Pranam Q1 THE COST OF LIVING: The Index Is Misleading & Incomplete ONE of the most frequently cited U.S. economic statistics is the Consumer Price Index, commonly (and erroneously) referred to as the cost-of-living index. Some 4,000,000 workers have their wage rates tied directly to the index, and the wages of the other 17 million in manufacturing and transportation are indirectly affected by the competition for manpower. Says Ewan Clague, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which prepares the index: "A single point increase can run up wages in the U.S. by $160 million. So much money changes hands that you have to have high standards of accuracy."
But there is a growing suspicion among economists and businessmen that the accuracy of the index leaves a lot to be desired. In the first place, the index is not supposed to be a true measure of the cost of living. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics points out, it is only a measure of what families in the under-$10,000-a-year bracket, living chiefly in cities, pay for the "market basket" of 300 goods and services that such representative families presumably buy. The index shows the price increase since 1947-49, the base year, but no economist regards it as reliable except for the short run. Over the long range, the index cannot be an accurate indication of the cost of living because family buying habits change. BLS tries to revise the index to take such changes into consideration, and since the modern index was developed 22 years ago, a score of the 200 original items have been dropped and more than 100 added. But it is almost impossible to make completely satisfactory substitutions. In the '30s, BLS sampled prices for kerosene (for cooking), ice and one-piece union suits, all among the items since dropped. It did not include tablecloths, draperies, bedspreads, baby foods, facial tissues and shampoos, among scores of items since added. And no real study has been made since 1952 to find out whether the 300 goods and services still account for the same relative shares of family spending as BLS decided they then did. Until the '50s, BLS also assumed that most of its families were renters. It now checks prices of new houses, interest rates on mortgages and home improvements. But it ignores the do-it-yourself trend, assumes that labor is hired at union wages to paint the dining room, sand the floors or reshingle the roof. Other changes in the index do not reflect higher prices, but higher standards of living. The index now includes dinners out, hotel and motel rates on vacation trips, the expense of keeping more informal clothes (in addition to work clothes and Sunday best), plus outlay for sports equipment, whisky and even from time to time a lawyer to look after the family's property. It also samples prices for late-model used cars, such as many families now keep for a second car, and is giving serious thought to adding power tools, home freezers, air conditioners, outboard motors and pleasure boats to the television sets that it already counts as necessities. BLS officials stoutly defend all such revisions. Unless the index is kept up to date, they say, the list would soon be heavily loaded with items nobody buys. But the real trouble is that such changes are interpreted as price increases instead of being identified for what they are: major upward shifts in living standards. The above article applies mutatis mutandi to India also. Cost of index is determined only on a few products taken together conveniently. They are changed often for statistical purposes. So it is a subjective matter and not the real effect. The rent at T Nagar and the rent at ECR are similar or at times greater than T Nagar; the rent is determined according to the paying capacity; IT people have high potential so high rent is demanded and acceded to. T Nagar has the economic value and access so the rent is determined; NY has 2 areas of high rent as well as lowest rent separated by a few miles. Value differs and so the cost of index is a jimmik. Today so many flats in ECR and OMR roads are available for a song; property unsold is so high while the media , in order to help by taking money, projects as if homes are on demand. If we rush the object is uncatchable; once ignored the demand begs at you. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q2 Olive oil if any one markets as so good-DO NOT BE CARRIED AWAY; gingili oil is far better than all; coconut oil in certain locations; oil consumption is geographical; food consumption is geographical. However we have invited the unwanted elements into our culture and peevishly cry it is too high. Who asked Madrasi to use Coconut oil or olive oil. Eskimos use animal fat as oil. They are healthier than all of us. So no oil is superior or inferior; it depends on the area, weather and purpose of use. