Srini's Weblog

Google's Earnings in 2011

2012-01-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

Several Industries contributed the most to Google's earnings in last year! here is the Infographic!

Procedure to get passports from PSK (Passport Seva Kendra)

2011-12-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

Click on the above image to zoom

Any doubts check under ‘Passport Process’ in www.passportindia.gov.in
1) Log on to the new website www.passportindia.gov.in
2) Should create a user ID and password
3) Download e-form (application) fill it and upload
4) Must note the 10 digit ARN Number
5) Then you should click on the ‘appointment’ link
6) Choose the date, time and book the appointment
7) You must arrive at Passport Seva Kendra 30 minutes prior to the appointment
8) You should bring all the original documents and xerox copies of certificates.
9) If you have any problems in applying online, please contact Toll free no: 1800 258 1800.

PSK Centers in Andhra Pradesh

Passport Seva Kendra - Ameerpet
Hyderabad
Aditya Trade Centre, Ameerpet, Hyderabad-500038

Passport Seva Kendra - Begumpet
Hyderabad
Door No: 1-8-368 to 372, Gowra Trinity, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Hyderabad-500016

Passport Seva Kendra - Nizamabad
Nizamabad
J.B. Towers, 5-6-33, Pragathi Nagar Near Kapila Hotel, Hyderabad Road, Nizamabad-503002

Passport Seva Kendra - Tirupathi
Tirupathi
D.No: 19-4-9, R101 to 105, Prince Avenue, Annamaya Marg, Tirupathi-517501

Passport Seva Kendra - Toli Chowki
Hyderabad
8-1-305/306, Anand Silicon Chip, Shaikpet Nala, ToliChowki, Hyderabad-500009

Passport Seva Kendra - Vijayawada
Vijayawada
38-8-45, M.G Road (Bundar Road), Opp. Radio Station (AIR), Old Venkateswara Theatre Complex, Vijayawada-520010

Making of Kolaveri Di song from movie 3

2011-11-21T02:31:00.000-08:00

If you find everyone around you singing bizarre lines like "Hand la glass, eyes-u full aa teaar-u" or "White skin-u girl-u girl-u, girl-u heart-u black-u" and are wondering what's going on, then you've been living under a rock maama!

The video of South star Danush singing " Why this Kolaveri Di", from his upcoming flick '3' has gone viral and how. Within four days of its online release, the quirky song already has a jaw-dropping views! It also became the most searched and played Youtube Video in India on Saturday. With everyone from across the country playing this catchy song on loop and with over 9,000 likes on the youtube video site and uncountable shares on various networking sites... seems this song is the next big thing!
Kolaveri means "murderous rage"

Lyrics Of "Why This Kolaveri Di" From "3"

Sung By Dhanush

Music By Anirudh

yo boys i am singing song

soup song

flop song

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
rhythm correct

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
maintain this

why this kolaveri..di

distance la moon-u moon-u

moon-u color-u white-u

white background night-u nigth-u

night-u color-u black-u

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

white skin-u girl-u girl-u

girl-u heart-u black-u

eyes-u eyes-u meet-u meet-u

my future dark

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

maama notes eduthuko

apdiye kaila snacks eduthuko
pa pa paan pa pa paan pa pa paa pa pa paan
sariya vaasi

super maama ready

ready 1 2 3 4

whaa wat a change over maama

ok maama now tune change-u

kaila glass

only english..

hand la glass

glass la scotch

eyes-u full-aa tear-u

empty life-u

girl-u come-u

life reverse gear-u

lovvu lovvu

oh my lovvu

you showed me bouv-u

cow-u cow-u holi cow-u

i want u hear now-u

god i m dying now-u

she is happy how-u

this song for soup boys-u

we dont have choice-u

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

flop song

Tips for Staying warm in the Winter

2011-11-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

How do you stay toasty warm for the winter season without having to overexert your heating bill?
First thing's first—wear a lot of layers. An extra layer of tights, a thick pair of socks, an additional sweatshirt or a wool beanie on your head can go a long way in retaining your precious body heat. And though exercising may seem all the more daunting in the winter season when you just want to stay snug under the blankets all day, keeping your body active on a regular basis will also help keep your body temperature warm.
Once that is done, follow the simple tips and tricks below. Seal all air leaks. Drink hot cocoa. Bake cookies. See, not having a heater isn't so bad after all.

Click on image below to enlarge.

An Extensive Rumor Roundup About iPhone 5 (Infographic)

2011-08-10T00:58:00.000-07:00

Apple products like Mac, iPhone, iPod, iPad etc always keep their positions in the technology news. Now a days, everyone is looking at the upcoming release of iPhone 5 and many people has different insights about it which they are sharing with the world.

These unofficial insights about iPhone 5 are getting it to the higher level of popularity in the form of rumors before it will hit the market. Here, you can find below is a well an easy to understand example of infographic that covers almost all of the rumors going around about the upcoming iPhone 5. Not even this, they also added the blue progress bars for all the covered rumors to understand the possibility ratio that a given rumor will occur.

The credit goes to Nowhere Else who compiled all of these rumors about iPhone 5 in an amazing infographic.

Tips to Improve your eCommerce websites

2011-05-24T00:37:00.000-07:00

eCommerce means buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks.

Here are some tips for you to improve your product pages on your e-commerce websites:

Use Conversation

Conversations are everywhere. For SEO, for traffic, for increase in sales, there are always conversation.
You have to tell your customers to "buy something!". You also have to say "trust me!", or "log in!".
Don't be afraid to write them bold.

Don't forget to display related Products

To sell more is not only to sell, but also to have the customer continuously. If you want this, you have to gain the whole attention of your customers.
Use "related products" blocks on every product page.
If it's hard for you to relate them, use CMS, but relate them.

Show Less, Give More

You have to have all the information that your customers need. But, what if it is so long?
Here's the thing. Use tabs, pop-ups and galleries.

Allow Them to Comment

Everybody wants to be important. So, everybody wants you to listen to them as a customer.
Comments are the simplest and the most effective way to listen to your customers. Allow them to comment on everywhere, about everything.
At least you'll not as sad as you used to be.

Show them site is Trustworthy

If you want to buy something on the internet, you always worry about safety of your information. So do they.
If you want to sell something on the internet, you have to prove your trustworthy.
The best way to do this is to use the SSL information.
Use it on your header and your footer.

Let them Look

Information is cool. Images are cooler. Big images are more cooler.
360-degree product animations are much more cooler.
Think about them. If you can use it, customers will surely want to check it out!

Tell Them to Share

Remember what Walt Disney said: "bring their friends".

How can they bring their friends? Yes, via social media.

Any website which allows user to share their content, opinions, views and encourages interaction and community building can be classified as a social media. Some popular social media sites are: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Digg, MySpace, StumbleUpon, Del.icio.us, Scribd, Flickr etc.

So, how social media going to help a ecommerce site or product page?
Answer is simple: A bunch of Like, Tweet and Share buttons.

Source: Click here

Cricketers wives and kids

2011-04-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

M.S.Dhoni with Wife Sakshi

Saurav Ganguly With wife Dona

Zaheer Khan in Love with actress Isha Sharvani

Azharuddin with wife Sangeeta Bijlani

Vinod Kambli with wife Andrea

Kapil Dev with wife Romi

Rahul Dravid with wife Vijeta

Sehwag with Wife Aarti

V.V.S. Laxman with Wife Sailaja

Anil Kumble with Wife Chetna

Jadeja with wife Aditi

Rohan Gavaskar with wife Swati

Irfan Pathan with Shivangi

Kapil with Romi and daughter Amiya

Anil Kumble with wife & Kids

V.V.S. Laxman with wife Sakshi & kid

Muralitharan with son Naren

Steve Waugh kids Lily and Rosie Austin

Andrew Flintoff with wife and Son

Shane Warne with son

Adam Gilchrist with wife Melinda and kids Annie, Harry and Archie

Gary Kirsten with son Joshua

Ricky Ponting with daughter Emmy

Krishnamachary Srikanth with son Anirudha

Waqar younis with wife Faryal and kids Azaan and Maira

Top TouchPads - iPad alternatives

2011-02-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

2010 was the year of the iPad. 2011 is the year the competition gets serious. Between a slew of new Android 3.0 slates, the BlackBerry PlayBook, and the HP TouchPad, shoppers will have plenty of compelling Apple alternatives to choose from.

While tablet PCs have been around for yonks, only now are they becoming the desirable, usable and functional devices that we've always wanted them to be – and it's about time too.

The iPad is currently the most obvious example of how tablets are going mainstream, but that's not to say that all tablets released from now on are guaranteed to be super awesome.

HTC Flyer

The HTC Flyer is out to prove the pen is not dead. The HTC Flyer is a 7-inch Android slate based on a 1.5GHz Qualcomm single-core processor running Android 2.4 Gingerbread, with a new, refreshed version of HTC Sense. Oh, and just to really stir things up, it has a stylus.

URL: HTC Flyer

Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has similar specs to many other Android 3.0 slates, including a Tegra 2 processor and 16 to 32GB of memory. But we really like how light this 1.2-pound tablet feels, its textured back, and the stereo speakers. An 8-MP camera in back records 1080p video, while the 2-MP camera up front enables video calls via Google Talk Video Chat.

URL: Samsung Galaxy Tab

Motorola Xoom

The first Android 3.0 tablet is coming to Verizon Wireless, and the software is unlike anything you’ve seen before from Google. We’re talking improved multitasking, a more interactive widgets, and tabbed web browsing. A Tegra 2 processor, 10.1-inch display (1280 x 800), and front-facing camera round out the specs.

URL: Motorola Xoom

Acer Iconia Tab A500

Coming to Verizon Wireless with blazing 4G LTE connectivity, Acer’s Iconia Tab A500 is a 10-inch Android 3.0 tablet that could give the Xoom a run for its money. It features HDMI and USB ports and both rear (5-MP) and front (2-MP) cameras. We especially like the Social Jogger app for flipping through Twitter and Facebook updates. Acer's Clear.Fi media sharing software is also installed.
URL: http://www.acer.com/iconia/

ASUS Eee Pad Slider

An Android tablet made for fast typing, the Eee Pad Slider features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Nvidia Tegra 2 power, and cameras on the front (1.2-MP) and back (5-MP). In addition to Android 3.0, this 10-inch tablet will run ASUS’ custom MyWave interface.

URL: ASUS Eee Pad

BlackBerry PlayBook

It's a professional grade 7-inch tablet, but it definitely has a fun side. The BlackBerry PlayBook sports a fast dual-core processor and a multitasking-friendly interface, as well as full Flash support and dual HD video cameras. You also get real-time e-mail, but it requires that you tether the tablet to a BlackBerry phone.

URL: http://www.blackberry.com/playbook/Blackberry Playbook

HP TouchPad

Boasting an impressive list of features—including a 1.2-GHz dual-core processor, a front-facing camera, and Beats Audio, HP’s TouchPad is a strong contender running webOS 3.0. The tablet tightly integrates social networking throughout multiple apps. You can even share URLs between webOS phones and the tablet with a tap.

URL: HP TouchPad

Lenovo LePad and U1 Hybrid

The LePad is a 10.1-inch tablet with dual personalities. By itself the device is an Android slate with a sleek four-pane interface that’s optimized for accessing media. Plug the LePad into the U1 base, and it’s transformed into a Windows 7-powered laptop with a full keyboard. A Hybrid Switch feature lets users change operating systems on the fly.

URL: Lenovo LePad

LG G-Slate

LG’s Android 3.0 tablet (known as the Optimus Pad overseas) brings something very unique to the table: 3D. You can record 3D video and then watch it on the 8.9-inch display (glasses are included). The Tegra 2-powered G-Slate also features 4G data speeds, HDMI output, and a front-facing camera for video chats.

Future of Screen Technology

2011-02-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

This is the result of The Astonishing Tribe's Open Innovation experiment. It is an experience video showing the future of screen technology with stretchable screens, transparent screens and e-ink displays, to name a few.

