The infamous labeling of Bangladesh as a “basket case” by Henry Kissinger is no longer true. With a steady growth rate of 5.5% for the last five years, its GDP growth rate is a stuff of envy, even for many industrialized western countries.
This is a stunning example of economic turnaround among many developing and emerging countries. And the trend continues with BRIC nations (Brazil, India, Russia, and China) picking up the steam and turning up the heat on establishing bold economic and political leverages against the mighty countries.
Sadanand Dhume wrote a brilliant article on the recovery and emergence of Bangladesh as an economically prosperous country in South Asia. The link of the article follows:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703882404575519330896471058.html
Friday, October 8, 2010
Animals and Us: stories of love and courage
The heroics and intellect of animals abound in literatures around the world. Hidalgo, Lassie, Flipper are etched in our memories for ever. Their bravery and commitment are a stuff of legend. And then there were the real heroes. 1930s saw Seabiscuit. He gave us hope. 1970s saw Secretariat. He changed history.
The relationship between human and animal is not bound by hierarchy. It’s a parallel relationship of love and bondage. I fell in love with animals since I was a kid. I published my first story on NPR’s “this I believe” on this topic. That article link follows:
The amazing story of Secretariat has come to the big screen. I can’t wait till see it. The movie critics are raving about it. Without even seeing the story of Secretariat, I just know I am going to treasure this story about character and heart for as long as I live. The reviews from The New York Times and The Washington Post and a trailer from YouTube follow:
The New York Times:
The Washington Post:
YouTube trailer:
Also added is the link to the legendary race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral.
YouTube trailer:
YouTube trailer:
The Metamorphosis of the Cities
Tom Friedman writes about the flattening or the horizontal effect of the world. Parag Khanna writes about vertical. But their views are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are ingrained with each other. Mr. Friedman writes about convergence of ideas, notions, and attitudes. Mr. Khanna writes about the outcome of these ideas, notions, and attitudes. One is the cause and other is the effect.
Cities, both old and new, are flourishing around the world at a lightening speed. These cities have become the hub of social, economical, and political activities. Just like the cities centuries ago. Cities represent microcosm of globalization.
Parag Khanna wrote a brilliant article on the metamorphosis of the cities across the globe in Foreign Policy. The link follows:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/beyond_city_limits?page=full
Cities, both old and new, are flourishing around the world at a lightening speed. These cities have become the hub of social, economical, and political activities. Just like the cities centuries ago. Cities represent microcosm of globalization.
Parag Khanna wrote a brilliant article on the metamorphosis of the cities across the globe in Foreign Policy. The link follows:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/beyond_city_limits?page=full
Life in Dhaka: a reflection of an old city
I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At 18, I left to come to the States and made it an adopted home. But my heart still belongs to Dhaka. The smell of life and the energy of this old city are unforgettable and intoxicating. I go back every year to visit my family and friends. The city continues to flourish with people, rickshawas, buses, and cars. And not to mention hope. NPR's "this I believe" published an article I wrote about Dhaka following my trip in 2009.
Article link ...
Article link ...
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Snippets: information on technology
Snippet # 1
The Washington Post -- Friday, September 10, 2010
Topic:
Mobile technology
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/09/07/ST2010090703261.html?sid=ST2010090703261
Description:
This article illustrates collaboration between the Grameen Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to empower lives in many developing countries through the usage of mobile phone. It emphasizes the impact of mobile technology in countries like Bangladesh, Kenya, Philippines, Uganda, and Tanzania. These technology initiatives should, however, be considered as a mean to empower lives but not the end.
Why do I like it:
I immensely respect his tireless work of innovation and of combining technology with largely social issues to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh and in other developing countries. When I saw the collaboration between Grameen Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve health issues via mobile technology, it immediately grabbed my attention.
Snippet # 2
The New York Times, Friday, September 10, 2010
Topic:
Social networking
Link:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/betaworks-and-the-times-develop-social-news-service/?ref=technology
Description:
The story focuses on yet another innovative way to capture the power of social networking. The New York Times in conjunction with a group of social network developer is currently developing a service to gather readers’ profile as to what they read. Based on this information, creators of this service can be able to provide targeted news to its users. This service will enable service providers to harness the power of “real-time” information about what the readers are reading. And the idea behind this is to create a niche for news consumption behavior of people.
Why do I like it:
I like this augmented innovative service because it will enable The New York Times to capture data on intellectual and meaningful reading.
Snippet # 3
Financial Times, Friday Sep 10 2010
Topic:
Net neutrality
Link:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ec465992-49b1-11df-9060-00144feab49a.html
Description:
This article illustrates the federal regulation and/or deregulation control and prevent monopoly by the large telecommunications companies. The net neutrality should be promoted among the large companies to allow free flow of information while maintaining competition in the market.
