What is News Worthy

  • Is Musk the new Murdoch?
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  • FTX & Bankman-Fried: Is Silicon Valley Responsible?
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  • Google Search Result: A cluttered Maze
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  • Stanford Hospital Acquires Fremont based Washington Hospital - Obamacare effect?
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  • Bond King is Back and Has a message to Powell: STOP RAISING RATES!
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  • Average selling price of GM has reached BMW, Benz Territory- Legalizing Cannabis effect or just another bubble market?

Silicon Valley Vibes!

  • Tesla & SpaceX didn’t listen to WS and Pundits …Should Twitter & Musk Now?
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  • Would you allow Siri to drive you around?
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  • Finally Adobe is Discounting its products and services
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  • SalesForce departure….is it voluntary or…?
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  • Dot Com burst brought Java Programmers to earth…..are we there yet?
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  • Contract Workers: Secret for Google & Apple not reducing headcounts?

FANG News:

  • Not A Royalty …Just the Benefits, Please! Harry, Megan & Netflix
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  • Where is Bezos….enough Romance & Honeymooning..Amazon shareholders need you!
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  • Is Google missing Eric Schmidt?
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  • World minus USA wedded to WhatsApp more than any other platform.. should FB reap the benefits soon?
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  • When Microsoft drops its subscription fees will it feel the pain? As the new generation does not know Office, Really!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Old Cool Aid in a New Bottle!

How long does it take to rebrand , repackage and sell the same stuff after getting slapped and bailed out?

Not Very long!

GMAC & Ditech - know for predatory lending and aggressive marketing campaigns in attracting every one who fell in the Sub prime category!

After getting a very sweet deal - which not many realised - which is being currently questioned and investigated with little or no traction - is back at it!

Same aggressive tactic & predatory campaigns!

Under a new name!

Ally!

Yes Ally Bank! What the hey!

Who is sleeping on the wheels when so much has been talked about learning from the past!

Well now that Ally Bank is part owned by the Tax payers like every other major Banks , Autos & AIG ....one wonders if we will ever learn from the mistakes if the Government keeps intervening to protect failures and prevent the market from self correcting!

Drive to Washington wasn't bumpy for Mr Toyoda!

A long journey!

And a long ordeal in Washington!

Absolutely Positively Mr Toyoda has the right Answer for all the questions and humiliation:

I am Sorry- Mr America & Mr Consumer! We will do better!

Several Hours several questions - Same Sincere and sorry face!

Good Work Mr Toyoda!

The press has turned soft & has started showing the good side!

New York Times and Goldman: Who will win?

Another day and another missile and another attack!

From bail-outs to derivatives and everthing in-between!

From V#$kerrule to Propreitary trading

From Executive bonuses to H1N1 flu shots

From lobbyists to conspiracy theories

From Sheila Bair to Big Ben

From AIG to Greece......

From every angle New York Times has a story and investigative reporting- weaving in and out on Goldman Sachs and how it and it only played the most damaging role in this Financial Whatever we are experiencing!

Is NYTimes trying to get recognition in the gobal Financial market- like WSJ and FT? Looking at the approach and the flimsy nature of the investigation it certainly looks like a Financial Tabloid trying to smear at Goldman Sach and its dominance of the Wall Street activities and their influence in Washington!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Does Greenspan support his co-workers at PIMCO?

Mr Greenspan correctly pointed to the recession before anyone did and got bad mouthed for the premature predictions & eventually got the blame for it as well.

In a recent comment about the American economy his catch phrase is on exuberance but "extremely uneven" and an extended period of elevated unemployment with not so visible growth in areas of high impact business areas - like housing and autos and small businesses-

sounds like PIMCO's preaching of "NEW NORM"....if this is an independent assessment by Mr Greenspan and not influenced by his affiliation to Germany's PIMCO then it might be something we should pay attention to!

Privacy PLEASE...Finally Italians spank Google!

Nude beach in a private corner...

Pay to keep your name off the telephone books...

Fence to keep your neighbor off your property...

dress to shield your skins....

speak softly to keep a secret....

And on and on and on....From time immemorial mankind has always paid a premium for privacy & keeping it close and tight until some one found a way to make money out of exposing them..GOOGLE!

Is it fair for a company to expose what is others and belongs to others and profit out of it? How is this diferent from Papparazi and the TMZs of he world?

Mapping your private quarters and detailing information that are kept aside precisely and instantaneously...locally and globally all at a price for teh affected and for a profit to the Google shareholders!

Now someone wised up and is ready to slap the hands of Google for not getting the consent of thosse affected before broadcasting them not to mention profitting from it!

Whose responsibility is it to get the PROPER consent before capturing, storing & broadcasting them?

