Gizmos and Cars

Hyundai is going to come with a rear wheel drive car! cool. (I hope it could have been a 4x4).

Catch it on this.... http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/may/31car.htm (Thanks to Biz Std.)

Something about books in biz on net

Some overrated and underrated books...

http://www.bnet.com/2406-13070_23-161115.html

Summary of good books... http://www.squeezedbooks.com/

Good link.... http://www.socaltech.com/Insights/showarticle.php?id=00033

(c) respective owners have their copyrights.

Kids and Lunch

Kids dont like greens? May be I was when I was a kid. Still I dont like Radish. My mom used to make Vendhaya Kolambu, for which I used to run away and take only rasam.

It has taken 1.5 hours to make them eat Rice with Radish Sambar and 2 poriyals (cabbage and b.beans)

They finally got their kesari and juice, only after finishing their quota of rice.

Amazing Spelling Bee kid from Indiana

Glad to know about the Indian Origin kids doing great in the contest. Well he is from "India"na? pun intended!
Way to go Sameer Mishra!
He spelt 'guerdon' to win .... http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guerdon

Online Learning resources for Spanish/German/French?

Anyone aware of Online Learning resources for Spanish/German/French?

(I took some basic courses and forgot all along....)

Update...

Found a sharing resource site. http://www.italki.com/ I have signed up and will report the progress. (here a signed up member will help you grind the basics)

Someone pointed me to http://www.wayn.com, but you have to catch friends to learn there.

How luck takes one all along?

Recently I had some time and was searching for information of youngsters who made it big. These are the people, who never have had their success go thru their head. They take it easy (dont believe, I can talk anything, and get away with it).

Suhash of Kerala, the young CEO of world was one.... (now RVCE student)

A leading Tamil/Hindu singer, who dropped going to school after 10th, and in distance learning mode, being a multifaceted personality!

Micheal Dell

Bill Gates (a philanthropist now.)

... list to be added

Walking in one way road

Bangalore has too many one way roads. Never mind the barriers divided roads (like BTM to silk board).

 

Brigade one way roads and surroundings are too touch to cross. Almost certain bikewallahs would cross driving inteh wrong side, and also those traffic police guys who dont bother.... (they flout rules at times, but they are definitely conscious)

 

Why this post, well yesterday I saw some traffic cops, collecting hefty fines, cash or with bill, I am told the "month end" and collections are important.

Dr.Phil's Personality Test (I paid someone in 2003 to take this test!)

Dr. Phil gave this test on Oprah. Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out. Read on, this is very interesting!

Here's something that you may find interesting ...psychological profile.

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate, and it only takes 2 minutes.

 

Don't peek but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers are for who you are now..... not who you were in the past. Have pen or pencil and paper ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees.

It's only 10 simple questions, so ... grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers.
Ready?? Be Honest!

Begin..

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon & and early evening 
c) late at night 

2. You usually walk
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with
a) a big, appreciative laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted; do you ...
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep, you lie
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone the should "handle with care". You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement your radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

 

(c) Dr.Phil as found on http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/trivia/philtest.asp

IPL data clipped in display (refer my previous post)

Team IPL	RunsFor	Overs1	RR1	RunsAgai	Overs2	RR2	NRR
Rajasthan Royals	2245	261.1	8.6	2153	270.2	7.97	0.63
Kings XI Punjab	2352	259.5	9.06	2271	265.5	8.55	0.51
Chennai Super Kings	2241	264.2	8.48	2195	253.1	8.67	-0.19
Delhi Daredevils	2001	233.2	8.58	2031	246.4	8.24	0.34
Mumbai Indians	2080	249.1	8.35	2096	269.3	7.78	0.57
Kolkata Knight Riders	1845	242.4	7.61	1718	221.4	7.76	-0.15
Royal Challengers	1983	272.4	7.28	2205	261.3	8.44	-1.16
Deccan Chargers	2229	270	8.26	2307	264.3	8.73	-0.47

http://vijayashankar.blogspot.com/2008/05/about-ipl-and-matches.html

Go Chennai Superkings!

I did not write or support any IPL team. (except I mentally wantd Royal Challengers Bangalore to win).

Now it is a fashion to talk about some team.

Hence Go Chennai Superkings!

If they win Hurray! If not he he. :-)

About IPL and the matches

So many of you are writing to me on not writing about the IPL.

Somehow I believed that these matches are staged, and from the first match Brendon McCullum was fed with school-boyish bowling.

Now for Semi finals and Finals the rates are going at 25000 rs onwards for a seat! Obscene.

It was a forced to be a Mumbai affair, all along for obvious reasons, for people who control it, knowingly that we are sitting in the monsoon season!

Well some facts.... all the 8 teams have had a decent run rate. No one is above all. It is the matter of last few balls or overs. Well knit. In fact Deccan Chargers has a healthy run rate at the 6th position. Surpsingly Mumbai Indians has controlled matches well, with a lower run rate against than that they scored.

