The iPhone 4 is gearing up to break records and Apple is really good at that, especially when it comes to their mobile devices. I’m not going to bore you with the various facets of the device yet again, you can take a look at all the new features here. What I’d like to get into is merely what I liked and disliked about this fancy new Apple mobile phone so I’ll get straight to it.
Likes
It’s an outstanding design, I have to admit that. Apple has gone all out to make sure that if you buy the iPhone 4, this may very well be the last phone you’ll ever own, or at least till the next model. Right from it being super slim at just 9.3mm to the hardcore, helicopter glass surfaces it’s packed in between that’s doesn’t just make it averse to getting scratched but keeps fingerprints at bay too.
The upgraded resolution and pixel depth on this ‘Retina display’ is intriguing. We’re talking about super clear scripts, better viewing angles, and vivid colors, possibly unlike we’ve seen so far in the mobile field.
The addition of a secondary microphone for noise suppression will make calls so much better than they ever were and of course fact that super strong aluminum border that’s designed to help with better reception.
I have to give Apple credit for designing a processor (A4) that was smaller and seemingly just as powerful as the speediest handset’s out there, just to make room for a bigger battery. Lord knows, we needed a better battery life for the iPhone.
I’ve always liked the iPhone’s light/proximity sensor. From my experience, just a few other devices were able to provide the kind of sensitivity that and response as Apple’s device. The three-axis gyroscope in cahoots with the existing smooth as a hot knife through butter-like accelerometer can totally provide six-axis motion sensing making the mobile gaming take on a whole new level of intensity and interaction, and since this is one of the main aspects for me to own an iPhone I’m a happy camper.
Tethering your handset with your PC or Mac Book is definitely a beneficial service that Apple has provided with the handset. Just hook it up to your computer and surf the web via the handset’s 3G service. Of course it’ll be a while before that’s actually possible for us over on this side of the pond.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Fuel Reform
The government is hoping monsoon rains will soon give it the political cover it needs to start cutting costly fuel subsidies, but reforms will have to proceed slowly to keep reluctant coalition allies on board.
A panel led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee postponed a decision on reforming fuel pricing on Monday, after two key ministers from small coalition partners failed to attend in a clear signal of their reluctance to be associated with a policy that may improve India's finances but will also cost votes.
Mukherjee appears determined not to give up, however, and the cabinet will set a date soon for another bid to agree the issue.
Waiting 10 days or so will give the government a better sense of the strength of the oncoming summer monsoon.
If it is normal, as expected, this will bolster farm output and give a respite from food price inflation. And that could give the government a window of opportunity to cut fuel subsidies.
Submitting fuel to full market pricing would bolster India's fiscal health as fuel accounts for a quarter of its estimated subsidy bill of 1.2 trillion rupees ($25.5 billion).
It would help state-run energy retailers such as Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd operate profitably.
And it would fatten profits for Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, private sector players which captured almost 15 percent of the retail fuel market between them 5 years ago, before they were hit by subsidised sales by state firms.
But public and political opposition in the face of looming state elections mean fuel reforms will be gradual at most.
For graphic on fuel prices click here
PROTECTING THE COMMON MAN
The ruling Congress party coalition does not have the will to risk alienating its mostly poor and rural support base by exposing the price of cooking and motor fuels to market forces.
"We will be forced to cut down household expenditure such as on food if the government hikes cooking gas prices," said Rama Satpathy, a housewife in Bhubaneshwar in eastern India.
"We buy chicken, fish and mutton twice in a week. Now we may have to do it once in a week," said Satpathy, whose husband works in a private firm and who has a child attending school.
By not acting boldly now, however, India may miss a rare window of opportunity for reforms as inflation is forecast to abate, the monsoon is off to a promising start, global crude prices are relatively moderate and the next major state election, in large and impoverished Bihar, will only take place in October.
"We believe the current macro environment is conducive for fuel reforms," said a report by Goldman Sachs.
Expectations for at least some changes in fuel pricing helped shares of state oil firms rise 3-4 percent on Wednesday.
