EC0NOMIST: JESSICA BUCHSBAUM first noticed that something had changed in May 2008. The head of recruitment for a law firm in Florida, Ms Buchsbaum was used to interviewing young candidates for summer internships who seemed to think that the world owed them a living. Many applicants expected the firm to promote itself to them rather than the other way around. However, last May’s crop were far more humble. “The tone had changed from ‘What can you do for me?’ to ‘Here’s what I can do for you’,” she says.
The global downturn has been a brutal awakening for the youngest members of the workforce—variously dubbed “the Millennials”, “Generation Y” or “the Net Generation” by social researchers. “Net Geners” are, roughly, people born in the 1980s and 1990s. Those old enough to have passed from school and university into work had got used to a world in which jobs were plentiful and firms fell over one another to recruit them. Now their prospects are grimmer. According to America’s Bureau of Labour Statistics, the unemployment rate among people in their 20s increased significantly in the two most recent recessions in the United States. It is likely to do so again as industries such as finance and technology, which employ lots of young people, axe thousands of jobs.
This is creating new problems for managers. Because of the downturn, Net Geners are finding it harder to hop to new jobs. At the same time, their dissatisfaction is growing as crisis-hit firms adopt more of a command-and-control approach to management—the antithesis of the open, collaborative style that young workers prefer. Less autonomy and more directives have sparked complaints among Net Geners that offices and factories have become “pressure cookers” and “boiler rooms”. “The recession is creating lower turnover, but also higher frustration among young people stuck in jobs,” warns Cam Marston, a consultant who advises companies on inter-generational matters.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Can a film sell a country? Only if it’s very good
economist: “COME and Say G’day”, a tourist campaign built round Paul Hogan, the star of “Crocodile Dundee”, brought visitors swarming to Australia. Now, almost 25 years later, with the country’s tourism business back in the doldrums, the authorities are hoping that another quirky outback movie will pull the same trick.
“Australia”, which opened in its home market in November, is the most expensive Australian film ever made. It has some of the country’s biggest cinema names: Baz Lurhmann as director; Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as stars. But in America its early box-office takings were disappointing and its reviews have been pretty sad.
That has not stopped Tourism Australia, the government body that spins the country to potential visitors, from pouring A$50m ($33m) into a campaign linked to the film. Big hopes are riding on this. As a long-haul destination, Australia has been straining to build its visitor numbers in recent years: 5.6m visitors this year, unchanged from 2007.
One problem, according to Nick Baker, marketing manager of Tourism Australia, is that the country is suffering from a “lack of fashionability and buzz”. A two-year campaign built round the slogan “So Where the Bloody Hell Are You?” only made things worse: some countries judged the campaign gauche, others a turn-off.
So Tourism Australia commissioned Mr Lurhmann to film two travel commercials, set in the same northern Australian outback locations as his film, and involving Brandon Walters, a young aboriginal actor who almost steals the movie’s limelight. Tourism Australia hopes that the commercials, which will run in 22 countries until mid-2009, will help it meet its target of raising visitor numbers by 3.2% next year.
“Australia”, which opened in its home market in November, is the most expensive Australian film ever made. It has some of the country’s biggest cinema names: Baz Lurhmann as director; Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as stars. But in America its early box-office takings were disappointing and its reviews have been pretty sad.
That has not stopped Tourism Australia, the government body that spins the country to potential visitors, from pouring A$50m ($33m) into a campaign linked to the film. Big hopes are riding on this. As a long-haul destination, Australia has been straining to build its visitor numbers in recent years: 5.6m visitors this year, unchanged from 2007.
One problem, according to Nick Baker, marketing manager of Tourism Australia, is that the country is suffering from a “lack of fashionability and buzz”. A two-year campaign built round the slogan “So Where the Bloody Hell Are You?” only made things worse: some countries judged the campaign gauche, others a turn-off.
So Tourism Australia commissioned Mr Lurhmann to film two travel commercials, set in the same northern Australian outback locations as his film, and involving Brandon Walters, a young aboriginal actor who almost steals the movie’s limelight. Tourism Australia hopes that the commercials, which will run in 22 countries until mid-2009, will help it meet its target of raising visitor numbers by 3.2% next year.
Reliance to set world's biggest refinery
New Delhi(FE): Reliance Industries is set to double its capacity by starting up its new 580,000 barrels per day plant (bpd) this weekend, creating the world's biggest refinery just as global oil demand collapses.
The $6 billion project will make the oil complex in Jamnagar in Gujarat the world's single biggest supplier of fuels to the global market, pumping out 1.24 million bpd of ultra-clean fuels to Europe, Africa and the United States.
The project is a triumph for Chief Executive Mukesh Ambani, who helped break India's heavy reliance on imported fuel a decade ago with Reliance's first 660,000 bpd plant, a cash cow for the firm during a profit boom over the past four years.
This Sunday is also the birthday of the late Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani, Ambani's father and founder of the Reliance group, who turned his textile firm into a petrochemical-to- telecom conglomerate and India's biggest private company.
The $6 billion project will make the oil complex in Jamnagar in Gujarat the world's single biggest supplier of fuels to the global market, pumping out 1.24 million bpd of ultra-clean fuels to Europe, Africa and the United States.
The project is a triumph for Chief Executive Mukesh Ambani, who helped break India's heavy reliance on imported fuel a decade ago with Reliance's first 660,000 bpd plant, a cash cow for the firm during a profit boom over the past four years.
This Sunday is also the birthday of the late Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani, Ambani's father and founder of the Reliance group, who turned his textile firm into a petrochemical-to- telecom conglomerate and India's biggest private company.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
BERNIE MADOFF - PONZIE SQUARED
Bernie Madoff committed the biggest scam in history ( approx US $ 50 billion)by running a PONZIE scheme and duping high net worth individuals , banks etc.
What is the Ponzie Scheme
A fraudulent investing scam that promises high rates of return at little risk to investors. The scheme generates returns for older investors by acquiring new investors. This scam actually yields the promised returns to earlier investors, as long as there are more new investors
The Ponzi scam is named after Charles Ponzi, a clerk in Boston who first orchestrated such a scheme in 1919.
A Ponzi scheme is similar to a pyramid scheme in that both are based on using new investors' funds to pay the earlier backers. One difference between the two schemes is that the Ponzi mastermind gathers all relevant funds from new investors and then distributes them. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, allow each investor to directly benefit depending on how many new investors are recruited. In this case, the person on the top of the pyramid does not at any point have access to all the money in the system.
For both schemes, however, eventually there isn't enough money to go around and the schemes unravel.
What is the Ponzie Scheme
A fraudulent investing scam that promises high rates of return at little risk to investors. The scheme generates returns for older investors by acquiring new investors. This scam actually yields the promised returns to earlier investors, as long as there are more new investors
The Ponzi scam is named after Charles Ponzi, a clerk in Boston who first orchestrated such a scheme in 1919.
A Ponzi scheme is similar to a pyramid scheme in that both are based on using new investors' funds to pay the earlier backers. One difference between the two schemes is that the Ponzi mastermind gathers all relevant funds from new investors and then distributes them. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, allow each investor to directly benefit depending on how many new investors are recruited. In this case, the person on the top of the pyramid does not at any point have access to all the money in the system.
For both schemes, however, eventually there isn't enough money to go around and the schemes unravel.
Women dump sex for Internet: Survey
The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive, on behalf of Intel, found that nearly half of women (46 per cent) and 30 per cent of men would rather surf the net than have sex, reports the Independent. For women aged 18-34 it was 49 per cent and for women aged 35-44 it was 52 per cent.
Only 39 per cent of men aged 18-34 would swap the bedroom for the broadband. In the survey, television also copped a beating with over half the respondents preferring to give up two weeks of telly than a single week of web access
Only 39 per cent of men aged 18-34 would swap the bedroom for the broadband. In the survey, television also copped a beating with over half the respondents preferring to give up two weeks of telly than a single week of web access
An online Nostradamus, and the search for his identity
ECOOMIST: BACK in September a message appeared on an online bulletin board owned by Daum, the most popular web host in a country, South Korea, with a huge internet culture. Written by someone called “Minerva”, it predicted the imminent collapse of Lehman Brothers, a now-defunct investment bank.
Wild speculation is normally disregarded, but when it proved to be right just five days later, a prophet was born. Word raced through the “netizen” community, and when Minerva went on to predict that the Korean won would fall against the dollar by around 50 won a day in the first half of the week of October 6th, his followers began to watch the currency markets in anticipation. The won did indeed fall by about that much over the next three days.
Minerva became an internet phenomenon, with 40m-odd hits to date. Web-users combed through previous posts, looking for prognostications, and clues about his identity. Sharp comments on the state of the Korean economy and government policy only increased his standing. The media now call him “the Internet Economic President”.
The administration of President Lee Myung-bak is frequently accused of authoritarianism by opponents, so it came as little surprise when the finance minister, Kang Man-soo, admitted that officials had attempted to uncover the blogger’s identity. Some people believe him to be a senior figure in a financial firm. Others think he may even be a civil servant undermining the government from inside. All Minerva has revealed is that he is a man in his 50s.
Wild speculation is normally disregarded, but when it proved to be right just five days later, a prophet was born. Word raced through the “netizen” community, and when Minerva went on to predict that the Korean won would fall against the dollar by around 50 won a day in the first half of the week of October 6th, his followers began to watch the currency markets in anticipation. The won did indeed fall by about that much over the next three days.
Minerva became an internet phenomenon, with 40m-odd hits to date. Web-users combed through previous posts, looking for prognostications, and clues about his identity. Sharp comments on the state of the Korean economy and government policy only increased his standing. The media now call him “the Internet Economic President”.
The administration of President Lee Myung-bak is frequently accused of authoritarianism by opponents, so it came as little surprise when the finance minister, Kang Man-soo, admitted that officials had attempted to uncover the blogger’s identity. Some people believe him to be a senior figure in a financial firm. Others think he may even be a civil servant undermining the government from inside. All Minerva has revealed is that he is a man in his 50s.
SIEMENS SCANDAL
ECONOMIST:WHEN Siemens, Europe’s biggest engineering firm, adopted the slogan “be inspired” in the mid-1990s, bribery was not what it had in mind. But no one can accuse its managers of lacking inspiration when it came to devising novel ways to funnel huge sums in backhanders to corrupt officials and politicians across the globe. On Monday December 15th Siemens pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and corruption and agreed to pay fines of $800m in America and €395m ($555m) in Germany, in addition to an earlier fine of €201m.
Take the three “cash desks” it set up in its offices, to which employees could bring empty suitcases to be filled with cash. As much as a €1m ($1.4m) could be withdrawn at a time to win contracts for its telecoms-equipment division, according to America’s Department of Justice (DoJ).
Few questions were asked, no documents were required and managers who applied for money were allowed to approve their own requests. Until 1999 Siemens openly claimed tax deductions for bribes, many of which were listed in its accounts as “useful expenditure”.
Take the three “cash desks” it set up in its offices, to which employees could bring empty suitcases to be filled with cash. As much as a €1m ($1.4m) could be withdrawn at a time to win contracts for its telecoms-equipment division, according to America’s Department of Justice (DoJ).
Few questions were asked, no documents were required and managers who applied for money were allowed to approve their own requests. Until 1999 Siemens openly claimed tax deductions for bribes, many of which were listed in its accounts as “useful expenditure”.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Iceland- Cracks in the crust ( lessons)
ECONOMIST: Iceland’s banking collapse is the biggest, relative to the size of an economy, that any country has ever suffered. There are lessons to be learnt beyond its shores.
From the central bank, the view of snow-dusted Mount Esja across the estuary is blocked by a half-finished grey edifice, sprawled like a dead whale across the harbour-front. This was to have been Iceland’s most spectacular building, crowning 15 years of economic growth: a concert hall facing out to the North Atlantic, covered in glass prisms imported from China meant to resemble glaciers and lava. But since the collapse of the bank that led the funding, construction has almost ground to a halt.
Likewise, blocks of half-built luxury flats stand half-finished along the waterfront. Instead of glass prisms, Icelanders are looking forward to a different Chinese cargo in the dying weeks of the year: fireworks. They set off more per person each new year than any other country in the world. Such is the demand that the Chinese manufacturers are making a special loan to Icelanders to buy them, according to a local newspaper.
Many workers have been laid off but, thanks to Iceland’s labour laws, they have three months’ notice, so the impact is not yet being fully felt. Many young Icelanders, who have never known unemployment, are expected to lose their jobs as businesses shut down. Vilhjalmur Egilsson, head of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, the main business organisation, says that “corporate Iceland is technically bankrupt” because of its foreign debts. It is unable to refinance loans because the new capital controls mean all credit to the country has dried up.
With unemployment rising, citizens talk openly about defaulting on their home and car loans (those flashy Range Rovers are now known dryly as “Game Overs”).
From the central bank, the view of snow-dusted Mount Esja across the estuary is blocked by a half-finished grey edifice, sprawled like a dead whale across the harbour-front. This was to have been Iceland’s most spectacular building, crowning 15 years of economic growth: a concert hall facing out to the North Atlantic, covered in glass prisms imported from China meant to resemble glaciers and lava. But since the collapse of the bank that led the funding, construction has almost ground to a halt.
Likewise, blocks of half-built luxury flats stand half-finished along the waterfront. Instead of glass prisms, Icelanders are looking forward to a different Chinese cargo in the dying weeks of the year: fireworks. They set off more per person each new year than any other country in the world. Such is the demand that the Chinese manufacturers are making a special loan to Icelanders to buy them, according to a local newspaper.
Many workers have been laid off but, thanks to Iceland’s labour laws, they have three months’ notice, so the impact is not yet being fully felt. Many young Icelanders, who have never known unemployment, are expected to lose their jobs as businesses shut down. Vilhjalmur Egilsson, head of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, the main business organisation, says that “corporate Iceland is technically bankrupt” because of its foreign debts. It is unable to refinance loans because the new capital controls mean all credit to the country has dried up.
With unemployment rising, citizens talk openly about defaulting on their home and car loans (those flashy Range Rovers are now known dryly as “Game Overs”).
Friday, December 12, 2008
BANGLADESH-ELECTIONS
ECONOMIST: NEARLY two years after the army stepped in to end the predatory rule of civilian politicians in Bangladesh, the most visible evidence of that corrupt era is strewn along the streets and dirt roads: unused electricity poles lying about in their thousands. The government of the former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, had bought the poles from a syndicate controlled by Mrs Zia’s elder son, Tarique Rahman. Yet the electricity generated during her rule from 2001-06 grew by not a single megawatt, even though the economy’s size increased by a quarter. Bangladeshis are, like the poles, still waiting for their electricity.
Under army-backed rule, each spent a year in detention on charges of corruption. Although these have not been dropped, Mrs Zia and Sheikh Hasina, along with their coteries, are in practice immune from prosecution. Western donors tacitly gave the soldiers two years to fix the mess in Bangladesh’s politics and bring the country back to the polls. In return for the interim government not pursuing charges, the parties have agreed to contest the election.
Under army-backed rule, each spent a year in detention on charges of corruption. Although these have not been dropped, Mrs Zia and Sheikh Hasina, along with their coteries, are in practice immune from prosecution. Western donors tacitly gave the soldiers two years to fix the mess in Bangladesh’s politics and bring the country back to the polls. In return for the interim government not pursuing charges, the parties have agreed to contest the election.
Near the end of the road
I DREAD looking at Wall Street tomorrow. It's not going to be a pleasant sight,” said Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader late on the night of Thursday December 11th after the collapse of an effort to keep General Motors and Chrysler on the road with an emergency package of loans worth around $14 billion. Ford, the third of the Big Three Detroit-based carmakers, is not looking for emergency loans, though it has asked for an emergency credit line. Ford says it can remain afloat though admits that its ability to do so is dependent on the continuing solvency of the other two firms. Their collapse could bring down the car-parts manufacturing industry on which Ford also depends.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Oversized Clothes: Truly Passé
WSJ: QUESTION:I'm a guy who is six feet tall and weighs about 190 pounds. I always buy my tops and sweaters in size large, but now my girlfriend insists that I should go with a medium because the oversized look is out. What do you think?
ANSWER: Fellows, there's a reason why the 80%-off sale rack still has so many oversized clothes: They are truly passé. No matter how old you are, you should think trim -- though not necessarily tight -- for all your shirts, sweaters, jacket and pants. You will smile when you look in the mirror, because body-conscious clothes make you look thinner, taller and, yes, even younger.
