Business Performance Management

Business Performance Management refers to all the activities of a company that are inevitable to the growth, apart from the core manufacturing processes. This includes things like providing customer support, the return on investment for the investors, etc. These activities hit or beat the stocks, and these are critical to the company's future prospects.

BPM partners is one of the analysts in the field who analyze and rate companies for their progress in Business Performance Management through their BPM pulse survey. This time, the analysts have named Longview solutions as the 2007 winner of the top BPM vendors award. As I had already mentioned, Longview Solutions won it mainly because they excelled in both customer support as well as on price/value ROI.

Orkut enters third year

Orkut has entered its third year. Looking back, Orkut has become one of the favorite pastimes not just for me, but for most of my friends as well. Even Yahoo Messenger and Gtalk are in the back-seat. The communities there an extra source of fun. So, when did I join? I think it was sometime in November 2004...

Taking simple offline tasks online

This is the power of internet that you will see through this website. Unlike normal ecommerce websites, this website offers offline services online. The website is called GuaranteedBlinds.com

This website is about offering expert technicians to customers looking to provide blinds to their windows. How it works is the company already has a database of pre-screened technicians who can measure product fit and install blinds. You simply enter your Zip to locate the technician from your locality, and pay them for only the service that they do.

Why I find it cool is that it makes such a solid offline work online, so that you may simply get the blinds done even without moving out of the house. Also, a pre-screen of expert technicians means you need not worry about how things would work. Nice business plan!

Woman gives birth to GIANT baby

A woman in Brazil gave birth to a giant baby in Brazil. The baby is supposedly twice the size of the normal newborn...

Though I thought that was cool at first reading, it is supposedly not so. Such instances happen due to diabetes of the parents and stuff. The previous giant baby record holder had died 11 hours after birth.

The She(i)tty Times of India

Okay, Shilpa Shetty at the Big Brother show in UK has been causing quite a stir over the supposedly racist comments by her co-participants. But is it the only thing that happened this week? I read only the Times of India, and sadly think so.

The Sunday Times center page is replete with articles by eminent journalists on matters of varying interests. The TOI, has however been more notorious for being a 'Masala' Times because of the unproportionate weightage it gives to the reel life.

So, today's center page has six articles. The first one is from the very eminent Shobha De. She talks about hypocritical Indians who are so quick to claim that whites are racist when each one of them themselves is no better.All this in light of the Shilpa Shetty issue. Yep, true.

The second article is from CP Surendran, who asks readers not to give in to the sensitive Shilpa Shetty issue, since it is a publicity stunt. Yep, true.

The third one is from Bachi Karkaria and she asks the same question that Shobha De had already posed. And you know my reply to that.

The next one from Chidananad Rajghatta who, in the light of the racism controversy of the Big Brother show guesstimates how long it will be before racism stops. Hmmm, even I wonder till when.

Only Jug Suraiya talks on real estates, and Swaminathan Aiyar on Inflation. Swaminathan, the poor chap must not have found one angle how he could link the Shilpa Shetty issue to the Indian economy. So, he thought, 'Ok, let me write about this inflation thing that came in that small box in TOI yesterday...'. Oh yes, I understand that.

So., with four out of six articles on Shilpa Shetty, and couple of more about the same issue on the front page as well as somewhere in the middle, India is definitely worried about what's going to happen next at the Cebrity Big Brother.

Bachi Karkaria makes a punch statement with her article title which reads, "Is there life after Celebrity Big Brother". Sadly for you madam, it is for your own newspaper to realize that. The rest of us know it is since ever.

Great News: Google Adsense exclusivity ends

Google updated its Adsense Terms and conditions last week, Accordingly, now, there is a hugley welcoming news that you can now use Adsense along with other contecxtual advertisements on your web page. Popular Contextual Advertising blogger Jennifer Slegg has just announced in her blog that she talked to Google regarding this, and the answer is in the affirmative.

However there is something you need to remember. The ads of Adsense and other network should have different looks and feel. That is atleast change the border or background. And another thing, you can now use Kontera and intelliTXT which use totally different ways to display ads.

