Recently in Newshour with Jim Leherer in PBS, there was a segment about poverty and they showed two contrasting books that talks about poverty...
One was "White Man's Burden" by NYU professor William Easterly and the other was "The End of Poverty" by Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs. The former book argues that the so called aid by "the West" is of not much use. The latter books basically says more aid is needed...
Here is an article "Can aid bring an end to poverty?" in BBC which talks more about this...
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Venture money flowing to India
Here is a Financial Times article about "Venture capitalists descend on India"...
A group of venture capital funds from the UK and continental Europe have completed a fact-finding visit to India in their first big show of interest in a market that has been dominated by US and domestic companies.
More than 50 delegates from European companies such as Logitech, 3i, SAP Ventures, Nokia Ventures, Advent Venture Partners and Sofinnova made the trip, said Nish Kotecha of The Indus Entrepreneurs, a business association and one of the organisers of the visit.
They had about €7bn-€10bn ($8.8bn-$12.5bn) to invest in the global technology sector, including in India, Mr Kotecha said.
"I'd expect a good number of investments to come out of this over the course of the next couple of years," he said.
"It could become 10 per cent [of the €10bn] quite quickly."
Unlike private equity investment, the venture capital industry remains in its infancy in India.
Read on...
A group of venture capital funds from the UK and continental Europe have completed a fact-finding visit to India in their first big show of interest in a market that has been dominated by US and domestic companies.
More than 50 delegates from European companies such as Logitech, 3i, SAP Ventures, Nokia Ventures, Advent Venture Partners and Sofinnova made the trip, said Nish Kotecha of The Indus Entrepreneurs, a business association and one of the organisers of the visit.
They had about €7bn-€10bn ($8.8bn-$12.5bn) to invest in the global technology sector, including in India, Mr Kotecha said.
"I'd expect a good number of investments to come out of this over the course of the next couple of years," he said.
"It could become 10 per cent [of the €10bn] quite quickly."
Unlike private equity investment, the venture capital industry remains in its infancy in India.
Read on...
Here is one important piece of information
Here is an article in Moneycentral about how important it is to leave the key information (passwords, bank and other investment accounts etc) about yourself to a trust or a will.
Here are some excerpts...
"There's no question that online banking, electronic bill payment and personal-finance software make our lives easier.
Read on...
Here are some excerpts...
"There's no question that online banking, electronic bill payment and personal-finance software make our lives easier.
But could we be creating a digital mess for our heirs when we die?
One poster on the Your Money message board shared her family's trauma when her father died without divulging the passwords to his computer or online accounts.
"I am the co-executor of the trust and the most financially savvy of my siblings, so it was up to me to help mom. But what do you do without passwords?" poster Tuppermom asked. "And most companies don't just give you access -- it is a process that can take weeks and months (if they don't just say 'Oh -- he's deceased? OK, we'll close the account' and then NO ONE has access!!)."
Tuppermom's family got lucky when it stumbled upon a folder that contained passwords for some of her father's work-related accounts and one of his online banks. That provided enough clues to find and gain entry to most of his other accounts. The family's lawyers helped them get access to the rest, although the process took time.
The experience was so traumatic that Tuppermom and her family revised their own estate plans to include complete lists of online IDs and passwords for each of their accounts. Concern about identity theft and security, she wrote, shouldn't go so far that family members are left in the dark."
Read on...
Welch's advice to MIT students
GE icon dishes out blunt, politically incorrect advice to MBA students...
"Don't fall in love with your workers," a business instructor tells a student who's launching a small startup company. "If you've got 16 employees, at least two are turkeys."
It's hardly the only piece of blunt, politically incorrect advice the charismatic teacher dishes out in a windowless basement classroom filled with 30 MBA candidates, many of them hoping to eventually become CEOs. Wearing a blue blazer and checked shirt, the baldheaded instructor stands in front of a lecture table, rather than behind, through most of the 90-minute session, sharing his management ideas with a preacher's fervor.
If it sounds like the instructor is copping an I've-seen-it-all attitude, it's because he has reason to. He's Jack Welch."
Read on...
Here are some of his Classroom Quotes...
"Don't fall in love with your workers," a business instructor tells a student who's launching a small startup company. "If you've got 16 employees, at least two are turkeys."
It's hardly the only piece of blunt, politically incorrect advice the charismatic teacher dishes out in a windowless basement classroom filled with 30 MBA candidates, many of them hoping to eventually become CEOs. Wearing a blue blazer and checked shirt, the baldheaded instructor stands in front of a lecture table, rather than behind, through most of the 90-minute session, sharing his management ideas with a preacher's fervor.
If it sounds like the instructor is copping an I've-seen-it-all attitude, it's because he has reason to. He's Jack Welch."
Read on...
Here are some of his Classroom Quotes...
iPod revolution
Here is a story about iPod's impact on the culture, commerce and coolness...
"The iPod arrived in October 2001, bringing the promise of pleasure to a world in transformation from its comforting analog roots to a disruptive digital future. But no one expected that the iPod would become the signature artifact of our young century, selling more than 60 million units in its first five years. No one envisioned vast swaths of humanity escaping reality via the White Earbud Express. And no one would ever have believed that a 2005 survey would report that the iPod is more popular on college campuses ... than beer."
Read on ...
"The iPod arrived in October 2001, bringing the promise of pleasure to a world in transformation from its comforting analog roots to a disruptive digital future. But no one expected that the iPod would become the signature artifact of our young century, selling more than 60 million units in its first five years. No one envisioned vast swaths of humanity escaping reality via the White Earbud Express. And no one would ever have believed that a 2005 survey would report that the iPod is more popular on college campuses ... than beer."
Read on ...
Micro Financing: Mohammed Yunus
Newsweek has been covering Grameen Bank extensively for the past decade... Here they are rightfully boasting their coverage about the bank, its founder and its pioneering work to help poor people out of poverty...
"From its humble beginnings more than 20 years ago as a new kind of lending institution that has made loans of as little as one dollar to poor people looking for simple ways-buying a cow, or some small farm equipment—to better their lives, the Grameen Banks of Bangladesh has become a major force in lifting people out of poverty. It’s not charity—the bank has been profitable in all but three years-but a lending revolution that has made a total of $5.72 billion in these “microcredit” loans. NEWSWEEK has been writing for years about Grameen and its founder, economist Mohammed Yunus, winners Friday of the Nobel Peace Prize. Below is some of our coverage:"
Read on ...
Here is a video about MicroFinancing from my professor Dr. Bhagwan Chowdhry... He discusses about how to make micro financing accessible to more down trodden villagers in poor countries like Bangladesh, India etc. He talks about the idea of "Village Money Lenders", with a different role than their notorious predecessors (who used to charge poor with an interest rate of 30-50% per day because of lack of collaterals) had. Money to these lenders (with reasonable collaterals) will be lended by bigger banks and these lenders will in turn lend smaller amounts to the poor people at a lower and reasonable interest rates...
