Wondering 4 All

Average wake-up time:

2024-03-10T21:35:00.004+05:30

Average wake-up time:

South Africa - 6:24 AM Colombia - 6:31 AM Costa Rica - 6:38 AM Indonesia - 6:55 AM Japan - 7:09 AM Mexico - 7:09 AM Australia - 7:13 AM United States - 7:20 AM Sweden - 7:21 AM Germany - 7:25 AM Philippines - 7:28 AM Brazil - 7:31 AM Canada - 7:33 AM United Kingdom - 7:33 AM India - 7:36 AM South Korea - 7:38 AM Malaysia - 7:41 AM China - 7:42 AM UAE - 7:43 AM France - 7:51 AM Italy - 7:52 AM Türkiye - 8:02 AM Spain - 8:05 AM Saudi Arabia - 8:27 AM According to the World Population Review

Most world heritage sites by Country

2024-03-04T00:38:00.003+05:30

Most world heritage sites: Italy: 59 China: 57 Germany: 52 France: 52 Spain: 50 India: 42 Mexico: 35 UK: 33 Russia: 31 Iran: 27 Japan: 25 US: 25 Brazil: 23 Canada: 22 Turkey: 21 Australia: 20 Greece: 19 Poland: 17 Portugal: 17 Czechia: 17 Belgium: 16 South Korea: 16 Sweden: 15 Peru: 13 Switzerland: 13 Netherlands: 13 Austria: 12 Argentina: 12 Denmark: 11 Ethiopia: 11 Bulgaria: 10 Croatia: 10 Indonesia: 10 South Africa: 10

Good Source of Poly Unsaturated fats

2024-03-03T22:32:00.000+05:30

Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) are essential fats that our bodies need for various functions. They are considered "good" fats because they can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease when consumed in moderation. Some excellent sources of polyunsaturated fats include:

1. **Fatty Fish**: Fish like salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat. These fats are particularly beneficial for heart health.

2. **Flaxseeds and Chia Seeds**: These seeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid. They can be sprinkled on salads, yogurt, or blended into smoothies.

3. **Walnuts**: Walnuts are another source of ALA, along with other beneficial nutrients like protein and fiber.

4. **Soybeans and Soy Products**: Soybeans are rich in polyunsaturated fats, particularly omega-6 fatty acids. Foods like tofu, tempeh, and edamame are excellent sources.

5. **Sunflower Seeds and Sunflower Oil**: These contain linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for health. However, it's important to consume them in moderation as excessive omega-6 intake can lead to inflammation if not balanced with omega-3 intake.

6. **Corn Oil**: Corn oil is high in polyunsaturated fats, particularly linoleic acid.

7. **Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil**: These contain polyunsaturated fats, primarily omega-6 fatty acids, and can be used in cooking or as a flavoring.

8. **Safflower Oil**: Like sunflower oil, safflower oil is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid.

9. **Pumpkin Seeds**: Pumpkin seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated fats, particularly omega-6 fatty acids.

10. **Almonds**: While almonds are primarily known for their monounsaturated fat content, they also contain polyunsaturated fats in smaller amounts.

Incorporating these foods into your diet can help ensure you're getting an adequate intake of polyunsaturated fats, which are important for overall health and well-being. Remember to balance your fat intake with other essential nutrients and maintain a varied diet for optimal health benefits.

Unveiling the Mysteries: 7 Unknown Facts About Bitcoin

2024-03-01T01:01:00.007+05:30

Bitcoin, the pioneer of cryptocurrencies, has captured the imagination of investors, technologists, and curious minds alike. While many are familiar with its role in revolutionizing finance, there are lesser-known facets of this digital currency waiting to be explored. Join me as we unravel seven intriguing and often overlooked facts about Bitcoin.

Satoshi Nakamoto: The Enigmatic Creator
1. Bitcoin was introduced to the world in 2008 by an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Despite widespread speculation, the true identity of Nakamoto remains unknown to this day, adding an aura of mystery to Bitcoin's origins.
Limited Supply: The 21 Million Cap
1. Unlike traditional fiat currencies, which can be endlessly printed by central banks, Bitcoin operates on a fixed supply schedule. The protocol dictates that only 21 million bitcoins will ever exist, making it a deflationary asset and a hedge against inflation.
Lost Bitcoins: Digital Treasure Hunt
1. It's estimated that a significant portion of bitcoins mined in the early days of the cryptocurrency's existence are inaccessible or lost forever. Whether due to forgotten passwords, discarded hard drives, or untimely deaths, these "lost bitcoins" contribute to the scarcity of the digital currency.
Pizza Day: A Delicious Milestone
1. May 22, 2010, marks a significant moment in Bitcoin history known as "Pizza Day." On this day, Laszlo Hanyecz famously paid 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas, making it the first documented real-world transaction involving the cryptocurrency. Today, those bitcoins would be worth millions of dollars.
The Silk Road Saga: Bitcoin's Dark Side
1. Bitcoin's early years were marred by its association with illicit activities on the infamous dark web marketplace, Silk Road. While the platform was eventually shut down by authorities, its role in popularizing Bitcoin as a medium of exchange for illegal goods and services cannot be ignored.
Halving Events: Supply Shock Catalysts
1. Approximately every four years, the rate at which new bitcoins are issued is halved in an event known as the "halving." These halving events are designed to curb inflation and ensure the gradual release of bitcoins into circulation. Historically, they have been followed by significant price rallies due to supply constraints.
Quantum Threat: Bitcoin's Achilles Heel?
1. While Bitcoin's cryptographic security has proven resilient to traditional hacking attempts, the advent of quantum computing poses a potential threat to its security model. Quantum computers could theoretically break the cryptographic algorithms underlying Bitcoin, leading to concerns about its long-term viability.

Conclusion: As we conclude our exploration of these lesser-known facts about Bitcoin, it's clear that the world of cryptocurrency is as enigmatic as it is revolutionary. From its mysterious creator to its limited supply and historical milestones, Bitcoin continues to captivate the imagination of curious minds around the globe. Whether you're a seasoned investor or a curious observer, there's always more to discover about the fascinating world of Bitcoin.