Great news in the online advertising scene.

NOTE: Yahoo's YPN however still holds the exclusivity. Don't use it.

iPage

Have heard of iPods, iPhones,etc. But have you heard of iPage? Even I had not till I came across this page. According to the link, an iPage is an e-Business tool that is meant to help the book industry maintain stock status, ordering, publicity information, etc. It also includes indexes of complete titles of all books in the database. This tool hence becomes extremely essential for book dealers.

Painfully comic ad

The title looks meaningless, aint it? But then, you should watch this Philips ad. It is funny indeed, but then I do feel sorry for that guy, if ever it happens in real. You would too, I bet...

Freedom of Speech?

The Congress government is here to Talibanise the country. That's the impression you get looking at the number of censors and bans going around these days..And most of them so silly that the common man is left wondering if their job ends up at this only..

By the way, got a hold of this video. It is titled, "Dog and Indians". Have no clue why it is named that way. And yes, it is degrading me. But then, let's see if I can get the government working this time too.

Yahoo : The Evolution since 1996

Yahoo was founded in 1995. Since then, the website has undergone phenomenal changes in its look and feel. Here, I have simply tried to capture the evolution through the years . The Source, I got this from only carries data from 1996. So, I do not have the first ever page of Yahoo.

Here it goes

Jan 1996


Jan 1997


Jan 1998


Jan 1999


Jan 2000


Jan 2001


Jan 2002


Jan 2003


Jan 2004


Jan 2005


Yesterday


Charles Darwin will be happy!

Insanity at its best : Orkut communities

I am amazed at how people crave to form communities on Orkut for every chilly and pepper in life. Today,I received an invitation to join a community, "Save Shilpa". The community is apparently trying to save Shilpa Shetty from her 'ignominy' at the Big Brother show. Wow, she gets paid to participate, she gets paid to get 'racially abused'. And now, there is this guy who forms this community!

If you did not have an Orkut account, never mind, I shall quote the community description for you.

It’s amusing how voting for a reality television is supposedly a reflection of personal politics. The glory of out country Shilpa has been targeted & victimized due to her color, nationality, cultural values, religious believes, social status and looks. Ms. Shilpa Shetty is bullied and harassed by Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O’Meara (three fellow house mates) to an extent that it’s unbearable. I strongly feel that 100 crs people must contribute 1 Rs. each and pay back to all the participants for just saying we love Indians and we love India.

Let’s join hands and pass your message through this community against this gross injustice being done to Shilpa and many others. We need your voice to tackle these racists against their filthy minds....stand up speak up!!!!!!!

That apart don't worry about missing to see the link. There are hardly three members in the community and zero discussions on!

Family plans for your cell!!!

Oh well, I don't think we have this thing here in my place. A family plan for Cingular cell phones. But, I guess that is how things shall turn out when competition heats up, and you need to sustain your leadership.

So, how does this work? It's simply a discounted talk rate when the whole family purchases the Cingular cell phones. Like, one deal I saw on the website talks of 700 minutes at $69.99 for purchase of the family Cingular cell phones.

Tibet freedom fighter writes to Kalam in blood

Politicians would only take note if you splash 'common man's' blood. Who should care if you were to take out your own. But then, this chap probably does not realize this. Mahesh Yadav, convenor of Mahatma Gandhi Free Tibet Association has written to the Indian President Dr. Kalam to help them in their cause.

Let us keep ignoring their pleas now, so that they might one day turn terrorists from India who shall intrude into China; sorry Tibet rather. That's their homeland dumbo!

Here goes another one...

Regulars here at Nice Ideas know my fetish for funny videos; and I keep posting them once every other day. I always wondered if I could find a website which would be a database of all such videos. Luckily, I did find one at Jokeroo.

It is in a way great because you do get a brief summary of what to expect on the video. I would have loved to see the duration mentioned on the home page, but then, never mind. It is not a big issue, right. Anyway, it does look like the best resource for funny videos online.

Here is one good one from the Letterman's show.

