reform need not come from only Harvard-educated lawyers

I am not a great fan of the present Indian govt, nor can I forgive the Indian media for not highlighting the errors of those who have supported Lalu Yadav over the years (great supporters include media darling former Prez K.R.Narayanan who refused to dismiss Lalu's govt only to spite the NDA govt - how much the country has lost in just cynicism since then!). However, this post is about the miracle that Lalu has wrought in the Indian railways. Even those not interested in Indian politics shd read this article, if only to see how political will and common sense can contribute more than acclaimed intellect to the cause of economic reform. T.N.Ninan, editor of Business Standard (how sad that India's greatest newspaper abbreviates to BS!) has written a very readable, informative piece - as usual.

There is no sphere; these people aren’t connected; they don’t have anything to do with each other

An interesting discussion on whether blogs actually do form alternative media. Are blogs a threat to mainstream news channels? The main impact of blogs seems to be the fragmentation of news sources. Instead of relying on a couple of news channels and their websites, people visit their favourite blogs. But this is not to be confused with blogs "talking to each other". They do not form one homogenous whole; each blog has a few readers. Some blogs are really good (like this one!), but most are realistically just exercises in egoism (like this one?). So, let us welcome a new development in technology, but let us not get carried away!

Here is a response to the above statement in the Businessweek. Enjoy the counterarguments, but I stand by what I said above.

One more "free market" protects its "national champion"

Here is vindication in just a couple of days. I had written earlier abt how Old Europe reacts to hostile bids - this is not racism as much as it is just plain lack of interest in changing with the times. The Spanish reaction to EON Germany's bid for national power utility Endesa is proof of this. Looks to me like EON's bid is a financially stupid one - premium price for the Spanish and LatAm markets - but that is a different topic altogether.

"If polygyny combined with women's rights, I bet we'd see more promises to wash the dishes"

This seemingly flippant article on why polygamy is acceptable actually provides insights into the condition of women in communities affected by crime (or war). A large % of men go to jail and the women have less men to choose mates from, increasing the relative bargaining power of the remaining men. Using statistics from the Afro-American community, Tim Hartford provides an excellent peek into the decision-making of men and women who gain / lose power for no fault of theirs.

And yes, reg the Chinese bare branches - simple, those single men would be sent to war. At least, that is the theory I have read about. The Chinese govt has to pick up quarrels with neighbours if those restless men are to shift their attention and energy from internal issues.

"let’s not get conned into believing that globalisation is on par with liberalisation"

...or that modernisation implies americanisation. Agreed. Vir Sanghvi has written a characteristically lucid piece.

But here are my views on the Arcelor story:

Frankly, I think that many in India are overdoing the Xenophobia and racism angles when it comes to Mittal Steel's bid to take over a French steel company. The French and their friends in Luxembourg are reacting as they would to a takeover bid by any non-European company. Most of "old Europe" has not realised that the golden post-war days of Europe are over - wealth from the colonial days is drying up and liberal socialism (and its many namesakes) is often a cloak for laziness. But this is NOT the same as saying that the European reaction is racist. The Europeans are just trying a defence that they think works best against the effects of a takeover - such as having to be more efficient, more hard-working and earning salaries based on merit!

BTW, is it racism if Indian media, ministers and just abt everyone else jumps to defend a British citizen of Indian descent (L.Mittal) or takes pride when second-generation Indians win local elections in the US? Why not?

Where there is official funding, there are officials!

I was amused by the news that India actually sent a "delegation" to the Winter Olympics. Not a team, but a delegation - 5 athletes (!) and 20 officials. This news would be truly amusing if not for the "opportunity cost" of the money involved - this is money that could have been put to a hundred good uses.

The case for letting unpopular games just die away only gets stronger - where the game cannot sustain itself but needs govt funds (that is, funds that shd be used for public education and infrastructure), it shd be allowed to fade into oblivion!

Read on...

moms and others provide an alternative to offshoring

Homeshoring - working from home as an alternative to working for a company - by stay-at-home moms helps employees avoid the commute and cuts costs for the employer. But can this concept provide scale to a company? Is a bunch of "cyberagents" the same as a building full of employees? I doubt it. What abt data security? However, there are some niche applications such as the ones mentioned in these articles. Take time to skim through readers' comments.

there’s only one reason to visit a mall: to look

The role of the mall is changing fast because of consumer habits. More people hesitate nowadays to pay for the fixed costs associated with running a mall outlet, preferring to shop online instead. Obviously, there are risks involved in online transactions. So, it is going to take awhile for online to replace onsite shopping. But there is no denying that comparison shopping is much easier nowadays.