Number of hospitals worldwide (2019):

2024-03-01T00:48:00.004+05:30

Colombia (10,899) Japan (8,238) United States (6,090)* Mexico (4,909) Korea (4,106) Germany (3,006) France (2,989) United Kingdom (1,921) Turkey (1,534) Australia (1,354)* Poland (1,237) Italy (1,065) Spain (771) Canada (702) Netherlands (618) Chile (347) Switzerland (276) Greece (270)* Austria (267) Czech Republic (263) Finland (249) Portugal (241) Hungary (163) Belgium (163) New Zealand (159) Slovak Republic (132) Ireland (86) Israel (84) Lithuania (78) Latvia (60) Costa Rica (44) Slovenia (29) Estonia (29) Luxembourg (10) Iceland (8) *Data is from 2019 as 2020 figures were not available for these countries.

People in prison:

2024-03-01T00:46:00.004+05:30

United States — 1,767,200 China — 1,690,000 Brazil — 835,643 India — 554,034 Russia — 433,006 Turkey — 336,315 Indonesia — 275,518 Thailand — 262,319 Mexico — 232,230 Iran — 189,000 South Africa — 151,755 Egypt — 120,000 Argentina — 114,074 Pakistan — 87,712 Bangladesh — 81,156 Poland — 78,102 Nigeria — 77,684 France — 73,080 Saudi Arabia — 68,056 Venezuela — 67,200 Italy — 57,320 Germany — 56,557 Spain — 55,095 South Korea — 52,940 Japan — 45,714 Australia — 41,155 Canada — 32,261 Israel — 14,961 Portugal — 12,623 Netherlands — 11,447 Belgium — 11,326 Greece — 10,723 UAE — 9,862 Singapore — 9,536 Austria — 8,798 Sweden — 7,713 Switzerland — 6,445 Denmark — 4,248 Norway — 2,975 Finland — 2,827 Luxembourg — 685 Seychelles — 362 Monaco — 14 Liechtenstein — 12 Vatican — 0 According to the World Prison Brief

Countries with more sheeps than humans:

2024-02-28T01:14:00.001+05:30

Several countries around the world have more sheep than humans, often due to their extensive agricultural landscapes and traditional sheep farming practices. Here are a few countries where the sheep population surpasses the human population:

Australia

New Zealand

Mauritania

Iceland

Ireland

Namibia

Uruguay

Wales

Mongolia

These are just a few examples of countries where sheep outnumber humans, highlighting the importance of sheep farming in various parts of the world and the unique relationship between humans and sheep throughout history.

Unveiling Luxury: Exploring the World's Most Expensive Cars

2024-02-28T01:10:00.005+05:30

In the realm of automotive engineering, where innovation meets luxury, a select few cars stand out not only for their performance but also for their jaw-dropping price tags. These marvels of engineering represent the pinnacle of automotive craftsmanship, pushing the boundaries of design, technology, and exclusivity. Join us on a journey as we unveil the world's most expensive cars, where each machine is a work of art in its own right.

1)Bugatti La Voiture Noire: Topping the list is the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, a masterpiece of automotive design with a price tag of a staggering $18.68 million. This one-of-a-kind hypercar pays homage to the legendary Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic and features a quad-turbo W16 engine, delivering an unparalleled driving experience wrapped in sheer opulence.

This extraordinary machine represents the pinnacle of automotive excellence, where craftsmanship, technology, and luxury converge to create automotive works of art. While most of us may only dream of owning one of these rare and exotic cars, they serve as a testament to the boundless creativity and innovation of the automotive industry, inspiring future generations of car enthusiasts and engineers alike.

Antilia - Most Expensive Home in the World

2014-03-24T14:22:00.000+05:30

Antilia - skyscraper is reported to be the most expensive home in the world and includes a staff of 600 to maintain the residence.

India's richest man Mukesh Ambani's home Antilia has been the subject of great intrigue nationally as well as internationally. Its construction began in 2005 and ended in 2010. Antilia, where Ambani lives with his wife Nita and three children, cost an estimated $1 billion to build.

We have compiled some interesting facts about the Ambani residence, reportedly the world's most expensive home:

-- Antilia borrows its name from a mythical island in the Atlantic. It has 27 storeys spread over a total area of 4,00,000 square foot. Some floors have extra-high ceilings. As a result, Antilia is taller than regular 27-storeyed structures.

-- Antilia is 173 meters High, i.e around 568 ft tall.

-- It is located on Altamount Road in Mumbai, which is not only India's but one of the world's toniest addresses.

-- It has six levels that exclusively serve as parking space. They can comfortably accommodate 168 cars. For those who wish to be airdropped, Antilia has three helipads on the roof.

-- An army of nearly 600 staff members is entrusted with the upkeep and maintenance of the Ambani residence.

-- Apparently, it has been built in such a manner that it can withstand an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter Scale.

-- Antilia has a number of terraces, a ballroom and a theatre that can seat 50.

-- Further adorning Antilia are terrace gardens, a spa, a swimming pool and a temple.

-- The top floors of Antilia serve as the Ambani family's living quarters, making it an elevated home.

-- The dominant motifs in the home are that of the lotus and the sun.

How to Save Your Business From Gmail Outage

2013-05-13T15:15:00.000+05:30

For those who rely on Google’s e-mail for business, it can be a tough situation when the service goes down. On Monday, Gmail services were down for many. This is the second time this month. Before you go on Twitter and vent, make sure your business isn’t affected by the outage. Here are some simple things to try so you can stay up when everyone else is down.

1.Use Desktop/ Mobile Clients

Sometimes during an outage you can still access your Gmail through a desktop or mobile client. This is probably your best bet. All the older e-mails will be stored locally on your computer and can be accessed using the client. New mails will also come through in most cases.

2.Try Squadmail

The folks at Squadmail have a simple solution. Here’s what you need to do. Create a backup e-mail address and add that to SquadMail. Now add the backup account to all your SquadFolders which is synced across services. More here.

3. Use the offline Gmail app

The Gmail offline app is a Chrome app that can be used to deal with e-mail even without an Internet connection. You can use your Gmail when you lose your connection by clicking the Gmail Offline in a new tab within your Chrome browser. More here.

4. Setup Mail forwarding

Setup mail forwarding to your secondary e-mail address which you can use as a backup. This must be from a different service provider such as Yahoo. In most cases, even when Gmail is down, mail forwarding will work. Check how to do that here.

Note: These are very simple hacks and may not work all the time. But it sure is worth a shot. If you have tried or come across interesting hacks to this problem, do share with others in the comments section.

10 Things Your Dog Would Tell You

2012-08-08T13:19:00.000+05:30

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful: remember that before you get me.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial to my well being.