Here is a BBC story about how poor peasants in India commit suicides because of huge debt...
"From its humble beginnings more than 20 years ago as a new kind of lending institution that has made loans of as little as one dollar to poor people looking for simple ways-buying a cow, or some small farm equipment—to better their lives, the Grameen Banks of Bangladesh has become a major force in lifting people out of poverty. It’s not charity—the bank has been profitable in all but three years-but a lending revolution that has made a total of $5.72 billion in these “microcredit” loans. NEWSWEEK has been writing for years about Grameen and its founder, economist Mohammed Yunus, winners Friday of the Nobel Peace Prize. Below is some of our coverage:"
Read on ...
Here is a video about MicroFinancing from my professor Dr. Bhagwan Chowdhry... He discusses about how to make micro financing accessible to more down trodden villagers in poor countries like Bangladesh, India etc. He talks about the idea of "Village Money Lenders", with a different role than their notorious predecessors (who used to charge poor with an interest rate of 30-50% per day because of lack of collaterals) had. Money to these lenders (with reasonable collaterals) will be lended by bigger banks and these lenders will in turn lend smaller amounts to the poor people at a lower and reasonable interest rates...
Here is a BBC story about how poor peasants in India commit suicides because of huge debt...
Red wine may help prevent stroke damage
A couple glasses a day could protect the brain, mouse studies suggest...
"Red wine might work to protect the brain from damage after a stroke and drinking a couple of glasses a day might provide that protection ahead of time, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
In an effort to better understand how red wine works, the scientists from Johns Hopkins University fed mice a moderate dose of a compound found in red grape skins and seeds before inducing stroke-like damage.
They discovered that the animals suffered less brain damage than similarly damaged mice who were not treated with the compound, which is called resveratrol."
Read on...
"Red wine might work to protect the brain from damage after a stroke and drinking a couple of glasses a day might provide that protection ahead of time, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
In an effort to better understand how red wine works, the scientists from Johns Hopkins University fed mice a moderate dose of a compound found in red grape skins and seeds before inducing stroke-like damage.
They discovered that the animals suffered less brain damage than similarly damaged mice who were not treated with the compound, which is called resveratrol."
Read on...
California Time Bomb - Newsweek
This place (Santa Susana Pass) is in between San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley. I lived in San Fernando Valley for almost 5 years...
A new study says a 1959 meltdown at a rocket-testing facility may have caused as many as 1,800 cancer cases.
"Now, results of a new independent study released last week on the impact of the Rocketdyne event lend credence to Johnson’s suspicions and underscore the potentially dramatic effects that a single environmental mishap can have even decades later.
Among the findings of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel Study, which was funded by both the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Environmental Protection Agency: that from 260 to as many as 1,800 cancers in the area—many more than had previously been thought—could potentially be attributed to the radioactive material. What’s more, the study found, chemical and radioactive waste from the plant have polluted soil and groundwater in the vicinity. I
n a statement, Boeing, which now owns Rocketdyne but didn’t at the time of the 1959 accident, said an initial review of the five-year, federally funded research effort found it to have “significant flaws” and called the claims about the impact of the radioactive material “baseless, without scientific merit, and a great disservice to our employees and the community.” Johnson says that with the latest study in hand, she and other neighbors are now meeting with lawyers and may file suit against Boeing."
Read on...
A new study says a 1959 meltdown at a rocket-testing facility may have caused as many as 1,800 cancer cases.
"Now, results of a new independent study released last week on the impact of the Rocketdyne event lend credence to Johnson’s suspicions and underscore the potentially dramatic effects that a single environmental mishap can have even decades later.
Among the findings of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel Study, which was funded by both the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Environmental Protection Agency: that from 260 to as many as 1,800 cancers in the area—many more than had previously been thought—could potentially be attributed to the radioactive material. What’s more, the study found, chemical and radioactive waste from the plant have polluted soil and groundwater in the vicinity. I
n a statement, Boeing, which now owns Rocketdyne but didn’t at the time of the 1959 accident, said an initial review of the five-year, federally funded research effort found it to have “significant flaws” and called the claims about the impact of the radioactive material “baseless, without scientific merit, and a great disservice to our employees and the community.” Johnson says that with the latest study in hand, she and other neighbors are now meeting with lawyers and may file suit against Boeing."
Read on...
Ethics in Business
Buffett warns his top executives to avoid temptation...
Don't be a lemming.
That, in short, is Warren Buffett's warning to top executives at his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
In a Sept. 27 memo, Buffett cautioned managers that many corporate scandals arise because questionable activity is accepted as normal behavior. He said the rationale that ''everyone else is doing it'' is not acceptable. Rather, it should raise a red flag.
Read on...
Don't be a lemming.
That, in short, is Warren Buffett's warning to top executives at his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
In a Sept. 27 memo, Buffett cautioned managers that many corporate scandals arise because questionable activity is accepted as normal behavior. He said the rationale that ''everyone else is doing it'' is not acceptable. Rather, it should raise a red flag.
Read on...
Let 'em play...
Harried parents urged to let their kids just play - Pediatricians offer prescription for old-fashioned fun...
"Here’s some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime.
Many parents load their children’s schedules with get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a drive to help them excel. The efforts often begin as early as infancy.
Spontaneous, free play — whether it’s chasing butterflies, playing with “true toys” like blocks and dolls, or just romping on the floor with mom and dad — often is sacrificed in the shuffle, a new academy report says."
Read on...
"Here’s some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime.
Many parents load their children’s schedules with get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a drive to help them excel. The efforts often begin as early as infancy.
Spontaneous, free play — whether it’s chasing butterflies, playing with “true toys” like blocks and dolls, or just romping on the floor with mom and dad — often is sacrificed in the shuffle, a new academy report says."
Read on...
Homework outsourced!!
US homework outsourced to India
Private tutors are a luxury many American families cannot afford, costing anywhere between $25 to $100 an hour. But California mother Denise Robison found one online for $2.50 an hour -- in India.
"It's made the biggest difference. My daughter is literally at the top of every single one of her classes and she has never done that before," said Robison, a single mother from Modesto.
Her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, is one of 1,100 Americans enrolled in Bangalore-based TutorVista, which launched U.S. services last November with a staff of 150 "e-tutors" mostly in India with a fee of $100 a month for unlimited hours.
Read on...
Private tutors are a luxury many American families cannot afford, costing anywhere between $25 to $100 an hour. But California mother Denise Robison found one online for $2.50 an hour -- in India.
"It's made the biggest difference. My daughter is literally at the top of every single one of her classes and she has never done that before," said Robison, a single mother from Modesto.
