CAMPUS9

American Debt Weighing Heavily On The Economy

2009-11-28T17:49:00.001+05:30

A new wave of debt obligations from the US could reduce it to an unreliable borrower in the future; claim a number of sources in the world of international finance. The country has a total of over 12 trillion dollars in debt, and it is estimated that interest payments in 2019 could alone top over $700 billion a year, even if the deficit shrinks faster than usual.

The situation has come about primarily due to the current economic recession, where the government has pumped funds into the economy in the hope of revival. This has led to a ballooning deficit in the budget, which has been made up by large amounts of short term borrowing. With interest rates currently low, the economy is able to stabilize, and interest payments on borrowed funds are low. However, if the interest rates go up, the interest payments would soon balloon to unmanageable proportions. Though the government move is widely regarded as being necessary, the subsequent questions it has raised need careful consideration.

The American citizen is today stuck with two problems. On one hand he is carrying huge levels of personal debt due to a lifetime of indulgence in credit backed by the rising real estate prices, and now finds himself unable to pay off the loan. On the other, as a citizen, the taxpayer carries a burden of repaying the national debt which has doubled in the last two years, just as government spending costs on healthcare and other necessities are set to rise substantially.

The result of this conflict is likely to be increased tensions within the government on how to control and manage spending, where the funds to pay off the short term debt will come from, and in what proportion money can be spent on the older generation of baby boomers who are now hitting retirement and will need increased government support for social support and healthcare.

The only reason the Fed has so far succeeded is mainly due to the fact that Treasury bonds are seen by many as a safe investment. As long as the recession lasts, investors are likely to buy and hold these bonds. But once the recession is over, they would want to move their investments to other more lucrative markets and the government will have to redeem the bonds. Right now, the government does not have the money to do so. Hence, there has been an effort to shift borrowing from the short term treasury bonds to longer ten year and thirty year bonds which yield higher interest rates for the investor but take away the burden of having to repay nearly $1.9 trillion within the next year.

To top it all, the federal support programs are winding down, meaning that if interest rates rise due to the slower movement of money in the system, the government could see its interest payment commitments go up by as much as $40 billion for every half percentage point. And then the government would find itself in exactly the same position the financial institutions were when the crisis happened.

CAT applicants caught in the net

2009-11-28T17:26:00.002+05:30

AHMEDABAD: Govind Patil did not have an e-mail ID when he registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT). Patil, who belongs to Parbhani near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, had to take help from a friend to get his ID created before filling the registration form of test that doors for aspiring MBAs to get admission into the IIMs and 150 other B-Schools.

The all-important test, that gets around 2.5 lakh applicants, goes online from this year, and Patil is clearly not comfortable. The not-so-computer-savvy candidate now has to take time out from solving the crucial mock test papers for practicing computers. Despite being helped by the CAT training institute where he has enrolled himself, Patil is finding the going tough. He is unable to concentrate on computers long enough to sit through the test, and finds it hard to scroll the mouse and read passages on the screen.

The coveted MBA entrance test, which is a race against time, is set to have a distinct urban bias this time as it changes its medium from a paper and pencil test to a computer-based one. The test has already seen a drop in the number of registrations — from 2.76 lakh last year to 2.41 lakh this year — and experts say, it is more due to the change in the medium than a poor placement show by several B-Schools last year that dissuaded several aspirants from taking the test.

“After graduation, one needs a professional degree for a job. I applied for CAT so that I could get an MBA degree, which is an important qualification these days. However, computer is posing a big challenge because I have not worked much on this medium and lose concentration very soon while solving questions,” Patil said.

CAT, conducted by the IIMs since past 33 years, has traditionally elicited interest from aspirants coming from across the length and breadth of the country. Candidates from urban pockets, including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Lucknow, usually account for almost 50% of the total number of candidates.

Thus, the other 50% comes from semi-urban or rural areas, a segment which might see a drop at the test. CAT, which has annually been growing by double digits for at least a decade now and grew by 20-25% over the past three years, witnessed its first drop of 12% this year. There are apprehensions of many candidates not turning up for the actual test. The reasons are not far to find.

Anand Dewangan, who hails from Bhilai in Chhatisgarh, faces a similar predicament. The electronics graduate hardly used computer during his college days and did not frequent cyber cafes which are few and far between in his region. He finds computer a barrier to his dream chase for a seat in a B-School that requires CAT percentile for admission.

He feels his counterpart in the urban centres stand a far better chance this year. “I am more comfortable solving questions in the paper-pencil medium. This (computers) is an alien medium, and I am trying to familiarise myself with it,” Dewangan said.

Experts feel, of the 20% perceptible drop in candidates taking test, smaller centres would account for much more. Such centres will also see a steeper drop in terms of performance, with only a few from such regions making it to well-known B-Schools despite being no less in talent.

“There is expected to be a substantial drop in candidates from such centres making it to decent B-Schools, which will lead to a loss of diversity that they bring along to a B-School. An expected 25-30% candidates from such regions will fail to make it to B-Schools,” said Sandeep Manudhane, founder-chairman, PT Education, a chain of training centres for competitive examinations.

However, it is not just the candidates coming from such background who are apprehensive about the CAT in its new avatar. Several candidates from metros are also complaining.

“While operating computer is not an issue, I find it hard to understand readingcomprehension (RC) passages on computer screens, which is not the case with me on paper,” said Vineet, an engineer from Ahmedabad who is appearing for CAT.

Top 10 Most Influential Internet Moments of the Decade

2009-11-28T17:23:00.000+05:30

The Webby Awards, the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, released its list of the Top 10 Most Influential Internet Moments of the Decade. The list, which covers everything from the rise of Craigslist to the 2008 presidential campaign, underscores the Internet's impact on major decisions in the lives of people around the globe.

The list is as follows:

Craigslist's expansion outside of its home turf of San Francisco, which revamped the accepted model of classified advertising. (2000)

The launch of Google AdWords, which, as the Webbys put it, "turned advertising on its head" by opening the marketplace to any business.(2001)

The launch of Wikipedia, which, with its 14 million articles in 271 different languages, unites readers and researchers from around the world to collaborate on educational and informational projects. (2001)

The closure of Napster, which in turn gave rise to a flood of media-sharing sites, from iTunes to Hulu (2001)

Google's IPO, which helped to turn the search engine, which claims Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Earth and a host of other innovations, into the most dominant and influential company of the decade. (2004).

The online video revolution, led by YouTube, which made amateurs into Web stars and further changed the means of how news, entertainment and advertising reaches the population. (2006)

Facebook opens to non-college students in 2006, the same year that Twitter launches. Both have immediate and lasting effects on both the course of social networking media, but also how people connect and interact with each other. (2006)

The debut of the iPhone, which turned smart phones into items of everyday necessity, and proved that there was indeed an app for every occasion. (2007)

The U.S. presidential campaign utilized the Internet to inspire (and at times, enrage) voters to become a part of the political process through online video, fund-raising and social media. The result was a completely new paradigm for American politics. (2008)

The protests over the Iranian presidential election of 2009 showed that social networking media like Twitter could be used as a force for positive change in a regime that, despite its best efforts, could not censor the will of the people and its technology. (2009)

And in other Webby news, the 14th annual Webby Awards will be announced in April 2010. The awards pay tribute to excellence on the 'Net in a variety of categories, including news, advertising and online film and video.