Is it the person who initiates the process or the entity who stores and broadcasts them & promotes such activity?

If ditribution is an intrical part of the activity - then the peddler have a responsiblity to share the bame!

What the Italian court did may not be enough to stop the Google juggernaught...however sooner or later a modified version of "PRIVACY LAW" will take over and people will have the opportunity to enjoy their PRIVACY once again!

PIMCO's New Normal...

What is NEW NORMAL according to Mr El Erian of Germany's PIMCO:

> Greater Government Regulation

> Lower Consumption

> Slower Growth

> shrinking global role for US economy

And Resulting in

Lower Than Average Returns!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Toyota & the Art of Japanese Management!

When Akio Morita ruled the Management World - Japan was peaking! From Harvard to Silicon Valley the rage was Japanese style Management!

From Quality circles to pull systems - the world was amazed! Every market that the Japanese entered the eventually dominated the market - from consumer electronics to industrial automation!

That is yester years! Or yester Decades ago!

After 20 years of struggle from its peak- is Toyota incident an aberration or just the kind of symptoms that leads to systemic collapse of a developed economy?

The largest market for Toyota till date - the North American consumers - have kept Toyota and Lexus in a pedestal and they have maintained an impeccable image.

The last three months of events are exposing a style of Management that Japan is used to when it comes to markets outside Japan!

Mr Lentz - a poor choice for Toyota t send to the fire storm - doing more damage than an average Joe blow could have done in a similar set up!

No Preparation!

No recollection of case data!

Fumbling on details and communications!

An air of arrogance - a typical used car sales attitude till he was put in his place!

An about turn to accommodate and apologise - and surrender - an attempt at crying - yes its an emotional narration - but hardly believable!

This certainly exposes the Japanese style of management that the World hasn't been exposed to - where the domestic market and operations are nothing but a bunch of puppets who cannot think and act independently!

Sony and Nissan - have been handed over to non Japanese executives to turn around their businesses as they have failed to survive under Akio Morita's Art of Management!

If Toyota does not change its style of Management it will be very difficult to handle their dominance with manufacturing alone!

Mr Toyoda - Good luck with your Washington encounter! Hope your legacy and openness will leave a believable impressions - which Mr Lentz failed to accomplish!

Italy latest to gamble in derivatives..!

Italy has made over $10 Billion investing and speculating in the swaps market over the last decade!

Bravo for disclosing their winning streak on the heals of the Olympian failure by the Greeks and getting spanked for their Roman indulgences!

In the name of hedging and spreading risks more and more economies are following the path of least resistance to making money without disrupting their political affiliations and maintaining their populist stand!

This could pose a serious advantage to the Fixed Income players as they find more and more sophisticated mechanism to manipulate and manage smaller economies to favor their investment objectives. Euro in its current form poses a major structural danger that could help people with access to sophisticated financial instruments to disrupt smooth flow of capital while playing God and spanking any player defying their rule book!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Toyota - A good buy in a bumpy road!

Mr Toyoda goes to Washington while Consumers drive to Honda and Ford dealers!

While the Dealers look to Paris for her winning tricks- it sure looks like hell for Toyota motors and its crashing stock!

Saving $100 Million dollars in negotiating with NHTSA is hardly an ethical flaw to break the company given billions and billions are spent in Washington by Lobbyists to manage and swing the policy makers.

Auto market is still licking its wound form the Financial Whatever..and the consumers are ready for the upgrade cycle. With China and India grows at blistering speed the current nightmare might pass as another dream in achieving Toyota's global dream.

Toyota share is a good buy and if it crashes/falls during the Washington reddericks on Toyota - it will be great opportunity to load up on Toyota for long term investors.

Is Euro a Risky proposition?

Greece is on everyone's mind and now that everyone knows where Greece is...its a logical extension for people like Soros to question the existence of Euro.

The unwinding of Euro and going back to national currency system will be a major nightmare given its role in the global capital market.

Growing pains and structural inadequcies might be adjusted to accomodate the inequalities in still developing and not so sophisticated EU countries while the fixed income players harvest and feat on the swiss holed currency!

Yet - the failure or fracture f the currency is hardly a case for the demise of Euro!

Euro II will emerge better and stronger and will pose a major threat to Dollar a few exits down the Currency Bahn!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Washington Invites Mr Toyoda!

Finally a formal invite to Mr Toyoda!

Should Mr Toyoda drive to Washington?

Ms Merkel spanks Goldman for Greecy Behaviour!

And ofcourse supports EURO's solidarity and claims EURO's help in managing the Financial Whatever!

Germany benefiting the most from Euro and the Maastricht Treaty in its various evolution cycle- till date.

