No Whey - Whey is produced from Stomach of young calf (rennet)

Argh - Whey is not Vegetarian (If you are a lacto vegetarian)

Most Whey is made using rennet (the inner lining of stomach of young calves). Read here.
Another link pretty much reiterating the same thing:
A third link so it really registers -  Animal protein stays in Whey during cheese making
Beer and wines are not safe either:
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj97jan/971wine.htm

If you are a lacto-vegetarian like me - watch out!
Most manufacturers hide animal based products under weird sounding chemical names and numbers (TRUE!), check this out...http://veganconnection.com/notvegan.html

USA only, Vegan beers, anyone? -  http://veganconnection.com/veganbeer.htm
USA only, Vegan Wines  - http://www.barnivore.com/wine

Zach Sobiech - R.I.P

A really really depressing day and week so far. I dont recall the click history - but I read about Zach and one click after another...it lead to a heart-breaking and uplifting story about Zach and hear of his passing a few days ago (May 20 2013).

This link gives a brief insight into Zach's life, diagnosis, suffering, family and his love - very touching!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjKgV65fpo

We have heard this so many times - yet, when I heard Zach say "You dont have to find out you are dying to start living", it touched a chord deep down. Wisdom way beyond his years.

Zach's song, "Clouds" is an internet sensation, you can read the lyrics and watch the video here - http://lybio.net/tag/zach-sobiech-clouds-lyrics/
 

why today's youth are fools and why colleges across the country want them to stay that way

Long long ago, I graduated out of a medium tier college. Not that it opened many doors for me or things would have been different had I graduated from a top-tier college. Chances are, regardless, the station I am at is where I would have been had I taken the umpteen other paths. I am not speaking of Destiny (It is a she and she is a Miss). However, I hate to admit...tip of the hat, Ms Destiny.

I am guilty of a crime - of not understanding American culture. It just belies common-sense.

Why is it harder to imagine that kids CAN stay with their parents and go to a local college/university spending the LEAST amount of money that doesnt endanger the kid or the parent financially? Why? Why? Why?

Back in the day, only because it was prohibitively expensive, and reservation policies that didnt allow a meritirous student like me to pursue an electronics engineering course, I was FORCED to pick a school outside my city. I was home-sick everyday of the 4 years. All in all, I spent somewhere close to $2000 (adjusted for exchange rates in the 1990s) for a 4 year college degree. I was able to earn close to $2000 in the very first year of employment ( I was living with my parents then, no bills, no expenses...free cash flow!)

Let us apply the same to the USA - kids are independent, have other expenses that need to be supported when they do graduate. The starting salary for a fresh out of college is no more than $40-50k. In one statement, let me state emphatically - this salary is NOT SUSTAINABLE. Unless the freshly-minted graduate lives a misers existence paying off the debt before enjoying the first $ as a debt-free man!


Confession - the 4 year degree certificate DID open doors for me, not the college nor the course!

Confession - 2: I am no Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, CTO ,whiz kid, genius, prodigy. But, just the above-average person any employer would love. If you are reading this, you shouldnt confuse yourself in thinking you are any better. 

See, the world is full of employees. The world is full of engineering graduates. Let us see if you make the connection!


What prompted me to write this article was this paragraph from the daily beast (How to Reinvent the college)

The hazy imprecision of this notion is a triumph of college marketing. Many colleges hope that whims and intangibles will guide student decisions. It’s simply not in their interest to encourage students to think closely about the economics of their choice.

 The economics of obtaining a college degree in the USA are far costlier than other parts of the world. It is hugely tilted in favor of the universities. It will be many times cheaper to get one in India (for example).

Online education may sound the death-knell for these greedy colleges which at this moment are acting like toll-bridges. Not for too long.

WHOLE FOODS Salad Fiasco - This is why Indian Vegetarians MUST never trust even Vegan offerings in Food Stores

I expect great things from Whole Foods. I have shopped there several times and am shocked to learn the latest goof-up.

As a matter of rule, I dont trust *anything*, absolutely anything sold by American food stores,  American/Chinese restaurants or chinese and indian cooks. I eat at only vegan restaurants where there is a little chance of animal/insect/seafood content contaminating the offerings (reminds me of something I am researching right now - POKA YOKE)

Check out this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/whole-foods-error_n_3249651.html

What is an affront to my senses is the wording in this paragraph:

The Food and Drug Administration noted the vegan salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg. It said people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the salads.