When Jobseekers Invade Facebook

2009-11-28T17:09:00.005+05:30

The last few years have seen the explosive growth of social networking websites like Xing, Facebook and Linkedin. The latter has been the dedicated networking site for professionals and has seen a rise in its members ever since the recession took hold. Members are on the site primarily to connect over business and professional issues, making it an ideal platform for the job-seeker. Same is the case with a number of other sites like Xing (based in Germany) and Meet the Boss (based in the UK). The latter is specifically for C-level executives with a leaning towards the financial functions.

Facebook on the other hand has been seen exclusively as a site for friends to connect and share their lives. This does not mean that the site has no commercial outlook. A number of companies, products and brands have made use of the site to connect to customers and would-be customers through fan pages, facebook apps and other initiatives. There has also been the usual share of self-promoting marketers and network sellers. However, recent trends indicate people using their so-called friend networks to hunt for jobs, ask for recommendations and favours. How appropriate would it be if someone you recently ‘friended’ asked you for an introduction to a prospective employer who ‘just happens’ to be in your network?

Members are increasingly getting the feeling of being used, while the basic premise on which the site is based is that of sharing, with the primary focus being on giving rather than taking. This has resulted in the rising number of ‘defriends’, a process where you no longer want someone in your friend list and ask the site to have them removed. Social networks are difficult to maintain for groups over 150 people according to anthropologists, and this universal truth is now apparent.

It is sad to see the line between social and professional networking getting blurred in this manner. With the recession continuing in the current manner, we will be looking at many more such incidences. The conflict between social and professional spaces is likely to bring in a number of changes in the online etiquette even as it is in the process of evolving. The only hope is that it does not ultimately lead to the point of people asking themselves whether they have any real friends at all.

Social networking is a gradual process where friendships and social equity is built on the foundation of trust developed over shared interactions over a period of time. It is not and overnight cure, and the best way to go about connecting with people is through transparency rather than flimsy ‘friendships’ which are focused only on one’s immediate needs.

Aarya-2 Lyrics

2009-11-28T16:49:00.004+05:30

Mr.Perfect

Hey tip top dora kadhilindo

evadiki veedu dorakadulendo

mudhurando gadusando thodigenu musugando

uppu kappurambunokka look nundo

veedi look chusi mosapokando

edavando.. badavando.. valalo padakando

Come on Come on.. Most cunningu

Come on Come on.. Masth timingu

Come on Come on.. right la lo wrongu

Come on Come on.. kothalalo kingu

Come on Come on.. marche thana rangu

Come on Come on.. pakka planningu

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

eedo pedha edava

ee matter naaku matram telusu

veedi gurinchi cheppi cheppi naalikantha endipoindi

kaani evadoo nammadu

paiga ee rojullo ilantoolu ekkuve

demand konchem ekkuva

aina inko saari try chestha

tappakunda eedi thaata teestha

Sorry nenu good boy la undalanukuntnaanu

Anduke andari mundu kaalchanu

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Hip lipputhunna cat walk lendo

crocodile veedu kaalu jarakando

Brute ando bright Ando.

Live e chusthundo

Medi pandu lanti man veedando

man hole lanti mind veedidhando

Cheatando cheapando

gajibiji puzzle ando

Come on Come on.. Hes got a back up tricks

Come on Come on.. Beware you trendy chicks

Come on Come on.. Heart hijaker nammodhe

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Come on Come on.. hes a jadhoogar

Come on Come on.. he gives u fever

Come on Come on.. hes a cool cracker taakkodhe

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect THATS RIGHT

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

Come on Come on.. ori govindhu

Come on Come on.. veedu gurivindhu

Come on Come on.. sandhu dorikindho dhochesthadayyo

Come on Come on.. ariyavosambo

Come on Come on.. regindhi pambo

Come on Come on.. veenni aapaali menako rambo..

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

Mr.Perfect Perfect.. He's Mr.Perfect

Lense esi vethuku dorakadhu ra ee defect

BABY HE LOVES YOU

Cha. vadiki na meeda preme ledhu
he doesnt love me u know.
No. he loves you. he loves you so much.
avuna.. entha?

aa..
modhati sari nuvvu nannu chusinappudu kaliginatti kopamantha
modhati sari nenu matladinappudu periginatti dweshamantha
modhati sari neku mudhupettinappudu jariginantha dhoshamantha
chivarisari nijam cheppinapudu teerinatti bhaaramantha

Ooo.. inkaa..

tella tellavaru palletooru lona allukunna velugantha
pilla legadhooda notikantukunna aavu paala nuragantha
challa buvva lona nachukuntu thinna aavakaya kaaramantha
pelli eedukochi thulliaaduthunna aadapilla korikantha

Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much
Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much

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andamaina ne kaali tinda tirige nelakunna baruvantha
neeli neeli ne kallalona merise ningi unnu vayasantha
challanaina ne swasalona tonige galikunna gathamantha
churrumanna ne choopulona egise nippu lanti nijamantha

Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much
Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much

pantachelaloni jeevamantha, gantasala paata bhavamantha
pandagochinaa pabbamochinaa vantasaalaloni vaasantha
kumbhakarnudi niddarantha, aanjaneyudi aayuvantha
krishna murthy lo leelalantha rama laali antha

Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much
Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much

pachi vepa pulla chedhu antha, rachabanda paina vaadhanantha
ardhamaina kakapoyina bhakthi kodhi vinna vedhamantha
yeti neetiloni jaabilantha, yeta yeta vache jaatharantha
ekapathralo naatakalalo naatu golalantha

Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much
Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much

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Allarekuvaithe kannathalli vese mottikaaya chanuvantha
jallupadda vela pongi pongi poose mattipoola viluvantha
bikku bikku mantu pareeksha raase pillagadi bhedhurantha
laksha mandinanina savalu chese aatagadi pogarantha

Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much
Baby he loves you, he loves you, he loves you so much

UPPENANTHA

Uppenentha ee prema ki
guppedantha gunde emito
cheppaleni ee haayi ki
bhaashe enduko

Teeyananina nee baadha ki
uppuneeru kanta deniko
reppa paatu dooranike
viraham enduko

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oo Ninnu chuse e kallaki
lokamannadhinka enduko
rendu aksharala e prema ki
inni section lu enduko

i love you.. naa oopiri aagipoina
i love you.. naa pranam poina

Uppenentha ee prema ki
guppedantha gunde emito
cheppaleni ee haayi ki
bhaashe enduko

kanulalokosthaavu.. kalalu narikesthaavu
seconukosaraina champesthaavu
Manchula vuntavu.. manta peduthunataavu
ventapadi na manasu masi chesthaavu

Teesukunte nuvvu oopiri
posukunta aayuvey cheli
guchukoku mullula mari
Gundello sagam cheli

i love you.. naa oopiri aagipoina
i love you.. naa pranam poina

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Uppenentha ee prema ki
guppedantha gunde emito
cheppaleni ee haayi ki
bhaashe enduko

chinukule ninnu thaaki
merisipothaanante
mabbule pogesi.. kaalcheyana
chilakale ne paluku
tirigi palikayante
tholakare lekunda paatheyana

ninnu kori poolu thaakithe
narukuthaanu poola thotane
ninnu chusthe unna chotane
thodesthaa aa kallane

i love you.. naa oopiri aagipoina
i love you.. naa pranam poina

Uppenentha ee prema ki
guppedantha gunde emito
cheppaleni ee haayi ki
bhaashe enduko..

