Orkut, the new agony aunt

Orkut, the new agony aunt

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) While millions continue to log into social networking sites like Orkut and Facebook to make friends and socialise, a small but growing number of individuals are also logging on to share not only their personal problems but also to find solutions for them.

Social networking sites are are increasingly taking the shape of the new age online 'agony aunt'.

"Orkut has been a great strength of support for me. I had lost all faith in destiny till I logged on to a kidney transplant community where people with similar problems pepped me up by writing down their experiences," says Sarath Kumar from Hyderabad.

Sarath, who is looking out for a kidney donor for himself adds, "They were people who told me what to do, what all precautions I should take and even suggested names of some good doctors that I could get in touch with." The popularity of such networking sites turning out to be the agony aunt can be gauged from the hundreds of help communities that have been set up, be it from complex issues like kidney transplants, blood cancer to much smaller issues like teenage heart breaks.

Not only do these communities attract a large number of members who indulge in periodical discussions to offer help to the one seeking, many also take part in these discussions as non members.

"The whole purpose of my community has been to reach out to people who face similar problems. Many of the freshers had joined my community and we discussed everything from anti- ragging rules to how to go about with their admission procedure," says Sashank Nair, who had set up a community for first year under-graduate students. Source

CBSE Board Exam - Easy but tricky as students were in smile on day 1 of Exam

Easy but tricky as students were in smile on day 1 of Exam

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Easy but tricky -- that is how the students described the question papers as the examinations for class X and class XII under Central Board of Secondary Education started today across the country and abroad.

For the first time, 20 per cent of the questions required 'high-order thinking skills' as prescribed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the guiding document for preparation of NCERT textbooks.

The class-XII students appeared in the Chemistry paper while Class-X students sat for Information Technology. However, the students did not find any problem to answer them.

"It was not at all difficult. Those questions were bit tricky," Ananya Roy Choudhary, a Class-XII student of Delhi Public School, Dwarka, said.

She said the question paper was a bit lengthy as there were many questions which warranted brief answers.

"But I could answer them before time. It took me two hours to answer all questions and I had one hour time to revise," she said.

"If you are thorough with the textbooks, you would not find any problem to answer," said another student.

The class-X students appeared in the Information Technology paper which was on expected line, students said.

"The questions were as per expectations. We could answer them before time," Snehashis Mitra, a student of Mount St Mary school, said with a smile.

CBSE spokesperson Roma Sharma said the exam was conducted in a peaceful manner.

"There was no disturbance anywhere," she said. PTI

According to Buffett, America is already in a recession

According to Buffett, America is already in a recession

Over the past six or eight months we have heard more and more chatter about the dreaded "R" word. The dreaded "R" word being recession, and depending on who you listen to, you have either been laughing at the possibility of America sliding into a recession, or you have been preparing for the inevitable.

Well, now, trusted billionaire Warren Buffett has come out and stated that America is already "essentially" in a recession. Buffett is basing his stance on numbers he has seen from his retail business that show a significant slow down in spending. While he has stated that we have basically already entered into recessionary times, he stopped short of predicting just how bad things would get.

While we may not be technically in a recession period, according to Buffett, we are in the middle of a commonsense recession. Not only does he see retail spending on the decline, but also pointed to the fact that an untold millions of Americans have had the misfortune of watching their homes shrink in value, a scenario that has yet to reverse.

So what is the source of the recession confusion? Well, technically speaking, in order to qualify as a recession, America must have back to back quarters of negative GDP growth. This definition does not hold true at the current time. Last week, we were given economic figured for the fourth quarter of last year, which showed that for the 3 months ending December 31, the economy grew at a measly 0.6% rate. Not a pretty picture, but definitely breaks the technical definition of a "true recession".

What are the rest of the "market experts" out there thinking about the current situation? In a recent poll, around 45% of economists polled by National Association for Business Economics are operating under the impression that the economy will definitely fall into a recession during this calendar year.

