" Religion is making its presence felt even in the mobile space around the world in the form of devotional ring tones, ring back tones, wall papers of Gods and Goddesses, picture messages, sms requests for prayers and even sms texts from major religious scriptures.
Jews in Israel send their prayers by SMS to rabbis, while the Vatican hands out Pope's "Thought of the Day" through SMS, and a desi mobile company in Mumbai has started a service through which people can send prayers by sms to a Lord Ganesha Temple.
Even the new age gurus are not far behind in using the mobile platform to spread their message. Deepak Chopra is offering his "The Seven Spiritual Laws" in the United States in the form of quotes, inspirational messages, images and tips for a healthy living.
It is not just the content and service providers that are catering to the religious tastes of the customers but also the mobile set manufacturers. In Gulf countries, some companies make phones that indicate the direction of Mecca for praying.
The phones even come with pre-recorded prayers. "The affinity for religious ring tones and ring back tones is growing in India. Traditionally this was on physical formats like cassettes and CDs but with mobile subscribers growing fast, the existing market base is also expanding,"
according to Mandar Thakur, general manager of Soundbuzz India - a company that is involved in the digital distribution of ring tones and ring back tones to various operators.
"For people who hear devotional music - the mobile phone has today become a direct way of carrying their beliefs and faiths with them," he says.
According to Thakur, "The devotional category is currently small in the range of 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of the total ring tones market, but it is the ring back tones category that is witnessing the most action."
The ring back tones total for about 10 per cent of the total sale of ring back tones by Soundbuzz and this introduced only 3 months back! "We expect the devotional ringback tones to grow to about 20 per cent by first quarter next year," Thakur says.
Although the trend towards religious quest on mobile phones was not started in India, all indications point to the fact that the Indian mobile user is fast lapping up this concept of taking God along with him wherever he goes.
While major mobile content providers are offering religious wallpapers and devotional ring tones, others are providing services like Gurbani and other prayers that subscribers can listen to by dialling to their service.
According to an Indiatimes sms official, the leading mobile content provider in India, there has been an exponential growth in the demand for religious wallpapers and ring tones. Devotional tones are especially popular.
'Gayatri Mantra' is the highest and hottest seller in both the ring tones and ring back tone category followed by 'Hanuman Chalisa'. Some of the other tones that are very popular are 'Jai Ganesh', 'Shiv Stuti' and 'Gurbani'.
The demand for religious wallpapers is next only to Bollywood and it is growing. Lord Ganesha being the most popular deity. Even religious television channels in India are not far behind in bringing the godly advise on the humble handset.
Some of them are providing SMS service by which viewers can ask their gurus for some advice on spiritual or personal aspect of their lives. These channels have an impressive line up of Godmen who will answer your queries. Just send an sms!
Religious chain messages in India are a rage too. Earlier, people used to send postcards with religious messages, asking recipients to forward them to other people for luck. Now SMS is fulfilling that need.
Vaishali Dar who is a great devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba tends to receive at least one SMS every fortnight from one of her many friends who asks to forward the same to other people ranging from 5 to 21, to bring her luck, and she does it religiously.
"You see, I know that Sai Baba or Lord Ganesha may not get angry or curse me if I do not forward the message, but I still do it because I see no harm and I don't mind spending a few rupees on it" she says.
While the mobile user in India is happy with what he is getting and craving for more, it is the mobile content and service providers that are praying all the way to the bank. "
click here for the original article
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
mars rocks
" American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Monday announced the naming of three rocks found on Mars after an ancient Indian seat of learning, a priceless Indian diamond and a south Indian festival. "
" Nalanda, Kohinoor and Pongal are the three names chosen for certain types of rocks on Mars, NASA officials on a tour to India said in Kolkata."
" Appearing on a private television channel, the team said the names had been approved by NASA after much research."
the day is not far when man will finally land on Mars, and stake his claim to the red planet. but have no doubts, the little green martians will defend their homeland with great tenacity, as they hide behind nalanda, and hurl kohinoor spears and pongal brickbats at us.
click here for the original article
" Nalanda, Kohinoor and Pongal are the three names chosen for certain types of rocks on Mars, NASA officials on a tour to India said in Kolkata."
" Appearing on a private television channel, the team said the names had been approved by NASA after much research."
the day is not far when man will finally land on Mars, and stake his claim to the red planet. but have no doubts, the little green martians will defend their homeland with great tenacity, as they hide behind nalanda, and hurl kohinoor spears and pongal brickbats at us.
click here for the original article
aki's wedding toast
Good evening, everyone. I'm Apurva Kumar - most of you know me as Apu. On behalf of the groom’s family, our parents Kamita and Vasantha Kumar, as well as the bride’s family, and her parents, Cheri and Ben Burnsed, we want to welcome each of you to the reception today. It is a true tribute to Aki and Rachel that you have traveled to Reno to celebrate this joyous occasion with us.
I am sure you will agree that this has turned out to be a fabulous event. Aki, I would like to extend my thanks to you for giving me the chance to fulfill one of my childhood dreams of becoming Mr. Frodo, the ring bearer. I would like to also thank you for finally admitting, after all these years, that I indeed am the best man!
When Aki first asked me to be the best man, I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were supposed to be. So I asked around, & was told that my main duties for today were:
1. To ensure that the groom arrives on time
2. To make sure he is sober, &
3. Make sure he is looking good
Well 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, after all I’m the best man, not a plastic surgeon!
I’m standing here tonight, pretty boastful I have to admit, of my brother, Aki, and his lovely bride, Rachel. I am here to sing their praises, and share with you some of my most endearing moments with them, and the many values that I've learnt from them.
Aki, I begin with you. And no, I do not intend to share "the" incident from stag night. On second thought, maybe I should. So here goes.... Tim, the oversee-er, Chris, the generous tipper, Alex, the silent Frenchman, and yours truly, the Best Man - 4 men with unscrupulous values, took the young bachelor out for his last night on the town. Relax guys (looking at tim, chris, alex), I am not about to violate our non-disclosure agreement. Lets just suffice it to say that we tempted Aki with a wide variety of delicious entrées, and sumptuous delights. Aki was totally impressed, but absolutely uninterested, and so not in the mood, for food. In fact, Aki was busy clicking away on his phone. So I snatched the phone away from him, only to find that he was sending the sweetest text message to Rachel - it read "i love you my hindi bunni". That night, while the rest of us foolhardy bachelors were indulging in sensory overload, Aki and Rachel were busy exchanging lovey-dovey messages.
Aki, you are our lighthouse, our beacon, our lone star, you are the solitary oak in a meadow of wavering reeds, you are the Shepard leading us hapless bachelors from the valley of darkness into the glory of marital salvation. And most importantly, you have taught me that it does not matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!
Rachel, you look stunning as always. I have not seen a more beautiful bride. I've had the honor of knowing you for many years. You are a terrific person. You are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, and caring. Your qualities read like a list of “who’s who?”.
