Life like it shud be...

A lazy man's dairy

2011-02-18T23:19:00.011-05:00

I am writing this post on a early Saturday morning with almost nothing else to do better. You are right. I am from the clan of "couch holding zombie cultured" three decade old homosapiens. Many a times I have wondered if I could be any better than this and found that I am of immense utility to my household by being this . Really? You might be tempted to ask before moving on to the next site or

The Taming of the Motorcar - Planetizen

2010-03-19T23:44:00.001-04:00

In the early days of his development, man realized that certain members of the animal kingdom could be made useful to him. The horse, the cow, the dog and many birds were domesticated, and out of a dangerous, disturbing animal population were created some of the most useful helpers of human development, serving as transportation for people and goods and as suppliers of food. Because automotive

Rebel without a car? - LA Times

2009-10-11T00:36:00.001-04:00

October 8, 2009 | 11:13 amIs the love affair between cars and young people starting to cool?That could be the case, according to a new study of auto-related online commentary among teens and young adults by J.D. Power and Associates.Between January and August, the market research firm analyzed hundreds of thousands of “conversations” on auto-related sites such as Autoblog, personal blogs and

IPL, trophies, Indian definition of beauty...

2009-05-12T10:22:00.001-04:00

Tishani Doshi, IPL-Page2-Cricinfo...everything typical of a particular elite echelon of modern India. It is ostentatious, crass, bereft of any redeeming aesthetic qualities, and unashamed of all the above. To me it screams of insecurity. "Look!" it's trying to say, "I'm going to show you who's the boss now!" Count up those diamonds baby. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for breaking off the shackles

What caused the global economic crisis? - The Hindu

2009-03-15T22:08:00.002-04:00

Identification of the causes would help find solutions or at least mitigate the immediate impact of the turmoilAt the ongoing G-20 meeting in London causes for the crisis as much as possible cures will be discussed. There are two different but not mutually exclusive viewpoints on what caused it in the first place.The global economy remains mired in a deep crisis. Very recently the World Bank, in

A Question Revisited: Is Capitalism Working? Published : March 04, 2009 in Knowledge@Wharton

2009-03-15T22:00:00.003-04:00

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the American economy was in crisis after years of stagflation. Mortgage rates were 17%, business loans carried 20% interest rates and productivity had collapsed. On April 21, 1980, Time magazine ran a cover story that asked the question: "Is Capitalism Working?" Today, the crisis that the American economic system faces is greater than that during the darkest

Slums better equipped for challenges: Charles - The Hindu

2009-02-06T22:10:00.002-05:00

- Hasan Suroor Warns against attempts to impose a “single monoculture of globalisation” Prince Charles LONDON: For millions of India’s slum-dwellers, it might sound like a joke but Prince Charles seriously believes that shanty towns such as Mumbai’s Dharavi, depicted in the film Slumdog Millionaire, are better equipped to deal with the “challenges” of a growing urban poor population than

India shifting to urban centres - The Hindu

2009-02-05T10:27:00.001-05:00

Aarti Dhar NEW DELHI: Fifty per cent of India’s population is expected to be urban-based by 2030. This projection takes into account an expected 8 and 9 per cent growth rate of the population over the next decade and anticipated shifts from agricultural to non-agricultural occupations and from rural to non-rural employment, according to a report, India: Urban Poverty Report 2009. The report was

Job creation holds the key - The Hindu

2009-02-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

Rather than despair over the continuing stream of bad news on the economic front, nations should see in the unfolding crisis an opportunity to reshape policies, and put in place structures that will help a speedy recovery. The most serious consequence of the economic crisis is the impact it will have on employment. The International Labour Organisation has sounded an early warning that global

Evolutionary Biology and the Built Environment

2009-01-28T00:57:00.002-05:00

As the evolutionary biologist S. L. Washburn writes:Most of human evolution took place before the advent of agriculture when men lived in small groups, on a face-to-face basis. As a result human biology has evolved as an adaptive mechanism to conditions that have largely ceased to exist. Man evolved to feel strongly about few people, short distances, and relatively brief intervals of time; and

U.S. economy — it’s business as unusual - The Hindu

2008-12-27T23:01:00.000-05:00

P. SainathThings are not as bad as they seem for the U.S. economy. They are worse.On average, the United States has seen the loss of nearly 14,000 jobs each day since September 1. In 90 days from that date, close to 1.3 million Americans lost their jobs. After weeks of headline-grabbing events on Wall Street, these developments tend to recede into the background. Current estimates suggest that