4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock me up as punishment.
5. You have your work, your entertainment,and your friends. I only have you.
6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understands your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me.
7. Be aware that how ever you treat me, I will never forget.
8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I love you.
9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative,obstinate,or

lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I might not be getting the right food, or I have been out too long, or my heart is getting to old and weak.
10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I cannot bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there, even my death. ♥...!!

To Public Service.

2012-08-03T12:15:00.000+05:30

આજે રક્ષાબંધનનો તહેવાર ખૂબ ધામ ધૂમથી ઉજવ્યો,
પણ આજે આમ કંઇક અલગથી જ સવારે એક દશ્ય એવું જોયું ને કે સાલું દીલથી આ લોકોને સલામ કરવાનું મન થઇ ગયું...!!!

હવે વાત એમ છે ને કે

આજે સવારે જ્યારે હું મારી બહેનને લઇને મારા કાકાનાં છોકરાને ઘરે શીવરંનજની ચાર રસ્તા(અમદાવાદ) પાસે જતો હતો,ત્યારે રસ્તામાં હેલમેટ સર્કલ પાસે પંચર પડ્યું...

એટલે મેં ત્યાં BRTS નાં સ્ટેન્ડ પાસે બાઇક પાર્ક કરી દીધું અને BRTS માં ગયો...પણ બસમાં બેઠા પછી મેં જોયું કે ડ્રાઇવરનાં હાથે તો રાખડી જ નતી,મનેં એમકે એમને કોઇ બહેન નથી,પણ પછી મેં એમને પૂછ્યું તો મને ડ્રાઇવર કે

"મિત્ર,અમારેય રક્ષાબંધન તો ઉજવી છે,પણ જો અમે આજે રજા રાખીશું તો કેટલીય બહેનો પોતાનાં ભાઇનાં ઘરે સરળતાથી જઇ નહીં શકે અમે તો શું રાત્રે પણ ઉજવી લઇશું પણ અમારા લીધે કેટલીય બહેનો પોતાનાં ભાઇથી દૂર રહી જાય એ અમને નઇ પોશાય...!!!"

હવે વિચાર કરો કે આ ડ્રાઇવર ભાઇ સવારે ૭ થી ૧૦ વાગ્યા સુધી બસ ચલાવી ને છેલ્લે એની બહેનનાં હાથે રાખડી બંધાવશે...!!!

જરા વિચાર તો કરો કે એ બહેન ને કેટલી રાહ જોવી પડતી હશે પોતાનાં ભાઇ માટે...!!!

એટલે આપણ ને તો બોસ આ વાત જાણીને એટલું ગર્વ થાય છે ને કે ધન્ય છે આ BRTS,AMTS અને પોલીસ જવાનો ને જે ખડે પગે હંમેશા આપણી સેવામાં હોય છે...!!!

મિત્રો પોસ્ટ ગમે તો Share કરવાનું ભૂલશો નહીં...
એમાં શું છે ને કે Share એટલાં માટે ને કે તમારા મિત્રો પણ આ પોસ્ટ ને જાણી ને ગર્વ લઇ શકે...!!!
તો ઠોકો Share અને Like...!!!

ઓરીજીનલ પોસ્ટ (સૌજન્ય) : "કોલેજના કાલરીયા"

Are We Moving Towards MTV??

2012-07-31T12:36:00.000+05:30

रघु राजीव और रणविजय....
नाम तो सुने होँगे?
चैनल बदलते वक़्त यदि दो टकलो के बीच मे एक बालो वाला सुअर आपको दिख जाए तो समझिए यही है वे तीन नालायक़!

शो मेँ इनके बर्ताव से लगता है जैसे किसी अरबपति कि औलादे हो या फिर बॉलीवुड के टॉप स्टार्स जिसके प्रभाव से युवा पीढ़ी इनकी तरफ आकर्षित हो रही है और इन जैसा tough, smart, sucessfull बनना चाहती है
तो आइए पहले रोडीज़ के जजोँ को ठीक से जान ले|

रघु रामालिंगम अथवा रघु राम और जुड़वाँ भाई राजीव लक्ष्मण-

रघु आंध्रप्रदेश में जन्मा और दिल्ली में पला बढ़ा, इसकी और इसके जुड़वाँ भाई राजीव लक्ष्मण कि कहानी एक सी है, दोनो ही अनपढ़ है, जाहिल है , गवांर है और भी ना जाने क्या क्या....
दोनों भाई ने उत्तराखंड के एक विध्यालय से अपनी पढ़ाई पूरी कि पढ़ाई में कमजोर होने कि वजह से इन्होने अपने भविष्य कि कोई रूप रेखा नहीं बनायी थी इस वजह से 12वी के बाद कौन सा कोर्स चुने यह फैसला भी नहीं कार पाए, और जहां भी दाखिला मिला ले लिया पहले वर्ष इन दोनों ने देशबन्धु कोलेज में दाखिला लिया वहा पढ़ाई पूरी नहीं हुई और दूसरे वर्ष दोनों ही ने श्री वेंकटेश्वरा कॉलेज में दाखिला लिया शायद दिल्ली के बड़े बड़े कॉलेज कि पढ़ाई और high-profile लोगो के बीच दोनों तालमेल नहीं बैठा पाये और कॉलेज कि डिग्री पूरी होने से एक साल पहले ही इन्होंने पढ़ाई का त्याग कर दिया
रघु ने tv एंकर के पद के लिए लोगो के सामने हाथ फैलने शुरु कर दिए थे करते भी क्या.. पढ़ाई नहीं कि तो फिर भीख ही माँगनी थी.. रघु ने इण्डियन आइडल में भी गाने कि कोशिश की थी पर वहा से इसको बाहर निकाल दिया गया, फिर Mtv में रघु को कुछ कम मिल गया|
स्टार नहीं बना है सिर्फ़ काम मिला है!
2 घटिया सीरियल और 2 फ़िल्म में छोटा सा रोल और थोड़ी पहचान बनने पर इसने अपने भाई को भी रोडीज़ में काम दिलाया यह दोनों भाई अभीतक struggler के रुप में काम करते है शो पर इनकी बढ़ती बदतमीजी के कारण और अश्लील भाषा के प्रयोग के चलते पिछले वर्ष रघु को ABVP वालोँ ने सड़क पर रोक कर मार पीट की और इसका मुँह काला काला कर के छोड़ दिया था पर इन्हे सबक नहीं मिला....