Most of us know that Aki is short for Akarsha. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "man with a magnetic personality" - magnetic as in attractive, not bipolar. Most of us have come to realize over the years that Rachel is at the core of Aki's magnetism. She stood by him through his highs and lows, his victories and his struggles, and most importantly, she has endured the cacophony of his blues harmonica, and she has promised today to do so for the rest of their lives.
Aki and Rachel, I am filled with great pride and admiration as I watch you take on the role of husband and wife. Both of you are wonderful individuals, and together you make the perfect couple!
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the groom with a bride so fair, and the bride with a groom so rare!
To Rachel and Aki, the Bride and Groom!!
Cheers!
I am sure you will agree that this has turned out to be a fabulous event. Aki, I would like to extend my thanks to you for giving me the chance to fulfill one of my childhood dreams of becoming Mr. Frodo, the ring bearer. I would like to also thank you for finally admitting, after all these years, that I indeed am the best man!
When Aki first asked me to be the best man, I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were supposed to be. So I asked around, & was told that my main duties for today were:
1. To ensure that the groom arrives on time
2. To make sure he is sober, &
3. Make sure he is looking good
Well 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, after all I’m the best man, not a plastic surgeon!
I’m standing here tonight, pretty boastful I have to admit, of my brother, Aki, and his lovely bride, Rachel. I am here to sing their praises, and share with you some of my most endearing moments with them, and the many values that I've learnt from them.
Aki, I begin with you. And no, I do not intend to share "the" incident from stag night. On second thought, maybe I should. So here goes.... Tim, the oversee-er, Chris, the generous tipper, Alex, the silent Frenchman, and yours truly, the Best Man - 4 men with unscrupulous values, took the young bachelor out for his last night on the town. Relax guys (looking at tim, chris, alex), I am not about to violate our non-disclosure agreement. Lets just suffice it to say that we tempted Aki with a wide variety of delicious entrées, and sumptuous delights. Aki was totally impressed, but absolutely uninterested, and so not in the mood, for food. In fact, Aki was busy clicking away on his phone. So I snatched the phone away from him, only to find that he was sending the sweetest text message to Rachel - it read "i love you my hindi bunni". That night, while the rest of us foolhardy bachelors were indulging in sensory overload, Aki and Rachel were busy exchanging lovey-dovey messages.
Aki, you are our lighthouse, our beacon, our lone star, you are the solitary oak in a meadow of wavering reeds, you are the Shepard leading us hapless bachelors from the valley of darkness into the glory of marital salvation. And most importantly, you have taught me that it does not matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!
Rachel, you look stunning as always. I have not seen a more beautiful bride. I've had the honor of knowing you for many years. You are a terrific person. You are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, and caring. Your qualities read like a list of “who’s who?”.
Most of us know that Aki is short for Akarsha. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "man with a magnetic personality" - magnetic as in attractive, not bipolar. Most of us have come to realize over the years that Rachel is at the core of Aki's magnetism. She stood by him through his highs and lows, his victories and his struggles, and most importantly, she has endured the cacophony of his blues harmonica, and she has promised today to do so for the rest of their lives.
Aki and Rachel, I am filled with great pride and admiration as I watch you take on the role of husband and wife. Both of you are wonderful individuals, and together you make the perfect couple!
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the groom with a bride so fair, and the bride with a groom so rare!
To Rachel and Aki, the Bride and Groom!!
Cheers!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
s h i f t
A new bicycle design created at Purdue University could erase the need for parents to hold on to the back of a two-wheel bicycle as their child learns how to ride.
The bike, called SHIFT, was created by an industrial design professor and two students. Their designed topped 853 entrants from 56 countries to win the $15,000 first prize in the 9th International Bicycle Design Competition in Taiwan.
"Most children learn how to ride a bike on training wheels, but these simply keep the bike from tipping," said Scott S. Shim, an assistant professor in the College of Liberal Arts. "Our bike allows children to learn how to balance themselves as they ride instead of looking back to see if their parent is still holding the bike.
"This bicycle, which is for toddlers, was designed with my 4-year-old son, Kevin, in mind." The 16-inch-wheel bicycle looks like a tricycle, but as the child gains momentum and learns to balance, the two rear wheels shift inward to merge into one wheel. This causes the balance to gradually shift from the bicycle to the child.
"SHIFT provides more balance at lower speeds when stability is most critical, especially when starting and stopping, by providing a larger stance," Shim said.
black friday
Black Friday
Language: HINDI
Director:Anurag Kashyap
Producer:Jhamu Sughand, JSPL
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Pawan Malhotra
Music: Indian Ocean
Lyrics: Piyush Mishra
Cinematography: N. Nataraja Subramanian
Editing: Aarti Bajaj
Black Friday is the story of the 1993 bomb blasts that took place in Mumbai. Based on a book by S. Hussain Zaidi, this docu-drama tries to recreate those events and the intense feelings that followed them. The documentary was screened in the US at the Indian Film Festival - Los Angeles on April 22. It was adjudged the Jury Grand Prize winner for "original storytelling, innovative cinematic technique and boldness of vision in tackling a complicated social issue."
We attending the screening of the movie at the Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley) as part of the San Francisco International Film Festival this past Sunday. The movie brought back sad memories and raw emotions that most Bombayites have struggled with for the past decade. I was in the middle of my 11th grade final examination at Ruparel College when I heard and felt the bombs explode all over the city. Mom and brother were at home - it was my brother's 12th birthday. Dad was at this office in South Bombay. The family was safe and unhurt, but the ghastly incident left scars that went much deeper.
Overall, the story stayed true to the events and presented multiple and conflicting points of view without ever being judgmental. The movie is currently banned in India and can only be viewed at international screenings.
the CF years
The "Carly Fiorina Years" Memorabilia Shop
Those who outlasted Carly Fiorina, Hewlett-Packard's ousted chief executive, now can trumpet that fact on a T-shirt or coffee mug. The Carly Fiorina Years Memorabilia Shop sells various items emblazoned with logos such as "I survived the Carly Fiorina Years, 1999-2005."
The site has been expanding its offerings of late. It now offers products for non-survivors who lost their jobs during restructuring initiatives and for those who survived Bob Palmer's tenure as Digital Equipment Corp. CEO. (Compaq acquired DEC in 1998 before HP acquired Compaq in 2002.)
Another logo reads, "Putting the 'i' in 'performance' since 2002," a likely reference to the lowest rating awarded through the HP performance review. Employees rated "i" are typically placed on "corrective action" and more often than not end up leaving the company.
Those who outlasted Carly Fiorina, Hewlett-Packard's ousted chief executive, now can trumpet that fact on a T-shirt or coffee mug. The Carly Fiorina Years Memorabilia Shop sells various items emblazoned with logos such as "I survived the Carly Fiorina Years, 1999-2005."
The site has been expanding its offerings of late. It now offers products for non-survivors who lost their jobs during restructuring initiatives and for those who survived Bob Palmer's tenure as Digital Equipment Corp. CEO. (Compaq acquired DEC in 1998 before HP acquired Compaq in 2002.)
