Saurabh Garg on The New New Thing

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This week the headline has to be stock markets. With no bottoms, markets are falling left right and center. And this is not just one economy that is reeling under pressure. From America to Japan to Europe to Asia to India, sell-offs are everywhere. And since I also invest at times, I am obviously interested in markets and their state. My portfolio is down by 65%. And yet I am loving this. So many stocks are presenting awesome buying opportunities that I am almost tempted to raise cash and invest. Hope I resist the temptation !

Interesting tidbits

• Gujarat gets Nano. ET reports. Its probably the single biggest tragedy to have stuck West Bengal in recent history. Nano is not yet another vehicle but its an epitome of
• Beginning of an End? Are we entering one of those dreaded bear markets that the world saw in 1929? Could that mean I am lucky enough to actually witness one such bear phase this early in my life? Only time shall tell.
• The Snowball. I got a copy form Granth Books and I am enjoying the read. Yet another perspective on the Mr. Buffett’s life. Can someone introduce me to Mr. Buffett? I want to meet him before he grows too old or I get bored of my life.
• Sequoia’s Presentation on startups and global meltdown. TechCrunch reports that this presentation was made to Sequoia CEOs. GigaOM also has a piece on this presentation. I dont know if Sequoia made this presentation or not but it raises few interesting points like importance of being cash-flow positive, manage costs etc. But as with any advice, these things are common-sensical and are easier said than done. What are Indian startups doing about things?

Personal

• Design. I have started reading about design seriously now. Design is something that has excited me from the time I can recall. Although I dont really have a formal training in design, I assume that I have good aesthetic sense. My motivation would be to create industrial design that actually helps users. Lets see how it goes.
• Death of my iPod. One of my most celebrated material acquisitions - the iPod is dead. Thanks to my Nokia e51 and tons of memory on it, I no longer use my iPod. Wondering what to do with it. May be giveaway on Delhi FreeCycle?
• Punjabi Music. The next passion that I am developing is Punjabi Music. I always thought Punjabi was about Dhol, Bhangra and loudness. I could never fathom the awesome meaning that the lyrics had hidden and that beats camouflaged.

Anyways, next week, sadly there are no mid-week holidays and I might have to travel to Bangalore for a product launch. Anyone wants to meet .. ?