The Weaker economies and countries are strapped and stripped of their economic prosperity as Germany and to a lesser extent France enjoying prosperity during the last decade. Heading into its teen can Euro be s=distracted by the fixed income players who have remarkable found a loop hole to benefit from the Germany backed EU policies?

As Ms Merkel voices more and more of her iron fisted opinion about Greece has found Goldman Sachs as another scape goat to eat the cake and keep it too!

During the last few years we have seen many scandals and bribery come out of Germany from Siemens to Mercedes Benz which some slapping from US and very little from Ms Merkel's administration - and yet when it comes to slapping Goldman Sachs and Greece , which obviously benefits German interest , Ms Merkel is quick on the draw!

How long can Ms Merkel play this charade before the local communities rebel against the Big Brothers who are stealing their future?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

What NEXT...Mr Ellison?

America's Cup is not a dream anymore!

After spending close to a decade and may be more than a Billion Dollars Mr Ellison won the America's Cup with Style & Elegance and by more than a mile!

Oracle has been winning on its own under the able leadership of the Dual Personalities of Ms Safra and Mr Phillips...with Mr Ellison looking from above!

Now that America's Cup is in his locker will MR Ellison focus more on the Corporate World and really make Oracle the leader of the heap beating the likes of IBM and HP?

It is a tall order to scale that wall of Technology- there is no personalities to fight like Mr Gates or Mr Bertarelli from his past brawls - only vision and execution! With IBM and HP close to four times in size by revenue - it will take more than a dozen Peoplesofts and Siebels or Sun Microsystems to beat them in revenue-

However if Mr Ellison has the tenacity and the execution capability - which he has - and focuses in bringing his Thin Client with fat Oracle in the back office - he can make it happen without too much of acquisition. As his vision from over 15 years back - of thin client is slowly taking shapes under a different name - Mr Ellision can conquer the World of Technology if he can execute and deliver on his recent acquisitions.

Oracle is a steal at this price based on the Sun synergy!

M & A is back and might help the recovery!

2010 might turn out to be a big year for M&A and might not just help Wall Street firms but will certainly aid the recovery and have a huge impact in the ailing economy!

BIG DOGS of Europe!

First it was Barclays; Now it is BNP Paribas - slowly the Phoenix is rising!

Yes after almost two years the winners are emerging and resoundingy!

The Investment bankers are licking their - well not their wounds - but their preys and loading up on profits and bonuses!

Can this trend help them fight the PIMCO's of the world and maintain their superiority and bring the economy back to life?

Ms Merkel and the likes while eating the Cake under an EURO umbrella are also attempting to keep it at the expense of the weeklings of Europe - which will aid the PIMCOs f the world and make it difficult for the Barclays of the world.

Ms Merkel might lose the War as London and NY rise from their ashes - may be with a couple of more quarters of profit!

FOXy Moves!

Arrogant , Full of attitude & Great Reporting!

No not Mr Murdoch!

Charlie Gasparino & he has left a blazing record of his character and his ability to bring sensation to an otherwise boring Wall Street Media!

Fox Business has been shooting blank bullets since its inception and missed the Almost Depression opportunity entirely - which was a great opportunity!

Then again WSJ under its umbrella has become a partisan play - another bold bet by Newscorp! Which might help Financial Times gain market share in the US market which has been a WSJ & Barrons world for over a century!

Mr Murdoch has always been a slow started in every asset he has purchased - including FOX - which has become the most watched network after being ridiculed for years to imitate and steat the BIG THREE!

May Be , Just May Be - Mr Gasparino joining his peers - Yes Arrogant , Bold & Opinionated individuals - who have been dominating the viewership - like Mr Oriely , Mr Beck and the likes , is only the beginning and will change the FBN fortune!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Greecing the Market with Chinese Legs!

Moving from Financial Whatever to a more stable economic environment is still a complicated process and might be several ones for several books for several years to come!

Even before the stage lights are off from the Greece and EURO play - here comes China and their tightening measures!

And ofcourse the market getting jitty on that!

Unlike Greece - China is a large economy and could potentially have an impact - BUT, Yes BUT like Japan and every other closed market China is also less open to gloabl corporations! Currency is a managed instrument in China! Its a very very Export economy!

A wild swing in teh market only demonstrates that we are still being shunted around the poles byt he handful managing and manipulating hte direction - May be this is what Mr El Elrian call the "New Norm" - where a manipulated and fragile financial system is very pportunisitic f you know who is the Director is for the current stage and know the script - as it gets layed over and over again!

PIMCO 3 EU 0

New Norm Economy is still in play!

As we had mentioned here over and over again regarding how Germany's PIMCO and their voices from US - Mr El Erian and Mr Gross are managing and manipulating global policy makers both plitica & monetary alike - have demontrated they are still strong and know their power.

