The return of India & China

An article from Economic Times of 29th January. Believe it or not, makes you feel great!

29 Jan, 2008, 0638 hrs IST,Jaspal Singh Sabharwal,

 

Have you ever wondered why ancient India was called Sone ki chidiya (The golden bird)? The answer lies in Angus Maddison's historical tracking of world's GDP. India was world's largest economy in 1 AD with China as number two. According to the calculations by Angus Maddison, from at least the beginning of the common era until the early 19th century, China and India accounted for around half of the global GDP. For much of this period, China and India were independent countries and technological leaders.

 

Until around 1450, China and India were technologically more innovative and advanced than Europe. Both the countries were very well knit with the rest of the globe but both economies went down hill between the early 18th century and the late 20th century. The decline can be attributed to a multitude of factors and events: the industrial revolution in Europe; the formation and expansion of the United States of America; China's decline during the Ming and Qing dynasties; the impact of British rule on India in the 20th century.

 

In the 20th century, China had to jostle with social unrest and various other social issues under Mao Zedong but China woke up in 1979 and rolled out the process of economic reforms. India experimented with Nehruvian model of socialism for more than 40 years and we finally woke up in 1991 after the financial crisis.

 

How do some nations attain long-term economic growth and an even higher standard of living while others don't? What determines whether people live in big mansions, slums or footpaths? In the 18th century, Adam Smith pointed to the transformative effects of the division of labour. In the 19th, David Ricardo highlighted the importance of international trade. In the 20th, Michael Porter made the case for industry zones, geographic diversity, physical capital, TRAIning and business strategy. The complex dynamics of wealthy and the under-privileged world cannot be explained by any of these theories.

 

We may find an answer in John Naisbitt's theory of evolution. In his book Mega Trend, he has concluded that there are seven waves of evolution, starting from the time human beings left the African Savannah as animal hunters until they stepped into the first virtual reality machine. This process started in 40,000 BC with the language breakthrough (40,000 BC). Wave 2 propelled the agricultural revolution (5000 BC-1500 AD).

 

Wave 3 incubated the industrial revolution (1500-1850). Wave 4 was all about the transport and telecommunication revolution (1850-1940). Wave 5 was the computational and electro-chemical revolution (1940-1975). Wave 6 set the platform for the Network Era (1975-2002). We are currently living in the seventh wave, which started in 2002, and it is all about knowledge and collaboration.

 

Very clearly, India and China led the world until the wave 3 but tide began to turn thereafter. The sixth wave accelerated the process of globalisation leading to convergence of income (profits driven by scale) and technology (knowledge). The emergence of China and India is more accurately described as a return to the position that they had held throughout most of recorded history. Of course, that does not mean that our return will be a smooth and a comfortable ride. Sustainability is in most cases far more a difficult task than the arrival.

Easy Ways to De-Stress

{Very relevant and needs no explanation}

Obstacles

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

 

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

 

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse laying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

 

The peasant learned what many of us never understand.

 

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Wilma's story

A little girl - the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralyzed left leg.

 

At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it.

 

By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last.

 

For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.

 

One day she actually won a race, and then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl - Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.

 

Winners never quit!

 

Seventy Records held by Sachin Tendulkar {Isn't it awesome motivation for the next generation to look up to?}

1.                Highest Run scorer in the ODI

2.                Most number of hundreds in the ODI 41

3.                Most number of nineties in the ODI

4.                Most number of man of the matches (56) in the ODI's

5.                Most number of man of the series (14) in ODI's

6.                Best average for man of the matches in ODI's

7.                First Cricketer to pass 10000 run in the ODI

8.                First Cricketer to pass 15000 run in the ODI

9.                He is the highest run scorer in the world cup (1,796 at an average of 59.87 as on 20 March 2007)

10.             Most number of the man of the matches in the world cup

11.             Most number of runs 1996 world cup 523 runs in the 1996 Cricket World Cup at an average of 87.16

12.             Most number of runs in the 2003 world cup 673 runs in 2003 Cricket World Cup, highest by any player in a single Cricket World Cup