Here is a guide to shopping online like a pro!

More chocolatey the better!

An article on "developing" Indo-China relationship. I question the statement - that both stand to gain immensely from increasing economic trade and exchange is well recognised in both countries. It is not "recognised", merely being fed to the public via propaganda, courtesy the left-leaning media and "intellectuals" who think a Sino-India relationship is a counterbalance to US aggression. Indians have been guilted into believing that they should achieve peace at any cost with their neighbours - including with those who have exhibited aggressive tendencies repeatedly. Good fences make good neighbours - esp if with neighbours like this.

When the world economy should be contracting, it is actually expanding!

The conundrum and the six sub-puzzles of the world economy - no knowledge of economics required to appreciate the contents.

Wild Things photography

If you visit only this site this whole year, your Internet subscription would be worth it! I bet these photographs are unlike anything you have seen in the past. Take time to enjoy each and every one of them .....

A challenge to GOOGLE

A new search engine that promises to improve on Google. My guess is that while (probably) technically better, Kosmix can only be a niche player. Alternatively, it would be bought over by someone like Microsoft.

India faces a manpower problem!

How is the sudden improvement in the services sector affecting other sectors of the Indian economy? How best to ensure that there is no "artificial" shortage of manpower in any important sector? India catches the Dutch disease...

Facts -> History -> Legend -> Myth (-> religion)

This is an awesome article on the contrast in the approaches of western and eastern countries towards their mythologies. In the east (and this includes Africa - with a strong story-telling tradition of its own), myths and legends are a part of everyday life. In the west, they are not. Of course, what the author does not mention is that in the west some myths are taught as history. And, thanks to years of colonialism, quite a bit of eastern history is now believed to be "myth".

the happiest day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch and how to prevent identity theft

There’s an old Soviet joke about the happiest day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch. Ivan Denisovitch awoke one night to the KGB kicking in his door, dragging him out of bed and announcing: “Ivan Petrevitch! You are under arrest!” It turned out to be the happiest day of his life because he could say “Ivan Petrevitch lives next door”.

Jokes apart here is more on how to prevent identity theft:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/FinancialPrivacy/P33715.asp

a defining moment in the "clash of civilisations"?

surprisingly, US media does not provide too much coverage of an important event, a possible "turning point" in relationship between religions. i do not fully agree with the "freedom of speech" advocates - in my view, freedom of speech is not unlimited and those cartoons are not acceptable. obviously, the violent response and, indeed, the threats of violence are incorrect. but this should not take away from the unacceptability of the cartoons themselves. so what if the pot is calling the kettle black (such inflammatory cartoons are routinely published in middle-eastern newspapeonrs too)? black is black.

ps: anyone notice how freedom of speech is made out to be the core issue because the "offenders" are West European. if an Indian newspaper had published these cartoons, the very same newspapers would have written reams of advice on how Indians are a bunch of primitives unable to maintain the peace!

Read on...

I have chosen this religion and these Gods as my guides through life

Look for Ruby's comment on this message board in reaction to a REDIFF article by Rajeev Srinivasan. Much has been said abt the topic covered by Rajeev (and I will contribute my share very soon), but right now I want to invite attention to Ruby's case. Isn't she right by and large abt (a) how we shd find our God - not by birth or by "incentives" provided by the usual crowd of, ahem, "message-carriers" and (b) how unwelcoming Hindus (Indians in the large part) are towards people unlike them, esp in colour?

Ruby is a Mexican American married to a South Indian (as per the post)

The zeroes in India's century

Hard-hitting article by Tavleen Singh on how rapid, unplanned urbanisation is a disaster for a vast majority of people in India.

India is the flavour of the month!

I read William Pesek's article's regularly, but in this case I think he is just following the herd. This article is too optimistic, too focused on urban life as the indicator of India's economic future and finally, too dangerous in its recommendation of CHINDIA (what a disaster closeness to China would be for India! - that's a topic for another day)

Home ownership is not such a great thing after all!

Finally, some common sense points that help balance renting with owning - a welcome relief from the "expert opinions" that have established home ownership as the sole option facing all of us!