For millions of Indians, the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto brings alive the haunting images of the May 1991 killing of their own former premier Rajiv Gandhi.
Both Rajiv and Benazir died similar horrific deaths, falling prey to determined killers -- both at election rallies.
Security experts point out that both leaders fell prey to militants, for whose misplaced causes their respective countries had found it expedient to support at some point of time.
Both Benazir and Rajiv died when they were out of the power.
Benazir had returned to Pakistan only two months ago to fight elections amid attempts in Pakistan to usher in civilian democracy. If her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had won the January election, there was every possibility of Benazir taking the reins in Islamabad.
Rajiv was assassinated when he was campaigning in the 1991 elections. If his Congress party had won the polls, it would have again catapulted him to the country's top post.
Ironically, the two young leaders shared other similarities too.
Benazir became the first and the youngest women to head the government of an Islamic state at the age of 35 - in 1988.
Born in 1944, Rajiv too had the distinction of becoming the youngest prime minister of the world's largest democracy at the age of 40. That was in 1984, after the assassination of his mother and predecessor Indira Gandhi.
Both had education in the West and were widely perceived as the harbinger of a new age and modernity in their homelands.
By unwittingly transmitting the dream of modernity, both had become the heartthrobs of the millions as they headed the governments of their respective countries.
After the Simla Agreement in July 1972, followed by nearly two decades of strained ties between the two countries, it were Rajiv and Benazir who broke the ice holding a summit in Islamabad in 1988, on the sidelines of a South Asia summit.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto followed her father into politics, and both of them died because of it - he was executed in 1979, she fell victim to an apparent suicide bomb attack.
Her two brothers also suffered violent deaths.
Like the Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan are one of the world's most famous political dynasties. Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s.
His government was one of the few in the 30 years following independence that was not run by the army.
Born in 1953 in the province of Sindh and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Ms Bhutto gained credibility from her father's high profile, even though she was a reluctant convert to politics.
She was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.
Her two brothers also suffered violent deaths.
Like the Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan are one of the world's most famous political dynasties. Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s.
His government was one of the few in the 30 years following independence that was not run by the army.
Born in 1953 in the province of Sindh and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Ms Bhutto gained credibility from her father's high profile, even though she was a reluctant convert to politics.
She was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Innovations that will change our lives
IBM released its annual “Next Five in Five” predictions, visions that sketch out future. These predictions talk about how the technology will shape our lives in the future.
The current set talks about a future where driving will be a relative pleasure, eco-friendly devices will save money and ‘super’ doctors will use advanced technology to probe our body's innermost depths in search of disease.
Here's further into the five innovations that will change how people around the world will work, play and live their next five years.
Internet goes 3D
The popular online immersive destinations, such as Second Life, will evolve into a 3D Internet, much like the early work by AOL and Prodigy evolved into the World Wide Web.
The 3D Internet will enable new kinds of interactive education, remote medicine and consumer experiences, transforming how we interact with our friends and family, teachers, doctors and more.
Imagine being able to virtually walk the aisles of your favorite stores, interact with experts and even virtually try on clothes, all in the convenience of your own home.
Kids will be able to experience things that they could never access through traditional means. For example, they will be able to walk through rain forests or visit ancient Rome.
Working with a broad community, and leveraging decades of experience in supercomputing, visualisation and work with the three major game platforms (Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3), IBM hopes to help build out this next-generation Internet, one that is open, immersive and 3D.
Mind-reading phones
“Presence” technology allows you to be found on the network, whether it's a computer network, mobile phone network or any other kind.
Presence technology in its current form amounts to instant messaging applications. In five years, however, mobile devices will have the ability to continually learn about and adapt to your preferences and needs.
Several telecommunication groups are testing technology to allow mobile devices and networks to learn about users' whereabouts and preferences as they commute, work and travel.
These systems works with a variety of wireless networks including GSM, GPS, RFID and WiFi. It relies on sensors like GPS, processing software to filter information, an intuitive interface and it uses important events to adapt to the user's preferences.
Real-time speech translation
The movement towards globalisation needs to take into account basic human factors, such as differences in language.
Real-time translation technologies will be embedded into mobile phones, handheld devices and cars. These services will pervade every part of society, eliminating the language barrier in our new smaller and faster-paced world.
Several technologies already allow travellers using PDAs to translate menus in Japanese and doctors to communicate with patients in Spanish.
Environment goes nano
With the ubiquity of IP-based technology today, it is possible to envision a technologically enabled “smart” water distribution system that helps manage end-to-end distribution, from reservoirs to pumping stations to smart pipes to holding tanks to intelligent metering at the user's site so that consumption could be managed in a responsible way.
The water distribution system would serve as a grid, much like a utility grid, at multiple levels: federal/central, regional, city/town and even down to a single residence or commercial establishment.
The current methods of desalinating water, reverse osmosis and distillation, are both expensive and high maintenance. Scientist will research methods of filtering water at the molecular level, using carbon nanotubes or molecular configurations, which can potentially remove the salt and impurities with less energy and money per gallon.
Political instability, the high cost of fossil fuels and worries about global warming have increased interest in alternative energies. Technology developments in this area will help further advance solar power and make it more efficient.
Healthcare by remote
Wireless innovations coupled with the ability to securely capture-sensitive medical data have the potential to allow healthcare to move from the traditional doctor's office to wherever the patient happens to be.
Remote healthcare is increasingly becoming important. A significant percentage of developing world populations has virtually no access to meaningful healthcare, largely because of poor infrastructure, especially lack of transportation.
In the future, technology will enable millions of people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, to have their conditions monitored as they go about their daily lives, through sensors in the home, worn on the person or in devices and packaging.
A pill dispenser, with embedded technologies, will help patients track compliance with their drug regimen and automatically transmit the data to caregivers. Virtual doctor check-ups will add convenience, a sense of independence and security for the elderly and chronically ill.
It will be possible to take blood pressure or pulse reading on a remote device and the results sent directly to a care provider's mobile phone who can then follow up as needed.
The current set talks about a future where driving will be a relative pleasure, eco-friendly devices will save money and ‘super’ doctors will use advanced technology to probe our body's innermost depths in search of disease.
Here's further into the five innovations that will change how people around the world will work, play and live their next five years.
Internet goes 3D
The popular online immersive destinations, such as Second Life, will evolve into a 3D Internet, much like the early work by AOL and Prodigy evolved into the World Wide Web.
The 3D Internet will enable new kinds of interactive education, remote medicine and consumer experiences, transforming how we interact with our friends and family, teachers, doctors and more.
Imagine being able to virtually walk the aisles of your favorite stores, interact with experts and even virtually try on clothes, all in the convenience of your own home.
Kids will be able to experience things that they could never access through traditional means. For example, they will be able to walk through rain forests or visit ancient Rome.
Working with a broad community, and leveraging decades of experience in supercomputing, visualisation and work with the three major game platforms (Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3), IBM hopes to help build out this next-generation Internet, one that is open, immersive and 3D.
Mind-reading phones
“Presence” technology allows you to be found on the network, whether it's a computer network, mobile phone network or any other kind.
Presence technology in its current form amounts to instant messaging applications. In five years, however, mobile devices will have the ability to continually learn about and adapt to your preferences and needs.
Several telecommunication groups are testing technology to allow mobile devices and networks to learn about users' whereabouts and preferences as they commute, work and travel.
These systems works with a variety of wireless networks including GSM, GPS, RFID and WiFi. It relies on sensors like GPS, processing software to filter information, an intuitive interface and it uses important events to adapt to the user's preferences.
Real-time speech translation
The movement towards globalisation needs to take into account basic human factors, such as differences in language.
Real-time translation technologies will be embedded into mobile phones, handheld devices and cars. These services will pervade every part of society, eliminating the language barrier in our new smaller and faster-paced world.
Several technologies already allow travellers using PDAs to translate menus in Japanese and doctors to communicate with patients in Spanish.
Environment goes nano
With the ubiquity of IP-based technology today, it is possible to envision a technologically enabled “smart” water distribution system that helps manage end-to-end distribution, from reservoirs to pumping stations to smart pipes to holding tanks to intelligent metering at the user's site so that consumption could be managed in a responsible way.
The water distribution system would serve as a grid, much like a utility grid, at multiple levels: federal/central, regional, city/town and even down to a single residence or commercial establishment.
