THOUGHT FOR TODAY
July 15, 2012 Leave a comment
The Economics Of A Medical Degree
July 15, 2012 5 Comments
This is from the Hyderabad edition of today’s TOI
The reality behind rising number of women medicos in Andhra Pradesh
Bushra Baseerat, TNN | Jul 15, 2012
HYDERABAD: If the price tags of management quota seats in medicine are skyrocketing in Andhra Pradesh today it is not simply because the good old sentiment behind taking the Hippocratic oath to serve society remains a compelling call for the educated. An estimated 70% of management quota seats in medical colleges have been cornered by the fairer sex but this heartening trend masks a disturbing reality – a medical degree is coming in handy these days for those looking to snag a good match in the marriage market.
College managements state that a doctor’s certificate often masks the not-so-palatable truth that an MBBS degree fetches girls a “good match” – a key reason why parents shell out big bucks for a medical seat for their daughters. Also responsible for the prevailing management quota seat rates of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore is the increasing wealth of the state’s elite over the last couple of decades and the post-liberalisation anthem of ‘have money, will buy’ that applies to education as well. Read more of this post
Plant It Forward
July 14, 2012 6 Comments
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
I Corinthians 3:6
Toward the end of his life, Honi the Circle Maker was walking down a dirt road when he saw a man planting a carob tree. Always the inquisitive sage, Honi questioned him, “How long will it take this tree to bear fruit?” The man replied, “Seventy years.” Honi said, “Are you quite sure you will live another seventy years to eat its fruit?” The man replied, “Perhaps not. However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.”
Things You Could Buy Used
July 13, 2012 4 Comments
Here is a list of things you could easily make do with as a hand-me-down or buy used/pre-owned/second or third hand or buy vintage or unsold old stock and save a pile without any noticeable downside.
1.Houses:Older houses might not have the newer bells and whistles but you will also not be paying the premium builders charge for them.If you buy a generally sound house and renovate and/or redecorate it you are likely to get better value for your money.Older house might also be in better/more developed neighbourhoods and so have many more intangible advantages.Similarly it makes sense to by older commercial and industrial buildings.
2.Cars:By buying a car from the last months of the past year or a demo-model or a relatively new used car you will save a bundle.Cars depreciate fast so it makes sense to buy a slightly used one.However it doesn’t do to buy a car past its warranty if you are not much of a mechanic and can’t tinker with your own machine.The repair and maintenance costs will make you go broke.Similarly maintaining classics while they turn to vintage models is a way to make money from cars.But this calls great mechanical aptitude,patience,interest and space.Buying other used vehicles from bikes to trucks and boats also makes sense.And you can shop for steeper discounts,the more you know about tinkering with them.Luxury models often sell at steeper discounts simply because the people who buy such items new won’t be caught dead in a second hand vehicle. Read more of this post
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