Greece and Euro is the recent example and will not be the last!

Call it co-ordinated move or opportunistic play - in a capitalistic free market there is no qualms about playing by the book and within operating and legal guidelines!

In a Darwinistic fast moving and internet enabled global capitalism the best way to participate is to observe the BIG DOGS and realign the priorities!

And it is important to identify the difference between who is right and who has the ability make them right by managing power and reach!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

On the eve of Winter Olympics..the World looks to Greece!

Is Greece too big to FAIL or the gobal economy has just gotten too weak under its underpinnings?

If EURO the seond largest Economic Block and Greece contributing less than 2% of that i shaken and i on the verge of losing its decades worth of consolidation....

If the Global Economy is looking squarely at the Brink AGAIN within a year BECAUSE of GREECE.....which is less than .5% of the gobal economy...

And Finally the whole World knows where Greece is & is certainly very touching just before the Winter Olympics!

While Toyota is being spanked....silently the little one that can...!

Whats happening to Honda Motor Company?

There is not a day gone in 2010 without talking and bashing Toyota! It looks like it could have its own segment in new hour if it continues any longer!

While this is going on in main stage...it appears Honda ha been on its own script! Silently recalling thousands and thousands of cars for one thing or the other!

Is this a coincidence or a Japanese syndrome? And do we have more to come from the Rising Sun when its economy and politics is struggling to keep awake!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Is Goldman Sachs on its mending path with the Administration?

The Pay czar proudly crows that Goldman Sachs and Mr Blankfein listened to HIM before announcing the BONUS and salary structure for GS!

First the number stunner then the endorsement from the WhiteHouse Wage Police!

May be, Just Maybe Goldman will be back and it might be a good opportunity to start loading up the common!

Mr Toyoda, Bows to America ...More Importantly to its Consumers!

Slow to react & respond!

But Mr Toyoda showed why he is still serious to maintain Toyota's loyal customer!

Beefing up its lobbyists and Washington presence!

Speaks to the NHTSA chief & plans a visit to Washington! Breaking the Japanese Tradition - keeps addressing the press core in English!

As everyone know bad news never travels alone - they dig up more and more dirt - from relationship with a couple of high ranked DC individuals to isolating union shops to pull their shutters down!

Solutions are still evasive yet the customers are very patient!

Will this be contained within Toyota or become a Japan backlash?

More soothing ad campaign and sending non-unionised labor force to Washington to have a less damaging outcome from the hearings...these are all meat for the press and the are hungry!

May be , Just May be Mr Toyoda will use this as a kitchen sink opportunity and open up the cover and start fresh with the American Consumer and preserve Japan Inc.

J D Powers & Consumer Reports - sleeping on wheels?

The world is watching Toyota mishandle one of the largest recalls by an Auto company in recent memories-

while the Toyota management and their dealer network has been deaf years to the consumer complaints for over a decade - where was the King makers of J D Powers and Consumer Reports?

Is it time for them to be relevant for a change?

Not to adjust their ratings after the disaster an try to be a bit more to the ground hearing what the real complaints are from the consumers?

May be , Just May be this experience will make the necessary changes to bring J D Powers and Consumer Reports more realistic and accurate assessment of the products.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Can Toyota rattle JAPAN Inc?

Is it 1980s all over again?

Is the beginning nightmare back again for Japan Inc?

Thank you to Wal-Mart Japan was a household name offering low quality and low cost products which enabled Japan to seed the foundation to become a Industrial superpower which has become synonymous for Quality and reliability.

Until Now!

We have mentioned for over a couple of years in this blog about how American cars and products are much superior to Japanese products - dollar for dollar.

Now Toyota facing with once in a lifetime crisis is reluctant to respond fast - like a deer in the cross hair of a headlight!

Not moving decisively and quickly will not just affect the fortunes of Mr Toyoda but will have a disruptive effect on Japan Inc!

Germany's PIMCO at it AGAIN!!

While everyne is bashing Goldman Sachs and WallStreet for the recent turmoil and promoting a conspiracy theory to funnel money to GS- the real force bahind the blackmail and a larger beneficiary of Government failure PIMCO is at it AGAIN.

A couple of months back when Mr Summers and his buddies from Washington started downplaying and also discrediting Germany's PIMCO and their opportunisitic Trio of Mr Gross , Mr El Erian and Mr McCully - they were quick to put a campaign- this time the same tactic but different approach.

They started with dumping US assets and moved enmass to German assets and obfourse like last time around are blanketting the media folks with FUD about weaker economies outside US - in effect supporting their German assets ....well well it certainly is working - both in gaining value to German assets which is reflected in the pread between German rates and other weaklings - some of them as high as 300 basis points.