Politicians worry higher fuel prices would worsen the impact of inflation on consumers already burdened by higher food bills.
Oil ministry officials say that to protect the "aam aadmi", or common man, the government is keen to retain controls on cooking gas, used mainly in urban homes, and kerosene, used for lighting by the poor in regions that have no electricity.
At most, the government might try to raise administered prices for cooking fuels.
It favours reforms in the price of petrol, which accounts for only 10 percent of India's fuel demand and is used primarily by wealthier car owners, and a slower change for diesel, which accounts for a third of the country's fuel demand.
Officials say the oil ministry is pushing for easing controls in phases, starting with market pricing of petrol.
The Trinamool Congress, a West Bengal-based party that provides the government vital parliamentary support, said any rise in fuel prices at a time the government was struggling to rein in inflation would only hurt the common man.
Indian authorities are sympathetic.
"From a political and welfare perspective, it is difficult to impose on them a hike in fuel prices at the time when they are already dealing with high food prices. Balancing out these two factors will drive the timing," Subir Gokarn, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said this week in Singapore.
HOPING FOR RAIN
New Delhi hopes a strong monsoon makes its decision easier. Food prices rose by an annual 15-16 percent after last year's drought, provoking street protests and worrying regional allies of the coalition government. Within the next two weeks, the weather office will update its forecast for this year's monsoon.
Proponents of ending the subsidies argue that the inflationary impact is overstated.
Fuel has a weight of about 8-9 percent in India's widely watched wholesale price index , meaning a 10 percent rise in fuel rates would increase inflation by less than 1 percent, said T.K. Bhaumik, economist at JK Corp. "I don't think this should have very significant impact on inflation," he said.
Also, India's inflation rate is expected to soften – the main jump in prices was last year due to the bad monsoon, so year-on-year inflation will soon start to slow.
"Both food inflation and fuel inflation will start slowing down because of the base effect," said N.R. Bhanumurthy, economist at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
A panel led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee postponed a decision on reforming fuel pricing on Monday, after two key ministers from small coalition partners failed to attend in a clear signal of their reluctance to be associated with a policy that may improve India's finances but will also cost votes.
Mukherjee appears determined not to give up, however, and the cabinet will set a date soon for another bid to agree the issue.
Waiting 10 days or so will give the government a better sense of the strength of the oncoming summer monsoon.
If it is normal, as expected, this will bolster farm output and give a respite from food price inflation. And that could give the government a window of opportunity to cut fuel subsidies.
Submitting fuel to full market pricing would bolster India's fiscal health as fuel accounts for a quarter of its estimated subsidy bill of 1.2 trillion rupees ($25.5 billion).
It would help state-run energy retailers such as Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd operate profitably.
And it would fatten profits for Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, private sector players which captured almost 15 percent of the retail fuel market between them 5 years ago, before they were hit by subsidised sales by state firms.
But public and political opposition in the face of looming state elections mean fuel reforms will be gradual at most.
For graphic on fuel prices click here
PROTECTING THE COMMON MAN
The ruling Congress party coalition does not have the will to risk alienating its mostly poor and rural support base by exposing the price of cooking and motor fuels to market forces.
"We will be forced to cut down household expenditure such as on food if the government hikes cooking gas prices," said Rama Satpathy, a housewife in Bhubaneshwar in eastern India.
"We buy chicken, fish and mutton twice in a week. Now we may have to do it once in a week," said Satpathy, whose husband works in a private firm and who has a child attending school.
By not acting boldly now, however, India may miss a rare window of opportunity for reforms as inflation is forecast to abate, the monsoon is off to a promising start, global crude prices are relatively moderate and the next major state election, in large and impoverished Bihar, will only take place in October.
"We believe the current macro environment is conducive for fuel reforms," said a report by Goldman Sachs.
Expectations for at least some changes in fuel pricing helped shares of state oil firms rise 3-4 percent on Wednesday.
Politicians worry higher fuel prices would worsen the impact of inflation on consumers already burdened by higher food bills.
