV without neglecting to include the coursework you did complete and the educational accomplishments you do have. Similarly do not list promotions, jobs, titles, dates or job descriptions that do not accurately reflect your work history. Most companies run very detailed background checks and lies and exaggerations that are not glaringly obvious on the CV or at the interview will often be discovered at the reference or background check.

10. Poor Targeting
Make sure you send your CV to the right person at the company and accompany it with a short, concise cover letter that personalizes it and summarizes your skills, objectives and the value you will bring to the job. Spend some time researching who heads the division you are targeting and what the most relevant skills are to target in your correspondence and send your introductory CV and cover letter directly to them. Your CV is more likely than not to be disregarded completely if you send it to the wrong person or to a nameless "To whom it may concern".

Income tax calculation as per "Budget 08"

2008-03-04T15:00:00.009+05:30

Budget provides a savings of Rs.44,000 for individuals having taxable income of Rs.5Lacs and above

Existing Slab	Amount	Tax Rate	Tax amount	Proposed Slab	Amount	Tax Rate	Tax amount
1.1 Lacs to 1.5 Lacs	40000	10%	*4000*	Til 1.5 Lacs		Nil	*0.00*
1.5 Lacs to 2.5 Lacs	100000	20%	*20000*	1.5 Lacs to 2.5 Lacs	10%	100000	*10000.00*
2.5 Lacs to 3Lacs	50000	30%	*15000*	2.5 Lacs to 3 Lacs	10%	50000	*5000.00*
3Lacs to 5 Lacs	200000	30%	*60000*	3 Lacs to 5 Lacs	20%	200000	*40000.00*
5 Lacs and above		30%		5 Lacs and above	30%

Total Tax Payable			*99000*				*55000.00*
Savings							*44000.00*


*Women Assessee*

1.40 Lacs to 1.5 Lacs	10000	10%	*1000*				*0.00*
1.5 Lacs to 1.8 Lacs	30000	20%	*6000*	Till 1.8 Lacs		Nil	*0.00*
1.8 Lacs to 2.5 Lacs	70000	20%	*14000*	1.8 Lacs to 2.5 Lacs	10%	70000	*7000.00*
2.5 Lacs to 3Lacs	50000	30%	*15000*	2.5 Lacs to 3 Lacs	10%	50000	*5000.00*
3Lacs to 5 Lacs	200000	30%	*60000*	3 Lacs to 5 Lacs	20%	200000	*40000.00*
5 Lacs and above		30%		5 Lacs and above	30%

Total Tax Payable			*96000*				*52000.00*
Savings							*44000.00*

Daily A Thirukkural-29th Feb 2008

2008-02-29T11:24:00.008+05:30

அறத்துப்பால்

கடவுள்வாழ்த்து : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

பொறிவாயில் ஐந்தவித்தான் பொய்தீர் ஒழுக்க

நெறிநின்றார் நீடு வாழ்வார். 6

மெய், வாய், கண், மூக்கு, செவி எனும் ஐம்பொறிகளையும் கட்டுப்படுத்திய தூயவனின் உண்மயான ஒழக்கமுடைய நெறியைப் பின்பற்றி நிற்பவர்களின் புகழ்வாழ்வு நிளையானதாக அமையும்

English Meaning

They prosper long who walk his way

who has the senses signed away

Online BUS TICKETS Service providers / third party service providers Websites

2008-02-28T11:03:00.001+05:30

Online BUS TICKETS Service providers / third party service providers Websites

Links to Service Providers' Websites

Company	Website	Regions Covered
Rathimeena Travels	http://www.rathimeena.co.in/	South Tamil Nadu (KK Dist, Nellai, Madurai), East Coast Region of TN, Trivandrum, Vizag, Nellore, Vijayawada
KPN Travels	www.kpntravels.in/	most parts of Tamil Nadu, part of Kerala and Karnataka
Parveen Travels	www.parveentravels.com/E-ticketing/index.php	most parts of Tamil Nadu, part of Kerala, Karnataka, and Hyderabad (via Nellore)
ABT Travels	http://www.abtxtravels.com/	South Tamil Nadu (KK Dist, Nellai, Madurai, Trivandrum), East Coast Region, Vizag, Nellore, Vijayawada
Kallada Travels	www.kalladatravels.com/	Connecting Bangalore with some of important destinations in Kerala
Karnataka State Road Transport Corp.	www.ksrtc.in/AWATAROnline/	All parts of Karnataka, and parts of Kerala, TN, AP, and Maharashtra
Raj National Express	http://www.rajnationalexpress.in/	Across India
The Luxury Buses	http://www.theluxurybuses.com/	Delhi-Manali, - Jammu, -Katra
Kesineni	http://www.kesinenitravels.com/	Across AP, Connecting Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai & Pune with most parts of AP
Sri Kalleshwari Travels	www1.travellink.in/b2cwl/kaleswari?action1=HOME	Connecting Bangalore, Chennai, and Vizag with most part of AP