PIIGS and now they have started pushing the haystack that belongs to the Mighty Queen as well.

The war against Wall Street and Goldman is misguided as the real force which is getting away with maintaining volatility and making it more easy for them to make money - the fixed income players - are getting what they wanted - A little fear and respect!

Friday, February 5, 2010

9 Million is no laughing matter...BUT

The cat is finally out!

Possibly the most hated man in the whole Financia Whatever we just experienced!

The most profitable entity and the man responsible for the most efficient business has been hiding for the last couple of months after decaring one of the most profitable years in its history!

Call it conspiracy or ability to manage/influence decision- thats what Management does and thats what they get paid. If you can get things done without having to pay for it- thats even better.

Pfizer jsut spent over $25 Million dollars in lobbying - I am sure it had nothing to do with Healthcare reform which is in the processes of getting watered down....that too in a regime which got elected on zero tolerance on lobbying platform!!

And now back to the most hated CEO - Mr Blankfein of Goldman Sachs - taking home 9 Million in stocks as bonus after tremendous srutiny from the press and politicians alike. Here is a company which was forced to take TARP and bas blamed for taking insurance money for what they were legally owed...still getting shafted because he worked for the most hated and envied form in the country!

Even Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan too much more than that whose numbers were much lower than GS...may be GS waited to see how much JPM gave Mr Dimon and made sure that Mr B got less than that.

Will this remove the cloud over GS - I guess if there was no reason to hate them in the first place and the press and government hated them anyway - I guess one doesn't need anything more to keep hating them!

Still GS did the right thing by playing it low key and trying to accomodate the anger of the people!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

John Chambers and Cisco: A market Jynx??

Excellent quarter and blowout numbers anywhich way you dice it!

Mr Chambers in several interview was very optimistic and projected not just for the next couple of quarters - but for the next several years CISCO growing mid to high teens! Thats something Mr Chambers hasn't uttered in a while!

To be precise - the last time Mr Chambers was this "Optimistically optimistic" as opposed to his famous caustiouslly optimistic was over a decade ago during the Tech Bubbl when Cisco was growing 30-50%. It took a decade for Mr Chambers to regain the confidence...!

Give the headwind the economy is facing - globally with so much of political uncertainity both in US and Europe one can only hope that Mr Chambers hasn't jynxed the market!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

US to Americans: Stop Driving Toyota!

Toyota's problem just became a bit more complicated!

US Transportation Secretary issued a strong unprecedented cry to Americans and Toyota- Stop Driving Toyota cars untill fixed! That's over 8 million of them!

This comes at a time when Americn Tax payers own a majority in GM and have a vested interest in American Automobile industry!

This is the strongest the Obama Administration has taken to show how serious it is in defending its interest- be it foreign trade or its consumers & voters.

With China in the cross-wires of Obama as well this might be a very delicate perio for global economy & relationships.

Is this the beginning of a new era in Global economy or just an abberation?

Eitherway it bodes well for American Consumer and Detroit!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hewlett Packard - the silent Technology Leader!

The silent Technology leader Hewlett Packard has been at the top of the Technology heap under Mr Mark Hurd without making a splash or noise.

IBM in the last three years has done a wonderful job of moving over 90,000 jobs to India and expanding huge in China - translating that into a phenomenal earnings growth story - all keeping it under the es an scrutiny f their customers and media. During that phase of earnings surge due to low cost labor - the top line has been slow to come.

On the other hand HPQ has been growing its top line both organically and through carefully executed acquisitions. The recent acquisition of EDS bodes well for HPQ's top and bottom line growth. So far both EDS and HPQ has not indulged like IBM to capitalise the ow cost labor markets of India and China.

Now HPQ ha other plans- in addition to traditional off-shore activities - HPQ is trying something new- Moving its Global Logistics and Supply Chain activities to India. In the next 2-3 years the center in Chennai is slated to grow from under 50 people to over 6000!
It is a huge risk thatHPQ is taking by moving the supply chain and logistics group away from corporate America - however this could show a huge boost to the bottom line.

As HPQ starts to capitalise its EDS customers with its ow cost initiatives from India like IBM - that will also add a neat little number to its bottom line.

If we have to just learn from how Wall Street responded to IBM when its off-shore initiative translated into earnings - I am sure HPQ is headed for a substantial increase in its value - given where it is compared to IBM's valuation.

HPQ's 3Com move with Mercury Interactive and EDS bodes well for increased customer penetration and should start showing in its top line starting soon.

Toyota misunderstands Pedal to the Metal!

Over several years of fatal accidents and complaints, Toyota finally admits the problem and tries to address what is mushrooming to be a much larger problem that is systemic and intentional in its nature to ignore the safety of the consumers.