Oil ministry officials say that to protect the "aam aadmi", or common man, the government is keen to retain controls on cooking gas, used mainly in urban homes, and kerosene, used for lighting by the poor in regions that have no electricity.
At most, the government might try to raise administered prices for cooking fuels.
It favours reforms in the price of petrol, which accounts for only 10 percent of India's fuel demand and is used primarily by wealthier car owners, and a slower change for diesel, which accounts for a third of the country's fuel demand.
Officials say the oil ministry is pushing for easing controls in phases, starting with market pricing of petrol.
The Trinamool Congress, a West Bengal-based party that provides the government vital parliamentary support, said any rise in fuel prices at a time the government was struggling to rein in inflation would only hurt the common man.
Indian authorities are sympathetic.
"From a political and welfare perspective, it is difficult to impose on them a hike in fuel prices at the time when they are already dealing with high food prices. Balancing out these two factors will drive the timing," Subir Gokarn, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said this week in Singapore.
HOPING FOR RAIN
New Delhi hopes a strong monsoon makes its decision easier. Food prices rose by an annual 15-16 percent after last year's drought, provoking street protests and worrying regional allies of the coalition government. Within the next two weeks, the weather office will update its forecast for this year's monsoon.
Proponents of ending the subsidies argue that the inflationary impact is overstated.
Fuel has a weight of about 8-9 percent in India's widely watched wholesale price index , meaning a 10 percent rise in fuel rates would increase inflation by less than 1 percent, said T.K. Bhaumik, economist at JK Corp. "I don't think this should have very significant impact on inflation," he said.
Also, India's inflation rate is expected to soften – the main jump in prices was last year due to the bad monsoon, so year-on-year inflation will soon start to slow.
"Both food inflation and fuel inflation will start slowing down because of the base effect," said N.R. Bhanumurthy, economist at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
Bharti closes $9 bln Zain Africa deal
Bharti Airtel has completed its $9 billion acquisition of African operations from Kuwait's Zain in a deal that makes the Indian firm the world's fifth biggest cellphone company by subscribers.
Bharti aims to have 100 million subscribers and $5 billion a year in revenue in Africa by 2012/13, Manoj Kohli, chief executive of its international unit, said on Tuesday.
Currently Zain Africa has 42 million subscribers and an annual revenue of $3.6 billion.
Zain said in a statement on Tuesday it has received $7.87 billion from Bharti and will receive a further $400 million within 12 months after completing other formal requirements. It will also receive another $700 million after one year of the deal closing, as agreed in March.
In return Bharti gets the Kuwaiti company's mobile operations in 15 African countries, making it India's second biggest overseas acquisition after Tata Steel's $13 billion buy of Corus in 2007.
The Indian telecoms market leader is facing ferocious competition at home and betting on opportunities in Africa are worth the risks of operating there, analysts say, even though some regard the deal's total enterprise value of $10.7 billion including the assumption of $1.7 billion debt as a full price.
The acquisition, which takes Bharti's subscriber base to 180 million in 18 countries, brings tough financial and management challenges for a company battling to defend its lead in its home market, analysts say.
A big challenge will be to streamline operations across the 15 different countries in Africa, raise the revenue and turn around the loss-making assets.
Reviving growth in Africa is a "big agenda," Kohli said.
For Zain profits from the Bharti deal will be booked in the second quarter, Chief Executive Nabeel bin Salama said, and a dividend will be paid in 2011, with Zain's board to recommend a dividend of 200-240 fils per share from deal returns. The company is not in talks for further asset sales, he added.
SECOND CHANCE
Bharti, which is 32 percent owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, looked to Zain for building a major presence in Africa only after it twice failed to finalise tie-ups with South Africa's MTN Group Ltd, the continent's biggest operator.
"We were fortunate that we got a second chance, and a better chance," Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, said.
The deal with Zain still encountered obstacles, including a dispute about the minority ownership of Zain's operations in Nigeria, the biggest market in the deal, but Bharti said on Tuesday it had settled a dispute with one of Zain Nigeria's minority shareholders, Broad Communications Group.
