Tamil Mokkais of the day :)

I couldn't resist myself from posting these mokkais after I got these from one of my friends. After a long time, I got a chance to read and laugh :)

Enjoy!!!
P.S: People who don't know how to read Tamil, pls excuse :)

Google's 'SKY'

Popular mapping service Google Earth will launch a new feature called Sky, a "virtual telescope" that the search engine hopes will turn millions of Internet users into stargazers.

Google, which created Google Earth to give Internet users an astronaut's view that can zoom to street level, said the service would be a playground for learning about space.

A roadmap of the entire sky has been made so readily available. Sky in Google Earth will foster and initiate new understanding of the universe by bringing it to everyone's home computer. Like Google Earth, Sky will enable users to float and zoom in on over 100 million individual stars and 200 million galaxies. Users will view the sky as seen from Earth.

It has created different layers which will show the life of a star, constellations, high-resolution images provided by the Hubble Space Telescope and a users guide to galaxies. A backyard astronomy layer lets users click through stars, galaxies and nebulae visible to the eye, binoculars and small telescopes. The imagery was stitched together from numerous third parties including the Digital Sky Survey Consortium, the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Center and the Anglo-Australian Observatory. The imagery will be updated over time.

Google Earth launched in June 2005 to combine its search service with satellite imagery, maps and 3D building to display geographical information of the world. The search engine says over 250 million people have downloaded it.

The Sky service will be available on all Google Earth domains, in 13 languages. Users will need to download the newest version of Google Earth which can be found at www.earth.google.com

Welkin...

I was glancing through 'AWAD (A Word A Day)' today and this new word caught my attention. The new word is Welkin which means 'The sky or heaven'.

There's something that I am going to write after this which is related to this word. Hence thought of posting it :)

Biz Talk - Bootstrapping

In general, the term bootstrapping means using a special process to perform a task that one would be unable to do in general.If you have a dream to become an entrpreneur, you ought to read this.

If you have an idea for a business, but no money to start it, you may become discouraged. However, it's very possible to start a business with zero funds. In fact, bootstrapping--that's was starting a business with no initial investment is called--is quite common and generally successful. Starting a business with zero funds does require creative thinking, flexibility and a good knowledge of your product or service. Do you think that it's impossible to start a business with zero funds? In reality, businesses are started without money so often that there is even a word for it: Bootstrapping. If you have an idea for a business, but no money to start it, you may become discouraged. However, it's very possible to start a business with zero funds. In fact, bootstrapping is quite common and generally successful. Starting a business with zero funds does require creative thinking, flexibility and a good knowledge of your product or service.

When you stop to consider it, you may realize that people believe they need money for resources to get started. But in many situations, it's possible to acquire and use business resources in more creatively. Successful creativity like this may help you avoid the necessity of going to investors, venture capitalists or traditional lenders.

Many entrepreneurs who start a business with zero funds often find that their new company is actually much healthier for it. When a business is funded with a large amount of venture capital or an infusion of cash from patient investors, then there is actually no immediate need to make money. In some ways, it's almost as if wastefulness and lack of focus is encouraged.

This is definitely not the case whenever you attempt to start a business with zero funds. Without a large cash cushion, creative problem solving becomes the norm. Starting a business with no money also provides excellent preparation for future growth. Businesses have often failed when their growth accelerates at a faster rate than their cash flow. Entrepreneurs who have survived the bootstrapping process are fully prepared to deal with times of high uncertainty and change.

Many experts identify knowledge as one of the most important resources needed to start a business with zero funds. They suggest you should identify a subject in which you have a keen interest and then become an expert in that subject. In the process, you will learn a great deal not only about the subject, but also sources, the market for that subject and the major players in that market. As you increase your knowledge about all of these facets of the subject, opportunities will begin to present themselves.

Any attempt to start a business with zero funds will require huge amounts of time and hard work. This is why so many advisors recommend working with products or services for which you have a passion. Bootstrapping a business often requires enormous personal sacrifice, especially in terms of time. In addition to the hard work and the hunger for learning everything possible, starting a business with zero funds also requires belief -- not only belief in what you're doing, but belief in yourself as well.