Adding more concern to economic growth has been the recent surging of oil prices, which surpassed previous inflation adjusted highs today. Oil prices and the economy are in a vicious cycle right now. Oil has been rising as inflation concerns have led many to believe that America is going to have to continue to cut rates to fight off a recession, which would lower the value of the dollar and push oil higher. At the same time, the higher oil goes, the more of a drain on the economy it will become, which led U.S President Bush to plea for OPEC to lift its output earlier this year... a plea that OPEC did not grant the American President.

Have we passed the point of no return? It seems like all the signals are pointing to a full blown recession later this year, but will we get to the point of a truly technical recession? Or will we just continue to "walk the line" between pulling ourselves out of these hard times and just dropping off the edge?

Only time will tell. What are the thoughts of our BloggingStocks readers? Do you agree with Buffett that we have already started a recession, or do you think Buffett is just over-reacting? And if you think we are still not in a recession, do you see one coming before the end of the year?

 

Let us hear your thoughts on this!

 

Michael Fowlkes has worked as a stock trader for seven years and spent the last four years working as an analyst for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer. source-

Looking For A Tax Break? Try Western Australia.

Looking For A Tax Break? Try Western Australia.

A range of tax breaks are available for entrepreneurs seeking to start or migrate new businesses to Western Australia, says darrell todd, ceo of thinkingaustralia.com. "With its ongoing booming economy, Western Australia is a highly attractive destination for business people seeking new opportunities," says todd, whose company is supporting the Western Australian government's bid to attract business migrants. "Western Australia is one of the most generous and attractive States in the country when it comes to business migration."

Thinkingaustralia.com has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses to re-locate and/or migrate Down Under and is the UK's number one point of contact for new business opportunities. "We work closely with the Western Australia Small Business Development Corporation to help identify and support new business enterprises," says darrell todd.

"The S.B.D.C offers a comprehensive range of services to help start and grow your business, says Bruce McFarlane, a Director at the Western Australia Small Business Development Corporation. "We can help with everything from how to set up a company, register for tax, and obtain business licences, to providing information on local employment, market conditions and commercial opportunities". Services and support offered by the S.B.D.C are free and aimed at attracting and supporting both start-ups and existing businesses. Source

Coming Death of Indian Outsourcing

Coming Death of Indian Outsourcing

Forbes recently published some scary statistics on wage inflation in India. (See "Indian Employees Enjoying Swift Pay Hikes.") Salaries rose 15.1% in 2007, up from 14.4% the previous year. The 2008 forecast: 15.2%. This would be the fifth consecutive year of salary growth above 10%.

Add to that the appreciation of the rupee against the weakening dollar (11.5% in 2007), and its impact on the labor arbitrage market.

Is the death of Indian outsourcing all that far off?

Assuming a 15% year-to-year salary hike rate, and a 2007 cost advantage of 1:3 in favor of India, if U.S. wages remain constant, India's cost advantage disappears by 2015. Then what? Source Blog  

With the dollar so low, why not outsource to America?

With the dollar so low, why not outsource to America?

This post was taken from the Blogging Stocks - for more info you can visit the site.

 

My colleague, Aaron Katsman, and I have been discussing a web project recently. We decided to farm it out for bids on the web to a firm called Elance. Elance is an outsourcing marketplace bringing together people who need work done with service providers around the world. Participants are engaged in labor arbitrage, a practice of sending work where work is cheapest. We received one bid back from an Indian partner that was outrageous. It would have been cheaper to do the work locally in the U.S.

Which brings me to my point. With the dollar's decline and the growing affluence abroad, it's getting cheaper and cheaper to do the work domestically -- which might spell the end of Indian outsourcing.

Professor Mark Perry had an interesting post recently entitled just that, The Coming Death of Indian Outsourcing? While the title of the post ended in a '?', Perry sounds pretty dour on the future of the disparity between Indian labor and that in the U.S.

