Reality Check!

Your friend says Left. You say Right. You are heading Straight.
Situation : You are Lost.
Your schedule says 6:00. Your watch says 6:05.
Situation : You are Late

So, you are Lost and Late. You can :

1. Say, ‘Oh c’mon, I’m sure I can make it. After all the one who makes it is the one who thinks he can,’ and keep heading Left, Right, Right, alright no…Reverse, Straight (basically, Anywhere). Not to mention lose Time and waste Fuel(Energy)

2. Stop. Find out where you actually are. Ask someone the right way and proceed.

Choice 1 – Pep-talk = Action = No Result or = Result (too late)
Choice 2 – Reality Check = Action = Result

The choice is yours.



This, however is too insignificant an occurrence to consider. Probably all that you miss out on is the beginning of a movie or the first half of a lecture or few hours of partying.

Let’s talk about stuff that matters. That makes a difference. Let’s take the Event to be ‘ Cracking the CAT’.

Situation : You are Lost and Late. You don’t know where you are heading.

Now, what do you do?

You could boost your confidence, pep-talk and keep it going (of course, losing time and wasting energy).
After all, you can. And you might even just Crack it in ‘not so few’ years.

Or you could take a Reality Check. Stop. Find out where you actually are. Ask yourself, “Am I giving it everything I have?’

The choice is yours.

Who is going to rule the world in 2050?

PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that China, India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey will dominate the global economy.
It's 2050, and what countries will dominate the world economy?

Would you believe China, India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey? That's the prediction of John Hawksworth, head of macroeconomics for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

If you've been stuck behind an oxen-driven cart on a single-lane "highway" en route to Bangalore, regularly listen to static on the line when dialling Jakarta or have been pick-pocketed in Istanbul you might be initially sceptical. But it's a prediction with some real-time reality to it.

Let's start with the forecast - Hawksworth argues that by 2050, the 17 largest economies in the world in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms will be the current G7 (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy and Canada), plus Spain, Australia and South Korea, and the seven largest emerging market economies, which he refers to collectively as the "E7" (China, India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey).

He reckons that the E7 economies will by 2050 be around 25% larger than the current G7 when measured in dollar terms at market exchange rates, or around 75% larger in PPP terms. Consider that the E7 is currently only around 20% of the size of the G7 at market exchange rates and around 75% of its size in PPP terms.

Hawksworth also forecasts that India has the potential to be the fastest growing large economy in the world over the period to 2050, with a GDP at the end of this period of close to 60% of that of the US at market exchange rates, or of similar size to the US in PPP terms. China - despite a projected growth slowdown thanks to significant declines in its working age populations between 2005 and 2050 - is projected to be around 95% the size of the US at market exchange rates by 2050 or around 40% larger in PPP terms.

Meanwhile, the other economies will also be significant if not singular powerhouses. Hawksworth expects Brazil's economy will be similar in size to Japan's by 2050 at market exchange rates and slightly larger in PPP terms, but still only around 20-25% of the size of the US economy; Indonesia and Mexico will have larger economies than either Germany or the UK by 2050 (even at market exchange rates); and Russia will grow significantly more slowly (because like China it's working age population is projected to sharply decline), but would still be of similar size to France by 2050 at either market exchange rates or PPPs. Finally, Turkey's growth prospects are positive thanks to its younger population, therefore he forecasts it will be be of similar size to Italy by 2050 at both market exchange rates and in PPP terms.

When chatting with Hawksworth, he conceded that political and socio-religious instability could throw some of these projections off; and that India and China are the countries he’s most bullish on. But he says part of the objective of the paper is to "get the message across that there are more opportunities than threats."

Hawksworth writes: "While the G7 and other established Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries will almost inevitably see their relative GDP shares decline (although their per capita incomes will remain much higher than those in emerging markets), the rise of the E7 economies should boost average OECD income levels in absolute terms through creating major new market opportunities. This larger global market should allow OECD companies to specialise more closely in their areas of comparative advantage, both at home and overseas, while OECD consumers continue to benefit from low cost imports from the E7 and other emerging economies. Trade between the E7 and the G7 should therefore be seen as a mutually beneficial process, not a zero sum competitive game."

China has certainly been placed into a zero-sum competition pigeonhole by many US politicians - witness the pressures to revalue the renminbi, trade sanctions and failed mergers and acquisition deals thanks to protectionism. And Turkey has been jumping more hurdles than many other nations in its efforts to join the European Union.