When you're shopping for sweaters, remember sizes aren't standard, so take a couple of different sizes into the dressing room. Guys, stop thinking that "small" is for wimps. I have personally steered three six-foot guys into wool sweaters with an "S" on the label. These men were surprised to discover that the small sweaters were comfortably snug and the sleeves were long enough. (If the sleeves are just a tad short, you can push them up slightly on your arm, which looks better anyway.)
For dress shirts, check out the styles labeled "European fit" or "tapered" fit. Whenever you fall between shirt sizes, choose the larger garment and then have it altered for your silhouette.
Email askteri@wsj.com
ANSWER: Fellows, there's a reason why the 80%-off sale rack still has so many oversized clothes: They are truly passé. No matter how old you are, you should think trim -- though not necessarily tight -- for all your shirts, sweaters, jacket and pants. You will smile when you look in the mirror, because body-conscious clothes make you look thinner, taller and, yes, even younger.
When you're shopping for sweaters, remember sizes aren't standard, so take a couple of different sizes into the dressing room. Guys, stop thinking that "small" is for wimps. I have personally steered three six-foot guys into wool sweaters with an "S" on the label. These men were surprised to discover that the small sweaters were comfortably snug and the sleeves were long enough. (If the sleeves are just a tad short, you can push them up slightly on your arm, which looks better anyway.)
For dress shirts, check out the styles labeled "European fit" or "tapered" fit. Whenever you fall between shirt sizes, choose the larger garment and then have it altered for your silhouette.
Email askteri@wsj.com
House Passes Rescue Plan for Big 3
WASHINGTON -- Auto Makers Poised to Get $14 Billion in Loans, but Bill Will Be Tough Sell in Senate
The House of Representatives approved a wide-ranging rescue Wednesday of the nation's auto makers, sending the plan to the Senate where Republican critics could endanger the initiative.
Pulled down by a steep drop in sales, General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co. are seeking $34 billion in loans or lines of credit to weather the recession. Ford says it needs taxpayer-backed financing only for the long-term. GM and Chrysler say they need the cash before the end of the year to avoid collapse.
The legislation would authorize immediate release of $14 billion in emergency loans for the companies and open the door for approval of long-term financing if the companies can agree on plans to restructure.
The House of Representatives approved a wide-ranging rescue Wednesday of the nation's auto makers, sending the plan to the Senate where Republican critics could endanger the initiative.
Pulled down by a steep drop in sales, General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co. are seeking $34 billion in loans or lines of credit to weather the recession. Ford says it needs taxpayer-backed financing only for the long-term. GM and Chrysler say they need the cash before the end of the year to avoid collapse.
The legislation would authorize immediate release of $14 billion in emergency loans for the companies and open the door for approval of long-term financing if the companies can agree on plans to restructure.
Chinese trade - Falling Apart
Economist: JUST how worrying are the figures, published on Wednesday December 10th, showing that China’s exports and imports plunged in November? Exports fell by 2.2% last month from a year ago; imports plummeted by an astonishing 17.9%. One analyst sums up the news as “a shock figure”.
The gloom is spread all over the place. Exports dropped across all big traded goods and all parts of the world. Exports to America fell by 6.1%; those to the ASEAN countries, which had grown by 21.5% in October, fell by 2.4%. The faster decline in imports meant that China’s monthly trade surplus reached a record $40.1 billion. Exports last fell in 2001.
Chinese workers, who are already restive, may find the new year increasingly difficult. Labour disputes almost doubled in the first ten months of 2008 and sacked workers from closed toy factories rioted. If export growth ceases entirely, and jobs are threatened, social responses could be more severe. An estimated 130m people have moved from the countryside to the cities, many for jobs in factories that make goods for export. Zhang Ping, the country’s top planner, has given warning of the risk of social instability arising from massive unemployment.
The gloom is spread all over the place. Exports dropped across all big traded goods and all parts of the world. Exports to America fell by 6.1%; those to the ASEAN countries, which had grown by 21.5% in October, fell by 2.4%. The faster decline in imports meant that China’s monthly trade surplus reached a record $40.1 billion. Exports last fell in 2001.
Chinese workers, who are already restive, may find the new year increasingly difficult. Labour disputes almost doubled in the first ten months of 2008 and sacked workers from closed toy factories rioted. If export growth ceases entirely, and jobs are threatened, social responses could be more severe. An estimated 130m people have moved from the countryside to the cities, many for jobs in factories that make goods for export. Zhang Ping, the country’s top planner, has given warning of the risk of social instability arising from massive unemployment.
Friday, November 28, 2008
A Muslim lady cracks gender barrier
Mathrubhumi: On 25 February this year Egyptian government appointed Amal Soliman , a 32 year old woman as the Muslim world's first mazouna, or female marriage registrar. The all-male Committee of Egyptian Mouzuns had challenged her application from the beginning – they argued that it would be inappropriate for a woman to perform that duty. A Mazoun or mazouna presides over the ceremony of marriage or divorce.
Soliman, who holds a Masters degree in Islamic Sharia law, broke in to the all-men club last September and performed her first marriage ceremony by reciting verses from the Quran and signing the official certificates making the union legally binding.
Soliman, a mother of three children really wants to pursue a doctoral degree in Islamic laws. Recently Al Jazeera carried an interview with Soliman
Soliman, who holds a Masters degree in Islamic Sharia law, broke in to the all-men club last September and performed her first marriage ceremony by reciting verses from the Quran and signing the official certificates making the union legally binding.
Soliman, a mother of three children really wants to pursue a doctoral degree in Islamic laws. Recently Al Jazeera carried an interview with Soliman
CRYING
The Mumbai terror attack has created a deep routed pain and sadness in our lives. There is a feeling of numbness which is difficult to express. All credit to the Indian armed forces for fighting and eliminating the terrorists bravely.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Ways Women Can Hold Their Own in a Male World
WSJ
Joining a male-dominated industry, like engineering, computer science or construction trades, can be intimidating. So can working in a predominantly male office. Women often struggle to figure out how to gain respect from male colleagues. It's imperative to establish yourself as an intelligent, no-nonsense employee. Here are some ways to navigate a mostly male office.
Make sure women are valued. Before joining a firm in a male-dominated industry, make sure the company values and promotes women. Check to see if women are represented on the board and in leadership positions at the company, says Betty Spence, president of the National Association for Female Executives, a women's business association in New York. During the interview process, consider asking to speak with female employees to get their input and contact human resources to ask about policies like maternity leave.
Identify alpha and beta males. Separate the two types of men in the office and engage accordingly, says Christopher Flett, founder of Ghost CEO, a professional development program for women. Alpha males have a "get it done" mind-set, so when speaking to an alpha co-worker, use "goal-oriented" language and get to the point quickly, says Mr. Flett. Beta males are more concerned with collaboration and partnership, so tailor your language accordingly.
Find a mentor. Look for a female employee at your company to mentor you. She can provide you with a built-in support system and can help you figure out the lay of the land, says Raylie Dunkel, an executive coach and director of development with the Women's Leadership Exchange. If you can't find someone in the company, join a professional organization and build connections there. Mentors with direct experience in a male-dominated workplace can offer invaluable advice to navigating tricky situations.
Weighing a New Industry For a New Job Acing Your Performance ReviewEasing Back to Work After You've RetiredDealing With an Unexpected Job SearchSpeak assertively. Eliminate the phrase "I'm sorry" from your vocabulary, unless it's truly warranted. Women tend to apologize for situations that they aren't responsible for, which demonstrates weakness, says Ms. Spence. Don't begin sentences with the phrase "I think," as it demeans what you're saying, says Ms. Dunkel. Take a cue from your male co-workers and be direct and confident. Practice removing any traces of tentativeness from your vocabulary and be declarative when you speak.
Socialize with the boys. It may feel like you're crashing a fraternity party, but make your best effort to socialize with your male co-workers in formal and informal situations. Whether it's tagging along for lunch or drinks after work, important information is exchanged informally; being there to hear it may benefit your career, says Ms. Spence. If you find yourself being left out, organize your own events, says Ms. Dunkel. Consider joining the company-sponsored softball team or other activities.
Don't assume stereotypical roles. Women are naturally nurturing and it's something you shouldn't be afraid to show at work. However, be careful to not appear servile. Ms. Spence says never clean up after your co-workers or bring coffee to meetings -- you'll run the risk of being stereotyped and taken advantage of.
Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com
Joining a male-dominated industry, like engineering, computer science or construction trades, can be intimidating. So can working in a predominantly male office. Women often struggle to figure out how to gain respect from male colleagues. It's imperative to establish yourself as an intelligent, no-nonsense employee. Here are some ways to navigate a mostly male office.
Make sure women are valued. Before joining a firm in a male-dominated industry, make sure the company values and promotes women. Check to see if women are represented on the board and in leadership positions at the company, says Betty Spence, president of the National Association for Female Executives, a women's business association in New York. During the interview process, consider asking to speak with female employees to get their input and contact human resources to ask about policies like maternity leave.
Identify alpha and beta males. Separate the two types of men in the office and engage accordingly, says Christopher Flett, founder of Ghost CEO, a professional development program for women. Alpha males have a "get it done" mind-set, so when speaking to an alpha co-worker, use "goal-oriented" language and get to the point quickly, says Mr. Flett. Beta males are more concerned with collaboration and partnership, so tailor your language accordingly.
Find a mentor. Look for a female employee at your company to mentor you. She can provide you with a built-in support system and can help you figure out the lay of the land, says Raylie Dunkel, an executive coach and director of development with the Women's Leadership Exchange. If you can't find someone in the company, join a professional organization and build connections there. Mentors with direct experience in a male-dominated workplace can offer invaluable advice to navigating tricky situations.
Weighing a New Industry For a New Job Acing Your Performance ReviewEasing Back to Work After You've RetiredDealing With an Unexpected Job SearchSpeak assertively. Eliminate the phrase "I'm sorry" from your vocabulary, unless it's truly warranted. Women tend to apologize for situations that they aren't responsible for, which demonstrates weakness, says Ms. Spence. Don't begin sentences with the phrase "I think," as it demeans what you're saying, says Ms. Dunkel. Take a cue from your male co-workers and be direct and confident. Practice removing any traces of tentativeness from your vocabulary and be declarative when you speak.
Socialize with the boys. It may feel like you're crashing a fraternity party, but make your best effort to socialize with your male co-workers in formal and informal situations. Whether it's tagging along for lunch or drinks after work, important information is exchanged informally; being there to hear it may benefit your career, says Ms. Spence. If you find yourself being left out, organize your own events, says Ms. Dunkel. Consider joining the company-sponsored softball team or other activities.
Don't assume stereotypical roles. Women are naturally nurturing and it's something you shouldn't be afraid to show at work. However, be careful to not appear servile. Ms. Spence says never clean up after your co-workers or bring coffee to meetings -- you'll run the risk of being stereotyped and taken advantage of.
Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com
Monday, November 17, 2008
DR Congo - front line
Al Jazeera :For the men of the Congolese Army's 18th Integrated Commando Brigade, life on the frontline in eastern Congo's North Kivu Province is anything but stable.
The Congo army troops - the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, or FARDC - are notorious for their brutal behaviour and have been accused of rapes and looting by the United Nations.
In the African state's latest eruption of war, only one thing is for certain - there can be no rest.
Infighting, insubordination, drunken fights while armed and on duty and smoking marijuana cigarettes are all means of passing time in-between facing death in fierce, pitched battles with fighters from the National Congress for the Defence of the People, or CNDP.
"We want to end this war so we can back home to Kinshasa," said corporal Boniface Ajbebjou, 32, "I hate them."
As he spoke, two of his fellow soldiers were drinking whiskey and smoking pot. "Idiots," he said in disgust.
Watching the enemy
The warring sides are within a few hundred metres of each other.
Less than half-a-kilometre up the road at a checkpoint held by the rebel forces, two of Ajbebjou's comrades lie splayed out in the middle of the road with gun shot wounds in their skulls – the result of combat the previous night.
Captain Alex Kaninda Kazadi, 38, the commander of the brigade's First Company, 182nd Battalion, knows this full well and has to remind his men – by means of a kick in the behind and stern finger in the face – that the enemy is watching.
"Watch them back," he barks.
"I can't reveal how many men I have lost so far," he told Al Jazeera. "All I know is I don't want to lose any more."
This is a tit-for-tat war with no-holds-barred sentiments towards those on
the other side.
Gruesome 'calling card'
Just a few nights before, rebel forces had stormed their positions in Kayanja,
just north of the refugee village of Kibati in Congo's east, but ended up
losing ground under a hail of bullets, mortar shells, heavy artillery and rockets.
Captain Kazadi's soldiers caught one of the rebels, who they claim was a Rwandan soldier.
They hacked off his genitals, nose and a hand and left him in the bush by the
side of the road to be eaten by dogs.
It was their revenge in return for the members of their unit who the rebels had shot in the head and left in the road in the no-man's land as a "calling card" - a form of psychological intimidation.
There is little solace to soothe the the horror of the psychological warfare these men wage against each other.
Criminality rife
With junior soldiers saying they earn less than $250 a month and their officers receiving under $600, they beg journalists for cigarettes and handouts.
They eat rice out of their metal helmets when they are not lucky enough to get their hands on biscuits and tins of beans and sardines and some dirty water to wash it all down.
Criminality is rife among the ranks of junior soldiers, many of whom were former rebels who fought the Congo army they now serve in during the Second Congo War that began 10 years ago.
With this round of war in eastern Congo entering the peak of the rain season, soldiers sleep in mud in the wet jungle, their clothes and bodies drenched most of the time. Their supplies of water are unreliable.
Getting high or drunk seems to be the one way they get through their ordeal.
They send motorcycle taxis with wads of pooled cash to the rear of the front line about twice a day to pick up their vices.
"I don't panic – I don't care," a belligerent young soldier slurs repeatedly in English.
Constant infighting
Captain Kazadi shakes his head as the other troops laugh. "I can't control every one of them all of the time," he said.
"It's the lieutenant's jobs to keep them in line, but I end up having to
manage everything."
Fights commonly break out between Kazadi's men – including the officers - and the captain often steps in to pull them apart.
"So what?" says 24-year-old corporal Kaseleka Ndagise as he grimaces in pain from
a twisted knee he got while wrestling with a fellow soldier.
"We fight with each other, but this is the way we are."
He points up the road towards the rebel positions: "It doesn't mean we aren't ready for them."
The FARDC is largely a new concept in Congo, having been created in 2004 as a part of the country's restructuring following the previous conflict that sucked in eight other countries and left millions of people dead.
One of Kazadi's troops, wearing a woman's wig (many fighters in Africa wear women's items or clothes as a good-luck charm) and wielding an AK-47 assault rifle along with a loaded, rocket-propelled grenade launcher, said he was ready to get "the pigs," a reference to the fighters of rebel leader general Laurent Nkunda's CNDP rebel government.
But with the soldiers' morale so poor, it is difficult to see how it can hope to win its campaign against the rebel forces.
The Congo army troops - the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, or FARDC - are notorious for their brutal behaviour and have been accused of rapes and looting by the United Nations.
In the African state's latest eruption of war, only one thing is for certain - there can be no rest.
Infighting, insubordination, drunken fights while armed and on duty and smoking marijuana cigarettes are all means of passing time in-between facing death in fierce, pitched battles with fighters from the National Congress for the Defence of the People, or CNDP.
"We want to end this war so we can back home to Kinshasa," said corporal Boniface Ajbebjou, 32, "I hate them."
As he spoke, two of his fellow soldiers were drinking whiskey and smoking pot. "Idiots," he said in disgust.
Watching the enemy
The warring sides are within a few hundred metres of each other.
Less than half-a-kilometre up the road at a checkpoint held by the rebel forces, two of Ajbebjou's comrades lie splayed out in the middle of the road with gun shot wounds in their skulls – the result of combat the previous night.
Captain Alex Kaninda Kazadi, 38, the commander of the brigade's First Company, 182nd Battalion, knows this full well and has to remind his men – by means of a kick in the behind and stern finger in the face – that the enemy is watching.
"Watch them back," he barks.
"I can't reveal how many men I have lost so far," he told Al Jazeera. "All I know is I don't want to lose any more."
This is a tit-for-tat war with no-holds-barred sentiments towards those on
the other side.
Gruesome 'calling card'
Just a few nights before, rebel forces had stormed their positions in Kayanja,
just north of the refugee village of Kibati in Congo's east, but ended up
losing ground under a hail of bullets, mortar shells, heavy artillery and rockets.