रणविजय सिंह सिंगल -

MTV रोडीज़ के पहले संस्करण में आखरी पाये तक पहुँच कर और फिर उसी शो में जज कि कुर्सी पर बैठ कर इसने हजारों युवाओं को पथभ्रष्ट कर यह संदेश पहुँचाया है के मेहनतना करो गन्दे बनो बदतमीजी करो तो एक दिन ऐसे किसी मुकाम पर पहुँच जाओगे और अन्धे युवा इसके पीछे हो लिए
जालंधर के सिख परिवार में पैदा हुआ इसके पिता और दादा भारटिया थल सेना में थे और छोटा भाई भारतीय जल सेना में अपनी सेवाये दे रहा था तब इस नीच ने MTV जॉइन कर के अपने परिवार के गौरवशाली इतिहास पर पानि फेर दिया और सिर्फ़ इतना ही नहीं इसने मायानगरी की रंगिनियत दिखा कर अपने छोटे भाई को भी देश कि सेवा करने के कर्तव्य से हटवा कर MTV में अपने साथ फूहड़ काम पर लगा दिया रोडीज़ में जो "लिटिल हरमन" आता है वो इसका ही भाई है जिसको इसने अपने साथ देश को बरबाद करने में लगा रखा है रणविजय जिस पर लड़कियाँ मरती है वो ना अपने देश का हुआ ना अपने धर्म का यह उस सिख परिवार से है जहां पगड़ी और केश को शान माना जाता है इसने तो अपने बाल कटवा कर अपने देश के साथ साथ अपने धर्म को भी ठोकर मार दी
और लड़कियाँ इसको देख् कर कहती है "you are my crush"
कुछ तो शर्म करो

इन टकलोँ के अनुसार रोडी बनने की कुछ पात्रताएँ -

1. रोडी बनने के लिए माँ-बहन की गालियाँ सुनाना ज़रूरी है, जैसे कि वे हर दूसरे मिनट में प्रतियोगियों की माँ और बहन के लिए निकलते हैं और बीप-बीप करके हमें उन गालियों का अहसास कराया जाता है

2. आप को समलैंगिकता (गे) को मान्यता देनी होगी। ऐसा ये टकले कई बार कहते सुने गए हैं कि समलैंगिकता सही है और प्रतियोगी द्वारा विरोध करने पर उन्हें गालियाँ मिलती हैं

3. आप को भारतीय संस्कृति के बारे में कुछ भी बोलने का अधिकार नहीं है क्योंकि अगर आप ने भारत या भारत की संस्कृति की बात की तो आप संस्कृति के ठेकेदार कहकर बाहर निकाल दिए जाएँगे

ज़्यादा लम्बी लिस्ट नहीं लिखने कि आवश्यकता नहीं है आज के युवा अपने शहर कि रोड से ज्यादा रोड़ीज को जानते है
आज तक हमने अपनी इज़्ज़त व देश की ख़ातिर गोलियाँ खाना सीखा है अब रोडी बनिए और अपनी माँ-बहन की गालियाँ सुनिए मतलब अब हमारे यहाँ बेहया नामर्द बनाए जाएँगे जिनकी माँ-बहनों की इज़्ज़त MTV के ये टकले स्टूडियो में नीलाम करेंगे और हमारे देश के कर्णधार सर झुकाकर अपनी माँ-बहनों को इनके सामने रख देंगे क्योंकि रोडी जो बनना है
आगे भी वो जो कुछ बनेगे वो होगा समलैंगिक बनना क्योंकि समलैंगिकता को मान्यता तो रोडीज़ के जज ही दे रहे है रोडीज़ स्कूल के बच्चे तो उनका अनुसरण ही करेंगे और भारतीय संस्कृति को तो MTV के कूड़ेदान में ही डाल देंगे....
वैसे भी भारतीय संस्कृति विवेकानंद रानी लक्ष्मीबाई भगत सिंह और समर्थ गुरु रामदास पैदा करती है बेहया नामर्द माँ-बहनों की इज़्ज़त नीलम करने वाले रोडीज़ नहीं दुःख ये है की हमारी नयी युवा पीढ़ी के कुछ लोग क़तारबद्ध हो कर कातर दृष्टि से इनके सामने दुम हिलाते रहते है अब रोडी टाइप युवाओं से एक अपील: मेरे बंधुओ बेहयाई छोड़ो देश के लिए गोली खाने का माद्दा रखो इन टकलों से माँ बहन की गाली खाना मर्दोँ का काम नहीँ है

फेसबुक पर इनके पेज पर हर रोज लड़के और लड़कियाँ गालियोँ का प्रशिक्षण लेते हुये पाये जाते हैँ

रोडीज का मतलब होता है सड़कछाप
ये कुत्ते ज्यादातर सड़क पर ही पाये जाते गैँग के रुप मेँ
लड़कियोँ को घूरते हुये....

जब हमारे देश का युवा रघु राजीव रणविजय जैसे लोगोँ को आदर्श मानने लगा हो तो अब हम कैसे कह देँ तुम्हारे हवाले वतन साथियो....

इस post पर जो रोडीज टाइप के (Indian Cool Dudes, hot babes, Macho , Yo generations) नहीँ है वो शेयर करेँ और इन्हेँ उनकी औकात दिखायेँ......

जय हिन्दू राष्ट्र!!!!

Amul sponsors the Indian Contingent to 2012 London Olympic Games

2012-02-27T16:04:00.000+05:30

India’s largest food products marketing organization Amul today announced its sponsorship of the Indian contingent to the London 2012 Olympic Games by signing a MoU with the Indian Olympic Association. The MoU was signed by Raja Randhir Singh, Secretary General, IOA and Member, International Olympic Committee and Mr. R S Sodhi, Managing Director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul) in a function presided by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Acting President, Indian Olympic Association in presence of Shri Anil Khanna, Chairman, Finance Commission of the IOA. Amul has become the Official Sponsor of the Indian team in the category of Dairy products.

Announcing Amul’s support for the Indian contingent to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mr. R S Sodhi said that , “Amul is committed to strengthening the Olympic movement in India and encourage young generation from all corners of the country to take up Olympic sports. I take great pleasure and pride in announcing our sponsorship of the Indian contingent to the London 2012 Olympic Games as ‘Olympic Partner’.” Explaining the rationale of this association, he said that milk is nature’s original energy drink and plays a pivotal role in building the physical and mental strength of the athletes. Nutritious dairy diet comprising of milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee etc. is an important part in the diets of athletes around the world. India is the largest producer of milk in the world and Amul is not only India’s but Asia’s largest milk brand. Further, he said that this association and activities around it will help in engaging the youth so that they can enjoy a healthy life and strive to become swifter, higher and stronger in their endeavours.