Oba Otudeko, who controls Broad Communications, will be made chairman of the Nigerian operations.
Another firm, Econet, which owns 5 percent of the Nigeria unit, has been seeking to overturn a 2006 deal whereby Zain -- then called Celtel -- bought a majority stake in Nigerian mobile operator Vee Networks Ltd, now Zain Nigeria.
Mittal said Econet has had no contact with Bharti, but he did not see Econet posing a problem for operations in Nigeria.
Econet, however, said in a statement on Tuesday the dispute was not yet resolved and that it was not party to any agreement between Zain and Bharti.
Bharti secured debt of up to $8.5 billion from a clutch of lenders to fund the Zain deal and may have to spend more to expand networks that analysts say have been under-invested in for years.
Bharti recently paid about $2.6 billion for acquiring 3G licences in India and will have to pay more once an auction for wireless broadband radio spectrum is completed.
Shares in Bharti closed down 3.8 percent at 257.80 rupees, in a Mumbai market that fell almost 1 percent.
Bharti was advised by Standard Chartered, Barclays, SBI Group and Global Investment House. Zain was advised by UBS.
Standard Chartered, Barclays, SBI and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are among Bharti's financiers for the deal.
Bharti aims to have 100 million subscribers and $5 billion a year in revenue in Africa by 2012/13, Manoj Kohli, chief executive of its international unit, said on Tuesday.
Currently Zain Africa has 42 million subscribers and an annual revenue of $3.6 billion.
Zain said in a statement on Tuesday it has received $7.87 billion from Bharti and will receive a further $400 million within 12 months after completing other formal requirements. It will also receive another $700 million after one year of the deal closing, as agreed in March.
In return Bharti gets the Kuwaiti company's mobile operations in 15 African countries, making it India's second biggest overseas acquisition after Tata Steel's $13 billion buy of Corus in 2007.
The Indian telecoms market leader is facing ferocious competition at home and betting on opportunities in Africa are worth the risks of operating there, analysts say, even though some regard the deal's total enterprise value of $10.7 billion including the assumption of $1.7 billion debt as a full price.
The acquisition, which takes Bharti's subscriber base to 180 million in 18 countries, brings tough financial and management challenges for a company battling to defend its lead in its home market, analysts say.
A big challenge will be to streamline operations across the 15 different countries in Africa, raise the revenue and turn around the loss-making assets.
Reviving growth in Africa is a "big agenda," Kohli said.
For Zain profits from the Bharti deal will be booked in the second quarter, Chief Executive Nabeel bin Salama said, and a dividend will be paid in 2011, with Zain's board to recommend a dividend of 200-240 fils per share from deal returns. The company is not in talks for further asset sales, he added.
SECOND CHANCE
Bharti, which is 32 percent owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, looked to Zain for building a major presence in Africa only after it twice failed to finalise tie-ups with South Africa's MTN Group Ltd, the continent's biggest operator.
"We were fortunate that we got a second chance, and a better chance," Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, said.
The deal with Zain still encountered obstacles, including a dispute about the minority ownership of Zain's operations in Nigeria, the biggest market in the deal, but Bharti said on Tuesday it had settled a dispute with one of Zain Nigeria's minority shareholders, Broad Communications Group.
Oba Otudeko, who controls Broad Communications, will be made chairman of the Nigerian operations.
Another firm, Econet, which owns 5 percent of the Nigeria unit, has been seeking to overturn a 2006 deal whereby Zain -- then called Celtel -- bought a majority stake in Nigerian mobile operator Vee Networks Ltd, now Zain Nigeria.
Mittal said Econet has had no contact with Bharti, but he did not see Econet posing a problem for operations in Nigeria.
Econet, however, said in a statement on Tuesday the dispute was not yet resolved and that it was not party to any agreement between Zain and Bharti.
Bharti secured debt of up to $8.5 billion from a clutch of lenders to fund the Zain deal and may have to spend more to expand networks that analysts say have been under-invested in for years.
Bharti recently paid about $2.6 billion for acquiring 3G licences in India and will have to pay more once an auction for wireless broadband radio spectrum is completed.