Another logo reads, "Putting the 'i' in 'performance' since 2002," a likely reference to the lowest rating awarded through the HP performance review. Employees rated "i" are typically placed on "corrective action" and more often than not end up leaving the company.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
my democratic nation
"The relentless sun has set on the scorched land. A new day begins with azure skies celebrating an all-encompassing democratic nation."
Finally, I get to win my first board on warfish ! I've played 3 games so far. I fared miserably at my first game and was first to get booted off the board. I took a conservative stance with my second game, but that did not help much beyond delaying my inevitable exit from the board. I then realized that the trick to surviving is to play by numbers, stick with your game plan, and avoid rash reactions to your opponents moves.
The result - total world domination!
Finally, I get to win my first board on warfish ! I've played 3 games so far. I fared miserably at my first game and was first to get booted off the board. I took a conservative stance with my second game, but that did not help much beyond delaying my inevitable exit from the board. I then realized that the trick to surviving is to play by numbers, stick with your game plan, and avoid rash reactions to your opponents moves.
The result - total world domination!
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
the shaadi bazaar
Is Arranged Marriage Really Any Worse Than Craigslist?
This desultory casting around to see what was out there has become much more urgent now that I’m in my thirties, and in their quest, my parents have discovered a dizzying array of Websites: shaadi.com, indiamatrimony.com, etc. Within these sites are sub-sites for Indian regions, like punjabimatrimony.com. You might be surprised at who you’d find on them: the guy in the next cubicle, your freshman-year roommate at NYU, maybe even the cute girl you tried to pick up at a Lower East Side bar last night.
Far from being a novel approach to matrimony, these sites are a natural extension of how things have been done in India for decades. Even since well before the explosion of the country’s famously vibrant press in the fifties, Indians were coupling up via matrimonial ads in national papers (“Match sought for Bengali Brahmin, wheatish complexion,” etc.) ......
This desultory casting around to see what was out there has become much more urgent now that I’m in my thirties, and in their quest, my parents have discovered a dizzying array of Websites: shaadi.com, indiamatrimony.com, etc. Within these sites are sub-sites for Indian regions, like punjabimatrimony.com. You might be surprised at who you’d find on them: the guy in the next cubicle, your freshman-year roommate at NYU, maybe even the cute girl you tried to pick up at a Lower East Side bar last night.
Far from being a novel approach to matrimony, these sites are a natural extension of how things have been done in India for decades. Even since well before the explosion of the country’s famously vibrant press in the fifties, Indians were coupling up via matrimonial ads in national papers (“Match sought for Bengali Brahmin, wheatish complexion,” etc.) ......
.... Like most Indians of their generation, my parents believe there are only two legitimate professions: doctor and engineer (not medicine and engineering, but doctor and engineer). Yes, they’ve heard of such newfangled professions as investment banking and law, but, oh, no, they won’t be fooled. Across India can be heard the refrain, “It is good match: They found doctor,” and my father expects nothing less for his little girl.
Click here to read the original article
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
the pachydermal connection
Your body could soon be the backbone of a broadband personal data network linking your mobile phone or MP3 player to a cordless headset, your digital camera to a PC or printer, and all the gadgets you carry around to each other.
These personal area networks are already possible using radio-based technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or just plain old cables to connect devices. But NTT, the Japanese communications company, has developed a technology called RedTacton, which it claims can send data over the surface of the skin at speeds of up to 2Mbps - equivalent to a fast broadband data connection.
Using RedTacton-enabled devices, music from an MP3 player in your pocket would pass through your clothing and shoot over your body to headphones in your ears. Instead of fiddling around with a cable to connect your digital camera to your computer, you could transfer pictures just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck. And since data can pass from one body to another, you could also exchange electronic business cards by shaking hands, trade music files by dancing cheek to cheek, or swap phone numbers just by kissing.
Need more bandwidth? Grow more skin!
Click here for the complete article
These personal area networks are already possible using radio-based technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or just plain old cables to connect devices. But NTT, the Japanese communications company, has developed a technology called RedTacton, which it claims can send data over the surface of the skin at speeds of up to 2Mbps - equivalent to a fast broadband data connection.
Using RedTacton-enabled devices, music from an MP3 player in your pocket would pass through your clothing and shoot over your body to headphones in your ears. Instead of fiddling around with a cable to connect your digital camera to your computer, you could transfer pictures just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck. And since data can pass from one body to another, you could also exchange electronic business cards by shaking hands, trade music files by dancing cheek to cheek, or swap phone numbers just by kissing.
Need more bandwidth? Grow more skin!
Click here for the complete article
my elevated revelation
i am a nascar
on rookie skis
i can turn left
then i freeze,
right-turn begs
a superhuman effort
invariably bringing me
down to my knees.
i am a downhill
champ on flats
slope it gently
and i go splat,
add to it a
turn or two
and watch me zoom
like a blind dingbat.
a freefall artiste
down the chutes
taming steep trails
shaking in my boots,
and as the blues
turn to double-black
my jewels shrink into
their teeny-weeny sack.
it then hit me, i'm brown
in an endless field of white
i'd better play it safe
hang on to dear life,
this desi in denial
needs to focus on survival
and try his very best to
not be dead on arrival.
on rookie skis
i can turn left
then i freeze,
right-turn begs
a superhuman effort
invariably bringing me
down to my knees.
i am a downhill
champ on flats
slope it gently
and i go splat,
add to it a
turn or two
and watch me zoom
like a blind dingbat.
a freefall artiste
down the chutes
taming steep trails
shaking in my boots,
and as the blues
turn to double-black
my jewels shrink into
their teeny-weeny sack.
it then hit me, i'm brown
in an endless field of white
i'd better play it safe
hang on to dear life,
this desi in denial
needs to focus on survival
and try his very best to
not be dead on arrival.
Monday, March 14, 2005
nauseating protein
My roommate new post-workout high protein diet puts all previously known stomach-churning odd-food-combinations to shame. I wouldn't fault you for adjusting your iris and dilating your pupils, you truly are staring at a bowl with cereal and boiled shrimp in it. Be thankful that i did not post pictures of him adding milk to this grotesquely inedible concoction.
Monday, February 28, 2005
the helipad open
The Federer vs Safin semifinal match from the Australian Open has gone down in history as one of the greatest ever. The epic battle extended over 4 hours and 28 minutes with Safin prevailing with a backhand winner to convert his 8th match point in the fifth and final set. While Roger's aura of invincibility did suffer a minor blow, he has bounced right back to take the Rotterdam Open and the Dubai Open.
Below are pictures from Roger's practice session at the Dubai open, with none other than the great Andre Agassi. Roger and Andre couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of the Burj Al Arab, at a staggering elevation of 1053 feet.
click here for more pictures
Below are pictures from Roger's practice session at the Dubai open, with none other than the great Andre Agassi. Roger and Andre couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of the Burj Al Arab, at a staggering elevation of 1053 feet.
click here for more pictures
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
pakistan's new cricket outfit
Inzamam-ul-Haq, captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, posed as a Moghul warrior for a publicity stunt ahead of the much awaited Indo-Pak series. It comes as no surprise that Inzamam was the focus of this week's BBC Caption Contest.....