RINGA RINGA

Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....

Posche posche paradese nenu foreign nunchi vachesaanu
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....

Roshamunna kurralla kosam washington vadilesaanu
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....

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Airbus ekki ekki rothe putti,
erra bus meeda naku moje putti
errakota cherinanu cherinaaka edhuruchusina
evarikosam?
Bodi moothi mudhulante bore kotti,
kora meesa kurragaala aarapatti
Bangalore kellinanu, Mangalore kellinanu
Bihar kellinanu, Jaipur kellinanu
Raayalori seemakochi set ayyanu
Ohoo. marikkada kurrollu emchesaaru?

Kadapa bombu kaanultho esi, kanne kompa pelchesaaru
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

Veta kathi ontlone dhoosi, siggu guthi thenchesaaru
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

Idhigo thella pilla idhiantha sare gaani asalu e ringa ringa golenti?

Asalukemo na sontha peru, Andreona Swartzringa
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....
Palakaleka eelettinaaru mudhu peru Ringa Ringa
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

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Jeans teesi kattinaru voni langa
papdi hair pettinaru savaram baga
raaya laga unna nanu rangasani chesinaruga

english marchinaru etakaranga
inti enakakochinaru emakaranga
vonti loni water antha chamata laga pindinaaru
vompu lonu atharantha aviralle peelchinaru
vompi vonti sompulanni taagesaru

Aibaboi tagesara? inkemchesaru?

Puttu machala lekketesaru, leni machanu puttincharu
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....
unna kolathalu marchesinaru, rani madathalu rappinchaaru
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

Idhigo foreign ammai, ela undenti mana kurrodi power?

Panchikattu kurrallaloni punch naku telisochindi
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....
puntha kallu laginchetolla strength naku tega nachindi
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

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Neeti bed sarasamante jarru jarru
mulaka manchamante inka kirru kirru
surru manna scene lanni phone lona frnds tho cheppina
Cheppesaventi!!
5star hotel ante gacha bicha
pampu shed matter aithe racho racha
anna mata cheppagane,
ireland, greenland, newzealand, netherland, thailand, finland,
anni land la paapalikada land ayyaru

land ayyara!! mari mememcheyaali?

Hand meeda hand eseyandi
Land kabjaa cheseyandi
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee.....
Hand meeda hand esesthame
Land kabjaa chesesthame

Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....
Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa Ringa reeee....

KARIGELOGA

Karigologa ee kshanam, gadipeyali jeevitham
silaga migile na hrudayam sakshiga
kanulaipoye sagaram, kalalai ponge gnapakam
kalale jaare kanneere cheraga

Gadiche nimisham gaayamai, prathi gaayam o gamyamai
aa gamyam nee guruthuga niliche na prema

Karigologa ee kshanam, gadipeyali jeevitham
silaga migile na hrudayam sakshiga
kanulaipoye sagaram, kalalai ponge gnapakam
kalale jaare kanneere cheraga

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parugulu teesthu alasina o nadhi nenu
iru theerallo deniki cheruva kaanu
niduranu dhaati nadichina o kala nenu
iru kannullo deniki sontham kaanu
Naa preme nestham ainda, na sagam edo prasnaga marinda
nedee bandhaniki perunda, unte vidadeese veelunda

Karigologa ee kshanam, gadipeyali jeevitham
silaga migile na hrudayam sakshiga
kanulaipoye sagaram, kalalai ponge gnapakam
kalale jaare kanneere cheraga

Adiginavanni kaadani panchisthune
marunimisham lo alige pasivadivi le
ne pedavula pai paadani navvulu puvai
nuvvu penchava ne kannetini challi

Saage nee jantanu chusthunte
naa badhanthati andam ga unde
ee kshaname noorelavuthadante
maru janme kshaname chaalanthe

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Karigologa ee kshanam, gadipeyali jeevitham
silaga migile na hrudayam sakshiga
kanulaipoye sagaram, kalalai ponge gnapakam
kalale jaare kanneere cheraga

Gadiche nimisham gaayamai, prathi gaayam o gamyamai
aa gamyam nee guruthuga niliche na prema

MY LOVE IS GONE

My Love is Gone
My Love is Gone
My Love is Gone
My Love is Gone

Poye poye.. love e poye
pothe poinde
its gone,
its gone,
its gone, my love is gone

Poye poye.. ladki poye
pothe poinde
its gone,
its gone,
its gone, my love is gone

Velugantha aaripoye
kadha maaripoye
ika cheekatentho bagunde

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velugantha jaaripoye
nannu veedipoye
ika votamentho bagunde

My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone

e gallaas(glass) pagilipothunde
golusu virigipothunde
gulabi ralipothunde
love pothe poinde

sarassu endipothunde
sogassu virigipothunde
manishi life e pothunde
love pothe poinde

Thalanoppi paaripoye
shrama teeripoye
ika shoonyamentho bagunde
madhinoppi aagipoye
pedavi aagipoye
ika mounamentho baagunde

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My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone

Honest ga unde paniledhe
the best ga unde paniledhe
habits maarche paniledhe
em maarche paniledhe

chemistry kalise paniledhe
Career mariche paniledhe
care of telipe paniledhe
caring tho paniledhe

Preminchi gelichinollu
shaadi jariginollu
illallona miguluthaare
love chesi odinodu
lokaaneluthadu
history lona veluguthaade

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My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone
My Love is gone

THE COST OF CUTTING JOBS

2009-04-07T18:14:00.002+05:30

An Unprecedented Phenomenon

· The astounding number of job cuts in recent times has sent shockwaves around the world.

· Following their below-par performance in 2008, some of the biggest names in the world of business were forced to downsize considerably and this trend is expected to continue for some more time.

· From finance to automobiles, chemicals and consumer products, there is not a single sector that has been spared the ordeal.

· While many companies have been on these rough rides before, there are others that are struggling to cope with the sudden reversal of fortunes.