The current methods of desalinating water, reverse osmosis and distillation, are both expensive and high maintenance. Scientist will research methods of filtering water at the molecular level, using carbon nanotubes or molecular configurations, which can potentially remove the salt and impurities with less energy and money per gallon.
Political instability, the high cost of fossil fuels and worries about global warming have increased interest in alternative energies. Technology developments in this area will help further advance solar power and make it more efficient.
Healthcare by remote
Wireless innovations coupled with the ability to securely capture-sensitive medical data have the potential to allow healthcare to move from the traditional doctor's office to wherever the patient happens to be.
Remote healthcare is increasingly becoming important. A significant percentage of developing world populations has virtually no access to meaningful healthcare, largely because of poor infrastructure, especially lack of transportation.
In the future, technology will enable millions of people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, to have their conditions monitored as they go about their daily lives, through sensors in the home, worn on the person or in devices and packaging.
A pill dispenser, with embedded technologies, will help patients track compliance with their drug regimen and automatically transmit the data to caregivers. Virtual doctor check-ups will add convenience, a sense of independence and security for the elderly and chronically ill.
It will be possible to take blood pressure or pulse reading on a remote device and the results sent directly to a care provider's mobile phone who can then follow up as needed.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Brand Modi on a roll
NEW DELHI 23/12/2007, Sunday: In a conversation with a few colleagues, BJP’s prime ministerial hopeful L K Advani said that a win for Narendra Modi in the Gujarat elections was something like Indira Gandhi’s triumph in 1971. What the saffron veteran was alluding to was the Iron Lady’s success in fending off many foes: a faction of her own party, an opposition gang-up and a hostile media.
Modi had his hands full. In the weeks preceding the polls, party functionaries in Delhi close to BJP president Rajnath Singh were freely offering some wisdom on the Gujarat scene. Modi, they said, was facing a tough battle. The Sangh Parivar was sullen. Was it not revealing that Singh had been asked to extend his campaign in the state?
Often accused of being a loner, Modi is not often a victim of doubt. A stubborn person , he stuck to his guns even when droves of his party colleagues turned against him, and he was run down by RSS and VHP leaders, besides the Congress and political activists.
The Gujarat chief minister has always been an ambitious man. He first came to notice in Delhi circles with Murli Manohar Joshi’s Kashmir to Kanyakumari rath yatra. In the 90s, he was a BJP general secretary. His saffron beliefs were quite evident and he was given to defining the Ayodhya divide as a tussle between “Ram” and “Babri” parties to the media.
However, at a time when BJP rose to power in Gujarat, ironically, Modi was virtually shunted out due to the ire of leaders like Keshubhai Patel.
His big chance came when criticism of Keshubhai’s administration mounted after the January 26, 2001 earthquake. He lobbied hard for himself, getting Advani to endorse him as successor to Patel to pull the saffron chestnuts out of fire.
Even after he took over as CM, BJP faced an uphill task. Modi himself had had to eke out a victory from Rajkot. But then a coach of the Sabarmati Express was torched, killing 59 karsewaks, including women and children returning from Ayodhya, by a Muslim mob near Godhra railway station.
As the burnt bodies arrived at Ahmedabad, Hindu mobs began targeting Muslim. The violence spread through central and north Gujarat and the role of BJP and VHP leaders in fanning the violence was evident. The state government took its own time to act, rendering Modi open to the charge that he masterminded anti-Muslim violence.
Irrespective of the merit of the charge which found credence when Supreme Court strictured Modi with remarks likening him to Nero, there is no disputing the fact that the communal polarisation helped him sweep the 2002 polls.
Modi once told an interviewer that he would never be able to get rid of Godhra taint. There are many who will not allow him to forget the riots, but he also has an opportunity to recast himself in a more accommodative mould. Those who know him feel that Modi will make the adjustments required on the national stage, but the temptation not to allow the dilution of Brand Modi may equally strong.
Modi had his hands full. In the weeks preceding the polls, party functionaries in Delhi close to BJP president Rajnath Singh were freely offering some wisdom on the Gujarat scene. Modi, they said, was facing a tough battle. The Sangh Parivar was sullen. Was it not revealing that Singh had been asked to extend his campaign in the state?
Often accused of being a loner, Modi is not often a victim of doubt. A stubborn person , he stuck to his guns even when droves of his party colleagues turned against him, and he was run down by RSS and VHP leaders, besides the Congress and political activists.
The Gujarat chief minister has always been an ambitious man. He first came to notice in Delhi circles with Murli Manohar Joshi’s Kashmir to Kanyakumari rath yatra. In the 90s, he was a BJP general secretary. His saffron beliefs were quite evident and he was given to defining the Ayodhya divide as a tussle between “Ram” and “Babri” parties to the media.
However, at a time when BJP rose to power in Gujarat, ironically, Modi was virtually shunted out due to the ire of leaders like Keshubhai Patel.
His big chance came when criticism of Keshubhai’s administration mounted after the January 26, 2001 earthquake. He lobbied hard for himself, getting Advani to endorse him as successor to Patel to pull the saffron chestnuts out of fire.
Even after he took over as CM, BJP faced an uphill task. Modi himself had had to eke out a victory from Rajkot. But then a coach of the Sabarmati Express was torched, killing 59 karsewaks, including women and children returning from Ayodhya, by a Muslim mob near Godhra railway station.
As the burnt bodies arrived at Ahmedabad, Hindu mobs began targeting Muslim. The violence spread through central and north Gujarat and the role of BJP and VHP leaders in fanning the violence was evident. The state government took its own time to act, rendering Modi open to the charge that he masterminded anti-Muslim violence.
Irrespective of the merit of the charge which found credence when Supreme Court strictured Modi with remarks likening him to Nero, there is no disputing the fact that the communal polarisation helped him sweep the 2002 polls.
Modi once told an interviewer that he would never be able to get rid of Godhra taint. There are many who will not allow him to forget the riots, but he also has an opportunity to recast himself in a more accommodative mould. Those who know him feel that Modi will make the adjustments required on the national stage, but the temptation not to allow the dilution of Brand Modi may equally strong.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Google reveals what Indians look for online
What did India search for online last year? For the first time in history, Google's offering a few answers.
Orkut burned up the charts at Number 1 - so social networking is now definitely in.
Sania was the hottest sports star and the Mahatma the most searched for politician. Gandhigiri anyone?
Foreign holidays are now more popular than ever and Kashmir's back on people's lists! From Bollywood - actresses got more attention than the guys - pity they still don't get paid on par!
And people now search for movies Online - that ties up with rising levels of movie piracy on the net.
Orkut burned up the charts at Number 1 - so social networking is now definitely in.
Sania was the hottest sports star and the Mahatma the most searched for politician. Gandhigiri anyone?
Foreign holidays are now more popular than ever and Kashmir's back on people's lists! From Bollywood - actresses got more attention than the guys - pity they still don't get paid on par!
And people now search for movies Online - that ties up with rising levels of movie piracy on the net.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Aati Kya Khandala
Hindi
A Kya Bolti Tu ?
A Kya Mai Bolu ?
Sun
Suna
Ati Kya Khandala ?
Kya karu Ake mai Khandala ?
Are Ghumenge, nachenge, gayenge Aish karenge aur kya
Urdu - Best
AAP KYA BOLTEIN HAIN?
HUM KYA BOLEIN??
MULAIZAH HAI
IRSHAD
TASHREEF LAYEINGI KHANDALA?
KYA KAREIN HUM TASHREEF LAAKE KHANDALA ??
CHAHELQADMI KARENGE, RAQS KARENGE, NAGMEIN SUNAYEINGE, TAFREEH KAREINGE AUR KYA!!
English :
Aye what do you say?
Aye what should I say?
Listen.
Speak on.
Coming to khandala?
What should I do, coming to khandala?
We'll roam, we'll loaf, we'll sing, we'll dance we"ll
freak, baby,what else?
Sanskrit : This is too good
Aye balike, twam katham kathisyasi
Aye balakah aham kim kathisyamh
Shrinvasi!
Shrunha
Kim twam khandaalaa agchasyasi
Aham kim kurwasyami khandaalayeh
gamisyami, bhramisyami, nryuthyami, gaayami, maja
karishma, kim karishyami?
Kannada:
Ye, Yen heltiya
Ye, yen helabeku
Kelu
Helu
Bartiya khadalakke
Yen madli nan bandu Khandalakke
Are Suttadona,Kuniyona, Maja Madona Matte yenu?