Funny video compilation

2010-11-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

The new rupee symbol and what it means

2010-07-26T03:49:00.000-07:00

Never mind economics, the new Indian currency symbol designed by IITian Uday Kumar is money in the bank. This opinion is courtesy a set of very pleased graphologists, astrologers and numerologists who believe that, like the symbols for the dollar, euro and yen, the new Indian symbol promises the penetration of our currency into the powerful workings of the global financial market.

So far denoted as ‘Re’, ‘Rs’ and ‘INR’, the changed symbol has its own interpretation. “Two parallel lines at the top indicate developing greater inner strength, self sufficiency, while the semi circle in the letter ‘R’ indicates India’s image as an investment-friendly economy,” deduces city-based graphologist Dr Ranadheer Kumar. However, he cautions, “The line passing from the curve at times will pose challenges and stress to the government. Our government must use this logo as many times as possible in international platforms like a spokesperson of our economy.”

Graphologists suggest that the symbol incorporate the tri-colour to engender feelings of self-respect, pride and growth in the economy.

Astrologers though aren’t over the moon: examining the fate of our new currency symbol, based on the time the Union Cabinet chose it, they can safely say that while the symbol will not harm the current economy, it will have little or no impact on our financial state. “The new symbol was decided at Pubba Nakshatram on July 15. This star is undergoing ‘Elinati Shani’ until August 5, 2012. Also, the lord of that star, Venus, is in the expenditure house at that time. This implies that the new symbol will not make much difference to India’s financial fate on the global arena” claims Srinivasa G, a renowned astrologer.

For now, numerologists say that fate also depends on the person who designed the symbol. For most cogs in the financial wheels of India though, it will continue to be business as usual.

How to get your website found on Google

2010-07-02T04:21:00.000-07:00

I want to talk this lot of times when we talk with non IT organizations, churches who just have this simple question how do we get found on Google.

Someone goes down to Google and says "I am looking for hotels in London" or “some church in London” how do we get on page 1

Getting found on Google is called SEO = Search Engine Optimization

And if you are in the online business world or in online marketing or advertising you may heard this phrase or know little about it, but lot of times churches don’t know how you get found on Google. They just think it is up to Google.

You have good site and it looks really nice and you probably up right on Google and if it’s ugly website you will like on page 10, that’s not true at all because:

Google doesn’t have eyes
Google is looking at you code
Google is weighing other factors
Based on algorithm

Paid Ads vs. "Organic search"

Paid/Sponsored: Google Adwords
Main results/free: Organic results

Organic results: That just means nobody pays to get here on Google search page. This just means Google thinks these are the most relevant results for that whatever you typed in there.

Paid Ads: These people pay, when you click on who ever that it is going to pay quarter or 10cents or whatever it is. That’s called Google Adwords.

Basically if you have a budget and you want to pay to be seen on first page you can do that.

If you want to get found for free so let’s talk about how to do it for free

Fresh Content

New content to your site often
Good stuff people can use
The more often the better
The most important thing

If you have a fresh content this is the most important things you can do, if you never login to your site, you never make changes and you have nothing doing to your site, don’t expect to ever getting on first page of Google results. So the most important thing you can do to found on Google is to have Fresh content often, good stuff people can use posted frequently

How frequently is frequently?

I tell people if you login and do something twice a month on your site you are head of most churches and if you can do something every week your doing great keep it up.

So that’s the best thing to do FRESH CONTENT. All that cost is time, time and Web person who can post it for you.

Google’s Algorithm

Google scans your website often
Google checks for new stuff
Google uses a mathematical equation to gauge your ranking

Google’s Algorithm is like a big mathematical code and it’s kind of secret like the recipe of Coca cola so they don’t want you to know how they find it but if you do these things you will get found.

How does Google know what you got?

Google keeps records of everybody’s content for everyday and will use it to see it against your site every so often to see if you are adding stuff and what you changed. So Google knows it, its memorizing everything on web.

Clean Code

Use ALT text
Correctly label media
Use modern web standards
Use META keywords/descriptions

Linking

Links to your website
The more the better
Use free directory listings
Popular site links are best

Linking if you have lot of people out there with links to your site Google sees if you have site that has one link to you Google can prioritize a site that has 500 links to you as much higher so the more links the better.

Popularity

Traffic to your site
The more hits the higher the rank
More visits = better ranking

Popularity if one persons a month visits your site Google probably not rank it high as it turns to gets 5 million hits for a month so Google can take what is popular and keep the popular.

Finally focus on good stuff that you visitors want, know what they are looking for, find whatever it is and put it on your website. This is the basics.

Focus on Content

Don’t get bogged down
Focus on generating content
Know what your audience needs
Get in the habit of using the site

Blog

Blogs are great for content
Blogs get found on Google
Easy to setup and use
Many free versions
Don’t be intimidated
You have the ideas already

Blog is the best thing you can do. Blog is like free things you can do online were we can put some information.

Basically blog is fancy word for website where you type couple of paragraphs every so often. And don’t get intimidated by the word. A blog is just a place where you just talk about whatever it is that you are interested in and you think people want to hear. If you are an organization blog is your chance to talk about things happening in your organization, upcoming events, and reflection on past events, preparing people for an upcoming series, basically anything.

Blog is the best way to adding your fresh content

World's largest outdoor pool at 55th storey opens in Singapore

2010-06-28T03:40:00.000-07:00

It's finally happened! The $5.95 billion Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore finally opened its doors to public in a gala event, and it also managed to dethrone the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi from its position as the world's most expensive hotel. But that's not all, the main attraction of the hotel is a 650ft wide pool perched up at the 55th storey of the magnificent hotel, making it the largest outdoor pool in the world that high. Called as the Infinity pool, the drop at the edge of the pool spills into a three-tiered catchment which pumps water right back to the main pool! The hotel also has a boat-shaped 'SkyPark' on top of the three towers.

The hotel features 2,560 rooms that would cost you $520 a night. Designed by Moshe Safdie, the structure is said to be based on the design resembling a deck of cards. The hotel décor includes an indoor canal that has Sampan boats to ride in, a casino, an outdoor plaza, a convention centre, a theatre, a crystal pavilion and a lotus flower shaped museum. The resort will open employment to over 10,000 locals, enough to generate $72m each year.

iPhone 4 launched

2010-06-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

The design

The hardware design hasn't changed from the one we already knew about. It uses the same materials as the prototype: Black glass and stainless steel rim. It fits with the rest of the Apple product line, from the hard edges to the Dieter-Ramsesque utilitarianism of the iMac and the iPad.

The black glass is aluminosilicate glass. Apple claims this glass is "chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic." According to them, this makes it more scratch resistant and durable than the previous generation.

The size is smaller than the previous generation: 34% thinner than the iPhone 3GS. Although it is 3 grams heavier. According to Apple, it's the thinnest smartphone ever. It has split buttons for volume, unlike the current iPhone 3GS, all made in stainless steel.

The stainless steel rim

The stainless steel rim gives the structure to the iPhone, and acts as part of the antenna for 3G and Wi-Fi. In theory, this will greatly increase the reception abilities of the new iPhone 4.

Physical size

The iPhone 4 is 4.5 x 2.31 inches, and 0.37 inches thick. It weighs 4.8 ounces (137 grams).

The hardware

The new big brain

It has an Apple A4 chip inside, just like the iPad. Inside the A4 there are a few interconnected chips: A Cortex-A8 main processor unit—the main brain—paired with a PowerVR SGX 535, which handles the high definition graphics of the new iPhone. These are directly connected with each other and two low-power 128MB DDR SDRAM chips. Since all these components are in the same chip, Apple claims the iPhone 4 can process data more quickly while consuming less battery than before.

The A4 also consumes less power because its sub-components can be switched on and off when they are not needed, shaving watts whenever it's possible.

Battery life

The battery is 16% bigger than the current one. Coupled with the A4 processor and new display, it results in a longer battery life: Apple claims 40% more talk time. Here are their figures:

• Talk over 3G: 7 hours.

• Browsing over 3G: 6 hours.

• Browsing over Wi-Fi: 10 hours.

• Video: 10 hours.

• Music: 40 hours.

• Stand-by: 300 hours.

The display

The 3.5-inch multitouch screen has a resolution of 960 × 640 pixels. Apple calls is the Retina Display, and it has four times as many pixels as the current iPhone 3GS' display. The screen has 326 pixel per inch resolution, a higher definition than your typical magazine, a quality that shows in the screenshot.

Apple claims that this IPS-based display—the same technology as used in the iPad—also has 800-to-1 contrast ratio which is four times better than the 3GS, with a higher viewing angle.

The apps will take automatic advantage of the increased relative resolution, which mean they will be a lot sharper for text, 3D graphics, and vectorial art. However, developers will need to include higher resolution bitmap images to make the app look perfect.

Like the iPhone 3GS and the iPad, the display has an oleophobic layer that makes it easier to clean.

The main camera

The new iPhone has a bigger sensor for the main camera. It's backlit and has bigger lenses too. Instead of having a higher resolution, however, the sensor maintains the same 5 megapixel count. They are bigger dots, however, so it has a higher ISO—or sensitivity to light. That means that you would be able to take better photos and video in low light conditions, and your pictures will look a lot better.

The camera also has a LED-based flash, which works both for photographs and video. To focus, both for photographs and video—you just need to tap on the screen.

The video conferencing camera

In the front, there's a video conference camera, with standard VGA resolution. This camera will be used with third-party applications, as well as Apple's own video conference solution.

Gyroscope

The new iPhone 4 has a gyroscope built-in. This means that it can track movement with a very high precision, much higher than the built-in accelerometers in the previous iPhones. It's 3-axis, so it's capable of detecting pitch, roll, and yaw. Couple with the accelerometer, you have 6-axis motion sensing.

Other

• Like the iPad 3GS, the new iPhone uses the new micro-SIM standard.

• It has an additional microphone on the top used for noise cancelation.

The software

iOS4

The new iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, a new moniker for the iPhone OS. The biggest new feature is, of course, selective multi-tasking, Apple's way to multitask some application features without consuming too many resources and battery power.

The new iOS 4 supports Apple's Retina display using resolution independence. This means that applications will automatically get scaled for the new resolution, but looking sharper, not pixelated. That includes typography, 2D vector graphics, and 3D graphics. However, developers will have to include higher resolution images for buttons or other screen controls (something that many have already, since this was already exposed in the last WWDC).

Video calling

However, the biggest feature of the new iPhone 4 is probably video calling, thanks to its front camera. Apple calls it FaceTime, and it works iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi—at least for 2010. Apple claims that in the future it will be available over 3G.

The iPhone 4 can use both cameras for video calling, so you can broadcast what is in front of you to another iPhone 4.

iMovie for iPhone

The new iPhone 4 will be able to use a new editing software from Apple: iMovie for iPhone. It comes with 1,500 new features.

The new iMovie for iPhone works on even 720p high definition. You can use it to cut the video clips, add automatic Ken Burns effects for still images and a music soundtrack taken from your iPhone's tunes. After you are done with your movie, you can export it to 360p, 520p, and 720p.

It's a separate application, however, it doesn't come built-in with the iPhone 4.

iBooks

iBooks will also be available for the new iOS4. Apple claims that the new iPhone 4's 325 pixel-per-inch display will make the books perfectly readable. It will use the same controls as the iBooks application in the iPad.

Price and availability

The Phone 4 is available in black or white and cost $199 and $299 for 16 and 32GB if you are a new user or you are eligible for an upgrade.

If you are an existing iPhone user, the early upgrade will cost you $399 and $499. Without contract, the iPhone 4 is $599 and $699.

Source: http://gizmodo.com

The 10 Most Useful Travel Gadgets of 2010

2010-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Traveling is about keeping it real with your surroundings, yet it’s easy to get lost in the lure of nerdy gadgetry these days (check out “5 Gadgets That May Ruin Your Backpacking Experience”). Things like GPS systems can keep you from getting down and dirty with locals (just ask for directions, stupid!). However, for those of you who are physically unable to unplug, we give you OTP’s 10 Most Useful Travel Gadgets of 2010.

Water Filter

Don’t drink the water. You’ll hear it over and over again in just about every country. In fact, you may find that it’s cheaper to buy booze than it is water. Enter the MSR Miox. This little flashlight-sized device only requires batteries to transform that putrid, disease-ridden water into something more drinkable. There’s also the Steripen, which uses ultraviolet rays to turn dirty into liquid clean goodness. Of course, you may prefer the excuse of choosing booze over water but at just over a hundred bucks, it’ll probably save you some money and a few hangovers.