Shares in Bharti closed down 3.8 percent at 257.80 rupees, in a Mumbai market that fell almost 1 percent.
Bharti was advised by Standard Chartered, Barclays, SBI Group and Global Investment House. Zain was advised by UBS.
Standard Chartered, Barclays, SBI and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are among Bharti's financiers for the deal.
Alternative Assets
Any non-traditional asset with potential economic value that would not be found in a standard investment portfolio. Due to the unconventional nature of alternative assets, valuation of some of these assets can be difficult.
For most people, examples of alternative assets would include art and antiques, precious metals, fine wines, rare stamps and coins etc...
For most people, examples of alternative assets would include art and antiques, precious metals, fine wines, rare stamps and coins etc...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
पालतू मछलियां वापस आएंगी क्या
एक आदमी को मछलियां पकड़ने का बहुत शौक़ था। वह जहां भी जाता, झील या तालाब जरूर खोजता। एक बार वह किसी अनजान शहर में झील किनारे बैठकर मछलियां पकड़ रहा था। वह मछलियां पकड़कर पानी भरी बाल्टी में डालता जाता। जब बाल्टी में ढेर सारी मछलियां तैरने लगीं, तो वह होटल वापस जाने के लिए उठा। इसी समय एक सरकारी कर्मचारी ने उसका रास्ता रोक लिया। कर्मचारी ने रोब दिखाते हुए कहा, ‘क्या आप नहीं जानते कि इस झील पर मछलियां पकड़ना मना है?’
आदमी ने जवाब दिया, ‘नहीं, यहां ऐसा कोई बोर्ड भी नहीं लगा है।’ यह सुनकर कर्मचारी की बांछें खिल गईं। उसने अपना मुंह सटाते हुए कहा, ‘चिंता मत कीजिए, मैं आपका ज्यादा नुक़सान नहीं होने दूंगा। यहां मछली पकड़ने का फ़ाइन सौ रुपए है, पर आप तो मुझे दस ही दे दीजिए और आराम से निकल जाइए।’
अब उस आदमी को ग़ुस्सा आया। पर उसने शांति से कहा, ‘मछली पकड़ना मना है..पर मैं तो अपनी पालतू मछलियों को घुमाने लाया था। मैं रोज उन्हें किसी झील, तालाब या पोखर में छोड़ देता हूं और कुछ समय बाद जब सीटी बजाता हूं, तो वे वापस आ जाती हैं।’
कर्मचारी को उसकी बात पर जरा भी यक़ीन नहीं हुआ। उसने व्यंग्य से कहा, ‘अच्छा! जरा मेरे सामने ऐसा करके तो दिखाइए।’ उस आदमी को इसमें कोई आपत्ति नहीं थी। उसने पूरी बाल्टी झील में उलट दी। और वापस जाने लगा। कर्मचारी ने उसे रोका, बोला, ‘मछलियों को वापस तो बुलाओ!’ उस आदमी ने जवाब दिया, ‘कैसी मछलियां? मैं तो यहां ख़ाली हाथ, झील के किनारे टहलने आया था!’
जैसे को तैसा जरूरी है। अगर कोई बेईमान, ग़लत काम या भ्रष्टाचार के लिए बाध्य करे, तो उसे बेवकूफ़ बनाने के लिए दिमाग़ लगा कर थोड़ा झूठ बोल देने में बुराई नहीं है
आदमी ने जवाब दिया, ‘नहीं, यहां ऐसा कोई बोर्ड भी नहीं लगा है।’ यह सुनकर कर्मचारी की बांछें खिल गईं। उसने अपना मुंह सटाते हुए कहा, ‘चिंता मत कीजिए, मैं आपका ज्यादा नुक़सान नहीं होने दूंगा। यहां मछली पकड़ने का फ़ाइन सौ रुपए है, पर आप तो मुझे दस ही दे दीजिए और आराम से निकल जाइए।’
अब उस आदमी को ग़ुस्सा आया। पर उसने शांति से कहा, ‘मछली पकड़ना मना है..पर मैं तो अपनी पालतू मछलियों को घुमाने लाया था। मैं रोज उन्हें किसी झील, तालाब या पोखर में छोड़ देता हूं और कुछ समय बाद जब सीटी बजाता हूं, तो वे वापस आ जाती हैं।’
कर्मचारी को उसकी बात पर जरा भी यक़ीन नहीं हुआ। उसने व्यंग्य से कहा, ‘अच्छा! जरा मेरे सामने ऐसा करके तो दिखाइए।’ उस आदमी को इसमें कोई आपत्ति नहीं थी। उसने पूरी बाल्टी झील में उलट दी। और वापस जाने लगा। कर्मचारी ने उसे रोका, बोला, ‘मछलियों को वापस तो बुलाओ!’ उस आदमी ने जवाब दिया, ‘कैसी मछलियां? मैं तो यहां ख़ाली हाथ, झील के किनारे टहलने आया था!’