The Cause

· With the Financial Crisis making its presence felt across the world, most analysts don’t feel the need to search long and hard for the cause of the layoffs.

· But, there are some who question the wisdom of laying the blame entirely on one cause. According to them, the crisis merely exposed the inherent weakness in the methods of working that some companies have adopted for years.

· These faults never showed up as long as the economy was on the way up. They only became evident on the downward spiral.

· To highlight this, experts point out how the crisis has failed to affect companies that work efficiently and whose products have a ready market.

· According to some experts, layoffs are short-term measures at best. In all likelihood, companies are opting for this approach to fulfil their immediate goal of showing the current quarter’s performance in better light.

· But, these stop-gap measures are actually compounding the issue. Companies are, perhaps, forgetting that downsizing will hit their performance; hardly desirable when the performance is heading south anyway. They also think that employees can be hired again when things change for the better, while ignoring the cost involved in doing so.

· In short, it is a vicious cycle. Companies will downsize because they are in trouble and because of downsizing they will continue to slide into trouble.

· Recession also has a habit of feeding on itself. Job losses contribute to weaker consumer spending, which causes the loss of more jobs in sectors like retail.

· Layoffs are not an extraordinary step. In a strong economy, an individual company or even an entire business sector that is not doing well may resort to layoffs to improve their situation. But, in the present scenario, many companies are dumping jobs at the same time. As a result, the economy does not get a chance to recover.

· As mentioned earlier, not all downsizing is due to the economic crisis. Some companies have been forced to adopt harsh methods because of a declining demand for their core product. For example, it is common news that a loss of market for its PCs has hit Microsoft really hard, causing the company to shed jobs.

· But, this decision was also prompted by Microsoft’s desire to diversify into other avenues, a desire that was obvious when it attempted to buy Yahoo a year ago. In fact, Microsoft is planning to hire personnel specializing in other fields to launch a fresh attempt to buy Yahoo. The layoffs are a strategic decision, rather than forced by the economic slump.

The Effects

· Job cuts are usually the last resort, adopted only after other cost-cutting processes, such as reduced wages etc., have failed.

· Companies that opt for job cuts usually have to deal with a lot of underlying problems. Managers need to select and notify employees, a task that is emotionally demanding.

· The period after the layoffs is quite often characterized by a struggle to manage operations.

· The management has to devote time to chalk out new business processes to handle assignments with the downsized staff. The prospect of losing out on important projects because of being understaffed to efficiently handle them is an ever-present danger.

· The management also ends up devoting most of its time to employees who are being laid off and ignoring those who remain. There is little wonder, therefore, that the survivors complain of increased workload, lack of direction and a feeling of being undervalued and unappreciated.

· The organization suffers as it lacks the confidence to take risks. There are increased rifts and differences between employees and an increase in the competition for resources within the organization.

· There is also no reason to believe that the economy will never pullout of its nosedive. Therefore, companies need to be careful not to panic and downsize to such an extent that they lose out on competent people and, thus, fail to capitalize when growth options showup again.

· As odd as it sounds, economic downswings have their uses. They help to eliminate inefficient business practices leaving behind only the best and most competitive.

INDIA'S BATTLE AGAINST THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

2009-04-07T18:03:00.000+05:30

When experts chose to quell fears of the subprime crisis spreading to India, they cited the following reasons.

· India had not invested heavily in US subprime mortgages.

· Lending organizations in India followed a more conservative approach. Zero-interest lending and lending without proper documents were almost unheard of in India.

· The Reserve Bank of India was a strict regulator. At no point did it cut interest rates to near zero, as the Federal Reserve in the US did when the real estate boom was at its peak.

Considering that the situation in India was so different from that in the US, it was only natural for many experts to express a rather optimistic view of the situation.

But, following the collapse of the financial system in the US, the same experts are no longer feeling so smug because there is no doubt that India has taken a hit. One has to only study the dramatic fall of the Sensex from its peak to realize this.

Another indicator of the brewing crisis is the bursting of the housing bubble in some major cities, where home prices are rapidly on the decline.

When Indian monetary policies were supposedly far sounder than the ones that precipitated the subprime crisis in the US, why are we suffering some of the ill effects? Does this mean that the causes of the subprime crisis are not just the ones that are commonly cited, but also some that lie hidden, waiting to bring the global economy to its knees?

The fate of economies around the world is decided by the swings in consumer confidence. Let us explore how the dramatic swings in consumer confidence affected the US economy and then went on to kick the rest of the world in the guts.

· The upswing in the stock market and the subsequent boom in the economy fuelled consumer confidence in the US at the turn of the millennium.

· In turn, the buoyed consumer confidence propped up the economy further. In short, customer confidence and the economy fed off one another.

· Recently, consumer confidence in the US has shown a downward trend. Due to its close links with consumer confidence, the economy is also on its way down.

· The financial trouble brewing in the US has made its presence felt across the globe in the form of drying credit markets.

· Since there is hardly any money available in the markets, there are fewer consumers and a general collapse in prices.

The poor lending practices in the US were also a result of overconfidence in the belief that housing rates would only go up and that, therefore, there was no risk in lending with very little protection. The overconfidence was so high that financial experts failed to recognize the housing bubble they were sitting on.

But, isn’t this something that the US needs to deal with? What has India got to do with it?

India and China are the most spectacularly growing economies in the world today. The fallout is that this tremendous economic boom has raised unrealistic expectations for investments in these countries. There was a time when investing in stocks was considered the best option. But, the poor performance of stock markets across the world has dented this belief. India is no exception. The falling stock market in India has triggered a parallel fall in consumer confidence.

Investing in real estate was always considered a safe bet in India. Like in the US, the belief that housing prices would only head skywards was also firmly entrenched in the minds of Indian investors. People failed to understand that the apparently dramatic difference in the price of a house over the years was mainly due to inflation. They paid little attention to the fact that consumer prices had also shot heavenwards in the same time. Now, with the falling prices of houses around the country, people are beginning to reconsider real estate as a sound investing option. Even here, it is clear how economies are affected by swinging consumer confidence.

Any turbulence in speculative markets like stocks and real estate will affect a rapidly-rising economy like India more than a country with a relatively stable economy. It is in vibrant economies that speculative turbulence wrecks the greatest havoc on traditional thinking.

India is as likely to be affected by the economic crisis, which has the world in its grip, as any other country. Urgent action needs to be taken on lines similar to those being taken in the rest of the world. More regulation needs to be introduced into financial markets and more policies adopted to ensure consumer protection.