Bag Protector

After a good night’s sleep, the last thing you want to wake up to is finding out someone jacked your shit . In all likelihood, as long as you’re alert and careful, this won’t happen. But if you’re the paranoid type, the Doberman Bag Protector is a dually triggered alarm system (meaning there is both a motion sensor and a pull pin). The device can be attached to just about anything and when triggered, emits a 100 decibel alarm. This is on par with the sound of a lawnmower, which should be the most obnoxious criminal deterrent known to man.

Solar Powered Backpack

This is starting to get out of hand. Whatever happened to the days of Thoreau, where serenity is found in the simple things in life? Screw it, if he were around today, Thoreau would be putting his money on the solar powered backpack too. Both Voltaic and Reware offer backpacks equipped with solar panels that can power up most 12-volt devices if needed. Since a solar powered backpack is more of a luxury than a necessity, the added superpowers (Electroman) come at a higher price than other packs with a sacrifice in size. Choose wisely.

Global Phone

A cell phone is most definitely on the no fly list for those looking to rough it. But if you were to get a phone, getting one made by National Geographic still maintains some ruggedness and can be used in over 100 countries. There are several options available: rent a phone for eighteen dollars a month if it’s a short trip or buy one for a little under two hundred bucks. Mobal also offer a cheaper alternative if National Geographic rubs you the wrong way. Be sure to store this in a safe place for emergencies and to get the most out of your experience, refrain from using it too often.

Indestructible Travel Case

The Pelican Micro Case is both waterproof and can withstand up to 5,000 lbs. of pressure (like if an elephant decided to take a nap on your travel case). While we find it difficult to believe a travel case is this powerful, Pelican’s website promises your valuables will stay safe and dry. If that makes you afraid that someday it might come after you, consult a priest on the procedures of destroying an indestructible object.

Swiss Army Flash

Adventurous tech nerds, this one will thoroughly excite you. With all the normal features of the Swiss army knife, this gadget also comes with a flash drive (with multiple memory options) as well a powerful LED light. There’s also a ballpoint pen thrown in there for good measure. Sure, you probably won’t find yourself in the throes of the wild, fighting for your survival (and if you did, what would be the purpose of a flash drive?) but, knowing you’ve got the just-in-case tools for almost everything will keep your nerdy mind at peace. Should you in fact be lost in a strange country’s wilderness and become worried about digital storage, this baby’s got your back.

USB Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries can get a little pricey but their longevity is worth the extra cost (plus recycling batteries in this way is good for the environment, so score). After plugging them into any USB port with a power source, USB Cell’s rechargeable batteries get a second life. The charger is embedded into the battery so when the top is taken off, and they’re plugged in, you’re good to go. Make sure to keep them safe (perhaps in the indestructible case?) as just two cost about as much as twenty alkalines.

Flip Video

Black Flip Video Ultra1 The 10 Most Useful Travel Gadgets of 2010Here’s a good alternative to the all-powerful digital camera. The Flip video is reasonably priced and offers good quality videos that are stored on four or eight GB memory. The device is about the size of your typical digital camera with just a little bit more girth (like your dad, only the Flip video doesn’t love your little brother more). The stock Flip Ultra comes with 120 minutes of recording memory at about the same price as a good quality camera. While a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a crisp video of say, Rio’s Carnival, worth?

Stash Sandals

This one’s perfect for the paranoid tech nerd who thinks the government’s after them. Reef’s Stash sandals have a nifty little tray in the heel that slides out to hold valuables you’d rather not leave sitting on a beach towel. Also, as the name suggests, they could be used to hide unmentionables that the government is really after (should you find yourself in possession of such items). Since they are sandals, we’re not sure how comfortable you’d be wearing these anywhere where a shoe could potentially be lost (like raging, drunken beach dance parties). Nonetheless, it is a clever alternative to worrying about being stuck in the Matrix because you lost the red pill.

150-Country Travel Adapter and Converter

Yes, we said to leave most of the electronics at home, but we all know you’re not going to listen. So rather than cleverly trying to sneak your techy trash overseas only to find you have no way to charge it, this should save you the embarrassment. Offered by Hammacher Schlemmer and USBgeek.com, not only can this device provide power for any AC powered device, it also has USB plugs, saving the trouble of carrying around multiple unwieldy chargers. So while you’re charging your iPod, cell phone and digital camera all at the same time, you can actually go out and enjoy some scenery instead of babysitting your electronics.

Before you go out and blow all your spending money on every one of these gadgets, remember that traveling is more about the experience than what you bring with you. As Samuel Johnson once said, “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” Instead of trying to recreate the luxuries of home, see how locals cope. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take advantage of some of the gadgets built for travel, just don’t overdo it. The trick is to find that balance, between what you need and what you could do without, based on how you want to travel and where you want to go.

Funny babies faces

2010-06-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

Sachin Tendulkar's Double Century

2010-02-24T04:47:00.000-08:00

Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in ODI history to smash a double hundred. The master batman who has accomplished almost every feat in the game now has another one. Congratulate the master batsman.

Stargate studios virtual backlot reel 2009

2010-02-24T00:59:00.000-08:00

Amazing technology from Stargate Studios

Founded in 1989 by Sam Nicholson, a distinguished cinematographer and special visual effects supervisor and producer, Stargate Studios was conceived as a high tech production company offering visual effects and production services to the film and television industries.

Apple's iPad

2010-01-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs took the wraps off the ''iPad'' tablet on Wednesday, looking to define a new category of wireless device that will play video, games and all sorts of other media.

Called the ''iPad,'' the device is Apple's biggest product launch since the iPhone three years ago, and arguably rivals the smartphone as the most anticipated in Apple's history.

The iPad has a near life-sized touch keyboard and supports Web browsing. It comes with a built-in calendar and address book, Jobs said.

Technology enthusiasts had expected to see a sleek, full-color, 10-inch gadget with a touchscreen interface and wireless connectivity, designed for snacking on all sorts of media from videos to games to electronic books and newspapers.

Internet 2009 in numbers

2010-01-26T22:44:00.000-08:00

What happened with the Internet in 2009? How many websites were added? How many emails were sent? How many Internet users were there? This post will answer all of those questions and many more. Prepare for information overload, but in a good way.

We have used a wide variety of sources from around the Web. A full list of source references is available at the bottom of the post for those interested. We here at Pingdom also did some additional calculations to get even more numbers to show you.

Email

* 90 trillion - The number of emails sent on the Internet in 2009.
* 247 billion - Average number of email messages per day.
* 1.4 billion - The number of email users worldwide.
* 100 million - New email users since the year before.
* 81% - The percentage of emails that were spam.
* 92% - Peak spam levels late in the year.
* 24% - Increase in spam since last year.
* 200 billion - The number of spam emails per day (assuming 81% are spam).

Websites

* 234 million - The number of websites as of December 2009.
* 47 million - Added websites in 2009.

Web servers

* 13.9% - The growth of Apache websites in 2009.
* -22.1% - The growth of IIS websites in 2009.
* 35.0% - The growth of Google GFE websites in 2009.
* 384.4% - The growth of Nginx websites in 2009.
* -72.4% - The growth of Lighttpd websites in 2009.

Domain names

* 81.8 million - .COM domain names at the end of 2009.
* 12.3 million - .NET domain names at the end of 2009.
* 7.8 million - .ORG domain names at the end of 2009.
* 76.3 million - The number of country code top-level domains (e.g. .CN, .UK, .DE, etc.).
* 187 million - The number of domain names across all top-level domains (October 2009).
* 8% - The increase in domain names since the year before.

Internet users

* 1.73 billion - Internet users worldwide (September 2009).
* 18% - Increase in Internet users since the previous year.
* 738,257,230 - Internet users in Asia.
* 418,029,796 - Internet users in Europe.
* 252,908,000 - Internet users in North America.
* 179,031,479 - Internet users in Latin America / Caribbean.
* 67,371,700 - Internet users in Africa.
* 57,425,046 - Internet users in the Middle East.
* 20,970,490 - Internet users in Oceania / Australia.

Social media

* 126 million - The number of blogs on the Internet (as tracked by BlogPulse).
* 84% - Percent of social network sites with more women than men.
* 27.3 million - Number of tweets on Twitter per day (November, 2009)
* 57% - Percentage of Twitter's user base located in the United States.
* 4.25 million - People following @aplusk (Ashton Kutcher, Twitter's most followed user).
* 350 million - People on Facebook.
* 50% - Percentage of Facebook users that log in every day.
* 500,000 - The number of active Facebook applications.

Images

* 4 billion - Photos hosted by Flickr (October 2009).
* 2.5 billion - Photos uploaded each month to Facebook.
* 30 billion - At the current rate, the number of photos uploaded to Facebook per year.

Videos

* 1 billion - The total number of videos YouTube serves in one day.
* 12.2 billion - Videos viewed per month on YouTube in the US (November 2009).
* 924 million - Videos viewed per month on Hulu in the US (November 2009).
* 182 - The number of online videos the average Internet user watches in a month (USA).
* 82% - Percentage of Internet users that view videos online (USA).
* 39.4% - YouTube online video market share (USA).
* 81.9% - Percentage of embedded videos on blogs that are YouTube videos.

Web browsers

* 62.7% - Internet Explorer
* 24.6% - Firefox
* 4.6% - Chrome
* 4.5% - Safari
* 2.4% - Opera
* 1.2% - Other

Malicious software

* 148,000 - New zombie computers created per day (used in botnets for sending spam, etc.)
* 2.6 million - Amount of malicious code threats at the start of 2009 (viruses, trojans, etc.)
* 921,143 - The number of new malicious code signatures added by Symantec in Q4 2009.

About the Author: Website and web server stats from Netcraft. Domain name stats from Verisign and Webhosting.info. Internet user stats from Internet World Stats. Web browser stats from Net Applications. Email stats from Radicati Group. Spam stats from McAfee. Malware stats from Symantec (and here) and McAfee. Online video stats from Comscore, Sysomos and YouTube. Photo stats from Flickr and Facebook. Social media stats from BlogPulse, Pingdom (here and here), Twittercounter, Facebook and GigaOm.

2009 Third Generation Gadgets

2010-01-17T23:57:00.000-08:00

Vuzix widescreen

The Vuzix widescreen Iwear are goggles with two build in LCD screens. When you hook the Vuzix up to a MP4 player or mobile phone, the images will be shown on the LCD screens. The biggest advantage of this technology is that all your surroundings contain of the images you are watching. This can be compared of watching a movie in the theatres. A must have when you travel a lot.

Powermat
The Powermat is not just a design door mat. It is a device which is capable of charging your phone or MP3 player without using any wires. You have read it right, it is a wireless power transmitter. Just put your device on the mat and it will charge. Your friends will be blown away.

Philips DCP951
This Philips DCP951 is a portable DVD Player, something we our used to these days. Still this one has managed to stand out from the rest. The screen for instance is HD-Ready which means a higher quality than all the competitors. Besides that there is the possibility to plug in several headphones at once, which would come in handy when you are watching together. The biggest feature though is the dock-in station for an iPhone. Just plug it in and watch all video content that there is on your phone.

Cinemin projector
It is a wonderful thing, the mini projector. They excist for over a while now, but most of them aren’t that good. The Cinemin Projector tackles all the problems of a mini projector. The light source is strong enough to project even during the day. Another stupid design flaw is tackled by Cinemin. Most of the mini projectors aren’t capable of beaming in different angles, so you would always have to put something underneath the device. That is no longer necessary with the Cinemin projector because it can flip.

Sony reader touch edition
Carrying heavy books in a backpack is no longer necessary with the Sony reader touch edition. eBooks already exist for a while now, but Sony is the first to come with a touch screen edition. Of course you could read books as well on a tabloid or laptop, but there is an advantage on reading on a Sony reader. The screen is adjusted in such a way that is seems as if you are reading regular pages. This makes it way more comfortable to read on a eBook than on a laptop.