जैसे को तैसा जरूरी है। अगर कोई बेईमान, ग़लत काम या भ्रष्टाचार के लिए बाध्य करे, तो उसे बेवकूफ़ बनाने के लिए दिमाग़ लगा कर थोड़ा झूठ बोल देने में बुराई नहीं है
पहनावा देखकर धारणा न बनाएं
धूसर से रंग के कपड़े पहने हुए एक महिला और घर में बना साधारण सा सूट पहने उनके पति हार्वर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी के प्रेसीडेंट के ऑफिस पहुंचे। उन्होंने इसके लिए पहले से कोई इजाजत नहीं ली थी। इस दंपती को देखते ही सेक्रेटरी ने सोचा ऐसे साधारण लोगों का हार्वर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी में कोई काम नहीं हो सकता।
आगंतुक शख्स ने विन्रम स्वर में उससे कहा, ‘हम प्रेसीडेंट से मिलना चाहते हैं।’ सेक्रेटरी ने बेहद रूखे तरीके से जवाब दिया ‘वह पूरे दिन बेहद व्यस्त रहेंगे।’ महिला ने कहा, ‘हम इंतजार करेंगे।’ सेक्रेटरी ने दोनों को कई घंटों तक नजरअंदाज किया, यह सोचते हुए कि हारकर अंतत: वे वापस चले जाएंगे। वे दोनों तो वापस नहीं गए, लिहाजा सेक्रेटरी कुढ़ते हुए प्रेसीडेंट के पास पहुंची।
वह प्रेसीडेंट से बोलीं ‘अगर आप इन लोगों को कुछ मिनट का समय दे दें तो शायद यह वापस चले जाएंगे।’ प्रेसीडेंट ने बेहद कठोर अंदाज में दंपती की ओर देखा। उक्त महिला ने बताया ‘हमारा एक बेटा था, जिसने हार्वर्ड में एक साल पढ़ाई की थी।
उसे इस जगह से बहुत प्यार था और यहां बेहद खुश रहता था। लेकिन बदनसीबी से पिछले वर्ष एक दुर्घटना में वह मारा गया। मैं और मेरे पति उसकी याद में यूनिवर्सिटी प्रांगण में ही एक स्मारक खड़ा करना चाहते हैं।’
प्रेसीडेंट को यह बात छू गई, लेकिन वह हैरान होते हुए बोले ‘मैडम, हम हार्वर्ड में पढ़े और अब दुनिया को अलविदा कह चुके हर शख्स की मूर्ति नहीं बनवा सकते। ऐसा करने पर यह जगह किसी समाधि क्षेत्र जैसी लगने लगेगी।’ इस पर महिला जल्दी से बोलीं, ‘अरे नहीं, हम कोई मूर्ति नहीं लगावाना चाहते।
हम तो हार्वर्ड को उसकी याद में एक इमारत देना चाहते हैं।’ प्रेसीडेंट की आंखें फैल गईं। उन्होंने दोनों के बेहद सादे लिबास की ओर नजर दौड़ाई और बोले - ‘इमारत! क्या आपको अनुमान है कि एक इमारत की क्या लागत होती है। हार्वर्ड की इस इमारत की लागत तकरीबन साढ़े सात मिलियन डॉलर है।’
कुछ समय के लिए महिला ने चुप्पी साध ली। प्रेसीडंेट खुश हो गए। उन्हें लगा कि अब तो इस बुजुर्ग दंपती से निजात मिल ही जाएगी। महिला अपने पति की तरफ मुखातिब होते हुए बोली, ‘यूनिवर्सिटी शुरू करने में सिर्फ इतना ही पैसा लगता है। फिर हम खुद ही यूनिवर्सिटी शुरू क्यों नहीं कर लेते?’ पति ने भी रजामंदी में सिर हिलाया।
यह सुनते ही प्रेसीडेंट के चेहरे पर भ्रम और हैरानी के भाव तैरने लगे। लीलैंड स्टेनफोर्ड दंपती उठे और वहां से चले गए। उन्होंने पेलो एल्टो, कैलिफोर्निया जाकर एक यूनिवर्सिटी की स्थापना की, जिसे आज दुनिया स्टेनफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी के नाम से जानती है। जिस दंपती के बेटे का स्मारक बनाने में हार्वर्ड ने कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं दिखाई, उसकी यादगार है यह स्टेनफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी।
फंडा यह है कि... पहनावे और बाहरी रूप-रंग से लोगों के बारे में कोई अनुमान लगाना भ्रामक हो सकता है। इस तरह आकलन करने से हम अच्छे दोस्त, कुशल कर्मचारी और बढ़िया ग्राहकों को खो सकते हैं