ELIMINATE LEADERS OF TERRORIST OUTFITS, LIKE ISRAEL DOES

2009-04-07T17:43:00.000+05:30

Some years ago Indian Expresshad published extracts of the terrorist killer Omar Sheikh's Diary. This was at the time when he was exchanged for the Kandahar hostages, and went on to lead Daniel Pearl to his death. Sheikh's brief from his handler in Sahranpur was to use his British accent to snarea half dozen foreign tourists in India, to be exchanged for captured militants held in Kashmir. The third foreigner captured was an Israeli and when Sheikh went to report his jubilation to his handler, he was roundly abused and told to release the Israeli immediately. The jehadi political agenda in Pakistan does not include tangling with Israel, a hard state. The last full scale war fought by Israel was in 1973, and since then, it has eliminated almost a hundred terrorist leaders, without going to war. There is much we have to learn.

In India, any social scientist, civil servant, politician, TV anchor or film star has an opinion -- on whether India should use force when attacked by terrorists. Force, apparently means going to war, where armoured columns rampage through Pakistan, occupy Islamabad and rule over a capital devastated by aerial bombing. This kind of uninformed opinion is akin to this writer, a military man for 33 years, and a security analyst for 15 more, holding opinions on how to run a TV channel, or make a Bollywood dance number, orhow to solve the child marriage problem in India. Raising the debate on retaliation to a respectable level to permit the professionals to participate without the accompanying noise, would be a worthwhile media venture.

Our retaliation for the Parliament attack, by mobilising for war, was an unmitigated disaster. There are some professionals who hold a contrary view, but the Mumbai attack is proof that we achieved nothing in 2002. The U-turn promised by Musharaf, never took place, because the masters of terror were never restrained. Our enemies are individuals, more than the Pakistani state, especially with a civilian government in place.

There is no record of so many private individuals who have 'waged war' on a country for as long as Hafez Sayed, Azhar Masood, Syed Salahuddin and Dawood Ibrahim have done on India. When Dawood flaunted himself in Dubai, all we did was send a letter to Interpol, in the best traditions of babudom.

To this gang of four we could add their henchman --the operational boss of the LeT, the financier, the computer specialist , the Pakistani major who burnt the Charar-e-sharif mosque and the ISI Colonel who put the Mumbai operation together. Individuals in
Pakistan, who say good byes to their families and go to office every morning to wage war on India, must be eliminated. There are a few ways to do this, as the Americans and Israelis have demonstrated.

One of them is for a car bomb to go off when they start their cars in the morning, put there by 'god knows who'. In many ways this is the neatest. Another is to pick them up while they are on a relaxed foreign trip to Dubai, or Equatorial Guinea or wherever these sickos go to get their highs. Another is for a drone to fire a missile at their armour-plated SUVs when they are listening to Lata Mangeshkar. The Americans specialise in this. Alternately they fire a 250-pound laser guided bomb at their favourite terrorist, who has been illuminated by a laser gun held by 'god knows who'. This method leaves no trace. The best way is for the terrorist to have disappeared when his bearer goes to give him his morning tea, to be rediscovered in India, later.

These are the only ways of waging this war. After the event, we in India can (strike out where inapplicable) act innocent/blame the Taliban/blame internal conflict in the Lashkar/blame the ISI/blame the Americans/Israelis /blame god and make the same statements that the Pakistan foreign minister does: "We don't want war, but if it is forced upon us,we will, by god," etcetera etcetera.

Any lieutenant commander doing his staff college course in Indiais taught that the dumbest option is to have the choice of escalating to be forced upon us. This choice must be left to the other side. Pakistan as a smaller, weaker state will NEVER escalate, beyond a low threshold. But where are the tools to act the way the Israelis or Americans do?

Today we are acutely deficient in all the technologies required. Let Antony whois competing with Fernandez to be the worst defence minister India has had, get one thing right, and direct the three chiefs to put the required capability together in six months. Another attack will surely come.

Focus 09

2009-02-15T13:50:00.000+05:30

Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering
February 26 - 27 2009

EVENTS

VELLUM PRESENTO-Paper Presentation
ENVISION EXPO-Project Presentation
PICK ONE's BRAIN - Quiz
MICK LOCUS - Mock Interview
SHOT GUN - Quiz
FAST N FURIOUS - Gaming
YOV-Your Own Video
STEP 1 2 3POSTRO-Poster Presentation

*Registration required for all events
For registration and further information visitWWW.FOCUS09.COM

IS IT TIME TO CHANGE THE FACE OF TEAM INDIA?

2009-02-11T16:53:00.000+05:30

Stakeholders: Indian Cricket Team, Senior members of the team – Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman (collectively called the Fab Four) and Anil Kumble, the BCCI, cricket fans in India and across the world

Background

· The poor performances of senior members of Team India in recent tours (before Australia’s tour of India) intensified the calls to replace them with younger cricketers. In the wake of this, the BCCI came up with a proposal to ensure dignified exits for these great players who had served the country with distinction for so long.

· The proposal received mixed reactions. Some ex-cricketers insisted that the players should be allowed to decide how long they wished to continue playing. The BCCI also received a lot of flak for the timing of the proposal, coming as it did on the eve of the Australia series.

Key Points

· According to the proposal, senior cricketers could voluntarily approach the board with their future plans and ask to be considered for a specific period of time till a certain series before quitting. Provided the timeframe was not too long, the board was willing to accommodate the players.

· The player’s decision to quit after the timeframe would be made public and they would have to retire irrespective of how they performed.

· This would not only ensure graceful exits for the seniors but also give the BCCI enough time to groom youngsters to step into the shoes of the greats.

· Some ex-cricketers rejected the proposal, saying that it would not work in the Indian context and that it should be left to the players to decide how long to continue.

· Anil Kumble, then Captain of the Test team, denied being pressurized to quit the game on account of his age. He blamed the media for placing players under scrutiny, without respecting their achievements.

· In the midst of all this came Saurav Ganguly’s decision to quit after the Australia series. Though it was on the cards, it still came as a shock. The famed Fab Four that had bolstered the Indian middle order for so long had lost their inspirational captain.

· Ganguly’s decision shifted the focus on to Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble to follow suit.

· Under fire from several quarters for their immature handling of a sensitive issue, the BCCI did a volte-face and denied ever having proposed such a scheme to the senior players. But the damage had already been done and the seniors vs. juniors debate was once again out in the open.

· The below par performance of the seniors in the first test at Bangalore did not help their case much. It only added fuel to the debate.

Why the seniors may want to accept the Proposal

· There are no two opinions about the fact that the seniors deserve a chance to bow out of the game with dignity. With their futures decided, they can play their last few games without undue pressure.

· As great as these players are, they cannot go on forever. The squad needs fresh blood. Youngsters, such as Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma, are biding their time on the benches because there is no place for them in the Indian middle order.

· The performance of the seniors has not been inspiring of late. Their disastrous tour of Sri Lanka, where they fell to the guiles of Murali and Mendis, bears testimony to this fact. The selectors may be forced to take the harsh decision of axing these greats any time now. Tendulkar and Laxman redeemed themselves somewhat with solid performances in the Australia series, but the question of the longevity remains.