Caption 1: What? I'm out?? The ball hit me here Mr Bucknor, right here on this sticky note
Caption 2: Off with Shoaib's head for recommending Lamb Vindaloo
Caption 3: I'm all set for our "Day-Knight" games!
Caption 4: What ? No prep-H ?! Go raid Gangulee's locker...
Caption 5: Inzaman's jaw drops as he sees Pathan roll in with a magnet ball
Caption 1: What? I'm out?? The ball hit me here Mr Bucknor, right here on this sticky note
Caption 2: Off with Shoaib's head for recommending Lamb Vindaloo
Caption 3: I'm all set for our "Day-Knight" games!
Caption 4: What ? No prep-H ?! Go raid Gangulee's locker...
Caption 5: Inzaman's jaw drops as he sees Pathan roll in with a magnet ball
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
fat reduction myths
We'd all like to lose our love handles overnight. Most of us have endured hundreds of crunches in our vain attempts to reduce those calcitrant deposits around the waist. But contrary to what the infomercials suggest, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Fat is lost throughout the body in a pattern dependent upon genetics, sex (hormones), and age. Overall body fat must be reduced to lose fat in any particular area. Although fat is lost or gained throughout the body, it seems the last area to become lean or the first area to get fat is the midsection (in men and some women) and hips and thighs (in women and few men). Sit-ups, crunches, leg-hip raises, leg raises, hip adduction, hip abduction, etc. will only exercise the muscles under the fat. At the end of the day, it is the elegantly simple equation of calories-in versus calories-out that does the trick.
Performing lighter weight with more repetitions (15-50 reps) does not burn more fat or tone (simultaneous decrease of fat and increase muscle) better than a heaver weight with moderate repetitions (8-12 reps). Weight training utilizes carbohydrates after the initial ATP and CP stores have been exhausted after the first few seconds of intense muscular contraction. Typically a set's duration is 20 to 30 seconds. For the average fit person, it requires 20 to 30 minutes of continuous aerobic activity with large muscle groups to burn even 50% fat. Performing a few extra repetitions on a weight training exercise is not significant enough to burn extra fat and may in effect burn less fat. If intensity is compromised, less fat may be burned when light weight is used with high repetitions.
Performing lighter weight with more repetitions (15-50 reps) does not burn more fat or tone (simultaneous decrease of fat and increase muscle) better than a heaver weight with moderate repetitions (8-12 reps). Weight training utilizes carbohydrates after the initial ATP and CP stores have been exhausted after the first few seconds of intense muscular contraction. Typically a set's duration is 20 to 30 seconds. For the average fit person, it requires 20 to 30 minutes of continuous aerobic activity with large muscle groups to burn even 50% fat. Performing a few extra repetitions on a weight training exercise is not significant enough to burn extra fat and may in effect burn less fat. If intensity is compromised, less fat may be burned when light weight is used with high repetitions.
the quest for fitness
my love of tennis, and my desire to stay athletic have driven me to get serious about exercising. for the past 2 months, i've been averaging 3 workouts and 1 intense session of tennis, totalling 7 hours of physical activity each week. my standard workout routine consists of the following:
20 min run, starting at 6.2 mph and ending with 7.0 mph (300 calories)
15 min eliptical step (125 calories)
15 min abs
10 min lower back
10 min stretching
45 min circuit weight training (300 calories)
OR
60 min tennis singles (500 calories)
my diet for the past 2 months has comprised of the following:
9AM kashi cereal (300 calories)
noon tuna sandwich (400 calories)
3PM salad/soup (350 calories)
6PM protein bar (300 calories)
8PM protein shake (650 calories)
10PM light dinner (600 calories)
sheik recently introduced me to exrx - an excellent repository of health and fitness information combined with some useful calculators. so i ran the numbers, and here's what we have so far:
basics:
male, 29, 172 lbs, 72 inches
body mass index:
23.4 (population average is 25.9)
waist to hip ratio:
0.8 (population average is 0.88)
estimated calorie requirements:
normal days = 9 resting hours, 12 very light hours, 2 light hours, 1 moderate hour, 0 heavy hours = 2858 calories
workout days = 8 resting hours, 12 very light hours, 2 light hours, 1 moderate hour, 1 heavy hour = 3322 calories
estimated calorie intake:
2600 calories
my "calories-in" versus "calories-out" equation seems alright. now i need to compute my target heart rate which means i need to purchase the long overdue polar hrm. i also need to take the 12-min run test. my hunch is that i will end up with an "average" rating, or "good" if i push my limits.
this is work in progress. stay tuned for more data and results as i continue to study and improve my overall fitness level.
20 min run, starting at 6.2 mph and ending with 7.0 mph (300 calories)
15 min eliptical step (125 calories)
15 min abs
10 min lower back
10 min stretching
45 min circuit weight training (300 calories)
OR
60 min tennis singles (500 calories)
my diet for the past 2 months has comprised of the following:
9AM kashi cereal (300 calories)
noon tuna sandwich (400 calories)
3PM salad/soup (350 calories)
6PM protein bar (300 calories)
8PM protein shake (650 calories)
10PM light dinner (600 calories)
sheik recently introduced me to exrx - an excellent repository of health and fitness information combined with some useful calculators. so i ran the numbers, and here's what we have so far:
basics:
male, 29, 172 lbs, 72 inches
body mass index:
23.4 (population average is 25.9)
waist to hip ratio:
0.8 (population average is 0.88)
estimated calorie requirements:
normal days = 9 resting hours, 12 very light hours, 2 light hours, 1 moderate hour, 0 heavy hours = 2858 calories
workout days = 8 resting hours, 12 very light hours, 2 light hours, 1 moderate hour, 1 heavy hour = 3322 calories
estimated calorie intake:
2600 calories
my "calories-in" versus "calories-out" equation seems alright. now i need to compute my target heart rate which means i need to purchase the long overdue polar hrm. i also need to take the 12-min run test. my hunch is that i will end up with an "average" rating, or "good" if i push my limits.
this is work in progress. stay tuned for more data and results as i continue to study and improve my overall fitness level.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
master's degree holders to get green cards
Humbling losses by the U.S. men's basketball team at the Olympics last year could hint at what lies ahead for the nation when it comes to economic and technological leadership, according to a new report from a tech industry trade group. The study, to be released Tuesday by the American Electronics Association, argues that the next wave of breakthrough technologies could be created abroad if the United States does not act now to maintain its competitive edge.
"U.S. policy-makers and industry leaders need to recognize that as we neglect our technology infrastructure--skilled labor, (research and development), and a business-friendly environment--many countries are adopting economic reforms and are directly competing with the United States for foreign talent, innovation, and technology products and services," the report states. "Unless this realization hits home, American losses will not be confined to the basketball court."
The study comes on top of other calls for the United States to take steps to improve its technological competitiveness vis-a-vis other parts of the world. Technology prowess is seen as critical to a nation's overall economic health, given the way advances can create new industries, high-paying jobs and a higher standard of living.
