– Virtue: an exercise in Circular Logic

Last updated on: November 29, 2005 at 12:05 am By Desh Kapoor

Wikipedia defines Virtue as "is the habitual, well-established, readiness or disposition of man's powers directing them to some goodness of act." and then it says: "It is "habitual excellence". It is something practised at all times. The virtue of perseverance is needed for all and any virtue since it is a habit of character and must be used continuously in order for any person to maintain oneself in virtue." But something that is "Habitual" and without discretion at all times - can it ALWAYS ensure "goodness"? Is Virtue a MATTER of MEANS .... and NOT of ENDS? Can you label your MEANS in one way to be sure that the END will also ensure Good? Read more

Installing Democracy!

Last updated on: November 29, 2005 at 12:00 am By Desh Kapoor

I have had this question ever since the start of the Iraq war.. If Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.. as Abraham Lincoln said so well.... then, pray, HOW does one INSTALL DEMOCRACY IN ANOTHER COUNTRY? Does it remain Democracy anymore? Read more

– If Prince Charles Marries WARN THE POPE!

Last updated on: November 28, 2005 at 9:35 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is Hillarious! Got from a friend! YEAR 1981. --------------- 1. PRINCE CHARLES GOT MARRIED 2. LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE 3. AUSTRALIA LOST THE ASHES 4. POPE DIED YEAR 2005. --------------- 1. PRINCE CHARLES GOT MARRIED 2. LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE 3. AUSTRALIA LOST THE ASHES 4. POPE DIED IN FUTURE, IF PRINCE CHARLES DECIDES TO RE-MARRY.... PLEASE WARN THE POPE!! "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton) Read more

– A Student in IRMA dies on a Study Segment in Orissa!!

Last updated on: November 28, 2005 at 6:07 pm By Desh Kapoor

IRMA is my alma mater and cradle of the NGO and Coop movement in India.. and of recent, it has degenerated into a bedrock of NGO politics.. masterminded by the megalomaniac - Dr. Kurien! The people who swear by working for the well being of the poor cannot care for their own hapless students! Here is an email of a student who had offered his condolensces and shared his sorrow with the alumni and detailed a recent incident of a guy who on the Fieldwork Segment - an innovative segment where the students stay in villages (often backward and the poorest villages!) to work with the villagers for the real life feel of the work involved in the future careers. Read more

– 9 Things I Hate

Last updated on: November 28, 2005 at 3:37 pm By Desh Kapoor

Just got it from my Bro-in-law.. kinda cool! ============= 1. People who point at their wrist while asking for the time....I know where my watch is pal, where the hell is yours? Do I point at my crotch when I ask where the toilet is? 2. People who are willing to get off their ass to search the entire room for the tv remote because they refuse to walk to the tv and change the channel manually. 3. When people say "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too". Damn right! What good is cake if you can't eat it? 4. When people say "it's always the last place you look". Of course it is. Why the hell would you keep looking after you've found it? Read more

– Eating Pig in Iraq on Thanksgiving!?

Last updated on: November 25, 2005 at 4:27 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is just crazy! God knows who approves this? Last night I was switching channels and came across Fox and Friends. Sadly, this is one of a few American channels broadcast in Singapore. They were showing what the American troops were eating in Iraq for Turkey Day. What else... but... a pig roast? I was shocked by the numerous shots of the two largest pigs I have ever seen being carved into by Iraqi workers serving the soldiers. Although I am well aware of Fox's slanted view on politics, I was shocked they would be showing this picture to the world, and discussing how succulent the pig looked, rather than how offensive a sight this was in a Muslim country. Read more

– Its a Dog's Life!

Last updated on: November 23, 2005 at 1:57 pm By Desh Kapoor

Just got this story in an email... its funny! ========= A butcher watching over his shop is really surprised when he sees a dogcoming inside the shop. He shoos him away. But later, the dog is back again. So, he goes over to the dog and notices it has a note in its mouth. He takes the note and it reads "Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please". The dog has money in its mouth, as well. The butcher looks inside and, lo and behold, there is a ten dollar note there. So he takes the money and puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing it in the dog's mouth. Read more

– MAP24.com: Mapping service no one has heard of!

Last updated on: November 22, 2005 at 10:55 pm By Desh Kapoor

The best mapping service that no one has heard of is MAP24.com. Currently available for 26 countries and in many languages.. it is AWESOME!! Try it today! Read more

– 60% Budgeting

Last updated on: November 22, 2005 at 10:45 pm By Desh Kapoor

Sane advice on personal budgeting... After analyzing our spending patterns over the past couple of years using our Microsoft Money data file, I determined that we needed to keep our committed expenses at or below 60% of our gross income to come out ahead at the end of the month. Committed expenses: Basic food and clothing needs. Essential household expenses. Insurance premiums. Charitable contributions. All of our bills -- even such non-essentials as our satellite TV service. ALL of our taxes. I'm not saying that 60% is a magic number. It's a workable goal for my family, and it's a nice round number. But your number might well be a bit higher or lower. At any rate, it's a good place to start. Read more

– Call Centers Performance Perception and Reality

Last updated on: November 22, 2005 at 8:19 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is a neat stat ... wanted to bring it here.. Companies hoping to expand the role of call centers and to make them substantial revenue generators—not merely places to field complaints and inquiries—must accurately measure the sales performance of agents. Sometimes, however, performance-management programs can encourage the wrong kinds of behavior. Relying on traditional metrics, such as total revenue per month, as a measure of sales performance, for example, can prompt agents to rush from one caller to the next in pursuit of easy sales. The result looks good if companies measure revenue against agents, but not so good if they consider revenue per caller. By the lights of the latter metric, an agent who takes more time with callers may be making the most of each customer interaction, even if it takes longer to do so. The company could probably boost its revenue by hiring more agents and encouraging them to sell more services during each call. Read more