13.             He was Player of the World Cup Tournament in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

14.             Most number of Fifties in ODI's 87

15.             Appeared in Most Number of ODI's 407

16.             He is the only player to be in top 10 ICC ranking for 10 years.

17.             Most number of 100's in test's 38

18.             He is one of the three batsmen to surpass 11,000 runs in Test cricket and the first Indian to do so

19.             He is thus far the only cricketer to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honor

20.             In 2003, Wisden rated Tendulkar as d No. 1 and Richards at No. 2 in all time Greatest ODI player

21.             In 2002, Wisden rated him as the second greatest Test batsman after Sir Donald Bradman.

22.             He was involved in unbroken 664-run partnership in a Harris Shield game in 1988 with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli,

23.             Tendulkar is the only player to score a century in all three of his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy debuts

24.             In 1992, at the age of 19, Tendulkar became the first overseas born player to represent Yorkshire

25.             Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Padma Shri by Indian government. He is the only Indian cricketer to get all of them.

26.             Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODI's 7 times

27.             Tendulkar has scored 1894 runs in calendar year in ODI's most by any batsman

28.             He is the highest earning cricketer in the world

29.             He has the least percentage of the man of the matches awards won when team looses a match. Out of his 56 man of the match awards only 5 times India has lost.

30.             Tendulkar most number man of match awards (10) against Australia

31.             In August of 2003, Sachin Tendulkar was voted as the "Greatest Sportsman" of the country in the sport personalities category in the Best of India poll conducted by Zee News.

32.             In November 2006, Time magazine named Tendulkar as one of the Asian Heroes.

33.             In December 2006, he was named "Sports person of the Year

34.             The current India Poised campaign run by The Times of India has nominated him as the Face of New India next to the likes of Amartya Sen and Mahatma Gandhi among others.

35.             Tendulkar was the first batsman in history to score over 50 centuries in international cricket

36.             Tendulkar was the first batsman in history to score over 75 centuries in international cricket: 79 centuries

37.             Has the most overall runs in cricket, (ODIs+Tests+Twenty20s), as of 30 June 2007 he had accumulated almost 26,000 runs overall.

38.             Is second on the most number of runs in test cricket just after Brian Lara

39.             Sachin Tendulkar with Sourav Ganguly hold the world record for the maximum number of runs scored by the opening partnership. They have put together 6,271 runs in 128 matches

40.             The 20 century partnerships for opening pair with Sourav Ganguly is a world record

41.             Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid hold the world record for the highest partnership in ODI matches when they scored 331 runs against New Zealand in 1999

42.             Sachin Tendulkar has been involved in six 200 run partnerships in ODI matches - a record that he shares with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid

43.             Most Centuries in a calendar year: 9 ODI centuries in 1998

44.             Only player to have over 100 innings of 50+ runs (41 Centuries and 87 Fifties)(as of 18th Nov, 2007)

45.             The only player ever to cross the 13,000-14,000 and 15,000 run marks IN ODI.

46.             Highest individual score among Indian batsmen (186* against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 1999).

47.             The score of 186* is listed the fifth highest score recorded in ODI matches

48.             Tendulkar has scored over 1000 ODI runs against all major Cricketing nations.

49.             Sachin was the fastest to reach 10,000 runs taking 259 innings and has the highest batting average among batsmen with over 10,000 ODI runs

50.             Most number of Stadium Appearances: 90 different Grounds

51.             Consecutive ODI Appearances: 185

52.             On his debut, Sachin Tendulkar was the second youngest debutant in the world

53.             When Tendulkar scored his maiden century in 1990, he was the second youngest to score a century

54.             Tendulkar's record of five test centuries before he turned 20 is a current world record

55.             Tendulkar holds the current record (217 against NZ in 1999/00 Season) for the highest score in Test cricket by an Indian when captaining the side

56.             Tendulkar has scored centuries against all test playing nations.[7] He was the third batman to achieve the distinction after Steve Waugh and Gary Kirsten

57.             Tendulkar has 4 seasons in test cricket with 1000 or more runs - 2002 (1392 runs), 1999 (1088 runs), 2001 (1003 runs) and 1997 (1000 runs).[6] Gavaskar is the only other Indian with four seasons of 1000+ runs

58.             He is second most number of seasons with over 1000 runs in world.

59.             On 3 January 2007 Sachin Tendulkar (5751) edged past Brian Lara's (5736) world record of runs scored in Tests away from home

60.             Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the fastest to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket history. Both of them achieved this in 195 innings

61.             Second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to make over 10,000 runs in Test matches

62.             Became the first Indian to surpass the 11,000 Test run mark and the third International player behind Allan Border and Brian Lara.