To be sure, the U.S. system of technological innovation isn't in tatters. Many United States-based computer and Internet companies are doing well, venture capital investment in tech mecca Silicon Valley is rising again, and the country boasts top research universities. But other nations have been building up their technology industries. India and China, for example, have attracted research operations from technology companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Intel. And critics have called attention to potential problems in the United States, including relatively safe research projects and a declining presence of women in the computer field.
The new report from AEA calls for more funding for the National Science Foundation, specifically for research in the physical sciences, engineering, math and computer science. U.S. federal funding of research and development (R&D) has declined over the past two decades, the report states: "It peaked in 1987 at $75 billion and still was below this peak by 2002 at $71 billion, adjusted for inflation to 1996 dollars."
AEA also argues for improving the U.S. education system, making the R&D tax credit permanent, and creating a tax credit for training workers. "Companies often lack incentives to invest in educating and retraining workers, as they risk losing that return on investment if the worker subsequently leaves the firm," the report says. "By providing human capital investment tax credits, the U.S. government can encourage companies to retrain workers by reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs."
Besides drawing an analogy between the U.S. economy and the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, AEA suggests that the country is like the "proverbial frog in the pot of water" when it comes to technological leadership, oblivious to a slowly building catastrophe. "In our report, we analyze a number of competitiveness factors that, when taken in isolation, as they so often are, would not necessarily constitute a crisis," AEA President William Archey said in a statement. "But the interrelationship--the cumulative effect of these trends--makes the more compelling argument that the status quo is unsustainable."
click here to read the original article
"U.S. policy-makers and industry leaders need to recognize that as we neglect our technology infrastructure--skilled labor, (research and development), and a business-friendly environment--many countries are adopting economic reforms and are directly competing with the United States for foreign talent, innovation, and technology products and services," the report states. "Unless this realization hits home, American losses will not be confined to the basketball court."
The study comes on top of other calls for the United States to take steps to improve its technological competitiveness vis-a-vis other parts of the world. Technology prowess is seen as critical to a nation's overall economic health, given the way advances can create new industries, high-paying jobs and a higher standard of living.
To be sure, the U.S. system of technological innovation isn't in tatters. Many United States-based computer and Internet companies are doing well, venture capital investment in tech mecca Silicon Valley is rising again, and the country boasts top research universities. But other nations have been building up their technology industries. India and China, for example, have attracted research operations from technology companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Intel. And critics have called attention to potential problems in the United States, including relatively safe research projects and a declining presence of women in the computer field.
The new report from AEA calls for more funding for the National Science Foundation, specifically for research in the physical sciences, engineering, math and computer science. U.S. federal funding of research and development (R&D) has declined over the past two decades, the report states: "It peaked in 1987 at $75 billion and still was below this peak by 2002 at $71 billion, adjusted for inflation to 1996 dollars."
The report also recommends immigration changes. Individuals born in other countries represent one of every five scientists and engineers in the United States, accounting for more than a million workers, according to the study. Among other things, AEA calls for all foreign master's and Ph.D. students in the United States to receive "green cards," or permanent residency status.
AEA also argues for improving the U.S. education system, making the R&D tax credit permanent, and creating a tax credit for training workers. "Companies often lack incentives to invest in educating and retraining workers, as they risk losing that return on investment if the worker subsequently leaves the firm," the report says. "By providing human capital investment tax credits, the U.S. government can encourage companies to retrain workers by reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs."
Besides drawing an analogy between the U.S. economy and the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, AEA suggests that the country is like the "proverbial frog in the pot of water" when it comes to technological leadership, oblivious to a slowly building catastrophe. "In our report, we analyze a number of competitiveness factors that, when taken in isolation, as they so often are, would not necessarily constitute a crisis," AEA President William Archey said in a statement. "But the interrelationship--the cumulative effect of these trends--makes the more compelling argument that the status quo is unsustainable."
click here to read the original article
Saturday, February 12, 2005
buoyant determination
Bob Martin's photograph of the 200m freestyle at the Paralympic heats won him the World Press Photo Award for 2004
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
ain't no cosmic lottery
My country-woman gets some well deserved converage on the BBC. Her success ain't no cosmic lottery.
Sania Mirza, the first Indian woman to get to the third round of a tennis grand slam, has a long way to go but her confidence may get her there, says leading Indian sportswriter Rohit Brijnath. 
Sania Mirza's serve won't win any awards for design and her toss is so high you can have a cigarette waiting for it to come down. She is a few biryanis (flavoured rice) heavier that an elite athlete can afford to be and her acceleration on court is more Ford than Ferrari.
The girl who is breaking barriers
Sania Mirza, the first Indian woman to get to the third round of a tennis grand slam, has a long way to go but her confidence may get her there, says leading Indian sportswriter Rohit Brijnath.
But no big deal; this you can teach an 18-year-old. What you can't is chutzpah, and toughness, and Sania Mirza has both. Though when I first saw her, it was hard to believe. For a while at the Australian Open, and only that, Sania Mirza froze. You could see it in her awkwardness when matches began, as if the enormity of the moment had short-circuited her brain, as if nerves had locked her elbow and anxiety shackled her feet. So everyone feels suffocated under pressure, everyone chokes. Even Australian Open champion Marat Safin, he said so himself.
Bolder generation
Mirza, who was turned away by her first coach when six, was now playing in the main draw of a grand slam singles for the first time; a teenager out of Hyderabad was rubbing shoulders with a muscular, glittering Serena Williams. Hell, a choke made sense. Indian athletes anyway, at least in the past, were known to go a little weak-kneed when confronted by an alien environment. Raised amid inadequate facilities, poorly travelled, physically out-matched, assisted by inferior coaches, awe followed them on a leash. But this is a bolder generation, more likely to shrug off the cloak of intimidation, and it is somewhat apparent in Virender Sehwag's audacity, in Irfan Pathan's cool debut in Australia, in Anju George's resolve in the long jump arena. These athletes, and they are a growing tribe, believe they belong. It's not something learnt from a coach or found in a textbook, but a self-belief that swirls in an individual athletes' mind. And it is what Mirza has. Quite simply, Mirza thawed at the Australian Open after the odd hesitant set, she folded her nerves as she does her spectacles, put them aside and embraced the moment. She let her forehand sing, and her small fist pump, and her mouth grimace; there was a sense she enjoyed this metallic taste of battle and could do with some more.
Click here to read the complete article
Saturday, January 29, 2005
serving up the news
This young woman has it all. Rocking the world of tennis wasn't impressive enough, she's now a front page columnist for the Sunday Times. I'm speechless !
The Times of India, Saturday, January 29, 2005
Sania Mirza
I've been invited to guest edit this week's Sunday Times front page. My mass communication professors in Hyderabad must be fainting at the thought, but let's just call it one more wild card entry. Instead of tackling Serena Williams I was faced with long lists of news stories and asked to choose what I thought should go on today's front page.