Captain Kazadi's soldiers caught one of the rebels, who they claim was a Rwandan soldier.
They hacked off his genitals, nose and a hand and left him in the bush by the
side of the road to be eaten by dogs.
It was their revenge in return for the members of their unit who the rebels had shot in the head and left in the road in the no-man's land as a "calling card" - a form of psychological intimidation.
There is little solace to soothe the the horror of the psychological warfare these men wage against each other.
Criminality rife
With junior soldiers saying they earn less than $250 a month and their officers receiving under $600, they beg journalists for cigarettes and handouts.
They eat rice out of their metal helmets when they are not lucky enough to get their hands on biscuits and tins of beans and sardines and some dirty water to wash it all down.
Criminality is rife among the ranks of junior soldiers, many of whom were former rebels who fought the Congo army they now serve in during the Second Congo War that began 10 years ago.
With this round of war in eastern Congo entering the peak of the rain season, soldiers sleep in mud in the wet jungle, their clothes and bodies drenched most of the time. Their supplies of water are unreliable.
Getting high or drunk seems to be the one way they get through their ordeal.
They send motorcycle taxis with wads of pooled cash to the rear of the front line about twice a day to pick up their vices.
"I don't panic – I don't care," a belligerent young soldier slurs repeatedly in English.
Constant infighting
Captain Kazadi shakes his head as the other troops laugh. "I can't control every one of them all of the time," he said.
"It's the lieutenant's jobs to keep them in line, but I end up having to
manage everything."
Fights commonly break out between Kazadi's men – including the officers - and the captain often steps in to pull them apart.
"So what?" says 24-year-old corporal Kaseleka Ndagise as he grimaces in pain from
a twisted knee he got while wrestling with a fellow soldier.
"We fight with each other, but this is the way we are."
He points up the road towards the rebel positions: "It doesn't mean we aren't ready for them."
The FARDC is largely a new concept in Congo, having been created in 2004 as a part of the country's restructuring following the previous conflict that sucked in eight other countries and left millions of people dead.
One of Kazadi's troops, wearing a woman's wig (many fighters in Africa wear women's items or clothes as a good-luck charm) and wielding an AK-47 assault rifle along with a loaded, rocket-propelled grenade launcher, said he was ready to get "the pigs," a reference to the fighters of rebel leader general Laurent Nkunda's CNDP rebel government.
But with the soldiers' morale so poor, it is difficult to see how it can hope to win its campaign against the rebel forces.
CITI TO SLASH 52000 JOBS
WSJ: Citigroup Inc. Chief Executive Vikram Pandit vowed Monday to keep shrinking the struggling financial giant, but his words did little to arrest a slide in Citigroup's shares and drew poor reviews from some employees.
Mr. Pandit, speaking to employees at a "town hall" meeting at Citigroup's Manhattan headquarters, said his goal is to reduce the company's total workforce to about 300,000 employees, compared to its third-quarter level of 352,000. About half of those planned reductions stem from previously-announced divestitures and other cost-cutting measures; the remainder will come via layoffs.
Mr. Pandit, speaking to employees at a "town hall" meeting at Citigroup's Manhattan headquarters, said his goal is to reduce the company's total workforce to about 300,000 employees, compared to its third-quarter level of 352,000. About half of those planned reductions stem from previously-announced divestitures and other cost-cutting measures; the remainder will come via layoffs.
Economy will rebound in 6 to 9 months: FM
WASHINGTON (TOI): The financial meltdown will not spare any sector of the economy, but on the brighter side recovery could be just six to nine months
away, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said.
"There will be some slowdown in every sector... but monetary measures, counter-cyclical measures and enlightened measures by the companies themselves can get over this painful period of adjustments and in about 6-9 months we should be back to the growth rate," he told a news channel in an interview.
away, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said.
"There will be some slowdown in every sector... but monetary measures, counter-cyclical measures and enlightened measures by the companies themselves can get over this painful period of adjustments and in about 6-9 months we should be back to the growth rate," he told a news channel in an interview.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Condoleezza Rice: 'Find Something You Love'
INTERVIEW
WSJ: What was the key turning point, career move or life event that got you to where you are today?
Ms. Rice: From my point of view, finding what I was passionate about was the key for me. And I thought that passion was concert piano. After a kind of serious look at my prospects, I found, fortunately, a course on international politics taught by a Soviet specialist.
When you are searching for your passion you can't let it be limited by what others think you ought to do. There is no earthly reason that a black girl from Birmingham, Ala., would want to study Russian. And yet that's what really was fulfilling for me and what I was passionate about. And so I think that decision obviously was a very critical one.
But I would not have been in a position to do that without extraordinary parents. I'm often asked: 'Have you made sacrifices? Have you had to make tough choices?' And, of course we all do, but nothing compared to the choices that my parents made to give me every opportunity that they possibly could even though they were teachers, educators who made very little money. So I would say it's not so much things that I did, but I really was set up for it by great parents.
Because I really didn't have a 'plan,' I was fortunate that certain circumstances arose, allowing me to get here. But I think I prepared for it by finding something I loved and working hard at it. I think sometimes women believe there is something wrong with networking and getting to know people. Of course you need to get to know people.
WSJ: When traveling in your official capacity, how are you treated globally? Are there places that you go to where official negotiations are complicated by local attitudes towards women?
Ms. Rice: You almost become secretary of state, and that is without gender. But of course there are places where attitudes towards women, particularly in the Middle East, are not always very enlightened. It doesn't tend to affect me because I'm being dealt with as secretary of state.
But I'll tell you a way that I think it's actually been positive. I can't tell you how many places, conservative Muslim states, where a leader or one of the ministers will say: 'My daughter follows what you do, would you send her a note,' or in a couple of cases where people have actually brought their daughters or wives to meet me. I always find that really gratifying because it means that perhaps these leaders or ministers who are in very conservative societies still hope for something different for their daughters.
WSJ: What piece of advice do you have for young women today who want to advance far in politics?
Ms. Rice: Find something you love to do and don't spend time thinking about whether or not it's going to advance you in politics. If you don't love what you do and you're not passionate about what you do, you are not going to advance very far.
The second thing is to not to try to plan too far ahead. There are so many variables in life that you may or may not ever get there. It's not that you can be aimless and unfocused, but I always say plan for the next thing that you want to do, and plan and do it well. And concentrate on doing that well and enjoying it and seeing where it leads you, rather than trying to think four, five steps ahead, which is almost never going to work.
WSJ: What was the key turning point, career move or life event that got you to where you are today?
Ms. Rice: From my point of view, finding what I was passionate about was the key for me. And I thought that passion was concert piano. After a kind of serious look at my prospects, I found, fortunately, a course on international politics taught by a Soviet specialist.
When you are searching for your passion you can't let it be limited by what others think you ought to do. There is no earthly reason that a black girl from Birmingham, Ala., would want to study Russian. And yet that's what really was fulfilling for me and what I was passionate about. And so I think that decision obviously was a very critical one.
But I would not have been in a position to do that without extraordinary parents. I'm often asked: 'Have you made sacrifices? Have you had to make tough choices?' And, of course we all do, but nothing compared to the choices that my parents made to give me every opportunity that they possibly could even though they were teachers, educators who made very little money. So I would say it's not so much things that I did, but I really was set up for it by great parents.
Because I really didn't have a 'plan,' I was fortunate that certain circumstances arose, allowing me to get here. But I think I prepared for it by finding something I loved and working hard at it. I think sometimes women believe there is something wrong with networking and getting to know people. Of course you need to get to know people.
WSJ: When traveling in your official capacity, how are you treated globally? Are there places that you go to where official negotiations are complicated by local attitudes towards women?
Ms. Rice: You almost become secretary of state, and that is without gender. But of course there are places where attitudes towards women, particularly in the Middle East, are not always very enlightened. It doesn't tend to affect me because I'm being dealt with as secretary of state.
But I'll tell you a way that I think it's actually been positive. I can't tell you how many places, conservative Muslim states, where a leader or one of the ministers will say: 'My daughter follows what you do, would you send her a note,' or in a couple of cases where people have actually brought their daughters or wives to meet me. I always find that really gratifying because it means that perhaps these leaders or ministers who are in very conservative societies still hope for something different for their daughters.
WSJ: What piece of advice do you have for young women today who want to advance far in politics?
Ms. Rice: Find something you love to do and don't spend time thinking about whether or not it's going to advance you in politics. If you don't love what you do and you're not passionate about what you do, you are not going to advance very far.
The second thing is to not to try to plan too far ahead. There are so many variables in life that you may or may not ever get there. It's not that you can be aimless and unfocused, but I always say plan for the next thing that you want to do, and plan and do it well. And concentrate on doing that well and enjoying it and seeing where it leads you, rather than trying to think four, five steps ahead, which is almost never going to work.
11 foods to turn your partner on! ( A only)
Are you cooking a romantic meal for your man in the hope that it might excite more than just his taste buds? Well, then try adding coffee, honey, 11 foods to turn your partner on!
The following is a list of the ones that have, so far, proven themselves quite worthy of the "aphrodisiac" title:
1. Caffeine
Whether in coffee, tea, sodas or chocolate, caffeine, up to a certain point, can get your motor going.
2. Honey
Known for giving you a quick boost, sugar in its pure honey form can boost your energy. Honey also fuels sperm cells.
3. Chocolate
Besides containing caffeine, chocolate contains two compounds believed to have sex-enhancing effects: anandamide and phenylethylamine (PEA). (PEA is a natural form of amphetamine, an antidepressant). This sweet also contains theobromine, which increases endorphin production, making for a good high.
4. Herbs
Helping lovers relax and ease anxieties, some herbs are seen as having physical effects that can make you feel randier and increase blood flow to the genitals. Certain ones, like lemon balm, a type of mint plant that''s available in tea form, can relax the nervous system, soothing you while elevating your mood.
5. Spices
Some spices, like cayenne pepper, can get you hot quite literally by increasing your heart rate and body temperature. Some also mirror signs of sexual arousal, like a body flush, perspiration and plumper lips. Certain spices can be consumed in capsule, tincture or concentrated drop form a half an hour before sex to boost circulation.
6. Garlic
Because it contains allicin, garlic increases blood flow to the sexual organs, which can certainly help get things going in the bedroom.
7. L-arginine
L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is a precursor to nitric oxide, the molecule that is responsible for promoting circulation by relaxing the blood vessels.
8. Asian Ginseng
Commonly used to treat sexual dysfunction in males, ginseng has direct effects on the central nervous system and genital tissues. Evidence indicates the Chinese herb can facilitate erection by increasing blood flow to the penis.
9. Alcohol
Liquor is known to help lovers feel relaxed and in the mood, in large part because people have such strong beliefs that liquor makes for libido.
10. Ambrien
Found in the digestive tract of some sperm whales, this waxy substance is used in Arab countries, but is illegal in the U.S. Ambrien is said to increase a male's libido by increasing the concentration of several hormones, including testosterone.
11. Seafood
Resembling female genitals, any slippery, succulent seafood is held as an aphrodisiac. Also, the word "aphrodisiac" comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, who, like fish, comes from the sea.
The tips have been provided by Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright, who's a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc.
The following is a list of the ones that have, so far, proven themselves quite worthy of the "aphrodisiac" title:
1. Caffeine
Whether in coffee, tea, sodas or chocolate, caffeine, up to a certain point, can get your motor going.
2. Honey
Known for giving you a quick boost, sugar in its pure honey form can boost your energy. Honey also fuels sperm cells.
3. Chocolate
Besides containing caffeine, chocolate contains two compounds believed to have sex-enhancing effects: anandamide and phenylethylamine (PEA). (PEA is a natural form of amphetamine, an antidepressant). This sweet also contains theobromine, which increases endorphin production, making for a good high.
4. Herbs
Helping lovers relax and ease anxieties, some herbs are seen as having physical effects that can make you feel randier and increase blood flow to the genitals. Certain ones, like lemon balm, a type of mint plant that''s available in tea form, can relax the nervous system, soothing you while elevating your mood.
5. Spices
Some spices, like cayenne pepper, can get you hot quite literally by increasing your heart rate and body temperature. Some also mirror signs of sexual arousal, like a body flush, perspiration and plumper lips. Certain spices can be consumed in capsule, tincture or concentrated drop form a half an hour before sex to boost circulation.
6. Garlic
Because it contains allicin, garlic increases blood flow to the sexual organs, which can certainly help get things going in the bedroom.
7. L-arginine
L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is a precursor to nitric oxide, the molecule that is responsible for promoting circulation by relaxing the blood vessels.
8. Asian Ginseng
Commonly used to treat sexual dysfunction in males, ginseng has direct effects on the central nervous system and genital tissues. Evidence indicates the Chinese herb can facilitate erection by increasing blood flow to the penis.
9. Alcohol
Liquor is known to help lovers feel relaxed and in the mood, in large part because people have such strong beliefs that liquor makes for libido.
10. Ambrien
Found in the digestive tract of some sperm whales, this waxy substance is used in Arab countries, but is illegal in the U.S. Ambrien is said to increase a male's libido by increasing the concentration of several hormones, including testosterone.
11. Seafood
Resembling female genitals, any slippery, succulent seafood is held as an aphrodisiac. Also, the word "aphrodisiac" comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, who, like fish, comes from the sea.
The tips have been provided by Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright, who's a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Grape seed can prevent Alzheimers
Sydney IANS: Grape seeds have been found to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Using a mouse model, a team of researchers headed by Xin-Fu Zhou of Flinders University, has found that adding grape seed extract to the diet prevent the formation of deposits of amyloid proteins in the brain.
Zhou said that over-production of amyloid-beta proteins, or the body's failure to degrade them, leads to the formation of clumps or snarls in the brain and is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Many fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols - complex molecules with anti-oxidant properties - and some have been identified by scientists as a possible method for reducing amyloid deposition, according to a Flinders release.
Grape seed extract was fed to mice affected by transgenic Alzheimer's for six months, after which the researchers observed their behaviour and brain pathology, comparing them with a control group.
Using a mouse model, a team of researchers headed by Xin-Fu Zhou of Flinders University, has found that adding grape seed extract to the diet prevent the formation of deposits of amyloid proteins in the brain.
Zhou said that over-production of amyloid-beta proteins, or the body's failure to degrade them, leads to the formation of clumps or snarls in the brain and is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Many fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols - complex molecules with anti-oxidant properties - and some have been identified by scientists as a possible method for reducing amyloid deposition, according to a Flinders release.
Grape seed extract was fed to mice affected by transgenic Alzheimer's for six months, after which the researchers observed their behaviour and brain pathology, comparing them with a control group.
20 20 FILM
Kochi IANS: Malayalam movie 'Twenty 20', which brings together top stars Mammooty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Jayaram, was released last week and has broken the box-office record in the state.
'Though released only in 115 theatres Wednesday, the opening day collection crossed Rs.10 million. It remains strong. Now, instead of worrying about repaying debtors, I can laugh all the way to the bank and plan future strategy on the basis of this successful formula,' actor-producer Dilip told IANS.
Dilip produced the movie on behalf of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) in the capacity of being its vice-president.
Virtually the entire Malayalam film industry worked for 'Twenty 20'.
However, the film had a few blushes.
Many of the fans of Mohanlal, AMMA's general secretary, initially boycotted the film because their icon was 'not accorded adequate importance in the publicity material'.
'We were angry that Mammooty was given the pride of place in the posters at the centre while the bigger draw Mohanlal was featured at the edge in the pre-release posters. That irked us initially. But when we saw that Mohanlal was given equal importance in the film, our feelings were assuaged and we have endorsed 'Twenty 20' in a big way,' said Hemachandran Nair, a fan based in Trippunithura in south Kerala.
Over 400 cinema halls in small towns and villages of Kerala have refused to touch the film due to distribution hiccups.
Veteran director Joshy made the film, which was scripted by writer duo - Uday Krishna and Shibi K. Thomas.
'Though released only in 115 theatres Wednesday, the opening day collection crossed Rs.10 million. It remains strong. Now, instead of worrying about repaying debtors, I can laugh all the way to the bank and plan future strategy on the basis of this successful formula,' actor-producer Dilip told IANS.
Dilip produced the movie on behalf of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) in the capacity of being its vice-president.
Virtually the entire Malayalam film industry worked for 'Twenty 20'.
However, the film had a few blushes.
Many of the fans of Mohanlal, AMMA's general secretary, initially boycotted the film because their icon was 'not accorded adequate importance in the publicity material'.