Jabra Halo
The Jabra Halo is a headset from the 21st century. It works on Bluetooth so there are no wires or what so ever involved. It offers stereo sound, but it can also record your voice. This makes it a possible to have conversations by phone, without taking it out of your pocket. Even changing a song or volume doesn’t require your phone or MP3 player anymore.

Kingfisher Calendar 2010

2010-01-04T00:28:00.000-08:00

The calendar can be a highly sought after stepping stone to fame and fortune in Bollywood.

Models:
Anjali Lavanya, Esha Gupta, Gia Johnson Singh, Sonali Ruat...

Shashi Tharoor on India's 'soft power'

2009-12-11T02:07:00.000-08:00

Amazing speech no one else could have delivered such an amazing speech but him.

India is fast becoming a superpower, says Shashi Tharoor -- and not just through trade and politics, but through "soft power," its ability to share its culture with the world through food, music, technology, Bollywood. As he says, "In today's world, it's not the size of the army that wins. It's the country that tells a better story."

source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/videoshow_ted/5284245.cms

New Dance Generation

2009-12-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

Latvian Tecktonik dancing is so smooth

I have no doubt at all that someone is going to leave a comment here and go, “OMG YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT U R TALKING ABOUT THESE TWO ARE THE GREATEST LATVIAN TECKTONIK DANCERS EVER.” Zip it.

How to make women happy

2009-11-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

It’s not difficult to make a woman happy.

A man only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:
45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:
51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:
54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes

---------------------------

HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring food

The healthiest foods on earth

2009-11-17T23:35:00.000-08:00

There is no perfect diet for human beings. At least not one that's based on how much protein, fat or carbohydrates you eat.

What you eat matters less than how much processing it's undergone. Real food--whole food with minimal processing--contains a virtual pharmacy of nutrients, phytochemicals, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and healthful fats, and can easily keep you alive and thriving into your 10th decade. Whole, unprocessed food is almost always healthy, regardless of how many grams of carbs, protein or fat it contains.

Berries

All berries are low in sugar and high in fibre. Blueberries have been shown to increase memory in lab studies, and raspberries and strawberries are loaded with ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant that seems to have some anti-cancer properties, according to the American Cancer Society.

Beans

Beans are extremely high in fibre, which helps to control weight, prevent or manage diabetes and blood sugar, and may help prevent colon cancer and protect against heart disease. The National Institute of Medicine recommends 25-38 grams of fibre a day. One cup of beans provides 11-17 grams.

Nuts

Some of the largest and most important long-term studies of diet and health have shown that eating nuts several times a week is consistent with a risk of heart attack and heart disease that is 30%-50% lower than the general population. Just one ounce of nuts--almonds, macadamia, walnuts and pecans--eaten three to five times a week seems to be the magic number.

Fish

Fish is the ultimate anti-aging food. Cold-water fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fats that protect the brain and the heart, improve mood, and lower blood pressure and triglycerides.

Raw Milk

Raw, organic milk nearly always comes from grass-fed cows and contains high levels of cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as well as a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillus acidophilus).

Grass-Fed Meat

Meat from grass-fed cows has a much different fat profile than ordinary supermarket meat: high in omega-3s, lower in potentially harmful omega-6s and loaded with CLA, a kind of fat known for its anti-cancer activity. A superb source of protein and vitamin B12, it's also missing the antibiotics, steroids and hormones found in the meat that comes from feedlot farms.

Eggs

Considered by many to be nature's most perfect food, the egg is high in protein and relatively low in calories. The yolk contains choline, one of the most important nutrients for the brain, as well as lutein and xeazanthin, two critical nutrients for eye health.

Brassica Vegetables

Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale all contain plant compounds called indoles that help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to a stunning range of vitamins and minerals, they also contain sulforaphane, an important plant chemical that helps the body detoxify health-damaging chemicals.

Apples

Not only do they keep the doctor away, they also appear to do the same for lung cancer, diabetes and asthma. An apple contains five grams of fibre and a rich blend of nutrients including the bone-building vitamin K and the anti-inflammatory nutrient quercetin. And there's no better way to control your appetite than an apple eaten about half an hour before a big meal.

Onions and Garlic

In an impressive number of published studies, the consumption of onions and garlic has demonstrated protective effects against stomach, prostate and oesophageal cancer. Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20%.

Pomegranate Juice

Called "a natural Viagra" by researchers at Tel Aviv University, pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. New research indicates it also slows the progression of tumors. Four to eight ounces a day is highly recommended.

Green Tea

Though all teas are great for you, green tea has a unique profile of plant chemicals that have anti-cancer activity. It's now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancers in humans: bladder, colon, oesophagus, pancreas, rectum and stomach. If that's not enough, it also appears to help with weight control.

Seven Reasons: End of the World - December 21, 2012

2009-11-16T23:51:00.001-08:00

Scientific experts from around the world are genuinely predicting that five years from now, all life on Earth could well finish. Some are saying it'll be humans that set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it'll be God himself who presses the stop button...

1. Mayan Calendar
The first mob to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things:
Building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and Sacrificing Virgins.

Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the Earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of the world right as well.

2. Sun Storms
Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery: our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic, and it's supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the Earth with so much radiation energy, it's been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse, and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012

3. The Atom Smasher
Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle accelerator. Basically its a 27km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the Universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.

4. The Bible says...
If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough,religious folks are getting in on the act aswell. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between Good an Evil, has been set down for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings.

5. Super Volcano
Yellowstone National Park in the United States is famous for its thermal springs and Old Faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple - it's sitting on top of the world's biggest volcano, and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the Earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.

6. The Physicists
This one's case of bog-simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berekely Uni have been crunching the numbers. and they've determined that the Earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming their calculations prove, that we're all going to die, very soon - while also saying their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 percent- and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs.

7. We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that shields us from most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call north and south have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so - and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is underway, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.

Maya Calendar: The Maya Calendar was the center of Maya life and their greatest cultural achievement. The Maya Calendar's ancestral knowledge guided the Maya's existence from the moment of their birth and there was little that escaped its influence. The Maya Calendar made by the Maya World Studies Center in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico follows a centuries old tradition.

This Maya Calendar website is developing with the intent of providing a complete view of Maya culture; being that the Maya world was centered on the calendar, this name is more than appropriate for the Maya World Studies Center website.

What happens to your inbox after you die?

2009-11-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

Saving that parting email from your first love in your inbox? Well, chances are, after you pass away, your spouse and the entire family will know about the long-held secret.

This is because web email services like Hotmail and Gmail do not let users specify what should happen to their messages when they die.
In fact, email services owned by internet giants like Google and Microsoft have a policy of keeping your data after you die and letting your next of kin or the executor of your estate access it. These services can hold tens of thousands of messages.

Accounts with Gmail can hold up to 7GB — or roughly 70,000 emails with a small to medium picture attached to each and they archive the messages you’ve written as well as received.

When it comes to deleting the data, Microsoft’s Hotmail will remove an account if it is inactive for 270 days, while Gmail leaves the responsibility to the next of kin. Of the top three providers, only Yahoo refuses to supply emails to anyone after the user has died.

The user’s next of kin can ask for the account to be closed, but cannot gain access to it. A Yahoo spokesperson said the only exception to this rule would be if the user specified otherwise in their will.

Meanwhile, social-networking site Facebook has recently publicised a feature called memorialisation that lets the family of deceased users keep their profile page online as a virtual tribute.

MySpace, on the other hand, says it addresses the issue of family access to sensitive data on a “case by case basis”

51 Things They Won’t Tell You...

2009-11-03T04:17:00.000-08:00

There is hardly a day in our lives that passes without taking a decision that affects our finances—whether it is swiping a credit card, buying an insurance policy or even deciding whether to take up a new job that is paying more.

Though there are mandatory disclosure guidelines in most cases, certain things that might affect your decision may not be visible upfront. Or, even if they are, they might be worded in complex jargon or expressed in fine print, hidden somewhere in a boring document that you might not have the patience to read through. Either way you will end up making an uninformed decision, which you may regret later. This is not to say that everyone out there is out to get you. But, it pays to be careful. Literally.

We tell you "51 Things They Won’t Tell You" so that you know what you are getting into.

Employers

1. The take-home will be less than you think

The quoted cost-to-company (CTC) includes every single penny the company will be spending on you—allowances, incentives, medical reimbursements, employer’s contribution to your provident fund, variable pay and, for some companies, even office space! Some of these components, such as house rent allowance and conveyance allowance are taxable after a certain limit. Before taking up an offer, work out and confirm what your in-hand salary will be.

2. Your career comes after company targets

Review your resume at six-month or one-year intervals and see if it shows any noticeable improvement. If not, it is time to get up and do something about it. Even if you are meeting or exceeding the company-set targets, you may be deviating from your own career goals. Make it a point to discuss your career prospects with your boss to know where you are heading.

3. You can be fired at any time

The pink slip could come without any prior warning leaving you with no time to prepare. Be on the lookout for clues that your time is running out. Some things like being left out of the loop in projects or pointed emails and avoidance from your boss could be danger signals.

Educational Institutes

4. Our placement stats hide more than they reveal

These are mostly about juggling numbers and playing up the best cases. A claim of 100 per cent placement could be dubious as it does not specify the quality of placement. An engineering college may claim to have placed a student, but the job could be at a call centre. Data on average salaries are also skewed to get an impressive figure.

5. Media rankings are never enough

Rankings in the media are not based on all possible quantitative and qualitative factors. Joining based on just the institution’s rank in a survey can be a mistake. Before taking a decision check for details and feedback from the institution’s alumni, visit the campus if possible, check the faculty’s reputation and competence, and make sure the course matches your own career objectives.

6. There are numerous hidden fees and charges

Tuition fees are not the only thing you pay for. You will be charged for the ‘free’ laptop and the foreign trip. It may be compulsory to buy books and other academic materials from the institute itself.

Credit Card Companies

7. Global cards have hidden charges

When you use your card to pay in foreign currency, you need to factor in more than just the exchange rate. For instance, you pay 3.5 per cent of the total amount as cross currency markup, a service tax of 10.35 per cent on the chargeable amount and a further 3 per cent education cess on the service tax. More than you thought, isn’t it?

8. There is an upper limit on cashback cards

It’s not as if the more you buy the more money you get back. Well, it’s true up to a point—Rs 500 a month—that’s it. Some cards may even require you to have a minimum statement amount to avail the facility. The amount may also be subject to a maximum of Rs 250 per eligible transaction (this excludes loans and cash advance).

9. The “due date” is not the last date of payment

If you think that the “due date” is the latest you can pay, you are mistaken. Actually, the payment needs to be credited to your card account by that date; otherwise it is treated as a default. Fund transfers through ATMs, net banking and cash deposited at a bank branch of another bank may take at least 24 hours to credit the amount to your account but the payment is recorded immediately. Cheque payments, however, need to be made at least four working days in advance to avoid a default.

10. You’d better monitor recurring payments

Say, you want to pay your insurance premiums this year using your credit card. But, the next year you don’t. Your card, however, is still getting billed. You need to make a specific request if you want to stop the billing. Usually, transactions through telemarketing are susceptible to this.

11. Cash withdrawals attract daily interest

You can use your credit card to withdraw cash from the bank or the ATM up to the card’s cash limits. There will be a one-time fee which will be a percentage of the amount withdrawn or it could be a minimum amount. On top of this, a daily interest is charged on the amount withdrawn which starts accruing from that very day till the amount is paid back. Moreover, with many cards there is no interest-free period unlike purchases made using the cards.

Insurance Agent

12. We’ll explain policy details when asked

The insurance product’s charges, disclaimers and other features are always a part of its literature that one is supposed to read and understand before buying. But, when you ask the salesperson to explain the product, he may explain only the point you asked leaving other important and relevant things disguised or unexplained. Read the literature fully and ask questions till you are satisfied.

13. A Ulip gives us a bigger commission than a term plan

Term plans are the cheapest life insurance product. They come at the lowest costs while providing the highest coverage. A lower premium means lesser agent commission. Term plans, especially pure term plans, are more difficult to sell too. This is because they don’t return premiums or provide any returns at the end of the tenure, which makes it difficult for many to fathom it since most investors are used to getting money back in insurance-cum-investment products. So, agents prefer to sell the high premium unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips).

