The world is not flat.. It is upside down

China comments on role of press while  protests become common through out the capitalist world. 

An op-ed from China Daily commenting on the role of press in the US.

One of the best-kept secrets in the United States over the past two weeks seems to be the protest on and near Wall Street in New York.

More than 1,000 people protested on the first day, September 17,marching and chanting slogans. Yet the demonstration, known asOccupy Wall Street, did not appear on the major networks' evening news or in major newspapers the next day.

The protest, now in its 14th day, only got limited coverage last Saturday when heavy-handed police arrested close to 100 people and pepper-sprayed several female demonstrators. But most coverage that day was not in-depth.

It is a shame that most so-called mainstream media outlets have miserably failed to inform the public over the past two weeks

Protests on the Brooklyn Bridge in US.

(Photo: Reuters)
Protesters sit on the road in plastic handcuffs after being arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge during an Occupy Wall Street march in New York

Protests in Taipei, Taiwan

Activists carried out sit-ins inside the Taipei 101 tower, causing some major retailers to close shop during Occupy Taipei protests. (Photo/Hsu Cheng-hung)

Protests in Rome, Italy

(Reuters) - Anti-greed protesters rallied globally on Saturday, denouncing bankers and politicians over the international economic crisis, with violence rocking Rome where cars were torched and bank windows smashed

Protests in Berlin, Germany 

Protests in London  at St. Pauls Cathedral

Protests in Madrid, Spain

A 24 hour iconic transformation across the globe..

All in less than 24 hours..


A 56 year old founder of global icon dies

A 19 year old makes a logo in Hongkong as a tribute

An 8 year ebay opportunist from Miami starts selling a decal altering the black and white colors

A long way from the original apple logo from 35 years ago...

Rehab vs. Revenge

Surprised at restrained public emotion in Norway attacks ?

Check out what the perpetrator is likely to face in Norway prison, if convicted..

Another example of Rehab in the Indian prison through Vipassana

GE $0 tax game

According to the NY Times 

Last year the conglomerate generated $10.3 billion in pretax income, but ended up owing nothing to Uncle Sam. In fact, it recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 billion.

GE reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States.

Forbes argues that the tax rate is higher in US compared to the rest of the world.

But it's the tax benefit of overseas operations that is the biggest reason why multinationals end up with lower tax rates than the rest of us. It only makes sense that multinationals "put costs in high-tax countries and profits in low-tax countries," says Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation. Those low-tax countries are almost anywhere but the U.S. "When you add in state taxes, the U.S. has the highest tax burden among industrialized countries," says Hodge. In contrast, China's rate is just 25%; Ireland's is 12.5%.

However, According to the 10K

At year-end 2010, General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates employed approximately 287,000 persons, of whom approximately 133,000 were employed in the United States. For further information about employees, see Part II, Item 6. “Selected Financial Data” of this Form 10-K Report.

In 2010, approximately 53% of our revenue was attributable to activities outside the United States. It's total revenue is $150.2 Billion

So, putting all the above information together, here is the summary.


Revenues, Profits, Employees and Taxes




Revenues in US                  $70.5 B    ($150.2 Billion * 0.47)
Revenues outside US           $79.6 B   ($150.2 Billion * 0.53)


Pre-tax income in US:                       $10.3 Billion
Pre-tax income outside US:              $3.9 Billion ($14.2 - 10.3)



Profits in US:                      $5.1 Billion
Profits outside US:              $9.1 Billion


Employees in US:                 133,000
Employees outside US:          154,000


Employees per $Bn of Revenue
In US:                                               1884   (133,000/70.6)
Outside US:                                     1934   (154,000/79.6)


Taxes paid in US $0


Though it paid no taxes (and got a credit), GE employs more non-US employees per $1 Bn of revenue generated out side the US (1934), compared to US employees within US for every $1B of revenue generated inside US (1884).

Dot com vs. social bomb

From the NY Times

A limited menu of social companies now in 2011 vs..

An unlimited buffet of tech companies in 1999..

Either way, could it be mostly FAT that is on the plate ???!!

So, we may have moved from the eyeballs to revenues in ten years. But, what determines the true valuation is real solid earnings and the ability to sustain them over a period of time.

It appears that all of those revenues in the social sector can vanish in no time for a few obvious reasons.

- Finicky factor a.k.a Lack of sticky factor: Remember MySpace ? Any one? Still ?
- Ease of replication - No special Intellectual protection. How long did it take for Groupon to appear after Living Social ?

Value Clash - Vegan Diet in the Western world

French vegans in dock over baby's death
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371172/French-vegan-couple-face-jail-child-neglect-baby-died-vitamin-deficiency.html


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.35c2caa5efa0e183b7b38a2d0e2b7f40.71

Improper vegan diet results in father's child abuse conviction
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/04/20080704parker0704.html

Japan vs. Rest of the world - Looters amidst Natural Disasters

No Looters in Japan Earthquake 2011
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/12/orderly-disaster-reaction-in-line-with-deep-cultural-roots/?hpt=C2
Looting simply does not take place in Japan. I’m not even sure if there’s a word for it that is as clear in its implications as when we hear ‘looting'


Looting in Haiti Earthquake 2010
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/HaitiEarthquake/haiti-earthquake-looting-un-chief-calls-troops/story?id=9594382
An additional 3,500 United Nations police and soldiers were requested today to help keep the peace in earthquake-shattered Haiti as reports of looting have increased among the country's desperate survivors.


Looting in England Floods 2007
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2120922.ece
West Mercia Constabulary said that looters were targeting stranded vehicles abandoned by flood victims. Food and drinking water shortages, panic buying and the threat of looting have followed the worst flooding to hit England in 60 years.


Looting in Hurricane Katrina, US 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9131493/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/
In some cases, looting on Tuesday took place in full view of police and National Guard troops.


Looting in Gujarat Earthquake, India 2001
http://www.gujaratplus.com/news/archives/arc71.html
Pandya and police officials confirmed increasing reports of looting, both of jewellery and other personal effects from bodies, as well as from shops and small businesses. "This is emerging as a concern for all the survivors," Pandya said.

Radical Hindu and Moderate Muslim - The other side of the media

Check out the societal pressures as Pakistani school girls debate Indo-Pak's military strength.

http://www.youtube.com/user/drdsumeet#p/a/u/2/81cfly1npRA


Check out the influence of an extremist view on a young Hindu girl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHd_7-9oNw0&NR=1

Vitamin D Infographic

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2010/vitamin-d/

East or West - Both moms think they are the Best !!

Why Chinese mom thinks they are superior ..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read#articleTabs_comments

A week later, Comeback from a western mom...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703333504576080422577800488.html

And dads must be shy across :)
 Why else would they NOT appear on  the photos in both the articles ?