'We were angry that Mammooty was given the pride of place in the posters at the centre while the bigger draw Mohanlal was featured at the edge in the pre-release posters. That irked us initially. But when we saw that Mohanlal was given equal importance in the film, our feelings were assuaged and we have endorsed 'Twenty 20' in a big way,' said Hemachandran Nair, a fan based in Trippunithura in south Kerala.
Over 400 cinema halls in small towns and villages of Kerala have refused to touch the film due to distribution hiccups.
Veteran director Joshy made the film, which was scripted by writer duo - Uday Krishna and Shibi K. Thomas.
GM's Shares Tumble
GMC ( general motors corpn) shares Monday plummeted to a price it hasn't seen since 1946, on rising concerns the auto maker will run out of cash in the next few months and that any government bailout won't be beneficial to shareholders.
Shares of GM fell 23% to $3.34 in late-morning trading, after earlier hitting a 62-year low of $3.02, as analysts at both Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank cut their target prices and investment ratings on the stock.
Shares of GM fell 23% to $3.34 in late-morning trading, after earlier hitting a 62-year low of $3.02, as analysts at both Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank cut their target prices and investment ratings on the stock.
German mother does U-turn
PANAJI: The German woman who had alleged that her minor daughter had been raped by education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit and sexually
abused by PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren handed over a letter to the Calangute police on Sunday afternoon stating she wanted to withdraw her complaint.
The woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues confirmed that she had given such a letter to the police. “She is really upset as the system is treating her and her daughter as the accused. They do not want another unnatural death as in the case of British teenager Scarlett Keeling. That is the reason why she wants to withdraw the complaint,” said Rodrigues.
abused by PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren handed over a letter to the Calangute police on Sunday afternoon stating she wanted to withdraw her complaint.
The woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues confirmed that she had given such a letter to the police. “She is really upset as the system is treating her and her daughter as the accused. They do not want another unnatural death as in the case of British teenager Scarlett Keeling. That is the reason why she wants to withdraw the complaint,” said Rodrigues.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
CHANDRAYAN MISSION-RENDEZVOUS THE MOON
BANGALORE ( TOI): India on Saturday successfully put its first unmanned spacecraft Chandrayaan-I into lunar orbit - a major step towards placing it in its
designated slot 100 km from the moon, a top Indian space agency official said.
The spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit - at 7,500 km aposelene (farthest from moon) and 500 km periselene (nearest to moon) through complex manoeuvres, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director S. Satish said.
In this orbit, the spacecraft takes 10 hours to complete one revolution around the moon.
Over the next two-three days, Chandrayaan will be progressively lowered to an orbit that will be 500 km aposelene and 100 km periselene.
Chandrayaan carries 11 scientific instruments, including six foreign payloads - two from the US, three from the European Space Agency (ESA) and one from Bulgaria. The remaining five are indigenously designed and developed by various centres of the state-run ISRO.
designated slot 100 km from the moon, a top Indian space agency official said.
The spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit - at 7,500 km aposelene (farthest from moon) and 500 km periselene (nearest to moon) through complex manoeuvres, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director S. Satish said.
In this orbit, the spacecraft takes 10 hours to complete one revolution around the moon.
Over the next two-three days, Chandrayaan will be progressively lowered to an orbit that will be 500 km aposelene and 100 km periselene.
Chandrayaan carries 11 scientific instruments, including six foreign payloads - two from the US, three from the European Space Agency (ESA) and one from Bulgaria. The remaining five are indigenously designed and developed by various centres of the state-run ISRO.
Friday, November 7, 2008
For Ex-Miss Vietnam Beauty Queen Loses Crown, Miffing Some; Finding a Replacement Is a Royal Pain
By JAMES HOOKWAY
DANANG, Vietnam -- Vietnam's new penchant for beauty pageants took an ugly turn after government inspectors found that the new Miss Vietnam didn't live up to their exacting standards.
Like many up-and-coming nations, Vietnam has been using beauty contests to quickly make its mark on the world. In July, Vietnam played host to the Miss Universe pageant, which was presided over by Jerry Springer and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (the one known as "Scary Spice").
For many ordinary Vietnamese, the event was more compelling evidence that the country has arrived than joining the World Trade Organization was the year before. Newspapers and TV channels repeatedly pointed out that this was the first time Miss Universe has been held in a Communist country.
But that pride crumbled after government investigators found that the new Miss Vietnam, crowned on Aug. 31, hadn't finished high school.
DANANG, Vietnam -- Vietnam's new penchant for beauty pageants took an ugly turn after government inspectors found that the new Miss Vietnam didn't live up to their exacting standards.
Like many up-and-coming nations, Vietnam has been using beauty contests to quickly make its mark on the world. In July, Vietnam played host to the Miss Universe pageant, which was presided over by Jerry Springer and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (the one known as "Scary Spice").
For many ordinary Vietnamese, the event was more compelling evidence that the country has arrived than joining the World Trade Organization was the year before. Newspapers and TV channels repeatedly pointed out that this was the first time Miss Universe has been held in a Communist country.
But that pride crumbled after government investigators found that the new Miss Vietnam, crowned on Aug. 31, hadn't finished high school.
Surviving the crash
From Economist.com
AMERICA’S government, after rescuing a financial system brought low by dodgy mortgage-backed securities, now faces the prospect of bailing out deeply troubled carmakers. On Friday November 7th Ford delivered the latest wretched figures for inspection that horrified even the industry’s tyre-kickers, who are well-used to bad news. It revealed operating losses of $3 billion in the third quarter and said that its carmaking operations had got through $7.7 billion in cash. The news from GM, due to come later in the day, is set to be as bad.
Even before the announcements on Friday the beleaguered carmakers were in desperate shape. High fuel costs, the effects of the credit crisis and looming recession contributed to making October the worst month for new-car sales in 25 years. Sales at GM and Chrysler have fallen by 18% and 25% respectively this year and both companies will run out of cash some time next year if they continue to burn through it at the current rate. Ford’s latest recovery plan has put it a little ahead of its rivals but the massive losses it reported on Friday show that its prospects are bleak.
AMERICA’S government, after rescuing a financial system brought low by dodgy mortgage-backed securities, now faces the prospect of bailing out deeply troubled carmakers. On Friday November 7th Ford delivered the latest wretched figures for inspection that horrified even the industry’s tyre-kickers, who are well-used to bad news. It revealed operating losses of $3 billion in the third quarter and said that its carmaking operations had got through $7.7 billion in cash. The news from GM, due to come later in the day, is set to be as bad.
Even before the announcements on Friday the beleaguered carmakers were in desperate shape. High fuel costs, the effects of the credit crisis and looming recession contributed to making October the worst month for new-car sales in 25 years. Sales at GM and Chrysler have fallen by 18% and 25% respectively this year and both companies will run out of cash some time next year if they continue to burn through it at the current rate. Ford’s latest recovery plan has put it a little ahead of its rivals but the massive losses it reported on Friday show that its prospects are bleak.
Migraine reduces breast cancer risk
In a puzzling twist, women who have a history of migraine headaches are far less likely to develop breast cancer than other women, US
researchers said on Thursday.
The study is the first to look at the relationship between breast cancer and migraine and its findings may point to new ways of reducing a woman’s breast cancer risk, they said. “We found that, overall, women who had a history of migraine had a 30% lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not have a history of such headaches,” said Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Li said the reduction in risk was for the most common types of breast cancers — those driven by hormones. Hormones also play a role in migraine.
researchers said on Thursday.
The study is the first to look at the relationship between breast cancer and migraine and its findings may point to new ways of reducing a woman’s breast cancer risk, they said. “We found that, overall, women who had a history of migraine had a 30% lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not have a history of such headaches,” said Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Li said the reduction in risk was for the most common types of breast cancers — those driven by hormones. Hormones also play a role in migraine.
Monday, November 3, 2008
MICRO MANAGE?
Two years ago, Greg Cushard was leading eight or nine meetings a week at Rubicon Oil Co., the truck-refueling company he founded and runs. He would interrupt conversations among subordinates, identify mistakes and make even mundane decisions, he says.
"I acted like a quarterback ... more than a coach," Mr. Cushard says. He had little time to think about the business. Employees "stopped making suggestions because they were afraid they'd get shot down."
Journal Community
Discuss: Have you ever worked for a micromanager? How should managers draw the line between being helpful and micromanaging?Prompted by advice from his top lieutenants and executive coach, Mr. Cushard resolved to stop micromanaging. Leadership experts say micromanagers -- from small-business owners to managers in large organizations -- share an unwillingness to trust subordinates; still, many can be successful, to a point.
Former President Jimmy Carter was known to personally review requests for White House tennis courts. Martha Stewart once described herself as a "maniacal micromanager" who had to "understand every part of the business to be able to maximize those businesses." Former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner ordered stronger bulbs put in reading lights in Disney hotels.
The best managers help employees learn to work independently by giving them meaningful responsibilities, organizational coach Diane Foster says. "Who wants to be in a company where you are not allowed to think?"
Write to Cari Tuna at cari.tuna@wsj.com
"I acted like a quarterback ... more than a coach," Mr. Cushard says. He had little time to think about the business. Employees "stopped making suggestions because they were afraid they'd get shot down."
Journal Community
Discuss: Have you ever worked for a micromanager? How should managers draw the line between being helpful and micromanaging?Prompted by advice from his top lieutenants and executive coach, Mr. Cushard resolved to stop micromanaging. Leadership experts say micromanagers -- from small-business owners to managers in large organizations -- share an unwillingness to trust subordinates; still, many can be successful, to a point.
Former President Jimmy Carter was known to personally review requests for White House tennis courts. Martha Stewart once described herself as a "maniacal micromanager" who had to "understand every part of the business to be able to maximize those businesses." Former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner ordered stronger bulbs put in reading lights in Disney hotels.
The best managers help employees learn to work independently by giving them meaningful responsibilities, organizational coach Diane Foster says. "Who wants to be in a company where you are not allowed to think?"
Write to Cari Tuna at cari.tuna@wsj.com
TAINTED MILK
ZHANGZHUANG, China ( WSJ) -- Before melamine-laced milk killed and sickened Chinese babies and led to recalls around the world, the routine spiking of milk with illicit substances was an open secret in China's dairy regions, according to the accounts of farmers and others with knowledge of the industry.
Farmers here in Hebei province say in interviews that "protein powder" of often-uncertain origin has been employed for years as a cheap way to help the milk of undernourished cows fool dairy companies' quality checks. When the big companies caught on, some additive makers switched to toxic melamine -- which mimics protein in lab tests and can cause severe kidney damage -- to evade detection.
Farmers here in Hebei province say in interviews that "protein powder" of often-uncertain origin has been employed for years as a cheap way to help the milk of undernourished cows fool dairy companies' quality checks. When the big companies caught on, some additive makers switched to toxic melamine -- which mimics protein in lab tests and can cause severe kidney damage -- to evade detection.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wedded bliss lasts just ‘2 years, six months and 25 days’!
London, October 29:ANI : While most newlyweds imagine that they will live happily ever after, the true picture is a tad different, says a new research which found that for an average couple the honeymoon is well and truly over after exactly two years, six months and 25 days.
The reason being: by that time, both partners have started to take each other, and their relationship, for granted, according to research.
Researchers found that after second wedding anniversary, men are far more likely to leave dirty washing on the floor and the toilet seat up, while women stop wearing make-up, slouch around in pyjamas and hog the TV remote control.
The shocking survey of 5,000 couples by research company OnePoll revealed that more than half feel undervalued in their relationship.
BY the third anniversary, things take a bigger U-turn, for 83 per cent say they can’t even be bothered to celebrate the occasion, the study found.
The research found that during the first few months of marriage, 83 per cent regularly held hands when they went out together, compared with just 38 per cent later on.
Partners would cuddle more than eight times a day before their first wedding anniversary, compared with five or less after a few years of marriage, the study revealed.
Forty three per cent have not had breakfast in bed together since they walked down the aisle.
And an unfortunate 60 per cent say they have not been surprised with a romantic night out since they got married.
A staggering 70 per cent claim little gestures such as flowers, a cup of tea in bed or opening the car door are long gone after the second anniversary. But despite not giving their relationship as much thought as they once did, 61 per cent say they fondly remember the exact date they first laid eyes on their partner.
“It would appear many couples are stuck in a rut and, while they still love their other half, they are a little too comfortable in each other’s company,” the ‘Daily Express’ quoted OnePoll spokesman John Sewell, as saying.
“This poll isn’t all negative, however. Despite revealing their bad habits, respondents do still remember the good times when romance was high on the agenda. The odd romantic meal would probably be all many couples need to spice things up a bit. And small gestures such as tidying up, helping with the housework and relinquishing control of the TV remote would go a long way,” the rep added.
The reason being: by that time, both partners have started to take each other, and their relationship, for granted, according to research.
Researchers found that after second wedding anniversary, men are far more likely to leave dirty washing on the floor and the toilet seat up, while women stop wearing make-up, slouch around in pyjamas and hog the TV remote control.
The shocking survey of 5,000 couples by research company OnePoll revealed that more than half feel undervalued in their relationship.
BY the third anniversary, things take a bigger U-turn, for 83 per cent say they can’t even be bothered to celebrate the occasion, the study found.
The research found that during the first few months of marriage, 83 per cent regularly held hands when they went out together, compared with just 38 per cent later on.
Partners would cuddle more than eight times a day before their first wedding anniversary, compared with five or less after a few years of marriage, the study revealed.
Forty three per cent have not had breakfast in bed together since they walked down the aisle.
And an unfortunate 60 per cent say they have not been surprised with a romantic night out since they got married.
A staggering 70 per cent claim little gestures such as flowers, a cup of tea in bed or opening the car door are long gone after the second anniversary. But despite not giving their relationship as much thought as they once did, 61 per cent say they fondly remember the exact date they first laid eyes on their partner.
“It would appear many couples are stuck in a rut and, while they still love their other half, they are a little too comfortable in each other’s company,” the ‘Daily Express’ quoted OnePoll spokesman John Sewell, as saying.
“This poll isn’t all negative, however. Despite revealing their bad habits, respondents do still remember the good times when romance was high on the agenda. The odd romantic meal would probably be all many couples need to spice things up a bit. And small gestures such as tidying up, helping with the housework and relinquishing control of the TV remote would go a long way,” the rep added.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Working women hold key to world prosperity
Financial Express -Reuters
A pitbull with lipstick may not be every woman's idea of a role model.
Indeed, many liberal women hate everything arch-Republican US vice presidential candidate and self-proclaimed hockey mom Sarah Palin stands for, even as conservatives are enamoured by her down-to-earth leadership style and jokes such as one comparing hockey moms to attack dogs with lipstick.
But like her or loathe her, women around the globe are fascinated by Palin's juggling act as an aspiring Vice President, governor of Alaska and mother of five.
Combining a career with motherhood is a battle familiar to millions of working women who are often accused of failing to look after their children properly.
"It's seriously stressful having a family and holding down a career. I often feel guilty," said Gill Thomas, a 43-year-old lawyer with a 2-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.
"Childcare is alright until the kids are sick. That's when it's a nightmare and I do feel as if colleagues, family and friends sometimes disapprove of my lifestyle."
Getting women to have children and work poses a conundrum for governments who have begun to realise that women hold the answer to the dual challenges of achieving long-term economic growth and boosting sagging birth rates.
Not only do 20 per cent of women aged 25 to 54 work less than 20 hours a week but the maternal employment rate is below the OECD average, says Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank analyst Claire Schaffnit-Chatterjee.
But women who successfully juggle work and children still contend with criticism for, on the one hand, devoting too little time to their children, and on the other, not taking their jobs seriously enough when they stay home to look after sick children.
"When I talk about something my kids have got up to, my male boss crack jokes about how I'd be better off at home. It's offputting," said a female professional in Germany who requested anonymity.
A pitbull with lipstick may not be every woman's idea of a role model.
Indeed, many liberal women hate everything arch-Republican US vice presidential candidate and self-proclaimed hockey mom Sarah Palin stands for, even as conservatives are enamoured by her down-to-earth leadership style and jokes such as one comparing hockey moms to attack dogs with lipstick.
But like her or loathe her, women around the globe are fascinated by Palin's juggling act as an aspiring Vice President, governor of Alaska and mother of five.
Combining a career with motherhood is a battle familiar to millions of working women who are often accused of failing to look after their children properly.
"It's seriously stressful having a family and holding down a career. I often feel guilty," said Gill Thomas, a 43-year-old lawyer with a 2-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.