· The players will find it difficult to quell allegations that they are holding on to their positions for the sake of records and endorsements. Even Kapil Dev, India’s greatest ever all rounder, was accused of desperately hanging on to break Sir Richard Hadlee’s then record of 431 test wickets.

· With the advent of T20, cricket is increasingly becoming a young man’s game. Even Test cricket is played at a faster pace than before. This requires players to be extremely fit, which is not the case with some of the seniors in the team.

Opposition to the Proposal

· The seniors, especially Tendulkar, have at least two good years of cricket left in them. Older players, like Hayden and Jayasurya, are doing exceptionally well in international cricket.

· The youngsters have not done enough to fill the shoes of these great players. Even Yuvraj Singh, the most accomplished of the lot, has had a patchy test career at best.

· Team India would find it very difficult to bounce back from a situation where a clutch of their most experienced players have retired almost simultaneously. It might be a better idea to follow a rotation policy and blood in some youngsters while still retaining some experience.

· It is unfair to judge players of this caliber on the basis of one poor series.

· The players would know when it is time to hang up their gloves. Considering that they have had such glittering careers, they would be the last to want to spoil it at the very end.

· The proposal would affect the selection procedure. It would virtually ensure that the senior players would be picked even if their performance does not merit them a spot in the final eleven.

INDO-US RELATIONS UNDER BARACK OBAMA

2009-02-11T16:45:00.000+05:30

Stakeholders: India, USA, other countries like Pakistan and China

Background

· The election of Barack Obama as the next President of the US is a historic event. For the first time, an African-American will lead the world’s most powerful nation.

· This event is significant not just to the US but also to the rest of the world because the policies of the US have far reaching effects on global politics and economics.

Key Points

· India and the US have recently buried many of their past differences and have forged ties in various fields. Therefore, political developments in the US are especially significant to India.

· A Democrat government is likely to have a foreign policy significantly different from that of a Republican government. Areas of key interest to India would be the government’s policy on outsourcing, the Indo-US nuclear deal and the war on terror.

· Both the government of India and President George W. Bush pushed hard to get the nuclear deal signed before the term of the current Republican government ended. One of the reasons for the rush was the fear that a Democrat government would not be as supportive of the deal.

· There is a possibility that the economic crisis in the US and the massive loss of jobs may hit the outsourcing industry. A change at the helm of affairs at this point only adds to the uncertainty.

· Like the US, India also figures prominently on the hit list of terrorists. Obama’s policy on terror, especially on Pakistan and Afghanistan, would be of great interest to India.

Is Obama anti-India?

· Obama has often expressed a rather narrow view on outsourcing. In a speech delivered earlier this year, Obama called the loss of jobs due to outsourcing an “act of violence”.

· He has also announced his intentions of negating the tax cuts currently enjoyed by companies that outsource jobs and awarding them instead to companies that created jobs in the US. This could discourage many companies from outsourcing work to India.

· Though Obama voted for the Nuclear Deal, he also introduced an amendment that prevented India from building strategic fuel reserves for its imported nuclear reactors. This amendment was subsequently rejected.

· He also voted in favor of the so-called ‘killer amendments’ which would have made the deal impossible for India.

· Obama’s foreign policy is likely to renew the non-proliferation agenda and the CTBT. It could also lead to some amendments in the Indo-US nuclear deal.

· Joe Biden, Obama’s running mate and the next vice president of the US, has introduced a whopping $7.5 billion economic aid package to Pakistan over five years to improve strategic relations with that country.

· It is believed that Obama may pressurize India to resolve the Kashmir issue to ensure complete cooperation from Pakistan on the war on terror.

· Many people in Obama’s core group of advisers, such as Colin Powell, Richard Holbrooke and Madeline Albright have decidedly been hostile to India in the past. Some of them are touted to figure in Obama’s cabinet.

· Unlike Bush, Obama does not think of India as a global power. His attention would be more focused on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

· The Bush administration saw India as a counter to the growing threat of China. Obama is likely to be more open to the sensitivities of China and Pakistan. This could slow down the growth of relations between India and the US.

Why Obama could be good for India

· Like the two presidents before him, Obama also thinks that it is only natural for the world’s largest and oldest democracies to be allies. He understands that both countries are affected by international terrorism and plans to increase US military cooperation with India.

· There is a strong possibility that the Obama administration could include many Republicans. So, it is unlikely that Washington’s policies towards New Delhi would change dramatically.

· The growing relations between the US and India is an acknowledgement of the progress India has made, rather than a reflection of the policies of individual administrations. This is unlikely to change.

· Obama believes that Afghanistan and Pakistan are central to the war against the Al Qaeda. His administration will redouble the war efforts in these countries.

· Following up on his tough stance against Pakistan, Obama is likely to make military aid to that country conditional to its commitment to the war against terror and Al Qaeda.

· Obama has accused Pakistan of misusing the aid provided by the US to fight the war on terror to prepare for a war on India.

· Obama has indicated that he would not shy away from striking inside Pakistan to take out Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorist camps.

· He also supports democracy and socioeconomic development in Pakistan. Stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan is good for India.

INDIA’S NEXT PRIME MINISTER

2009-02-11T16:27:00.000+05:30

Stakeholders: Government of India, various political parties

Run-up to Elections 2009

· With the elections just a few months away, the race between the top contenders is heating up.

· The era of coalition politics is far from over, and for that very reason it is impossible to accurately predict which group of allies will come into power at the centre.

· In spite of the uncertainty hanging over the final outcome, a few prominent names are being discussed as potential prime ministerial candidates.

· In this article, we take a quick look at the prospects of these candidates and the parties they represent.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Party: Congress (I), Alliance: United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

In Favour:

· Dr. Singh is widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reforms. The amazing growth that India has witnessed over the last few years is a result of these economic reforms.

· He has a reputation for honesty and integrity that transcends party boundaries.

· The signing of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal is one of the major achievements of Dr. Singh’s career as prime minister. To get the deal through, he even disregarded the opinions of his coalition partners, the Left Parties. This bold move earned Dr. Singh a lot of praise for promoting matters of national interest even when the fate of his government was at stake.

· After five years at the helm, Dr. Singh is a seasoned player of the coalition politics game.

· He is an acknowledged financial wizard. At a time when the world is going through a financial crisis of epic proportions, his experience at the top would be more than handy.

Against:

· Dr. Singh’s elevation to the top job came rather unexpectedly, after Congress President Sonia Gandhi pulled out of the race following uproar over her foreign origins. Unfortunately, he has never been completely able to step out of Ms. Gandhi’s shadow.

· The government has been unable to keep inflation in check. The rising prices of essential commodities could mean a dip in the popularity of the UPA. As head of the government, Dr. Singh will have to bear some of the brunt.

· The successful signing of the Nuclear Deal will not guarantee the UPA the votes of the rural populace, which has little interest in such matters and whose main concern will be the government’s inability to reign in the prices. So, the Nuclear Deal may not exactly be the trump card the Congress can bank on.