Help Amit make money

Oh my god! Please help this poor soul. There are ads and also a 'Donate via Paypal' link. Please pour in your money. Somehow help that soul out. He is in a pathetic state, and will recover if and only if you click on his ads.

'Marketing' to the core!

I came across this website, and immediately the next thing that struck me was that I should say a thing about him on my blog. Mark Hughes is a professional speaker, but that is the only good part. The rest is simply awesome.

Hughes, the website claims has been instrumental in the greatest marketing coups of all time. Such a coup that would dub a city to a dotcom aliter. He was the VP at eBay and helped transform its website, Half.com, offshooted from Halfway, Oregaon into a 8 million strong base.

Man, I want to listen to him..

Check for updates on non-blogs too

I presume you know how the blog update alert emails work. Blogs are most often set to ping the servers of sites like Weblog each time they are updated. This happens with their RSS feeds that is available on most blogs.

But, how about websites that are not blogs? Like, how about websites that do not RSS feeds? How can you check for updates from these websites. I found this website, UpdatePatrol - A website watcher that monitors websites for changes. Using this website, you shall be able to keep track of updates even from those websites that do not offer RSS feeds. Quite a handy utility.

Indian Prez asks a question at Yahoo Answers!!

President APJ Abdul Kalam, most of them know was a former Space Scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization. Probably this notion of having such a genious scientist is what made Indians so proud when he was nominated for the Presidentship.

Since then, Kalam has always been in news for his various passionate lectures to students, and vision for transforming the nation into a developed country.

Today, he created another first. He is probably the first President of nation to reach the citizens through a website medium. Kalam made use of Yahoo answers to reach out to his countrymen. There are some well known celebrities like Kiran Bedi as well who have responded.

Scramble for iPhone

I was kind of alarmed to know that the mad scramble for iPhone has taken the black marketers to dizzying heights. iPhones are right now available for as high as $1425 on eBay. I don't think anyone should be paying so much money on this.

I would suggest you to register at Preorderiphone for whatever you want! of the iPhone. The website would inform you whenever iPhone is available at a reputable dealer, which is at the optimal price. Don't get phony over iPhone!

Hilarious David Blaine spoof

I was laughing mad at this. Don't know if you might find it funny or lame, but then that guy is a real comic out there. You must watch this video, David Blaine in Vienna!

Volks makes car that can drive itself

This is technology at its best. Volkswagen have developed a car that can drive itself, and upto a speed of over 150 miles per hour. So, how does it work? My tech news source, Techzoogle mentions that the car has been devloped with 'electronic eyes' made from radars and laser sensors. that helps it navigate with the aid of GPS navigation system.

I can already see the future. Taxi drivers may become obsolete. Simply put in this car, and once you slot in your destination, the car shall take you promptly to your place. But, then.., I think that is far fetched too. The car is still far from the self-thinking car that we are talking about. So, we still do not have a car that will participate in a car race by itself. But then, neither is that a far-off dream!

Chain Reaction Domino

Came across this one from YouTube. I really wonder if it was really a one person effort or team work. Solo is difficult, but coordinating such a thing in team is much more. Just click PLAY and enjoy!


PS: I just upgraded this blog to the new version. So, here goes the labels!!!

Here's Pepsi

My cousin just called me up and said that he now has a new feline at his house. She's called Pepsi ;)
I am anyway going to meet him up next week, and I shall be seeing her too. But, you know, it takes a lot of your time to attend to your cat's needs. Like, there are several cat breeds and each of them have their own set of problems and needs to be looked after. We faced the same thing when we had a cat in our house. That's a long time back.

That time too, I had to take help from the same website on cats. The website did help me with tips on dealing with cat litter, heat stress for cats, declawing them, etc.

My Worst day at PPP

Over the past couple of months since I joined PayPerPost, the service that pays bloggers for reviewing products and websites, I feel unlucky for the first time. Though PPP has had $1000 posts too in the past, they were very rare, and the norm maximum amount for most of them was like $10 or $15 per post. And considering you can write two posts per blog you have registered there, you could make something like $20 on an average.