The moneyline: "Assuming a 15% year-to-year salary hike rate, and a 2007 cost advantage of 1:3 in favor of India, if U.S. wages remain constant, India's cost advantage disappears by 2015. Then what?"

While there will always be international labor arbitrage, the U.S. may be in the early stages of seeing some of the business it's lost to overseas providers the past couple of years come back to it.

Can you imagine Silicon Valley cheaper than Bangalore?

Zack Miller is the managing editor of IsraelNewsletter.com and a former equity analyst for a leading multinational hedge fund.

Outsourced - 1st March 2008

The demise of Appu Ghar

IN THE evergreen debate between the Mumbaikars and the Delhiites, Mumbaikars used to score over their counterparts thanks to the presence of the glittering stars of Bollywood and the safety tag of the island city. Having passed through the phases of living in both the cities, it used to be a tough choice for me. For having grown up in Delhi, my heart was still in the calmness of Delhi, though Mumbai has become my Karma Bhoomi and I shudder at the thought of leaving it. Visiting my previous home has been on the cards for a very long time, but in the tough schedule that a student has to follow, the dream could not materialise. But in all the metros and the development plans being executed in the capital, it has lost something, which was closest to the heart of its citizens- Appu Ghar.

And in the host of management entrance exams that I had been giving, I lost the chance of visiting this place as it opened its gates for the last time on the February 18, 2008. A feeling of nostalgia overcomes me whenever I think of this place. Even before I visited the Qutab Minar or the India Gate, I had made three round trips to Appu Ghar. And visiting any trade show or exhibition at Pragati Maidan was incomplete if you didn't flock to Appu Ghar in the evenings. (Full Story)

 

 

Indian Premier League: Will it breakeven?

THE QUESTION that is uppermost in many cricket observers' minds right now is whether the IPL will ultimately end up as a costly misadventure. Industrialists and film personalities have paid 'ego premiums' to buy teams and players. Mind-boggling amounts have been invested in the league in the hope that the cricket-crazy Indians would make it a huge success.

However, the success of the IPL in the long run depends on whether the team owners would be able to breakeven in the near future. While some of the franchisees have expressed the confidence that they will break even within two to three years, doubts remain.

The IPL certainly needs the support of the ICC and the cricket boards of other nations to succeed. However, as big money attracts foreign players to the IPL, it will set the BCCI and other boards on a collision course. As Ricky Ponting, the Australian cricket captain, has said, lucrative offers from the IPL could encourage top international players in their late 20s and early 30s to retire early; easy money might lure younger men away from international careers. (Full Story)

 

 

Has cheap telephony killed human relations?

he one-rupee, per minute STD call anywhere in India is more 'cheap' than economical. The migrant worker does not visit home for months, happy to hear voices from home. It's killing social relations, agonizes the author.

IT WASN'T too long ago that people used to rejoice whenever the crow cawed at their window. Call it the victory of their superstitious belief or the reward for their honest love for friends and relatives, but more often than not the crow's caw used to get translated into the arrival of a loved one. But, as happens with every good thing, this too was destined to meet its end. The loud ringing of telephones soon muted the crow's caw and a new sign emerged on the horizons – STD calls @ Re 1 per minute!

The demon of cheap telephony had arrived, and the maiden casualty was human relation. As a representative of the modern era, I always admire the rate at which technology is flourishing, but this one left me with a dozen wrinkles on my forehead. I'm a person who values human relations more than anything else, and if something threatens to disturb the status quo of my emotional frame, I make it a point to raise my voice against that threat, loud and clear. I know my words will stir the hornet's nest, but believe me STD calls @ Re 1 per minute means degradation of human relations at a very fast pace. (Full Story)

 

 

It pays to be nasty!

I USUALLY don't get easily inspired by people, especially not by any 8-year-old, but there's something about Bunty that's truly inspiring. He is endowed with a very special talent that I always lacked in my super-conscious personality – the talent of being the most hated soul around.