Links to Third-Party Service Providers' Websites

Service Provider	Website	Regions Covered
Pilani Soft Labs Pvt. Ltd.	http://www.redbus.in/	South India
CustomerNeedz.com	http://www.customerneedz.com/	South India (Presently Covers the BGL - HYD Sector)
Prasanna Tours P Limited	http://www.prasannatours.com/	Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Baroda
Abhi Bus	http://www.abhibus.com/	Buses Originating to and from Hyderabad
Real India	http://www.realindia.in/	South Tamil Nadu (KK Dist, Nellai, Madurai), East Coast Region of TN, Trivandrum, Vizag, Nellore, Vijayawada
Travis Internet Pvt. Ltd.	http://www.ticketvala.com/	Connecting Ahmedabad with major cities of Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, & Nagpur)
checkouttrip.com	http://www.checkouttrip.com/	For all the major cities and towns of India
easybustickets.com	http://www.easybustickets.com/	For buses originating from Hyderabad to all parts of AP, and to Bangalore and Chennai

Daily A Thirukkural-28th Feb 2008

2008-02-27T20:56:00.005+05:30

அறத்துப்பால்
கடவுள்வாழ்த்து : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

இருள்சேர் இருவினையும் சேரா இறைவன்
பொருள்சேர் புகழ்புரிந்தார் மாட்டு. 5

இறைவன் என்பதற்குரிய பொருளைப் புரிந்து கொண்டு புகழ் பெற விரும்புகிறவர்கள், நன்மை தீமைகளை ஒரே அளவில் எதிர் கொள்வார்கள்.

English Meaning
God's praise who tell, are free from right
and wrong, the twins of dreaming night

Tourist places around bangalore

2008-02-22T16:37:00.002+05:30

Wondering where to spend a week end in and around bangalore? Here is a small guide about what are the places around bangalore. This give you a detailed view of what are all the places around bangalore, distance, type of place (hills, pilgrim, dam, ect) and much more details. Go out and enjoy…. Click Here: Tourist places around bangalore

Daily A Thirukkural-22nd Feb 2008

2008-02-22T14:23:00.006+05:30

அறத்துப்பால்
அதிகாரம் : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

வேண்டுதல் வேண்டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு
யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல. 4

விருப்பு வெறுப்பற்றுத் தன்னலமின்றித் திகழ்கின்றவரைப் பின்பற்றி நடபவர்களுக்கு எப்போதுமே துன்பம் ஏற்படுவதில்லை.

English Meaning:
Who hold his feet who likes nor loathes
Are free from woes of human births.

Daily A Thirukkural-21st Feb 2008

2008-02-21T09:20:00.002+05:30

அறத்துப்பால்
அதிகாரம் : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்
நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார். 3

மலர் போன்ற மனத்தில் நிறைந்தவனைப் பின்பற்றுவோரின் புகழ்வாழ்வு, உலகில் நெடுங்காலம் நிலைத்து நிற்கும்.

English Meaning:
Long they live on earth who gain
The feet of God in florid brain.

Daily A Thirukkural-20th Feb 2008

2008-02-19T15:40:00.006+05:30

அறத்துப்பால்
அதிகாரம் : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன்
நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின். 2

English Meaning:
That lore is vain which does not fall
At His good feet who knowet all

Holy Thirukkural

2008-02-19T12:10:00.003+05:30

Holy Thirukkural
Thirukkural is a precious gem among the classics, unique in the deliverance of code of conduct to the mankind to follow for all time to come. Author of Thirukural is Thiruvalluvar.