The company, based in Austin, Texas, said no illnesses have been reported

No - this is unacceptable. Some vegetarians (lacto) like me cannot and will not eat animal-contaminated food, for religious and cultural reasons. We are not Vegan by choice or fashion! We chose Vegan so there are no assumptions whatsoever (no lac, no honey, no milk and its by-products too).

This thinking is embedded in American culture. I see it wherever I go - While it is hygienic and ultimately animal flesh is food - getting mentally sick from accidentally consuming contaminated food is the same as physical sickness emanating from allergies. American cooks (Teenagers), chinese or for that matter Indian cooks (in Indian restaurants offering a mix of veg/non-veg) dont get it.

Example, pizza places - they use the same gloved hands to dip into beef/pork and generously dip it into veggies. The pizza cutters are not dedicated for veggie lovers.
"Subway" - another worst example. The contamination of veggies as the workers move from meat to veggies is appalling.

This is happening everyday in America...people are ok with eating tiny chunks of beef, pork and chicken as long as it doesnt make head line news. Argh!


But, for now, I will take whatever 100% vegan restaurants there are in the offering and may their type thrive.

Why couponing is on its way out?

Americans are neither rich nor lazy - they seem to finally face the same problem most indians do in the united states -

"We cannot find coupons for the products we want to buy"

Interesting  article here:

The Checklist Manifesto - Dr Atul Gawande

I was first introduced to Dr Atul Gawande by reading this article on NYT, It was a wonderful article about the most expensive health-care county McAllen, Texas, USA. It is a must read - Link 

For more information and to read all of Dr Atul Gawande's contributions to NYT - Go here

Recently, a good friend pointed me to the "The Checklist Mainfesto". Requested it from the local library and luckily enough, am holding the book in my hands and decided to post this after reading the first couple of chapters...it is a must-read. The back cover has comments on another of Dr Gawande's book, "Better" which I will be adding to my reading list soon.

I will soon follow this with a write-up on highlights from this book

Autism, Immune disorders and life in a sterile environment

I am back after a long hiatus...a very interesting article to get things started.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/opinion/sunday/immune-disorders-and-autism.html?pagewanted=all

There’s a good evolutionary answer to that query, it turns out. Scientists have repeatedly observed that people living in environments that resemble our evolutionary past, full of microbes and parasites, don’t suffer from inflammatory diseases as frequently as we do. 

Generally speaking, autism also follows this pattern. It seems to be less prevalent in the developing world. Usually, epidemiologists fault lack of diagnosis for the apparent absence. A dearth of expertise in the disorder, the argument goes, gives a false impression of scarcity. Yet at least one Western doctor who specializes in autism has explicitly noted that, in a Cambodian population rife with parasites and acute infections, autism was nearly nonexistent.

It appears, people in third world countries do not need to worry about Autism...as evidenced by the  western doctor. methinks too much of glade, anti-bacterializing life and in short, falling prey to capitalistic pressures of companies like P&G, J&J via their vile advertising campaigns.

You do not know what you want. You are gently persuaded by them to realize what you want...sigh!

Homebuyers - first time and repeat..gems precious you cannot miss!

Once in a while, there is a gem of a post which wakes me up from my slumber to do the needful

The jokers over at WSJ are at it again - stoking. Here is the link to an article which they swear would not write back in 2008, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576361522020024248.html

Most sensible comment from this gentleman and another follow up

• Ted Nicholas wrote:

Sure, housing will improve in the long run. But, as economist John Maynard Keynes said, "In the long run, we are all dead."