Punjabi :
A ! ke boldi tu;
A ke mein bolan;
Sunh
Sunha
Chaldi khandala
Ki karaan ae ke mein khandala
Are Ghoomenge, Turainge, Naachenge, Gaavenge, Mauj
Karenge, Aur Ki ?
Telugu :
Aye, ainte chaepphuta vu
Aye,ainte chaepala
Vinu
Chaeppu
Wastava Khandala
Yem Chesedhi? vacchi Khandala
Thiruguthamu, eguruthamu, aadthaamu, paadthaamu,maja
chesthamu inkemi?
Tamil:
Enna solre
Ennatha solla
mudalla kelu,
sari sollu
Kandala variya
kandala poi enna panrathu
Vera enna .oor suthuvom aaduvom paaduvom jalsa
pannuvom
Thursday, November 29, 2007
IT cos: Attrition alarm
| For years, the BPO sector, the poster boy of India's IT sector, has been fighting to keep its flock together. But with attrition rates touching 30-60 per cent, it has become a major roadblock for a sector that is pegged to grow at 35 per cent. Now many top ITeS companies have devised an early warning system (EWS) to track employee behaviour and predict their likelihood of leaving. Identifying the employee is just the beginning, the HR has to then work out solutions for every possible employee on the verge of quitting. |
 Infosys |
| Infosys BPO calls it `Attrition Forecasting'. “It's an IT-based system which identifies 50 triggers that may lead to an employee leaving,” says Nandita Gurjar, group head, HR, Infosys Technologies. The software tracks their behaviour and shows events such as fluctuating productivity, increased absenteeism, rejections for internal job postings, drop in call quality, increased off-phone time et al. Keeping these in mind, the team leaders then enter qualitative information on a weekly basis after meeting each agent. The data indicates the agent's likeliness to leave with a red, amber or green indicator. Red means the employee is likely to quit within 30 days, amber indicates he is at a risk of quitting, and green shows he's satisfied. Gurjar says EWS system has helped Infosys BPO bring down attrition considerably. "However, such tools will not be effective unless an emotional touch is added to it. The management needs to bond with their employees emotionally. So we have a business HR team on every floor, which acts as a help and counselling desk where agents can discuss various issues." Besides, they have introduced the ‘Performance-based Scheduling programme', under this high-performers are given the chance to choose a work schedule of their choice. This motivates agents to work hard and also helps reduce the numbers that leave because of odd-working schedules. |
 Convergys |
| Convergys which employs over 70,000 people in over 75 centres around the world too has devised a EWS for controlling attrition. Masterminds at Convergys sat down and figured out about 50 distinct triggers, which could be as small as hygiene issues that lead to agent attrition. “We use proprietary software that tracks agent behaviour and indicates things like fluctuating productivity, absenteeism, and a myriad others indicators,” explains Tim Huiting, VP (HR) Asia, Convergys Corporation. The system has helped Convergys' contact centres reduce attrition by 15-25 per cent. The company has a ‘Team Leader Transformation' programme with an emphasis on training the team leaders to improve their people-management skills. "Agents with more effective managers have higher job satisfaction, and are less likely to leave,” says Huiting. |
 Genpact |
| At Genpact, employees have to go through a mandatory sessions with teamleader every month. “Teamleader assess the information and is able to identify a potential employee who may quit.” says Riju Vashisht, senior VP, HR, Genpact. "We have tailor-made solutions. Depending on what's bothering them, we offer them job rotation, job-enhancement, relocation, team building exercises, etc,” says Vashisht. |
 Wipro |
| Wipro BPO too has a system called People Pulse. The people tracker colour codes every Wipro employee - red, amber and green. Red means highly likely to leave. Amber is the middle zone, and green the ones who are most unlikely to leave. They are tracked all the time. The colour zone helps the company focus on them better. Those in the high-risk zone, red, are under constant watch. Any flipping on deadline, more leave applications and shirking of new projects are warning signals that the HR antenna promptly captures. |
Monday, November 26, 2007
Telugu Dictionary 4 U
| Here is a telugu dictionary for u which gives the meaning of some famous words used in Andhra side telugu which are not actually available in any dictionary known. |
| Doola 1. (n) surplus energy usage: vaadiki konchem doola ekkuva! 2. (adj) possessing surplus energy usage: vaadu oka doola gaadu! 3. (n) any activity aimed at venting out surplus energy usage: enduku vaadiki aa doola? |
| Thope: thope(n) 1)potugadu/potugatte Usage:vaadu picha thope |
| Dobbu :(verb): The act of undercurrent humiliation in the guise of cloyingly psychopathic praise. Usage: ippudu nuvvu nannu pogidaava? dobbava?.. |
| Avidea 1) Idea ported to pakka South Indian village english. usage : orei nuvvu cheppina avidea valla nenu eeroju vaadi daggara nunchi thappinchukunnara. |
| Boku: (noun) A person who is considered good for nothing, but does things that are usually unusual.Found in large numbers between the age group 15-25 in big vilages,towns and even in cities. Root word: Poramboku. Usage: aado boku kadhu raa.. Related words:Gaali. |
| Bongu: (Interjection and Noun) A word expressed in disapproval of something,devoiding the other person, any chance of continuing the argument..... Usage: Char1: Adi ala ayyi undochhu kada... Char2: Bongu raa..ala ayye chance ledu.... Related words: tokka,bokka. |
| Sollu: (noun) 1) An unending saga of irrelevant gossiping, encompassing a plethora of topics like Cricket, Cinema, Politics, College, Gals, Boys and almost anything under the sun,barring Studies. Usage: aapandra babu mee sollu.. Related words: Sollugadu |
| Nee Enkamma: (interjection) 1)A word that used by most telugu ppl involuntarily esp. when irritated by somebody or something. Origin: Considered to be coined by brahmanandam in chitram bhalare vichitram. Related words: Nee yabba,nee ayya, ……. |
| Racha cheyyi: (v) meaning: rechipoyi..petrigipo... usage: baboi..maama ikkada nuvvu levu kada..inka vaadu racha chesestunnadu. |
| Lite teesko: (v) Ignore every thing and chill out. Usage: enduku basu feel avutavu. Lite teesko. |
| Keka: (adj,interjection) Used to describe something toooooooooooooooo gud. Usage: kotha dressaa? Keka. Related words: Katti, arupu. |
Thursday, November 22, 2007
iPhone makes phones smarter
 | Apple Inc's iPhone has shaken up the "smart phone" business and set other manufacturers scrambling to add features and make it easier to get e-mail, surf the Web and enjoy music and movies on a cell phone. Prices also have come down to the point where some of these feature-packed models cost little more than "dumb" phones. Sizes have come down too - gone are the days when carrying a smart phone was a workout. Here’s looking into some new phones that boast of `smart’ looks, features and applications. | ||||
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Coming: Mobile Number Portability
After much dilly-dallying over an earlier Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendation, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has finally decided to go ahead with mobile number portability (MNP) in the country.
Communications minister, A Raja, announced on Nov 12, 2007 that the government's approval of MPN, saying the system would initially be introduced in the four metros i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Later, it would be extended to other parts of the country.
Mobile number portability essentially means mobile users can now switch mobile operators, without having to change their mobile numbers.
Surveys have shown a majority of the population to be dissatisfied with their existing service providers. Often, the only reason which has kept them from changing operators is the hitherto lack of number portability.
The inconvenience of having to change phone numbers on business cards and other documents, informing contacts of new numbers, etc, has prevented customers from switching to the service operator of their choice.
The introduction of mobile number portability is expected to change all that.
Besides, there are many who feel that the move will keep service providers on their toes, only translating into bigger benefits for customers at large. The thinking being; operators will remain from getting complacent, thanks to the competition, and will try all they can to keep their customers within their fold.
However, the kind of number portability currently introduced does not extend to being able to switch service types (from mobile- to fixed- line) or locations (say from Delhi to Kolkata and vice versa).
Not surprisingly, CDMA operators have welcomed DoT's move, while the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) that represents GSM players, is clearly not happy.
T V Ramachandran of the COAI even made a thinly-veiled reference to Reliance Communications (RComm), alleging that MPN seemed like it was being introduced to benefit a 'particular operator' seeking to enter the GSM segment.
Reliance Communications Chief, Anil Ambani, heartily lauded the move, calling it pro-competition, pro-consumer, and above all, pro-choice. He said, for the first time, operators in the four metros were going to face stiff competition.