14. Ulips can be costly if you pull out early

If you are asked to exit from a Ulip anytime before 10 years, the costing goes against you. Due to upfront charges, which are typically high in the initial years, a lesser part of the premium gets invested. If you have been investing in a growth option, that is, it has high equity exposure, an early exit, especially at a time when the markets are low, as was in 2008, your misery only compounds. You may be asked to buy a new Ulip after three or five years at a lower NAV or a new Ulip with some additional feature. Stay away. Run the existing Ulip using the top-up feature to maximize the value over the long term. Tax benefits on Ulips may also be withdrawn if not run till at least five years.

15. Capital and return guarantees come at a cost

Ulips that guarantee either the principal or returns have to make provisions to deliver the promise. For this there’s an additional cost which the customer has to bear. Also, with most guarantee plans the insurer can invest zero to 100 per cent in equity markets. There is no choice of fund options for you. This allows the fund manager to remain majorly in debt assets and deliver the returns which might not be as high as equity asset class. The lower returns minus the plan charges don’t work over the long run. Not for nothing do they say there isn’t a free lunch.

16. Your Ulip fund option may be underperforming

Looking at the fund’s performance over just, say, a one-year or three-year period is not enough. First, look at the fund’s mandate. It’s not correct to compare Fund A that invests 40-85 per cent in equities to Fund B with 75-100 per cent in equity. Fund performance should be judged in context of, first, its benchmark and then peer funds. Second, look at the performance over a longer horizon and not just over three or six months.

17. Entry cost is zero, but there are other monthly charges

Many Ulips do not have any front-end cost, also called the premium allocation charge, and the entire premium of each year is said to be invested. But, all such plans have provisions to deduct charges from your fund rather from the premiums. Even though this may be a small percentage of the fund value, over time, the effect is largely the same as the fund value keeps increasing.

Stock Broker

18. Our tips help us more than they help you

A stock broker’s commission depends on the value of the shares that you buy or sell. So, the promptness shown by him in giving you tips is not to increase your wealth but to generate income for him by convincing you to trade frequently.

19. Short-term trends dictate our price recommendations

A stock should only be bought at its correct price. A broker’s advice is mostly based on noticeable short-term trends, which could reverse anytime. For them every dip is a buy opportunity and every quick rise a sell opportunity.

20. Recommendations may not factor in your risk profile

A broker circulates the same recommendation to all its clients. A stock however good may not match every client’s risk profile. For example, fast-growing small companies fit young investors’ portfolio but may not be appropriate for older investors.

21. Don’t invest too much in our recommended stock

A broker never gives attention to your existing portfolio of stocks and recommends any stock that he feels is good. Buying the same stock (the one already in your portfolio) aggressively or putting all you money in one company can increase your portfolio risk.

22. You should sell XYZ stock now

The success of your stock investments hinges on your selling them at the right time. Otherwise, all the gains are notional. When you buy a stock, you should know the price at which you want to sell it. This is the point beyond which the stock gets overpriced and the chances of a drop increase. But don’t trust your broker to tell you that.

Mutual Fund Agent

23. I keep earning as long as you stay invested

Trail commission is a fee the fund house pays the mutual fund distributor on the investment value remaining with the fund. The commission is generally 0.25-0.75 per cent per annum. As long as your distributor and, consequently, your agent gets the commission, you are entitled to the service. So don’t hesitate to demand services from your mutual fund agent since you are paying for it.

24. NFOs are not cheaper than an existing fund

The returns from funds depend on the stock they invest in and not the net asset value (NAV). A Rs 10-fund could go down to Rs 7. It’s equally possible that a Rs 100-fund rises to Rs 200. With no track records, new fund offers (NFOs) can be risky.

25. I gain a lot if I sell this NFO

In order to mobilise funds for an NFO, fund houses offer incentives like foreign trips to distributors. So the agent may recommend NFOs to you even if they don’t suit your risk profile.

26. This isn’t quite the index to benchmark the fund

Your agent may say the fund is doing better than a popular index, even if the two aren’t related in any way. For example, comparing a small-cap fund with a large cap index. Make an informed decision when an agent recommends funds on this basis.

27. I’m comparing apples to oranges

While making recommendations, mutual fund agents may compare funds that are different in their investments or objectives. For example, they may compare a diversified fund with a sector fund. Going by his advice, you may end up buying a fund that doesn’t suit you.

Builders And Brokers

28. You get a smaller space than you thought

The area mentioned in advertisements and for calculation purposes is the super built-up area, while the area that you really get is the carpet area, which could be lesser by up to 30 per cent or more depending on the building’s design.

29. All-inclusive price is not always ‘all’ inclusive

In most cases the price advertised will be the cost of the house. But there are other charges you would need to pay. Mostly, the extra costs, like charges for things like a car park, club membership, power and water connections, will add up to a substantial bit. Don’t be surprised if what you finally end up paying is more than the advertised price.

30. Prices of units vary according to position

This holds true for units even in the same building. A ground floor unit may cost more than one on the first floor. For a corner house, or for one that has a lake or a sea facing view, rates could be higher by as much as 10-15 per cent.

31. I’m trying to hurry your buying decision

One of the primary objectives of a real estate broker when dealing with a prospective buyer is to play with the buyer’s desperateness and instill in him the fear that if he does not strike the deal at the earliest, he may miss the bus.

32. There is compensation for project delays

Usually, this is not mentioned upfront but builders do mention it in the sale agreement. In most cases, the amount of compensation is very small (about Rs 5 per sq. ft per month). However, the deadline and the mode of handing over the compensation are not mentioned.

33. The brokerage fee you pay is negotiable

In north India, the broker fee is typically one month’s rent for arranging rented accommodation and 1 per cent of sale price for apartment sales. During the boom period, brokerage fee was non-negotiable in most cases. But, with the real estate sector doing badly, especially since January 2008, brokers are ready to take a cut in their fees.

34. I do not have key information on the property

What do you do? Where do you work? Who will stay with you? These are the questions that a broker will ask you even before he shows you a house for rent. Ask him about the landlord and he won’t even know the name. The same applies if you are trying to buy a house. In most cases the broker himself will have zero to little information about the history of the house or past owners but will be more than interested in knowing your details.

Financial Advisor

35. Commissions beget recommendations

The financial planner’s code of ethics decrees that he or she give you full disclosure in writing about any benefits received that may influence his or her recommendations. Whenever he recommends a product he sells, he should suitably justify how it suits your financial planning needs.

36. You are supposed to get continuous service and advice

The client-planner relationship is an ongoing process that should continue even after the plan has been presented. It is the planner’s duty to update you of the changes in stockmarkets and other developments, besides changes in your personal circumstances, that could influence your financial decisions.

37. You may not get advice on all areas of personal finance

If a planner is not professionally competent to give you advice on all areas or products, he has to make a clear disclosure. In this case, he can either consult with some who is qualified or refer them to you.

Supermarkets

38. The discounts are on jacked-up prices

If you are a sucker for discounts, this is bad news for you. A common trend with unbranded products, especially clothes. Don’t fall for it, especially if you don’t know what the actual pre-discount price was. More the discount percentage, the more suspicious you should be.

39. No ad costs keeps in-house brands cheaper

All brands are equal, but some brands are more equal than others. Items carrying in-house brands are sourced locally and have no advertising spends. So they cost considerably less than the known brands and you are sold these under attractive money-saving deals. These brands may not have the same product quality as reputed brands.

40. A ‘too good to be true’ offer is probably so

Full-page newspaper ads with incredible offers are meant to lure you. You queue up at the store only to find that the most enticing ‘offers’ have just run out of stock. This is hardly surprising. That ad was a ploy to bring you to the store and it has succeeded in doing its job.

41. The products nearing expiry date are placed in front

We all tend to look for a product’s expiry date but not the manufacturing date. Fresh products are always placed behind on the counters so that the ones that are likely to expire sooner get sold first. So if you plan to use a product for a long time, make sure you look for the fresher stock.

42. You can buy a product for less than the MRP

MRP is the maximum price a retailer is allowed to charge. But no rule stops him from charging less. So, don’t hesitate to ask for a discount on the MRP. You might just get a lower price. This works particularly well for big ticket purchases such as television sets and furniture, especially if you are paying cash.

Online Retailers

43. Free shipping isn’t always free

Shipping costs can trip you in online purchases. True, free shipping is cool, but do not forget to read the fine print. Hidden somewhere there could be a condition that shipping is free only if the purchases are above a certain amount. This could also mean that the free shipping advertised ‘on all items’ is actually for items purchased after your billed amount has crossed the minimum limit.

44. We’ll refund the price but you pay for shipping

Clarify turf matters. Total refund might be a valid option, but do check if it is your responsibility or the company’s to ship back the defective product. By doing this you can avoid the needless headache of paying the packing and transportation charges, payments which might actually be the company’s responsibility. Shipping costs can come back to haunt you even more if you made a wrong decision.

45. Fake buyers will push up auction prices

Who says rigging and manipulation can’t happen in cyberspace. It’s not difficult to fall for the number of online bids going for a product. Sellers often create fake buyer IDs that will be used to participate in the bidding process. In this way, the prices are made to go up and you are lured into bidding a higher amount. Often, software programs are used to bid automatically on their behalf.

46. Positive feedback needn’t be from genuine users

Flattery is the best form of deception when it comes to luring gullible online buyers. This is a similar trick as the last one. User feedback on the site, even if they are accompanied with smiling faces, are not to be taken for granted. After all, there is no way of verifying these gushing reviews. A more reliable way is to ask someone who you know is a genuine user and has the same requirements as you. Nothing beats the word of mouth.

Tour Operators

47. Our quoted price is before taxes

Taxes on airfare could be as high as 30-50 per cent of the base fare and for international flights that could burn a hole in your pocket. Clarify the inclusions and exclusions especially for ‘supersaver’ offers.

48. Your hotel is in the boondocks

Do confirm the location of the hotel and its distance from the city centre. If it’s on the outskirts you might miss the atmosphere of the city when you step out for a walk after dinner.

49. The part of the tour price in dollars remains flexible

The tour operator wants to pass on to you any unfavourable change in exchange rates. So, if the rupee falls against the dollar, you pay more. But the opposite may not be true.

50. ‘Optional’ tours are cheaper if you arrange them

Optional trips often come at exorbitant prices. Combo tour packages to these destinations, if booked locally, could cost a lot less. Therefore, it might make sense to do them yourself because it may cost lesser even after factoring in food and travel expenses.

51. Oops! We’ve run out of ideas

“Fifty things they won’t tell you” was all that Team Outlook Money could come up with, not 51 as we wrote on the cover. But then, you, our readers, are as much a part of our team as those formally employed by the magazine. We are sure you will not let us lose face on a promise. So write in to feedback@outlookmoney.com with your picks for No. 51. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

source: outlook india

How to get an International Driving License

2009-11-02T02:39:00.000-08:00

Drive a car in almost anywhere in the world!

Hiring chauffeur-driven cars abroad is pretty expensive. But renting a car and driving it yourself is quite cheap. Besides, it makes the entire journey extremely flexible and far more enjoyable. You can travel at your own pace, stop where you like, for as long as you like. I love to stop at the convenience stores located in the petrol pumps and purchase fresh fruits, snacks, beverages, etc. and munch them on the way. You can hire from a selection of cars at all major inter national airports.

Your national driving license is not valid abroad. Driving licenses are only valid in the country of issue. So, you need an International Driving Permit (often wrongly called "International Driving Licence") to drive abroad.

International Driving Permit

On September 19, 1949, the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic established the international driving permit allowing motorists to drive in foreign countries. The present standards were defined by the United Nations Conference on Road Traffic, Final Act, held in 1968.

The international driving permit is not a substitute for the normal driving license; it is only a complementary document when traveling abroad. The normal driving license must also be carried at all times. Technically, the permit is simply a translation of the information contained in the Original Driver’s License, often in the local language, so that the police and other regulatory agencies can read and understand it. Today, it is recognized and valid in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Getting the permit

The licensing authority which has issued your driving license and the regional automobile associations can issue international driving permits. The procedure for obtaining this is fairly simple and straightforward. You have to submit:

The application form

Original valid passport and one photocopy of the passport
Valid visa and photocopy
Four (or five) identical passport-size photographs; and
The prescribed fee, which is around Rs 800.