Recent revelations from Transportation safety department reveals that Toyota reluctantly agreed to the recent recall after representatives were sent to Japan to explain the legal obligations of Toyota.

Even the current fix looks like a hogwash that might still leave the real problem unaddressed as reports from National Safety Board and documents that is surfacing from various litigations against Toyota.

Mr Toyoda , the chief Executive is reluctant and evasive in addressing the problem.

Is this the beginning of a new era where American consumers will finally understand the value of GM and Ford and the value they stand for? January's sales number from Ford and GM sure do indicate a renewed enthusiasm towards the American built quality cars!

From Beijing to Bangalore....!

While Healthcare is hiding or hybernating the Administration is on its way to promoting the other agenda- Export , Education & Renewable Energy!

It is evident from the speeches and interviews that are coming from the WhiteHouse and Mr Obama's close circle!

back on his usual Town Hall meetings it is more focused and bold!

In several meetings in the past several week - Mr Obama talks about competing with China , Germany , India & the likes when talking about the agenda!

While putting domestic agenda on a war path to most traditional beliefs and practices - the Administration is not minsing words when it comes to going head to head against China and Europe and low cost economies like India and the likes.

Seems to be working so far - with opposition taking a hesitant approach and letting almost every initiative pass through! With or without Nbr 60!

V@#k-er Rule....headed in the right direction or misguided?

Is this a Texan style shootout from an Old era posterboy for pre-internet economy or a honest attempt to address a future financial event?

It appears like a misguided attempt at trying to solve a problem too complex to comprehend even for the intellectuals like the Bens & Volcker's of the world!

It might turn out to be another V#@k-ing effort by the Administration showing their anger at the wrong people - as the Investment Bankers would say!

If the V@#k-er rule is aimed at solving the problem of market meltdowns - we certainly are looking at the wrong side of the problem and refusing to see the complexity of global market and the internet enabled distributed micro powers of the world which can distrupt the fragile capital market with very little effort.

With so much money at stake it might have a tough time to pass in Washinton - even if does it will fail to address even the basics of basics in trying to address the capital market's underlying problems.

NASA: No Moon For you - 10 Years!

National Pride & Go where no man has gone before- well not quite!

Focusing National research in areas that will have immediate impact for American business and people will make absolute sense in these economic times where the deficit has expanded almost perennially & the national competitiveness is waning from the corporate world. With Internet and the likes making it easier for global companies to shrink the time time lag to catch up with innovation an reach of global market - it is absolutely essential to divert every resource to areas of innovation that is of utmost importance to increase competitiveness and marketability globally!

Angry Administration vs Angry People!

Looking back into history we have a lot of documented episodes of angry people and how Revolutions are born and the results. Some successful and some not.

Very rarely have we come across incidences of Angry Administration! Yes we have seen Angry Rulers who several decades and even centuries back it is documented that such Rulers take their anger mainly on foreign invasions and very limited domestic disruptions.

America showed its displeasure and mind you not 'ANGER' by Mr Obama sweeping to office giving his Administration a super majority enabling his agenda to fast track till Number 60 was lost to a naked Senator from the opposition!

Unemployment is pretty high in recent memories!

People around the country are losing their homes and savings at an alarming rate!

More and more people are seeing their retirement age being pushed away for a while!

Yet the only Angry people around are those surrounding the Obama Administration!

It is difficult to recall from recent history where a White House Administration has surrounded itself with VERY ANGRY individuals who have a very demeaning attitude and outlook when they approach the media or release a statement.

Showing a dramatic shift in Policies is one thing - but Showing ANGER??

It is not sure what an Angry Administration is capable of doing - certainly it will be ugly if an Angry Administration is forced to face an Angry People!

From Axlerod to Summers - everyone is so angry and unfriendly when they are confronted by press. It is not just on FOX- even on MSNBC which has become a pro administration channel - atleast a channel which throws stone at the surging FOX team's popularity!

Mr Obama - It might be good to have a "POLITICAL FACE" and not an angry FACE to the people. After all it does not take a majority of population to tip over only a few percentage! Don't need to send the team to Dale Carnegie atleast take the edge off before meetings and stick to policy agenda - emotionless!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Kudos to Mr Kudlow!

Watching Mr Kudlow respectfully drill Mr Paulson was unbeleivble!

On Economy's near Collapse...

On faltering to respond....

On change of course within months of denial?

On Dollar for Dollar backing for Goldman Sachs from AIG...!

Amazing interview and teh closest one can get a "Direct" answer..squirmng/dancing on the Goldman Issue....

Great Work Mr Kudlow- Keep up the good work!