Although the idea of starting a business was zero funds may seem like an insurmountable task, it's really more common than you think. If you succeed, the company you create will almost certainly be stronger, more flexible and creatively immune to change and uncertainty in the future.

Black bear sighted

The sun showed its way out early in the evening yesterday. Cool breeze tempts you to have a hot cup of tea which eventually makes you feel good. That's what I actually did yesterday evening. I was leaning my ear towards the radio and it was when I heard this news...'A black bear was seen around Gates Mills Apartment'. FYI - Gates Mills is my sojourn...

After hearing this, I was so curious to go and have a look at the bear. My intention was to take a snap with it (like the one that I took in chicago with a gorilla...hee..hee...it was not a real one though:)) I've always seen them in zoo and dint get a chance to see them in a residential area. But my friend told that cops are around and I may not be able to take a snap with the bear :):):)

A golden chance missed! :)

Jus Jokin' - Take 2

Q: Where is the best place in a book store to find a man who is handsome, a good lover and a stimulating partner?
A: In the pages of a romance novel.

Q: What do you do with a man who thinks he’s God’s gift?
A: Exchange him.

Q: Why is the book “Women Who Love Too Much” a disappointment for many men?
A: No phone numbers.

Q: Why do men like smart women?
A: Opposites attract.

Retail Therapy - Watz dis?

Weekends are considered to be the days for getting friends in touch. I was talking to one of my friend. She was telling that she feels lonely and depressed sometimes and to kill that she has found herself indulged into a hobby which is girls 'cup of tea'...mm..I meant the shopping spree...:) In connection with that, she introduced me to this new term called 'Retail Therapy'.

When the going gets tough, then go shopping. This is the motto of retail therapy. When shopping becomes an addiction in a positive note, then it is retail therapy.

Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer's mood or disposition. (1) Often seen in people during periods of depression or transition, it is normally a short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to as "comfort buys."

Retail therapy need not be a negative term. It can be a neutral term that describes the pleasures of the total shopping experience, used by many people to boost their mood. Shopping as a way of boosting one's mood does not necessarily involve rash or inadvisable purchases. Retailers may view the entertainment aspect of their stores as a means of boosting store traffic, so that some of those customers make purchases, but not necessarily inappropriate or inadvisable ones.

Retail addiction or shopping addiction should be considered a separate and serious problem. The term "therapy" by definition implies a treatment for a problem (here, depression or stress), not a problem itself. Retail therapy may be the WRONG treatment in many cases, but it is not, by definition, dangerous or problematic.

Yummy Ladoos..

Sweets are my all time favourites. Give me any sweet @ anytime, I wouldn't say 'No' :) It's been a long time I tried my hands in sweets and hence thought of making some sweet with the resources available @ home. The outcome is what you see in the picture. Yeah! They are yummy ladoos made with Rava.

Initially, there was no space in the plate to fill the total number of ladoos that I made but eventually I got this much space. It's because of the great effort by me and my roomie...Hmm..we were ready to hog when it was done and half emptied the plate (Am wondering is there any word called half-emptied??? Looks like I'm creating an oxymoron :)))

If you need the recipe, jus drop in a comment/email and I'll post it...:)

Pricing - In a Nutshell

Weekend has arrived and I know most of you are thinking about the Grocery shopping that you have to do, the gift that you have to get for your friend and winter dresses to put in stock as it is nearing.

Have you ever thought how the Manufacturer enlists the product’s price? How do they come up with a price for a particular product? How does the pricing factor differs for each product? Why does my Folger’s coffee that I drink daily cannot cost 99cents or 12$ instead of 4.95$? Here is the strategy and the different categories that are available.

There are many ways to price a product. Let's have a look at some of them and try to understand the best policy/strategy in various situations.

