Current News, Technologies, and Developments.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Labels: free press release sites, pr sites, press release sites

// posted by anandsoft @ 10:33 PM 0 comments

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Bangalore Internation Airport - Making People to Travel Cross Country

The BIA (Bangalore International Airport) is situated at about 35 km from city center. It is almost 45 - 50 km away from software hub, popularly known as Electronics City. Ofcourse, it is difficult to find enough space for a new airport within, say 10-15 km from city center. However, people are unable to find the logic behind the closure of the existing airport which is situated closer to city center (about 10 km away, and situated in the south of bangalore). Now, if someone residing in Electronics City wants to reach the new airport, it would take approximately 2 hours of travel (assuming normal weekday traffic) over a distance of about 50km. The reason given for closure of HAL airport (the old airport) for passenger traffic is that the new airport can handle all the traffic, and the existence of old airport services will be detrimental for the continued development of the new airport. So, the commuters should suffer with long travel times, usage charges (the charges levied on customers for use of new airport), higher taxi fares.

By the way, the infrastructure of the new airport is no bigger than the old airport at least as of now. The only difference being large open parking space.

There were several cases against the new airport, and in favour of reopening of old airport. However, since the state government signed with the developers in favour of closing the old airport, none of these cases could get a favourable judgement.

This is a typical case where the interests of the people are given step motherly attitude in favour of businesses.

Labels: bangalore internation airport, bia airport, unfair closure of hal airport

// posted by anandsoft @ 4:51 AM 0 comments

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Dengue..Chikun Guniya..Swine Flu..??

The viral fevers are so rampant in India (particularly, in southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka), it appears that the governments (including the central government) lost pulse on controlling the epidemic(s). Other day, when I visited a doctor at Sagar Hospital, he said "there have been so many of these cases, we had reported to the municipal authorities, hoping that some action would be taken". Another doc at Workhardt hospitals says "These viral fevers have been doing rounds". A colleague of mine in Bangalore says that about 80% of his neibors including his wife, son, and father had been infected with these fevers (not to mention himself). The important characteristics of these fevers are: 1. Severe pain in joints, and muscles, 2. Body pains, 3. High fever, 4. Significant reduction in platelet count (some times could become fatal).

The state and central governments are completely ignoring the primary health, and common man is suffering from these virulent fevers frequently. The extent of damage could be guessed by looking at offices that are giving holidays to staff to take care of these epidemics. One such example is Google, Hyderabad that had given a couple of days holidays (to its 2000+ staff) on reports that some of its staff contracted H1N1 (Swine Flu).

Atleast as of now, there seems to be no remedy in sight for controlling these epidmics.

Labels: chicken gunya, dengu, h1n1, india bangalore, swine flu

// posted by anandsoft @ 11:15 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Government of India - where expenditure far outweighs income

According to a recent report, the Government of India's fiscal deficit in April was at 541.58 billion rupees ($11 billion) The tax receipts were at 74.62 billion rupees while expenditure were at 662.17 billion rupees for the first month of 2009/10 fiscal year (India FY starts from April and ends in March). The government must be finding it hard to print the currency to meet the level of disbursements!

// posted by anandsoft @ 6:55 PM 0 comments

Friday, June 05, 2009

Fund Managers can become farmers: Jim Rogers

In a recent interview, Jim Rogers, a global investor says cotton, silver and sugar can be hot picks. He further suggests that there are tens of thousands of fund managers and becoming a farmer would be a better idea. He opines that the financial community is not going to be a great place to be in for the next 30 years. He says that the world is likely to face food crisis sooner or later, and it would be a better idea to invest in food and commodities.

Full interview may be found at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Interviews/Fund-Managers-can-become-farmers-Jim-Rogers/articleshow/4610704.cms?curpg=1

Labels: fund manager farmer, Global investor, Jim Rogers, rogers interview

// posted by anandsoft @ 10:55 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

H-1B and L-1 Visa Regulations

Recently, the proposed US law has become a hot topic for Indian IT/ITES/BPO sectors. The proposed laws are aimed at protecting the American jobs, and it's reported in local news papers that the laws are not fair. Big Indian outsourcing technologies like TCS, Wipro, and Infosys are not happy with the development. In specific, a new rule would bar companies with more than 50 U.S. employees from getting any additional work visas if more than 50% of their US workforce is made up of H-1B or L-1 visa holders. It's surprising to know that some companies prefer to get their work done by H1B visa holders rather than native Americans. It also appears that the sole motive for this are:

Lower wages that are paid to H1B visa holders.
H1Bs' also work extra hours without any additional pay for the purpose of Green card (that entitles them permanent resident status) application processing.
The employer may terminate the contract at any time without any obligation on its part

Though there is a lot of commotion on the 50/50 rule, it appears quite reasonable to have atleast 50% of employees US residents (permanent). Indian companies would do better if they conform to laws, and get on to their business as early as possible. It is also surprising to a common man, how US had allowed a US company to run in US with a majority of H1B employees.

On the other hand, it's discourating to resort to protectionism in Companies that had received US Government aid. The respective companies should be able to choose their employees without Government intervention. It might lead to lower efficiencies, and reduce productivity.

In any case, Obama government appears to be very careful in implementing the laws, and hope that the H1B laws would not be detrimental to countries like India, and China.

Labels: 50/50 rule, h1b, outsourcing, usa

// posted by anandsoft @ 3:39 AM 0 comments

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Credit Card Bill - Protecting the Rights of Consumes

The credit card bill that is going become law in United States is a step taken by Obama government in right direction. Credit card companies are abusive of consumers' rights and privileges when it comes to interest rates, penalties for late payments, foreign exchange conversions (when purchases are made in foreign currency), levying additional charges towards card insurance, etc. India can take a hint and implement similar legislation.

U.S. credit card debt has jumped 25 percent in the past 10 years, reaching $963 billion in January, according to figures from the White House. The average outstanding credit card debt for households that have a card was $10,679 at the end of 2008, according to CreditCard.com, an online market.

// posted by anandsoft @ 7:30 PM 0 comments