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January 21, 2009

Hey ! was invited to a Private Sale Preview of GIORGIO ARMANI for Men…90% Discount !…The Products were a Fake!

I had received a a Special Black & Red Invite to admit Two to a Private Sale Review of GIORGIO ARMANI Menswear being offered at 90% Discounts along with Cheese and Wine

The Venue was at the First Floor Hall of Joss Restaurant at Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai…Normally this Hall is given out only for Banquet Functions…Been there several times when a close Friend celebrated his 50th Birthday and BSE Training hosted Dinner for International Participants in a Training Programme

Did not know that Khambhatta of Joss now rents out this for other purposes too !…Recession Talking perhaps ! 

The Invitation warned that the Preview would run from 10 am to 10 pm,for only three days from Sunday,January 18,2009 to Tuesday,January 20,2009

The Invite claimed that Suits for US $ 7000 to US $  10000……that’s Rs 3.5 lakhs to Rs 5 Lakhs were on Offer for just Rs 9999 and Shirts priced normally at US $ 400 to US $ 700…that’s Rs 20000 to Rs 35000 were being offered at just Rs 1299…Jackets,Leather Jackets,Trousers and Jeans too were being offered at heavy discounts  

What saved me from checking this out was that the Roads were closed till Afternoon on Sunday due to the Mumbai Marathon

The Products were all fake…Though the Invite stated that Visa and Mastercard will be accepted,it seems no Bills were issued…Times of India reveals this ‘fake’ Products Preview and the Indian from Dubai who was behind this  

The World Famous Brands in Clothes,Bags,Electronics,Pens and Watches all face this scourge of ‘Fake’ Products being sold around the World…Often it is difficult to detect the ‘Fake’ from the Original and this ‘Fakes’ Industry is a thriving one round the world…I’m sure your email has been spammed by offers of Brands at heavy discounts…Most are ‘Fakes’…Oh! some are honest in stating that they are ‘Look alikes’ as good as the Original….Status Conscious Buyers who cannot afford the Original are the Target Market for Genuine ‘Fakes’ Offers !

President of the USA,Obama declares after taking Oath of Office ” We are Ready to lead once more !”

 

                         

With over 2 million people assembled on National Mall in Washington to witness in person the Swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of USA and with a record 1.3 billion people,over 20% of the World’s population, watching it Live in over 240 countries round the world,Obama declared :

” WE ARE READY TO LEAD ONCE MORE !”  

We all know how good an orator,Obama is and yesterday he demonstrated this yet again in a Twenty minute Address without once referring to any written statement….Others who spoke for shorter durations were referring or even reading out

In light of Unprecedented Domestic and Overseas Challenges that USA is facing and battling to overcome,Obama’s Speech was eagerly awaited and his every utterance is being viewed as a metaphor and linked to his take on how these challenges will be dealt by him  

Interestingly Obama became the President even before he took the Oath !…This was because the Ceremonies were delayed by minutes and as per the 20th Amendment of the US Constitution he becomes the President at Noon Eastern Time…At Noon he was yet a few minutes away from taking the oath !

And when he did take the Oath,there was yet another minor flutter…when the 35 word Oath Giver,accidently,probably overwhelmed by the occasion, transposed the word ‘faithfully’ at the end of a sentence when it actually occurred earlier…so when Obama, who knew the Oath by heart,had to repeat the sentence,he paused and chuckled for a second because he sensed this mistake…it was remedied 

Some interesting phrases or the like of it in his speech that got my attention are as below :

  • The nation cannot prosper alone if it only serves the prosperous
  • We are ready to lead once more
  • You cannot outlast us.We will defeat you   ( addressed to those who take up violent acts against USA)
  • Challenges are Real…They are serious and may not be met easily…But they will be Met !
  • We failed to make Hard Choices
  • Time to make unpleasant decisions has already passed
  • Pick ourselves up,Dust ourselves to rebuild America
  • Excessive Use of Energy that only benefits our Adversaries…we will harness the Sun,Wind and Soil to fuel our Cars…..
  • The Time has Come….
  • New Era of Responsibility
  • We will not apologise for Our way of Life
  • For those who gain Power through Corruption and Deceit and quell dissent,you are on the wrong side of history…yet we will extend our Hand if you are willing to unclench your Fist
  • When we were tested…we did not let the Journey end….and delivered this Great Gift of Freedom safely to Future Generations
  • We will move away from Pettiness and Vindictiveness and Childishness in Politics

Obama is committed to return Iraq to the Iraqi People and withdraw US Troops from Iraq and also close down the controversial Guantanomo Bay Detaining Centre.He is set to work hard for Peace in Afghanistan.He will work towards reducing the possibility of use of Nuclear weapons and also address the Global Warming Issue.

He has warned the US Senate that if his proposed US $ 825 Billion Economic measures Package is rejected,there will be more chaos in the US Economy 

His focus is on Taxing Capital and Consumption…In Global Recession Times like these,such moves will meet heavy resistance and may be viewed as short sighted measures

As Mr and Mrs Obama danced away at the Inaugural ball,the Dow danced it’s way down 4% to drop below 8000 to close at 7949 as moods on Wall Street and Washington clashed yet once again as it sunk in that there will not be increased Government Spending to revive the Economy and Banks,many tottering on Insolvency,will have to recapitalise and not expect more bailouts. read more

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