Indian Budget 2006: Highlights

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 8:03 pm By Desh Kapoor

Here are some of the significant highlights of the Indian Financial Budget - THE most important even in the financial landscape in India EVERY year. In the backdrop of C Rangarajan Committee report, Government urges for consensus in Parliament on subsidies in fertiliser, petrol and food. The allocation to the states from the central pool of revenue as per the 12th Finance Commission has been stepped up to Rs 1,03,710 crore (Rs 1037.10 billion) in 2006-07 as against Rs 94,402 crore (Rs 944.02 billion) in 2005-06. With the implementation of the 12th Finance Commission recommendations, state finances have substantially improved. The compensation provision for loss of revenue to states with the implementation of VAT has been put at Rs 3000 crore (Rs 30 billion). Read more

Port deal and cartoons issue: View of a Pakistani Analyst

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 7:25 pm By Desh Kapoor

Interesting article on the dual issues of Cartoons and the Ports deal for UAE firm in the US. Shahid Burki is one of saner analysts in the Pakistani media. Why did the question of cartoons result in such an uproar in the Muslim world? According some analysts in the West, the reaction had more to do with the fact that the Muslims had been left behind economically and in terms of developing their human resources. That had created great resentment among the uneducated and unemployed masses. This resentment was directed not only against the West but also against the leaders of the Muslim society.In taking this view in an article Thomas Friedman, the columnist and the author of the best-selling book, The World is Flat, quoted Pakistan’s Pervez Hoodbhoy extensively and approvingly. The Pakistani nuclear scientist had correctly diagnosed the reason for the economic malaise in much of the Muslim world, blaming it on poor education. But Hoodbhoy did not make the connection between the fact that “science and Islam parted ways many centuries ago Read more

Income Taxes

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 7:17 pm By Desh Kapoor

The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. Read more

Human Race

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 7:14 pm By Desh Kapoor

Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." Read more

Food

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 7:10 pm By Desh Kapoor

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. Read more

What is Love?

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 3:20 pm By Desh Kapoor

I get lots of "inspiring" stories from friends... but this is truly a wonderful story! Worth a read!!"How long will you be pouring over that newspaper? Will you comehere right away and make your darling daughter eat her food?"I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My onlydaughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in hereyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with CurdRice.Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She hasjust turned eight. She particularly detested Curd Rice.My mother and my wife are orthodox and believe firmly in the'cooling effects' of Curd Rice. I cleared my throat and pickedup the bowl."Sindu, darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this CurdRice? Just for Dad's sake, dear. If you don't, your Mom willshout at me."I could sense my wife's scowl behind my back. Sindu softened abit and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "OK, Dad.I will eat not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this.But, you should..." Sindu hesitated. "Dad, if I eat this entireCurd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?""Oh sure, darling." Read more

Do Batteries Last Longer after placing them in a Freezer?

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 4:19 am By Desh Kapoor

Does putting the batteries in freezer or in a cold place help them last longer? Not always.. sometimes they may.. here is a good explanation: Alkaline batteries stored at "room temperature" self discharge at a rate of less than two percent per year. So normally refrigerating or freezing them will only help maintain their charge by a tiny amount. Hardly worth the effort of chilling them. However, if alkaline batteries are stored at higher temperatures they will start to lose capacity much quicker. At 85 degrees F they only lose about 5% per year, but at 100 degrees they lose 25% per year. So if you live in a very hot climate or are storing your batteries in a very hot location, it may be worthwhile for you to store your alkaline batteries in a refrigerator instead. Read more

Taiwan ends Unification Body – China not happy!!

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 4:04 am By Desh Kapoor

This is another peg in the NIGHTMARE of the century that seems to be unfolding in front of us everyday! What if Taiwan declares independence? And China decides to attack as per its law.. so when US attempts to send its ships to help Taiwan... China simply retorts - "we will sell the dollars"!! And meanwhile of course, the Shia-Sunni fight picks up.. in Iraq.. Iran sides with Shias and countries from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan overtly or covertly help the Sunnis... guys, I dont know what you think.. but we are looking at a World War in a matter of just 2-4 YEARS!! China's state media on Tuesday called Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's scrapping of a body on reunification "provocative" and said the move marked a step toward independence that could endanger peace in the region. Read more

Aamir vs Filmfare

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 3:40 am By Desh Kapoor

This is an interesting story... This is just plain crazy for a magazine of the calibre of filmfare!! Specially when it has to do with a strong-headed star who shuns the awards! Now he has filed a Rs 21 crore suit on the mag... good for him.. the jerks in the media need to get their minds right... because they just cannot differentiate their back-sides from their elbow these days!! Read more

Happy Birthday to you…

Last updated on: February 28, 2006 at 3:32 am By Desh Kapoor

This is an interesting one.. this song is a classic.... no birthday is ever complete without it.. so who wrote it? here is a take on this question from Yahoo The timeless tune's melody (aka the musical notes) was penned in the late 19th century by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill. Originally, the lyrics were different -- instead of "happy birthday to you," it was "good morning to all." The sisters, both teachers, used their tune as a kind of classroom greeting. As we learned from the urban legend experts at Snopes.com, nobody knows who wrote the words for "Happy Birthday to You." In 1924, the lyrics were published in a songbook edited by Robert H. Coleman. First, they were just another verse. But eventually, thanks to radio and "talkie" movies, the birthday verse became its own ditty. Now it's considered to be the best-known song in the world. And, irony of ironies, nobody knows who wrote it. Read more