From the industry point-of-view, MNP is expected to turn the market on its head, as it is very likely to hit bottom-lines of nearly all mobile operators. Operators might even be forced to introduce a series of incentives/schemes to tie-down their customers. Which means additional costs for them, nevertheless good for customers. On the flip side, customers might get confused with a rash of offerings (and a string of operators) to choose between.
Communications minister, A Raja, announced on Nov 12, 2007 that the government's approval of MPN, saying the system would initially be introduced in the four metros i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Later, it would be extended to other parts of the country.
Mobile number portability essentially means mobile users can now switch mobile operators, without having to change their mobile numbers.
Surveys have shown a majority of the population to be dissatisfied with their existing service providers. Often, the only reason which has kept them from changing operators is the hitherto lack of number portability.
The inconvenience of having to change phone numbers on business cards and other documents, informing contacts of new numbers, etc, has prevented customers from switching to the service operator of their choice.
The introduction of mobile number portability is expected to change all that.
Besides, there are many who feel that the move will keep service providers on their toes, only translating into bigger benefits for customers at large. The thinking being; operators will remain from getting complacent, thanks to the competition, and will try all they can to keep their customers within their fold.
However, the kind of number portability currently introduced does not extend to being able to switch service types (from mobile- to fixed- line) or locations (say from Delhi to Kolkata and vice versa).
Not surprisingly, CDMA operators have welcomed DoT's move, while the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) that represents GSM players, is clearly not happy.
T V Ramachandran of the COAI even made a thinly-veiled reference to Reliance Communications (RComm), alleging that MPN seemed like it was being introduced to benefit a 'particular operator' seeking to enter the GSM segment.
Reliance Communications Chief, Anil Ambani, heartily lauded the move, calling it pro-competition, pro-consumer, and above all, pro-choice. He said, for the first time, operators in the four metros were going to face stiff competition.
From the industry point-of-view, MNP is expected to turn the market on its head, as it is very likely to hit bottom-lines of nearly all mobile operators. Operators might even be forced to introduce a series of incentives/schemes to tie-down their customers. Which means additional costs for them, nevertheless good for customers. On the flip side, customers might get confused with a rash of offerings (and a string of operators) to choose between.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Twenty-20 - World Cup Final Post match presentation interview between Shastri and winning captain Dhoni
This Is Ultimate
In the post-match presentation, Ravi Shastri to Dhoni
Ravi Shastri : "Congratulations to you and the whole Indian team for winning this world cup. You guys have produced a great nail baiting show.. and deserves the cup. We welcome you to share the joy with us."
Dhoni : "Thanks Ravi , the match was pretty close encounter between two great teams and our guys held the nerve to win the game and cup."
Shastri, "Who was the main reason for this thrilling victory?"
Dhoni, "All us played well but I would say the main reason and man behind this great victory is Ajit Agarkar"
Shocked Shastri..., "Agarkar ? ? .. how come
Agarkar... he didn't play in the final"..
Dhoni, "Yeaph.. that's the reason we won this low scoring match.. if he could have bowled in final, Pakistan would have scored the winning runs from his 4 overs...."
Shastri, "ok.. fine, To whom you want to thank for winning this final..."
Dhoni, "The team doctor deserves the credit... he really helped us to prepare for the final..."
Shastri, "Is it? ?.... how the doctor helped to prepare for the final... he is not the coach or physical trainer...Dhoni. . I am getting confused"
Dhoni, " Ravi ... nothing to confuse... he has failed Sehwag in the fitness test according to our game plan and we managed to pick a good playing team.. thus we weigh the doctor's contribution as very high... infact its better than our team effort in the field.. our game tactic worked well"
Shastri, "To whom you want to dedicate this World Cup?"
Dhoni, "The entire team including myself wants to dedicate this cup to Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly..."
Shastri, "I really really appreciate you... its good that you have so much respect to the seniors....and
you ....." Dhoni interrupts.. ..
.............................. .......... ............................
.............................. ........
" Ravi .. let me complete... India would have exited in the Group matches if they decided to play in the series... thank God they opted out and we managed to play cricket and won the cup.."
Shastri, "The match was thrilling encounter and was concluded by a single mistake of misbah.. Isn't it? "
Dhoni, "Yes you are right, after lofting the ball Misbah told me that he has send the ball to where there was no one....but he didn't know that there is a malayali in every corner of the world.... This single mistake has cost the game and won the cup..."
Shastri faints and Dhoni receives the CUP and thats the end of the great Twenty-20 world cup...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Hot new phones of future
| Hot new phones of future | |
 The world of wireless came together in San Francisco last week for CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2007 show. The three-day conference witnessed a slew of launches and announcements from global cell phone manufacturers. Even as iPhone's international rollout draws close, companies like LG, Motorola and Samsung are drawing up strategies to protect their turf. CTIA showcased several of these flashy new phones. The good thing, however, is that not all of these phones are mere iPhone clones, but smarter phones in their own right, if one were to look at features, functionalities and applications. | |
| LG Voyager | |
 This one's hottest from LG's Q4 line-up. LG Voyager has a large external touch-screen and opens laterally to reveal a full QWERTY keypad.The clamshell cell phone supports high-speed EV-DO 3G network. Voyager includes an HTML Web browser, V CAST music and video and V CAST Mobile TV. V CAST is a mobile phone-based systems on which advanced games, including those with 3D graphics can be played. The phone can play .MP3, .WMA, and unprotected .AAC music files. LG Voyager packs a 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture, there is a removable microSD memory slot that can hold up to 8GB of flash memory. LG Voyager will hit the stores by the end of November 2007. | |
| Nokia N81 | |
 The Nokia N81, with a price around $479, has built-in maps and satellite navigation for getting directions, a high-resolution camera, instant messaging, and a 10 GB memory card that store up to 7,500 songs in compressed format.The N810 resembles Apple's recently introduced iPod Touch Internet multimedia device, which also goes without phone features and costs $299. Nokia's new device was unveiled at a news conference ahead of the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Among the key differences, users can choose a touch screen, writing stylus or pop-up keyboard that hides behind its screen that is more than four inches across -- larger than Apple devices. | |
| Samsung SCH-i760 | |
 The upgraded version of Samsung i730, Samsung i760, comes with both a traditional phone keypad and full QWERTY keyboard. The dual keypad phone runs on Windows Mobile Professional version 6 and comes pre-loaded with Office apps like Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Media Player 10 to play MP3 music and watch videos. The i760 can make calls and play music over both 2.5mm and wired Bluetooth headsets. i760 is 0.8 inch in thickness with a 2.8-inch, 320 by 240 color screen. The phone has a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera with 1280 x 960 resolution. SCH-i760 also supports wi-fi network, this means users can make free VOIP calls from any WiFi hotspot. | |
| i-mate Ultimate 9502 | |
 The flagship handset in i-mate's line-up of Windows Mobile devices, i-mate Ultimate 9502 is pitched directly against high-end smartphones such as the Nokia E90 Ultimate 9502 has a large 2.8" 640 x 480 pixel (VGA resolution) touchscreen. Underneath, this is a quad-band GSM device with GPRS and EDGE, tri-band UMTS (3G) with HSDPA high-speed data plus WiFi.Also packed is a 3 megapixel digital camera with autofocus and flash, and i-mate Ultimate 9502 also has microSD expandable memory and Bluetooth. A new feature with Ultimate 9502 is the inclusion of GPS (global positioning system). The Pocket PC offers navigation and several location-based services. Weighing 200 grams, iMate Ultimate 9502 support AAC, AAC+, MP3, Midi, AMR, ASF and WMA audio formats as well as H.263, H.264, MPEG4 and WMV video formats. Mobile versions of PowerPoint, Word and Excel are included, plus Windows Media Player. | |
| Samsung BlackJack II | |
 Successor to Samsung's popular BlackJack, BlackJack II is a thin and lightweight QWERTY smartphone with 2.4-inch screen with a 320 x 240 pixel screen.The phone includes features like a 2.4-inch 320 by 240 pixel screen, a 2 megapixel camera, tri-band 3G UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS wireless connectivity, and built-in GPS. The Windows Mobile 6-based phone is also holds Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, introduced last week by Microsoft. The Device Manager provides companies with a means for managing and securing Windows Mobile devices, and for using devices over a Mobile Virtual Private Network. The phone comes in two colours: red wine and piano black. | |
| Motorola Moto U9 | |
 Motorola launched its new music phone, called the Moto U9. Featuring a built-in speaker, dedicated music key with integrated Bluetooth wireless technology, the phone is an ideal device for music lovers.Moto U9 comes with optional 8GB microSD memory card, and has the capacity to store 1000 songs. It also features an MP3 music player with dedicated touch sensor buttons, Windows Media Player6 for easy to download and sync the user's music. The Moto U9 also sports 1.4" x 128 x 160 pixel touch-sensitive OLED display, 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom, CrystalTalk technology that enables crystal clear voice quality in noisy environments, 25 MB internal memory and USB 2.07 to help deliver faster downloads from PC to phones. Housed in a metallic gloss finish, the phone is designed in small, curvaceous and seamless form. The Motorola U9 delivers maximum talktime of seven hours, with up to 14 days standby time. | |
| LG Rumor | |
 LG Rumour The phone's display is a 2.0" 262k color TFT, 176x220 pixel resolution screen with 3D graphics support for gaming. Measuring 4.3 x 2 x 0.7 inches and weighing 116 gm the phone comes with a built-in hidden QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging.In addition to its QWERTY keyboard, the LG Rumor sports a 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder with a 2x digital zoom, Bluetooth and an MP3 player. LG Rumor also provides full-feature GPS navigation including voice and on screen turn-by-turn driving directions and more than 10 million business listings. A microSD memory slot with support for 4GB cards has also been incorporated. LG Rumor provides access to instant messaging services including AIM, MSN and Yahoo! as well as several popular social networking communities, including Facebook and Xanga. | |
| Motorola RIZR Z6tv | |
 Motorola's two-year run of success from the trend-setting Razr phone started crumbling about a year ago when sales eased off. Analysts expect the company to also benefit from other new phones such as the Rokr Z6m and Z6tv and the Moto U9. Motorola RIZR Z6tv is a slider phone equipped with VCAST Mobile TV, VCAST Music and Video. The RIZR Z6tv provides entertainment lovers 24-hour access to broadcast-quality full-length TV shows through VCAST Mobile TV. RIZR Z6tv is also equipped with Bluetooth stereo headset support for music, creating a wireless mobile music experience. Additional features include a memory card slot, stereo Bluetooth, physical key lock switch, a QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera with video capture and playback, and EVDO data. | |
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Right Brain vs Left Brain test
THE Right Brain vs Left Brain test ...
