on Gold

Since Gold has corrected a bit (I have been saying the world in which gold is the only asset to invest is not really a safe world) time to remember Buffett:You could take all the gold that’s ever been mined, and it would fill a cube 67 feet in each direction. For what that’s worth at current gold prices, you could buy all—not some—all of the farmland in the United States. Plus, you could buy 10 Exxon Mobils, plus have $1 trillion of walking-around money. Or you could have a big cube of metal. Which would you take? Which is going to produce more value?

Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson is an amazing writer who writes about Economic History. Anyone who has read his works from "Empire" (UK) to "Colossus" (US) to "The Ascent of Money" (which makes you shun govt.securities as an investment) will vouch what amazing sweep and sense of history he has or his latest "Civilization". He is interested in anything thats getting older - buys heritage property built only before 1800s, etc. Now, he marries 41-yr old Ayaan Hirsi Ali - another historian. He is putting money where his mouth is and his mouth where... History repeats in his books and family!

On Ruskin Bond's New Book

Ruskin Bond wrote his first book @ 17 and still writes a new book every year on his non-corrosive typewriter. His new book "Secrets"is out. Short-stories full of Vintage Bond - stylish, simple, unhurried and witty with words that can dance. His writing is more consistent than what all the wine-tasters can achieve. Good news is, its getting better after 60 yrs of writing and he's still living a life without regrets at Landour, Mussourie. Writing what seems so effortless and yet so easy to read.

Google+ or Minus?

The buzz over google+ is fast dying. FB with 750 bn users is tweaking and improvising at a fast clip. I have no grudge against google as I use gmail extensively but I knew Market-leadership is a tough fight. Folks who rushed to get invited to google+ realised that content is king and changing address doesn't alter fortunes or life. Even SM experts got smitten. Facebook is an English word much as google or twitter but not google+. You need more than a + sign to disrupt Facebook. When? We'll know.

"The Secret of Nagas"

"The secret of the Nagas" - second book in the Shiva Trilogy - by Amish Tripathi is out and already selling well. In Hyd, it sold 5000 copies already. Its amazing how new Indian writers are discovering their roots and connecting today's ethos to magic fables from Indian mythology. First book - "The Immortals of Meluha" is coming as a movie. And it truly reads like Amar Chitra Katha on steroids. When a whole new generation of writers dig for gold (stories) beneath their roots - sky's the limit.

"Gambler"

"Gambler" (Mankatha in Tamil) is Ajith's 50th & also stars Arjun. A thriller on cricket betting, heist & shades of "Dhoom". Dir Venkat Prabhu attempts well but blunders mostly - takes long to establish story and characters, projects Ajith as over-confident manipulator (does well), bad editing and comedy that falls flat. Trisha & Lakshmi Rai sizzle well. Action thrills amazing- best moment: Arjun picks up Mahat in a swirling limousine in split-second. Interesting plot but could've been better.

"TheUnwritten laws of Finance & Investment"

"Don't panic. But if you do, panic early. If trouble strikes it is often best to act decisively and quickly to avoid loss, or to cut losses". Just re-read Robert Coole's magnificent book - "The Unwritten Laws of Finance & Investment." Dare not keep this book further than your arm's length during times of duress - in stock market or comfort - from gold prices. Another gem: Don't look for entertainment, look for profit. Yet another gem: When you are in a hole, stop digging. Timeless wisdom!