Plus, to be fair to Hawksworth, unlike several of his peers who seem to focus only on the chief executives or the minimum-wage workers in the West, he does look at the impact on multiple income levels.

He writes: "While the net effect of the rise of the E7 should be beneficial for the OECD economies overall, there will be significant numbers of losers at both a corporate and individual level. These losers may not outnumber the winners but could be more politically vocal in their opposition to globalisation. Mass market manufacturers will tend to suffer, both in low tech and increasingly in hi-tech sectors, and economies like China and India will also become increasingly competitive in tradable services sectors such as banking and other wholesale financial services. There may also be a tendency for income inequalities to increase within the OECD economies, with global star performers doing well, but low and medium-skilled workers facing an increasing squeeze from lower cost workers in the emerging economies in internationally tradable sectors, as well as migrant workers in non-tradable service sectors. This competition will also increasingly affect highly skilled professionals below the 'global star' level, who may find their ability to attract premium income levels constrained by lower cost but equally qualified graduates on the end of an internet connection in Beijing or Chennai."

What could get in the way? Hawksworth writes: "The main roads to avoid are a relapse into protectionism, subsidies for declining sectors (except possibly through strictly time-limited assistance to smooth the adjustment process), or attempts to pick winners through industrial policy. Instead the focus should be on boosting general education levels, facilitating retraining and business start-ups in areas adversely affected by global competition, and developing active labour market programmes based on conditional benefit regimes, childcare support and in-work tax credits. But the optimal policy response and the extent to which OECD governments should ‘lean against the wind’ of increased income inequality through more progressive tax regimes will be a matter for local democratic decisions reflecting local circumstances. This will involve hard choices, but national governments will still retain significant discretion to choose overall tax and spending levels."

Hard choices indeed.

:) [Pride]

All world is Hypocrite!

“To all those who’ve experienced it, freedom has a taste paramount beyond all wordly expressions. I am FREE beyond the shackles of misery.” blabbered a soul whom I know and respect. However, what he knew about freedom was, obviously, SHIT! However, he stumbled upon a very provoking thought while expressing his joy after completing his examinations. A wannabe reply that I came up with for the same goes something like, “Freedom is not an era after captivity or misery but an expression not by lesser means like words spoken or written, but by attitude shown by the true self that is pushed away due evils such as hypocrisy.”

I personally believe that everybody is a hypocrite in some way or the other. Everybody shows a different person to others than what he truly is. And this happens so often and so many times that it is almost instinctive for everyone now which has led him to forget his true self in the process. This more evident in the people who succumb to peer pressures and do things for acceptance. Every person who wants to acceptable and wants to be, to say, ‘Cool’ is a hypocrite. Even the acquaintance of this true-inner self is being far closer to freedom. What people deem as freedom is not as per my understanding.

When I meet my friends who are yet in the painful yet painless claws of relationships, I experience mixed emotions. Happiness because I am not in captivity or constraint of anyone nor am I answerable to the Hitlers of today’s times and sad because I pity them since they have yet not experienced the rudest of awakenings. The dictators piss me off very easily but at the same time they remind me of my days of misery. Now, I can proudly say that ‘been there done that’. I am out of the clutches of the witches who say that men are dominating and oppressive but follow the same practice but with a different technique.

For example, when I see my friends happily talking about their lucrative but enslaving work, I am happy. This is ruined when their so-called “girlfriends” call up just to keep a check on them. The lion of the jungle has suddenly become a small purring kitten that seems to chant the mantra “am sorry darling…” or “….but I love you so much”. Hypocrisy at its best!

Being an MBA aspirant, I caught this habit of observing all incidents of life from MBA perspective and getting as much Gyan as possible from one of my friend. So the gyan that I got by observing females was that they have some exceptional qualities. The teamwork that the “FEMALES” adopt is not human as it is simply universal in every sense of the word. They are very creative at destroying people’s lives by means of new strategies every time. Everyone is a mastermind of some new ploy against “MANkind”. They share unity in diversity to extents that exceed beyond India’s cultures.