do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.
Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction;
see if you can do it.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
'big picture' oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can 'get it' (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.
Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction;
see if you can do it.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
'big picture' oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can 'get it' (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
Just loved this... wanted to share with you...
Don't bother getting a pen and paper... just read...
if you can't answer them, just keep going.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Ranji trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss India contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel prize.
5. Name the last five National Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.
How did you do?
Now here's another quiz.
See how you do on this one:
1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson?
The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They're the ones who care.
if you can't answer them, just keep going.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Ranji trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss India contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel prize.
5. Name the last five National Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.
How did you do?
Now here's another quiz.
See how you do on this one:
1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson?
The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They're the ones who care.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Statistical highlights of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup
·After winning the World Cup in England at Lord's on June 25, 1983 and the Benson and Hedges World Championship in Australia at Melbourne on March 10, 1985, the five-run victory over Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20 is India's third major cricket title.
· India's win is their fourth in succession – one each vs. England, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.
· Pakistan's defeat by 5 runs to India is their only one in the competition. Dhoni became the first captain to win five successive tosses in the ICC World Twenty20.
· Irfan Pathan and Yousuf Pathan became the first pair of brothers to have played in a Twenty20 International for India.
· A list of brothers playing together in a World Cup Final is (one-day Internationals):
Ian Chappell (62) & Greg Chappell (15) for Australia vs. England at Lord's on 21.6.1975 Steve Waugh (13) and Mark Waugh (12) for Australia vs. Sri Lanka at Lahore on 17.3.1996 Steve Waugh (DNB) and Mark Waugh (37*) for Australia vs. Pakistan at Lord's on 20.6.1999
· Gautam Gambhir's innings of 75 off 54 balls is the highest individual innings for India in this competition, bettering Yuvraj Singh's 70 off 30 balls against Australia.
· Gambhir became the first Indian to have recorded 3 fifties in the competition. Only Australia's Matthew Hayden (4) has registered more fifties in the competition than Gambhir.
· Gambhir also became the first to aggregate 200 for India – 227 at an average of 37.83 in six innings with a strike rate of 129.71.
· Gambhir's aggregate is exceeded only by Hayden – 265 at 88.33 in six innings – in the competition.
· Shahid Afridi has been adjudged the Player of the series for his all-round performance – 12 wickets at 15.66 runs apiece, 91 runs (ave.15.16) and two catches.
· India (157/5) registered their highest total against Pakistan, eclipsing their 141 for 9 at Durban on 14.9.2007.
· Pakistan (152) also recorded their highest against India.
· Rohit Sharma (30 not out) remained not out in all three innings, aggregating 88 at a strike rate of 14.26.
· Umar Gul (3/28) took his tally of wickets to 13 at 11.92 runs apiece – the most in the competition, surpassing the feats of Australia's Stuart Clark (12 at 12.00 runs apiece) and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (12 at 15.66 runs apiece).
· Irfan Pathan (3/16) produced his best bowling figures, eclipsing his 3 for 37 against England at Durban on 19.9.2007.
· Misbah-ul-Haq became the third batsman after Hayden (265) and Gambhir (227) to aggregate 200 runs in the competition
· R.P.Singh is the leading wicket-taker for India in the competition – 12 (ave. 12.66) in 7 matches.
· Man of the Match award Irfan Pathan is the next best for India in the competition – 10 (ave.14.90) in 7 matches.
· India's win is their fourth in succession – one each vs. England, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.
· Pakistan's defeat by 5 runs to India is their only one in the competition. Dhoni became the first captain to win five successive tosses in the ICC World Twenty20.
· Irfan Pathan and Yousuf Pathan became the first pair of brothers to have played in a Twenty20 International for India.
· A list of brothers playing together in a World Cup Final is (one-day Internationals):
Ian Chappell (62) & Greg Chappell (15) for Australia vs. England at Lord's on 21.6.1975 Steve Waugh (13) and Mark Waugh (12) for Australia vs. Sri Lanka at Lahore on 17.3.1996 Steve Waugh (DNB) and Mark Waugh (37*) for Australia vs. Pakistan at Lord's on 20.6.1999
· Gautam Gambhir's innings of 75 off 54 balls is the highest individual innings for India in this competition, bettering Yuvraj Singh's 70 off 30 balls against Australia.
· Gambhir became the first Indian to have recorded 3 fifties in the competition. Only Australia's Matthew Hayden (4) has registered more fifties in the competition than Gambhir.
· Gambhir also became the first to aggregate 200 for India – 227 at an average of 37.83 in six innings with a strike rate of 129.71.
· Gambhir's aggregate is exceeded only by Hayden – 265 at 88.33 in six innings – in the competition.
· Shahid Afridi has been adjudged the Player of the series for his all-round performance – 12 wickets at 15.66 runs apiece, 91 runs (ave.15.16) and two catches.
· India (157/5) registered their highest total against Pakistan, eclipsing their 141 for 9 at Durban on 14.9.2007.
· Pakistan (152) also recorded their highest against India.
· Rohit Sharma (30 not out) remained not out in all three innings, aggregating 88 at a strike rate of 14.26.
· Umar Gul (3/28) took his tally of wickets to 13 at 11.92 runs apiece – the most in the competition, surpassing the feats of Australia's Stuart Clark (12 at 12.00 runs apiece) and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (12 at 15.66 runs apiece).
· Irfan Pathan (3/16) produced his best bowling figures, eclipsing his 3 for 37 against England at Durban on 19.9.2007.
· Misbah-ul-Haq became the third batsman after Hayden (265) and Gambhir (227) to aggregate 200 runs in the competition
· R.P.Singh is the leading wicket-taker for India in the competition – 12 (ave. 12.66) in 7 matches.