1. When there is an uniqueness on a product or service, it would be rated high. This is called Premium Pricing. It is rated high because it has a substantial competitive advantage than others. E.g.: Cunard Cruises, Savoy Hotel rooms, and Concorde flights.
2. To gain market share, certain products will be set artificially low and once it is achieved, the price will be increased. This is called Penetration Pricing.
3. Economy Pricing is a no frills low price. The cost of marketing and manufacture are kept at a minimum. Supermarkets often have economy brands for soups, spaghetti, etc.
4. Here comes the Psychological pricing. This approach is used when the marketer wants the consumer to respond on an emotional, rather than rational basis. For example marking products as 'price point perspective' 99 cents and not one dollar.
5. Where there is a range of product or services the pricing reflect the benefits of parts of the range, Manufacturers go for Product Line Pricing. For example car washes. Basic wash could be $2, wash and wax $4, and the whole package $6.
6. Captive Product Pricing - Where products have complements, companies will charge a premium price where the consumer is captured. For example a razor manufacturer will charge a low price and recoup its margin (and more) from the sale of the only design of blades which fit the razor.
7. Sellers combine several products in the same package. This also serves to move old stock. Videos and CDs are often sold using the bundle approach. This is Product Bundle pricing.
8. This is the most favourite for the general crowd – To buy one and get one free. Pricing to promote a product is a very common application. This is Promotional Pricing.
9. Geographical pricing is evident where there are variations in price in different parts of the world. For example rarity value, or where shipping costs increase price.
10. External factors such as recession or increased competition force companies to provide 'value' products and services to retain sales e.g. value meals at McDonalds. This is called ‘Value Pricing’.

This is basically all about Consumer Pricing but there are concepts on IT Business Pricing too which I am yet to explore :)

United We Stood

To commemorate 60 years of Indian Independence, our office folks (Indians) had a get together which was organised by me and group of my friends.

People were surprised to see us with Indian flags as badges that was stuck in our shirts. And I could see our National Anthem print outs hanging at certain cubicles and so as Indian flags. Wat a spirit!

From Struggle...To Freedom...To Prosperity...India moves forward and so as we...This was the commencing line of my email to all their inboxes asking people to mark their calendars for a get together. Collecting all the names by running over and through all their cubicles was a bit tough, though there was no other go...

There was a good number of folks who turned up. It kicked off well with a cute little boy (one of our folks son) came to introduce himself...Then we had snacks, pop which was accompanied by a cake cutting in which 'Jai Hind' was inscribed. It was followed by a photo session and ended with the pride of India...National Anthem. This was a formal sign-off, but we din't want to leave like that. We moved into the informal part of the gathering - Anthakshari...With a blend of people from different regions, we were able to listen songs of different languages...

After a few rounds, we dispersed with a sense of fulfillment and joy! What else you need to rejuvenate???

It was a good effort as a whole, is what I felt! Kudos to all those who were behind the scenes helping me to make this a success!!!

Sudoku 1- Solution

Here is the solution for the Sudoku that I posted y'day.

And, Happy Independence day to all the fellow Indians out there!!!

Entrepreneur - A Spotlight

I have been thinking about this topic for quite sometime and here I am writing one (with a yawnn...It's my bedtime :))

Let me come to the topic. Here I want to touch base with an excerpt from HBR (Harvard Business review) about 'Saying No to No'...

Look around. This world is full of things and according to nay-sayers, it should never have had happened. "Impossible", "Impractical", "No-way" and a simple "No"...Isn't it high time that someone has got negative about negativity??? As everyone of us would have learnt, minus * minus is plus...Negative about negativity is also a plus. Saying 'No' is simple...but converting that two letter word to a three letter 'Yes' isn't easy(not literally)...But, yet 'Yes' prevails...
Yes, continents have been found.
Yes, men have played golf on the moon.
Yes, medical miracles happen.

What does it take to convert this 'No' to 'Yes'?
Curiosity. An open mind. Willingness to take risks. And when problems seem insoluble to most, when the challenge is hardest, when it hits the road badly, when everyone is shaking their heads, there's someone who stands up and say...No worries, let's go and do it! That's an Entrepreneur.