But today, I was feeling too lazy in the early part of the day to log into PPP. I just logged in now to see clients offering $36.50 for a 50 word article. Man! it is a five minute job and I could get paid $36.50. It is not just that..There was one $25 post, and three $10 posts, all requiring only 100 words per post on an average.

Had it been my day, I could have made $83.50 in half-hour. But, it was simply not my day. I was late, and I checked in to see that most of the opportunities had already been taken by the alloted number of people that I had nothing amongst those top offers. I am not in a mood to settle for a lesser amount post today. No PPP now..

Now, paid to watch videos

This is why the internet has survived even after the dotcom bust in late nineties. This is why web 2.0 has taken shape. The internet has something for everybody. After things like paid to read email and paid to read ads, now it is paid to watch videos and audios. Check this link to make money fast with your videos, audios & photos!. Heh!!


So, how does it work? Actually, you start off creating your own blog on the Upblogger bloggging platform, upload your media file..After this it is all too simple. Invite your friends and start making money.

From Cramming to Chopping for grades

A girls school in Japan has tried inculcating Japanese etiquettes into their children by now introducing a ten minute 'chopstick' test which involves transferring stuffs such as marbles from one plate to another using chopsticks.

Good thing that I am not studying in Japan. I will never be able to hold the chopsticks, let alone using it to eat my meal. And I am pretty sure that is going to be the reaction of any person foreign to Japan. That is why India is cool. We don't use any 'accessory'. Just dig your hands directly into the meal!

Look how easy it is for the Dane on the pic ;-)

Is Yahoo answers dead or something??

So much expert-talk was made when Google shut its Google answers. But, is everything okay with Yahoo answers? I do not know. Atleast, one thing is for sure that Yahoo is not giving it as much importance as it should.

Everytime I log out from my Yahoo email account, I get a page which among other things, also contains a list of 'hot topics' at Yahoo answers. And for many many days, as far as I can remember, the questions there have never seemed to have changed. Maybe those questions never chilled out!

So, here I decided to finally give it a shot and see why those questions were hot for so many days. The first in the list was "Where can I find the diagram of a car?". I clicked to visit a page with question, "Where can i get sectional diagram of a maruthi car?". Maruthi is one of the oldest small cars in India. This is apparently a closed question for three months. But then,it is still hot?

There can be only two answers, either Yahoo is not according as much importance to Yahoo answers as it should, or this was the last 'hot' question at Yahoo answers. Only the regular users will know.

By the way, this was one answer that I found rather funny for the question I had put above:

Step 1: Start
Step 2: Go to Japan
Step 3: Locate Suzuki factory.
Step 4: Retrieve M800 designer's contact info.
Step 5: If (the person's alive )
GoTo 6
Else
GoTo 8
Step 6: Contact M800 designer
Step 7: Use compulsive techniques to extract requisite info.
Step 8: Return.

All IPOs are not good

Over the past couple of years, that is, ever since I took an interest into trading stocks, I had always thought that investing in IPOs are the best, since they are anyways bound to rise from thereon. But, I had to realize that it is not always true the hard way, when the IPO stock I bought finally dipped..

Actually, I have heard this from Spread Bet Guide, a UK website mainly on Spread Betting, but also gives readers tips on choosing stocks. But I never listened. I shall not be forgetting this now easily! ;)

Blogspot on Google ads

I don't understand this logic. People go for free blogging platforms like Blogger because they are amateurs who don't want to spend money on hosting and stuff. That is understandable. But, advertising the blog on Adsense?

Well, I was browsing through Digg today, and found this blog called Movies--Now.Blogspot.com showing up there. I clicked on it, to get a rose screen all over, which was redirected to MyiPodDownloads.

I had only wanted to put in this as an exclamation post. But, I think I just realized the reason of why a blogspot is put in advertised. Apparently, Google Adwords is against posting mirror sites on their ads. That is, every site advertised through their site should be of unique content and not some affiliate site. So, this blogger had simply used a free blogspot blog to redirect the link to his original affiliate link. Great idea!

by the way, what does Google ToS say about plain redirection? I think I have to check out.