Focus on rural infrastructure - The Hindu

2008-12-23T22:10:00.002-05:00

The World Bank’s country assistance strategy (CAS) for India, 2009-2012 comes at a momentous phase. The focus on boosting investments in infrastructure and reducing inequalities is back on the economic agenda both globally and within India. The proposed $14 billion lending programme for the next three years is in line with national priorities, even if it is short of projected requirements. Quite

NEW DEAL NATIONAL RAIL PLAN 2009 - newurbanism.org

2008-12-21T22:33:00.001-05:00

http://www.urbandesign.org/newdeal2009.htmlIt's time for a New Deal for America - building the 21st century green economy to solve our problems and set us up for a prosperous, sustainable futureWe need to embark on a major government project to fix America like President Roosevelt initiated in 1933 and 1935. We need another New Deal that will create millions of jobs and stimulate our economy. But

‘Asia on the move: Energy efficient and inclusive transport’

2008-11-13T00:17:00.000-05:00

ADB Transport Forum‘Asia on the move: Energy efficient and inclusive transport’Keynote address on Indian Urban Transport PolicyBySri S. Jaipal ReddyHon’ble Urban Development Minister, Government of IndiaIt gives me great pleasure to be amongst you all on this important Transport Forum with focus on energy efficient and inclusive transport in Asia.India is one of the emerging urban economies in

Global financial crisis: reflections on its impact on India - The Hindu

2008-10-19T02:26:00.000-04:00

S. VenkitaramananThe relative freedom from the contagion spreading from the global tsunami on the Indian financial system owes much to the wise and judicious policies of our central bank and the Government of India.The U.S. financial crisis has had its reverberations on both developed and developing world. It is not possible to insulate Indian economy completely from what is happening in the

Indian Economy and Inclusive Growth

2008-08-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

http://www.techsatish.net/2008/08/15/vijay-tv-neeya-naana-independence-day-spl/

Driving to Green Buildings - BuildingGreen.com

2008-07-09T11:08:00.002-04:00

The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings Since the late 1990s, Portland’s Pearl District has been transformed from a largely abandoned industrial area into a bustling mixed-use neighborhood. Local developers actively promote alternative forms of transportation, evident in the giant neon “Go By Streetcar” sign atop this multi-use complex. As the world’s first LEED Platinum building, the

Avoid currency devaluation - The Hindu BusinessLine

2008-07-06T21:06:00.001-04:00

Avoid currency devaluation: "Avoid currency devaluationPrabhat KumarCOME uncertain times and exporters organisations start lobbying for devaluation of the rupee to enhance India s competitiveness in exports. The usual justification advanced by them is the fall in the real effective exchange rate REER , that is, fall in value of the rupee versus the dollar. However, it is well-known that

Real Estate in Chennai - a ground level view

2008-07-03T23:06:00.002-04:00

This program is a very well composed one depicting the ground level issues concerning real estate in Chennai. Speculators and builders exploiting the speculation market for short term gains seem to be the consensus for the 'land-rush' seen in the city today. The ground level reality is that Chennai indeed all Indian metros, and soon the second tier cities, are becoming an elitist one-dimensional

Marketing to Rural India: Making the Ends Meet - India Knowledge @ Wharton

2008-06-29T15:42:00.000-04:00

Published: March 08, 2007 in India Knowledge@Wharton On one side are the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and the consumer durables companies. On the other are consumers in rural India, potentially the largest segment of the market. Finally, the two are coming together. The fact that this has not happened in the past is not for want of trying

Opening a Big Box: Organized Retail Confronts the Challenges of Local Markets - India Knowledge @ Wharton

2008-06-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

Published: March 20, 2008 in India Knowledge@Wharton Unused to modern, organized retailing, the Indian consumer is still figuring out how to extract value -- beyond lower prices -- from the stores, supermarkets and shopping chains that are popping up everywhere. Meanwhile, retailers face other challenges: Indian consumers shop frequently and

The 'Underprivileged Majority': Merging Policy with Practice to Help India's Poor - India Knowledge@Wharton

