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My hot blogs for interesting reading

Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.
Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. Elsewhere, by analyzing data gathered from inner-city Chicago drug-dealing gangs, Levitt outlines a corporate structure much like McDonald's, where the top bosses make great money while scores of underlings make something below minimum wage. And in a section that may alarm or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that parenting methods don't really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from Dubner's 2003 profile of Levitt in The New York Times Magazine, which led to the book being written. In a book filled with bold logic, such back-patting veers Freakonomics, however briefly, away from what Levitt actually has to say. Although maybe there's a good economic reason for that too, and we're just not getting it yet. Read Freakonomics For Free

Freakonomics blog on NYT
Why Are Women So Unhappy?
In addition, Stevenson and Wolfers released a new study, “The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness,” that is bound to generate a great deal of controversy. By almost any economic or social indicator, the last 35 years have been great for women.Hmm controversy issue.
One more interesting view on Gender and Authority - Opinion on NYT
Contrary to popular wisdom, China's rapid growth is not hugely dependent on exports

“How to Write a Fascinating Thesis Statement”

No professors or teaching assistants want to read a boring paper. They want to read a paper that engages them; a paper that is compelling and clearly articulated.

So how do you write one of these papers?

Well, the most important part of writing a fascinating paper is to develop a great thesis statement.

You see, your thesis statement is the spine for your entire paper. It’s the glue that holds your paper together. The more complex, specific, and interesting, the better your paper will be.

So here are some steps to breathe life into your next thesis statement:

Get Excited About Your Topic
No matter what you have to write about, you should try and get excited about it. The more interest and excitement you put forth, the better your paper will be. Even if your paper topic bores you, this is your opportunity to get creative and think of a way to make it exciting. That’s your challenge - and you can do it.

Develop A Strong Opinion About Your Topic
Writing a great thesis statement means you need to develop a strong opinion about your topic. This is how radio talk show hosts keep their audiences - they spew strong opinions that attract listeners and phone calls. If you’re not sure how to form a strong opinion about your topic, start reading through journal article abstracts. Check out Google Scholar and read through thesis statements pertaining to your topic. Jot down any strong opinions that look interesting to you.

Use Exciting Adjectives to Spice up Your Thesis
Don’t just say that something is good or bad, empower your nouns with exciting adjectives that describe what you really think. Adjectives like oppressive, tyrannical, and bloodthirsty are powerful because they portray a strong point of view about something or someone.

Focus Your Thesis On One Main Idea
As mentioned in the introduction, your thesis is the glue for your paper. Make sure your thesis doesn’t divert into different directions. Stay focused on one main theme to keep your paper organized and your reader on topic.

Get Extremely Specific in Your Thesis
A generic thesis statement weakens a paper because the reader isn’t clear exactly what you’re going to be arguing about. However, if your thesis includes specific details about your argument, it will prepare the reader for what’s ahead. It also helps you stay on task as you argue your points with specific examples.

Keep a List of Interesting Thesis Statements
Just as copywriters have a swipe file of powerful headlines, you should develop your own list of powerful thesis statements. Whenever you come across a thesis statement that intrigues you, add it to your list. The longer your list of thesis statements, the more ammunition you’ll have when you need to craft your own.

Here are three examples of thesis statements to get you going:

Weak Thesis:
The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.

Average Thesis:
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.

Strong Thesis:
While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.

More help on studenthacks.org

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test

Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it. Interestingly, I saw it clockwise first:)

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy and religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

An English Pronouncing Dictionary with Instant Sound

www.howjsay.com
All you do is type in a word, and howjsay will speak that word back to you in a rather dignified sounding voice. You’ll also get a list of similarly spelled words in case you typed your entry wrong.
Just in case My last month post on a collection of links to help to study English or check out LABLES, tag Study English!:)

Presentations in ppt on E-commerce and ERP

I found very nice presentations of University level on Electronic Commerce and Enterprise Resource Planning. Definitely recommended. GET THEM from pdfarticles.blogspot.com

Communicating with more confidence easy guide

Wanna see or download the book GET IT
Content:
1 What is communication? What makes a confident communicator? The benefits of confident communication; When confident communication can help; How can you improve communication skills?
2 Good communication starts within us: What influences us? What about the internal factors? Attitudes and perceptions, Values, Prejudices, Preconceived ideas, Handling criticism, Giving constructive criticism, Handling criticism in a personal relationship.
3 Building confidence: What is self-esteem? How can we improve our self-esteem? Your inner voice.
4 Your appearance – clothes and grooming: Clothes; Colour; Attending an interview,
Giving a presentation; Good grooming is essential; Make up
5 Body language – greetings and introductions: Get the right inner voice; Greetings and introductions.
Eye contact, The smile, The handshake; The friendly handshake, Building rapport through the handshake.
6 Body language in different situations: Entering a crowded room; Look for the lone person; Join a queue; What if you get stuck with the bore? Personal space; interviews; Giving presentations; Overcoming nervousness; Meetings: First, where to sit; Other ways to enhance your power; Eye contact
7 Body language – postures, gestures and stance: Beware mannerisms; Nervous body language, Assertive body language.
8 Opening and structuring conversations: Open questions; Closed questions, Gender differences; How men break the ice; How women start conversations; Building conversations.
9 How we speak: The structure of speech; The four-part statement;
10 Watch your language: Don’t be too apologetic; Tone, pitch and pace.
11 Listening skills: Casual listening; Critical listening; What stops us listening? So how can we improve our listening skills?
12 Getting on someone’s wavelength: Personality traits.
13 Communicating with angry people: Get the right body language and inner voice; What to do next; The 7 Step approach; What if you’re right and they’re wrong? How men communicate problems; How women communicate problems.
And just for relax you can check out e-book How to Make Women Laugh READ OR DOWNLOAD