I am related to Anna Kournikova!!!

How I wish that was. I know that is not true, but then, ZOOOF says I am. ZOOOF is a website that works by that six degrees of freedom concept, which tells that anybody in the world is related to any other in just six degrees. So, you may join with all your relatives and friends, each of them invite their own, and that way, a whole new world grows. Unfortunately, ZOOOF, The Family Network site is in beta test till feb 14, and as of now says that if we need to join them in the beta stage, we may ask them for an invite at invite[at]zooof[dot]com .

Anna, here I come...

Favo 5 movies

Ok, I am not a movie buff at all. Hardly watch a few of them; and English movies - divide the number what I have watched by 5 ;-)

Anyway, since Osman has tagged me,let me carry it forward..

Here are my top 5 movies (English alone)

1. Sixth Sense
2. Fifty First Dates
3. Eurotrip (many thought that was a crazy choice, but I stand by it :))
4. Departed
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

So, now I have to tag as well. Ok, let me tag Norman Roberts and Autumn Blue.

Online Lie-detector test! - Its cool...

Suppose you are chatting with an online friend who simply has all similar tastes as you do. Can you believe all that she is saying? What if that she is actually a he?

There is now an online lie detector that you can use it to check the stress levels of the guy who is typing you, and also find out if the person is telling the truth or is lying.

Supposedly, even Skype, the voice messenger system has certified it to be reliable! And best of all, its FREE!!

I never knew we have reached this stage in technology...

404 - Page not found!!

Found this rather funny way to post in a 'Page not found' message.



But, before you decide to make it part of your website as well, let me tell you the source. Contact Limp Fish if you need one for yourself.

Party time in Buenos Aires

Yesterday, Argentina was in all colors. It was the occasion of the El Carnaval del Pais, also known as the 'country carnival'. This carnival is quite famous,much like the ones in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, and deservingly, the Trekker website reported that thousands had gathered in the country to catch a glimpse of the very popular 'Kings of carnivals' competition, one that is held to see which of the Samba clubs win the contest.

I particularly wished I was there to witness the show. Not only that, of late, I have also been following the Buenos Aires Tours website for their weekly roundup, which would be of great use if you are visiting the place, since you would get to know how to plan your trip there..

9/11 - a conspiracy??

I am not pretty sure if you have read through such things already, but I incidentally came across this page on Wikipedia about the conspiracy theory surrounding 9/11. I believe, there are some pretty strong claims to prove that 9/11 was indeed a conspiracy.

One thing that stuck my mind even when the tragedy occurred was the symmetrical falling down of the two buildings which seemed more like organized destruction rather than due to the impact of the plane hitting the building.

I did a research on YouTube and well, there are so many of those conspiracy videos.


If this was indeed true, then, the day is not far off when Bush shall be tried so much similar to Saddam. Surely, the relatives of the victims of the 9/11 attack shall be present when Bush is hanged, and there shall be as many taunts as there were when Saddam was hanged.

The wrongness of Political correctness

Recently, I have come across quite a number of articles relating to disability, and most of them have tried to remain politically correct. As a result, mentally retarded kids are referred as 'special' kids, physically handicapped children are referred as children who are differently abled, etc.

I find it rather stupid that people take to political correctness to remain just that; politically correct. For instance, on a TV show, a popular host here started off saying handicapped children, only to immediately correct himself with the 'differently abled' cliche.

I mean, what purpose does it serve? Is the correctness aimed at the people with those needs itself or simply to show that I too care? I have been with people who have such handicaps, and let me tell you that such people do not care about such correctness. Rather it makes the condition even worse. As one of my friends put it, people with such handicaps care neither about such fake concern or pitiness. They know to live with it as much as how, say, George Bush has learnt to live without a brain.

My point simply is, you want to say something about people with some kind of handicap, simply say what you want to. Adding such fakely concerns takes the focus out of what you wanted to say and puts it over the silly political correctness..

The story of the 'wonder bra'

Imagine this. It is New Year's party,everyone's so much pumped up. Then, there is a gun shot in the air in celebration. It hits the wrong target. Well, the rest is the story of a 'wonder bra'...


