Among the seven deadly sins that mankind is afflicted of, I would say "greed" is perhaps the most common. Maybe because of my profession, I have managed to notice more instances of greed .
Well I am associated with business journalism, mostly covering personal finance -- Stocks and Mutual Funds -- for over two years. Even in that my domain was mostly about writing features on stocks (Jan 2009- Dec 2010). And everytime I would mention about this, most often people would ask me for a quick tip to make a quick money.
My response was the same then and now, investing is not a fun game. It is not easy money. You will have to do some work to make money. Its like an activity, you can enjoy it only if you like working hard. And I would always offer them tips on how to study the market and understand stocks. Was even ready to help them learn everything that I know.
Alas! Not many people would agree that its not easy money, and then most will actually stop asking or saying anything. Sometimes I get the feeling, they think I have no clue about my job.
In a way, it was sad to see how everyone wanted the easy money. It seemed they had forgotten the proverb: "Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry".
Everyone wants a fish and doesn't care about tomorrow.
In school I had read a story. I am sure you must have read it too. Don't remember the exact text but it goes like:
Once upon a time there was a man. He was poor as compared to some of his relatives but he had everything in his life, a nice house, decent work, good family and was able to meet all his commitments. Then one day he made a statement that if given a chance he will make a lot of money and even the devil cannot take away from him.
The devil heard and decided to take the challenge.
The guy started making money and grew rich. Then one day, he was given an offer that he can have as much land as he can run and cover. The man started running, and though he was tired, he thought if he could run a little more, he will have that extra land as well. In the end he dies, ran too more than he should have and the only land that he actually got was the space in which he was buried.
Now what I don't get why don't people ever understand the lesson.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Taking a leak with 'wikileak'
The pun in the heading was intended! Don't bother if you didn't get it.
Anyways, it has been interesting to read the different aspects of wikileak stories, no pun or sarcasm intended here. I have been keenly following the wikileak stories just like most people, not taking anything seriously. Because not every information is worth demand attention.
Before starting out. Let me make it very clear. I am not trying to defend, accuse etc here. To the best of my ability its just an exercise of information classification or lets say understanding the value of information in the so called 'information age'. (Yeah, I know its three information in a single sentence but move on).
One needs to understand the importance along with the difference between Views, Truth & Facts.
Although nearly everyone reading this will say they know it but its better that I state it in clear terms because I want to, and this is my blog so I will do it.
A "fact" is a reality that cannot be logically disputed or rejected. For example, fire is hot, and it can burn your skin, now you can think or believe what ever you like, but if you pan to dispute with this, then go visit a doctor.
"Truth" is usually derived from a fact, but primarily it is a matter of believe. For example, Bush is an idiot, now most would find this statement as the truth, but definitely many would say its not true. Same goes with the argument God exists! Many will find it as a statement telling us the truth and many won't.
Ah! now cometh the word "Opinion" or let us say view, it is usually an inference that we would have either derived or formed for some reason or perhaps no reason. A smart person justifies their opinion and then there are those who do not do so. Either way don't bother much about it.
Now coming back to business of wikileaks, the only part which I find (an opinion) important are facts, the rest of the parts which would come under truth or opinion is only good for some clarity but not worth unnecessary commotion.
Now the beauty of the leaked diplomatic cables from India is they all fall in the category of views or sometimes as truth.
Horse trading, not the literal one, buying votes for cash, is not new I guess we all have heard our share of the stories. The only proven case to my knowledge is of PV Narasimha Rao, that he had bribed MPs in 1990s to prove his majority on floor of the house. But in recent years its been a common trend that MLAs in states have been put up in expensive hotels with guards to ensure that no horse trading affects the floor voting pattern for the parties. The only way around it is to make sure that we choose better MPs in our elections and hope that they have the backbone that defines a leader. There is no amount of policy that can replace the individuals' who eventually take decisions and implement it through actions.
In India lobbying is not official. That doesn't mean it has not taken place in the past or does not take place at present and will not happen in the place. Its among the oldest tricks in the book at different points of time. Diplomats have always functioned as 'emissaries' and for ages they have also been involved in propaganda.
So far the recent wikileaks have not have had anything that are startling revelations, most of them are mere truths and some are views of diplomats to the superiors. Something quite common and expected. So, I would prefer if a journalist or the media at large puts up some effort to dig for a startling information, a fact, rather than giving importance to frivolous information under the bizarre claims of new revelation of truth.
Anyways, it has been interesting to read the different aspects of wikileak stories, no pun or sarcasm intended here. I have been keenly following the wikileak stories just like most people, not taking anything seriously. Because not every information is worth demand attention.
Before starting out. Let me make it very clear. I am not trying to defend, accuse etc here. To the best of my ability its just an exercise of information classification or lets say understanding the value of information in the so called 'information age'. (Yeah, I know its three information in a single sentence but move on).
One needs to understand the importance along with the difference between Views, Truth & Facts.
Although nearly everyone reading this will say they know it but its better that I state it in clear terms because I want to, and this is my blog so I will do it.
A "fact" is a reality that cannot be logically disputed or rejected. For example, fire is hot, and it can burn your skin, now you can think or believe what ever you like, but if you pan to dispute with this, then go visit a doctor.
"Truth" is usually derived from a fact, but primarily it is a matter of believe. For example, Bush is an idiot, now most would find this statement as the truth, but definitely many would say its not true. Same goes with the argument God exists! Many will find it as a statement telling us the truth and many won't.
Ah! now cometh the word "Opinion" or let us say view, it is usually an inference that we would have either derived or formed for some reason or perhaps no reason. A smart person justifies their opinion and then there are those who do not do so. Either way don't bother much about it.
Now coming back to business of wikileaks, the only part which I find (an opinion) important are facts, the rest of the parts which would come under truth or opinion is only good for some clarity but not worth unnecessary commotion.
Now the beauty of the leaked diplomatic cables from India is they all fall in the category of views or sometimes as truth.
Horse trading, not the literal one, buying votes for cash, is not new I guess we all have heard our share of the stories. The only proven case to my knowledge is of PV Narasimha Rao, that he had bribed MPs in 1990s to prove his majority on floor of the house. But in recent years its been a common trend that MLAs in states have been put up in expensive hotels with guards to ensure that no horse trading affects the floor voting pattern for the parties. The only way around it is to make sure that we choose better MPs in our elections and hope that they have the backbone that defines a leader. There is no amount of policy that can replace the individuals' who eventually take decisions and implement it through actions.
In India lobbying is not official. That doesn't mean it has not taken place in the past or does not take place at present and will not happen in the place. Its among the oldest tricks in the book at different points of time. Diplomats have always functioned as 'emissaries' and for ages they have also been involved in propaganda.
So far the recent wikileaks have not have had anything that are startling revelations, most of them are mere truths and some are views of diplomats to the superiors. Something quite common and expected. So, I would prefer if a journalist or the media at large puts up some effort to dig for a startling information, a fact, rather than giving importance to frivolous information under the bizarre claims of new revelation of truth.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Some things never change!
I have now started making a lot of those one man surveys, that Khushawant Singh used to make. And have come to some bizarre conclusions. It seems the Jal Board of nearly all the cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc. -- in the country love to own tankers of pathetic condition. These tankers are supposed to take water to areas facing water shortage. And guess what, none of the respondents of my survey remember to have never seen a water tanker that did not spill water on the road!
In fact one of my friends in Delhi said, "The easiest way to find if a water tanker has passed a road is to see if there is any trace of water on the road."
Another friend from Mumbai had said, "While there is scarcity of water in the city its pissing off to see water leaks and water spilling all over the road from a government owned (jal board) water tanker."
I guess there are certain things never change.
In fact one of my friends in Delhi said, "The easiest way to find if a water tanker has passed a road is to see if there is any trace of water on the road."
Another friend from Mumbai had said, "While there is scarcity of water in the city its pissing off to see water leaks and water spilling all over the road from a government owned (jal board) water tanker."
I guess there are certain things never change.
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