As a reader, the front page is not my Priority No. 1. I always read a paper back to front — it's the sports pages first, then the front page headlines and of course the supplements are a must to catch up on the latest gossip, including about me (mostly wrong). What kind of news catches my attention? Certainly not politics, although I would like to know the real reason for Sonia Gandhi turning down the prime ministership. Politics is a very dirty game and most of us don't even believe what politicians say.
For me, sports coverage is a no-brainer and Serena's big win is the obvious big story of the day. Her winning makes my losing to her in the third round so much easier to swallow. I also like to read stories about calamities and crime.
Iraq is something I follow closely, especially stories about the torture of Iraqi soldiers exposing America's hypocrisy. Today's front page reflects these interests — Serena's comeback, elections in Iraq and the rape charge against a Pakistani cricketer. I was asked today if I thought cricket was given too much coverage, at the cost of other games. Would I take revenge on cricket by knocking it off today's pages? No, I wouldn't, because I am a big cricket fan and if I had been a boy, I would probably have played cricket. But I'm a girl and tennis suits me fine. Also, Test cricket has produced winners, so the build-up it gets is natural.
The front page of a newspaper should be colourful and have pictures but not at the cost of news. Reports should go beyond the obvious. When I read a story on tennis, say Serena's victory, what I really want to know is how she got her motivation back and shut up the critics instead of the usual questions on how she felt after winning, which is what everybody asks. Nor do I want to read silly details about why she wore a lemon-coloured outfit and boots instead of shoes.
Yes, newspapers should entertain — nothing wrong with that — but frankly who cares about endless stories on two people kissing? It may be big news for some but not for me. The formula for a winning newspaper is the same as that for winning on court—you must focus and have fun.
The Times of India, Saturday, January 29, 2005
Sania Mirza
I've been invited to guest edit this week's Sunday Times front page. My mass communication professors in Hyderabad must be fainting at the thought, but let's just call it one more wild card entry. Instead of tackling Serena Williams I was faced with long lists of news stories and asked to choose what I thought should go on today's front page.
As a reader, the front page is not my Priority No. 1. I always read a paper back to front — it's the sports pages first, then the front page headlines and of course the supplements are a must to catch up on the latest gossip, including about me (mostly wrong). What kind of news catches my attention? Certainly not politics, although I would like to know the real reason for Sonia Gandhi turning down the prime ministership. Politics is a very dirty game and most of us don't even believe what politicians say.
For me, sports coverage is a no-brainer and Serena's big win is the obvious big story of the day. Her winning makes my losing to her in the third round so much easier to swallow. I also like to read stories about calamities and crime.
Iraq is something I follow closely, especially stories about the torture of Iraqi soldiers exposing America's hypocrisy. Today's front page reflects these interests — Serena's comeback, elections in Iraq and the rape charge against a Pakistani cricketer. I was asked today if I thought cricket was given too much coverage, at the cost of other games. Would I take revenge on cricket by knocking it off today's pages? No, I wouldn't, because I am a big cricket fan and if I had been a boy, I would probably have played cricket. But I'm a girl and tennis suits me fine. Also, Test cricket has produced winners, so the build-up it gets is natural.
The front page of a newspaper should be colourful and have pictures but not at the cost of news. Reports should go beyond the obvious. When I read a story on tennis, say Serena's victory, what I really want to know is how she got her motivation back and shut up the critics instead of the usual questions on how she felt after winning, which is what everybody asks. Nor do I want to read silly details about why she wore a lemon-coloured outfit and boots instead of shoes.
Yes, newspapers should entertain — nothing wrong with that — but frankly who cares about endless stories on two people kissing? It may be big news for some but not for me. The formula for a winning newspaper is the same as that for winning on court—you must focus and have fun.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Jenna J, the iPod killer ?
Have you looked at iRiver lately? If not, it's time you check out their latest MP3 and portable media players. The iRiver is a superior product compared to the iPod, and always has been. Their h10 MP3 player boasts an amazing 12-hour batter life with a removable, rechargeable battery, vivid color display, picture viewer, multi-format support including MP3, WMA, ASF, built-in voice recorder and FM radio. For all you die-hard iPod fans out there, if the iRiver does not grab your attention, I'm sure the face on the poster ad will. Seoul, Korea-based ReignCom, the maker of the device, recently hired adult film star Jenna Jameson to appear in print advertisements for the pocket-size music and video players. The ads feature the buxom starlet gazing longingly at a man's PMP device, with the tagline, "Your refined movie collection just paid off."
Not everyone will fess up to recognizing the latest face of the iRiver. While the move may raise some eyebrows, Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo says iRiver's just going with the market. "One cannot ignore people using the PMP to watch adult material," said an unnamed iRiver executive. The Apple iPod has a commanding presence in the MP3 market, with Creative a distant second, and iRiver not even on the board. For most American consumers, their iPod is the apple of their eye, no pun intended. The million $ question is - can a scantily dressed mega pornstar topple the mightly iPod ?
This latest marketing gimmick might be just what the company needed to show on the consumer radar. But before bringing the device with you on your morning commute, iRiver owners would do well to remember the trouble that arose from similar situations last year. Since DVD players have become more commonplace in SUVs and minivans, several drivers have been arrested for being, err, distracted by adult videos.
click here for the original article and a related article
the original hPod
The first ever flash-based MP3 player
Saehan/Eiger Labs F10/F20
The first ever hard-drive-based MP3 player
Compaq-Hango/Remote Solutions Portable Jukebox PJB-100
The world's first hard drive mp3 player was invented in 1998 by the Compaq Systems Research Center - essentially a bunch of engineers from Compaq's notebook PC division who realized that hard drives could replace flash memory in MP3 players and enable them to hold far more music. The Compaq device boasted a then-unheard-of 6GB capacity, crystal-clear sound, and ample display as compared to the prevailing 32MB flash-based devices.
Here comes the irony: Compaq licensed the player to a Korean company (Hango) that didn't do much with it. In 2001, the first iPod was released. In 2002, HP acquired Compaq. In 2004, HP made a deal with Apple to distribute HP-branded iPods. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assert that the entity now known as HP beat Apple in the race to make a high-capacity portable music player by three years - an eternity in the world of MP3 players.
click here to read the original article
and the winner is ...
Sania Mirza, without a doubt!
The 18-year old from hyderabad did not progress to the fourth round at the Australian Open, but she sure did win the hearts and minds of a billion people. This tennis prodigy has the grace of a ballerina, the tenacity of a boxer, the agility of a sprinter, and the courage of a soldier. It took her a while to settle down and calm her nerves against Serena Williams, but once she did, she gave a stunning display of power tennis. It is true that Sania has modeled her game after Steffi Graf. Sania's whiplash forehand is reminiscent of the Graf sledgehammer, and Sania's serve has the signature Steffi high-toss. She has a steady backhand and a decent slice. But sania's game is not perfect by any measure. Serena aced her on 6 occasions. Sania needs to work on the return of serve. She needs to anticipate better and stay on her toes, especially against amazons like Serena who can dish out 130mph thunderbolts at will. Sania needs to master the 1-2 punch.; her potent forehand begs to be followed up with a net approach and a killer volley. Sania also needs to learn to be patient, work her opponent around the court, and build each point to its climax. She went for the premature kill on crucial points against Serena, and invariable ended up sailing over the baseline or crashing into the net. The basics are in place, all she needs to do now is start playing smart tennis and curb the low percentage flamboyance.