In the short run in which we all live every day, I consider the following when wondering if buying makes sense:

1. Mortgage recasts will not be complete on many of the adjustable and more screwy loans until about the end of 2012. Foreclosure sales are likely to continue to affect prices until at least then.
2. Do you have a down payment of at least 10% (preferably 20% to avoid PMI) and safe income to support a ratio of home price/gross income of 3 (not more than 4 with no other fixed monthly payments) and plan on living in the house for at least 3-4 years?
3. How many of the homes in your area and price range are being bought with all cash? This usually commands a discount and will affect comps.
4. Homes have appreciated generally in line with inflation over decades. Since the market took off about 1999-2000, just add about 30% to what your house of interest would have sold for (or was worth) at that time for a guesstimate of reasonable current pricing. Looking at % declines from the peak in 2005-2006 is like bargaining down from the dealer sticker price on a new car.
5. A price/monthly rent ratio of 150 on a given house is a good place to start thinking about buying vs. renting.
6. Like politics, all real estate is local. There will occasionally be good buys available. Following home prices in your area for a while will be helpful in spotting one worth considering.

Follow up:

• Roxie Radke replied:

The only thing I'd modify is planning to stay in the home at least 7 years. Entry and exit costs are enormous on a house and easily dwarf most security deposits in the tightest of rental markets.

Other than that, this is one of the best sets of guidelines I've seen. :) Maybe the WSJ should post this instead.

peace!

Next bubble: Web 2.0 startups

Is Twitters valuation a sign of a bubble? Is there a bubble in web2.0 startups? A sampling of the 25 smartest angel investors(aka smart money!) Ron Conway makes some very interesting points on what to expect and some of the side-effects of google's rich which we are going to unfortunately see in the next round of createive destruction...not many will be left with their pants on...thats for sure!

Why you MUST never short based on valuation

A lesson from the master investor's trade book Whitney Tilson(St Joe and Netflix) - read more here : Whitney Tilson shareholder letter

As one poster Ananthan Thangavel(response to netflix short sellers) on gurufocus put it, 

"Quite simply, valuation shorts should NEVER be entered." 

Illegal immigration: indians from mexico into the US, hilarious!

As with all wave of immigrants in the past, this is unsurprising. But, the devices used is quite shocking and unsettling. This is a first in the book of any indian immigrant - claiming asylum in the name of religious persecution. Indians, in the past, used fake marriages, degrees, experience to enter the land of opportunities. This is a departure from the normal...for the worse.

Link to the story

India Elections : The Rich and Richer

Disclosed, the wealth of the aspiring MP(ministers of parliament) in India.

Wonder, what the low watermark and high watermark are for these upcoming elections. Atleast, from this article from the “masala time of india”, it is 122crores(~24.5million) to 600 crores(120million). I also wonder how this compares to US senators and congressman.