Her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, is one of 1,100 Americans enrolled in Bangalore-based TutorVista, which launched U.S. services last November with a staff of 150 "e-tutors" mostly in India with a fee of $100 a month for unlimited hours.
Read on...
India's infrastructure woes...
India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the country needs to spend $320 Billion in the next 5 years to maintain the current economic growth rate.
"The quality and capacity of our infrastructure is certainly a matter of concern to one and all," the prime minister said. Singh added substantial private sector investment would be needed to deal with India's infrastructure "deficit".
Here is a Financial Times column about "Engaging India: Infrastruture and Dengue"...
"While manufacturers are attracted to India’s low-cost environment and burgeoning domestic market, they are worried about moving their goods – be it cars, mobile phones or textiles – through the country’s poor network of roads, overburdened airports and clogged ports. Power cuts can force business to a grinding halt. Notably, software, outsourcing services and telecommunications, India’s leading industries, have flourished partly because they are unfettered by the constraints of transportation."
"The quality and capacity of our infrastructure is certainly a matter of concern to one and all," the prime minister said. Singh added substantial private sector investment would be needed to deal with India's infrastructure "deficit".
He said road, rail, air and water transport, electric power, telecommunications, water supply and irrigation needed investment of about 320 billion dollars between 2007-12."
"Singh singled out the country's power sector as one of the biggest economic trouble spots and asked India's states to take immediate steps to make the sector financially viable.
He said high transmission and distribution losses accounted for almost 40 per cent of the electricity produced. No civilised society, nor a functional commercial entity, can sustain losses on such a scale," he said."
Here is a Financial Times column about "Engaging India: Infrastruture and Dengue"...
"While manufacturers are attracted to India’s low-cost environment and burgeoning domestic market, they are worried about moving their goods – be it cars, mobile phones or textiles – through the country’s poor network of roads, overburdened airports and clogged ports. Power cuts can force business to a grinding halt. Notably, software, outsourcing services and telecommunications, India’s leading industries, have flourished partly because they are unfettered by the constraints of transportation."
Gandhigiri - Revival of Gandhism
It took a comedy to revive Gandhi's ideals in India...
Here is a story about a Bollywood mega hit "Lage Raho Munnabhai" (a hindi movie) in Christian Science Monitor...
"On Oct 2nd, India paused to remember the life of Mohandas Gandhi. Like every year on this national holiday commemorating the birth of the Father of India, there were grand words, garlands, and one nagging question: Is this little man, swaddled in homespun cloth and armed only with his own reason, still relevant in an India of Internet millionaires and nuclear weapons?"
"This year, an answer and a revival of sorts has come from a most unexpected source - a Bollywood comedy about a witless Mumbai gangster.
Here is a story about a Bollywood mega hit "Lage Raho Munnabhai" (a hindi movie) in Christian Science Monitor...
"On Oct 2nd, India paused to remember the life of Mohandas Gandhi. Like every year on this national holiday commemorating the birth of the Father of India, there were grand words, garlands, and one nagging question: Is this little man, swaddled in homespun cloth and armed only with his own reason, still relevant in an India of Internet millionaires and nuclear weapons?"
"This year, an answer and a revival of sorts has come from a most unexpected source - a Bollywood comedy about a witless Mumbai gangster.
Puneet Sood, a smartly dressed software analyst fresh out of college, says he "could never relate to Gandhi before this movie." Yet "Lage Raho Munnabhai," with its light-hearted take on a gangster's conversion to Gandhian nonviolence, is providing the perfect antidote to decades of solemn ceremonies and austere textbooks, which have increasingly cast Gandhi as a museum piece of impractical ideals.
For some young Indians, it has been a call to action. For example, college students in Lucknow recently abandoned a history of violent protests in favor of handing out flowers - a tactic taken directly from the film. Far more, however, echo the feelings of Mr. Sood when he says that this Oct. 2, he looked at Gandhi with new eyes - perhaps not converted, but certainly understanding better why a nation in crisis came to call him "Bapu," father."
Knowledge Assets - UCLA Anderson Management Videos
Here are some good Video Insights from the professors of UCLA Anderson and other distinguished speakers...
Didn't know it existed till today (shame on me - being a UCLA Anderson student). And guess what it was pointed out by a USC Marshall student :)
One suggestion to the folks who manage this site is to show the recorded date for each video.
Didn't know it existed till today (shame on me - being a UCLA Anderson student). And guess what it was pointed out by a USC Marshall student :)
One suggestion to the folks who manage this site is to show the recorded date for each video.
Monday, October 09, 2006
The Four Costliest Lending Mistakes
Here are, according to Suze Orman, the four pitfalls to avoid when lending money to someone you love...
"It's never easy to say no to someone you love, especially when they come to you in need of cash. But lending a financial hand can leave you out of money and out of sorts with your friends and relatives.
I often hear from people who have loaned money to someone they care about deeply, only to have to deal with the fallout when they don't get repaid."
"It's never easy to say no to someone you love, especially when they come to you in need of cash. But lending a financial hand can leave you out of money and out of sorts with your friends and relatives.
I often hear from people who have loaned money to someone they care about deeply, only to have to deal with the fallout when they don't get repaid."
Google gobbles up Youtube
OK folks,
Its official... Google is buying Youtube for 1.65 Billion in an all-stock deal.
"Internet search leader Google is snapping up YouTube for $1.65 billion, brushing aside copyright concerns to seize a starring role in the online video revolution.
Here are some naysayers...
Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks, says "It will be interesting to see what happens next and what happens in the copyright world. I still think Google lawyers will be a busy, busy bunch. I don't think you can sue Google into oblivion, but as others have mentioned, if Google gets nailed one single time for copyright violation, there are going to be more shareholder lawsuits than Doans has pills to go with the pile-on copyright suits that follow. Think maybe how Google discloses what they perceive the copyright risk to be in the SEC filings might be an interesting read?"
New York Times thinks that there were eerie echoes of the late 1990’s boom time. "A profitless Web site started by three 20-somethings after a late-night dinner party is sold for more than a billion dollars, instantly turning dozens of its employees into paper millionaires. It sounds like a tale from the late 1990’s dot-com bubble, but it happened yesterday."
Here are some yaysayers...
Newsweek says "Crazy - but it might make sense"..
CNN goes one step further and predicts that it one of the many such investments Google is going to make. It says, "During a conference call, Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt said the YouTube deal would be one of "many investments" that Google planned to make in online video. He added that the combination of Google and YouTube would make Google more desirable to advertisers.
Its official... Google is buying Youtube for 1.65 Billion in an all-stock deal.
"Internet search leader Google is snapping up YouTube for $1.65 billion, brushing aside copyright concerns to seize a starring role in the online video revolution.