Team IPL	Games	Won	Lost	NR	Points	RunsFor	Overs1	RR1	RunsAgai	Overs2	RR2	NRR
Rajasthan Royals	14	11	3	0	22	2245	261.1	8.60	2153	270.2	7.97	0.63
Kings XI Punjab	14	10	4	0	20	2352	259.5	9.06	2271	265.5	8.55	0.51
Chennai Super Kings	14	8	6	0	16	2241	264.2	8.48	2195	253.1	8.67	-0.19
Delhi Daredevils	14	7	6	1	15	2001	233.2	8.58	2031	246.4	8.24	0.34
Mumbai Indians	14	7	7	0	14	2080	249.1	8.35	2096	269.3	7.78	0.57
Kolkata Knight Riders	14	6	7	1	13	1845	242.4	7.61	1718	221.4	7.76	-0.15
Royal Challengers	14	4	10	0	8	1983	272.4	7.28	2205	261.3	8.44	-1.16
Deccan Chargers	14	2	12	0	4	2229	270	8.26	2307	264.3	8.73	-0.47

TN Matriculation SSLC 2008 results declared

May 30th 2008, 10AM
TN Matriculation SSLC 2008 results declared
You can log on to http://tnresults.nic.in for results. Good luck!

Blogging Tips

Blogging Tips

Blogging can be a fun way to express your thoughts on anything you want from music to movies. But it's important to remember that information that is on the Internet can be read by anyone - including strangers. Follow these tips to keep yourself safe: Never put your last name or the full names of your friends or family online. Instead, use screen names or nicknames. Don't put your birthdate with your name. It could lead to identity theft. Never list your address, school, workplace or telephone number. It's an invitation for stalkers. Don't put pictures of yourself and your friends and never list who is in the picture. Anyone can use the online photograph to find you. If you have a teenager in the house, talk to them about their Internet usage. Not many teens want their parents to read their blogs, you can help them think of ways to use a blog while protecting their privacy. Blogging Facts: According to data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, out of 24 million American teens between ages 12 and 17, 21 million, or 87 percent, use the Internet. Sixty-five percent use instant messaging and 44 percent go online every day. Another 29 percent of teens keep several instant message conversations going on at once, and 25 percent have even "IM'ed" people in the same room. Out of the 21 million teens who do use the Internet, the Pew study found that 57 percent have created their own blog and have posted stories, videos or photography online. source: Lydia Seabol, The Tuscaloosa News, Alabama

But why?

In the IT industry, idea and technology execution brings money. 

 

What has the product or service got to do, than others have to offer?

I submitted my proposals for a product development, and never got the funding required during 2001.

A cunning friend of mine who had heard about the idea from me over a cup of coffee in 2003, developed a prototype himself, and was able to get some funding and make it a success.

But why?

Retiring at 45, I wish

I always wonder when is the right time to shift gears and change careers.
I have personally made moves to many employers, owing to job satisfaction (10 till date). Obviously they gained from "one mans loss is others gain" theory. Even worked in the USA for around 5+ years, and a long career with a single employer. Now (I am in IT for the last 18 years), is it worth to switch to writing and research? (follow your heart where it takes?). Retire at 45 has been my goal (with passive investments), now I am 40 and 5 more years to go! You dont know whether you have done the right thing, unless you interact with others and understand and learn from their sucess!

Note - anyone with solid planning ideas, drop in a mail

Nostalgia of USA

I had lived in Reading, PA, USA during 95-99 and lots of memories....

I had been part of a local group of a community where I lived in.

Now the sub prime crisis has hit hard, people are selling houses, just like that, at the drop of the hat.

A house a friend of mine - bought for around $400K in 2000 is worth only $135K now. No logic. 3 Br, 2 Bath, with 0.75 acre individual home (trying searching houses for sale in 19606).

Cheaper than India. I think I am better off buying property in USA and retire. You know the local property tax is only 2% and a max of about $4K or so. This amount is completely deductible in the income.

Reading is a lovely and a safe place to live. Some small software co's are also there.

Election Results of Karnataka May 2008 an update

I am watching Karnataka Election news and bewildered how the angry planets work against certain parties.

Now the trend is certain, BJP is the clear majority party, with support of some independents.

Refer to the prediction that I had given on May 23rd, 2008.
http://vijayashankar.blogspot.com/2008/05/karnataka-may-2008-elections-results.html

Wait till 12 Noon, to have a complete picture emerge. The Bellary scene is quite different, as the big money lords are biting the dust (mine dust?).

It is no doubt that statistics and astrology cannot predict to the core of results, as many people are involved.

I think we have to randomly choose a number for each consituency and see the weightage of each party and see the results, which is laborious.

I did for world cup predictions and was wrong for India and right for Pakistan in all matches. Australis emerging as winner was foregone conclusion..... but there elections are different ballgame.

God help us all.