Sania's crowning moment at the Australian Open came when Agassi's former coach, Brad Gilbert complimented Sania's game and recognized her potential by acknowledging that she is sure to break into the top 50 sometime this year if she continues to play with the same level of intensity. Sania, we salute you! You made us all very proud. you've single-handedly reshaped the future of Indian tennis. You may not know it yet, but you've evolved us beyond our male-dominated cricketing roots. The world of individual sports in India is about to undergo a sea change. Things will never be the same again.
The 18-year old from hyderabad did not progress to the fourth round at the Australian Open, but she sure did win the hearts and minds of a billion people. This tennis prodigy has the grace of a ballerina, the tenacity of a boxer, the agility of a sprinter, and the courage of a soldier. It took her a while to settle down and calm her nerves against Serena Williams, but once she did, she gave a stunning display of power tennis. It is true that Sania has modeled her game after Steffi Graf. Sania's whiplash forehand is reminiscent of the Graf sledgehammer, and Sania's serve has the signature Steffi high-toss. She has a steady backhand and a decent slice. But sania's game is not perfect by any measure. Serena aced her on 6 occasions. Sania needs to work on the return of serve. She needs to anticipate better and stay on her toes, especially against amazons like Serena who can dish out 130mph thunderbolts at will. Sania needs to master the 1-2 punch.; her potent forehand begs to be followed up with a net approach and a killer volley. Sania also needs to learn to be patient, work her opponent around the court, and build each point to its climax. She went for the premature kill on crucial points against Serena, and invariable ended up sailing over the baseline or crashing into the net. The basics are in place, all she needs to do now is start playing smart tennis and curb the low percentage flamboyance.
Sania's crowning moment at the Australian Open came when Agassi's former coach, Brad Gilbert complimented Sania's game and recognized her potential by acknowledging that she is sure to break into the top 50 sometime this year if she continues to play with the same level of intensity. Sania, we salute you! You made us all very proud. you've single-handedly reshaped the future of Indian tennis. You may not know it yet, but you've evolved us beyond our male-dominated cricketing roots. The world of individual sports in India is about to undergo a sea change. Things will never be the same again.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
origins of the swastika
The EU has been urged to ban the swastika because of its Nazi associations with hate and racism. But the symbol was around long before Adolf Hitler.
the hindu swastika
The swastika is a cross with its arms bent at right angles to either the right or left. In geometric terms, it is known as an irregular icosagon or 20-sided polygon. The word is derived from the Sanskrit "svastika" and means "good to be". In Indo-European culture it was a mark made on people or objects to give them good luck. It has been around for thousands of years, particularly as a Hindu symbol in the holy texts, to mean luck, Brahma or samsara (rebirth). It can be clockwise or anti-clockwise and the way it points in all four directions suggests stability. Sometimes it features a dot between each arm.
It is commonly seen in current and ancient Hindu architecture and Indian artwork, including the ruins of the ancient city of Troy. It has also been used in Buddhism and Jainism, plus other Asian, European and Native American cultures. The British author Rudyard Kipling, who was strongly influenced by Indian culture, had a swastika on the dust jackets of all his books until the rise of Nazism made this inappropriate. It was also a symbol used by the scouts in Britain, although it was taken off Robert Baden-Powell's 1922 Medal of Merit after complaints in the 1930s. It is rarely seen on its own in Western architecture, but a design of interlocking swastikas is part of the design of the floor of the cathedral of Amiens, France.
Swastika is also a small mining town in northern Ontario, Canada, about 580 kilometres north of Toronto. Attempts by the government of Ontario to change the town's name during World War II were rejected by residents.
the nazi swastika
Its Nazi use was linked to the belief in the Aryan cultural descent of the German people. There are many theories about the origins of the Aryan race; one of the theories links the Aryan people to the Indian subcontinent. The Nazi party formally adopted the swastika - what they called the Hakenkreuz, the hooked cross - in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (above), badge, and armband. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote: "I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika." Thus began the ignominious journey of a symbol of goodwill, a symbol that had lasted for over a thousand years, a symbol of health, happiness and prosperity that was soon to be desecrated by the most inhuman people to ever walk the planet.
click here for the original bbc article
the hindu swastika
The swastika is a cross with its arms bent at right angles to either the right or left. In geometric terms, it is known as an irregular icosagon or 20-sided polygon. The word is derived from the Sanskrit "svastika" and means "good to be". In Indo-European culture it was a mark made on people or objects to give them good luck. It has been around for thousands of years, particularly as a Hindu symbol in the holy texts, to mean luck, Brahma or samsara (rebirth). It can be clockwise or anti-clockwise and the way it points in all four directions suggests stability. Sometimes it features a dot between each arm.
It is commonly seen in current and ancient Hindu architecture and Indian artwork, including the ruins of the ancient city of Troy. It has also been used in Buddhism and Jainism, plus other Asian, European and Native American cultures. The British author Rudyard Kipling, who was strongly influenced by Indian culture, had a swastika on the dust jackets of all his books until the rise of Nazism made this inappropriate. It was also a symbol used by the scouts in Britain, although it was taken off Robert Baden-Powell's 1922 Medal of Merit after complaints in the 1930s. It is rarely seen on its own in Western architecture, but a design of interlocking swastikas is part of the design of the floor of the cathedral of Amiens, France.
Swastika is also a small mining town in northern Ontario, Canada, about 580 kilometres north of Toronto. Attempts by the government of Ontario to change the town's name during World War II were rejected by residents.
the nazi swastika
Its Nazi use was linked to the belief in the Aryan cultural descent of the German people. There are many theories about the origins of the Aryan race; one of the theories links the Aryan people to the Indian subcontinent. The Nazi party formally adopted the swastika - what they called the Hakenkreuz, the hooked cross - in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (above), badge, and armband. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote: "I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika." Thus began the ignominious journey of a symbol of goodwill, a symbol that had lasted for over a thousand years, a symbol of health, happiness and prosperity that was soon to be desecrated by the most inhuman people to ever walk the planet.
click here for the original bbc article
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
jury pool from hell
A group of prospective jurors was summoned to listen to a case of Tennessee trailer park violence. Right after jury selection began last week, one man got up and left, announcing, "I'm on morphine and I'm higher than a kite." When the prosecutor asked if anyone had been convicted of a crime, a prospective juror said that he had been arrested and taken to a mental hospital after he almost shot his nephew. He said he was provoked because his nephew just would not come out from under the bed. Another would-be juror said he had had alcohol problems and was arrested for soliciting sex from an undercover officer. "I should have known something was up," he said. "She had all her teeth."
