a comment from pagalguy
http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/cat-and-related-discussion/50219-fpm-2010-a-69.html
“Dear friend,
I am very sorry and sympathetic to you as you have to pay a huge tuition fee and part of which will go for business research.
But you know what, it is the way of looking into things that’s different between you ( or normal MBA s) and researchers ( Phd s). continue reading…
Previously in some posts, I commented on the flaws of democracy. Basically that the bum on the street has the same voting right as the student of political science. The marketing implication of that is simple. You win over as many bums as possible as they would always outnumber the students of political science. And that is why, Barkha Dutt and her “We the People “ is not going to achieve anything for anyone. Because a very limited people can follow a debate in English and they all have only one vote each. But there is a quote by Andy Warhol (an American hippie who is considered by some to be a great artist of the 70s) – that it is Coca Cola which is the true symbol of American democracy. Because the bum on the street enjoys the same Coke as the guy with the Mercedes. continue reading…
I watched some part of an English movie on TV, some time back. A female british boss of a sycophant Indian employee is looking for a good hotel room. He insists, that she stays at his place – with his family – he is not a bachelor and she accepts. Later on, he whines about lack of British manners. He is supposed to offer once and she is supposed to decline. Then he offers again and she is supposed to decline again. Then he insists one last time and she refuses again. He is pissed at the lack of British manners.
Once I was having a drink in a bar with a couple of guys, and it was a pretty fancy place. One of them commented, that a day will come when they can come to such places without worrying how expensive it is. Another retorted with – when that day comes you will be pining about some other place, and saying that a day will come when we would be able to afford that other more fancy place, without worrying about money. That retort pretty much summed up what luxury is all about. It is about creating an artificial scarcity so people can feel that they are the only ones who can possess it. And those who can’t possess it, can aspire to possess it. But when they get there, they realize that there is always something more they can aspire to, which is even more exclusive and expensive. continue reading…
I have noticed, that the previous generation in our country has a deeply ingrained loathing for credit. My father wanted me to put away my credit cards while I was studying. I tried my best to explain the concept of interest free loan, aka, float but to no avail. Is it the impact of all those bollywood movies with the conniving village sahukar, who first lends loans on generous terms and then later reads out the subtle details of the contract when the borrower is in trouble. Our banks are trying to do something similar these days. And American financial institutions have been doing the same for the last few years till it all imploded.
So Muralitharan, the shot putter in world cricket has taken 800 wickets. I was wondering, that maybe he would have taken more wickets, if he had a good partner bowling at the other end rather than fillers like Sanath, Chandana or Mahela. Maybe, spinners do not work better in pairs as fast bowlers do. Waqar and Wasim , Ambrose and Walsh , one plus one do add up to more than two here. Similarly, sins too are much more deadly if they are acting in a combination. continue reading…
Lately, I have been watching the eleven seasons of the American Sitcom – Frasier. For the uninitiated, Frasier is the sitcom which kept defeating Seinfeld (another popular american sitcom of 90’s) year after year at Emmys. Seinfeld is my favorite Sitcom. It is the American equivalent of our ‘Flop Show’ by Jaspal Bhatti. The show about nothing, which mocks every foundation of American Society. But I have to admit, the Emmy people were right in giving all the awards to Frasier ( it broke all records). It is quite simply, the smartest and best written television comedy ever. continue reading…
I am not into teaching. I am mainly into research.
- A professor to a classroom in a B School
The above quote is from a world class researcher (or so he claimed ) offered as a pre emptive explanation to his students in the beginning of a semester course at a leading B school. As you know me – I don’t like to take names or point fingers. The explanation was for lack of teaching skills , basic verbal skills , low self esteem , women issues and other many things that were painfully on display for mind numbingly dreadful 22 sessions. So can a B school professor really claim that it is research that matters and not teaching. continue reading…
Open magazine is run by Sandipan Deb, who has been the editor of Outlook in the past. He is an IIT – IIM product. Something that is still boldly mentioned in his introductions. Isn’t it pretty sad that you still have to rely on these brands as you inch towards retirement. Anyways, the magazine “Open” sometimes does come up with innovative ideas for stories. But it is half iconoclastic feminist and half hooker. For it falls back on usual topics for its staple diet – bollywood gossip, opinionated politics, biased opinions and of course sports coverage which is pandering to the current public mood. continue reading…
I wrote a blog post on this movie some time back. I think it did not go down well with people. Well my fault partly, I think I did not explain myself properly.
Let me do that now.
Suppose you die in a few hours from reading this. How many people do you think would be affected? Or let me put it this way. How many people would be affected and for how much time. Sure large number of people may know you very well (Malcom Gladwell says it can’t be more than 150) but how sad would they be and for how long. Would they be sad for a day. Or maybe 12 hours. Six hours. Fifteen minutes maybe. Well whatever that time is soon you would be reduced to a lingering sad memory. At the most you will evoke a sigh before people gulp their next mug of beer. continue reading…