· Man of the Match award Irfan Pathan is the next best for India in the competition – 10 (ave.14.90) in 7 matches.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Difference btw Love & Arranged Marriage
Love Marriage | Arranged Marriage |
| Resembles procedural programming language. We have some set functions like flirting, going to movies together, making long conversations on phone and then try to fit all functions to the candidate we like. | Similar to object oriented programming approach. We first fix the candidate and then try to implement functions on her. The functions are added to supplement the main program. The functions can be added or deleted. |
| It is a throwaway type of prototype as client requirements rises with time thus it is a dynamic system and difficult to maintain. | Requirements are well defined so use of waterfall model is possible |
| Family system hangs because hardware (called parents) is not responding. | Compatible with hardware (Parents). |
| You are the project leader so u are responsible for implementation and execution of PROJECT- married life. | You are a team member under project leader (parents) so they are responsible for successful execution of project Married life. |
| Client expectations include exciting feature as spouse cooking food, washing clothes etc. | All these features are covered in the SRS as required features. |
| Acceptance test possible you can try before you Buy. | Product is sold on an as is where is basis. Product once sold will not be taken back! |
| Love Marriage is like Windows , beautiful n seductive.... Yet one never knows when it will crash.... | Arranged Marriage is like Unix ... boring n colorless... still extremely reliable n robust. |
Conversational styles of men and women
"Can't We Talk?" (condensed from: You Just Don't Understand)
by Deborah Tannen
A married couple was in a car when the wife turned to her husband and asked, "Would you like to stop for a coffee?"
"No, thanks," he answered truthfully. So they didn't stop.
The result? The wife, who had indeed wanted to stop, became annoyed because she felt her preference had not been considered. The husband, seeing his wife was angry, became frustrated. Why didn't she just say what she wanted?
Unfortunately, he failed to see that his wife was asking the question not to get an instant decision, but to begin a negotiation. And the woman didn't realize that when her husband said no, he was just expressing his preference, not making a ruling. When a man and woman interpret the same interchange in such conflicting ways, it's no wonder they can find themselves leveling angry charges of selfishness and obstinacy at each other.
As a specialist in linguistics, I have studied how the conversational styles of men and women differ. We cannot lump all men or all women into fixed categories. But the seemingly senseless misunderstandings that haunt our relationships can in part be explained by the different conversational rules by which men and women play.
Whenever I write or speak about this subject, people tell me they are relieved to learn that what has caused them trouble - and what they had previously ascribed to personal failings - is, in fact, very common.
Learning about the different though equally valid conversational frequencies men and women are tuned to can help banish the blame and help us truly talk to one another. Here are some of the most common areas of conflict:
Status vs. Support.
Men grow up in a world in which a conversation is often a contest, either to achieve the upper hand or to prevent other people from pushing them around. For women, however, talking is often a way to exchange confirmation and support.
I saw this when my husband and I had jobs in different cities. People frequently made comments like, "That must be rough," and "How do you stand it?" I accepted their sympathy and sometimes even reinforced it, saying, "The worst part is having to pack and unpack al the time."
But my husband often reacted with irritation. Our situation had advantages, he would explain. As academics, we had four-day weekends together, as well as long vacations throughout the year and four months in the summer.
Everything he said was true, but I didn't understand why he chose to say it. He told me that some of the comments implied: "Yours is not a real marriage. I am superior to you because my wife and I have avoided your misfortune." Until then it had not occurred to me there might be an element of one- upmanship.
I now see that my husband was simply approaching the world as many men do: as a place where people try to achieve and maintain status. I, on the other hand, was approaching the world as many women do: as a network of connections seeking support and consensus.
Independence vs. Intimacy.
Since women often think in terms of closeness and support, they struggle to preserve intimacy. Men, concerned with status, tend to focus more on independence. These traits can lead women and men to starkly different views of the same situation.
When Josh's old high-school friend called him at work to say he'd be in town, Josh invited him to stay for the weekend. That evening he told Linda they were having a house guest.
Linda was upset. How could Josh make these plans without discussing them with her beforehand? She would never do that to him. "Why don't you tell your friend you have to check with your wife?" she asked.
Josh replied, "I can't tell my friend, 'I have to ask my wife for permission'!"
To Josh, checking with his wife would mean he was not free to act on his own. It would make him feel like a child or an underling. But Linda actually enjoys telling someone, "I have to check with Josh." It makes her feel good to show that her life is intertwined with her husband's.
Advice vs. Understanding.
Eve had a benign lump removed from her breast. When she confided to her husband, Mark, that she was distressed because the stitches changed the contour of her breast, he answered, "You can always have plastic surgery."
This comment bothered her. "I'm sorry you don't like the way it looks," she protested. "But I'm not having any more surgery!"
Mark was hurt and puzzled. "I don't care about a scar," he replied. "It doesn't bother me at all."
"Then why are you telling me to have plastic surgery?" she asked.
"Because you were upset about the way it looks."
Eve felt like a heel. Mark had been wonderfully supportive throughout her surgery. How could she snap at him now?
The problem stemmed from a difference in approach. To many men a complaint is a challenge to come up with a solution. Mark thought he was reassuring Eve by telling her there was something she could do about her scar. But often women are looking for emotional support, not solutions.
When my mother tells my father she doesn't feel well, he invariably offers to take her to the doctor. Invariably, she is disappointed with his reaction. Like many men, he is focused on what he can do, whereas she wants sympathy.
Information vs. Feelings.
A cartoon shows a husband opening a newspaper and asking his wife, "Is there anything you'd like to say to me before I start reading the paper?" We know there isn't - but that as soon as the man begins reading, his wife will think of something.
The cartoon is funny because people recognize their own experience in it. What's not funny is that many women are hurt when men don't talk to them at home, and many men are frustrated when they disappoint their partners without knowing why.
Rebecca, who is happily married, told me this is a source of dissatisfaction with her husband, Stuart. When she tells him what she is thinking, he listens silently. When she asks him what is on his mind, he says, "Nothing."
All Rebecca's life she has had practice in verbalizing her feelings with friends and relatives. But Stuart has had practice in keeping his innermost thoughts to himself. To him, like most men, talk is information. He doesn't feel that talk is required at home.
Yet many such men hold center stage in a social setting, telling jokes and stories. They use conversation to claim attention and to entertain. Women can wind up hurt that their husbands tell relative strangers things they have not told them.
To avoid this kind of misunderstanding, both men and women can make adjustments. A woman may observe a man's desire to read the paper without seeing it is a rejection. And a man can understand a woman's desire to talk without feeling it is a manipulative intrusion.
Orders vs. Proposals.
Diana often begins statements with "Let's." She might say "Let's park over there" or "Let's clean up now, before lunch."
This makes Nathan angry. He has deciphered Diana's "Let's" as a command. Like most men, he resists being told what to do. But to Diana, she is making suggestions, not demands. Like most women, she formulates her requests as proposals rather than orders. Her style of talking is a way of getting others to do what she wants - but by winning agreement first.
With certain men, like Nathan, this tactic backfires. If they perceive someone is trying to get them to do something indirectly, they feel manipulated and respond more resentfully than they would to a straightforward request.
Conflict vs. Compromise.
In trying to prevent fights, some women refuse to oppose the will of others openly. But sometimes it's far more effective for a woman to assert herself, even at the risk of conflict.
Dora was frustrated by a series of used cars she drove. It was she who commuted to work, but her husband, Hank, who chose the cars. Hank always went for cars that were "interesting" but in continual need of repair.
After Dora was nearly killed when her brakes failed, they were in the market for yet another used car. Dora wanted to buy a late-model sedan from a friend. Hank fixed his sights on a 15-year-old sports car. She tried to persuade Hank that it made more sense to buy the boring but dependable car, but he would not be swayed.
Previously she would have acceded to his wishes. This time Dora bought the boring but dependable car and steeled herself for Hanks' anger. To her amazement, he spoke not a word of remonstrance. When she later told him what she had expected, he scoffed at her fears and said she should have done what she wanted from the start if she felt that strongly about it.
As Dora discovered, a little conflict won't kill you. At the same time, men who habitually oppose others can adjust their style to opt for less confrontation.
When we don't see style differences for what they are, we sometimes draw unfair conclusions: "You're illogical," "You're self- centered," "You don't care about me." But once we grasp the two characteristic approaches, we stand a better chance of preventing disagreements from spiraling out of control.
Learning the other's ways of talking is a leap across the communication gap between men and women, and a giant step towards genuine understanding.