63.             Tendulkar is fourth on the list of players with most Test caps. Steve Waugh (168 Tests), Allan Border (158 Tests), Shane Warne (145 Tests) have appeared in more games than Tendulkar

64.             Tendulkar has played the most number of Test Matches (144) for India (Kapil Dev is second with 131 Test appearances).

65.             First to 25,000 international runs

66.             Tendulkar's 25,016 runs in international cricket include 14,537 runs in ODI's, 10,469 Tests runs and 10 runs in the lone Twenty20 that India has played.

67.             On December 10, 2005, Tendulkar made his 35th century in Tests at Delhi against Sri Lanka. He surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 centuries to become the man with the most number of hundreds in Test cricket.

68.             Tendulkar is the only player who has 150 wkts and more than 15000 runs in ODI

69.             Tendulkar is the only player who has 40 wkts and more than 11000 runs in Tests

70.             Only batsman to have 100 hundreds in the first class cricket

 

The forty-five best things in your life (with 2 bonuses)

  1. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
  2. A hot shower.
  3. No lines at the Super Wal-Mart
  4. A special glance.
  5. Getting mail.
  6. Taking a drive on a scenic road.
  7. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
  8. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
  9. Hot towels out of the dryer.
  10. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
  11. Chocolate milkshake
  12. A long distance phone call.
  13. A bubble bath.
  14. Giggling.
  15. A good conversation.
  16. The beach.
  17. Finding a 100$ in your coat from last winter.
  18. Laughing at yourself.
  19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
  20. Running through sprinklers.
  21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
  22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
  23. Laughing at an inside joke.
  24. Friends.
  25. Falling in love for the first time.
  26. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
  27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
  28. Your first kiss.
  29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
  30. Playing with a puppy.
  31. Late night talks with your roommate.
  32. Having someone play with your hair.
  33. Sweet dreams.
  34. Falling in love.
  35. Hot chocolate.
  36. Road trips with friends.
  37. Swinging on swings.
  38. Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.
  39. Wrapping presents while eating cookies and drinking cola
  40. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.
  41. Going to a really good concert.
  42. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
  43. Making chocolate chip cookies.
  44. Hugging the person you love.
  45. Watching the expression someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.
  46. Watching the sunrise.
  47. Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day

Fifty ways to confuse and/or scare people in the Computer Lab

1. Log on, wait a sec, then get a frightened look on your face and scream "Oh my God! They've found me!" and bolt.

 

2. Laugh uncontrollably for about 3 minutes & then suddenly stop and look suspiciously at everyone who looks at you.

 

3. When your computer is turned off, complain to the monitor on duty that you can't get the darn thing to work. After he/she's turned it on, wait 5 minutes, turn it off again, & repeat the process for a good half hour.

 

4. Type frantically, often stopping to look at the person next to you evilly.

 

5. Before anyone else is in the lab, connect each computer to different screen than the one it's set up with.

 

6. Write a program that plays the "Smurfs" theme song and play it at the highest volume possible over & over again.

 

7. Work normally for a while. Suddenly look amazingly startled by something on the screen and crawl underneath the desk.

 

8. Ask the person next to you if they know how to tap into top-secret Pentagon files.

 

9. Use Interactive Send to make passes at people you don't know.

 

10. Make a small ritual sacrifice to the computer before you turn it on.

 

11. Bring a chainsaw, but don't use it. If anyone asks why you have it, say "Just in case..." mysteriously.

 

12. Type on VAX for a while. Suddenly start cursing for 3 minutes at everything bad about your life. Then stop and continue typing.

