The semester that was...

Gone with the wind - the 3 month old first semester. Managed to score only a B+ in statistics, despite my engineering background and so-called aptitude for quants. What to do if the class average score is 92 - tough guys out here! The only saving grace is the A in the other course, Management and Organizations. Walmart and Newell papers received rave reviews while Enron fetched a mere b+ (one lesson here: If the thesis doesnt come out clearly, it is a wasted effort). The gist is that effort is inversely proportional to grades.
This sem, Microeconomics is interesting and challenging. All said, for a perfectionist, boundaries are nightmares :-). Talking about boundaries, I hope to get some sanity and start managing my time better to tackle the curve balls of studies, work and life...

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Walmart Thesis

Glad to finally complete the thesis. One biggest lesson in group thesis was that one cannot expect all her great ideas to finally flow into the thesis and one cannot afford to pinpoint each and every mistake in others' works. Otherwise, it was great to learn from others (our group had the perfect diversity: 2 indians, 1 chinese, 1 japanese and 1 american).
Now, do I love or hate walmart after all these analyses? I dont know. But I do realize that the economic ecosystem that walmart has put together is inevitable. The sweatshops and environmental impacts are by products of the monster called consumerism. Walmart did not want to be the bad guy - as a matter of fact, they thought they are the good guys by lowering prices and increasing afforability. That is ironic!

Well- off to my next chase, paper on enron and individual paper on GE/newell/Coke (not decided yet). In other news, attended a CEO series session by Jeff Bezos of Amazon which was very interesting. Will write about it later. Cheers!

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Why is nature so unfair??

I know someone who uses others to their advantage and treats other people like trash. Came to know that he moved up the ladder so fast these days. He has everything - including wealth, good family and a great health. On the other hand, people who cannot think of harming others are pained and troubled all through their lives..

Where is the so-called balance that is supposed to exist? I am not ready to believe the b.s. called 'such people will be punished in their next births..' If anything should happen, let it happen when they fully recognize that it happened because they did something wrong to others..Otherwise, what is the point?

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சுஜாதா ரங்கராஜன், தமிழ் எழுத்தாளர்

My friend in college was once narrating a story called 'Nillungal Raajave', in the city bus. I was fascinated by the story and the level of intelligence the author has shown in that. Then, through my lending library, my sister and myself to read almost all of Sujatha's books, including serious reading like kanayazhi kadaisi pakkam. Brilliant man who had suggested practical measures for self-improvisation, honesty & uprightness who could laugh at his own perils when he was hospitalized back in 2003. Hard to believe that the inevitable death has taken this genius!!
Sujatha Sir, May your soul rest in peace!!

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Charles Fishman - The Walmart Effect

A very interesting book on how how the retail giant transforms the economic eco system of the US, and world at large. Like it or hate it, you are still influenced by walmart (even if you do not shop there) !
I am really grateful that a person from boondocks like me is able to read such a book, thanks to my school (which included this book as part of my curriculum).
Life is wonderful ! Cheers !!

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Thoughts...

While I am busy reading the newell case for my M&O class, a movie scene keeps flickering in my mind - a scene in which the protagnist, while wind surfing, is hit by a rock or something and is washed ashore, unconscious. The worst part is, I am unable to figure out which movie it belongs to (despite googling) and my mind is so very inquisitive - it wont rest till I findout the movie :-(
Has any one had a similar experience or is it just me!!!

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overwhelmed

Cooking 3 square meals a day (ok - I agree, boiling milk for cereals cannot be classified as cooking, but it is also a chore), while managing to do my homework for MBA classes and managing my full-time career seems to be quite a hectic task these days! Will I get those golden days back when I get timely (and delicious) food made by Mom and read some fiction as if it were the bible ??? Hmmm...

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