आगंतुक शख्स ने विन्रम स्वर में उससे कहा, ‘हम प्रेसीडेंट से मिलना चाहते हैं।’ सेक्रेटरी ने बेहद रूखे तरीके से जवाब दिया ‘वह पूरे दिन बेहद व्यस्त रहेंगे।’ महिला ने कहा, ‘हम इंतजार करेंगे।’ सेक्रेटरी ने दोनों को कई घंटों तक नजरअंदाज किया, यह सोचते हुए कि हारकर अंतत: वे वापस चले जाएंगे। वे दोनों तो वापस नहीं गए, लिहाजा सेक्रेटरी कुढ़ते हुए प्रेसीडेंट के पास पहुंची।
वह प्रेसीडेंट से बोलीं ‘अगर आप इन लोगों को कुछ मिनट का समय दे दें तो शायद यह वापस चले जाएंगे।’ प्रेसीडेंट ने बेहद कठोर अंदाज में दंपती की ओर देखा। उक्त महिला ने बताया ‘हमारा एक बेटा था, जिसने हार्वर्ड में एक साल पढ़ाई की थी।
उसे इस जगह से बहुत प्यार था और यहां बेहद खुश रहता था। लेकिन बदनसीबी से पिछले वर्ष एक दुर्घटना में वह मारा गया। मैं और मेरे पति उसकी याद में यूनिवर्सिटी प्रांगण में ही एक स्मारक खड़ा करना चाहते हैं।’
प्रेसीडेंट को यह बात छू गई, लेकिन वह हैरान होते हुए बोले ‘मैडम, हम हार्वर्ड में पढ़े और अब दुनिया को अलविदा कह चुके हर शख्स की मूर्ति नहीं बनवा सकते। ऐसा करने पर यह जगह किसी समाधि क्षेत्र जैसी लगने लगेगी।’ इस पर महिला जल्दी से बोलीं, ‘अरे नहीं, हम कोई मूर्ति नहीं लगावाना चाहते।
हम तो हार्वर्ड को उसकी याद में एक इमारत देना चाहते हैं।’ प्रेसीडेंट की आंखें फैल गईं। उन्होंने दोनों के बेहद सादे लिबास की ओर नजर दौड़ाई और बोले - ‘इमारत! क्या आपको अनुमान है कि एक इमारत की क्या लागत होती है। हार्वर्ड की इस इमारत की लागत तकरीबन साढ़े सात मिलियन डॉलर है।’
कुछ समय के लिए महिला ने चुप्पी साध ली। प्रेसीडंेट खुश हो गए। उन्हें लगा कि अब तो इस बुजुर्ग दंपती से निजात मिल ही जाएगी। महिला अपने पति की तरफ मुखातिब होते हुए बोली, ‘यूनिवर्सिटी शुरू करने में सिर्फ इतना ही पैसा लगता है। फिर हम खुद ही यूनिवर्सिटी शुरू क्यों नहीं कर लेते?’ पति ने भी रजामंदी में सिर हिलाया।
यह सुनते ही प्रेसीडेंट के चेहरे पर भ्रम और हैरानी के भाव तैरने लगे। लीलैंड स्टेनफोर्ड दंपती उठे और वहां से चले गए। उन्होंने पेलो एल्टो, कैलिफोर्निया जाकर एक यूनिवर्सिटी की स्थापना की, जिसे आज दुनिया स्टेनफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी के नाम से जानती है। जिस दंपती के बेटे का स्मारक बनाने में हार्वर्ड ने कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं दिखाई, उसकी यादगार है यह स्टेनफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी।
फंडा यह है कि... पहनावे और बाहरी रूप-रंग से लोगों के बारे में कोई अनुमान लगाना भ्रामक हो सकता है। इस तरह आकलन करने से हम अच्छे दोस्त, कुशल कर्मचारी और बढ़िया ग्राहकों को खो सकते हैं
Monday, June 7, 2010
Greek Crisis
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a
particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus.” This difference is
usually made up by borrowing or minting new funds and occurs for numerous reasons. Today, one of the major reasons
cited for deficit spending is to ensure high levels of economic activity. Whilst there is significant economic data testament
to this, there is also growing evidence to the contrary and of the great influence of government deficits upon a national
economy. Indeed, “the use of deficit financing to maintain total spending or effective demand was an important discovery