The permit is issued within two or three working days. It is valid for one year from the date of issue, or till the date of expiry of the domestic driving license(whichever is earlier).
The format

The format of the international driving permit has been standardized. The permit is in the form of a booklet in format A 6 (148 x 105 mm). The cover is grey and the inside pages white. Both sides of the front cover should be printed in the national language, or in one of the regional languages of the issuing State. The last two inside pages should be printed in French.

Handwritten or typed entries made in the permit shall be in Latin characters or in English.

The list of signatory countries which recognize international driving permits can be viewed online at http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/

CP_Vienna_convention.pdf

Though India is a signatory to the convention, its name does not figure in the site.

Warning: On the Internet you will find a number of agencies abroad, including some purporting to be US-based, promising to give you an international driving permit. No foreign agency is authorized to issue the permit. Go to the nearest licensing authority or the local automobile association.
Helpful sites

Given below are the Web sites of major automobile associations in India. You can get the application form and the requirements of the respective associations.

Western India Automobile Association (Mumbai) www.wiaaindia.com

Automobile Association of Eastern India (Kolkata) www.uraaei.org

Automobile Association of Southern India (Chennai) www.aasindia.in (Only life members are eligible)

Automobile Association of Upper India (New Delhi) www.aaui.org

You can find out the requirements of the Delhi Licensing Authority at http://transport.delhigovt.nic.in

Most of the other licensing authorities need similar documentation.

10 Tech Career Boosters

2009-10-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

This guide is for students just starting out in the IT industry, but could just as well apply to anyone who wants to set themselves apart in a competitive global environment.

Going by most media and industry reports, technology industries in India are starting to bounce back from the global slowdown. Our country might not be faring as badly as others are right now, but that still doesn’t mean all is well on the job search front. Many of the workers laid off earlier this year are still finding it hard to get new jobs, since companies are only just starting to recover and aren’t looking at expansion opportunities yet. With so many experienced workers and so few job openings, things don’t look very good at all for the lakhs of freshers who will be graduating six or eight months from now and entering the job market for the first time.

“IT” as a career option is a fairly vague, nebulous idea. Everyone knows that IT is hot and there’s lots of money to be made if you’re young and well educated, but no one can actually pin down a single, specific path to follow that guarantees you’ll make it big. IT encompasses careers in hardware administration, networking, chip design, coding or programming, software development, testing and validation, database management, business analysis, security, visual design, animation, and dozens of other avenues. Additionally, each of those can encompass multiple potential careers, each of which would require additional specialized knowledge, such as game development for mobile devices or enterprise-level data center security.

Added to this, many graduating computer science and IT students don’t feel very well prepared for jobs in the real world. A random sampling of students and recently employed workers CHIP spoke to expressed the common concern that their specializations, usually Java and C, aren’t exactly the best tools to take them beyond entry-level jobs in coding. Recruiters shared the same concern, but rationalized that by saying that tech companies usually hire freshers for very specific jobs such as data entry or a single type of programming, and will put them through a few weeks or months of training in that field. This illustrates the difference between an IT job and an IT career: students who don’t know exactly what they want to pursue will end up being molded by the immediate requirements of the industry. Those who find themselves surrounded by hundreds of others doing exactly the same work will quickly find things repetitive and stifling. Worse, those who don’t have the aptitude for whatever they’ve been pushed into won’t do very well, won’t rise in the company’s hierarchy, and might even get put off by the industry as a whole.

Some students who find themselves unaware of what options lie ahead of them because of this vagueness s only wind up following the herd and joining large companies en masse in the hope of picking up some skills along the way, an attitude that doesn’t necessarily go down well with HR managers or bosses. Employees who have a well thought out growth plan or at least some specific goals and understanding of their own aptitudes will always stand out.

10. Take charge of your future with parallel courses

If you’ve just entered college and are wondering how to make the most of a course that isn’t really keeping you interested or engaged, find something to do alongside. College won’t take up every single waking moment you have, and there are dozens of institutes in every city offering part-time morning, evening and weekend courses. Sure, it might cut down on your social life a bit, but it’s the kind of move that will really set you apart when a recruiter is flooded with hundreds of resumes with identical college degree qualifications.

There are dozens of choices available. Several major institutes with hundreds of branches across the country offer career-focused multi-year diploma courses that allow you to pick and choose from various modules, include training in soft skills, and even promise job placements. These courses, however, are fairly expensive and require serious commitment. On the other hand, short term courses are a great way to pick up secondary skills that will not only help to pad your resume but also give you an edge in your college work. A few months with Photoshop and Illustrator will help you create high-quality graphics for your college Web design projects, and some hands-on experience with hardware assembling and troubleshooting will be a nice balance to a software engineering degree. Everything extra you do will result in a more rounded application and personality, which could work to your advantage in the future.

Such courses are also great for students who feel that their colleges aren't really preparing them for the careers they are interested in, or who didn't manage to get into exactly the course of their choice.

You could also opt for something completely offbeat. Several institutes are beginning to offer courses in ethical hacking, typography, game development, jewelry design, and other things that might not only interest you, but also give you a unique skill that could come in handy later.

09. Exploit your INTERNSHIPS to the max

If your college doesn’t make it compulsory to do an internship, do one anyway. In fact, try to do more than one! Of course it’s nice to relax and wake up late every day, but summer vacations can also be used productively to enhance your career prospects. On-the-job training is invaluable and is completely incomparable to just classroom experience and college projects. Not only will you get an idea of how the industry works, but you’ll have a glimpse of your own potential future. As an intern you might get stuck doing menial tasks for a while, but if you show good aptitude, you’ll almost certainly be trusted with regular, more important work as well. If you intern at a smaller company, chances are you’ll become one of the team and share in their work. At the end of your time there, you’ll have something you can really show off to future potential employers.

Interning is about more than just showing up at an office and earning a recommendation letter. Take every opportunity you have to chat with everyone from senior managers to fresh staffers. You’ll learn tons about the job, the industry, competing companies, plans and expectations, and the kind of lifestyle you’ll have if you make this your career. It’s important to make friends and stay in touch with them. If they remember you, joining the company as a permanent staffer a year down the line will be a whole lot easier. And because churn is fairly high and people change jobs often, you’ll end up with friends in a whole host of companies who can alert you to job openings and put in a good word for you with their recruiters.

08. Work at a NON-IT OutfiT

It isn’t the end of the world if all the big IT houses have frozen hiring. There are hundreds of other companies that can use your skills if you’re talented enough. Every company has IT infrastructure that needs to be maintained, so hardware and networking skills are sought after. In-house Web developers can be found in diverse fields, as can database architects and experts in many verticals. As always, you could get noticed and later be pushed to work on bigger and better projects, or you could even wind up influencing all tech-related decisions within the company because your bosses will recognize your skill in areas they don’t fully understand!

Media houses, ad agencies, law firms, hospitality establishments, logistics operations, and pretty much all types of small/medium enterprises and even family business need staff with tech skills. You can help them save money on infrastructure, Web hosting, replacing outsourced skills, information security, new media strategies, SAP implementation, etc. Many companies just don’t know how badly they could do with technically-oriented staff until the potential for improvement is demonstrated to them. So don’t scoff at an offer for a boring-sounding job at a non-IT firm; chances are once you’re inside, you’ll be able to spread your wings.

07. Network, network, network— Online and offline

With all the regular channels of interaction such as placement agencies and HR recruiters drying up, it’s important to have your own connections. Well-placed friends and colleagues can alert you to positions that need to be filled and recommend you to their superiors. Stay in touch with your classmates and seniors as well as anyone else in the industry you meet along the way.

One great way to do this is through specialized online social networks such as SiliconIndia, LinkedIn and Ryze. Regularly updating your profile and whereabouts ensures that you’ll be seen in your contacts’ news feeds, keeping you visible and relevant to them. You can also use Facebook and other regular social networks, but remember to restrict access to your drunken party photos: these might work against you when it comes to finding someone suitable for a job. Offline networking is also important. Friends, family, visiting faculty—anyone at all could become a valuable resource. Check out communities in your town or college such as linux user groups, barcamps, and other places where those with common techie interests meet. You could end up impressing someone in a high position.

06. Learn to make Job sites work for you

Job sites are widely used by recruiters to select a few promising candidates for any vacancy that might arise. Make sure your profile is visible and relevant by exploiting all the features of the sites, such as supplying the right keywords to make you show up in searches. Regularly updated profiles with as much information as possible will help you get noticed. You can even pay a small fee for preferred listings in many cases.

Job sites also offer plenty of additional help, including articles about proper interview etiquette, job search strategies, tips for negotiating salaries, and even pointers on the kind of brain teasers software companies like to surprise interviewees with.

05. Brush up on your Interview Skills

This is a pretty general tip, but it’s important nonetheless. First impressions count, so make sure you’re on time for your interview, study a bit about the company’s profile and background, and rehearse answers for common questions. Take very opportunity to say something positive about yourself, even when asked “What do people say your worst trait is?”

Carry copies of your resume and recommendation letters, in case they’re required. Don’t jump into salary negotiations or make demands if you aren’t specifically asked what how much you’re expecting. Sit up straight, speak clearly, and don’t fidget with pens or papers. If you get the chance, you can engage the interviewer by asking questions about the work environment, expected projects and clients, and any concerns you might have.

04. Don't underestimate your Portfolio

Just like a recruiter will scrutinize your resume without needing to be technically minded, your potential bosses might not care at all about academic marks. In this case, they’re trying to see how good you are at what you do, and how well you’ll fit in. A slick portfolio or showreel will go a long way in showing off your previous work, even if it’s only academic assignments. Make liberal use of screenshots and captions to highlight any particularly innovative approach to problem solving. If possible (and if suitable to your work), create an interactive Flash demonstration that you can host online as well. Even a simple slideshow of photos could be impressive if done well.

03. Know your basics, know your trivia

It might not sound important, but a lot of interviewers will quiz you on trivia such as Cobol concepts or legacy networking architectures and protocols. This is actually quite a good sign, since it is more likely to occur with smaller companies where you're expected to have more of an individual personality and be less of a code-writing zombie.

The questions asked might be to throw you off, to see what you’ve learnt on your own, or to check your background and the kind of context you have while working on problems. It shouldn't be a negative thing to say you aren’t familiar with these things, but actually knowing them will give you an edge. Besides, if your interviewer is an old timer who likes sharing war stories, you’ll score points by knowing what he’s talking about and laughing along with the inside jokes. After all, you are in the company of geeks!

02. Pay attention to industry Trends

This one really should go without saying, but it’s one of the most important things you can do. You need to follow magazines, websites, job portals, business newspapers, trade publications and any sources you have within the industry to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry. Do all this for a few months and you’ll be able to predict which niches and verticals require skilled staff and which ones offer the maximum potential for growth. Are there any specializations that are always in demand? Are there any fields with a dearth of qualified candidates? The answers to these questions evolve over time, so you’d do well to track them.

Combining your research with specialized courses could additionally work to your advantage because you’ll give yourself a unique set of talents and you’ll be able to present this to recruiters with confidence. Especially if you’re undecided about what to pursue, you’ll get a lot of insight and might come across something that really captures you interests.

You could even find yourself looking at an extremely fulfilling career outside of mainstream IT, such as technology journalism, legal consultation, PR and corporate communications, teaching, or loads of other areas in which your knowledge and background will give you an edge, while simultaneously letting you avoid the crunch that the IT industry is now facing. Again, it all comes down to being an intelligent, informed person with a well-rounded personality—exactly the kind of thing that impresses recruiters and bosses.

Continuing to keep abreast of the industry and economy will always help you grow, long after you've landed a job and have embarked upon your career.