Amul has recently associated with sports events like Cricket World Cup and Formula 1 to engage the youth. Mr Sodhi mentioned that the Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate. Participation in Olympics is the aspiration of every athlete and with the kind of investments made by our country in this arena to select, nurture and train the best athletes, we are confident that Indian contingent will deliver the best ever performance in the London games and make our country proud.

Lauding Amul’s support to the Indian Olympic contingent, Prof VK Malhotra, Acting President, IOA said that the sponsorship funds will be used for the athletes. Raja Randhir Singh, Secretary General, IOA said, “I would like to congratulate Amul for flagging off its Olympic initiative today.” Mr Anil Khanna, Chairman, Finance Commission, IOC and also the Chairman of the Marketing Committee for London 2012 games too welcomed Amul’s association with the Indian contingent.

Amul will launch a series of advertising campaigns for milk, butter, cheese, paneer and ghee to promote this association in the coming months.

BMC elections: Gulzar wants to vote, but can’t

2012-02-16T15:02:00.000+05:30

Poet and lyricist Gulzar couldn’t vote in the BMC elections because he couldn’t find his name on the voter list, says Rediff.

“First recorded casualty of the BMC polls: A tweet says that poet and lyricist Gulzar returns home without casting his vote as his name is not found in the electoral list.,” rediff reports.

Arjun Bali is another victim. “After having Voted in 8+ elections-with voter card, amazing to NOT find my name in the electrol rolls this morning #BMC #EpicFail,” he said on twitter.

Here’s a quick take on what else is being said on the elections on twitter:

Chinmay Shah laments the low turnout. “Maha #fail. Hope it improves! RT @starnewslive 13% voting recorded till 11:30 am in BMC polls,” he says. Perhaps the turnout will improve among Dia Mirza’s followers.

Mirza tweeted, “Chalo!!! Vote! Its on till 5pm. #civicpolls #bmc.” She doesn’t mention if she did vote, though.

Nisha Arppit brings out the callousness of the citizens of Mumbai. “Wonder if all d people who watch cricket so religiously could ever get few minutes for country we wud have a better working government,” she feels.

Karan Anshuman is not very helpful with this tweet, saying “Guys, if you’re confused who to vote for, just remember one word: Roads. #bmc,”. Who should one vote for, Karan?

Lloyd Mathias believes the BMC is responsible for all that ails the city. “BMC may be the country’s richest civic body but is morally bankrupt. Mumbai has deteriorated more than any other Indian city,” he says.

Well, it’s just under five hours more of voting. Tomorrow, we’ll know who has won, and who has the power to address the city’s woes and stem the rot.

India tycoon's got tons of cash, nowhere to invest

2011-12-27T13:48:00.000+05:30

With the country mired in corruption, bureaucratic red tape and unclear and changing government policies, many of the men who made their billions here are saying maybe it's time to quit India. It's got to be easier to do business elsewhere.

Ajay Piramal is sitting on a mountain of cash. Yet the billionaire Indian tycoon, working in one of the world's fastest growing economies, is struggling to figure out what to do with the money.

The problem isn't opportunity, he says. It's India.

"Every large investment, there was no transparency," he said.

His dilemma is a worrying sign for India. With the country mired in corruption, bureaucratic red tape and unclear and changing government policies, many of the men who made their billions here are saying maybe it's time to quit India. It's got to be easier to do business elsewhere.

In May last year, Piramal's healthcare business sold its generic drug operations to U.S. pharmaceutical giant Abbott Laboratories for $3.8 billion. Piramal, a tall big man in a country that still measures prosperity by girth, was eager to set that cash pile to work. He wanted to expand one of his chemical plants, but was told it would take five years.

"The same plant could be set up in China in two years," he said. "I love India, but my customer is not going to wait."

India, still a beacon of relatively fast growth despite a troubled world economy, should be a magnet for capital. Instead, since the beginning of 2010, the amount that Indians have invested in businesses overseas has exceeded the amount foreigners are investing in India, according to central bank figures.

In part this reflects the confidence and aptitude of India's maturing companies and the current malaise in the global economy and financial markets. But it also reflects deep problems at home. India's big coporations may be cash rich but the failure to invest that money domestically is bad news for a developing country that needs capital to build the roads, power plants and food warehouses that could help lift hundreds of millions out of dire poverty.

The frustration of India's business elite with corruption, political paralysis, log-jammed approvals, regulatory flip-flops, lack of access to natural resources and land acquisition battles — to pick a few of the top complaints — has reached a pitch perhaps not heard since India began liberalizing its economy in the early 1990s.

"If you are an honest businessman in India, it's very difficult to start up anything," said Jamshyd Godrej, chairman of manufacturing giant Godrej & Boyce. "Companies are going to operate where they see the best opportunities and efficiency for their capital."

Increasingly, that's outside India.

In 2008, foreigners poured roughly twice as much direct investment into India — $33 billion — as Indians plowed into businesses overseas. By 2010, that had reversed: Indians invested $40 billion abroad — twice as much as foreigners invested in India — a trend that's continued this year.

There is another, unspoken element to all the complaints. To the extent that business in India ran on corruption, some of the old, dirty ways of doing things are being disrupted, freezing India's already glacial bureaucracy, business leaders say.

Scandals in the staging of the Commonwealth Games, the pilfering of homes meant for war widows and the irregular auction of cellphone spectrum that cost the country billions has sent parliamentarians and even a Cabinet minister to prison.

With Indians tiring of the incessant graft, tens of thousands of middle-class protesters poured into the streets and pushed an anti-corruption bill onto the floor of Parliament.

Steelmakers can't get enough iron ore because a massive mining scandal in the southern state of Karnataka prompted a court to order the closure of illicit mines that account for a fifth of iron ore production in the country.

The bureaucrats — even the honest ones — are reportedly so scared of being punished they are refusing to make the decisions needed to make the country run.

Piramal is not unpatriotic. Each room in his executive suite is named after an Indian epic hero: Arjuna, the most pure; Dhananjay, acquirer and master of wealth. There's a quote from the Upanishads scriptures on the wall.

His office sits in a one million square foot office park in Mumbai his family built. The buildings around him — white with blue glass that flashes back the unforgiving sun — bear his own name in large black letters: Piramal Towers.

Piramal had the will and the means to build power plants and roads.