 

13. Enter the lab, undress, and start staring at other people as if they're crazy while typing.

 

14. Light candles around your terminal before starting.

 

15. Ask around for a spare disk. Offer $2. Keep asking until someone agrees. Then, pull a disk out of your fly and say, "Oops, I forgot."

 

16. Every time you press Return and there is processing time required, pray "Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease," and scream "YES!" when it finishes.

 

17. "DISK FIGHT!!!"

 

18. Start making out with the person at the terminal next to you (It helps if you know them, but this is also a great way to make new friends).

 

19. Put a straw in your mouth and put your hands in your pockets. Type by hitting the keys with the straw.

 

20. If you're sitting in a swivel chair, spin around singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" whenever there is processing time required.

 

21. Draw a picture of a woman (or man) on a piece of paper, tape it to your monitor. Try to seduce it. Act like it hates you and then complain loudly that women (men) are worthless.

 

22. Try to stick a Nintendo cartridge into the 3 1/2" disc drive, when it doesn't work, get the supervisor.

 

23. When you are on an IBM, and when you turn it on, ask loudly where the smiling Apple face is when you turn on one of those.

 

24. Print out the complete works of Shakespeare, then when it's all done (two days later) say that all you wanted was one line.

 

25. Sit and stare at the screen, biting your nails noisely. After doing this for a while, spit them out at the feet of the person next to you.

 

26. Stare at the screen, grind your teeth, stop, look at the person next to you. Grind some more. Repeat procedure, making sure you never provoke the person enough to let them blow up, as this releases tension, and it is far more effective to let them linger.

 

27. If you have long hair, take a typing break, look for split ends, cut them and deposit them on your neighbor's keyboard as you leave.

 

28. Put a large, gold-framed portrait of the British Royal Family on your desk and loudly proclaim that it inspires you.

 

29. Come to the lab wearing several layers of socks. Remove shoes and place them on top of the monitor. Remove socks layer by layer and drape them around the monitor. Exclaim sudden haiku about the aesthetic beauty of cotton on plastic.

 

30. Take the keyboard and sit under the computer. Type up your paper like this. Then go to the lab supervisor and complain about the bad working conditions.

 

31. Laugh hysterically, shout "You will all perish in flames!!!" and continue working.

 

32. Bring some dry ice & make it look like your computer is smoking.

 

33. Assign a musical note to every key (ie. the Delete key is A Flat, the B key is F sharp, etc.). Whenever you hit a key, hum its note loudly. Write an entire paper this way.

 

34. Attempt to eat your computer's mouse.

 

35. Borrow someone else's keyboard by reaching over, saying "Excuse me, mind if I borrow this for a sec?", unplugging the keyboard & taking it.

 

36. Bring in a bunch of magnets and have fun.

 

37. When doing calculations, pull out an abacus and say that sometimes the old ways are best.

 

38. Play Pong for hours on the most powerful computer in the lab.

 

39. Make a loud noise of hitting the same key over and over again until you see that your neighbor is noticing (You can hit the space bar so your fill isn't affected). Then look at your neighbor's keyboard. Hit his/her delete key several times, erasing an entire word. While you do this, ask: "Does *your* delete key work?" Shake your head, and resume hitting the space bar on your keyboard. Keep doing this until you've deleted about a page of your neighbor's document. Then, suddenly exclaim: "Well, whaddya know? I've been hitting the space bar this whole time. No wonder it wasn't deleting! Ha!" Print out your document and leave.

 

40. Remove your disk from the drive and hide it. Go to the lab monitor and complain that your computer ate your disk. (For special effects, put some Elmer's Glue on or around the disk drive. Claim that the computer is drooling.)

 

41. Stare at the screen of the person next to you, look really puzzled, burst out laughing, and say "You did that?" loudly. Keep laughing, grab your stuff and leave, howling as you go.