· Voters tend to lose confidence in incumbent governments. This anti-incumbency factor is something the Congress will have to guard against.

· At 76, Dr. Singh is not getting any younger. Recently, he underwent heart bypass surgery. This has raised concerns about his ability to lead the country for another term.

· The Mumbai terror attacks have exposed chinks in the security system of the country. This will have an adverse impact on the government and may become a major poll plank for the opposition.

· There are factions within the party which may promote Rahul Gandhi, a General Secretary of the Congress and a scion of the illustrious Nehru-Gandhi clan, as a likely candidate. This is considered by analysts as an indication of Dr. Singh’s diminishing influence over the party.

L.K. Advani, Party: BJP, Alliance: National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

In Favour:

· L.K. Advani is a seasoned campaigner. He has had experience at the top, having been deputy prime minister and home minister in the previous NDA government.

· He is a known hardliner. This will endear him to certain segments of the electorate.

· Though the economic reforms were introduced by a Congress government, the rapidest growth India achieved was under the NDA government. This will work in favour of L.K. Advani, especially when the economy is showing signs of applying the breaks.

· The BJP’s expected victory in Gujarat and its incredible win in the Karnataka by-elections have been a tremendous boost for the party in its race to the 2009 elections. Being the MP from Gandhi Nagar, L.K. Advani can take some of the credit for the party’s super show in Gujarat.

· In the absence of a reasonably sound political issue, the anti-incumbency factor will work in the BJP’s favour. The BJP would also want to portray the security lapse that resulted in the Mumbai terror attacks as a failure of the government.

Against:

· L.K. Advani is 81 years old. His age may prevent him from connecting with the youth of the country, who form a major part of the electorate.

· His Hindu hardliner image, which, incidentally, Advani is trying hard to shed, will not go down well with secular Hindus and people from other communities.

· He will find it difficult to live down his image as one of the instigators of the Babri Masjid demolition.

· The BJP got voted into power on the promise that it would build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Having failed to live up to its expectations, the party may have lost the support of Hindu hardliners.

· The BJP lost quite a bit of support when it failed to vote with the government on the Nuclear Deal. A lot of urban voters will have this in mind when they step out to vote on Election Day.

· Advani’s remarks on Jinnah during a personal visit to Pakistan, triggered uproar within the BJP. He lost the post of Party President to Rajnath Singh. This is perhaps an indication of his lack of popularity within his own party.

· The announcement of his candidacy came as a huge surprise to many. Coming as it did on the eve of the elections in Gujarat, many dismissed it as an attempt by the BJP to influence voters or a method to keep Gujarat C.M. Narendra Modi out of the race for the post of the Prime Minister.

The Dark Horses in the Race

While Dr. Manmohan Singh and L.K. Advani may be the prime contenders for the top job in 2009, there are some dangerous floaters out there who could upset the apple cart at anytime. This has never been truer than at present, given the uncertainty of coalition politics.

Rahul Gandhi, Party: Congress (I), Alliance: UPA

In Favour:

· The Gandhi surname still matters in India, at least among the masses. It is not surprising therefore, that Rahul Gandhi has his share of supporters in the Congress Party. These are mainly old party loyalists who have served the party from the times of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and retain a fair amount of clout in party matters.

· Youth is Rahul Gandhi’s biggest USP. It is an advantage that the two candidates considered previously will never have.

· The Congress would want to project Gandhi’s youthfulness against Advani’s advancing years in the run-up to the elections.

· Comparison with his father, the late Rajiv Gandhi, will also work for Rahul Gandhi. In a country where sentiment can work wonders, this will only be in his favour.

· Rahul Gandhi could do for the Congress what Obama did for the Democrats in the US – present a fresh face and vision to negate the issues of terrorism and inflation that the opposition is sure to throw at the government.

· After being elected to the Parliament from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi went on a tour of rural India with an intention of connecting with the masses. This is being seen as an important part of his training to assume the leadership of the country.

Against:

· While youth is Rahul Gandhi’s undisputed USP, it is also his bane. His lack of experience may prove a decisive factor in his party’s performance at the elections.

· India is going through turbulent times. The country’s relationship with Pakistan is at its lowest in many years and a war-like situation might emerge at anytime. At this time, the country may prefer to have an experienced hand at the helm. This, again, could be detrimental to the Congress’ chances at the election.

· While old hands in the Congress may be all for dynastic politics, a majority of the electorate may not be too keen to be led by an inexperienced person, whose current claim to fame is just his surname.

· Projecting Rahul Gandhi as a prime ministerial candidate would require the consent of the other members of the UPA. Having a consensus on this is never an easy task in a coalition.

Mayawati, Party: BSP

In Favour:

· In case of a hung parliament and post-election alliances, UP Chief Minister Mayawati has a great chance to become Prime Minister.

· Mayawati’s declared agenda is the uplift of the Dalits. As such, she does not have any strict ideology and is therefore acceptable to the leftist Congress, the right wing BJP and the Left Front.

· If a Dalit woman were to rise to the highest position of power in our political system, it would enhance India’s reputation as an empowering democracy.

· Due to ideological differences, the Left Front will never side with the BJP. The recent disagreement over the Nuclear Deal has fractured the Left Front’s relations with the Congress as well. This means that the Congress, the BJP and the Left Front will need the support of the BSP to form the government.

· The BSP may not win a lot of seats, but whatever number it wins will be crucial. There are not many who doubt that she will play the role of King-maker, but there are also those who believe that Mayawati may demand to be made Prime Minister in return for her support.

· The fact that the BSP may not win a significant number of seats should not be a deterrent because there are many instances of people becoming the Prime Minister in spite of not having the backing of numbers. Some names that come to mind are H.D. Deve Gowda, Chandrashekhar and I.K.Gujral.

· The BSP has the unique advantage of having a clear majority in the UP assembly. This means that for five years, Mayawati cannot be ousted. This has given her enough time to concentrate on the national front.

· The fact that the BSP has won 10 out of the last 11 by-elections means that Mayawati is living up to her promises.

Against:

· In June 2008, Mayawati pulled out of the UPA citing the government’s anti-people policies and inability to control inflation as the reasons. This came at a time when the UPA was battling the Left over the Nuclear Deal. This action of Mayawati may make other parties wary of aligning with the BSP.

· Her complete lack of ideology indicates that she will not hesitate to pull the rug from under the feet of her alliance partners and jump boats midstream.

· There are allegations of corruption levelled against Mayawati. One such scandal was the Taj Corridor project, wherein the Mayawati government started construction around the Taj without proper clearance from the environment ministry.

· Mayawati has also been accused of ordering the BSP MPs to illegally divert their funds to the party-fund.

· Mayawati also stands accused of forcibly collecting funds for her birthday. Recently, a PWD engineer was allegedly killed by a BSP MLA because he refused to contribute Rs. 5,00,000 as a gift for Mayawati's Birthday.