Instead, his Piramal Group's largest investment to date has been in one of the office park's tenants: the Indian subsidiary of the British telecom giant Vodafone Plc.

Last September, when he got the first payout, of $2.2 billion, from Abbott, the phone started ringing.

"Because people knew we had money, we had so many people approaching us for projects in the infrastructure sector," he said. "These people had no experience and no knowledge and no track record of having built a business in any area. And yet they were coming to us saying we have licenses and approvals. That just didn't sound right or smell right."

Each day, they paraded through his office: The investment banker who decided to build a 500 megawatt power plant, the coal trader assured of a government coal allocation, small-time miners with pretty presentations promising land, licenses and financing.

"They'd name politicians from the center and the state who had it all tied up for them," he said. "It didn't sound right. Obviously there were things going on in the system."

Road and port projects weren't much better, he said.

Piramal also looked at investing in engineering and infrastructure services companies, but couldn't make sense of their books.

"We couldn't find anything," he said. "People get greedy. In their desire to get good valuations they resort to, if I can say, creative accounting."

Today, India's infrastructure companies are known as great wealth destroyers.

"Infrastructure investment has become untouchable, a sure way of losing money," said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of research at SMC Global Securities. He calculates that four of India's top infrastructure companies — GMR Infrastructure, GVK Power and Infrastructure, Lanco Infratech and Punj Lloyd — have lost over 80 percent of their value since 2007. A fifth, Larson & Toubro is down 50 per cent.

Piramal may have dodged a bullet, but shareholders in Piramal Healthcare aren't happy. Despite a $600 million special dividend and share buyback, the share price has sagged since the Abbott deal was announced on May 21 last year. They'd like to see the Abbott cash productively deployed. Instead, much of it is sitting in fixed deposit accounts.

Piramal says he really does want to run a pharmaceutical company and be the first Indian company to discover a world-class drug — despite his dabbling in telecom, financial services and real estate financing. It's just that pharma can't absorb all his cash. He plans to sell the 5.5 per cent stake he picked up in Vodafone Essar for $640 million in a few years, when Vodafone Essar issues shares in an initial public offering, he said.

He has also launched Piramal Capital, to make real estate and infrastructure loans, and spent about $50 million to acquire IndiaReit, a real estate investment company.

Meanwhile, his thoughts have turned to Boston, where he set up IndUS Growth Partners with a professor from Harvard Business School to look for buying opportunities in the U.S., in security, financial services and biotechnology. And he says he's still planning to spend over a billion dollars on biotechnology acquisitions in North America and Europe.

"India was going more towards capitalism than socialism," Piramal said. "I think we're going back. Capitalism went to too much excess. Corruption levels went to the extreme."

He said he'll announce his first overseas acquisition by March.

Ways to Save Electricity - Indian Middle Class.

2011-12-15T19:18:00.000+05:30

Save electricity for indian middle class families

Following are the ways to save on Electricity for Indian Middle Class families.

Use CFL bulb instead using conventional incandescent bulbs.
Use single door fridge instead of double door.
Keep cooling option in Fridge with optimum setting.
Don't leave mobile charger in ON even if it is not used.
PC/Laptop Monitor uses lot of power. Use turn-off monitor after 2 min in power setting option.
switch off lights if it is not needed.

Buy Aakash Tablet in India

2011-12-15T19:16:00.001+05:30

Aakash tablet is low cost android tablet available for students and others at a very low cost of Rs.2500.

Now you can buy your Aakash Tablet for Rs.2500 . Which will be delivered in 1 week time.
http://www.akashtablet.com/order-now.html
http://www.akashtablet.com/
Aakash tablet contains Arm11 – 366Mhz processor
Battery - 2100 mAh
OS     Android 2.2
Network     WiFi

And also you can book Aakash tablet 2 (ubislate 7) ,which will be delivered in Jan 2012.
http://www.ubislate.com/prebook.html
Ubislate has better configuration with
Processor - Cortex A8 – 700 Mhz
Battery - 3200 mAh
OS    - Android 2.3
Network    - WiFi & GPR

F1 Opportunistic for SEX Pimps

2011-10-24T13:35:00.000+05:30

With 30,000 foreign tourists expected in the national capital region for the event this week, prostitution syndicates don't want to miss out on the opportunity

Fast cars and beautiful women seem to go together. Which is why the demand for high-profile escorts in the national capital region has gone up in the last few days. Eyeing the Indian Formula One Grand Prix that will be held from October 27 to 30, escort agencies and sex traders have called in English-speaking girls from across India to cater to the growing demand.

With a crackdown on many high profile pimps within a year, the prostitution trade is running slow. Delhi police arrested Rajiv Ranjan Dwivedi aka Sex Baba, Sonu Punjaban and Nagma - all in about a one year period - who were allegedly pulling the strings of the sex trade in the national capital. So now with the big names behind bars, the small-timers have come together, hoping for Formula One to boost their business.
No cheer!
"For quite long now, business has been running slow. Police have arrested lots of girls. Even during CWG last year we did not see much clients as number of foreign tourist turn out was low. So after CWG this is the most awaited event as around 30,000 foreigners are expected here," said a pimp on condition of anonymity.

If the escort agents whom MiD DAY contacted are to be believed, then the business has acquired an international flavour. You name a country -Britain, Spain, Germany, Poland, former USSR countries, Afghanistan and Turkey - and brokers, numbering about 450-500 in the city, would arrange girls from there at your doorstep in the garb of escorts.

"There are over 450 brokers working overtime to put the business in order as each has about 15-20 girls under his/her charge," said Sanjay Sharma, who asked us to meet him at Connaught Place.

Nothing comes cheap
According to the agents, many girls from Thailand frequently visit Singapore during the Formula One event there, so they are trying to contact them and ask them to come over to India. Most of the foreigners come to India on tourist visa. Each broker has to pay between Rs. 1-2 lakh for a girl from the former USSR countries and about Rs. 5-7 lakh for someone from Britain or Spain. "The net is spread far and wide. High-class escorts from London cost about Rs. 7 lakh while those from Spanish-speaking countries charge around Rs. 6 lakh. Turkish escorts are relatively cheaper at about Rs. 2 lakh," explained Sanjay. All of them are hired under contract for a fortnight. Apart from the foreign escort syndicates, Indian agencies would be operating during the event as well. "It is not a mass event so we have only selected smart girls. The rate of these girls will start from Rs 15,000. We will be extra cautious and will take orders only from trusted clients," said Vicky of Paradise Escorts.