Why do I like it:
I like this article because net neutrality is one of the key emerging issues in technology. It has largely worked in Europe but not in the States. The discussion of the topic often brings out the symptom of the issue -- discriminatory practices by the large companies -- but not necessarily the cause of it -- lack of competition.
The Washington Post -- Friday, September 10, 2010
Topic:
Mobile technology
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/09/07/ST2010090703261.html?sid=ST2010090703261
Description:
This article illustrates collaboration between the Grameen Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to empower lives in many developing countries through the usage of mobile phone. It emphasizes the impact of mobile technology in countries like Bangladesh, Kenya, Philippines, Uganda, and Tanzania. These technology initiatives should, however, be considered as a mean to empower lives but not the end.
Why do I like it:
I immensely respect his tireless work of innovation and of combining technology with largely social issues to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh and in other developing countries. When I saw the collaboration between Grameen Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve health issues via mobile technology, it immediately grabbed my attention.
Snippet # 2
The New York Times, Friday, September 10, 2010
Topic:
Social networking
Link:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/betaworks-and-the-times-develop-social-news-service/?ref=technology
Description:
The story focuses on yet another innovative way to capture the power of social networking. The New York Times in conjunction with a group of social network developer is currently developing a service to gather readers’ profile as to what they read. Based on this information, creators of this service can be able to provide targeted news to its users. This service will enable service providers to harness the power of “real-time” information about what the readers are reading. And the idea behind this is to create a niche for news consumption behavior of people.
Why do I like it:
I like this augmented innovative service because it will enable The New York Times to capture data on intellectual and meaningful reading.
Snippet # 3
Financial Times, Friday Sep 10 2010
Topic:
Net neutrality
Link:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ec465992-49b1-11df-9060-00144feab49a.html
Description:
This article illustrates the federal regulation and/or deregulation control and prevent monopoly by the large telecommunications companies. The net neutrality should be promoted among the large companies to allow free flow of information while maintaining competition in the market.
Why do I like it:
I like this article because net neutrality is one of the key emerging issues in technology. It has largely worked in Europe but not in the States. The discussion of the topic often brings out the symptom of the issue -- discriminatory practices by the large companies -- but not necessarily the cause of it -- lack of competition.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Net-Neutrality: do or die
The net-neutrality, it seems, picked up steam. In today's Post there are two articles on this topic, one about FCC Chairman Genachowski's firm stance on providing broadband connections to the mainstream America, and the other an op-ed written by Pegoraro to act on it.
In my limited knowledge on this, I must say that I agree with the op-ed. Mr. Pegoraro's bold assertion to act on it holds true. With technology's lightening-speed pace, who knows, the issue of net-neutrality might become obsolete in 10 years. The big companies like Google and AT&T know that policies take years to become laws. Yes, Google, AT&T and other companies have paid $20 billion for spectrum but what comes ahead, the technological innovation, at the cost of this price may seem to be a pocket change 10-20 years from now. By that time, companies will have already made their profits. And the policies that would follow would become obsolete. The quagmire the policy makers are facing today on the issue of broadband because it had not existed when some of FCC's original rules were written and passed.
To enact spectrum and net-neutrality, Mr. Genachowski must stand firm and act fast on passing laws on net-neutrality.
Otherwise, consumers would become and remain just another wagers in the game of politics and business.
The following articles on net-neutrality appeared in the Washington Post on Sunday, October 3, 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/02/AR2010050203262.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/02/AR2010100203245.html
In my limited knowledge on this, I must say that I agree with the op-ed. Mr. Pegoraro's bold assertion to act on it holds true. With technology's lightening-speed pace, who knows, the issue of net-neutrality might become obsolete in 10 years. The big companies like Google and AT&T know that policies take years to become laws. Yes, Google, AT&T and other companies have paid $20 billion for spectrum but what comes ahead, the technological innovation, at the cost of this price may seem to be a pocket change 10-20 years from now. By that time, companies will have already made their profits. And the policies that would follow would become obsolete. The quagmire the policy makers are facing today on the issue of broadband because it had not existed when some of FCC's original rules were written and passed.
To enact spectrum and net-neutrality, Mr. Genachowski must stand firm and act fast on passing laws on net-neutrality.
Otherwise, consumers would become and remain just another wagers in the game of politics and business.
The following articles on net-neutrality appeared in the Washington Post on Sunday, October 3, 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/02/AR2010050203262.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/02/AR2010100203245.html
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