To be precise, it involves Hardwork; Dedication; Eating, breathing and living your dreams daily; Pushing harder; Taking a path which others dare to go; Never stopping and never surrendering; Being Fearless...That's an Entrepreneur.

When I write this, I remember one of my friends in college wrote this in my autograph.
Never take a path where others go...
Instead, take a path where noone dare to go...
Be a leader and make others follow you...
For you have the guts and ability to do...

In this context, I am not talking about me and my ability but the actual lines that she has written. This inspires me a lot. But, to be honest, preaching and getting inspired is easy than practising...Isn't it???

That's the end of this topic. But I have already thought about my next topic on Management. It needs some ground work to do. So, till I scribble that here, keep guessing!!!

N.B: Changing the font color to mark a difference in the topic category...Thinking outside the box..hee...hee...:):)

Today's Sudoku

Sify's site is down today and I am unable to do my Sify Sudoku as I used to do daily. Hence I had to grab a trial version of web Sudoku deluxe! It's an interactive one as that in Sify.com

On the verge of getting the nuances of the game, tried making my own Sudoku e-book but couldn't do so :(

This is today's Sudoku. I am yet to catalyse my pace in solving Sudoku. It took me 2mins, 17 seconds...

Try solving this. I'll post the solution by tomorrow.

Now, am ready to stare @ the mixed black, green and red screens! i.e. my Mainframe screen @ Office.
Ciao...

My Version of NK

After 6 hours of relentless efforts, I did it! Wondering what am I talking about?

I always dreamt of being in a Music band or atleast singing on stage. Although I had done solo singing couple of times (which was a flop show), I want to improvise my singing calibre. I am an average singer but aspiring to be a pro! :) Music and Musical instruments entices me always. Else, I might not have a Guitar and a Keyboard in my room (Although I dint learn much out of it!).

For the past few days, one of my friends was insisting me to try out this particular song. I am not even closer to Harini's voice and hence I entitled it as 'My version of Nila Kaigirathu'.
Listen it here:
http://rajim.podomatic.com/entry/2007-08-12T13_24_59-07_00

I dont know how far it has come out. After singing this song,and playing it back, I myself could find few flaws out of my voice and I am sure most of you will find that when you listen to it. And without a BGM, it was hard for me to get the perfect sruthi. But my emotive actions were good...I could feel the song when I rendered it!

Singing this took a few rehearsals which was about 20mins, but recording, converting and posting them took me about 5 hrs. Had to do lotsa research...Anyways, learning is always a tool for the future. Thanks to softwares like Audacity, lame and Podomatic, without which this Music Journey wouldn't have started.

Will it be a Journey??? It depends on your comments.
People, voice your views!

Just joking - What's your wish?

I happen to read this today. Most of you might have read this already. Anyways, am posting it here.

A man riding his Harley was riding along a California beach, when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, “Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.”

The biker pulled over and said, “Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want.” The Lord said, “Your request is materialistic! Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking; the supports required reaching the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind.”

The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, “Lord, I wish that I and all men could understand women; I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing’s wrong, and how I can make a woman truly happy.”

The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”

Kumble - 'The Batting Blizzard'

People who have not watched today's match or atleast who has not gone through the news might be either raising the eyebrows thinking 'When did Anil Kumble became a batting blizzard?' or 'Is it the person who wrote this, has mistakenly put batting instead of bowling?' Wait! Read below.

I have never thought I would give such a name to the spin king Kumble. The reason behind is his impressive century against the Englishmen @ Lords. Kumble is best known as 'Jumbo' among his fellowmates. Do you know why he got the name Jumbo??? Like the big Air Bus, he has a large heart ( in cricketing terms means willing to bowl long spells). Irrespective of the nature of the pitch he toils hard. To bowl in Indian conditions, one must have a brave heart for the pitches, as they are more suitable to the batsmen and only a man with large heart matching that of Jumbo plane can survive.