The all-stock deal announced Monday unites one of the Internet’s marquee companies with one of its rapidly rising stars. It came just a few hours after YouTube unveiled three separate agreements with media companies to counter the threat of copyright-infringement lawsuits."
As expected, you can hear both yays and nays with respect to this deal...Here are some naysayers...
Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks, says "It will be interesting to see what happens next and what happens in the copyright world. I still think Google lawyers will be a busy, busy bunch. I don't think you can sue Google into oblivion, but as others have mentioned, if Google gets nailed one single time for copyright violation, there are going to be more shareholder lawsuits than Doans has pills to go with the pile-on copyright suits that follow. Think maybe how Google discloses what they perceive the copyright risk to be in the SEC filings might be an interesting read?"
New York Times thinks that there were eerie echoes of the late 1990’s boom time. "A profitless Web site started by three 20-somethings after a late-night dinner party is sold for more than a billion dollars, instantly turning dozens of its employees into paper millionaires. It sounds like a tale from the late 1990’s dot-com bubble, but it happened yesterday."
But the purchase price has also invited comparisons to the mind-boggling valuations that were once given to dozens of Silicon Valley companies a decade ago. Like YouTube, those companies were once the Next Big Thing, but some soon folded.
Google, with a market value of $132 billion, can clearly afford to take a gamble with YouTube, but the question remains: How to put a price tag on an unproven business?
“If you believe it’s the future of television, it’s clearly worth $1.6 billion,” Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, said of YouTube. “If you believe something else, you could write down maybe it’s not worth much at all.”
Washington Post warns, "Behind the buzz of the high-priced deal come a number of gambles, including a large amount of copyrighted material on the site that attracted both viewers who shared the videos and lawyers who cried foul on behalf of the copyright holders. Clips of popular shows such as "South Park," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "Laguna Beach" can be found on the site.Also a factor is the fickleness of YouTube's online audience, which could migrate elsewhere or become turned off by the large amount of corporate advertising making its way onto the site. A year after online star MySpace.com, a social networking site, was acquired by News Corp. for $580 million, the core audience has shifted from teenagers to people in their thirties.
"The game back in the 1990s to 2001 was to attract as many eyeballs as possible. That hasn't changed," said Tim Bajarin, a longtime technology consultant and futurist with Creative Strategies. "The big difference today is the social network. One of the most powerful methods for spreading information is word of mouth, and the incredible explosion of that use, from spreading information and inviting people, especially within this young age group, is one huge difference."
Here are some yaysayers...
Newsweek says "Crazy - but it might make sense"..
CNN goes one step further and predicts that it one of the many such investments Google is going to make. It says, "During a conference call, Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt said the YouTube deal would be one of "many investments" that Google planned to make in online video. He added that the combination of Google and YouTube would make Google more desirable to advertisers.
"This is just the beginning of an Internet video revolution," he said.
There is some debate about whether or not YouTube or other user-generated video sites will be able to attract the interest of top advertisers. But Tancer said that big corporations may be forced to start spending on ads tied to such clips."
Goolge Gives It Gas... says theStreet.com.
Disclaimer: I hope this deal works out well.. I own google shares...Saturday, October 07, 2006
Cerritos. Traffic. Los Angeles.
We went to Cerritos today to do some Indian shopping. My wife wanted to get some jewelry for our daughter. The traffic, however was very bad and it took almost an hour and a half to get there. By the time we reached Artesia (Little India), all the jewelry shops had already closed (They close at 7:30 pm on Saturdays??)... Reduced some tempers by promising to take her back before Deepavali.
We had dinner at Tirupathi Bhimas... I had Sambhar Vada and Parotta kurma. My wife ordered a mini-tiffin. My parents-in-law each had Rava dosa. Sambhar vada was not very good. The vadas were too hard and were not soaked well in the sambhar. Also, the sambar idli that came with the mini-tiffin was kind of disappointment. Earlier, they used to serve mini-idlis soaked in sambar. But this time it was just the plain idli. Otherwise the food was pretty good. I would say the best South Indian Vegetarian food in Southern California. Saravana Bhavan is still the best food of this kind in California (may be in the US).
The main culprit for the traffic jam was the games that were going on today in LA. UCLA played Arizona, USC played Washington and Dodgers played their last game of the season :( against Mets.
We had dinner at Tirupathi Bhimas... I had Sambhar Vada and Parotta kurma. My wife ordered a mini-tiffin. My parents-in-law each had Rava dosa. Sambhar vada was not very good. The vadas were too hard and were not soaked well in the sambhar. Also, the sambar idli that came with the mini-tiffin was kind of disappointment. Earlier, they used to serve mini-idlis soaked in sambar. But this time it was just the plain idli. Otherwise the food was pretty good. I would say the best South Indian Vegetarian food in Southern California. Saravana Bhavan is still the best food of this kind in California (may be in the US).
The main culprit for the traffic jam was the games that were going on today in LA. UCLA played Arizona, USC played Washington and Dodgers played their last game of the season :( against Mets.
Viral Infection outbreak in India...
At present, India is facing sort of epidemic because of two viral diseases that is spreading very fast...
In the north, Dengue fever has proved to be fatal killing upto 20 people in and around Delhi...
"Dengue fever (IPA: ['deŋgeɪ]) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus)."
Here is the news about Dengue fever...
In the south, it is Chikungunya. Although not fatal, many people have been affected because of this viral fever. Even my grandma is one of them. She is suffering from severe arthiritis pain because of this. The doctors have told her that she will be having this joint pain for weeks if not for months :(
"Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, though recent research by the Pasteur Institute in Paris claims the virus has suffered a mutation that enables it to be transmitted by Aedes albopictus (Tiger mosquito). This was the cause of the actual plague in the Indian Ocean and a threat to the Mediterranean coast at present, requiring urgent meetings of health officials in France, Italy, and Spain."
Here is Indian Government's notification...
"As confirmed cases of both dengue and chikungunya continued to rise, the Union Government on Saturday said the country would remain vulnerable to both till November — when temperatures are expected to dip — and sought citizens' help in containing the "public health situation.""
More...
In the north, Dengue fever has proved to be fatal killing upto 20 people in and around Delhi...
"Dengue fever (IPA: ['deŋgeɪ]) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus)."
Here is the news about Dengue fever...
In the south, it is Chikungunya. Although not fatal, many people have been affected because of this viral fever. Even my grandma is one of them. She is suffering from severe arthiritis pain because of this. The doctors have told her that she will be having this joint pain for weeks if not for months :(
"Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, though recent research by the Pasteur Institute in Paris claims the virus has suffered a mutation that enables it to be transmitted by Aedes albopictus (Tiger mosquito). This was the cause of the actual plague in the Indian Ocean and a threat to the Mediterranean coast at present, requiring urgent meetings of health officials in France, Italy, and Spain."