01 Blaze your own Career Path

Most important of all, don’t just follow the herd! Even at the best of times, you could be hired to just sit behind a desk and churn out hundreds of lines of code everyday alongside a thousand other sheep doing exactly the same thing. If you really want to set yourself apart, you have to rise above the herd and do your own thing. All the tips outlined here will help you become unique and valuable, both inside and outside a tech company. Don’t be afraid to take a lesser-known path; many of the sectors which are still booming today were unheard of niches a few years ago.

If at any point you begin to feel burnt out (like thousands of formerly enthusiastic graduates who joined the BPO industry for its glamor and fat pay packets have been), you can always make a change and switch streams. Once you have your basics in place and you understand how the job market functions, and if you have carefullyl evaluated the risk with the present economic scenario, you can make your jump—although this becomes a lot easier if you have a lot of work experience.

Even if you didn’t graduate in a specific stream or specialization, there’s nothing stopping you from switching paths later on if you really want to. A few people have grown to become CTOs without any formal education in technology at all, and some have left engineering careers to be perfectly happy and well paid in other peripheral or even unrelated fields. Your future is in your own hands, so don’t be afraid to spend time exploring different things before you finally settle on what’s right for you.

By Jamshed Avari - http://www.chip.in/

Urban Runner Andrew - Awesome video

2009-09-25T02:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, his name is Андрей, but let’s just call him Andrew. One of the best Parkour / Urban Runners I have even seen. No, he’s not wasted. Although he must be a bit fucked in the head. Who in his right mind would try stuff like this...

OUT OF TIME from Андрей Скурьят DREE on Vimeo.

Awesome Old School Arnold Schwarzenegger Pictures

2009-09-15T03:43:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long road for Arnold Schwarzenegger. From working out in ice cold temperatures, to winning Mr. Olympia, to become an action star, to becoming the Governor of California, you don’t get a more diverse and awesome success story than Arnold’s.

But what I’m particularly impressed with are the Governor’s old days, before he was a movie star. The guy absolutely loved chicks and showing off in front of them. He was actually similar to his Conan character.

Plus he loved to party. Any time the dude wasn’t bench pressing he was hitting on ladies and doing “other things.”

Here are some awesome old school pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger:

Is she really that short?

Ah the lovely Raquel Welch

Come on, I don’t bite.

Numero Uno Baby!

Yay! It’s Mr. Gold!

Taking some classes

AP Chief Minister Y.S Rajashekar Reddy is no more!

2009-09-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

5 dead bodies found at chopper crash site

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy's helicopter has been located on top of a hill about 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool.

Truly a great loss for all of Andhra Pradesh!

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Rajashekar Reddy is missing since morning

2009-09-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has gone missing while on his way from Karnool to Chittoor. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary S Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley.

There were two pilots also on board the twin-engine Bell 430 helicopter that lost contact at 0935 hrs IST with the Air Traffic Controller at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad when it was headed for Chittoor district, about 600 kilometres from Hyderabad.

The 59-year-old Chief Minister was supposed to land at 1045 hrs IST in Chittoor. But there has been no news of Reddy’s helicopter landing and officials have failed to make any contact with the Chief Minister.

Reddy had taken off in the helicopter from Hyderabad at 0845 hrs IST.

Kurnool Superintendent of Police said that they have not been able to locate the Chief Minister so far. He said that Pamulapadu, Banakacherla and Karivena areas in the districts have been searched but the Chief Minister could not be traced.

Due to bad mobile connectivity and the area being heavily forested, officials have so far failed to make any contact with the Chief Minister sending security agencies into a tizzy.

Four Army helicopters have been pressed into service to locate Reddy. While three helicopters have been brought in from Bangalore, one of the helicopter has been sent from Hyderabad.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also pressed into service four helicopters to search for the missing Chief Minister and his helicopter.

Two Chetaks, one MI8 chopper and a Dhruv advanced light helicopter have taken off from bangalore to trace the Chief Minister's helicopter, said a spokesman of the Indian Air Force.

Even though the area is not Naxal-affected but there is panic as the officials have not been unable to contact Reddy.

Bad weather is also hampering the rescue mission.

The Defence Ministry has also deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle for tracking the Chief Minister.

Andhra Pradesh has also asked the Centre for all-weather helicopters for search operations during the night.

Meanwhile, in a startling revelation a Director General of Civil Aviation report has claimed that Reddy's Bell 430 helicopter was not air worthy.

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah said that there has been no information of the Bell 430 helicopter having landed anywhere while addressing a press conference in Hyderabad.

While he expressed hope that the Chief Minister could be safe, state Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy said it could be possible that the helicopter could have landed in an unfamiliar area from where getting out could be difficult.

"So far we have not been able to make any contact. It is possible because of strong winds and inclement weather, it may have landed in an unfamiliar area from where getting out can be difficult. Time we have before sunset is limited and it is raining heavily," he said.

The state government has also appealed to people living in the concerned area to contribute in the search and inform about any sightings to the nearest police station.

Rosaiah appealed to the people in Chittoor, Mehbubnagar, Prakasam and Kurnool districts to provide any information they have on the missing helicopter. Police and forest departments in the area were coordinating the operation.

He said the Prime Minister's Office, Union Home Ministry and Defence Ministry have been monitoring the search operation while the office of Congress President Sonia Gandhi was in touch with the state government.

Home Minister P Chidambaram was personally monitoring the situation.

Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar said in Delhi that there was no information about the whereabouts of the helicopter.

Source: IBNLIVE

Best 50 Websites of 2009

2009-08-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

The hottest thing on the Internet is not social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter, but Flickr-the popular photo-sharing portal - and the proof is: it has topped TIME's list of the best 50 websites this year.

One of the noticeable trends in this year's list, which was released this week, was on-demand video services, like YouTube, Vimeo and US services Hulu and Netflix.

However, the top two in the list were related to photographs, with California Coastline following Flickr at the second spot.

Third in the list was bookmark website Delicious, while community weblog Metafilter stood at the fourth place.

Popurls, the mashup of the web's most visited social news sites and portals, grabbed the fifth spot in the list.

Twitter ranked sixth and Facebook came 31st in the list, while YouTube and Hulu came at 12th and 14th place in the list.

TIME's list of 50 Best Websites of 2009 is:

1. Flickr - Photo Sharing

2. California Coastline - Coastal Records Project

3. Delicious - The tastiest bookmarks on the web

4. Metafilter - Community Weblog

5. popurls - Genuine aggregator for the latest web buzz

6. Twitter - Share and discover what’s happening right now, anywhere in the world

7. Skype

8. Boing Boing - Video Site

9. Academic Earth - Video lectures from the world's top scholars

10. OpenTable - Restaurants and Restaurant Reservations

11. Google - Search Engine

12. YouTube Videos

13. Wolfram|Alpha - Computational knowledge engine that draws on multiple sources to answer user queries directly.

14. Hulu - Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.

15. Vimeo - Video Sharing for you

16. Fora TV - Videos on the People, Issues, and Ideas Changing the Planet

17. Craiglook - Craigslist Search

18. Shop Goodwill - Online Auction Site

19. Amazon - Online Shopping

20. Kayak - Find Cheap Airfare

21. Netflix - DVD Rental...

22. Etsy - Place to buy and sell all things handmade

23. PropertyShark - Real Estate Maps

24. Redfin - Search All the Homes For Sale

25. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia

26. Internet Archive - Digital library of Internet sites

27. Kiva - is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website

28. ConsumerSearch - Product reviews and reports

29. Metacritic - Movie, Tv, Game and Music review site

30. Pollster - Political Surveys and Election Polls, Trends, Charts and Analysis

31. Facebook - is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them

32. Pandora and Last.fm - Free Radio

33. Musicovery - interactive webRadio

34. Spotify - A world of music. Instant, simple and free

35. Supercook - is a recipe search engine that lets you search by ingredients you have at home

36. Yelp - User Reviews and Recommendations of Top Restaurants, Shopping, Nightlife, Entertainment...

37. Visuwords - online graphical dictionary and thesaurus

38. CouchSurfing - worldwide network connecting travelers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation and/or advice.

39. BabyNameWizard NameVoyager the acclaimed interactive graph of baby name popularity.

40. Mint - The best free way to manage your money

41. TripIt - Online travel itinerary and trip planner

42. Aardvark

43. drop.io - Store & Share Any Files, Documents, Presentations & Videos

44. Issuu - Explore a world of publications by people and publishers alike

45. Photosynth - Your photos, automatically in 3D.

46. OMGPOP - Play Free Multiplayer Games

47. WorldWideTelescope - enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope

48. Fonolo - lets you skip the phone menus when calling large companies. Connect to the right person with less hassle!

49. Get High Now - is a science site disguised as mind-expansion

50. Know Your Meme - viral videos, image macros, catchphrases, web celebs and more...

Real Spider Man of India

2009-08-06T03:16:00.000-07:00

The 22-year-old former builder spends most of his time entertaining tourists by acrobatically climbing Chitradurga Fort, Karnataka. He fearlessly and effortlessly goes up 300-feet-high walls without a safety harness and hundreds of eyes watching from down below.

Young mister Rai says he developed his climbing skills by watching monkeys climb trees and trying to reproduce stunts from his favorite films. He hopes he’ll soon be recognized as the world’s greatest climber.

The real Spiderman says he has never wore safety equipment and has never had one accident. He believes his ability to see footholds others can’t is proof he was born to climb. He practices every day and does Yoga to maintain his flexibility.

A big fan of French climber Alain Robert, Jyothi Rai hopes to achieve his success and one day open a school for climbers.

Be sure to watch the video at the bottom, it’s really something!

15 Facts You Didn't Know About Your Body

2009-08-03T03:34:00.000-07:00

1. Our body is capable of producing aspirin

Eating fruits and vegetables may help the human body make its own aspirin. Findings from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicate that study participants who received benzoic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables, could make their own salicylic acid, the key component that gives aspirin its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. (Source)

2. Taking a nap at work is good for your boss

A 20-minute nap can improve your overall alertness, boost your mood, and increase productivity. William Anthony, co-author of The Art of Napping at Work (Larson Publications, 1999), says the post-nap boost can last for several hours. In addition, your heart may reap benefits from napping. In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of heart-related death. (Source)

3. Ejaculation may cause men to sneeze

Some men experience pain, headaches, or sneezing as a result of ejaculation. The increased activity in the nervous system during orgasm may be the culprit in triggering headaches. A possible explanation for the sneezing is that in the brain, the center for orgasms is close to the centers for yawning and sneezing. (Source)

4. Every person has a unique tongue print

Just like fingerprints. The tongue is a unique organ in that it can be stuck out of mouth for inspection, and yet it is otherwise well protected in the mouth and is difficult to forge. The tongue also presents both geometric shape information and physiological texture information which are potentially useful in identity verification applications. (Source | Photo)

5. White skin has evolved over time

It seems we were all black ones (consistent with evolutionary fact of first humans in Africa). White skin was a result of humans moving away from the equator. Also all skin, without coloring, would appear creamy white. Near-surface blood vessels add a blush of red. A yellow pigment also tints the canvas. Lastly, sepia-toned melanin, created in response to ultraviolet rays, appears black in large amounts. These four hues mix in different proportions to create the skin colors of all the peoples of Earth. (Source | Photo)

6. The foot is home to the body's thickest area of skin

The skin on the palms and the soles of the feet is 4 mm thick and the thickest skin in the body, the heel portions of the feet being the thickest portions. It's also got the most sweat glands than in any other area. (Source)

7. The appendix isn't as useless as you think

Long denigrated as vestigial or useless, the appendix actually has a reason to be – as a “safe house” for the beneficial bacteria living in the human gut. The beneficial bacteria in the appendix that aid digestion can ride out a bout of diarrhea that completely evacuates the intestines and emerge afterwards to repopulate the gut. (Source)

8. The body is taller in the morning than in the evening

The body is taller in the morning than in the evening. You might want to schedule that basketball game for first thing in the morning. That's because our bodies are on average about half an inch taller in the morning, thanks to excess fluid between our discs, which is replenished while we sleep. As the day goes on, and our bodies undergo the strain of standing, the discs get compressed and the fluid seeps out, so the body loses that small bit of extra height. (Source)