"Childcare is alright until the kids are sick. That's when it's a nightmare and I do feel as if colleagues, family and friends sometimes disapprove of my lifestyle."
Getting women to have children and work poses a conundrum for governments who have begun to realise that women hold the answer to the dual challenges of achieving long-term economic growth and boosting sagging birth rates.
Not only do 20 per cent of women aged 25 to 54 work less than 20 hours a week but the maternal employment rate is below the OECD average, says Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank analyst Claire Schaffnit-Chatterjee.
But women who successfully juggle work and children still contend with criticism for, on the one hand, devoting too little time to their children, and on the other, not taking their jobs seriously enough when they stay home to look after sick children.
"When I talk about something my kids have got up to, my male boss crack jokes about how I'd be better off at home. It's offputting," said a female professional in Germany who requested anonymity.
Monday, October 27, 2008
DR KALAM'S SPEECH
DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 's Speech in Hyderabad . *Why is the media here so negative?Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize o
ur own strengths,
our achievements?
We are such a great nation.
We have so many amazing success stories
but we refuse to acknowledge them.
Why?
We are the first in milk production.We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.We are the second largest producer of wheat.We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan,
he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.
There are millions of such achievements but our media
is only obsessed in the bad news and failures
and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading
the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after
a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths
had taken place. The Hamas had struck.
But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of
a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert into an orchid and a granary.
It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to.
The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths,
were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism,
crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question:
Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things?
We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts.
We want foreign technology.Why this obsession with everything imported.
Do we not realize that self-respect comes with
self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture,
when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph.
I asked her what her goal in life is.
She replied: I want to live in a developed India
For her, you and I will have to build this developed India.
You must proclaim.
Indiais not an under-developed nation;
it is a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes?
Allow me to come back with a vengeance.Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read;
otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.YOU say that our laws are too old.YOU say that the municipality does not
pick up the garbage.YOU say that the phones don't work,
the railways are a joke, The airline is the worst in the world,
mails never reach their destination.YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs
and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say.
What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore
Give him a name - YOURS.
Give him a face - YOURS.
YOU walk out of the airport and you are
at your International best.
In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts
on the roads or eat in the stores.
YOU are as proud of their Underground links
as they are.
You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through
Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or
Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.
YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your
parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant
or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity...
In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan,
in Dubai .
YOU would not dare to go out without your head
covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the
telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds
( Rs.650) a month to 'see to it that my STD and ISD
calls are billed to someone else.'
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h)
in Washington and then tell the traffic cop,'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?).
I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.'
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere
other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia
and New Zealand .
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or
buy fake certificates in Boston ???
We are still talking of the same YOU.
YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system
in other countries but cannot in your own.
You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road
the moment you touch Indian ground.
If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen
in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here
in India ?Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal
commissioner of Bombay , Mr.Tinaikar , had a point
to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets
to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,'
he said. 'And then the same people turn around
to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency
and dirty pavements.
What do they expect the officers to do?
Go down with a broom every time their dog
feels the pressure in his bowels?
In America every dog owner has to clean up
after his pet has done the job.Same in Japan .
Will the Indian citizen do that here?'
He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government
and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect
the government to do everything for us whilst our
contribution is totally negative.
We expect the government to clean up
but we are not going to stop chucking garbage
all over the place nor are we going to stop
to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.
We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms
but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide
the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to
stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass
on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like
those related to women, dowry, girl child!
and others, we make loud drawing room protestations
and continue to do the reverse at home.
Our excuse?
'It's the whole system which has to change,
how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights
to a dowry.'
So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of ?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours,
other households, other cities, other communities
and the government.
But definitely not me and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive
contribution to the system we lock ourselves
along with our families into a safe cocoon
and look into the distance at countries far away
and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles
for us with a majestic sweep of his hand
or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to
America to bask in their glory and praise their system.
When New York becomes insecure we run to England .
When England experiences unemployment,
we take the next flight out to the Gulf.
When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued
and brought home by the Indian government.
Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country.
Nobody thinks of feeding the system.
Our conscience is mortgaged to money.Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive,
calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks
one's conscience too....
ur own strengths,
our achievements?
We are such a great nation.
We have so many amazing success stories
but we refuse to acknowledge them.
Why?
We are the first in milk production.We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.We are the second largest producer of wheat.We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan,
he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.
There are millions of such achievements but our media
is only obsessed in the bad news and failures
and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading
the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after
a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths
had taken place. The Hamas had struck.
But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of
a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert into an orchid and a granary.
It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to.
The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths,
were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism,
crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question:
Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things?
We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts.
We want foreign technology.Why this obsession with everything imported.
Do we not realize that self-respect comes with
self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture,
when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph.
I asked her what her goal in life is.
She replied: I want to live in a developed India
For her, you and I will have to build this developed India.
You must proclaim.
Indiais not an under-developed nation;
it is a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes?
Allow me to come back with a vengeance.Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read;
otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.YOU say that our laws are too old.YOU say that the municipality does not
pick up the garbage.YOU say that the phones don't work,
the railways are a joke, The airline is the worst in the world,
mails never reach their destination.YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs
and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say.
What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore
Give him a name - YOURS.
Give him a face - YOURS.
YOU walk out of the airport and you are
at your International best.
In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts
on the roads or eat in the stores.
YOU are as proud of their Underground links
as they are.
You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through
Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or
Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.
YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your
parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant
or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity...
In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan,
in Dubai .
YOU would not dare to go out without your head
covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the
telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds
( Rs.650) a month to 'see to it that my STD and ISD
calls are billed to someone else.'
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h)
in Washington and then tell the traffic cop,'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?).
I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.'
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere
other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia
and New Zealand .
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or
buy fake certificates in Boston ???
We are still talking of the same YOU.
YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system
in other countries but cannot in your own.
You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road
the moment you touch Indian ground.
If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen
in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here
in India ?Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal
commissioner of Bombay , Mr.Tinaikar , had a point
to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets
to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,'
he said. 'And then the same people turn around
to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency
and dirty pavements.
What do they expect the officers to do?
Go down with a broom every time their dog
feels the pressure in his bowels?
In America every dog owner has to clean up
after his pet has done the job.Same in Japan .
Will the Indian citizen do that here?'
He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government
and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect
the government to do everything for us whilst our
contribution is totally negative.
We expect the government to clean up
but we are not going to stop chucking garbage
all over the place nor are we going to stop
to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.
We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms
but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide
the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to
stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass
on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like
those related to women, dowry, girl child!
and others, we make loud drawing room protestations
and continue to do the reverse at home.
Our excuse?
'It's the whole system which has to change,
how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights
to a dowry.'
So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of ?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours,
other households, other cities, other communities
and the government.
But definitely not me and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive
contribution to the system we lock ourselves
along with our families into a safe cocoon
and look into the distance at countries far away
and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles
for us with a majestic sweep of his hand
or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to
America to bask in their glory and praise their system.
When New York becomes insecure we run to England .
When England experiences unemployment,
we take the next flight out to the Gulf.
When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued
and brought home by the Indian government.
Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country.
Nobody thinks of feeding the system.
Our conscience is mortgaged to money.Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive,
calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks
one's conscience too....
Friday, October 24, 2008
LAYOFF SIGNS
Marcia Finberg's relationship with her boss had been cordial during the three years she worked as vice president of marketing and business development for a Phoenix hospital. Her boss, the CEO, always made small talk and followed up with her on projects. When this rapport suddenly stopped, Ms. Finberg knew something was up. Three months later her job was eliminated.
Bruce MacPherson
At a time when employers are making more mass layoffs than any time since Sept. 11, reading the cues to your fate is especially important, so you can plan accordingly. When you're in good standing at your company, it usually isn't hard to tell. Promotions, invites to big meetings and attention from your boss are usually good indications. But when you're a target of the layoff list, or feelings about you have changed, the signs are often more subtle.
Nonverbal Cues
Many managers resort to nonverbal cues or passive-aggressive behavior rather than confronting employees directly if they've got bad news or are suddenly dissatisfied with their performance, say many employment experts. This is especially true as reorganizations are planned and layoffs loom.
One tell-tale sign that your job may be in jeopardy is your supervisor's lack of casual interaction with you. "If you're in good standing with your boss, you should be having frequent informal talks
For example, if your boss used to respond to your emails in the same day, but it now takes a week, consider it a sign.
Ms. Finberg's boss went from being friendly with her to avoiding her and being curt. She knew the hospital was losing patients to a new medical center in the area and that her employer's financial situation had become precarious. Ms. Finberg says her boss's cold response leading up to her being let go could have been a defense mechanism. "You don't want to admit that under your stewardship the finances were such that you had to let someone from your executive team go," she says.
Some managers say they play "hard to get" with certain employees to communicate their displeasure with performance. Bob Miglani, senior director of external medical affairs for Pfizer Inc., says he has purposely made employees that reported to him feel left out of the loop, by not inviting them to meetings or waiting a long time to answer their emails. He has also declined their meeting requests even if he's able to make the meeting so that the employee will see that he didn't want to attend.
Sensitive Employees
Employers can also take the passive-aggressive route. When John Boyd was chief intellectual-property counsel of a midsize technology company, he says, the CEO and other executives made him feel like he wasn't in the "inner circle." He says he was continually left off of email announcements congratulating teams on projects, when he also participated on those teams. He didn't wait to see what his fate might be; instead, Mr. Boyd left the company.
Paying attention to how projects are doled out can give you a feeling for where you fit in. Are you being passed over on plum projects? Are you given production-oriented tasks instead of strategic projects? If you're repeatedly overlooked for high-profile assignments that you feel capable of handling, Mr. Gee says it's time to ask for one rather than passively waiting.
Otherwise, you might find yourself in the same boat as Lisa LaMunyon. Two months before being laid off, Ms. LaMunyon noticed projects being given to other people in her department, even ones she had started herself. The 42-year-old didn't ask her boss about the changes, but felt ostracized as important conference calls and meetings were held behind her back. When the company downsized, she was laid off.
Don't Wait for Review
When your work gets reassigned, experts say it might be a sign management is trying to prepare for your dismissal. If you suspect something is awry, don't wait for your formal review; approach your boss so you can fix any problems before it's too late. "It's criminal to wait for performance-review time," says Ms. Sarikas. "If there is a problem, it's a whole lot easier to fix sooner rather than later."
Before approaching your manager it's important to substantiate your suspicions. "Maybe your email got lost in the shuffle. You can make an assumption about someone's behavior and turn out to be wrong," says Rachelle J. Canter, president of RJC Associates, a career and leadership consulting firm based in San Francisco. You could also run your thoughts by a trusted colleague who may be able to tell you if you're overreacting.
If you suspect your position might be on the chopping block, don't wait for the ax to fall. Instead, brush off your resume and start networking in the event that your job is eliminated. And even if your job seems safe, if a tense relationship with a manager is thwarting your growth at a company, and you've exhausted every means of making amends, it may be wise to leave, says Ms. Canter.
Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com
Bruce MacPherson
At a time when employers are making more mass layoffs than any time since Sept. 11, reading the cues to your fate is especially important, so you can plan accordingly. When you're in good standing at your company, it usually isn't hard to tell. Promotions, invites to big meetings and attention from your boss are usually good indications. But when you're a target of the layoff list, or feelings about you have changed, the signs are often more subtle.
Nonverbal Cues
Many managers resort to nonverbal cues or passive-aggressive behavior rather than confronting employees directly if they've got bad news or are suddenly dissatisfied with their performance, say many employment experts. This is especially true as reorganizations are planned and layoffs loom.
One tell-tale sign that your job may be in jeopardy is your supervisor's lack of casual interaction with you. "If you're in good standing with your boss, you should be having frequent informal talks
For example, if your boss used to respond to your emails in the same day, but it now takes a week, consider it a sign.
Ms. Finberg's boss went from being friendly with her to avoiding her and being curt. She knew the hospital was losing patients to a new medical center in the area and that her employer's financial situation had become precarious. Ms. Finberg says her boss's cold response leading up to her being let go could have been a defense mechanism. "You don't want to admit that under your stewardship the finances were such that you had to let someone from your executive team go," she says.
Some managers say they play "hard to get" with certain employees to communicate their displeasure with performance. Bob Miglani, senior director of external medical affairs for Pfizer Inc., says he has purposely made employees that reported to him feel left out of the loop, by not inviting them to meetings or waiting a long time to answer their emails. He has also declined their meeting requests even if he's able to make the meeting so that the employee will see that he didn't want to attend.
Sensitive Employees
Employers can also take the passive-aggressive route. When John Boyd was chief intellectual-property counsel of a midsize technology company, he says, the CEO and other executives made him feel like he wasn't in the "inner circle." He says he was continually left off of email announcements congratulating teams on projects, when he also participated on those teams. He didn't wait to see what his fate might be; instead, Mr. Boyd left the company.
Paying attention to how projects are doled out can give you a feeling for where you fit in. Are you being passed over on plum projects? Are you given production-oriented tasks instead of strategic projects? If you're repeatedly overlooked for high-profile assignments that you feel capable of handling, Mr. Gee says it's time to ask for one rather than passively waiting.
Otherwise, you might find yourself in the same boat as Lisa LaMunyon. Two months before being laid off, Ms. LaMunyon noticed projects being given to other people in her department, even ones she had started herself. The 42-year-old didn't ask her boss about the changes, but felt ostracized as important conference calls and meetings were held behind her back. When the company downsized, she was laid off.
Don't Wait for Review
When your work gets reassigned, experts say it might be a sign management is trying to prepare for your dismissal. If you suspect something is awry, don't wait for your formal review; approach your boss so you can fix any problems before it's too late. "It's criminal to wait for performance-review time," says Ms. Sarikas. "If there is a problem, it's a whole lot easier to fix sooner rather than later."
Before approaching your manager it's important to substantiate your suspicions. "Maybe your email got lost in the shuffle. You can make an assumption about someone's behavior and turn out to be wrong," says Rachelle J. Canter, president of RJC Associates, a career and leadership consulting firm based in San Francisco. You could also run your thoughts by a trusted colleague who may be able to tell you if you're overreacting.
If you suspect your position might be on the chopping block, don't wait for the ax to fall. Instead, brush off your resume and start networking in the event that your job is eliminated. And even if your job seems safe, if a tense relationship with a manager is thwarting your growth at a company, and you've exhausted every means of making amends, it may be wise to leave, says Ms. Canter.
Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
THE SLOWDOWN NOW..
From upbeat news , we now hear of SLOWDOWN in economic growth in the world . What is the learning from this: Maybe we need to go back to scriptures :
a. Lead a honest life
b. Live by your means
c. Share your wealth with society ( "trusteeship")
The above are words from any of worlds religions / books
Companies or common men who have lived by their means taking care of family and elders , helping the neIghbours and generally contributing to society do not seemed to have suffered any Economic loss or SLOWDOWN
The age old practise of investing in gold have helped avoid losses.
Inadian marriages : Due to tradition of buying lots of gold ornaments for marriages in India, it would be a good idea if the parents of tHE groom inform the brides family not to try and buy gold at its high cost now and maybe they could buy at a later stage.!!!
Being close to nature ( agriculture) should be considered a good option for those who lost millions in the stock marke since the earth is a good heeler.
...........
a. Lead a honest life
b. Live by your means
c. Share your wealth with society ( "trusteeship")
The above are words from any of worlds religions / books
Companies or common men who have lived by their means taking care of family and elders , helping the neIghbours and generally contributing to society do not seemed to have suffered any Economic loss or SLOWDOWN
The age old practise of investing in gold have helped avoid losses.
Inadian marriages : Due to tradition of buying lots of gold ornaments for marriages in India, it would be a good idea if the parents of tHE groom inform the brides family not to try and buy gold at its high cost now and maybe they could buy at a later stage.!!!
Being close to nature ( agriculture) should be considered a good option for those who lost millions in the stock marke since the earth is a good heeler.
...........