 

42. Point at the screen. Chant in a made up language while making elaborate hand gestures for a minute or two. Press return or the mouse, then leap back and yell "COVEEEEERRRRRR!" peek up from under the table, walk back to the computer and say. "Oh, good. It worked this time," and calmly start to type again.

 

43. Keep looking at invisible bugs and trying to swat them.

 

44. See who's online. Send a total stranger a talk request. Talk to them like you've known them all your lives. Hangup before they get a chance to figure out you're a total stranger.

 

45. Bring a small tape player with a tape of really absurd sound effects. Pretend it's the computer and look really lost.

 

46. Pull out a pencil. Start writing on the screen. Complain that the lead doesn't work.

 

47. Come into the computer lab wearing several endangered species of flowers in your hair. Smile incessantly. Type a sentence, then laugh happily, exclaim "You're such a marvel!!", and kiss the screen. Repeat this after every sentence. As your ecstasy mounts, also hug the keyboard. Finally, hug your neighbor, then the computer assistant, and walk out.

 

48. Run into the computer lab, shout "Armageddon is here!!!!!", then calmly sit down and begin to type.

 

49. Quietly walk into the computer lab with a Black and Decker chainsaw, rev that baby up, and then walk up to the nearest person and say, "Give me that computer or you'll be feeding my pet crocodile for the next week".

 

50. Two words: Tesla Coil

 

Twenty five Ways to Improve your IMAGE

A bad personal impression gives a message that is not always accurate. For example, bad breath gives the impression that you are dirty. Poor eye contact gives an impression that you are not interested. Crooked teeth give the impression that you are stupid.

 

"Cleanliness and neatness are the primary building blocks to respect in most societies."

-- L. Ron Hubbard

 

To succeed, you need respect.

 

Personal impressions are important in this society. A bad impression can hurt your chances of success. People may dislike being around you. You make them uncomfortable. They distrust you somehow. A good personal impression makes your job easier. It opens the door to good relationships. It gives you a chance to show your skills and value.

 

Job applicants with a good personal image have a significant advantage over those with a poor image. Sales people often win or lose because of their image. Getting a date or finding a spouse depends a great deal on your image.

 

A good personal image helps make people listen to you, believe in you and like being with you. It shows you are a professional. Everyone can improve their personal image. It's an easy, but important step on your road to success.

 

  1. Have no smells. Use an effective unscented deodorant. Avoid perfume and cologne.

 

  1. Wear clean clothing with no stains. Ensure the clothing fits well and looks professional.

 

  1. Females should avoid heavy cosmetics or inappropriate clothing.

 

  1. Ensure your fingernails are clean, smooth and well shaped.

 

  1. Pluck hair that sticks out of your ears or nose, between eyebrows, out of moles or other odd places.

 

  1. Look healthy: no red eyes, sniffles or coughing.

 

  1. Brush your teeth frequently. Ensure you have clean-smelling breath.

 

  1. Keep your hair clean and natural-looking.

 

  1. Wear nothing extraordinary: psychedelic ties, long fingernails, nose jewelry, tattoos, hats, big rings.

 

  1. Stand when first meeting someone, no matter who they are.

 

  1. Walk with good posture; stand tall, lift your chin.

 

  1. Sit straight.

 

  1. Make good eye contact while listening and talking.

 

  1. Automatically smile at everyone, friends and strangers.

 

  1. Shake hands or pat shoulders with each person you meet.

 

  1. Use dry, warm hands for handshaking.

 

  1. Allow a comfortable amount of space between you and others.

 

  1. Laugh easily; it makes people relax and makes your face glow.

 

  1. Watch your humor. Avoid jokes about race, disability, sex and so on. Tell jokes about yourself or share funny stories that anyone would enjoy.

 

  1. Appear relaxed, yet energized.

 

  1. Use good manners. Say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" at all times to everyone, regardless of whom you think they are.

 

  1. Use good language. Bad/good examples: "c'mere/come here," "ain't/isn't, " "yeah/yes," "nah/no."

 

  1. Acknowledge everyone, ignore no one.

 

  1. Say "goodbye" to everyone as you or they leave.

 

  1. Be proud.

 

"Pride is the primary reason for good appearance."