9. Humans glow in the dark

It was revealed by ultra-sensitive cameras that our bodies emit tiny amounts of light that are too weak for the human eye to detect. Amazing pictures of "glittering" human bodies were released by Japanese scientists who have captured the first ever images of human "bioluminescence". Although it has been known for many years that all living creatures produce a small amount of light as a result of chemical reactions within their cells, this is the first time light produced by humans has been captured on camera. Strangely, the areas that produced the brightest light did not correspond with the brightest areas on thermal images of the volunteers' bodies. (Source)

10. The stomach produces a new lining every 3 days to avoid digesting itself with its own acids

There's one dangerous liquid no airport security can confiscate from you: It's in your gut. Your stomach cells secrete hydrochloric acid, a corrosive compound used to treat metals in the industrial world. It can pickle steel, but mucous lining the stomach wall keeps this poisonous liquid safely in the digestive system, breaking down your lunch but not your own stomach. (Source)

11. Body position affects your memory

Can't remember your anniversary, hubby? Try getting down on one knee. Memories are highly embodied in our senses. A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one's childhood. The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable. A recent study helps decipher some of this embodiment. An article in the January 2007 issue of Cognition reports that episodes from your past are remembered faster and better while in a body position similar to the pose struck during the event. (Source)

12. Big brains cause cramped mouths

Evolution isn't perfect. If it were, we might have wings instead of wisdom teeth. Sometimes useless features stick around in a species simply because they're not doing much harm. But wisdom teeth weren't always a cash crop for oral surgeons. Long ago, they served as a useful third set of meat-mashing molars. But as our brains grew our jawbone structure changed, leaving us with expensively overcrowded mouths. (Source | Photo)

13. Blondes have more hair

They're said to have more fun, and they definitely have more hair. Hair color determines how dense the hair on your head is. The average human has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20 individual hairs during a person's lifetime. Blondes average 146,000 follicles while people with black hair tend to have about 110,000 follicles. Those with brown hair fit the average with 100,000 follicles and redheads have the least dense hair, with about 86,000 follicles. (Source)

14. The average person expels flatulence 14 times each day

Even if you'd like to think you're too dignified to pass gas, the reality is that almost everyone will at least a few times a day. Digestion causes the body to release gases which can be painful if trapped in the abdomen and not released. (Source)

15. Having orgasms prevent men from prostate cancer

Two large studies, reported in 2003 and 2004, found that middle-aged men who had (or at least remember having) at least four orgasms a week throughout their 20s, 30s and 40s had a reduced risk of prostate cancer by as much as one-third. Some researchers speculate that ejaculations may clear the prostate of carcinogens. (Source)

Very sweet baby dancing to Shakira song

2009-07-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

Best baby break dance

Employees frustation leads to office destruction!!!

2009-07-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Ok...here..you can really get to see the angst in the youth of today! haha...subtly put.. A Hyderabad based MNC was destroyed by its employees. sigh... the tornado (the employees :P ) devastated lives ...and...ahem the walls in the office as well. If you're in troubles waters, can't say it to your boss..then join the "TORNADO" gang. Lets buckle up guys!

Hint: people can take reference from this video if they want to break their office walls... :P

Swine Flu Outbreak: Get the Facts.

2009-07-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

What is swine flu?

Like people, pigs can get influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu doesn't often infect people, and the rare human cases that have occurred in the past have mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the current "swine flu" outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person -- and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs. That makes it a human flu virus. In an effort to avoid confusion, the CDC is calling the virus "novel influenza A (H1N1) virus" to distinguish it both from flu viruses that infect mainly pigs and from the seasonal influenza A H1N1 viruses that have been in circulation for many years.

How does swine flu spread? Is it airborne?

The new swine flu virus apparently spreads just like regular flu. You could pick up germs directly from droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person, or by touching an object they recently touched, and then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose, delivering their germs for your own infection. That's why you should make washing your hands a habit, even when you're not ill. Infected people can start spreading flu germs up to a day before symptoms start, and for up to seven days after getting sick, according to the CDC.

The swine flu virus can become airborne if you cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth, sending germs into the air.

The U.S. residents infected with swine flu virus had no direct contact with pigs. The only way to get the new swine flu is from another person.

What are swine flu symptoms?

Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Many people with swine flu have had diarrhea and vomiting. Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms. But these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions. That means that you and your doctor can't know, just based on your symptoms, if you've got swine flu. Health care professionals may offer a rapid flu test, although a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the flu.

Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests. But given the large volume of samples coming in to state labs, these tests are being reserved for patients with severe flu symptoms. Currently, doctors are reserving antiviral drugs for people with or at risk of severe influenza.

If I think I have swine flu, what should I do? When should I see my doctor?

If you have flu symptoms, stay home, and when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterward, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. That will help prevent your flu from spreading.

If you have only mild flu symptoms, you do not need medical attention unless your illness gets worse. But if you are in one of the groups at high risk of severe disease, contact your doctor at the first sign of flu-like illness. In such cases, the CDC recommends that people call or email their doctor before rushing to an emergency room.

But there are emergency warning signs.

Children should be given urgent medical attention if they:

* Have fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Have bluish or gray skin color
* Are not drinking enough fluid
* Are not waking up or not interacting
* Have severe or persistent vomiting
* Are so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Have flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough
* Have fever with a rash

Adults should seek urgent medical attention if they have:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then come back with worsening fever or cough

Keep in mind that your doctor will not be able to determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she may take a sample from you and send it to a state health department lab for testing to see if it's swine flu. If your doctor suspects swine flu, he or she would be able to write you a prescription for Tamiflu or Relenza. These antiviral medications aren't a question of life or death for the vast majority of people. Most U.S. swine flu patients have made a full recovery without antiviral drugs.

Swine Flu FAQ

The King of POP Michael Jackson is no more!

2009-06-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson's death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers. Among their No. 1 hits were "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There."

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller." "He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. He united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, and Jackson's death immediately evoked that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.

As years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

"It seemed to me that his internal essence was at war with the norms of the world. It's as if he was trying to defy gravity," said Michael Levine, a Hollywood publicist who represented Jackson in the early 1990s. He called Jackson a "disciple of P.T. Barnum" and said the star appeared fragile at the time but was "much more cunning and shrewd about the industry than anyone knew."

Jackson caused a furor in 2002 when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin while a throng of fans watched from below.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behavior with other children.

The case followed years of rumors about Jackson and young boys. In a TV documentary, he had acknowledged sharing his bed with children, a practice he described as sweet and not at all sexual.

Despite the acquittal, the lurid allegations that came out in court took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Singer Dionne Warwick said: "Michael was a friend and undoubtedly one of the world's greatest entertainers that I fortunately had the pleasure of working with. ... We have lost an icon in our industry."

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died," a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was announced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

So many people wanted to verify the early reports of Jackson's death that the computers running Google's news section interpreted the fusillade of "Michael Jackson" requests as an automated attack for about half an hour Thursday evening.

In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."

Disadvantages of Flash Websites

2009-05-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

Anything with Flash output is highly inappropriate for most situations. While great for games and other multimedia applications, Flash “web sites” have numerous usability problems such as:

- Inability to deep link to a page or article (nobody else can refer to your content effectively - the fabric of the Web becomes broken!)

- Limited indexing support by search engines (I understand this JUST started to happen despite Flash being around for a decade)

- Nonexistent support by accessible (audio) browsers - how do the visually impaired surf your Flash “web site”?

- Flash “web site” is not available to people of any other languages. Google and other services will translate your content on-demand for people from other cultures, I’ve used this many times for pages written in other languages myself and find it highly useful. This does not work with Flash.

- Navigational paradigm is typically broken with Flash. This is left to whoever plays the role of designer / information architect - with Flash, you can do all kinds of neat-o things with menus and navigation, so in an effort to be “cool” or “fancy”, the user gets to waste time learning a “brand new / new-and-improved” way of navigating your “web site”.

- It requires a plug in! “Nay!” you say, every desktop already has this! NOT. Linux 64-bit JUST got this this year. Mobile devices cannot read your page because for many devices, this plug in DOESN’T EVEN EXIST! Even if it did, it certainly isn’t pre-installed on the phone!

- YOU CAN’T PRINT THE STINKIN’ PAGE!

Free Web Analytics Tools

2009-05-12T03:48:00.001-07:00

Web analytics is the process of gathering and analyzing your web content’s data in order to glean meaningful information about how your site is being utilized by your users. There are plenty of Web analytics applications out there, and you probably already know the big guns such as Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, and remote-site services such as Alexa and Compete.

We go off the trodden path and explore a few lesser-known Web analytics options. In this article, you’ll find 10 excellent and free tools and applications to help you gather and analyze data about your web content.

1. Piwik
Piwik is an open-source Web analytics application developed using PHP and MySQL. It has a "plugins" system that allows for utmost extensibility and customization. Install only the plugins you need or go overboard and install them all – the choice is up to you. The plugins system, as you can imagine, also opens up possibilities for you to create your own custom extensions. This thing’s lightweight – the download’s only 1.9MB.

2. FireStats
FireStats is a simple and straight-forward Web analytics application written in PHP/MySQL. It supports numerous platforms and set-ups including C# sites, Django sites, Drupal, Joomla!, WordPress, and several others. Are you a resourceful developer who needs moar cowbell? FireStats has an excellent API that will assist you in creating your own custom apps or publishing platform components (imagine: displaying the top 10 most downloaded files in your WordPress site) based on your FireStats data.

3. Snoop
Snoop is a desktop-based application that runs on the Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista platforms. It sits nicely on your system status bar/system tray, notifying you with audible sounds whenever something happens. Another outstanding Snoop feature is the Name Tags option which allows you to "tag" visitors for easier identification. So when Joe over at the accounting department visits your site, you’ll instantly know.

4. Yahoo! Web Analytics
Yahoo! Web analytics is Yahoo!’s alternative to the dominant Google Analytics. It’s an enterprise-level, robust web-based third-party solution which makes accessing data easy especially for multiple-user groups. It’s got all the things you’d expect from a comprehensive Web analytics tool such as pretty graphs, custom-designed (and printable) reports, and real-time data tracking.

5. BBClone
If you’re looking for a simple, server-side web application that doesn’t rely on third-party services to monitor your data, check out BBClone - a PHP-based server application that gives you a detailed overview of website traffic and visitor data. It supports language localization for 32 languages like English, Chinese, German, and Japanese. It easily integrates with popular publishing platforms like Drupal, WordPress, and Textpattern. Since it’s logfile-based, it doesn’t require you to use a server-side relational database.

6. Woopra
Woopra is a Web analytics application written in Java. It’s split into two parts which includes a desktop application for data analysis/exploration and a web service to monitor website statistics. Woopra has a robust user interface, an intuitive management system that allows you to run it on multiple sites and domains, and even a chat feature so that you can gather non-numerical information by talking to your site users. Woopra is currently in beta and requires you to request for a private beta registration.

7. JAWStats
JAWStats is a server-based Web analytics application that runs with the popular AWStats (in fact, if you’re on a shared hosting plan - AWStats is probably already installed). JAWStats does two things to extend AWStats - it improves performance by reducing server resource usage and improves the user interface a little bit. With that said, you can’t go wrong with just using AWStats either if you’re happy with it.

8. 4Q
A large part of Web analytics deals with number-crunching and numerical data. Raw numbers tells only part of the story and it’s often helpful to perform analytics by way of interacting with actual users. 4Q developer Avinash Kaushik puts it perfectly when he said: "Web analytics is good at the ‘What’. It is not good at the ‘Why’".4Q is a simple surveying application focused on improving your traditional numerical Web analytics by supplementing it with actual user feedback. Check out this YouTube video on how easy it is to set up 4Q.

9. MochiBot
MochiBot is a free Web analytics/tracking tool especially designed for Flash assets. With MochiBot, you can see who’s sharing your Flash content, how many times people view your content, as well as helping you track where your Flash content is to prevent piracy and content theft. Installing MochiBot is a breeze; you simply copy a few lines of ActionScript code in the .FLA files you want to monitor.

10. Grape Web Statistics
Grape Web Statistics is a simple, open-source application geared towards web developers. It has a clean and usable interface and has an Extensions API to extend and customize your installation. It uses PHP for the backend and you can run it on any operating system that runs PHP.

Source: Click here