Soniaji may be at the bottom of the heap…if this article is any indicator.

~~~

BSP candidate Deepak Bhardwaj declares assets worth Rs 600cr

16 Apr 2009, 1529 hrs IST, TNN

NEW DELH: Deepak Bhardwaj of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday filed his nominations papers from the West Delhi constituency, declaring assets worth a whopping Rs 600 crore.

Bhardwaj is the richest candidate, so far, for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections surpassing the previous richest candidate who had declared assets worth Rs 514 crore.

Interestingly, the candidate who belongs to Mayawati's party came on a tractor that he uses on his farmland, to the Rampura election office in West Delhi to file his nomination.

The 58-year-old tycoon owns businesses in real estate, hotels and education. He runs a school in Dwarka and plans to open two more schools- one in Dwarka and the other in Dhansa, both in West Delhi.

Also Read

A resident of Lajwanti Garden in West Delhi, Bhardwaj also owns a township project called Deepganga in Hardwar and a hotel called Niteshpunj Hotel Complex on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway.

Earlier this week, the previous richest LS candidate, a Mumbai-based businessman, filed his nomination as an Independent from Surendranagar. Khimji Patadia, 53, has declared assets worth Rs 514 crore, mainly in jewellery and real estate.

Besides Patadia, Bhardwaj beats candidates like the Congress’s L Rajagopal from Vijaywada (Rs 299 crore), the BSP’s Karan Singh Tanwar from South Delhi (Rs 150 crore) and the SP’s Abu Azmi from Mumbai NW (Rs 122 crore).

 

Courtesy: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/BSP-candidate-Deepak-Bhardwaj-declares-assets-worth-Rs-600cr/articleshow/4409845.cms

 

Serious Reading

Must reads:

 

How the economy was Lost

http://www.vdare.com/roberts/090223_economy.htm

 

The Real Great Depression(WRONG 1929 RIGHT 1873)

http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=477k3d8mh2wmtpc4b6h07p4hy9z83x18

 

Exclusive Derivatives for dummies

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/exclusive-derivatives-for-dummies-by-the-other-katherine-harris/

 

 

Other articles of interest:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/evidence-mounts-recessions-worst-past/story.aspx?guid=%7B71467556%2D3683%2D4018%2D906C%2D7FFC8A3F9E8C%7D&dist=TNMostRead

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,498765,00.html

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/exclusive-why-should-i-pay-somebody-else%e2%80%99s-mortgage-by-the-other-katherine-harris/

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/mort-f20.shtml

 

Sequoia Capital's : Doom and Gloom

Sequoia Capital's doom and gloom presentation on techcrunch.com

A little about Sequoia Capital

Useful proverbs for the great recession of 2009!

In times such as these, 2 useful proverbs!

 

1.  Japanese saying, Even Monkey’s fall out of trees

2.  The markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.

Honda CEO sent packing. While GM/Chrysler/Ford CEOs...

>>>

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/23/honda-hmc-another-car-firm-ceo-waves-goodbye/

Smoke and mirrors corporate America, the dubious double standards and how the CEO's are the shareholders appointees and why I am a blathering idiot.

Check this paragraph from the article above,

It appears that the Japanese are ready to hold management accountable for poor results, even those not entirely under their control. Their boards may want to send the message that CEO job security is based on results, regardless of the origin of those results.

This may never happen, i repeat, never happen in the US auto industry or corporate America...which can be explained away as "this is how things are, will continue to be".

On first read, the actions by the Honda board seem excessive and also ill-thought. But, again, CEO's only job is to ensure "results" and be answerable to the board and the shareholders.

Good job Honda board. Good job Honda!

Valuing Toxic assets - A logical approach and Root Cause analysis(good one)

Interestingly, one of the most logical rational solutions is proposed by Mr Jeffrey Sachs.

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-sachs/a-proposal-on-how-to-clea_b_166303.html

Max Fraad on HuffingtonPost does an excellent job trying to trace and help point what has landed us in this mess....good reading

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-fraad-wolff/late-and-short_b_165556.html#postComment

Warren Buffett: Please stand up!

Wonder why it was not well known that Warren Buffett may have actually called Moody's management and given them a good earful?

http://www.observer.com/mobile/article/82469

Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

You can’t predict who will change the world:

 

And in defense of America ;) – there is no such thing as declining power of America in the age of globalization.

 

An interesting point about risk-taking, and unbounded enthusiasm in constantly tinkering and trail-error’ing American way of life, this para explains why outsourcing is better for America. The anti-sourcing lobby doesn’t want to hear any of this which is also true…there are people in the USA who simply want a job, a pay-check and above all predictability – this, in the backdrop of publicly traded companies, hedge funds, mutual funds, 401k funds and *THE SAME AMERICAN WHO WANTS PREDICTABILITY AND WISHES HIS 401k/PERSONAL STOCK ACCOUNT TO RISE WITH HIS RISING PAY* does not seem possible. Quite rightly so!

 

Globalization allowed the U.S. to specialize in the creative aspect of things, the risk-taking production of concepts and ideas--that is, the scalable part of production, in which more income can be generated from the same fixed assets through innovation. By exporting jobs, the U.S. has outsourced the less scalable and more linear components of production, assigning them to the citizens of more mathematical and culturally rigid states, who are happy to be paid by the hour to work on other people's ideas.

Airlines Auto industry - trade unions and of moles/warts and cancers

labor unions are so socialist...its like a mole on the face of capitalism...regardless of who runs or what policies are introduced...its a wart not going away easily...it will take the ship down.

lobbyists for the rich and trade/labor unions for the poor, we are stuck between.
WE is the significant tax-paying, law abiding citizenry...

On a show couple of days ago, there was this talk abt compartmentalizing the fares...checkin luggage/snacks/pillow/blankets...this is all bandaid...

Recent history has shown any public corporation bending to labor union whims has never been successful..

as in the case of airline or the auto industry, this has been the same case. End result, higher costs are being pushed to the end consumers like US. WHY WHY WHY?

Where is capitalism? Where is competition? Why dont I have better bidders for my hard earned $?