Source:http://www.mid-day.com

STUDY-Following Brands on Twitter Increases Purchase Intent.

2011-10-22T10:48:00.000+05:30

People who follow brands on Twitter are more likely to both buy and recommend those brands’ products, according to a recent study of online consumer behavior.

The study, conducted by Constant Contact and research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey, analyzed the behavior of 1,491 consumers ages 18 and older throughout the U.S., and revealed a number of details about how people interact with brands on the world’s beloved 140-character social network.

So, just how powerful is the Twitter connection between consumers and businesses? The study found that 60% of brand followers are more likely to recommend a brand to a friend after following the brand on Twitter, and 50% of brand followers are more likely to buy from that brand.

These findings mirror those from a previous report, detailing how consumers interact with brands on Facebook. The study found that 56% of consumers said they are more likely to recommend a brand to a friend after “Liking” a brand on Facebook, and 51% of consumers said they are more likely to buy a product after doing so. The findings from both studies seem to show that customer loyalty is about the same across both social networks.

Any increase in customer loyalty is great news for brands, especially those lucky enough to make the coveted list of followed companies. According to the study, though, the chances of making that list are slim, as only 21% of Twitter users follow brands on Twitter, and of those, 79% follow fewer than 10 brands.

If your brand makes it to that highly sought-after status, you’re in for the long haul — a whopping 75% of respondents claimed that they had never unfollowed a brand on Twitter. This finding, though, contradicts a previous study, which claimed that 41% of consumers have unfollowed a company on Twitter. The trend seems to favor longevity in both studies, however. If a user opts to follow your brand on Twitter, it’s more likely they’ll continue following, rather than decide to unfollow.

When it comes to a consumer’s decision to follow brands on Twitter, exclusivity and access to promotions reign. Here are the top five reasons given by respondents:

64%: I am a customer of the company
61%: To be the first to know information about the brand
48%: To receive discounts and promotions
36%: To gain access to exclusive content
28%: To receive content/information to retweet and share with others

For the most part, brand interaction on Twitter is still largely a one-way process. While 84% of followers read tweets posted by the brands they follow, only 23% claim to tweet about the brands they follow.

The study also found that Twitter users are frequent Internet users overall — 50% of Twitter users in the study reported going online more than once per hour. Of Facebook users, only 34% of respondents reported going online multiple times per hour. Facebook and Twitter users both outpace the average Internet user, though, as only 29% of overall users that do not have Twitter and Facebook accounts reported logging on many times within an hour.

Twitter users even use Facebook more than users who stick solely to Facebook — 60% of Twitter users use Facebook more than three hours per week, compared with 49% of Facebook users overall.

The study offered one final nugget of wisdom that should inform how brands on Twitter approach their content strategies — 67% of brand followers expect unique content from the brands they follow. So get to it, social media strategists!

See the complete study here:

10 Quick Facts You Should Know About Consumer Behavior on Twitter

Source:
http://mashable.com/2011/10/20/twitter-brands-purchase-intent/

Google+ Pulls In 20 Million in 3 Weeks

2011-07-22T15:40:00.000+05:30

When Google Inc. launched its Google+ social-networking site three weeks ago, executives handed out sailor hats to the hundreds of employees working on the project, symbolizing their year-long journey to that point.
So far, the sailing has been mostly smooth. On Wednesday, Web-traffic watcher comScore Inc. estimated Google+ has had 20 million unique visitors since its launch, including five million visitors from the U.S. A Google spokeswoman declined comment.

ComScore, whose estimates are based on a "global measurement panel" of two million Internet users, similar to the approach Nielsen uses to measure television ratings,doesn't have data on the number of minutes people spent on Google+.

Still, the growth of Google+ has impressed observers because access to it is by invitation only, meaning people can join only if a current member invites them. And the company hasn't yet marketed the service to the more than one billion monthly visitors who use its search engine, Gmail and other services.

Google+ lets people share comments, articles, photos and videos with various "circles" of friends or contacts, or they can share content publicly with any userwho wants to view their posts. Eventually, Google plans to incorporate features of Google+ in its other services, such as its YouTube video site.

"I've never seen anything grow this quickly," said Andrew Lipsman, vice president of industry analysis at comScore. The only other site that has accumulated as many new visitors in a short period of time is Twitter in 2009, he said, "but that happened over several months."

The new data follow comments by Google CEO Larry Page last week that Google+ had more than 10 million users.Mr. Page said Google+'s traction was evidence that there are "more opportunities for Google today than ever before."

Of course, Google has a long way to go to reach the scale of Facebook Inc., which has more than 750 million users, and Twitter Inc., which has more than 200 million registered accounts.

With Google+, Google is aiming to match rivals like Facebook, which used personal information posted by its members to create a multibillion-dollar advertising business that lets marketers target specific demographic groups or people with certain interests. Google also hopes the service can become a home for brands and celebrities.

The data Google obtains about people's interests could also help it change the way its Web-search engine works. Sites in its search results could potentially be ranked based on what users and their friends like or find useful, Google engineers have said.
In addition to adding numerous features over time, Google will eventually allow software developers to create "social" games and other applications that would run on top of Google+, similar to Facebook's successful "platform" for applications, people familiar with the matter have said.

Google+ also has unique technology, such as a "hangouts" feature, that lets people do "video chats" using their computer webcams, speaking to numerous friends simultaneously. The company plans to include Google+ in its suite of online software for businesses.

In an email to investors Tuesday, Barclays Capital equity researchers said that "given positive initial traction from users we believe Google is now better positioned to compete and integrate social cues across its products than before, which could drive increased relevancy in search going forward."

Even some privacy advocates who lambasted Buzz, Google's prior social-networking effort, have lauded Google+. "The product has been designed to make it easier to share with one group of your friends while retaining some measure of privacy with respect to your family, coworkers or other groups of friends," said Peter Eckersley, a senior technologist at privacy-advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, in an email.

But Mr. Eckersley added: "Google+ won't be as good for protecting your privacy against Google or against governments or lawyers with the power to compel Google to turn over your information."

Ben Hopper, a 29-year-old photographer in London who joined Google+ just after it launched, said "it feels a little empty right now" compared with Facebook, where he has more than 4,000 "friends." But he said that he "needs to be everywhere to show my photography," and if Google+ becomes integrated with Gmail, Google's email service, "for me it will have the upper hand."

The Poor Rich India.