British Screwed US!

Mr Paulson's rederick is quite unusual given how controlled and patient he was during the crisis!

Darling & the Queen's Army of soldiers - like in 1812 tried to burn down the Americans! Only this time they burried Lehman when Wall Street and American Capitalistic Economy was gettng uprooted!

During the last two years the British Media - Financial Times and The Economist have been outright critical of Americn capitalism and Washinton's excess - contributing their share to an already shaky markets. And ofcour WSJ joining the ranks of Fox only made it easier for the British Media to gain more popularity in the global market!

Now The Time of London joins their brethren- Shaking Goldman Sachs with its own boat load of rumours.

May Be , Just May Be - there is more to what the English words meant when Mr Paulson said that British Screwed US!

Apple and its Dominance~

Call him Sadist - May be!

When Steve Jobs released the best positioned and marketed iPhone on live Internet he pulled the quote for Research In Motion and showed the world how their share price was crashing!

Now with iPad in an interview with Wall Street Journal's Mr Mosberg Mr Jobs predicted forcefully that Amazon's price advantage will disappear! And it Did And unlike RIM Amazon tried to bully the publisher and bowed with its tail tucked behind quickly - And saw its Share on a tailpin at one point dropping more than $14! If Amazon were to learn from Research In Motion - Mr Bezo's should take a different tatic than the one he just took and reversed!Both in trying to flex its muscle and also trying a closed and proprietary technology with little to show for inway of innovation! Yes Apple is no sait - but Mr Jobs seem to know where the consumer's heart is - atleast the elitist type!

RIM is still trying to recover since the release of iPhone and has a very bleak future given iPhone's continued popularity and Apple's bulldozing CEO!

Recent rumours about Mr Job's anger on Google is certainly interesting given where the technologies of both the companies are headed!
Slowing to Smell....!

After going through several blogs I came to the conclusion that it is very difficult to write about your day to day life!

Fascinating to see how creative people are and how so many people around the world are able to choose a variety of topic and pour their heart out and paint something so wonderful- full of life and color!

Need Humor! Need Depth and more than anything need perspective! I found it is easy to write about something substantial in which a person is well versed in. It made me think - I went around the last few days looking around and paying attention to everything from nature to relationships!

Now curiosity started posing a question - what is more important to writing? Chosing a topic or having the patience to research and articulate about the impressions that every day events brings to a person?

I thought I will try this every day! For 30 Days!

Impulsive and spontaneous
!

No research - just type as the feelings flow and as the words can portray! Thanks to the Blackberry - now I can try doing that the moment the urge happens without waiting!

As I was deciding on this I found myself in a shop - decided to pull my Blackberry and type what I saw around me...so begins my first piece.

PS. Since Blog has major restricitons on how many posting and what kind of flexibility one can have using the standard template I will try to find a work around using a couple of gadgets to display a couple of days posting at any given time till I figure out a way to display the history!

To avoid dilution of this site I have moved the experiment to another blog under

http://dailylifesigns.blogspot.com

The following is a sample on content with no photos- the Daily Life Signs posting will be more of a pictorial experience!






Walking around a woman's shop!

Looking at the colors in a woman's shop is like peeking into a kaleidoscope. However, one doesn't have to change to feel the vibrant mood.

Amazing styles and fascinating fashion! Trying to coordinate gives the several option that is needed to meet the day to day lifestyles of varying moods and differing ages.

Age appropriate colors! Shades for fading moods!

Bold red!

Sober red!

Flashy red!

Bland red!

Blood Red!

Romantic Red!

Decisions! Decisions! and Decisions!

Deciding the color at the time of shopping gives the option to choose and refine to the various rainbow moods that a person possibly can go through in a fast paced connected world!

Sizes and fits to match every form and need.

Having a choice helps in refinement!

And helps!

In Decisions! Decisions and Decisions!

Startup Wisdom!

May be there is a reason they want a Money Man to run the venture- but the following tip will save a buck or two! This will list a couple of grey hairs to keep!

  • Success is contageous- start it immediately!
  • Share the Vision but not Leadership!
  • Smart money is great - but Lucky Money is even better. Get some!
  • Being passionate is essential - but only after motivation to make money.
  • Establish the TRUE Pecking Order!
  • Let Sales be part of your core strategy- everything else can be bought!
  • If you havent done Selling START DOING IT NOW!

Building your 2nd Million!

Skip the first million and go straight to the second- as the first one is the most difficult one to bring home! The second one can be as tough as the first one but is never tougher than the first one! You can make money - working - investing in stocks/etc - real-estate - starting a business - others Choose your area of interest first as this will help you identify the opportunity and make you easily motivated to work on the 2nd million!

Not in any particular Order!