Thursday, October 16, 2008
SETTING AN EXAMPLE
KOCHI: District Collector M. Beena seems to be showing the way for the city folks on how to deal with the vexed issue of waste management. A biogas plant that will cater to the cooking gas needs and will generate liquid fertilizer has started functioning at the Collector’s official residence here on Tuesday.The portable fibreglass plant designed and installed by Thiruvananthapuram-based Biotech is capable of treating between 3 kg and 5 kg of biodegradable solid waste as well as liquid waste and organic water up to 25 litres in a day.Ms. Beena had installed a similar plant at her official residence in Thrissur during her tenure there. She was delighted to know that the one being installed here was a portable one. The plant was installed at a cost of Rs.15,200, out of which Rs.2,700 was a subsidy from the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy.Set up on one square metre of space, it meets 50 per cent of the cooking gas needs of a three to five member family and generates liquid fertilizer high in NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) value, said A. Sajidas, director of Biotech.The waste fed into the plant is converted into cooking gas and liquid fertilizer through an anaerobic bacterial process. He said that the by-products from the plant would help to recover the investment within 18 months.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
DUBAI - NOT SO HOT PROPERTY
Oct 9th 2008 DUBAIFrom The Economist print edition
Is Dubai being hit by the turmoil?
YOU may have thought that if anywhere would be insulated from the financial chaos, it would be Dubai, the ritzy commercial capital of the oil-rich Gulf. Not so. Events across the world are causing pain there too, even though much of the emirate’s cash has not made its way to the banks; it is held by ruling families and in their sovereign wealth funds.
Dubai’s oil revenues are small. Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the energetic ruler of the second largest emirate of the seven that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has chosen to diversify, especially into real estate, as his way forward. Investors in Dubai property have done well in recent years, enjoying returns of 80%.
Two factors have underpinned prices. The first is negative real (ie, below-inflation) interest rates, which track those in the United States. Borrowers can apply to banks and still borrow very cheaply. And since some think the official inflation rate seriously underestimates price increases in Dubai, there is a big incentive to borrow from banks and invest somewhere else.
The second factor is the continuing influx of workers into the emirate. Less than a fifth of Dubai’s 1.5m people are local. Many of the immigrants are building workers from South Asia who are provided with accommodation during their stay, but not in the smart apartment blocks that Dubai developers favour.
Bad timing
Then, over the summer, Morgan Stanley issued a note which said that Dubai property prices would fall by 10% by 2010. Quite simply, there may not be enough demand for the wave of new property coming onto the market. To a society used to easy returns, this was a shock. The report coincided with a withdrawal of deposits and investments from the UAE by speculative investors who had previously been betting that local currencies would shoot up as Gulf states let go of their dollar pegs to deal with double-digit inflation. But things did not work out like that. The dollar strengthened, so the bet failed and speculative flows went home. As a result, there was less cash sloshing around in the Gulf.
It was the wrong time, then, for a slew of corruption allegations. Since April, investigations have centred on Dubai Islamic Bank, an institution with a history of problems, and on various mortgage lenders and developers. Those investigated include a minister of state and two Britons. Sheikh Muhammad made a rare public announcement recently to say that the public prosecutor would not tolerate “illegal profits”. The investigations are thought to be continuing; no charges have been made.
At this week’s Cityscape real-estate conference, the emirate’s pushy public-relations people were busy pretending nothing was amiss. Nakheel, a state-backed developer, said it would build another tower block that would be the tallest building in the world, even higher than today’s tallest, the Burj Dubai. Another developer heralded a spectacular new development called Jumeirah Gardens, at an estimated cost of 350 billion dirhams ($95 billion).
The markets have been less impressed. So far this year, shares in the Dubai Financial Market have lost 48% of their value. Emaar, a high-profile developer, fell from a high of 15.7 dirhams to 5.5 on October 9th. In another sign that not all is well, the Dubai authorities merged two Islamic mortgage lenders, Amlak Finance and Tamweel; the latter is one of the firms involved in the investigation. Some of the more sober developers, Tamweel included, have stopped the widespread practice of “flipping”—paying only a percentage of the purchase price of a property and selling it on before instalment payments begin.
Dubai is not going to go bust. The state controls the larger property developers and can alter supply and demand by releasing land when and how it wants. Average percentage yields from rented properties are still in the high single digits, so demand persists. Business people are still likely to come to the Gulf. But expect more mergers along the lines of Amlak and Tamweel. Some smaller developers may go bust. The huge profits of the past will dip.
Is Dubai being hit by the turmoil?
YOU may have thought that if anywhere would be insulated from the financial chaos, it would be Dubai, the ritzy commercial capital of the oil-rich Gulf. Not so. Events across the world are causing pain there too, even though much of the emirate’s cash has not made its way to the banks; it is held by ruling families and in their sovereign wealth funds.
Dubai’s oil revenues are small. Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the energetic ruler of the second largest emirate of the seven that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has chosen to diversify, especially into real estate, as his way forward. Investors in Dubai property have done well in recent years, enjoying returns of 80%.
Two factors have underpinned prices. The first is negative real (ie, below-inflation) interest rates, which track those in the United States. Borrowers can apply to banks and still borrow very cheaply. And since some think the official inflation rate seriously underestimates price increases in Dubai, there is a big incentive to borrow from banks and invest somewhere else.
The second factor is the continuing influx of workers into the emirate. Less than a fifth of Dubai’s 1.5m people are local. Many of the immigrants are building workers from South Asia who are provided with accommodation during their stay, but not in the smart apartment blocks that Dubai developers favour.
Bad timing
Then, over the summer, Morgan Stanley issued a note which said that Dubai property prices would fall by 10% by 2010. Quite simply, there may not be enough demand for the wave of new property coming onto the market. To a society used to easy returns, this was a shock. The report coincided with a withdrawal of deposits and investments from the UAE by speculative investors who had previously been betting that local currencies would shoot up as Gulf states let go of their dollar pegs to deal with double-digit inflation. But things did not work out like that. The dollar strengthened, so the bet failed and speculative flows went home. As a result, there was less cash sloshing around in the Gulf.
It was the wrong time, then, for a slew of corruption allegations. Since April, investigations have centred on Dubai Islamic Bank, an institution with a history of problems, and on various mortgage lenders and developers. Those investigated include a minister of state and two Britons. Sheikh Muhammad made a rare public announcement recently to say that the public prosecutor would not tolerate “illegal profits”. The investigations are thought to be continuing; no charges have been made.
At this week’s Cityscape real-estate conference, the emirate’s pushy public-relations people were busy pretending nothing was amiss. Nakheel, a state-backed developer, said it would build another tower block that would be the tallest building in the world, even higher than today’s tallest, the Burj Dubai. Another developer heralded a spectacular new development called Jumeirah Gardens, at an estimated cost of 350 billion dirhams ($95 billion).
The markets have been less impressed. So far this year, shares in the Dubai Financial Market have lost 48% of their value. Emaar, a high-profile developer, fell from a high of 15.7 dirhams to 5.5 on October 9th. In another sign that not all is well, the Dubai authorities merged two Islamic mortgage lenders, Amlak Finance and Tamweel; the latter is one of the firms involved in the investigation. Some of the more sober developers, Tamweel included, have stopped the widespread practice of “flipping”—paying only a percentage of the purchase price of a property and selling it on before instalment payments begin.
Dubai is not going to go bust. The state controls the larger property developers and can alter supply and demand by releasing land when and how it wants. Average percentage yields from rented properties are still in the high single digits, so demand persists. Business people are still likely to come to the Gulf. But expect more mergers along the lines of Amlak and Tamweel. Some smaller developers may go bust. The huge profits of the past will dip.
Friday, October 10, 2008
How do I shop for sunglasses?
from http://www.seventeen.com/
It's all about your face shape. If you have an oval face, try aviators.
If you have a round face, try a wide shield.
If you have a square face, try a rounded frame.
If you have a heart-shape face, try wayfarers.
It's all about your face shape. If you have an oval face, try aviators.
If you have a round face, try a wide shield.
If you have a square face, try a rounded frame.
If you have a heart-shape face, try wayfarers.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Iceland moves closer to bankruptcy
Iceland plunged further into financial turmoil - and muddled into a diplomatic spat with Britain over its handling of the crisis - on Wednesday as the country's third largest bank went into receivership and the Government abandoned attempts to put a floor under its free-falling currency.
Story - wall street journal
Kristjan Davidsson went to sea as a deckhand at 16. At fisheries college he aspired to be a boat captain. For two decades, he sold fish and fish-processing equipment. Like his father, and practically everyone in this remote village, he owed his living to the fish his country pulled from the ocean.
But in 2001 Mr. Davidsson got bored. He joined one of Iceland's newly privatized banks. He got rich. Now, he says, it looks like it's back to fish. That may be true for this nation's fortunes as a whole.
On Tuesday, Iceland's government seized Glitnir Bank hf, Mr. Davidsson's employer, caught up in the unfolding global financial crisis. On Wednesday, he came to the office for an emergency staff meeting. Glitnir's government-appointed receiver addressed the troops. "The basic message I heard was, 'Go find another job,'" says Mr. Davidsson.
Story - wall street journal
Kristjan Davidsson went to sea as a deckhand at 16. At fisheries college he aspired to be a boat captain. For two decades, he sold fish and fish-processing equipment. Like his father, and practically everyone in this remote village, he owed his living to the fish his country pulled from the ocean.
But in 2001 Mr. Davidsson got bored. He joined one of Iceland's newly privatized banks. He got rich. Now, he says, it looks like it's back to fish. That may be true for this nation's fortunes as a whole.
On Tuesday, Iceland's government seized Glitnir Bank hf, Mr. Davidsson's employer, caught up in the unfolding global financial crisis. On Wednesday, he came to the office for an emergency staff meeting. Glitnir's government-appointed receiver addressed the troops. "The basic message I heard was, 'Go find another job,'" says Mr. Davidsson.
A global recession is almost certainly on the way
From The Economist print edition
DEPRIVE a person of oxygen and he will turn blue, collapse and eventually die. Deprive economies of credit and a similar process kicks in. As the financial crisis has broadened and intensified, the global economy has begun to suffocate. That is why the world’s central banks have been administering emergency measures, including a round of co-ordinated interest-rate cuts on Wednesday October 8th. With luck they will prevent catastrophe. They are unlikely to avert a global recession.
The rich world’s economies were either shrinking, or close to it, long before September. Recent weeks have made a rich-world recession all but inevitable
DEPRIVE a person of oxygen and he will turn blue, collapse and eventually die. Deprive economies of credit and a similar process kicks in. As the financial crisis has broadened and intensified, the global economy has begun to suffocate. That is why the world’s central banks have been administering emergency measures, including a round of co-ordinated interest-rate cuts on Wednesday October 8th. With luck they will prevent catastrophe. They are unlikely to avert a global recession.
The rich world’s economies were either shrinking, or close to it, long before September. Recent weeks have made a rich-world recession all but inevitable
Friday, October 3, 2008
CAN WE TRUST MADE IN CHINA?
By Joe Havely
In three decades China has come from nowhere to being the factory of the world
It may seem hard to remember, but it was only a little more than a couple of decades ago when the label 'made in China' was seen as something slightly exotic.
Not any longer. Today, few of the things that we buy do not owe their existence in some way or another to the China factor.
The bulk, if not all, of the computer you are using right now was almost certainly made in one of China's hundreds of tech factories - by a company and in a city you have probably never heard of. In barely three decades, the communist basket case once known as "Red China" has become the epicentre of globalisation.
In the 1980s, when China began to open its economy to the outside world, Chinese exports rose on average by 5.7 per cent a year.
By the 1990s, that figure grew to 12.4 per cent, soaring to 20.3 per cent between 2000 and 2003, and hitting 26.7 per cent in 2006.
Consumer boom Backed by its vast army of cheap labour, China's export-driven economy has created an unprecedented consumer boom that has encompassed the globe. According to the International Monetary Fund, China's export growth rate has been seven times that of the rest of the world in recent years. As a result goods made in China have transformed the way the world shops. From the mega-malls of suburban America and Europe, to the bazaars of sub-Saharan Africa, products that might once have been out-of-reach luxury for many consumers have become an everyday affordability for the masses.
The tainted milk scandal has again raised safety fears
All thanks to China. Now, for example, a DVD player can be bought for barely more than the cost of one of the DVD movies to play in it. Laptops, cellphones and other modern essentials all owe their prevalence to the fact that Chinese factories have been able to churn them out at an unbeatably low price.
It has become the basis of our throw away society - an apparently infinite Aladdin's cave of goodies; the answer to the dreams of the world's shopaholics. But recently the sheen on this low-cost treasure has shown signs of wearing off.
Safety fears
A series of safety alerts and product recalls have raised fears over Chinese-made goods ranging from toothpaste and processed shrimp to Thomas The Tank Engine toys. Now, we are again seeing China battle a rapidly growing scare over dairy products contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine. Suddenly, it seems that the 'made in China' label might not be such good value – and may even be deadly. Western politicians and many pundits in the media have seized upon the issue to engage in a bout of China-bashing, accusing Chinese manufacturers of ruthlessly cutting corners in pursuit of profit at any price. Chinese consumers themselves are all too familiar with cases of fake or untested – and often deadly – pharmaceuticals. Four years ago, another scandal surrounding baby formula claimed the lives of dozens of infants.
An investigation found that the formula had no nutritional value whatsoever – apparently part of a get-rich-quick scheme. Such cases are inexcusable and the latest scare over dairy products shows, once again, that China's monitoring and regulatory oversight of its fast-growing economy leaves much to be desired.
Chinese producers face constant pressure to cut costs .China's cabinet admitted earlier this week that deep, systemic failings were to blame.
"[The scandal] has shown us that the dairy market is chaotic, flaws exist in supervision mechanisms and supervision work is weak," China's leaders said in a statement released on state TV. But many Chinese manufacturers also complain they face immense pressure from their giant multinational customers - not just to keep their prices low, but to repeatedly cut them, and to cut them again. Faced with growing wage demands from their workers, they are caught in a "Catch-22" situation. At the same time Western governments have protested indignantly at China's failure to enforce product safety laws demanded by the West. Many conveniently overlook the issue that, for years, they have helped fund tax cuts by freezing or cutting funding to their own agencies meant to monitor the safety of imports.
Question of confidence
It is, perhaps, a case of wanting to "have your cake and eat it".
The world demands cheap goods, but is unwilling to pay the price that covers the cost of producing them safely, or to put the monitoring systems in place to ensure standards are kept to. The uproar has understandably put China's leaders on the defensive; export trade is the backbone of China's economic growth, and the continuation of that growth is what China's leaders base their legitimacy on. That, in turn, depends on China's manufacturers moving up what economists call the "value chain" – essentially, making more expensive, more sophisticated goods that draw a higher profit margin. But to do that successfully requires confidence in Chinese-made goods. Confidence, ultimately, depends not just on low price, but on reliability and safety - and safety, as has become all too clear, comes at a price
In three decades China has come from nowhere to being the factory of the world
It may seem hard to remember, but it was only a little more than a couple of decades ago when the label 'made in China' was seen as something slightly exotic.
Not any longer. Today, few of the things that we buy do not owe their existence in some way or another to the China factor.
The bulk, if not all, of the computer you are using right now was almost certainly made in one of China's hundreds of tech factories - by a company and in a city you have probably never heard of. In barely three decades, the communist basket case once known as "Red China" has become the epicentre of globalisation.
In the 1980s, when China began to open its economy to the outside world, Chinese exports rose on average by 5.7 per cent a year.
By the 1990s, that figure grew to 12.4 per cent, soaring to 20.3 per cent between 2000 and 2003, and hitting 26.7 per cent in 2006.
Consumer boom Backed by its vast army of cheap labour, China's export-driven economy has created an unprecedented consumer boom that has encompassed the globe. According to the International Monetary Fund, China's export growth rate has been seven times that of the rest of the world in recent years. As a result goods made in China have transformed the way the world shops. From the mega-malls of suburban America and Europe, to the bazaars of sub-Saharan Africa, products that might once have been out-of-reach luxury for many consumers have become an everyday affordability for the masses.
The tainted milk scandal has again raised safety fears
All thanks to China. Now, for example, a DVD player can be bought for barely more than the cost of one of the DVD movies to play in it. Laptops, cellphones and other modern essentials all owe their prevalence to the fact that Chinese factories have been able to churn them out at an unbeatably low price.
It has become the basis of our throw away society - an apparently infinite Aladdin's cave of goodies; the answer to the dreams of the world's shopaholics. But recently the sheen on this low-cost treasure has shown signs of wearing off.
Safety fears
A series of safety alerts and product recalls have raised fears over Chinese-made goods ranging from toothpaste and processed shrimp to Thomas The Tank Engine toys. Now, we are again seeing China battle a rapidly growing scare over dairy products contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine. Suddenly, it seems that the 'made in China' label might not be such good value – and may even be deadly. Western politicians and many pundits in the media have seized upon the issue to engage in a bout of China-bashing, accusing Chinese manufacturers of ruthlessly cutting corners in pursuit of profit at any price. Chinese consumers themselves are all too familiar with cases of fake or untested – and often deadly – pharmaceuticals. Four years ago, another scandal surrounding baby formula claimed the lives of dozens of infants.