2011-06-20T12:53:00.001+05:30

India is the 4th richest country in terms of GDP
India has 55 billionaires and is 4th in the number of billionaires in a country
India is 3rd in the number of internet users and 5th in number of facebookers
India has 10th most number of airports
India has 2nd most mobile phones
India has the 1st most richest cricket board

PS-Indians are rich but India is poor, where is all the money going?

LARGEST BAT!!

2011-06-20T12:48:00.000+05:30

With a height of around 5"5' and wing span of about 6"0', the FLYING FOX BAT is the largest bat ever!! Don't worry it won't run after your blood, it eats fruit!!

100% needed for B.Com at SRCC

2011-06-16T12:00:00.000+05:30

If Sri Ram College of Commerce is your dream college and you are not a commerce student, 100% is what you need to make that dream come true. At the nearby Hindu College you will need 99% marks and if you settle for the south campus, Lady Sri Ram College has a first list cut-off at 97%.

"This is crazy even the second rung colleges are out of reach, even in colleges like Khalsa, the cut offs have gone upto 92-93% " a student Keshav said.

Despite the exceptionally high cut offs this year, there are some who have managed to qualify but the number of such students are not many.

"I have got 97%. They are doing it to keep the non commerce students out" a student Dheer said.

Unlike 2010, in 2011 the university decided to do away with centralised application forms and asked colleges to come out with cut offs on their own based on this years Class XII results and previous cut off trends.

The rider is that every student who makes the cut has to be given admission that is one reason the colleges are playing it safe, at least the first cut off list.

But the HRD ministry Kapil Sibbal and the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University Dinesh Singh are not happy.

"I request VC and college to take note of it and I want to tell the parents that they should not worry we will take care of this irrationality," Sibbal said.

Vice Chancellor of Delhi University said, "High cut offs because of very high percentages students have received in their boards. in the first list colleges are always cautious, cut offs will come down in second and third lists. We are looking to reform our processes."

With around 2000 students across the country securing above 95 per cent, 800 of which are from Delhi alone, the principal of SRCC Dr PC Jain says this kind of a cut off list was not unexpected.

"Performance of students has been extraordinary this year, that's why, the cut off is so high... There is nothing unfortunate. Infact, its very fortunate that students in this country are performing so well. The criteria are an old practice that has been followed so nothing like that it has been done deliberately to keep the non-commerce students out of SRCC," said Jain.

Even as the first cut off list has brought more shock than hope among students, college authorities say there is hope that the second cut off list is likely to be more realistic.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose two sons study in a Delhi school, is also worried over the high cut-offs. Omar tweeted saying, "Worry? I'm terrified for my sons because in five years, when Zamir (Omar's son) moves to college, the cut-offs will be even more insane."

Omar said he was happy that he finished college 20 years ago as the present cut-offs were "scary".

"With these kinds of cut-off marks, I'd have been doing a correspondence course because I wouldn't have even gotten a 'pass course' admission," he said.

Another Delhi University college Daulat Ram College has hiked its cut-off for chemistry honours by as much as 13%, while Gargi has increased the cut-off marks for chemistry honours by 12%. For English Honours, the cut-off is 88% at Gargi, Hans Raj and Ramjas.

Meanwhile, St Stephen's has done away with the Class 10 component from its eligibility requirements and is giving 85% weightage to the Class 12 marks and remaining 15% to interview.

Are Malls Our New Temples?

2011-03-26T14:56:00.000+05:30

Festivals are a time for shopping. Well and good. But I think those of us who live in large cities would be kidding ourselves if we pretended that this is the only time we engage in rampant consumerism. No, from Bangkok to Singapore, Mumbai to Manila, shopping—particularly shopping in large malls—is a year-round priority.

Shopping centres are good. They are a sign of dizzying economic growth, and a demonstration of how far Asians have come, in such a short time. For many of the older generation who can remember a time when everyone lived in villages and there was no running water, the multi-level, air-conditioned mall represents comfort, choice, luxury and better times.
But many Asian metropolises with burgeoning middle classes now have such a proliferation of malls—all teeming with outlets of Marks & Spencer, Gap, Starbucks, Bulgari, Cartier, Mont Blanc—that they appear to have long crossed saturation point. Nowadays, it seems our default venue for every activity is the mall—it’s where we shop, eat, watch movies, bowl, arrange to meet our friends, have a romantic date or just generally lounge around.
Not only that, we have come to regard malls as important landmarks or tourist attractions. “When you come to visit us, you must see our new shopping centre, it’s massive and has an Egyptian pyramid at the entrance”—sentences such as these are quite usual. Whole generations of Asians are growing up to think that, aside from home and school, the shopping complex is the most natural place to be. Many young people shop for clothes at the mall so that they can look good when they meet their friends—at the mall.
My main contention with shopping centres is not that they are often massive concrete blocks that don’t take into account the architectural nuances or cultural backdrop of a city, or that they promote ultra-consumerism at a time when our planet can ill afford it. My main gripe with the plethora of malls is that they don’t seem to make us happy. Oh, the large advertisements outside the stores could persuade us to think that if we only had this pair of jeans, or if we hung out at this café, then we could feel more fulfilled. But once we buy something, we only want to buy something more.

Shopping malls, even though they try to look as glitzy and as welcoming as possible, can be
harsh places. The very concept of the mega-mall plays on human feelings of inadequacy and competitiveness. To make us buy, it must make us feel that we lack something, or that everyone else has something we do not yet own. We must consume to surpass others or, at the very least, to keep up. We purchase to fit in. How can this constant undercurrent of competitiveness, of us always trying to be “cool,” bring us true joy?
The saddest thing is that the modern mall, basically an American import, has made us put aside a whole array of beautiful, worthwhile —and yes, cheaper—activities, many of them intrinsic to our own cultures or region. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Instead of shopping, we could be cooking, visiting a nearby waterfall, beach or temple, reading a novel, writing poetry, starting a blog, making music, taking a long walk, playing a game, learning a dance or—here’s a radical idea—visiting a friend.
Every time there’s a spare piece of land, all we can think of building on it is yet another mall. This way,
we show not only our affluent status but also demonstrate our poverty in terms of imagination, adventure and passion. Perhaps instead, we should be building libraries, or theatres, art galleries, museums, sports halls, public swimming pools, parks, animal sanctuaries—the list is endless.
We might even consider leaving that plot of land alone, to flourish as it will.
And this is something that the mall may have caused us to forget; In order to be happy, we must create as well as consume.