Back to the BASIC!

Green revolution, Organic Food, Organic Cotton, Organic fuel, Renewable sources of energy: It is all about moving forward to go back, to go back to the basics.

I have been a avid reader and a staunch follower of the technology. The more I read, the more I ponder about the journey of the civilization moving forward. Its quite amazing to see how the zero sum game works here! The civilization started with the invention of fire and there has been no look back. Its quite amazing to see how this spark electrified and created the wealth of nations. And now, we are struggling to save electricity, save fuel, save nature- save our basics.

Standing in New York City- the hallmark of the civilization's progress today, one wonders where is this civilization going?? Every big corporation, city, nation, government is working towards " GREEN", "ORGANIC", "RENEWABLE".

But I question: How far is far and how green is green? We sing and laud about wearing organic cotton and eating organic food, but we wrap them in a plastic! We plan our policies and projects on alternate sources of energy sitting in glass houses that throw tones of light to heat up the atmosphere! So much heat that it alters the cycle of seasons, the sea levels and coast lines, altitudes of mountains and course of rivers. Where are we heading to?? Are we really revolutionizing? Are we really changing? Are we really saving the planet?

I feel, we -every individual is the revolution, the change that we foresee and work on. So, let us not use dryer for one cycle and air dry the clothes, car pool to office one day, shun plastic for a day, reuse the printed paper and let us step one foot forward in the crusade to save our planet.

Facebook- How real is it?

It is the new year- new dreams, new hopes, new plans, new resolutions! Everything gets a fresh start; so did my thoughts!

Amongst the myriad thoughts and discussions with hubby I had in this week to write and blog about, one of the most compelling was: Facebook. Something that connects us all! No doubt, I am a facebook user and pretty much appreciate its success and its power of reaching 500 mn people. This in itself is huge. If it had to be a country it is third largest after China and India; soon reaching 1bn by 2012. So powerful that it coined the “facebook depression” syndrome. Either ways- using it and not using it, causes depression!

The latest news on Goldman Sach’s evaluation of $50bn for facebook made me all the more pondering- that is this virtual world, the phenomena, the experience really worth it all?? Is it for real or a bubble?! Is it amateurish for facebook to go for an IPO and go publicly listed??

I am sure everybody would have his/her view and perspective on the IPO for facebook and I would be glad to read and receive them here

Further to my analysis, I have jotted some of my perspectives and views here on the current situation

#1. The beauty of recession

Todays’ situation in United States is unique. A country where technology, innovation and entrepreneurship has always paved way- a land of opportunities is so much badly affected by the self-spiraling financial meltdown, that the government and people are hell bent on creating new jobs, new sources of income to break it. Today, with Goldman’s investment of $450 mn, a normal tax paying citizen has becomes an investor! Because Goldman- a bank holding company has unfettered access to the federal discounts/federal reserve window which is simply a tax payers’ share!

#2. Facebook’s interest

Today, facebook is riding the wave. It is capitalizing on it popularity and power. Happy to have an investment of $450mn from Goldman Sachs! But is it ready to go public?? Is it ready to be publicly listed? Is it ready to share its books and financial statements to the public? Or will it be dragged into it? If it at all goes for the IPO- what are its plans post the IPO that would attract the public investors? Agree, facebook has changed the world of communication- an enabler in the cultural change. But does it warrant the amount of commercial interest that it is receiving??

#3. Facebook numbers

It recorded 500mn users. But how many are real? How many are active? How many are not used for spamming? The reason we are hooked to spending time of facebook is because we have not found an alternative to pass time. Once an alternative- s0mething like a cool new app on the iphone or a new experience comes, will we cling to facebook???

#4. The bubble

Starting from emails to dotcom to housing to real estate- every sector has been over speculated to a bubble and it has eventually busted. Is social media the next bubble where the investors are speculating? Whats next after social media- green energy sector?!

My take: Ride the wave and do not speculate. If I was at facebook, I wouldn’t agree to IPO. Why do I need to show my books?! And if I were at Goldman Sachs- I wouldn’t repeat the past mistakes of speculations and bubbles

This world needs something of real to sustain its existence

PS: I am sure this post will have a better outreach if posted on facebook. Because this is its point of sell- outreach. Hence, I will post it on facebook ;)