They also set the standards for being confused but their unbelievable skills to dominate every situation, still prevails. Even if they do not know what to do, which is most of the times, they will accept that they do not understand anything, which is the good part, but turn things around to show that they derived at the solution even if the male counter-part has derived it. Moreover, this process is so beautifully manoeuvred that the male counter-part, dumb-founded, believes that she gave the solution. Remarkable is the word that comes to ones mind after observing such skills. ‘Unbelievable’ just a synonym.

By now all of you’ll reading this must have started thinking of me either as gay or a guy who hates females to the core. So the next paragraph is for those of you who think I am different.

However, it is also true that life without these dictators is very tough and when alone one tends to miss being oppressed. It is impossible to have a life without them but it is also very interesting to imagine a world without them. Silence, Peace and FREEDOM!!! Also a world full of gays who would die masturbating even before the end of that week (hypothetically).

Nonetheless, females are very understanding, for those things that they do understand, and guys just can’t do without them. I am single, peaceful and free but that’s all there is to my life. Despite knowing all these things about females am still in search of that special someone with a hope that some such female does exist. (Hypocrisy again-Damn!)

The Chronicles of Sonwada : Saturday

He said, "I stayed in Mumbai for 17 years but the village is my sanctum" - His name was Rakesh, a sixty year old resident of Sonwada village. On a weekend dash to this seemingly demure village in South Gujarat - Anuj, Samarth and Dhruval come back home with flavours of a promising rural india. With sepia hues, mud-thatched homes, cow-dung strewn walls and the unmatched air of our 'Des ki Mitti', Damn, Sam and Am were more than ready for this rural adventure. Though what they came back with was another story altogether.

Presenting: The Road to Pardi-Station
Cast: Am,Sam and Damn
Director: Am
Script: Life Kapoor

SpotBoy: Sam
Producer: Mukta Crafts


Once upon a time Am, Sam and Damn decided to do something beyond the mundane. They were three curious, muttering, lost youngsters out to seek answers to the deeper questions in life. So they decided to visit the interiors of India to find answers. Plus it were to serve as an exercise on understanding the rural markets of India. Ah yes, they were B-School aspirants.
Thus they zeroed down on an idyllic village named Sonwada in sun-baked Gujarat. Travelling one-footed on a pregnant Inter-City express they reached their destination at 9.30 a.m. Outside a welcoming Vapi Station, their eyes met familiar words. They read BAR somewhere in the distance. Yes, they found the only bar in alcohol-barred Gujarat. Brijwasi Snack BAR.

After a short drop-in at Am’s father’s factory where they manufacture defense cloth for the Indian Army, the trio left for Sonwada.

Babubhai's family

At the factory they met Babubhai. Babubhai was their friend, philosopher and guide. They were scheduled to stay at his home. He was their host. Babubhai was an Unsung Hero. “One of God’s Special Men,” is what Damn thought ofhim.

Sam & Damn (left), Sam's fantasy(right)


In the meantime, Sam was aroused at the sight of a C Grade poster on their way to Killa Pardi. "And they call India a conservative country", exclaimed Sam. "Chaggda" (Chaggda = Six Seater rickshaw) rides were reminescent of Swades. Damn captured Am and Sam in notorious positions.They reached Sonwada village at 1.30


Sonwada welcomed them in the middle of the day. The unrelenting May heat met the refreshing smiles of coy women who lined up on the porch to welcome familiar strangers. Sam devoured the cold water. Am was observing subtle nuances. Damn was busy making photo-memories. Sonwada had an eccentric charm to it. The three urbane youngsters sensed it. Glasses of warm elaichi milk (unadulterated) under a canopy of trees seemed surreal. But that was Sonwada, in the first twenty minutes.

The verendah where women discuss Himesh...

Sumit, Babubhai's son, was one of the most obedient youngsters the trio had ever come across. They branded his obedience as 'sanskaar'. He was a keen guy, updated with the latest in urban technology. He respected them. They respected him for that. Humility was infact one of the biggest lessons they came back with.
"We're eventually information-equipped, knowledge-seeking, wisdom-starved illusionary all-knowers", is how Sam generalised urban youth.
Himesh Reshamiya, they learnt from Sumit, was the 'hero' of the village. They realised that Himesh had such following across the country. And that they were just a minority in an otherwise Himesh-loving nation. Damn thought of an album too - 'Himesh we ALL Hate You'.