2008-06-20T20:39:00.001-04:00

Published: May 29, 2008 in India Knowledge@Wharton In the subtext of India's recent economic success story lies "the stubborn statistic of 400 million to 600 million people living in poverty," according to Shanta Devarajan, chief economist of the World Bank's South Asia region. Devarajan spoke as part of a panel discussion on "India's

Foreign hands building India - The Times of India

2008-06-17T16:25:00.000-04:00

Foreign hands building India15 Jun 2008, 0249 hrs IST, Neelam Raaj,TNNTime was when there was only the occasional eruption of concrete. Today, India's skyline is a work in progress. But while the towering new skyscrapers, sprawling IT parks, glitzy airports and swanky townships reflect desi aspirations, the blueprint, more often than not, is foreign. Be it a slum redevelopment project in

Debating Delhi’s rapid transit system - The Hindu

2008-06-15T20:15:00.000-04:00

Debating Delhi’s rapid transit system A. Srivathsan The debate

Inclusive Growth through Inclusive Governance - The Hindu

2008-06-09T21:59:00.001-04:00

Inclusive Growth through Inclusive Governance Mani Shankar Aiyar

Bogota - Building a Sustainable City

2008-06-04T22:48:00.002-04:00

Such a simple, yet powerful concept and the will to face the odds to achieve the impossible! Can this happen in Chennai in a way that is suitable for Chennai? Can there be one, at least one, visionary politician who will be able to stand up and fight? This city gives us hopes... lets dream on, lets fight on, lets hope for a better turnaround for our city...

In a bind over soaring oil - The Hindu

2008-05-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

K.VenugopalWith the oil bill this year likely to be as much as the entire net tax revenue of the Central government, over Rs. 500,000 crore, the government has been left with little room for manoeuvre.Every time one of those large supertankers takes on a consignment of 250,000 tonnes of crude oil at a West Asian port for delivery to a refinery in India, the oil company that wants to buy the cargo

Oh, these oil prices! - The Hindu

2008-05-24T08:56:00.000-04:00

As global crude prices continue to rise, the United Progressive Alliance government needs urgently to put in place a strategy to deal with the fiscal and inflationary consequences — if it is not to be checkmated. Under the present system of subsidised domestic pricing for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and the LPG, the country’s public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) lose more than Rs.500 crore

Reservations on the road: pause, reflect & learn

2008-05-06T08:43:00.001-04:00

Tathagata ChatterjiTo become successful, the BRT or any other transit system needs to grow beyond mere traffic engineering. Socio-cultural parameters need to be built in, right from the conceptualisation stage.The experimental Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Delhi, which reserves a portion of the road space to facilitate fast movement of high capacity buses and prioritises public transport over

Retaining competitiveness of the services sector - The Hindu

2008-05-05T09:16:00.001-04:00

Hoda committee recommends education reform and development councilsThe growth of the financial services sector will be hampered by shortage of qualified people.— PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN Anwarul Hoda (left), Chairman, High Level Group on Services Sector, with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, releasing a report on services sector recently in New Delhi.To enhance the

IT sector coming to terms with the slowdown - The Hindu

2008-04-28T11:36:00.001-04:00

New avenues opening up; better planning will helpNasscom has forecast a drop in orders and profits over the short term. But many IT majors feel that by early 2009, the uptrend may be discernible.The last quarter results of most IT majors have come, and on predictable lines. The net profit margins are down, confirming the earlier indications that the slowdown in the U.S. economy and the pressures

Second Master plan: largesse in the offing? - The Hindu

2008-04-25T01:52:00.000-04:00

The new development regulations have raised the anticipation level, writes Suresh Kuppuswami Photo: N. Sridharan.

The New Economics of Outsourcing - Business Week

2008-04-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

CEO Guide to Emerging Outsourcing Hubs April 7, 2008, 12:01AM EST text size: TT The New Economics of Outsourcing Efforts to send IT work anywhere but Bangalore are taking on added urgency as costs of doing work in India rise and the dollar sinks by Rachael King Softtek, a Monterrey (Mexico) provider of IT services, added 30 new clients last year. Most of them had been using Indian firms for

The goat-herd and its built environment

2008-03-31T08:26:00.004-04:00

The phenomenon discussed in the TV show in the previous post is an increasing trend, and is worth taking a closer look at from the perspective of the built environment, which has a direct effect on the opportunities for cultural development. If the IT training methodology described in the video is true, it is unprofessional, inappropriate and brings in a 'goat-herding' mentality. The built

The 'Lost Generation'?