  • First lets know the facts: 1) Your work life is 40 something years (even at conservative estimate) so lets make sure we plan that Properly
  • 2) Lets identify opportunity to make money with out too much effort- living for Today is Good but lets not lose today's free money in the process like - benefits, tax breaks, sale,coupons,etc
  • 3) Lets not try to make ALL THE MONEY in the same way! Lets break the objective into smaller chunks and assign different ways to make them individually
  • 4) Put the 1st Million in Auto-pilot and set a 10 Years plus Time table
  • Convince yourself that you need the Money
  • Set a time line to achieve the goal.

Relationships - Learning to enjoy them!

Do we retain relationships? Expectations out of frienships vary from society to society & age group to age group. How long do we carry them? Some of them bring fond memories- and some not so pleasant! Here you can expect to see nuggets from my experiences and analysis!

Family & Friends: We spend less time with family than with friends- yet we feel more comfortable with family than friends- Why? Is it because we dont have expectations with family members but we have some on friends?

Allowing the other person to finish their train of thought builds a very long lasting relationship - as it makes you understand the other persons point of view fully & also to respond being aware making even an opposing point of view reasonable.


  • Cherry Pick your arguments - Left or Right Brained!
  • Make every encounter a transaction - this will make leaving baggages behind easy!
  • Qualify the type of relationship - however strange it might be
  • Chasing friendship is not always helpful as it leads to compromise.
  • Family circles - define it and accept it whether you like it or not!
  • Its ok to do different activities with different people!
Prof Dr Peik A Monie's Corner

  • if being number two is not enough go to a lower market
  • .
  • proceeds from a street dog dont bark
  • .
  • shooting the papparazi dont break cameras

DIGITAL IRIS - An inexcusable view of the photograpic world!

Let me see if I can add a few lines every week highlighting my 2 cents on photography- my experiences and desires

Things that make good photos -

- excellent and expensive set of lenses; in this digital era spend less on the body and keep investing in the high end lenses as the lenses will not lose value and the body is still under construction!

- accessories and the right tripod; never underestimate your advantage with a tripod

- plan & choose the subject and the location

- know your subject well!

- look and follow the calendars; simple things like a night with a Full moon- we dont realise that it does not happen every day - if you narrow it to the summer when the sky is still blue - I guess it becomes a couple of times a year- and if you factor n the location and your availability at that location and time...so Knowing the calendar and season helps for a good but not so common picture

- Take some luck with you!

  • Print and Enlarge Some Too
  • Delete Bad Pictures from Storage
  • Isolate Subject's color
  • Assess various profile
  • Add a subject to the frame
  • Take Nature after rain - they look better
  • Transparent Objects like flowers have creative effect with light behind them
  • If you want to enjoy the trip - leave the camera behind!
  • Define the subject for the shoot out trip
  • Take a survey trip before the real shoot out
  • Learn & Buy the Best Tripod
  • Always take a handy utility camera
  • Use Multiple exposure & shots in action oriented moments- this will help you pick the ideal snap - as even a fraction of a second makes a HUGE difference in photos.
  • Know your camers settings!
  • Understand Shutter Lag
  • Understand the camera shakes

AfterMarket Pulse- The boring Services Industry!

Keeping it inefficient is good for every one- A success story and why it will be restricted to a handful in the services Industry- A serious look at the Service Industry and my views on improving them. As a society we have accepted that everything breaks down and needs periodic maintenance. We are willing to pay both money and time to accomodate such services. What we have not done is define what is the service level that is needed for every such incident. From household appliances to industrial equipments we are forced to accept the cost and quality that the market offers. In such a sellers market room for mediocracy is enormous- giving way for opportunities. Yes predicatability is not always easy when it comes to failure or repair - or for that matter to identify what is wrong once the item is broke as it is not always possible to run the equipment ot see what is going wrong! And there are companies that can afford stupidity & those that cannot- if you want to change choose wisely!

  • Three steps: 1) Localize Failure 2) Response to Events 3) Time to Life
  • Inter-dependency at a higer level accelerates return
  • Resposiveness is rewarding - even if it is just to show on site of event!
  • Failure Prevention is difficult - yet possible
  • Know your Industry problems: Inventory, Turn time, Forecasting Failure, Estimating Cost, Finding Talent, Automation tools
  • Know your industry Practices- Swapping parts, using refurbished items, penalty
  • Define Quality of service
  • Attract talent - as service industry does not attract fresh talents
  • Innovote service packages

About Me

Seen me go through cycles driven by Age, Money, Deception, Affection, Success, Failure, Fear- etc. The current cycle puts me in a middle aged bucket with sculpted bitterness trying to tame it to embrace the sweet crime of success and affection.