It enshrines in it 1330 couplets under 133 chapters, each chapter comprising 10 verses. Each Verse contains two lines. The chapters again fall under three major divisions. Virtue, Wealth and Love. This treatise encompasses the whole gamut of human life and by Thiruvalluvar, its illustrious author illuminates every bit of it! This classical work written in Tamil, has been translated in over 60 languages of the world.
From today I will try to post "Daily A Thirukkural " with meaning.

அறத்துப்பால்
அதிகாரம் : கடவுள்வாழ்த்து

அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு. 1

English Meaning:
‘A’ Leads letters; the Ancient Lord
Leads and lords the entire world.

Is Valentines Day celebration a must for Indians?

2008-02-18T13:42:00.004+05:30

Here is the result of our last week poll Is Valentines Day celebration a must for Indians?

Total number of people participated in the vote is 20 out of with 13, that is 65% of them voted “No”. Though we cannot take it as the 100% Indians opinion, but the result suggests something. Feb 14^th Valentines Day celebration is really not must.

Why is it not must? Here is my opinion.

Valentines Day, this day is made soo popular because of the business people, media people who wanted to make money. A Normal rose flower is sold for a minimum of 20 rs (as per few flower shops at Bangalore) on a V’day. Otherwise on a normal day the same flower is sold in kgs or rs.1 to 2 per flower? Almost 100 to 200% high on V’day? Who is getting the real benefit?

These kinds of days like Valentines Day, Fathers day, Mothers days, and Family days is started by the western country peoples. They don’t find time even to meet their own relatives like mom and dad there started a family day. Some time they don’t even find time to meet there wife. But we always lived together every day is a family day for us.

In Indian culture did we ever lacked time to meet our own parents? We always cherished with the truth that our culture belongs and revolved around parents. Certainly the join family culture has come down but it never vanished.

What really happens on V’day? On a V’day take a walk down M.G Road where you find few pubs, these pubs is filled and over flowed with couples, Are they real couples? Are they real lovers? Two guys has gone to pub out of with one guys girl friend is waiting already expecting her partner and they go inside pub to drink and dance. And the other guy is not allowed inside pub, just because on that day “you need to enter the pub only with your partner” The other guy simply find a readymade partner just to go inside the pub and have fun. Is it the Indian culture? Is he a real valentine?

Add to it send in your thoughts...

Will a sorry re-store a life?

2008-02-15T09:10:00.000+05:30

Mr. Raj Thackeray leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) say a sorry for death of a Maharastrian. Sources quoted that in a letter to a marathi news paper Mr. Raj wrote “Police should investigate the death of Dharrao. Innocent activist should not face charges in that case. I would like to personally apologize for the death of this person to his family with folded hands,"

A apology with folded hands? Will a sorry re-store a life?

Mumbai is for everyone!

2008-02-14T12:00:00.003+05:30

Mumbai the commercial and entertainment capital of India is witnessing one of its worst riots it has ever seen. This city has faced lot of problems in the past and what is happening now is the last thing every mumbaikar would want to happen.
Other state people living in Mumbai especially poor and people who basically came to Mumbai to earn money to lead there life are the one who is worst affected. Mumbai is a multi-cultured city it always belonged to every Indian. Then why this violence? Who wanted other state peoples to be beaten up and who wanted their shops and taxies to be robed and damaged???May be politicians who wanted to gain some ugly fame due to this? Ok let’s not analyze who is the culprit…

But mumbaikar’s come-on! you are always been a helping people….remember, when there was a serial-blast in mumbai EMU train in July 2006, every Mumbaikar’s came out for the rescue of others, serving water, glucose and food for the effected people.
We need the same sprit….protect the other state people living in mumbai, save the humanity, save the Mumbai tradition. Mumbai is india….Mumbai is for everyone.