While some of you may frown upon my weird infatuation for the negative talent of that boy, I honestly consider him as a role model with a cause. It's been four long years since I met Bunty for the first time. Since then, I'm continuously analysed Bunty's personality, and I've come up with a pretty strange theory. Believe it or not, there's a direct correlation between being nasty and being cheerful. And for a merry soul like me, being happy and contented is always at the top of life's agenda. (Full Story)

 

 

101 reasons to hate Ekta Kapoor's TV serials

Ekta Kapoor has corrupted the brains of youngsters and tortures the rest of the people with her foolish and ridiculous serials. She gives her own views by debasing all saas and bahus.

THERE ARE times when you are left with no serious work on your shoulders. On such occasions, you are left with two options - either get your blanket and retire to a cozy bed or get yourself equipped with the spade of thought and start digging up some of the nagging issues. The former rejuvenates your body but the latter leaves you with a relieved soul and a sense of satisfaction.

101 reasons

 * The wrongly spelt titles are a great turn-off. Numerology is fine but 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' and 'Kahani Terrii Merrii' just fail to impress me, literally.

* Barring a couple of actors, the cast is usually represented by a bunch of makeup-laden non-actors..... (Full Story)

 

 

Paris Hilton: The invincible celebrity

Very few celebrities are blessed with an invincible personality that can brave the hostile attacks of critics, and Paris Hilton surely leads the bandwagon of these damage-proof personalities.

ALTHOUGH THERE is a full-fledged machinery (read a particular section of the media) dedicated to work against her and malign her name for whatsoever reasons, the social butterfly always manages to survive the deadliest of attacks.

The 26-year-old hotel heiress believes in living life her own way, and if you happen to be someone who hates her, then you are destined to be a loser. Obviously, what else could be more frustrating than waking up daily to witness the town painted with beautiful pictures of your most hated person? You can loathe her, despise her or try your best to write her off, but you just can't take her out of your minds. She is a phenomenon, which just refuses to die. (Full Story)

 

 

Pregnant Alba takes a tumble at Oscars

Washington, Feb 28: Pregnant actress Jessica Alba is thanking her stars after not being seriously hurt following a fall backstage at the Oscars on Feb 24.

Alba would have had a terrifying tumble had fiance Cash Warren not caught her just in time.

Writing on her website, the 26-year-old Latina said that she is surprised that the usually hawk-eyed photographers missed the whole thing - because she fell right in front of them.

"I did have a stumble backstage outside of the green room. Cash caught one arm, the other hit the floor," Contactmusic quoted her, as stating online.

"Luckily all the photogs were taking pics of Cameron D," she added.

 

Protection & Leveraging IPR, must for an economy to be competitive: N N Prasad

"Importance of IPR can not be overestimated. It is absolutely clear that if a nation's economy is to be competitive, we have to have a regime which protects IPR and strike a balance between public and stakeholders rights," emphasized N N Prasad, Jt. Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Government of India at the second day of the 2nd Annual Global Forum on Innovation, Creativity, and Intellectual Property, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India and US India Business Council in Mumbai.

N N Prasad further detailed the concerns for protection of IPR as scope of patentability; data protection; enforcement mechanisms and compulsory licensing. "Need to meet international obligations; safeguard public interest, modernisation of  the IPR administration and creating awareness about IPR are the strategies followed by the Government of India in tackling counterfeiting, piracy and IPR", said Prasad.

The day earlier began with discussion on "Global trends in IP Protection", which saw the session moderator Narendra K. Sabharwal, Deputy Director General, World Intellectual Property Organisation elucidate the trends in development of IP from perspective of World Intellectual Organisation as: shift in focus of IP community from protection of IP to promotion and exploitation of IP for growth and development; increasing internationalisation of IP system; growing reach of digital technology posing another challenge to IP protection and business orientation, where IP has become core competency of many enterprises. (Full Story)