2008-03-30T12:48:00.007-04:00

The following program is a Tamil talk show that discusses cultural issues arising due to the "IT work culture" in India. While it is unfair to single out IT as the reason and easy to blame westernization for this increased trend, what is significant is that the psyche of the current generation is a tailored fit to exploit the opportunities opened up by the "IT work culture" and westernization.

India still Asia's reluctant tiger - BBC

2008-03-11T19:52:00.000-04:00

By Zareer Masani Presenter, BBC Radio 4's Analysis

Challenges of urbanisation - The Hindu

2008-03-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

The world now lives in cities. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report released recently, the world population has decisively turned urban. About 3.3 billion people live in urban areas and by 2030 that would increase to about 5 billion. This amounts to more than half of the world’s population. The level of urbanisation in India, in comparison, appears much lower. Urban

What in heaven's name....................

2008-03-01T19:48:00.006-05:00

Whats happening in Chennai in the name of architecture?From being the cradle of Indo-Saracenic Architecture, and many other buildings that are elegance personified, this fall from grace hurts. The pictures that follow tell the entire story, better than a thousand words could explain.

The under-achieving real estate market and under-utilized mass transit systems in Indian metros forcing unhealthy sprawl

2008-02-17T16:41:00.013-05:00

ABSTRACT 'Kada veedi’ or 'Street of shops' is the traditional middle-class Tamil market-place. Ranganathan Street, Mambalam; Shanmugam Road, Tambaram; Main Road, Pallavaram; Main Road, Chromepet are just some examples that epitomize this concept, not to mention the Pondi Bazaars, Luz Corners and other such commercial centers in the city of Chennai, India. Small shops lined up along

Activists need urgent rehab

2008-02-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

Activists need urgent rehab Swapan DasguptaViewers of English-language TV news channels will have noticed the frequency with which a mysterious community called "activists" has begun popping up. On subjects as diverse as

Needed, a renewed socialist concern - The Hindu

2008-02-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

Needed, a renewed socialist concernV.R. Krishna IyerIndia needs democracy, development and a distributive strategy to salvage the lives of its have-nots.Indian Independence is a political phenomenon that has the sovereignty of the people enshrined in the paramountcy of a Socialist Secular Democratic Republic created by the Constitution. Our administration comprises triune instrumentalities that

DO

2008-01-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

Be the change you wish to see in the world - Gandhiji

Chennai MRTS and surrounding land-use

2007-12-31T20:49:00.001-05:00

This is a case-study of Chennai MRTS system's Chepauk station done in 2001. The purpose of the study was to identify issues that caused under-utilization of the MRTS system. The biggest reasons identified were the land-use pattern around the facility, lack of direct connectivity to the facility and lack of inter-modal transportation facilities. This study epitomizes the current land-use and

Changing culture in India...

2007-12-27T15:26:00.000-05:00

is this going the right way???

From the ground up...

2007-12-14T20:41:00.000-05:00

http://www.sustainableworldarchitecture.com/

Enterprise v. Employment

2007-11-04T15:38:00.000-05:00

Wal-Mart has certainly faced many darts for eating away mom and pop stores in small town America. The open capitalistic market led to the creation of a scale of business that enabled true 'economics of scale', and the result is that Wal-Mart has been able to sustain its profitability even while consistently providing goods at low prices to the market. From the consumer's perspective, it has been

The bell curve

2007-10-09T13:46:00.000-04:00

Diversity in human society is not a racial phenomenon. It is more a product of the human sixth sense, response to stimuli. Even within a single person’s response mechanism there is enough diversity to be plotted on a bell curve. At the end of the day, life is a bell curve and any claims of success can be represented by a measurement. There is power in numbers, and the bell curve represents that.

Indian Economy, Indian Society and Indian Cricket...

2007-10-02T08:39:00.001-04:00

There is a deep correlation between the Indian economy, the current trends of the Indian society and Indian cricket. Instant gratification, and not long term goals, is the governing principle, and sadly, the quality of the product is affected in each case.In the desperate need for new heroes we hype the hell out of initial sparks…. Look at Indian cinema…. It took Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth