AskOxford Website has an interesting section called World Of Words. It contains wonderful information and resources for the wordsmiths and avid readers.
I recommend the following:
Do not be surprised to see ‘Chuddies’ in Word of the year or a quote about sex on the street!
The Indian Parliament had a very important debate last week. The survival of the government was in question. The built up had usual suspense, controversies, charges of horse-trading, mud-slinging etc. In fact, the session itself had huge drama with some MPs bringing cash in the parliament and alleging foul play. Well, we were not surprised 🙂
However, a few things stood out. We are all pleasantly surprised to see that there were some good discussions. Indian democracy is not dead.
An important surprise was rise of few individuals. One of the heroes of the session was Omar Abdullah. Omar Abdullah’s speech has changed the entire nation’s perception of him. It has put him in limelight as a leader to watch for. In his home state of Jammu & Kashmir, he is a hero.
Omar Abdullah said that it was an instinctive speech. He spoke from his heart. He touched upon controversial topics like Amarnath Issue, Gujarat Riots etc. He supported the trust vote. I am not commenting on the content of his speech. I am showcasing his leadership moment.
Omar’s start to the speech was exemplary. His managed to get the attention of all. It helped that his tone and style were different.
People loved his comment of the common enemies of poor. He struck a chord with the people at large. He knew that his audience was beyond the parliament house. He knew that India is a young nation with its youth having access to Nokia, Facebook and TouTube.
Of course, he spoke of his political choices and hit back at his opponents. But he did it very cleverly.
His speech was short and to the point. No preaching.
He made a mark for himself on that day and was one of the important heroes of the session and recent politics.
But the Hero No. 1 is somebody else. Any guesses?
Randy Pausch died on Friday in South Virginia.
Strangely, I was speaking about Randy with my friend on that friday. I gifted her ‘The Last Lecture’ book and was telling Randy’s extraordinary story. While I was describing his story, Randy was living his final moments.
Randy inspired millions of Indians through his ‘The Last Lecture’. Randy Pausch will live on – in our hearts!
Related Items:
Randy Pausch’s Lecture of Lifetime on A Blog Less Ordinary
Every year Oxford Dictionary adds new words to its corpus. Considering the global situation, it is no surprise that the new words this season include ‘Sub-Prime Mortgage’ and ‘Credit Crunch’.
The other new words include:
Gorilla – the dominant contender within a particular sphere or activity
Locavore – those who eat only locally grown or produced food
Freegans – those who seek to retrieve and use discarded food and other goods
Vanity Sizing – assigning smaller sizes to clothing than is really the case to encourage sales
Slebs – CelebritiesFascinators – an item of ladies millinery
Muffin Top – a roll of fat visible above the top of a pair of women’s tight-fitting low-waisted trousers
Bragging Rights
Custard Creams
IPL was a great success.
Earned Astronomical Amount of Dollars for BCCI
Earned Marketing Clout, Execution Accolades for BCCI – Financial Muscle Was Existing
Allowed Shane Watson, Yusuf Pathan to enter national sides
Allowed McGrath, Pollock, Gilchrist etc to prove that age is no bar to class
Allowed Sharne Warne to finally win India and Indian hearts
Thanks Lalit Modi. Thanks Kapil Dev. Thanks ICL.
Hoover’s May Newsletter had an interesting Sales Tip by Miller Heiman:
In virtually all companies, 5 percent of the customers bring in more than 50 percent of the business.
Quite true and very similar to the classical 80:20 Principle!
So why work on rest on the customers ?
A. Emerging Stars : Today’s small customers can become tomorrow’s Top 5 Customer
B. Derisk : If any of today’s Top 5 Customer move away, then company suffers substantially
C. Innovation, Ideas : Many small customers challenge the supplier on price, technology and other areas leading to new ideas and innovations
D. Margins : Smaller customers can provide better margins as well.
A wonderful new website on Gandhi was recently launched : http://www.gandhibiography.net/
The site is for promoting the sale of Gandhi’s Biography but has a good collection of Gandhi’s quotes, wallpapers apart from a good design. Check it!
Last Words of Ravana to Rama:
Things that are bad for you seduce you easily. You run towards them impatiently. But things that are actually good for you fail to attract you. You shun them creatively, finding powerful excuses to justify your procrastination.
Tata Nano was launched yesterday at Auto Expo in New Delhi. The USD 2500 car is the world cheapest car and positioned as “People’s car”. Tata Motors, the company behind Tata Nano is planning to complete it portfolio by snapping Ford’s Jaguar and Land Rover, the iconic brands.
A few thoughts for Tata Nano:
1. Tata Motor’s Nano launch is an important day for Indian Enterprise and Indian Auto Makers. It is a day no less important than Diwali, Eid and Christmas for visionaries. It is a day of celebration of Indian spirit, fulfilling a dream and changing the dynamics of Auto market. Cheers to Ratan Tata and his team.
2. The real surprise is that instead of celebrating, we are maligning Ratan Tata and Tata Nano. Never before in the history of Indian passenger cars, such a coordinated and high-pitch attack seen on a particular company. Anti-globalization, anti-industralization, environmentalists and media-savvy NGOs have been cooperating with politicians – a rare first. People did not criticize when Suzuki or Hyundai or Skoda.
3. Tata Nano has been criticized for pollution, clogging of roads, consumerism etc. But where was this criticism when all other car launches have been happening since years. Why target Tata alone?
Tata Nano is compliant will all the regulations of the land. Its safety levels are higher. It is Euro 4 compliant. And let us be aware that Autos, Taxis and other vehicles running on adulterated fuel pollute the environment more.
If Government of India has not cared for promotion of public transport, for development of roads-infrastructure through-out India, will blaming Tata solve the problem? Ratan Tata runs Tata Motors not Government of India.
4. Government of India today talks of Inclusive Growth. Will Tata Nano not fulfill dreams of millions of people in small towns and villages across the nation? Will Tata Nano not create multiplier effect in various parts of the nation? Will it no link towns and villages where public transport is not available or inconsistent?
5. Enam Securities’ Vallabh Bhansali recently said that Indians are succeeding all over the world, not India. And world is acknowledging achievements of India, not Indians. With each passing day, I am admire Vallabh Bhansali’s wise observation and see how true it is. I also recollect Indian Crab theory. Tata‘s will succeed all over the world as they are planning to expand their empire outside India. They have Jaguar and Rover now. We Indians will lose in form of jobs and multiplier industries – which will be the real loss. And that too when we have got Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram on our national scene.
6. How are competitors reacting? Maruti is acting like a loser and a passive player today. Hyundai is approaching wait and watch policy. Volvo MD and other foreign MDs have stated this as an important step of emerging countries and India.
7. Finally, Mr R K Pachauri. We celebrated your win. We think today was another day for our Indian victory. I hope your opinion will change.
Also check:
1. Tata Nano’s Vital Stats on Rediff
(Thanks – Ravi Sureka)