Conversations moved onto the importance of education in Sonwada. ''Agriculture, said Babubhai, does not reap the dividends in proportion to the hardwork put in the fields. The Vapi-Surat belt is an industrial zone, he further added. Therefore, workers in factories earn comparatively higher wages. Thus agriculture was now a secondary occupation." Am inferred that the people in the village were unbelievably hard-working but not necessarily smart working.

Pre-evening was spent in the fields studying various methods of crop cultivation. From the indegenous mango cultivation method to land-fragmentation problems, Babubhai spoke at length on his core-competency. It was evident that their sweat was not being adequately compensated. Maybe, it's the post-liberalisation effect or the Modi Government policies but agriculture, according to him, has taken a back-seat in an increasingly industrial Gujarat.

Kaachu Limboo, Sachin & Hritik

The evening was dedicated to cricket. The kids of the village came together in a fierce under-arm battle. Am cheated as always. Sam got annoyed with his performance. "It's just a game Sam, but you're still a loser", sneered Damn with his infectious grin. The kids symbolized the unity in the village. The women cheered their favourite baccha, laughed at the trio's madness. Nice boys they were. Rustic energy surrounded Sonwada in the evening.

As the sun-set on yet another contented day at Sonwada, Am shared his thoughts on the Priciple of Graduation :

"You know what Sam, natural growth is a gradual process. Something beyond the control of mankind. The seeds grow into fruit-bearing trees because of Nature or Nurture", shedding light on the Nature v/s Nurture principle of Self-Growth. But moreover, Nature is beyond the concept of Instant-Gratification. It adheres to the Principle of Graduation in all its forms - be it the tides, the rotation of the earth, growth of trees. Destruction is instant. Growth... ummm... maybe not."

Candle-light baths took romance to the next level. Sporadic cuts in electricity could get uncomfortable in snake-infested Sonwada, especially at night.

"Am said, I shat like God. Damn said, I sat on the world and shat. Sam said, I Never Shat". Sam Won. Excerpts from their Impromptu copywriting competiton.

Dinner was divine. Babubhai's daughter Heena could give Tarla Dalal a run for her money. At 18, she was a fantastic cook. They had soft rice-flour roti's, aloo-mutter sabzi, wheat-flour paranthas, tuver ki sabzi with mouth-watering gravy and steaming rice. The finger-licking meal was followed by another round of steaming hot elaichi milk with layers of cream.

"They symbolize 'Atithi Devo Bhava'," said Sam as their night-time conversations veered towards the Babubhai parivar. "I totally agree", replied Damn acknowledgeing the selfless hospitality of Babubhai and his gang of angels.

As the warm Sonwada air entered their home (that's what they called it by now) - they slept. They Slept. Let them. Good night.









See you'll on Sunday...

CAT Planner for May

QUANT

Set1: 5Chapters (Concept+Problem+Test) Deadline -> 13th May'06
+ Comprehensive Test
+ TIME Book

13th May SATURDAY (5 p.m. 19th Chpt. Homework)

Set2: 4Chapter - Equations " -> Deadline - 18th May'06
"
"

Set3: Geometry - Geometry " -> Deadline - 22nd May'06
"
"

Set4: Ratio & Percentage " -> Deadline - 25th May'06
"
"
Set5: Revision + Concept Mastery + JAM + Chill...
------------------------------------------------------

DATA INTERPRETATION

20 Ten Minute Tests in by 18th May'06

Break Up -

13th May - 5 Tests (H.W. - Simulated) + 5 Tests Simulated together

18th May - Remaining Tests - Same Break Up


10 Full Length Sectional (D.I.) Papers (Last 4 Tests to be Simulated)

22nd - 2 Simulated Full Lengths

25th - Last 2 Simulated Tests
-------------------------------------------------------

ENGLISH

All BRM's + Sheets by 26th May'06 - Ideas to be suggested

English Doubts to be discussed over every meeting
-------------------------------------------------------

TO DO LIST:

-Vocabulary
-Tables
-Reciprocals
-Cubes
-Squares
-Vedic Math Techniques
-Revision of Concepts
-Economic Times Editorial
-------------------------------------------------------

26th - MOCK CAT

27th - Random Chillin'... Corny Jokes... Music... Coldplay
----------------------------------------------------------

Cheerio,
neO

Resurrection

Still clouds forming silent shapes

Ant hills forming mountains to scale

It’s just a thought, an idea somewhere

The beginning of an end, it’s finally there

Forming like a burning fire

Sometimes warm, sometimes dire

Like smart zombies we see it all

Our hearts race while our minds crawl

Half dead, we struggle each day

Mortal fear keeps it this way

Invisible boundaries that hold us back

We have a lot, why fight for what we lack?