More Links:

· Next PM: Mayawati has the best chance

· The BJP Dilemma

MGIT Hyderabad

2009-02-08T15:40:00.000+05:30

Qubitrix 09
feb 13th & 14th

Events:

1. CA'TECH'IZATION
2. PAPER PRESENTATION
3. TECHNO QUINPURPLEX
4. ONLINE TREASURE HUNT
5. POSTER PRESENTATION
6. LAN GAMING
7. CODING & DEBUGGING

CA'TECH'IZATION:

CA'TECH'IZATION(Technical Quiz)- The name tells it all ! This is a stage where students are 'QUIZED' to expose the technical world and explode the Intellectual.

Stage 1: Prelims.
A Questionnaire to be filled by the participants. Eight teams will be selected from the screening (two members per team).

Stage 2: Sessions.
Four Sessions, five teams will be eliminated in first three Sessions. The teams having the lowest scores are eliminated.

Session I : Catch me if u can (RAPIDFIRE).

Session II : Test your IQ's (GENERAL ROUND).

Session III :What's wrong with Logos / Catch line (VISUAL ROUND) .

Session IV : Full and final (FINALS).

Paper Presentation:

Topics to paper presentation:

a. Software Engineering
b. Digital Image Processing
c. Nano Technology
d. Aritificial Intelligence and Neural Networks
e. Computer Networks and Network Security.
f. Data Mining and Warehousing
g. Embedded Systems
h. Any other topic released to CSE & IT.

Last date to submit paper 09-02-2009.
with cash :250/- DD: 200/-

for giving paper through DD, papers must be sent along with DD of Rs.200/- per paper draw in favour of convener,qubit,department of CSE,MGIT.
NOTE: Papers can be submitted on 08-02-2009(sunday) also.

Techno Quinpurplex:

A technical event where the students are given an opportunity to witness an interview. Five teams will be selected from the screening process.

There will be five different hurdles as mentioned below.

1. Mock CAT
2. Technical Pictionary
3. Collage
4. Group Discussion
5. HR Round

Online Treasure Hunt:

Teams are given a clue, on searching for the clue they come across a website, which has a hidden clue leading to another website and the chain continues. The team completing the chain fastest is declared winner.

Registrations on the spot
WIN EXCITING CASH PRIZES
For Queries:-
Contact
1. UMA SHANKER - 9000001908
2. NAVEEN -9885550488

Poster Presentation:

Stage 1: Prelims

The participants have to give in a concise abstract about the topic they choose in addition to a soft copy of their poster.

Stage 2: Finals

The participants whose papers have been selected must present their posters in front of a panel of esteemed judges and answer queries. They will be graded on their performance in the above two rounds.

Note: Participants are required to bring their own material.

LAN GAMING:

All of you can finally give vent to your irresistible urge to play day in and day out. Games like FIFA, CS and NFS would just keep you enthralled all throughout.
In all, a perfect place to enjoy yourselves to the core !!!.

EVENTS MAX No. of Players

1. NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED 5
2. NEED FOR SPEED UNDERGROUND-2 5
3. COUNTER STRIKE V1.6 16
4. FIFA 08 2
5. HAL0 16
6. QUAKE-3 16
7. TEKKER 2
8. UNREAL TOURNAMENT 10
Registration on the spot
WIN EXCITING CASH PRIZES
FOR Queries:-
Contatct
1. UMA SHANKER -9000001908
2. NAVEEN-9885550488

Coding & Debugging:

Stage 1: Prelims

A written test to assess the capabilities of the registered teams. Ten teams will be selected from the screening.

Stage 2: Finals

Sequence of online coding puzzles, to be solved by the participating teams; the team that solves all problems fastest is pronounced the winner.

For more details, visit http://www.mgit.ac.in/qubitrix/index.html

2009-02-08T15:15:00.000+05:30

I think these links help u alot

Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Some One

Part 1
http://rapidshare.com/files/128907577/Five_point_someone__1-5_.rar

Part2
http://rapidshare.com/files/128907578/Five_point_someone_6-10_.rar

Part 3

http://rapidshare.com/files/131146186/chetan_part_3.zip

Part 4
http://rapidshare.com/files/131183111/part_4.zip

Part 5
http://rapidshare.com/files/132263259/Part_5_20-23_.zip

ONE NIGHT @ CALL CENTER
http://rapidshare.com/files/134124061/One_Night_At_The_Call_Center.rar

DAN BROWN's famous books

The Da Vinci Code
http://rapidshare.com/files/131991062/Da_Vinci_Code.zip

Digital Fortress

http://rapidshare.com/files/131993013/Digital.zip
Deception Point
http://rapidshare.com/files/131992511/Deception.rar
Angels & Demons
http://rapidshare.com/files/131991750/Angel.zip

Lord Of The Rings
The first part of the lord of the rings The fellowship of the ring
http://rapidshare.com/files/128830846/Lord_of_the_ring_fellowship.zip

The second part of the Lord Of The Rings And The Two Towers
http://rapidshare.com/files/128831269/Lord_of_the_rings_the_two_towers.zip

The third part of the Lord Of The Rings The Return Of The King
http://rapidshare.com/files/128831633/Lord_of_the_rings_the_return_of_the_king.zip

''The Hobbit, or There and Back Again'' http://rapidshare.com/files/131131802/The_Hobbit.zip

The Silmarillion
http://rapidshare.com/files/131539616/JRRTTS.rar

My Mission

2009-02-08T02:19:00.001+05:30

I believe an Amazing Idea is also Worthless If there is no one to Try it Out.

If there is no one to Initiate, there would be Nothing that will Change.

If there is no one to Encourage, a Biggest Leap will just become a Smallest Step.

If there is no one to Follow, the Brightest Road will be nothing more than an Abandoned Path.

For Queries...

2009-02-08T01:54:00.008+05:30

If you have any queries about the infomation posted in this blog, just mail me on krrish.arjun@gmail.com . I am very happy to assist you.

Do U Fear of 13..?

2009-02-07T21:50:00.000+05:30

The fear of number 13 is called TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA.
There were thirteen people at Christ's Last Supper before his Crucification.
Routine mission to the moon goes drastically wrong on Apollo 13.
Some hotels skip number thirteen when numbering rooms.
In Formula 1, there is no car with the number 13.

Some Facts

2009-02-07T21:42:00.000+05:30

It is a common mistake to say that The Great wall of China is visible from outer space. It is too thin to be noticed from such a great distance.
Only Two Man Made Structures are visible from space: The Pyramids of Giza and the Hoover Dam.
In Dubai, there is no Income Tax or Personal Tax.
Eighty percent of Dubai residents are Foreigners.
Burj Dubai will become the World's Tallest Building along with the World's Tallest Man-made Structure when it is completed.
The monkey has two BRAINs. One to control it's body, the other to control it's tail.
People born in the month of December are destined to be proeperous, come what may. Atleast more prosperous than the rest.