See the man in picture. How happy he is? This reminds me of his excellent spell against our arch rivals Pakistans where he took 10 wickets in a row. If I remember correctly, it was Faizlabad test. Taking 10 wickets is like scoring 100 in all the subjects which is not quite possible for anyone! But this man has crumbled England bowlers today...I wish I watched Monty and Anderson being fumbled with their balls by Kumble. With his unbeaten knock of 110, India has posted a mamooth total. It's not only Kumble's efforts that made India attain this target but also great batting skills shown by the whole bunch of batsman out there as hosts.

This shows age is no bar for a Success Spell. Thanks a ton Kumble!

Jeeto India Jeeto! and give your win a gift to India's Independence @ 60!!!

Ace the Anagrams - Results

Here are the results of 'Ace the Anagrams' that I posted earlier this week.

City Go Lo Ox - Toxicology - Study of Poisons
Cab Pair Oho - Acrophobia - Fear of height
Teen Hypo - Neophyte - novice
Elms Or - Morsel - small amount
Bite Ours so - Boisterous - noisy
Coiled - Docile - submissive
Nectar - Trance - Dreamy state
A Rigor Spy - Spirogyra - A freshwater alga
A Kit or - Troika - A Russian vehicle with three horses
Hay Mask - Yashmak - Veil worn by Muslim woman

Have a good weekend!

Deja'vu Vs Jamais'vu

Dejavu - It's a feeling of what's happening has happened before. I have had Dejavu and am sure most of you would have experienced it! We feel what we are doing is what we have done before in a remote time, several ages ago or may be yesterday, day before yesterday, last month, 2 years ago...Here is a hypothetical example of Dejavu. On your first visit to your friend's place, you see a hanging kitchen (weird though :)) and you feel like you have seen the same house with this hanging kitchen before!! It'sssssss a Dejavu.....

But, have you ever felt 'Jamais vu'?? It's the opposite of Dejavu. It's a feeling of false unfamiliarity with a situation. For example, walking into one's own home and feeling that one has never been there before.

I have seen people who have not gone into the extremities but have a sense of feeling that whatever happened so far seems that it has happened during their last birth???!!! Is it kind of selective Jamais vu??? GOK :)

Does anyone fall into this category? I am sure most of us would fall into category A but not B. I feel I'm into both :):):)

Frozen Thoughts

Hats off to this 'Treasury of Wisdom!!! Frozen thoughts is a monthly magazine which deals with persona, relationships, situations, balancing life of mirth and sorrow. The first time when I read it, I liked the column (actually forgot the column name :() which compared car and life.

A sample comparison here...A car has rear mirror and so as life. If you look at the rear mirror alone when you drive the car, then you are heading for a mishap. So as life. If you keep thinking of the past alone, you can never move forward in life. But that doesn't mean that you should not look at the rear mirror at all. At times, for good, you should look at it but not always. It's a simple comparison but conveys a great message.

FT is simply amazing! Here is a gist of the columns and if you feel you would like to read it, then check out the link @ the bottom of this blog.
Awakening - It's an answer to all your unanswered questions in life
Unposted Letter - Editorial that contains profound facts
Simply Great - People known for their altruism whom the society is unaware of
Health glance - Your dietician
Intimate Strangers - Relationships for a lifetime
Chewing Gum, with a difference - Ironies in human behaviour
Impressions - People who have left impressions on this world

And much more...Dig into this Treasure trove and get motivated, inspired!
The contents and layout of FT is a magnum opus!

Atleast, people need this when they are down in spirits. Isn't it???
Link: http://www.frozenthoughts.com

Discovery Informatics???

While I was glancing through e-news, I came across a new term which is 'Discovery Informatics'. I know 'Discovery' and 'Informatics', but what is this Discovery Informatics? I din't even get a small idea of what it is actually about. Hence I began my research on this topic and thought I would present it in a nutshell here.