Here is Indian Government's notification...
"As confirmed cases of both dengue and chikungunya continued to rise, the Union Government on Saturday said the country would remain vulnerable to both till November — when temperatures are expected to dip — and sought citizens' help in containing the "public health situation.""
More...
Wipro
Here is an impressive story of how Azim Premji transformed a mediocre vegetable oil company to a IT outsourcing powerhouse...
Rean on...
Also Morarji Desai's ultra-socialist policies had some positive effects...
Says Premji, "As the years went on, I oversaw Wipro's diversification into other products, including soaps, wax and tin containers. But things really changed in 1977, when IBM left the country after India's then-socialist government required them to have a staff that was at least 60% Indian.
"That opened the door for home-grown computer scientists and stepped up the government's push for increased computer education throughout the country.
"We seized that moment and began to find ways to capitalize on the computer's growing popularity and utility. By 1981, Wipro was producing its own computer. That profoundly changed my family's company.
"It changed me, too. When I started out in business, I was an electrical engineering student. In 1994, I went back and finally finished my bachelor's degree."
Rean on...
Also Morarji Desai's ultra-socialist policies had some positive effects...
Says Premji, "As the years went on, I oversaw Wipro's diversification into other products, including soaps, wax and tin containers. But things really changed in 1977, when IBM left the country after India's then-socialist government required them to have a staff that was at least 60% Indian.
"That opened the door for home-grown computer scientists and stepped up the government's push for increased computer education throughout the country.
"We seized that moment and began to find ways to capitalize on the computer's growing popularity and utility. By 1981, Wipro was producing its own computer. That profoundly changed my family's company.
"It changed me, too. When I started out in business, I was an electrical engineering student. In 1994, I went back and finally finished my bachelor's degree."
Friday, October 06, 2006
Benefits of beans include lower cancer risk
"Could eating more beans be your next step toward a healthful diet? Two new studies suggest that eating beans could lower your risk of developing a colon adenoma, a non-cancerous tumor that can progress into colon cancer. Previous studies link greater consumption of legumes (dried beans and peas) with lower risk of heart disease."
"How they help
These health benefits of legumes may come from this food’s unique phytochemicals. Saponins, lignans and phytosterols are under study for potential benefits in fighting cancer and heart disease. Legumes are also a major source of several nutrients most often lacking in Americans’ diets: magnesium, potassium, folate and fiber."
"But what about ...
Some people hesitate to eat beans because they can produce too much intestinal gas. Gas develops as indigestible carbohydrates in beans pass into the large intestine, where bacteria break down the carbohydrates and produce gas. A product called Beano taken with or just before eating provides a protein that breaks down these carbohydrates, preventing or reducing gas formation.
Cultures that traditionally use beans abundantly tend to use herbs and spices said to fight flatulence. These include turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, anise, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, rosemary, lemongrass, garlic and basil.
Little research “proves” their effectiveness, but you lose nothing by flavoring bean dishes with them to see if they work for you. Italian, Greek, Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Asian cookbooks can provide inspiration, since all these cuisines use legumes frequently."
Full story...
"How they help
These health benefits of legumes may come from this food’s unique phytochemicals. Saponins, lignans and phytosterols are under study for potential benefits in fighting cancer and heart disease. Legumes are also a major source of several nutrients most often lacking in Americans’ diets: magnesium, potassium, folate and fiber."
"But what about ...
Some people hesitate to eat beans because they can produce too much intestinal gas. Gas develops as indigestible carbohydrates in beans pass into the large intestine, where bacteria break down the carbohydrates and produce gas. A product called Beano taken with or just before eating provides a protein that breaks down these carbohydrates, preventing or reducing gas formation.
Cultures that traditionally use beans abundantly tend to use herbs and spices said to fight flatulence. These include turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, anise, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, rosemary, lemongrass, garlic and basil.
Little research “proves” their effectiveness, but you lose nothing by flavoring bean dishes with them to see if they work for you. Italian, Greek, Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Asian cookbooks can provide inspiration, since all these cuisines use legumes frequently."
Full story...
Bottled carrot juice may have paralyzed woman
Here is a shocking story about a woman becoming paralyzed after drinking bottled carrot juice...
I have also heard another story in India where a person died immediately after drinking fresh sugar cane juice (from a street vendor). What had happened, apparently, was the sugar cane that was used was bitten by a poisonous snake and the poison got retained in the sugar cane.
In any case, be safe folks...
I have also heard another story in India where a person died immediately after drinking fresh sugar cane juice (from a street vendor). What had happened, apparently, was the sugar cane that was used was bitten by a poisonous snake and the poison got retained in the sugar cane.
In any case, be safe folks...
Clinton wins crackdown on school junk food
Clinton, my favorite recent American President, continues to play the role of a responsible former President and a senior statesman. Be it fighting AIDS in Africa or helping victims of natural disasters like Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, he gets to the forefront and plays an important role.
Here is one such initiative that deserves Kudos!
"In some schools — ever on the watch for unhealthy junk food — students may have to do some extra walking to find their favorite candy bar thanks to the latest nutrition deal struck by former President Clinton."
More...
Here is one such initiative that deserves Kudos!
"In some schools — ever on the watch for unhealthy junk food — students may have to do some extra walking to find their favorite candy bar thanks to the latest nutrition deal struck by former President Clinton."
More...
How a better Middle East would look?
Here is a provocative commentary in Armed Forces Journal.... The author, Ralph Peters, suggests that breaking up coutries in the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia by ethnicity and culture would solve some of the problems in that part of the world.
Here are the before and after maps...
Here are some excerpts.
"International borders are never completely just. But the degree of injustice they inflict upon those whom frontiers force together or separate makes an enormous difference — often the difference between freedom and oppression, tolerance and atrocity, the rule of law and terrorism, or even peace and war.
The most arbitrary and distorted borders in the world are in Africa and the Middle East. Drawn by self-interested Europeans (who have had sufficient trouble defining their own frontiers), Africa's borders continue to provoke the deaths of millions of local inhabitants. But the unjust borders in the Middle East — to borrow from Churchill — generate more trouble than can be consumed locally.
While the Middle East has far more problems than dysfunctional borders alone — from cultural stagnation through scandalous inequality to deadly religious extremism — the greatest taboo in striving to understand the region's comprehensive failure isn't Islam but the awful-but-sacrosanct international boundaries worshipped by our own diplomats. "
WHO WINS, WHO LOSES
Winners —
Afghanistan
Arab Shia State
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Free Baluchistan
Free Kurdistan
Iran
Islamic Sacred State
Jordan
Lebanon
Yemen
Losers —
Afghanistan
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Kuwait
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
West Bank
My question is why would a country like Pakistan and Turkey be willing to give away a big chunk of their territory? One has to agree that Britain and France messed up the whole area during the beginning of the 20th century. But that doesnt mean that US has to mess it up even more now in the early part of the 21st century. I think this is a recipe for World War 3...