LINK

LoudLaunch makes a loud launch

My blog just got approved for LoudLaunch. For those who do not know about it still, okay, let me tell you that LoudLaunch is a great way for bloggers to make money for simply using the blogs to make public announcements and press releases of the different advertisers.

You are not forced to fake your opinions at any stage, and only your neutral view matters. I am actually thinking of using this service to advertise my Internet Tidbits blog. The minimum budget for advertisers is quite low; only $50 or so. I think I should try.

LoudLaunch - Compensating bloggers for their unbiased opinions, reviews, and analysis. View the LoudLaunch campaign release this post was based on.

Arabian Days!!!

I read this in a business magazine. Dubai, the main center in the United Arab Emirates has reduced its dependence on oil from 90 percent in mid nineties to less than 6 percent in 2005. This was achieved by increased tourism and businesses. For example, look at this.


This is an artificial snow park in Dubai. My cousin who was in Dubai working for an IT company used to tell me how tourism has made properties in Dubai so hot. Dubai, these days has everything. Check out the dubai sports city

Check this arm flexibility!!!

If you follow Cricket, you must also know all the controversy relating to Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistai bowler who throws the ball at 100 miles. Actually, I adore him, and the way he charges in at the batsmen. Even though I knew he threw the ball, instead of bowling.

But then, check this video out. Is it some kind of illusory image, or is his arm really that flexible!!?

It's a manager's work

Today, when I revisited the place I once worked, nothing seemed to have changed since the day I left. However, all my friends there had gotten their 'rating' just a week back. 'Rating' is done on a scale of 1-5 and those of who got 3 and stuff were complaining about politics in the organization as the reason for their low rating.

Actually, I wonder if they make use of some employee appraisal software to assign the ratings, or is it simply the manager's ability to remember what and how each employee has worked. I am sure, being the wonderful organization they are, they surely must have made use of these softwares. But, you know, how my friends crib about everything that doesn't come their way.

American blacks love/hate Oprah?

I am proud of what Lakshmi Mittal has achieved. This is inspite of the fact that until late, he had not even made significant investments in India. It is just a feeling of him being my compatriot, and was taking on the world that made me like him. And I thought that's how the whole world would feel about their people making it big in the world.

But what Sugar N Spice has put here makes an interesting reading. She says that Black Americans envy Oprah rather than adore her for all that she has achieved. Oprah recently opened a mammoth girls school in Africa, and that has not gone well with those Blacks in the US, because they feel she should have rather made such a contribution back in the USA.

I am not putting in my points on such a view. IF YOU ARE AMERICAN, then please do put in your view on this...

One Two ka Four

"One two ka four" is a take from one local song here which means put in a 'one' and 'two' and get back a four. That's what is gambling all about. My cousin had called me and was talking about her exploits at the gambling table at Las Vegas. It was her first time, and I think she won something petty, but cool as long as she did not lose any.

I am amazed at how gambling has picked up through internet. Now you also have online newspapers that get you casino news. Now, this is called 'Information Age'.

Answers to "Why Saddam's death was videotaped"

Well, even as the trial was on, Americans wanted to hang Saddam. But a defiant Saddam preferred to be shot by a firing squad.

Now, there was this utter confusion: whether to shoot him or hang him. So, it was finally decided to tread the middle path. Therefore, while he was hanged as per the wish of the Americans, he was shot (with a camera, of course) as per his own wish.

The only thing we missed here is the firing squad. But that's okay..

Is there a snail mail SPAM?

"Is there some SPAM in snail mail too? ". This was the question that hit my head as soon as I came across this website. Apparently, it does. Even otherwise that is not the only reason why Mail drops exist. If you did not know what a mail drop is, learn it the same way I did from this mail drop directory website. Basically, a mail drop is a registered address which can receive and send snail-mails. So, you can rent a mail box at this address, and probably redirect it.

