Shrikant’s Blog

The markets are finally catching up with my previous articles, The Service Game is Over, The Infosys Bubble etc. I would like the to review the performance of these stocks from January 1st, 2007.

Of the top four players, Wipro is down 24.8 per cent, Infosys Technologies has shed 18.58 per cent, TCS is lower by 14.57 per cent and Satyam Computers has weakened by 10.88 per cent compared with the price levels as on January 1, 2007.

A wise investor on Dalal Street remarked, except in a monopoly market where in the world is 30% margin maintained, history indicates the same. When IBM’s margins are around 10%, how long can Infosys maintain 30%.

BTW these articles are dedicated to my Infosys friends, who today, are behaving exactly like my Intel friends in 1997. Intel a true monopoly, with margins of 50% plus, could do no wrong, stock reached an all time high of 75 in 1999 and has languished between 13 and 35 since then. Yesterday’s close was 25.76

What happens if you hold the opposite belief: that it is good to put all your eggs in one basket. You may then spend your time and energy watching over them and making sure the eggs hatch. As you can see, an innocuous “heuristic” such as “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a way of dealing with risk and uncertainty and may well be very appropriate in an environment filled with events that are difficult or even impossible to see in advance. It could equally be the path to mediocre returns if mindlessly pursued in an environment where the environment is relatively placid and riskless. >>>>

One third of the world’s population—two billion people—make a difficult choice every night: use a dangerous and expensive kerosene lantern for light, or live through the night in utter darkness. If the available choice is less dangerous—for example, candles or single-use-battery flashlights—it is no less expensive or harmful for the environment. Two billion people are facing a decision that negatively impacts their health, income, education, and security. Every night.

SunNight Solar’s BOGO Light transforms the night by offering so many people in need a new choice. Elegant and simple, SunNight Solar’s BOGO Light is a breakthrough technological and social phenomenon. Generating clean LED light from rechargeable solar-powered batteries, SunNight Solar’s BOGO Light can go where other fuel-dependant lights can’t: to a poor person in a small village located far away from the electricity grid. And the BOGO Light can do what other lights can’t: change a life.

SunNight Solar’s BOGO Light helps solve the most daunting issues in the developing world: poverty, literacy and education, health and safety, environmental impacts, the empowerment of women, and family security. >>>

I first saw this ad 9 years ago and remains one of my favorites… most of us would not have seen it… it is now easy to access videos with youtube.

Mac Ad – think different – apple

The script of the ad goes like this

” Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.

They push the human race forward. And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think
that they can change the world… are the ones who do.

Last sunday, in Bangalore, attended a speech by Shashi Tharoor, someone who nearly became U.N. secretary general. He gave an inspiring speech on education and the problems that plague it in India. 1 in 3 teachers don’t teach and collect their salaries, how do you become a teacher, get a B.Ed degree by paying donations that gets routed to politician pockets. More in a later article. But he concluded there is hope, if we get involved with commitment. He narrated a small story …. an interesting concept of the United Nations, a favorite of Kofi Annan he disclosed. Shashi narrated…there were a hen and a pig together talking about the problem of starvation in the world. And both were very concerned. The hen said,” Do you know my friend, between the two of us we can actually solve the problem of food for the entire world.” The pig was curious and asked, “How”? The hen said, “Simple while I lay the eggs you provide the bacon”? The pig said, “This is all very good. But do you know my friend for you it’s a contribution and for me it’s a commitment”?

(via Unitron Energy) Economics of complete system estimates.

1 KW purely solar will cost about Rs 3.5 to 4 Lakhs. The conversion ratio or efficiency of the solar panels will be betweeen 13-14%.

1 KW wind – solar hybrid depending of energy mix will cost between Rs 2.4 to 2.7 Lakhs

Only wind, will cost between 2.0 to 2.20 Lakhs and cost drops to Rs 1.65 – 1.85 Lakhs when installed in large numbers.

In the case of alternate systems, a 1KW portable generator will cost 0.30 Lakhs, cost of fuel per year 4-5 hours a day, 0.35 to 0.45 Lakhs, total first year expenses comes to 0.85 Lakhs. Similarly a 1 KW inverter with 4-6 hours of battery backup, 0.85 lakhs, annual draw from grid 0.20 to 0.25 Lakhs at Rs 5/- per unit, first year expense approx 1.10 lakhs.

We are evaluating Unitron Systems to be put along with all the villas on the golf course.