Here is a rebuttal to this article "Bordering on Insanity - Redrawing MidEast map wont work" in Newsweek.
Beemer update
Have been driving X3 for a week!!
Here are the first impressions...
Positives:
----------
1) Panoramic moon-roof (I love it!)
2) Excellent accelaration (compared to Camry and Scion!)
3) Handles curves very well (especially on the route I am taking to work via curvy coldwater canyon. I dont have as much back pain as I used to have)
4) Fairly roomy interior
5) Safety features (airbags, stability and traction control, adaptive Xenon lights)
6) Free maintenance for 4 years/50,000 miles (that was the deal-maker for me over a Lexus)
Negatives:
----------
1) Poor gas mileage. Only 16 mph in streets and 23 in highways. Actually I am getting only around 14 so far in streets with lots of stoppings. Well, I drive mostly in West LA and Hollywood :(.
2) More expensive premium unleaded gas.
Here are the first impressions...
Positives:
----------
1) Panoramic moon-roof (I love it!)
2) Excellent accelaration (compared to Camry and Scion!)
3) Handles curves very well (especially on the route I am taking to work via curvy coldwater canyon. I dont have as much back pain as I used to have)
4) Fairly roomy interior
5) Safety features (airbags, stability and traction control, adaptive Xenon lights)
6) Free maintenance for 4 years/50,000 miles (that was the deal-maker for me over a Lexus)
Negatives:
----------
1) Poor gas mileage. Only 16 mph in streets and 23 in highways. Actually I am getting only around 14 so far in streets with lots of stoppings. Well, I drive mostly in West LA and Hollywood :(.
2) More expensive premium unleaded gas.
Cricket - Champions trophy in Dish Network
21 matches overall for $99.95. Check Dish network's website for more details.... Thats under 5 bucks a match. Not bad considering the recent outrageous prices they were charging like 20+ bucks a match.
There are, however, only 3 guaranteed (provided they dont get washed out) India matches and 2 more if they qualify for Semis and Finals. But with their recent form, I seriously doubt that they will make it that far.
Here is the complete schedule...
All the matches are day-night. Interesting to see that all the venues are in the Western India. Is it a weather-related decision? If yes, then I think BCCI deserves a pat in the back. Also interesting is the fact that Mumbai matches are played in Brabourne stadium instead of Wankhade. Are there any renovations going on?
There are, however, only 3 guaranteed (provided they dont get washed out) India matches and 2 more if they qualify for Semis and Finals. But with their recent form, I seriously doubt that they will make it that far.
Here is the complete schedule...
All the matches are day-night. Interesting to see that all the venues are in the Western India. Is it a weather-related decision? If yes, then I think BCCI deserves a pat in the back. Also interesting is the fact that Mumbai matches are played in Brabourne stadium instead of Wankhade. Are there any renovations going on?
Google Getting Into the YouTube Groove?
"Is Google (Nasdaq: GOOG - News) finally about to put its billions to work by buying its way to the top in online video? A report coming out of The Wall Street Journal online claims that talks have advanced between Google and the popular YouTube site, with a price tag of about $1.6 billion being bandied about. The speculation originally surfaced last night in a TechCrunch blog entry that was titled "Completely Unsubstantiated Google/YouTube Buyout Rumor.""
Read on...
Read on...
Google Puts Lid on New Products
I thought this was long overdue... Especially after reading the article in Fortune magazine "Chaos by design", I was wondering where it was going to lead Google to. The sub-header said it all in that article. "The inside story of disorder, disarray, and uncertainty at Google. And why it's all part of the plan. (They hope.)"
The new article in LATimes business section says "Realizing that its myriad services are confusing users, it will focus on refining what it has."
"In another sign of Google Inc.'s growth from start-up to corporate behemoth, the company's top executives said Thursday that they had begun telling engineers to stop launching so many new services and instead focus on making existing ones work together better."
"Co-founder Sergey Brin is leading a companywide initiative called "Features, not products." He said the campaign started this summer when Google executives realized that myriad product releases were confusing their users."
Read on...(free registration reqd.)
The new article in LATimes business section says "Realizing that its myriad services are confusing users, it will focus on refining what it has."
"In another sign of Google Inc.'s growth from start-up to corporate behemoth, the company's top executives said Thursday that they had begun telling engineers to stop launching so many new services and instead focus on making existing ones work together better."
"Co-founder Sergey Brin is leading a companywide initiative called "Features, not products." He said the campaign started this summer when Google executives realized that myriad product releases were confusing their users."
Read on...(free registration reqd.)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
My stock portfolio
High fliers... (> 5%)
Apple, Activision, Walt Disney, Embraer, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, Infosys, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald's, Motorola, Microsoft, Target, ValueClick
Average... (-5% to +5%)
Drew Industries, Google, Hurco Companies, The India Fund, IRobot, Radyn Corporation, Starbucks, WholeFoods
Laggards... (< -5%) Alon USA Energy, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ebay, FormFactor, Valero Energy, Yahoo
Apple, Activision, Walt Disney, Embraer, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, Infosys, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald's, Motorola, Microsoft, Target, ValueClick
Average... (-5% to +5%)
Drew Industries, Google, Hurco Companies, The India Fund, IRobot, Radyn Corporation, Starbucks, WholeFoods
Laggards... (< -5%) Alon USA Energy, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ebay, FormFactor, Valero Energy, Yahoo
10 myths about school shootings
"The profile of the gun-toting student in a trench coat is just one of the myths about the rare but murderous attacks in the nation’s schools.
Here are 10 myths about school shootings, compiled by MSNBC.com from a 2002 study by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education. The researchers studied case files and other primary sources for 37 attacks by current or former students, and also interviewed 10 of the perpetrators."
More...Can I use this excuse to start drinking???
Does Drinking Help Your Career?
One thing I am not sure is this assertion in the article...
"Regular drinkers make 10% to 14% more money than those who do not drink, according to the study, conducted by the Journal of Labor Research, published quarterly by the Department of Economics at George Mason University, and the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based think tank."
It could also be that people who earn more money can afford to drink. The question is which one is the cause and which one is the effect...
But I agree with the article's general premise...
"CEOs, particularly those running smaller, fast-growing companies, say that social and professional networking is an essential business tool. And while Johnnie Walker and Grey Goose may not actually be career wonder-tonics, the reality is that a significant amount of this networking takes place at company happy hours and other social events involving alcohol."
One thing I am not sure is this assertion in the article...
