The Chronic Bachelor

Where I worked, we had an arts club. We used to have a regular music band for our club functions. (Still it must be there ) Every year for the club day, guys will get together and will practice for the day and perform. Family members also participate in this. We got our regulars for various roles. I used to go for the show but did not actively participate in anything. Now in a performance of our 'Ganamela' group, there are certain unwritten rules by which it is done. First song is devotional, second one a melody, third an old Malayalam song, then slowly fast paced songs as the party gets warmed up. Invariably, 'Mere Sapnon Ki Raani' will also be there :D

That year a few of the regulars got transferred to other units. So they were looking for replacements. Now, I mainly worked in a lab which used to give some privacy and me and my friends used to sing in the lab while working. Our Arts club secretary sometimes drop in for other official business and when there was a vacancy in the band, we were offered chances.. So I and my friend decided to give it a try for once.

Another friend of mine was the compere. When I got the call (3rd) he introduced me as the 'Chronic Bachelor' of our company. That was the name of a popular movie that time and I was known as the oldest bachelor around the place then at 36 or so. (Those guys were exasperated with me because most of them had tried at one time or another to persuade me to be a married and settled guy. We were sort of a close knit family at work place and they felt it their duty to advice lol) Well, the song went reasonably okay. It was a surprise for those guys because they never seen me singing before. The title stuck for a while after that...

It was a memorable day for me too :)

I could possibly write a book on my experiences at our company. Tons of very interesting characters. Only I do not want to name anyone here. All of us with distinct nicknames none very flattering :D I was called the name of a devil in a popular cartoon who is very active looking for mischief all the time ;)

A Depressing Recession

People tend to identify the economy with the stock markets, unless it directly affects them as a job loss or something like that. The economy is going to get worse before it gets better. The recent upswing in the markets does not indicate a turnaround in the economy. Markets correct every now and then for technical reasons. There is even something called a Dead Cat Bounce. There are policy decisions which affect the market directly. So long as the mainstream media do not tell us the real shape of economy, we tend to think things are getting better when we see a surge in the stocks.

It is said that Citi reported operating profit recently but rumor is that it is one of those, 'Dead Banks Walking'. No stimulus is going to fix the economy. The sooner they let the failed entities to fall, the sooner things can try to make a recovery.

Recently the Chinese voiced their concern over their investments in the US. The US will need to issue a lot of debt to finance their deficit. Sooner or later, there will not be enough people to buy that debt. Then they will have to increase the interest which is not an ideal condition for growth of the economy. Or the Fed will start buying those. Search for quantitative easing for additional info. Printing more dollars is like an indirect taxing. It debases the existing currency.

I think this here is not comparable to the Great Depression.

This could be a Greater Depression..

Those are just my opinions. I am not qualified to make predictions on these matters.

The Candid Blogger: Shocking Report On US Military Deaths in Iraq

The Candid Blogger: Shocking Report On US Military Deaths in Iraq


I found this a good post.

Recovery in 2 years?

The Fed chairman reportedly said that, the U.S. economy is in a “severe” contraction, and warned the recession may last into 2010 unless policy makers can stabilize the financial system. (Bloomberg, Feb24th)

Now, here is the Trillion dollar question. Does he think that anyone can stabilize the financial system? Does anyone have any idea how to fix the 'system'? It is like one of those viral infections. It is going to run its course. Only, this is going to take a LONG time and a lot of pain.