Another prospect, looking directly at the defense attorney Leslie Ballin, volunteered that he probably should not be on the jury: "In my neighborhood, everyone knows that if you get Mr. Ballin (as your lawyer), you're probably guilty." He was not chosen. The case involved a woman accused of hitting her brother's girlfriend in the face with a brick. Ballin's client was found not guilty.
click here for the original article
Another prospect, looking directly at the defense attorney Leslie Ballin, volunteered that he probably should not be on the jury: "In my neighborhood, everyone knows that if you get Mr. Ballin (as your lawyer), you're probably guilty." He was not chosen. The case involved a woman accused of hitting her brother's girlfriend in the face with a brick. Ballin's client was found not guilty.
click here for the original article
Monday, January 17, 2005
the federer express
"I was nervous going into today's match but I won the first 12 points, so it was a perfect start. I'm sorry for Fabrice." Roger Federer does the decent thing and starts to take pity on his opponents. Federer started his quest for the Australian Open with an ominous 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win over Fabrice Santoro. Last week, Federer defeated Gaston Gaudio, Tim Henman and Andy Roddick at the Kooyong Classic, a warm-up tournament to the Australian Open. Federer claimed his 23rd career title at the Qatar Open earlier this year. He is on a 21-win streak and is unbeaten in his last 14 finals including 4 Grand Slams. He's 23. He does not have a full-time coach. He recently inaugurated his new brand of mens cosmetics. I can only hope that he does not get distracted and stays his course cuz the world of tennis over the next decade is his for the taking. For now, to the delight of all his fans, the Federer Express rolls on....
"He's the best. He's much better than anyone on the tour."
Fabrice Santoro pays homage after taking just four games off Federer at the Australian Open.
"I don't think I've ever seen a guy play that well in my life."
World #2 Lleyton Hewitt on Roger Federer
"I threw the kitchen sink at him but he went to the bathroom and threw back the tub!"
World #3 Andy Roddick on Roger Federer
"There is no shame in losing to Roger."
World #4 Marat Safin on Roger Federer
Friday, January 14, 2005
india vs oklahoma
I admire the initiative taken by companies like Ciber and DecisionDesign to homeshore the work that has been offshored to Asia over the past two years. However, it is going to take more than a grassroots movement to make this happen. A top-down effort is required starting with legislative changes to make America more competitive by increasing subsidization and lowering taxation for companies that homeshore, and the slimming of the middle-management layer across corporate America to allow for the nurturing of productive talent at an affordable cost.
In another example of U.S. tech companies seeking to offer low-cost alternatives to offshoring, systems integrator Ciber has opened a facility in Oklahoma City. Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Ciber said the Oklahoma City site is the first of several low-cost, "made in America" application development centers it plans to open in 2005 and 2006. The company said it aims to create roughly 200 new jobs in Oklahoma City and upwards of 1,000 new jobs around the country, as additional "Cibersites" open. The Oklahoma City Cibersite opened Thursday. "The creation of low-cost, domestic development centers provides Ciber's clients with new opportunities to leverage today's complex global sourcing options," Ciber's Chief Executive said in a statement. "There are many American labor markets outside the traditional technology centers that have skilled but underutilized IT (information technology) workers who can get IT projects done faster and cheaper."
original article and another related story
In another example of U.S. tech companies seeking to offer low-cost alternatives to offshoring, systems integrator Ciber has opened a facility in Oklahoma City. Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Ciber said the Oklahoma City site is the first of several low-cost, "made in America" application development centers it plans to open in 2005 and 2006. The company said it aims to create roughly 200 new jobs in Oklahoma City and upwards of 1,000 new jobs around the country, as additional "Cibersites" open. The Oklahoma City Cibersite opened Thursday. "The creation of low-cost, domestic development centers provides Ciber's clients with new opportunities to leverage today's complex global sourcing options," Ciber's Chief Executive said in a statement. "There are many American labor markets outside the traditional technology centers that have skilled but underutilized IT (information technology) workers who can get IT projects done faster and cheaper."
original article and another related story
Thursday, January 13, 2005
yahoo! it's a boy
A Romanian couple named their son Yahoo as a sign of gratitude for meeting over the Internet. The Daily Libertatea, a Bucharest newspaper said Thursday that Cornelia and Nonu Dragoman, both from Transylvania, met and decided that they were meant for each other following a three-month relationship via Yahoo personals. They married and had a baby this Christmas, whom they decided to name after Yahoo, one of the Web's most popular portals. "We named him Lucian Yahoo after my father and the Net, the main beacon of my life," Cornelia Dragoman was quoted as saying. original story
What should we expect next? Lita Match? Dez Harmony? Terri Shaadi? Mary Shaadi?
What should we expect next? Lita Match? Dez Harmony? Terri Shaadi? Mary Shaadi?
Thursday, January 06, 2005
twilight
she's a pocket-full of kryptonite
she's a superwoman starlight
she can spin the world
on her fingertips
and gently ease it back right
she's a fistful of nitrite
she's myopic with her foresight
why can't she just be forthright
and not feel contrite, when she
can't make everything alright
she's an imploding dynamite
she's forgotten how to ignite
self-destructing without respite
with foes embraced and
friends rejected in total spite
i've tried to hold her upright
been her self-immolating torchlight
from the cradle to the streetfight
she's out to bloody the moonlight
and i just can't help her tonight
she's a superwoman starlight
she can spin the world
on her fingertips
and gently ease it back right
she's a fistful of nitrite
she's myopic with her foresight
why can't she just be forthright
and not feel contrite, when she
can't make everything alright
she's an imploding dynamite
she's forgotten how to ignite
self-destructing without respite
with foes embraced and
friends rejected in total spite
i've tried to hold her upright
been her self-immolating torchlight
from the cradle to the streetfight
she's out to bloody the moonlight
and i just can't help her tonight
Monday, January 03, 2005
to blog or not to blog
Increasingly, people are landing in hot water with employers over blogs about their work. A new term has emerged as a result. According to UrbanDictionary.com, to be "dooced" means "losing your job for something you wrote in your online blog, journal, website, etc."
Below are the common legal pitfalls to look out for:
Data Protection: Company information used or employees mentioned in identifiable terms
Trademarks: Incidental use only permitted
Terms in employment: Conditions may preclude blogs (although not usually expressly)
Terms in employment: Conditions may preclude speaking about company matters which a blog will capture
Libel and defamation: Derogatory or unfavourable disclosures may expose liability
Confidentiality: Leakage of sensitive information
Copyright: If content is done at work, all that the blogger produces or contributes to belongs to the company
Read article
Below are the common legal pitfalls to look out for:
Data Protection: Company information used or employees mentioned in identifiable terms
Trademarks: Incidental use only permitted
Terms in employment: Conditions may preclude blogs (although not usually expressly)
Terms in employment: Conditions may preclude speaking about company matters which a blog will capture
Libel and defamation: Derogatory or unfavourable disclosures may expose liability
Confidentiality: Leakage of sensitive information
Copyright: If content is done at work, all that the blogger produces or contributes to belongs to the company
Read article
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