If only I had nothing to lose he thought

This war with all my heart I’d have fought

The cause is dear and the emotion great

Why do I live? Just for life’s sake

Impossible dreams, improbable plans

We won’t know our odds unless we take a chance

Gift-less magi’s see the birth

It was resurrection that was new to earth

Horizons of attainability were bound no more

Faith within us, now to have it grow

The nation is changing, a new age dawns

Two can play the number game, he warns



Each small step leads to the leaps to come

One for all and all for one

Democracy that benefits those who make it

Like a terrorist leader’s cause, they fake it

Let the illusions of morality be gone

This isn’t right just a little better that’s all

The earth may be just a speck in this universe

Yet it’s a miracle machine with all so diverse

See, speak and hear no evil, stop it if you can

Think a little beyond today, be a man

He urged himself to make things right

Nations can be won by vision and sight

Expand your thoughts to something concrete

Detail your ideas to make visions complete



You will fall, you will tire and maybe even fail

Fighting tides, you will loose and you will gain,

Your biggest strength is your self belief

It will serve as light and in despair bring relief

As you stare down from the edge your at

You can plunge into the deep sea or walk back

I have it all he thought why fight for what I lack?
This time the answer hit am in his face, smack!

His restless soul needed to be fed

It was not at ease, not alive nor dead

He smiled and decided the time had come

The nation would resurrect just like God’s son

Resurrection a belief that suspended belief itself

A smile, a fall and of the edge he went

Maybe he was right, it wasn’t he who needed help……..





Adamas

Bill Gates to school students

Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this! To
> anyone with kids of any age, or anyone who has ever been a kid, here's
> some advice Bill Gates recently dished out at a high school speech
> about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks
> about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a
> generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set
> them up for failure in the real world.
>
>
> Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it
>
> Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will
> expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about
> yourself.
>
> Rule 3: You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You
> won't be a vice-president with a car and phone until you earn both.
>
> Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
>
> Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your
> grandparents had a different word for burger flipping ? they called it
> opportunity.
>
> Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine
> about your mistakes, learn from them.
>
> Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they
> are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your
> clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before
> you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents'
> generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
>
> Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but
> life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and
> they'll give you as many times, as you want to get the right answer.
> This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
>
> Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off
> and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do
> that on your own time.
> Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually
> have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
> Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
> [Nerd = foolish, feeble, or uninteresting person]

Regards

(Rolling in...) Pride :-)

The Theory of Ironic Reversal

Description
When we are trying to avoid doing, saying or thinking about something, we often find that this is impossible.

This is because of the 'Catch 22' situation that in order to avoid thinking about something, we need to know what we are trying to avoid and hence we have to think about it. The situation then gets worse as our failure to succeed causes us to work harder at the task.

The thought can also act as a block against other thoughts. When searching for a word for a particular situation, the more available words that pop into our minds first become more available and consequently keep coming back when we try to think of other words.

As we get worn out by this fruitless task, our ability to control the situation weakens, we get stuck in the cycle and thinking can easily turn into saying and doing. Repetition also tends to strengthen our belief in what we are thinking, as in Mere Exposure Theory.

This spiral can easily fall into obsessive-compulsive behaviors and many psychological disorders include an inability to stop thinking about something uncomfortable.

Research
Wegner and associates asked people not to mention a word and then talked to them giving them cues that would trigger the participants into saying the words. When the participants were put into a higher-stress situation, then mentioned the words far more often.

Example
Hypnotists use this in phrases like 'You may notice how, as your eyes close, your hand gets heavier and you sink into a deep trance.'

When you are trying to solve a crossword puzzle or quiz question, even though your first idea is not right, it gets in the way of you finding the correct answer.

Telling children not to drop a plate makes them think about dropping it, thus taking them a step closer to the act!

So what?

Using it
If you want someone to think about something, talk about it (or even tell them not to do/say/think about it). To accentuate the effect, get them cognitively overloaded and stressed beforehand.

Defending
The way out of the trap is not to try. It's like going to sleep: the more you try, the more you can't. The trick is to not be bothered about it, reducing the stress.

Cheers,
Renegade