Monday, September 10, 2007
How the Software Industry Works
Programmer to Team Leader
"We can not do this proposed project. It will involve a major design change and no one in our team knows the design of this system. Also, nobody in our company knows the language in which this application has been written. If you ask my personal opinion, the company should never take on this type of project!"Team Leader to Project Manager
"This project will involve a design change. Currently, we don't have any staff with experience in this kind of work. Also, the language is unfamiliar to us, so we will have to arrange for some training if we take this project. In my personal opinion, we are not ready to take on a project of this nature."Project Manager to First-Level Manager
"This project involves a design change in the system and we don't have much experience in that area. Also, not many people in our company are appropriately trained for it. In my personal opinion, we would need more time than usual to complete it."First-Level Manager to Senior Level Manager
"This project involves design reengineering. We have some people who have worked in this area and others who know the implementation language, so they can train other people. In my personal opinion, we should take this project, but with caution."Senior Level Manager to CEO
"This project will demonstrate to the industry our capabilities in remodeling the design of a complete legacy system. We have all the necessary skills and people to execute this project successfully. Some people have already given in house training in this area to other staff members. In my personal opinion, we should not let this project slip by us under any circumstances."CEO to Client
"This is the type of project in which our company specializes. We have executed many projects of the same nature for many large clients. Trust me when I say that we are the most competent firm in the industry for doing this kind of work. It is my personal opinion that we can execute this project successfully and well within the given time frame."How to Get Rid of Telemarketers
- If they want to loan you money, tell them you just
filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
Ask, "How long can I keep it? Do I have to ever
pay it back, or is it like the other money I borrowed
before my bankruptcy?" - If they start out with, "How are you today?"
say, "Why do you want to know?" Or you can
say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one seems
to care these days and I have all these problems, my
sciatica is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog
just died...." When they try to get back to the
sales process, just continue on with telling about
your problems. - If the person says he's Joe Doe from the XYZ Company,
ask him to spell his name, then ask him to spell the
company name, then ask where it is located. Continue
asking personal questions or questions about the company
for as long as necessary. - This one works better if you are male: Telemarketer:
"Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with Canter and Siegel
services.... You: "Hang on a second." (pause
a few seconds, and then say in a really husky voice)
"Okay, what are you wearing?" - Crying out, in well-simulated tones of pleasure and
surprise, "Judy!! Is this really you? I can't
believe it! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few
brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out
how the heck she could know you. - Say, "No," over and over. Be sure to vary
the sound of each no, and keep an even tempo even as
they're trying to speak. This is the most fun if you
can keep going until they hang up. - If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up with their
Family and Friends plan, reply, in as sinister a voice
as you can muster, "I don't have any friends...would
you be my friend?" - If they clean rugs: "Can you get blood out? You
can? Well, how about goat blood? Chicken blood? Human
blood too?" - Let the person go through their spiel, providing minimal
but necessary feedback in the form of an occasional
"Uh-huh, really," or, "That's fascinating."
Finally, when they ask you to buy, ask them to marry
you. They get all flustered, but just tell them you
couldn't give your credit card number to someone who's
a complete stranger. - Tell
them you work for the same company they work for.
Example:
Telemarketer: "This is Bill from Watertronics."
You: "Watertronics!!
Hey I work for them too. Where are you calling
from?" Telemarketer: "Uh, Dallas, Texas."
You: "Great, they have a group there too? How's business/the
weather? Too bad the company has a policy against selling
to employees! Oh well, see ya." - Tell the Telemarketer you are busy and if they will give you their
phone number you will call them back. If they say they are
not allowed to give out their number, then ask them for their
home number and tell them you will call them at home (this
is usually the most effective method of getting rid of Telemarketers).
If the person says, "Well, I don't really want to get
a call at home," say, "Ya! Now you know how I feel." (smiling, of course...)
Computer Enhancers
Dozens of improvements to, totally meaningless, or humorous (intentional and otherwise), computer messages.
Better talent supply will moderate IT salary hikes'
Salary hikes in the Indian IT/ITeS sector could moderate from next year because of improved supply of talent, according to Nasscom chairman Lakshmi Narayanan.
Addressing media persons, Narayanan said the supply position in terms of human capital had shown considerable improvement.
He noted that the number of engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, for instance, had gone up and there were 10,000 seats which went vacant showing that supply had increased.
The industry has also been taking initiatives to enlarge the supply pool by setting up training schools and partnering with academic institutes.
The Indian IT industry has been witnessing salary hikes in the range of 10-15 per cent annually for the past several years. These hikes have also come under threat from the appreciating rupee.
Earlier, addressing the Nasscom Quality Summit 2007, Narayanan said that despite the strides made by the Indian IT industry, there was still a long way to go in terms of quality.
He said end users in the West were still not convinced of the services provided by Indian IT companies. The industry, he said, had to move from quality deliverables to the quality of outcomes.
Addressing media persons, Narayanan said the supply position in terms of human capital had shown considerable improvement.
He noted that the number of engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, for instance, had gone up and there were 10,000 seats which went vacant showing that supply had increased.
The industry has also been taking initiatives to enlarge the supply pool by setting up training schools and partnering with academic institutes.
The Indian IT industry has been witnessing salary hikes in the range of 10-15 per cent annually for the past several years. These hikes have also come under threat from the appreciating rupee.
Earlier, addressing the Nasscom Quality Summit 2007, Narayanan said that despite the strides made by the Indian IT industry, there was still a long way to go in terms of quality.
He said end users in the West were still not convinced of the services provided by Indian IT companies. The industry, he said, had to move from quality deliverables to the quality of outcomes.
Things you didn’t know about CD
Compact disc turned 25 years this month. The first CD was produced in a factory in Germany after years of development by Philips and Sony. The invention of the CD ushered in a technological revolution in the music industry as CDs -- with their superior sound quality marked the beginning of the shift from analog to digital music technology. As the music labels experiment with extras to revive the now-aging format, it's hard to imagine that there was ever a day without CDs. Here's tracing the history of Compact Disc, the forefather of today's wide array of optical discs.
World's first CD was manufactured at Philip's factory near Hanover, Germany, on August 17, 1982. The factory belonged to Polygram -- the recording company owned by Philips during that time.
The compact disc project was launched following Philips' failure with its video disc technology in 1978.
In 1979, Philips and Sony set up a joint task force to design the new digital audio disc.
Philips developed the bulk of the disc and laser technology, while Sony contributed to the digital encoding that allowed for smooth, error-free playback.
In 1980, researchers published what became known as the Red Book containing the original CD standards, as well as specifying which patents were held by Philips and which by Sony.
The first commercially available CD player was Sony's CDP-101, which was launched in October 1982 at a price point of $900. Both CDs and CD players were first introduced in Japan, followed by US and European launch.
The first commercial CDs pressed were `The Visitors by Abba' and a recording of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. By the time CDs hit the market in November 1982, a catalog of around 150 titles -- mainly classical music -- was produced.
The proposed semiconductor chips needed for CD players were to be the most advanced ever used in a consumer product. However, the lasers were still on the drawing board when the two companies Philips and Sony teamed up in 1979.
The video disc was one of the first commercial products to take advantage of laser technology that could read information from a disc without any physical contact.
US record labels were initially very sceptical about the CD. In 1985, one of the most famous bands of that time, Dire Straits, adopted the CD. Under a joint collaboration, Philips and Dire Straits promoted the sound quality of the CD to consumers.
“Brothers in Arms” became the first album to sell more than one million copies in the new format, marking the success of the CD as the emerging format of choice for music quality.
If you could stretch out into a straight line all the data stored on a single compact disc it would reach for over six kilometres in length.
Over 2000 billion CDs have been sold in last 25 years. In 2000, global sales of CD albums peaked to 2.455 billion.
World's first CD was manufactured at Philip's factory near Hanover, Germany, on August 17, 1982. The factory belonged to Polygram -- the recording company owned by Philips during that time.
The compact disc project was launched following Philips' failure with its video disc technology in 1978.
In 1979, Philips and Sony set up a joint task force to design the new digital audio disc.
Philips developed the bulk of the disc and laser technology, while Sony contributed to the digital encoding that allowed for smooth, error-free playback.
In 1980, researchers published what became known as the Red Book containing the original CD standards, as well as specifying which patents were held by Philips and which by Sony.
The first commercially available CD player was Sony's CDP-101, which was launched in October 1982 at a price point of $900. Both CDs and CD players were first introduced in Japan, followed by US and European launch.
The first commercial CDs pressed were `The Visitors by Abba' and a recording of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. By the time CDs hit the market in November 1982, a catalog of around 150 titles -- mainly classical music -- was produced.
The proposed semiconductor chips needed for CD players were to be the most advanced ever used in a consumer product. However, the lasers were still on the drawing board when the two companies Philips and Sony teamed up in 1979.
