Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

Batman has no limits," says Bruce Wayne to his manservant, Alfred, early in The Dark Knight, and the accountants at Warner Brothers, which released the movie, are likely to agree. I'm not so sure. The Dark Knight, praised by critics for its sombre themes and grand ambitions, has proven to be a mighty box office force in a summer already dominated by superheroes of various kinds. But any comic book fan knows that a hero at the height of his powers is a few panels removed from mortal danger, and that hubris has a way of summoning new enemies out of the shadows. Are the Caped Crusader and his colleagues basking in an endless summer of triumph, or is the sun already starting to set? The season began with Iron Man back in May, which anticipated The Dark Knight in striking many reviewers as a pleasant surprise and hordes of moviegoers as a must-see. The July Fourth weekend belonged to Hancock, which played with the superhero archetype by making him a grouchy, slovenly drunk rather t...

So You Think You Can Dance contestant Robert Muraine has some of the best moves I've ever seen in my life. The guy can pop and lock like no one else.

Welcome to our Does Social Media Influence Purchase Decision?. Hello, I am trying to study the 'Influence of Social Media in Purchase Decision' or 'Does Social Media influence Purchase Decisions'? Social Media can take many different forms, including Internet forums, message boards, weblogs, wikis, podcasts, pictures and video. Technologies include: blogs, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowd sourcing, and voice over IP, to name a few. Example: Let's say you are planning to purchase a new mobile phone. You would go online and read reviews by experts or users who have used the phone before you make up your mind? I am trying to study this influence of Social Media in Purchase Decisions. This questionnaire should not take you more than 10 minutes and 43 seconds to fill. I value your time and appreciate your help in filling up the questionnaire. Click here For any suggestions or clarifications, please feel free to reach m...

The Associated Press: Italian architect David Fisher said he is poised to start construction on a new skyscraper in Dubai that will be "the world's first building in motion,'' an 80 story tower with revolving floors that give it an ever shifting shape. (June 25)It may look like something out of a science fiction movie....But David Fisher showed up in New York Tuesday, saying that he was poised to build the world's first moving building in Dubai. SOT: David Fisher, Architect and Creator of Dynamic Tower: "First of all, it's the first building that is being, that is dynamic, changing the shape. You can adjust the shape the way you like every given moment. The model being pitched is an 80-story skyscraper with revolving floors ... That would provide residents with a constantly changing view of the Persian Gulf. A few apartments that would take up entire floors would be able to spin on command, the rest of the building rotated in patterns that could be alter...

iPhone 3G arrives soon in dozens of countries worldwide including India this Jully 11th thru Airtel and Vodafone . And since iPhone 3G is a UMTS/HSDPA and GSM world phone, it works practically anywhere on the planet. iPhone, Ipod, Internet and more... Features: iPhone 3G with fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. And like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. iPhone 3G. It redefines what a mobile phone can do — again. Phone Make a call by tapping a name or send a text with the intelligent keyboard. iPod Enjoy music and video on a widescreen display and shop for music with a tap. Internet Browse the real web, get HTML email, and find yourself with GPS maps. 3G Speed Surf the web and download email over f...

I t is the dream of brilliant students to go to the United States for pursuing higher studies. But they should not dreamily accept the first offer that comes along. In fact, they should have a checklist on the steps to be taken before reaching the US, so that things run smoothly. There are more than 83,000 Indian students in the US, of which the highest number is from Andhra Pradesh. The first and foremost thing any student aspiring to leave for the US for higher education needs to cross check is whether the institution they are going to study in is genuine or not. The United States Educational Foundation in India, that held an interactive workshop in the city recently, warns that there are thousands of unaccredited colleges in the US. Taking a course from such colleges would be a sheer waste of time and money. So it is better to check thoroughly before taking the leap. It is also imperative that the students check whether the chosen course has accreditation since companie...

We all seem to know what’s the most dreaded four letter word. But a dreaded four word phrase? The honour of being the most dreaded phrase in the English language goes to, “We need to talk.” In a country where surveys are dime a dozen on any issues real or imagined, the latest is by the Right Guard Poll about phrases that strike terror in our hearts. The winner even pipped “the boss wants to see you” in the top 10 most feared phrases. What are the other worst things to hear? “You’re fired” - from the boss. “Last orders” - from the bar. There are hundreds such, but here’s the remaining in the official top 10 list, “I’ve had a bit of an accident”; “ Can I borrow your credit card? ”; “There’s a leak (upstairs/in the bathroom etc.)”; “Did you remember my birthday?”; “ I’ve got something to tell you ”; “Now I know it looks bad, but...” Daily Mirror, which ran the survey, offers some phrases that its top writers dreaded. Columnist Clemmie Moodie says, “These words stri...