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q4 Now we have screws without having to drill unless the object is too heavy to hold. Stick the glued one on the wall or wood; remove the screw; fix the object through the screw part ; bolt it from outside; screwed; and without ahole can hang objects. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q6 old wine; if the world is in motion, why are we all not falling down?. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q7 Dosa culture; how many dosas are there GOK xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q8 All can be made by humans unnaturally; bees do it naturally by creation. Science calls it as a chemical; sujatha too. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Q10 The jibe by the writer is funny; funny because the writer doesn't know now that the cell phone car key, if locked inside , can be remotely operated, to open. And many times unless they are hit by destiny, the people refuse to believe; and once gobbled up, they believe foolishly in depth; that is the weaklings of the human. I have 2 incidents. One when the ARIYALUR TRAIN ACCIDENT took place, many wrote in the media that it was god's way they did not catch the train though reserved. Another in Washington when twin tower was destroyed the learned scientist and friend of my classmate Now American ( for long years as a lawyer though Guindy Eng. college graduate) said his wife's friend senior level executive kept on thanking GOD for giving her stomach pain which prevented her from going to office. People are not fools. Only such writers as here who jibe at Indians are greater senseless. KR IRS 25522 On Wed, 25 May 2022 at 07:42, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > *CULTURAL QA 05-2022-25* > > *BEING A COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS* > > Q1 Is Chennai’s cost of living higher or equal to Bangalore's > in terms of rent and other essential items? > > A1 Prasanna Bhalerao I have some experience in real estate > deals. Sun > > I haven't lived in either cities (on a long term basis). But I think, > considering all aspects, what i have seen during brief visits, and all > hearsay things, *Bangalore should be more expensive, probably by about > 10% more*. > > Basically it is typical demand vs supply. More people flock to Bangalore > than to Chennai for all sorts of reasons. Naturally this will cause prices > to inflate. > > My note- House rent is at least 3 times more in grated community areas. > > Q2 What makes olive oil superior to vegetable oil for cooking? > > A2 Martin Bayer Chef (1994–present)Fri > > *Olive oil tastes better than vegetable oil, which is* usually soybean > oil or a blend of soybean and other neutral oils. > > Sometimes you want the flavor of the oil to shine through in a dish, which > is where olive oil is the superior choice. Sometimes you don’t, which means > you’d be better off with vegetable oil. > > *If you are doing a lot of frying, vegetable oil is a better choice, since > it has a slightly higher smoke point* and will stand up to high volume > frying. *You can fry with olive oil but it’s kind of a one and done deal.* > It doesn’t stand up to repeated heating a cooling and breaks down > quicker from use. You can get multiple uses out of vegetable oil, olive > oil, not so much so. *Olive oil also imparts it flavor onto fried foods, > which may or may not be desirable for the dish.* > > Neither oil is completely superior to the other. Just choose the right oil > for the application > > Q3 What is the difference between self-tapping and > self-drilling screws? > > A3 Loring Chien making holes in stuff since 1970Mar 24 > > *Tapping is the process of cutting threads into a existing but slightly > undersized hole.* > > Drilling is making a hole where there was not one before. > > *So self tapping screw is used with a existing hole; it* will thread > itself into a slightly undersized hole, cutting threads as it is driven. > > *Self drilling screws have the ability to drill the hole* and remove > material from the core of the hole as it is driven; you will often see a > vertically running flute to help remove material. > > [image: Description: > https://qphs.