The video disc was one of the first commercial products to take advantage of laser technology that could read information from a disc without any physical contact.
US record labels were initially very sceptical about the CD. In 1985, one of the most famous bands of that time, Dire Straits, adopted the CD. Under a joint collaboration, Philips and Dire Straits promoted the sound quality of the CD to consumers.
“Brothers in Arms” became the first album to sell more than one million copies in the new format, marking the success of the CD as the emerging format of choice for music quality.
If you could stretch out into a straight line all the data stored on a single compact disc it would reach for over six kilometres in length.
Over 2000 billion CDs have been sold in last 25 years. In 2000, global sales of CD albums peaked to 2.455 billion.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The SMS which shocked Ram Gopal Varma
Ram Gopal Varma has received innumerable text messages, all ridiculing and berating him for attempting to re-visit Sholay.
"The messages have been pretty vocal and direct about their dislike for what I've done. I've been called names and treated to the nastiest comments. But I've enjoyed the backlash, far more than people enjoyed Aag," laughs Ramu.
Here's the text that Ramu says changed his opinion on his right to remake his favourite film.
(Parts of the message have been revised for coherence)
"Hi Sir. To call Aag a piece of junk would be demeaning junk. What happened to the colours of Rangeela and the grit of Satya? No clear story, meaningless script, obsession with dark lighting, weak screenplay, and songs that are too high-pitched and outdated. You were in a hurry while shooting. Fast editing, nonsensical expressions, no romance, horrifying background music and choreography, cinematography is horrid, bad clothes, bad hoardings, bad amateurish dialogues, bad characterizations with no emotional graph for the characters,leaving the actors free to ham,outdated action, emotionless scenes, no comedy, no colour. You should sit and watch your film alone. No freshness, carelessness in creativity.You've become over-confident and you are losing touch with reality. You're handing over creative work to the wrong people. You're impulsively doing ten films at a time and not focusing on one project. You've enjoyed the shooting without caring about what the outcome would be. You're busy giving stupid interviews. What have you done in the past seven years except a couple of notable films?"
Says Ramu, "The above message shook me completely. It made me realize it's time for me to do some serious re-thinking about my career."
Thursday, August 23, 2007
iPod Shuffle Raksha Bandhan Offer
iPod Shuffle Raksha Bandhan Offer:
Those confused over what gift to buy for their sisters on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan can consider buying an iPod Shuffle... As a promotional offer, on purchase of an iPod Shuffle between August 10 and September 10, buyers will also get a travel charger which is worth Rs 560 for free. iPod Shuffle is half a cubic inch in volume, weighs half an ounce, and features an Aluminum design with a built-in clip. It comes with 1GB of flash memory, and can hold up to 240 songs. Meanwhile, the shuffle also features seamless integration with iTunes 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) to enable users choose from a selection of over 4-million songs. In addition, iPod Shuffle includes pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, and seamless integration with iPod. Priced at Rs 5,600, the iPod Shuffle is available in five vibrant colours -- silver, pink, green, blue, and orange. The offer is on at Apple's 'Imagine' chain of stores, and also through authorized Apple resellers. For details please go to:IPOD SHUFFLE SPECIFICATIONS
Those confused over what gift to buy for their sisters on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan can consider buying an iPod Shuffle... As a promotional offer, on purchase of an iPod Shuffle between August 10 and September 10, buyers will also get a travel charger which is worth Rs 560 for free. iPod Shuffle is half a cubic inch in volume, weighs half an ounce, and features an Aluminum design with a built-in clip. It comes with 1GB of flash memory, and can hold up to 240 songs. Meanwhile, the shuffle also features seamless integration with iTunes 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) to enable users choose from a selection of over 4-million songs. In addition, iPod Shuffle includes pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, and seamless integration with iPod. Priced at Rs 5,600, the iPod Shuffle is available in five vibrant colours -- silver, pink, green, blue, and orange. The offer is on at Apple's 'Imagine' chain of stores, and also through authorized Apple resellers. For details please go to:IPOD SHUFFLE SPECIFICATIONS
Epson Printer Helps Cut Ink Costs
Epson Printer Helps Cut Ink Costs
Epson has launched an all-in-one printer, the Stylus CX5500. With an innovative ink cartridge bay that accepts ink cartridges of varying capacities, the printer offers users the freedom to choose between standard- and low-cost Epson ink cartridges. Besides, the Epson INKdividual system enables users replace only that color which has run out instead of having to replace the full set of inks at one time. Like other Epson printers, the Stylus CX5500 uses DURABrite inks. Epson claims these inks are developed specially for resistance against fading, smudging, and accidental water spillage. With a proprietary Micro-Piezo print head system, and Variable Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT), along with print resolutions of up to 5,760 dpi, Epson says, users will be able to get sharp and clear printouts. The printer offers print speeds of 25 pages per minute (ppm) for black text, and 13ppm for color text. The one touch copy feature, Epson claims, is able to copy in only 4 seconds; while the scanner feature, according to the company, is capable of resolutions of up to 600dpi besides allowing photo enlargements up to A4 sizes. The printer bundles software, including Epson PhotoEnhance for correction of common flaws in images, and Epson Creativity Suite for managing images
Epson has launched an all-in-one printer, the Stylus CX5500. With an innovative ink cartridge bay that accepts ink cartridges of varying capacities, the printer offers users the freedom to choose between standard- and low-cost Epson ink cartridges. Besides, the Epson INKdividual system enables users replace only that color which has run out instead of having to replace the full set of inks at one time. Like other Epson printers, the Stylus CX5500 uses DURABrite inks. Epson claims these inks are developed specially for resistance against fading, smudging, and accidental water spillage. With a proprietary Micro-Piezo print head system, and Variable Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT), along with print resolutions of up to 5,760 dpi, Epson says, users will be able to get sharp and clear printouts. The printer offers print speeds of 25 pages per minute (ppm) for black text, and 13ppm for color text. The one touch copy feature, Epson claims, is able to copy in only 4 seconds; while the scanner feature, according to the company, is capable of resolutions of up to 600dpi besides allowing photo enlargements up to A4 sizes. The printer bundles software, including Epson PhotoEnhance for correction of common flaws in images, and Epson Creativity Suite for managing images
Techtree.com India > News > Gadgets > Microsoft Unveils the SideWinder
Techtree.com India > News > Gadgets > Microsoft Unveils the SideWinder:
Microsoft has reportedly launched the SideWinder gaming mouse, which mainly targets hardcore computer video game fans. In case of this mouse, everything from cable thickness to it's weight to the way it glides can be customized to suit individual preferences. The mouse weight can be adjusted anywhere between 5 and 30 grams in 5 gram increments. Three buttons instantly switch between DPI 400, 800, and 2000, else settings can be customized using special software. Users can also select from three sets of mouse feet for that perfect 'glide' effect. According to Microsoft, the SideWinder mouse features a 2,000 dpi resolution, 7080 frames per second image processing, 20G max acceleration, 45 inches per second max speed, and an amazing 9 million clicks on each of the main buttons. The mouse includes a Quick Launch Button; 5 programmable main buttons; advanced gaming software for programming macros and profiles and customizing game settings; a wide metal scroll wheel; and vertical metal side buttons. Interestingly, the SideWinder comes with the first ever LCD on a mouse to keep track of game functions and settings. The SideWinder mouse is expected to ship in October for around $80 (Rs 3,278 approx)
Microsoft has reportedly launched the SideWinder gaming mouse, which mainly targets hardcore computer video game fans. In case of this mouse, everything from cable thickness to it's weight to the way it glides can be customized to suit individual preferences. The mouse weight can be adjusted anywhere between 5 and 30 grams in 5 gram increments. Three buttons instantly switch between DPI 400, 800, and 2000, else settings can be customized using special software. Users can also select from three sets of mouse feet for that perfect 'glide' effect. According to Microsoft, the SideWinder mouse features a 2,000 dpi resolution, 7080 frames per second image processing, 20G max acceleration, 45 inches per second max speed, and an amazing 9 million clicks on each of the main buttons. The mouse includes a Quick Launch Button; 5 programmable main buttons; advanced gaming software for programming macros and profiles and customizing game settings; a wide metal scroll wheel; and vertical metal side buttons. Interestingly, the SideWinder comes with the first ever LCD on a mouse to keep track of game functions and settings. The SideWinder mouse is expected to ship in October for around $80 (Rs 3,278 approx)
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