Composite growth

There's Something about Boeing : Boeing, a leading aircraft manufacturer, will take the credit for flying the first "composite" aircraft sometime next year. Boeing 787 is going to be the first commercial jet to have its wings made entirely of composites - a plastic like material that is much lighter than metal alloys currently used. The material shift will help the 787 have 20% less fuel consumption and also help reduce the maintenance costs. Though these composites are much lighter than metals, they do not conduct electricity and hence makes the aircraft more prone to lightning strikes. Boeing has somehow overcome this problem by embedding some metal mesh in these wings. (For more details please read the latest IEEE Spectrum).

A quick check on Boeing's website shows the orders are already there for these new aircrafts. Air India has ordered 27 787s, Air canada has ordered 60 and Chinese airlines have ordered another 60 of those aircrafts. While Boeing does lot more than just the 787s, it does look like there is going to be a good amount of growth in their sales.
Yahoo finance shows Boeing stock (symbol BA) has gone up by 40% in the last year. An old giant has found a new growth pill. May be this will be a good buy.

H-1 visa to work in India ?

Not long ago I was discussing with a bunch of friends about the long lines in front of the American consulates in India. And then we said - a day will come when these guys have to wait to get a visa to go and work in India. People will be fighting just to get a chance to go work there. At that time I never thought it will happen so soon.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_03/b3967085.htm

This is an article in buisness week about adveturous people (non-desis) in their 20s getting a job in India and making it their home for an extended period of time.

One of those foreigners said this about his job -"India provided me a growth opportunity that wasn't there back home." This would sound very familiar to middle class Britons in the 1857-1947 period. Most of the English men/women came to India for a better life - they could live in a huge house, and could have servants to attend to their needs.
A full 50 years later history seems to be repeating with a different flavor !!

At this time this is mostly for call center jobs. While they are not really high paying jobs but they do provide enough cash to lead a comfortable life in their new home. May be very soon it will move to other and all kind of jobs. And may be India will once again be the dreamland of oppurtunities, hope and developement - as it was only 1000 years ago.