Discovery Informatics is a rational approach to discover new materials and formulations. It's a combo of computer and Mathematical Science which extracts new information from huge streams of data. It is different from what modern computers do. A modern computer which can hold terabytes of data is built to do what is told. But DI suggests what more can it do.

Theory is always abstract. An example always extend its meaning. In this context of DI, here is an example. Imagine a computer that can read torrents of data pops up one day and says 'There's an interesting correlation between late night diaper sales and late night pop sales in convenience and grocery stores. Would you like to investigate this further?'

Another one: Imagine reading the entire Library of Congress (the largest library) each day in a search for subtle patterns that could lead to new discoveries. Except it's more difficult than that. Since many of the best discoveries come from unanticipated observations, you must be able to spot these patterns on the fly, sometimes without even knowing what you're looking for.

To put up simply, when you search something in any search engine, the results provided will be related to your search. But DI is something that would suggest you, what else can you look for in relation to your search?

The field of Informatics has impressive rainbows to chase - This is what scientists think.

Concepts of DI still looks hazy to me and it will, unless it takes a great leap in this techno arena and make people like me understand it better.

Ace the Anagrams

I have created a series of Anagrams. Crack 'em!!!
I'll post the answers by this Friday.

City Go Lo Ox
Cab Pair Oho
Teen Hypo
Elms Or
Bite Ours so
Coiled
Nectar
A Rigor Spy
A Kit or
Hay Mask

Unleash your vocab skills!!!

Yo-Yo..Young Billionaires

Huh! To be young and rich isn't that easy. When the average age of the billionaire's is at sixties, can you imagine someone who was listed as the youngest billionaire at an age of 8? It's German prince Albert von Thurn and Taxis who has crossed his teen and now @ 23. Inheriting his fortune from his clan and becoming a billionaire wouldn't have taken much efforts. But becoming the world's youngest self-made billionaire is a bingo!!! It's Ukraine's Kostyantin Shevago who controls an Ukraine bank and a deputy in parliament. He is 35 years old. 35 is young though!? :) Among this younger crowd is a female, Chu Lam Yiu, who chairs the company called Huabo Intn'l holdings.

I am expecting another young lady Yang Huiyan who has catapulted into the 10 figure club and already being listed in Hong Kong's stock exchange to join this elite club soon. Will she??? Have to wait and watch.

Stronger Ruppee = Stronger India

Let me ask a question first.

What type of economic strength is preferable to India ?A) A strong Indian economy fueled by its cheap labor due to a weaker rupee against dollar, where the Indians end up working in shifts, late nights, whole nights and what not… only doing low profile jobs which foreign companies want to offload to India, so that they can concentrate on high end works and become even better. For instance in IT field, providing BPO services, support and maintenance work for products…
OR
B) A strong Indian economy fueled by its strong innovations and products, no matter whether the rupee is strong or weak against dollar.. where Indians work only in regular office hours of 9 to 6, developing cutting edge technologies and solutions, selling our world class products both inside and outside India . For instance in IT field, imagine operating systems, compilers, databases etc all coming out of India ..

I do not deny the fact that the IT boom in India came to a large extent because of (A). Well and good, we have had the benefits of our cost being cheap in western markets due to a weak rupee against dollar.. We have had our share because of this advantage in the past 2 decades..
But at the same time doesn’t it make sense to move towards (B), instead of crying foul against rupee becoming stronger against dollar?

What a pity! Indian IT companies are feeling bad because rupee is becoming stronger against dollar! Reason, their profits will go down when the value of rupee is stronger, as every single dollar that comes into their account now means lesser rupee than earlier..(if for instance earlier they used to get 47 rupees for every dollar that comes in, but today its about 40!)
But isn’t this a matter of celebration? Our rupee is gaining importance internationally and is becoming stronger again.. How many of us know that in 1947 when India got independence 1 Rupee was 1.2 US dollars?

These Indian IT companies instead of relying on a weaker rupee for their profit should now look at coming out with innovative products and technical solutions. What have these companies done in the arena of core system products? Why don’t we have any operating systems, compilers, database systems, development platforms etc coming out of India ? Why don’t we develop tools like photoshop or flash? We have talent, but they all are working in American companies on these products.. Cannot our Indian IT companies setup at least small teams to develop such products?

