Learning fortitude from the Japanese and the iodized salt rush

The world truly bows to the Japanese for their fortitude in crisis. Have you seen [ Note: This post from March 22, 2011 was updated for formatting issues on May 31, 2021] of:

Future of nuclear energy and the heroes of Fukushima

The world waits anxiously watching the nuclear leak (March 2011) play out in Japan. As earlier mentioned, when it comes to implementing any technology the Japanese do a great job. So if the Japanese are having problems with this- it must be fundamentally problematic goes the logic not only in the US but also countriesContinue reading “Future of nuclear energy and the heroes of Fukushima”

Japan Earthquake: heartbreaking images -seismologists, structural engineers and nuclear power industry worldwide to learn

// <![CDATA[ // &lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;amp;lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;![CDATA[ var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_setAccount&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;UA-857684-6&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;]); _gaq.push([&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_trackPageview&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;script&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;); ga.type = &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;text/javascript&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;; ga.async = true; ga.src = (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;https:&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; == document.location.protocol ? &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;https://ssl&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; : &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;http://www&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;) + &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;.google-analytics.com/ga.js&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;script&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Continue reading “Japan Earthquake: heartbreaking images -seismologists, structural engineers and nuclear power industry worldwide to learn”

Libya- is it time for private initiative to help Build,Operate,Transfer (BOT) democracy ?

One was aghast at seeing Libyan diplomats defect the Gaddafi Government. Diplomats are usually  very circumspect folks and this brings up the idea of private initiatives to Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) democracies in entire parts of he world. Seems like an unusual business idea but by the time official folks in the UN andContinue reading “Libya- is it time for private initiative to help Build,Operate,Transfer (BOT) democracy ?”

India: A Raja is arrested in 2G telecom scam: learning to deal with the messiness of democracy

With all the excitement in Egypt even the BBC  covered the arrest of A. Raja only briefly. A. Raja is the former Indian telecom minister who is alleged to have sold the very lucrative 2G wireless phone licenses in 2008 at 2001 rates to private companies costing the Indian government billions of dollars in lostContinue reading “India: A Raja is arrested in 2G telecom scam: learning to deal with the messiness of democracy”

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) market is different in India- no one does DIY!

When a market like India booms in everything from automobiles, roads , buildings including homes and offices and their cleaning and maintenance -it’s interesting to observe that practically no one does any DIY with the stuff they own. There is a cleaning person for the car and home, the former is frequently the driver. AnyContinue reading “The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) market is different in India- no one does DIY!”

Why do you cover glass buildings with fishing net – in India? -To balance democracy with business-

By the time (this post from January 2011) I figured this one out,  our favorite taxi-cab company  cab had reached the Hyderabad,India airport  and I missed taking a picture.  This was one image that should have appeared in this “New Year” post. Anyway let me explain why 20-50 floor glass buildings  were covered with aContinue reading “Why do you cover glass buildings with fishing net – in India? -To balance democracy with business-“

Get your taxi receipt via cell phone SMS in Hyderabad, India – Happy 2011 !

In Hyderabad, India we had gone to see the great sound and light show at Golconda fort and needed to hire a cab which brings me to what turns out to an amazing “Happy New Year 2011” glimpse of on the ground cell phone technology application and adoption in India. I called two cab companiesContinue reading “Get your taxi receipt via cell phone SMS in Hyderabad, India – Happy 2011 !”

Where is the market ? Try India for infrastructure and consumer market

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-857684-6’]); _gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true; ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl&#8217; : ‘http://www&#8217;) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Soon after the elections President Obama will be on the biggest ever India visit by aContinue reading “Where is the market ? Try India for infrastructure and consumer market”

Ahead of President Obama India visit- India signs IAEA treaty to limit nuclear accident liability to operators

The Indian nuclear power equipment market is estimated (October 2010) at 175 Billion $ and both GE and Westinghouse are very interested in supplying nuclear power equipment. Worrying potential US suppliers, Indian lawmakers in August had passed a law that might have made equipment suppliers liable for 80 years in case there was an accident and faulty equipment was to blame. Obviously the memories of Bhopal don’t fade and a nuclear leak like Chernobyl would be catastrophic in densely populated India.

[Note: This post is from October 27, 2010 and was edited for formatting on May 22, 2021]