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-cb522ce80d3010b7bb83746e2baf34af-pjlq] > > Here, a self -drilling s*c*r*e*w has a point that looks like a twist > drill with a material removal flute, followed by threads to self- tap as > well. > > Q4 Why haven’t USB cables replaced every other cable, like > Ethernet for example? > > A4 Alec Cawley Software Engineer Apr 30 > > Firstly, USB has a very strong Master/Slave structure. *It is designed > for a controlling computer, the Host, to talk to a number of controlled > Devices*. They literally cannot speak until the Host invites them to do > so. And Devices cannot talk to each other. So it doesn't work well for > multiple computers which see each other as equals. > > *Secondly, USB cables have to be short, especially at higher speeds*. Low > speed USB can probably go to 5 metres, but the higher speeds will only do > about 1m. > > *Thirdly, the USB protocol only allows for 127 devices.* Generous for > Devices connected to a single Host, buy too small for all but the smaller > offices. > > Ethernet fixes all these problems. It is a peer to peer network which can > have a vast number of hosts. Simple cables can run 100 metres, specialised > ones can run for miles.USB is very good at doing the job it is designed > for, but it is highly specialized for that job. > > Q5 What are the uses of a lotus leaf? > > A5 Lucia Garcia Worked at Hospitals11h > > *In some countries, such as Vietnam, China and Korea, lotus leaf has been > used as a tea drink since ancient times.* > > Lotus leaf tea looks pale golden or honey yellow and *tastes slightly > astringent, but has a sweet aftertaste with a hint of floral aroma, which > makes it a very alluring beverage.* > > *In recent years, more and more people drink lotus leaf tea, and many > people regard lotus leaf tea as a great herbal tea for weight loss.* > > Lotus leaf tea is an excellent source of *nuciferine. Nuciferine has > significant weight loss effect*, can effectively break down fat and > excrete it from the body. > > Nuciferine can also form a protective film on the intestinal wall, thus > preventing fat absorption and preventing fat accumulation. > > As a health care tea, lotus leaf tea can also lower blood pressure, lower > blood lipids, and lower cholesterol, which is very beneficial to the health > of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular. Lotus leaf tea does not have any > side effects. You can buy lotus leaf tea online at an inexpensive price. > > Q6 If Earth has a round shape and suspended in space, why is > its liquid content like water not pouring out of it? > > A6 Claire Jordan Degree in biology and folklore; programmer, > shop owner, secretary on newspaper May 8 > > *Because “down” is towards the centre of the nearest large planetary or > stellar body, and the nearest large planetary or stellar body to us is the > one we’re standing on*. > > Down is towards the centre of the Earth. Pour water out of a container and > it falls towards the centre of the planet. > > Q7 What is dosa called in Konkani? What are the different dosas > cooked in Konkani households? > > A7 Anup V Shanbhag Native Konkani speaker in North Canara > dialect. May 15 > > *Dosa is known as pŏ**ḷ**o (**पॉळो**, **ಪೋಳೊ**) in Konkani. Dosa is one > of the most popular breakfast items in Konkani households. It is usually > eaten with* chutney, ambatt (gravy), batat bhaji (potato bhaji), sukkhe > (stir fired dish) or fish curries. > > I have listed different types of Dosas cooked in Konkani homes below. I > have written from the perspective of Canara Konkani, however some are found > among all Konkanis. > > Uddha polo (ಉಡ್ದಾ ಪೋಳೊ, उडदा पॉळो) > > This is the most common type of dosa made of urad daal. > > Pan polo (ಪಾನ್ ಪೋಳೊ, पान पॉळो) > > This is same as neer dose in Kannada. Patal god (liquid jaggery) is a good > combination with this. > > Doddak (ದೊಡ್ಡಕ್, दोड्डक) > > A thick dosa made of urad daal with sesame seeds. Doddak is so filling > that eating only one is enough for breakfast. > > Kande polo (ಕಾಂದೆಂ ಪೋಳೊ, कांदें पॉळो) > > Onion dosa, same as it done all over South India. > > Nanchane polo (ನಾಂಚಾಣೆಂ ಪೋಳೊ, नांचाणें पॉळो) > > This is nothing but ragi dosa and is one of the more recent additions to > the list of Konkani breakfast recipes. > > Surnalli (ಸುರ್ನಳ್ಳಿ, सुरनळ्ळी) > > A yellow colored sweet, fluffy and porous dosa made from yellow cucumber > or watermelon rind or ash gourd. > > Ponsa polo (ಪೊಣ್ಸಾ ಪೋಳೊ, पोणसा पॉळो) > > Dosa made with jackfruits, eaten in summer season when jackfruits are > plenty. > > Dosne polo (ದೊಸ್ಣೆಂ ಪೋಳೊ, दोसणें पॉळो) > > Dosa made with shredded leaves of hibiscus plant, usually eaten in monsoon > season. > > Sanna polo (ಸಾನ್ನಾ ಪೋಳೊ, सान्ना पॉळो) > > A spicy dosa made with onions, cabbage and dill leaves. It is usually > eaten at lunch as a side dish with rice and dalitoy (konkani daal). > > Q8 Are bees the only way to make honey? > > A8 Alexander L lifelong Californian May 15 > > *By definition, honey is produced by bees.