Instead they are planning to make their employees work on saturdays too ! So that their profits can increase due to extra hours the employees put in.. As if India doesnt have any other option other than cheap labour, workaholic labor!! Are there no brains in India who can setup companies developing products and make money just by printing out more serial numbers and burning their product DVDs?

If Indian companies continue to depend on its weak currency, then how would Indian economy survive in a world where all currencies have equal value? Survival of the fittest.. Only greater innovation can help us in that case..

We need to have knowledge and technological advantage if India wants to become a superpower, not low cost based cheap labor advantage! Let the Chinese do it..
I hope that rupee becomes more and more stronger so that Indians are forced to use their brains and come up with innovative products and next generation technologies, than to provide low end services…

We need to create a situation where other countries line up to buy our F-16s, to buy our operating systems, to buy our mobile phones and I-pods, to buy our Boeing, to buy our Mercedes…

A stronger rupee means we can easily afford foreign trips!
“A stronger rupee means Indians can buy things anywhere in the world on par with developed economies! We dont have to spend crores of rupees then to buy a Boeing! We don’t have to pay tens of thousands of rupees for international air travels! A stronger rupee means greater international exposure! There wont be a difference between buying a Maruti and buying a Mercedes! One can go on a trip to the Grand Canyon just like the way one goes to Ladakh or Nepal ! How do you think american citizens are able to tour all over the world? Because they earn more? No. But because their currency USD is stronger.. and this is where a strong rupee will lead us to!…“

I am not saying providing low end services is wrong .. It gave us a very good start in the 90s. But that should definitely not be the bread and butter fueling our economic boom indefinitely in the future.. For the simple reason that it can’t continue to do so any longer.. other low cost destinations, cheaper than India are already coming up in the world… Let us move ahead… become more innovative.. the journey has just started… This is just the beginning of all the beginnings…

Thanks to Shastry who shared this info.

GV Prakash in the limelight!

Music prodigy, A.R. Rahman's nephew...made 'Urugudhey Urugudhey' (Veyil) to still linger in our minds. He has come with yet another excellent score of music in 'Oram Po' with singers Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik rendering with utmost perfection. Song is 'Idhu Enna Maayam, Idhu edhuvarai pogam??'

Link: http://www.123musiq.com/SOURCE/latest%20tamil%20movie%20songs/Oram%20Po/Idu%20Enna%20Mayam.wma

Who am I - A Game of Celebrities

Forbes posted the top 100 celebrities. Gazing through the whole bunch of 100 is a herculean task...but I wanted to. To make it interesting, I created an Excel sheet writing all those celebrities name and my task was to identify each one of them. Some of them were bouncers for me!

I am going to give the top 10 names and your task is to identify each one of them. If you get all the 10 right, it's a Ggooooooooooooooggggggglllllllliiiiiiiiii........:):)

Here we go...
1. Tom Cruise
2. Rolling Stones
3. Oprah Winfrey
4. U2
5. Tiger Woods
6. Steven Spielberg
7. Howard Stern
8. 50 Cent
9. Cast of the Sopranos
10. Dan Brown

This is a pretty easy list and my score was 8! Not a Googli though :(

Series of calls...

Everyday is a day of new experience, be it good or bad. Today's new experience was sitting with a Customer care representative and shadowing her...It's not easy to be a customer care rep...Calls and they are inseparable...

Within a hour, there were 9 calls. The person whom I shadowed was too good enough to answer all my questions and explained me, the process in detail. Each call was different and I did gain an iota of knowledge on the Business. Although I am into a different job spectrum as an App Specialist, this gave an experience worth mentioning!

My Debut to Blogosphere!!!

Finally, decided to be a part of this blog world. I don't know how far I am going to be consistent. As yoda said, there is no try, only do; I believe in it!

Welcome to 'My Space'!!!