"Regular drinkers make 10% to 14% more money than those who do not drink, according to the study, conducted by the Journal of Labor Research, published quarterly by the Department of Economics at George Mason University, and the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based think tank."
It could also be that people who earn more money can afford to drink. The question is which one is the cause and which one is the effect...
But I agree with the article's general premise...
"CEOs, particularly those running smaller, fast-growing companies, say that social and professional networking is an essential business tool. And while Johnnie Walker and Grey Goose may not actually be career wonder-tonics, the reality is that a significant amount of this networking takes place at company happy hours and other social events involving alcohol."
India is in top of this list!!
India, Russia, China worst countries for bribery
Anti-corruption advocates Wednesday called on the governments of India, China and Russia to do more to stop their multinational companies from bribing when doing business abroad.
Anti-corruption advocates Wednesday called on the governments of India, China and Russia to do more to stop their multinational companies from bribing when doing business abroad.
A survey of 30 of the world’s leading exporting countries ranked the three countries at the bottom, with India the worst offender. Switzerland topped the ranking of the Bribe Payers Index 2006.
Officials from the anti-corruption group Transparency International urged the governments of the three fast emerging economies to take a more active role in cleaning up the business practices of their companies.
What a stupid idea....
A Wisconsin state legislator wants teachers to carry guns...
"Rep. Frank Lasee, a Republican, said Wednesday that, while his idea may not be politically correct, it has worked effectively in other countries."
"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," he said. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."
More...
How about installing metal detectors in all schools? Or even better, how about eliminating guns from civilians altogether... The second amendment of US constitution ("the right of the people to keep and bear arms") is so 18th century concept...
More about 2nd amendment...
"Rep. Frank Lasee, a Republican, said Wednesday that, while his idea may not be politically correct, it has worked effectively in other countries."
"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," he said. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."
More...
How about installing metal detectors in all schools? Or even better, how about eliminating guns from civilians altogether... The second amendment of US constitution ("the right of the people to keep and bear arms") is so 18th century concept...
More about 2nd amendment...
Online matrimony: A big business in India
"The organised matrimonial business in India is worth about Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion). Until a few years ago, it operated mainly as a loose network of friends, astrologers, family priests and so on."
"Now, the business model has evolved further. Both companies are looking to housewives and retired people to help expand their business. The brick-and-mortar model will expand primarily through franchises sold to this group."
"Now, the business model has evolved further. Both companies are looking to housewives and retired people to help expand their business. The brick-and-mortar model will expand primarily through franchises sold to this group."
"Accordingly, initial investment in the franchise operation has also been pegged at an affordable Rs 800,000-10 lakh, and office space requirements kept at 600-800 sq ft. In the next two years, Shaadi Point (the offline model of Shaadi.com) plans to expand its current 100 centres to 500, while BharatMatrimony is aiming for 300 centres in the same period."
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
INFY and IFN hit because of Belgaum, Karnataka
A daylong strike by local political groups shut down India's technology hub, Bangalore, forcing many outsourcing companies to shift work elsewhere in the country and abroad.
Wednesday's strike was called to press the southern Karnataka state's decades-old claim over a small town (Belgaum) in a dispute with neighboring Maharashtra state.
Strike Shuts Down India's Technology Hub...
Wednesday's strike was called to press the southern Karnataka state's decades-old claim over a small town (Belgaum) in a dispute with neighboring Maharashtra state.
Strike Shuts Down India's Technology Hub...
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Traffic restrictions near UCLA
I was thinking of attending the IFC (Investment Finance Club) kick-off meeting, but will not go because of the traffic restrictions this evening.
Here is the notification... The important dignitary is none other than George W Bush...
Transportation Services request notification to campus users that a very important dignitary will be visiting theWest LA area. This visit is expected to result in significant traffic congestion throughout the area. Expect considerable delays and plan accordingly.
Here is the notification... The important dignitary is none other than George W Bush...
Transportation Services request notification to campus users that a very important dignitary will be visiting the
Sunset Boulevard, north of campus, will be temporarily closed in both directions from approximately 4pm to 8pm.
Sign a petition for Diwali
Got this email from Bharat_UCLA...
Friends,
Diwali is an important Hindu festival, and United States Postal Service is considering issuing stamps for this occasion. USPS has stamps for other festivals too like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid, and Chinese New Year.
To do this, USPS needs 500,000 signatures to have a stamp release, and so far we have 338,551+ people who have signed the petition.
We are close.
Please go to the site below and support the release of the Diwali stamp. Also, please forward widely to others who would support this.
So lets get the Diwali stamp issued and let's make the presence of Indians felt here in
Click below to sign the petition:
http://www.petition
-Thank you
Talking in your cell phone in Tamil
"He reportedly told airport officials that he will not speak a foreign language on his cellphone at an airport in the future."
Tamil-speaking man sparks security alert in Seattle.
Tamil-speaking man sparks security alert in Seattle.
Auto lease (BMW) negotiation tips
Before you start shopping for a auto lease do the following homework...
1) Check the manufacturer website to see if they offer any special leases... For BMW, check the following web site for lease specials...
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/leaseoffers
2) Based on the information given for a specific model, especially the lease terms for a particular vehicle, try to glean as much information as possible. You can pretty much get the Cap cost, residual value (for a particular mileage), term of the lease and the monthly payment from the fine print of the advertisement. In this the only missing piece is the money factor. You can use Excel solver to find that out.
3) Based on the information you glean from special offer, work out roughly the monthly payments for your specific car (with all the options and accessories). You can build your own BMW and price it with options in BMW's web site. Do some sensitivity analysis by entering different values for each of the parameter (cap cost, residual, moneyfactor etc). Set yourselves a target range for the monthly payments that is comfortable to you.
4) When you visit a dealer you have two ways of starting your negotiation. Either you can show off your lease calculation expertise right from the beginning by asking all the tough questions about each of the lease parameters or play dumb and just negotiate the monthly payments from the get go. I tried both in different dealerships and usually the latter method works better. Just tell them that you did some math and you got a far lower number than the number they first give you.
5) Show signs that you are willing to increase your counter-offer a little bit. Also tell them that you are a motivated buyer and will sign a lease if the amount is agreeable.
Good luck!!
For more information on auto leasing, check the following web site...
http://www.leaseguide.com/
1) Check the manufacturer website to see if they offer any special leases... For BMW, check the following web site for lease specials...
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/leaseoffers
2) Based on the information given for a specific model, especially the lease terms for a particular vehicle, try to glean as much information as possible. You can pretty much get the Cap cost, residual value (for a particular mileage), term of the lease and the monthly payment from the fine print of the advertisement. In this the only missing piece is the money factor. You can use Excel solver to find that out.