* > > It’s not because bees are the only creatures that can produce such a > substance, but rather because, *in order to call it “honey”, it has to be > made by bees.* > > If it’s made by humans, it’s called “syrup” instead. > > Q9 Why don't wind turbines usually have 4 blades? > > A9 Andrew Forrest Chief Engineer at Solstad Offshore > (2005–present) May 5 > > *Essentially two reasons, efficiency and resonant loading.* > > In terms of turbine efficiency and drag, *the less blades the better, > with a single blade being the ideal on paper*. In fact there have been > single blade prototypes constructed with the view to maximising this aspect. > > A single blade has the least amount of drag but it does introduce balance > and resonance issues with the lone blade having a cyclic pulse effect on > the hub bearings. This arises from the large difference between the wind > force applied at the top of the stroke (maximum force), and the bottom of > the stroke (where the wind is occluded by the support tower). > > *If one blade is best for a lift based design, then surely a two bladed > design would be best for balance then?* Unfortunately with two blades > your resonance effects between top and bottom positions of the blade is > exacerbated even further with a significant rocking couple putting a large > load on the bearings and blades themselves. > > If you fit four blades, you have the same situation with regards to > resonance as two blades, but with a resonant frequency twice that of a two > blade unit. The obvious sweet spot then is to fit three blades, which > keeps the number of blades to a minimum (and thus energy sapping drag), > while at the same time breaking up the strength of the rocking couple that > the system is exposed to. > > Q10 What are some things that happen only in India? > > A10 Sairam Ramasubramanian Works at Standard Chartered India > Updated 2y > > *Philosopher’s town.* > > Recently, I had to go on a road trip to Ambur, a town that is around 150 > kms from Chennai. We were attending my best friend’s wedding. > > It is peak summer in our part of the world and that day was a merciless 46 > degrees Celsius burning every living and non living things. > > *We stopped for lunch at a highway cafe near Kanchipuram and my wife > inadvertently kept the car key inside the boot and locked it.* The spare > key is at my home, some 100 kms away from that place and we were getting > really late for the function we were attending. I tried calling Toyota > Service and they advised that it will take a while to get there. While I > was at that, just by looking at my facial expressions that gave away my > helplessness, *a few people gathered around the car trying to help me*. > > The restaurant manager called their electrician, a few of them tried to > Jimmy the lock and *one mechanic who was on the way home to have lunch > stopped and started attending the car, not minding the hot weather*. > Eventually the boot lid was opened by pushing the lever through a small > opening that is there underneath the car for some other purpose. > > *Well, the point is not about how everyone helped when someone was in > trouble*. That’s a nice quality my people have and I will not say it is > specific only to Indians. I have seen this nature among a lot of others > nationalities too. > > But, almost everyone said one thing - *“May be the god prevented you from > some danger by stalling you here. So, just don’t mind about getting > delayed”*. This was told by almost all the people who helped me that day. > This actually made absolute sense to me. > > *When things does not go as per the plan, Indians have the tendency to > surrender themselves to the greater plan of the almighty*. And that > attitude helps us a lot in our day to day lives. > > *All the above QA are from Quora website on 24-05- 2022.* > > *Quora answers need not be 100% correct answers .* > > *Compiled **and posted by R. Gopala krishnan on 25-5-2022* > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/740789690.1575619.1653444745116%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/740789690.1575619.1653444745116%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorvf2shZm3kD0q8dHXphXzohNJ%2BnnOZ1Ui34qNG-%3DsOUQ%40mail.gmail.com.