An investigation found that the formula had no nutritional value whatsoever – apparently part of a get-rich-quick scheme. Such cases are inexcusable and the latest scare over dairy products shows, once again, that China's monitoring and regulatory oversight of its fast-growing economy leaves much to be desired.
Chinese producers face constant pressure to cut costs .China's cabinet admitted earlier this week that deep, systemic failings were to blame.
"[The scandal] has shown us that the dairy market is chaotic, flaws exist in supervision mechanisms and supervision work is weak," China's leaders said in a statement released on state TV. But many Chinese manufacturers also complain they face immense pressure from their giant multinational customers - not just to keep their prices low, but to repeatedly cut them, and to cut them again. Faced with growing wage demands from their workers, they are caught in a "Catch-22" situation. At the same time Western governments have protested indignantly at China's failure to enforce product safety laws demanded by the West. Many conveniently overlook the issue that, for years, they have helped fund tax cuts by freezing or cutting funding to their own agencies meant to monitor the safety of imports.
Question of confidence
It is, perhaps, a case of wanting to "have your cake and eat it".
The world demands cheap goods, but is unwilling to pay the price that covers the cost of producing them safely, or to put the monitoring systems in place to ensure standards are kept to. The uproar has understandably put China's leaders on the defensive; export trade is the backbone of China's economic growth, and the continuation of that growth is what China's leaders base their legitimacy on. That, in turn, depends on China's manufacturers moving up what economists call the "value chain" – essentially, making more expensive, more sophisticated goods that draw a higher profit margin. But to do that successfully requires confidence in Chinese-made goods. Confidence, ultimately, depends not just on low price, but on reliability and safety - and safety, as has become all too clear, comes at a price
MY TURN TO LEAD- WALL STREET CRISIS
It is impossible to make jokes with the system approaching paralysis. I have repeatedly called upon my friends, my neighbors, my parents and my wife to engage without delay in a serious debate on the issues that confront us. Despite my parents' predictable response ("Enough with your issues already") and my wife's somewhat unsettling one ("Bring it on"), I am determined to seize this opportunity to argue with them all and make them look bad.
Certainly this is no time for comedy. It is a time to reflect soberly on how we have managed our finances and to ask forgiveness of those to whom we have sold suspect securities, that our names may be inscribed in the Book of Life as the fiscal year comes to a close. I'm sure you can appreciate the restraint I'm showing in flirting with humor while not actually engaging in it.
I won't say I wasn't tempted. There are some good jokes out there these days.
I will work with the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees and members of Congress to expedite the rescue of our financial system, even if they say, "Who are you?" and "How did you get in?" I will answer, "Where were you?" and "How did you get in?" Not jokes, just questions.
I am needed in Washington. They have the Treasury and the Fed and the House and the Senate and McCain and Obama working on this.
I did not enjoy telling my 13-year-old nephew yesterday that these are not appropriate circumstances in which to play Wii. "I'm sorry, Luke," I said. "There'll be plenty of time for Ben 10: Protector of Earth after we get a better fix on the valuations of these assets."
I took no pleasure in declining to dance with my wife at a charity ball last night. But how could we waltz as Congress was struggling to forge the terms of the Treasury bailout?
"No," I answered Carla, "I am not 'Amish,' as far as I know. I've just decided to suspend my ballroom activities while the nation is in crisis."
She pointed out it was an opportunity to lead; I made no joke in response, though I could have. I could have.
At home after the ball, I practiced my debating expressions in the bathroom mirror (faux mirth, feigned surprise, boyish candor) as I brushed my teeth, then ran into the bedroom ready to demolish Carla, and surely would have if she hadn't already fallen asleep.
I have been easing off humor gradually all week long, responding to the events of the day with a gentle smile instead of my accustomed porcine bray, offering friends and colleagues thoughtful remarks on our times, in place of my usual crass barbs.
"You heard about that Swiss guy who flew over the English Channel strapped to a homemade wing with jets?" an old friend asked over breakfast this morning.
"Yeah," I said, "that was about as smart as"--I stopped myself, and resumed softly, "Yes, I did, Jane. He showed the sort of courage I guess we all need a little of now."
My barber brought up the O.J. trial, and merely by stuffing a warm towel in my mouth I was able to stanch three one-liners that were trying to get out.
It's just not the same now at my favorite Wall Street saloon. I said to a trader beside me Wednesday night, "A Frenchman, an Italian and a German walk into a bar." When I paused, he said, grinning, "Yeah?"
I thought about it some more and said, "That's all. They just walked into the bar."
Write to Peter Jeffrey at peter.jeffrey@wsj.com
Certainly this is no time for comedy. It is a time to reflect soberly on how we have managed our finances and to ask forgiveness of those to whom we have sold suspect securities, that our names may be inscribed in the Book of Life as the fiscal year comes to a close. I'm sure you can appreciate the restraint I'm showing in flirting with humor while not actually engaging in it.
I won't say I wasn't tempted. There are some good jokes out there these days.
I will work with the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees and members of Congress to expedite the rescue of our financial system, even if they say, "Who are you?" and "How did you get in?" I will answer, "Where were you?" and "How did you get in?" Not jokes, just questions.
I am needed in Washington. They have the Treasury and the Fed and the House and the Senate and McCain and Obama working on this.
I did not enjoy telling my 13-year-old nephew yesterday that these are not appropriate circumstances in which to play Wii. "I'm sorry, Luke," I said. "There'll be plenty of time for Ben 10: Protector of Earth after we get a better fix on the valuations of these assets."
I took no pleasure in declining to dance with my wife at a charity ball last night. But how could we waltz as Congress was struggling to forge the terms of the Treasury bailout?
"No," I answered Carla, "I am not 'Amish,' as far as I know. I've just decided to suspend my ballroom activities while the nation is in crisis."
She pointed out it was an opportunity to lead; I made no joke in response, though I could have. I could have.
At home after the ball, I practiced my debating expressions in the bathroom mirror (faux mirth, feigned surprise, boyish candor) as I brushed my teeth, then ran into the bedroom ready to demolish Carla, and surely would have if she hadn't already fallen asleep.
I have been easing off humor gradually all week long, responding to the events of the day with a gentle smile instead of my accustomed porcine bray, offering friends and colleagues thoughtful remarks on our times, in place of my usual crass barbs.
"You heard about that Swiss guy who flew over the English Channel strapped to a homemade wing with jets?" an old friend asked over breakfast this morning.
"Yeah," I said, "that was about as smart as"--I stopped myself, and resumed softly, "Yes, I did, Jane. He showed the sort of courage I guess we all need a little of now."
My barber brought up the O.J. trial, and merely by stuffing a warm towel in my mouth I was able to stanch three one-liners that were trying to get out.
It's just not the same now at my favorite Wall Street saloon. I said to a trader beside me Wednesday night, "A Frenchman, an Italian and a German walk into a bar." When I paused, he said, grinning, "Yeah?"
I thought about it some more and said, "That's all. They just walked into the bar."
Write to Peter Jeffrey at peter.jeffrey@wsj.com
US HOUSE PASSES BILL ON BAILOUT
WASHINGTON -- U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers wary of growing signs of the nation's economic distress voted Friday in favor of a $700 billion Wall Street rescue package, sending the biggest government intervention in the financial markets since the Great Depression to President George W. Bush for his signature
The 263-171 vote was a reversal from Monday, when House lawmakers shocked investors and their own leaders by voting against a more narrow version of the plan to buy up distressed assets from financial institutions. The result: a $700 billion bailout for financial firms combined with $152 billion in unrelated tax breaks and broader tools for federal regulators to deal with the growing economic crisis.
The 263-171 vote was a reversal from Monday, when House lawmakers shocked investors and their own leaders by voting against a more narrow version of the plan to buy up distressed assets from financial institutions. The result: a $700 billion bailout for financial firms combined with $152 billion in unrelated tax breaks and broader tools for federal regulators to deal with the growing economic crisis.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
TIPS FOR LOOKING SLIMMER
Step1 Choose clothing all in one color to give yourself a long, lean look.
Step2 Wear black. It gives a look that is especially slimming.
Step3 Try to avoid shapeless clothing. No one is fooled, and loose clothes often make you appear wider or heavier.
Step4 Avoid tight clothing that will emphasize your heavy areas.
Step5 Choose softly tailored pieces that define but don't constrain.
Step6 Steer clear of horizontal stripes, which make you appear wider, but consider vertical stripes, which make you look longer and leaner.
Step7 Wear blocks of color that draw the eye away from less-than-perfect areas. Wear a red shell or royal blue jacket, for example, to draw attention away from your legs.
Step8 Wear shoulder pads and wide necklines to balance wide hips.
Step9 Choose pants that have narrow or tapered legs to hide a large midsection. Flat-front pants and side or back zippers will flatter your figure, while pockets, pleats and tight pants will only draw attention to your midsection
Step2 Wear black. It gives a look that is especially slimming.
Step3 Try to avoid shapeless clothing. No one is fooled, and loose clothes often make you appear wider or heavier.
Step4 Avoid tight clothing that will emphasize your heavy areas.
Step5 Choose softly tailored pieces that define but don't constrain.
Step6 Steer clear of horizontal stripes, which make you appear wider, but consider vertical stripes, which make you look longer and leaner.
Step7 Wear blocks of color that draw the eye away from less-than-perfect areas. Wear a red shell or royal blue jacket, for example, to draw attention away from your legs.
Step8 Wear shoulder pads and wide necklines to balance wide hips.
Step9 Choose pants that have narrow or tapered legs to hide a large midsection. Flat-front pants and side or back zippers will flatter your figure, while pockets, pleats and tight pants will only draw attention to your midsection
Sunday, September 28, 2008
LIPSTICK JUNGLE
A few weeks ago, I helped my 18-year-old sister move into her freshman dorm at Hillsdale College in Michigan. I was anxious for her -- I worried that the female culture at her school would be similar to that at my own alma mater, Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
As a reserved evangelical from Colorado Springs, Colo., I was shocked by a lot of things at Tufts when I entered in the fall of 2003. What shocked me more than anything, however, was the way women treated other women. I regularly heard young women refer to each other using the most obscene and degrading insults. I observed females encouraging others to binge drink and then berating those who couldn't hold their liquor. At breakfast on the weekends, I often overheard young women discussing their shame after feeling pressured by their girlfriends to participate in a degrading activity, such as a lingerie-themed or "secretaries and bosses" party. One year, a sorority actually commanded its pledges to strip to their underwear and allow fraternity brothers to mark the physical flaws on their bodies with permanent ink.
My junior year, a controversial joke about rape was published in the student humor journal while a woman was editor in chief.
Such a hostile environment is not unique to Tufts. The Delta Zeta women at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., last year asked unattractive and unpopular sisters to leave the sorority. In her memoir, "Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood" (2005), Koren Zailckas, a recent graduate of Syracuse University and a recovering alcoholic, sets a scene of young women at that upstate school not only encouraging one another to drink to the point of illness or blackout as a way to forge friendships but also competing with one another to be the most sexually adventurous.
Ms. Zailckas's bitter experiences and those of countless others should dispel the notion that binge drinking on college campuses -- which inarguably leaves women more vulnerable to sexual assault -- is spurred on solely by frat boys. Step onto just about any college campus on a Saturday night and you will see that women are just as much the culprits.
Ask Ariel Levy, a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and the author of "Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture" (2005). She details the emergence of what she terms the "nouvelle raunch feminist," a woman who gleefully participates in group sex and attends hook-up parties. Such degradation, Ms. Levy argues, is something that young women are learning in school and are forcing on one another. She writes: "If Male Chauvinist Pigs were men who regarded women as pieces of meat, we would outdo them and be Female Chauvinist Pigs: women who make sex objects of other women and of ourselves."
A male friend who attended the University of Michigan wrote to me in an email last month: "I, perhaps unconsciously, observe women to try and determine how they want to be treated. When I see girls at a party who seemingly have no self-control, I'll admit that it's really tough to visualize them as 'ladies.' It's as if they, solely through their own actions, have lowered my expectations, lowered my standards of behavior."
Upon arriving with my sister at Hillsdale, a school known for attracting conservative and religious students, I noticed a contrast immediately. I began chatting with a rising senior, and she and I quickly discovered an acquaintance in common. Referring to this woman, the Hillsdale student said: "She is such an amazing woman. I just have so much respect for her." I was speechless. I was simply not used to hearing college women speak about their peers with such esteem.
A walk around the Hillsdale freshman girls' dorm confirmed my suspicion that young women at the Michigan college had more respect for one another and lived in a happier and healthier environment than what I had experienced at Tufts. The posters on the walls in my all-female freshman dorm at Tufts offered information about eating disorders, what to do if you think you have been sexually assaulted, and suicide and depression hotlines. The Hillsdale walls that I saw were covered with advertisements for quilting clubs, charity opportunities and a listing of local churches.
My female friends who have gone to schools similar to Hillsdale fondly recall their campus culture. A friend who attended Wheaton College, an evangelical school just outside of Chicago, wrote to me that "there were times when my girlfriends and I banded together at the expense of guys. We knew that our real support came from one another." She still gets together with those friends for a support group in which they pray for one another and sustain each other through struggles.
At Patrick Henry College, a Purcellville, Va., school where traditional marriage and family roles are emphasized, the culture is similar. A graduate told me: "My wing of girls made a 'gossip pact' to refrain from slandering others and to encourage others to do the same. We're working hard to create a culture of honor that stands above the fray of cattiness and competition." The institutions of higher education that endorse the vision of "modern" feminism as the key to women's happiness -- namely, the sexually aggressive female -- could learn a lesson from these more conservative schools.
There are some who will say "girls will be girls," regardless of a school's culture. Two years ago, I might have agreed, however sadly. But college girls and the high-school students who will soon join them should know that there are alternatives.
Ms. Samelson is director of development at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
As a reserved evangelical from Colorado Springs, Colo., I was shocked by a lot of things at Tufts when I entered in the fall of 2003. What shocked me more than anything, however, was the way women treated other women. I regularly heard young women refer to each other using the most obscene and degrading insults. I observed females encouraging others to binge drink and then berating those who couldn't hold their liquor. At breakfast on the weekends, I often overheard young women discussing their shame after feeling pressured by their girlfriends to participate in a degrading activity, such as a lingerie-themed or "secretaries and bosses" party. One year, a sorority actually commanded its pledges to strip to their underwear and allow fraternity brothers to mark the physical flaws on their bodies with permanent ink.
My junior year, a controversial joke about rape was published in the student humor journal while a woman was editor in chief.
Such a hostile environment is not unique to Tufts. The Delta Zeta women at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., last year asked unattractive and unpopular sisters to leave the sorority. In her memoir, "Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood" (2005), Koren Zailckas, a recent graduate of Syracuse University and a recovering alcoholic, sets a scene of young women at that upstate school not only encouraging one another to drink to the point of illness or blackout as a way to forge friendships but also competing with one another to be the most sexually adventurous.
Ms. Zailckas's bitter experiences and those of countless others should dispel the notion that binge drinking on college campuses -- which inarguably leaves women more vulnerable to sexual assault -- is spurred on solely by frat boys. Step onto just about any college campus on a Saturday night and you will see that women are just as much the culprits.
Ask Ariel Levy, a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and the author of "Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture" (2005). She details the emergence of what she terms the "nouvelle raunch feminist," a woman who gleefully participates in group sex and attends hook-up parties. Such degradation, Ms. Levy argues, is something that young women are learning in school and are forcing on one another. She writes: "If Male Chauvinist Pigs were men who regarded women as pieces of meat, we would outdo them and be Female Chauvinist Pigs: women who make sex objects of other women and of ourselves."
A male friend who attended the University of Michigan wrote to me in an email last month: "I, perhaps unconsciously, observe women to try and determine how they want to be treated. When I see girls at a party who seemingly have no self-control, I'll admit that it's really tough to visualize them as 'ladies.' It's as if they, solely through their own actions, have lowered my expectations, lowered my standards of behavior."
Upon arriving with my sister at Hillsdale, a school known for attracting conservative and religious students, I noticed a contrast immediately. I began chatting with a rising senior, and she and I quickly discovered an acquaintance in common. Referring to this woman, the Hillsdale student said: "She is such an amazing woman. I just have so much respect for her." I was speechless. I was simply not used to hearing college women speak about their peers with such esteem.