For example, say, I am a person who keeps moving constantly, so that I have no one permanent address. So, what address do I provide to my subscriptions to Readers Digest, the Newspaper fellow, etc.Maybe rent a mail box here and give this address. So, everytime there is an address change, just update it at this one place, and you can receive your posts everywhere you go.

Sharukh's loo break

IBNlive reports that with the amount Sharukh is getting paid for all his movies, ads and concert shows, it costs a mammoth 80,000 rupees ($1800 approx.) if he takes a five minute loo break.

Man, that is a costly break. And for someone who I always hated because he keeps reminding me of the bitter Darwinian theory that my ancestors were hanging around trees!!!!!!

Matri Vs. Dating

I often wonder what difference holds between the popular 'matrimonial' sites that are popular in my part of the world and the dating sites in the eyes of the user.

Well, quite a lot. Matrimonial sites mean commitment, while the dating sites are for fun. And what better than free dating sites which only take your time; in fact a lot of it if we are talking about those addictive Online Dating sites. But that apart, unlike matrimonial websites, dating sites need to be free because it makes no sense if you are going to pay to just say a hi!

Creepy Visitors

Nice way to make a public broadcast to spammers..How wonderful it would be if we could also get addresses or pictures of people visiting our websites with the help of their IP Addresses...

LINK

Yummy Celebrities

There is one regional channel here, part of the Star group which plays dubbed versions of Chinese movies. Not to speak about anything spectacular, but, I watch it mainly for fun. It is so comic to watch such dubbed movies. In fact, Hollywood movies, when dubbed are done so with extra care, as there are people who follow it. But Chinese and other East Asian movies are mainly to make fun of. So, even the voices are mimicked in such a way!!

I just came across one website, a East Asian version of PerezHilton called YummyCelebrities.Only that it is for Asia celebrity and entertainment. Do check out!

I'm a desicritic!

Received a mail from Aaman sometime back. I am now part of the Desicritics network. For the naive, Desicritics is the South Asian version of Blogcritics, a huge world-wide network of bloggers. Ok, let me see if this move helps my blog get more popular.

Emerging real estate markets

Best Syndication reports about the top five emerging real estate markets for the new year. For me, however the bottom-most in the list of 'top 5' is the one that is really going to make an impact. Turkey is on a real estate boom after they expressed willingness to accede to the European Union. In fact, immediately there after, as the article suggests, Dubai pounced to make fresh investments on the Turkish properties.

For your information, the other four in the list mentioned in the article are Costa Rica, Ghana, Malaysia and Qatar.

I'm from Boston, India...

Boston.,I think is in India. Maybe...or may not. But, been born and bred in India, it was a pleasant surprise to know that I have a Boston accent,though none of my friends here would agree that my language resembles the American accent in the faintest sense...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: Boston   You definitely have a Boston accent, even if you think you don't. Of course, that doesn't mean you are from the Boston area, you may also be from New Hampshire or Maine.
The West
The Midland
North Central
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The South
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

MySpace becoming too public

The Chicago Sun Times reports that social networking websites like Myspace are becoming too public. This is infact true, and also the greatest flip side of what has been the greatest thing to have happened in recent times.

While sites such as MySpace can be useful to find long lost friends, they can also be used to target innocent kids. PC Magazine recently had talked about the necessity to have a myspace spy to keep track of what the kids do online. The magazine in fact reports that such softwares can be used to spy upon every aspect of MySpace including logins and passwords. This is not to intrude upon the privacy the kids deserve, but to have a strict monitor upon their activities.

McGrath cannot be replaced

Shane Warne on Glenn McGrath:

I don't think Glenn can be replaced. In pure bowling terms, Australia might find another like him, but there is still a big question mark over that. It's everything else that he has brought to the table that has set McGrath apart.

While there is nothing to counter from what Warne has said about McGrath, and added to that the innummerable occassions he has been a thorn to the Indian batting line-up, we will also miss the sledging that the Aussie great has indulged in.

One was that nasty McGrath- Sarwan episode. I don't want to talk about that. But the other was rather funny. After bowling a dot ball to Eddo Brandes, the stout Zimbabwean player, McGrath mockingly asks, "Why are you so fat?"