Growth Versus Greed

2008-02-13T15:32:00.000+05:30

The moral of the story of the Reliance Power IPO
Jug Suraiya

Like a collapsing supernova that turns into a black hole and sucks everything into it, the Reliance Power IPO imploded, suctioning money out of the market and causing the Sensex to fall by 834 points. Despite warnings by many market analysts that the scrip — which was supposed to have made Anil Ambani ‘the richest man in the world’ as the front pages of several newspapers had exulted — was highly overpriced, it attracted a stampede of speculators out to double their money in a matter of weeks and make a killing. As it turned out, the only thing that got killed was their unrealistic expectation. Instead of hitting Rs 900, as grey market speculators had hoped, Reliance Power, which opened at Rs 548, closed the day at Rs 372.50.
Though other factors — like persistent fears of a US recession and downbeat Asian markets — contributed to it, the third biggest-ever fall in the Sensex which brought it down to 16,631 was largely attributed to Reliance Power’s Humpty Dumpty act, as spooked investors fled the market. Though many liquidated their holdings to cover the positions they had taken on the scrip, an estimated Rs 2,300 crore has yet to be settled by speculators who may have no recourse but to default. This is likely only to further increase market volatility and nervousness and have a dampening effect on future investment, particularly through the IPO route. Already, at least two sound offerings from reputable corporations have been taken off the market, and others may postpone or shelve their debuts, resulting in private sector project bottlenecks which could slow down the economy as a whole.
Analysts will sift through the rubble to find out what went wrong and why and how it might have been avoided. But perhaps for now a one-word answer might suffice: greed. Way back in the bad old days before Narasimha Rao’s government (with Manmohan Singh as finance minister) was forced to embark on economic liberalisation when it was discovered to general consternation that there was, literally, only enough money in the national kitty to keep the country running for two weeks and no more, there was a concept called the ‘Hindu rate of growth’. Between 1950 and 1980 this so-called ‘Hindu’ growth rate, deemed to be endemic to the country, was pegged at 3.5 per cent. It was seen to be a sort of economic Lakshman rekha, an invisible but unbreachable barrier, that, given our conditions, we just could not cross, try as we may.
Economic reforms — even of the halfhearted, on again, off again variety we have had — soon proved the Hindu rate of growth to be exactly what it was: a load of hogwash. In 2003, India’s growth rate was calculated to be 8.5 per cent. The Sensex, for the first time, crossed 4,000 (though we are often told that really speaking stock markets are just a form of gambling and have nothing to do with the state of the economy, markets are nonetheless a barometer of public ‘sentiment’, and hence, confidence in the overall economic health of the country).
By January 2008, the Sensex had hit 21,207 and the finance minister predicted yet another year of 9 per cent growth for the world’s second fastest growing economy. Almost without our realising it, the erstwhile Hindu rate of growth had metamorphosed into what might be called the Hindu rate of greed. It’s not just the financial sector which has been infected with greed. As far afield as Bangalore and Gurgaon, the greed of so-called property ‘developers’ has created high-rise upmarket slums with a swish address and downmarket, if not non-existent, civic facilities. The greed of adventurist entrepreneurs has skewed developmental policies in Nandigram, Singur and elsewhere to create wealth for the few and desperate poverty for the many.
Greed is the key to the new India in the making. With not just the economy and the Sensex, but property, gold, salaries, expectations, everything on the up and up, anyone could — and should, and would — become rich overnight. Needy was out; greedy was in. Greed wasn’t just good; it was god. And a god not of small things, but of big things: big aspirations, big dreams, big hopes. Think big and you’ll make it big: that was the new mantra.
The crore was the new lakh. A lakh? What use was a lakh? What could you buy with it, apart maybe from a Nano (and if you were prepared to settle for a ‘people’s car’ you probably were too declasse to own a car anyway)? What use was a lakh when a B-school graduate worth his degree could command a lakh a month as starting salary? A crore? What use was that when anyone who owned a house, or even a flat, in any metro could claim to be at least a notional crorepati, maybe several times over? What comes after crore? A hundred crores, an arab (spelt with a small a)? It was not economic inflation; it was a hyperinflation of the imagination, a hyperinflation of language. It was an accelerating rate of greed, the apotheosis of the parvenu. And it resulted in the Reliance Power short-circuit.
Of course there’s life after Reliance Power. We’ll be told — yet again — that the ‘fundamentals’ of our economy remain strong, that we can still grow, at 8.5 or 8.75, if not 9 per cent. And of course we can, and should. A growth of 9 per cent is very good, of 10 per cent is even better. But a 100 per cent growth rate of greed? Perhaps not so good. Ask Anil.

Source: Times of India
Date: 13th Feb 2007