A walk around the Hillsdale freshman girls' dorm confirmed my suspicion that young women at the Michigan college had more respect for one another and lived in a happier and healthier environment than what I had experienced at Tufts. The posters on the walls in my all-female freshman dorm at Tufts offered information about eating disorders, what to do if you think you have been sexually assaulted, and suicide and depression hotlines. The Hillsdale walls that I saw were covered with advertisements for quilting clubs, charity opportunities and a listing of local churches.
My female friends who have gone to schools similar to Hillsdale fondly recall their campus culture. A friend who attended Wheaton College, an evangelical school just outside of Chicago, wrote to me that "there were times when my girlfriends and I banded together at the expense of guys. We knew that our real support came from one another." She still gets together with those friends for a support group in which they pray for one another and sustain each other through struggles.
At Patrick Henry College, a Purcellville, Va., school where traditional marriage and family roles are emphasized, the culture is similar. A graduate told me: "My wing of girls made a 'gossip pact' to refrain from slandering others and to encourage others to do the same. We're working hard to create a culture of honor that stands above the fray of cattiness and competition." The institutions of higher education that endorse the vision of "modern" feminism as the key to women's happiness -- namely, the sexually aggressive female -- could learn a lesson from these more conservative schools.
There are some who will say "girls will be girls," regardless of a school's culture. Two years ago, I might have agreed, however sadly. But college girls and the high-school students who will soon join them should know that there are alternatives.
Ms. Samelson is director of development at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
UN - Best poem
The best poem of 2006This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006, Written by anAfrican Kid
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black
And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored?
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black
And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Rights of a wife - Middle Eastern society
A lady enters the marriage contract through her absolute free choice. No marriage is instituted without her consent.
Where the husband is assigned the right to divorce, wife has the right to seek separation, called khula'. If the husband does not agree to separation, it can and should be enforced through court's intervention.
The household expenditure is to be met by the husband. Wife is not obliged to share, even if she is rich.
She has the right to have a separate dwelling, particularly if the husband possesses means.
She has the right to own property, received through various sources of inheritance, earned or enhanced through gainful investment.
She has the right to ask for a maid/servant to do household chores, and can not be compelled to do these job as a matter of obligation.
Like her property, she is the "owner" of her body, which legally means she can not be compelled even to breast-feed her baby. That arrangement is the responsibility of father. But she can never deny bed-sharing unless it was physically not possible. This is just one area in which Shariah compels her to comply with her husband's desire.
As mother, she enjoys priority over her husband to be looked after and served by the children (sons).
Where the husband is assigned the right to divorce, wife has the right to seek separation, called khula'. If the husband does not agree to separation, it can and should be enforced through court's intervention.
The household expenditure is to be met by the husband. Wife is not obliged to share, even if she is rich.
She has the right to have a separate dwelling, particularly if the husband possesses means.
She has the right to own property, received through various sources of inheritance, earned or enhanced through gainful investment.
She has the right to ask for a maid/servant to do household chores, and can not be compelled to do these job as a matter of obligation.
Like her property, she is the "owner" of her body, which legally means she can not be compelled even to breast-feed her baby. That arrangement is the responsibility of father. But she can never deny bed-sharing unless it was physically not possible. This is just one area in which Shariah compels her to comply with her husband's desire.
As mother, she enjoys priority over her husband to be looked after and served by the children (sons).
Monday, September 22, 2008
DRESSING TIPS
Flattering colours :
It's a known fact that darker colours are more slimming and that brighter colours can draw the eye to the bits you like. "Black is slimming but a bit safe. Wear monotone but dress it up with a coloured scarf in different shades.
Accessories :
A coloured scarf or stunning bold necklace will give your face the attention it deserves. Loose transparent clothes with something tight underneath give a flattering look that de-emphasises weight. If you haven't got a waistline, don't try and pull it in to make one
With bigger legs, don't wear mini skirts. Wear trousers in either a shorter or longer length
'Too tight' is not good whatever your size
It's a known fact that darker colours are more slimming and that brighter colours can draw the eye to the bits you like. "Black is slimming but a bit safe. Wear monotone but dress it up with a coloured scarf in different shades.
Accessories :
A coloured scarf or stunning bold necklace will give your face the attention it deserves. Loose transparent clothes with something tight underneath give a flattering look that de-emphasises weight. If you haven't got a waistline, don't try and pull it in to make one
With bigger legs, don't wear mini skirts. Wear trousers in either a shorter or longer length
'Too tight' is not good whatever your size
Saturday, September 20, 2008
ROMANCING UR HUSBAND
How to Romance Your Husband
By Susan H Pardoe
How to Romance Your Husband
'You\'ve been married for a few...ok, several years, but you\'d like to find ways to romance your husband. First, is the romance still there or will you need to start from scratch? Does your stomach still flutter when he walks into the room? Does he still flash you that smile that says, "I love you!"? Romance does NOT have to die once you\'ve been married for a time. Ladies, there are ways to ignite the spark and romance your husbands all over again. It just takes a bit of thought, time, and a desire to put a bit of spark back into your marriage. Here are a few thoughts on how to romance your husband.';
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
A bit of thought on what it is that speaks to your husband's heart.
A bit of creativity
A bit of your time throughout the week
Candles/matches
A favorite dress or ensemble
His favorite meal
Paper and pencil
Colored pens or pencils
Step1What speaks to your husband's heart? This is where romance truly begins. Our husbands need to know and feel they are respected by their spouse. Do you honor him with the manner in which you handle the monthly budget? Does he feel you appreciate him working hard to support the family? Does he hear praise from your lips about his work ethic, being a great husband or a terrific father? Do you cook his favorite meal now and then, "just because"? If we show our husbands respect and love, they are more likely to feel romantic toward their wives.
Step2Romance your husband by doing special little things throughout the week. For example, when you're sitting on the couch watching a movie together, hold his hand. I know, the remote may be in one, but if he has the other available, grab it and hold on! Give him a smooch on the cheek now and then just to remind him you're there.
Step3Does he take a lunch to work? Does he have a planner he opens each day once he reaches his workplace? Use even scrap pieces of paper and write notes to him that will brighten his day. Get creative, if that's your thing, and color little hearts or what-not on there. Maybe it's a note that tells him how great he is or that you'd like to spend time with him. If you typically wear a scent he likes, lightly spritz the paper with it so he can think on you throughout the day.
Step4Romance your husband by taking him on a date night. Date nights are so important! Even if you have children, TRY to have a date night at least twice a month, if not once a week. Date nights don't have to cost much either. In warm weather, walk and talk in a park. Take along a picnic lunch/dinner with you to enjoy while you sit in a quiet setting. Try to talk about each other...not so much about the little ones at home. They probably get enough of your talk time already, yes?
Step5Cook him his favorite dinner. My husband's favorites consist of pork chops, sauerkraut and potatoes or hamburgers, beans and applesauce. I know, it doesn't sound very romantic, but HE loves it and that's what matters. Have dinner by candlelight now and then and romance your husband over his favorite meal.
Step6Greet him at the door, dressed to the nines (yes, hair and makeup too!), and whisk him off to a hotel for the evening. Or, ask a trusted family member or friend to take your children for the evening and spend the evening at home together with no distractions.
Step7Anything we do ladies to show our husbands they are special will go a long way toward making them feel loved, respected and (in turn) romantic toward us! Romance your husband in ways only he would understand and appreciate. Speak his love language and you can't miss
By Susan H Pardoe
How to Romance Your Husband
'You\'ve been married for a few...ok, several years, but you\'d like to find ways to romance your husband. First, is the romance still there or will you need to start from scratch? Does your stomach still flutter when he walks into the room? Does he still flash you that smile that says, "I love you!"? Romance does NOT have to die once you\'ve been married for a time. Ladies, there are ways to ignite the spark and romance your husbands all over again. It just takes a bit of thought, time, and a desire to put a bit of spark back into your marriage. Here are a few thoughts on how to romance your husband.';
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
A bit of thought on what it is that speaks to your husband's heart.
A bit of creativity
A bit of your time throughout the week
Candles/matches
A favorite dress or ensemble
His favorite meal
Paper and pencil
Colored pens or pencils
Step1What speaks to your husband's heart? This is where romance truly begins. Our husbands need to know and feel they are respected by their spouse. Do you honor him with the manner in which you handle the monthly budget? Does he feel you appreciate him working hard to support the family? Does he hear praise from your lips about his work ethic, being a great husband or a terrific father? Do you cook his favorite meal now and then, "just because"? If we show our husbands respect and love, they are more likely to feel romantic toward their wives.
Step2Romance your husband by doing special little things throughout the week. For example, when you're sitting on the couch watching a movie together, hold his hand. I know, the remote may be in one, but if he has the other available, grab it and hold on! Give him a smooch on the cheek now and then just to remind him you're there.
Step3Does he take a lunch to work? Does he have a planner he opens each day once he reaches his workplace? Use even scrap pieces of paper and write notes to him that will brighten his day. Get creative, if that's your thing, and color little hearts or what-not on there. Maybe it's a note that tells him how great he is or that you'd like to spend time with him. If you typically wear a scent he likes, lightly spritz the paper with it so he can think on you throughout the day.
Step4Romance your husband by taking him on a date night. Date nights are so important! Even if you have children, TRY to have a date night at least twice a month, if not once a week. Date nights don't have to cost much either. In warm weather, walk and talk in a park. Take along a picnic lunch/dinner with you to enjoy while you sit in a quiet setting. Try to talk about each other...not so much about the little ones at home. They probably get enough of your talk time already, yes?
Step5Cook him his favorite dinner. My husband's favorites consist of pork chops, sauerkraut and potatoes or hamburgers, beans and applesauce. I know, it doesn't sound very romantic, but HE loves it and that's what matters. Have dinner by candlelight now and then and romance your husband over his favorite meal.
Step6Greet him at the door, dressed to the nines (yes, hair and makeup too!), and whisk him off to a hotel for the evening. Or, ask a trusted family member or friend to take your children for the evening and spend the evening at home together with no distractions.
Step7Anything we do ladies to show our husbands they are special will go a long way toward making them feel loved, respected and (in turn) romantic toward us! Romance your husband in ways only he would understand and appreciate. Speak his love language and you can't miss
bans chinese MILK PRODUCTS
Asian states ban Chinese milk goods
Tainted milk powder has killed four babies and made more than 6,000 sick [AFP]
Malaysia has joined Singapore in banning the import of all Chinese dairy products after China's contaminated-milk scare widened.
Malaysia imposed the ban on all baby milk formulas, milk and milk products from China on Saturday, a day after Singapore initiated a similiar move.
Four babies have died, nearly 160 have suffered acute kidney failure and more than 6,000 have suffered illness after drinking products containing melamine.
The moves came after it was revealed three of China's biggest dairy firms sold milk contaminated with the chemical.
The chemical is used to make industrial products and plastics but can also be added to milk to make it appear to have a higher protein content.
In the United States, inspections have been stepped up at ports on shipments of bulk food ingredients from Asia that are derived from milk.
Shelves emptied
The US Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Saturday not to buy milk products from China over the Internet.
Tainted milk powder has killed four babies and made more than 6,000 sick [AFP]
Malaysia has joined Singapore in banning the import of all Chinese dairy products after China's contaminated-milk scare widened.
Malaysia imposed the ban on all baby milk formulas, milk and milk products from China on Saturday, a day after Singapore initiated a similiar move.
Four babies have died, nearly 160 have suffered acute kidney failure and more than 6,000 have suffered illness after drinking products containing melamine.
The moves came after it was revealed three of China's biggest dairy firms sold milk contaminated with the chemical.
The chemical is used to make industrial products and plastics but can also be added to milk to make it appear to have a higher protein content.
In the United States, inspections have been stepped up at ports on shipments of bulk food ingredients from Asia that are derived from milk.
Shelves emptied
The US Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Saturday not to buy milk products from China over the Internet.
REASONS FOR THE CRASH !!
How Did We Get Here?
Posted By:Lee Brodie
Topics:Stock Market Stock Picks
Companies:TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation Freddie Mac American International Group Inc Fannie Mae
From homeowners facing foreclosure on Main Street to bankers on Wall Street who find themselves suddenly jobless, how did we get here?
You can point the finger in many directions, but it’s probably best to start with the banks. Blinded by big returns in a booming real estate market, many handed out home loans to virtually anyone: "no income, no assets, no problem."
Those loans were packaged or bundled up by Fannie
cnbc_comboQuoteMove('popup_FNM_ID0EEG15839609');
[FNM 0.69 --- UNCH (0) ]
and Freddie
[FRE 0.55 --- UNCH (0) ]
and peddled on Wall Street by the likes of Bear Stearns, Lehman and Merrill then insured by AIG
cnbc_comboQuoteMove('popup_AIG_ID0EYHAC15839609');
[AIG 3.85 1.16 (+43.12%) ]
cnbc_quoteComponent_init_getData("AIG","WSODQ_COMPONENT_AIG_ID0EYHAC15839609","WSODQ","true","ID0EYHAC15839609","off","false");
.
At the time they looked extremely profitable… if homeowners couldn’t make their payments, not to worry. They’d just refinance because down the road surely their homes would be worth more.
But the bubble burst. Housing prices plummeted and homeowners began to default. Now, holding their mortgages was anything but profitable, in fact it was toxic.
But what did we expect from a system built on unprecedented amounts of risk, leverage, and yes – greed. The fate of Main Street and Wall Street became intertwined like never before. And now this house of cards has come tumbling down.
What now?
I’m not sure that this is a fundamental change, muses Karen Finerman. I think it’s unclear where we are. For home investors, I think it’s okay to do nothing.
I can’t understand why the government has to be a buyer of last resort of CDO’s (collateralized debt obligation). There’s a market for them, adds Carl Icahn. What the government should do is loan them money and tell them to go sell it.There are now policies in place that provide a different kind of backstop, but that doesn’t remove the risk all together. However I’ve gotten net longer just out of fear of the short covering, adds Time Seymour.
Posted By:Lee Brodie
Topics:Stock Market Stock Picks
Companies:TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation Freddie Mac American International Group Inc Fannie Mae
From homeowners facing foreclosure on Main Street to bankers on Wall Street who find themselves suddenly jobless, how did we get here?
You can point the finger in many directions, but it’s probably best to start with the banks. Blinded by big returns in a booming real estate market, many handed out home loans to virtually anyone: "no income, no assets, no problem."
Those loans were packaged or bundled up by Fannie
cnbc_comboQuoteMove('popup_FNM_ID0EEG15839609');
[FNM 0.69 --- UNCH (0) ]
and Freddie
[FRE 0.55 --- UNCH (0) ]
and peddled on Wall Street by the likes of Bear Stearns, Lehman and Merrill then insured by AIG
cnbc_comboQuoteMove('popup_AIG_ID0EYHAC15839609');
[AIG 3.85 1.16 (+43.12%) ]
cnbc_quoteComponent_init_getData("AIG","WSODQ_COMPONENT_AIG_ID0EYHAC15839609","WSODQ","true","ID0EYHAC15839609","off","false");
.
At the time they looked extremely profitable… if homeowners couldn’t make their payments, not to worry. They’d just refinance because down the road surely their homes would be worth more.
But the bubble burst. Housing prices plummeted and homeowners began to default. Now, holding their mortgages was anything but profitable, in fact it was toxic.
But what did we expect from a system built on unprecedented amounts of risk, leverage, and yes – greed. The fate of Main Street and Wall Street became intertwined like never before. And now this house of cards has come tumbling down.
What now?
I’m not sure that this is a fundamental change, muses Karen Finerman. I think it’s unclear where we are. For home investors, I think it’s okay to do nothing.
I can’t understand why the government has to be a buyer of last resort of CDO’s (collateralized debt obligation). There’s a market for them, adds Carl Icahn. What the government should do is loan them money and tell them to go sell it.There are now policies in place that provide a different kind of backstop, but that doesn’t remove the risk all together. However I’ve gotten net longer just out of fear of the short covering, adds Time Seymour.
Friday, September 19, 2008
GO ON, SEE ROCK ON
Rock On!! is the story of 4 friends who put together the greatest band this country has ever seen, but never make it. Years later, fate conspires to bring them together again and set them on a journey back to where they left off... a soul-searching pilgrimage into their past.
Highly recommended for viewing.
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Nicolette Bird, Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny, Arjun Rampal, Shahana Goswami
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Nicolette Bird, Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny, Arjun Rampal, Shahana Goswami
Genre: Drama
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