of the economic depression of 1930” however, recently, swelling deficits have been the root cause of problems for several
member states of the Eurozone, putting them at risk of default.
With Greece's budget woes considered the most grave; this article focuses on this member state and the mounting
speculation of the effects on the stability of the Euro currency and the entire Euro region as a whole. The Greek crisis has
sparked fears that this may be only the beginning of a deeper sovereign debt crisis that could ultimately destabilize the
Eurozone In the midst of a sluggish recovery in the global economy, the key questions right now are whether these fears
are exaggerated and more importantly, how to deal with these problems.
particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus.” This difference is
usually made up by borrowing or minting new funds and occurs for numerous reasons. Today, one of the major reasons
cited for deficit spending is to ensure high levels of economic activity. Whilst there is significant economic data testament
to this, there is also growing evidence to the contrary and of the great influence of government deficits upon a national
economy. Indeed, “the use of deficit financing to maintain total spending or effective demand was an important discovery
of the economic depression of 1930” however, recently, swelling deficits have been the root cause of problems for several
member states of the Eurozone, putting them at risk of default.
With Greece's budget woes considered the most grave; this article focuses on this member state and the mounting
speculation of the effects on the stability of the Euro currency and the entire Euro region as a whole. The Greek crisis has
sparked fears that this may be only the beginning of a deeper sovereign debt crisis that could ultimately destabilize the
Eurozone In the midst of a sluggish recovery in the global economy, the key questions right now are whether these fears
are exaggerated and more importantly, how to deal with these problems.
Tech World
Sometimes i find it difficult to manage social networking sites. Every day a social networking site invitation to join come in mailbox and the only thought came to my mind is OH NO ONE MORE social networking site account, one more account, one more problem or solution. Although Each website has it own unique advantage like Linkedin for professional networking and Twitter. But i think some other are useless like hi5, zorpia etc they are similar to orkut or facebook. But with emerging of specialist social networking sites like Linkedin and Twitter, one simple cant ignore them.........
:)
:)
Indian Judicial System
It takes 26 yr to give justice to Bhopal gas victims and that too for 2 yrs. Its insane......Its not justice its INJUSTICE.....
It can happen only in India...........
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)