3) Based on the information you glean from special offer, work out roughly the monthly payments for your specific car (with all the options and accessories). You can build your own BMW and price it with options in BMW's web site. Do some sensitivity analysis by entering different values for each of the parameter (cap cost, residual, moneyfactor etc). Set yourselves a target range for the monthly payments that is comfortable to you.
4) When you visit a dealer you have two ways of starting your negotiation. Either you can show off your lease calculation expertise right from the beginning by asking all the tough questions about each of the lease parameters or play dumb and just negotiate the monthly payments from the get go. I tried both in different dealerships and usually the latter method works better. Just tell them that you did some math and you got a far lower number than the number they first give you.
5) Show signs that you are willing to increase your counter-offer a little bit. Also tell them that you are a motivated buyer and will sign a lease if the amount is agreeable.
Good luck!!
For more information on auto leasing, check the following web site...
http://www.leaseguide.com/
Monday, October 02, 2006
Auto leasing fundas
Leasing cars, especially luxury ones, can be more cost effective than buying provided one knows how leasing works and negotiates a better deal.
This is how leasing works...
Here are some terms:
MSRP: Sticker price
Cap Cost: Lease price (price of the car after negotiations. This can be negotiated up from the dealer invoice price or down from the MSRP)
Adjusted Cap Cost: Lease price - (downpayment + trade in value, if applicable)
Residual Value: Value of the car at the end of the lease. This is usually provided by the manufacturer based on the number of miles driven per year. For BMW X3, the residual is 78% of MSRP for 2 years and 68% for 3 years for 10K miles per year. For 15K miles for 3 years, the residual is 65%.
Term of the lease: Number of months.
MoneyFactor: This is a slightly tricky concept. Its is actually the interest rate that the leasing company charges you for financing. However, it is not represented in percentage (%). It is usually represented in decimals (for e.g., .0025 or .0030 etc). To convert it to an APR, multiply it with 2400. It is always 2400 irrespective of the term of the lease.
Here is the formula:
Monthly payment = Depreciation cost + Finance Cost
where
Depreciation cost = (adjusted cap cost - residual value)/term of the lease
Finance Cost=(adjusted cap cost + residual value) * money factor
The finance cost formula is actually derived from the area of a trapezoid. For more information check this web page...
Lease Money Factor
Local Sales tax is added to the monthy lease payment to get the overall monthly payments.
Apart from the monthly payments, there is also upfront payment when you sign the lease. This includes the downpayment (also called Cap cost reduction), 1st month payment, security deposit, vehicle registration and licence fee, acquisition fee etc.
This is how leasing works...
Here are some terms:
MSRP: Sticker price
Cap Cost: Lease price (price of the car after negotiations. This can be negotiated up from the dealer invoice price or down from the MSRP)
Adjusted Cap Cost: Lease price - (downpayment + trade in value, if applicable)
Residual Value: Value of the car at the end of the lease. This is usually provided by the manufacturer based on the number of miles driven per year. For BMW X3, the residual is 78% of MSRP for 2 years and 68% for 3 years for 10K miles per year. For 15K miles for 3 years, the residual is 65%.
Term of the lease: Number of months.
MoneyFactor: This is a slightly tricky concept. Its is actually the interest rate that the leasing company charges you for financing. However, it is not represented in percentage (%). It is usually represented in decimals (for e.g., .0025 or .0030 etc). To convert it to an APR, multiply it with 2400. It is always 2400 irrespective of the term of the lease.
Here is the formula:
Monthly payment = Depreciation cost + Finance Cost
where
Depreciation cost = (adjusted cap cost - residual value)/term of the lease
Finance Cost=(adjusted cap cost + residual value) * money factor
The finance cost formula is actually derived from the area of a trapezoid. For more information check this web page...
Lease Money Factor
Local Sales tax is added to the monthy lease payment to get the overall monthly payments.
Apart from the monthly payments, there is also upfront payment when you sign the lease. This includes the downpayment (also called Cap cost reduction), 1st month payment, security deposit, vehicle registration and licence fee, acquisition fee etc.
My first Beemer
They dont say this for no reason... "Once you get a BMW, you are stuck with it for the rest of your life".
I guess I am hooked...
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Nehru's legacy
According to Sashi Tharoor, these are Nehru's legacies that he left behind to Independent India...
1) Democracy (Successful)
2) Secularism (Mostly successful)
3) Non-Alignment in Foreign policy (Failure)
4) Economic Socialism (Complete disaster)
1) Democracy (Successful)
2) Secularism (Mostly successful)
3) Non-Alignment in Foreign policy (Failure)
4) Economic Socialism (Complete disaster)
Sashi Tharoor
Recently I read a couple of books written by him. Nehru (a biography about the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru) and India - from midnight to the millenium. I must say I am really impressed with his writing and his deep understanding of the Indian politics in particular and world in general.
He is also running for the post of Secretary General of UN. He is just 50 years old but has spent most of his career at the UN. Although the UN election and his candidature has been extensively covered in the Indian media, I dont see his name being surfaced in the American media at all. I recently heard in NPR (Talk of the Nation) about the UN election and his name was not even mentioned until a caller (surprise! of Indian origin) asked about his chances.
According to this report, he has been running a distant second in all the straw polls behind the South Korean Foreign Minister...
Tharoor not 'disheartened', asks nations not to be influenced
He is also running for the post of Secretary General of UN. He is just 50 years old but has spent most of his career at the UN. Although the UN election and his candidature has been extensively covered in the Indian media, I dont see his name being surfaced in the American media at all. I recently heard in NPR (Talk of the Nation) about the UN election and his name was not even mentioned until a caller (surprise! of Indian origin) asked about his chances.
According to this report, he has been running a distant second in all the straw polls behind the South Korean Foreign Minister...
Tharoor not 'disheartened', asks nations not to be influenced
Information on moving back to India
Financial information about moving back to India. Especially for those with Social Security in US and whether the money is taxable in India. Here is a rediff Q&A...
On moving to India lock, stock and barrel
On moving to India lock, stock and barrel
Blog plans
I intend to make this as my personal blog. I'll post my 2 cents about anything and everything I can think of.
I am interested in wide variety of subjects ranging from cricket to carnatic music, from finance to philosophy, from Indian Railways to Immigration laws... I always feel that this may be the reason why I am not able to excel in any one particular field. Many successful people I have seen are passionate about a few things and focus most of their time and energy in those. But my problem is I get bored too quickly to focus on any one field.
These are just random thoughts and I will love to have your feedback.
I am interested in wide variety of subjects ranging from cricket to carnatic music, from finance to philosophy, from Indian Railways to Immigration laws... I always feel that this may be the reason why I am not able to excel in any one particular field. Many successful people I have seen are passionate about a few things and focus most of their time and energy in those. But my problem is I get bored too quickly to focus on any one field.
These are just random thoughts and I will love to have your feedback.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)