Eddo's answer was short and really funny. He said, "Yes,everytime I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit"...

Karma meter for MySpace page

I wonder if you have heard about Sven Goodsson. He has been in news in my part of the world sometimes because of the kinds of 'workouts' he makes to sweat out the bad karma and earn only good karma. 'Karma' is a Sanskrit word which refers to the deeds, good or bad. So, in other words, he works out to remove himself of bad deeds and do only good deeds..

Okay, coming back to the topic, I think you should check out his website ImproveYourKarma.com, where you get to download a "Karma meter" which you can install on your MySpace page. Based on the kinds of comments you receive there, you get a Karma rating..That's really cool.

Also, check out the "analysis" section for an aura analysis of your photos. You might like that one too.

Chennai swept by the Nadallion effect

Chennai Open 2007 is here, and what a first day it was! As soon as I reached there, my friend and I made it to the practice courts hoping to catch Nadal practising there. Of course, we couldn't find him there. But there was a qualifying match going on, with a couple of players watching it by the sidelines. I couldn't recognize who he was. Well, he looked like he was David Beckham; and only later realized that Beckham plays an altogether different sport.

Back in the center court, a felicitation of sorts was made to the top three guys, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian. Wonder, where Srichapan went missing..Oh, how Moya and Nadal got into talking with each other, and Nalbandian was merely watching them talk. Compatriots, see...

The first match was between two Indians, Ashutosh Singh and Vishal Uppal against two Europeans..I guess one of those guys was the one I saw back there; the one who resembled Beckham. Hmmm..the guys I rooted for lost. But, the crowd wasn't disheartened. They were infact angry for the fight the guys were putting up, thus delaying the Hero to come over.

Finally the crowd let themselves to be swept by the Nadallion effect. He along with Vidal (Nadal-Vidal, nice combo :).. )played quite well against the defending champs. Oh god! Now I realize why he is World No. 2..He is so energetic with a frenetic pace..You should be there to actually realize that..The defending champs got no chance at all..

The next match was again with an Indian. A popular one now..Prakash Amritraj. But my friend and I decided that it was better if we got to the VIP exit, so that we can catch Nadal on the way out. In fact, atleast a hundred others too thought the same way, and wow, what a crowd it was..We all missed Srichapan, who casually got into the entrance, even as we were all waiting for Nadal. Too late to realize that, and he was already in..

Nadal never came..It was over 45 minutes that we waited there. Heard that he left through another exit, but kept standing for some more time guessing if that was simply a prank to get the crowds off. But he never came till the end.

But, anyway..Got to see four greats..Nadal, Moya, Nalbandian and Srichapan out there..That's enough!!!

Phoenixed

After one of my friends announced on Orkut the other day that he has got an admission to University of Phoenix and shall be moving to the US very soon, I started browsing the details of the university.

The university apparently lies in Boise, the capital of the state of Idaho. I actually, to be honest, have not heard of the place before (Pardonable, for a non-American!!). But, looking through the details of the place through Wikipedia, I feel the city is quite impressive. For instance, let me tell you that the printer and scanner division of Hewlett Packard is based in Boise, Idaho. HP, in fact has a huge complex there at Boise.

There are other great companies that are based here as well. For example, Washington Group International, Micron Technology, the popular retail chain, Albertsons.Looking at the potential the area possesses, Microsoft, in fact, acquired the locally based ProClarity.

All this apart, Internet based companies are also growing out from here. For example, Keynetics, which manages the popular ebook store, Clickbank, and PayTrack is also based out of Boise.

The city is supposedly growing so well of late,with a huge improvement in the quality of life, that the city has been witness to a huge influx of population. BoiseHomeGuide, a website that provides info on Boise homes for sale claims that the real estate is booming in the city.

I guess, with all this, my friend's going to have a great time out there!

Google turns Gzogle

Every festive time, I eagerly visit Google to see how they have decorated their logo to match the occassion. This time, Google seems to have gone that 'extra mile' to change their very name.

To bring in a '2007' into their logo, Google, for the day has changed its name to Gzogle..Happy 2007!